November 24, 2013

Business

US senate committee for safeguarding RMG workers’ rights

Agrahayan 10, 1420 Muharram 19, 1435 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 1 No 240

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International

18,000 evacuated after pipeline explosion in China

Sport

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Fakhrul laughs off his meet with Ashraf A senior BNP leader confirms about an hour-long meeting

n Mohammad Al-MasumMolla Finally Awami League General Secretary Syed Ahsrfaul Islam and BNP Secretary General MirzaFakhrul Islam Alamgir sat together last night at a house in Banania gainst the backdrop of heightened political tension over the arrangement for the next general election.

The meeting was held at BNP lawmaker ABM Ashrafuddin Nizan’s Banani residence.

However, leaders of both the parties did not officially admit holding such meeting. Some sources close to Ashraf and Fakhrul told the Dhaka Tribune that the two leaders sat for about an hour.

The sources could not say anything in detail about the discussion between Ashraf and Fakhrul.

The Dhaka Tribune tried to reach three of them over phone but failed.

However, Fakhrul late last night ruled out the news on his meeting with Ashraf. “It is baseless,” Fakhrul told waiting reporters outside Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan office.

However, a senior BNP leader confirmed to the Dhaka Tribune that a meeting between Ashraf and Fakhrul took place. But many senior leaders of BNP were in the dark about the meeting.

The two leaders also had a telephone conversation on Thursday night.

A number of sources said during the telephone conversation Fakhrul wanted dialogue after cancellation of the announcement of polls schedule.

While Ashraf insisted on holding dialogue amid preparations for polls.

The sources said the last night’s Asharf-Fakhrul meeting was the culmination of Thursday’s telephone conversation.

Some sources specifically confirmed

Ashraf-Fakhrul last night’s meeting at Nizan’s house but the Dhaka Tribune correspondent came to know from some other sources that the two leaders also met at a Gulshan residence of a high-profile official of Sheikh Hasina-led government.

Emerging from the meeting Fakhrul went straight to Khaleda’s Gulshan office .A little later he left the office and went somewhere else before he came back to Khaleda’s office again leading to a kind of confusion over the meeting venue and time.

Earlier, on Thursday night Ashraf phoned Fakhrul twice requesting him to hold a talk over the prevailing political crisis, said a BNP insider.

The BNP leader said during the conversation Ashraf asked Alamgir to fix an appointment with Khaleda Zia as an Awami League delegation would like to meet her to talk over the issue.

The senior leader said when Ashraf made the phone call to Fakhrul’s personal cell phone, Fakhrul was at the chairperson’s office. The first phone call came at 9.30 pm and Fakhrul talked to Ashraf in presence of Khaleda.

Ashraf told Fakhrul that they wanted dialogue simultaneously with the announcement of election schedule and also said announcement of election schedule would not hamper the dialogue process.

But Fakhrul said election commission should have to refrain from announcing the polls schedule to discuss the polls-time government and for this the government has to request the election commission. Otherwise BNP would not sit for any dialogue.

Then Ashraf requested Fakhrul to hold a dialogue at a neutral venue and Fakhrul agreed. l

INSIDE News

4 The police arrested six human traffickers from an under-construction building in Chittagong city’s Khatiberhat area yesterday, and rescued 23 victims who were ready to be shipped off to Malaysia from the port city.

Long Form

5 Every time articles regarding the ‘third gender’ are published in the Dhaka Tribune, I read them with tremendous interest and enthusiasm. I also read

whatever articles that come out on LGBT (Lesbian- Gay-Bisexual-Trans people) with equal enthusiasm.

Op-Ed

11 On the wintry November 20 afternoon in Washington, DC, Bangladesh received major attention in the halls of power.

Inside a white marble, four-story building next to the US Capitol Building, the House Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific held a congressional hearing titled: ‘Bangladesh in Turmoil: A Nation on the Brink?’

Mother of a victim of recent garment tragedies cries at a human chain organised in front of the National Press Club yesterday

Tazreen owner still scot-free Delwar Hossain refurbish the factory to hide all the evidences passed the Tazreen Fashions Limited made a phone call to his brother. She n Udisa Islam fire...It is evident that the owner’s un- said workers were trapped inside the Family members of fire victims in Tazreen Fashion expressed frustration as the owner of the factory has not yet been arrested one year into the incident even though a probe committee found him guilty of criminal negligence.

Tazreen’s tragic fire on November 24 last year killed 112 factory workers and injured many others. Many say the workers of the factory could not save their lives as some officials locked the collapsible gates.

After the fire incident the home ministry probe report says: “In the history of Bangladesh, no factory fire has sur-

pardonable negligence is responsible for these appalling deaths…The owner of Tazreen Fashion Limited should be convicted under statuette 304.”

That committee disclosed the report last December.

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The family members of the victims believe it was not merely an accident as the factory authorities prevented workers from getting out of the building.

Motiqul Islam’s sister died in that incident and before he perished he

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Rana Plaza charge sheets yet to be finalised n Mohammad Jamil Khan and Sanaul Islam Tipu

burning building as some officials of the factory did not let them get out of the building.

After that, Matiqul filed a case against owner Delwar Hossain with the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court. He is now keeping a low profile after he was threatened with dire consequences if he did not withdraw the case.

Meanwhile, Ashulia Police Station sought more time for investigation after the investigation officer of the case had been changed.

Officer-in-charge of Ashulia Police

Seven months have elapsed since the Rana Plaza building at Savar collapsed, but the investigators are yet to finalise charge sheets in three out of five cases in connection with the disaster.

Eight accused have already secured bail from the High Court in the midst of procrastination of the investigation agencies preparing the charge sheets that may be submitted next month.

The number one accused in the police case and Rana’s father Abdul Khalek got bail in the month of October.

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Police find ‘BNP-Jamaat links’ to explosives financing Islam and n Rabiul Mohammad Jamil Khan Intelligence agencies have completed an investigation on the production of explosives and its sources of financing in the country. The agencies recently submitted a report to the home ministry recommending necessary steps to check the crimes.

The report, prepared by several state intelligence agencies, mentions the names of 200 people who belong main-

ly to BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami but also include some businessmen.

The agencies in the report suggested that steps be taken against Jamaat-backed NGO organisations, which it alleged channel money sent from Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Qatar and some other Middle Eastern countries for these criminal activities.

A list of the 200 financers and bomb makers has been sent to the district superintendents of police and officers-incharge of different police stations from

the police headquarters asking them to take necessary steps. Officials at the police headquarters have already held several meetings with high officials to device strategies to and bring the financiers to justice.

Law enforcement agencies are keeping the financiers under surveillance to learn what they do, where they go and who they meet, sources said.

“We are in fear about the violent activities of BNP-Jamaat. They are killing innocent people. We earlier asked the

law enforcers to prepare a list of bomb makers and their financiers,” Shamsul Hoque Tuku, the state minister of home affairs, told the Dhaka Tribune.

“The list prepared by intelligence officials has been handed over to police and Rab,” he said.

“Some of the names on that list has left us astonished.”

The state minister, however, refused to reveal any details about the people on the list.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Sunday, November 24, 2013

BNF suspends joint convener following altercation n Tribune Report Five days into its registration as a political party, Bangladesh Nationalists Front chief suspended its joint convener following an altercation with him at a party press conference yesterday.

The incident happened when Bangladesh Nationalists Front (BNF) Chairman Abul Kalam Azad had been announcing names of his leaders before the journalists.

He missed Joint Convener Moazzem Hossain Khan Mojlish’s name and Mojlish protested it instantly triggering the altercation.

Witnesses said at the beginning of the press conference at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity in the capital the BNF chairman started introducing his leaders by names. He announced the names of joint conveners Nazmul Ahsan, Mehjabin Masud and Anjuman Salauddin, but skipped Moazzem’s.

Instantly Moazzem asked the party chairman for explanation of making this ‘error’. Amid a hue and cry, Azad halted the conference for 10 minutes to patch the thing up.

Abul Kalam Azad ordered Moazzem to be quiet, but the latter did not, rather became aggrieved.

Moazzem kept saying the party can’t be ruled by the chairman’s single decision. “It’s not a single person’s party,” he argued.

In reply, Abul Kalam Azad said according to the party’s charter, the treasurer held a higher rank than the joint conveners.

“Then why didn’t you announce other joint conveners’ names before the treasurer’s?” asked Moazzem.

In answer, Azad said in threating tone, “I am warning you for the last time to be quiet.” Moazzem stood up from his chair and protested this behavior.

An angry Azad finally made the decision, saying, “By the power bestowed upon me from the party, I am suspending your primary membership from this moment. Now you should go.”

But Moazzem denied leaving the press conference. Later Azad’s men dragged him out of the auditorium branding him as “collaborator of BNP”.

The press conference started shortly after this incident. Speaking to the reporters BNF urged the Election Commission to hold the national polls after January 24 for the sake of their “preparation”.

“This will not be a violation of the constitution,” said Azad.

Former BNP Vice-Chairman Jahanara Begum, who was also adviser to then Prime Minister Khaleda Zia in the 2001-2006 government, was also present at the BNF press conference.

Jahanara left BNP for joining Liberal Democratic Party led by Oli Ahmed in October 2006.

Former BNP standing committee member Nazmul Huda founded the BNF. He, however, declared the organisation “abolished” for returning to the BNP. The main opposition BNP approached the commission three times, urging it not to consider BNF as a political party.

BNP alleged that the BNF was using the BNP’s logo, the portrait of its late founder Ziaur Rahman, and his 19-point charter to “gain political leverage.”

Nazmul Huda also appealed to the commission not to register BNF. In field level investigation, the Election Commission officials did not find the existence and activities of BNF in field levels.

The EC had, however, allowed BNF time thrice before finally registering it as it did not fulfill the registration conditions. l

Moazzem Hossain Khan Mojlish, treasurer of BNF, engage in a scuffle with the party leaders during the party’s first post-registration press conference at the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity yesterday. Moazzem was immediately expelled from the party FOCUS BANGLA

Babunagari: Ershad blessed with a curse n Tribune Report

Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh Secretary General Zunaid Babunagari yesterday stated that Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad had not received a blessing from the group’s chief, Shah Ahmad Shafi, rather a “curse.”

He made the remarks in a press statement yesterday evening, six days after the former military dictator met

Jamaat calls Chittagong hartal for today n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong The Chittagong Jamaat-e-Islami yesterday called a dawn-to-dusk hartal in Chittagong for today, protesting the deaths of two of its members at Sitakunda and Mirsarai upazilas.

Jamaat-Shibir men brought out a brisk procession yesterday from DC Hill area around 5:30pm and blasted five crude bombs, police said.

They also attempted to stop vehicular movement on the road by setting tyres on fire while police nabbed nine persons after a chase, said Mirza Saiem Mahmud, assistant commissioner of Kotwali Circle of Chittagong Metropolitan Police.

Jamaat-Shibir men exploded five more crude bombs in front of BNP city unit party office, Nasiman Bhaban, around 7:25pm.

Mohammad Ullah, publicity secretary of the city unit of Jamaat, told the Dhaka Tribune that they had called the shutdown protesting the deaths of Jamaat leader Aminul Islam and activist Jashim Uddin.

However, Primary School Certificate and equivalent Ebtedayee Final Examinations candidates will be out of the purview of the hartal, he added.

Earlier, Jashim Uddin, 27, a Jamaat activist of Shayerkhali union in Mirsarai upazila, died early yesterday after being hacked by unknown miscreants. l

Victimised by dope gangs policeman, trader fight for lives

n Kailash Sarkar

A police constable and a fabric trader fell victim to separate dope gangs in the capital’s Elephant Road and Chittagong Road yesterday and were struggling for their lives at unconscious state.

Police Constable Anwar Hossain, 20, of Mill Barrack Police Lines, who is a gunman of an Additional Deputy Inspector General of Police, was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and later shifted to Rajarbagh Police Lines Hospital.

DMCH sources said Anwar was recovered from a bus in the capital’s Elephant Road around 10am in unconscious state. Police shifted him to the Rajarbagh Police Lines in the afternoon.

Trader Sirajul Islam, 32, of Demra, was rescued from Chittagong Highway in the afternoon and admitted to a clinic at Kanchpur before being shifted to the DMCH. Family members said Sirajul lost Tk600,000. l

the Hefazat chief in Chittagong. He went to the port city a day after announcing he was leaving the ruling alliance to form a new one.

Babunagari said though Ershad had taken blessings from Shafi, but his current political stance would turn it into a “curse” for him. He said the Hefazat chief gave his blessing for the ones who worked for Islam.

He said Ershad had been clever and his

support towards the Hefazat rallies and demonstrations were only “gimmick.”

The Hefazat leader said his recent favour for Islam was only to come back to power.

“Though the Jatiya Party chief shows concerns for the Muslims of the country, his current actions hint his stance against Islam,” Babunagari said adding that Ershad had been using Islam as a mode of power since the beginning of his regime.

Rana Plaza charge sheets  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

The other accused – Savar Municipality Engineers Emtemum Hossain, Rakibul Hassan and Refayet Ullah; its ward councilor Mohammad Ali Khan; and Abul Hasan, Anil Dash and Shah Alam, who gave Sohel Rana, building owner, shelter at Faridpur and Jessore also got bail.

Sources said local engineer Abdur Razzak who after visiting the building said the building could still be used submitted bail prayer eight times to the lower court.

The court rejected his bail plea all the time. Now, his is trying to secure bail form the High Court.

On the other hand, after getting bail, Rana’s father Abdul Khalek is now trying to secure bail for his son in the same way.

Anowarul Kabir Babul, additional public prosecutor of Dhaka Chief Ju-

dicial Magistrate Court, told the Dhaka Tribune the hearing on Rana Plaza disaster cases would be held today.

He, however, said the charge sheets would not be submitted on the day because investigations into the cases were yet to be completed.

Asked about the delay in charge sheet submission, he said the investigation officer might be taking more time to probe as it was an important case.

He added that the total number of the accused was 21 in the murder case and 12 in the case filed under the building construction act.

According to the lower court documents, the three accused – Anil Das, Shah Alam Mithu and Abul Hasan – who sheltered Rana in Faridpur and Jessore and tried to help him flee the country, gave confessional statements on May 5.

Ershad talks about Islam and its welfare “but in his personal life he has nothing to do with religion.”

The Hefazat leader claimed that Ershad had been “deceiving” both the religious scholars and the people with his talks on Islam.

Claiming that Ershad only changed sides to stay in power, Babunagari said: “Ershad will not escape the consequences of betraying the people’s trust.” l

The Rana Plaza collapse on 24 April claimed at least 1,134 lives – mostly workers belonging to five garment factories housed in the building and left around 2,500 others injured.

Rajuk’s authorised officer Helal Uddin filed a case on April 25 for breaching the building construction act and building code while the murder case was filed on the same day with Savar police station.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is currently investigating the cases. Contacted, Bijoy Krishno Kar, senior assistant superintendent of CID and investigation officer of the case, told the Dhaka Tribune that they were giving top priority to both cases to ensure that criminals got no mercy.

He, however, refused to give details of the other accused for the interest of investigation. l

Tazreen owner still scot-free  PAGE 1 COLUMN 5

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina offers her prayer at Masjid-e-Nababi and visits the Rowza Mobarak of Prophet Hazrat Mohammad (SM) on Friday PMO

‘Fakhrul will be charged for instigating sabotage’ n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong Environment and Forest Minister Hasan Mahmud yesterday said legal measures would be taken against acting BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir as he had "admitted the responsibilities" for violence during opposition’s movements.

“Mirza Fakhrul has accepted the responsibilities for the arson, vandalism and blast by stirring Chhatra Dal men by saying that vandalism of one or two vehicles would not bring any result,” the minister said at a press conference held at the Circuit House in the port city.

Mahmud, also the publicity secretary of the ruling Awami League, said already a number of BNP leaders had been sued on specific charges; if needed measures would be taken against Fakhrul, as specific allegations had arisen against him.

“Mirza Fakhrul’s speech made it

clear to us that the BNP chairperson and her party leaders are instigating subversive activities,” he said, adding that they would have to take the responsibility for the sabotage across the country.

We should wait for the main opposition till the last moment to eradicate the disagreement between us The minister also said doors for BNP were still open to join the all-party government, adding that the party would get more ministries than Jatiya Party.

“We should wait for the main opposition till the last moment to eradicate the disagreement between us.”

The minister urged the BNP to contest the next parliamentary elections instead of holding the people of the country hostage. l

Station SM Badrul Alam said: “We have sought further instructions from the court as the IO has been transferred.”

Badrul, however, said a separate case filed by Criminal Investigation Department after the incident was now under investigation. But he could not say anything about the progress of the case.

Owner Delwar Hossain by the time has hidden all the evidence as he has recently repaired and refurbished the factory building. People related to the investigation has no idea about it.

An ex-CID official Abdur Razzak Khan said crime scene can be reused, if the court permits, after the collection of necessary evidences from there.

High Court’s lawyer Fahima Nasreen said, there is no scope for reusing the crime scene before pressing charge

sheet. If even the Investigation officer finishes collecting the evidences, for further investigation he might need to collect new evidences from the spot in future, which can’t be possible if the scene is used once again.

So, reusing the Tazreen is not allowed according to the law, she argued.

Earlier, On April 19 a writ petition was filed with the High Court seeking its directives on the authorities concerned to arrest the owner of Tazreen Fashion within seven days.

The writ also challenged the inaction of the authority concerned in arresting the garment owner. But no initiatives have yet been taken to this end.

One of the petitioners Sydia Gulrukh said while Sumaya Khatun, an injured worker of Tazreen Fashions Ltd, is still

Police find 'BNP-Jamaat links'  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

He further said stern action would be taken against the criminals after investigation and the law enforcers had also been asked to check out their NGObased activities.

Sources said most of the 200 financiers are centred in Rajshahi, Khulna, Chittagong and Sylhet. Another source from Dhaka Metropolitan Police said there were 57 political leaders and businessmen in the capital who were involved in the bomb business.

Talking with the Dhaka Tribune, a senior official from the police headquarters requesting anonymity said that the lists had the names of the financiers, their addresses, their occupations, political background, networks, income sources, case histories and how they operate the business.

“We are about to start our raid to arrest these people shortly,” he said.

The intelligence report also said there were about 50 dens in the capital where handmade bombs, grenades, Molotov cocktails, pipe and chocolate bombs were being prepared and supplied.

According to sources in the Detective Branch of Police, there were around 12 professional groups and four hundred bombers involved in the crimes.

The Detective Branch of police has identified 18 ringleaders who operate these bomb factories. The people who are involved in such businesses are well known as “cocktail team” in the underworld.

The law enforcers raided five different dens last week, recovered large amounts of explosive material

languishing in hospital, the owne of the factory is getting off scot-free. The court is now dealing with compensation and the list of the missing victims.

“We hope the owner will soon be arrested. Since 1990, such inhuman incidents have happened regularly in the garment sector and as the owners are the powerful and wealthy people in society, they do not face any punishment.”

Another petitioner Mahmudul Hasan said: “He (Delwar) hires child labourers, his factory had no fire safety certificate at the time when the factory caught fire, his factory had no fire exits and doors were locked when the factory was on fire.”

“How many criminal negligence instances do you need to arrest him?” he questioned. l

and arrested some 50 bombers.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Sanwoar Hossain of DB’s bomb disposal unit told the Dhaka Tribune that they had information on such bomb making dens and they already raided several places in order to arrest the criminals.

“We are hopeful that we will be able to crack down on all other bomb factories in the capital and arrest them quickly,” he added.

Home Secretary CQK Mustaq Ahmed told the Dhaka Tribune that the people who were involved in such explosion business and their financing would be brought to book.

He mentioned that anti-terrorism and money laundering acts were very strict. The law enforcers are working on it and none would get mercy from the punishment, he added. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

3

Sunday, November 24, 2013

O N E Y E A R O F TA Z R E E N F I R E

Compensation still an empty hope n Ibrahim Hossain Ovi Although a year had passed since the deadly blaze at Tazreen Fashion claimed the lives of at least 112 people, the families of the deceased and the survivors of the fire are yet to receive any compensation from the global buyers.

Thirteen people who were killed in the fire – which also injured over 100 others – are yet to be identified as the necessary processes including the DNA test had not been completed, according to the BGMEA. On November 24, 2012, Tazreen Fashions, a clothing factory on the outskirts of Dhaka was engulfed in flames.

“Big brands like Wal-mart should come forward to compensate Tazreen’s victims. If they do not do so, we will continue to pursue them to come onboard in the process of compensation as per the ILO convention of 121,” said Roy Romesh Chandra, secretary general of IndustriALL Bangladesh Council.

“To the best of my knowledge, none but C&A [an international chain of fashion retail stores] provided some financial assistance to the victims of the Tazreen Fashion fire incident,” Romesh added.

The Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC), an alliance of labour unions and NGOs, also said that to date only C&A had committed any substantial compensation and developed systems to ensure funds were distributed among the victims.

Saying that Li & Fung (a global sourcing firm) had also made payments, the CCC added that while some brands linked to Tazreen had stated they will make voluntary contributions, no other brand has yet paid adequate amounts.

“While brand executives lean back and dodge responsibility, survivors and

families of the dead have lost their only source of income, and have high medical costs and injuries which prevent them from finding new work, including painful psychological scars. By taking no action or delaying payment of deserved compensation brands are condemning people to live in poverty and pain,” said Mirjam van Heugten, public outreach coordinator of the CCC. “The stories of the Tazreen survivors are so harrowing… Many of those survivors broke their legs when jumping to safety. The psychological scars are worse than those on their legs,” said IndustriALL Global Union General Secretary Jyrki Raina.

General Secretary of the National Garment Workers Federation Amirul Haque Amin said: “Some workers were thrown out of families because they cannot earn a wage anymore and are using expensive medication after the fire. It is a shame that brands make these people, who often have lost loved ones, stand on hold for 12 months.”

Meanwhile, according to the data of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), a total of 99 families of Tazreen Fashion’s victims had been paid Tk700,000 each, while 97 injured patients were provided required medical treatment and monthly salary – funded by the C&A foundation.

“Compensation is so important because so many families are suffering — many families do not have anyone left to support them,” said Kalpona Akter, executive director of the Bangladesh Center for Worker Solidarity.

“There’s been a good response from some European brands, but so far none of the US retailers have agreed to pay a single penny for compensation,” she added. l

Life still a fight for many traumatised survivors n Syed Samiul Basher Anik

A year has passed after the tragic fire at garment factory of Tazreen Fashions at Ashulia and life has become tough for the survivors.

As soon as this correspondent reached Nischintopur village – where the factory is situated – yesterday, many survivors rushed towards him.

All of them had sad stories of their own hardships to tell. They felt hopeful that this might be an opening for getting help – financial or any kind of help for that matter would suffice.

This correspondent was shot back with one question multiple times: “What will be the use of interviewing us again? Over the last one year, we have given names and interviews to many organisations literally every month; but we have got nothing except vague assurances.”

“We have nothing left for us. It would have been easier for us if we had died in that fire,” Mohammad Zikrul Islam, once a swing helper of the factory, said.

He said: “Over the last year, I have given interviews to more than 20 organisations; but got nothing; not even the Tk100,000 that some of the survivors got.”

“I was not in the hospital, is that my fault? Survivors, who were at the hospital received Tk100,000, and we, who did not need to be admitted for treatment, became useless”.

Zikrul, who jumped off from the third floor of the factory and injured himself, asked this reporter: “We have not been able to pay house rents for many months now. Shop owners would not sell anything to us because we cannot pay them. Is that what you call living?”

In November last year, more than 100 people were killed and scores injured in one of the devastating factory fires in history. Tazreen fashions used to make clothing for a group of international brands including C&A and Walmart.

Shahnaz Begum, who lost her right eye in the fire, is one survivor who now

IndustriAll Bangladesh Council organised a human chain in front of National Press Club yesterday demanding compensation for the victims of Tazreen fire tragedy SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN thinks that she is a burden to her family.

She was a finishing hand-men at the factory. When the fire broke out, Shahnaz jumped off and was hit by a pile rods. One of her legs still contains a rod and she is carrying several other injuries on body parts including the kidney and the backbone.

“We were seven-member family. I used to earn Tk4,210 per month and my husband earn as much as he can by selling Jhal-Muri [a street food]. After the accident, I cannot work anymore and most of my husband’s time and money is spent for treatment. My children have still not grown enough to go out and work. Virtually, we do not have a bread earner at the moment,” said Shahnaz with pouring eyes.

BNP eyes 15 days to realise its demands n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

The main opposition BNP-led 18-party alliance is mulling over a plan to spearhead a vigorous movement to topple the polls-time government from the day of announcement of election schedule.

The alliance will thwart all moves of holding polls without its participation, said some BNP insiders.

They said usually election commission fixes polls date within 45 to 50 days from the announcement of the schedule.

Given this timeframe for holding polls the opposition alliance is planning to enforce a non-stop shutdown, blockade and other programmes to force the polls-time government to step down.

Party leaders said they would “make it difficult” for the government to carry out day-to-day functions of the state.

One top BNP leader, on condition of anonymity, said they were very much optimistic about implementing their plan effectively and hoped that they

Kazi Zafar: Ershad betrayed nation n Manik Miazee Jatiya Party Presidium Member Kazi Zafar Ahmed yesterday said his leader HM Ershad has betrayed the nation by joining the polls-time government.

“Ershad made the decision to join the interim cabinet without consulting the party’s highest policymaking body, thus making himself and those who joined the newly formed cabinet unwanted,” Zafar said in a statement.

“After I recover from sickness, I will clarify my position through a press conference,” Zafar said in the statement.

Within two hours of Zafar’s statement, Ershad served a press statement, saying Kazi Zafar could not issue the statement. “He is ill and I went to see him at the hospital yesterday [Friday]. I doubt whether he issued the statement.”

On behalf of the JP chief, his Political Secretary Sunil Shuvo Roy told the Dhaka Tribune: “If Zafar really issues the statement, then the party will take stern actions against him for breaking party rules.”

Zafar’s Personal Secretary Gulam Mostafa told the Dhaka Tribune that Zafar was ill. l

would be able to “oust the polls-time government in 15 days from the announcement of the schedule.”

Election Commissioner Mohammad Shahnewaj in a program in Chandpur district on Friday said, the EC would announce the election schedule by Monday.

The same day BNP’s acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at a protest rally said the BNPled 18-party alliance would cripple the country from the moment the election commission announced polls schedule without settling the issue on the non-partisan government.

BNP’s major political ally Jamaat leaders threatened to set the entire country on fire if their demand were not met.

Talking to a number of senior BNP leaders it was learnt that they were not giving “any importance” to the dialogue to resolve the crisis as the government adopted the “clever strategy” to buy time in the name of talks.

“Election schedule announcement shuts the path of compromise and under such circumstances there is

no alternative but to wage a vigorous movement,” Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, joint secretary general of the party, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

“That’s why we will wage tough movement after the announcement of election schedule.”

A senior leader said apart from splitting the capital into eight zones, the party was planning to launch “strong agitation” on at least 40 strategic points on the highways across the country.

Scattered movements in the district levels would not yield any positive result, he said.

A standing committee member of BNP said they would put up blockades on 40 points on the Dhaka-bound routes from every division.

On Thursday night BNP Chairperson and Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia held a meeting with the senior leaders of the party to devise its next course of action if the election commission announced the election schedule.

Sources in the party said Khaleda Zia this time would monitor pro-

grammes especially in the Dhaka city and to this end she had already talked to the Dhaka city unit leaders.

“Madam [Khaleda Zia] said the assigned leaders would coordinate the movement in the Dhaka city and she would monitor their activities,” a senior leader said seeking anonymity.

He also said the next course of action was likely to be announced by the party Chief Khaleda Zia anytime in the next week.

Fakhrul yesterday again urged the people to take to the street to oust the “illegal government” from the office.

“We do not have any option left but to wage tough movement and that’s why young people should wake to the call of the opposition,” he said addressing a discussion at a city hotel.

“The party (Awami League) is committing suicide. They have created a black chapter for their own history.

It is going to end up with very high price and in the process it will ruin the peace and stability of the country at the cost of the nation’s bright future,” observed Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury. l

Punish culprits responsible for Tazreen fire: Speakers Samiul Basher Anik and n Syed Ibrahim Hossain Ovi

Rights activists and labour leaders yesterday demanded punishment to those responsible for the fire in Tazreen Fashion and proper compensation for the victims.

They said some of the victims had received financial assistances but not any compensation from the government nor from Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).

Hameeda Hossain, convener of Sramik Nirapatta Forum said if any worker received any such assistance that was not their compensation rather it was assistance.

Demanding compensation for the victims she said: “Tuba Group, the mother company of Tazreen, is running other businesses and they can manage compensation from there.”

At least 112 workers were killed and many were injured in the fire at Tazreen Garment Factory in Nischintapur, Ashulia, on November 24, 2012.

To mark one year of the tragic incident Sramik Nirapatta Forum, a platform of labour and human rights activists, yesterday organised a solidarity programme at Nishchintopur of Ashulia.

A group of victims and their family members also attended the programme.

Ahsan Habib Bulbul, organising secretary of Garment Sramik Front said: “As per International Labour Organisation convention compensation means approximate income of a labour which he can earn during his tenure of work which stood at around Tk2.8m for each.” He also blamed the government for such a situation saying: “The government is supporting the owner and depriving the workers.”

Representatives from Bangladesh Trade Union Federation, Jatiya Sramik Jote, Runner Foundation, Ain O Salish Kendra, Ganoshasthaya Kendra, Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies said they would support the victims if any of them contacted their organisations including any legal support for realising compensation or

medical services.

At a human chain in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka, IndustriAll Bangladesh Council Secretary General Roy Romesh Chandra said if the government had taken punitive actions against the owners of Tazreen Fashion disaster like Rana Plaza would not have occurred.

He demanded safe working place, rights to form trade union in the readymade garment factories and compensation for victims of Tazreen Fashion fire incident.

From the demonstration IndustriAll Bangladesh also put forwarded sixpoint demand, including compliance of national building code, ensuring ethical buying and fair trade, rights to form trade union, forming workers welfare fund, full-fledged implementation of amended labour law 2013 and arrest of owners of Tazreen Fashion and other people involved in the fire incident.

Earlier, in the morning, the activists went to the Jurain Graveyard and placed flower sticks on the graves of victims of Tazreen fire and Rana Plaza disaster. l

Then there are the problems associated with the trauma that some of the survivors are having to deal with.

Many survivors, who are physically strong enough and managed to get jobs in some of the other factories in the area, are having to deal with the post-disaster trauma every now and then. Some of them had been sacked by their new employers because the problems related with the trauma had not been letting them work properly.

Khurshid Alam, vice-president of the Ashulia unit of Garments Sramik Kalyan Oikkya Parisad, told Dhaka Tribune that around 20% of the victims went to different factories, but a large number of them returned home because they had failed to deal

with the trauma.

“Many were sacked by the employers because they cannot tolerate high sound or work if anyone behaves rough. But, a garment workers life without being abused by the management, is unimaginable,” said Alam, a social worker.

Romesha, one of the survivors, joined a nearby factory in just a few months after the tragic fire. But only a few days later, she was forced to leave the job because she could not get the terrible images of the fire out of her head. “Sometime in the middle of work, I would see a fire around me.”

“I cannot sleep. A fear of life always lurks inside. That is the reward that Tazreen has given me.” l

Ershad: Government corrupt n Manik Miazee Former military ruler and Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad, whose fellow party lawmakers have recently joined the polls-time cabinet, said the current government was “oppressive” and “corrupt.”

He made the comment in the capital yesterday while speaking at a reception programme for the JP lawmakers who had made it to the polls-

time interim cabinet.

Ershad said: “There was no way other than joining the polls to remove the government.”

Ershad asked BNP to keep away from its “attempts to intimidate him.”

“I was a soldier. I do not fear anything.

So, do not try to frighten me,” Ershad said in reaction to the burning of his effigies by some BNP activists. “You [BNP] will have to face similar retaliations. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Human-trafficking gang busted in Chittagong 23 victims were promised passage to Malaysia through sea, in exchange for Tk180,000

n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong The police arrested six human traffickers from an under-construction building in Chittagong city’s Khatiberhat area yesterday, and rescued 23 victims who were ready to be shipped off to Malaysia from the port city.

The arrestees included the gang leaders of the trafficking racket Mohammad Ismail, 24, of Banshkhali upazila, , Mohammad Mohsin, 50, of Chandgaon area, and four boatmen, Mobarak Hossain, 23, Nur Nabi, 23, from Cox’s Bazar district, Md Achan, 30, and Md Yunus, 46, from Banshkhali upazila, said police sources.

Acting on a tip-off, a joint team from Panchlaish and Chandgaon police stations conducted the drive at the underconstruction building at around 4am and rescued the 23 people, said Shah Mohammad Abdur Rouf, assistant commissioner of Panchlaish circle of

DB recovers fake tablets, one held n FM Mizanur Rahaman, Chittagong

The Detective Branch of Chittagong Metropolitan Police arrested one person with 15,750 fake vitamin tablets in his procession from Dovash Colony at Alkaron area in port city Chittagong on Friday.

The arrestee was Biplob Dash, 25, hailed from Dakkhin Para in Satkania upazila. Police also recovered 525 plastic cans and 1,250 labels of different drug companies from his possession.

Babul Akhtar, additional deputy commissioner of the DB, said a team of DB police raided the house of one Sonia Das. The arrestee confessed of collecting different labels and tags from a ring in Dhaka and had been manufacturing fake vitamin tablets at the house. A case was lodged in this regard under the Special Power Act. l

Husband-wife killed in house fire n Our Correspondent, Natore A husband and a wife were burnt to death yesterday, after their house was allegedly set on fire by a neighbour over land disputes in Natore’s Lalpur upazila.

The deceased were identified as Habibur Mondol and his wife Sufia Begum. The victims’ family members said Habibur and his neighbour Haush Ali had a long-standing land dispute between them. A case had also been filed in this connection.

Recently, Haush had allegedly threatened Habibur to withdraw the case.

When Habibur declined the demand, Haush and his cohorts allegedly set the couple’s house on fire in the early hours of yesterday, killing Habibur on the spot.

The family members rushed Sufia to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, where she died yesterday afternoon. l

Law enforcers arrest 22 Bangladeshis while they were trafficking to Malaysia through the sea route yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE illiterate, poor and employed, the Dhaka Tribune found after visiting the men at Panchlaish police station, where they were kept after their rescue.

Nurul Islam, one of the rescued, told the Dhaka Tribune that he along with his cousin Shukkur Bepari came to the

port city Friday afternoon, after which Ismail took them to Khatiberhat saying they would be sent to Malaysia by ship yesterday night.

Saying that they were asked to give Tk180,000 for going abroad, Nurul Islam added that they had talked to the

expatriate Ali over mobile phone till Friday night, but were unable to reach him after 10pm Friday.

Tajul Islam, an HSC-passed student, said Ismail had offered him a good-paid job abroad.

Mohammad Shahidullah, additional deputy commissioner (north) of the CMP, said the gang usually used the Teknaf-sea route for trafficking people abroad, but the Chittagong route was preferred in winter as the sea remained calm during the season.

The gangs mainly targeted the poor, illiterate and unemployed people from the northern parts of the country and bagged huge amount of money from the victims, he said.

The police were looking into the matter and trying to nab other members of the gang, added the police official.

A case has been lodged with Panchlaish police station in this connection. l

PRIMARY TERMINAL EXAMS

Committee formed to probe question paper “leaks” n Mushfique Wadud The primary and mass education ministry yesterday formed a high-powered probe committee to investigate allegations that question papers of the primary terminal examinations were leaked.

The committee, headed by an additional secretary of the ministry, was asked to submit its report within seven working days, a press release said yesterday.

“Action will be taken if proof is found,” said the press release, signed

by Additional Secretary Ashraful Islam.

The grade-5 nationwide examinations began last Wednesday, amid allegations that question papers were leaked.

On Tuesday night, many guardians told the Dhaka Tribune that they heard that question papers for the mathematics examination were leaked.

‘A neighbour who works in the DPE offered to get him a copy of the English question paper for Tk5,000’ On Wednesday at 10 am, just an hour before the math exam started, Shyamal Kanti Ghosh of the Directorate of Primary Education (DPE) told the Dhaka Tribune that they did not find any truth to the rumour, and decided to go ahead and hold the exam.

Primary and Mass Education Minis-

ter Nurul Islam Nahid told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that he had given strict instructions to the relevant officials to look into the matter so that children were not affected.

Nahid added that he would sit with the officials today to discuss the issue.

“First of all, we need to find out if the question papers were really leaked. If so, we need to find who are involved behind this and whether students were affected because of this. To know this, we need to investigate the whole incident.

So the committee was formed,” he said.

However, rumours continued yesterday that questions papers for today’s English examination were also leaked. A guardian, whose daughter is taking the

exams from Viqarunnisa Noon School in the capital, said a neighbour who works in the DPE offered to get him a copy of the English question paper for Tk5,000.

“He told me that if I give him Tk5,000, I can manage the original question for my child,” the guardian, who did not want to be identified, told this correspondent yesterday.

Meanwhile, police in Dinajpur arrested Masud Rana, a coaching centre director, in connection with the alleged question leaks, while four others were detained in Satkhira following reports in some newspapers. About 2,950,000 fifth-graders are taking the examinations under the national curriculum this year.

The exams will end on November 28. l

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

Night temperature might fall slightly and day temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country, Met office said. The sun sets in the capital at 5:11pm today and rises at 6:20am tomorrow.

Country’s highest temperature 31.0 degree Celsius was recorded at Cox’sBazar and lowest 10.3 degrees at Srimongal yesterday.

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

High

Low

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

29.0 28.6 28.7 19.0 30.0 29.3 29.0 31.0

17.2 19.8 13.5 15.4 18.0 17.5 14.0 23.0

PRAYER TIMES 5:01am 6:19am 11:44am 3:34pm 5:10pm 6:30pm

Source: IslamicFinder.org

A legal notice was served yesterday seeking annulment of the recently passed Anti-Corruption (Amendment) Act 2013 that made seeking government approval mandatory for the ACC and criminal courts to move legally against public servants.

Supreme Court lawyer Eunus Ali Akond sent the notice to the Speaker of parliament, law secretary, cabinet secretary, secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office and the ACC chairman.

He said if the amendment was not scrapped within 24 hours, he would move the High Court by lodging a writ petition.

On November 10, parliament amended the ACC act incorporating the controversial provision.

The original the act of 2004, passed by the then BNP-led government, authorised the graft busters to try criminal charges. l

Justice Masud buried in Banani n Tribune Report Justice ATM Masud, who passed away on Friday at the age of 89 at a city hospital, was buried at the Banani Graveyard yesterday.

Earlier, his namaz-e-janaza was held at the Supreme Court premises.

Justice Masud, who served as the chief election commissioner for five years from February 1985, breathed his last at 5:40pm on Friday at the National Heart Foundation Hospital at Mirpur.

Masud was also the national executive council chairman of Bangladesh Heart Foundation. He left his wife, two daughters and a son, Supreme Court registrar AKM Shamsul Islam said. l

JU teachers’ representative polls suspended Two jailed over CU proxy exam n JU Correspondent Jahangirnagar University authority yesterday suspended the teachers’ representative polls scheduled to be held on December 7 being subjected to the pressure of faculties.

Meantime, the teachers vowed to continue their movement confining the acting VC and pro-VC (administration) to their offices.

They, however, have released registrar Abu Bakr Siddique, also returning officer for teachers’ polls.

The agitating teachers demand the VC panel election first, thus trying to carry out the chancellor’s order.

The registrar yesterday confirmed that teachers’ representative polls had been suspended in the wake of protest and next schedule for polls would be declared very soon.

The protesting teachers said they would not release the confined VCs till the declaration of the VC panel polls

schedule. On November 6, President Abdul Hamid, also JU Chancellor, asked Vice-Chancellor Prof Anwar Hossain to hold senate election immediately and select VC panel through the senate in line with JU act.

Later, the VC declared teachers’ representative and JU Central Students’ Union (Jucsu) elections on December 7 and January 2 respectively to reform JU senate.

VC Prof Anwar Hossain was on a two-day medical leave.

Though his leave ended yesterday, Prof Anwar did not join the office, official sources said, adding that the VC applied for an extension of his leave and decided to join his work after the teachers had withdrawn their movement.

However, United Forum secretary Prof Kamrul Ahsan said: “The movement would continue till JU authorities declare the schedule for VC panel election.”

Meantime, the forum expressed its solidarities with a section of hall authorities who protested the Jucsu polls as the university authorities did not meet their demands.

It supported the students’ movement against the authorities’ decision to include Mphil and PhD students in Jucsu polls allegedly violating Jucsu constitution and the university’s convention.

General students under the banner of “Oniomer Biruddhe Amra Shikkharthibrindo” yesterday submitted a memorandum to Jucsu Election Commission protesting the irregularities of EC. However, hundreds of teachers, students, officers and employees yesterday demonstrated in front of JU administrative office around 7pm and demanded removal of incumbent VC Prof Anwar Hossain.

Later, they brought out a light procession on the campus to press home their demand. l

Mizanur Rahaman, n FM Chittagong A mobile court sentenced two admission seekers to four months jail for attempting proxy exam at the B1 unit admission test under Arts and Humanities Faculty of Chittagong University yesterday.

Mohammed Samsuzzaman, assistant commissioner (land), who led the mobile court, said Shahidul Hossain

n UNB The body of schoolboy, abducted from Sataish area in Tongi on November 16, was recovered from a waterbody in Tongi yesterday.

The victim was Sajib, a student of class IX of Kazi Abu Talen Model High School. Local people found the body floating in the water body in the after-

Mashuda Shefali addresses a seminar on Fostering Gender Equality in the capital yesterday en out of politics is no longer an option.

At least 90 countries have the quota system for women in the parliament.”

Anneli Lindahl Kenny emphasised that the quota would facilitate representation of highly competent women leaders in the parliament.

Globally, the number of reserved seats for women in parliament is gradually on

the rise. District level leaders of BNP and Awami League who participated in the discussion also advocated for an increase in women’s seats.

They also underscored the need for direct election to reserved seats for women in the parliament and ensuring of 33% of women participation in general seats.

The leaders also went to the extent of say-

noon and informed police.

Family sources said Sajib was kidnapped from a playground near their house and the kidnappers demanded Tk300,000 over phone for his release.

Sajib’s father agreed to give them Tk210,00 but the kidnappers denied to accept the amount. Later, Sajib’s father filed a case with Tongi police station on November 18. l

SI suspended for letting detainee flee from custody n Kailash Sarkar

n Tazlina Zamila Khan

Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury yesterday said the dialogue between the ruling party and the opposition should be unconditional.

“Still, there are possibilities of dialogue and consensus among political parties is necessary for a fair election,” she said.

The Speaker came up with the comments while addressing as the chief guest at the routable on “Fostering gender equality in politics” in the city yesterday. The programme was jointly organised by the United Nations Development Programme, Democracy International and UN Women.

Shirin Sharmin said: “The constitution is the country’s highest law and the next election will be held according to the constitution.” She also stressed equal participation of women in politics as a prerequisite of development. She called upon all political parties to ensure women’s participation in all tiers of their organisations.

Swedish Ambassador Anneli Lindahl Kenny said, “We hope that the upcoming election will be transparent. Still, there is time to solve the political crisis.”

She added that women’s participation in politics had become a global issue.

Currently, at least 45% of the women represent in parliament worldwide.

Bangladesh ranks 72nd of 145 countries, according to the Interparliamentary Union Classification of Women in Parliament globally.

The ambassador said: “Leaving wom-

and Mobinul Haque were awarded four months jail as the charge brought against them was proved beyond doubt. The convicts confessed their guilty before the court, he added.

Liton Mitra, assistant proctor of CU, told the Dhaka Tribune that the two candidates, who appeared for exam at 306 room of Social Science Faculty, were challenged by the invigilators of the room as they filled up same roll number on their OMR sheets. l

Abducted schoolboy killed

Dialogue should be unconditional: Speaker

WEATHER

Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP), who led the drive.

The 23 people, who were brought into the port city on Friday, were primarily employed as construction workers at a building and scheduled to be shipped off yesterday night, he said.

During initial interrogation, Ismail told the police that he had connection with Mohammad Ali and Shafiq, two expatriates in Malaysia; adding that he had arranged passage for the 23 people to Malaysia as the expatriates had promised him Tk5,000 as commission for each individual.

Ismail’s duty was to take the 23 men to the Natun Bridge area where four boatmen were prepared to take them to a ship, which had made a deal to carry the 23 people to Malaysia, he informed.

Most of the 23 rescued people – hailing from Narsingdi, Munshiganj, Tangail, Kishoreganj, Narayanganj, Chandpur and Sirajganj districts – were

Legal notice seeks cancellation of ACC act amendment n Nazmus Sakib

RAJIB DHAR

ing that every party should bear the total election costs for women candidates.

According to the Representation of the People Order (amendment) of 2009, political parties are required to include 33% women in the committees of political parties by 2020, but the current number of women accounts for 2% across the country, they said. l

A sub-inspector of the capital’s Shahbagh police station was suspended yesterday after a DMCH doctor, detained on charges of irregularities in duty, fled police custody.

“Sub-inspector Jahangir Hossain was suspended as the arrested doctor fled police custody because of his negligence in duty.

“He was the on-duty officer in the police station”, said Sheikh Maruf Hasan, deputy commissioner of the Ramna Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

He also said a committee had been formed to find out whether any other policeman were responsible for the fleeing.

“The two-member committee, led

by Additional DC Anwar Hossain, has been asked to finish enquiry within seven days.”

According to sources at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital, authorities on Friday afternoon handed over Jahangir Alam, suspended earlier, to Shahbagh police after he was caught allegedly supplying fabricated and false medical certificates from the library of the Neurosurgery Department.

But the detained doctor fled the police station on Friday evening. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Long Form

Sunday, November 24, 2013

5

The third gender A debate on the government use of the term ‘Hijra’

PHOTO: SYED LATIF HOSSAIN

they not?

According to a survey carried out by the Ministry of Social Welfare, there are currently 10,000 Hijras living in the country. Is the government really sure that all these people are Hijra and that not one of them is transgender or transsexual?

“Criticising the government” is very much needed, my friends, because the recent definition does not recognise ALL trans-people, only a portion of that group. Words and terms are VERY important. Specially, when they are in the law and policy and decide which benefits would be available to the citizen and which would not be.

The term includes transsexuals, cross-dressers, drag kings and queens, two-spirit people, and so on. A point to be noted is that there are many transgender people who do not feel that they exist within one of the two standard gender categories. Rather, they believe they could be somewhere between, beyond or outside of those two genders.

What international organisations and laws are saying On March 7, 2012, United Nations Secretary General Ban ki-Moon said: “We see a pattern of violence and

the UN won’t say, “Oh! That is not applicable for us. We don’t have any trans-people, we only have Hijras?”

We can obviously appreciate the fact that the government took a stance in favour of those who neither identify as being male or female. Now, the choice is whether people would prefer a flawed term in law or policy which will undoubtedly bring more sufferings, or would rather point out the flaws and give the government the chance to correct those.

I would prefer to criticise the government regarding this step because it is not criticism for criticism’s sake, but constructive criticism. As a law

Definitions of transsexual, transgender and intersex

E

n Muktasree Chakma Sathi very time articles regarding the “third gender” are published in the Dhaka Tribune, I read them with tremendous interest and enthusiasm. I also read whatever articles that come out on LGBT (Lesbian- Gay-Bisexual-Trans people) with equal enthusiasm. There are two main reasons for my interest in such articles.

Firstly, I have been working with this wonderful group of people for quite a long time and there are still many interesting things to know and discussions to be had! Secondly, I am a hardcore supporter of their legitimate demands for FULL rights.

I don’t want to see them be only partly recognised by the government or any other institutions. More specifically, I do not want to see them get government recognition when that recognition is not bringing good for all the members of a historically oppressed group.

So, on the morning of November 17, I started reading the Dhaka Tribune, where I am also working as a reporter. I felt happy when I saw an op-ed on “Hijra” (or trans-people, as I am much more comfortable in referring to them) and once I saw the author’s name, my heart filled with joy since she is a friend of mine and a good writer.

However, once I started reading the piece, my joy turned to worry. Here is my explanation of why I felt that way.

The last line of the second paragraph reads: “They already have voting rights, now they can get passports as well.” The Trans people ARE getting passports which acknowledge their distinct sexual identity since Bangladesh introduced the Machine Readable Passport (MRP), around three years before the cabinet’s recent

recognition of such people.

As I read on, something else caught my eye – an observation on the cyber-debate regarding whether or not the recent initiative is excluding transgender people. The op-ed also stated: “others [some people] have argued that this law only encompasses transsexual people and not transgender … [that group] has a point, but needs to appreciate this move and not criticise the government at every opportunity they get.”

Such criticism is not simply for criticism’s sake. According to news published by several media outlets on November 11, the Cabinet Secretary Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan said: “With a ‘j,’ they [trans-people] will be

Transsexuals are those who do not identify with the sex they were assigned at birth. A transsexual person may or may not undergo medical procedures to change their sex organ.

Intersex people are those whose reproductive organs cannot be identified as either male or female.

Transgender people are those who change their gender roles like the transsexual people but do not undergo medical procedures to change their reproductive organs.

The simple way to point out the difference between transsexual and transgender is that in almost all cases, the former group seeks to modify their bodies through hormones, sexual reassignment surgery or both.

The latter choose not to change their sex organs.

A well-known American transgender activist Virginia Charles Prince

The term ‘Hijra’ mainly refers to intersex persons. It does not recognise all trans-people, only a portion of that group

referred to as Hijras in both English and Bangla languages. Any other translation in English is misleading.”

Seriously? With due respect to the cabinet decision, the word “Hijra” is far more misleading internationally!

The term “Hijra,” widely used in the sub-continent region, mainly refers to intersex persons.

Also, the term locally and culturally defines those who are men or have sex organs which cannot be categorised as male or female but who choose to adopt the gender role of a female.

With the order of the cabinet, one who is a woman or has a sex organ which cannot be categorised as male or female, but chooses to adopt the gender role of male, may feel excluded, might

spells out the difference between transgender and transsexual in a simple yet concise way in her book titled “Men Who Choose to Be Women.” She explains that: “I, at least, know the difference between sex and gender and have simply elected to change the latter and not the former.”

Why debate on hijra or transgender matters Although the term “transgender” has many definitions, it is the term which is most frequently used as an umbrella term to refer to all people who move away from their assigned gender at birth or move away from the binary gender system.

Now, the choice is whether people would prefer a flawed term in law or policy which will undoubtedly bring more sufferings, or would rather point out the flaws and give the government the chance to correct those

discrimination directed at people just because they are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender …”

The speech was made after the UN recognised such people’s rights as human rights. In Geneva on June 17, 2011, the United Nations Human Rights Council passed a resolution on human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

The UN’s press release opted to simply use the term “trans” to refer to both transsexual and transgender people.

So, people are not “criticising the government at every opportunity they get” but rather, as I would put it, they are criticising a flawed term. Because it is not about grabbing “every opportunity” to criticise, but about pointing out how a flawed term in law or policy can put a specific group under more threat.

Coincidentally, I had the chance to talk with a high level official at the Passport department in Bangladesh regarding the recent “Hirja” initiative.

He expressed his concern and said: “I am worried – how would other countries know what Hijra is if we have to refer them with the suggested term that came from the cabinet?” A thought provoking question, indeed!

So, the “Hijra” who travel to other countries will ask the customs or immigration officer to Google the term? Or, they will carry a photocopy of the cabinet decision which says we cannot use any word other than Hijra to refer to those who do not identify as male or female?

Are you sure if the UN passes another resolution and asks member states to ensure trans-people’s rights, our government representatives in

student, I know how long it could take to amend a single misplaced comma, semicolon, or to replace an innocent word like “or” with “and” once the law or policy is passed.

We need to think about and debate each and every definition in which there are flaws, even if it brings good to just a few people. Ultimately, we want recognition for all, not only a few.

Lastly, we also have to respect the fact that there are some trans-people who identify with the word “Hijra” more as they feel that they are reclaiming a word which has historically been used to disrespect them.

My personal opinion on this matter is that we should use an internationally recognised umbrella term which is understandable to all, both nationally and internationally.

Then, those who want to be recognised as Hijra, are given the option on official documents to specify their gender and thus not be excluded from any government decision. l Muktasree Chakma Sathi is a a staff reporter, Dhaka Tribune.

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Gulshan Lake development bogged down

Two Indian nationals arrested with gold bars n Kailash Sarkar

Scheme misses deadline; fails to acquire and recover land 23.58 acres are publicly owned. n Abu Hayat Mahmud Md Nurul Islam, the executive engiThe improvement and beautification scheme of the Gulshan-Banani-Baridhara Lake in the city was delayed and missed its deadline as Rajuk could not complete acquisition of land and failed to recover land from illegal possession.

The three-year improvement scheme undertaken by Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) with an estimated value of Tk4.10bn, was approved by the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) on July 6, 2010. It was supposed to start in July 2010 and finish by June 2013.

The scheme sought to reclaim the lake from illegal occupation and preserve the water retention capacity of the lake as well as its beautification.

However, visiting the GulshanBanani-Baridhara Lake area recently this correspondent a found that many illegal encroachments were still intact around the lake. Only a small area of the lake had been filled up for building a 2.5km driveway along the eastern side, starting behind Gulshan Shooting Club and ending at Mariam Tower just behind the US embassy.

Sewerage pipe lines were found discharging sewerage into the lake.

Officials of the Rajuk said the authorities were yet to recover about 11 acres of acquired land adjoin area of Gulshan-Baridha Lake due to protest and litigations of occupiers. Moreover, the state-owned agency was yet to acquire 69.14 acres of land, of which 23.58 acres are owned by BTCL and

neer of Rajuk, told the Dhaka Tribune: “Acquisition of additional land for the project is going on. We have contacted BTCL to acquire their land. For this reason we have not been able to start the development work in full swing.”

He also attributed the delay in work and crossing the deadline to land recovery and pending court cases.

“The development will start after completing the acquisition and recovery of land,” he added.

According to the project plan, a road will be constructed to connect the Gulshan Lake site with Hatirjheel.

Starting at Baridhara Circle the road will end at Hatirjheel Police Plaza Concord, passing Mariam Tower, Shahajadpur and Badda.

Moreover, some of the link roads inside the project will be extended for better connectivity, and sidewalks will also be built along the lake. Recreational facilities will be developed at different spots in adjoining areas of the lake.

Driveways, footpaths, walkways and viewing decks are also planned.

Rajuk officials said the High Court in May 2006 directed the authorities to stop illegal grabbers from filling up the Gulshan Lake. Later in an order in 2009 the High Court also asked Rajuk to restore the original lake by evicting the grabbers.

In April 2012 the HC directed the government to demolish in 15 days all the buildings erected by illegally encroaching on Gulshan Lake. l

A view of construction of a walkway by the Gulshan-Banani lake. The photo was taken from a building near the Gulshan-Badda link road yesterday SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Women trafficking still a growing malady Leader of mugging n Tribune Report Although trafficking of Bangladeshi women to various destinations, including India, is not new, the malady has taken an alarming proportion as the traffickers are using 20 transit points along Bangladesh-India border comfortably.

Twenty-eight districts of Bangladesh have common borders with India and two districts have borders with Myanmar, and those are being used by the traffickers in human trafficking, especially women and children, reports UNB. According to intelligence sources, the frontier areas of Khulna, Jessore, Satkhira, Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Rangpur, Mymensingh, Comilla, Brahmanbaria, and Sylhet are frequently used as land routes for human trafficking.

In the northern region, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Panchagarh, Thakurgoan, Dinajpur, Naogoan, Chapai Nawabganj, and Rajshahi, and in the south, Jessore and Satkhira are the areas in which women and children are most vulnerable to trafficking.

Besides, Cox’s Bazar is the main point from where the children and women are gathered before being smuggled out to Myanmar.

BGB sources said though paramilitary troops foil a good number of trafficking bids every month, the rescued figure is much lower than that of trafficked women and children.

According to a UNICEF report, 400 women and children fall victim to trafficking from Bangladesh each month on average.

Intelligence sources said Bangladesh is being also used as a transit country for human trafficking, as both internal and cross-border trafficking exists here.

Though the exact figure is not available, various studies reveal that over 1m women and children have been trafficked out of the country in the last 30 years.

According to the BGB sources, the paramilitary rescued at least 76 women and children on average every month since January this year.

They said the paramilitary force rescued 771 women and children from human traf-

fickers along the Bangladesh-India border in the last 10 months till on October 31 this year. Among them, 620 were women and 151 children.

During the period, they arrested 15 alleged traffickers and 382 cases with different frontier police stations in connection with human trafficking during the same period.

Meanwhile, the paramilitary troops recovered huge smuggled goods, including illegal drugs, worth about Tk4.89bn during antismuggling drives across the country, especially bordering areas during the last 10 months.

Some 1373 alleged smugglers were arrested and 22,013 cases filed with different police stations during the period in connection with the smugglings.

Besides, they seized 4,67,759 bottles of Indian intoxicating Phensidyl syrup; 5,18,401 sex-stimulating Yaba tablets, 1,45,837 bottles of foreign liquor, 5721 litres of local liquour, 10,982 cans of beer, 4,385 kgs of hemp, 34.768 kg of heroin and 41,914 different types of injections during the 10 months. l

gang detained n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong Police detained the leader of a notorious mugging gang and one of his cohorts from Chittagong city’s Boropul area yesterday, and seized a firearm, ammunitions, lethal weapons and a CNG-run auto-rickshaw from their possession.

The arrestees are Mohammad Kader alias “Barisailya” Kader alias “CNG” Kader and his associate Nazrul, said Jahedul Islam, officer-in-charge of Bandar police station.

On information, a team of the station, led by Additional Deputy Commissioner (Port zone) Mostak Ahmed of Chittagong Metropolitan Police, carried out a two-hour-long chaseof the auto-rickshaw used by the gang – from Chittagong’s City Gate area to Boropul– before finally nabbing the two men at around 6am. Two other cohorts – who were also in the auto-rickshaw – however managed to flee, said the OC.

A light gun, three cartridges, a machete and two knives were recovered from their possession, he said.

The gang is known for robbing the commuters who usually arrive in the city by night coaches in the morning, and are most active in the City Gate, Alangker, AK Khan, Sagarika, Nayabazar, Bishwaroad, Boropul, Dampara, and Cinema Palace areas of the port city. They stole valuables by threatening the passengers with weapons, before fleeing on the auto-rickshaw, OC Jahedul said.

Kader was arrested earlier but he came out on bail a month ago and resumed mugging, resulting in an increasing number of mugging complaints being submitted to the police, the OC informed.

The police were conducting drives to nab the other members of the gang, while a case was lodged with Bandar police station in this connection. l

Mahila Parishad: 4,854 women faced violence until October n Mohammad Atiqur Rahman Some 4,854 women faced violence in various forms this year until October, a women rights group the Bangladesh Mahila Parisahd has said.

It also said child marriage was prevalent in well-off families, just like in poor families.

“Patriarchal society, consumerism are some obstacles to minimizing violence against women,” Ayesha Khanam, president of Mahila Parishad, said at a press briefing ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and World Human Rights Day. In line with a UN campaign, Mahila Parishad will observe 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, starting from tomorrow until December 10, marking the two global days respectively.

The campaign will include meeting with school and college students and

distributing leaflets among the public.

The UNiTE campaign of United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon designated the 25th of each month as “Orange Day”, inviting people to wear something orange to highlight calls for “eradicating violence against women without reservation, equivocation or delay”.

With the theme “Orange the World in 16 days”, Orange Day will be observed from November 25 through December 10 this year.

Khanam said Working women, for example, face problems when the question of bringing up children arises, she said.

She also expressed concerns over the use of “inflammable substance” in political activities and an upsurge in “typical phenomenon” of rapes on buses.

Maleka Banu, BMP general secretary, and Masuda Rehana Begum, assistant general secretary, also addressed the briefing, while Maksuda Akter Laily read out a statement. l

Tension gripped whole Monirampur upazila after the killing of Ashikur Rahman, 30, an activist of Jatiyatabadi Jubadal, youth front of the main opposition BNP, at Chinatola under the upazila in Jessore.

The Jubadal activist died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Friday evening. He was wounded seriously in a clash between the ruling Awami League and the BNP on Thursday night.

Locals blocked Jessore- Satkhira Road after having the information

One held during smuggling gold bars

n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong The Government Railway Police (GRP) nabbed a person with five gold bars – worth Tk2.5m – from the Chittagong railway station yesterday morning, when he attempted to smuggle the bars to Dhaka by hiding them inside book-folds.

On information, GRP personnel nabbed Shafiqur Rahman, 35, hailing from Fakirabad village of Satkania upazila in Chittagong, from the platform of the railway station at around 10am, said Syed Yiasin Faruk, officerin-charge of the GRP outpost in Chittagong railway station.

The police found the bars, weighing 25 grammes each, in some books-folds from his possession, he said.

During primary interrogation, Shafiqur told the police that he was given Tk3,000 by a trader of Reazuddin Bazar to deliver the gold bars to a person in Dhaka, said the OC. But police did not disclose the name of the sender of the gold bars for the sake of investigation. l

CU admission tests rescheduled n FM Mizanur Rahaman, Chittagong Mahila Parishad President Ayesha Khanom addresses a press conference marking the World Human Rights Day yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

Tension mounted at Monirampur over killing of Jubadal activist n Our Correspondent, Jessore

Two Indian nationals were arrested with smuggled gold bars and huge foreign currencies in their possessions at the Shahjalal International Airport yesterday morning.

Jignesh Kumer Zain alias Suresh, 40, and Dinesh Zain alias Mangi Lal, 40, were arrested after they arrived at Dhaka around 4:30am from Abu Dhabi on an Etihad Airways flight, said Qamrul Hasan, assistant commissioner of Customs.

They were arrested with the gold, weighing 5.5kg, at a time when gold smuggling has become rampant through Dhaka and Chittagong airports, a reflection of increased duties and taxes on the import of precious metals in India. The duties and taxes were increased aiming at protecting the domestic jewellery industries, rather than stemming overseas purchases, to narrow its current account deficit.

Jignesh was arrested around 5:30am in the Green Channel area while Mongi Lal was trapped and arrested around 7:30am using Jignesh’s information, the assistant commissioner said.

Customs officials found five gold bars, 86,000 Dubai Dirham and 36,000 Indian Rupees in their possessions, Qamrul added.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Customs Commissioner Zakiya Sultana said: “Although the Indians arrived at Dhaka by air, they were supposed to return to India through land border as they had no return ticket.”

“Hailing from Mumbai, their passports show they were used to travel Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Dubai frequently. One of them came to Dhaka for the first time,” she added.

When asked, the customs commissioner said: “They might have arrived in Dhaka either for handing over the gold bars to somebody else or for crossing the land border with the gold.”

A case was filed and they were handed over to the Airport police station, she added.

Customs and intelligence officials have seen a record quantity of over 500kg of gold seized at the airports in Dhaka and Chittagong over the last 10 months after India increased import duty on gold jewellery to 15% from 10%.

The biggest ever haul of 124kg gold was recovered from a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight in July.

It is widely known that many groups are active in the smuggling of gold, various precious stones, metals and valuables through the airport in cooperation with a section of officials and employees.

Like Bangladesh, gold smuggling has also jumped significantly in India and Nepal following a series of hikes on import taxes. l

of death of the Jubadal activist. The blockade was removed later after assurance of police administration at night. The blockade continued for over two hours.

Taiyeb Ali Golda, father of the death filed a case with Monirampur police station assuring 25 Awami League men

in connection with the killing. The police arrested one Shahidul Islam, an activist of Juba League, youth front of the ruling party.

Rezaul Hossain, officer in-charge, Monirampur police station told newsmen that the situation was under control. The RAB and police were kept on

alert at the area after the incident.

Family and party sources said the body of the death was taken to his village on Saturday where several hundred people gathered to console the death. The namaj-e-janaja was scheduled to be held in the evening of Saturday. l

The authorities of the Chittagong University yesterday rescheduled the B6 and B7 admission tests under the Arts and Humanities Faculty because of the two-day hartal enforced by district unit of Jamaat-e-Islami.

The examinations were originally scheduled for today.

SM Akbar Hossain, deputy registrar of CU and also the secretary of the admission committee, confirmed the decision to the Dhaka Tribune. The examination centers and times would remain unchanged, the secretary said. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

7

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Harvest of T-Aman paddy starts Farmers eye bumper production

n Our Correspondent, Gaibandha Harvest of Transplanted-Aman (T-Aman) paddy, a high valued crop, has started in all the seven upazilas in Gaibandha. This year the farmers are expecting to get a bumper harvest from the crop.

Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) officials told the Dhaka Tribune the department had set a target of T-Aman cultivation on a total of 122,227 hectares of land in the district this year with the production target of 464,000 metric tonnes of paddy.

The target was exceeded and the farmers of the district cultivated the crop on almost 128,000 hectares of land this year due to favourable climate conditions.

The T-Aman paddy has already ripened and paddy fields across the district are vibrant with a bright golden look. The growers have started harvesting the crop amid much enthusiasm with the hopes of getting bumper production this season.

In order to make the cultivation a success, Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation and Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) distributed high quality Aman seeds to the farmers of the district at fair prices.

Besides, different state-run commercial banks including Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank disbursed agricultural loans on easy terms to the low-income and marginal farmers of the district to

help them cultivate the T-Aman paddy on their land this season.

Crops production specialist of DAE Golam Mostafa said favourable climate conditions, proper distribution of high quality seeds by BADC and BMDA and timely supply of fertilisers and other agricultural inputs to the growers are the reasons behind the bumper production of the crop.

Apart from this, DAE also provided training programmes to the farmers of the district for adopting modern technologies of paddy cultivation, crop management and preservation of quality seeds, said Zulfiqer Ali Haider, district training officer of DAE. M Amir Ali, a farmer of Putimari of Shaghata upazila, said they were expecting bumper production of Aman paddy this year. He also said the farmers’ community was very happy as they were getting fair prices against the produce in the local markets this year compared to last year.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Deputy Director of DAE Mir Abdur Razzak said 11% harvest of the paddy had already been completed and the full harvest would be launched here within seven days.

The farmers had been advised to farm various types of crops like mustard, potatoes and maize on their land just after harvesting T-aman paddy to earn additional economical profit so that no land remains fallow about four months without reason till starting Boro cultivation on March 15, he said. l

Farmers in Narayanganj’s Rupganj are busy plucking green vegetables in their fields. The photo was taken yesterday from Begunchar area of the district

Early potato brings profit in northern region n

Tribune Report

The early variety of potato has already appeared in local markets making farmers happy with lucrative price as its cultivation gets full momentum everywhere in the northern region.

According to officials and farmers, the newly harvested early variety potato is selling at rates between Tk45 and Tk50 per kilogram in local markets as sowing of potato seeds will continue till January next after completion of the Aman crop harvest, reports BSS. The crop was selling at Tk65 per kg a week ago when it appeared the local markets in the second week of November for the first time and the price marked a fall following more harvests now.

According to officials in the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), a

target of producing 6.65m tonnes of potato has been fixed from approximately 300,000 hectares of land in northern Bangladesh during the current Rabi season.

Horticulture specialist of the DAE Khondker Md Mesbahul Islam told BSS that farmers of the northern region will produce 70.11% of the fixed national target of 8.65m tonnes potato from 440,000 hectares during this season.

The farmers have so far sowed potato seeds on around 107,000 lakh hectares land, about 35% of the fixed farming target in the region, he added.

Meanwhile, the farmers have started harvesting the early variety potatoes they have cultivated on their lands after harvesting the short duration variety Aman paddies like BRRI dhan33, BRRI dhan33, BRRI dhan48, BINA

dhan7 etc in the region.

Farmer Yunus Ali of village Singdoi said he has cultivated early variety potato on one acre land after harvesting the short duration Aman paddies and already harvested potato to earn huge profits last week.

Farmers Kalam Hossain of village Kochukata, Nuh Ul Alam of Gangachara and Faruk Hossain of Bogulagari village said they have also harvested and earned excellent profits after cultivating potato on their lands after harvesting short duration Aman crop.

Deputy Director of the DAE Feroz Ahmed said the concerned agro-related departments, seed dealers and many NGOs have been providing quality potato seeds and inputs including fertilisers to the farmers to make potato farming successful. l

Pabna district unit BNP observed a dawn-to-dusk hartal in the district demanding release of BNP chief Khaleda Zia’s Special Assistant Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas yesterday FOCUS BANGLA

NEWS IN BRIEF Labourer electrocuted

A construction labourer died from electrocution and another injured at North Morail in Brahmanbaria town on Friday. The deceased was Dilu Mia while the injured was Siddikur Rahman. Witnesses said Dilu Mia and Siddikur Rahman came in contact with a live electric wire while they were doing roof construction work of a building of contractor Selim Mia at North Morail, leaving them injured. Dilu Mia died on way to sadar hospital while Siddikur Rahman was admitted to the hospital. – UNB

Man hacked to death in Chapainawabganj A man was hacked to death and his associate injured in an attack by unidentified miscreants at Baliadanga in Chapainawabganj on Friday night.

The deceased was Bhaguruddin, 45, son of Saheb Jan of Dinanathpur village

in the upazila. Police suspected that the miscreants might have killed him over previous enmity. Bazlur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Sadar police station, said a group of miscreants intercepted Bhaguruddin and stabbed him indiscriminately while he along with his associate Sufal Ghosh was returning home riding a bicycle around 9pm, leaving him dead on the spot. Sufal received injuries as the attackers also hit him. He was rushed to Sadar hospital. – UNB

Huge drugs seized in Meherpur Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) seized huge smuggle drugs from Elahinagar village under Meherpur Sadar upazila on Friday evening. On a tip-off, a team of the elite force conducted a sudden raid in the village and seized 7,440 pieces of injection, 307 bottles of phensidyl and

huge tablets from a truck. A case was filed in this connection. – BSS

Fish traders’ clash injures 20 in Comilla

At least 20 people were injured in a clash between two groups of traders over establishing supremacy at Tulatuli Bazar in Meghna upazila on Friday. Quoting traders, police said an altercation ensued between two groups of fish traders— one of Tulatuli village and the other of Khidirchar village—over sitting arrangement at Tulatuli Bazar in the afternoon. At one stage, the traders of Tulatuli chased their rival group, triggering a clash that left 20 people injured. Mohammad Nasim Uddin, officer-in-charge of Meghna police station, said additional police have been deployed in the area to avert further trouble. Legal actions will be taken against the attackers, the OC added. – UNB

Mentally challenged woman gang raped

n Our Correspondent, Madaripur

FOCUS BANGLA

Experts for large-scale production of biogas

A mentally challenged housewife was allegedly gang raped at Goalkanda village under Shibchar upazila of Madaripur district Friday evening.

According to UNB, villagers, who came to the spot after hearing the screams of the housewife, caught one of the alleged criminals, beat him up and handed him over to police.

Shibchar police station OC AKM Masud said the victim of a day labourer. A group of teenagers from the village allegedly raped the woman around 7pm on Friday. The other suspected criminals managed to flee the scene sensing the presence of the villagers.

SI Abul Khair said the victim had been sent to a local hospital for medical examination.

A case was filed against the three suspects with the Shibchar police station. l

n Tribune Report

Girl commits suicide by jumping off rooftop n Our Correspondent, Gazipur

Grants distributed for improving livelihoods

An 18-year-old female worker of electronics company My One Limited allegedly committed suicide by jumping off the rooftop of the factory in the city’s Dirashram area.

The girl was identified as Masuma, daughter of Mahtab, living at a rented apartment in Maghbazar.

Fahima, a colleague of Masuma, said she might have taken her life out of frustration resulting from a rift with her boyfriend Dulu, a class nine student of USAP School.

“She came to work as usual but looked disturbed. Then suddenly she dashed to the rooftop of our six-story building and jumped off.”

Mofizul, administrative officer of My One Electronics Ltd, said, “We don’t know what made her do this, but it’s very unfortunate. We took her instantly to a local hospital but it was already too late.” The body was sent to Gazipur Sadar Hospital morgue for post-mortem examination. l

Speakers at a function in Gaibandha stressed the need for large-scale production of biogas to ease energy burden of the country and ensure a healthy environment.

Biogas can provide a clean and renewable alternative to traditional, environmentally harmful sources of energy – such as firewood and fossil fuels – they observed, adding that the beauty of biogas energy plants lies in their use of organic matters and waste materials and cost-effectiveness.

They made the comments while addressing a daylong programme on biogas held at the office of local awareness organisation Sinnomul Mohila Samity (SMS).

Practical Action Bangladesh (PAB) and SMS jointly organised the meeting

n Tribune Report Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) distributed Tk3.1m as grants among 310 extremely poor families for livelihoods improvement here Friday.

The Red Crescent Society disseminated the amount under its Community Development Initiative (CDI) programme, reports BSS. Under the programme, each family received Tk10,000 in the first phase out of total non-refundable grant of Tk15,000 for improving their livelihoods through income generation activities.

The grants were distributed in two separate ceremonies arranged on Beramukim Government Primary School ground under Mithapukur upazila and at Najirdigar village under Sadar upazila.

A total of 150 beneficiary families of Community-1 comprising Najirdigar, Biddiban and Satghoria villages in Sadar upazila and 160 families of Community-2 comprising Padmapukur and Beramukim villages in Mithapukur upazila received the grants.

Youth killed in Chittagong n Tribune Report A group of unknown people killed a youth after making an attack at Damkhali village under Mirsharai upazila in Chittagong on Friday night. The deceased was Jasim Uddin, son of Nurul Afsar, a resident of the village.

Police said a group of unknown people swooped on Jasim and beat him with sticks and sharp weapons on a bridge in Samitir Hat area around 9:30pm while he was returning home, leaving him critically injured, reports UNB. Hearing Jasim’s screams, local people sent him to a local hospital where he died around 12am. l

as part of an agricultural research project funded by Unicef and UKAID. Deputy Commissioner M Zahurul Islam Rhohel addressed the meeting as the chief guest while Vice-president of Gaibandha Press Club Sarker M Shahiduzzaman was present as the special guest.

Among others, SMS Executive Director Morshedur Rahman, PAB Project Manager Mahbubul Islam and journalist Asaduzzaman Mamun also spoke.

In his speech, Zahurul Islam said the initiative to produce biogas through a combined waste management system was an “epoch-making” one and hoped it would go a way to improving the municipality’s environment.

Earlier, the details of the project, which started in November 2011, were presented by project officer Swapon Kumar Mali. l

The grant distribution ceremonies were followed by cultural functions including staging of drama to focus socioeconomic uplift and empowerment of the economically and socially backward rural women through various income generation activities.

Secretary of Rangpur unit of BDRCS Shah Mohammad Nabi Ullah Panna presided over the ceremonies participated by hundreds people of all ages of the two economically backward communities, civil society members, community leaders and local elites.

H N Ashikur Rahman, chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Planning Ministry, distributed the grants at Beramukim GPS under Mithapukur upazila as the chief guest, while Mayor of Rangpur City Corporation Sharfuddin Ahmed Jhantu distributed the grants at Najirdigar village under sadar upazila in the afternoon as the chief guest.

Mozaharul Haque, secretary general of BDRCS BMM, Nazmul Hassan Khan, and director of CDI Programme, along with other addressed the crowd as special guests. l

Vacancy Announcement General Manager of Human Resource

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Interested candidates (both Bangladesh and Foreign national) are requested to drop their recent CV and PP size photograph within 30 November 2013 at the following address: Zenith Tower (2nd floor), 40.Kawranbazar, Dhaka 1215, Bangladesh.

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

International

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Egypt expels Turkish envoy over Morsi row n AFP, Cairo Egypt announced Saturday it was expelling Turkey’s ambassador, the latest souring of diplomatic ties that began when the Egyptian army ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi from power in July.

Ankara said it would reciprocate.

Cairo’s decision to send Ambassador Huseyin Avni Botsali home was in reaction to remarks by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan Thursday in which he reiterated his criticism of Egyptian authorities for their ongoing crackdown on Morsi’s Islamist backers.

Foreign ministry spokesman Badr Abdelatty told AFP Cairo had decided to “expel the Turkish ambassador and downgrade our ties to the level of charge d’affaires... declare the Turkish ambassador persona non grata and... not send our ambassador to Turkey.”

Each capital had recalled its respective envoy in August, but while Botsali eventually returned to Cairo, Egyptian Abderahman Salah El-Din stayed home.

Abdelatty said the decisions were taken after Erdogan’s latest remarks that were “provocative and interfering in Egypt’s internal affairs.”

On Thursday, Erdogan said in Russia: “I applaud Mr Morsi’s stance against the

judiciary. I respect him. I have no respect to those who put him on trial.”

Morsi has been charged over the deaths of protesters during his turbulent one-year rule.

Soon after Morsi’s July 3 ouster, Erdogan infuriated Cairo by calling the military’s action a “coup.”

Egyptian officials were also irked

by Ankara’s repeated calls for Morsi’s release and for free and fair elections.

Cairo’s ties with Ankara first soured when Erdogan condemned an August 14 crackdown by Egyptian security forces on supporters of Morsi in Cairo.

Egyptian forces broke up two sit-ins by Morsi supporters at Cairo’s Rabaa al-Adawiya and Nahda squares on that day.

At least 627 people were killed in Rabaa al-Adawiya square itself, according to Egyptian officials.

The following day, Cairo and Ankara announced they were recalling their respective ambassadors for consultations.

But Erdogan said on September 4 that Ambassador Botsali would return to Cairo, while Cairo’s envoy was still to return to his post in Ankara. Ankara said on Saturday it would reciprocate.

“We will take steps in reciprocity after comprehensive consultations with the Turkish ambassador,” foreign

ministry spokesman Levent Gumrukcu told AFP. But Turkish President Abdallah Gul sought to cool the situation.

“This situation between Turkey and Egypt is temporary and conjectural,” Gul said in televised remarks.

“Turkey and Egypt are just like two halves of an apple on the two sides of the Mediterranean. We’re very sad about what’s going on in Egypt. I hope the relations will be back on track.”

Turkey’s Islamic-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP) government had forged a close alliance with Morsi since he won Egypt’s first free presidential election in June 2012.

Morsi was ousted following days of mass protests by millions against his turbulent year-long rule.

Millions of Egyptians took to the streets demanding the Islamist leader’s resignation, blaming him for ruining an already dilapidated economy, monopolising power and working solely to fulfil the agendas of the Muslim Brotherhood movement, to which he belonged. His ouster triggered instant international condemnation, which intensified after the authorities began cracking down on Islamists, which led to more than 1,000 deaths and thousands of arrests. l

Baghdad Sunnis: Mosques closed to protest attacks n AP, Baghdad

People lay flowers and light candles in front of the Maxima supermarket in Riga

AP

Supermarket collapse in Latvia takes 52 lives n AP, Latvia The death toll from the collapse of a crowded Latvia supermarket roof has risen to 52 and the rescue operation has resumed after a temporary halt, rescue workers said Saturday. The roof fell Thursday evening in the Latvian capital of Riga as customers were doing after-work shopping. Some 40 people were wounded, including 13 firefighters, and 29 people were hospitalised as of Saturday morning, the Fire and Rescue Service said.

It was the worst accident in the Bal-

tic country since it regained independence in 1991. The government has declared three days of mourning.

Rescue service spokeswoman Viktorija Sembele said some 300 square metres of ruins — approximately onesixth of the total damaged area — remained to be searched. Sembele said there was a chance more victims could be found in the remaining area, which is particularly dangerous because of the risk of further collapse. Firefighters are working in decreased numbers in that area to minimise the chance of injury.l

Iraqi Sunni religious leaders said Saturday that they have decided to close down the sect’s mosques in Baghdad indefinitely to protest attacks targeting clerics and worshippers, highlighting the country’s deepening sectarian rift.

Sheik Mustafa al-Bayati, member of the Iraqi Doctrine Council where senior Sunni scholars sit to issue religious edicts, says the decision was taken on Thursday and came into effect on Saturday.

Many mosques appeared to comply with the closure. At Baghdad’s Sunni northern district of Azamiya, a banner at the closed gate of the hallowed Abu Hanifa mosque read: “The mosque is closed until further notice because of the targeting of imams, preachers and worshippers.”

Sunni discontent has mounted after a bloody April raid by security forces on a protest camp in country’s north. Political violence has since spiked, claiming at least 5,500 lives according to the United Nations figures, although overall death tolls are still lower than at the height of the conflict in 2004-2008. .

The bloodiest attacks, including waves of coordinated car bombs claimed by al-Qaeda’s local branch, have targeted mainly Shias. But Sunnis have also been killed in apparent reprisals. l

Activists: Airstrikes in Syria kill 29

SMARTER THAN YOUR AVERAGE BEAR

n AP, Beirut Syrian activists say two government airstrikes have killed at least 29 people in the north. Rami Abdurrahman, the director of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, says military warplanes targeted rebel positions in an opposition-held district of Aleppo city midday Saturday, but the attack missed the target and slammed into a crowded vegetable market, killing 14 people.

In a separate airstrike on the town

of al-Bab near Aleppo, 15 people were killed, Abdulrrahman said. Another activist group, the Aleppo Media Network, confirmed the airstrikes and posted a video of what it says was the aftermath of the al-Bab raid. Plumes of smoke are seen rising from ground, strewn with twisted metal and chunks of broken-up concrete. Men can be seen pulling a person, who appears dead, out of a car. The videos appeared authentic and corresponded with The Associated Press’ reporting of the airstrikes. l

Syria minister car fired on, driver killed: state TV n AFP, Damascus

Children interact with a protester dressed as a polar bear against the Keystone XL oil pipeline project, as a cut-out of US President Barack Obama is seen nearby outside the White House in Washington, November 22. TransCanada Corp has waited more than five years for the Obama administration to make a final decision on the controversial project, which will take oil from the Alberta oil sands and North Dakota’s Bakken field as far as the Cushing, Oklahoma REUTERS

Azerbaijan arrests two over alleged anti-Shia plot n AFP, Baku

Kerry, Russian FM join Iran nuclear talks

Azerbaijan has arrested two men for allegedly plotting attacks on Shias in the mainly Shia Muslim, but strictly secular, ex-Soviet state, the country’s security agency said Saturday.

“Nariman Mirzayev and Mirzehmet Rustamov are suspected of planning terrorist attacks and acquiring a large amount of weapons, ammunition and explosives,” Azerbaijan’s ministry of national security said in a statement.

US Secretary of State John Kerry and foreign ministers of other major powers joined Iran nuclear talks on Saturday, throwing their weight behind a diplomatic push to complete a deal after envoys reported progress on key issues blocking an interim agreement to curb the Iranian program in return for limited sanctions relief.

Kerry was joining foreign ministers from the five other countries — Russia, Britain, France, China and Germany — that have been negotiating with Iran over its nuclear program for years.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said the talks had reached “the final moment,” according to China’s Xinhua news agency.

Before leaving Washington, Kerry said he had no particular expectation that an agreement could be reached this week but decided to come after talking with top European Union diplomat Catherine Ashton on Friday.

Germany’s Guido Westerwelle spoke of “a realistic chance, but there is still a lot of work to do.” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the RIA-Novosti news agency that negotiations were very close to a breakthrough but “unfortunately I cannot say that there is assurance of achieving this breakthrough.”

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told reporters he wanted “a deal —

‘Nariman Mirzayev and Mirzehmet Rustamov are suspected of planning terrorist attacks and acquiring a large amount of weapons, ammunition and explosives’ In October a Facebook user under the pseudonym Anakin Skywalker – the original name of the villain Darth Vader in the Star Wars films – allegedly posted a picture of the two Azerbaijani nationals brandishing weapons and calling for attacks on Shia sites and the murder of a prominent cleric in Baku, the statement said.

Nestled between Iran and Russia’s restive north Caucasus region, oil-rich Azerbaijan has long been concerned about the spread of radical Islam – especially among the large number of unemployed youth who feel left behind despite the country’s recent oil boom. l

n AP, Geneva

but a solid deal — and I am here to work toward that end.”

France’s concern that the negotiators were rushing into a flawed deal with Iran helped delay an agreement during a session nearly two weeks ago.

The ministers rushed to Geneva after diplomats said Friday that Iranian Foreign Minister and Ashton, who is hosting the meeting, had made progress on a key sticking point — Iran’s claim to a right to produce nuclear fuel through uranium enrichment.

Enrichment is a hot-button issue because it can be used both to make reactor fuel and to make nuclear weapons. Iran argues it is enriching only for power, and scientific and medical purposes, and says it has no interest in nuclear arms.

Washington and its allies point to Tehran’s earlier efforts to hide enrichment and allege it worked on developing such weapons.

Iran has insisted on that right throughout almost a decade of mostly fruitless negotiations. But Zarif last weekend indicated that Iran is ready to sign a deal that does not expressly state that claim.

Iranian hard-liners are suspicious of talk of nuclear compromise since moderate President Hassan Rouhani took office in September, fearing his team will give not get enough in terms of sanctions relief over the six-months of any first-stage agreement.l

Australian PM responds to angry Indonesian leader n AP, Canberra Prime Minister Tony Abbott said Saturday his response to the Indonesian president’s angry letter following reports of Australian phone tapping of Indonesian leaders was on its way to Jakarta.

Australians are hoping that Abbott’s quickly crafted letter will quell Indonesian anger over National Security Agency fugitive Edward Snowden’s leaked documents that showed Australia bugged the phones of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, his wife and eight Indonesian ministers and officials in 2009.

A furious Yudhoyono recalled Indonesia’s ambassador, downgraded relations with Australia and wrote to Abbott demanding an explanation.

Abbott, who has refused to confirm or deny that the bugging took place, told reporters on Saturday he had written the response which “is now in the process of being delivered.”

Abbott declined to say what he had written. “It would be wrong of me to talk about what I’ve said to the president before the president has actually received it,” he said.

“I just want to stress that as far as I am concerned, one of the fundamental tasks of any Australian government — but certainly one of the fundamental tasks of my government — is to ensure that our relationship with Indonesia goes from strength to strength,” he added. l

Gunmen fired on the car of a Syrian government minister on Saturday, killing his driver but missing their target, who was not in the vehicle, state television reported. “National Reconciliation Minister Ali Haidar escaped an assassination attempt on the Masyaf-Qadmus road, and his driver was killed,” the television said in a breaking news alert.

Haidar was not in the car at the time of the shooting, it added.

Masyaf is in central Hama province,

while Qadmus lies in the coastal province of Tartus. Haidar, head of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party, was appointed minister for national reconciliation by President Bashar al-Assad in June 2012.

He belongs to that part of the opposition which is tolerated by the regime and distances itself from the rebels fighting to overthrow Assad. Born in the city of Hama in 1962, Haidar is an eye specialist. One of his children was killed by unidentified gunmen in Hama in May 2012, shortly before he was appointed minister. l

WORLD WATCH South Carolina child taken 20 years ago safe in Australia

A woman accused of abducting her infant daughter from South Carolina 20 years ago has been located in Australia and is facing extradition back to the United States to face charges, federal authorities announced this week. On Thursday, US Attorney Bill Nettles said that an indictment had been unsealed charging Dorothy Lee Barnett, 53, with international parental kidnapping and making a false statement on a passport application. Her daughter, Savanna Catherine Todd, now 20, was in Australia living a normal life, Nettles said.

Barnett did not have custody of her then 10-month-old daughter when she left in 1994 from Isle of Palms, Nettles said.

At the time, police said Barnett left for a birthday party with her daughter and never returned.

Myanmar boy, 7, used as drug mule: Thai police

Thai police found a seven-year-old boy from Myanmar crying alone at a bus stop with almost 10,000 methamphetamine pills in his backpack in western Thailand, officers said Saturday. The child was discovered on Thursday evening in the Thong Pha Phum district of Kanchanaburi province near the border with Myanmar, local police said. “Officers approached him and asked him questions, but he could not speak Thai,” district police chief Colonel Amnuay Pongsawat told AFP. He said the drugs were found in about 50 plastic bags wedged into two baby powder bottles.

“It is the first time that we have seen drug trafficking gangs use a child as a courier,” Amnuay said. He said he believed the boy had been dropped off by an uncle.

Two dead, one missing in Greece after island flood

Two women died on the Greek tourist island of Rhodes and a man was missing after heavy rainfall hit the area, the fire department said on Saturday. The 27-year-old woman’s body was found in the sea Saturday near the town of Kremasti, one of the areas hardest hit by the intense three-hour downpour, a fire department spokeswoman said. A day earlier, rescue crews had recovered the body of a 40-year-old woman from a river bank. “We are still looking for a 50-yearold man,” the spokeswoman said.

Bones of missing boys found in California desert Skeletal remains found buried in the California desert have been identified as two young sons from a family that vanished nearly four years ago, police said on Friday. San Bernardino County Sheriff deputies were dispatched to the desert near Victorville, about 113km northeast of Los Angeles, on Nov 11 after a motorcyclist reported coming across what he thought were human bones. Two days later, four sets of skeletal remains buried in two shallow graves were dug up. Dental records were used to identify the remains of Joseph McStay, 40, and his wife Summer, 43, who were reported missing from the San Diego area in February 2010 along with their two children, police said last week. They thought the remaining bones were likely to be their two young sons. DNA tests have now confirmed the remaining bones to be those of Gianni McStay, aged four, and his three-year-old brother Joseph, police said on Friday.

DHAKA TRIBUNE

International

China creates defence over Japan-controlled islands n AFP, Beijing

Policemen and firefighters work on a damaged site following a pipeline explosion in Qingdao in east China’s Shandong province Friday AP

18,000 evacuated after pipeline explosion in China n AFP, Beijing Some 18,000 people were evacuated from a Chinese coastal city after an oil pipeline explosion killed at least 47 people and sent thick black smoke billowing into the sky, a local government report said Saturday.

The Friday morning blast in Qingdao ripped roads apart, pictures showed, while leaving many sections of the city cut off from utilities. The latest government report Saturday did not explicitly state a reason for the evacuation, mention its timing, or whether people had been able to return to their homes.

But, according to official media, students from nearby schools and local residents were handed out masks over fears of possible toxic emissions.

The Global Times later reported: “Environmental monitoring shows that the concentration of toxic materi-

als is within national standards.”

The impact of the blast disrupted the supply of water, gas and electricity in parts of the city, with the government distributing 2,000 candles on Friday night. Authorities also provided 40,000 servings of free food for breakfast and lunch on Saturday. Electricity has now been restored in all but two communities in the district, the local government said.

The pipeline, run by state-owned oil giant Sinopec, sprang a leak early Friday and exploded several hours later as workers sought to repair it, the Qingdao municipal government said in its verified account on Sina Weibo, a Chinese equivalent of Twitter.

Sinopec chairman Fu Chengyu told state television on Saturday: “(We) are deeply grieved, we express our deep condolences for the dead, our support to their families ... and our apologies to the whole country.

“(We will) find out the accident’s causes as soon as possible and give a reasonable explanation to everyone.”

Sinopec said that the pipeline, which was put into service in 1986, was 248 kilometres long and carried some 10 million tonnes of oil per year.

Authorities on Saturday also turned their efforts to containing the oil spill as it spread out into the sea over an area covering 3,000 square metres.

Oil booms and 22 clean-up ships were deployed in the zone, tasked with spraying 10 tonnes of oil dispersants, reported the Xinhua news agency quoting local officials. China has a very poor record on industrial safety as lax law enforcement and corruption enables business owners to cut corners or offer bribes to evade standards. Around 28,000 people were killed or went missing in workplace accidents in the first half of this year, state media have reported. l

Beijing on Saturday announced it was setting up an “air defence identification zone” over an area that includes islands controlled by Japan but claimed

by China, in a move that could inflame the bitter territorial row.

Along with the creation of the zone in the East China Sea, the defence ministry released a set of aircraft identification rules that must be followed by all planes entering the area, under penalty of intervention by the military.

Aircraft are expected to provide their flight plan, clearly mark their nationality, and maintain two-way radio communication allowing them to “respond in a timely and accurate manner to the identification inquiries” from Chinese authorities.

The outline of the new zone, which is shown on the ministry website and a state media Twitter account, covers a wide area of the East China Sea between South Korea and Taiwan that includes the Tokyo-controlled islands known as the Senkaku to Japan and Diaoyou to China.

“China’s armed forces will adopt defensive emergency measures to respond to aircraft that do not cooperate in the identification or refuse to follow the instructions,” according to the ministry.

The zone became operational as of 10:00am Saturday (0200 GMT).

Four Chinese coastguard boats briefly entered Senkaku waters on Friday, following multiple incursions at the end of October and start of November which revived tensions between Beijing and Tokyo.

Japanese Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera said in late October that the repeated incursions were a threat to peace and fell in a “grey zone’ (between) peacetime and an emergency situation.”

A few days earlier, the Chinese defence minister warned Japan that any bid to shoot down its drones would constitute “an act of war.”

The move came after a report said Japan had drafted plans to shoot down foreign drones that encroach on its airspace if warnings to leave are ignored.

Sino-Japanese relations have remained at a low-ebb for more than a year as a result of the dispute, which was revived when Japan nationalised three of the archipelago’s five islands in September 2012.

Since that time, China has sent regular coast guard patrols to the islands, which are 200 kilometres northeast of Taiwan and 400 kilometres west of Japan’s Okinawa. l

Multiple quakes rattle China n AFP, Beijing Multiple earthquakes hit northeast China Saturday, with a 5.5 magnitude the strongest among them, according to seismologists, causing serious damage to homes.

The 5.5 magnitude quake hit at 6:04am (2204 GMT Friday), 34 kilometres north of Changling in Jilin province at a shallow depth of 12.5 kilometres, the US Geological Survey said.

It was followed around thirty minutes later by a 4.9 magnitude quake just south of Qian’an town, with a similar tremor felt a day earlier in the same area.

More than 58,000 people were affected by the quakes, with 16,094 evacuated and more than 18,000 homes damaged, Jilin province communications office said on its official weibo microblog account.

State TV images showed seriously damaged houses, some with roofs or walls partially collapsed.

Some villages lost power, according to Xinhua news agency.

A magnitude 6.6 earthquake in southwest China’s Sichuan province killed about 200 people in April, five years after almost 90,000 people were killed by a huge tremor in the same province. l

Tokyo governor hit by dirty Philippine leader hopes for speedier electioneering scandal trial in murder of 58 n AFP, Tokyo

Tokyo governor Naoki Inose has admitted that he had received $500,000 from a political family at the centre of a dirty electioneering scandal, but denied the money formed a slush fund.

Inose, who is credited for bringing the 2020 Olympics to the capital, told reporters Friday that the money – which he received before running in last year’s gubernatorial election – was a personal “loan” and did not constitute election campaign funds.

Under the Japanese election law, campaign treasurers must report all income, such as donations, related to electioneering.

Inose failed to report the $500,000.

Those who violate the law could face prison terms of up to three years or fines of up to 500,000 yen ($5,000).

Inose also said at the Friday press conference in Tokyo that he was offered the money by the Tokudas, the family running the powerful medical group Tokushukai.

“I felt it would be rude to refuse when (the money was) offered,” Inose said.

Afghan government sets US deal conditions

n AFP, Kabul

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has set conditions for signing a security deal with the US, including an end to military operations on Afghan homes and cooperation on peace and election processes, a spokesman said Saturday.

Karzai will explain the conditions to a grand assembly that will advise on whether to accept the deal in a closing speech planned for Sunday, presidential spokesman Aimal Faizy said.

After months of negotiations, Kabul and Washington this week agreed the terms of a Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) which will define any American military presence in Afghanistan after US-led Nato combat troops exit at the end of 2014. The Afghan president will explain “why the end of military operations on Afghan homes, the sincere cooperation of the US in the peace process and in transparent elections are the conditions set for the Afghanistan to sign the agreement,” Faizy said. l

But public broadcaster NHK reported Saturday that it was Inose himself who reached out to the Tokuda family and asked for 100 million yen ($1m) before the election.

Takeshi Tokuda, a lower house member, relayed Inose’s request to his father and the founder of the medical group, Torao Tokuda, who then provided 50 million yen, NHK said.

Prosecutors have investigated the Tokushukai group, which runs dozens of major hospitals throughout the nation, over an allegation of illegal electioneering practice, including providing money to campaign workers, at the time the younger Tokuda ran for the lower house.

Inose admitted to receiving the money, which he said he had paid back, after the investigation surfaced in September.

He said he was only able to return the money after the investigation because he had been busy running Tokyo’s bid to host the 2020 Olympics, and because he had to attend to his wife, who was hospitalised. l

Filipino journalists and supporters raise their clenched fists as they burn an effigy of a backhoe during a rally to denounce killings of journalists in suburban Manila AP

n AFP, Manila President Benigno Aquino hopes the trial over the Philippines’ worst political massacre can be speeded up, his spokeswoman said on Saturday, the fourth anniversary of the murder of 58

people which shocked the world.

Aquino’s spokeswoman Abigail Valte said the president had done what he could without interfering in judicial proceedings over the November 23, 2009 mass killing in the southern island of Mindanao.

“The prosecutors have always stuck to their instructions from the president to avoid delays on the part of government as well as to fight any attempt to delay on the part of the defence,” she said.

“We’re hoping... that it (the proceedings) would go faster,” she added.

However she also said delays were expected because of the complexity of the case, with many witnesses, accused and testimonies to be heard.

The 58 people, including 32 journalists, were allegedly killed by the private army of the politically-influential Ampatuan clan to prevent a member of a rival clan from running against an Ampatuan in local elections in 2010.

The Ampatuan patriarch, two sons and several family members are in custody and on trial for the murder but the proceedings have dragged on for years due to irregular hearings and legal manoeuvres by the defence. Activists have assailed Aquino for the slow pace of the trial, which has become a symbol of the country’s “culture of impunity” where the powerful get away with the worst abuses without fear of punishment. l

Crisis-hit Thai politics in new cycle of tumult

Philippines typhoon death toll feared to hit 7,000

n AFP, Bangkok

n AFP, Tacloban

Thai politics has entered a tumultuous new era, analysts say, as the beleaguered ruling party slugs it out against an onslaught of opposition challenges and major rival protests menace the capital.

Tens of thousands of anti-government demonstrators and the pro-government “Red Shirts” are expected to mass in Bangkok Sunday as the turbulent nation sees its most significant political street action since bloody rallies in 2010.

The ruling Puea Thai party – viewed as a conduit for divisive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra – is under fire after failing to push through two major policies that have incensed its enemies, and even alienated some supporters.

“We are going to see ongoing tension,” said analyst Thitinan Pongsudhirak, of Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University, following a Constitutional Court ruling this week scuppering

plans by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra – Thaksin’s sister – for a fully-elected senate.

“The anti-government protests are strong enough now to stymie government policy work and without the ability to get policy work done, I think that we are beginning to see the new electoral cycle in motion,” Thitinan said.

Thailand has been rocked by periodic outbreaks of protest violence since Thaksin was deposed in a military coup seven years ago.

Observers say the latest crisis was triggered by a wave of anger unleashed by a Puea Thai amnesty plan that could have allowed Thaksin’s return from self-imposed exile – and pardoned those responsible for a deadly 2010 military crackdown on his “Red Shirt” supporters. The plan galvanised the opposition, sparking anti-government protests that have not ebbed despite a senate move quashing the bill last week. l

The number of people dead or missing after one of the world’s strongest typhoons struck the Philippines climbed towards 7,000 on Saturday, as the United Nations warned much more needed to be done to help desperate survivors.

The government’s confirmed death toll rose to 5,235, with another 1,613 people still missing more than two weeks after Super Typhoon Haiyan destroyed entire towns across a long stretch of islands in the central Philippines.

Haiyan now rivals a 1976 tsunami on the southern island of Mindanao as the deadliest recorded natural disaster to strike the Philippines, which endures a never-ending battle against typhoons, earthquakes, floods and volcanic eruptions.

The typhoon has triggered a giant, international aid effort, with dozens of

9

Sunday, November 24, 2013

countries and relief organisations rushing to deliver food, water and health services to more than four million people who lost their homes.

However UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos, after visiting the disaster zones, warned the world was still not responding fast enough.

“Much more needs to be done. Food, clean water and shelter remain the top priorities,” Amos said as a UN appeal for funds was raised from $301m to $348m.

Amos said huge numbers of people were still exposed to bad weather in the nine provinces ravaged by the storm, as she warned particularly of the dangers for babies, children and mothers.

“I am very concerned that some 1.5 million children are at risk of acute malnutrition and close to 800,000 pregnant and nursing mothers need nutritional help,” Amos told a news conference at UN headquarters. l

Pakistan militants kidnap 11 teachers in polio vaccination campaign

n Reuters, Kabul Militants kidnapped 11 Pakistani teachers involved in a polio vaccination campaign for school children on Saturday, officials said, the latest in a string of attacks on health workers trying to eradicate the deadly disease.

The teachers were taken from the private Hira Public School in the Bara area of the Khyber tribal agency, one of the semi autonomous tribal areas along border with the Afghanistan. The gunmen arrived just after teams administering the polio vaccines had left, officials said.

‘Mangal Bagh and his men are opposing polio vaccination for children and don’t allow teams to immunise children in their areas’

Local official Khyali Gul said the gunmen took the teachers to an area controlled by militant leader Mangal Bagh and his Taliban-affiliated Lashkar-e-Islam group.

“Mangal Bagh and his men are opposing polio vaccination for children and don’t allow teams to immunise children in their areas,” Gul said.

Another Khyber official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the teachers had been taken to an area where security forces cannot enter due to presence of militants. It was expected they would be released following negotiations with local elders, the official said.

Gunmen frequently attack polio vaccination workers in Pakistan. Militants accuse them of being Western spies or part of a plot to sterilise Muslims. One militant leader said he would only allow vaccinations in his area if US drone strikes stopped.

A global eradication campaign has reduced polio cases by 99.9% in the last three decades, but it remains endemic in Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

There were just 223 cases last year, according to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, but as long as the disease remains in pockets it can reinfect countries previously cleared.l

Pakistani Taliban claim twin bombings

n AFP, Karachi

The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility Saturday for twin bomb attacks targeting Shias in Karachi overnight that killed at least six people and wounded 35 others. Shahidullah Shahid, a spokesman for umbrella group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), told AFP that the attacks in Pakistan’s largest city were carried out in revenge for violence in Rawalpindi on November 15. He said the attacks were aimed at Shias in Karachi, and vowed further violence.

“It was to avenge the Rawalpindi incident, we will carry out more such attacks to avenge the killing of Sunnis,” Shahid told AFP by telephone from an undisclosed location. Fighting erupted in the garrison-city of Rawalpindi, which neighbours the capital Islamabad, earlier this month when a procession by Shia Muslims to mark the most important day of the mourning month of Muharram coincided with a sermon at a nearby Sunni mosque. The groups clashed with each other, TV cameramen and security forces. Officials said 11 people were killed and more than 60 injured while a Sunni mosque and seminary and an adjacent cloth market were burnt, with Sunni groups blaming Shia protesters. l

Pakistani drone protesters block NATO supplies n AP, Peshawar Thousands of demonstrators protesting US drone strikes have blocked a road in northwest Pakistan used to truck NATO troop supplies and equipment in and out of Afghanistan.

Saturday’s protest in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province is led by Pakistani politician and cricket star Imran Khan.

The road leads to Torkham, one of two border crossings used to ship supplies from Pakistan to Afghanistan.

Tahir Khan, a government official at Torkham, says there is normally little NATO supply traffic on the route on Saturdays. Most trucks arrive at the border

by Friday evening to clear customs.

Khan, whose party runs the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, has been a vocal critic of drone strikes, saying they violate Pakistan’s sovereignty. But the Pakistani government is known to have cooperated with some strikes in the past. l

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Letters to

www.dhakatribune.com

the Editor

LETTER OF THE DAY

Terrorism by any other name

Ershad to declare new alliance

No scope for compromise: Khaleda November 16

J

amaat-e-Islami, in a rally organised to protest the newly formed election-time government, has not only admitted to guilt in the Sitakunda incident, but has also threatened to set the whole country “on fire” should the Quader Molla verdict be changed.

We denounce in the strongest terms such self serving and violent activities which serve no purpose but to assault the rights of ordinary citizens and cripple the country by inciting terror. These are the actions of a group that has shown no regard whatsoever Jamaat and its friends for the public interest and must understand that has only engaged in violence the country is not theirs and destruction to make their to burn demands known.

Saying the Sitakunda incident was “just a sample” is a clear admission of guilt on Jamaat’s part. Following the death of one of their leaders, Jamaat had gone on a rampage, torching three trucks and vandalising about 10 to 15 vehicles on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway. Their statement that they would “turn the whole country into Sitakundu” shows a complete lack of interest in reasonable discourse.

It also shows that their political vocabulary does not extend beyond street violence. As the deadly political impasse between the ruling party and leading opposition BNP pushes the nation to the brink, Jamaat is content to only add fuel to the fire.

The common people of this country have had enough.

Jamaat and its friends must understand that the country is not theirs to burn.

Build on the health sector’s achievements

O

ver the 40 years, Bangladesh’s health sector has outperformed neighbouring countries in delivering positive outcomes amid a background of limited resources.

Life expectancy has grown to 68 years partly as a result of infant mortality being more than halved since 1990 and maternal mortality reducing by 75% in the last three decades.

The reputed medical journal The Lancet is highlighting a range of healthcare achievements including those made under the millennium development goals as part of Achievements should a special series launched this be used to help raise week with ICDDRB and Brac. standards further Much of the achievement made in improving the survival rate of infants and children under the age of five, and expanding immunisation coverage can be attributed to successive governments following a flexible , pragmatic approach to improving service delivery.

Community-based approaches and NGOs have played a significant part in ensuring high rates of treatment coverage.

The model of deploying community health workers which allowed greater than 90% cure rates for TB has been copied in South Africa for treatment of HIV, as well as tuberculosis.

The private sector has also played an invaluable role and has taken advantage of the protection afforded for Essential drugs to develop a cost effective and growing pharmaceutical production industry.

The country still faces many healthcare challenges, including both malnutrition caused by poverty and obesity caused by growing wealth. It is vital to apply the knowledge gained from successful research and innovation in the healthcare sector to raise standards further.

CROSSWORD

The most despicable abdication of a political party’s rights is the use of strikes (hartal) leading to chaos, destruction and murder of innocents in order to push its own political agenda.

It’s a shameful act.

N Ahmed

Cox’s Bazar cricket stadium uncertain following BCB-tourism ministry dispute November 15

The tourism ministry has enough space to build 5-star hotels in a number of other spots in Cox’s Bazaar. Why do they have to build on that spot? Building an international stadium would surely attract more foreigners to Cox’s Bazaar. A supermall should also be built, along with a bowling alley, ice skating facilities, discos and a multiplex movie theatre and go-kart track.

Sakhawat Husain

DOWN 1 Nuisance (4) 2 Pacific (6) 3 Very hard mineral (5) 4 Tolerable (2-2) (4) 5 Distant (3) 6 Land measure (3) 9 Part of the body (4) 11 Mild explosion (3) 14 Thailand’s former Name (4) 15 Hire (6) 16 Zodiac sign (3) 17 Vestment (5) 18 Cast off (4) 19 Direction (4) 21 Cereal (3) 22 Container (3)

November 15

Breaking news. After some days, it will be the opposite. You never know. :-D Tauhid Ahmed Bappy I can’t believe Ershad. I think he will participate in all-party aliance election, it is another election engineering of the present government.

Motaleb Khan

LETTER OF THE WEEK

Beauty is truth, truth beauty?

November 16

A society that places undue emphasis on physical beauty is irresponsible.

Health is where the focus ought to go, as there is more than one kind of beauty to behold. Beauty exists in many forms and we ought to be conditioned to recognise this.

Chris

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

It takes two to tango November 16

WaliulHaqueKhondker Caretaker government will not be needed if the Election Commission is independent and strong. If the EC is independent, it can hold any election fairly and neutrally. The EC held upazila and municipality elections in a free and fair manner. Democracy will get an institutionalised shape if the EC plays its independent role strongly. The EC had declared illegal the 13th amendment to the constitution on consideration that the state should be governed by elected representatives of the people, and governing the state by unelected persons is unconstitutional.

To facilitate the EC in its task, an all-party interim government would not only be constitutional, but would dispel all fears about ruling party machinations to influence the general election also. I don’t understand what haunts Hamlet! rezaul karim For a free and fair election, again, the most viable solution for both was to have the election under CTG for next two terms. AL’s lust for power made them blind and its followers are following her blindly which means both will fall into a ditch. Let’s see what waits for the fate of 165 million people.

Will the people’s wishes and aspirations be fulfilled?

Only time will tell.

Waliul Haque Khondker rezaul karim: Please try and recollect the Iajuddin CTG, from where four honourable advisers resigned simultaneously. The non-party CTG died its natural death then! We saw a military (backed) administration conducting polls subsequently.

That too after a two-year gap. It is not advisable to ask the military every time to conduct polls in a democracy. All-party CTG is something we haven’t yet tried; the BNP should co-operate and come in to make it a worthwhile effort. If it doesn’t work, well then, the door for “andolon” is always open!

Omer Selim Sher I agree with part of it, but when the people have given a mandate of two-thirds majority in the parliament, the parliament reigns supreme. It is the duty of the legislature to amend the constitution as said in the Supreme Court verdict. So you cannot say the people did not want it, whether the BNP supporters or general public; they have given the mandate to the parliament.

a citizen I think a journalist should play it straight without favouring one side. You can still use charm and guile and not be partial. When you let bias come into play you lose objectivity.

I can sometimes see that you have a natural understanding of fairness, but by making a stand on which side of the spectrum you are on, you are letting objectivity go by forcing your own personal opinions on the current political situation.

You can create a balance by avoiding taking sides about an issue. For any good journalist, objectivity and impartiality are two sides of the same coin. While writing a piece, forget your personal preferences; it will help you to be fair. To be a top notch journalist, you must not allow your party loyalty to influence your news judgment. Hope this helps.

Waliul Haque khondker a citizen: Dear citizen, you are 100% right so far as editorial writing is concerned. But an op-ed may carry the view of the columnist according to one’s fair judgment as a conscious citizen, even if doesn’t sound politically neutral. There should be nothing wrong with it.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

PEANUTS

SUDOKU ACROSS 1 Balances evenly (6) 5 Passing craze (3) 7 Grinding tooth (5) 8 Views (6) 10 Corded fabric (3) 12 Wicked emperor (4) 13 Gelid (3) 14 Ooze (4) 16 Be wanting in (4) 17 Transgression (3) 18 Male deer (4) 20 Sphere (3) 23 Reverence paid (6) 24 Country bumpkin (5) 25 Spell (3) 26 Fault (6)

Sunday, November 24, 2013

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

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Washington pays attention

AFP

O

n Tamim Choudhury n the wintry November 20 afternoon in Washington, DC, Bangladesh received major attention in the halls of power. Inside a white marble, four-story building next to the US Capitol Building, the House Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific held a congressional hearing titled: “Bangladesh in Turmoil: A Nation on the Brink?”

As the South Asian media filled the press table and the Bangladesh ambassador to the US viewed from a frontrow seat, the Awami League government received intense scrutiny from the parliamentary body of the world’s superpower. Congress members and witnesses depicted an abysmal scenario where Bangladesh could head toward total political breakdown.

Subcommittee Chairman Steve Chabot stated: “The country is in a state of political turmoil. Political operatives utilise strikes, riots, and blockades to destabilise the country.” The congressman went to Bangladesh on a two-day visit earlier this month and assessed that the violence could lead to broader security risks for the region.

D

R

He observed that both the prime minister and opposition leader were adamant in their positions, with Sheikh Hasina insisting that provisions are in place for a fair election. He also criticised the International Crimes Tribunal for not meeting international standards, and concluded: “Bangladesh has much going for it and much standing in the way of its continuing progress.”

blamed the prime minister’s cancellation of the interim caretaker government as the critical issue igniting the turbulence.

Professor Ali Riaz, a public policy scholar at the think-tank Woodrow Wilson Center, stated that it was unlikely for a routine election to take place as the opposition may boycott the election, or the entire election may

As the political violence in this South Asian nation reaches a crescendo, what is the world’s superpower planning for this country that is tied to it with multibillion-dollar trade and global security?

Representative Tulsi Gabbard conveyed her concerns regarding attacks on the Hindu community and worker safety violations. She reiterated the US mantra to create an environment for free, fair, and credible elections, stating: “The US continues to be concerned about the political deadlock.”

Congressman Brad Sherman mentioned religious-minority abuses and the harassment of Professor Yunus. In a nutshell, all three witnesses squarely

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be deferred. He recommended that the US emphasise quality of democracy by prescribing concrete steps to be followed by political parties, with rewards such as tariff removal.

Additionally, he advised that the US should assist building a strong Election Commission, encourage containment of religious extremism, and neither franchise its responsibilities or exclude India from its strategies. He also suggested accommodating the op-

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his is a story about a friendship that began accidentally on a rustic winter night about a year ago over Diet Coke and cheeseburgers, which quickly grew to become more epic than Harry Potter 5.

It’s a story about a friendship that went halfway round the world, from Montreal to Dhaka, beating, btw, the 30-day record set by Phileas Fogg (thanks to the services offered by Etihad Airways). And, ultimately, how that friendship (metaphorically) went to seek its fortune at Cannes.

This is the incredible true story of my friendship with the inimitable Paul Telner, who came to Dhaka last month to shoot a TV show called “Good Morning Bangladesh,” and how me and my cousin, the one-and-only Ahad Bhai, went to Cannes to sell it.

It was indeed a wintry night when I met Paul and his writer friend Spencer Walker last year in Montreal. But the bluster of cold air Paul brought in with him dissipated quickly with the warmth of his cheer and his viciously jolly catch-phrase, delivered with his patented grin, neon baseball cap, and welcoming hug: “Hey, how are you!

Good to see you!”© Cut to one year later, we’re the best of friends sitting in the lobby of the Mandarin Oriental in Toronto, listening raptly as Ahad tells us his idea for a new TV show, conceived as a result of our friendship with the inimitable Paul Telner.

The show is called “Good Morning Bangladesh.” Paul plays an entertainment TV show host in Canada who makes a series of unwittingly offensive remarks and gets kicked off the air.

Now, the only place his agent can find him a job is as a serious business host … in Bangladesh.

Oh, and he’s a Jew. Five months later and we’re shooting the pilot in the sweltering heat of Dhakaberg. Five days later and Ahad’s furiously editing the trailer with our partner Mushfiqur Rahman back at our Bioscopewala Productions office. Five hours later and we’re on the plane to Cannes, headed to the largest entertainment fair in the world.

Touchdown on the French Riviera.

Five days of meetings at the Warner Bros yacht pier, phone pics with Katy Perry at the Mediterranean Sea, beach parties with French DJs at the Hotel Majestic, fresh orange juice in the sun at the BBC rooftop office, and explosive laughter from everyone who watched the trailer.

Paul and I met last year, but our camaraderie is timeless.

His honesty and goodness are rare traits, and that’s what makes his comedy as classic as Coca-Cola and cotton candy

They loved it. The inimitable Paul Telner’s a star. Ahad’s a genius. Spencer’s a made man. And I’m the producer, baby.

The idea was inspired. Ahad wanted to make a show centred on a loveable fish-out-of-water character to showcase the lighter side of Bangladesh and the vibrancy of its culture and its people.

Filmed entirely using local crew – like the talented MK Khan – and well-known local actors, the show is an homage to the quality of the local film industry, the liveliness of Dhaka,

government to hold a fair election and transfer power to the elected. Any prolonged stay of such government beyond six to eight months would be harmful to Bangladesh.”

John Sifton from Human Rights Watch probably provided the most damning indictment. He illustrated a dire political scenario where the government exhibits illegal, excessive force against opponents and by HRW estimates, 150 protesters have been killed and 2,000 injured by security forces since February this year.

He mentioned visiting human rights group Odhikar in Dhaka and noticing plainclothes police keeping watch by the entrance, stating that “the overt surveillance is pathetic and thuggish.” He encouraged Congress to remind the Bangladesh government that its most important needs, such as gaining low tariffs and continuing peacekeeping missions, will be placed at risk in case of a political implosion.

Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce joined at the end of the hearing, conveying that Islamist radicalism is the wider problem. The congressman compared Bangladesh to Pakistan in fermenting Islamist terror via Deobandi madrasa education.

Tamim Choudhury is a greater Washington, DC-based communications analyst.

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Good Morning Bangladesh n Mohammad N Miraly

position’s demand to hold the election without the prime minister as head of government.

Major General Muniruzzaman (retired), head of Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies, noted that the incumbent government had the capacity to manipulate elections and in the absence of a strong Election Commission, a fair election could only be conducted by a caretaker government. He also warned that the rising tendency of Islamic militants and the current state of political turbulence by the government would lead to instability.

Moreover, he emphasised the need to change the political culture, freeing the judiciary branch from the executive, making the anticorruption and election commissions more accountable, and forming national policies, not just personal policies. He also stressed that although the military does not have the appetite for a government takeover, it remains the only credible force in the nation and increased political violence may suck the military into the crisis.

In his written testimony, the major general stated: “There is likely to be a military-backed interim civilian

He asserted that Hindus have fled to India and religious-minority communities have been targeted by a small, radicalised group sowing terror, with the police turning a blind eye.

The government must close down radicalised Deobandi schools, or the state will collapse.

Upon Assistant Secretary of State Nisha Biswal’s November 17 visit with Khaleda Zia, BNP Vice Chairman Shamsher Chowdhury noted that the assistant secretary praised the opposition leader’s recent speech at a press conference, terming it path-showing with an outline to strengthen democracy.

Out of 14 subcommittee members, only two representatives held the Bangladesh hearing. There was no possible debate among the members on whether Bangladesh was on the brink. Although renowned experts in their fields, the selected witnesses basically corroborated how much turmoil the nation is undergoing; there was not one witness to refute the allegations or defend the government’s approach.

Chairman Royce briefly stepped in to offer an alarmist statement toward the end. Despite the Awami League government cracking down on Islamist terrorism, why compare Bangladesh to Pakistan, a nation with pervasive US intervention due to the global threat of terrorism? Furthermore, upon concluding his Bangladesh trip, why did Congressman Chabot label the opposition leader as: “probably soon-to-be again Prime Minister Khaleda Zia?” Finally, America’s most prominent newspaper presents a highly critical editorial on the Awami League’s governance. The New York Times’ November 20 edition reports that this year, hundreds have died in political battles, top opposition leaders have been arrested, and the court has delivered guilty verdicts that flout due process standards. The editorial notes: “Responsibility for this crisis sits squarely with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. If violations of rights continue, Bangladesh could face pressure, including perhaps sanctions, from the international community.”

As the political violence in this South Asian nation reaches a crescendo, what is the world’s superpower planning for this country that is tied to it with multibillion-dollar trade and global security?

In 2007, the knights were aligned by the international community to remove the queen’s handpicked bishop. One hopes that this time around, US engagement with Bangladesh actually benefits the common citizens, and not just the chess masters. l

Who is behind all this? and the historic multiculturalism of the region. From Bangladeshi crew to Canadian actors, and UK producers to American writers, the show brings together the best of Dhaka’s global vibe to showcase its best side.

And it’s hilarious.

Paul is comedy. His silly grin and colourful suits set against the backdrop of Dhaka are the hilarious ingredients that Spencer whipped into an even more hilarious script (sure, there were seven full script rewrites each day of shooting, but who’s counting).

The show is a testament to friendship. My friendship with Paul – a Canadian TV executive who had his own MTV comedy show – led to our partnership with Ahad, the CEO of Bioscopewala Productions Ltd and one of the hottest young producers in Dhaka, which led to a script by Spencer, the American author of the book, Cook to Bang.

Paul and I met last year, but our camaraderie is timeless. His honesty and goodness are rare traits, and that’s what makes his comedy as classic as Coca-Cola and cotton candy. Good people make good things happen.

And that’s what we did in September when a good-natured fellow named Paul Telner left North America for the first time, flew halfway round to world to shoot a TV pilot, and experienced all the inevitable cultural mishaps he could in the wildness of Bangladesh, a place in which his colourful character and unstoppable kindness brought out the best in the country.

It was basically Hangover 2 meets ET. And we got it on film. l Mohammad N Miraly holds a PhD from McGill University in Religion, Ethics, and Public Policy.

n Muhammad Eusha

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he present political conundrum has elicited a stupefying number of reactions from people, who have been quite judgmental and overenthusiastic about finding a culprit.

Innumerable essays written by those we regard reverently as sages, have been published by newspapers both Bangla and English.

Talk shows have spared no efforts to bring to the public the opinions of those who are believed to possess insight. We also seem to have reached an unimpeachable conclusion as to who must be held responsible for what we are going through now.

Whether it is an ordinary street loafer or a qualified university professor, everyone seems to agree that it is the major political parties who are to blame. However, this is a very immature verdict, and just as Sherlock Holmes used to demonstrate to Inspector Lestrade that the most obvious conclusion is not always necessarily the correct one, permit me, reader, to show you that the real culprit is the public and not party “A” or party “B”.

Indeed, it is time to stop blaming our political parties. It has become a popular cultural practice today to lampoon our politicians and to criticise them mercilessly. The reader should not get the impression that I am trying to assert that our leaders are beyond the realm of culpability. It is impossible to gainsay that politics in Bangladesh is a domain frequented by reprehensible reprobates with no sense of moral rectitude.

However, who else can be blamed other than us? We are the ones who made these choices. We are the ones who made them leaders, actively or passively. We are reaping as we sowed and yet another proverb holds true, un-

surprisingly. Yet, when sages are looking for shoulders to mount blames on, they would invariably choose the political parties.

“The political parties are too interested in partisan battles”, they would say. It has become such a hackneyed sentence that all the different ways of saying it have been exhausted already.

We know that our political parties appear to be concerned little about public welfare but they would not have been here to push the country to the brink of anarchy had we not chosen them ourselves.

Now you may ask yourself: “Did I really choose A or B?” Yes, you did.

Consciously or passively.

That, probably, is how our lack of active interest in politics grew over time. So, unqualified people had the opportunity of assuming crucially important positions of leadership after we started to rule ourselves finally.

How can the situation change?

Well, we must stop acting like a herd of sheep. When we do decide to choose a leader, we must be more aware, and conscious in our choices.

Most importantly, we must stop hiding in our homes like frightened rats, while some unprincipled people toy with our future. A little courage could do us a world of good. l Muhammad Eusha is an HVAC specialist and a DT columnist.

We know that our political parties appear to be concerned little about public welfare but they would not have been here to push the country to the brink of anarchy had we not chosen them ourselves Bangladeshis have a surprising lack of enthusiasm in actively participating in political affairs of the country. It may be regarded as a peculiar apprehensive docility.

Such an attitude is not unusual among people who have developed an inferiority complex over centuries dominated and ruled as they were by foreign powers. Our people hardly had the right to have an opinion regarding what happens in the sidereal realms of those who ruled the country in the eras of the British Raj and united Pakistan.

Even before those periods, they had been ruled by foreigners of different races and origins. A history of enslavement of such length probably debilitated the feeling of self-confidence in us and we ceased to believe that we should choose the people who rule us.

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Graphic Fair ends with hope Tarunne Ranga Rabindranath Very n Afrose Jahan Chaity

Young artistes present Tagore’s songs and poems at EMK Center

n Saddam Hossain Hriyad Being an exponent of Bengali culture, Rabindranath Tagore’s creations are always considered timeless and evergreen. But when it comes to the tech-driven 21st century, the young generation, sometimes, find it tough to fit in the omnificent artiste’s creations. When there was a time where the artistes didn’t want to introduce western instruments to the musical arrangements of Bengali music with the apprehension of losing purity, Tagore fearlessly infused piano to a number of his tracks and created highly revered pieces of music. He had the courage to break in.

Days change, so do the demands.

These days the urge for newer styles in presentation of his poems, dramas, music and other creations is so huge that staying out of the league is like staying out of the taste. Around the globe, creative people are doing something different everywhere to feel the maestro in a diversified way.

Ohornish Events arranged such a performance on November 22 in

SADIA MARIUM

collaboration with the EMK center.

The title was pretty simple: Tarunne Ranga Rabindranath (Rabindranath in the colors of the youths). Well, though Rabindranath was always a colorful character in the Bengali Literature, yet today’s youths need to paint him in their own hues. The autumn-evening programme featured a musical narration called Notun Jouboner Doot, performed by Shwapnil Shojib, Sumana Biswas, Samiul Islam Poluck and Debolina Shur followed by a performance by band Dharok.

Notun Jouboner Doot was basically an aggregated act consisting of recitations and songs. Art of vocals were stretched with the songs and poems like Mati Toder Dak Diyechhe, O Amar Desher Mati, Badh Bhenge Dao and Amra Notun Jouboner Doot. The message was patriotic, timeless and encouraging towards the spirit of the youth. As Shaik Borhan Uddin, the lead organiser of the event, says, “We have a clear message to the youths. Rabindranath is for all generations. Come and feel his creations. We are just pav-

ing a way for you to interact with this great mind.”

Dharok, a 6-member band, rendered 11 songs of Rabindranath Tagore in their own style. They presented songs of different tastes like Aaj Jotsnarate, Ekla Cholo Re, Mor Bhabonare, Bhalobashi Bhalobashi and more. Nirjhar and Nadia Dora, as lead vocals teamed up with Jitu in guitar, Shahed in keyboards, Sohel in drums and Shimul in bass and moved the audience with their energetic performance. The arrangement was more like a rock cooked tribute to Tagore. They included vocal improvisations with creative use of guitar and drums. Nontheless, audience welcomed it warmly.

It needs time to tell how the generations will adopt Rabindranath and to what extent their experimentation will be widely accepted. But such attempts will definitely contribute to get things more into the views. Ohornish plans to continue their journey with more regular shows. So the audience might expect to see such experimental shows more often. l

A three-day fair titled Very Graphic concluded amidst much enthusiasm at the Bengal Art Lounge yesterday.

The fair was part of the ongoing Very Graphic Exhibition, a collaborative effort of British Council, Bangladesh and Bengal Art Lounge with support from Bellissimo Ice-cream.

One of the major attractions of the event was the stalls of Dhaka Comics, Hottiti and Unmad that offered a wide variety of cartoon magazines and books. Animation farms Toon Bangla and Mighty Punch entertained the audience by screening interesting animated films.

The fair also included workshops and lectures by artists, children story-time, contests, a pitching session for a graphic novel, and more.

British artists Karrie Fransman and Steven Harris conducted two fruitful workshops on graphic novels.

On the second day of the fair, a workshop titled “Character Develop-

ment: 101” by Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy, featured the overall idea of how to design characters for cartoons, comic and graphic stories. The workshop focused on forms of storytelling and portrayal of figures.

Cartoonist Tanmoy, assistant editor of popular cartoon magazine Unmad, shared with the Dhaka Tribune: “We are exploring the many different ways that one can go about designing characters. We are focusing on how personality affects character shapes and the different ‘meanings’ of character shapes and attributes.”

The three-hour workshop featured introduction to character design, analysis of old works, discussion of styles and forms, discussion of shapes and contrast between forms, discussion of expressions and gestures and designing a character.

Twenty participants got the chance to attend the workshop. One of the participants, Souvik, a student of the Dhaka University’s Fine Arts Institute, shared his experiences with the Dhaka

Tribune: “Drawing cartoon characters is my hobby. From this workshop, I have learnt how to develop characters for comic, animation and all sorts of graphic storytelling. I also learned some new ideas and drawing techniques.”

Toonbangla animator Genus, also a student of graphic design of the University of Development Alternative, said: “I have learnt more about how professional artists approach character design. I think organisers should come up with more similar workshops so that we can learn more.”

On the last day of the fair, celebrated illustrator Sabyasachi Mistry conducted a workshop on writing stories with images for children participants.

Manager of Bengal Art Lounge Katrina Don shared her visions about the event with the Dhaka Tribune: “We hope to widen the capacity of artists. It is our aim to tell stories in creative and innovative ways using images. I hope through this event, the communication between the artists and people will develop.” l

Children participate in a workshop at Very Graphic Fair

ON TV

SYED LATIF HOSSAIN

Madhuri Dixit looks powerful and fearless in Gulaab Gang poster

MOVIES 7:25pm HBO Tower Heist

Popular actors of small screen Anisur Rahman Milon and Zakia Bari Momo will be seen together for the first time on silver screen with Rakibul Alam’s upcoming feature film Prem Korbo Tomar Shathe.

9:30pm Star Movies

The Adventures of Tintin

COMEDY 10:30pm Comedy Central MASH

8:30pm Z Cafe

Mike And Molly

MISC 2:30pm Vh1 Mix Tape

n Entertainment Desk The first poster of Gulaab Gang is out.

Bollywood actor Madhuri Dixit can be seen in the Kaali avatar of goddess Durga. The fiery combination of red and yellow colours in the background adds to the curiosity about her role in the film.

In the movie, helmed by Soumik Sen, Madhuri, who has often played a demure girl-next-door in Bollywood films, takes on the role of a woman who leads a group of women vigilantes to fight against injustice in the Bundelkhand region.

“It’s a very powerful character,” the dancing diva had earlier said of her role, which also required her to shoot some daredevil action scenes.

The film’s first look seems to justify it.

Sen took to Twitter to get a feedback on the poster, and wrote: “’Gulaab Gang’. The first poster. Hope you like it.”

The movie, produced by Anubhav Sinha and presented by Sahara Movie Studios, will be released globally on March 7, 2014.

The film also features Juhi Chawla, Mahie Gill and Tannishtha Chatterjee in key roles. l

9:30pm National Geographic Untamed Americas

I deserve a little luck: Shahid Kapoor n Entertainment Desk

Bolywood star Shahid Kapoor starrer R...Rajkumar is ready to hit the theatres and the actor hopes that lady luck smiles on him this time.

The 32-year-old, who has hits like Jab We Met and Kaminey in his kitty, hasn’t been so lucky at the box office with his recent films Chance Pe Dance, Mausam, Teri Meri Kahaani, and Phata Poster Nikla Hero.

“I have been unlucky that my films did not work, but I have been lucky as my fan following has been intact.

I am lucky that the audience has been very nice,” said Shahid.

“I have tried to give 200 percent to all my films and I am thankful that the audiences have faith in me. I deserve a little luck,” he added.

The actor believes that success is all about the timing.

“It’s all about timing - when time is good, it will work.

You can’t think about all these things as you have to learn to accept a few things. I genuinely feel I just need some luck. The rest of everything is fine,” he said.

Prabhudheva has directed some of the best actions scenes with Shahid in the film R...Rajkumar.

Praising the director, Shahid said: “His sense of action is amazing. His action treatment is also musical.

There is a lot of stylisation. He takes care of small moments.

“We finished shooting for the film in 88 days and for 45 days we shot for action sequences. He gives a lot of time and attention to action.”

Ready to be released on Dec 6, R...Rajkumar will see Shahid working with Sonakshi Sinha for the first time and complimenting each other.

“I have been working for 10 years and I don’t say this for everyone, but she is a complete heroine. Sonakshi is a great actress, she dances very well, her attitude is very positive and we really had a good chemistry,” said Shahid who has worked with the megastars likes Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra and Vidya Balan earlier. l

Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation gives $3 million grant to save tigers n Entertainment Desk Actor Leonardo DiCaprio’s conservation foundation has awarded a $3 million grant to the World Wildlife Fund to help Nepal increase its tiger population.

The WWF said on Thursday that the money from the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, set up by the 39-year-old star of The Great Gatsby and the upcoming film The Wolf of Wall Street, will be used for an initiative to double the number of tigers in Nepal by 2022 - the next Chinese year of the tiger.

“His foundation is all about delivering real results for conservation on the ground and empowering local communities; nowhere is that more evident than in Nepal,” Carter Roberts, the president and CEO of the WWF, said in a statement.

Nepal’s tigers, known as the Panthera tigris, have been classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, with numbers declining over the years.

DiCaprio said a statement that the world’s population of 3,200 tigers was endangered by “habitat destruction and escalating illegal poaching.” His foundation has helped increase the number of tigers in Nepal’s Terai Bardia National Park from 18 to 50. l

TODAY IN DHAKA Film

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

Exhibition

Very Graphic: The Art of Storytelling in Graphic Detail

Group Exhibition Time: 12pm – 6pm Bengal Art Lounge, 60 Gulshan Avenue, Gulshan 1

Festival

Urban Youth Festival Goethe Institut 11am - 8pm Dhanmondi 9

Did you know?

Michel Clarke hit his 25th Test century today, only 5 other Aussies have hit more (Border, Bradman, Hayden, S Waugh, Ponting)

Sport

Sunday, November 24, 2013

14 Sturridge saves Liverpool in derby thriller

n Shishir Hoque

n Shishir Hoque

Mohammedan striker Zahid Hasan Emily (R) celebrates a goal with teammate Jahid Hossain during their Walton Federation Cup match against Rahmatganj at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday MUMIT M

Gazi Tank move to top of table BRIEF SCORES Gazi Tank v Sheikh Jamal

Sheikh Jamal: 259/9 in 50 overs (Chigumbura 109*, Ten Doeschate 3/56) Gazi Tank: 260/4 in 46.4 overs (Raqibul 90, Imrul 81, Crook 2/46) Gazi Tank won by 6 wickets Prime Doleshwar v Mohammedan SC Mohammedan: 143/10 in 42.3 overs (Muktar 46, Sabbir 4/39, Farhad 3/9) Prime Doleshwar: 145/3 in 27 overs (Mehedi 40, Rony 37, Delwar 1/28) Prime Doleshwar won by 7 wickets Kalabagan CA v Prime Bank CC Kalabagan: 305/7 in 50 overs (Masakadza 125, Abdul 54, Rezaul 5/54) Prime Bank: 298/10 in 49.5 overs (Bopara 138, Parvez 76, Nazmul 5/59)

n Minhaz Uddin Khan Title contenders Gazi Tank Cricketers moved a step towards the title of the Dhaka Premier League by defeating Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club yesterday. In the other two games of round three, Prime Doleshwar beat Moham-

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15 England battle to survive in first Ashes Test

Emily strikes hat-trick as MSC win

Feni reach quarters Ali Hasan scored a brace as Soccer Club Feni became the first team to confirm their quarter-finals spot in the Walton Federation Cup after winning a 3-2 thriller against Uttar Baridhara Club at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday. Feni’s victory also saw Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club book a place in the last eight from the same group.

Feni started the game brightly. A 25yard strike from Beninese forward Oladikpikpo Wassiou Okalawon put Feni ahead with just seven minutes into the game. Indian forward Faiz Alam restored the parity at the stroke of the first-half, slotting the ball home over Feni goalie Masud Ahmed Uzzal. Abul Kalam Azad’s initial shot on the goal was earlier parried away by Uzzal but the ball fell at Faiz’s feet.

Feni took the lead again in the 55th minute through Midfielder Ali Hasan.

Nigerian forward Ahmed Samson broke into the left of the penalty area but his shot was blocked by a defender. The rebound fell to Ali Hasan, who hit the back of the net from the middle of the box.

Uttar Baridhar equalized the margin again in the next minute when Abul Kalam Azad’s shot from the edge of the box deflected off a defender and went into the net, sending the goalkeeper in the wrong direction. Ali Hasan netted his second of the evening and sealed the victory in the 82nd minute. Left-back Ala Uddin provided a cross to the middle of the box that found an unmarked Ali, whose header came was saved by the goalkeeper but Ali made no mistake in sending the ball into the net on the second attempt. l

14 Moyes reveals dream of working with Ronaldo

DHAKA TRIBUNE

medan Sporting Club and Kalabagan Cricket Academy secured a win over Prime Bank Cricket Club.

Gazi Tank v Sheikh Jamal

Riding on Raqibul Hasan’s unbeaten 90, Gazi Tank defeated Sheikh Jamal by six wickets at Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium to move to the top of the table with 20 points.

Batting first, Elton Chigumbura’s unbeaten 109 aided Sheikh Jamal in posting 259/9 in their 50 overs.

Zimbabwean cricketer Chigumbura was brilliant in hammering his ton off 94 balls with six fours and nine maximums. The side’s skipper Mushfiqur Rahim added 38 to the tally. Ryan ten Doeschate was Gazi’s most successful bowler with three wickets.

In reply, Gazi Tank reached the target in 46 overs with six wickets in hand. Opening batsman Imrul Kayes got the innings off to a flying start with 81 off 95 balls, before Raqibul’s unbeaten closing effort. Raqibul faced 93 deliveries and struck 10 boundaries

and two sixes for his 90. Steven Crook was the most successful of the Sheikh Jamal bowlers, bagging two wickets at the in seven overs.

The defeat saw Sheikh Jamal move drop one place to third in the table.

Prime Doleshwar v Mohammedan

At Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Prime Doleshwar defeated Mohammedan by seven wickets and kept their title hopes alive.

Batting first, the Mohammedan innings crumbled as the side were bowled out for 143 in 42.3 overs. Middle order batsman Muktar Ali top scored with 46, followed by Upal Tharanga’s 24.

Sabbir Rahman led the Prime Doleshwar bowlers with 4/39, while the side’s skipper Farhad Reza took 3/9.

Later, Prime Doleshwar reached the target in 23 overs while losing three wickets. Opening batsman Mehedi Maruf hammered 40, Rony Talukder scored 37 and Mominul Haque was unbeaten on 33 at the end. The win was Doleshwar’s ninth in 13 games and the fifth defeat for Mohammedan.

Siddikur’s poor run continues at World Cup n Tribune Desk

Kalabagan Cricket Academy player Nazmul Islam (L) receives the Man of the Match award after their victory against Prime Bank at BKSP yesterday COURTESY

Siddikur Rahman’s poor run on ISPS HANDA World Cup debut continued as the Bangladesh golfer posted an awful 6-over-par 77 in the third round and slipped to 58th spot at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club yesterday.

The 29-year-old, who started the on joint 39th, started with a birdie on the third hole but then played a doublebogey on the next and had five more bogeys on the penultimate day of the US$8m grand event.

Meanwhile, rising Thai star Kiradech Aphibarnrat remained on the fringe of contention after a frustrating one-underpar 70 left him seven shots behind third round leader Jason Day of Australia.

Day fired a masterful 66 to take a one-shot lead with a total of 204 from overnight pacesetter Thomas Bjorn of Denmark, who struck a 71 for the day. American Matt Kuchar, runnerup at the Australian Masters here last weekend, moved into contention with a solid 68, three shots behind the new leader. l

Kalabagan CA v Prime Bank CC Kalabagan Cricket Academy defeated Prime Bank by seven runs in a nail biting game at BKSP Ground 2. The defeat spoiled Ravi Bopara’s century for Prime Bank.

Losing the toss, Kalabagan were sent in to bat and rode on Hamilton Masakadza’s 125 off 101 balls (15 fours, five sixes) to post a total of 305/7 in their 50 overs. Abdul Mazid scored 54 and Avishek Mitra added 44, while Rezaul Karim topped the Prime Bank bowling with 5/54.

In reply, Prime Bank were bowled out 49.5 overs for 298. Shehan Jayasuriya got Prime Bank off to a blazing start with 37 off 17 balls.

Prime Bank skipper Ravi Bopara capitalized on the start and struck a fine 138 along with Taiabur Parvez’s 76 to put Prime Bank on course for a win. However, Parvez’s dismissal initiated a collapse and though Bopara remained until the last over, it was not enough.

Nazmul Apu had the best figures for Kalabagan with 5/59. l

National striker Zahid Hasan Emily marked his return to Mohammedan Sporting Club by scoring a sensational hat-trick as the Black and Whites reached the quarter-finals in style by beating Rahmatganj MFS 5-2 in the Walton Federation Cup at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday. The result also confirmed the other team to reach the last eight from group 4- Abahani Limited.

Both of Mohammedan’s controversial signings, Emily and Jahid Hossain, who played for treble winners Sheikh Russell last season, shined in their first match back at their old club. Emily scored three and assisted one while Jahid netted one and assisted two to give Mohammedan a flying start.

Having formed a stronger squad than they had last season, Mohammedan showed yesterday they are out for glory this year. Jahid threatened the opponents defence throughout the game using his skills and pace and made a number of superb crosses from the right flank.

The speedy winger opened the scoring from a 30-yard free kick that deflected off the top of the wall and Rahmatganj goalkeeper Samiul’s fingertip could not stop it from finding the net.

Emily opened his goal sheet after a blunder in the Rahmatganj defence. It looked like Emily attempted to make a cross but the ball dropped in the middle of the box and entered into the net under the legs of Samiul, leaving both the goalkeeper and defender baffled.

Emily scored his second of the night from a penalty after Samiul fouled Jahid inside the box. The national striker completed his hat-trick three minutes before time. It was Emily’s third hat-trick for Mohammedan. Jahid was the architect of the third goal, providing a brilliant cross to find the unmarked Emily inside the six yard box.

Another national striker, Wahed Ahmed came off the bench to score in the 90th minute, heading in a cross from

The primary hearing of the players accused of match fixing during the second edition of Bangladesh Premier League will be held at the Bangladesh Cricket Board disciplinary panel’s office today, head of the three-member anti-corruption tribunal, former justice Khademul Islam Chowdhury, told the media at a press conference held by the tribunal yesterday.

“The primary hearing of those accused of corruption will start from tomorrow (today). Notices have already been served to all to appear for the trial. To be honest, we don’t know the time we will need to reach the conclusion but can say that every effort will be made to close the issue as soon possible,” said justice Khademul.

The former justice further informed that those accused can appeal against punishment, if any, to the BCB disciplinary panel and they will not have the option to go to any court in Bangladesh.

However if necessary they can take the issue to the international court.

Of the accused, Dhaka Gladiators franchise refused to appear before the tribunal on the grounds that they had

Mohammedan

5-2

Rahmatganj

GOAL! 23” Jahid Hossain’s free kick from 30 yards out deflects off top of the wall and enters the net, goalkeeper Samiul Islam can only get fingertips on the ball.

25” Jahid runs through the right flank and grounds a lovely cross for Chuka Charles, who shoots the ball over the bar from close range.

GOAL! 34” Emily attempts a cross from the left flank but a misunderstanding between the Rahmatganj goalkeeper and a defender in the middle of box sees the ball get into the net under Samiul’s legs.

GOAL! 55” Emily converts from the spot after Jahid was being brought down by keeper Samiul inside the box.

GOAL! 78” Rahmatganj forward Nurul Absar scores from the box after Ariful fails to clear the ball.

GOAL! 87” Emily completes his hat-trick heading off a cross from Jahid.

GOAL! 90” Substitute Wahed Ahmed heads the ball into the net over onrushing goalie Samiul from a chip from Emily.

Emily.

Despite all of Mohammedan’s gallant attacking, the Black and Whites also conceded two goals against the 2nd tier club, something they will want to work on before their next match against archrivals Abahani on Monday.

Rahmatganj forward Nurul Absar scored both of their goals in the second half, including one from a penalty in extra time. The other came from a blunder from Mohammedan defender Ariful Islam.

Emily admitted his team’s defensive weakness and said they will improve ahead of the big match against Abahani. “We had some defensive errors today. We couldn’t recruit quality foreign players like the other clubs, although we have made a bright start and hopefully, we will improve more.” l

BCB director AZM Nasiruddin (C) and chairman of the tournament committee Ali Abbas (3R) attend a media briefing of the CJKS Corporate T20 at MA Aziz Gymnasium yesterday

Fixing hearing today n Minhaz Uddin Khan

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

earlier taken the issue to the Chief Metropolitan Magistracy (CMM) and are waiting for the court’s decision.

“They have no option other than to attend the hearing. I don’t want to comment further on this. The tribunal will follow the law of the ICC and the BCB if they don’t appear of the hearing,” said Khademul.

He further informed that the tribunal will run as per the laws of the ICC and the BCB but not of the country.

The BCB appointed former chief justice of the Supreme Court, Abdur Rashid as the chairman of the BCB disciplinary panel on October 14. He later followed the by-laws of the BCB and named a10-member panel.

On November 10, the chairman of the panel formed a three-member tribunal. Former justice Khademul was named the head of the tribunal along with two other members – Ajmalul Hossain QC and former cricketer Shakil Kashem.

Earlier in August this year, the ICC (International Cricket Council) charged seven individuals of match-fixing in the BPL 2, a scandal that had already ensnared national hero Mohammad Ashraful. l

Corporate cricket gets started n Minhaz Uddin Khan

The CJKS Corporate Twenty20 cricket tournament is set to begin tomorrow at Chittagong’s MA Aziz Stadium. The tournament committee held a media briefing on the tournament at MA Aziz Gymnasium yesterday.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hasan will inaugurate the nine-day tournament tomorrow.

A total of eight corporate houses from the port city - Auge and Bennett Eleven, Prime Super Kings, Kwality, Banoful Deer, FMC Fighters, Four H Cricket, BSRM and Pirates of Chittagong - will participate in the tournament.

Each side will be allowed to include an icon cricketer, along with two national team cricketers. The eight icon cricketers are Tamim Iqbal, Shakib al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Nasir Hossain, Naeem Islam, Mashrafe bin Mortaza and Mominul Haque.

BCB director and CJKS general secretary AZM Nasiruddin was present at the media briefing, along with chairman of the tournament committee of CJKS Corporate Twenty Ali Abbas and high officials from the eight participating teams. l

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Sturridge saves Liverpool in derby thriller n AFP, London

Everton's Romalu Lukaku (L) scores against Liverpool during their English Premier League match at Goodison Park in Liverpool, northern England yesterday

REUTERS

Daniel Sturridge came off the bench to earn Liverpool a 3-3 draw at Everton with an 89thminute equaliser in a richly entertaining Merseyside derby yesterday.

A brace from Romelu Lukaku had put Everton on the brink of a first win over their city rivals in seven matches, but Sturridge’s header gave Liverpool a share of the spoils after a frenetic Premier League encounter at Goodison Park.

Liverpool took a fifth-minute lead when Philippe Coutinho neatly controlled the ball on his knee and volleyed home after Luis Suarez flicked on a Steven Gerrard corner.

The hosts equalised three minutes later, Kevin Mirallas converting a Ross Barkley knock-down, only for Suarez to restore Liverpool’s lead in the 19th minute by whipping a 25-yard free-kick into the bottom-right corner.

Mirallas was fortunate to avoid a red

card for a knee-high foul on Suarez before half-time, with referee Phil Dowd electing only to book him.

Joe Allen spurned a superb chance to extend the visitors’ lead when he shot wide with the goal at his mercy and Liverpool were punished in the 72nd minute when Lukaku tucked away an equaliser.

Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard produced a point-blank reflex stop to keep out a header from Suarez and with eight minutes to play Lukaku claimed his second goal with a bullet header from Mirallas’s left-wing corner.

Everton would have moved up to third place with victory -- level on points with Liverpool -- but Sturridge had the final say when he smartly headed past Howard from a Gerrard free-kick.

The draw left Liverpool a point behind leaders Arsenal, who can extend their lead to four points later on Saturday if they win at home to third-place Southampton. l

Blatter hits back in Qatar Spurs could bring Adebayor against Man City n World Cup 2022 row Reuters, London

n AFP, Rome

Tottenham Hotspur’s forgotten man Emmanuel Adebayor could be an attacking option for today’s Premier League trip to Manchester City.

Coach Andre Villas-Boas said on Friday that Adebayor was in contention for his first appearance of the season after he played alongside Roberto Soldado in a 4-4-2 system in a behindclosed-doors friendly during the international break.

“Our likely approach is to go with one up front,” Villas-Boas told a news conference, suggesting his striker would be Soldado or Jermain Defoe.

“They [Soldado and Defoe] are very near each other at the moment and it

Fifa boss Sepp Blatter on Friday hit back at criticism over work conditions on World Cup venues in Qatar, accusing European companies and saying France and Germany pushed the bid for “economic interests”.

In a report this week, Amnesty International said migrant workers were being treated like “animals” and urged FIFA to press Qatar to improve the conditions of foreign labourers, most of them from South Asia. However Blatter said the blame lay squarely with the European companies operating in the Gulf State.

“The big companies working there are European companies, most of them.

The constructor is responsible for the workers,” Blatter told reporters in Rome.

“The Europeans are unhappy but it was pressure from European countries that brought this World Cup to Qatar because there were so many economic interests. Two of these countries that made pressure are France and Germany... European politicians and heads of state of these countries should say what they think of the situation. It can’t all be on FIFA,” he added.

The Gulf emirate, which rejects claims of slavery-style conditions in what is one of the world’s wealthiest nations per capita, said it would include the findings in an inquiry it has already launched. l

Gladbach cruise past Stuttgart to close on top

Moyes reveals dream of working with Ronaldo

n Reuters, Berlin

n AFP, London

Borussia Moenchengladbach won their fourth straight league game by beating VfB Stuttgart 2-0 on Friday with goals from Raffael and Oscar Wendt to tighten their grip on fourth place and close on the Bundesliga leaders.

Raffael struck from a tight angle late after 37 minutes for his sixth goal of the

Manchester United manager David Moyes has dropped a hint he could make a future bid to bring Cristiano Ronaldo back to Old Trafford after revealing he hopes to work with the Portugal star one day.

Ronaldo left United to fulfil his dream of playing for Real Madrid in 2009, but there was speculation over the last year that he could be tempted to return to Manchester.

Moyes was reported to have considered making an offer for the 28-year-old earlier this year as he looked for a marquee signing to mark his arrival at United as Alex Ferguson’s successor.

No deal was forthcoming and Ronaldo has since signed a new five-year contract with the Spanish giants.

But Moyes remains a huge fan of Ronaldo and, like the rest of the football world. Ronaldo, who won the Champions League and three Premier League titles in six years with United, would

RESULT VfB Stuttgart

0-2

M'gladbach

Rafael 37, Wendt 73

campaign and their Sweden international Wendt doubled the lead with a stunning shot after controlling a high Patrick Herrmann cross in the 73rd minute.

Coach Lucien Favre’s team should have added more goals late on with Germany international Max Kruse twice denied by Stuttgart goalkeeper Sven Ulreich and Herrmann volleying just wide six minutes from time. l

be hard to prise away from Madrid, but Moyes is not giving up completely.

“Everyone at Manchester United would tell you he is the best in the business anyway,” Moyes told MUTV on Friday. “I have not been fortunate enough to work with him but there is still hope some day it might be possible.”

With FIFA extending the voting period for the coveted Ballon d’Or prize, it seems certain Ronaldo will claim an award he won for the first time as a United player in the 2008 Champions League campaign, when he scored an incredible 42 goals.

United midfielder Anderson, who played alongside Ronaldo for two seasons, is in no doubts his old team-mate deserves the prize.

“When you have Ronaldo it makes it easy,” he said.

“He scores all the time. He scored three goals on Tuesday. He is an amazing player, for me the best player in the world.” l

Juve look to seize top spot n AFP, Milan Under-strength Juventus expect to welcome defender Giorgio Chiellini back from injury ahead an away trip to Livorno that could hand the champions top spot, albeit momentarily, in Italy’s Serie A. Two consecutive draws by Roma in the leaders’ last two outings have given Juventus, in second only one point behind, plenty of incentive ahead of the Bianconeri’s trip to Tuscany.

Chiellini, who grew up in Livorno and made his professional debut with the side, had been sidelined with a muscle problem since before Juve’s 3-0 rout of Napoli prior to the international break.

His return is being welcomed as Juve undergo a mini crisis in defence with Angelo Ogbonna and Leonardo Bonucci both suspended and Andrea Barzagli likely to be sidelined due to a muscle problem. Chiellini could be called upon to move from his regular left-back position to the centre of a back three, but the

29-year-old said: “It doesn’t make any difference to me. I’m fit and I’m ready to play.”

Juventus are still without Swiss wingback Stephan Lichsteiner due to injury and lost Chilean Mauricio Isla on Thursday due to a knee ligament problem.

FIXTURES Livorno Sampdoria Sassuolo Torino Udinese Bologna Roma

v v v v v v v

Juventus Lazio Atalanta Catania Fiorentina Inter Cagliari

Roma, whose record streak of 10 opening wins in Serie A came to an end three weeks ago, are in action late on Sunday and, on paper, are tipped to get back to winning ways at home to struggling Cagliari.

French international Anthony Reveillere, meanwhile, could make his debut for Napoli when they look to close the gap later Saturday.

Reveillere signed for Napoli recently after his contract with French side Lyon expired, leaving him a free agent.

Having worked under Napoli coach Rafael Benitez during a brief spell at Valencia in 2003, the 34-year-old defender is champing at the bit.

“I am at a club which is among the elite in Italy and regularly plays Champions League football,” said Reveillere.

“I had other offers on the table but when the call came from Napoli I couldn’t turn it down. It’s also because of Benitez, he loves to work on the tactical side of the game and we had a good working relationship at Valencia.”

Inter Milan, who sit three points adrift of Napoli, travel to Bologna looking to avoid any slip-ups that could benefit Fiorentina, who sit one place and one point further adrift ahead of a tricky trip away to Udinese.

Struggling Sampdoria, meanwhile, hope to relaunch their season under new coach and former player Sinisa Mihajlovic, who takes charge in time to welcome another of his former clubs, Lazio, to Genoa. l

could be a possibility that even Ade could play.”

Adebayor has not played for Spurs this season after being ordered to train with the reserves.

The Londoners, however, have struggled up front, scoring just nine times in 11 league games including

FIXTURES Cardiff v Man United Man City v Tottenham three penalties and one from open play

by Soldado who joined the club from Valencia for 30 million euros ($40.57 million) in August.

Former Arsenal and Manchester City forward Adebayor, who scored five goals in 18 league starts last season,

seems to have fought his way back into the good books of Villas-Boas.

“Adebayor on his own or with another striker is a great player,” said the coach. “But we have two performing strikers in Soldado and Defoe.

“Obviously Adebayor hasn’t had a chance to get back in the team yet. I’m sure that whenever that happens he will perform as well as the others.”

Spurs are seventh in the league, five points behind leaders Arsenal, largely due to the fact they have kept seven clean sheets and conceded just six goals.

One good display for England has not guaranteed keeper Joe Hart a return to the Manchester City side with manager Manuel Pellegrini refusing to say he would be recalled for Sunday’s home match against Tottenham

Hotspur.

Some costly mistakes led to 26-yearold Hart being replaced by Romanian Costel Pantilimon for the Premier League club’s last four games.

“We don’t know,” Pellegrini told reporters on Friday when asked about Hart. “We will decide tomorrow the starting XI, but I think it was very useful for Joe, the game for England.

“What did I think of his performance for England? I think he did very well. It’s one thing you ask me about the national team, another thing to ask about Manchester City.”

However, Manchester United midfielder Anderson has pleaded with manager David Moyes to give him a chance to impress as the Premier League champions prepare for their visit to Cardiff on Sunday. l

Marseille's French forward Dimitri Payet (C) is congradulated by teammate Mathieu Valbuena (L) after scoring a goal during their French L1 match against Ajaccio in the Francois Coty stadium in Ajaccio on Friday AFP

Marseille defeat Ajaccio to climb fourth n AFP, Paris Last season’s runners-up Marseille, picked up their second straight Ligue 1 victory after a slump of seven matches without winning as they defeated Ajaccio 3-1 on Friday in

Corsica.

Dimitri Payet gave Elie Baup’s men the ideal start with a 27th minute opener, only for Grenddy Perozo to level terms four minutes later.

Former France international AndrePierre Gignac celebrated his recall to the side by restoring the visitors’ lead six minutes before half-time before Florian Thauvin wrapped up maximum points on 58 minutes as Marseille climbed to fourth.

Baup, who has seen his struggling outfit eliminated from Champions League action with two games to play in the group phase, received a welcome tonic following the international break

as the Velodrome giants moved one point above Nantes.

It was a tetchy encounter that featured five yellow cards, but only one against the 1993 European champions.

“There were some very interesting things, 17 shots, goals. We tried to keep the ball moving quickly and using

RESULT Ajaccio

Perozo 31

1-3

Marseille

Payet 27, Gignac 39, Thauvin 58

width to go forward,” said Baup.

“It was good to score three goals away from home against an Ajaccio team who really dug in,” he continued.

“We saw our players (France) qualify for the World Cup and it has given everyone a boost of enthusiasm. We had a very bad run of results and now we’re on a bit of a good run again, and there’s still five matches until the winter break.

“We need to try and take maximum points,” concluded Baup. l

Burkina Faso protest Algeria win over ‘ineligible’ player n AFP, Ouagadougou The Burkina Faso football federation (FBF) have complained to FIFA over what they say was the ineligible participation of Algerian defender Madjid Bougherra in Tuesday’s World Cup play-off defeat.

The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations runners-up claim Bougherra - who scored the only goal in Blida which pulled Algeria level 3-3 on aggregate and took them to Brazil on away goals - should have been suspended, while they also appealed against the performance of Senegalese referee Badara Diatta.

According to FBF president Sita Sangare, Bougherra picked up a yellow card during the group stage of qualifying against Mali and also went into the book during Burkina Faso’s 3-2 win in the first leg of their play-off, which should have ruled him out of the second leg. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

England battle to survive in first Ashes Test

QUICK BYTES

Weightlifting team depart for Malaysia An eight-member Bangladesh weightlifting team, including three players, left Dhaka for Malaysia yesterday to take part in the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship, which gets underway today. The team consists of three weightlifters - Bidyut Kumar Roy, Mabia Akter Shimanta and Reshmi Akter – as well as coach Shahria Sultana Shuchi and four other federation official. Considering their recent performance, Bangladesh is looking to Shimanta and Reshmi to win a medal in the tournament, which ends on November 30.

–SH

n Reuters, Brisbane

Hockey crisis talks

A roundtable meeting titled “Way to Overcome Crisis in Hockey” was held at the Old Ittefaq house yesterday. Former general secretary of the ad-hoc committee of Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF) Sajed A Adel, Khandakar Jamiluddin, Mohammedan’s hockey committee chairman Shafiullah Al Munir, Mariner Young’s Club general secretary Rana Hasan, Bangladesh Sporting Club general secretary Mohammad Humayan, banned national players Rasel Mahmud Jimmy, Chandan, Zahid Hossain were present on the occasion.

–SH

Khaled Mahmud fined Dhaka Premier League side Prime Bank CC’s coach Khaled Mahmud was fined by the match referee for misbehaving with the umpires during the game against Kalabagan Cricket Academy yesterday. Match referee Roquibul Hassan informed that the former national cricketer and BCB director was fined Tk5,000. “I served him a memo as soon I saw him shouting at the umpires over a decision. He was standing near the boundary of the field and shouting at the umpires,” Roquibul told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

– MUK

Carrick signs new deal to underline value to Man United

Michael Carrick’s role at Manchester United is often understated but the England international midfielder further underlined his importance to the Premier League champions by signing a new contract on Friday. When Carrick, 32, hangs up his boots he is unlikely to be bracketed alongside the very best talents that have graced United’s midfield ranks over the years.

Yet his record at the Old Trafford club, where he has won five league titles and a Champions League since joining in 2006, mean he ranks among their most successful midfield servants and he has now committed to United through to 2015. He tends not to make gut-busting box-to-box bursts or ripple the net with speculative long-range efforts and his value to the club is often only apparent when his name is missing from the team sheet.

–Reuters

DAY’S WATCH Star Sports 1 6:00AM Australia v England 1st Test, Day 4 2:00PM India v West Indies Second ODI Neo Sports 6:00AM HSPA World Cup Golf, Day 4 Star Sports 4 La Liga 5:00PM Levante v Villarreal 12:00AM Elche v Valencia 2:00AM Sevilla v Real Betis English Premier League 7:30PM Man City v Tottenham 10:00PM Cardiff City v Man Utd Star Sports HD 2 10:00PM Brazil Grand Prix Main Race Italian Serie A 1:45AM Bologna v Inter Milan Ten Sports 10:00PM French Ligue 1 2013/14 Stade De Reims vs PSG Ten Action French Ligue 1 2013/14 8:00PM Lille v Toulouse 10:00PM Nice v St Etienne 2:00AM Nantes v AS Monaco Ten Cricket 3:00PM South Africa v Pakistan, 1st ODI

15

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Australia's David Warner celebrates reaching his century on the third day of their series-opening Ashes Test against England at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia yesterday AP

Hafeez and Akmal sixes set up Pakistan win n

AFP, Cape Town

Mohammad Hafeez and Umar Akmal went on a six-hitting spree before Shahid Afridi sealed a series-levelling victory for Pakistan in the second and final Twenty20 international against South Africa at Newlands on Friday.

Hafeez hit 63 off 41 balls with three sixes and Akmal hammered 64 off 38 deliveries with four sixes as Pakistan made 176 for four, easily their best total in four 20-overs matches in the space of ten days against the same opponents – two of them in the United Arab Emirates. South Africa won all three previous matches.

Afridi took three for 28 with his brisk leg-spinners after South Africa had raced to 58 for no wicket in the first seven overs of their reply.

The hosts finished with 170 for four – losing by six runs - thanks largely to an unbroken stand of 53 off 28 balls between JP Duminy and David Miller. But they were never really in contention, despite scoring 19 off the penultimate over, bowled by Junaid Khan.

Seventeen were needed off the final

over and Sohail Tanvir bowled a series of yorkers and low full tosses to restrict South Africa to 10 runs, which included a boundary off the last ball.

Pakistan, who were beaten 4-1 in a one-day series and 2-0 in a Twenty20 series in the United Arab Emirates before travelling to South Africa, start a three-match one-day series at the same venue on Sunday.

Hafeez and Akmal put on 102 off just 57 balls for the third wicket as the South African bowlers were put to the sword.

Three overs later Morne Morkel conceded 22 runs as Akmal hit successive deliveries for six, four and six again.

Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock gave South Africa a fast start but Afridi struck with his first delivery when De Kock swept him to deep backward square leg. Afridi took wickets in both his next two overs, having Faf du Plessis caught at midwicket and bowling AB de Villiers.

Amla went on to make 48 before he was caught in the deep off Saeed Ajmal, leaving Duminy (47 not out) and Miller (22 not out) with an improbable task. l

SCORE CARD Pakistan Nasir Jamshed st De Kock b Phangiso 19 Ahmed Shehzad c Amla b Parnell 9 Hafeez c de Villiers b Steyn 63 Umar Akmal c Duminy b Steyn 64 Shahid Afridi not out 13 Sohaib Maqsood not out 0 Extras (lb2, nb2, w4) 8 Total (4 wkts, 20 overs) 176 Bowling Morkel 4-0-37-0 (2w), Steyn 4-0-292, Parnell 4-1-37-1 (2nb, 2w), Wiese 3-0-24-0, Phangiso 3-0-33-1, Duminy 2-0-14-0 South Africa Amla c Bilawal Bhatti b Ajmal 48 De Kock c Nasir Jamshed b Afridi 26 Du Plessis c Hafeez b Shahid Afridi 6 A. de Villiers b Shahid Afridi 13 J. Duminy not out 47 D. Miller not out 22 Extras (lb4, nb1, w3) 8 Total (4 wkts, 20 overs) 170 Bowling Mohammad Hafeez 3-0-26-0, Sohail Tanvir 3-0-34-0 (1w), Junaid Khan 2-0-29-0 (1w), Saeed Ajmal 4-0-30-1, Bilawal Bhatti 4-0-19-0 (1nb, 1w), Shahid Afridi 4-0-28-3 Result: Pakistan won by 6 runs Series: The two-match series was shared 1-1

David Warner and Michael Clarke scored dominant centuries to put Australia firmly in control of the first Ashes Test yesterday and leave England needing an unlikely 537 for victory at the end of day three at the Gabba.

The hosts declared their second innings at 401 for seven an hour before stumps and compounded their advantage by removing Michael Carberry and Jonathan Trott cheaply to leave England clinging on at 24 for two with two days to play.

England would need to better the best ever fourth innings run chase in test cricket by 143 runs to get the 561 runs for victory but more realistically will look to dig in and hope the rainstorms forecast for Brisbane materialise.

Barring a 15-minute rain delay before lunch, the weather failed England on Saturday and the day instead belonged to belligerent opener Warner and his cultured captain.

Put in the driving seat when their bowlers dismissed the tourists for 136 at the Gabba on Friday, the pair gleefully grasped the controls and raced away from England in a 158-run partnership for the third wicket.

Warner hammered 124 off 154 balls for his fourth test century and first against England, while Clarke’s 113 came off 130 balls for the 25th hundred of his career and sixth in the Ashes.

Clarke, meanwhile, passed 1,000 runs at the Gabba and pushed his team’s lead past 400 with a four off Broad before punching the ball through the onside for a couple of runs to claim his fifth century at the ground.

While Carberry was unfortunate to guide a Ryan Harris delivery between

n Raihan Mahmood

Reigning champions Walton, Anowara Group, Beximco Pharma and DBL group moved into the semi-finals of the Marcel 3rd T20 Corporate Cricket League at different grounds yesterday.

Beximco Pharma: (112/7) beat Bando Design (110/10) by 3 wickets. Rana (4/17) of Beximco was the man-ofthe-match. DBL Group: 174/6, in 20 overs beat Square Group: 107/10 by 67 runs. Ataul Islam of DBL was adjudged man-of-the-match for his 5/18 haul.

Computer Source (81/10) in 18.5 overs were beaten by Walton (83/1) by 9 wickets. Rahatul Islam, for his 5/24, was adjudged as the man-fo-the-match.

Anowara Group (107/6) beat Multi Securities (106/10) by four wickets. Zahid Hossain of Anowara Group was manof-the-match for his 4/19.

Earlier the last eight teams were decided on Friday. Beximco Pharma (153/9) beat Race Asset (146/10) by seven runs in a closely fought match. DBL Group bundled out ICDDRB for 47 in 14.3 overs and scored 51 for five in 7.1

Bowling Anderson 19-2-73-0, Broad 16-4-55-2, Tremlett 17-2-69-3, Swann 27-2-135-2, Root 15-2-57-0 England 2nd innings: Alastair Cook not out 11 Michael Carberry b Harris 0 Jonathan Trott c Lyon b Johnson 9 Kevin Pietersen not out 3 Extras (lb1) 1 Total (2 wkts; 15 overs) 24 Bowling Harris 5-2-7-1, Johnson 4-2-7-1, Siddle 3-1-6-0, Lyon 3-1-3-0

overs to win the match by five wickets.

Bando Design Limited edged past Bangla Cat by 10 runs. Batting first, Bando Design scored 160/8 in 20 overs and restricted Bangla Cat to 150 in 19.5 overs. Square Group overpowered IDLC by five wickets. IDLC scored 124/7, but Square group raced to victory, scoring 128/5 with just one ball to spare.

Multi Securities made 191/6, in 20 overs to beat Confidence Group, who scored 112/9. Farhaduzzaman of Multi Securities had no competitor for the man-of-the-match award for his 74 runs in 40 balls.

Walton beat EBL by 13 runs. Batting first, Walton scored 161/10, in 19.2 overs and later restricted EBL to 148/9.

Sumon Mia (4/33) was adjudged manof-the-match.

Anowara Group (112/3 in 15.3 overs) outplayed Apollo Hospitals (111/10) by seven wickets. Anowara Group’s Taposh Saha, (3/12) was the man of the match. Computer Source scored 207/5 and held Ericsson to 150/8 to register a 57 run victory.

Kaiser Mahmud, who slammed 105 runs in 51 balls, was named man-ofthe-match. l

Fifa opens probe of Simunic pro-Nazi chants n AFP, Geneva

Reuters, Sofia

A CSKA Sofia fan has gone on hunger strike demanding life ban for a Bulgarian referee who has already been suspended for his poor officiating in a domestic league match earlier this month.

Stanislav Todorov, one of Bulgaria’s leading referees, has been banned by the Balkan country’s football union (BFU) for an unspecified period after his performance during Cherno More Varna’s 2-1 win over CSKA. CSKA fan Boris Borisov, however, is not satisfied with the punishment.

“I want to attract the attention of the society,” Borisov told local media on Saturday. “There’s no place for this referee in the Bulgarian football.”

Police in the north-eastern town of Shumen said Todorov, a married man with a three-year-old son, has lodged a complaint following a series of threats against him and his family. l

SCORE CARD, DAY 3 Australia 1st innings 295 (Haddin 94, Johnson 64; Broad 6-81) England 1st innings 136 (M. Carberry 40; M. Johnson 4-61) Australia 2nd innings (overnight 65 for 0) Chris Rogers c Carberry Broad 16 David Warner c Prior b Broad 124 Shane Watson c Broad b Tremlett 6 Michael Clarke b Swann 113 Steve Smith c Prior b Tremlett 0 George Bailey b Swann 34 Brad Haddin c Anderson b Tremlett 53 Mitchell Johnson not out 39 Peter Siddle not out 4 Extras (b4, lb8) 12 Total (7 wkts declared; 94 overs) 401

Walton, Anowara Group, Beximco and DBL reach semis

Bulgarian fan on hunger strike seeking referee’s life ban n

his own legs and onto the stumps for a duck, Trott’s decision to attack the short ball looked almost suicidal and resulted in him holing out in the deep for nine.

Kevin Pietersen, who almost ran Alastair Cook out on the first ball he faced, had reached three not out at the close of play with his captain set to resume on 11. l

Handout picture released by the press office of the Argentine Tourism Ministry, showing tennis players Rafael Nadal of Spain (L) and Novak Djokovic of Serbia, playing tennis on a floating court close to the Perito Moreno glacier (background) near El Calafate, some 2750 Km southwest of Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Friday AFP

FIFA on Friday announced that they had opened a probe against Australianborn Croatia defender Josip Simunic for his pro-Nazi chants that marred the country’s World Cup qualification celebrations. It was not clear what penalty Simunic could face.

But various football authorities have adopted an ever-tougher stance against far-right displays, with Greece youth international Giorgos Katidis this year earning a life ban from his home federation for a Nazi salute -- although he has since resurfaced at Novara in Italy’s second tier.

FIFA also opened an investigation against Croatia’s fans for “improper conduct”, the spokesman said.

Following Tuesday’s 2-0 home win against Iceland, Simunic took over a microphone at the Maksimir stadium in the Croatian capital Zagreb.

He shouted “za dom” – Croatian for “for the homeland” – four times.

In response, fans chanted “spremni”, meaning “ready”. l

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Government food reserve declines Import slides because of unending political unrest n Asif Showkat Kallol The government’s strategic food reserves and imports have declined drastically due to political uncertainty ahead of the general election, official sources said.

“The country’s total reserve food stock, that has been depleting for past several months, has come down to 1.1m metric tonnes which is low for our food security,” a senior official of the food ministry said.

The official also said as the end of the present government’s tenure was closing in, food grain importers appeared to be uninterested in importing items due to political turbulence and hartal.

The official food stock is used to supply grains to the public distribution system, fair price, OMS, the school feeding scheme and other welfare schemes run by the government. It is also used under the market intervention scheme to stabilise prices in the open market. The food reserve gives the government the leverage required to control food prices.

Total food stock reserves dropped to 1.06m tonnes as of November 19, from a peak of 1.46m tonnes in November last year.

The break-down of the food grains stacked in government storehouses revealed that the stock of rice was 0.37m tonnes lower than the minimum quantity required under the buffer stock norms and rest of the food grain was wheat.

In the fiscal year 2011-12, some 1.88m metric tonnes of wheat and rice were imported by the private and public sector, while in the first five months of this fiscal year, 11.35m tonnes have been imported, according to data from the food division.

According to food ministry data, per kg coarse rice was selling at Tk34-35 while one year ago it was Tk31 per kg.

“The government is still in a comfortable position even after a marginal decline of the reserve. The price of rice is now declining because of the bumper Aman harvest,” Ahmed Hossain Khan, the director general of the Directorate

of Food, told the Dhaka Tribune on Friday over phone.

He also said the price of rice would decline further after the full Aman harvest. The food reserve will increase within a short time as most of businessmen are importing wheat from aboard although it is not possible to import of rice as the price of rice has raised on the international market recently, Ahmed added.

When asked about the import of food being hampered by political unrest, the director general declined to comment on the matter.

“We will declare our Aman procurement within three days,” he said.

The food ministry has already sent a proposal of import of 50,000 tonnes of rice to the cabinet committee thought a private firm M/S Amira Pure Foods Pvt Ltd with a cost of Tk1.24bn.

Proprietor of Pubail Salt Industries Paritosh Kanti Saha told the Dhaka Tribune the political uncertainty and fear of destruction in hartal had gripped the import and export sector. As a result import had declined.

“Transportation cost, especially the rent of trucks, has increased by 100% from Tk15,000 to Tk30,000 due to hartal and unrest,” he pointed out.

As a result it will definitely impact price and food stock negatively, he said.

The country had a food stock of 1.26m metric tonnes when Awami League assumed power in 2009. Bangladesh’s average annual demand for food grains—basically wheat and rice— is 29m metric tonnes and the target of food production in the current fiscal year is 36.6m tonnes, according to the food directorate.

Usually, the government sets aside 1.5m tonnes of food grains to tackle any emergency situation.

Dr Mahbub Hossain, the executive director of Brac and an agricultural economist, said whatever the situation the government must maintain minimum amount of strategic food to face future crises.

Hossain said the price of rice on the global market had increased further because of drought and flood. l

Jamaat-Shibir activists vandalise a BRTC bus and explode cocktails after bringing out a sudden procession in the capital’s Badda area yesterday morning

Jamaat-Shibir men scare off global knitwear buyer n Tribune Report

A global buyer of Knitwear products left Bangladesh without placing order as he was assaulted by Jamaat-Shibir activists in the city yesterday.

Being frightened by the attack, the buyers immediately returned to the hotel they had been staying and decided to leave the country without placing

order, said a statement of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA).

The Spanish buyer came under attack at Merul Badda in the city, when he was going to Fatullah in Narayanganj, to place order at a factory owned

by BKMEA President Selim Osman.

Selim Osman said the buyer, who purchased knitwear goods worth $40m

every year from Bangladesh, came here about a week ago for a big deal.

Meanwhile, a police constable was injured during a procession brought out by Jamaat-e-Islami and Shibir members in the capital’s Progoti Shoroni area in Badda yesterday morning.

The injured policeman was Constbale Abdul Ali, driver of a police pickup.

Sources said Jamaat and Shibir

Diplomatic conundrum over support n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman Bangladesh is preferring Russia over the United Arab Emirates for hosting the World Expo 2020, a move which many are considering as a “diplomatic disaster.”

The candidates for the World Expo 2020 – a large public exhibition which is held in varying parts of the world – are Dubai of the UAE, Ekaterinburg of Russia, Izmir of Turkey and Sao Paulo of Brazil. A vote for hosting the event will be held on November 27 in Paris.

“Out of the all the cities, Dubai is the most important for Bangladesh, but the

government has decided to vote for the Russian city on political grounds,” said a diplomat, seeking anonymity.

Bangladesh has a friendly relationship with the UAE, where around one million Bangladeshis work to bring in billions of dollars of remittance.

Foreign Minister Dipu Moni had recently received a phone call from her UAE counterpart seeking Bangladesh’s support in this regard, the diplomat added.

Another diplomat, also seeking anonymity, said Bangladesh opted for the Russian city as there was a negotiation

K Sarker from n Probir Warsaw, Poland

Relatives of Sazzad, who was killed in a road accident in front of Nilkhet High School, burst into tears at the news yesterday

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Road accident kills one at Nilkhet A diploma student was killed when a bus ran over him in front of Nilkhet High School in the capital’s Nilkhet area yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Md Sazzadul Anamul, 25, a second-year student of a diploma course at the Jubo Unnayan Odhidoptor. The victim’s father is a security guard of Dhaka University’s Curzon Hall.

Victim’s father Shafiqul Islam told reporters that Anamul was returning home by a bicycle around 2:30pm

Md Sazzadul Anamul, 25, a secondyear student of a diploma course at the Jubo Unnayan Odhidoptor when a local bus of route-13 ran over him. He was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where on duty doctors

members vandalised five to six private cars around 9am.

Abdul Ali was injured when Jamaat-Shibir men hurled bricks at the police vehicles that went to spot to stop the activists from vandalising personal property.

Police officials fired blank shots and tear shells to bring the situation under control. l

WORLD EXPO 2020

that Russia might facilitate a visit of its President Vladimir Putin to Bangladesh in exchange for Dhaka’s support for Ekaterinburg.

He said Bangladesh could still vote for Dubai without antagonising Moscow.

“It is almost certain that Dubai would win the election and it would create massive job opportunities, as the Gulf country would need to build huge infrastructure for the Expo,” the diplomat said.

“Even if we get a chunk of that, it would create job opportunities for many,” he added. l

COP19 sees ‘compromised’ decisions at extra time

n Tribune Report

DHAKA TRIBUNE

declared him dead.

However, the body was handed over to victim’s family members without autopsy in accordance with an application filed by them, Inspector MA Jalil of Shahbagh police station said.

On hearing the news of his death, his fellow classmates came down to the streets and vandalised at least five buses: one at Palashi, two at Nilkhet, one in front of Azimpur Orphanage and another in front of Azimpur Girls’ High School.

Later, the law enforcers dispersed the agitated people from the street. l

After series of meetings amid arguments for two days, the 19th session of the Conference of Parties in the Polish capital yesterday agreed on several key decisions including a pledge by developed nations to raise $100bn for the newly-formed Green Climate Fund (GCF) by 2020.

The draft decisions were adopted by the ministerial meeting on the 12th day of the conference in the evening. The conference under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) began on November 11 at the Warsaw National Stadium was supposed to end on Friday. It was attended by over 10,000 delegates, observers and journalists.

Earlier on Thursday, over 800 UN observer NGOs quit the conference while the Group 77 and China staged a threehour walk out the previous day for “slow or no progress” in the negotiations.

The structure and functions of the GCF were finalised on Friday. But there had been no money in the fund. The pledged money would support projects and other activities in developing nations to adapt with the adverse impact of climate change and promote renewable energy.

After 2020, the developed countries are pledge-bound to release $100bn every year.

Meanwhile, the developing nations compromised on international mechanism on loss and damage. At the last moment, they apparently bowed to the objections of the rich countries, mainly the US and those under the European Union, to agree that it would be under the Adaptation Fund. Institutional ar-

rangements and functions of the mechanism were agreed on Friday.

However, all countries under the convention had agreed in Doha conference last year about the formulation of the mechanism as a separate issue as adaptation measures cannot cover the loss from extreme weather events like cyclones, droughts and irregular rain – triggered by global warming and the changing weather patterns.

Until Friday, developed countries pledged $100m in the Adaptation Fund, which is almost empty now, to fuel stalled projects. From now, this amount would be shared among projects under the loss and damage mechanism, with special vision.

Yesterday, the COP19 failed to finalise a legally-binding climate agreement on emission cut because of the reluctance by some developed countries. Rather it was agreed that all countries would come up with their “contribution” not “commitment” on emission cut plans in the first quarter of 2015 – voluntarily – and there would not be any review, monitoring and verification.

The countries would be asked to sign a legally-binding agreement during 2015 Paris summit. Before that, it is hoped that the developed nations at the meeting with UN chief Ban Ki-moon in September next year would announce their emission-cut plans. The meeting is also likely to see specific plans on their contribution in the $100bn-fund.

On Friday, countries pledged for $280m in the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) programme to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in 49 partner countries. l

Police find six-month-old boy in Badda n Mohammad Jamil Khan Police rescued a six-month-old boy who was allegedly sold for Tk3,000 and detained three people from the capital’s Badda area on Friday.

“Based on information from locals, we recovered the boy from a residence in Boithakhali, Badda on Friday noon, and detained a couple and an associate for their involvement in the incident,” Iqbal Hossain, officer-in-charge of Badda police station, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

The detainees were identified as Abul Kashem and his wife, Monowar Begum, and their associate, Kalpana.

However, they were later released after giving statements, and allowed to return home with the child pending an investigation.

The officer said local residents got suspicious when they suddenly saw the couple with a baby, who looked very different from them.

During questioning, the suspects allegedly told police that the boy did not belong to them, and they got him for only Tk3,000 from a woman _ who claimed to be a foreigner _ in the city’s airport area, Iqbal said.

“Primarily, we are suspecting that the boy might have been sold for trafficking,” the officer said. “We have sent messages to different police stations to trace his real mother.”

“We hope the mystery of the case will be solved after finding the original mother. Until then, the boy will stay with the couple, but we are keeping an eye on them,” he added. l

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Business

B2 US senate committee for

safeguarding RMG workers’ rights in Bangladesh

B3 Bangladesh makes

moderate progress on regional scale

www.dhakatribune.com/business

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2013

RUN UP TO NATIONAL ELECTION

Race to be delisted as loan defaulters Banks consider it a chance to recover some of the long overdue repayments n Jebun Nesa Alo The loan defaulters are making serious efforts to reschedule their accounts so they do not disqualify for participating in the upcoming general election, said Bangladesh Bank sources.

As per the amended Representation of the People Order (RPO), the aspirants of the parliamentary election require clearance of default loans and outstanding utility bills.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Bank governor Dr Atiur Rahman recently instructed the Credit Information Bureau (CIB) of the central bank to prepare related data.

A senior official of CIB told Dhaka Tribune that they are “ready logistically to provide information on loan defaults by the announcement of election schedule.”

Bangladesh Bank has seen an increase in applications for loan rescheduling recently from both the state-owned and private commercial banks, said a central bank official.

“We are following regulation in approving applications,” he added.

The banks also utilised the chance of loan rescheduling before election to recover their classified loans by receiving down-payments.

“Defaulters can regularise their loans either for short time or long time if they want to take part in the election. It is a great chance for banks to recover classified loans,” said Nurul Amin, managing director of National Credit and Commerce Bank Ltd. “It will help reduce burden of nonperforming loans in the balance sheet.”

He said they have received many applica-

tions for rescheduling big loans for past few days particularly from business people.

However, there were no such applications that used political influence, added Nurul Amin.

Echoing with the NCC Bank MD, Pubali Bank MD Helal Ahmed Chowdhury said: “Many politicians are negotiating with us to reschedule their loans.

But it’s a great opportunity for us to recover classified loans.”

According to a Bangladesh Bank circular, no default loan can be rescheduled more than three times.

The first time rescheduling is done on payment of at least 15% of overdue instalments or 10% of total default amount, whichever is lower.

In the second rescheduling, at least 30%

of overdue or 20% of total default loan – whichever is lower – will have to be paid.

The third rescheduling requires payment of at least 50% of overdue instalment or 30% of the total default loan – whichever is lower.

The classified loans rose 8% to Tk567bn in the July-September period quarter from Tk523bn of the previous three months, said Bangladesh Bank data.

The classified loans are about 13% of total default loans which amount to over Tk4tn.

Of the total classified loans, four stateowned banks have Tk241bn, private commercial banks Tk223bn, specialised banks Tk87bn and foreign banks Tk14bn.

Of the state-owned banks, Agrani Bank’s classified loan stood at Tk51bn, Janata Bank Tk47bn, Rupali Bank Tk16bn and Sonali Bank Tk125bn. l

Banks pay scale faces new hurdle n Asif Showkat Kallol Although the prime minister has approved a new pay scale for Bangladesh Bank and four state-owned commercial banks three weeks before, implementation of it faces a fresh hurdle.

The government now finds no law under which a separate pay scale for the four stateowned banks could be materialised, said official sources.

In Bangladesh, the pay scales of any government offices are executed under the Services (Reorganisation and Conditions) Act, 1975.

But the state-owned commercial banks

were made public limited companies in 2007 and remain outside the purview of the Services Act.

There is no law for the pay-scale of the state-owned commercial banks. Finance Secretary has already been informed about it

Finance Secretary was given the responsibility of ownership of those banks that include Sonali Bank, Janata Bank, Agrani Bank and Rupali Bank.

Rupali Bank has a 9% private ownership.

“There is no law for the pay-scale of the state-owned commercial banks. Finance

Secretary has already been informed about it,” said a senior official at pay-scale implementation division at the finance ministry yesterday.

Early this month, a government committee led by cabinet secretary Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan had submitted a proposal on a separate pay scale for the banks.

The new pay scale was then approved by the prime minister with increase in the employees’ basic salaries.

Under the new 11-grade pay scale, which will replace the existing 20-grade pay structure, the basic salary for those in the lowest grade will be Tk6,000 and Tk55,000 for the

highest grade.

After a meeting with cabinet division on 14th this month, finance minister AMA Muhith told the journalists that the government would issue an order on the new pay scale just the following week.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Bank governor Dr Atiur Rahman described the PM’s approval to new pay scale as an achievement for the central bank and the state-run commercial banks.

The scale separated the banks’ pay scale from the national pay scale.

“After the government issues order in this regard, I will take matter to the central bank’s board,” said Dr Atiur Rahman. l

Business US senate committee for safeguarding RMG workers’ rights in Bangladesh

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2013

n Tribune Report Senator Robert Menendez, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee of the USA, has stressed the need for safeguarding and advancing rights of garment workers in Bangladesh.

He made the remark while speaking at the launching of a committee report titled “Worker Safety and Labour Rights in Bangladesh’s Garment Sector” that marked the first anniversary of the Tazreen Fashions factory fire.

The report was revealed at Washington DC on Friday.

“The tragedies in Bangladesh present an important opportunity to improve labour rights and empower workers.

No consumer will want to wear clothing if it’s stained by the blood of innocent workers,” Senator Menendez said.

The report was issued a year after the Tazreen fire that killed 112 workers. In April 2013, the collapse of eight-storey Rana Plaza in Savar near Dhaka resulted in the death of 1,131.

Both the tragedies galvanised world attention towards the plight of garment workers in Bangladesh.

“One year ago, the world woke up to the horror caused by the unsafe working conditions of Bangladesh’s garment workers.

We should not rest until these individuals are given the rights they deserve and the tools they need to protect themselves,” Menendez said.

The report put forward recommendation for the US and Bangladesh governments,

the BGMEA, and for apparel brands and retailers.

The Bangladesh government and the BGMEA should immediately develop and implement tough and effective sanctions against factory owners who engaged in anti-union activity, the report suggested.

“The next government of Bangladesh should act quickly to reform existing labour

laws, including EPZ labour laws, to bring them into conformity with international labor standards.”

It said apparel brands and retailers should aggressively continue implementing inspection and remediation programs focused on fire and building safety in their suppliers’ factories in Bangladesh.

“Apparel brands and retailers, especially those with very large operations in Bangladesh like Wal-Mart, Gap, and others in the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety, should, in coordination with the ILO, launch long-term, well-resourced programs to educate their suppliers of their expectation for compliance with laws allowing the right to organise unions and bargain collectively.”

The US government should hold the Bangladesh government to the highest standards in implementing the GSP action plan, especially provisions pertaining to labour law reform and protecting the freedom of association and the rights to organise and bargain collectively.

The report also recommended the US Department of State place a full-time labour attache´ from the US Department of Labour at its mission in Dhaka. l

Oil prices fall in Asia as Dollar eases on yen in Asia Swisscontact US euphoria wears off implements own aggressive easing programme was fuelAFP, Tokyo n ling excessive weakness in the yen.

SkillFUL project n AFP, Singapore He said the currency’s recent decline The dollar eased against the yen in Asian afOil prices fell in Asia Friday as euphoria over ternoon trade Friday after getting a boost on against the dollar was not “abnormal”. The n Tribune Business Desk currency has lost about a quarter of its value bullish US economic data quickly wore off strong US jobs data, which bolstered specuand talks on Iran’s controversial nuclear programme entered a third day.

The US benchmark, West Texas Intermediate for January delivery, fell 27 cents to $95.17, while European benchmark Brent oil for January dropped 24 cents to $109.84.

Improving US jobless and manufacturing data buoyed sentiment on Thursday and boosted the Dow Jones share index past 16,000 for the first time, but the impact on oil prices was short-lived.

Kenny Kan, an analyst at CMC Markets in Singapore, said data showing an increase in US shale oil production indicated “a decent level of supply, which weighed on WTI crude prices”.

“However, the (Thanksgiving) holiday season in the US is around the corner, which may provide some support to WTI crude prices as US demand picks up,” he added.

Talks are taking place in Geneva between six world powers and major oil producer Iran over its nuclear energy programme, which the West sees as a cover for weapons development.

Tehran, which denies the accusation, is complaining of “no progress” so far on narrowing considerable differences.

The meeting is third round of talks since President Hassan Rouhani was elected in June and are seen as the biggest hope in years in resolving the decade-old stand-off. l

lation the Fed will soon begin a rollback of its monetary easing scheme.

The greenback bought 101.03 yen in T kyo after jumping to 101.39 yen earlier in the day, against 101.16 yen in New York Thursday.

A drop in weekly US jobless claims and a pick-up in manufacturing activity in November boosted sentiment, powering the Dow to another record high and fuelling speculation of a pullback of the Fed’s bond-buying plan.

The euro bought $1.3473 compared with $1.3478, and 136.14 yen against 136.34 yen.

The single currency rose in New York after European Central Bank President Mario Draghi moved to temper talk of a rate cut.

The ECB head said the bank was not planning to take one of its key rates - the deposit rate - to negative territory from zero percent.

On Friday, Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda played down suggestions its

against the greenback since late last year.

“Excessive strength in the yen has been in a correction process,” Kuroda said during a parliamentary financial committee session.

“I don’t think there is any bubble-like, abnormal yen weakness right now in the currency market.” The dollar was mixed against other Asia-Pacific currencies.

It climbed to 62.97 Indian rupees from 62.92 rupees the previous day, to 31.83 Thai baht from 31.79 baht, to Sg$1.2507 from Sg$1.2487, and to 43.87 Philippine pesos from 43.80 pesos. It was also higher at 11,728 Indonesian rupiah from 11,705 rupiah.

However it eased to 1,060.73 South Korean won from 1,063.06 won, and to Tw$29.57 from Tw$29.58.

The Australian dollar tumbled to 91.91 US cents from 93.03 cents, while the Chinese yuan rose to 16.59 yen from 16.46 yen. l

Swisscontact is implementing a project titled Skills for Unemployed and Underemployed (SkillFUL) in six districts of the country.

The project is jointly funded by the European Union and Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, said a press release.

To facilitate skills training in six districts the project has supported 23 public and private Training Service Providers (TSPs) in various targeted areas. l

Airtel 3G further stretched n Tribune Business Desk Airtel Bangladesh Ltd has further stretched 3G network over significant parts of the country’s two biggest metropolitan cities Dhaka and Chittagong.

Commenting on the rapid growth of the Airtel 3G network, Chris Tobit, CEO and Managing Director, Airtel Bangladesh Limited said: “We have been working hard and have been able to cover significant areas of the two most important cities of the country, Dhaka and Chittagong.”

“The rest of the areas of these two major divisions will be covered by the end of December 2013,” he added. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2013

CUT IN BILATERAL TRADE COST

Bangladesh makes moderate progress on regional scale n Tribune Report

ISCC Index: Bangladesh and ESCAP sub-regions

Bangladesh has made limited progress on reducing trade costs with its south and southwest Asian neighbours, says a new United Nations report.

However, it said, the country relatively made more progress as compared to its East and North-East Asian partners.

When tariff costs are excluded, trade costs between Bangladesh and the United States are only slightly higher than those between Bangladesh and some of the other south Asian countries, suggesting further room for intra-regional trade facilitation, according to the report of United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) launched in Bangkok last week.

Bangladesh ranks 137th out of 179 countries, according to the ESCAP International Supply Chain Connectivity Index – a new index released on the occasion of the Asia Pacific Trade and Investment week which captures the extent of a country’s facilitation of import and export process as well as access to efficient maritime services.

Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) and Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institute (BFTI) jointly organised a discussion on the report in Dhaka yesterday.

BFTI Chief Executive Officer M Mojibur Rahman said Bangladesh needs policy consistency and political stability to ensure a sustainable economic development.

He urged all political parties to keep transportation of industrial goods and other supply chain management relating to trade and commerce out of the purview of political activities.

He emphasised on reducing trade cost and bank loan interest to help boost business further. “BFTI is working on formulating a coordinated trade policy.”

DCCI President Sabur Khan called for harmonisation of common standard in Asia and the Pacific region. He also emphasised on trade and export-led economic growth in the region.

90

2006

80

2012

70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

EU-3

East & North East Asia

South‐East South & South Pacific Islands North & Asia West Asia Economies Central Asia

He also stressed on considerable use of ICT in the banking sector and urged for making intellectual property acts more effective.

He said the government should frame more investment friendly policies to attract FDI and develop SMEs. “We’ve to enhance regional cooperation to enjoy the essence of international free market economy.”

The report forecasts the export growth of Asia-Pacific region will remain over 5% in 2013 and 6% in 2014.

Developing countries in the region attracted over 33% foreign direct investment (FDI).

Reducing the cost of international trade transactions has become a priority for the governments intent to facilitate the effective integration of firms in regional and global production networks, the report suggested.

Along with improving availability and access to trade related infrastructure, cutting red tape and streamlining trade processes have become essential both to maintain competitiveness and enable smaller player to benefit.

The Asia-Pacific region continues to face the risks and uncertainties associated with sluggish economic recovery in developed countries and rebalancing in China and other large emerging economies, according to the report.

Developing countries in the region ac-

Bangladesh

count for 33% of global foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows, reflecting the established position of the region as a leading investment destination.

FDI inflows to the east and north-east Asian sub-region were $215bn in 2012, down 8% from the previous year. The decline can be attributed to weaker inflows to China, the Republic of Korea and Hong Kong, China.

China, however, continues to attract impressive levels of FDI – investments in 2012 totalled $121bn.

The report provides an independent analysis of regional trends and developments in trade and investment; trade facilitation; usage of protectionist measures; and preferential trade policies and agreements.

It uses macroeconomic analysis as well as regional and sectoral case studies to explore the complementary policies needed for trade and investment to produce more inclusive outcomes.

Among these policies are to increase investment in infrastructure; improve ICT connectivity; widen access to education, especially for women; and promote balanced labour market policies that enhance productivity and recognise international labour standards. l

3

Indian panel backs cheaper telecom spectrum price n Reuters A ministerial panel on Friday threw its weight behind watered down plans to cut the starting price at which mobile phone spectrum will be auctioned to operators in January, a cut demanded by companies battling low margins and high debt.

The panel is the last of four bodies to examine by how much the government should lower the reserve price for auctions after most carriers stayed away from bidding in the last two auctions criticising the prices as too high.

The prices recommended on Friday amounted to a final decision by the government, Telecommunications Minister Kapil Sibal told reporters after the meeting.

Friday’s panel, headed by Finance Minister P Chidambaram, backed a previous recommendation made by a group of civil servants to cut the reserve price by a quarter compared with the previous round of bids, Sibal said.

However, the new price is still 18% higher than the one given in a separate recommendation by the sector regulator TRAI in September.

The panel endorsed an all-India reserve price of 17.65bn rupees per megahertz of spectrum in the 1,800 megahertz frequency band used for basic mobile phone services.

For the premium 900 megahertz band, which will be sold only in three key zones including Delhi and Mumbai in January’s auction, the reserve price was recommended to be set at 8.13bn rupees in total.

That is 25% higher than the regulator’s suggested price, but 53% lower than the previous auction.

The 900 band is crucial for two leading Indian carriers - Bharti Airtel Ltd and Vodafone Group Plc’s local unit - as they must bid for spectrum in Delhi and Mumbai zones to renew their licences beyond November 2014. l

Stocks pass a robust week n Tribune Report Stocks stayed bullish for the fourth consecutive week ended Thursday last, achieving milestones both in terms of indices and turnover.

The gain was steepest as the benchmark index DSEX surged 154 points or 3.7% to 4,396, which is its all-time high.

Weekly closing point of the index was at its highest level since its inception on January 28, 2013.

The blue chip index DS30 added 97 points or 6.7% to 1,543. The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index, CSCX, also jumped 325 points or 4% to 8,600.

The mood of trading was upbeat too as the daily average turnover at DSE hit Tk7bn, which was about 50% higher over the previous week.

All the major sectors posted heavy gains in the past week except heavy weight banks that shed 0.2% during the week “In continuation of the previous week’s bullishness, investors were mostly on the buy side of trade.

Investors who expected a catastrophe ahead of national election and shunned the

market for quite a long time are coming back to the market with their pocket full of liquid assets,” said Lanka Bangla Securities in its weekly market analysis.

All the major sectors posted heavy gains in the past week except heavy weight banks that shed 0.2% during the week.

The top gaining sectors of the week were textile that rose 9%, jute 8%, telecommunications 7%, and service and real-estate 7%.

Conversely, top losing sectors were life insurance, engineering and IT. IDLC Investment said endogenous market variables neutralised political woes and dominated market sentiment with promises of return.

In addition, hope of sedation in polit-

ical turmoil and discounting of probable post-election business turnaround created strong investment incentive, it said.

Gainers strongly outpaced losers as out of 296 issues traded during the week, 230 advanced, 51 declined and 15 remained unchanged on the DSE. Textiles and banks remained at the center of investment activities, as the two sectors made up 36% of total market turnover.

Generation Next Fashion became the week’s top turnover leader with shares worth Tk1.6bn changing hands, followed

by RN Spinning, Square Pharmaceuticals, Grameenphone, Beximco Ltd, Meghna Petroleum, Bengal Windsor Thermoplastics and Paramount Textile. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Career

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2013

The beginning of a new era for entrepreneurship in Bangladesh n Tasnuva Amin Nova

W

ith a robust youth population having access to quality education and expertise in the Information Technology sector, Bangladesh has the tool to fight poverty and unemployment through self-employment. Entrepreneurship not only helps gain independence but also enables self-starters to create opportunities for others.

Through “Global Entrepreneurship Week” (GEW), the world’s largest celebration of innovators and job creators, startups are launched during one week each November that bring ideas to life, drive economic growth and expand human welfare. As Bangladesh continues to progress, amidst the current political unrest and instability, StartupBashBD decided to highlight our potential in generating innovative business ideas and implementing them in front of the whole world. The six-day-long event was hosted from November 18 till 23, honouring the spirit of startups throughout the world.

The tagline of StartupBash reads “Connect. Share. Do.” The motive of the campaign was to “connect” the would-be entrepreneurs to potential investors and mentors for them to “share” and give life to their ideas.

To most of us the idea of developing a flourishing startup ecosystem in Bangladesh still seems quite farfetched because of our historical shyness towards investing in new ventures and inadequate attention.However, those who attended at least a few of the more than twenty sessions at StartupBashbd during the last six days would think somewhat positively about kick starting their startups.

The programme included sessions such as creating the bridge between entrepreneurs and investors, startup pitches, using technology to solve social problems, showcasing the stories of successful entrepreneurs, startup toolbox and must have skills.

Day 1: Create investment opportunities StartupBash officially welcomed its guests and participants to celebrate the spirit of GEW on November 18, at the NewsCred office in Banani. During a fireside chat with organiser of StartupBash and founder of Empty Ventures Samad Miraly, President of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry Md Sabur Khan recommended “policies to encourage new entrepreneurs by creating more investment opportunities.”

Day 2: Do it yourself CEO of G&R Ad Network Nash Islam demonstrated the simplicity and effectiveness of using web tools in doing business while CEO of Magnito Digital Riyad Husain showed how startups can use social media for business marketing. CEO & co-founder of Akhoni.com Shameem Ahsan pointed out the most common mistake young entrepreneurs make: when they forecast revenue they often overestimate and when they forecast operational cost they underestimate.

Day 3: Startup pitch On the third day of the programme, aspiring

will be launched within the next few days.

Founder of Startup Dhaka Mustafizur Rahman Khan has filmed the documentary to raise awareness of crowd funding opportunities in Bangladesh.

entrepreneurs had just 15 seconds to pitch their business ideas to angel investors and venture capitalists present during the event.

What followed was a dream come true for CEO of Fortuna Fayaz Taher; the NewsCred office was transformed into a scene resembling the startup communities in Silicon Valley. Entrepreneurs and investors interacted to raise funds for new businesses through a fun activity. LightCastle Partners, Bongo, BucketsEngineer, Adseee.com and StarHost mobile application were chosen as the most innovative business ideas by investors.

After the interesting pitching session, founder and CTO of NewsCred Iraj Islam presented the audience with knowledge about the right time to ask for funds. According to the organiser, entrepreneurs should “focus on growth, obsessively” to attract investors.

Day 4: An evening with His Excellency It was the big day when the entrepreneurs to-be got an opportunity to spend an evening with His Excellency Robert Gibson, British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, at his

residence. Mentors accompanied the participants where they focused on development through entrepreneurship including Founder of Jaago Korvi Rakshand and CEO and Founder of Team Engine Samira Zuberi Himika among others. Dhaka Tribune’s Head of Marketing and Communication Saif Kamal concluded the session with his closing remark.

His Excellency, Robert Gibson later tweeted “Energy filled evening at #startupBashBD. Great to meet the entrepreneurs of the future. So impressive” through his official Twitter account. To follow him on Twitter, type @HCRobertGibson.

Day 5: Skills of an entrepreneur Held at the EMK Center in Dhanmondi, professionals and entrepreneurs mentored startup aspirants about the essential qualities of an entrepreneur including communication, collaboration, leadership, personal branding among many others.

At the end of the event, the teaser of Startup Dhaka documentary was screened which

Day 6: Building startup communities After holding further sessions on entrepreneurial skill development at EMK during the morning, the gala was held at the American Club. In his speech, Fayaz said: “We organised this event with a collective vision to help foster young entrepreneurs by building a community for them. The more people we have, the stronger we will grow. It is the spirit of ‘WE’ that will lead us, our country to a better future.”

Country Manager of Dell Bangladesh Sonia Kabir spoke at the event about Women and Entrepreneurship. US Ambassador Dan Mozena closed with an inspiring speech challenging everyone to uplift the nation to build a brighter “shonar” Bangladesh.

To summarise the weeklong event, Founder & CEO of Shetu Sajid Islam shed light on the memories created during the event. He reflected on what is coming next for the startup community of Bangladesh. In answer to Dhaka Tribune’s queries on whether they had any plans to spread the community outside the capital, Sajid replied: “Yes, definitely. We have plans of opening startup communities in other districts of Bangladesh where entrepreneurship can thrive.”

The missed videos and materials of StartupBash can be accessed from facebook.com/ startupbashbd. StartupbashBD was supported by organisers Tahmina, Fazle, Sajid, Nash, Iraj, Mustafiz, Riyad, Samad, Korvi, Fayaz and multiple sponsors, partners, volunteers and brand ambassadors but most importantly by the energetic participants who brought enthusiasm and hunger to lead the nation forward through entrepreneurship. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Career

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2013

Five soft skills employers seek in a new hire n Faria Samreen Nizam

CAREER ASCENT

So you’ve updated your online profile and fixed up you resume. Now you’re ready to start applying for jobs. And because you were so diligent in specifying your skills, experience, awards and attributes you’ve been called in for

ple who have these qualities are usually the ones who have, and cause, less stress, will have better job security and tend to have more control in their work situation.”

Do you possess any of the top 5 most desirable ‘soft skills’ employers are looking for?

Take the initiative: Employers love to see employees that go above and beyond

Can juggle: If a candidate is able to multitask, it shows that they are able to manage a number of projects and conflicting priorities at the same time. It shows that they are

Brand Manager of Cooper’s Bakery and Gweebarra Bakery Industry Ltd Alvi Chowdhury discusses his first job and how he learnt to de-learn obsolete information to make room for new ones.

Refine, rethink and reshape career growth Tell us a little about your education background?

I did my bachelor degree from NSU, majoring in Marketing and Human Resources. I completed my A’ levels from Mastermind and O’ levels from Dhaka Grammar School.

‘People who have these qualities are usually the ones who have, and cause, less stress, will have better job security and tend to have more control in their work situation’

FullPlate: I have a problem where I bite off more than I can chew. When I hear about any kind of initiative or project at work that sounds inASK MENTOR teresting, I volunteer for it.

This leads to me having too much on my plate and in the end not being able to deliver everything on time. It’s affecting my image at work. I do this because if I don’t have a lot of on-going work I feel like my seniors will notice and think I’m not doing enough. But this makes me look even worse. How do I find a perfect balance?

Mentor: I hear ya mate! To your benefit, let it go.

Don’t volunteer for it all the time. You think you are doing it for the best of the organisation and your seniors will never say no; however, when you cannot deliver, they will blame you. We live in a society where not harness creative types, or the sincere ones. There is no perfect balance.

When you see something interesting come up, ask yourself how much time you can spend on it and if it is a priority. Revisit your deadlines.

My First Job

perfect solution but foreseeing changes in the industry and/or the economy and being able to adapt to change will make you a good candidate.

an interview.

We know that you are excited for this opportunity but there are some things you should keep in mind before you sit down for a chat with you potential employer. There are certain qualities that every employer looks for in candidates, and you want to be sure that you remember to highlight those desirable qualities that you do possess during the interview.

In 2009, a survey from Robert Half International found that multitasking, initiative and creative thinking are some of the most important characteristics that a candidate needs to possess. We at loosemonkies.com have found in our research that these “soft skills” can sometimes be as important, if not more, as your technical skills, practical experience and level of education.

Co-CEO of loosemonkies.com Reza Arfin suggests prospective employees take the time to note their ‘soft skills’. He says: “As an employer myself I know how important these skills can be to the overall wellness of any corporate or non-profit enterprise. Peo-

5

What was your first job after graduation?

Working in an IT specialised head hunting firm called Anthroplace Consulting in India. by taking the initiative. These people are usually self motivated and need little to no supervision.

efficient and productive at work. However, if you multitask and you are not good at it, then it defeats the purpose

Play nice: You are still expected to work well with others. Remember you work for a company; you are not a one man show. Collaboration always yields better results than competition.

Long-term potential: Employers are looking for candidates that have long termpotential. Interviewing, hiring and training are very timely and expensive processes, employers typically do not want to hire someone who will only be with the company for six months or less (unless the job calls for it). l

Let your creative juices flow: Creative thinkers are the problem solvers; if you can do this you will always have a job. You do not have to always come up with the

PhysicalPresence: I am a part-timer at work and a final year university student. I never shy away from work, but I’m not a workaholic either. My problem is that because of my classes, and irrational timing of makeup classes because of the recent strikes, I am often not physically present at work.

While no one at work has complained, I can tell they are thinking I’m not doing enough. I understand that physical presence is important, but given my current situation, what can I do to get noticed for the work I’m doing more prominently?

Mentor: You should quit your job for a semester. That way you will do justice to your job and education. However, before you leave, have a word with your employer, tell him or her that the situations are such that you feel you are not giving your 100% and that it is not fair to the firm. It may not work, however many people appreciate honesty and you never know, you might just have the job waiting for you when you are done with your programme. l

Email us at career@dhakatribune.com for your opinions, feedback and career-related queries.

The writer is the Head of Marketing & Sales for loosemonkies.com

Follow this career expert on Twitter to stay on the edge of your career Crystal Miller@TheOneCrystal Crystal has 10+ years in recruiting, talent attraction and digital strategy. Her background in marketing, behavioral psychology and social sets her apart from most Talent Attraction Leaders.

Crystal has heavy experience in building communities, reputational marketing, candidate engagement and social collaboration.

Crystal is a sought-after expert on the topics of Talent Attraction, talent management, and digital strategy for multiple media outlets, such as ABC, CBS, Hanley-Wood, and Mashable.

Crystal speaks at various conferences worldwide and writes for multiple online publications. One can find her views on branded strategies on Recruiting Blogs, Brazen Careerist, Glassdoor, MonsterThinking, FastCompany, SmartRecruiters, Blogging4Jobs and others. l

How did you get the job?

I applied through an international youth organisation called AIESEC that facilitates global internships for university graduates.

It was quite competitive as 84 people internationally applied for the same position.

I had to go through six extensive interviews; two of them were online, three on the phone and a desk research assignment. And getting into AIESEC Global Exchange Programme was another ball game all together.

In AIESEC, I went through a threefold interview process that took place in Dhaka.

What was your biggest accomplishment in that position?

I was able to head hunt two senior SAP candidates for IBM and Cap-Gemini within my first two months.

Looking back, what is the most valuable lesson you picked up from your first job?

Understanding that my university experience does not have to correlate to my job, while realising that my academic experience was practice for learning something new, that it was a preparation to accept de-learning of old information and learning new ones. The most valuable lesson was not to forget to have fun working and have time for a laugh.

Did your first job change your mind about what you wanted to do with the rest of your career?

Not really; rather, working with the diversified colleagues in India helped to refine, rethink and reshape the way I wanted to see my career grow.

Who inspired you the most in your first job?

Team Leader Debjani and Head Hunting Specialist Sugato, but above all I was really inspired by the fantastic diversified team that I worked with. l

6

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2013

DSEBroadIndex:4395.94⇑ 3.64%,Turnover:34839.59M.Tk⇑ 46.90%,PE:13.43 Turnover:38,471.15MTk.⇑ 46.06% 17-21 November2013 MarketCap.2,114.77BTk.⇑ 4.11% CSEAllShareIndex:13607⇑ 3.30%,Turnover:3636.04MTk.⇑ 38.47%,PE:13.23 Combined Turnover Leader

BANK ABBANK | 2.95 | 32.60 | Vol. 3636666 D: 28.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 28.10 | 30.00 / 24.50 C: 28.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 28.03 | 29.00 / 27.30 CITYBANK | 1.15 | 25.97 | Vol. 13950531 D: 22.00 ⇓ 1.35% | 22.16 | 23.20 / 19.70 C: 22.00 ⇓ 0.90% | 22.22 | 23.20 / 21.20 IFIC | 1.10 | 18.34 | Vol. 12406777 D: 34.70 ⇓ 3.34% | 35.15 | 39.00 / 32.00 C: 34.90 ⇓ 2.24% | 35.23 | 36.90 / 34.40 ISLAMIBANK | 3.78 | 27.16 | Vol. 1753044 D: 36.70 ⇑ 1.66% | 36.55 | 37.00 / 33.00 C: 36.50 ⇑ 1.11% | 36.36 | 38.00 / 34.00 NBL | 1.05 | 15.76 | Vol. 19625821 D: 12.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 12.94 | 13.50 / 11.80 C: 12.90 ⇓ 0.77% | 12.97 | 13.30 / 12.70 PUBALIBANK | 1.92 | 21.18 | Vol. 2672921 D: 31.70 ⇑ 0.32% | 31.81 | 33.50 / 28.50 C: 31.60 ⇓ 0.32% | 31.80 | 32.90 / 31.00 RUPALIBANK | 6.70 | 64.27 | Vol. 327676 D: 67.10 ⇓ 0.59% | 67.77 | 70.70 / 66.00 C: 67.00 ⇓ 4.69% | 66.99 | 71.00 / 65.60 UCBL | 1.90 | 21.72 | Vol. 34419471 D: 25.70 ⇑ 4.90% | 25.92 | 27.00 / 22.00 C: 25.80 ⇑ 5.74% | 25.88 | 26.90 / 23.00 UTTARABANK | 3.42 | 26.97 | Vol. 4451767 D: 32.50 ⇓ 1.52% | 32.77 | 35.40 / 29.90 C: 32.80 ⇓ 1.50% | 32.96 | 34.20 / 32.50 ICBIBANK | -1.60 | -13.03 | Vol. 1146000 D: 6.30 ⇑ 1.61% | 6.39 | 6.70 / 5.80 EBL | 3.91 | 28.22 | Vol. 1055601 D: 29.80 ⇑ 0.34% | 29.57 | 30.40 / 27.00 C: 29.30 ⇓ 1.01% | 29.34 | 30.30 / 28.50 ALARABANK | 2.03 | 14.91 | Vol. 26089435 D: 20.50 ⇑ 3.54% | 20.76 | 22.20 / 18.00 C: 20.50 ⇑ 3.02% | 20.73 | 21.40 / 19.00 PRIMEBANK | 2.89 | 22.40 | Vol. 2217538 D: 24.90 ⇑ 5.06% | 25.38 | 26.50 / 21.50 C: 24.90 ⇑ 5.06% | 24.85 | 25.60 / 23.30 SOUTHEASTB | 1.89 | 22.66 | Vol. 8955839 D: 18.80 ⇓ 3.09% | 18.95 | 20.00 / 17.00 C: 18.90 ⇓ 2.58% | 19.01 | 19.70 / 17.40 DHAKABANK | 1.46 | 18.08 | Vol. 8107801 D: 20.20 ⇑ 3.59% | 20.36 | 21.00 / 18.00 C: 20.20 ⇑ 3.06% | 20.31 | 21.30 / 19.60 NCCBANK | 1.90 | 15.88 | Vol. 11998689 D: 14.70 ⇓ 3.29% | 14.82 | 16.00 / 13.10 C: 14.70 ⇓ 3.92% | 14.83 | 15.50 / 14.00 SIBL | 2.05 | 14.47 | Vol. 10026198 D: 14.50 ⇑ 0.69% | 14.71 | 15.20 / 13.00 C: 14.60 ⇑ 2.10% | 14.71 | 15.10 / 13.80 DUTCHBANGL | 11.57 | 54.27 | Vol. 165820 D: 100.0 ⇓ 1.48% | 100.21 | 103.0 / 96.00 C: 105.0 ⇓ 3.67% | 105.00 | 105.0 / 100.9 MTBL | 1.17 | 17.27 | Vol. 769801 D: 16.40 ⇑ 2.50% | 16.50 | 17.00 / 15.00 C: 16.40 ⇓ 0.61% | 16.45 | 17.50 / 16.10 STANDBANKL | 2.33 | 14.41 | Vol. 7245118 D: 15.50 ⇓ 4.91% | 15.67 | 16.60 / 14.30 C: 15.70 ⇓ 3.68% | 15.75 | 16.50 / 15.20 ONEBANKLTD | 2.35 | 15.34 | Vol. 21441066 D: 17.30 ⇓ 4.42% | 17.51 | 19.50 / 16.00 C: 17.40 ⇓ 4.40% | 17.53 | 18.50 / 17.30 BANKASIA | 1.35 | 20.80 | Vol. 2749923 D: 19.30 ⇓ 3.02% | 19.38 | 20.30 / 18.00 C: 19.70 ⇓ 1.50% | 19.63 | 20.50 / 19.30 MERCANBANK | 2.07 | 16.59 | Vol. 24792048 D: 16.80 ⇓ 4.55% | 17.00 | 19.00 / 15.40 C: 16.80 ⇓ 4.55% | 17.09 | 17.90 / 16.30 EXIMBANK | 1.80 | 14.31 | Vol. 8482678 D: 13.60 ⇓ 0.73% | 13.69 | 15.10 / 12.30 C: 13.70 ⇓ 0.72% | 13.74 | 14.20 / 13.00 JAMUNABANK | 2.47 | 18.56 | Vol. 1950917 D: 16.60 ⇑ 0.61% | 16.56 | 18.00 / 15.00 C: 16.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 16.50 | 18.00 / 15.00 BRACBANK | 1.51 | 24.87 | Vol. 4292002 D: 32.30 ⇓ 1.82% | 32.73 | 34.00 / 29.00 C: 32.70 ⇓ 0.30% | 32.67 | 34.00 / 32.00 SHAHJABANK | 2.61 | 14.47 | Vol. 6066095 D: 18.00 ⇓ 4.76% | 18.16 | 20.00 / 16.50 C: 18.20 ⇓ 3.70% | 18.36 | 19.30 / 18.00 PREMIERBAN | 1.18 | 13.95 | Vol. 6163863 D: 12.50 ⇓ 2.34% | 12.61 | 14.00 / 11.40 C: 12.60 ⇓ 2.33% | 12.64 | 14.00 / 12.00

TO M. Tk.

% of TTL

Avg. P

1,734.21

4.51

33.58

Generation Next Fashions-A

51650654

Grameenphone-A

5943226

1,233.16

Meghna Petroleum -A

4221788

1,209.00

3.14

286.37

R. N. Spinning-A

31579647

1,118.37

2.91

35.41

2.40

36.04

BEXIMCO Ltd. -A

CompanyCode | EPS | BV | Volume Traded (Share) DSE/CSE: ClosePrice ⇓/⇑ Chn % | Avg.Price | Hi / Lo

Vol.

25578676

921.93

3.21

TRUSTBANK | 0.50 | 18.00 | Vol. 2704726 D: 20.10 ⇓ 3.37% | 20.17 | 21.40 / 17.90 C: 20.10 ⇓ 2.90% | 20.36 | 21.10 / 19.80 FIRSTSBANK | 1.85 | 13.89 | Vol. 13748212 D: 16.80 ⇑ 1.82% | 16.94 | 18.20 / 14.50 C: 17.10 ⇑ 2.40% | 16.95 | 17.40 / 15.50 NON BANKING F I IDLC | 4.43 | 29.18 | Vol. 1157810 D: 62.20 ⇑ 1.47% | 62.48 | 65.00 / 58.00 C: 63.00 ⇑ 3.28% | 63.02 | 65.00 / 61.00 ULC | 1.80 | 14.90 | Vol. 1978900 D: 30.60 ⇓ 2.55% | 30.94 | 33.00 / 29.00 UTTARAFIN | 7.16 | 41.54 | Vol. 1343734 D: 83.20 ⇑ 1.59% | 83.56 | 86.40 / 74.10 C: 84.40 ⇑ 4.07% | 84.12 | 85.50 / 76.00 MIDASFIN | 0.16 | 10.21 | Vol. 24500 D: 31.70 ⇑ 5.67% | 31.73 | 32.00 / 30.20 C: 30.00 ⇑ 1.01% | 30.00 | 30.20 / 30.00 FLEASEINT | 2.34 | 13.93 | Vol. 5941571 D: 31.30 ⇓ 1.26% | 31.56 | 34.50 / 29.00 C: 31.60 ⇓ 1.25% | 31.71 | 34.40 / 31.30 PLFSL | 1.37 | 17.48 | Vol. 6957353 D: 25.00 ⇑ 0.40% | 25.14 | 27.00 / 22.40 C: 25.10 ⇑ 0.80% | 25.27 | 26.40 / 23.00 PRIMEFIN | 0.87 | 17.88 | Vol. 1937448 D: 25.30 ⇑ 1.20% | 25.50 | 26.50 / 23.00 C: 25.40 ⇑ 0.40% | 25.50 | 26.50 / 25.00 PREMIERLEA | 0.10 | 11.37 | Vol. 1088367 D: 10.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 10.37 | 10.50 / 9.50 C: 10.50 ⇑ 0.96% | 10.50 | 10.70 / 9.50 ISLAMICFIN | 1.03 | 15.48 | Vol. 6152428 D: 17.40 ⇑ 2.96% | 17.36 | 18.50 / 15.40 C: 17.40 ⇑ 2.96% | 17.42 | 18.40 / 16.80 LANKABAFIN | 1.61 | 31.07 | Vol. 4611141 D: 56.70 ⇑ 2.53% | 56.95 | 59.50 / 50.00 C: 56.50 ⇑ 2.36% | 56.74 | 59.10 / 55.00 BIFC | 0.15 | 18.58 | Vol. 1103130 D: 17.10 ⇑ 1.18% | 17.15 | 18.00 / 16.50 C: 17.10 ⇑ 1.79% | 17.12 | 18.00 / 16.00 IPDC | 1.23 | 19.43 | Vol. 1073311 D: 19.10 ⇑ 0.53% | 19.37 | 20.30 / 18.00 C: 19.10 ⇑ 0.53% | 19.17 | 20.00 / 18.70 UNIONCAP | 0.54 | 17.85 | Vol. 301073 D: 28.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 28.88 | 30.50 / 26.50 C: 28.60 ⇑ 1.78% | 28.60 | 30.00 / 27.50 BDFINANCE | 0.57 | 14.77 | Vol. 1040730 D: 19.00 ⇑ 0.53% | 19.01 | 19.50 / 17.00 C: 18.90 ⇓ 0.53% | 19.04 | 19.30 / 18.60 ILFSL | 0.35 | 12.19 | Vol. 3695885 D: 15.30 ⇑ 0.66% | 15.40 | 15.90 / 14.00 C: 15.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 15.34 | 16.50 / 15.10 PHOENIXFIN | 2.46 | 19.39 | Vol. 2965471 D: 34.20 ⇓ 4.74% | 34.31 | 36.50 / 32.00 C: 34.20 ⇓ 3.66% | 34.14 | 36.30 / 32.00 FASFIN | 0.19 | 13.56 | Vol. 11632568 D: 14.30 ⇑ 1.42% | 14.35 | 15.50 / 12.80 C: 14.30 ⇑ 0.70% | 14.43 | 14.80 / 14.00 DBH | 4.47 | 21.27 | Vol. 310250 D: 55.80 ⇑ 0.54% | 55.76 | 58.80 / 55.00 C: 55.20 ⇓ 1.78% | 55.40 | 57.00 / 55.00 NHFIL | 0.57 | 12.70 | Vol. 2046192 D: 31.40 ⇑ 3.29% | 31.74 | 34.00 / 28.00 C: 31.80 ⇑ 2.58% | 31.89 | 33.50 / 30.80 BAYLEASING | 0.72 | 25.55 | Vol. 2304548 D: 29.70 ⇓ 1.98% | 30.06 | 33.00 / 28.00 C: 29.80 ⇓ 1.32% | 30.06 | 31.70 / 29.60 ICB | 89.23 | 607.74 | Vol. 34893 D: 1553 ⇑ 7.12% | 1574 | 1660 / 1400 C: 1594 ⇑ 8.27% | 1594 | 1595 / 1485 GSPFINANCE | 1.63 | 22.23 | Vol. 1254737 D: 26.70 ⇑ 1.91% | 26.61 | 27.80 / 24.00 C: 26.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 26.65 | 28.00 / 26.10 FAREASTFIN | 0.68 | 13.64 | Vol. 5086500 D: 14.40 ⇑ 2.86% | 14.44 | 14.80 / 14.00 C: 14.50 ⇑ 2.84% | 14.46 | 14.90 / 14.00 INVESTMENT 1STICB | 75.63 | 942.30 | Vol. 650 D: 878.5 ⇓ 2.39% | 880.00 | 900.0 / 870.0 2NDICB | 44.10 | 253.11 | Vol. 4000 D: 250.5 ⇑ 0.89% | 250.77 | 255.0 / 242.0 3RDICB | 26.16 | 235.16 | Vol. 3850 D: 201.0 ⇑ 5.24% | 201.33 | 209.9 / 191.0 4THICB | 29.24 | 229.24 | Vol. 3800 D: 197.3 ⇑ 8.35% | 197.20 | 200.0 / 180.0 5THICB | 23.45 | 188.92 | Vol. 9800 D: 153.4 ⇑ 4.92% | 152.86 | 155.0 / 145.0

207.49

C%

A%

CP

C%

A%

CP

BD Building Systems -N

DSE Gainer

54.74

47.21

63.60

Delta Life Insu.-Z

-24.09

-34.51

348.50

-22.98

-18.27

42.90

DSE Loser

Jute Spinners-A

45.50

39.87

93.70

Rahima Food -A

PragatiLife Insu.-A

28.10 23.60

158.20

Anlima Yarn -A

-17.33

-16.64

27.20

Reckitt Benckiser-A

26.69

26.65

899.50

Northern Jute-Z

-14.52

-14.52

26.50

Monno Stafllers-A

26.45 25.46

351.40

EBL NRB M.F.-A

-9.76

-8.66

7.40

6THICB | 10.99 | 60.14 | Vol. 148400 D: 54.60 ⇑ 1.87% | 54.73 | 55.70 / 51.50 C: 52.60 ⇓ 9.62% | 52.90 | 53.00 / 52.40 7THICB | 13.53 | 98.60 | Vol. 5580 D: 86.70 ⇑ 8.38% | 86.49 | 87.90 / 80.00 8THICB | 12.47 | 70.07 | Vol. 65500 D: 53.00 ⇓ 0.93% | 53.03 | 55.00 / 51.30 AIMS1STMF | 3.02 | 15.70 | Vol. 2449400 D: 40.10 ⇑ 0.50% | 40.28 | 41.30 / 39.10 C: 40.30 ⇑ 0.50% | 40.21 | 41.50 / 38.70 ICBISLAMIC | 2.21 | 26.81 | Vol. 416000 D: 19.60 ⇓ 0.51% | 19.00 | 20.60 / 18.20 C: 18.50 ⇑ 2.78% | 18.50 | 18.50 / 18.30 GRAMEEN1 | 6.26 | 33.23 | Vol. 1972500 D: 45.80 ⇑ 1.55% | 46.37 | 47.60 / 44.50 C: 45.70 ⇑ 1.33% | 45.78 | 47.00 / 44.60 ICB1STNRB | 4.06 | 35.31 | Vol. 105500 D: 26.30 ⇑ 0.77% | 26.36 | 27.70 / 25.60 C: 26.20 ⇑ 0.38% | 26.20 | 26.50 / 26.10 ICB2NDNRB | 2.49 | 16.24 | Vol. 882500 D: 10.60 ⇑ 0.95% | 10.46 | 11.10 / 10.10 C: 10.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 10.50 | 10.90 / 10.20 GRAMEENS2 | 2.17 | 16.41 | Vol. 5267700 D: 17.00 ⇑ 0.59% | 17.12 | 17.40 / 15.50 C: 17.10 ⇑ 0.59% | 17.10 | 17.30 / 16.60 1STPRIMFMF | 0.64 | 11.63 | Vol. 4391000 D: 23.10 ⇓ 1.28% | 23.25 | 23.70 / 22.80 C: 23.00 ⇓ 2.54% | 23.11 | 23.90 / 22.60 EBL1STMF | 0.55 | 12.62 | Vol. 2388929 D: 7.20 ⇑ 1.41% | 7.24 | 7.80 / 6.50 C: 7.10 ⇓ 1.39% | 7.18 | 7.60 / 6.90 ICBAMCL2ND | 0.60 | 12.12 | Vol. 471000 D: 6.20 ⇓ 3.13% | 6.23 | 6.40 / 6.00 C: 6.30 ⇓ 3.08% | 6.23 | 6.70 / 6.10 ICBEPMF1S1 | 0.52 | 11.32 | Vol. 691500 D: 6.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.32 | 6.40 / 6.10 C: 6.40 ⇓ 1.54% | 6.40 | 6.80 / 6.20 TRUSTB1MF | 0.75 | 11.65 | Vol. 4677980 D: 7.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 7.81 | 8.00 / 7.00 C: 7.80 ⇓ 1.27% | 7.78 | 8.50 / 7.00 PRIME1ICBA | 0.42 | 11.18 | Vol. 1025000 D: 5.80 ⇑ 1.75% | 5.88 | 6.00 / 5.50 C: 5.90 ⇑ 1.72% | 5.92 | 6.00 / 5.40 DBH1STMF | -1.12 | 10.15 | Vol. 2828000 D: 6.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.14 | 6.30 / 5.80 C: 6.20 ⇑ 1.64% | 6.20 | 6.30 / 5.80 IFIC1STMF | 0.83 | 11.88 | Vol. 3157129 D: 7.00 ⇓ 1.41% | 7.09 | 7.20 / 6.40 C: 7.10 ⇑ 1.43% | 7.11 | 7.30 / 6.50 PF1STMF | 0.51 | 11.11 | Vol. 2029500 D: 5.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.02 | 6.20 / 5.70 C: 6.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.07 | 6.20 / 5.70 ICB3RDNRB | 0.00 | 10.60 | Vol. 2120500 D: 5.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.62 | 5.80 / 5.40 C: 5.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.58 | 5.80 / 5.40 1JANATAMF | 0.78 | 10.68 | Vol. 2726000 D: 6.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.50 | 6.60 / 6.20 C: 6.40 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.41 | 6.60 / 6.10 GREENDELMF | -0.82 | 9.72 | Vol. 4642500 D: 5.70 ⇑ 1.79% | 5.74 | 5.90 / 5.40 C: 5.70 ⇑ 1.79% | 5.74 | 5.90 / 5.50 POPULAR1MF | 0.77 | 11.38 | Vol. 9982719 D: 6.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.58 | 6.70 / 5.90 C: 6.70 ⇑ 3.08% | 6.62 | 6.70 / 6.00 IFILISLMF1 | 0.00 | 10.45 | Vol. 4252000 D: 6.10 ⇓ 1.61% | 6.08 | 6.40 / 6.00 C: 6.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.12 | 6.30 / 6.00 PHPMF1 | 0.63 | 10.92 | Vol. 8284000 D: 6.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.03 | 6.20 / 5.80 C: 6.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.06 | 6.20 / 5.80 AIBL1STIMF | -0.07 | 9.25 | Vol. 886500 D: 7.20 ⇑ 4.35% | 7.26 | 7.30 / 7.00 C: 7.30 ⇑ 4.29% | 7.22 | 7.30 / 6.80 MBL1STMF | -0.16 | 9.08 | Vol. 1028500 D: 6.60 ⇑ 3.13% | 6.60 | 6.70 / 6.40 C: 6.70 ⇑ 6.35% | 6.70 | 6.70 / 6.50 SEBL1STMF | 0.94 | 11.85 | Vol. 3839550 D: 8.40 ⇑ 0.00% | 8.35 | 8.50 / 8.00 C: 8.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 8.30 | 8.90 / 8.00 EBLNRBMF | 1.07 | 10.88 | Vol. 141169 D: 7.40 ⇓ 9.76% | 7.49 | 8.20 / 7.20 RELIANCE1 | 0.95 | 10.33 | Vol. 3759650 D: 9.00 ⇓ 1.10% | 9.19 | 9.90 / 8.50 C: 9.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 9.20 | 9.30 / 8.80 LRGLOBMF1 | 0.45 | 10.78 | Vol. 11203500 D: 7.10 ⇓ 4.05% | 7.17 | 8.00 / 7.10 C: 7.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 7.30 | 7.60 / 7.20

ABB1STMF | 0.92 | 10.63 | Vol. 5854000 D: 7.70 ⇑ 2.67% | 7.72 | 8.00 / 7.20 C: 7.70 ⇑ 1.32% | 7.70 | 7.90 / 7.30 NLI1STMF | 1.17 | 12.22 | Vol. 4457400 D: 9.60 ⇑ 2.13% | 9.72 | 10.10 / 8.80 C: 9.80 ⇑ 4.26% | 9.76 | 9.90 / 9.20 FBFIF | 1.30 | 10.27 | Vol. 19000 D: 8.90 ⇓ 1.11% | 8.96 | 9.50 / 8.60 NCCBLMF1 | 1.16 | 10.48 | Vol. 148000 D: 8.70 ⇓ 2.25% | 8.80 | 9.10 / 8.50 ICBSONALI1 | 0.00 | 10.39 | Vol. 5026000 D: 8.60 ⇓ 2.27% | 8.66 | 9.10 / 8.40 C: 8.60 ⇓ 3.37% | 8.64 | 9.00 / 8.50 EXIM1STMF | 0.00 | 10.91 | Vol. 32000 D: 8.10 ⇑ 2.53% | 8.18 | 8.40 / 8.00 ENGINEERING AFTABAUTO | 4.29 | 52.65 | Vol. 4178390 D: 105.7 ⇑ 5.07% | 106.51 | 114.5 / 91.00 C: 106.1 ⇑ 5.26% | 106.59 | 113.8 / 100.5 AZIZPIPES | 0.39 | -42.04 | Vol. 102870 D: 17.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 17.34 | 18.00 / 16.90 C: 16.90 ⇓ 6.63% | 16.94 | 18.70 / 16.70 OLYMPIC | 7.85 | 22.10 | Vol. 2300955 D: 225.0 ⇑ 7.35% | 223.81 | 226.5 / 195.0 C: 225.3 ⇑ 7.75% | 224.33 | 227.5 / 208.3 BDLAMPS | -5.31 | 37.07 | Vol. 87848 D: 133.4 ⇑ 1.68% | 134.53 | 141.0 / 131.0 C: 130.6 ⇑ 2.43% | 130.94 | 138.9 / 114.8 ECABLES | 2.04 | 18.87 | Vol. 84600 D: 76.00 ⇑ 3.26% | 76.09 | 81.10 / 73.80 C: 74.00 ⇑ 2.64% | 74.00 | 80.50 / 72.20 MONNOSTAF | 5.31 | 44.78 | Vol. 13100 D: 351.4 ⇑ 26.45% | 349.18 | 357.2 / 267.3 SINGERBD | 9.99 | 45.74 | Vol. 599942 D: 200.6 ⇑ 4.10% | 201.92 | 209.0 / 185.0 C: 201.0 ⇑ 4.52% | 201.64 | 209.0 / 192.7 ATLASBANG | 9.14 | 222.05 | Vol. 318235 D: 176.3 ⇑ 5.38% | 174.40 | 181.0 / 151.0 BDAUTOCA | -0.43 | 5.68 | Vol. 467265 D: 30.80 ⇑ 24.19% | 30.37 | 33.50 / 25.90 QSMDRYCELL | 1.06 | 52.31 | Vol. 2865428 D: 37.60 ⇑ 12.91% | 36.75 | 38.90 / 32.50 C: 37.50 ⇑ 14.33% | 37.22 | 38.40 / 32.10 RENWICKJA | 5.77 | -31.13 | Vol. 113250 D: 156.5 ⇓ 0.51% | 158.58 | 164.0 / 147.0 NTLTUBES | 0.67 | 311.00 | Vol. 584596 D: 75.50 ⇑ 5.59% | 76.86 | 79.50 / 70.00 BDTHAI | 0.43 | 39.35 | Vol. 2219719 D: 27.60 ⇑ 3.76% | 27.56 | 29.00 / 25.00 C: 27.90 ⇑ 5.28% | 27.35 | 28.80 / 26.30 ANWARGALV | 0.52 | 8.10 | Vol. 1289500 D: 23.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 24.04 | 27.40 / 23.00 C: 24.10 ⇑ 1.69% | 24.21 | 27.00 / 22.70 KAY&QUE | -3.89 | 6.03 | Vol. 53000 D: 15.50 ⇓ 4.32% | 15.54 | 16.60 / 15.40 C: 16.30 ⇑ 1.88% | 16.30 | 16.30 / 14.50 RANFOUNDRY | 2.84 | 18.62 | Vol. 288500 D: 86.50 ⇑ 1.17% | 87.04 | 93.00 / 84.70 C: 95.00 ⇑ 12.43% | 95.00 | 95.00 / 83.80 SALAMCRST | 3.31 | 20.00 | Vol. 3803570 D: 44.10 ⇑ 7.82% | 44.00 | 45.60 / 38.20 C: 44.30 ⇑ 8.05% | 44.12 | 45.30 / 41.00 GOLDENSON | 3.70 | 28.70 | Vol. 11804638 D: 52.70 ⇑ 13.33% | 52.11 | 55.00 / 42.00 C: 52.80 ⇑ 13.55% | 52.41 | 54.10 / 45.30 BSRMSTEEL | 3.06 | 19.53 | Vol. 3713383 D: 73.80 ⇑ 8.53% | 74.59 | 79.00 / 65.00 C: 74.20 ⇑ 9.76% | 74.77 | 77.00 / 67.60 NAVANACNG | 4.09 | 27.04 | Vol. 1340838 D: 66.50 ⇑ 0.30% | 67.28 | 75.00 / 60.00 C: 67.20 ⇑ 1.20% | 67.28 | 69.90 / 64.50 DESHBANDHU | 0.26 | 10.67 | Vol. 3476630 D: 18.40 ⇑ 8.24% | 18.36 | 19.00 / 15.90 C: 18.50 ⇑ 8.19% | 18.40 | 19.00 / 16.60 GPHISPAT | 2.11 | 15.27 | Vol. 3663650 D: 52.60 ⇑ 14.85% | 51.33 | 52.60 / 43.20 C: 52.70 ⇑ 15.32% | 51.95 | 52.80 / 45.00 BENGALWTL | 3.85 | 24.30 | Vol. 12113000 D: 60.50 ⇑ 21.00% | 59.02 | 61.50 / 48.80 C: 61.10 ⇑ 22.20% | 59.80 | 62.50 / 48.00 BDBUILDING | 1.33 | 12.70 | Vol. 10697500 D: 63.60 ⇑ 54.74% | 60.49 | 65.00 / 42.80 C: 62.80 ⇑ 53.55% | 60.56 | 64.80 / 43.00 NPOLYMAR | 2.38 | 32.89 | Vol. 1040114 D: 53.90 ⇑ 14.93% | 52.93 | 54.50 / 46.00 C: 54.40 ⇑ 15.74% | 53.80 | 54.90 / 47.00

FOOD & ALLIED APEXFOODS | 2.54 | 90.81 | Vol. 183700 D: 92.30 ⇑ 2.56% | 92.54 | 97.80 / 88.60 C: 92.20 ⇑ 3.48% | 92.27 | 97.00 / 90.10 BANGAS | 7.20 | 50.27 | Vol. 335813 D: 441.6 ⇑ 6.49% | 439.92 | 452.0 / 400.0 C: 441.9 ⇑ 7.26% | 440.97 | 470.0 / 415.0 BATBC | 65.69 | 117.22 | Vol. 18300 D: 1710 ⇑ 4.63% | 1707 | 1760 / 1630 C: 1650 ⇓ 1.05% | 1650 | 1650 / 1650 GEMINISEA | 10.88 | 9.69 | Vol. 4950 D: 179.6 ⇑ 4.72% | 180.00 | 190.0 / 162.0 NTC | 29.88 | 110.05 | Vol. 8200 D: 813.3 ⇑ 1.74% | 813.04 | 820.0 / 800.0 ZEALBANGLA | -28.94 | -221.34 | Vol. 8600 D: 8.20 ⇑ 3.80% | 8.00 | 8.30 / 7.90 AMCL(PRAN) | 6.85 | 57.14 | Vol. 406510 D: 192.8 ⇑ 2.39% | 194.36 | 204.5 / 186.2 C: 192.4 ⇑ 2.12% | 195.78 | 204.0 / 185.1 SHYAMPSUG | -45.77 | -396.49 | Vol. 2000 D: 7.30 ⇓ 2.67% | 7.30 | 7.70 / 7.10 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. 4618205 D: 23.10 ⇑ 2.21% | 22.89 | 24.70 / 20.40 C: 23.30 ⇑ 2.64% | 23.15 | 24.80 / 22.50 MEGHNAPET | -0.50 | -1.52 | Vol. 61000 D: 6.40 ⇑ 3.23% | 6.40 | 6.80 / 5.60 MEGCONMILK | -7.48 | -23.70 | Vol. 107000 D: 7.20 ⇑ 4.35% | 7.21 | 7.60 / 6.90 BEACHHATCH | 1.01 | 12.48 | Vol. 4170242 D: 21.40 ⇑ 5.94% | 21.35 | 22.00 / 18.50 C: 21.50 ⇑ 5.91% | 21.37 | 21.90 / 20.10 FINEFOODS | 0.05 | 10.63 | Vol. 2286335 D: 18.10 ⇑ 11.04% | 17.96 | 18.70 / 16.00 C: 18.60 ⇑ 14.11% | 18.30 | 19.00 / 15.90 RDFOOD | 0.91 | 16.84 | Vol. 8286073 D: 24.80 ⇑ 13.24% | 24.25 | 24.90 / 20.40 C: 24.70 ⇑ 11.76% | 24.30 | 24.80 / 22.00 GHAIL | 2.31 | 24.36 | Vol. 4677376 D: 40.60 ⇑ 9.14% | 40.36 | 41.70 / 34.00 C: 40.60 ⇑ 8.85% | 40.67 | 41.90 / 34.60 FUEL & POWER LINDEBD | 31.71 | 144.00 | Vol. 65250 D: 634.8 ⇑ 4.25% | 636.32 | 659.0 / 611.0 PADMAOIL | 27.62 | 79.74 | Vol. 2297166 D: 338.7 ⇑ 14.16% | 339.52 | 351.5 / 296.7 C: 337.4 ⇑ 14.22% | 338.61 | 351.9 / 299.0 EASTRNLUB | 5.33 | 71.01 | Vol. 2200 D: 347.2 ⇑ 9.42% | 347.37 | 348.5 / 320.5 BDWELDING | 0.33 | 16.82 | Vol. 3809547 D: 21.80 ⇑ 9.00% | 21.88 | 22.70 / 19.00 C: 21.90 ⇑ 8.96% | 21.94 | 22.70 / 20.00 SUMITPOWER | 3.17 | 19.26 | Vol. 7020412 D: 38.40 ⇑ 8.17% | 38.27 | 39.70 / 32.00 C: 38.40 ⇑ 8.47% | 38.20 | 39.50 / 35.70 DESCO | 2.34 | 31.27 | Vol. 1437859 D: 60.90 ⇑ 3.05% | 60.80 | 62.80 / 55.00 C: 61.70 ⇑ 3.18% | 61.90 | 68.00 / 59.30 POWERGRID | 2.19 | 63.69 | Vol. 1043724 D: 56.40 ⇑ 6.02% | 56.37 | 58.00 / 50.00 C: 55.50 ⇑ 6.32% | 55.81 | 57.90 / 50.00 JAMUNAOIL | 22.78 | 50.24 | Vol. 2931285 D: 240.2 ⇑ 4.85% | 241.14 | 249.0 / 220.0 C: 241.0 ⇑ 5.47% | 241.66 | 249.4 / 230.0 MPETROLEUM | 25.61 | 71.11 | Vol. 4221788 D: 282.8 ⇑ 3.48% | 284.90 | 294.9 / 257.0 C: 282.7 ⇑ 3.90% | 284.38 | 294.9 / 274.9 TITASGAS | 9.20 | 46.26 | Vol. 4525867 D: 76.60 ⇑ 5.08% | 76.66 | 79.30 / 67.00 C: 76.50 ⇑ 4.51% | 76.92 | 79.00 / 73.70 KPCL | 4.73 | 15.86 | Vol. 2226138 D: 50.60 ⇑ 3.69% | 50.45 | 52.30 / 44.50 C: 50.40 ⇑ 3.49% | 50.18 | 52.10 / 48.30 BEDL | 1.48 | 19.43 | Vol. 8029190 D: 32.70 ⇑ 14.34% | 32.48 | 33.40 / 25.90 C: 32.80 ⇑ 13.49% | 32.43 | 33.20 / 28.50 MJLBD | 2.73 | 30.24 | Vol. 1521267 D: 76.20 ⇑ 2.56% | 76.07 | 79.80 / 67.00 C: 76.10 ⇑ 2.98% | 75.82 | 79.00 / 67.70 GBBPOWER | 1.86 | 22.63 | Vol. 11090811 D: 29.80 ⇑ 6.43% | 30.05 | 32.00 / 27.00 C: 30.00 ⇑ 6.76% | 30.10 | 31.20 / 28.00 SPPCL | 3.81 | 23.34 | Vol. 10878135 D: 61.90 ⇑ 3.17% | 62.22 | 65.70 / 54.00 C: 62.10 ⇑ 3.85% | 62.39 | 66.00 / 60.00

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2013

7

NOV 17-21, 2013 Sectotal Index: BANK: 38,990.43 ⇑ 0.58% NBFI: 21,182.20 ⇑ 0.81% INVS: 4,988.84 ⇑ 1.39% ENGG: 6,421.40 ⇑ 6.67% FOOD: 9,712.77 ⇑ 1.49% F&P: 10,622.85 ⇑ 3.90% TEXT: 3,581.98 ⇑ 5.98% PHAR: 18,364.97 ⇑ 6.59% PAPR: 1,068.01 ⇑ 7.01% SERV: 3,147.70 ⇑ 7.58% LEAT: 5,254.43 ⇑ 1.79% CERA: 523.04 ⇑ 3.86% CMNT: 4,388.61 ⇑ 2.19% INFO: 7,832.88 ⇑ 10.36% GINS: 9,530.27 ⇑ 1.97% LINS: 132,356.34 ⇓ 3.37% TELC: 1,394.24 ⇑ 4.39% MISC: 6,930.84 ⇑ 7.76% JUTE JUTESPINN | -48.14 | -39.89 | Vol. 89750 D: 93.70 ⇑ 45.50% | 92.23 | 94.60 / 64.10 NORTHERN | -9.98 | -18.22 | Vol. 2200 D: 26.50 ⇓ 14.52% | 26.50 | 30.00 / 25.80 SONALIANSH | 5.54 | 218.80 | Vol. 116900 D: 138.9 ⇓ 0.29% | 141.10 | 156.0 / 136.0 TEXTILE AL-HAJTEX | 2.22 | 16.53 | Vol. 794621 D: 92.80 ⇑ 10.87% | 91.87 | 94.80 / 78.00 RAHIMTEXT | 4.65 | 56.68 | Vol. 18500 D: 245.2 ⇓ 5.80% | 245.60 | 265.0 / 240.0 SAIHAMTEX | 2.75 | 29.50 | Vol. 6623700 D: 29.90 ⇑ 9.93% | 29.48 | 30.10 / 27.00 C: 30.30 ⇑ 10.18% | 29.86 | 30.50 / 27.40 MODERNDYE | 0.91 | 10.37 | Vol. 22050 D: 89.20 ⇑ 19.09% | 86.39 | 89.20 / 76.10 DSHGARME | 0.88 | 12.12 | Vol. 317100 D: 69.90 ⇑ 15.16% | 70.69 | 78.00 / 60.40 DULAMIACOT | -1.90 | -29.70 | Vol. 41500 D: 7.90 ⇑ 1.28% | 7.86 | 8.00 / 7.50 TALLUSPIN | 1.75 | 16.17 | Vol. 14388351 D: 38.80 ⇑ 3.47% | 38.86 | 40.30 / 35.00 C: 39.20 ⇑ 3.43% | 39.17 | 40.90 / 37.20 APEXSPINN | 2.01 | 49.32 | Vol. 88000 D: 77.10 ⇑ 13.55% | 75.92 | 81.60 / 68.90 C: 76.00 ⇑ 13.43% | 76.00 | 76.00 / 73.70 MITHUNKNIT | 2.87 | 20.53 | Vol. 800332 D: 75.40 ⇑ 7.71% | 75.69 | 79.70 / 68.70 C: 75.70 ⇑ 7.83% | 75.79 | 79.80 / 69.10 DELTASPINN | 3.06 | 26.84 | Vol. 3489600 D: 32.40 ⇑ 8.72% | 32.23 | 32.60 / 28.80 C: 32.40 ⇑ 9.46% | 32.24 | 32.80 / 28.80 SONARGAON | 0.27 | 34.50 | Vol. 1524151 D: 18.50 ⇑ 9.47% | 18.01 | 18.70 / 16.00 C: 18.50 ⇑ 8.19% | 18.24 | 18.70 / 16.50 PRIMETEX | 1.21 | 59.34 | Vol. 2272000 D: 26.50 ⇑ 9.96% | 26.04 | 26.70 / 24.10 C: 26.40 ⇑ 8.64% | 25.94 | 26.50 / 24.10 ALLTEX | -1.26 | 8.10 | Vol. 1373000 D: 7.30 ⇑ 4.29% | 7.37 | 7.60 / 7.00 C: 7.40 ⇑ 1.37% | 7.31 | 7.40 / 7.10 ANLIMAYARN | 1.36 | 11.99 | Vol. 1391000 D: 27.20 ⇓ 17.33% | 27.21 | 30.00 / 27.00 C: 27.40 ⇓ 12.46% | 27.44 | 29.00 / 27.40 HRTEX | 2.08 | 14.92 | Vol. 1368467 D: 37.80 ⇑ 6.18% | 37.32 | 38.90 / 33.00 C: 38.00 ⇑ 3.83% | 38.00 | 38.80 / 36.00 CMCKAMAL | 1.37 | 19.31 | Vol. 12638130 D: 33.60 ⇑ 11.63% | 33.22 | 34.40 / 28.00 SAFKOSPINN | 0.95 | 21.78 | Vol. 2878685 D: 25.90 ⇑ 8.37% | 25.77 | 26.50 / 23.00 C: 26.30 ⇑ 10.50% | 25.96 | 26.50 / 24.00 SQUARETEXT | 4.32 | 31.82 | Vol. 709533 D: 92.90 ⇑ 1.31% | 93.05 | 95.40 / 88.00 C: 93.20 ⇑ 1.19% | 93.33 | 95.00 / 89.00 METROSPIN | 0.56 | 17.71 | Vol. 8071886 D: 22.10 ⇑ 9.41% | 21.37 | 22.40 / 17.30 C: 21.90 ⇑ 8.42% | 21.39 | 22.70 / 18.80 MAKSONSPIN | 0.16 | 20.55 | Vol. 18237145 D: 18.30 ⇑ 12.96% | 17.92 | 18.50 / 14.60 C: 18.30 ⇑ 12.27% | 18.07 | 18.60 / 16.20 DACCADYE | 1.02 | 28.44 | Vol. 5546411 D: 28.90 ⇑ 8.65% | 28.41 | 29.00 / 24.50 C: 28.90 ⇑ 8.65% | 28.31 | 29.00 / 26.20 RNSPIN | 2.80 | 16.58 | Vol. 31579647 D: 37.60 ⇑ 13.60% | 37.05 | 38.10 / 30.00 C: 37.70 ⇑ 13.90% | 36.97 | 38.10 / 32.90 BXSYNTH | 0.93 | 25.42 | Vol. 5775574 D: 17.90 ⇑ 14.01% | 17.69 | 19.00 / 14.80 C: 18.00 ⇑ 13.92% | 17.78 | 18.70 / 15.00 MALEKSPIN | 2.81 | 43.48 | Vol. 22528755 D: 31.50 ⇑ 12.10% | 31.51 | 32.50 / 25.50 C: 31.40 ⇑ 10.95% | 31.63 | 32.70 / 27.40 ZAHINTEX | 1.20 | 31.07 | Vol. 3008670 D: 28.00 ⇑ 8.95% | 27.50 | 28.80 / 25.00 C: 28.00 ⇑ 8.53% | 27.62 | 28.50 / 25.50 SAIHAMCOT | 1.92 | 23.62 | Vol. 7694000 D: 26.30 ⇑ 8.23% | 26.24 | 27.00 / 23.90 C: 26.40 ⇑ 8.20% | 26.29 | 26.90 / 24.00 GENNEXT | 1.68 | 15.15 | Vol. 51650654 D: 35.40 ⇑ 17.61% | 35.00 | 36.70 / 27.10 C: 35.30 ⇑ 17.67% | 34.79 | 36.40 / 30.30 ENVOYTEX | 3.19 | 39.00 | Vol. 8498661 D: 59.00 ⇑ 4.61% | 58.97 | 62.10 / 52.00 C: 59.10 ⇑ 4.23% | 58.99 | 60.50 / 55.00 ARGONDENIM | 1.89 | 38.86 | Vol. 4580005 D: 67.60 ⇓ 1.60% | 67.58 | 71.90 / 61.00 C: 67.50 ⇓ 0.59% | 67.68 | 71.20 / 66.40

FAMILYTEX | 3.72 | 14.68 | Vol. 3171500 D: 53.90 ⇑ 6.94% | 54.07 | 56.40 / 50.50 C: 54.00 ⇑ 7.36% | 53.92 | 55.80 / 50.10 PTL | 2.25 | 21.72 | Vol. 18563750 D: 50.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 51.34 | 53.80 / 44.00 C: 50.40 ⇑ 0.00% | 51.00 | 53.00 / 44.20 PHARMACEUTICAL & CHEMICAL AMBEEPHA | 3.94 | 26.15 | Vol. 51775 D: 260.4 ⇑ 3.09% | 260.58 | 273.4 / 251.2 C: 260.3 ⇓ 0.65% | 259.88 | 271.9 / 250.0 BXPHARMA | 3.77 | 52.55 | Vol. 2352067 D: 48.60 ⇑ 4.52% | 48.31 | 52.00 / 41.40 C: 48.40 ⇑ 3.86% | 48.27 | 50.50 / 45.00 GLAXOSMITH | 20.25 | 123.32 | Vol. 12650 D: 970.5 ⇑ 4.96% | 970.61 | 1020 / 920.0 ACI | -5.82 | 126.42 | Vol. 181386 D: 172.2 ⇑ 6.49% | 173.50 | 182.0 / 146.0 C: 170.8 ⇑ 5.63% | 170.79 | 176.9 / 163.0 RENATA | 33.57 | 138.83 | Vol. 54132 D: 743.7 ⇑ 3.61% | 742.97 | 759.9 / 705.9 RECKITTBEN | 27.16 | 78.89 | Vol. 6600 D: 899.5 ⇑ 26.69% | 899.20 | 909.0 / 720.0 PHARMAID | 1.39 | 26.19 | Vol. 175800 D: 164.2 ⇑ 6.42% | 164.85 | 169.0 / 155.8 KOHINOOR | 14.33 | 19.99 | Vol. 20501 D: 414.6 ⇑ 0.24% | 414.60 | 468.0 / 400.0 IBNSINA | 3.44 | 34.02 | Vol. 596774 D: 105.1 ⇑ 4.37% | 105.61 | 112.0 / 91.00 C: 106.0 ⇑ 6.00% | 106.18 | 113.0 / 100.0 LIBRAINFU | 4.21 | 1567.59 | Vol. 2000 D: 440.0 ⇑ 10.19% | 440.00 | 440.0 / 415.0 ORIONINFU | 1.27 | 7.00 | Vol. 2033300 D: 44.60 ⇑ 12.34% | 44.57 | 45.70 / 39.30 C: 44.60 ⇑ 11.78% | 44.44 | 46.00 / 39.30 SQURPHARMA | 6.93 | 37.18 | Vol. 4718618 D: 196.4 ⇑ 9.54% | 195.89 | 200.0 / 165.0 C: 194.5 ⇑ 8.24% | 195.22 | 198.0 / 179.1 IMAMBUTTON | -1.51 | 4.16 | Vol. 151000 D: 7.60 ⇑ 2.70% | 7.67 | 8.00 / 7.40 C: 7.50 ⇓ 2.60% | 7.56 | 8.30 / 7.40 KEYACOSMET | 1.55 | 21.54 | Vol. 15567978 D: 28.70 ⇑ 9.13% | 27.83 | 29.20 / 23.70 C: 28.70 ⇑ 8.30% | 27.76 | 29.30 / 25.00 BERGERPBL | 32.46 | 100.20 | Vol. 40050 D: 858.7 ⇑ 0.87% | 863.14 | 910.1 / 840.0 C: 890.0 ⇑ 9.88% | 890.00 | 890.0 / 816.0 ACIFORMULA | 3.33 | 38.08 | Vol. 188950 D: 77.10 ⇑ 4.61% | 77.17 | 80.60 / 73.50 C: 77.20 ⇑ 4.04% | 77.30 | 80.00 / 73.90 MARICO | 27.53 | 62.47 | Vol. 42250 D: 770.6 ⇑ 2.88% | 769.05 | 784.0 / 734.0 C: 760.0 ⇑ 2.01% | 760.00 | 780.0 / 740.0 BEACONPHAR | 0.04 | 12.01 | Vol. 2574500 D: 12.20 ⇑ 2.52% | 12.22 | 12.40 / 11.00 C: 12.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 12.20 | 13.00 / 10.80 ACTIVEFINE | 3.23 | 13.89 | Vol. 4162187 D: 88.50 ⇑ 10.76% | 88.70 | 94.80 / 78.00 C: 88.80 ⇑ 11.42% | 88.82 | 93.00 / 80.10 SALVOCHEM | 0.68 | 10.57 | Vol. 4852467 D: 21.50 ⇑ 6.44% | 21.54 | 22.90 / 18.20 C: 21.60 ⇑ 6.40% | 21.65 | 22.80 / 20.20 GHCL | 2.14 | 57.31 | Vol. 4760750 D: 55.60 ⇑ 11.42% | 55.33 | 58.00 / 49.70 C: 55.90 ⇑ 12.02% | 55.56 | 58.00 / 49.90 ORIONPHARM | 5.02 | 68.68 | Vol. 7209930 D: 59.60 ⇑ 4.93% | 59.95 | 62.20 / 52.00 C: 59.80 ⇑ 4.91% | 60.04 | 62.40 / 55.50 JMISMDL | 1.12 | 12.83 | Vol. 1103000 D: 193.0 ⇑ 1.53% | 193.86 | 220.0 / 190.0 C: 190.9 ⇑ 0.10% | 194.07 | 217.5 / 190.0 CENTRALPHL | 1.62 | 12.24 | Vol. 7371000 D: 35.00 ⇑ 17.06% | 34.03 | 35.20 / 28.00 C: 35.10 ⇑ 16.61% | 34.38 | 35.40 / 28.50

PAPER & PACKAGING HAKKANIPUL | 0.51 | 31.01 | Vol. 261000 D: 27.70 ⇑ 2.97% | 27.94 | 30.40 / 25.90 C: 27.50 ⇑ 1.10% | 27.78 | 30.40 / 27.30 SERVICE SAMORITA | 3.24 | 74.65 | Vol. 664277 D: 121.6 ⇑ 11.56% | 120.82 | 125.0 / 105.0 C: 120.5 ⇑ 12.62% | 120.48 | 124.5 / 114.8 SAPORTL | 1.23 | 38.39 | Vol. 5465580 D: 31.50 ⇑ 15.38% | 31.02 | 33.00 / 24.60 C: 31.70 ⇑ 16.12% | 31.11 | 32.00 / 27.30 EHL | 2.81 | 18.44 | Vol. 3706803 D: 53.00 ⇓ 2.93% | 52.61 | 57.80 / 48.00 C: 53.20 ⇓ 1.48% | 52.81 | 57.00 / 51.40 LEATHER APEXTANRY | 6.57 | 69.38 | Vol. 752700 D: 119.4 ⇑ 8.74% | 121.08 | 128.7 / 109.3 C: 118.5 ⇑ 8.02% | 121.99 | 129.9 / 109.5 BATASHOE | 49.12 | 135.53 | Vol. 44320 D: 727.4 ⇑ 2.35% | 726.67 | 749.9 / 700.0 C: 725.1 ⇑ 3.59% | 728.01 | 729.0 / 710.0 APEXADELFT | 23.01 | 203.26 | Vol. 382300 D: 388.5 ⇑ 1.54% | 389.16 | 409.0 / 376.0 C: 390.0 ⇓ 1.27% | 398.60 | 401.0 / 390.0 SAMATALETH | 0.22 | 12.93 | Vol. 57500 D: 14.40 ⇑ 6.67% | 14.40 | 14.50 / 13.20 C: 13.10 ⇑ 5.65% | 13.10 | 13.10 / 12.20 LEGACYFOOT | 0.63 | 17.19 | Vol. 2861464 D: 34.30 ⇑ 6.19% | 34.73 | 37.50 / 31.50 C: 34.90 ⇑ 8.72% | 35.14 | 37.00 / 32.00 CERAMIC MONNOCERA | 0.35 | 95.30 | Vol. 268664 D: 32.70 ⇑ 4.14% | 32.67 | 33.50 / 29.90 C: 32.90 ⇑ 6.13% | 32.58 | 33.50 / 32.00 STANCERAM | 1.12 | 15.49 | Vol. 48500 D: 39.10 ⇓ 3.46% | 39.33 | 41.70 / 38.30 C: 39.70 ⇑ 2.06% | 39.70 | 40.40 / 38.60 FUWANGCER | 0.65 | 12.70 | Vol. 3651522 D: 18.40 ⇑ 6.36% | 18.38 | 19.00 / 17.00 C: 18.50 ⇑ 6.94% | 18.28 | 19.00 / 17.30 SPCERAMICS | 0.62 | 30.92 | Vol. 4675818 D: 18.30 ⇑ 10.91% | 18.33 | 19.10 / 15.00 C: 18.40 ⇑ 11.52% | 18.37 | 19.50 / 16.40 RAKCERAMIC | 1.98 | 16.76 | Vol. 1312854 D: 53.20 ⇑ 2.70% | 53.19 | 55.00 / 47.00 C: 53.00 ⇑ 2.91% | 52.48 | 54.80 / 50.30 CEMENT HEIDELBCEM | 22.85 | 111.50 | Vol. 605080 D: 397.2 ⇑ 3.04% | 398.39 | 415.0 / 383.6 C: 398.7 ⇑ 1.48% | 399.71 | 412.0 / 385.1 CONFIDCEM | 6.23 | 90.76 | Vol. 1330574 D: 127.1 ⇑ 3.08% | 127.59 | 133.5 / 120.0 C: 127.1 ⇑ 2.42% | 127.31 | 133.0 / 123.9 MEGHNACEM | 6.28 | 33.81 | Vol. 604300 D: 130.4 ⇑ 6.02% | 131.60 | 140.7 / 122.2 C: 131.8 ⇑ 7.86% | 131.52 | 142.0 / 121.1 ARAMITCEM | 3.03 | 14.65 | Vol. 620675 D: 74.70 ⇑ 3.18% | 75.15 | 79.50 / 70.00 C: 74.00 ⇑ 3.93% | 73.98 | 80.90 / 72.20 LAFSURCEML | 1.60 | 7.22 | Vol. 3061500 D: 32.20 ⇑ 3.21% | 32.31 | 32.90 / 31.20 C: 32.40 ⇑ 2.86% | 32.41 | 33.40 / 31.30 MICEMENT | 4.48 | 37.67 | Vol. 1252793 D: 86.70 ⇑ 2.36% | 86.84 | 90.20 / 78.00 C: 86.40 ⇑ 1.29% | 86.60 | 89.80 / 84.60 PREMIERCEM | 5.00 | 32.60 | Vol. 2452600 D: 104.3 ⇑ 4.93% | 104.95 | 113.0 / 98.70 C: 104.3 ⇑ 5.14% | 105.40 | 112.8 / 100.9

IT IINDUSTRIES ISNLTD | 0.28 | 17.31 | Vol. 1017911 D: 18.90 ⇑ 13.86% | 18.79 | 19.30 / 16.00 C: 18.70 ⇑ 11.98% | 18.40 | 19.00 / 16.50 BDCOM | 1.40 | 14.41 | Vol. 3129258 D: 26.70 ⇓ 4.64% | 27.26 | 28.20 / 24.50 C: 26.90 ⇓ 3.93% | 27.40 | 29.40 / 26.70 INTECH | 0.94 | 10.08 | Vol. 1815226 D: 16.60 ⇑ 8.50% | 16.68 | 18.00 / 14.00 C: 16.70 ⇑ 8.44% | 16.73 | 17.20 / 14.90 AGNISYSL | 0.96 | 14.90 | Vol. 2522127 D: 22.70 ⇑ 7.08% | 22.62 | 23.50 / 19.20 C: 23.00 ⇑ 7.98% | 22.74 | 23.50 / 20.00 DAFODILCOM | 0.85 | 10.99 | Vol. 3082080 D: 14.10 ⇑ 4.44% | 14.00 | 14.30 / 13.40 C: 14.30 ⇑ 5.15% | 14.10 | 14.40 / 13.00 AAMRATECH | 1.33 | 19.91 | Vol. 8008375 D: 36.30 ⇑ 19.80% | 35.20 | 36.40 / 30.10 C: 36.40 ⇑ 19.74% | 35.39 | 36.40 / 30.00 GENERAL INSURANCE BGIC | 1.65 | 20.33 | Vol. 436920 D: 31.30 ⇑ 4.68% | 31.16 | 31.80 / 27.00 C: 31.30 ⇑ 3.99% | 30.99 | 32.00 / 30.10 GREENDELT | 4.05 | 64.44 | Vol. 334149 D: 83.50 ⇑ 5.56% | 83.10 | 86.00 / 75.00 C: 83.80 ⇑ 5.81% | 82.80 | 86.00 / 76.00 UNITEDINS | 2.47 | 21.04 | Vol. 82627 D: 45.10 ⇑ 3.44% | 45.04 | 46.80 / 41.00 PEOPLESINS | 2.05 | 20.72 | Vol. 1526975 D: 35.50 ⇓ 0.56% | 35.37 | 37.80 / 34.60 C: 34.00 ⇓ 3.68% | 33.95 | 37.50 / 33.90 EASTERNINS | 2.22 | 35.88 | Vol. 168102 D: 39.10 ⇑ 1.30% | 39.21 | 40.80 / 36.50 C: 38.40 ⇑ 0.52% | 38.40 | 42.00 / 38.00 JANATAINS | 0.78 | 17.07 | Vol. 1208660 D: 28.90 ⇑ 5.86% | 29.04 | 29.50 / 26.00 C: 28.90 ⇑ 3.96% | 28.83 | 29.50 / 27.70 PHENIXINS | 2.70 | 20.96 | Vol. 342356 D: 45.00 ⇑ 2.74% | 45.04 | 49.00 / 42.00 C: 44.00 ⇓ 3.93% | 43.98 | 47.30 / 43.90 EASTLAND | 4.06 | 23.29 | Vol. 1491726 D: 50.20 ⇑ 4.80% | 50.46 | 52.70 / 45.50 C: 50.10 ⇑ 2.45% | 50.95 | 53.00 / 48.50 MERCINS | 1.53 | 14.50 | Vol. 1007118 D: 29.10 ⇑ 2.83% | 29.40 | 30.00 / 26.10 C: 30.30 ⇑ 7.07% | 30.29 | 31.00 / 28.00 AGRANINS | 1.73 | 14.39 | Vol. 621778 D: 28.90 ⇑ 6.64% | 28.74 | 29.30 / 26.00 GLOBALINS | 1.09 | 11.78 | Vol. 480646 D: 29.70 ⇑ 3.85% | 29.89 | 31.40 / 26.00 NITOLINS | 2.59 | 15.41 | Vol. 219123 D: 35.00 ⇓ 0.85% | 35.39 | 36.90 / 33.00 C: 36.00 ⇑ 1.41% | 36.00 | 36.00 / 36.00 ASIAPACINS | 1.84 | 13.76 | Vol. 323000 D: 31.40 ⇑ 2.61% | 31.51 | 32.80 / 30.40 C: 31.00 ⇓ 8.01% | 31.00 | 32.60 / 30.70 SONARBAINS | 1.68 | 13.38 | Vol. 851536 D: 26.50 ⇑ 6.00% | 26.59 | 27.40 / 24.00 C: 26.70 ⇑ 5.53% | 26.93 | 27.30 / 25.60 PARAMOUNT | 1.26 | 13.19 | Vol. 985181 D: 25.60 ⇑ 2.40% | 26.17 | 27.20 / 24.00 C: 25.90 ⇑ 3.19% | 28.05 | 28.90 / 25.40 CITYGENINS | 1.65 | 14.26 | Vol. 542466 D: 29.90 ⇑ 1.70% | 30.14 | 31.30 / 28.00 C: 29.90 ⇑ 0.67% | 29.91 | 31.40 / 29.30 CONTININS | 1.41 | 15.68 | Vol. 1332769 D: 31.80 ⇑ 3.58% | 32.14 | 33.60 / 30.00 C: 31.60 ⇑ 3.27% | 31.77 | 33.30 / 31.00 TAKAFULINS | 2.19 | 15.17 | Vol. 1747247 D: 41.90 ⇑ 2.44% | 42.25 | 43.70 / 39.00 C: 42.10 ⇑ 2.18% | 42.41 | 44.00 / 41.30 STANDARINS | 2.58 | 13.99 | Vol. 109973 D: 41.60 ⇑ 2.72% | 41.69 | 42.90 / 38.00 C: 40.00 ⇓ 5.88% | 40.00 | 40.00 / 40.00 NORTHRNINS | 1.77 | 11.15 | Vol. 805460 D: 43.70 ⇑ 3.55% | 43.87 | 45.30 / 38.00 C: 44.00 ⇑ 4.76% | 45.76 | 48.80 / 38.20 REPUBLIC | 2.14 | 12.42 | Vol. 1439315 D: 45.20 ⇑ 3.20% | 45.66 | 47.00 / 42.40 C: 45.20 ⇑ 3.43% | 45.44 | 46.80 / 43.70 ASIAINS | 1.56 | 17.34 | Vol. 554825 D: 28.90 ⇑ 4.33% | 29.05 | 30.00 / 25.50 C: 29.40 ⇑ 5.76% | 29.39 | 30.00 / 28.00 ISLAMIINS | 1.29 | 11.96 | Vol. 1357957 D: 35.20 ⇑ 6.67% | 35.42 | 40.40 / 31.90 C: 37.90 ⇑ 11.47% | 37.90 | 38.20 / 34.20 PROVATIINS | 1.90 | 14.30 | Vol. 434964 D: 30.70 ⇑ 3.37% | 30.88 | 33.00 / 27.00 C: 30.10 ⇓ 0.99% | 30.42 | 31.80 / 30.00

DHAKAINS | 2.84 | 18.02 | Vol. 1262625 D: 43.90 ⇑ 8.66% | 44.08 | 46.30 / 38.00 C: 44.00 ⇑ 8.11% | 44.36 | 46.90 / 41.00 LIFE INSURANCE NATLIFEINS | 12.34 | 80.99 | Vol. 66295 D: 262.4 ⇑ 1.31% | 262.06 | 269.0 / 245.0 C: 265.0 ⇑ 4.95% | 265.00 | 269.0 / 257.0 DELTALIFE | 38.53 | 189.40 | Vol. 170280 D: 348.5 ⇓ 24.09% | 333.74 | 450.0 / 292.5 C: 370.4 ⇓ 22.30% | 360.73 | 450.0 / 310.8 SANDHANINS | 2.39 | 28.22 | Vol. 351706 D: 75.30 ⇑ 4.15% | 76.10 | 77.50 / 67.00 C: 75.20 ⇑ 3.01% | 74.99 | 76.00 / 70.00 POPULARLIF | 3.70 | 715.41 | Vol. 540212 D: 246.6 ⇓ 3.26% | 248.18 | 260.0 / 223.0 C: 250.0 ⇓ 5.91% | 250.00 | 250.0 / 250.0 FAREASTLIF | 9.21 | 60.79 | Vol. 433517 D: 101.2 ⇑ 6.19% | 99.71 | 105.0 / 86.00 C: 101.0 ⇑ 5.87% | 100.00 | 99.80 / 93.00 MEGHNALIFE | 10.82 | 48.87 | Vol. 838270 D: 113.8 ⇑ 5.66% | 113.51 | 116.2 / 105.8 C: 113.0 ⇑ 5.90% | 112.42 | 115.4 / 106.0 PROGRESLIF | 2.30 | 31.45 | Vol. 87362 D: 118.8 ⇑ 11.24% | 115.88 | 120.2 / 101.3 PRAGATILIF | 0.60 | 30.15 | Vol. 619761 D: 158.2 ⇑ 28.10% | 152.86 | 158.4 / 115.0 PRIMELIFE | 5.51 | 27.10 | Vol. 216306 D: 101.6 ⇑ 8.90% | 100.87 | 104.9 / 85.00 C: 100.0 ⇑ 8.70% | 100.00 | 100.0 / 90.10 RUPALILIFE | 3.75 | 31.25 | Vol. 782460 D: 113.8 ⇑ 17.44% | 113.41 | 117.9 / 95.50 C: 115.0 ⇑ 16.16% | 115.00 | 115.0 / 100.1 PADMALIFE | 1.63 | 25.76 | Vol. 451280 D: 59.40 ⇑ 2.59% | 60.24 | 65.00 / 53.00 C: 60.40 ⇑ 3.60% | 60.10 | 61.80 / 57.00 SUNLIFEINS | 0.00 | 0.00 | Vol. 1248200 D: 58.10 ⇑ 2.11% | 58.90 | 60.50 / 52.00 C: 58.70 ⇑ 2.09% | 58.86 | 61.40 / 55.90 TELECOM GP | 12.96 | 26.26 | Vol. 5943226 D: 209.9 ⇑ 7.31% | 211.52 | 218.0 / 195.0 C: 209.2 ⇑ 6.84% | 210.82 | 216.9 / 196.0 BSCCL | 5.82 | 26.38 | Vol. 2947704 D: 181.2 ⇑ 5.59% | 183.22 | 199.0 / 160.0 C: 181.3 ⇑ 5.90% | 182.96 | 190.0 / 172.1 TRAVEL & LEISURE UNITEDAIR | 1.10 | 12.87 | Vol. 44784686 D: 17.60 ⇑ 6.02% | 17.64 | 18.10 / 14.90 C: 17.70 ⇑ 5.99% | 17.65 | 18.40 / 16.00 UNIQUEHRL | 4.02 | 86.29 | Vol. 3771120 D: 84.30 ⇑ 3.56% | 84.57 | 87.00 / 72.80 C: 84.30 ⇑ 3.44% | 84.73 | 87.60 / 79.80 MISCELLANEOUS ARAMIT | 16.07 | 99.93 | Vol. 175650 D: 350.5 ⇑ 1.92% | 353.87 | 387.9 / 341.0 C: 342.1 ⇓ 3.63% | 342.10 | 385.0 / 342.1 BSC | 1.77 | 565.82 | Vol. 584385 D: 474.5 ⇑ 9.58% | 476.79 | 485.0 / 433.0 C: 476.0 ⇑ 10.19% | 475.66 | 485.0 / 432.3 GQBALLPEN | 6.55 | 250.45 | Vol. 309169 D: 146.2 ⇑ 0.41% | 146.39 | 152.5 / 140.0 C: 146.1 ⇑ 0.69% | 147.49 | 152.5 / 143.0 USMANIAGL | 3.45 | 27.20 | Vol. 485751 D: 138.7 ⇑ 8.53% | 139.53 | 142.0 / 124.3 C: 136.5 ⇑ 7.48% | 138.24 | 140.0 / 125.0 SAVAREFR | 0.14 | 10.57 | Vol. 2800 D: 55.90 ⇓ 1.93% | 55.79 | 60.50 / 54.00 BEXIMCO | 3.24 | 86.74 | Vol. 25578676 D: 38.70 ⇑ 20.94% | 38.17 | 40.00 / 29.00 C: 38.60 ⇑ 20.25% | 38.13 | 39.20 / 29.50 SINOBANGLA | 1.75 | 21.01 | Vol. 1182500 D: 22.50 ⇑ 2.74% | 22.33 | 22.60 / 21.60 C: 22.40 ⇑ 2.28% | 22.29 | 22.90 / 21.70 MIRACLEIND | 0.09 | 14.41 | Vol. 2383556 D: 17.20 ⇑ 20.28% | 16.69 | 17.50 / 14.30 C: 17.20 ⇑ 21.13% | 16.68 | 17.30 / 14.30 BOND IBBLPBOND | 0.00 | 1000.00 | Vol. 1545 D: 986.3 ⇓ 0.35% | 985.59 | 995.0 / 967.0 C: 961.0 ⇓ 0.52% | 961.00 | 961.0 / 954.0 ACIZCBOND | 0.00 | 1000.00 | Vol. 156 D: 882.0 ⇑ 0.06% | 892.86 | 890.0 / 880.0 C: 880.0 ⇑ 1.73% | 880.00 | 890.0 / 871.0 BRACSCBOND | 0.00 | 0.00 | Vol. 5 D: 1050 ⇑ 1.94% | 1050 | 1050 / 1050

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2013

WTO chief hopeful of global trade reform n Reuters The World Trade Organisation may agree its first worldwide trade reform package before the end of the weekend, its director-general, Roberto Azevedo, said on Friday.

Asked if a deal could be reached by Sunday night, Azevedo told Reuters: “I hope so.”

A deal in Bali would revive confidence at the WTO after its credibility ebbed away over the past decade with the slow death of the Doha round of talks

Roberto Azevedo, head of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), attends the plenary meeting for the Council of Economic and Social Development at Itamaraty Palace in Brasilia REUTERS

He spoke as he was entering what could turn out to be one of the last negotiating sessions in the global trade body’s 12 year pursuit of a trade deal, capping 10 weeks of round the clock talks that Azevedo has overseen since he took the helm of the WTO on September 1.

The deal would streamline customs procedures worldwide, making border-crossing processes more predictable and transparent.

Studies by the World Bank and the Organisa-

tion for Economic Cooperation and Development have said it would add hundreds of billions of dollars to the world economy.

It also includes some changes to the rules on agriculture and some special treatment for the poorest countries.

Azevedo forced the marathon negotiations to try to get the deal before a meeting of WTO ministers in Bali in the first week of December.

Diplomats say that if the 159 WTO members can agree on the text at a meeting of the WTO’s General Council in Geneva, ministers would rubber-stamp it in Bali, with little chance of negotiations being reopened.

A deal in Bali would revive confidence at the WTO after its credibility ebbed away over the past decade with the slow death of the Doha round of talks, which gave way to the more modest package of reforms now under discussion.

A meeting of the General Council was due on Thursday, but it was postponed while negotiations on the trade reform package continued. Azevedo said he was not yet sure if he would be able to call a meeting of the council this weekend. l

Electric vs hydrogen: China is battleground for auto giants n AFP German auto giants Volkswagen AG, BMW and Daimler see China’s future as being electric - encouraged by generous government subsidies - but that bet puts them at odds with some of their Asian rivals.

While the Europeans were heralding the all-electric vehicle at the Guangzhou auto show this week, Toyota Motor and Honda Motor were unveiling hydrogen fuel cell cars at shows in Tokyo and Los Angeles.

The two Japanese heavyweights plan to start selling their hydrogen vehicles in 2015, brushing off electric technology as being good enough only to power tiny city cars.

One of the most ambitious in betting on electric cars in China, the world’s largest auto market, is Volkswagen.

On the eve of the Guangzhou show, Volkswagen said its brands, including Volkswagen and Audi, plan to launch a total of more than 15 near-all-electric plug-in cars by 2018, many of which will be locally produced.

“We forecast high volumes in this area,” Jochem Heizmann, head of Volkswagen Group China, told reporters this week.

BMW and its local partner Brilliance Auto unveiled a jointly developed all-electric battery car in Guangzhou. The two companies plan to start leasing the car next year under a new jointly run China-only brand called Zinoro.

Daimler said it was also on track to launch an all-electric car next year under a new China-only brand called Denza, which the German company operates jointly with Chinese battery and car producer BYD Co. The rush into all-electric cars comes as Beijing ramps up a program to put 5 million new energy vehicles - defined as all-electric battery vehicles and heavily electrified “near all-electric” plug-in hybrids - on the road by 2020.

China this year expanded the definition of

new energy cars to include fuel cell cars. The two concepts have polarized the industry.

Fuel cell cars can run up to five times longer than their all-electric counterparts, but come with a heftier price tag.

But unlike electric vehicles which can be recharged from home as well as charging stations, fuel cell cars must stop at refilling stations. The hydrogen stations are costly to build, at about $6m apiece. Some industry insiders and experts believe China is too focused on all-electric cars or plug-ins.

“Toyota believes the industry isn’t likely to come up with breakthroughs to make all-electric cars a viable solution any time soon,” said Yale Zhang, head of Shanghai-based consulting firm Automotive Foresight. “Unlike China, some countries have taken a more flexible approach, rather than setting the path on one solution too early.”

Toyota, in particular, thinks all-electric car technology is good enough to power only tiny city cars - not powerful enough for larger cars.

At this week’s Tokyo Motor Show, Toyota unveiled a fuel cell concept sedan with two hydrogen tanks and a driving range of 500 km (310 miles). The car, it said, would sell for 5m to 10m yen ($50,000-100,000) when it goes on sale in 2015.

Honda also unveiled a five-passenger hydrogen fuel cell vehicle at the Los Angeles Auto Show this week. By his own admission, the company’s chief executive of its US business, Tetsuo Iwamura, expects uptake to be slow due to poor infrastructure. l

Jonathan Browning, President and CEO of the Volkswagen Group of America, introduces the Volkswagen e-Golf electric car at the Los Angeles Auto Show in Los Angeles, California REUTERS