November 22, 2013

Weekend Tribune

15

Interim vs caretaker govt: Which one is better?

Agrahayan 8, 1420 Muharram 17, 1435 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 1 No 238

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2013 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

Khaleda abstains from Senakunja reception n Julfikar Ali Manik

Bangabhaban conveys minutes of the meeting with opposition to the government As a follow up to the meeting with BNP Chief Khaleda Zia President Abdul Hamid has asked Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam to engage in talks with Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir over the mode of polls-time administration.

The president talked to Syed Ashraful Islam after his conversation with Khaleda Zia on the night of November 19. Abdul Hamid made the “personal request” to make the elections “more acceptable,” said an Awami League leader.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir: ‘Come and join the polls. We will hold free, fair and credible elections’ The leaders involved in the process said the president had asked his political protégé Ashraf, who also hails from Abdul Hamid’s Kishoreganj district, to do so as he was constitutionally bound not to make any formal request of this sort.

The president told Ashraf that the ruling Awami League and BNP should engage in parley at a negotiating table to narrow down their differences over the restoration of the non-party caretaker government that would oversee the next polls.

At his meeting with the BNP delegation headed by Khaleda Zia the president said he had “constitutional limitations” to initiate anything as the

country’s charter stipulates that the head of the state would discharge his duties in accordance with the suggestions of the prime minister.

According to the constitution, the president is free on two issues: appointments of the prime minister and the chief justice.

Khaleda Zia told the president that her party had full confidence on Abdul Hamid who could contribute to breaking the political deadlock over the debate of the election-time cabinet.

The president would enquire about whether the initiative is taken after his call to Syed Asharaful Islam, the AL leaders said.

The Bangabhaban (President’s Office) has conveyed minutes of the recent meeting between President Abdul Hamid and leaders of the 18-party alliance to the government, state-run news agency BSS reported yesterday.

When asked, President’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim confirmed it [to BSS].

Meanwhile, at the Senakunja gathering Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was seen talking to BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

Chief Whip Abdus Shahid, who was present at Senakunja, claimed Sheikh Hasina invited the BNP leader to a secretary-level dialogue between the two parties on the polls-time government.

Shahid told the Dhaka Tribune: “The premier told Fakhrul: ‘Come and join the polls. We will hold free, fair and credible elections.’”

Fakhrul was standing next to Shahid as he was talking to the media.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

INSIDE Business

Heritage

the initial works to revise the current fiscal year’s budget despite government decision to do so. The government earlier decided to revise the budget three months before it leaves office.

Bangladesh has, undoubtedly, many colourful and entertaining tales to tell. And, no doubt, also many that are tragic.

B1 Finance Division has not yet started

News

3 A countrywide 24-hour transport strike, called by Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Sramik Federation on long-distance routes, left thousands of people in distress yesterday.

5 Tim Steel: The rich history of

Nation

7 People of Rajbari have been suffering a lot since long as authorities concerned had failed to construct three culverts even after almost five years of the beginning of the construction in January 2009.

Siddikur pays dearly on World Cup debut

16 pages with 8-page business tabloid plus 32-page weekend supplement | Price: Tk10

President asks Syed Ashraf to initiate talks n Kamran Reza Chowdhury

Sport

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina exchanges greetings with BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at SenaKunja in the Dhaka Cantonment yesterday BSS

28 ministers out, effectively

BNP focuses on bolstering alliance tie

With the distribution of portfolios for the polls-time cabinet, 28 ministers of the Awami League-led ruling alliance were effectively dropped yesterday from the government that will see the nation through the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Technocrat ministerShafique Ahmed, who was in charge of the law ministry, and industries minister DilipBarua were dropped from the interim cabinet but were made advisers to the prime minister.

Ministers MK Alamgir, SuranjitSengupta, ShaharaKhatun and DipuMoni, who have been at the centre of debates

n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

n Tribune Report

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The BNP has got down to motivational consultation with its component organisations to cement the political cohesion of the 18-party combine to counter the Awami League’s move to split the alliance with Khaleda Zia still hell-bent on not joining the “all-party” cabinet.

A number of alliance leaders told the Dhaka Tribune that the government had tried to lure them into joining the upcoming elections but all of them had refused to leave the alliance.

The main opposition has planned to employ its maximum strength and to this end it has split the capital into eight

zones to intensify the ongoing movement in the capital from next week.

“None has left the alliance and no one will leave it,” Mirza Fakhrul Islam

Guests were curious about the possibility of an incidental meeting between Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the Armed Forces Day reception at Senakunja, but Khaleda did not join the programme.

The curiosity was apparently much deeper this time than the past occasions because of the ongoing political stalemate, which people expect to end through talks between the two top leaders.

BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and other top leaders joined the reception at the Dhaka Cantonment.

Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina exchanged greetings with Fakhrul and talked to him for a minute. Chief Whip of parliament Abdus Shahid, Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu and Hasina’s economic affairs Adviser Moshiur Rahman were present at the scene.

Later, Shahid told journalists that Hasina had told Fakhrul to hold talks with her party’s General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 3

Jamaat slaughters AL leader in open market n Our Correspondent, Satkhira

Alamgir, BNP acting secretary general, told the Dhaka Tribune.

Meanwhile, BNP insiders said the alliance was likely to announce a mass demonstration or siege programme to

An Awami League senior leader in Satkhira was hacked and slaughtered to death in front of hundreds of people at a market place in Debhata upazila yesterday evening.

Abu Raihan, organising secretary of the upazila unit Awami League, was killed by the Jamaat-Shibir activists, local Awami League leaders claimed.

A gang of 20-25 people with sharp weapons chased Raihan when he was with some other men at Parulia Bazar in the upazila around 8pm, said SI Abdul Aziz of Debhata police station.

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BNP to announce demonstration or Ec offices siege programmes today; Dhaka city split into 8 zones to intensify movement

US fears rise of extremism in Bangladesh

Hefazat calls Ershad ‘AL slave’ European Parliament concerned over opposition’s hartal violence n Tribune Report paralysis of everyday life in Bangladesh titled “Bangladesh in Turmoil: A Nan Sheikh Shahariar Zaman “as a result of general strikes organised tion on the Brink?” held at the House Hefazat-e-Islam has termed Jatiya ParUS Representative and Subcommittee Chairman Steve Chabot said the growing escalation of violence might cause a rise of extremism in Bangladesh and that it would have a negative impact on regional security.

The European Parliament also passed a resolution, expressing deep concern over violence and continuing

by the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami opposition and the confrontation between the two political camps” in the run-up to the general elections.

“I stressed the need to curtail the growing violence which can only bring about further instability possibly the expansion of extremist groups,” Steve Chabot said while addressing a hearing

Rayburn Office Building in Washington early Thursday Bangladesh time.

The US congressman asserted that Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia were adamantly sticking to their positions about polls-time government.

“Both leaders were adamant in their positions. Sheikh Hasina insisted

ty Chief HM Ershad “slave of Awami League”.

“Ershad tried to use Hefazat to fulfill his motive. He tried to cheat Shah Ahmed Shafi to get his blessing,” the Dhaka unit of the Chittagong-based Islamist platform said in a statement issued yesterday.

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2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Friday, November 22, 2013

Bangladesh surpasses neighbours in health n Moniruzzaman Uzzal The health sector of Bangladesh has overcome poverty and low healthcare-spending to make significant achievements over the last four decades, said a six-part series on Bangladesh published by the internationally-reputed medical journal The Lancet.

The achievements were made especially in improving the survival rate of infants and children under the age of five, bettering life expectancy, expanding immunisation coverage and strengthening tuberculosis control, the series observed.

A launching ceremony, organised by the ICDDRB, Brac and The Lancet, was held yesterday at the capital’s Rupashi Bangla Hotel to mark the publication of the series.

The series however said the country still faces many problems, including poverty and malnutrition, which were being exacerbated by an evolving set

of 21st century challenges like rapid urbanization, an upsurge in chronic and non-communicable diseases and increasing vulnerability to climate change.

Speaking at the event, Dr Richard Horton, editor-in-chief of The Lancet, said Bangladesh was one of only six countries among a total of 75 countries in the world to achieve millennium development goals number four and five, making Bangladesh a member of an exclusive club of successful nations.

The six-part series has also taken a comprehensive look at one of the “great mysteries of global health,” investigating a story not only of “unusual success” but the challenges that lie ahead as Bangladesh moves towards universal health coverage.

“Over the 40 years, Bangladesh has outperformed its Asian neighbors, convincingly defying the expert view that reducing poverty and increasing health resources are the key drivers of better

population health,” said co-leader of the series Professor Mushtaque Chowdhury from Brac.

“Since 1980, maternal mortality has dropped by 75% while infant mortality has more than halved since 1990, and life expectancy has increased to 68.3 years – surpassing neighboring India and Pakistan,” he added.

According to the series, Bangladesh’s pluralistic health system where many stakeholders including the private and non-government organisations have been encourage to thrive and experiment – is what sets the country apart. This has also led to rapid improvements in access to essential services such as diarrhea treatment, family planning, vitamin-A supplements and vaccination coverage.

Series co-leader Professor Abbas Bhuiya from the ICDDRB said: “Promoting an open culture of research-based innovation has made Bangladesh a pioneer in scaling up community-based

US fears rise of extremism

Khaleda abstains

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provisions are in place to conduct fair election. Madam Zia maintained that a fair election could not be held without a caretaker government in place to ensure transparency,” Chabot said at a Congressional hearing.

Chabot visited Bangladesh on a three-day trip early in November and met Hasina and Khaleda to discuss the entire political situation in the country.

“When I visited Bangladesh two weeks ago we arrived at the onset of three-day general strike. It is still uncertain whether or not the opposition BNP will boycott the election or not,” he said at the hearing.

Public Policy Scholar of Woodrow Wilson Center Ali Riaz, President of Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies retired major general AMN Muniruzzaman and Asia Advocacy Director of Human Rights Watch John Sifton were testified as witnesses.

Ali Riaz in his testimony said: “The international community should neither franchise its responsibilities to regional powers, nor should the regional powers be excluded from this international effort. In particular India’s valid security concerns must be addressed.”

AMN Muniruzzaman said political violence, weak governance, corruption, poverty and Islamic militancy have been vividly present in the socio-political domain of the country recently.

He said: “The level of political violence was very high in the past year for three main reasons: the opposition called protests against the dissolution of the election time Caretaker Government ; Jammat-e-Islami’s opposition to the verdicts of the war crimes trial, including its call for a fair trial; and orthodox Islamist protests against perceived apostles, atheist and defamers of Islam.”

Asia Advocacy Director of Human Rights Watch John Sifton said: “Bangladesh security forces have a long track record of using excessive force against protestors, even targeting them intentionally—as well as arresting and abusing detainees.”

He said: “Human Rights Watch documented this year that Bangladeshi security forces frequently used excessive force in responding to street protests, including major violence between Islamist protestors and security forces in

early May that killed approximately 50 people.”

He estimated that security forces have killed almost 150 protesters and injured at least 2,000 since February 2013.

EU resolutions

The motion on Bangladesh’s human rights and forthcoming elections put forward by several EU lawmakers were discussed and passed yesterday.

“MEPs (Member of European Parliament) call on all groups and individuals to exercise tolerance and restraint, especially in the lead-up to, during, and after the elections,” said a European Parliament press release, quoting from the text of the resolution.

“The Bangladesh Election Commission should organise and oversee the next general elections in a fully transparent manner, and the political parties should refrain from any violence during the electoral process,” it said.

The resolution said the European parliament was “deeply concerned about the recent outbreaks of violence in Bangladesh and about the high number of casualties in these clashes.”

It regretted the fact that the Bangladeshi parliament did not manage to achieve an all-party consensus for the exercise of power by the government in the pre-election period.

It called on all parties not to boycott the elections as this would deprive the citizens of a political choice and undermine Bangladesh’s social and economic stability.

It also called on the Bangladesh Election Commission to organise and oversee the next general elections in a fully transparent manner, support the recognition of new political parties that intend to participate in the next general elections and meet reasonable criteria for political participation and representation.

It urged all political parties to refrain from any violence or instigation of violence during the electoral process and prevent repetition of the politically motivated violent clashes that occurred in the first half of 2013 and expressed its serious concerns, in this connection, about the recent flare-up of politically motivated violence that left dozens of people dead at the end of October 2013. l

“The prime minister also told him that her government was bound by the promise to hold a fair and neutral election,” said Shahid.

In the face of requests from journalists, Fakhrul, however, said they had only exchanged greetings.

“We will definitely join the dialogue if the government takes initiatives to hold it,” the BNP secretary general said.

When contacted later over phone, Fakhrul told the Dhaka Tribune: “Was what the chief whip said an official statement? Do they mean it?”

Asked about the possibility of talks with the BNP secretary general, Syed Ashraf, who attended the programme, declined to say anything.

Before the prime minister’s arrival shortly after 4pm, Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune that he was hoping that Khaleda would join the programme, the only yearly occasion that creates an opportunity of a direct conversation between the two leaders.

While contacted over phone after

approaches that have brought key health interventions to every household, making huge inroads into improving maternal and child health and reducing population growth.”

The series by the medical journal said significant examples of success included improving tuberculosis cure rate to 90% from less than 50%, achieving 62% contraceptive prevalence, and the rapid fall in fertility from 6.3 births per woman in 1971 to 2.3 in 2010 – a rate unparalleled in other countries with similar levels of development.

To realise universal health coverage, the authors of the six-part series also placed a five-point reform agenda, which includes developing a national human resources policy and action plan, establishing a national insurance scheme, building an interoperable electronic health information system, strengthening the capacity of the health ministry and creating a supra-ministerial council on health. l

Jamaat slaughters the programme, Mahbub said he could not say why Khaleda had not joined.

BNP chairperson’s Press Secretary also could not say why Khaleda had not attended the Armed Forces Day reception.

Only Maj Gen (retd) Fazle Elahi Akbar, security adviser to Khaleda, told the Dhaka Tribune: “She was a little indisposed.”

US Assistant Secretary Nisha Biswal during her two-day visit early this week urged the two major political parties to hold a general secretary-level dialogue immediately to resolve the ongoing crisis over holding the general elections.

Soon after Biswal’s visit Khaleda met President Abdul Hamid and requested his initiative for a dialogue.

Many ministers of the polls-time cabinet attended yesterday’s programme where Hasina gave a speech and exchanged greetings with serving and former defence officers, their wives, politicians, diplomats, judges, top bureaucrats and other professionals.

Former military dictator and Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad, his wife and other leaders of the party who re-

 PAGE 1 COLUMN 5

Election Commission offices across the country for Sunday or Monday. The announcement would be made at today’s demonstration at Suhrawardy Udyan.

A senior leader, seeking anonymity, told the Dhaka Tribune that the alliance would go for non-stop hartal or blockade programmes after the announcement of the election schedule.

The programmes were discussed at a meeting of the party’s senior leaders with Khaleda at her Gulshan office last night.

On Wednesday night, a delegation led by Liberal Democratic Party General Secretary Redwan Ahmed met with Khaleda Zia at her Gulshan office.

“We informed madam [Khaleda] about the government’s offer. We assured her that we were with the alliance and would not quit it,” Shahadat Hossain Selim, joint secretary general of the LDP, said.

“Everyone will be evaluated at the right time,” Selim quoted Khaleda as saying to him.

The ruling party leaders attempted to persuade a number of 18-party alliance leaders to bring them into the electoral race. The BNP has already talked to

them and they assured they would not quit the alliance, said party insiders.

When contacted, Andaleeve Rahman Partha told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that he had been approached by the ruling party to join the newly formed cabinet but he had refused the proposal.

“If anyone leaves the alliance, he will be nowhere. The relation with the BNP is around 16 years old. We formed the four-party alliance and now it is 18-party alliance. The tie between the alliance partners is stronger than any other times,” he said.

A senior leader said Khaleda Zia had taken the leaders of the component organisations with her during the visit to President Abdul Hamid just to give them the perception of how important they were in the alliance.

Nationalist Democratic Party Chief Gulam Mortuza said he had got the offer from the government but he had not responded.

“Ruling party leaders even a minister contacted me several times to convince me to join the election but I told them that I had been with the 18-party alliance and would be with it,” he said adding that a government’s minister com-

municated with him on November 14.

As part of its move to consolidate the alliance and the party as well BNP senior leaders also held talks with reformist leaders who have been pushed to the sideline because of their support to the military-backed caretaker government in 2007, said a party insider.

A number of reformist leaders too met one of BNP stalwarts Sadeque Hossain Khoka at his residence recently, he added.

A total of eight senior leaders were given the responsibility of eight strategic area of the capital to make the party programmes a success.

ASM Hannan Shah will lead the anti-government campaign in Kafrul, cantonment and Gulshan zone, Mirza Abbas in Motijheel, Khilgaon and Sabujbagh zone, Goyeshwar Chandra Roy in Mohammadpur, Adabar and Darus Salam zone, Nazrul Islam Khan in Tejgaon and Banani zone, Sadeque Hossain Khoka in Sutrapur, Kotwali, Bangshal, Gendaria and Wari zone, Amanullah Aman in Lalbagh, Nababganj and Hazaribagh, Barkatullah Bulu in Uttarkhan and Dakhinkhan while Salahuddin Ahmed in Demra, Shampur, Jatrabari and Kadamtali. l

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The upazila unit Awami League General Secretary Moniruzzaman Moni said some Jamaat-Shibir activists chased Raihan when he went to the other side of the market.

“He took shelter in a shop and the gang began to hack him indiscriminately, leaving him dead there,” he said, claiming local Jamaat-Shibir activists had threatened him recently.

Satkhira Police Super Molla Jahangir Hossain said police primarily assumed it was done by Jamaat activists.

However, no one was arrested till filing the report at 10:30pm. l

AL slave  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

The statement read the government transformed Ershad into a slave by making him reverse his decision.

Ershad met Shafi in Chittagong on Sunday and sought his blessings. He then announced to break his alliance with the Awami League and form another alliance with religion-based parties. He also vowed to try to implement Hefazat's 13-point demand.

But the next day Ershad changed his decision and opted to join the "all-party" government and take part in the upcoming elections. l

President asks  PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

In the face of requests from journalists Fakhrul said they (he and PM) had “only exchanged greetings”.

BNP secretary general also told reporters: “We definitely will join a dialogue if the government takes initiative.”

Fakhurul, however, when contacted later over phone told the Dhaka Tribune: “What the chief whip said was it an official statement? Do they mean it?”

AL general secretary Ashsrf also attended the program. When the Dhaka Tribune asked him about the possibility of holding talks with the BNP secretary general he declined to say anything.

According to the constitution, the elections must take place by January 24 next year.

Meanwhile, Opposition Chief Whip Zainul Abdin Farroque yesterday at a discussion at National Press Club said they were frustrated at the president’s role in resolving the prevailing crisis. l

28 ministers out, effectively

Ministers dropped

Name

Ministry

Name

Previous ministry

Sheikh Hasina

Cabinet division; public administration ministry; defence ministry; armed forces division

Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju

Labour ministry

Tofail Ahmed

Industries ministry; housing and public works ministry

Shahara Khatun

Post and telecom ministry

Land ministry; disaster management and relief ministry

Suranjit Sen Gupta

Minister without portfolio

Foreign ministry

Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir

Home ministry

Rashed Khan Menon

Post and telecommunication ministry

Md Rezaul Karim Hira

Land ministry

Rawshan Ershad

Health and family welfare ministry

Abul Kalam Azad

Cultural affairs ministry

Anisul Islam Mahmud

Water resources ministry

Enamul Hoque Mustafa Shaheed

Social welfare ministry

Ruhul Amin Hawlader

Civil aviation and tourism ministry

Muhammad Faruk Khan

Civil aviation ministry

Md Mujibul Haque

Railways ministry; religious affairs ministry

Abdur Razzaque

Food ministry

Ramesh Chandra Sen

Food ministry

Afsarul Ameen

Primary and mass education ministry

Matia Chowdhury

Agriculture ministry (previous); fisheries and livestock ministry (new)

AFM Ruhal Haque

Health ministry

Abdul Latif Siddiqui

Jute and textile ministry (previous); science and technology ministry (new)

Dipu Moni

Foreign ministry

Khandker Mosharraf Hossain

Expatriates’, welfare and overseas ministry (previous); labour and employment ministry (new)

Abdul Latif Biswas

Fisheries ministry

Nurul Islam Nahid

Education ministry; primary and mass education ministry (new)

Shafiq Ahmed

Law ministry

Hasanul Haq Inu

Information ministry (previous); cultural affairs ministry (new)

Dilip Borua

Industries ministry

Mostafa Faruque Mohammed

ICT ministry

Shahjahan Khan

Shipping ministry (previous); liberation war affairs ministry (new)

Mostafizur Rahman

State minister for land

Abul Maal Abdul Muhith

Finance ministry (as previous)

AB Tajul Islam

State minister for Liberation War affairs

AK Khandakar

Planning ministry (as previous)

Yeafesh Osman

State minister for science and technology

Syed Ashraful Islam

Local government ministry (as previous)

Ahad Ali Sarkar

State minister for youth and sports

Obaidul Quader

Communications ministry (as previous)

Md Shahjahan Miah

State minister for religious affairs

GM Quader

Commerce ministry (as previous)

Abdul Mannan Khan

State minister for public works

Dr Hasan Mahmud

Environment and forests ministry (as previous)

Jahangir Kabir Nanak

State minister for local government

Salma Islam

State minister for women and children affairs ministry

Md Motahar Hossain

State minister for primary education

Mujibul Haque Chunnu

State minister for youth and sports ministry

Muhammad Enamul Huq

State minister for energy and power

Begum Monnujan Sufian

State minister for labour and employment ministry (as previous)

Mozibur Rahman Fakir

State minister for health

Dipanker Talukder

State minister for CHT affairs ministry (as previous)

Mahabubur Rahaman

State minister for water resources

Shamsul Hoque Tuku

State minister for home ministry (as previous)

Omor Faruk Chowdhury

State minister for industry

Md Kamrul Islam

State minister for law ministry (as previous)

Md Abdul Hyee

State minister for fisheries

Promod Mankin

State minister for social welfare ministry (as previous)

Meher Afroze

State minister for women and children

Abul Hasan Mahmud Ali

cently took oaths as polls-time cabinet members attended the programme.

Khaleda joined the Armed Forces Day reception last year, but Hasina and she did not meet or exchange greetings.

Former army chief Lt General Mahbubur Rahman, who is also a member of the BNP’s Standing Committee, attended the programme yesterday.

Hasina exchanged greetings with the high profile dignitaries, including BNP leaders Jamir Uddin Sircar, Lt General (retd) Mahbubur Rahman and Fakhrul.

Most of the time Fakhrul was accompanied by Awami League leaders, ministers and advisers to Hasina.

As Dr Moshiur Rahman joined Dilip Barua and Fakhrul, Dilip was heard telling Moshiur: “We [Fakhrul and he] were in the same student organisation.”

When Hasina met BNP leader and former army chief Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman, she jokingly said in a loud voice: “Where does my general live? My chief of command, he went away, leaving me!”

Mahbub was the chief of army in 1996 when Sheikh Hasina was in power. l

BNP focuses on bolstering

Polls-time Government portfolios

Amir Hossain Amu

From left: Dilip Barua, Hasanul Haq Inu, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Nurul Islam Nahid have a light moment at Senakunja on the occasion of the Armed Forces Day yesterday BSS

 PAGE 1 COLUMN 3

and criticism throughout the tenure of the Awami League’s rule, are among the 28 who were not included in the polls-time cabinet.

A gazette was published yesterday, making public the list of the new ministers.

The 50-member cabinet of the Awami League alliance will now be on the shoulders of 28 ministers, excluding Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who will now head the Cabinet Division, the Armed Forces Division, and the ministries for public administration, and defence.

The home ministry has been left in the care of its incumbent State MinisterShamsulHoqueTuku.

All ministers had submitted letters to the prime minister on November 11, expressing their intent on resigning.

ShaharaKhatun came in the limelight as the home minister for her comments following the murder of journalist couple SagarSarwar and MeherunRuni. She was eventually removed from home affairs and given the assignment ofthe post and telecommunications ministry.

Workers’ Party of Bangladesh chief Rashed Khan Menon will now take her place in the ministry.

The fate of Sagar-Runimurder case did not, however,change after

MK Alamgir took charge in September 2012.

SuranjitSengupta was initially the minister for railwaysbut was made a minister without a portfolio after a financialscandal involving one of his personal aides.

DipuMoni, who remained the minister for foreign affairs throughout the rule of the Awami League-led alliance, has often been criticised for making frequent foreign trips. She will be replaced by AbulHasan Mahmud Ali. The other ministers who have not been included in the cabinet are Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju, Rezaul Karim Hira, AbulKalam Azad, EnamulHaqueMostafaShahid, Muhammad Faruk Khan, MdAbdurRazzak, MdAfsarul Amin, AFM RuhalHaque, Abdul Latif Biswas and MostafaFaruk Mohammad.

The 14 state ministers dropped are Mostafizur Rahman, AB Tajul Islam, Yeafesh Osman, Ahad Ali Sarkar, Shahjahan Mia, Abdul Mannan Khan, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Motahar Hossain, EnamulHaque, Mojibur Rahman Fakir, Omar Faruq Chowdhury, Mahbubur Rahman, Abdul Hai and MeherAfroz.

With the induction of ZiauddinBablu on November 18 and inclusion of Shafique Ahmed and DilipBarua, the number of the prime minister’s advisers now stands at 10. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

3

Friday, November 22, 2013

People walk to their destinations as no public vehicles were available on the city streets yesterday because of the nationwide transport strike enforced by the Road Transport Workers Federation in protest against the arrest of Shimul Biswas, special assistant to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. The photo has taken from Gabtoli NASHIRUL ISLAM

EC finalises election observer policy n Mohammad Zakaria The Election Commission (EC) has finalised the Election Observer Policy for the next parliamentary elections.

Locals would have to apply to the secretary of the commission for observing the next parliamentary polls within three days after the announcement of the polls schedule, SM Asaduzzaman, director of public relations of EC, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

According to the observer policy, an election observer would have to be a minimum of 25 years of age and have a minimum qualification of SSC and HSC with pass marks. The rules also stated that an observer could not be related with political parties and its candidates.

The election observers would have to submit a report to the commission within a month after the elections.

EC sources said around 200,000 observers may be appointed for the 10th parliamentary elections. However, sources said 14 local NGOs have already applied to the EC for permission to observe the elections.

In 2008 parliamentary elections, the EC allowed 120 NGOs to observe the polls.

The commission also gave permission to 20 foreign observing agencies. About 168,000 foreign and local observers were appointed for observing the elections. l

Jamaat leader, son arrested with 32 crude bombs n Kailash Sarkar Detectives claimed that they recovered 32 crude bombs and various publications containing anti-government statements from the residence of a leader of Jamaat-e-Islami, who is also a retired army personnel, from the capital’s Demra yesterday.

The Detective Branch (DB) officials also arrested the Jamaat leader and former subedar, MA Matin, 67, and his son Mohammad Shahin, 37, at their residence at Boxnagar of Demra.

Assistant Commissioner Abu Yusuf of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP-Media) said acting on a tip-off, a team of DB officials conducted a raid at the house of the Jamaat leader and recovered 32 crude bombs and various anti-government publications wrapped in a sack.

“Both father and son are active in the Jamaat politics,” said AC Abu Yusuf and added: “These bombs might have been preserved for carrying out subversive acts and the publications as part of their provocative acts.”

Police said the arrested were kept detained at Demra police station at night for custodial support and later they were taken to the DB office at Minto Road.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Sanowar Hossain, who is also the chief of the Bomb Disposal Unit at DB, said they were verifying the destructive capacity of the bombs and interrogating the detainees to know about the sources of the explosives. l

People suffer as workers observe long-route transport strike Trucks and lorries also disallowed to ply in some districts n Tribune Report A countrywide 24-hour transport strike, called by Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Sramik Federation on long-distance routes, left thousands of people in distress yesterday.

The capital was almost disconnected from the country with no passenger being able to travel by road since 6am.

In several districts, workers stopped vehicle movement on highways and even disallowed trucks and lorries to ply. Several auto-rickshaws were also vandalised in Sylhet.

The workers under the banner of Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Sramik Federation went on the strike to call for the immediate release of Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, the federation’s central committee’s joint secretary and also a special assistant to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. Their demands also included the arrest of the “perpetrators” who killed 27 drivers during the recent hartals and compensation for the victims’ family members.

Law enforcers arrested Biswas and Khaleda’s Advisor Abdul Awal Mintoo from outside her Gulshan residence in

the capital on November 9 and accused them in two cases over the “attempted murder of police and involvement in violence in the capital.”

In the capital, no inter-district bus left from Gabtoli, Mohakhali or Sayedabad bus terminals, while no bus – except the night-coaches that started for the capital on Wednesday night – were able to enter the capital since yesterday morning.

Transport workers reportedly took positions at the Mazar Road area near Gabtoli and on the Amin Bazar Bridge, as well as bringing out separate processions near the bus terminals.

The strike caused sufferings to the in-bound passengers, especially the students who will sit for today’s admission tests at two public universities in the city.

A group of young men, who had to shift buses and walk with their luggage to enter the capital through the Amin Bazar Bridge, said they would sit for today’s admission test at Dhaka University, but could not manage a direct bus to the capital from Rajbari.

Hundreds of commuters, particularly office-goers and students, also suffered a lot. Several passengers said they

did not know about the strike.

The counter masters at Gabtoli and Sayedabad bus terminals passed the time lazily, with no bus company selling tickets for day or night coaches.

“We are selling tickets for Friday morning’s trips. Money of those who booked advance ticket for today [Thursday] were refunded. Many passengers shifted their journey to Friday,” said Kabir Hossain, counter master of Shyamoli Paribahan at Kalyanpur bus stand.

Shakhawat Noor of Sugandha Pribahan at Sayedabad said they were able to start three morning buses for the southern districts, before some transport workers forced to close the counter.

The federation’s Gabtoli unit General Secretary Md Alauddin said they would not allow any bus to leave the terminal.

However, seeking anonymity, an owner of a bus company said those who were not “BNP-minded” or followers of Biswas, continued their trips from different places as they could not do so from Gabtoli.

Contacted, Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Sramik Federation’s Gener-

The High Court yesterday declared the parliamentary membership of Abdus Salam, an Awami League MP from Mymensingh, as illegal for loandefaulting.

The bench of justices Mirza Hussain Haider and Khurshid Alam Sarkar pronounced the verdict over a writ petition filed in February by

n Manik Miazee Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is waiting for 18-paty alliance Chief Khaleda Zia’s instructions for whether to wage antigovernment movement or participate in the upcoming 10th parliamentary elections.

According to the party leaders, they have full preparations to observe any type of anti-government movement including non-stop hartal and blockade programmes.

They had already made preparation to prevent law-enforcement agency’s actions, said party insiders.

The party’s working committee member Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher told the Dhaka Tribune: “Khaleda Zia is our alliance chief, we are waiting for her instruction.” “Khaleda Zia has already held meetings with the US delegation and also with the President. In both meetings, she focused on dialogue to resolve the crisis. Neither Khaleda Zia nor we will participate in any election if not held under a non-partisan government.”

On November 19, 18-party alliance Chief Khaleda Zia met President Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban and requested him to take steps to end the current political deadlock.

However, Jamaat still thinks they can participate in the next parliamentary polls with its party symbol.

In this regard, the party law affairs secretary Jasim Uddin Sarkar said their party was not banned yet. l

Further hearing on BNP top leaders’ Two Viqarunnisa teachers testify in rape bail plea on November 28 n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu A Dhaka court yesterday fixed November 28 for further hearing on bail pleas of five BNP top brass accused in two cases filed for “attempt to kill lawmen and provoking violence” and damaging, plus setting fire to vehicles.

The five are BNP standing committee members Moudud Ahmed, MK Anwar and Barrister Rafiqul Islam Miah and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s adviser Abdul Awal Mintoo and special assistant Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas.

Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Jahurul Haque passed the order asking the investigation officers of the cases to quiz the BNP leaders in jail gate on November 24. The court stated that it would hear the bail pleas after the leader had been quizzed.

Earlier on November 14, a Dhaka court placed the five leaders, including the adviser and the special assistant to the party’s chairperson, on an eightday police remand.

Later on Sunday, the High Court stayed the lower court’s remand order and directed the authorities to send the suspects to jail immediately.

On 14 November, the defence filed criminal miscellaneous petition with the metropolitan sessions judge court

against the bail rejection order of CMM court.

Hearing of both sides

Defence counsel Md Sanaullah Miah mentioned that two of the detained BNP leaders were lawmakers and Moudud Ahmed recently came back from London after his treatment and another accused MK Anwar was also an aged and honorable ex-minister.

On November 14, a Dhaka court placed the five leaders, including the adviser and the special assistant to the party’s chairperson, on an eight-day police remand He said they were arrested by police violating the law. According to the law, police had to take permission from the Speaker if they wanted to arrest any parliament member, but the lawmen did not do so.

Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon in his argument said at every hartal, police killed common people while carrying out the order of prime minister.

The lawmakers should be given bail since they were parliament members and the parliament was running, said the defence counsel.

On the other hand, Public Prosecutor Md Abdullah Abu of the Metropolitan Sessions Judge court opposed the bail plea mentioning that the accused masterminded the cocktails’ blast in Kamlapur area.

He also mentioned that the investigation officers asked them in jail get on 24 November and so their bail should be rejected.

The Two Cases

On November 5, one case was filed with Motijheel police station. In the case, Assistant Sub-Inspector AKM Azizul Haque of the police station said the five arrestees along with 60-90 activists blocked the road in front of New Anar Bakery near Kamlapur Bazar on the second day of the previous 60hour hartal.

In another case, on September 24, Sub-Inspector Humayun Kabir Hawlader filed the case with Motijheel police station against 53 named persons and 80-90 unnamed others.

Earlier on November 8, Moudud, MK Anwar and Barrister Rafiqul were detained from in front of Hotel Sonargaon in the capital hours after the opposition called a 72-hour hartal demanding a non-party polls-time government. l

HC declares Salam illegal as MP for loan default n Nazmus Sakib

al Secretary Osman Ali said tougher movements would be called if Biswas was not released within 24-hours.

Our Chittagong correspondent said no inter-district bus left the port city or the district’s 14 upazilas. The bus counters at different points of the port city were found closed.

A correspondent from Sylhet reported that workers vandalized at least 10 auto-rickshaws at Chandipur in the city. Police detained four people in this connection.

In Faridpur, no long-route bus left the district but operation on local routes stayed normal.

In Gazipur, no buses or trucks travelled on the road. Federation’s local leaders said Gazipur District Bus-Minibus Workers’ Union and District Truck, Pickup, Tank Lorry Drivers’ Union – had jointly decided to ply no vehicles in the district yesterday.

In Satkhira, no buses traveled on the local eight routes.

Rajshahi also saw its local route bus services suspended. Leaders of the transport workers’ federation brought out a procession in the morning, and urged the government not to “harass” the transport leaders. l

Jamaat awaiting Khaleda’s instruction

Jamal Uddin, a former local leader of Chhatra League, AL’s student wing.

Quamrul Haq Siddique appeared for the petitioner, while Rokanuddin Mahmud pleaded for Salam.

Initially, the AL leader’s nomination paper was annulled by the returning officer on December 4, 2008 as Bangladesh Bank had identified him as a loan defaulter.

In response to a writ petition,

the High Court stayed the returning officer’s decision, clearing the way for Abdus Salam to contest the 9th parliamentary polls on December 29, 2008. Salam won the seat from Mymensingh-9 (Nandail).

On Februry 27 this year, the High Court issued a rule asking why the MP post of Abdus Salam should not be declared illegal. The HC gave its ruling yesterday after completing the

hearing on the rule.

Salam is likely to file a stay order against the HC ruling, sources said.

However, it could not be ascertained why Jamal Uddin filed the petition against Salam more than four years after the elections. Nor was it immediately clear what would happen to Salam’s parliamentary seat with only two months left of the incumbent parliament’s tenure. l

case against Parimal n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu Two teachers testified yesterday before a Dhaka court in connection with the rape of a student by a teacher of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College’s Bashundhara branch in the capital.

The two prosecution witnesses, Dalia Nargis and Shahnewaz Parvin, both senior teachers of the school, gave their depositions and were cross-examined at the Women and Children Repression (Prevention) Tribunal-4.

The accused teacher, Parimal Joydhar, was present in court during the hearing.

Judge Md Arifur Rahman of the tribunal fixed January 7 as the next date for hearing another 22 witnesses.

So far, eight prosecution witnesses, out of 40, have given their depositions in the case.

According to the case files, Parimal on May 28, 2011 sexually assaulted the girl in his private coaching centre and recorded the incident with his mobile phone. He then threatened the girl, saying he would post the video recording and the photos on the internet if she told anyone about the assault.

Parimal allegedly abused her again on June 17.

Later, the girl made a written complaint to the school authorities, but former principal Hosne Ara Begum, along with some teachers, tried to save the accused.

However, after days of protests by the students, the school’s governing body sacked Parimal on July 5, 2011.

The same day, the victim’s father filed a case with Badda police station, accusing Parimal, Hosne Ara and Lutfur Rahman, head of the school’s Bashundhara branch.

Detectives arrested Parimal from a relative’s house in Keraniganj on July 7.

Parimal made a confessional statement before a court on July 11, 2011.

Mohammad Shahadat Hossain, officer-in-charge of Badda Police Station and also the investigation officer of the case, submitted a chargesheet to the court on August 11, dropping the names of Hosne Ara and Lutfur Rahman.

The court finally framed charges against Parimal on March 7 last year.

Hosne Ara later stepped down as principal, while Lutfur Rahman was removed from his position. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Friday, November 22, 2013

Bumper T-Aman production expected n Abu Bakar Siddique The government is expecting a bumper production of T-Aman crops this year, because of the more than expected acreage and the continuing favorable weather over the season.

The ongoing harvest of T-Aman – considered to be the country’s second largest rice production – is expected to finish by the end of next month.

“Around 20% harvesting of the Aman rice has finished across the country with better production output, which indicates better crops this year than the previous year,’ said Md Rafiqul Hasan, deputy director of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) on Wednesday.

The government has set the production target for Transplanted Aman (T-Aman) at 1.28bn tonnes this year, which is 400,000 tonnes more than last year’s production.

According to the DAE, the target of acreage coverage was also exceeded by around 200,000 hectares, as the farmers used 5.4m hectares for T-Aman cultivation compared to government estimations of 5.22m hectares.

Non-government organization Brac, which is involved with the country’s agriculture and food security sectors, also expressed similar hopes surround-

ing this year’s Aman production.

“As per our field-level assessment, the Aman production of this season will be higher than the previous year because of favourable weather including regular rainfalls, which has given natural irrigation to the paddy field,” said Sudhir Chandra Nath, program head of Agriculture and Food Security at Brac.

The production is also likely to get a boost as a good number of farmers have planted hybrid and high yielding varieties (HYV) on more acreage, he added.

T-Aman is the second largest cereal crop produced in Bangladesh after Boro.

It is usually grown during the rainy season between July and September.

Mahibul Alam, a farmer from Dinajpur, said all the farmers have been hoping for a good production, adding that the rainfall and fertiliser supply was timely this year.

According to the DAE, Dinajpur district is the highest producer of Aman, cultivated on 250,000 hectares. Targets for T-Aman have been set at 203,000 hectares in Noagaon, 154,000 hectares in Rangpur, 192,000 hectares in Bogra and 192,000 hectares in Jamalpur.

However, the DAE deputy director said the bumper production of Aman paddy will depend on the weather condition till the harvest, as unusual rainfall could ruin production. l

A Naval official shows Rahim Sheikh, a boatman, one of the Navy ships as the Navy exhibits one of its ships at Dhaka Sadarghat on the occasion of Armed Forces Day yesterday RAJIB DHAR

ACC probing ex-NU VC graft allegation n Tribune Report

Government cancels Students demand fair Jucsu polls; licence of two Hajj agencies acting VC and pro VC still confined

The Anti-Corruption Commission is conducting an investigation into the alleged graft allegation against former National University vice-chancellor Kazi Shahidullah on charges of embezzlement of over Tk8,00,000, an official said.

“A case was filed against the teacher in 2012 with Gazipur court, and later the tribunal transferred the case to Anti-Corruption Commission for further investigation,” he said.

Senior Assistant Director of ACC Jatan Kumer Ray is conducting the investigation into the case.

“We have asked the NU authority to provide necessary documents related to the irregularity.

After reviewing the documents, we would be able to know what actually happened,” the investigation officer said.

According to the allegation, the university allocated a residence for the former vice-chancellor in Dhanmondi, but rather than using it as his dwelling he rented it out and realised a house rent of over Tk8,00,000, ACC sources said. l

The government has cancelled the licenses of two hajj agencies and filed criminal cases against them in charges of fraud and embezzlement.

Around 2,780 out of a total 87,854 hajj pilgrims were yet to return from Saudi Arabia until Thursday while two airlines concluded operations of the hajj flights.

Outgoing Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Faruq Khan yesterday disclosed the information to the media at a press conference held at his ministry’s conference room.

Religious Affairs Secretary Kazi Habibul Awal said a total of 162 pilgrims failed to travel for performing hajj this year due to the negligence and fraudulent activities of seven agencies.

They have been found guilty in an internal investigation of the ministry.

“Of the 162 hajjis, 143 were of Saudi Hajj Air Services and 15 were of Rafique Travels. We have cancelled their licenses permanently, and filed criminal cases against them.

Their Tk6m deposit money will also

n Mohosinul Karim

be confiscated as well,” he said.

He said the ministry of religious affairs has slapped a penalty of TK5m on Saudi Hajj Air Services and Tk1.5m on Rafique Travels.

The owners of those agencies would be arrested shortly.

“The owners of the other five agencies were proved accused for failing to send rest of the pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.

We are examining the allegations against them. They will also be punished after further investigation,” Awal said.

Faruq Khan said a total of 87,854 pilgrims have been sent to Saudi Arabia to perform hajj this year.

Of them, 85,074 hajjis’ have already returned. Rest of the hajji’s, who were staying there for personal reasons would return shortly, he said.

“Bangladesh Biman carried 43,000 out of the total 87,854 pilgrims and made a profit of Tk650m. The rest of the passengers we carried by the Saudi flag bearer,” he said.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Khurshed Alam Chowdhury was also present at the press conference. l

WEATHER

Dry weather likely n UNB Rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind is likely to occur at one or two places over Khulna, Barisal and Chittagong divisions until 6pm today.

Weather might remain mainly dry over elsewhere over the country, Met office said.

Night temperature may rise slightly and day temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country.

The sun sets in the capital at 5:11pm today and rises at 6:19am tomorrow.

Country’s highest temperature 30.7 degree Celsius was recorded at Teknaf and lowest 12.0 degrees at Rajshahi 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

28.7 26.6 29.0 28.0 29.4 29.0 29.4 30.0

16.6 17.6 12.0 14.8 16.2 15.7 16.8 18.5

4:58am 6:17am 11:44am 3:36pm 5:11pm 6:30pm

Source: IslamicFinder.org

A section of students at the Jahangirnagar University yesterday protested against alleged irregularities of the Election Commission in the JU Central Student’s Union (Jucsu) polls.

Around 200 students, under the banner of “Oniomer Biruddhe Amra,” brought out a procession protesting the EC’s move in allowing the Mphil and PhD students to compete in the Jucsu polls allegedly violating the Jucsu constitution and university’s convention.

The students claimed that the authorities were trying to elect like-minded people in the Jucsu polls and they

amended the university’s constitution through various irregularities.

In response to the students’ demonstration, EC chief Prof AKM Shahnewaz said: “We need written documents of their demand in order to amend the current process.”

The EC chief also advised the students to file a writ petition to the High Court in this regard.

The situation arouse as the authorities recently permitted the Mphil and PhD students, for the first time, to compete the polls.

Meanwhile, the agitating teachers of the university still kept confined the acting vice-chancellor along with pro-

Training held on post trauma stress n Tribune Report German Development Cooperation (GIZ) and the Institute of Educational Development (IED) of Brac University yesterday jointly organised a day-long training programme for media representatives, on “post trauma stress encountered by journalists and ethical protocol in reporting of trauma caused by urban disasters.”

The workshop held at the Brac Centre Inn in the city, was facilitated by Dr Jack Saul, an assistant professor at the Columbia University of New York and director of International Trauma Studies Program together along with Jamil Ahmed, chief executive at the Journalism, Training and Research Initiative (JATRI) of Brac University.

The training was organised under the promotion of social and environment standards (PSES) project, a joint initiative by the government of Bangladesh and Germany.

The training aimed at addressing the vulnerability of journalists covering conflict and disaster, as well as raising awareness in ethical protocol of reporting traumatic events.

Opening the training programme, German Ambassador Dr Albrecht Conze said: “Journalists have an enormous responsibility in a country like Bangladesh where disasters of all kinds, both natural

and man-made are a common occurrence. They give everything for adequate reporting, but at the same time they encounter enormous risks for themselves.”

“In a country encroached with traumatic events, a lack of awareness can cause a deteriorating toll on the mental health of not only the general public but also media personnel”, he said.

Simon Koenen, Acting Country Director, GIZ said, “Bangladesh has recently witnessed a series of crisis in the Readymade Garment industry with tragic accidents in factories like Rana Plaza and Tazreen Fashions. GIZ has been working closely with multiple stakeholders in the RMG sector to promote sustainable development for more than eight years now and is happy to support this initiative today that addresses both the wellbeing of the media representatives invariably present during these crisis situations.”

Professor Fuad Mullick, pro-vice chancellor of Brac University and Magnus Schmid, Program Coordinator of the PSES project also spoke at the occasion.

Both of them stressed on the need for inclusion of psychological trauma in the professional media training to enable professionals, interacting directly with the general public on the adverse psychological impact of traumatic events, both to themselves and the community alike. l

15,991 pass in the 33rd BCS n Tribune Report

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Jumma Asr Magrib Esha

n Mahadi Al Hasnat

The transport agencies in the capital’s Chankharpul area park their vehicles on the Gulistan-Jatrabari flyover, blocking almost half of the flyover’s entrance road. The photo was taken recently SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Some 15,991 candidates who appeared the 33rd Bangladesh Civil Service examination have passed, according to the Bangladesh Public Service Commission.

The result was published yesterday.

PSC Examination Controller AEM Nesar Uddin told the Dhaka Tribune that among the 15,991 passed candidates, the PSC recommended to appoint 8,529 candidates to different government services. The rest candidates were not recommended because of

shortage of posts, he added.

The results are available on the PSC website: www.bpsc.gov.bd and candidates can also get their results through text messages.

A total of 193,059 candidates took part in the preliminary exam against 4,206 vacant posts on June 1, 2012, while some 28,917 candidates passed the written tests.

Some 18,693 candidates, who passed the written tests, took the viva voce which was held in May and June this year. l

VC and registrar at the administrative office demanding the implementation of chancellor’s directives and cancellation of teachers’ representative election.

On Wednesday, the teachers, under the banner of “Teachers-Students and Officers-Employees’ united forum,” confined them protesting the alleged violation of Chancellor’s directives and demanding the suspension of teachers’ representative polls in senate scheduled on December 7.

However, classes and examinations were held yesterday as academic activities and transportation system were kept out of purview of the movement. l

RMG UNREST

Workers block highway in Gazipur

n Our Correspondent, Gazipur Over hundred workers of a packing factory “Miracle Industries” in Shreepur upazila of Gazipur demonstrated and blocked the Dhaka-Mymensing Highway yesterday demanding their arrears.

The workers set fire to tyres to block the highway and ransacked the factory, creating a long three-kilometre traffic gridlock in the are The workers said a total of 143 workers of the factory resigned on the first week of October. The authorities announced to pay the arrears of the workers on November 12. Later, the authorities asked them to come on November 16 and again on November 20 to get their arrears.

After the authorities failed to pay the arrears on the revised dates, around 6pm yesterday, the authorities announced that they were unable to pay the arrears triggering the fierce situation. l

Shibir men go rampage on Dhaka-Ctg highway

n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong

The Jamaat-Shibir activists again went on rampage on the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway near Mirsarai yesterday, claiming that Juba League, the youth front of the ruling Awami League, men swooped on them in the afternoon that left four of their men injured.

They set fire on a truck at the upazila’s Bartakia area around 7pm, said Sergeant Mehedi Hasan, in-charge of Jorargonj highway police camp, adding that police dispersed the protesters and traffic movement had resumed in the area.

Mohammad Ullah, publicity secretary of the city unit of Jamaat-e-Islami, told the Dhaka Tribune that some local activists of Juba League and Bangladesh Chhatra League swooped on Jamaat-Shibir leaders and activists yesterday around 3pm when they were returning from Sitakunda after offering the Janaza prayer of slain Jamaat leader Aminul Islam.

Juba League and BCL men shot Towhidul and his associates, leaving them critically injured, said the Jamaat leader. l

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Friday, November 22, 2013

SUFIA KAMAL’S 14 DEATH ANNIVERSARY OBSERVED

Communal attack on minorities condemned n Tazlina Zamila Khan Leaders of Ain O Salish Kendra have demanded a fair investigation into the attack on minority communities in various parts of the country and punishment for the attackers.

The demand came at a discussion in the capital’s Chhayanot Sangskriti Bhaban yesterday to mark the 14th death anniversary of Sufia Kamal, a renowned poet and a pioneer of women’s rights movement in Bangladesh.

The leaders of the rights organisation also condemned the communal violence against the minorities at Ramu upazila in Cox’s Bazar, Lalmonirhat, Barisal and Sathia upazila in Pabna.

Motahar Akondo, senior deputy director of Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) said: “War criminals are the instigators of communal violence. People should come forward and demand an execution of the verdict of war criminals.”

Human rights activist and Executive Director of ASK Sultana Kamal said: “Sufia Kamal had always raised her voice against communal violence. We should follow her paths to stop such attack on minority people.”

She added that the country had been passing through political crises.

The government and other party leaders should not take any unfair decision that would go against human rights.

“It is high time we established the rights of every single human being.”

The speakers called upon all conscious citizens to promote communal harmony in their respective neighbourhood following the ideals of Sufia Kamal.

Dr Fauzia Muslim, a women rights activist of Bangladesh Mohila Parishad said, apart from human rights, the rights of women were yet to be ensured.

“We demand that the women be given opportunities to vie for direct elections to those reserved seats for women.”

Women’s rights activist and former general secretary of Bangladesh Mohila Parishad Maleka Begum said Sufia Kamal had taught fundamentalism and human rights could not stand together.

Among others, Human rights activist and ASK founder Dr Hamida Hossain, author and publisher Mufidul Haque and others were present at the programme. l

Mafidul Haque speaking at the death anniversary programme of poet Sufia Kamal in the city yesterday

NASHIRUL ISLAM

Kuet admission tests begin on November 23 n Tribune Report

BNP gets two out of three 300 Bangladeshis languishing posts of panel-mayor in Indian jails

The admission tests for the first year honours courses of BSc Engineering and Bangladesh Urban and Rural Planning (BURP) of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (Kuet) under 2013-14 academic session begin from November 23.

This year, tests will be held for 10 departments under three faculties, says a press release.

A total of 7,625 admission seekers will vie for 785 seats in the first year honours courses of BSC Engineering and BURP. The courses under BSc Engineering and BRUP are Building Engineering and Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Electric and Electronic Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Industrial and Production Engineering, Leather Engineering, Textile Engineering and Urban and Regional Planning.

Detailed information about the admission test is available in the university website (www.admission- kuet.ac.bd). l

The main opposition BNP yesterday has received two out of the three posts of panel-mayor of Barisal City Corporation.

ATM Hazi Shahidullah, councillor of ward 12 and vice president of city unit BNP and district Swechchhasebak Dal convener, was elected as the first panel-mayor of BCC by votes of councillors and the mayor.

Shahidullah received 21 out of the 41 votes from 30 general and 10 reserved female ward councillors and the mayor.

His nearest rival Altaf Mahmud, BNP-backed councillor of ward 21 and former acting mayor, received 15 votes and Murtaza Abedin, Jatiya Partybacked councillor of ward 2, received three votes for the first panel-mayor post.

On other hand, Mosharref Ali Khan Badsha, Awami League-backed coun-

n Our Correspondent, Barisal

cillor of ward 16, was elected as the second panel-mayor receiving 23 votes while his rival candidate Habibur Rahman Tipu, BNP-backed councillor of ward 6 and city Swechchhasebak Dal convener, received 16 votes.

BNP activist Sharif Taslima Kalam Poly, councillor of female reserved seat in wards 1, 2 and 3, was elected as the third panel-mayor of BCC, uncontested.

The election for choosing panelmayor was held at BCC conference room in the morning.

The BCC mayoral-election was held on June 15 and Ahsan Habib Kamal, district (south) BNP president, was elected as mayor, defeating city AL president and outgoing mayor, Shawkat Hossain Hiron, with a margin of 17,000 votes.

Kamal took charges as BCC mayor on October 8. l

n Our Correspondent, Kurigram Over 300 people of Kurigram, who were arrested by Border Security Force of India while crossing border illegally, cannot come back to Bangladesh even after ending of their jail tenure for lack of required documents.

“I have not been seen my son for more than two years. His father has already died and I may die any day. If paper is sent from Bangladesh part he will be released. Please, bring my son back.” said Zamila, mother of Monju who has been serving jail in an Indian jail for the last two years.

She alleged that his son was not interested but, an Indian man had persuaded her son to go the neighbouring country.

According to local sources, most of these Bangladesh are serving imprisonment in Cooch Behar, Dinhata, Jalpaiguri, Siliguri, Berhampur and Bal-

There is also an allegation that BSF do not spare women and harass them while crossing the border.

Some imprisoned people returned in the last one year. Of them, Alef Ali of Anantapur border, returned one and half months ago.

BSF arrested him by the help of Indian people while he was crossing Khatamari border of Bhurungamari.

After the arrest he was sentenced to 25 months of imprisonment after 10 months trial. Alef Ali said: “I had to stay there even after the finishing of jail-term as I did not have required papers to come back to the country.”

AKM Mostafizur Rahman, lawmaker of Kurigram-constituency, said the process to bring the imprisoned Bangladeshi back was going on. He also said the process is for whom those who have already finished punishment duration in jails. l

25 to vie for each seat at Barisal University

US embassy launches American Corner at NUB Khulna campus n Tribune Report United States Ambassador in Dhaka Dan W Mozena formally inaugurated the American Corner at a function at Northern University Bangladesh (NUB) Khulna Campus yesterday.

The US Embassy in Dhaka and Northern University Bangladesh jointly launched the American Corner – an educational wing of the embassy – which would be run by the government of the USA. NUB Vice-Chancellor Dr M Shamsul Haque was present as the special guest, while the University’s Chairman Dr Abu Yousuf Mohammad Abdullah presided over the function.

Among others, Khulna city Mayor Md Moniruzzaman Moni, Lawmaker of Khulna-2 Md Nazrul Islam Manzu, Khulna Divisional Commissioner Md Abdul Jalil, Khulna district Administrator Sheikh Harunur Rashid and NUB Khulna Campus In-charge Prof Dr Anwarul Karim were present in the function.

In his speech, the US ambassador said: “The American Corner will make a bridge between American educational institutions and Bangladeshi students to help them with admissions there as well as help them with TOEFL, GMAT, GRE and SAT examinations.”

Prof Abu Yusouf Md Abdullah said: “To select the Northern University campus for the American Corner, Khulna proves that Northern University Bangladesh is an international standard university in the country.” l

urghat jails of West Bengal.

Most of the imprisoned people are from Phulbari, Nagessori, Bhurungamari upazila of the Kurigram.

People of these upazilas usually do not have any work after Aman and Boro harvest. During this lean period, many day labourers of these upazilas go to India with the help of agents, who are mostly Indian citizens with a hope to manage a job so that they can earn bread and butter for their families.

Some of the labourers can successfully cross border, but unfortunately, most of them are arrested by BSF as they do not have legal documents to produce before the border guard.

Family members of these prisoners alleged that ‘line men’ (persons who help the day labourers to cross the border) inform BSF to arrest the day labourers when the labourer fail to give them the money which the agents demand.

n Our Correspondent, Barisal

Activists of Equitybd yesterday formed a human chain in front of the National Press Club protesting WTO negotiations and TICFA deal RAJIB DHAR

Two PCJSS activists among three shot dead in Rangamati n Our Correspondent, Rangamati Three people, including three activists of Parbatya Chattgram Jana Sanghati Samity (Santu Larma group), were gunned down in Sijak Collage area under Baghaichari upazila in Rangamati early yesterday.

The deceased were identified as Sosanka Mitra Chakma, 55, president of Baghaichari unit Jana Sanghaty Samity and Nanda Kumar Chakma, 48, organising secretary of Baghaichari unit of the organisation and Jutistir Chakma, 38, who has no involvement with any political party.

Quoting locals, police said Sosanka Mitra Chakma and Nanda Kumar Chakma were taking tea at a tea stall in Sijak Collage area around 7:30am, a group

of armed men numbering eight to 10 opened fire on them, leaving the two PCJSS activists as well as another person dead on the spot.

Sajeeb Chakma, assistant press and publication secretary of Parbattya Chattagram Janasanghati Samity, central unit, blamed United Peoples Democratic Front and Jana Sanghati Samity (reformist) armed groups for the killing.

But, both UPDF and JSS (reformist) denied their involvement with the incident.

Meanwhile, activists of PCJSS Rangmati Committee staged demonstration at the district administration compound.

With Gunendu Bikash Chakma, president of PCJSS, district committee, in the chair, the protest rally was also addressed by Sajib Chakma and other leaders of the organisation. l

Ruet publishes admission test results n Tribune Report Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (Ruet) has published the admission test results of first year BSc Engineering in 2013-14 academic year on Wednesday night.

The results were announced in a meeting held with Vice-chancellor Prof Dr Mourtoza Ali in the chair. Registrar Prof Ashraful Alam and Chairman of Admission test committee Prof Shahiduzzaman were present at the meeting, among others concerned.

From now on, the result will be known from notice board in Ruet Administration Building and also from www.ruet.ac.bd website, said a press release. l

The 2013-14 entrance examination of Barisal University, the only general public university in the division, will be held on November 28.

The test will be arranged in three shifts at a total of eleven different points, including the temporary and permanent campus of BU, seven government educational institutions and two private colleges in the town.

A total of 29,690 students registered for this year’s test in the university – the third since its establishment – averaging about 25 contenders for each of the seats available. There are a total of 1,160 seats this year, divided among 16 departments under six faculties, said Shafiul Alam, chairman of the admission committee.

According to a source, 5,170 students applied for the 370 seats available in the departments under ‘Ka’ unit, including 80 seats in Mathematics, 80 in Chemistry, 50 in Computer Science and Engineering, 80 in Soil and Environment Science, and 80 in Botany and Crop Science.

In the ‘Kha’ unit, 6,688 students will vie for the 490 seats available, including 70 in the Economics department, 70 in Political Science, 70 in Social Science, 70 in Public Administration, 70 in Bangla, 70 in English and 70 in Law. The ‘Ga’ unit registered the largest number of applicants compared to other units, with 10,675 students against the 300 seats available. The seats are divided among Management Studies (75), Marketing (75), Accounting and Information Systems (75) and Finance and Banking (75) – all under the business faculty.

Besides, 7,157 candidates under ‘Gha’ unit applied for the 235 seats reserved for test-takers willing to change subjects or faculties.

The one-hour written test will be held in MCQ system with 120 marks; one must score a minimum of 48 in order to be eligible for admission. There are an additional 80 marks reserved for a candidate’s performance in his or her SSC and HSC examinations.

The selection would be held on the basis of marks obtained from the MCQ test as well as SSC and HSC results. The three shifts are as follows: 10-11am for Gha unit, 1-2pm for Ga, and 4-5pm for Ka and Kha units.

“The detailed seat-plan for the applicants will be available on our website (www.barisaluniv.edu.bd),” Dr Md Muhsin Uddin, acting registrar of BU, said.

Classes would primarily begin at the temporary campus of the university on the Barisal Zilla School premises.

The permanent campus, sprawled on a 50-acre land on the eastern bank of Kirtonkhola, is currently under construction and could be available for academic purpose by next January, officials said. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

7

Friday, November 22, 2013

People suffer due to slow progress of culvert construction in Rajbari n Our Correspondent, Rajbari

People of Rajbari have been suffering a lot since long as authorities concerned had failed to construct three culverts even after almost five years of the beginning of the construction in January 2009.

The people of the area have been using the bypass roads for long taking their lives at risk as the bypass roads became vulnerable because of excessive pressure.

The people of Rajbari, Baliakandi, Jamalpur and Madhukhali have no other options but tolerate the sufferings.

The contractor failed to complete the work though the dead line was extended up to October 2013 They also face problems in transporting their produces to district headquarter markets, while patients and students of these areas are the worst sufferers.

Roads and Highways Department (RHD) of the district is coordinating the construction of the three culverts: two on the Rajbari-Jamalpur highway and one on the Rajbari-Jawkura highway.

Of them, the construction work of the latter is yet to begin.

In 2009, the RHD issued work order to implement the Tk15m project, scheduled to be completed in December 2012. However, the contrac-

Vehicles use an alternative way as construction of a bridge on the Jamalpur-Rajbari road has remained suspended for the last two years

DHAKA TRIBUNE

tractor, adding that they had already wrote to the head office to look into the problem.

Meanwhile, Somiron Roy, executive

engineer of Rajbari RHD, said he had visited the spot and asserted that immediate steps would be taken to construct the approach roads. l

tor failed to complete the work though the dead line was extended up to October 2013.

Contacted, Bimol Kumer Shonnashi,

assistant executive engineer of Rajbari RHD, said approach roads on both sides of the culverts were not constructed because of negligence of the con-

Three killed in separate road accidents n Tribune Report Three people were killed in separate road accidents in Jessore and Gazipur yesterday.

Two people were killed in separate road accidents at Nabharan under Sharsha upazila and Namajgram under Benapole port police station in Jessore.

The deceased were identified as Milon Hossain, 30, of Jhikargachha and Kanon Krishna Mandal, 55, of Rampal in Khulna.

Locals said Milon had died on the spot when a bus knocked him down at Nabharan, killing him on the spot.

Meanwhile, Kanan Krishna was injured in another road accident at Benapole. Soon after the accident, local people took him to Jessore Medical College Hospital where he died yesterday morning.

In Gazipur, an army man was killed and two others were injured in a road accident in Haldoba area of the district yesterday afternoon.

The deceased was identified as Joyanto, 35, corporal of Bangladesh Army.

He was posted at Rajendrapur Cantonment.

Military sources said the victims had been going to Savar from Rajendrapur by a motorbike. On way, a rashly driven truck knocked their motorbike from behind in the area, leaving them injured critically.

The injured were rushed to Rajendrapur Cantonment Hospital and later shifted to Dhaka Combined Military Hospital where Joyanto succumbed to his injuries. l

Fish cultivation in 4 of a family among five killed in Chittagong, Sylhet paddy field makes new n chapter in Narsingdi Tribune Report

n Tribune Desk Fish farming in paddy field, the new devised technology of fish scientist, is increasingly and gaining popularity among the people in Narsingdi.

District Fisheries office sources said there were two ways of fish farming in paddy field as fish culture along with paddy and fish culture before cultivation and after harvesting of paddy.

A number of people in all the six upazilas of the district have been farming Rui, Katal, Mrigal, Kali-baous, Pangas, Tilapia, Shorputi, Silvercarp in the low-laying areas.

A total of 1,124 hectares of paddy field in the district, besides the farmers are cultivating vegetables in the adjoining fragmentation land during the last three and four years due to its economic aspect.

District Fisheries Officer Abul Far-

ah said fish farming in paddy field has made a new chapter in fisheries sector and it is gaining popularity in the district. Fish farming in paddy field also creates employment of rural people and fulfill the demand of nutrition, he added.

He said farmers of the district are now annually producing about 2,800 to 3,000 tonne fish in the paddy fields and it is fulfill the local fish demand in the district.

Moreover farmers also are cultivating paddy in the same land.

The officer said, Fisheries Department providing different support to the farmers to make the programme success. If the farmers get easy term loan and fare price of fish food in the market then more farmers will get interest for farming fish in the paddy fields.

Farmers of the district, after cutting Aman paddy, are busy for farming fish in their low-laying paddy fields. l

At least five people, including four of a family, were killed in separate incidents in Chittagong and Sylhet yesterday.

In Chittagong, an elderly man was stabbed to death allegedly by a mugger in Chittagong city’s Bakalia yesterday when he tried to nab the mugger who was attempting to flee after mugging in the area.

Police, however, nabbed the alleged

killer Showkat, 28, hailing from Comilla, with the machete which was used for killing, said Mohammad Mohsin, officer-in-charge of Bakalia police station.

Showkat stabbed Golam Mostafa, 60, from Brahamanbaria, who was a caretaker in a building on Hazi Amin Road in the area around 6am when Mostafa caught him red-handed when he was attempting to flee after mugging from another person, said the OC. Showkat stabbed Mostafa’s abdo-

n BSS

Speakers at a views-sharing meeting in Rangpur have asked the teachers for creating mass social awareness against tuberculosis that kills 70,000 people annually in Bangladesh.

National Anti-Tuberculosis Association of Bangladesh (NATAB) organised the discussion programme on “Role of Teachers in Eradicating Tuberculosis” for the teachers at Mahiganj Base Educare Centre in the town on Wednesday.

Speakers discussed on different reasons behind tuberculosis infection and said that the teachers could do a lot in eradicating tuberculosis as there are adequate facilities and medicine at grassroots levels for free treatment of the infected patients.

The chief guest suggested the tuberculosis patients to complete their treatment doses at a stretch without intervals through adopting the cost- free Direct Observe Treatment Short Course methods and medicines available ev-

erywhere in the country.

With Managing Director of Mahiganj Base Educare Centre Abdur Rahman Babu in the chair, former upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Shahadat Hosain Chowdhury attended the meeting as the chief guest.

Assistant Director of the Social Service Department Mosaddekur Rahman, Project Manager of NATAB Abdal Hossain, teacher Zulfikar Ferdous, NATAB official Monwar Hossain and social worker Hasanuzzaman Bablu ad-

Housewife commits suicide in Panchagarh

A housewife was committed suicide by hanging herself in Dararhat village under Debiganj upazila of the district on Wednesday night. Police said the victim was identified as Joamun Begum, 20, wife of Badsha Miah. The cause of the suicide could not be known immediately.

On receiving information, Debiganj thana police rushed to the spot and recovered the body and sent it to sadar hospital morgue for autopsy. An unnatural death case was filed with Debiganj police station. – BSS

Siblings drown in Mymensingh Two siblings drowned at Panchruthi village under Nandail upazila of Mymensingh yesterday. The deceased were identified as Panna, 5 and Kadir, 2, offspring of Ratan Mia, hailed from Panchruthi village of the upazila. Sources said Kadir fell in a roadside pond and his elder sister Panna also drowned while trying to save her younger brother. – Banglanews

60 injured in Habiganj clash People from low-income group gather at a roadside shop to buy warm clothes in Lalmonirhat town dar upazila, said, “We have been facing extreme cold these last few days, so I have come to buy some used clothes for my family.”

“However, the prices of clothes are much higher compared to the last year.”

Shamsul Haque, who sells sec-

ond-hand items including denim jackets, woollen blazers and sweaters in his shop near the town’s Puran Bazar, claimed to have sold some of to welloff individuals as well. “Particularly, young well-off customers think that used items are better in quality and design than new items.”

dressed as the special guests.

Project Manager of NATAB Abdal Hossain presented keynote paper highlighting the present national status of the silent killer disease and steps taken by the government and various organisations to free the country from tuberculosis.

He also narrated the latest strategies for controlling tuberculosis and stressed for creating mass social awareness to accelerate detection of tuberculosis patients to bring them under costfree treatments facilities. l

NEWS IN BRIEF

Our Correspondent, Lalmonirhat

Sales of winter clothing, both new and used, have risen in Lalmonirhat and its neighbouring areas in the past few days, with the first stirrings of the coldest season of the year.

Various items of clothing – such as shawls, sweaters, headbands, caps, mufflers, fur-lined coats, cardigans, etc. – are being sold at makeshift clothing stores, roadside pushcarts and stalls, as well as in shopping malls.

Buyers crowding these places are mostly of low-income backgrounds looking for low-cost warming gear.

Winter in this region means a drastic change in the way general people lead their lives and organise their schedules. Family and social programmes are timed to coincide with the coldest and warmest times of the day, but those living in the char areas are usually the group affected the worst and are the most helpless.

Since they cannot afford buying warm clothes most of the time, they have to depend on used clothes coming in through charity – when and if they come.

Those with low purchasing power have to depend on resalable clothes.

“I sold a number of second-hand warm clothes, which are higher in demand than new clothes,” Rajob Ali, owner of a clothing shop near the Mogholhat railway gate, said.

Those coming to his shop are usually people from low and fixed income groups, including day-labourers, rickshaw-pullers and such, he added.

Mozibur Rahman, a rickshaw-puller looking for warm clothes, who lives at the Kalmati village of Lalmonirhat sa-

were hacked to death at Laxanaband union under Golapganj upazila of the district by addicted family person.

The deceased were identified as killer’s mother Shamsunnahar, 55, sister Mariam, 22, son Tanvir, 3 and a relative.

The incident took place at around 3:30pm yesterday afternoon.

Killer’s father Abdul Aziz said killer Abdus Salam Furuk was addicted last few days and in the afternoon he killed his family members for unknown reason. l

Teachers to create awareness against tuberculosis

Winter clothes sales on rise in Lalmonirhat n

men indiscriminately and fled away, leaving him dead on the spot, he said.

Later, police recovered the body and sent it to Chittagong Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy, added the OC. A case was lodged with Bakalia police station in this regard.

During interrogation, Showkat confessed to the police that he had stabbed Mostafa.

In Sylhet, four people of a family

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Ramoni Kanto Barman, who resides at the Roypara area in the town, said he had bought two woollen sweaters for his children from a footpath shop near the railway station. “Their quality is very good. They even look fresh and almost new and are comfortable to wear,” he said. l

At least 60 people were injured in a fierce clash between two groups at Ikram village of Baniachang upazila of the district. The clash started from 9:am on Wednesday and continued till 10m.

Locals said two groups led by Kawser Mia and Shamim of Ikram village locked into clash with homemade weapons over pre hostile in the morning, leaving at least 60 people from both sides injured.

Injured were admitted to Sylhet Osmani

Medical College Hospital and local clinics.

Officer-in-Charge of Baniachang Thana Shamsul Arefin said the situation was under control. – Banglanews

26 held in different cases in Jaipurhat Police in separate drives arrested 26 persons on various charges from different places of five upazilas in the district on Wednesday and Monday. Police said the arrestees were accused of drug peddling, steeling and different other cases. Police also recovered 134 bottles of contraband phensidyl and other illegal goods from their possessions. The arrested persons were sent to jail hajat, the sources added. – UNB

Two held with weapons in Lakshmipur Police arrested two alleged robbers along with a few weapons after foiling a robbery bid at Sonapur in Raipur upazila early yesterday. The arrested were identified as Sharif Hossain, son of Habib Ullah of Tumchar village in Sadar upazila, and Kamal Uddin, son of Tofazzal Hossain of Bahadur village in Ramganj upazila. On information, a team of police conducted a raid at the house of robber Alamgir at the village at night and arrested the duo while their other associates managed to escape, said police. Later, police also recovered some country-made weapons from their possession. The arrested have several cases filed against them with sadar and Ramganj police stations, police said. Rupok Kumar Saha, officer-in-charge of Raipur police station, said the arrested are members of an inter-district robber gang. – UNB

8 Australia police, central bank websites hacked n AFP, Sydney Australian police and central bank websites fell victim to cyber attacks Thursday with an Indonesian hacker claiming responsibility, reportedly demanding that Canberra apologise in an intensifying row over spying.

The row – triggered by reports that Australian spies tried to tap the phones of the Indonesian president, his wife and ministers – has pushed ties between Jakarta and Canberra to their lowest level since the turn of the century.

Officials called the attack on the Australian Federal Police and the Reserve Bank of Australia “irresponsible,” and said whoever was to blame could face prosecution.

“These attacks... will not influence government policy,” the federal police said in a statement.

“Activities such as hacking, creating or propagating malicious viruses are not harmless fun. They can result in serious long-term consequences for individuals, such as criminal convictions or jail time.”

Police officials said their site, which hosts no sensitive information, was operating when staff left work on Wednesday evening but it was down on Thursday morning.

The outage comes barely two weeks after activist group Anonymous Indonesia claimed responsibility for defacing more than 170 Australian websites to protest at reports of Canberra spying on its nearest neighbour and strategic ally.

A member of Anonymous Indonesia, using the hashtag #IndonesianCyberArmy, claimed responsibility for the latest attacks. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

International

Friday, November 22, 2013

Indonesia halts Australia drills as protesters call for ‘war’ n AFP, Jakarta Indonesia’s military halted training with Australia as a decision to suspend cooperation due to spying claims took effect, while angry demonstrators in Jakarta declared Thursday they were “ready for war” with Canberra.

In the Australian capital, the scandal took an embarrassing twist for Prime Minister Tony Abbott when one of his party’s strategists described someone reported to be the Indonesian foreign minister as resembling “a 1970s Filipino porn star.”

The crisis – triggered by reports that Australian spies tried to tap the phones of the Indonesian president, his wife and ministers – has pushed ties between Jakarta and Canberra to their lowest level since Australia sent troops to restore order in East Timor in 1999.

Jakarta has recalled its ambassador from Canberra and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Wednesday ordered cooperation suspended in several areas, including on people-smuggling, military exercises and sharing intelligence.

Speaking just hours after Yudhoyono made his announcement, military chief Moeldoko said two current exercises with Australia were being halted.

“What’s the point of joint training when they don’t trust us?” said the head of the armed forces, who like many Indonesians goes by one name.

He said a joint exercise in the northern Australian city of Darwin, which had been due to end Sunday, was being halted and six F-16 fighter jets involved

in it would return to Indonesia.

A joint training exercise with the Indonesian army’s special forces known as Kopassus, in Lembang in West Java province, was also being suspended, he said.

The anger over the alleged spying spilled over to the public in Jakarta, where demonstrators wearing military-style uniforms protested outside the Australian embassy, pumping their fists in the air and waving the Indonesian flag.

‘We’re ready for war with Australia,’ read one of the banners

The protesters, led by a nationalist group called “The Red and White Front,” burned a poster depicting the Australian and US flags – Washington has also been accused of spying from its Jakarta embassy.

“We’re ready for war with Australia,” read one of the banners waved by the crowd of about 100 demonstrators, who used red-spray paint to daub graffiti on the Australian mission.

It followed a protest in the city of Yogyakarta late Wednesday at which a group of university students burnt an Australian flag.

The growing row, sparked by reports in Australian media based on documents leaked by US intelligence

fugitive Edward Snowden, has dealt a heavy blow to the government of the new Australian leader.

The decision to stop cooperation on people-smuggling is especially difficult for Abbott, as he desperately needs Jakarta’s help to stop the influx of asylum-seekers who head to Australia via Indonesia.

And on Thursday there was more embarrassment for Abbott, when a strategist from his Liberal party was forced to apologise over a tweet about someone reported to be Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa.

“Apology demanded from Australia by a bloke who looks like a 1970’s Pilipino (sic) porn star and has ethics to match,” said the tweet from Mark Textor, which has since been deleted.

Reports said he was referring to Natalegawa, who has demanded Canberra apologise over the scandal.

Yudhoyono on Wednesday sent a letter to Abbott demanding a clear explanation over the spying allegations, first reported by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and in the Guardian newspaper.

Abbott told parliament he had received the letter Thursday morning and pledged the government would respond “swiftly, fully and courteously.”

The leaked documents from Snowden showed that Australia’s electronic intelligence agency tracked Yudhoyono’s activity on his mobile phone for 15 days in August 2009, when Labor’s Kevin Rudd was prime minister.

At least one phone call was reportedly intercepted. l

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Khamenei speech shows Iran threat: Netanyahu n AFP, Moscow Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday warned world powers negotiating with Iran that an anti-Israel speech by Iran’s supreme leader gave fresh proof over why Tehran must not acquire a nuclear weapon.

Speaking to leaders of Russia’s Jewish community on the second day of a visit to Moscow to campaign against an emerging world power deal with Iran, Netanyahu accused Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei of using the lexicon of the Nazi Holocaust.

“Yesterday, Iran’s supreme leader, Khamenei, said ‘death to America, death to Israel’, he said that Jews are not human beings.” “Sounds familiar?”

Netanyahu asked.

Turkish official stirs up furore over co-ed schools

JOY IN A TIME OF TYPHOONS

n AFP, Istanbul A senior member of Turkey’s ruling party stirred up a new furore on Thursday over the imposition of Islamic values in the country, saying it was a “big mistake” to allow boys and girls to study together.

The comments by deputy parliament speaker Sadik Yakut followed a storm of controversy over a push by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier this month to do away with

mixed-sex dorms at universities.

Erdogan’s Islamist-leaning government has increasingly come under fire over what critics see as attempts to enforce Islamic norms in the predominantly Muslim but staunchly secular country.

“Having girls and boys educated at the same schools in the name of a proWest approach is unfortunately a mistake that has been made from the past up until now,” Yakut told a parliamentary gathering. l

Turkey arrests man with fake bomb outside PM office n AFP, Ankara Children who survived Typhoon Haiyan blow bubbles in the destroyed market of Tacloban, Philippines Wednesday, November 20

AP

Russians freed after Greenpeace arrests n Reuters, St. Petersburg, Russia Three of the 30 people arrested during a Greenpeace protest walked free on bail on Thursday, defiant that the action against Arctic oil drilling was justified and that the response by the authorities was not.

Denis Sinyakov, 36, a freelance photographer, caught his wife in a bear hug and Ekaterina Zaspa, 37, the doctor on the Arctic Sunrise icebreaker, was greeted by her husband.

“I am not guilty, and there is no crime in people organising peaceful protests,” Sinyakov told reporters out-

Neighbours in shock over Mexico massacre n AP, Ciudad Juarez, Mexico

Iraq car bomb kills 30 as year’s death toll tops 5,800 n AFP Baquba

Grieving neighbours and friends are struggling to understand the horrific killing of eight members of a religious family, including three young children — a massacre that prosecutors in this Mexican border city say was over a $115 debt the father couldn’t repay.

About 150 people gathered Wednesday night at the Jehovah’s Witnesses Kingdom Hall in Ciudad Juarez for the funeral service of four members of the family whose head, Maximo Romero Sanchez, worked as a mechanic and fixed and sold used cars. Earlier in the day, prosecutors said the killers had gone to the family’s home a month ago trying to collect a debt that was owed by Romero Sanchez for a $115 stud fee for a dog. At that time, Romero Sanchez said he didn’t have the money.

When the suspects returned Sunday and Romero Sanchez once again told them he didn’t have the money, the family members were bound, gagged and stabbed to death in their home in a poor neighbourhood. Killed along with Romero Sanchez were his wife, their 4- and 6-year-old children, and four other relatives, including a 2-year-old. l

A car bomb in a packed food market north of Baghdad killed 30 people on Thursday as a surge in violence nationwide pushed Iraq’s death toll for 2013 above 5,800. The rise in unrest has forced officials to appeal for international help in fighting the country’s worst bloodshed since 2008, just months before Iraq’s first elections in four years.

Thursday’s attack comes a day after a spate of violence across the country, including a wave of bombings in the capital, killed 59 people and left more than 100 wounded, marking Iraq’s deadliest day this month. The latest explosion went off at around noon (0900 GMT) near a cafe in a food market in the town of Saadiyah, which lies northest of Baghdad in restive ethnically-mixed Diyala province. At least 30 people were killed and 40 others wounded in the blast, according to a police colonel and a doctor, both of whom spoke on condition of anonymity.

Saadiyah is populated mostly by Faylis, or Shia Kurds, and lies within a tract of disputed territory that is claimed by both the central government and Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region. l

side the court in Russia’s second city of St Petersburg. Andrey Allakhverdov, 50, a spokesman for Greenpeace Russia, said he had “absolutely no regrets” over taking part in the protest when activists tried to scale the Prirazlomnaya oil platform operated by state-owned Gazprom in the Pechora Sea. l

Turkish police arrested a “mentally unstable” man carrying a fake bomb outside the office of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday, officials said, causing a security scare in the capital.

Local television stations had initially reported that the suspect was shot and wounded by police but officials and witnesses later said they wrestled him to the ground and only fired shots in the air.

“This individual was carrying a device resembling a bomb but in fact it was not one,” Interior Minister Mua-

mmer Guler told reporters, describing him as “mentally unstable”.

The suspect was taken to a police station where he was interrogated about the incident.

Erdogan was at the headquarters of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) at the time and not in his office.

Security was boosted in the area, and a police helicopter was seen hovering over the building.

Police identified the man as Tugrul Bayir, born in 1961, but gave no further information. “Security guards fired five or six times into the air. They didn’t shoot him,” a witness told AFP. l

WORLD WATCH ‘Dead’ baby wakes at China parlour before cremation

A Chinese baby boy who had been declared dead was saved from being cremated alive when he started crying at a funeral parlour, media reported Thursday.

The parents of the critically-ill boy, who was less than one month old, had agreed to end his medical treatment at Anhui Provincial Children’s Hospital in eastern China.

A death certificate was issued before the baby was sent to an undertakers in Hefei, the provincial capital – only for staff there to be alerted by crying on Wednesday. The baby was immediately sent back to the hospital, several news outlets including the Beijing News reported on Thursday. A doctor had been suspended, a nursing worker laid off and an investigation launched into the incident, Xinhua cited the hospital as saying. Users of China’s weibo microblogging services were outraged, blaming both the boy’s parents and the doctors involved.

Volcano raises new island far south of Japan

A volcanic eruption has raised an island in the seas to the far south of Tokyo, the Japanese coast guard and earthquake experts said. Advisories from the coast guard and the Japan Meteorological Agency said the islet is about 200m in diameter.

It is just off the coast of Nishinoshima, a small, uninhabited island in the Ogasawara

chain, which is also known as the Bonin Islands. The approximately 30 islands are 1,000 kilometers south of Tokyo, and along with the rest of Japan are part of the seismically active Pacific “Ring of Fire.” The coast guard issued an advisory Wednesday warning of heavy black smoke from the eruption. A volcanologist with the coast guard, Hiroshi Ito, told the FNN news network that it was possible the new island might be eroded away. “But it also could remain permanently,” he said. Japan’s chief government spokesman welcomed the news of yet another bit, however tiny, of new territory.

Bomb kills three in southwest Pakistan

A bomb targeting security forces on Thursday killed three people and wounded 25 others in Pakistan’s restive southwest, officials said. The remote-controlled bomb was planted on a bicycle near a checkpost run by police and the paramilitary Frontier Corps in the Satellite town area of Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan province. “At least three people including two policemen were killed and 25 others wounded in the blast,” senior local police official Samiullah Soomro told AFP. He said eight of the wounded, including six policemen and two FC officials, were in a critical condition.

Elsewhere, in the northwestern bordering town of Torkhum, a suicide bomber blew

AP

himself up in the halls of customs offices on Thursday, wounding 17 people, officials said. Local senior administration official in Landi Kotal, Tayyab Abdullah, told AFP that authorities took possession of the body parts of bomber after the attack. He said that the impact of the explosion led the roof of the hall to collapse.

Frog named after Darwin croaks its last

A frog named after Charles Darwin has gone extinct because of a deadly amphibian skin disease, scientists believe. Darwin’s frogs were named after the father of evolution, who discovered them in 1834 in Chile during his voyage around the world on the ship HMS Beagle. They are notable for having evolved to escape predators by looking like a dead leaf, with a pointy nose, and the fact that the males carry young tadpoles around inside their vocal sacs.

Researchers think the northern Darwin’s frog, one of two species, has been killed off completely by a fungal disease called chytridiomycosis that infects their skin.

Numbers of the related southern species have plunged dramatically. An analysis into the spread of the disease by a team from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and Chile’s Universidad Andres Bello found that habitat loss contributed to the decline, but this alone could not explain the animal’s demise.

Khamenei told militia commanders in Tehran on Wednesday that Israel, Iran’s arch-foe, was “doomed to collapse”, “the rabid dog” of the Middle East, and with leaders “not worthy” of being called “human”.

“Such an Iran must not get a nuclear weapon,” Netanyahu said.

After talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, Netanyahu on Wednesday insisted on the need for a “real” solution to the Iranian nuclear crisis.

Netanyahu’s speech in Moscow came as Iran and world powers were set Thursday to begin hammering out a landmark deal freezing parts of Tehran’s atomic programme to ease fears of the Islamic republic obtaining nuclear weapons. l

Iran sees ‘lack of trust’ at Geneva nuclear talks n AFP, Tehran World powers resumed talks Thursday on a preliminary deal to curb Iran’s nuclear programme with Tehran’s lead negotiator warning of a lingering “lack of trust” following an inconclusive meeting earlier this month.

“The main obstacle is the lack of trust because of what happened at the last round,” Abbas Araqchi told state television. “As long as trust is not restored, we cannot continue constructive negotiations.”

But he added that despite “major difference”, there was still a chance of a deal by Friday if representatives of the P5+1 – the US, China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany – were “flexible” and showed goodwill.

Western diplomats were similarly cautious with one senior envoy saying there were still “considerable gaps” between the two sides.

“Whether we will (get a deal), we will have to see, because it is hard. It is very hard,” a senior US officials said.

Another was more upbeat: “I am not saying it’s in the bag but we are in a process that started well and which could lead to a deal this weekend ...

We are getting to the heart of the matter.”

The Geneva talks are aimed at clinching a landmark deal to curb Iran’s nuclear drive in exchange for easing crippling economic sanctions. l

UN warns Somalia after alleged rape victim, journalists arrested n AFP, Nairobi The United Nations in Somalia called Thursday for a “proper investigation” after police again arrested an alleged rape victim and journalists who reported her story.

Rape, and reporting on sexual assault, is one of the most sensitive topics in Somalia, and the case is the latest in a series of arrests of victims and the journalists who aired their story.

The alleged victim, a 19-year old reporter, spoke to the independent Radio Shabelle about how she was attacked and raped at gunpoint, claiming that two fellow journalists carried out the attack.

“One of the men threatened me with a pistol, and took me to the bedroom by force...both of them raped me several times, destroying my pride and dignity,” she said, in a video interview broadcast on Somalia’s Radio Shabelle website earlier this week.

“I am appealing to the government to take legal action against the rapists, they might have done the same to other poor girls,” she added. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

International

Nepal Maoist chief alleges elections rigged n AFP, Kathmandu Nepal’s Maoist leader, who swapped arms for politics when his “people’s war” ended in 2006, threw the country’s elections into doubt Thursday by claiming the poll was rigged following big losses for his party.

Pushpa Kamal Dahal, better known as Prachanda, demanded a halt to vote-counting after losing his own seat in Tuesday’s elections aimed at installing a constituent assembly and ending years of political instability.

“We urge the election commission to stop the counting,” Prachanda told a press conference. “We accept (the) people’s verdict but cannot accept conspiracy and poll-rigging.”

He said ballot boxes were tampered with while being transported from polling stations to counting centres.

Prachanda, the country’s first postwar prime minister, finished a distant third in his Kathmandu constituency, well behind the winning Nepali Congress party candidate, Rajan K.C., according to the election commission.

Early results showed the Maoist party trailing badly in the elections, seen as vital to completing a peace process which has drifted in recent years because of a prolonged political crisis.

Tentative results showed them leading in just eight% of the 176 constitu-

Top Indian magazine editor embroiled in sex assault scandal n AFP, New Delhi The editor of India’s leading investigative news magazine was accused Thursday of trivialising a serious sex crime after he announced he would take six months’ leave as “penance” for assaulting a female colleague.

Tarun Tejpal, founder and editor of Tehelka magazine, admitted “misconduct” in an email to the managing editor of the publication and offered to step aside temporarily to atone for his behaviour.

“A bad lapse of judgement, an awful misreading of the situation, have led to an unfortunate incident that rails against all we believe in and fight for,” Tejpal wrote in his email which was sent to staff at the magazine on Wednesday. “I must do penace that lacerates me,” he added.

With the media newly sensitised to sexual assault cases after a string of widely publicised gang-rape cases this year, Tejpal’s confession and the magazine’s reaction were front-page news and widely criticised.

“What penance? What atonement?

An apology and offer to step down may be his personal way of pitying himself and feeling remorse, but that doesn’t absolve him of his crime,” women’s activist Ranjana Kumari told AFP. She added that “gross misuse of power, misogyny” was sadly common in Indian workplaces.

Authorities would only investigate the incident at Tehelka if the victim files a police case. She had reportedly asked for an internal investigation and a written apology to be circulated to staff. The weekly magazine pioneered undercover sting operations and has published a string of scoops on cricket match-fixing, the involvement of politicians in religious riots in 2002 and bribe-taking. l

Supporters of the Nepali Congress party cast their shadows near their party flag painted on a road in Katmandu AP encies where vote-counting has been completed or is well under way.

Even if the party were to sweep the remaining 64 directly-elected seats, it would have won less than one third of the vote. More than a hundred protesters gathered outside the Maoist headquarters in Kathmandu, shouting slogans in support of the party’s stance. “We are ready to fight again,” they yelled. Millions of Nepalis voted on Tuesday, registering a higher turnout than during the first post-war elections in 2008 for an assembly, which also acts as a parliament and

is tasked with writing a constitution.

The Maoists swept those elections five years ago, promising social change, economic growth and lasting peace in a country which lost an estimated 16,000 lives in the conflict. But they have since faced sharp criticism from many core supporters who accuse them of abandoning their ideals and adopting a life of luxury while in power. Political infighting since 2008 has seen a string of coalition governments split and fail to write a draft constitution, forcing the collapse of the assembly in May 2012. l

Six dead in US strike outside Pakistani tribal areas n AFP, Peshawar A US drone killed six people in northwest Pakistan Thursday in only the second such strike outside the country’s lawless tribal districts, threatening to inflame tensions between Washington and Islamabad.

The missile attack targeted a religious seminary that security officials said belonged to the Haqqani network – blamed for some of the deadliest attacks in neighbouring Afghanistan – in the Hangu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Earlier this month the network’s chief financier Nasirudddin Haqqani was gunned down in mysterious circumstances in a village on the edge of Islamabad. Thursday’s drone strike was the first in the country since Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud was killed in a similar attack in the North Waziristan tribal district on November 1.

That attack prompted a furious response from Pakistan, with the interior minister accusing Washington of sabotaging fledgling peace efforts with the Taliban and opposition parties calling for a blockade of Nato supply lines to Afghanistan. “The drone strike targeting the seminary killed six people,” police official Farid Khan told AFP. Two local security officials identified two of the dead as Mufti Ahmad Jan and Mufti Hameedullah and said they were both members of the Haqqani network.

“The seminary belonged to one Qari Noor Muhammad, a previously unknown figure. It was not clear if he was present in the seminary at the time of attack,” an official said.

Washington has long demanded that Pakistan take action against the Haqqanis, who are blamed for numerous bloody attacks in Afghanistan including one on the US embassy in Kabul in 2011.

US officials have in the past accused Pakistani intelligence agencies of links to the Haqqani network, which has bases in the tribal districts.

Since 2004 the United States has carried out hundreds of missile attacks from unmanned aircraft on suspected militants linked to the Taliban and Al-Qaeda.

The vast majority of them have hit targets in the seven tribal areas bordering Afghanistan, which have a separate legal and political governance system from the rest of the country.

Thursday was the first time a US drone hit a district inside Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The only previous strike outside the tribal areas came in Bannu district, a so-called “frontier region.”

The number and identity of casualties is often hard to determine because the tribal areas are off-limits to foreign journalists and aid organisations, but the London-based Bureau of Investigative Journalism estimates deaths at between 2,500 and 3,700. l

India police name militant group behind bombs at Modi rally n AFP, Patna Indian police said Thursday a domestic Islamist group called the Indian Mujahideen was behind deadly bomb blasts at a rally by opposition prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

Police have filed an initial case against the outfit and five of its operatives over the string of blasts which killed six people last month at the rally in the eastern city of Patna, shortly before Hindu hardliner Modi took to the stage.

“An FIR (first information report) has been registered at the Gandhi Maidan police station in which many of its top operatives... were booked,” senior police official Ravinder Kumar told AFP from Patna.

The report is a first step towards formal charges against the group, which has links to militants in Pakistan and has been accused of a number of deadly attacks in Indian cities in recent years.

Modi is a popular but divisive leader of the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party. He is despised by many Muslims as he was chief minister of the western state of Gujarat in 2002 when it was engulfed by communal riots.

Up to 2,000 people, mainly Muslims, died. Six people were killed and dozensinjured in the blasts on October 27 as tens of thousands gathered to hear Modi speak. l

Pakistanis stage long march to protest missing family members n AP, Gadani, Pakistan Fifteen year-old Sammi Baluch has been walking for nearly a month through southern Pakistan’s parched, mountainous landscape in the hope of finding her father, who disappeared four years ago after being taken by security forces.

She is part of a group of around two dozen activists making the 700-kilometre journey on foot from Quetta, the capital of their home province of Baluchistan, to the southern port city of Karachi in a march to protest the government’s failure to determine the fate of thousands of people who have gone

missing over the years as Pakistani authorities battle a separatist insurgency in Baluchistan, heartland of the country’s ethnic Baluch minority.

Pakistani human rights organisations and Baluchistan residents have long accused law enforcement and intelligence agencies of snatching citizens suspected of Baluch nationalist activity and holding them without charges or killing them. Officials deny the allegations, and while Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has promised to resolve the issue of the missing as part of a still nascent peace effort in the province, so far commissions set up by the government and Supreme Court have

made little progress.

The marchers, who are all missing loved ones, left Quetta on Oct. 27 and are about 20 kilometres outside Karachi.

Along the way, they say they have experienced the generosity of strangers who fed and housed them, but also faced threats from Pakistani security forces warning them to stop their march.

“I have travelled 600 kilometres by foot without caring about my blistered feet,” said Baluch. Her father, a doctor, was a member of a Baluch nationalist party. He has vanished since he was picked up security forces at the government hospital where he works one night in June 2009. l

Pakistani families hold photographs of their relatives, who were allegedly abducted by Pakistani security forces, as they march toward Karachi, in Gadani, Pakistan AP

‘Banksy’ Lego-style mural goes viral in Malaysia n AFP, Kuala Lumpur A street mural that was whitewashed by authorities because it highlighted Malaysia’s crime problem has gone viral, with versions popping up across the country and earning their creator comparisons to UK graffiti artist Banksy.

The original mural that appeared on a wall in the southern Malaysian city of Johor Baru last week had depicted a woman drawn in the style of a Lego toy walking towards a street corner, where a black-clad, knife-wielding Lego robber waited to pounce.

The mural, by Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic, was intended as a commentary on the city’s reputation for crime and drew on the image of a Legoland theme park which opened nearby last year.

Angry city officials quickly painted over it, but the image has tapped into public concern over crime.

Drawings by other artists as well as paper cut-outs featuring the figures have appeared at sites in Johor Baru, the capital Kuala Lumpur and elsewhere, with social media sites filling with photos of the copycat renderings.

“Spread the word! Don’t let these silly officials hide the problem. We need a safer Malaysia,” said one Facebook posting.

At least one new Facebook page in Chinese – Malaysia has a large Chinese minority – is dedicated to the phenomenon and has drawn more than 16,000 “likes.”

T-shirts with the figures on were on sale on Facebook at 20 ringgit ($6) a piece, including one that says “Art doesn’t damage a city’s image. Crime does.”

One posting in Chinese declared Zacharevic “Malaysia’s Banksy” after the British graffiti superstar.

Zacharevic, who reportedly lives in the northern Malaysian state of Penang and is 27, was quoted on Thursday expressing delight at the reaction.

“I have never had a reaction of this scale over my work and of course, it is a good feeling,” he was quoted telling The Star newspaper, saying his email inbox was “on fire” with messages from fans.

Zacharevic has done a number of commissioned murals in various parts of the country but did the Johor Baru drawing on an “impulse.”

“I could clearly see that crime is affecting people’s daily lives. There is a climate of fear lingering around,” he said in an email to AFP last week.

“I guess it was important for (the public) to be able to talk about the subject,” he said of the reaction. l

China supreme court rules out confession through torture

Cocaine haul worth Up to 15,000 foreign $48m washes ashore on Japan troops could stay: Karzai beach country’s future after 2014, when the n AFP, Kabul bulk of Nato’s 75,000 troops will pull AFP, Tokyo n n Reuters, Beijing Afghan President Hamid Karzai backed out. The Taliban insurgency this year A haul of cocaine with an estimated street value of $48m has washed ashore on a beach south of Tokyo, reports said Thursday, with authorities suspecting seafaring traffickers.

An elderly local resident found 80 kilograms of the drug inside backpacks that were tied together and reported it to police, Jiji Press and other media said.

The bags were outfitted with a buoy and illuminated markers and authorities suspect that they were lost by seafaring traffickers, the reports said.

Police reportedly said the drugs had an estimated street value of 4.8bn yen ($48m).

Local authorities declined to comment on the reports when contacted by AFP. l

9

Friday, November 22, 2013

Thursday a proposed security pact with the United States that will see up to 15,000 foreign troops stay in the wartorn country, but said it would not be signed until after next year’s election.

A grand assembly of tribal chieftains, community elders and politicians began four days of debating the bilateral security agreement (BSA), which will shape Washington’s future military presence in Afghanistan.

Hours before the meeting, US Secretary of State John Kerry said the two sides had finally agreed the text of the pact after months of difficult negotiations.

If the “loya jirga” assembly approves the BSA, it must then be passed by the Afghan parliament.

It has been touted as vital to the

has reached levels of violence not seen since 2010, according to the United Nations.

Karzai urged the 2,500 delegates to consider Afghanistan’s “future prosperity” as they made their decision, saying the deal gave the country a chance to move on after more than 30 years of war.

“The agreement gives us a chance to transition into stability,” he said.

“This agreement provides us a transitional period to reach stability in the next ten years ahead of us.”

He signalled yet another delay to the pact, which Washington had wanted completed by the end of October, saying it would only be signed “when our elections are conducted, correctly and with dignity.” l

Using torture to extract confessions must be eliminated, China’s Supreme People’s Court said on Thursday, singling out a widespread practice that has long attracted international condemnation.

“Inquisition by torture used to extract a confession, as well as the use of cold, hunger, drying, scorching, fatigue and other illegal methods to obtain confessions from the accused must be eliminated,” the Supreme Court said in a statement posted on its official microblog account.

The Supreme People’s Court also introduced more stringent rules for death penalty cases, saying adequate evidence must be furnished and that only experienced judges should handle capital punishment trials.

China’s government said last week

it would work to reduce the number of crimes subject to the death penalty.

The Supreme People’s Court comments were part of a statement on weeding out false charges in legal cases and follows a landmark package of reforms last week, including abolishing forced labour camps and freeing courts from political influences.

But judicial independence in China is often just given lip service, as courts ultimately answer to the Communist Party.

“The problem is always with the implementation,” said Nicholas Bequelin of Human Rights Watch. “In the judicial system in China the public security system is by far the most powerful institution, and there are effectively very few checks and balances on how it exerts its power.”

Rights advocates have long called on China to better safeguard the rights

of the accused. Coercing confessions through torture and other means is a widespread practice, with some defendants in high-profile cases confessing to crimes in public before trials have taken place. Torture is also rampant in the ruling Communist Party’s own internal judicial system, laid bare in a September case, in which six interrogators were charged with drowning a man by repeatedly dunking him in a bucket of ice-cold water.

The Supreme People’s Court also emphasized that courts much not yield to pressure from the media or “unreasonable petitioning by litigants.” Public outrage has sometimes swayed verdicts in high profile cases.

The court released a paper late last month calling for an end to corruption in courts and for officials to stop interfering in decisions. l

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Friday, November 22, 2013

Letters to

www.dhakatribune.com

the Editor

LETTER OF THE DAY

Failure of Shekh Hasina’s government

Why make more threats?

November 20

B

NP chairperson Khaleda Zia met with President Abdul Hamid on Tuesday, following her request to initiate a dialogue in order to resolve the current impasse regarding the election-time caretaker government.

The president told the BNP that all efforts to end the political deadlock must be taken within the parameters of the constitution.

Legal experts say, even though the president has little constitutional power, he could play a crucial role in the matter in an advisory capacity.

Khaleda’s interest in dialogue, and in seeking the president’s counsel, was a step in the right direction as it shows a move away from the The BNP undermines its violent politics of the street own stance by calling for that characterised the series more shutdowns of hartals seen in the previous months.

It is then, dismaying to see the BNP announce plans for tougher agitation if its requests to the president do not pan out as hoped. The BNP undermines its own stance by calling for more shutdowns and blockades, after having given the nation a clear sign that discussions would take place in a more peaceful manner.

If the president’s advice is not at all respected, why initiate dialogue in the first place? Conversely, once the president has been given a chance to work towards a peaceful resolution, why make more threats? We hope that the BNP stays on course, and does not once again launch into a destructive campaign of hartals, for which our country pays a steep price.

Once Dhaka was known to all, across the world, for its glorious achievement so that Dhaka University was called the Oxford in the East, Narayangonj was called the Dandi, Muslin etc.

But now Hazaribag in Dhaka is one of the world’s most polluted places, and indeed ranked 5th by Time Magazine.

It is simple one of the failures of the Awami League government, among many others.

Sheuly Haque, Sirajgonj

First World Trade Centre tower makes debut 12 years after 9/11 November 12 Nice initiative!

Nayela Appreciated. Thanks for taking this revolutionary step. nasima Wonderful. Hijras have always been a part of the culture in the area, really all over the entire peninsula since history has been recorded there. It only makes sense to include them and extend to them the same rights and privileges that other people have, maybe even push them ahead a little bit to make up for the past. It is a great thing that they do.

Rev Dr Jesse Bateau First the landmark anti-torture/police brutality bill, now this (which is impressively progressive by any standard). Good job, Bangladesh. :-) Atif Ahmed Choudhury It’s about time! I hope this paves the way for them to stop living secluded lives, followed by their integration into the mainstream where they can contribute in every aspect of our country. Hijras, like men and women, must enjoy full dignity as hu-

Photography exhibition Kinetic on at EMK Center

Removal of elected directors an affront to GB members

November 12

Good going Nafis. We need more artists such as yourselves.

A Fan

Buyer beware

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ollowing gazette notification of the Grameen Bank Act 2013, the nine elected members of the Grameen Bank board have been removed from their posts.

We have previously criticised this act for massively empowering the three government members on the Grameen Bank’s board to take policy decisions even against the wishes of the nine elected board members. This week’s summary removal of these nine women directors is an affront to Grameen Bank’s 8.4 million members who had elected them to serve until 2015.

The government says new elections will be prepared for election to the board and Their departure in the meantime the three undermines one government members and of Grameen Bank’s chairman of the bank will historical strengths operate the bank. Tahsina Khatun, one of the nine elected women members of the Grameen Bank board, has said the government is forcibly removing the elected board members via the new act. She is right to question why this step has been deemed necessary even though the new law has empowered the three government appointed directors.

This question is not and should not be about whether the nine elected directors are “pro-Yunus” or not, as some government ministers have claimed.

Grameen Bank’s millions of borrowers and members elected these officials to serve until 2015. Their untimely departure is both undemocratic and undermines one of the organisation’s historical strengths, which is that Grameen’s borrowers and members have a large stake and say in the running of the organisation.

CROSSWORD

November 12 A thoughtful and an interesting article indeed. adrib

DOWN 1 Annoying child (4) 2 Soft feathers (4) 3 Stubborn animal (4) 4 Take unjustly (5) 5 Dance (5) 6 Vast age (3) 7 Staggers (5) 12 Little devil (3) 13 Female deer (3) 15 Liable (3) 16 Garden tool (3) 17 Bird (5) 18 Additional (5) 19 Social event (5) 21 At hand (4) 22 Circle of light (4) 23 Honey drink (4) 25 And not (3)

man beings and should enjoy all the rights available to a Bangladeshi citizen.

Shabab Hannan It’s lovely to see progress toward inclusion and acceptance. :) Robin The idea is revolutionary. The intentions and political use just makes a mockery of the step and takes away the value of the real acceptance truthseeker Good initiative!

Raihan I don’t inherently object to the third sex category.

There is some truth to that. The main concern I have is equal treatment to the other sexes and that this isn’t used to deny them rights like marriage or to work.

Christine Spencer Article would have been better if they had explained better what hijras are.

CID

I live more than 20 miles away from that building and when i look down the road, I see a glimpse of this building overlooking everything on its way.

Such an amazing sight.

Neon Saidi Love that awesome building!

Mohammad Ashraful Looks like it takes 12 years to build a new one.

Zakir Hossain Pinku

Barisal schools charging extra fees from SSC candidates November 13

Aryan Zabee This is very common in Bangladesh. Even some of the top schools are doing this kind of thing.

Faisal Mohammad Hossain How the heck can it be so common in this country? This practice must be stopped. Everyone is not rich enough to pay this much money. What kind of a situation is BD facing that education should be given the least attention and made such a slow priority?

Be Heard Write to us at: Dhaka Tribune FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath Sukrabad, Dhaka-1207 Email us at: letters@dhakatribune.com Send us your Op-Ed articles: opinion@dhakatribune.com Visit our website: www.dhakatribune.com Come join our Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/DhakaTribune

US official Nisa Biswal coming to Dhaka November 14

The US president should have sent her to Syria instead. We Bangladeshis are too young, too wild and, at the end of the day, too “democratic” to listen to anyone.

K M Noor Boksh

CALVIN AND HOBBES

PEANUTS

SUDOKU ACROSS 1 Rudimentary shoot (3) 3 Speak indistinctly (6) 8 Burden (4) 9 Misery (3) 10 Relating to the wolf (6) 11 Dry inflammable matter (6) 14 Tracks (5) 17 Rate of progress (5) 20 National song (6) 24 Chant (6) 26 In favour of (3) 27 Shout (4) 28 Dealer (6) 29 Strange (3)

November 16

Hijras now a separate gender

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS Crossword

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

Code-Cracker

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

11

Friday, November 22, 2013

Meeting the demand n Hasan Kamrul

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Whatever happened to peaceful protests?

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SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

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The world is watching

W n Zafar Sobhan

ednesday was a big day for Bangladesh.

All of a sudden, we are on everybody’s lips in the international media, as well as the subject of debate in think tanks and committees and sub-committees of legislative bodies the world over.

To be sure, Bangladesh has been a fixture on the international news pages all year, but it is not often that the New York Times deigns to editorialise about Bangladesh, so Wednesday’s editorial “Political crisis in Bangladesh” is certainly a sign that we have caught the world’s attention in the run up to the elections.

It is not just the world media.

Wednesday also saw a panel discussion at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington DC titled “Bangladesh on the Brink” and a US Congressional sub-committee hearing, with the slightly more restrained title, “Bangladesh in Turmoil: A Nation on the Brink?”

Nor is this sudden uptick of interest confined to the US. Last night (early morning for us in Bangladesh) the EU parliament convened a debate on Bangladesh to discuss issuing a resolution with respect to human rights and the upcoming elections.

I think we get the picture.

Supporters of the government will find fault with this apparently sudden focus on Bangladesh, that is mostly critical of the government in terms of human rights in general, and the ICT and elections, in particular. But to my mind, although the government has a case, the problem lies elsewhere.

The larger problem is this. It is clear that what concerns our foreign friends more than anything else is the spectre of violence, instability, and insecurity. All well and good. None of us inside the country is thrilled about the current crisis, and there is no question that it is something that merits comment and condemnation.

The problem I have is that the message that is thus sent to all political players is that the way to get world attention is to cause a ruckus. The greater the ruckus, the greater the chance that you get the outside world to sit up and take notice.

way to press their case than to shut the country down, burn buses, and cause mayhem.

It really does not make them more popular inside the country. Quite the opposite, in fact.

So why do they do it? One big reason they do it is to catch the notice of the international community, in the hopes that international attention will help them advance their case.

If we are to ever mature as a democracy we need to move beyond the politics of hartals and street violence.

Unfortunately, the current culture sets up a vicious cycle in which the more

Why is it that the opposition parties can think of no better way to press their case than to shut the country down, burn buses, and cause mayhem?

The incentives are obvious. You should simply cause as much mayhem as possible. Indeed, this is a lesson that the BNP and AL have both learned very well. When in opposition, each party employs a scorched earth tactic to try and make the country ungovernable.

The goal is two-fold. The first is to bring the country to a standstill, the obvious consequence of which would be to damage the sitting government .

The second is to mobilise the international community.

But that’s the problem.

A great lament that we all have in Bangladesh is why is it that the opposition parties can think of no better

damage one can do to the country the better the chance one has of getting one’s way and of ultimately coming to power.

I had initially conceived of this op-ed as an appeal to the BNP to move away from the tactics of hartals in the weeks before the elections.

It would be something that would appeal to the people and thus make them more popular inside the country, something that one would imagine a political party would want to do.

Peaceful programs would be incredibly popular, would give the opposition the moral high ground, and could even capture the imagination of

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the millions who are disaffected by the current government or are just looking for something different, but would never dream of taking part in any kind of violent demonstration and are turned off by the climate of fear that that surrounds us.

Whatever happened to the politics of long marches? What if the BNP, instead of declaring hartals and burning buses, decreed a day of non-cooperation and urged people to gather for candle-light vigils or to march silently in protest. What a movement that could be.

Sadly, our political parties have neither this kind of imagination nor inclination. But in fairness to them, one reason might be that they sense that this approach would not capture the minds of the international community, and the recent attention the country has been getting would seem to bear this out.

But if a party wishes to come to power, and, more importantly, stay in power, then it needs to focus its energies inside the country and not outside.

More to the point, if BNP comes back to power following hartals and violence, then they will have done nothing to break the cycle, and will face all this and more from the AL. But if they adopt a different approach, they can change our political culture forever, and set us on the path of responsible dissent, surely as important as good governance.

And while the rest of the world is typically only moved by stories that bleed, who knows? We might just be surprised by their response, as well. l

he government celebrated this month for achieving the capacity of 10,000MW of electricity.

The country is currently able to produce 10,000MW from existing power plants. The power division of the ministry of power, energy and mineral resources organised this event. Power sector professionals, distinguished guests, businessmen, and journalists were present at the event which was chaired by the prime minister.

At the event, the finance minister said the nation would bid goodbye to load sheddings forever starting next June, because Bangladesh now has the capacity to produce more electricity than it needs.

The finance minister said they had not abandoned the previous interim government’s decisions on the power sector out of consideration for national interest. For instance, rental and quick rental, project of the interim government, has been implemented by this government after looking at the potential benefits to the nation.

Bangladesh now has 10,000MW of production capacity. In 2009, when this government came to power, the total production of electricity was a mere 3,940MW. Rental and quick rental, coal-based power plants, and gas-based power station projects were taken on by the government to increase electricity output. However, energy experts criticised the rental and quick rental system, because of the high cost of per unit electricity at the consumer’s end.

That is why the cost of per capita electricity has increased seven times.

The prime minister said they had to face much criticism for taking on rental power plant projects. They knew what they had to do in the power sector in order to build up a nation free from the plague of load sheddings.

This is the time to see the positive results of their projects and for the people to reap the benefit.

The total production of electricity as it stands, is 6,500MW. This government has added 2,700MW of electricity to the national grid with the help

of 58 fuel-based power plants, out of which 38 are rental and quick rental plants.

In the last five years, the per capita electricity consumption has increased to 310kWh from 220kWh. The premier said her government had already installed 150,000 line kilometers, and smart grid projects which being implemented. It has also undertaken four mega coal based power plants, each having a capacity of 1,320MW. 500MW of power has already been imported from India. The government has started trading electricity with the neighbouring countries.

In the past few years, 15 million people have gotten new electricity connections to their households. 116MW were produced from renewable sources like solar panels

A lot of work has also been done to increase the electricity production for a higher national income.

In the past few years, 15 million people have gotten new electricity connections to their households.

116MW were produced from renewable sources like solar panels.

There are plans to import electricity from Bhutan and Nepal in the future. Furthermore, the government is looking for ways to produce more electricity from renewable sources like solar energy, wind, and water.

A solar power plant project of 100MW capacity is in the pipeline.

There is a little debate as to whether the “capacity” figure of 10,000MW can indeed be our actual production level.

Presently, the total consumption of electricity is 6,500MW, but actual production is in the vicinity of 8,500MW. 2,000MW is lost in the production process and is therefore unusable. l Hasan Kamrul is a geologist.

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Zafar Sobhan is Editor, Dhaka Tribune.

Diagnosis of a share-taker government n Saqeb Mahbub

T

he parliament may be the constitutional platform for democratic debate, but for the netizens of Bangladesh (citizens using internet), Facebook is where their thoughts are formulated, expressed and debated.

It is where lively arguments happen on private walls and statuses without moderation and (almost) no fear of backlash. It has become something strikingly close to a people’s parliament. And it is on Facebook that the term “share-taker government” was coined by a free-thinking imaginative friend. Where else?

The term undoubtedly pokes fun at the allegedly “all-party” government that now exists in Bangladesh.

Supposedly having roots in the opposition’s demand for a caretaker government, the current cabinet comprises of ministers from a few more parties in parliament in what can be described as a power sharing arrangement. But the question is, is this the “small” cabinet promised by the prime minister, free of “unelected” forces, having only the purpose of overseeing an election?

At the time of writing this article, it

is still not clear whether the ministers who submitted their resignation letters to the prime minister on November 10 are still in office. If they are, the size of the cabinet stands at 67, if they are not, the cabinet is still a substantial 21 even without the participation of BNP, the second biggest party in parliament.

If compared to the usual election-time caretaker government comprising of 10 advisers, this cabinet is already more than twice as big, with the potential to be thrice as big in the unlikely situation that BNP will join. The government is certainly not “small” in size.

But is it small in significance? A quick look at the party portfolios of the new ministers will show that it is not. The two new Awami League entrants are both members of the party’s presidium, the new Jatiya Party ministers include its secretary-general and two presidium members and the Worker’s Party representative in the cabinet is the party’s chairman himself!

Not only do these ministers hold important posts in the party, they will presumably also be the most involved in the election-time strategy and management of their respective

parties. While the obvious red-flag that springs up is that the danger arises of these ministers having an interest in influencing the election process, one thing is quite clear – this government is not “small”, neither in size nor in the power and influence it holds.

Nevertheless, the biggest argument forwarded by the prime minister and her party colleagues in favour of rejecting BNP’s demand for a neutral and non-party government, has been the idea that unelected people must not hold state power.

Yet, three unelected ministers continue to hold important posts in the cabinet, including the vital post of minister for law, justice and parliamentary affairs, and seven unelected advisers given the status of ministers, continue to advise the prime minister without any accountability in parliament or elsewhere.

Ironically, while the rest of the “elected” cabinet was asked to hand in their resignations, the “unelected” advisers sat safely and soundly holding on to their ministerial status.

Most shocking, however, is the composition of the “new” recruits.

The recent entrants, who supposedly are the flag-bearers of the small “elected” cabinet includes the wife of

a business tycoon – a member of parliament certainly, but from the quota of selected female MPs. Neither was she elected to the parliament, nor does she have any past experience of representing the people.

Another new member, a Jatiya Party presidium member, and not an MP, has been added to the unaccountable post of an adviser, holding ministerial power and responsibility.

The current cabinet is certainly not a reflection of a “small” one or one which is “elected” or entirely democratic as had been promised by the prime minister. But is it substantially different from the usual government for it to be called an election-time government that is the solution to the current political stalemate? The answer is an unfortunate no.

With the prime minister remaining at the helm of the government, most of the government power remains centralised in the untouched PMO. The important ministries of Defence, Foreign, Home and Law are tipped to remain unchanged as well.

In this backdrop, the cabinet entries look less like a new government and more like a cabinet reshuffle, which is unlikely to convince the opposition or

the public that this is an election-time government.

Nevertheless, while the characteristics of a government tasked with overseeing a free and fair election process is missing from the present format, it is not a format that needs to be binned necessarily.

While the obvious red-flag that springs up is that the danger arises of these ministers having an interest in influencing the election process, one thing is quite clear – this government is not ‘small’, neither in size nor in the power and influence it holds

There is scope for change and improvement; and a more open, sincere and inclusive approach with the goal of an all-party election in mind can put an end to the painful and costly stalemate that exists in the country right now. l Saqeb Mahbub is Barrister-at-Law, Advocate of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh and a legal expert at the Institute of Legal and Economic Development (ILED).

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Friday, November 22, 2013

Boshonto Jagoron focuses on proper sex education

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Ila performs at IGCC today n Entertainment Desk

Scenes from the controversial play Boshonto Jagoron

n Shadma Malik Theatre and Performance Studies, University of Dhaka’s production Boshonto Jagoron will be showcased today 7pm at Nat Mondal. The play that critisises the sexually-oppressive culture of our country will be showcased everyday till Novemver 28.

The production is an adaption of German dramatist Frank Wedekind’s Spring Awakening.

The story of Boshonto Jagoron portrays the insecurities, confusion and curiosities faced by adolescents during puberty and the refusal of adults to inform and prepare the younger generations with proper sex education.

Directed by Shahman Moishan, the play features Tania Islam Jhumur in the role of Wendla Bergmann, Ishtiaq Khan Pathan as Melchior

Gabor and Chandra Bormon as Moritz Stiefel.

The story opens with Wendla, a girl aged fourteen, who becomes pregnant with Melchior’s baby, due to her lack of understanding of the consequences of unprotected sex. She dies after an unsafe, botched abortion.

Melchior is a fourteen-year-old atheist who, unlike the other children, has proper knowledge about sex and its repercussions. His detailed letter about sexual intercourse to his best friend Moritz gets him expelled from school. On the other hand, Moritz, commits suicide as he is unable to cope up with the confusing feelings and distractions caused by puberty.

The director of the play said: “There are two purposes behind staging the play, one is academic and the other is social. The dramatist Frank Wedekind’s Spring Awakening is in our

curriculum, so we decided to stage it. There is a social aspect to this story as well. Here, spring is depicted as the youthful and awakening of sexual consciousness.

“The play is controversial and is quite bold when the subject is broached in our society, where the word ‘sex’ is still a taboo. It is further more important to address these issues, which was considered once a burning subject in Europe during the early 20th century. For us, the time is perfect as our society has yet to be open about sex education to adolescents. Many of the aspects of the play has been moderated according to acceptability of the audience of Dhaka.

“The play was a great experience for the actors as they shared their own perspectives in this play.” l

Shahnaz Nasrin Ila will present Rabindra Sangeet at the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre (IGCC) in Gulshan, today at 6:30pm. The programme is a joint collaborative between IGCC, in association with Asian Paints, IRCON and Marico Bangladesh.

Shahnaz Nasrin Ila trained in Rabindra Sangeet at the prestigious Rabindra Bharati University in Kolkata, completing her BA (Hons) in 1993 with distinction and Masters in 1996 under the ICCR Scholarship scheme. She is also a distinguished exponent of modern Bangla songs and folk music. Presently, Ila is the Head of the Department of Music at the University of Dhaka.

She has performed in several Rabindra Sangeet concerts at home and abroad. She represented Bangladesh in the joint celebrations of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore at Kolkata last year and is also the proud winner of the President Award for Rabindra Sangeet at the National Rabindra Sangeet contest of Bangladesh.

Ila has released an album on Rabindra Sangeet entitled Praner Majhe Sudha Achhe. She has also contributed several articles on music for leading national dailies and journals of Bangladesh. l

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TODAY IN DHAKA Film

Planes in 3D Step Up Revolution in 3D Bullet to the Head Riddick Titanic (3D) Purno Dhorgho Prem Kahini Level 8, Bashundhara City Panthapath

Fair

Ohornish performed by Shwapnil Shojib, Shumona Biswas and band Dharok Time: 5:30-9 pm

Very Graphic Fair Time: 7pm Bengal Art Lounge 60 Gulshan Avenue , Road 131, Dhaka

Music

Tarunney Ranga Rabindranath Organised by EMK Center and

Nobo Onner Ghran Joler Gaan 6:30pm Jatiya Chitrashala Hall Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy

Kai Po Che to open film fest in Italy

Phirey Ashbey Tumi airs tonight

Director Abhishek Kapoor’s film Kai Po Che will open the 13th edition of the River to River Florence Indian Film Festival at Italy.

Kai Po Che which is based on author Chetan Bhagat’s novel The 3 Mistakes of My Life, released early this year to a great response from the audience.

Today, the fest will be open with the Italian premiere of the film with Abhishek attending the event.

The film, set in Ahmedabad, revolved around three friends played by Sushant Singh Rajput, Amit Sadh and Raj Kumar Yadav.

It tracks their friendship and innocence tarnished by religious politics and communal hatred, which results in their fallout, and an eventual death.

The festival showcasing Indian feature films, documentaries and shorts, will be held in Florence, Italy.

Among the three actors starring in the movie, Sushant Singh Rajput has made quite an impression among the audience and directors alike. His film Shuddh Desi Romance, a story about the hair-raising minefield between love, attraction and commitment was a successful venture. l

Single-episode drama Phirey Ashbey Tumi will air tonight at 9:10pm on Channel 9. Written by Nadia Afrin Rekha, the drama features Mir Sabbir and Bindu in lead roles.

The story is about the couple Zahid and Nilima. Wife Nilima is left crippled with the loss of a leg, in an accident caused by the recklessness of Zahid.

The accident also kills her father who leaves Nilima all his worldly possessions. Nilima is now totally depended on Zahid.

Zahid remains busy with his office work and Nilima’s responsibility.

Sometimes, he shares his personal feelings with his friend Shefa who is in love with Zahid. He also has unresolved feelings for Shefa, but never acts on his promptings as his conscience restraints him. Shefa tries to convince Zahid

n Entertainment Desk

Hrithik to face the scalpel once more n Entertainment Desk Playing superhero can sure take its toll.

Like it has with Krrish 3 star Hrithik Roshan, who after first undergoing brain surgery on July 7, will now reportedly fly to the US for further treatment.

According to reports, after the initial brain surgery to get rid of a blood clot, the actor recently suffered from a relapse which is the reason why he’s headed back to the US. While Hrithik receives treatment, his upcoming films Shuddhi and Bang Bang stand postponed.

Siddharth Anand’s Bang Bang stars the actor opposite Katrina Kaif, and its shooting was scheduled to begin from November 27, according to reports. Work on Hrithik’s other film, Karan Malhotra’s Shuddhi, also co-starring Katrina was to begin in December.

A concerned Katrina Kaif sensing the delay this would cause for her other films Phantom and Jagga, reportedly met with Rakesh Roshan, only to be turned back after being told Hrithik couldn’t hurry things up considering his present condition. l

n Entertainment Desk

Lead characters of the single episode drama Phirey Ashbey Tumi to leave Nilima and marry her.

But, finally Zahid realises his responsibility towards Nilima and

decides to be a reliable and honest husband towards his crippled and dependent wife.l

Bollywood actors harassed by stalkers n Entertainment Desk Actress Shruti Haasan tweeted that she was fine and was doing well after a stalker attacked her on November 19 at her residence in Mumbai.

Shruti Haasan, who is the daughter of Tamil superstar Kamal Haasan, also informed a colleague form the southern film industry that the police was looking into the matter.

Used to obsessive fans who sometime cross boundaries, stars in India often brush unwanted attention under the carpet.

Controversy queen Poonam Pandey is no stranger to obsessive fan behavior. “While on a visit to Delhi recently, I was harassed by constant crank calls and some fans also banged on my room’s door at night. This kind of behavior is repeated a number of times at all sorts of places.”

The actor accepts that at times such behavior gets frightening. She believes that this kind of unwanted attention is part of being who she is - controversial and in the public sphere.

John Abraham lodged a complaint against a male stalker in October this year. John said in his complaint that the man was harassing him and his parents with constant phone calls.

Shahid Kapoor was stalked by the daughter of yesteryear actor Raaj Kumar, Vastavikta Pandit in 2012. The actor didn’t press charges.

After the success of The Dirty Picture and Kahaani, Vidya Balan was also stalked by a

young man who managed to breach her house.

The actor’s spokesperson told a newspaper, “He managed to get into her flat and asked the domestic help if Vidya had gone to meet her niece and nephew.” While the police was called, the case was not pursued.

Sushmita Sen received expensive gifts, including bridal attire, wedding accessories and cosmetics from a crazed fan in 2008.

The man also wrote her letters and threatened to kill her if she refused his proposal. The actor had to file a police complaint.

Model Jahanvi Kapoor cut her wrists before Abhishek Bachchan’s marriage to Aishwarya, claiming to be his wife. The police took her away but no case was registered as she was found to be mentally unstable.

Katrina Kaif was also frightened by an obsessed fan who landed at her doorstep in 2009. Though he was turned away, the man was spotted making rounds of her residential area, leading to police’s intervention. l

Shruti Haasan

Did you know?

The same five African nations who made it through qualifying for World Cup 2010, also qualified for the 2014 finals

Sport

Friday, November 22, 2013

14 Uruguay book place at 2014 World Cup finals

14 Messi lauds Ronaldo’s goalscoring power

Morrison gives Abahani flying start n Shishir Hoque Ghanaian forward Osei Morrison marked his debut for Abahani Limited with a sublime hat-trick as the traditional giants kicked off their Walton Federation Cup campaign with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Rahmatganj MFS at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

Last season Morrison staged a similar debut for Mohammedan Sporting Club in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) against Brothers Union. However, a half fit Morrison, who landed just six days ago, chose the Fed Cup this time to announce his arrival in the Sky Blue camp.

Abahani pressed on their opponents from the beginning and continued to dominate till the last minute. Morrison’s attacking partner Andre Luis De Castro also made his debut in Bangladesh yesterday.

Morrison, the top scorer of BPL last season, scored the first goal of the sea-

Registration ends in hockey n Raihan Mahmood

The inter club hockey transfer all of a sudden came alive on the last day in last couple of hour at the hockey stadium yesterday.

Amid the boycott of reigning champions Mohammedan, powerhouse Mariner Youngs, Bangladesh Sporting and Wari, all the other seven clubs remained idle in the last six days but all the clubs completed their formalities on the last day. A number of players, who reportedly agreed to play for Mohammedan changed minds and signed for different clubs.

Last year’s runners-up Usha signed national skipper Mamunur Rahman Chayan, national forward Krishna Kumar, midfielder Taposh Barman, forward Jahid bin Talib Shuvo, Rimon Kumar, former national forward Maksud AlamHabul and midfielder Prashanta.

They also registered seven BKSP players.

Traditional powerhouse Dhaka Abahani convinced national second choice goalie Ashim Gope and Sheikh Md. Nannu from Mohammedan to join along with national forward Pushkor Khisha Mimo, Hasan Jubaer Niloy, Khorshed, Shitul, and talented midfielder Romman Sarker. Experienced midfielder Musa Mia also remained in his sky-blue outfit.

The former champions also decided to insert some young blood by signing in six BKSP players. However Mimo said he will only play for Abahani if Mohammedan do not play in the league. l

son in the 17th minute with an easy tap in before netting the second at the stroke of half-time.

Cameroonian midfielder Yoko Samnick provided a neat through pass in the 42nd minute as Morrison made mistake to give his side a comfortable 2-0 lead before the breather.

The hat-trick strike was sort of a gift to Morrison who slotted the ball home after Rahmatganj goalkeeper Al Amin made a blunder of De Castro’s shot which ended at the Ghanaian’s feet in the last quarter of the game.

“It’s a good game. The consequence is even better because I just came here five days ago and I’m not 100 percent fit. I only tried to suit in the game,” said Morrison after the game.

“I’m doing everything to keep myself fit and the club is also very helpful.

It’s my job to give my best to the team,” he added.

Morrison admitted that he was surprised by the sudden sacking of Australian coach Nathan Hall and added that, “We didn’t know anything how did it head out and our coach is gone. Another coach will come and it’s ok for me.” l

The Dhaka Gladiators franchise will not attend the hearing on November 24 called by the Bangladesh Cricket Board tribunal.

The ICC (International Cricket Council) after thorough investigation named nine individuals – both players and officials from the Dhaka Gladiators - for being involved in fixing activity in the second edition of the Bangladesh Premier League.

After receiving the final report on the matter from the ICC, the BCB decided to form a tribunal to follow-up on the charges. However, the BCB failed to put up a tribunal soon and after a long wait, the Dhaka Gladiators franchise took the matter to the Chief Metropolitan Magistracy (CMM).

“We were told by the BCB CEO (Nizamuddin) that the tribunal will be formed

by October 6, but it never happened. To be honest, this case involves our social status and prestige for which we couldn’t wait more and took the issue to the court,” Dhaka Gladiators owner Salim Chowdhury told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

Dhaka Gladiators also claimed the BCB and ICC reports were unfair and le-

13

15 Siddikur pays dearly on World Cup debut MATCH HIGHLIGHTS Abahani 3-0 Morrison 17, 42, 77

Rahmatganj

GOAL! 17” Easy tap in for Morrison from a cross of Towhidul Alam to put Abahani ahead 38” Towhidul’s diving header on a Meshu cross slams against the side bar GOAL! 42” After receiving a through ball from Yoko Samnick, Morrison calmly finishes for the second goal GOAL! 77” Hat-trick for Morrison!

The Ghanaian striker took full toll of Rahmatganj goalkeeper Al-Amin’s blunder and scored in an open net

Abahani’s Ghanaian striker Osei Morrison celebrates a goal during their Walton Federation Cup match against Rahmatganj at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday MUMIT M

Dhaka Gladiators refuse to appear before tribunal n Minhaz Uddin Khan

DHAKA TRIBUNE

gally questionable, thus forcing them to seek justice from the country’s law.

“You see, the issue is in the court and we are waiting for the hearing from the court. Because the issue is in the court now, we cannot attend the tribunal hearing and at the same time they also cannot call us for any hearing,” said Salim.

It was learnt that the franchise informed the tribunal of not attending the hearing through a letter and that they will only attend any hearing by the tribunal after January 7, the date of hearing of the CMM. Meanwhile, former Chief Justice Abdur Rashid, the head of the ten-member BCB disciplinary panel, informed the Dhaka Tribune that the accused will have to be present during the hearing.

“If they have any issue, they will have to come to the tribunal hearing and inform. I believe a letter will not be enough to excuse them from the hearing,” said Justice Abdur Rashid.

He further informed that the tribunal will discuss and decide what action to take against those who do not turn up for the hearing.

The tribunal will likely hold a press briefing tomorrow before it starts officiating from Sunday. l

Strain on national cricket stadium

BCB directors lie idle

n Mazhar Uddin

n Mazhar Uddin

It has been a busy schedule for the cricketers so far and it will be tighter for them and also a heavy load is waiting for the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium from next year’s Sri Lanka series in January, the Asia Cup and the T20 World Champion ship in March.

The ICC has instructed BCB not to hold more than eight matches in a month but so far, Mirpur Stadium is holding considerably more than that and the ground is likely to be affected a lot.“ICC have earlier informed us not to hold more than eight matches in a month so that the ground does not lose its moisture as you know there will be many matches to played in Mirpur,” said Abdul Baten, the manager of the BCB grounds committee.

However the BCB is overlooking the instructions of the ICC and playing a of lot matches at the Mirpur Stadium. After finishing the New Zealand series, there are Dhaka League matches being played at the Mirpur Stadium. The Mirpur Stadium will also host some age level matches and practice matches in the near future.

The manager of the BCB grounds committee informed that the board will work according to the ICC’s instructions from December.“So far, we are not able to work according to the ICC but we will start working according to their instructions from December,” said Baten.

So far, the Mirpur Stadium has hosted four Dhaka League matches. l

It has been over 40 days since the much awaited Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) election took place on October 12 where Nazmul Hasan became the first elected BCB president after he had been nominated as the head of ad-hoc committee on November 27 last year, but the BCB is yet to assign the department of the newly elected directors.

Earlier when the ministry of youth and sports in Bangladesh announced a 13-member ad-hoc committee to run the BCB for three months, the committee was supposed to have held the elections under the amended constitution, which eventually happened after almost eleven months.

A total of 26 directors are now in the BCB but most them are not seen often at the Mirpur home of the cricket office and even the BCB president is also not often seen.

Ahmed Sajjadul Alam, Mahbubul Anam, Enayet Hossain Siraj and Jalal Yunus, who were board directors between November 2008 and November 2012, are among those on the newly elected board.

Ahmed Sajjadul Alam who has been heading the marketing department, Enayet Hossain Siraj the chairman of the BCB cricket operations and Jalal Yunus, who is the chairman of the media and communications and former captain Naimur Rahman who is the chairman of the tournament commit-

Jamal win opener n Raihan Mahmood

Sheikh Jamal forward Sony Norde (2L) shoots a ball during their Walton Federation Cup match against Uttar Baridhara at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday MUMIT M

Big spending Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club kicked off their Walton Federation Cup campaign with a rusty 2-0 win over new BPL entrants Uttar Baridhara at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

The star studded outfit wasted scoring chances all through the match and to make the scenario worse, midfielder Sohel Rana was sent-off for a vicious foul on his counterpart Kosoko Olasukanmi.

Overall, it was a Sony Norde show as the highest paid player on the soccer scene scored a brace within a span of three minutes. However it was also interesting to see that the high profile Haitian went into hibernation in the remaining minutes of the match.

Sony Norde put Sheikh Jamal ahead in the 23rd minute from a penalty. Uttar

Baridhara defender Mohammadullah Dalim fouled Sony Norde in the middle of box and the referee duly awarded a penalty. Sony converted it.

Three minutes later, Sony doubled the margin with a solo effort. Taking a through pass from midfielder Sohel Rana, Sony made an angular run through the defence and placed the ball into the far post.

Uttar Baridhara’s occasional burst into the opposition arena almost paid off in the 55th minute and in added time, right winger Sumon’s fierce drive was saved by a diving Jamal goalie Zia and on the second occasion, Zia stopped Sujon Biswas’s grounder. Sumon blasted the rebounder over the crosspiece.

Jamal was denied by the crosspiece in the 81st minute when Nigerian defender Alli Abdullahi’s head on a cross from Sony Norde kissed the crosspiece.

Josef Afusi, the Nigerian coach of Jamal was fuming. l

tee have been looking after their respective departments.

Meanwhile, former captain and chief selector Akram Khan who was also elected as a board director for the first time along with another former captain Khaled Mahmud and Monzur Kader, the chairman of the Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, was also elected as a director of the BCB but their roles have yet to be clarified.

It was learnt that many of the newly elected directors are annoyed at the situation as things are still going as it was during the ad-hoc committee and for most of the directors are not regular present at the BCB as they do not know which department they belong to.

However, the chairman of the BCB marketing department Ahmed Sajjadul Alam informed that the newly elected directors will be assigned to their respective departments very soon, “At the moment, things have been going as during the time of ad-hoc committee but we are going to assign the directors very soon as you know the BCB president is out of the country,” he said.

It was the election which took so much attention for the BCB and also the whole cricketer fraternity, but after the election, the BCB seems to be relaxed in their activities and in no hurry to assign the directors clear roles as Nazmul Hasan and company have the challenge of hosting the mega event of T20 World championship in March next year. l

Doleshwar, Gazi look to maintain DPL lead

n Minhaz Uddin Khan

The round two matches of the Dhaka Premier League Super League will be held across three venues today.

Table toppers Gazi Tank Cricketers will lock horns with Prime Bank CC at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. Gazi with a huge win in their previous game against Kalabagan CA will be looking forward to maintain their lead in the league. Prime, fifth in the table, will also be looking for a win to strengthen their place in the table.

Meanwhile, BKSP promises an exciting encounter between Prime Doleshwar and Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club.

Joint leaders of the league Doleshwar are in prime form and are the favourites in the game. At Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah Mohammedan Sporting Club will take on sixth placed Kalabagan CA. After 11 games, Doleshwar and Gazi have 16 points each. l

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Friday, November 22, 2013

Uruguay book Brazil ticket n Reuters, Montevideo Uruguay sealed their spot at the 2014 World Cup finals after a goalless draw at home to Jordan in the second leg of their intercontinental playoff on Wednesday saw them advance 5-0 on aggregate.

Uruguay, the last of the 32 teams to book their place at the finals in Brazil, had all but secured their berth with a crushing 5-0 victory in the first leg in Amman last week.

“We’re all happy because the truth is it’s been a hard road,” striker Edinson Cavani told reporters after Uruguay’s 18th match of the qualifying campaign.

“We have to enjoy it.”

Left back Martin Caceres suggested that winning the first leg by such a big margin had made it harder to concentrate in the second.

“After winning 5-0 it was going to get complicated, we knew we had to take the match seriously,” he added. “We’d have liked to give the crowd a triumph and at least one goal to shout about but it wasn’t to be, that’s football.”

Despite needing to score at least five to have any hope of overturning the deficit, Jordan defended deep and in numbers on Wednesday, denying the South Americans scoring chances and making sure there would be no repeat of the 5-0 mauling.

The closest the home side came to scoring was when centre back Diego Godin headed against the bar just before halftime, but the lack of goals failed to

SCORE CARD SOUTH AFRICA

De Kock c Sohail Tanvir b Hafeez H. Amla b Mohammad Hafeez Du Plessis c S Maqsood b Junaid Davids b Shahid Afridi Duminy c Hafeez b Bilawal Bhatti Miller not out Parnell run out (Sohail Tanvir) Steyn c sub (Rehman) b Junaid M. Morkel not out Extras (b4, lb2, nb1, w2) Total (7 wkts, 20 overs)

43 31 22 3 11 19 6 1 8 9 153

Bowling Anwar Ali 2-0-22-0, Sohail Tanvir 3-0-27-0 (1w), Mohammad Hafeez 4-025-2, Junaid Khan 3-0-24-2, Bilawal Bhatti 4-0-35-1 (1nb, 1w), Shahid Afridi 4-0-14-1 PAKISTAN

Ahmed Shehzad b Tsotsobe Nasir Jamshed c and b Duminy Mohammad Hafeez not out Umar Akmal not out Extras (lb7, w6) Total (2 wkts, 9.1 overs)

9 18 13 7 13 60

Bowling Tsotsobe 4-0-19-1 (2w), Steyn 2-0-13-0, Morkel 1-0-10-1, Duminy 1.1-0-3-1, Imran Tahir 1-0-8-0 Result South Africa won by 4 runs (Duckworth/ Lewis method) Series South Africa lead the two-match series 1-0

dampen celebrations on the pitch or among the crowd of 60,000 in the stands.

Before kickoff, the crowd at the Centenario were treated to a video of Alcides Ghiggia’s winning goal when Uruguay upset Brazil 2-1 at the Maracana to win their second World Cup in 1950, the last time their northern neighbours hosted the finals.

The 86-year-old, the sole survivor of that “Maracanazo” team, also spoke to the crowd ahead of the game.

Jordan’s packed defence gave 2010 semi-finalists Uruguay few openings.

Cavani, who scored a sublime free kick in the first leg, had two efforts that went over the bar while Luis Suarez worked tirelessly to find openings but often found himself forced out wide.

Uruguay captain Diego Lugano headed a corner wide of the far post just past the hour and Jordan took heart from the scoreless first half and were more daring after the break.

It was the fourth World Cup qualifying campaign in a row in which Uruguay went into a playoff, having finished fifth in the South American group behind Argentina, Colombia, Chile and Ecuador.

It was the fourth World Cup qualifying campaign in a row in which Uruguay went into a playoff, having finished fifth in the South American group behind Argentina, Colombia, Chile and Ecuador. Uruguay reached the 2002 finals by beating Australia, but lost to the same opponents in the campaign for Germany 2006. They went to the 2010 finals in South Africa after overcoming Costa Rica. l

Uruguayan footballers celebrate after qualifying for the Brazil 2014 Fifa World Cup, on Wednesday at the Centenario stadium in Montevideo

South Africa win rain-hit T20 n AFP, Johannesburg A surprise bowling change brought a key wicket and was a crucial factor as South Africa beat Pakistan in a rainaffected first Twenty20 international at the Wanderers Stadium on Wednesday.

Shortly before a storm broke over the stadium, South African captain Faf du Plessis called up JP Duminy to bowl his off-spinners, and Duminy caught Nasir Jamshed off his own bowling with his third delivery.

Only ten more deliveries were possible before play was halted. Pakistan were 60 for two after 9.1 overs, four runs short of a revised par score after South Africa made 153 for seven in their 20 overs. Jamshed’s wicket meant that the target was pushed just out of Pakistan’s reach.

Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla gave South Africa a flying start, putting on 72 for the first wicket before Amla was bowled by Pakistan captain and off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez for 31 off 20 balls.

De Kock made 43 off 33 deliveries before he was well caught at long-on

by Sohail Tanvir off Hafeez.

With play starting 25 minutes late following a thunderstorm, Hafeez

said it was the first time he had seen the pitch. Ajmal was in the team list handed to the media before the toss but it transpired the change was made as a result of seeing a pitch expected to favour fast bowlers. Junaid Khan, not originally named, took the field instead of Ajmal after Hafeez sent South Africa in.

Hafeez and Afridi took three wickets between them for 39 in their combined eight overs as the South African innings lost momentum.

South Africa’s defence of their total started badly when Lonwabo Tsotsobe’s first deliveries were called wide, with one going for an extra four runs.

But Tsotsobe came back strongly and bowled Ahmed Shehzad for nine in an unbroken four-over spell of one for 19.

Shehzad and Hafeez put on 32 and Pakistan looked well placed before they were thwarted by Duminy and the rain.

South Africa won both Twenty20 matches in the United Arab Emirates last week before the teams travelled to South Africa for a hastily-arranged reciprocal series. A second and final game will be played in Cape Town on Friday before the teams clash in three one-day internationals. l

AFP

Messi lauds Ronaldo’s goal-scoring power n AFP, Madrid Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi praised archrival Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal-scoring prowess in an interview published Thursday as speculation mounted that the Portuguese international could be picked as World Player of the Year.

A day after picking up a Golden Boot award for scoring 46 league goals last season, more than any other player in Europe, the 26-year-old Messi paid respect to his Real Madrid rival.

“I don’t know if Cristiano Ronaldo is at his peak but he is always there scoring goals in all the games and taking part in his club and national side,” Messi told Spanish sports daily Marca and other European sports journalists.

“He has been doing that for many years and whether he is at his peak or a bit less makes no difference.”

The 28-year-old Ronaldo is emerging as the favourite to pick up this year’s Ballon d’Or for the world’s best player over four-time winner Messi.

Ronaldo scored a hat-trick on Tuesday as Portugal beat Sweden to qualify for their fourth straight World Cup finals and he tops the Spanish league scoreboard so far this season with 16 goals in 13 matches.

Messi has 11 goals from eight games in the league this season but has been sidelined for up to eight weeks with a

muscle tear in his left hamstring muscle, his third leg injury this season.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, a Real Madrid fan, told public radio he would back Ronaldo for the Ballon d’Or award if he had a vote.

Lionel Messi poses with the Golden Boot trophy during an award ceremony in Barcelona on Wednesday REUTERS “I think he is in impressive form. He is a player who gives everything, who makes an all-out effort. Yes, I would vote for him,” Rajoy said.

The Portuguese’s chances seemed

to rise even further when FIFA announced this week a two-week extension to the voting deadline until November 29, citing a weak turnout, and allowing participants to change ballots already cast.

Catalan sports newspapers, which traditionally back Barcelona, cried foul over the FIFA decision, which comes as Ronaldo hits top form and Messi is injured.

Messi brushed off comments in the media about the injuries he has picked up this season, following some criticism that he should have paced himself better.

“My intention is to stay with Barcelona for good,” Messi said.

“I am grateful if what they say is true and there are people interested.

It makes you proud that they say such things. But my life is with Barcelona.”

Despite picking up four World Player of the Year awards, three Golden Boots, and with Barcelona a string of Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League victories, Messi said he still dreamed of winning the World Cup with Argentina.

Asked about Argentina’s biggest rivals, Messi said Brazil, Germany and Spain were widely seen as World Cup favourites, “and then there is always a surprise team that appears”.

For the Champions League, Messi said he saw Real Madrid and Bayern Munich as Barcelona’s most serious challengers. l

No fear for Bayern’s Goezte on Dortmund return n AFP, Berlin

Fifa approves vanishing spray at Club World Cup n AFP, Geneva

Bayern Munich’s Mario Goetze has said he has no fear of returning to his former club Borussia Dortmund for Saturday’s Bundesliga showdown, but expects a negative reaction from home fans.

“I am not scared of going back there,” Goetze told magazine Sport Bild. However, I understand the fans who would rather see me in the Dortmund shirt.

“When I now come back, I have to accept that not every reaction in the stadium will be positive, but that’s part of football. I grew up in Dortmund, when to school there and took my first steps in football, playing many games for Borussia.

“There are positive memories, Dortmund is a big part of my past and I am looking forward to going back.”

Bayern travel to Dortmund fourpoints clear in the league, while hosts Borussia have been decimated by injuries with their entire back four on the walking wounded list.

Bayern’s France star Franck Ribery, who is out of the game with a fractured rib, has said Saturday’s match will be “decisive in the title race”, but Goetze says it is too early in the season to make such statements.l

Fifa on Wednesday said it planned to deploy so-called vanishing spray at the looming Club World Cup to make life easier for referees and cut down on yellow cards.

In a statement, world football’s governing body said that the spray would be used at the December 11-21 tournament in Morocco after trials at this year’s Under-20 and Under-17 World Cups.

Vanishing spray, which disappears within in a minute, is a foam squirted onto the pitch to mark the line where the defending team set up their defensive wall before a free kick is taken.

Referees pace the regulatory 9.15 metres (30 feet) between the ball and the nearest defender and then spray a white line to mark the correct position of the wall.

Massimo Busacca, the Swiss former top-level referee who now head FIFA’s refereeing wing, said that vanishing spray was lauded by match officials who tested it.

Fifa is to carry out further evaluations after the Club World Cup and decide whether the spray will be used in future international tournaments.l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

15

Friday, November 22, 2013

Superb Broad silences Brisbane boos n Reuters, Brisbane

England's Stuart Broad (R) appeals for an unsuccessful wicket of Australia's Brad Haddin (C) during the first day's play of the first Ashes Test in Brisbane yesterday

QUICK BYTES Rafael Nadal enters first live poker tournament World tennis number one Rafael Nadal, a fervent poker player since a knee injury sidelined him from his day job in 2012, will play his first live poker tournament next month, organisers said Wednesday.

Nadal will play in a charity tournament in the Czech capital Prague on December 12 -- part of the European Poker Tour, to be held from December 8 to 18, said online gaming firm PokerStars, with whom Nadal has an endorsement deal. “Rafa will play against some of the biggest names on the international professional poker circuit, along with other sporting legends, who will be announced over the coming weeks,” the company said.

–AFP

Alves, Valdes add to Barcelona’s injury woes Brazilian full-back Dani Alves has become the latest Barcelona star to be struck by injury as he has been ruled out for up to 10 days with a calf problem.

The 30-year-old suffered the injury whilst away on international duty with Brazil and will miss Saturday’s league match at home to Granada and Barca’s Champions League visit to Ajax next week. “The tests carried out on Thursday morning have confirmed that Dani Alves has a small muscle tear in his right calf. The approximate time out will be seven to 10 days."

–AFP

Ceni ties Pele mark Rogerio Ceni tied Pele’s mark for most appearances at a Brazilian club on Wednesday but his 1,115th game in goal for Sao Paulo was not one to savour as his side went down 3-1 to Ponte Preta in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana semi-final.

The 40-year old keeper, who made his debut in 1993, has scored 113 times, more than any other goalkeeper. However, he could do little to stop his opponents, playing in their first international competition, from grabbing a crucial first-leg lead. Ganso’s 20th minute goal was cancelled out by an own goal from Antonio Carlos seconds before halftime, and then Leonardo slipped home a loose ball after Ceni could only parry a Fernando Bob shot in the 52nd minute.

–Reuters

DAY’S WATCH Star Sports 1 6:00AM Australia v England 1st Test, Day 2 Neo Sports 6:00AM HSPA World Cup Golf Day 2 Star Sports 4 10:00PM Brazil Grand Prix Practice Session 2:00AM La Liga Valladolid v Osasuna Ten Cricket 10:00PM South Africa v Pakistan Second T20I

REUTERS

England paceman Stuart Broad ignored the jeers, chants and catcalls of a hostile Gabba crowd to take five wickets and leave Australia clinging on at 273 for eight on the first day of the first Ashes Test yesterday.

Cast as a villain in Australia after his failure to walk at Trent Bridge earlier this year, Broad skittled Australia’s top order with his first four wickets and returned with the second new ball to end a Brad Haddin-inspired rearguard.

Australia came into the match boasting of a renewed confidence but a batting collapse from 71 for the loss of a single wicket to 132-6 looked like very much like their performances in the 3-0 defeat in England earlier this year.

Haddin bucked that trend, however, sharing a 114-run seventh wicket stand with Mitchell Johnson (64) and was unbeaten on 78 when stumps were drawn. He will resume on day two with Ryan Harris, who had scored four.

Australia won the toss and decided to bat on a bright, sunny morning at the Gabba and the booing of Broad, branded a “smug Pommy cheat” on the front page of the local Courier-Mail newspaper, contributed to a festive atmosphere.

Opener Chris Rogers was the first victim of the bounce Broad managed to generate from the Gabba track but it was the dismissals of Shane Wat-

Siddikur pays dearly on WC debut n Asian Tour Two poor swings cost Bangladeshi Siddikur Rahman from a sweeter debut at the US$8 million ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf as he opened with a twoover-par 73 at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club yesterday.

Siddikur, who celebrated his 29th birthday on Wednesday, ran up a triple bogey and double bogey on the 12th and 13th holes but fought back with birdies on 14 and 18 to end the day in tied 32nd position.

American Kevin Streelman and Dane Thomas Bjorn share the first round lead with 66s in the individual category.

The first player from Bangladesh to qualify for the World Cup of Golf, Siddikur said he was happy with his come-

back after dropping five shots over two holes.

“I had two bad shots which cost me.

Pushed my driver on 12 for a triple bogey and then hit another bad shot on 13 for a double. After that, I had a good come back. I just have to make sure I don’t make the same mistakes tomorrow. My hitting and putting were good, except for those two shots. Three days to go, so no need to worry about the cut,” said Siddikur.

He arrived in Royal Melbourne in good form after winning his second Asian Tour title at the Hero Indian Open a fortnight ago. But a first experience at Royal Melbourne, rated as one of the best sandbelt courses in Australia, has proven to be a real challenge.

The lightning quick putting surfaces have thrown him off balance but Sid-

dikur reckons he is slowly coming to grips with the slick greens after missing the cut in last week’s Australian Masters which was also held at Royal Melbourne.

“My putts were good. I felt comfortable on the greens after learning more

Kohli, Rohit guide India to easy win n Agencies Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma hit sparkling half-centuries as a clinical India continued their domination over West Indies by thrashing the visitors by six wickets in the opening ODI of the three-match series, in Kochi yesterday.

Asked to bowl, spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Suresh Raina exploited the low and slow conditions of the Nehru Stadium wicket effectively to bundle out West Indies for a meagre 211 in 48.5 overs.

Kohli then smashed 86 off 84 balls, while Rohit made 72 off 81 balls to help India chase down the target with ease in 35.2 overs and take a 1-0 lead in the series.

Kohli decorated his knock with nine boundaries and two huge sixes, while

Rohit’s innings was laced with eight hits to the fence and one over it.

India, however, received a jolt early on in their chase in the form of Shikhar Dhawan (5). Dhawan departed in the fourth over as he edged a back of a

BRIEF SCORE West Indies: 211 all out in 48.5 overs Simmons 59, Charles 42; Raina 3/34 India: 212 for four in 35.2 overs Kohli 86, Rohit 72; Holder 2/48 length delivery from Jason Holder to Johnson Charles behind the stumps with scoreboard reading 17.

But then Rohit and Kohli joined hands and shared a 133-run second wicket stand that came off just 130 deliveries to lay the foundation for an easy win.

None of the West Indies bowlers seemed to create any trouble for Kohli and Rohit as both batsmen adopted an attacking approach from the onset to take the game out of the visitors’ grasp.

Rohit brought up his 19th ODI fifty off 53 balls as India reached the 100run mark in 15.3 overs.

Kohli was not to be left behind as he reached his half century in 58 balls with a single off Dwayne Bravo in the 24th over.

But just when it seemed the duo would take India home without any further damage, Rohit mistimed a pull to Lendl Simmons at deep midwicket off Ravi Rampaul’s bowling in the next over.

Kohli, however, was in no mood to get bogged down by the dismissal as he continued his attacking game. l

on the greens. This morning when we started, there was not much wind but it has kind of picked up.

“On this course, you need to hit it to the centre of the green and hit a lot of fairways. You can’t play for the pins as it rolls some 15 or 20 yards on the greens. You have to respect the golf course, otherwise you won’t be able to make a score,” said Siddikur.

He nearly pulled off a grandstand finish when an approach shot into the par four 18th green stopped just short of falling into the cup for eagle.

“Best shot of the day was on 18,” smiled Siddikur. “I had 205 yards to the pin and it almost went in for eagle. It stopped six inches short. I hit my rescue club straight at the pin. It was the best shot of the day and it left a smile on my face.” l

son, Michael Clarke and David Warner around lunch that shifted the momentum firmly in England’s favour.

Watson pushed at a ball he could have left and edged it to Graeme Swann at second slip, swatting his bat in disgust at the manner and timing of his dismissal for 22.

Australia captain Clarke faced seven balls after lunch before he was making his way back to the pavilion with one run to his name after he popped a catch to Ian Bell at short leg off the first short ball Broad fired at him.

Opener Warner had looked dangerous in building a score of 49 with some choice shots but he threw it all away when he swatted a Broad delivery straight to Kevin Pietersen in the covers.

James Anderson then pitched in to remove debutant George Bailey for three before Chris Tremlett, the third England quick, curtailed a promising innings from Steve Smith for 31.

Haddin, whose half century was his 13th in Tests, was forced to combine with Johnson, recalled for his pace bowling rather than his batting prowess, to stem the flow of wickets.

Johnson hit six fours and two huge sixes for his eighth Test 50 before Broad shattered his wickets to complete his 11th Test five-wicket haul.

Despite something of a disappointing day, Australia can look to the corresponding Gabba Test in the 2010-11 series for some comfort. l

SCORE CARD Australia 1st innings Chris Rogers c Bell b Broad David Warner c Pietersen b Broad Shane Watson c Swann b Broad Michael Clarke c Bell b Broad Steve Smith c Cook b Tremlett George Bailey c Cook b Anderson Brad Haddin not out Mitchell Johnson b Broad Peter Siddle c Cook b Anderson Ryan Harris not out Extras (lb11, w1, nb1) Total (8 wkts; 90 overs)

1 49 22 1 31 3 78 64 7 4 13 273

Fall of wickets 1-12 (Rogers), 2-71 (Watson), 3-73 (Clarke), 4-83 (Warner), 5-100 (Bailey), 6-132 (Smith), 7-246 (Johnson), 8-265 (Siddle) Bowling Anderson 22-5-61-2, Broad 20-3-65-5 (1nb, 1w), Tremlett 19-3-51-1, Swann 26-4-80-0, Root 3-1-5-0 To bat: Nathan Lyon.

Toss: Australia

Anand blunders in endgame, Carlsen era begins in chess n Agencies Game 9 of the World Chess Championship ended in heartbreak for defending champion Viswanathan Anand, who gave up a huge advantage and ended up resigning the game to Norwegian challenger Magnus Carlsen.

Anand had begun strongly and seemed to be ahead in the game, but then, he blundered in the end game, giving up a huge position advantage.

Anand had made similar blunders in Game 5 and 6.

“It seemed pretty dangerous for black. I gave it a thought, calculated for about 40 minutes in the middle. But after the blunder, I knew it was all over,” Anand said in the post match press conference.

The Indian Grandmaster now has

practically no chance of coming back in the tournament. Carlsen needs just half a point to claim the title which he will get if he manages to draw even one of the last three games.

On the other hand, only if Anand manages to win all the three games will he be able to tie the scores, taking the tournament to the blitz round.

However, that seems highly unprobable as Carlsen has two white-piece games in the last three.

When asked if the win heralded the era of Magnus Carlsen in international chess, no comments were offered by either player.

Carlsen however conceded that it had been a very tough game for him. “It was a very tough game from the start. I thought I would get mated. But then he blundered,” the Norweigian said.l

Perera, Dilshan fire Sri Lanka to Twenty20 win n AFP, Pallekele Kusal Perera and Tillakaratne Dilshan hit aggressive half-centuries as hosts Sri Lanka romped to an emphatic eight-wicket win over New Zealand in the second Twenty20 international in Pallekele on Thursday.

Perera smashed 57 off 37 balls and Dilshan remained unbeaten on 59 off 49 balls as Sri Lanka, the top-ranked Twenty20 side in the world, surpassed New Zealand’s 142-7 with 13 balls to spare.

The pair put on 96 for the second wicket after veteran Mahela Jayawardene fell LBW to Mitchell McClenaghan for three in the second over.

Perera hit six fours and two sixes, while Dilshan struck eight boundaries.

The defeat ended New Zealand’s short limited-overs tour of Sri Lanka, which was marred by bad weather.

The first Twenty20 match at the same venue on Tuesday was washed

out. The preceding one-day series was drawn 1-1 with one game rained off.

New Zealand’s innings, after they were sent in to bat by Sri Lankan captain Dinesh Chandimal, revolved around a fighting 34 off 25 balls by Luke Ronchi.

BRIEF SCORE New Zealand 142 for 7 in 20 overs (Ronchi 34, Devcic 30) Sri Lanka 143/2 in 17.5 overs (Dilshan 59, Perera 57) Result: Sri Lanka win by eight wickets The Black Caps were reduced to 62-4 in the 11th over before Ronchi led a rescue act, adding 31 for the fifth wicket with Colin Munro (17) and 45 for the sixth with Nathan McCullum.

McCullum smashed 26 off 16 balls with three boundaries, while Ronchi hit three fours and a six. l

Usain Bolt introduces the Nissan GT-R Nismo during the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show in Los Angeles on Wednesday

REUTERS

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Friday, November 22, 2013

Government to introduce genetically modified cotton

Interim pay commission now likely to be announced on Sunday

Authorities hope for a ‘confined trial’ from next season

n Asif Showkat Kallol

n Abu Bakar Siddique The government has made a move to introduce genetically modified (GM) cotton varieties at farmers’ level in the country, following the release of four brinjal varieties for demonstration last month.

However, the GM variety named Bt cotton would not be prepared in the country. The seeds will be directly imported from Indian seed producer Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company (Mahyco) or other companies from China.

“We have already talked to Mahyco and they agreed to provide us an ample supply as per our requirements,” said Md Abdul Latif, executive director of Cotton Development Board (CDB), adding that China was yet to show interest on the CDB’s proposal.

The CDB has already decided to import the Bt variety and has sent an appli-

cation to the agriculture ministry so that they could forward the application to the environment ministry, who will give the final approval to demonstrate any GM crop variety on farmers level, Latif added.

He also said authorities were hoping to run a “confined trial” of Bt variety from next season during June-July of 2014.

Muhammad Solaiman Haider, member secretary of the National Committee on Bio-safety under the environment ministry, told the Dhaka Tribune, they would look into the matter after getting the application from the agriculture ministry.

Genetically modified crops like cotton, golden rice, Bt brinjals and potatoes are “transgenic” crops, and need special approval from bio-safety authorities for field trials.

Bt cotton is a variety developed through genetic engineering by inserting crystal protein genes taken from the soil

bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis, popularly known as Bt which is copyrighted

by American seed giants Monsanto.

The CDB demands that the Bt variety will increase the yield of cotton, as it is highly capable of preventing “American Bollworm,” one of the biggest threats to cotton.

However, seeking anonymity, an official told the Dhaka Tribune that introducing Bt cotton in Bangladesh would not bring any good result as the American Bollworm’s tendency to attack cotton had been reduced remarkably in recent years.

According to Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), the country requires 3.5m to 4m bales of raw cotton to run approximately 363 textile mills for meeting the spinning demands of the country’s garment sector.

Against the demand, the country only produces around 150,000 bales by

using around 40,000 hectares of arable land, said sources at the CDB. Only around 2% to 3% of the national requirement was fulfilled through local production, while the rest was fulfilled by importing raw cotton from Uzbekistan, India, USA, Australia, Pakistan and different African countries.

Earlier on October 30, the government released four GM brinjal varieties at farmers’ level to demonstrate on a limited scale, amid concerns by environment activists that the health impact of Bt brinjal was yet to be scrutinised.

The government had also recently approved the decision of holding “confined trials” for two other GM crop varieties – golden rice and potato – which are being developed by Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) and Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) respectively. l

The government is likely to issue a gazette on Sunday on an interim pay commission instead of the permanent one because of legal complexities.

Muhith said they had already selected the people for the posts but ‘we have to settle a few other things before giving them appointment’ The finance ministry would go for an interim pay and services commission as there was not enough time before the next parliamentary polls, a senior official of the Finance Division told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

The official said Finance Minister AMA Muhith had taken the prime minister’s consent on the interim commission three days ago.

The commission would be turned into a permanent one after an elected govern-

ment assumed office, the official added.

Officials said the government had already talked to several former secretaries for the posts of the chairman and two members of the commission.

Former finance secretaries Siddiquer Rahman Khan and Mustafizur Rahman and former Bangladesh Bank governor Dr Mohammed Farashuddin are being considered for the posts.

On Wednesday, Muhith said they had already selected the people for the posts but “we have to settle a few other things before giving them appointment.”

The chairman of the proposed commission will have a tenure of five years.

Announcement of the decision to form a permanent pay commission was warmly greeted by 1.3 million public servants who have long been demanding for such a body. Muhith made the announcement less than a month after the government on October 6 awarded 20% dearness allowance for public officials and employees just three months ahead of the next general elections. l

Lighthouse activities honoured at COP19 n Probir K Sarker

Some children come down to the Suhrawardi Udyan pool to catch fish when the water of the pool was removed to clean it

NASHIRUL ISLAM

Seventeen activities – that serve as shining examples of the enormous groundswell of action underway across the globe to address climate change – were honoured on Wednesday in a gala event at the United Nations climate change conference in Warsaw, Poland.

A women-centred initiative in Bangladesh, managed by ActionAid, an international anti-poverty NGO, was among the 17 projects of the 2013 Lighthouse Activities. Farah Kabir, country director of ActionAid Bangladesh, received the award on behalf of the organisation.

Under the project, improved cooking-stoves were installed in 110 households, 10 temporary dams were built to preserve fresh water for irrigation and reduce salinity in the land, and a raised cluster village was created for landless families in flood-prone areas.

Funded by the Embassy of Denmark, the project areas include six upazilas in Faridpur, Sirajganj, Patuakhali and Naogaon districts.

The activity uses a model that focuses on building partnerships between national research and civil society organisations. These groups can then share experiences, which can be replicated and disseminated to increase impact.

At the event, the UN chief said: “These initiatives are delivering profound economic, social and environmental benefits and demonstrating the power of innovative finance and the potential for long-term transformational change by women and urban poor. They deserve to be scaled-up and replicated.”

UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres was also present at the event. l

RMG minimum wage set at Tk5,300 NGOs quit COP19 as progress stalled with 5% of basic as yearly increment n Probir K Sarker

n Tribune Report The government-formed wage board has finalised Tk5,300 as minimum wage with a basic of Tk3,200 for entry-level garment workers.

“The wage board has unanimously decided the minimum wage at Tk5,300 with a 5% yearly increment on the basic, having thread bear discussion on the objections placed to the board by the owners and the labour leaders as the both party came to a consensus,” AK Roy, chairman of the board, said at a press briefing yesterday.

The representatives of owners, workers and independent members agreed with the proposal, he added.

The new minimum wage, which is 76.66% higher than the existing Tk3,000, will be in effect from December 1, which means the workers will receive the new wages in January next year.

The board on November 4 proposed Tk5,300 as minimum wage, of which Tk3,200 was recommended as basic. The workers had been demanding for Tk8,000.

The following day, the government published a gazette notification and the board received around 500 objections from both parties. “We have discussed the issue broadly and at one stage, come to a consensus to declare TK5,300 as the minimum wage,” Roy told journalists.

The new structure includes Tk1,200 as house rent, Tk250 as medical allowance and Tk200 for transportation.

The workers would also get Tk650 per month as food subsidy.

Meanwhile, a novice worker will get Tk4,300 with a basic of Tk2,200 of which Tk880 for house rent, Tk250 for medical allowance and Tk200 for transportation and Tk650 as food subsidy.

Replying to a query, Kamal Uddin, independent member of the board said they had to cut Tk200 from the proposed basic to reach a consensus Trainee period of a worker would be three months but it can be extended by three more months if the employee cannot improve his or her skill.

“We have accepted the board’s final proposal to save the RMG sector though it will be tough for small and medium owners to implement it,” Arshad Jamal Dipu, owner’s representative to the board, said.

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) would take necessary steps to ensure that the new minimum wage structure is implemented by the all factory owners, said Dipu, also a director of the owners’ body.

He hoped that they would be successful

like the previous time.

The previous hike was made in August 2010 and it came into effect from November. The rise was 67% to 81% depending on job category as the previous wage was Tk1,662.50 per month, set in 2006. The first minimum wage board, constituted in 1994, had fixed Tk940 as minimum wage for the garment workers.

Replying to a query, Kamal Uddin, independent member of the board said they had to cut Tk200 from the proposed basic to reach a consensus.

“There is no confusion over inclusion of the sweater factory workers as the board mentioned it in the proposal. They will get benefit as per the government decision,” Sirajul Islam Rony, representative of workers to the wage board, said.

On the recent unrest in RMG sector, Rony told the Dhaka tribune that it erupted after the owners had rejected the board’s proposal. He also blamed a vested quarter for trying to turn the largest export-earning sector volatile.

“To stop further unrest and remove confusion over the wage structure, we will distribute leaflets among the workers after publication of a gazette,” said Rony, also the president of Bangladesh National Garments Workers Employee League.

He hoped that the gazette notification would be published by the board in a day or two. l

In an unprecedented move, over 800 non-government organisations and civil society bodies, who are part of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change as observers, walked out of the negotiations yesterday as the Conference of Parties (COP19) has so far failed to progress over the key issues including finance.

Aggrieved, the organisations say they decided to voluntarily withdraw from the Warsaw climate meet which is set to end today. The decision came around 12:30pm CET (5:30pm BdST) and the members left the conference venue, the Warsaw National Stadium, around 2:30pm in a procession towards the city centre and demonstrated there.

Greenpeace International, Oxfam International, International Trade Union Confederation, ActionAid International, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) International, Friends of the Earth (Europe), Aksyon Klima Pilipinas, Bolivian Platform on Climate Change, Construyendo Puentes (Latin America), Ibon International, Pan African Climate Justice Alliance and Peoples’ Movement on Climate Change (Philippines) are among the organisations. Some NGOs, however, refrained from joining the protest as they did not find it a right approach.

Earlier, the Group 77 and China, of which Bangladesh is a party, staged a three-hour walk out early Wednes-

day from the negotiation table on loss and damage mechanism as there was no progress in the talks and some developed countries made unacceptable suggestions.

The rich nations were suggesting that the mechanism be kept under the purview of disaster risk reduction mechanism or adaptation fund – a stark shift from the agreement in Doha conference last year about going for a new mechanism to help the poor and vulnerable countries.

Since the beginning of the COP19 on November 11, the civil society organisations have been holding coordination meetings among themselves, speaking for immediate release of finance at the negotiation tables and also demonstrating in and outside the conference venue to press the nations for a fruitful negotiation.

In a joint statement, they said: “We are now focusing on mobilising people to push our governments to take leadership for serious climate action. We will work to transform our food and energy systems at a national and global level and rebuild a broken economic system to create a sustainable and low-carbon economy with decent jobs and livelihoods for all. And we will put pressure on everyone to do more to realise this vision.”

The observers think coming out of the Warsaw climate conference, it is clear that without such pressure, the governments cannot be trusted to do

what the world needs. “We will return with the voice of the people in Lima [Puru’s capital, venue of climate summit next year] to hold our governments accountable to the vision of a sustainable and just future,” said the press release.

This year’s climate talks is dubbed as “finance COP,” since the issue of formulating an international loss and damage mechanism to help the climate vulnerable nations already in peril is supposed to be settled here. Moreover, the functions and modalities of Green Climate Fund, under which the developed nations had pledged to support with $100bn every year from 2020, are yet to be finalised.

However, the progress so far is not satisfactory because of opposition from the developed nations, especially Australia, the US, Japan, Canada, the European Union and host Poland, say the observers.

Only two days before the conference began, Super-Typhoon Haiyan devastated the Philippines where death toll is reportedly between 2,500 and 10,000 with millions of people, animals, establishments and land affected by the calamity.

The movements think there are few indications that the governments of rich industrialised countries will allow the talks to make meaningful progress.

Already the US stressed that they were already giving aid to the poor countries when there are disasters while the EU maintains that to reach the goal of finance issue, it needed time. l

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B2 RMG factory inspection begins today

B3 Stocks dip on profit taking

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2013

Business www.dhakatribune.com/business

FY14 BUDGET REVISION

Ministries lack preparation The government is supposed to revise the budget next month n Asif Showkat Kallol Finance Division has not yet started the initial works to revise the current fiscal year’s budget despite government decision to do so.

The government earlier decided to revise the budget three months before it leaves office.

“We are doing our usual works to prepare documents for the mid-term budgetary meetings instead of revision of budget,” said a senior finance division official.

They are now all busy preparing midterm budgetary frameworks to be submitted

by January 15, said the sources.

For the revision, inter-ministerial meetings are needed to be held. But such meetings are not visible so far, which requires at least one and half months to complete the process.

Usually, a fiscal year’s budget is revised in the middle of March which is ending month of third quarter.

The fiscal coordination council meeting sources said the indices – export growth, dollar’s reserve, remittance and banking liquidities – had been moderate so far, but these would become the worst in the long run because of prolonged political unrest

Earlier, Finance Minister AMA Muhith said: “We have no choice but to revise the current fiscal’s budget earlier than usual as we fear economic indices may drop due to hartals.”

He said it at the fiscal coordination council meeting of the finance ministry.

According to the official sources, finance division issued a circular Wednesday this week asking 60 ministries, divisions and government agencies to present estimated and projected allocations of next three years under the mid-term budgetary framework (MTBF).

A high official of finance ministry said all the government departments are in shortage of money as the allocations made have already run out.

“As more allocations are required, they want revision of budget earlier than usual time,” he said.

The ministries and divisions will make estimations of the FY2014-15 and projections of next two fiscal years.

According to the circular, the concerned authorities would be able to achieve maximum level of output after allocations of high input.

The ministries and divisions will fill up MTBF forms to submit the next three years’ estimations and projections.

The fiscal coordination council meeting sources said the indices – export growth, dollar’s reserve, remittance and banking liquidities – had been moderate so far, but these would become the worst in the long run because of prolonged political unrest.

On the revision of revenue target in the council meeting, NBR Chairman Ghulam Hussain told the meeting that the revision was necessary because the revenue earning target would be hampered by continuous hartals and the incomes of businessmen and common people would go down.

According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, the average inflation fell by 0.10% from 7.03% in October and food inflation rose 0.45% to 8.38% last month. The food inflation was 7.93% in September.

Meanwhile, the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and Asian Development Bank expressed concerns that the impending street agitation in the run-up to the national election would take a heavy toll on the economy and its growth.

They estimated that the country’s GDP would remain below 6% in the current fiscal year although the finance ministry expected it to grow by 6.6% compared to 6.3% of the previous fiscal year.

The government has a budgetary target of achieving 7.2% GDP growth in the current fiscal year. l

DSE, CSE demutualised n Tribune Report The Dhaka and Chittagong stock exchanges have turned into demutualised exchanges as the country’s twin bourses get certificates from the Registrar of the Joint Stock Companies and Firms (RJSC) yesterday.

The RJSC of Dhaka and Chittagong yesterday handed over the certificates of the public limited company, DSE and CSE sources said.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) will be termed as demutualised stock exchange from yesterday as the RJSC of Chittagong has handed over the certificate to the port city bourse, said Syed Sajid Hossain, CEO of CSE. As per the Demutualisation Act-2013 and the process of demutualisation, the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) got the certificate of converting into public limited company, said DSE Vice President Md Mizanur Rahman. Resultantly, the DSE turned into demutualised exchange from yesterday, he added.

As per the demutualisation act, the bourses have to hold election within 90 days of getting certificates from the RJSC to elect 13 member boards.

Of the 13-member board with three-year term, seven directors will be independent, four from shareholders and one from strategic shareholder. In addition, the chief executive officer of a stock exchange will act as an ex-officio director having voting rights.

The DSE and CSE already have completed their EGMs on November 2 and October 25 respectively.

Earlier, Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) approved a number of documents to facilitate demutualisation of the country’s two stock exchanges, including a 13-member board each. l

Bangladesh seeks foreign investment in telecom infrastructure Zahidul Islam, n Muhammad from Thailand Bangladesh has urged the development partners and international telecom giants to invest in the country’s telecom infrastructure, especially for expansion of the National Broadband Network (NBN).

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Vice Chairman Md Giashuddin Ahmed made the call while presenting a paper at a seminar on the first day of the 4-day ITU Telecom World 2013 that concludes in Bangkok, Thailand today.

At the seminar titled “Connect Asia-Pacific Summit-2013,” Bangladesh and some African countries requested them to invest also in fibre connectivity.

Ahmed informed the summit of Bangla-

desh’s offer to the prospective investors in establishing the NBN through public-private partnership (PPP) initiative.

“We’re already getting response from different corners,” he told Dhaka Tribune on the sidelines of the summit.

“Some interested parties already contacted us. I hope we can bring a good response from them.”

He had separate meetings on Wednesday with two different business entities, which showed investment interest in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh tried to raise its case that if the NBN project runs successfully, it will not only serve 64 districts of the country.

It would also go beyond border to greatly facilitate international connectivity for neighboring landlocked countries like Nepal, Bhutan, parts of India (seven sister

states) and Myanmar.

The district headquarters and rural villages of Bangladesh would come under the high capacity NBN coverage to serve the day to day need of the common mass, reducing the digital divide, said officials attending the summit.

Post and Telecommunication Secretary Md Abu Bakar Siddique and officials in the Bangladesh delegation were present at the seminar.

Not only Bangladesh, some other countries like Tanzania, Kenya, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Tongue also sought investment in the telecom sector of their respective countries.

Tanzania’s Communications, Science and Technology Minister Makame Mbarawa arranged a press conference on the sidelines of

the summit Yesterday when he showed their prospect in the ICT and Telecommunication sector.

Officials in the Bangladesh delegation recognised that the country should have booked a pavilion or stall at the event to better expose the country’s telecom industry.

“It would have facilitated us to arrange a press conference to let more people know about our industry,” said one of them.

Tanzania, Kenya, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Tongue had individual pavilion in the four-day summit.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh delegation, including officials of the telecom regulatory body, visited the second largest mobile operator ‘dtac’ head office in Bangkok yesterday. l

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2013

RMG factory inspection begins today n Tribune Business Desk Inspection of all export-oriented readymade garment (RMG) and knitwear factories in Bangladesh begins today.

Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) will assess the factory buildings that are not part of Alliance or Accord, both for structural integrity, and fire and electrical safety.

This was decided at a meeting of the National Tripartite Committee (NTC) held yesterday with Labour Secretary Mikail Shipar in the chair.

The Committee comprising the key stakeholders in the RMG and knitwear industry, including key government agencies, employers (BEF, BGMEA and BKMEA) and trade unions endorsed the harmonised minimum standards against which the building assessments will be carried out.

Representatives of Accord and Alliance were also present at the meeting.

The decision follows the joint development and finalisation of the standards at an ILO-facilitated workshop earlier this month by technical experts of the three initiatives: Accord, Alliance as well as BUET on behalf of the NTC. “The agreement today (Thursday) forms a major breakthrough which will help ensure the safety of all workers in the garment industry in Bangladesh and prevent tragic events like Tazreen and Rana Plaza from happening again. No worker in Bangladesh should die because of unsafe work places,” said Shipar.

Brig Gen Ali Ahmed Khan, Director General, Fire Service and Civil Defense; Shahidullah Azim, acting President of BGMEA;

Mohammad Hatem, First Vice President of BKMEA; Farooq Ahmed, Secretary General, Bangladesh Employers’ Federation (BEF); Dr Wajedul Islam Khan, Member Secretary, National Coordination Committee for Workers’ Education; RAJUK; PWD; BUET senior professors; and representatives from concerned ministries attended the meeting.

The NTC was formed to implement the National Tripartite Plan of Action on Building and Fire Safety in the RMG sector in Bangladesh. The aim of the plan is to take comprehensive action to prevent any further loss of life, limb and property through workplace fires and related incidents in the RMG industry.

Srinivas Reddy, Country Director, ILO expressed satisfaction with the result of the

meeting.

This adoption of safety standards and harmonized guidelines is a significant development to improve safety and working conditions in garment industry in Bangladesh, he said.

“We will continue to facilitate and support the efforts of the government, employers and workers organisations to improve working conditions and advance workers’ rights, as part of ILO’s ‘Improving Working Conditions in the Ready Made Garment Sector Programme.”

The programme, launched on October 22, is supported by the government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID). l

National SME fair in Dhaka late next month n Tribune Business Desk

Call to raise free labour movement in WTO meet

The third National SME Fair will be held in late December to promote products of small and medium enterprises of the country.

The 5-day fair will begin on December 26 at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre to be organised by SME Foundation, according to the fair plan.

It aims at promoting local products by small and medium enterprises in the local and international markets, creating opportunity for the entrepreneurs to improve contacts among them and share experience with the consumers.

Around 150 enterprises would be able to participate in the fair on first come first served basis to display and sell their products.

The products would include jute goods, food and agro-processing products, leather goods, electrical and electronic products, light engineering products, plastic and synthetic products, handicrafts, imitation and jewellery, design and fashion wears.

Interested SMEs have been invited to contact with the Foundation to apply for stalls

by December 12. l

Rights activists yesterday urged the government to raise the issue of free movement of labour in the upcoming WTO ministerial meeting to be held in Bali, Indonesia from December 3 to 6.

The call came from a rally held in front of the Jatiay Press Club in Dhaka, reports UNB. The rights activists said duty-free and quota free (DFQF) access along with relaxation in rules of origin might be harmful for the least developed countries (LDCs), otherwise the countries’ position to oppose TISA (Trade in Service Agreement) and TICFA (Trade and Investment Cooperation Framework Agreement) will be weakened.

The rally was moderated by Mostafa Kamal Akanda of EquityBD in presence of Dr Mejbah Uddin of Jatiya Sramik Federation, Zayed Iqbal Khan of Krishok Federation and Rezaul Karim Chowdhury of EquityBD. Mamun Khan of Agriculture Labour Farm Federation said WTO must tell the developed countries to withdraw agricultural subsidies so that a level playing field is created for the developing nations.

Food is considered as basic rights and

n Tribune Business Desk

therefore it must be out of the commercialisation purview, said Moin Howlader of Krishok Federation.

Subol Sarkar of Bhumihin Samity mentioned: “WTO serves the interest of multinational companies of developed countries who force the developing nations to open the market for those companies.”

EquityBD’s Sayed Aminul Haque said Bangladeshi products like garments and medicine are already in competition globally and therefore demanding DFQF access might raise counterproductive argument from the developed nations to give their MNCs unconditional access in the service sectors of developing countries.

Bangladesh has strength in its huge human resources of natural labour, but there will be more displacement of such human resource due to the climate change impact, he added.

The fifteen rights organisations, which jointly organised the rally were Arpan, OK Society, EquityBD, MFTD, SDO, Kishani Shova, CDP, Jatiya Sramik Jote, Bangladesh Krishak Federation, Bangladesh Bhumihin Samity, BFLF, VOICE, Labor Resource Centre, Surakkha and Agragati Foundation. l

NGOs, NPOs brought under anti-money laundering law n Tribune Report Non-government organizations and non-profit Organisations (NGOs/NPOs) have been included as reporting organisation under both the laws of anti money laundering and prevention of terrorist financing.

Bangladesh Bank brought the organisations under the laws considering their inherent risks of money laundering and terrorist financing, said a circular made available to press yesterday.

The guidelines were issued as per the laws and designed to assist NGOs/NPOs in combating money laundering and terrorist financing, it said.

The registered institutions under the Micro credit Regulatory Authority act which takes loan, deposit from domestic source and provides others and which takes foreign loan will come under the ‘Guidelines on Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing for NPOs and NGOs. l

Shahjalal Bank opens branch in Nagarpur n Tribune Business Desk Shahjalal Islami Bank Limited started operation of its 86th branch at Nagarpur in Tangail yesterday.

The local MP Khandaker Abdul Baten formally inaugurated the branch as chief guest, said a press release.

Vice chairman of the bank’s board of directors Syed Nurul Arefeen was also present as special guest. The bank’s deputy managing director Md Abdul Jabber Chowdhury presided over the function. l

Meghna Bank holds anti-money laundering workshop n Tribune Business Desk Meghna Bank Ltd organied a workshop on money laundering and terrorism financing in Dhaka recently.

A number of officials of the bank participated in the workshop held at BIBM auditorium, said a press release. l

National Bank gives training certificates to officials n Tribune Business Desk National Bank Training Institute (NBTI) distributed certificates among the participants of the bank’s two training courses.

Additional managing director of National Bank Ltd, AKM Shafiqur Rahman handed over the certificates, said a press release.

A total of 63 officials took part in the courses on international trade and prevention of malpractices in banks. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2013

Stocks dip on profit taking n Tribune Report Stocks traded at the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) saw a price correction yesterday as investors took profit on increased prices of shares for six consecutive sessions.

The benchmark DSEX index ended at 4,396, posting a 44 points or 0.98% decline, breaking the upward rally. The blue chip DS30 index shed 13 points or 0.82 to settle at 1,544.

“After six straight sessions of gain that drove DSEX over 4,400 level, natural sell pressure took hold yesterday, as the recent rally has fulfilled many investors’ return objectives,” stated IDLC Investments.

Exit of such contained investors forced DSEX downward to 4,396 points, while turnover retracted concurrently to Tk7.28bn because of investors’ decreased willingness to trade at this price level, it added.

“After a six session upward rally, market took breath yesterday and ended with a loss of 44 points. It has been a busy week for buyers as they ended up with 154 points of gain in this week.

However, turnover was down by 18.10% compared to previous day, indicating sellers’ unwillingness to sell stocks at lower prices,” commented Lanka Bangla Securities.

“Amid high volume, index shows lack of direction due to sell pressure from investors.

While majority of the sectors ended the day with ups and downs, substantial weak-

ness was visible among Banks, Financial Institution, Insurance, Telecommunication, Tannery and Ceramic,” said Zenith Investment market commentary.

The choppy trading on DSE came as traders went for profit taking, it noted.

Out of 286 issues traded, 91 gained, 175 declined and 20 remained unchanged.

The day’s turnover value amounted to Tk7.28bn, which was down by 18.11% compared the previous session’s four-month high value of Tk8bn.

All the major sectors ended in red, except Pharmaceuticals which posted a marginal

gain of 0.12%. NBFIs, down by 3.10%, was the biggest loser yesterday.

ICB, the largest cap stock in the sector, alone lost 4.2%.

Telecommunication and Banks went down by 2.45% and 2.04% respectively. Power ended 1.12% lower.

Generation Next, up by 5.4%, featured the most traded stock of the session and accumulated a turnover of Tk381.1m.

Modern Dyeing was the day’s highest gainer, posting a rise of 9.98%, while Rahima Food was the worst losers, plummeting by 22.98%. l

$90m ADB loan to develop skilled labour n Tribune Business Desk Asian Development Bank will provide a loan of US$90m to support development of a skilled labour force in Bangladesh through overhauling the secondary education system.

The bank signed an agreement with the government of Bangladesh in Dhaka yesterday on the first tranche of a $500m Secondary Education Sector Investment Program (SESIP) approved by ADB in September this year.

Economic Relations Division (ERD) Secretary Md Abul Kalam Azad and ADB Country Director M. Teresa Kho signed the agreement on behalf of their respective sides.

“Skills shortage is a key challenge Bangladesh is facing to graduate to the next orbit of development,” Teresa said.

“Bangladesh has great potentials for rapid development if it could improve skills of the huge working-age population in the next decade.”

The SESIP, scheduled to be completed in 2023, is expected to support Bangladesh’s 10-year secondary education reform plan.

This plan projects an increase of about 3.5m students by 2023, requiring an additional 145,000 teachers and 10,000 more schools.

In accordance with the project, the $90m assistance would help make teaching and learning more market relevant. Teaching equipment, laboratories, tools, and teacher training will be provided to improve and expand Science, Mathematics, and English teaching.

Supplementary reading materials will be provided to school libraries under a reading

habit promotion program.

Laboratory-based practical science teaching and school information hubs will be developed to enable students and teachers to access information communication and technology-based teaching and learning resources and modules.

To increase equitable access and retention, the assistance will support development and implementation of a more efficient, equitable and harmonized stipend program.

Capacity building support will be given to agencies overseeing secondary education, and common school standards will be established Selected schools will be physically upgraded in accordance with a need-based infrastructure development plan.

To strengthen education management and governance, additional staffing and capacity development of Directorate of Secondary Higher Education (DSHE) central and field offices will be supported.

As a step to promote decentralized education management, Monthly Pay Order management will be devolved to zonal offices in a phased-manner.

About 2m youths are now entering the Bangladesh job market annually but nearly 90% of them end up in poorly paid informal work that requires few skills.

The low skills base of the workforce is

undermining productivity and weighing on attempts to diversify the economy.

While Bangladesh has made great strides in improving enrolment rates among girls and boys, secondary schools still suffer from outdated courses and teaching materials, a lack of common school standards, poor teaching, and weak management.

Dropout rates are high, with only 46% of students completing the full five-year secondary school cycle.

Over the coming decade, the ADB funds will finance new equipment, laboratories, classrooms and teacher training, and scale up information and communications technology-based learning in schools, including madrasahs.

Exams will be reformed and curricula overhauled to make them more relevant to the needs of employers.

Capacity building support will be given to agencies overseeing secondary education, and common school standards will be established.

Student stipends will also be assessed to ensure the monies go to those who need them most, the poorer students and girls in particular, to encourage them to attend and, importantly, to stay in school.

Recent data show 37% of children from poor households enroll in secondary schools compared with 59% from better-off households.

Girls meanwhile, although outnumbering boys in secondary enrolment, have higher dropout rates and poorer exam results. l

3

Dollar rises to four-month high against yen in Asia n AFP, Tokyo The dollar rose to a four-month high against the yen in Asia yesterday after minutes from a Federal Reserve meeting showed policymakers were considering cutting its stimulus programme “in coming months”.

The greenback jumped to 100.74 yen in Tokyo afternoon trade from 100.03 yen in New York Wednesday afternoon, reaching the highest level since mid-July.

The euro changed hands at $1.3421 from $1.3435 and 135.21 yen from 134.40 yen.

Minutes from the Fed’s October meeting released Wednesday showed policymakers felt recent data indicate the time is approaching to start trimming its $85bn a month bond-buying scheme.

National Australia Bank said the minutes point to the likelihood of tapering sooner than later.

“Bottom line: still of course data-dependent, but tapering expectations look only to have been delayed somewhat, with perhaps the Fed only one or two further good payroll numbers away from beginning to reduce its asset purchases,” it said.

The US bank has said any pullback hinges on a firm recovery in the world’s largest economy.

Dollar-yen rates hardly moved after the Bank of Japan, which launched its own stimulus this year, said it would hold off fresh easing measures at the end of a two-day policy meeting. But the dollar accelerated its rise in late trade with stock prices accelerating their gains. l

Oil prices ease after Iran talks open n AFP, Singapore Oil prices eased in Asia yesterday after talks between Iran and world powers on its disputed nuclear programme opened in Geneva, while signs of rising US demand failed to boost New York’s main contract.

West Texas Intermediate crude, with the new January contract falling 21 cents to $93.64, while the European benchmark Brent oil for January dropped 28 cents to $107.78.

Tan Chee Tat, an investment analyst at Phillip Futures in Singapore, said the prospect of a deal with Iran was putting pressure on prices.

“It seems not conclusive as of now but most Americans support a deal between Iran and the six powers,” he told AFP. “This generates positive sentiment. New sanctions are unlikely to be imposed, so concern over Iranian crude going into the market adds pressure to oil prices.”

The P5+1 group of Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States plus Germany wants Iran to suspend certain parts of its nuclear energy programme, which the West suspects to be a cover for weapons development. Iran denies the accusation.

The two sides resumed talks late Wednesday aimed at reaching a landmark deal although Tehran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has vowed not to retreat “one step”. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2013

China manufacturing index eases in November n AFP, Beijing China’s manufacturing growth slowed in November as exports eased and factories put off restocking owing to weaker demand, HSBC said yesterday, casting a cloud over recovery in the world’s second-largest economy.

The British banking giant’s preliminary purchasing managers’ index (PMI) for this month came in at 50.4, down from a final reading of 50.9 in October, a seven-month high.

The index tracks manufacturing activity in China’s factories and workshops and

is a closely watched gauge of the health of the economy. A reading above 50 indicates growth, while anything below signals contraction.

“China’s growth momentum softened a little in November,” Qu Hongbin, HSBC’s economist in Hong Kong, said in a statement accompanying the data.

The figure was the second highest reading since March, but slipped from last month because of “the weak new export orders and slowing pace of restocking activities”, he said.

Chinese leaders may keep policy “relatively accommodative” to support growth,

he added.

China’s economy recovered from two quarters of slowing growth to expand 7.8% in July-September, mainly on the back of government stimulus featuring increased rail and urban fixed-asset investment, tax cuts and looser monetary policy.

Analysts have warned that the recovery may lose some momentum in the fourth quarter, with Beijing’s pro-growth policy stance likely to turn neutral.

The bank’s final PMI for this month is scheduled to be released on December 2, said HSBC. l

Apple Inc CEO Tim Cook speaks on stage during an Apple event in San Francisco, California REUTERS

Apple space ship campus cleared for take-off n AFP, San Francisco Apple’s plan to build a shimmering flying-saucer shaped headquarters got final clearance for takeoff late Tuesday, after a tax break granted the technology titan was trimmed.

Officials in the Silicon Valley city of Cupertino, which has long been home to the culture-changing technology titan, put a stamp of approval on a grand vision put in motion years ago by late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.

The vote late Tuesday was a procedural formality and essentially a rubber stamping of a unanimous endorsement for the project by members of the Cupertino city council last month.

Final approval of Apple’s new campus came with an agreement to trim by 15% a tax break awarded to the company in 1997 when the future of the then-struggling company was uncertain.

In documents filed with the city, “Apple Campus 2” is described as a 21st Century creation

designed for research, collaboration, and innovation.

“This new development will provide a serene environment reflecting Apple’s brand values of innovation, ease of use and beauty,” Apple said in paperwork filed for approval by the city.

Apple enlisted renowned architect Norman Foster to transform a 176 acre site dominated by asphalt and old buildings into “sustainable, stateof-the-art office, research and development facilities.

The majority of space will be greenery, but the eye-catching jewel of the campus promised to be a glimmering ring of polished metal and glass, mirroring the design passion put into Apple’s coveted devices.

“The entire campus, indoors and out, is intended to promote shared creativity and collaboration, and spur invention of the next several generations of Apple products,” the company said in plan paperwork.

The four-story main building will have about 2.8 million square feet of space and will be able to accommodate 12,000 employees, according to design specifications.

The list of campus amenities included a “striking restaurant” and a separate fitness center with about 100,000 square feet of space.

Campus plans promised “landscape design of meadows and woodlands will create an ecologically rich oak savanna reminiscent of the early Santa Clara Valley.”

Apple said that it will continue to use the One Infinite Loop campus a short distance away, which is its current headquarters.

“The main objective of the project is to redevelop the site with a new, unified, secure and private Apple campus,” the company said, in the plan filed with the city.

Apple has a powerful presence in Cupertino, a city with a population of about 58,000 people located near the Santa Cruz Mountains about 42 miles south of San Francisco. l

Toyota strikes first-ever hybrid parts sharing deal in China n AFP, Tokyo Toyota said yesterday it plans to develop components for hybrid vehicles with two Chinese automakers, in an unprecedented technology-sharing deal aimed at boosting green car sales in the world’s largest vehicle market.

The Japanese giant is already assembling hybrids in China with First Automobile Works and Guangzhou Automobile Group, the third- and sixth-ranked Chinese car manufacturers respectively.

But the plan to share key hybrid technology with an overseas partner marks a first for Toyota and a shift away from Japanese carmakers’ traditional reluctance over such deals for fear of losing their competitive edge.

China’s pollution problem has stoked big demand for environmentally friendly cars, such as electric and fuel-cell vehicles, while officials have promised stricter emissions standards to deal with the mushrooming public-health problem.

Previously, Toyota would make key components such as batteries and motors in high-cost Japan and then ship them to joint ventures overseas.

But that drove up the price of models such as its Prius hybrid, which has seen sluggish sales in China.

The new arrangement is expected to cut costs and lead to hybrid cars tailored to Chinese consumers, a Toyota spokeswoman said.

Toyota has said the joint venture would look at developing a commercially available car that runs on petrol and electric power in the next two years. l

China, EU begin negotiations on investment pact n AFP, Beijing China and the European Union began talks on a landmark investment agreement yesterday, the EU’s president said, a positive move amid lingering trade tensions between the two sides.

“We have made a substantial step forward today by launching negotiations on an investment agreement, covering both investment protection and market access,” said Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council.

“Both the EU and China believe that it is the right time to go ahead,” he said at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing after a China-EU summit.

Van Rompuy said that the accord would help boost investment flows.

“Our bilateral investment flows are still far too low, given the level of integration taking place between our economies. This agreement will achieve more two-way investments between the EU and China.”

China is the world’s second-largest economy and the relationship between the two, while sometimes troubled, is hugely important for world trade. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2013

5

Fragile global recovery stumbles as Europe, China falter n Reuters The fragile global economic recovery took a step backwards this month as businesses across the euro zone and China’s vast factory sector grew at a milder pace, business surveys showed yesterday.

While growth in Germany was resurgent, French business activity took a tumble and contracted, underlining how lopsided the euro zone’s recovery from recession is.

Patchy recoveries in developed countries meant demand for China’s manufactured goods from abroad fell to a three-month low in November, bolstering expectations that the world’s second largest economy could lose some vigour this quarter.

“This is evidence to suggest the European economy is struggling to gain momentum and the Chinese numbers certainly were not great,” said Peter Dixon at Commerzbank.

“There will be an okay rebound in the course of the next year but not as strong as perhaps we once thought. A lot is going to depend on how the United States holds up.”

Preliminary data due later from the United States is expected to show a pick up in its manufacturing.

Markit’s Eurozone Composite Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), which combines manufacturing and services data and is seen as a good guide to growth, slipped to 51.5 from 51.9 last month, undershooting all forecasts in a Reuters poll.

People walk past a discount store in the Moore Street area of Dublin It was, however, the fifth month the index has been above the 50-mark than denotes growth.

The bloc’s economy is struggling to recover from its longest-ever recession, which ended this year, and Markit said the survey was consistent with growth of around 0.2% in the current quarter, in line with the latest Reuters poll of analysts on Wednesday.

“In a nutshell, today’s PMI figures confirm

REUTERS

that the euro zone economic momentum has lost some steam. The stabilization in domestic demand remains fragile and a solid recovery seems to be some way off,” said Annalisa Piazza at Newedge Strategy.

Across the Channel, Britain’s finances showed an improvement last month as stronger economic growth and a recovering housing market boosted tax revenues, although it failed to live up to even the most

pessimistic forecast in a Reuters poll.

The Chinese Flash Markit/HSBC PMI fell to 50.4 from October’s final reading of 50.9, but for a fourth consecutive month remained above the 50 line.

“Today’s PMI report underpins our view that Chinese economic growth momentum may have peaked in the third quarter. Looking ahead, we also stick to our assessment that growth will slow further next year,” said Nikolaus Keis at UniCredit.

A PMI index measuring new export orders fell to a three-month low of 49.4 in November from 51.3 in October, reflecting lethargic external demand.

Overall new orders also edged down slightly, which could suggest that a revival in domestic demand is not strong enough to offset faltering external orders.

Beijing has set an annual economic growth target of 7.5% for this year, which officials and economists have said is achievable, though the economy is firmly on track to post its slowest growth in 23 years.

China’s top leadership unveiled the boldest set of economic and social reforms in nearly three decades following a four-day conclave ended last week, which are expected to give the economy fresh drivers of growth.

“The optimism unleashed by China’s reform plan is today hammered by the reality of weaker economic data,” said Wei Yao at Societe Generale. l

Indian gold premiums jump; lower prices spur some buying elsewhere n Reuters

Gold biscuits are seen in this picture illustration taken inside a jewellery showroom in Mumbai REUTERS

Gold’s drop to a four-month low this week attracted buyers in Asia but dealers were doubtful the demand would last as consumers may be waiting for the market to go even lower.

Spot gold fell to $1,240.69 an ounce on Wednesday, its lowest since early July, on fears the US Federal Reserve could soon begin rolling back its stimulus measures.

The metal has been trading below $1,300 an ounce for nearly two weeks but demand has failed to pick up much as Asian consumers bought a lot at the time of earlier price drops this year.

The absence of strong physical buying might put gold prices under even more pressure.

“Demand has picked up but not in a way that we expected. Consumers are waiting for (prices) to go down further and are holding off big purchases,” said one Singapore-based dealer.

Premiums over London prices in Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo, the top Asian trading hubs, were either stable or saw a very small increase.

“There is no strong demand. There is no shortage in supply so premiums haven’t moved in several weeks,” said the dealer.

In Shanghai, 99.99% purity gold was trad-

ing at a premium of about $10 an ounce, up from Wednesday’s close of $8.

In India, despite muted demand, premiums jumped to $120 an ounce from $80 last week because of a supply crunch caused by government restrictions on imports.

“There is a problem with supply and premiums are very high again at $120, as whatever little was imported has been exhausted,” said Bachhraj Bamalwa, director at the All India Gems and Jewellery Trade Federation.

To ease its trade deficit, India has made it more expensive to bring in gold, the biggest non-essential import item, by setting the import duty at a record high 10%.

It has also tied the quantity of imports to exports, making it necessary for importing agencies to fulfil export orders before sending any bullion for local consumption.

The wedding season is under way in India and will continue until January. Gold is an essential part of Indian weddings as it carries a lot of cultural value.

“We are doing shipments for exports as well as domestic users under the new rule, and our sales are down by about 60% compared to last year,” said an official with a bullion-importing private bank.

“Consumers will have to get used to high premiums,” he said. l

6

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2013

DSE Broad Index: 4395.94 ⇓ 0.98%, Turnover: 7281.18 M.Tk ⇓ 18.10%, PE: 13.43 Turnover 8,132.46 MTk . ⇓ 16.89% 21 November 2013 MarketCap. 2,114.77 BTk. ⇓ 1.13% CSE All Share Index: 13607 ⇓ 1.20%, Turnover: 851.28 M Tk. ⇓ 4.56%, PE: 13.23 Combined Turnover Leader

BANK ABBANK | 2.95 | 32.60 | Vol. 532428 D: 28.00 ⇓ 2.10% | 28.10 | 30.00 / 25.90 C: 28.10 ⇓ 2.09% | 28.03 | 28.20 / 27.90 CITYBANK | 1.15 | 25.97 | Vol. 2138114 D: 22.00 ⇓ 3.51% | 22.16 | 23.00 / 20.80 C: 22.00 ⇓ 3.93% | 22.22 | 23.20 / 21.90 IFIC | 1.10 | 18.34 | Vol. 2249685 D: 34.70 ⇓ 3.34% | 35.15 | 39.00 / 33.00 C: 34.90 ⇓ 2.79% | 35.23 | 36.30 / 34.70 ISLAMIBANK | 3.78 | 27.16 | Vol. 207985 D: 36.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 36.55 | 36.80 / 35.90 C: 36.50 ⇓ 0.27% | 36.36 | 38.00 / 34.00 NBL | 1.05 | 15.76 | Vol. 3783606 D: 12.90 ⇓ 1.53% | 12.94 | 13.50 / 12.00 C: 12.90 ⇓ 1.53% | 12.97 | 13.20 / 12.90 PUBALIBANK | 1.92 | 21.18 | Vol. 366918 D: 31.70 ⇓ 1.55% | 31.81 | 33.50 / 29.80 C: 31.60 ⇓ 1.86% | 31.80 | 32.90 / 31.40 RUPALIBANK | 6.70 | 64.27 | Vol. 71100 D: 67.10 ⇓ 2.61% | 67.77 | 69.70 / 66.80 C: 67.00 ⇓ 2.90% | 66.99 | 67.40 / 66.50 UCBL | 1.90 | 21.72 | Vol. 5173713 D: 25.70 ⇓ 3.38% | 25.92 | 27.00 / 24.50 C: 25.80 ⇓ 3.37% | 25.88 | 26.40 / 24.10 UTTARABANK | 3.42 | 26.97 | Vol. 874954 D: 32.50 ⇓ 2.11% | 32.77 | 34.00 / 29.90 C: 32.80 ⇓ 1.50% | 32.96 | 33.30 / 32.70 ICBIBANK | -1.60 | -13.03 | Vol. 207500 D: 6.30 ⇓ 1.56% | 6.39 | 6.50 / 6.30 EBL | 3.91 | 28.22 | Vol. 178340 D: 29.80 ⇑ 0.00% | 29.57 | 30.20 / 28.00 C: 29.30 ⇓ 2.33% | 29.34 | 29.50 / 29.10 ALARABANK | 2.03 | 14.91 | Vol. 3437621 D: 20.50 ⇓ 3.30% | 20.76 | 22.20 / 19.50 C: 20.50 ⇓ 3.30% | 20.73 | 21.20 / 20.30 PRIMEBANK | 2.89 | 22.40 | Vol. 1308043 D: 24.90 ⇓ 1.97% | 25.38 | 26.00 / 23.00 C: 24.90 ⇓ 1.97% | 24.85 | 25.00 / 24.70 SOUTHEASTB | 1.89 | 22.66 | Vol. 1526843 D: 18.80 ⇓ 2.59% | 18.95 | 19.50 / 17.50 C: 18.90 ⇓ 2.07% | 19.01 | 19.40 / 17.40 DHAKABANK | 1.46 | 18.08 | Vol. 335977 D: 20.20 ⇓ 2.88% | 20.36 | 20.90 / 19.00 C: 20.20 ⇓ 3.35% | 20.31 | 20.60 / 20.00 NCCBANK | 1.90 | 15.88 | Vol. 2076255 D: 14.70 ⇓ 2.00% | 14.82 | 16.00 / 13.50 C: 14.70 ⇓ 2.65% | 14.83 | 15.20 / 14.60 SIBL | 2.05 | 14.47 | Vol. 1551225 D: 14.50 ⇓ 3.33% | 14.71 | 15.20 / 13.50 C: 14.60 ⇓ 2.67% | 14.71 | 14.90 / 14.50 DUTCHBANGL | 11.57 | 54.27 | Vol. 43500 D: 100.0 ⇓ 1.77% | 100.21 | 101.9 / 100.0 MTBL | 1.17 | 17.27 | Vol. 139050 D: 16.40 ⇓ 1.20% | 16.50 | 16.90 / 16.30 C: 16.40 ⇓ 1.80% | 16.45 | 16.60 / 16.40 STANDBANKL | 2.33 | 14.41 | Vol. 1293154 D: 15.50 ⇓ 3.13% | 15.67 | 16.50 / 14.50 C: 15.70 ⇓ 3.09% | 15.75 | 16.00 / 15.60 ONEBANKLTD | 2.35 | 15.34 | Vol. 3751322 D: 17.30 ⇓ 2.26% | 17.51 | 18.20 / 16.00 C: 17.40 ⇓ 2.79% | 17.53 | 18.00 / 17.30 BANKASIA | 1.35 | 20.80 | Vol. 797296 D: 19.30 ⇓ 2.03% | 19.38 | 20.00 / 18.50 C: 19.70 ⇓ 1.01% | 19.63 | 20.30 / 19.40 MERCANBANK | 2.07 | 16.59 | Vol. 4139958 D: 16.80 ⇓ 3.45% | 17.00 | 19.00 / 16.00 C: 16.80 ⇓ 4.55% | 17.09 | 17.60 / 16.70 EXIMBANK | 1.80 | 14.31 | Vol. 1413010 D: 13.60 ⇓ 2.16% | 13.69 | 15.00 / 12.60 C: 13.70 ⇓ 2.14% | 13.74 | 13.90 / 13.00 JAMUNABANK | 2.47 | 18.56 | Vol. 325542 D: 16.60 ⇓ 0.60% | 16.56 | 16.80 / 15.20 C: 16.50 ⇓ 1.20% | 16.50 | 16.60 / 16.40 BRACBANK | 1.51 | 24.87 | Vol. 536320 D: 32.30 ⇓ 3.58% | 32.73 | 33.50 / 31.00 C: 32.70 ⇓ 2.39% | 32.67 | 33.10 / 32.50 SHAHJABANK | 2.61 | 14.47 | Vol. 1364989 D: 18.00 ⇓ 2.70% | 18.16 | 19.00 / 17.00 C: 18.20 ⇓ 2.67% | 18.36 | 18.70 / 18.20 PREMIERBAN | 1.18 | 13.95 | Vol. 949922 D: 12.50 ⇓ 2.34% | 12.61 | 14.00 / 11.70 C: 12.60 ⇓ 0.79% | 12.64 | 12.90 / 12.00

C%

A%

CP

89.20

Rahima Food -A

-22.98

-18.27

42.90

34.98

PragatiLife Insu.-A

9.86

8.67

158.20

Eastern Cables-Z

-6.06

-6.00

76.00

37.04

GPH Ispat Ltd-A

9.81

5.99

52.60

195.86

Fu-Wang Food-A

-5.33

-5.76

23.10

9.67

6.38

36.30

Sonali Ansh-A

-4.80

-4.19

138.90

9.38

4.35

35.00

MeghnaCement-A

-4.26

-4.15

130.40

417.76

5.14 3.64

7993152

296.04

Square Pharma -A

1344062

263.25

1239600

CP

7.99

Avg. P

R. N. Spinning-A

6644130

A%

9.99

% of TTL

11943140

Grameenphone-A

C%

Modern Dyeing-B

TO M. Tk.

Generation Next Fashions-A

BEXIMCO Ltd. -A

CompanyCode | EPS | BV | Volume Traded (Share) DSE/CSE: ClosePrice ⇓/⇑ Chn % | Avg.Price | Hi / Lo

Vol.

262.14 253.55

3.24

DSE Gainer

3.22

211.47

aamra technologies-A

3.12

38.16

Central Pharm-N

TRUSTBANK | 0.50 | 18.00 | Vol. 279983 D: 20.10 ⇓ 1.95% | 20.17 | 21.00 / 19.00 C: 20.10 ⇓ 2.43% | 20.36 | 20.70 / 20.10 FIRSTSBANK | 1.85 | 13.89 | Vol. 2165265 D: 16.80 ⇓ 1.75% | 16.94 | 17.50 / 15.80 C: 17.10 ⇓ 0.58% | 16.95 | 17.30 / 16.80 NON BANKING F I IDLC | 4.43 | 29.18 | Vol. 230803 D: 62.20 ⇓ 1.74% | 62.48 | 63.50 / 60.00 C: 63.00 ⇓ 2.17% | 63.02 | 63.80 / 62.70 ULC | 1.80 | 14.90 | Vol. 447246 D: 30.60 ⇓ 2.86% | 30.94 | 32.00 / 29.10 UTTARAFIN | 7.16 | 41.54 | Vol. 191006 D: 83.20 ⇓ 2.00% | 83.56 | 86.40 / 77.00 C: 84.40 ⇓ 0.82% | 84.12 | 85.00 / 83.50 MIDASFIN | 0.16 | 10.21 | Vol. 7500 D: 31.70 ⇑ 1.60% | 31.73 | 32.00 / 31.00 FLEASEINT | 2.34 | 13.93 | Vol. 1301786 D: 31.30 ⇓ 3.10% | 31.56 | 32.70 / 30.00 C: 31.60 ⇓ 2.47% | 31.71 | 32.40 / 31.30 PLFSL | 1.37 | 17.48 | Vol. 1148553 D: 25.00 ⇓ 1.96% | 25.14 | 26.50 / 23.00 C: 25.10 ⇓ 2.33% | 25.27 | 25.90 / 25.00 PRIMEFIN | 0.87 | 17.88 | Vol. 366963 D: 25.30 ⇓ 2.69% | 25.50 | 26.20 / 23.40 C: 25.40 ⇓ 2.31% | 25.50 | 26.00 / 25.10 PREMIERLEA | 0.10 | 11.37 | Vol. 195000 D: 10.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 10.37 | 10.50 / 10.30 C: 10.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 10.50 | 10.60 / 10.50 ISLAMICFIN | 1.03 | 15.48 | Vol. 1357604 D: 17.40 ⇓ 1.14% | 17.36 | 18.10 / 16.50 C: 17.40 ⇓ 2.79% | 17.42 | 18.00 / 17.20 LANKABAFIN | 1.61 | 31.07 | Vol. 661197 D: 56.70 ⇓ 2.41% | 56.95 | 57.90 / 52.50 C: 56.50 ⇓ 2.59% | 56.74 | 58.00 / 56.50 BIFC | 0.15 | 18.58 | Vol. 246105 D: 17.10 ⇓ 1.72% | 17.15 | 17.70 / 17.00 C: 17.10 ⇓ 0.58% | 17.12 | 18.00 / 16.50 IPDC | 1.23 | 19.43 | Vol. 239000 D: 19.10 ⇓ 2.05% | 19.37 | 19.70 / 19.00 C: 19.10 ⇓ 2.05% | 19.17 | 19.50 / 19.00 UNIONCAP | 0.54 | 17.85 | Vol. 88615 D: 28.70 ⇓ 3.69% | 28.88 | 30.50 / 27.00 C: 28.60 ⇓ 4.67% | 28.60 | 28.60 / 28.60 BDFINANCE | 0.57 | 14.77 | Vol. 148845 D: 19.00 ⇓ 2.06% | 19.01 | 19.30 / 17.50 C: 18.90 ⇓ 2.07% | 19.04 | 19.20 / 18.60 ILFSL | 0.35 | 12.19 | Vol. 1112575 D: 15.30 ⇓ 1.92% | 15.40 | 15.60 / 15.00 C: 15.30 ⇓ 3.16% | 15.34 | 15.80 / 15.20 PHOENIXFIN | 2.46 | 19.39 | Vol. 924380 D: 34.20 ⇓ 3.39% | 34.31 | 36.00 / 32.50 C: 34.20 ⇓ 3.12% | 34.14 | 34.60 / 33.80 FASFIN | 0.19 | 13.56 | Vol. 614084 D: 14.30 ⇓ 0.69% | 14.35 | 15.50 / 13.00 C: 14.30 ⇓ 2.05% | 14.43 | 14.60 / 14.30 DBH | 4.47 | 21.27 | Vol. 89500 D: 55.80 ⇓ 3.46% | 55.76 | 56.90 / 55.50 C: 55.20 ⇓ 3.16% | 55.40 | 56.00 / 55.00 NHFIL | 0.57 | 12.70 | Vol. 351725 D: 31.40 ⇓ 3.38% | 31.74 | 32.50 / 31.40 C: 31.80 ⇓ 2.15% | 31.89 | 32.50 / 31.60 BAYLEASING | 0.72 | 25.55 | Vol. 728488 D: 29.70 ⇓ 3.57% | 30.06 | 31.30 / 28.00 C: 29.80 ⇓ 4.49% | 30.06 | 31.20 / 29.60 ICB | 89.23 | 607.74 | Vol. 8100 D: 1553 ⇓ 4.16% | 1574 | 1660 / 1548 GSPFINANCE | 1.63 | 22.23 | Vol. 234042 D: 26.70 ⇓ 2.20% | 26.61 | 27.30 / 24.70 C: 26.70 ⇓ 3.96% | 26.65 | 27.00 / 26.10 FAREASTFIN | 0.68 | 13.64 | Vol. 990000 D: 14.40 ⇓ 1.37% | 14.44 | 14.70 / 14.30 C: 14.50 ⇓ 0.68% | 14.46 | 14.90 / 14.30 INVESTMENT 1STICB | 75.63 | 942.30 | Vol. 350 D: 878.5 ⇓ 2.39% | 880.00 | 890.0 / 870.0 2NDICB | 44.10 | 253.11 | Vol. 650 D: 250.5 ⇓ 1.26% | 250.77 | 251.0 / 250.0 3RDICB | 26.16 | 235.16 | Vol. 750 D: 201.0 ⇓ 0.15% | 201.33 | 205.0 / 200.0 4THICB | 29.24 | 229.24 | Vol. 2500 D: 197.3 ⇑ 5.79% | 197.20 | 200.0 / 192.0 5THICB | 23.45 | 188.92 | Vol. 700 D: 153.4 ⇑ 2.33% | 152.86 | 154.0 / 152.5

6THICB | 10.99 | 60.14 | Vol. 25700 D: 54.60 ⇓ 0.91% | 54.73 | 55.10 / 54.20 C: 52.60 ⇓ 0.38% | 52.90 | 53.00 / 52.60 8THICB | 12.47 | 70.07 | Vol. 16500 D: 53.00 ⇓ 0.75% | 53.03 | 53.20 / 52.90 AIMS1STMF | 3.02 | 15.70 | Vol. 485825 D: 40.10 ⇓ 1.96% | 40.28 | 41.20 / 39.90 C: 40.30 ⇓ 1.95% | 40.21 | 40.70 / 39.70 ICBISLAMIC | 2.21 | 26.81 | Vol. 158500 D: 19.60 ⇑ 1.03% | 19.00 | 19.80 / 18.40 C: 18.50 ⇑ 1.09% | 18.50 | 18.50 / 18.50 GRAMEEN1 | 6.26 | 33.23 | Vol. 388000 D: 45.80 ⇓ 1.51% | 46.37 | 47.00 / 45.60 C: 45.70 ⇓ 1.08% | 45.78 | 46.70 / 45.40 ICB1STNRB | 4.06 | 35.31 | Vol. 28000 D: 26.30 ⇓ 1.13% | 26.36 | 26.60 / 25.90 ICB2NDNRB | 2.49 | 16.24 | Vol. 198000 D: 10.60 ⇑ 0.95% | 10.46 | 10.70 / 10.20 C: 10.50 ⇓ 3.67% | 10.50 | 10.50 / 10.50 GRAMEENS2 | 2.17 | 16.41 | Vol. 1210500 D: 17.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 17.12 | 17.40 / 16.90 C: 17.10 ⇓ 0.58% | 17.10 | 17.30 / 16.90 1STPRIMFMF | 0.64 | 11.63 | Vol. 1022000 D: 23.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 23.25 | 23.70 / 23.00 C: 23.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 23.11 | 23.40 / 23.00 EBL1STMF | 0.55 | 12.62 | Vol. 426435 D: 7.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 7.24 | 7.80 / 7.00 C: 7.10 ⇓ 1.39% | 7.18 | 7.20 / 7.10 ICBAMCL2ND | 0.60 | 12.12 | Vol. 87500 D: 6.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.23 | 6.30 / 6.10 C: 6.30 ⇓ 1.56% | 6.23 | 6.30 / 6.20 ICBEPMF1S1 | 0.52 | 11.32 | Vol. 179500 D: 6.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.32 | 6.40 / 6.20 C: 6.40 ⇓ 1.54% | 6.40 | 6.40 / 6.30 TRUSTB1MF | 0.75 | 11.65 | Vol. 788448 D: 7.70 ⇓ 1.28% | 7.81 | 8.00 / 7.20 C: 7.80 ⇑ 0.00% | 7.78 | 8.50 / 7.10 PRIME1ICBA | 0.42 | 11.18 | Vol. 268500 D: 5.80 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.88 | 6.00 / 5.70 C: 5.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.92 | 6.00 / 5.70 DBH1STMF | -1.12 | 10.15 | Vol. 771000 D: 6.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.14 | 6.30 / 6.00 C: 6.20 ⇑ 1.64% | 6.20 | 6.30 / 6.10 IFIC1STMF | 0.83 | 11.88 | Vol. 214923 D: 7.00 ⇓ 1.41% | 7.09 | 7.20 / 7.00 C: 7.10 ⇓ 1.39% | 7.11 | 7.20 / 6.50 PF1STMF | 0.51 | 11.11 | Vol. 400000 D: 5.90 ⇓ 3.28% | 6.02 | 6.10 / 5.90 C: 6.00 ⇓ 1.64% | 6.07 | 6.20 / 6.00 ICB3RDNRB | 0.00 | 10.60 | Vol. 320500 D: 5.60 ⇓ 1.75% | 5.62 | 5.70 / 5.50 C: 5.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.58 | 5.60 / 5.50 1JANATAMF | 0.78 | 10.68 | Vol. 540500 D: 6.50 ⇑ 1.56% | 6.50 | 6.60 / 6.40 C: 6.40 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.41 | 6.50 / 6.30 GREENDELMF | -0.82 | 9.72 | Vol. 874500 D: 5.70 ⇓ 1.72% | 5.74 | 5.90 / 5.70 C: 5.70 ⇓ 3.39% | 5.74 | 5.90 / 5.70 POPULAR1MF | 0.77 | 11.38 | Vol. 2740500 D: 6.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.58 | 6.70 / 6.40 C: 6.70 ⇑ 3.08% | 6.62 | 6.70 / 6.50 IFILISLMF1 | 0.00 | 10.45 | Vol. 533000 D: 6.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.08 | 6.20 / 6.00 C: 6.20 ⇑ 1.64% | 6.12 | 6.20 / 6.00 PHPMF1 | 0.63 | 10.92 | Vol. 1813500 D: 6.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.03 | 6.10 / 5.90 C: 6.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.06 | 6.10 / 6.00 AIBL1STIMF | -0.07 | 9.25 | Vol. 318500 D: 7.20 ⇑ 1.41% | 7.26 | 7.30 / 7.10 C: 7.30 ⇑ 1.39% | 7.22 | 7.30 / 7.00 MBL1STMF | -0.16 | 9.08 | Vol. 268500 D: 6.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.60 | 6.70 / 6.50 C: 6.70 ⇑ 3.08% | 6.70 | 6.70 / 6.70 SEBL1STMF | 0.94 | 11.85 | Vol. 1299350 D: 8.40 ⇑ 1.20% | 8.35 | 8.50 / 8.00 C: 8.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 8.30 | 8.50 / 8.10 EBLNRBMF | 1.07 | 10.88 | Vol. 6169 D: 7.40 ⇑ 0.00% | 7.49 | 7.50 / 7.20 RELIANCE1 | 0.95 | 10.33 | Vol. 948900 D: 9.00 ⇓ 1.10% | 9.19 | 9.90 / 9.00 C: 9.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 9.20 | 9.30 / 9.10 LRGLOBMF1 | 0.45 | 10.78 | Vol. 334500 D: 7.10 ⇓ 1.39% | 7.17 | 7.30 / 7.10 C: 7.30 ⇑ 1.39% | 7.30 | 7.30 / 7.30

DSE Loser

ABB1STMF | 0.92 | 10.63 | Vol. 1205500 D: 7.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 7.72 | 7.80 / 7.60 C: 7.70 ⇓ 2.53% | 7.70 | 7.70 / 7.70 NLI1STMF | 1.17 | 12.22 | Vol. 1406950 D: 9.60 ⇑ 1.05% | 9.72 | 10.10 / 9.00 C: 9.80 ⇑ 3.16% | 9.76 | 9.90 / 9.70 FBFIF | 1.30 | 10.27 | Vol. 11500 D: 8.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 8.96 | 9.50 / 8.70 NCCBLMF1 | 1.16 | 10.48 | Vol. 12500 D: 8.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 8.80 | 8.80 / 8.70 ICBSONALI1 | 0.00 | 10.39 | Vol. 613000 D: 8.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 8.66 | 8.80 / 8.50 C: 8.60 ⇓ 2.27% | 8.64 | 8.80 / 8.60 ENGINEERING AFTABAUTO | 4.29 | 52.65 | Vol. 745635 D: 105.7 ⇓ 2.76% | 106.51 | 110.0 / 100.0 C: 106.1 ⇓ 2.57% | 106.59 | 111.0 / 105.5 AZIZPIPES | 0.39 | -42.04 | Vol. 15270 D: 17.20 ⇓ 2.27% | 17.34 | 18.00 / 16.90 C: 16.90 ⇓ 3.98% | 16.94 | 17.40 / 16.70 BDLAMPS | -5.31 | 37.07 | Vol. 19600 D: 133.4 ⇓ 3.47% | 134.53 | 140.0 / 132.3 C: 130.6 ⇓ 5.22% | 130.94 | 137.0 / 128.2 ECABLES | 2.04 | 18.87 | Vol. 2400 D: 76.00 ⇓ 6.06% | 76.09 | 77.00 / 75.20 C: 74.00 ⇑ 2.49% | 74.00 | 74.00 / 74.00 MONNOSTAF | 5.31 | 44.78 | Vol. 4250 D: 351.4 ⇑ 6.97% | 349.18 | 357.2 / 328.5 SINGERBD | 9.99 | 45.74 | Vol. 115950 D: 200.6 ⇓ 1.91% | 201.92 | 206.5 / 193.0 C: 201.0 ⇓ 2.24% | 201.64 | 205.0 / 200.5 ATLASBANG | 9.14 | 222.05 | Vol. 83039 D: 176.3 ⇑ 1.26% | 174.40 | 177.8 / 168.0 BDAUTOCA | -0.43 | 5.68 | Vol. 83800 D: 30.80 ⇓ 1.28% | 30.37 | 31.30 / 29.10 QSMDRYCELL | 1.06 | 52.31 | Vol. 802976 D: 37.60 ⇑ 2.73% | 36.75 | 38.00 / 33.10 C: 37.50 ⇑ 1.63% | 37.22 | 38.40 / 36.00 RENWICKJA | 5.77 | -31.13 | Vol. 33750 D: 156.5 ⇑ 0.13% | 158.58 | 164.0 / 153.0 NTLTUBES | 0.67 | 311.00 | Vol. 172840 D: 75.50 ⇓ 0.40% | 76.86 | 79.50 / 72.00 BDTHAI | 0.43 | 39.35 | Vol. 373509 D: 27.60 ⇓ 0.72% | 27.56 | 28.10 / 26.00 C: 27.90 ⇑ 0.36% | 27.35 | 28.40 / 27.00 ANWARGALV | 0.52 | 8.10 | Vol. 207000 D: 23.60 ⇓ 2.48% | 24.04 | 24.80 / 23.00 C: 24.10 ⇓ 1.63% | 24.21 | 25.00 / 23.60 KAY&QUE | -3.89 | 6.03 | Vol. 19500 D: 15.50 ⇓ 3.13% | 15.54 | 15.80 / 15.40 RANFOUNDRY | 2.84 | 18.62 | Vol. 61000 D: 86.50 ⇓ 4.00% | 87.04 | 89.20 / 86.00 C: 95.00 ⇑ 6.15% | 95.00 | 95.00 / 95.00 SALAMCRST | 3.31 | 20.00 | Vol. 780250 D: 44.10 ⇓ 1.12% | 44.00 | 44.60 / 40.20 C: 44.30 ⇓ 0.67% | 44.12 | 44.70 / 43.50 GOLDENSON | 3.70 | 28.70 | Vol. 2790681 D: 52.70 ⇑ 1.35% | 52.11 | 55.00 / 47.00 C: 52.80 ⇑ 1.34% | 52.41 | 53.20 / 50.10 BSRMSTEEL | 3.06 | 19.53 | Vol. 615425 D: 73.80 ⇓ 3.78% | 74.59 | 78.00 / 69.50 C: 74.20 ⇓ 2.50% | 74.77 | 75.80 / 74.00 NAVANACNG | 4.09 | 27.04 | Vol. 249121 D: 66.50 ⇓ 1.92% | 67.28 | 71.90 / 62.00 C: 67.20 ⇓ 1.32% | 67.28 | 68.10 / 66.00 DESHBANDHU | 0.26 | 10.67 | Vol. 620909 D: 18.40 ⇓ 1.08% | 18.36 | 18.80 / 17.00 C: 18.50 ⇓ 1.07% | 18.40 | 18.70 / 18.10 GPHISPAT | 2.11 | 15.27 | Vol. 1895300 D: 52.60 ⇑ 9.81% | 51.33 | 52.60 / 43.20 C: 52.70 ⇑ 9.79% | 51.95 | 52.80 / 49.60 BENGALWTL | 3.85 | 24.30 | Vol. 3475200 D: 60.50 ⇑ 4.49% | 59.02 | 61.50 / 55.60 C: 61.10 ⇑ 5.53% | 59.80 | 62.50 / 55.60 BDBUILDING | 1.33 | 12.70 | Vol. 2102000 D: 63.60 ⇑ 6.53% | 60.49 | 65.00 / 56.90 C: 62.80 ⇑ 5.72% | 60.56 | 64.80 / 57.30 NPOLYMAR | 2.38 | 32.89 | Vol. 383297 D: 53.90 ⇑ 5.69% | 52.93 | 54.50 / 50.00 C: 54.40 ⇑ 6.04% | 53.80 | 54.90 / 52.50 FOOD & ALLIED APEXFOODS | 2.54 | 90.81 | Vol. 28750 D: 92.30 ⇓ 3.25% | 92.54 | 96.90 / 91.00 C: 92.20 ⇓ 3.96% | 92.27 | 93.50 / 92.00

BANGAS | 7.20 | 50.27 | Vol. 69589 D: 441.6 ⇑ 2.41% | 439.92 | 445.0 / 400.0 C: 441.9 ⇑ 2.62% | 440.97 | 449.0 / 435.1 BATBC | 65.69 | 117.22 | Vol. 3000 D: 1710 ⇑ 0.33% | 1707 | 1710 / 1704 GEMINISEA | 10.88 | 9.69 | Vol. 850 D: 179.6 ⇓ 3.49% | 180.00 | 188.0 / 175.1 NTC | 29.88 | 110.05 | Vol. 1150 D: 813.3 ⇓ 0.45% | 813.04 | 816.0 / 812.0 AMCL(PRAN) | 6.85 | 57.14 | Vol. 60800 D: 192.8 ⇓ 3.79% | 194.36 | 199.0 / 192.1 C: 192.4 ⇓ 3.99% | 195.78 | 202.0 / 191.5 SHYAMPSUG | -45.77 | -396.49 | Vol. 100 D: 7.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 7.30 | 7.30 / 7.30 RAHIMAFOOD | 0.52 | 4.45 | Vol. 1497000 D: 42.90 ⇓ 22.98% | 42.73 | 47.00 / 30.00 C: 43.40 ⇓ 18.42% | 43.13 | 49.00 / 35.20 FUWANGFOOD | 0.94 | 12.28 | Vol. 1405245 D: 23.10 ⇓ 5.33% | 22.89 | 24.00 / 21.00 C: 23.30 ⇓ 4.90% | 23.15 | 24.50 / 22.60 MEGHNAPET | -0.50 | -1.52 | Vol. 5000 D: 6.40 ⇓ 3.03% | 6.40 | 6.80 / 6.20 MEGCONMILK | -7.48 | -23.70 | Vol. 29000 D: 7.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 7.21 | 7.30 / 7.00 BEACHHATCH | 1.01 | 12.48 | Vol. 1241873 D: 21.40 ⇑ 0.00% | 21.35 | 22.00 / 19.50 C: 21.50 ⇑ 0.47% | 21.37 | 21.70 / 21.00 FINEFOODS | 0.05 | 10.63 | Vol. 681720 D: 18.10 ⇑ 4.02% | 17.96 | 18.70 / 17.00 C: 18.60 ⇑ 6.29% | 18.30 | 19.00 / 17.20 RDFOOD | 0.91 | 16.84 | Vol. 2685302 D: 24.80 ⇑ 4.20% | 24.25 | 24.90 / 21.50 C: 24.70 ⇑ 3.78% | 24.30 | 24.80 / 23.00 GHAIL | 2.31 | 24.36 | Vol. 1151820 D: 40.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 40.36 | 41.00 / 37.00 C: 40.60 ⇓ 0.49% | 40.67 | 41.50 / 39.00 FUEL & POWER LINDEBD | 31.71 | 144.00 | Vol. 11400 D: 634.8 ⇓ 0.61% | 636.32 | 642.5 / 633.6 PADMAOIL | 27.62 | 79.74 | Vol. 423206 D: 338.7 ⇑ 0.53% | 339.52 | 345.0 / 328.0 C: 337.4 ⇑ 0.21% | 338.61 | 344.0 / 335.1 BDWELDING | 0.33 | 16.82 | Vol. 753248 D: 21.80 ⇓ 1.80% | 21.88 | 22.40 / 20.00 C: 21.90 ⇓ 1.35% | 21.94 | 22.20 / 21.70 SUMITPOWER | 3.17 | 19.26 | Vol. 1445301 D: 38.40 ⇓ 1.29% | 38.27 | 39.70 / 35.20 C: 38.40 ⇓ 1.29% | 38.20 | 39.00 / 37.50 DESCO | 2.34 | 31.27 | Vol. 289557 D: 60.90 ⇓ 1.30% | 60.80 | 61.50 / 56.00 C: 61.70 ⇓ 0.32% | 61.90 | 68.00 / 60.60 POWERGRID | 2.19 | 63.69 | Vol. 231627 D: 56.40 ⇓ 1.40% | 56.37 | 57.70 / 54.50 C: 55.50 ⇓ 0.89% | 55.81 | 56.10 / 55.10 JAMUNAOIL | 22.78 | 50.24 | Vol. 606085 D: 240.2 ⇓ 1.56% | 241.14 | 245.0 / 235.0 C: 241.0 ⇓ 1.11% | 241.66 | 244.0 / 240.0 MPETROLEUM | 25.61 | 71.11 | Vol. 708884 D: 282.8 ⇓ 1.60% | 284.90 | 290.4 / 274.0 C: 282.7 ⇓ 1.84% | 284.38 | 290.0 / 281.0 TITASGAS | 9.20 | 46.26 | Vol. 548350 D: 76.60 ⇓ 1.42% | 76.66 | 77.50 / 70.00 C: 76.50 ⇓ 1.80% | 76.92 | 78.00 / 76.50 KPCL | 4.73 | 15.86 | Vol. 327548 D: 50.60 ⇓ 1.36% | 50.45 | 52.00 / 47.00 C: 50.40 ⇓ 1.56% | 50.18 | 51.50 / 50.00 BEDL | 1.48 | 19.43 | Vol. 1704126 D: 32.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 32.48 | 33.20 / 29.50 C: 32.80 ⇑ 0.00% | 32.43 | 33.20 / 31.10 MJLBD | 2.73 | 30.24 | Vol. 137581 D: 76.20 ⇓ 0.26% | 76.07 | 77.50 / 69.00 C: 76.10 ⇓ 1.17% | 75.82 | 77.00 / 75.00 GBBPOWER | 1.86 | 22.63 | Vol. 2148227 D: 29.80 ⇓ 2.61% | 30.05 | 31.00 / 27.60 C: 30.00 ⇓ 2.60% | 30.10 | 30.90 / 29.80 SPPCL | 3.81 | 23.34 | Vol. 1913360 D: 61.90 ⇓ 2.06% | 62.22 | 64.40 / 57.00 C: 62.10 ⇓ 2.20% | 62.39 | 63.80 / 61.80 JUTE JUTESPINN | -48.14 | -39.89 | Vol. 42450 D: 93.70 ⇑ 8.95% | 92.23 | 94.60 / 85.00 NORTHERN | -9.98 | -18.22 | Vol. 600 D: 26.50 ⇑ 2.71% | 26.50 | 26.50 / 26.50

DHAKA TRIBUNE

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2013

7

November 21, 2013 Sectotal Index: BANK: 38,990.43 ⇓ 2.14% NBFI: 21,182.20 ⇓ 2.37% INVS: 4,988.84 ⇓ 0.13% ENGG: 6,421.40 ⇓ 0.31% FOOD: 9,712.77 ⇓ 0.18% F&P: 10,622.85 ⇓ 1.12% TEXT: 3,581.98 ⇑ 1.22% PHAR: 18,364.97 ⇓ 0.07% PAPR: 1,068.01 ⇑ 0.63% SERV: 3,147.70 ⇓ 0.51% LEAT: 5,254.43 ⇓ 0.53% CERA: 523.04 ⇓ 1.67% CMNT: 4,388.61 ⇓ 1.57% INFO: 7,832.88 ⇑ 3.36% GINS: 9,530.27 ⇓ 1.42% LINS: 132,356.34 ⇑ 2.97% TELC: 1,394.24 ⇓ 2.33% MISC: 6,930.84 ⇑ 0.53% INTECH | 0.94 | 10.08 | Vol. 413613 D: 16.60 ⇓ 1.19% | 16.68 | 18.00 / 15.50 C: 16.70 ⇓ 1.76% | 16.73 | 17.10 / 16.20 AGNISYSL | 0.96 | 14.90 | Vol. 840718 D: 22.70 ⇑ 2.25% | 22.62 | 23.50 / 20.00 C: 23.00 ⇑ 3.60% | 22.74 | 23.50 / 21.80 AAMRATECH | 1.33 | 19.91 | Vol. 4149650 D: 36.30 ⇑ 9.67% | 35.20 | 36.40 / 31.50 C: 36.40 ⇑ 9.97% | 35.39 | 36.40 / 32.80

SONALIANSH | 5.54 | 218.80 | Vol. 27250 D: 138.9 ⇓ 4.80% | 141.10 | 146.0 / 136.0 TEXTILE RAHIMTEXT | 4.65 | 56.68 | Vol. 3750 D: 245.2 ⇓ 0.33% | 245.60 | 253.9 / 242.0 SAIHAMTEX | 2.75 | 29.50 | Vol. 1435400 D: 29.90 ⇑ 2.75% | 29.48 | 30.10 / 28.80 C: 30.30 ⇑ 3.06% | 29.86 | 30.50 / 28.80 MODERNDYE | 0.91 | 10.37 | Vol. 7200 D: 89.20 ⇑ 9.99% | 86.39 | 89.20 / 81.30 DSHGARME | 0.88 | 12.12 | Vol. 33500 D: 69.90 ⇑ 2.19% | 70.69 | 73.80 / 66.80 DULAMIACOT | -1.90 | -29.70 | Vol. 8400 D: 7.90 ⇑ 3.95% | 7.86 | 8.00 / 7.70 TALLUSPIN | 1.75 | 16.17 | Vol. 3177850 D: 38.80 ⇑ 0.26% | 38.86 | 39.90 / 37.00 C: 39.20 ⇑ 1.55% | 39.17 | 39.70 / 38.30 APEXSPINN | 2.01 | 49.32 | Vol. 9800 D: 77.10 ⇓ 1.91% | 75.92 | 77.60 / 73.10 MITHUNKNIT | 2.87 | 20.53 | Vol. 150200 D: 75.40 ⇓ 2.96% | 75.69 | 77.70 / 74.00 C: 75.70 ⇓ 2.20% | 75.79 | 77.00 / 74.50 SONARGAON | 0.27 | 34.50 | Vol. 466000 D: 18.50 ⇑ 3.93% | 18.01 | 18.70 / 17.20 C: 18.50 ⇑ 5.11% | 18.24 | 18.70 / 17.10 PRIMETEX | 1.21 | 59.34 | Vol. 626500 D: 26.50 ⇑ 3.11% | 26.04 | 26.70 / 25.40 C: 26.40 ⇑ 3.13% | 25.94 | 26.50 / 25.30 ALLTEX | -1.26 | 8.10 | Vol. 279000 D: 7.30 ⇓ 2.67% | 7.37 | 7.50 / 7.30 C: 7.40 ⇑ 0.00% | 7.31 | 7.40 / 7.20 ANLIMAYARN | 1.36 | 11.99 | Vol. 253000 D: 27.20 ⇓ 1.81% | 27.21 | 28.20 / 27.00 C: 27.40 ⇓ 2.14% | 27.44 | 27.50 / 27.40 HRTEX | 2.08 | 14.92 | Vol. 341862 D: 37.80 ⇑ 1.61% | 37.32 | 38.10 / 35.00 C: 38.00 ⇑ 1.60% | 38.00 | 38.00 / 38.00 CMCKAMAL | 1.37 | 19.31 | Vol. 3275610 D: 33.60 ⇑ 3.70% | 33.22 | 34.40 / 29.40 SAFKOSPINN | 0.95 | 21.78 | Vol. 781740 D: 25.90 ⇑ 0.78% | 25.77 | 26.50 / 24.00 C: 26.30 ⇑ 2.73% | 25.96 | 26.50 / 25.40 SQUARETEXT | 4.32 | 31.82 | Vol. 143491 D: 92.90 ⇓ 1.28% | 93.05 | 95.00 / 90.00 C: 93.20 ⇓ 0.96% | 93.33 | 93.90 / 92.00 METROSPIN | 0.56 | 17.71 | Vol. 2200731 D: 22.10 ⇑ 6.76% | 21.37 | 22.40 / 18.80 C: 21.90 ⇑ 5.29% | 21.39 | 22.70 / 20.00 MAKSONSPIN | 0.16 | 20.55 | Vol. 5164935 D: 18.30 ⇑ 4.57% | 17.92 | 18.50 / 16.00 C: 18.30 ⇑ 3.98% | 18.07 | 18.60 / 17.20 DACCADYE | 1.02 | 28.44 | Vol. 1515333 D: 28.90 ⇑ 2.48% | 28.41 | 29.00 / 26.00 C: 28.90 ⇑ 2.12% | 28.31 | 29.00 / 27.90 RNSPIN | 2.80 | 16.58 | Vol. 7993152 D: 37.60 ⇑ 2.73% | 37.05 | 38.10 / 33.00 C: 37.70 ⇑ 2.72% | 36.97 | 38.10 / 35.50 BXSYNTH | 0.93 | 25.42 | Vol. 1092775 D: 17.90 ⇓ 1.65% | 17.69 | 19.00 / 17.20 C: 18.00 ⇓ 1.64% | 17.78 | 18.50 / 17.20 MALEKSPIN | 2.81 | 43.48 | Vol. 5132905 D: 31.50 ⇑ 0.64% | 31.51 | 32.50 / 28.20 C: 31.40 ⇑ 0.00% | 31.63 | 32.70 / 30.40 ZAHINTEX | 1.20 | 31.07 | Vol. 680100 D: 28.00 ⇑ 2.94% | 27.50 | 28.80 / 25.00 C: 28.00 ⇑ 1.82% | 27.62 | 28.50 / 26.90 SAIHAMCOT | 1.92 | 23.62 | Vol. 1349500 D: 26.30 ⇓ 1.50% | 26.24 | 26.90 / 25.70 C: 26.40 ⇓ 0.38% | 26.29 | 26.90 / 25.60 GENNEXT | 1.68 | 15.15 | Vol. 11943140 D: 35.40 ⇑ 5.36% | 35.00 | 36.70 / 30.50 C: 35.30 ⇑ 5.06% | 34.79 | 36.40 / 33.50 ENVOYTEX | 3.19 | 39.00 | Vol. 1505660 D: 59.00 ⇑ 0.17% | 58.97 | 59.90 / 53.10 C: 59.10 ⇑ 0.34% | 58.99 | 59.90 / 58.20 ARGONDENIM | 1.89 | 38.86 | Vol. 936240 D: 67.60 ⇑ 0.30% | 67.58 | 68.70 / 62.00 C: 67.50 ⇓ 0.88% | 67.68 | 68.60 / 66.40 FAMILYTEX | 3.72 | 14.68 | Vol. 465500 D: 53.90 ⇓ 1.82% | 54.07 | 55.00 / 53.50 C: 54.00 ⇓ 0.74% | 53.92 | 54.50 / 53.50 PTL | 2.25 | 21.72 | Vol. 4401250 D: 50.70 ⇑ 3.89% | 51.34 | 53.80 / 49.00 C: 50.40 ⇑ 3.28% | 51.00 | 53.00 / 48.10

PHARMACEUTICAL & CHEMICAL AMBEEPHA | 3.94 | 26.15 | Vol. 8027 D: 260.4 ⇓ 2.33% | 260.58 | 265.0 / 257.0 C: 260.3 ⇓ 3.45% | 259.88 | 261.0 / 260.0 BXPHARMA | 3.77 | 52.55 | Vol. 430039 D: 48.60 ⇓ 0.61% | 48.31 | 52.00 / 44.10 C: 48.40 ⇓ 1.43% | 48.27 | 48.80 / 48.00 GLAXOSMITH | 20.25 | 123.32 | Vol. 2450 D: 970.5 ⇓ 2.23% | 970.61 | 981.5 / 970.0 ACI | -5.82 | 126.42 | Vol. 16360 D: 172.2 ⇓ 1.54% | 173.50 | 180.0 / 171.0 C: 170.8 ⇓ 2.40% | 170.79 | 171.7 / 170.0 RENATA | 33.57 | 138.83 | Vol. 10100 D: 743.7 ⇓ 0.35% | 742.97 | 747.0 / 740.0 RECKITTBEN | 27.16 | 78.89 | Vol. 1250 D: 899.5 ⇓ 0.29% | 899.20 | 902.5 / 884.0 PHARMAID | 1.39 | 26.19 | Vol. 34400 D: 164.2 ⇓ 1.02% | 164.85 | 166.6 / 163.1 KOHINOOR | 14.33 | 19.99 | Vol. 5001 D: 414.6 ⇑ 1.79% | 414.60 | 429.9 / 405.0 IBNSINA | 3.44 | 34.02 | Vol. 90240 D: 105.1 ⇓ 2.41% | 105.61 | 107.5 / 97.00 C: 106.0 ⇓ 2.21% | 106.18 | 109.0 / 105.0 ORIONINFU | 1.27 | 7.00 | Vol. 325000 D: 44.60 ⇓ 1.11% | 44.57 | 45.00 / 43.90 C: 44.60 ⇓ 0.67% | 44.44 | 45.20 / 43.20 SQURPHARMA | 6.93 | 37.18 | Vol. 1344062 D: 196.4 ⇑ 1.03% | 195.89 | 200.0 / 177.0 C: 194.5 ⇑ 0.41% | 195.22 | 198.0 / 183.0 IMAMBUTTON | -1.51 | 4.16 | Vol. 15500 D: 7.60 ⇓ 1.30% | 7.67 | 7.90 / 7.40 C: 7.50 ⇓ 6.25% | 7.56 | 7.60 / 7.50 KEYACOSMET | 1.55 | 21.54 | Vol. 5115926 D: 28.70 ⇑ 4.74% | 27.83 | 29.20 / 24.70 C: 28.70 ⇑ 4.74% | 27.76 | 29.30 / 25.00 BERGERPBL | 32.46 | 100.20 | Vol. 3550 D: 858.7 ⇓ 0.97% | 863.14 | 877.0 / 850.0 C: 890.0 ⇑ 1.14% | 890.00 | 890.0 / 890.0 ACIFORMULA | 3.33 | 38.08 | Vol. 30750 D: 77.10 ⇓ 1.28% | 77.17 | 77.90 / 76.00 C: 77.20 ⇓ 2.77% | 77.30 | 78.00 / 76.60 MARICO | 27.53 | 62.47 | Vol. 13250 D: 770.6 ⇓ 0.54% | 769.05 | 770.9 / 762.8 C: 760.0 ⇓ 2.56% | 760.00 | 760.0 / 760.0 BEACONPHAR | 0.04 | 12.01 | Vol. 419750 D: 12.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 12.22 | 12.30 / 11.00 C: 12.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 12.20 | 12.40 / 12.00 ACTIVEFINE | 3.23 | 13.89 | Vol. 614502 D: 88.50 ⇑ 0.11% | 88.70 | 90.50 / 80.00 C: 88.80 ⇑ 0.00% | 88.82 | 91.00 / 86.90 SALVOCHEM | 0.68 | 10.57 | Vol. 885494 D: 21.50 ⇓ 1.38% | 21.54 | 21.90 / 19.80 C: 21.60 ⇓ 1.37% | 21.65 | 22.00 / 21.30 GHCL | 2.14 | 57.31 | Vol. 904000 D: 55.60 ⇑ 1.65% | 55.33 | 56.90 / 52.80 C: 55.90 ⇑ 1.82% | 55.56 | 56.50 / 54.00 ORIONPHARM | 5.02 | 68.68 | Vol. 1289470 D: 59.60 ⇓ 2.61% | 59.95 | 62.00 / 55.10 C: 59.80 ⇓ 2.45% | 60.04 | 61.60 / 59.20 JMISMDL | 1.12 | 12.83 | Vol. 166500 D: 193.0 ⇓ 1.48% | 193.86 | 200.0 / 190.0 C: 190.9 ⇓ 2.90% | 194.07 | 199.0 / 190.0 CENTRALPHL | 1.62 | 12.24 | Vol. 1976000 D: 35.00 ⇑ 9.38% | 34.03 | 35.20 / 31.60 C: 35.10 ⇑ 9.01% | 34.38 | 35.40 / 31.50 PAPER & PACKAGING HAKKANIPUL | 0.51 | 31.01 | Vol. 23000 D: 27.70 ⇓ 3.15% | 27.94 | 28.90 / 27.50 C: 27.50 ⇓ 4.84% | 27.78 | 29.00 / 27.30

SERVICE SAMORITA | 3.24 | 74.65 | Vol. 173500 D: 121.6 ⇓ 2.25% | 120.82 | 125.0 / 118.3 C: 120.5 ⇓ 2.27% | 120.48 | 120.9 / 119.2 SAPORTL | 1.23 | 38.39 | Vol. 2108820 D: 31.50 ⇑ 1.94% | 31.02 | 33.00 / 28.00 C: 31.70 ⇑ 2.26% | 31.11 | 32.00 / 30.00 EHL | 2.81 | 18.44 | Vol. 586944 D: 53.00 ⇑ 1.15% | 52.61 | 53.40 / 48.40 C: 53.20 ⇑ 0.95% | 52.81 | 53.40 / 51.80 LEATHER APEXTANRY | 6.57 | 69.38 | Vol. 113500 D: 119.4 ⇓ 4.17% | 121.08 | 125.6 / 118.4 C: 118.5 ⇓ 4.20% | 121.99 | 129.9 / 118.5 BATASHOE | 49.12 | 135.53 | Vol. 6000 D: 727.4 ⇓ 1.20% | 726.67 | 734.0 / 721.0 APEXADELFT | 23.01 | 203.26 | Vol. 51100 D: 388.5 ⇓ 2.66% | 389.16 | 395.0 / 380.0 SAMATALETH | 0.22 | 12.93 | Vol. 5500 D: 14.40 ⇑ 2.86% | 14.40 | 14.50 / 14.30 C: 13.10 ⇑ 1.55% | 13.10 | 13.10 / 13.10 LEGACYFOOT | 0.63 | 17.19 | Vol. 456699 D: 34.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 34.73 | 35.80 / 33.50 C: 34.90 ⇑ 1.16% | 35.14 | 36.00 / 34.00 CERAMIC MONNOCERA | 0.35 | 95.30 | Vol. 46675 D: 32.70 ⇓ 1.51% | 32.67 | 33.00 / 32.00 C: 32.90 ⇓ 1.50% | 32.58 | 32.90 / 32.50 STANCERAM | 1.12 | 15.49 | Vol. 2000 D: 39.10 ⇓ 0.26% | 39.33 | 39.80 / 38.80 C: 39.70 ⇑ 2.85% | 39.70 | 39.70 / 39.70 FUWANGCER | 0.65 | 12.70 | Vol. 572350 D: 18.40 ⇓ 2.13% | 18.38 | 18.70 / 17.00 C: 18.50 ⇓ 1.60% | 18.28 | 18.70 / 18.00 SPCERAMICS | 0.62 | 30.92 | Vol. 1032363 D: 18.30 ⇓ 3.17% | 18.33 | 19.00 / 17.50 C: 18.40 ⇓ 2.65% | 18.37 | 19.50 / 18.00 RAKCERAMIC | 1.98 | 16.76 | Vol. 216971 D: 53.20 ⇓ 1.12% | 53.19 | 54.00 / 48.50 C: 53.00 ⇓ 1.49% | 52.48 | 54.80 / 50.30 CEMENT HEIDELBCEM | 22.85 | 111.50 | Vol. 115950 D: 397.2 ⇓ 1.41% | 398.39 | 401.0 / 396.0 C: 398.7 ⇓ 0.87% | 399.71 | 401.0 / 396.9 CONFIDCEM | 6.23 | 90.76 | Vol. 244991 D: 127.1 ⇓ 1.63% | 127.59 | 130.0 / 123.0 C: 127.1 ⇓ 1.78% | 127.31 | 128.6 / 127.0 MEGHNACEM | 6.28 | 33.81 | Vol. 109900 D: 130.4 ⇓ 4.26% | 131.60 | 134.3 / 129.0 C: 131.8 ⇓ 4.42% | 131.52 | 132.0 / 130.5 ARAMITCEM | 3.03 | 14.65 | Vol. 93500 D: 74.70 ⇓ 2.61% | 75.15 | 76.90 / 74.30 C: 74.00 ⇓ 4.15% | 73.98 | 75.00 / 73.00 LAFSURCEML | 1.60 | 7.22 | Vol. 442000 D: 32.20 ⇓ 0.62% | 32.31 | 32.70 / 32.00 C: 32.40 ⇓ 1.22% | 32.41 | 32.70 / 32.10 MICEMENT | 4.48 | 37.67 | Vol. 203954 D: 86.70 ⇓ 1.70% | 86.84 | 90.00 / 81.00 C: 86.40 ⇓ 2.37% | 86.60 | 87.40 / 86.00 PREMIERCEM | 5.00 | 32.60 | Vol. 220800 D: 104.3 ⇓ 1.97% | 104.95 | 107.9 / 104.0 C: 104.3 ⇓ 2.07% | 105.40 | 107.8 / 103.1 IT IINDUSTRIES ISNLTD | 0.28 | 17.31 | Vol. 218100 D: 18.90 ⇓ 0.53% | 18.79 | 19.30 / 18.20 C: 18.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 18.40 | 18.90 / 18.00 BDCOM | 1.40 | 14.41 | Vol. 569321 D: 26.70 ⇓ 2.55% | 27.26 | 28.00 / 25.00 C: 26.90 ⇓ 1.10% | 27.40 | 27.60 / 26.70

GENERAL INSURANCE BGIC | 1.65 | 20.33 | Vol. 82478 D: 31.30 ⇓ 0.95% | 31.16 | 31.50 / 30.00 C: 31.30 ⇑ 0.32% | 30.99 | 31.70 / 30.80 GREENDELT | 4.05 | 64.44 | Vol. 46393 D: 83.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 83.10 | 84.50 / 76.00 C: 83.80 ⇓ 0.71% | 82.80 | 84.40 / 81.50 UNITEDINS | 2.47 | 21.04 | Vol. 47919 D: 45.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 45.04 | 45.90 / 45.00 PEOPLESINS | 2.05 | 20.72 | Vol. 242620 D: 35.50 ⇓ 0.56% | 35.37 | 36.80 / 34.60 C: 34.00 ⇓ 6.08% | 33.95 | 34.40 / 33.90 EASTERNINS | 2.22 | 35.88 | Vol. 30850 D: 39.10 ⇓ 3.46% | 39.21 | 39.80 / 37.00 C: 38.40 ⇓ 3.76% | 38.40 | 38.40 / 38.40 JANATAINS | 0.78 | 17.07 | Vol. 287350 D: 28.90 ⇓ 0.69% | 29.04 | 29.40 / 28.00 C: 28.90 ⇓ 1.70% | 28.83 | 29.30 / 28.50 PHENIXINS | 2.70 | 20.96 | Vol. 64607 D: 45.00 ⇓ 2.39% | 45.04 | 49.00 / 42.00 C: 44.00 ⇓ 5.78% | 43.98 | 44.00 / 43.90 EASTLAND | 4.06 | 23.29 | Vol. 269157 D: 50.20 ⇓ 3.28% | 50.46 | 51.30 / 48.00 C: 50.10 ⇓ 3.47% | 50.95 | 52.00 / 49.80 CENTRALINS | 1.54 | 19.04 | Vol. 58400 D: 31.50 ⇓ 1.56% | 31.66 | 32.10 / 31.30 C: 31.50 ⇓ 1.56% | 31.50 | 31.50 / 31.50 KARNAPHULI | 1.56 | 19.42 | Vol. 126100 D: 25.30 ⇓ 3.07% | 25.50 | 26.10 / 25.30 RUPALIINS | 2.76 | 23.38 | Vol. 225200 D: 34.70 ⇓ 2.53% | 34.90 | 35.90 / 34.60 C: 35.00 ⇓ 1.96% | 35.04 | 35.50 / 34.80 FEDERALINS | 1.10 | 10.98 | Vol. 361199 D: 25.80 ⇓ 3.01% | 26.03 | 27.00 / 25.00 C: 25.90 ⇓ 3.36% | 26.03 | 26.50 / 25.70 RELIANCINS | 3.93 | 61.52 | Vol. 5115 D: 73.70 ⇓ 2.25% | 73.67 | 74.90 / 68.00 PURABIGEN | 1.05 | 18.71 | Vol. 462050 D: 25.00 ⇓ 2.34% | 25.17 | 25.80 / 24.90 PRAGATIINS | 2.01 | 50.30 | Vol. 27581 D: 60.60 ⇓ 1.46% | 60.89 | 62.00 / 60.00 C: 61.00 ⇑ 3.92% | 61.00 | 61.00 / 61.00 PRIMEINSUR | 2.14 | 14.14 | Vol. 101761 D: 33.80 ⇓ 1.46% | 34.13 | 34.90 / 33.00 C: 33.20 ⇑ 1.22% | 33.20 | 33.20 / 33.20 PIONEERINS | 3.11 | 23.84 | Vol. 104500 D: 70.50 ⇓ 2.62% | 70.47 | 71.50 / 69.00 MERCINS | 1.53 | 14.50 | Vol. 209268 D: 29.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 29.40 | 29.90 / 28.70 C: 30.30 ⇑ 2.71% | 30.29 | 31.00 / 29.20 AGRANINS | 1.73 | 14.39 | Vol. 116000 D: 28.90 ⇑ 1.76% | 28.74 | 29.30 / 27.80 GLOBALINS | 1.09 | 11.78 | Vol. 53902 D: 29.70 ⇓ 2.94% | 29.89 | 31.00 / 28.00 NITOLINS | 2.59 | 15.41 | Vol. 80500 D: 35.00 ⇓ 2.78% | 35.39 | 36.20 / 34.80 ASIAPACINS | 1.84 | 13.76 | Vol. 39500 D: 31.40 ⇓ 2.18% | 31.51 | 31.80 / 30.70 C: 31.00 ⇓ 3.13% | 31.00 | 31.00 / 31.00 SONARBAINS | 1.68 | 13.38 | Vol. 173092 D: 26.50 ⇓ 1.85% | 26.59 | 27.40 / 26.20 C: 26.70 ⇓ 1.48% | 26.93 | 27.00 / 26.70 PARAMOUNT | 1.26 | 13.19 | Vol. 170903 D: 25.60 ⇓ 2.29% | 26.17 | 26.90 / 24.70 C: 25.90 ⇓ 4.43% | 28.05 | 28.90 / 25.40 CITYGENINS | 1.65 | 14.26 | Vol. 99256 D: 29.90 ⇓ 2.29% | 30.14 | 30.60 / 29.00 C: 29.90 ⇓ 2.61% | 29.91 | 30.30 / 29.80 STANDARINS | 2.58 | 13.99 | Vol. 16530 D: 41.60 ⇑ 1.22% | 41.69 | 41.90 / 38.00 NORTHRNINS | 1.77 | 11.15 | Vol. 96586 D: 43.70 ⇓ 2.46% | 43.87 | 44.50 / 40.40 C: 44.00 ⇓ 0.90% | 45.76 | 48.80 / 43.80 REPUBLIC | 2.14 | 12.42 | Vol. 357631 D: 45.20 ⇓ 1.09% | 45.66 | 47.00 / 44.00 C: 45.20 ⇓ 1.31% | 45.44 | 46.80 / 44.90 ASIAINS | 1.56 | 17.34 | Vol. 96234 D: 28.90 ⇓ 2.03% | 29.05 | 29.50 / 28.00 C: 29.40 ⇑ 0.34% | 29.39 | 29.70 / 29.00

ISLAMIINS | 1.29 | 11.96 | Vol. 101500 D: 35.20 ⇓ 4.09% | 35.42 | 37.90 / 34.80 PROVATIINS | 1.90 | 14.30 | Vol. 75100 D: 30.70 ⇓ 0.97% | 30.88 | 33.00 / 30.60 C: 30.10 ⇓ 2.59% | 30.42 | 31.50 / 30.00 LIFE INSURANCE NATLIFEINS | 12.34 | 80.99 | Vol. 7678 D: 262.4 ⇑ 0.69% | 262.06 | 265.0 / 249.9 C: 265.0 ⇑ 1.53% | 265.00 | 265.0 / 265.0 DELTALIFE | 38.53 | 189.40 | Vol. 134175 D: 348.5 ⇑ 8.74% | 333.74 | 348.5 / 292.5 C: 370.4 ⇑ 8.75% | 360.73 | 370.4 / 310.8 SANDHANINS | 2.39 | 28.22 | Vol. 127144 D: 75.30 ⇓ 0.26% | 76.10 | 77.50 / 70.00 C: 75.20 ⇓ 0.40% | 74.99 | 75.50 / 74.10 POPULARLIF | 3.70 | 715.41 | Vol. 116775 D: 246.6 ⇓ 0.08% | 248.18 | 249.0 / 226.0 FAREASTLIF | 9.21 | 60.79 | Vol. 134054 D: 101.2 ⇑ 2.33% | 99.71 | 105.0 / 90.00 C: 101.0 ⇑ 0.90% | 100.00 | 98.30 / 100.0 MEGHNALIFE | 10.82 | 48.87 | Vol. 194360 D: 113.8 ⇓ 0.70% | 113.51 | 114.9 / 112.0 C: 113.0 ⇑ 1.53% | 112.42 | 114.0 / 112.0 PROGRESLIF | 2.30 | 31.45 | Vol. 28849 D: 118.8 ⇑ 2.33% | 115.88 | 120.2 / 105.0 PRAGATILIF | 0.60 | 30.15 | Vol. 229886 D: 158.2 ⇑ 9.86% | 152.86 | 158.4 / 140.0 PRIMELIFE | 5.51 | 27.10 | Vol. 65686 D: 101.6 ⇓ 0.20% | 100.87 | 103.0 / 98.30 C: 100.0 ⇓ 1.96% | 100.00 | 100.0 / 100.0 RUPALILIFE | 3.75 | 31.25 | Vol. 261056 D: 113.8 ⇑ 5.37% | 113.41 | 117.9 / 100.0 C: 115.0 ⇑ 6.19% | 115.00 | 115.0 / 115.0 PADMALIFE | 1.63 | 25.76 | Vol. 145240 D: 59.40 ⇓ 2.62% | 60.24 | 65.00 / 57.00 C: 60.40 ⇓ 1.47% | 60.10 | 60.70 / 57.00 SUNLIFEINS | 0.00 | 0.00 | Vol. 205150 D: 58.10 ⇓ 1.53% | 58.90 | 60.50 / 53.10 C: 58.70 ⇓ 0.84% | 58.86 | 61.40 / 58.00 TELECOM GP | 12.96 | 26.26 | Vol. 1239600 D: 209.9 ⇓ 2.51% | 211.52 | 218.0 / 209.0 C: 209.2 ⇓ 2.43% | 210.82 | 216.9 / 208.2 BSCCL | 5.82 | 26.38 | Vol. 571091 D: 181.2 ⇓ 1.89% | 183.22 | 199.0 / 170.0 C: 181.3 ⇓ 2.00% | 182.96 | 190.0 / 180.1 TRAVEL & LEISURE UNITEDAIR | 1.10 | 12.87 | Vol. 8277189 D: 17.60 ⇓ 0.56% | 17.64 | 18.10 / 16.00 C: 17.70 ⇓ 0.56% | 17.65 | 18.40 / 16.50 UNIQUEHRL | 4.02 | 86.29 | Vol. 822750 D: 84.30 ⇓ 1.98% | 84.57 | 87.00 / 77.40 C: 84.30 ⇓ 1.75% | 84.73 | 87.60 / 83.90 MISCELLANEOUS ARAMIT | 16.07 | 99.93 | Vol. 6350 D: 350.5 ⇓ 2.12% | 353.87 | 365.0 / 347.0 C: 342.1 ⇓ 4.97% | 342.10 | 342.1 / 342.1 BSC | 1.77 | 565.82 | Vol. 121190 D: 474.5 ⇑ 1.33% | 476.79 | 485.0 / 466.5 C: 476.0 ⇑ 1.32% | 475.66 | 485.0 / 466.0 GQBALLPEN | 6.55 | 250.45 | Vol. 66130 D: 146.2 ⇓ 1.42% | 146.39 | 148.0 / 140.0 C: 146.1 ⇓ 1.08% | 147.49 | 152.5 / 145.1 USMANIAGL | 3.45 | 27.20 | Vol. 169950 D: 138.7 ⇑ 1.39% | 139.53 | 142.0 / 136.8 C: 136.5 ⇑ 0.00% | 138.24 | 140.0 / 135.0 SAVAREFR | 0.14 | 10.57 | Vol. 950 D: 55.90 ⇓ 1.06% | 55.79 | 56.70 / 55.00 BEXIMCO | 3.24 | 86.74 | Vol. 6644130 D: 38.70 ⇑ 1.57% | 38.17 | 40.00 / 34.40 C: 38.60 ⇑ 1.31% | 38.13 | 39.20 / 37.00 SINOBANGLA | 1.75 | 21.01 | Vol. 211500 D: 22.50 ⇑ 2.27% | 22.33 | 22.60 / 21.80 C: 22.40 ⇑ 0.45% | 22.29 | 22.60 / 21.90 MIRACLEIND | 0.09 | 14.41 | Vol. 651000 D: 17.20 ⇑ 5.52% | 16.69 | 17.50 / 16.00 C: 17.20 ⇑ 5.52% | 16.68 | 17.30 / 16.00 BOND IBBLPBOND | 0.00 | 1000.00 | Vol. 555 D: 986.3 ⇑ 0.13% | 985.59 | 987.0 / 981.0 ACIZCBOND | 0.00 | 1000.00 | Vol. 30 D: 882.0 ⇓ 0.28% | 892.86 | 883.5 / 880.0 C: 880.0 ⇓ 0.06% | 880.00 | 880.0 / 880.0

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2013

Japan’s Honda to roll out new fuel-cell car in 2015 n AFP, Tokyo Japanese auto giant Honda said yesterday it would roll out a new commercial fuel-cell vehicle in 2015, a day after rival Toyota promised a similar offering as competition in the green car sector heats up.

Honda made the announcement at the Tokyo Motor Show where automakers are showcasing their vision for the eco-friendly car market. However, the sector is yet to see a hot-selling model, with sales well below industry predictions.

Japan’s third-largest automaker, Honda said it would launch the new vehicle in Japan and the United States in 2015, and in Europe at a later date.

Nissan Chief Carlos Ghosn has been one of the sector’s biggest boosters but sales of the company’s Leaf electric vehicle are way below his earlier predictions.

On Wednesday, Ghosn said that while Nissan is working on a fuelcell vehicle with Daimler and Ford, he was ‘frankly amazed’ at Toyota’s bid to roll out a mass-market model in two years The new model will be based on Honda’s FCEV concept car, which it unveiled at the Los Angeles motor show on Wednesday.

The maker of the Civic and Accord said its fuel-cell car will have a range of more than 300 miles (480 kilometres) with hydrogen tank able to re-charge the vehicle in about three minutes, similar to Toyota’s FCV concept car, a four-seater sedan which it plans to sell by 2015.

“Hydrogen energy is very efficient and friendly to the environment,” Honda president Takanobu Ito said Thursday.

Fuel-cell vehicles are considered the holy grail of green cars because they emit nothing but water vapour from the tailpipe and can operate on renewable hydrogen gas.

The world’s leading automakers have long been eyeing a big-selling green vehicle, including Honda - which already has a fuel-cell car, the FCX Clarity, available on a small scale in a limited number of markets.

It said yesterday that Honda has teamed up with fuel-cell maker Toshiba and home builder Sekisui House on a system that would let

A large replica of the famous statue Manneken Pis, carrying a hydrogen tank on his back, displayed as an explanation of fuel cell systems at a Honda booth at the Tokyo Motor Show AFP drivers refill their hydrogen tanks at home.

“But we still have a long way to go,” Ito told reporters.

“It will take time for us to build the infrastructure.”

A lack of re-fuelling stations as well as limited range have hampered sales of green cars, while relatively high prices and restricted

model choices have also weighed on demand despite automakers’ high hopes.

Nissan Chief Carlos Ghosn has been one of the sector’s biggest boosters but sales of the company’s Leaf electric vehicle are way below his earlier predictions. On Wednesday, Ghosn said that while Nissan is working on a fuel-cell vehicle with Daimler and Ford, he

was “frankly amazed” at Toyota’s bid to roll out a mass-market model in two years.

“It’s very easy to have a prototype, but the challenge is mass market,” he said.

The 43rd edition of the Tokyo Motor Show runs until December 1, featuring almost 180 exhibitors including parts suppliers from a dozen countries. l

Recessions linked to cognitive decline in later life n AFP, Paris People who go through an economic recession at the peak of their working life suffer a risk of cognitive decline in later years, a study suggested on Wednesday.

The findings imply that mental skills may be affected by periods of redundancy or forced moves to part-time, lower-paid or lower-status work.

Writing in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, researchers looked at data from a massive European study on

health and employment, covering 12,000 people aged 50 years and older in 11 countries.

The volunteers were tested on five skills, including memory, verbal fluency and numeracy.

The researchers looked at how this score changed in relation to the number of recessions an individual had been through, and when this event, or events, had occurred.

The probe found that men were affected most when they were hit by a recession in their mid to late 40s.

For women, though, the greatest impact

was when it occurred in their mid-20s to mid-30s. In raw terms, every recession that occurred at this peak period in working life translated to a relative decline of one year in cognitive skills at the age of 60, lead researcher Anja Leist at the University of Luxembourg said.

In other words, someone who had been through three recessions would, at the age of 60, have the cognitive skills of someone aged 63, she told AFP in a phone interview.

“These figures are statistical averages,” comparing people of similar background, she

stressed.

Previous research has suggested that having a productive or stimulating job boosts “cognitive reserve,” or mental resources that are used at a later age.

The “reserve” becomes eroded through joblessness or downgraded working conditions, the new study suggests.

“To our knowledge this is the first study to show that economic recessions experienced at vulnerable ages in early and mid-adulthood are associated with lower cognitive function at older ages.” l