December 03, 2013

TMAG

School hour rush, no more!

Agrahayan 19, 1420 Muharram 28, 1435 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 1 No 249

5

Long Form

Decoding the Bangladesh Paradox

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2013 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

13

In the controversial February 1996 polls the number of contestants was 1,450 Bakar Siddique and n Abu Mohammad Zakaria A total of 1,107 candidates submitted their nomination forms to the deadline yesterday to contest in the 300 seats for the 10th parliamentary elections.

The contestants were from at least 14 political parties, including the ruling Awami League, former military dictator HM Ershad-led Jatiya Party and the newly-formed Bangladesh Nationalist Front (BNF).

In 2008 parliamentary polls, there were 1,567 candidates from 38 political parties whereas as many as 1,450 contested in the controversial February 15 polls of 1996.

On Sunday and yesterday, supporters of disgruntled aspirants from Awami League demonstrated and also launched attacks on those who got the party ticket across the country.

59 candidates submitted nomination papers to compete for 15 constituencies in Dhaka City

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 5

Eight likely to be declared elected n Abu Bakar Siddique and Mohammad Zakaria

Unless their nominations are cancelled during scrutiny or they withdraw from the polls, eight Awami League aspirants are likely to be declared elected in the upcoming national elections as they are the only candidates in their constituencies.

They are Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir in Chandpur 1, Nuruzzaman Ahmed in Lalmonirhat 2, Sheikh Afil Uddin in Jessore 1, Rezwan Ahmad Towfique in Kishoregnaj 4, Momtaj Begum in  PAGE 2 COLUMN 5

INSIDE Business

B1 The country’s stock exchanges have seen a significant growth in the launch of initial public offerings (IPOs) in 2013 following a three-year ‘drought’.

News

4 With most of the ministers of the polls-time government travelling to their constituencies, the secretariat was quite yesterday.

Nation

7 The village of Govindapur under Paba upazila in Rajshahi was declared free from child marriage on November 27 last year.

Police personnel and a photojournalist flee the scene as blockaders chase them near the City Bypass intersection of Rajshahi yesterday. Earlier, the law enforcers fired rubber bullets and tear gas canisters at the 18-party activists as they demonstrated in the area DHAKA TRIBUNE

Day three of blockade: Three killed n Ashif Islam Shaon Apart from clashes and attack on police, the opposition’s blockade supporters yesterday attacked the motorcades of two ministers, house of another minister while set fire to the house of an Awami League candidate.

On the third of countrywide rail, road and waterway blockade, at least three people were killed and more than 100 sustained injuries in different districts.

Clashes and arson attacks were reported in Rajshahi, Narayanganj, Chittagong, Chandpur, Satkhira, Barisal,

Sirajganj, Narsingdi, Sylhet and some other districts.

Yesterday, the BNP-led 18-party alliance also extended the 72-hour blockade, which began on Sunday, until 5pm

P16 MORE STORIES on Thursday.

Pickets reportedly hurled three crude bombs at the motorcade of LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam in Tongi.

Four bombs were also hurled at the Lalmonirhat residence of Commerce Minister Ghulam Muhammad Quader.

CEC: Anything is possible n Mohammad Zakaria Although the deadline for submission of nomination papers to contest the 10th general election expired yesterday, the Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed said everything could be possible if the two major political parties reached a consensus.

The CEC made the statement while replying to queries of journalists at the Election Commission secretariat around 9:30pm yesterday.

The dates for scrutinising nomination papers is set on December 5 and 6, and the last date for the withdrawal of candidature is December 13.

The main opposition BNP-led 18-party alliance did not submit nomination papers to join polls under the newly formed polls-time government.

The ruling Awami league and its ally Jatiya Party are contesting in most of the parliamentary constituencies.

The CEC said compromise was necessary for coming to an understanding.

He urged the two major political parties to come forward to reach a political consensus for the sake of democracy.

People wanted a free, fair and peaceful election, the political parties would have to realise their aspirations, he said.

When asked about the number of participating political parties and candidates, he said: “At this moment, I cannot say how many political parties and candidates are contesting in the polls.”

“Our officials are collecting information. Once finalised, we would publish the information through media,” he added.

BNP had previously urged the EC several times to extend the deadline for nomination submission denouncing the schedule.

The CEC, however, hinted that the polls schedule could be altered in the event a political consensus emerges. l

AL wooing BNP leaders for independent candidacy n Emran Hossain Shaikh Reluctance of smaller parties to run in the upcoming polls has prompted the ruling Awami League to woo a section of leaders of main opposition BNP to contest as independent candidates, a minister said yesterday.

The BNP leaders that the Awami League contacted included some former MPs who had not been not in the good book of Chairperson Khaleda Zia for their “anti organisational” activities during the rule of the military-backed interim government.

Communications Minister and Awami League Presidium Member Obaidul Quader said the Election Commission might think about shifting the polls

schedules in case the BNP leaders intended or the opposition parties desired to contest the elections due on January 5.

Awami League policymakers have suggested Sheikh Hasina to not field any candidate against the “interested” BNP leaders or nominate weak ones, with the aim of getting them elected in the polls, sources have said.

Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam, former junior minister Capt (retd) Tajul Islam and an adviser of the party had been maintaining the contact with the BNP leaders, who could make the next parliament lively by criticising the government.

Former BNP lawmaker Major (retd)  PAGE 2 COLUMN 5

BJMC upset Russell in dramatic encounter

16 pages with 8-page business tabloid, plus 16-page T-Mag tabloid | Price: Tk10

1,107 aspirants to vie for 300 seats

Yesterday, blockade supporters hurled crude bombs at the houses and motorcade of three ministers while torched the house of an Awami League candidate in Chapainawabganj.

Most of the candidates went to the office of the returning officer with their supporters to file nomination papers.

Of the total aspirants, eight will be elected as lawmakers directly as they are lone candidates in their constituencies.

A total of 59 candidates with party tickets submitted their nomination papers to compete for 15 constituencies in Dhaka city yesterday.

Of them, Habibur Rahman Molla, Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin, Saber Hossain Chowdhury, Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, AKM Rahmatullah, Jahangir Kabir Nanok, Aslamul Haque, Shahara Khatun, Sanjida Khanom, Mizanur Rahman Dipu, Asaduzzaman Khan, Kamal Ahmed Majumder and Elias Uddin

Sport

Around 10:30pm, miscreants threw four crude bombs at Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu when he was about to enter his residence in Darussalam in the capital.

The ministers were unhurt from the incidents.

Blockade supporters at Kansat of Chapainawabganj’s Shibganj attacked and torched the two-storey house of Awami League candidate Golam Rabbani around 2pm. Rubel, 25, driver of a human haulier, died during the incident. Later, local administration  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Blockade extended as Khaleda sympathises ‘innocent’ victims n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla Soon after the announcement of extending the blockade programme, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday urged the demonstrators to take care of the innocent citizens as they are not the opponents.

She also asked the government to shun the path of persecution and take that of “compromise.”

Urging the Election Commission again to postpone the January 5 polls, the former premier asked all concerned not to involve with the “farcical” polls-related process. Khaleda also urged administration and law enforcing agencies to carry out duties neutrally and not to go against the people.

“I urge the leaders and activists of 18-party alliance, other democratic parties, professional and social organisations to ensure that no innocent person is attacked or their property damaged,” the BNP chief said in a statement delivered to press last night.

“The peace loving innocent people are not our opponents. We are demonstrating to save the people, the country.”

Condemning the brutal attacks and deaths, Khaleda claimed that unidentified criminals were attacking the  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

The disappearing glow of motherhood n Mohammad Jamil Khan Her neighbours said the glow of pregnancy on her face was getting brighter as she was drawing closer to giving birth to her first child.

There is still something in her face that makes it different from that of any other 18-year-old expecting Bangladeshi woman.

The only difference now is that the glow of motherhood is replaced by the

agony of having a 40% burnt body; and above all the pain, is a spine-chilling feeling that her lifeline, her unborn child, may not live.

Shirin Akhter, who worked in a factory of Sinha Garments at Kachpur near Dhaka, was going to work on a bus yesterday morning like every other day. The driver slowed down as the bus was crossing the Demra bridge, and suddenly, a young man came in close,  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Businesses call for end to violence n Tribune Report

Police restrict a mob of transport workers near the capital’s Gulshan 1 intersection as they were on their way to besiege BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan house DHAKA TRIBUNE

Leaders of top trade bodies yesterday urged the prime minister to resolve the ongoing political deadlock for the sake of the country’s economy and nation’s interest.

They also demanded foolproof security and congenial atmosphere to maintain sustainable economic growth and continuous growth of the RMG industry.

A 20-member delegation met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her Ganabhaban residence in the evening and gave her a memorandum of seven demands that include an end to the recent undesirable incidents in the RMG industry.

Hasina assured them of providing all-out supports to keep the factory wheels running.

The delegation also went to the BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan office around 9:30pm but failed to meet her. Sabih Uddin Ahmed, an adviser

Transport workers' march to Khaleda’s residence foiled n Kailash Sarkar

A group of pro-ruling party transport workers yesterday marched on opposition leader Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan residence in protest at the ongoing countrywide blockade.

The demonstrators claimed the BNPled hartals and blockades were costing the transport workers their lives.

Led by Ali Hossain, president of Chalak

League and also a brother of Nur Hossain, who was killed in a police shooting during the anti-Ershad movement, the procession was brought out from Mohakhali Bus Terminal with a vow to lay siege to the residence of BNP chairperson. Police and witnesses said the procession was intercepted by police at Gulshan 2, where the protesting workers held a rally.

The demonstrators repeatedly tried to break the barricades put up by the

lawmen, but failed. They also chanted various anti-blockade slogans.

Police asked the workers to send a team of their representatives to meet Khaleda Zia with a memorandum, but they refused the offer.

At the rally, the workers urged the opposition leader not to enforce hartals or blockades and to stop arson attacks on their transport which was ultimately claiming lives of their fellows. The rally

was concluded with the issuing of a note of warning to the opposition leader and her allies. Security had been beefed up around the BNP chairperson’s house as the siege programme was announced.

Additional forces were deployed there, but later withdrawn at the end of the rally.

Khandaker Lutful Kabir, deputy commissioner of Gulshan division of police, told the Dhaka Tribune they stopped the procession after it reached Gulshan 2. l

Day three of blockade: Three killed  PAGE 1 COLUMN 4

imposed section 144 at Kansat union parishad and Shibganj sadar upazila.

Rabbani was a key leader of the 2006 Kansat movement when people demonstrated for electricity.

In Natore, an activist of Jubo Dal, BNP’s youth wing, Saifuzzaman Sujan, 30, was killed in a gunfight with ruling Awami League men during a hartal enforced demanding release of central BNP leaders Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and Ruhul Kuddus Talukder Dulu.

Protesting the death, BNP extended its hartal by 48 more hours, until 6pm on Thursday.

In Chittagong, driver of a CNG auto-rickshaw, Md Ismail, 40, died on the way to hospital around 11pm. He sustained injuries after the pickets chased his vehicle in Jutemill Gate area of Bhabani in Rangunia. He fell down

from the vehicle but his head was crushed under the wheels of another CNG fleeing the scene.

A play-group student, who could not be named immediately, sustained injuries when a bomb went off in front of her as she was going to school. A trucker sustained burn injuries from a petrol bomb blast in Sitakunda upazila.

Meanwhile, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, BNP’s student wing, and Jubo Dal called a half-day hartal for today in the district.

In Ukhiya of Cox’s Bazar, local Awami League lawmaker Abdur Rahman Bodi reportedly fired several shots from his pistol to “disperse” blockaders leaving five Jubo Dal members injured. Police and local Awami League leaders, however, claimed that Bodi was attacked when he was on his way to submit nomination paper.

In Rajshahi, a severe clash took

place between BNP-Jamaat men and police at the Court Station Bazar in the morning leaving 50 injured. The blockaders torched a human haulier requisitioned by the police.

At Daganbhuiyan of Feni, 10 people including a reporter of Somoy Television sustained bullet injuries in a sever clash. Awami League men set fire to at least eight shops and vandalised 15 others owned by the Jamaat men.

In the capital’s Demra, pregnant garment worker Shirin Begum, 18, suffered burn injuries as blockaders set fire to a bus.

Three hand bombs were blasted in front of the Election Commission office at Agargaon in the evening.

Blockade supporters set several vehicles on fire, vandalised many vehicles, clashed with law enforcers and blasted a number of crude bombs at

 PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

Shirin Akhter lies in DMCH burn unit hammad Shahin, a day labourer, came home after getting the news and took her to Dhaka Medical College Hospital around 2pm. The bus was torched at 8 o’clock in the morning.

“I never wanted my wife to work in the first place. But it was getting in-

Bakshibazar and Maghbazar.

At Karwan Bazar, a police van was partially damaged by crude bombs hurled from a procession of Jubo Dal near the Ambar Shah Mosque.

Pickets also blasted several bombs from a procession near Hatirjheel, at the Eastern-end of Panthapath, leaving covered van driver Delwar Hossain injured.

In Badda, Shibir men vandalised a police van and several other vehicles, and blasted several hand bombs in the morning.

More than 10 crude bombs were blasted at Gulshan 2 intersection in the afternoon. Police picked up two pickets from a procession.

Jamaat-Shibir men also brought out processions and locked in clashes with law enforcers in Lalbagh, Rahamatganj, Kamrangirchar, Maghbazar, Roy Saheb Bazar and a number of other places in the capital. l

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

creasingly tough for me to race with the rocketing price of essentials with my Tk250 daily earning,” the hapless husband said.

Shirin, although writhing in pain, was still up for telling the story of her life – about the dreams that she had

been weaving about her unborn child.

“A year ago I left work. But after I got pregnant, I had to take it up again for Tk4,000 salary because I want to ensure a good future for my child,” Shirin said.

“I do not know what I would do. I do not know,” said the expecting mother, who was still to be told that the days of her unborn child could be counted.

Dr Amatun Noor of the DMCH Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit said: “The ultra-sonogram report suggests that the baby is still alive. We are trying our best to give the mother and her child the best possible treatment.”

Dr Amatun expressed fears that the burn injuries might lead to a premature labour situation for Shirin and result in the death of her child.

She also said since Shirin had another life inside her, the 40% burn in her body was treated as 80%.

Moreover, because she was very weak from the trauma, it could not be said for certain if she would survive herself, let alone her child, Dr Amatun said. l

Blockade extended as Khaleda sympathises ‘innocent’ victims  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

innocent people during the blockades.

At one point, she, however, alleged that the Awami League cadres were behind these incidents.

“The ruling party and the prime minister herself have been engaged in propagating false propaganda cashing in on heinous activities to achieve ill political motive.”

Khaleda said the incidents made her surprised, aggrieved and sad. “Their [victims] pathetic wail is portraying a vivid picture of unforgiveable failure of public safety.”

On Sunday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited the victims of blockade violence at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and criticised the BNP chief and its leaders for instigating anarchy.

In a video message, BNP’s Joint Secretary General Salahuddin Ahmed announced the extension of blockade

until 5pm on Thursday.

“We have extended the blockade programme as the demand of election under a non-partisan government and postponement of the election schedule is not met,” said the newly-assigned spokesperson of the BNP. He also requested the countrymen to sacrifice the sufferings they were undergoing because of the blockade programme.

In the last two weeks, the blockade programmes have so far caused deaths of dozens of people, injuries to scores of others and massive destruction to public property. Mindless blasts of crude bombs across the country have created severe panic among the ordinary people.

Khaleda in her statement said the government was blaming the opposition for the recent violence without any proof. “On this excuse, they are declar-

'Production remains almost stopped...shipment is hampered due to political violence. So how can we pay the workers’ wages?' the two leading parties to shun the path of destruction and violence. They also demanded stern action against a vested quarter engaged in destroying the RMG sector.

“If the country is destroyed, what is the benefit of doing politics?” said Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed, president of the FBCCI. BGMEA President Atiqul Islam blamed a vested quarter which is trying to take advantage of the ongoing political situation. “Production remains almost stopped...shipment is hampered

due to political violence. So how can we pay the workers’ wages?”

Former BGMEA president Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin urged the parties to exempt vehicles exporting or importing from political programmes.

BTMA President Jahangir Alam said the Standard Group arson incident was a huge blow for the RMG industry. “The recurrence of such incidents means death for the industry,” he said.

Mosharraf Hussain, managing director of Standard Group, demanded the highest punishment for the culprits.

Md Asaduzzan Mia, DIG of the highway police, described the Standard Group incident as an act of sabotage.

“We are ready to help with the smooth shipment of products in such a situation,” he said.

Tomorrow the BGMEA, along with other business bodies, will form a human chain in front of the National Press Club, in protest at the factory fire and to demand an end to violent politics. l

Eight likely to be declared elected  PAGE 1 COLUMN 1

Manikganj 2 and Md Abdus Shahid in Moulovibazar 4, Morshed Alam in Noakhali 2, and Amanur Rahman Khan Rana in Tangail 3.

However, the gazettes on the polls in those constituencies will be published together with all other results.

A total of 1,103 candidates of 14 political parties, including the ruling

Awami League, Jatiya Party and the Bangladesh Nationalist Front, submitted their nomination papers within yesterday’s deadline.

The returning officers will scrutinise the nomination papers on December 5-6. The last date for withdrawal of candidature is December 13.

The 10th parliamentary elections will be held on January 5 next year. l

1,107 aspirants to vie for 300 seats  PAGE 1 COLUMN 1

The disappearing glow of motherhood poured petrol on the bus and set it on fire.

Everyone inside the bus, including the driver and his helper, managed to come out. But Shirin got trapped because it was not easy for her to move quickly with six months pregnancy.

By the time she managed to come out, nearly half of her body from under her neck got badly burnt in the petrol-fuelled fire.

The other passengers of the bus and the local people wanted to take her to a hospital. But Shirin was so scared that she wanted to go back home to her beloved husband.

Listening to her was probably the biggest mistake made by the people.

They took her to her home in Borobhanga area of Demra.

Shirin’s neighbour Josna Begum narrated: “We cut her clothes with a blade because they were clinging to her burn wounds, making the pain unbearable for her.”

To make matters even worse, Shirin laid there until her husband Mo-

to the BNP chief, received a memorandum from the business leaders.

Earlier at an emergency meeting jointly organised by BGMEA, BKMEA and BTMEA, the business leaders urged

ing publicly that they will go for more suppressive acts against the opposition.

They have also blocked the way for the BNP to respond to the allegations.”

She said different neighbouring countries, the UN and many international communities had been worried about the existing condition of the country.

The BNP chief criticised the government for filing cases against top leaders of the 18-party alliance. Many leaders had been arrested while many others went into hiding. Police and detectives were looking for them.

“I am the leader of the opposition, but regular activities at my office cannot be done because of deployment of police and detectives [around the place], and their visible and secret activities...”

Accusing the government for closing some pro-opposition television chan-

nels and newspapers, Khaleda alleged that an abnormal and imbalanced situation had been created in the country by repressing the difference of opinions.

Yesterday, BNP Standing Committee member Abdul Moyeen Khan told the Dhaka Tribune that the EC’s position over the polls further narrowed the options for a settlement on the current political stalemate. But he was hopeful that the ruling party could resolve the crisis.

“Gesture of the postponement of the schedule by the Election Commission yesterday even unilaterally could very well have provided a leeway to further the efforts for a negotiated settlement to the opposition. It could also have provided additional space to the government side to promote a congenial atmosphere for consultations upon arrival of UN Assistant Secretary-General Oscar Fernandez Taranco [on December 6],” he said. l

Molla belong to the ruling party.

Rashed Khan Menon of the Worker’s Party and HM Ershad submitted their nomination forms for Dhaka 8 and 17.

A maximum number of seven candidates filed their nomination papers for the constituency of Dhaka 16. Md Amir Hossain Molla, prosecution witness of the war crimes case against Abdul Quader Molla, will fight as an independent candidate in the constituency.

Former AL lawmaker Haji Md Selim submitted his nomination form for Dhaka 7 as an independent candidate as he failed to get the party ticket.

Former minister for post and telecommunications ministry Shahara Khatun went to the office of the returning officer to submit her nomination form at 4pm accompanied by a few supporters.

Abul Kalam Azad, chief coordinator and spokesman of the newly formed BNF, also submitted his nomination paper for Dhaka 17 where he will compete with HM Ershad.

“We bought 10 forms for our party for Dhaka city though I am the only person who submitted the form as of now,” he said after submitting the form at the 11th hour.

Kalam expressed hope to win against the Jatiya Party chairman.

A total of 95 nomination forms had been sold to aspirants in 15 Dhaka constituencies, said Returning Officer Shamsuddin Azad Chowdhury.

In Tangail, a total of 23 candidates, including former food minister Abdur Razzaque for Tangail 1 and textiles minister Abdul Latif Siddiki for Tangail 4, submitted their nomination forms.

In Satkhira, 16 candidates filed nomination forms for four seats. Former health minister AFM Ruhal Haq will compete with JP candidate SM Salauddin and BNF candidate Yaqub Ali for Satkhira 3.

A total of 14 candidates submitted their nomination papers to the returning officer to contest the 10th parliamentary elections for Khulna’s six constituencies.

Of them, six came up with AL tickets, five with JP nominations and three as independent candidates.

ELECTIONS Year

Contesting Total parties candidates

1973

14

1089

1979

29

2125

1986

28

1527

1988

08

977

1991

75

2787

1996 (Feb 15)

41

1450

1996

81

1933

2001

54

1939

2008

38 (Registered)

1567

A H Mamun/DT Infographic

Incumbent State Minister for Labour Monnujan Sufian and JP Khulna district unit President Shafiqul Islam Modhu and independent candidates Ashraful Islam and Shahida Begum submitted their nomination papers for Khulna 3 constituency.

Seventeen contestants filed their nomination forms to compete in five constituencies of Gazipur.

Simin Hossain Rimi from AL, Miyan Md Anower Hossain from JP, advocate Sarwar-E-Kaynat from the BNF and advocate Afsar Uddin Ahmed Khan as independent candidate are competing for Gazipur 4. In addition, Meher Afroz Chumki of AL and Azam Khan of JP submitted their forms for Gazipur 5.

In Chandpur, a total of 10 candidates submitted their nomination forms for the five constituencies in the district.

Of them, five from AL, three from JP and two as independent candidates will contest the polls.

In Faridpur 4, incumbent lawmaker Nilufar Zafarullah and her husband former lawmaker Kazi Zafarullah, and independent candidate Mujibur Rahman Chowdury alias Nixon Chowdhury are competing for the parliamentary seat. l

AL wooing BNP leaders  PAGE 1 COLUMN 3

Akhtaruzzaman and Rustam Ali Farazi yesterday filed nomination papers as independent candidates for the Kishoreganj 2 and Pirojpur 3 constituencies respectively.

“Efforts are on to make the BNP leaders agree to take part in the polls; a positive outcome may come out any time,” Communications Minister Obaidul Quader told the Dhaka Tribune.

The minister said many BNP leaders had contacted the ruling party expressing their interests in vying the polls that the opposition conglomerate was still determined to boycott.

“We are also holding discussion with them,” Quader said, although he did not naming the names of the BNP leaders.

“Many BNP leaders have sought security during polls so that they can campaign freely. We have told them that the law enforcement agencies will

guarantee their safety,” Tajul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune.

While talking to reporters after filing nomination papers yesterday, Syed Ashraful Islam said the government was constitutionally bound to hold the polls, did not matter the main opposition joined or not.

“Most of the political parties have been taking part in the polls; so it will be acceptable,” he said.

The Awami League strategists think that the participation of HM Ershad’s Jatiya Party, a component of the 14-party conglomerate, Anwar Hossain Monju’s faction of Jatiya Party and some smaller parties will make the polls acceptable internationally. Some leaders involved with the Islam-based parties are also interested in the polls, they said.

Awami League insiders said the party was ready to leave up to 100 seats to the parties that were interested in the polls. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

3

EC to beef up security for CEC, election offices The commission has sent letters to the home ministry and police headquarters Separately, police yesterday recovoffice across the country as part of enn Mohammad Zakaria ered the body of an employee of elecsuring security.

The Election Commission has decided to strengthen security for the chief election commissioner considering the ongoing political crisis and violence.

The EC yesterday sent letters to the Home Ministry and Police Headquarters seeking an additional security on an emergency basis for the Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad.

The EC also sent a letter to the director general of Ansar and VDP Directorate asking for deployment of at least six armed Ansar men at every election

On Monday, four cocktails exploded near the EC secretariat, prompting shopkeepers around the commission to down their shutters.

A senior EC official seeking anonymity told the Dhaka Tribune the commission decided to beef up security for the CEC considering the overall situation.

EC officials said about 16 election offices in eight districts had come under attack till yesterday.

The commission expressed concern about its field-level offices across the country in Monday’s commission meeting.

tion office under Sutrapur police station from the capital’s Segunbagicha.

At present, six police members are now on duty for the protection of the CEC. Of the six, one accompanies the CEC from and to his office followed by the security squad.

Three police members and two Ansar men are entrusted with the protection of each election commissioner.

Former election commissioners Muhammed Sohul Hussain and M Sakhawat Hussain also got police protection, but this was withdrawn before their term in office ended. l

Railway passes a day without attacks n Kamran Reza Chowdhury

Yesterday was the first day since the BNP-led 18-party opposition alliance enforced its blockade programmes that Bangladesh Railway suffered no attacks from the blockaders.

The railway authorities yesterday partially restored rail links that were disrupted because of removal of rail tracks and fishplates and arson attacks on trains by pickets.

“If no incident takes place [until midnight], today will be the first day for us not to have any train derailment or other troubles. Hopefully, trains would start running on time by tomorrow,” Mahbubur Rahman, divisional commercial officer (Dhaka), told the Dhaka Tribune around 7:30pm yesterday.

The railway authorities yesterday restarted train movement on Dhaka-Chittagong and Dhaka-Sylhet routes that remained disrupted for 20 hours because of a derailment in Comilla.

The opposition’s blockade programmes in protest against the announcement of polls schedule resulted in violence as pickets removed rail tracks and fishplates, and set coaches and engines on fire. The violent protests caused derailment of many passenger trains all over the country, shattering the train schedules.

Habibur Rahman, joint director general (operation), said the Dhaka-Chittagong and Dhaka-Sylhet rail links had been restored around 3:30pm with the removal of relief operation of the derailed Mohanagar Godhuli. The Chittagong-bound train veered off the tracks

Sunday night at Rajapur, Comilla.

The railway authorities yesterday sent a report on the attacks on trains to the prime minister.

Syed Zahurul Islam, director (traffic) of Bangladesh Railway, told the Dhaka Tribune that law enforcers and other staff had, meanwhile, thwarted at least 20 attempts of derailing trains across the country in the past few days.

The railway police have filed 31 cases in connection with the sabotages and arrested 43 persons.

On November 28, an inter-ministry meeting detected 632 vulnerable points for the railway. The authorities instructed law enforcers and railway employees to beef up vigilance. The railway will deploy six members of Ansar and VDP at each of the vulnerable points. l

A pro-blockade activist hurls a petrol bomb during the third day of the opposition called countrywide blockade in Chittagong’s Golpahar area yesterday FOCUS BANGLA

EC staff found dead n Ashif Islam Shaon An office assistant of the Election Commission was found dead by the police in the capital’s Segunbagicha early yesterday.

Police said the victim, Mizanur Rahman, 35, was a mid-level support staff of the EC and he went missing on Sunday evening.

Officer-in-Charge of Ramna police Mashiur Rahman said the body was recovered around 12am from the roadside of NSI lane in Segunbagicha. “The body bore no injury marks except a scar in his neck. Probably he was strangulated to dead.”

Mizanur’s wife, Naznin Rahman Dipu, had lodged a general diary with Paltan police station yesterday morning seeking her husband’s whereabouts. Later in the afternoon, when Ramna police had sent the body to Dhaka Medical College morgue, she identified Mizanur. Dipu told reporters that on Sunday afternoon, her husband left the EC office and boarded a bus.

“Around 7pm he called me and said he was at Gulistan and would reach home within 20 minutes.”

“As he did not reach home, I called him back but his cell phone was switched off and it was the same the whole night,” she said. l

Two Jubadal leaders slain in alleged AL attacks n Tribune Report Tw.o Juba Dal leaders were shot and hacked to death yesterday inBogra and Comilla,allegedly by rival Jubo League and Awami League activists.

In Bogra, Imran Sheikh, 28, a member of the regional committee of the BNP’s youth wing,died as a gang of criminals stormed his house at Begum Bazar Lane in ChawkSutrapur of the district.

The victim’s family said the criminals stormed their house and opened fire on Imran. Later, they hacked him indiscriminately after he fell to the ground, killing him on the spot.

The criminals also hacked Hilu Sheikh as he came to his brother’s rescue.Hiluwas takento ShaheedZiaur Rahman Medical College Hospital.

The victim’s family members alleged that those who took part in the killing were local Jubo League leader Matin’s men.

Assistant Police Super (A-circle) Nazir Hossain said they have identified the killers.

“They are identified criminals of the area. We’re trying to arrest them,” he said.

Witness: Yusuf killed my uncle n Udisa Islam

A CNG-run auto-rickshaw in flames after pro-blockade activists torched it near Naya Bazar area yesterday

NASHIRUL ISLAM

A prosecution witness yesterday said the maternal uncle of war crimes suspect AKM Yusuf had been killed on his order while fleeing to India during the 1971 Liberation War. Before recording testimony of 14th witness Babul Kumar Mistri, 49, the International Crimes Tribunal 2 closed the cross-examination of 13th prosecution witness Shudhangshu Mandal as no conducting defence lawyer was present at the tribunal.

Jamaat-e-Islami leader Yusuf is facing 13 charges of crimes against humanity that include genocide, murders, arson attacks, abduction, torture in confinement, forced conversion and deportation of Hindus at different places of Bagerhat during the 1971 War of Independence.

Yesterday, the only defence counsel present at the tribunal was junior lawyer Gazi MH Tamim. He sought an adjournment for one day saying that conducting senior lawyer Mizanur Rahman could not appear before the tribunal due to personal difficulties.

This is for the second time in Yusuf’s case that the tribunal closed cross-examination of a prosecution witness because of the defence’s absence.

The defence lawyers have remained absent in many cases at the two tribunals during the hartals and blockade programmes enforced by the opposition alliance.

Rejecting the adjournment petition, the tribunal expressed its discontent terming the defence “Nandalal,” a literary character by Dijendralal Roy who does nothing claiming that he should do something.

Andaleeve’s brother Ashik resigns from BJP n Manik Miazee Bangladesh Jatiya Party’s central committee member Ashikur Rahman, brother of the party’s Chairman Andaleeve Rahman Partho, resigned from the party because of “ideological conflicts.”

“I think the time has come for all political parties to leave Jamaat-e-Islami…I do not want to continue politics

with Jamaat and resigned from the party for this reason on November 29,” he told the Dhaka Tribune.

“We should not compromise with any undemocratic and anti-liberation forces. My father [late Naziur Rahman Manju who founded the party] was a freedom fighter. So, I cannot be a part of any alliance that is involved with Jamaat,” he said.

Ashik said he was not thinking

of joining any other alliances right now.

Asked why he had participated in the 2008 elections with Jamaat and is leaving the alliance now, he said: “The present situation and that of 2008 are not the same. People should abandon Jamaat’s politics.”

Ashik said: “If the 18-party alliance excludes Jamaat, I will again join it, but I know it is impossible for the BNP to

exclude Jamaat from the alliance.”

When contacted, party Chairman Andaleeve Rahman Partha said: “Ashik does not want to continue with destructive politics and so left the party.

But, the country needs brilliant people like him.”

Ashik contested the 2008 parliamentary polls from Bhola 2 constituency against Awami League leader Tofail Ahmed, but was defeated. l

The defence lawyer said anything could happen because of the blockade.

The tribunal replied: “Anything may happen anytime in our life, not only during blockades. Is not everybody doing their job?” The tribunal then asked Tamim to cross-examine the witness, but he denied.

New witness Babul in his deposition said Yusuf had ordered the killing of 500 unarmed Hindu people in Rampal in 1971 when around 5,000-6,000 people gathered to flee to India. He held Yusuf responsible saying that the accused had been the top Peace Committee leader in the area.

Babul said on April 19 of 1971, he had joined a Peace Committee meeting at Rampal College along with his uncle and the villagers. He heard some razakars giving anti-liberation statements there.

At the meeting, some 30-40 outsiders were chanting slogans “Naraye Takbir” while razakars Razzab Ali and Dr Moslem incited the attendees to loot the goods of Hindus saying that Pakistan was not a country for Hindus.

The witness said they returned home and told everyone to hide. While sheltering by a nearby pond, they saw some razakars going to their village.

The attackers looted their house, Babul claimed, including four lockers full of jewelleries. He said after a few days, they fled to India.

Babul said he had heard that after a month, his uncle Kartik Halder was one of 500 people killed in a genocide by the collaborators at Dakra.

In response to a question by the tribunal, the witness said he was seven or eight during the war and that he could not recall everything, but something. l

Meanwhile, another Juba Dal leader was killedyesterday as two Awami League activists allegedly stabbed him at Gouripur under Daudkandiupazilain Comilla.

The deceased, Zahangir Sarkar, 35, was the general secretary of Gouripur union Juba Dal and son of Fazar Ali of Hatchandina village of the upazila.

Officer-in-Charge at Daudkandi police station, AbulFaysal, said Zahangirwas stabbed indiscriminately in his abdomen and chest. He claimed two AL activists, Sajeb, 23, son of AkteruzzmanHarun and Shawon, 20, son of MohamoodTaher of the upazila, carried out the attack.

“Zahangir was rushed to Gouripur Health Complex in a critical condition, where duty doctors declared him dead,”AbulFaysalsaid.

The body was sent to Comilla Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy.

“Zahangir might have been killed because of previous enmity,” the OC said.

Meanwhile, victim’s elder brother, Manik Sarkar claimed the criminals killed his brother as he (Manik) declined to pay ransom. A murder case was lodged with Daudkandi police in this connection, the OC said. l

Blockade scuppers Azhar’s indictment hearing n Udisa Islam The war crimes tribunal yesterday accepted an adjournment petition from the accused ATM Azharul Islam seeking time to place arguments against charge framing against the Jamaat-e-Islami assistant secretary general.

The tribunal will hear the defence on December 5 when the prosecution will present its opening statement and the first witness in the case.

Yesterday was set for the hearing on Azhar’s indictment, but only one junior defence counsel was present at the International Crimes Tribunal 1, led by Justice ATM Fazle Kabir. The lawyer, Syed Md Rayhan, submitted an application seeking a two-day adjournment as chief defence counsel Abdur Razzak could not appear because of personal difficulties.

The tribunal also turned down a defence plea seeking privileged communication between Azhar and his counsels. The tribunal said the defence was allowed to meet with the accused before indictment and it now thinks there is nothing new to share with their client at this stage. Prosecutor Tapos Kanti Baul opposed the pleas saying there was no provision in the ICT law to allow adjournment at this stage of a trial.

Azhar, 60, had been the alleged commander of Rangpur district unit of al-Badr during the 1971 Liberation War. He was indicted on November 12 on six specific charges of crimes against humanity including genocide, abduction, torture and rape. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Secretariat idle as ministers busy submitting nominations n Mohosinul Karim With most of the ministers of the pollstime government travelling to their constituencies, the secretariat was quite yesterday.

Most of the officials and employees were seen passing their day in a relaxed mood, having no instructions to carry out.

However, some officials at several important ministries including home, local government and finance, held internal meetings.

All ministers of the polls-time interim government, except Communication Minister Obaidul Quader, were absent from their secretariat office as they were busy submitting their nomination papers at the offices of the returning officers in their respective districts.

Thus, the regular meeting of the cabinet was not held on Monday. It was postponed earlier on Sunday.

Sources said, since the polls-time cabinet assumed power, the officials at the ministries and divisions did not have their normal workloads – as the interim ministers are not talking any major policy decisions.

Admitting this fact, Abdus Sobhan Sikder, senior secretary at the public administration ministry said: “It’s true that work is not being done like during the normal period.

The work of preparing laws, policies, appointments and transfers has been postponed.”

“We are waiting for instructions from the Election Commission, as such activities are prohibited during this

period. We can operate only as per the direction of the election commission,” he said.

Some of the officers were trying to table some files by attaching short notes which can be removed easily if needed, most of the files were stuck, they said.

January 5 has been fixed as the date for the next elections. The government reorganised the polls-time government on November 18 and reshuffled the cabinet on November 21.

A total of 29 ministers and state ministers, including the prime minister, have got their place in the polls time government. 21 are ministers and 7 are state ministers.

Meanwhile, a section of pro-opposition employees staged a showdown at different ministries while an altercation between pro and anti-government employees took place at the finance ministry at 10am yesterday.

A section of pro-opposition classIV employees marched towards the finance ministry led by the Bangladesh Secretariat Class-IV Employees’ Association’s General Secretary, Azim Uddin.

However, the pro-government employees led by the Bangladesh Secretariat Administrative Officers’ Association’s Executive President Abu Sayeed foiled their showdown in front of the finance minister’s office.

According to witnesses, the groups involved in the altercation were later dispersed by ministry officials and members of the law enforcement agencies. l

Two members of DB police sit outside the BNP office in the capital’s Nayapaltan yesterday though the office was main entrance was locked

AL: High Court benches must sit during blockade n Nazmus Sakib

Pro-Awami league and 14-party alliance lawyers yesterday demanded all High Court benches sit for judicial functions during the opposition-imposed blockades.

They urged the Chief Justice to take necessary steps in this regard, claiming the destructive programmes of the opposition were being observed to save the war criminals and delay proceedings in their trials.

Usually, the judges at the High Court do not sit for sessions during a blockade or hartal while the Appellate Division does.

On November 26, pro-opposition lawyers allegedly obstructed an HC bench from leaving the courtroom during a blockade enforced by the 18-party alliance.

Meanwhile, processions and counter processions centring on the blockade were seen at the Supreme Court premises yesterday. Both sections

shouted slogans to each other.

Though the apex court sat for session yesterday, it could not hear the appeals of two war criminals and death row convicts, Delawar Hossain Sayedee and Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujaheed.

Argument staging in Jamaat leader Sayedee’s case has not started yet, as the reading out of the main documents of the war crimes tribunal were not completed and the defence does not appear during hartals or blockades.

Hall-Mark officials dodge ACC notice Mammography test n introduced at BSMMU Syed Samiul Basher Anik

Ignoring the Anti-Corruption Commission’s notice, 13 accused officials of Hall-Mark Group and its five business entities did not appear at the ACC headquarters yesterday.

They were summoned to give statements in the case of the alleged embezzlement of over Tk3.72bn from Sonali Bank’s Ruposhi Bangla branch.

Violating the bank rules, officials from Sonali Bank and five business entities of Hall-Mark Group allegedly embezzled the money during the period October 2011 to May last year.

The commission on January 1 filed 26 cases against 17 Sonali Bank officials and 18 top officials of the business entities on charge of swindling over Tk3.5bn from the bank.

Among the cases, 14 were filed

against top officials of T & Brothers and its associate firms for around Tk3.42bn embezzlement, five against Paragon Knit Composite Ltd for around Tk158m embezzlement, three against DN Sports with Tk30m embezzlement, three against Nakshi Knit and Composite Ltd for Tk110m embezzlement, and one against Khanjahan Ali Sweater Ltd for around Tk11.4m embezzlement. l

Japan to support Fema for polls n Tribune Report The government of Japan will donate $121,514 to the Fair Election Monitoring Alliance (Fema) under the Grants for Grass-roots Human Security Projects for the civil monitoring of elections, including the 10th parliamentary election of Bangladesh.

The Grant Contract for this project

Sadoshima added that he sincerely hoped for “a peaceful and timely implementation of an all-inclusive general election.”

Through this project, Fema would mobilise a total of 1,550 observers in the 300 constituencies and train them.

Fema monitored the 2008 parliamentary elections, the city corporation elections and several by-elections. l

n Moniruzzaman Uzzal Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University inaugurated mammography test facilities yesterday.

Mammography is the process of using low-energy X-rays to examine human breast and is used as a diagnostic and screening tool.

Private hospitals charge Tk1,200-1,500 for running a single breast mammography; BSMMU will charge Tk400 for single and Tk600 for double The goal of the test is the early detection of breast cancer, a disease that has the highest rate of occurrence, 19.3 per 100,000, compared to any other type of cancer among women aged between 15-44 years. For the same age group, cervical cancer comes second with 12.4 in every 100,000 women.

At the private hospitals, charge for running a single breast mammography is Tk1200-1500 whereas, at BSMMU, it will charge Tk400 for single and Tk600 for double breast mammography tests.

The mammography machine has been bought under “Eastablishment of National Center for Cervical and Breast Cancer Screening and Training at BSMMU” project by the health ministry.

Prof Dr Pran Gopal Datta, vicechancellor of BSMMU, inaugurated the mammography room when Pro-VC Prof Dr Ruhul Amin Mia and Prof Dr Saleha Begum Chowdhury were present.

At present, the rate of breast cancer occurrence is estimated to be 22.5 in every 100,000 women of all ages, compared to 124.8 in every 100,000 women worldwide. However, the statistics remains a murky, largely due to a lack of diagnosis and poor record keeping. l

Electrocuted boy loses hands and leg

WEATHER

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

Night temperature might fall slightly and day temperature might remain nearly unchanged over the country, Met office said. The sun sets in the capital at 5:11pm today and rises at 6:26am tomorrow.

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

High

Low

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

29.8 27.5 28.3 28.4 28.4 29.0 29.8 30.7

19.4 19.2 13.8 15.7 15.8 15.9 18.0 20.7

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

was signed yesterday at the Embassy of Japan in Dhaka by Shiro Sadoshima, ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh, and Fema President Munira Khan.

During the ceremony, the Japanese ambassador commented: “A credible electoral process is integral to the advancement of democracy – we are happy to be able to contribute to this end.”

5:06am 6:25am 11:48am 3:35pm 5:11pm 6:31pm

Source: IslamicFinder.org

n Mohammad Jamil Khan

Sona Bikash, a 12-year-old boy, lost both his hands and a leg as he was electrocuted in Kagrachhari.

The Chakma boy, who is a class two student at a local school in his district town, has been undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital since November 18.

His father Sanathi Gopal Chakma, 35, who was feeding the boy on the hospital bed in the male ward of the burns and plastic surgery unit at the DMCH, said, with tearful eyes, that his son was electrocuted while playing with a pigeon on the rooftop of their house.

Gopal added that like all other days, on November 18 Bikash went to the rooftop of the house to catch a pigeon, but he accidentally touched a live wire, which was just beside the house, and fire burnt his hands and right leg instantaneously.

Immediately after the incident he was admitted to the DMCH, where, after going through a week-long treatment, doctors had to amputate his hands and leg in order to save his life.

Bikash is the only son of Shanti Gopal and Bhodrapati, they are now struggling as they have to pay for their son’s treatment.

Shanti, who is a farmer, said: “My son will not be able to go to school anymore as he has lost his legs. I do not know how I will be able to bear the costs.” l

NASHIRUL ISLAM

Helpless with amputated hands and a leg, 12-year old Sona Bikash Chakma lies on the DMCH burn unit bed yesterday as his father gives him food MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

On the other hand, the defence has not lodged any concise statement of appeal of Mujaheed, secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islami, though they were ordered to file it by November 21. Meanwhile, they lodged an application seeking more time to file the concise statement.

The war crimes tribunal awarded death penalties to Delowar Hossain Sayedee on February 28 while to Ali Ahsan Mujaheed on July 17. They have both appealed with the Appellate Division against the judgements. l

Rtv journalists granted bail n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu A Dhaka court yesterday granted bail for two journalists of the private teleision channel Rtv in a case filed under explosive substances act.

Metropolitan Magistrate Tareq Mainul Islam Bhuiyan passed the order after the investigating officer produced Syed Tanjib Ahmed, alias Tanjib Roni, and cameraman Proshanta Modok to the court following a remand.

They were arrested on Sunday morning allegedly for instigating some opposition activists to throw crude bombs. l

Crude bomb found at JU VC’s residence n JU Correspondent Jahangirnagar University authorities yesterday found a crude bomb and a burial shroud on the premises of the house of VC Prof Anwar Hossain, who had received a death threat over phone on Sunday.

Later at night, the agitating teachers of the university confined the VC at his residence after he had returned to campus from a 12-day medical leave.

The united forum of teachers, students, officers and employees had pulled out of its besiege on the university administrative office, freeing acting VC Prof MA Matin and Pro-VC Prof Afsar Ahmed, in the afternoon.

Around 9am, a university employee saw an object wrapped in red tape on the lawn of the VC’s residence.

Upon information, Savar circle ASP Russel Sheikh and Ashulia police station’s Officer-in-Charge Sheikh Badrul Alam went to the spot and dismantled the bomb.

A burial shroud was also found near the VC’s residence an hour later.

ASP Russel Sheikh told the Dhaka Tribune that the bomb was not powerful and “was perhaps left to spread panic.” A general dairy was filed with Ashulia police station.

On November 7, Prof Anwar received a threat of bomb attack from the same phone number, 01786321251.

JU Teachers’ Association President and the united forum Convener Prof Ajit Kumar also claimed to have received an SMS from number 01744773579 at 10:22pm yesterday asking him “to be ready for death” as he had not yet withdrawn the movement against the VC. It was the second time Ajit received such threats. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Long Form

5

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Decoding the Bangladesh Paradox

Despite a tumultous political ground, the people of Bangladesh have very surprisingly kept the development and economic growth indices climbing up

B

n Jyoti Rahman

angladesh is getting quite the attention from the world. But unlike the seventies and eighties, not for the catastrophes – natural or man-made – alone. Though, its rather sensational political upheavals aided by frequent fatalities – some of which are sometimes caused by sheer negligence – still flash through the media almost routinely, there also emerge some extraordinary, unusual success stories from the very same country – such as its impressive progress in a number of human development indicators or its consistent GDP growth amid political turmoil.

Just as the catastrophes, these stories not only evoke emotion but are also analysed by the media. As though, they unearth a Bangladesh Paradox. Yet, perhaps a focussed research effort can crack the paradox.

end, not the end in itself. What we really care more about is the standard of living that higher real GDP per capita entails – that is, it’s the development record, and not just the growth, under different governments that we want to know.

This, however, raises two questions. First, how do we attribute to any particular government the growth and development record when policies under any particular government are likely to have long-term consequences? And second, how do we explain the Bangladesh Paradox: “The belief that growth brings development with it – the ‘Washington consensus’ – is often criticised on the basis that some countries have had good growth but little poverty reduction. Bangladesh embodies the inverse of that: it has had disproportionate poverty reduction for its amount of growth.”

It’s not a coincidence that things started getting better as the economy started accelerating. We would want to know what is it about the GDP growth process that may have contributed to the development in a relatively favourable manner

“The macroeconomic fact is, in the last decade, under all three governments, per capita GDP have grown by around 4.5% a year. At that rate, average real (that is, inflation-adjusted) income doubles in 16 years … This is impressive stuff, for which every recent government deserves some credit.”

That’s the conclusion from the article on real GDP per capita growth under different governments. Of course, real GDP per capita is a means to the

POOR BUT IMPRESSIVE Wealth and health

Bangladesh

India

Pakistan

Income per person, $PPP*

1990 2011

540 1,909

874 3,663

1,200 2,786

Life Expectancy at birth, years

1990 2010

59 69

58 65

61 65

Infant (aged <1) deaths per 1,000 live births

1990 2011

97 37

81 47

95 59

Child (aged <5) deaths per 1,000 live births

1990 2011

139 46

114 61

122 72

Maternal deaths per 100,00 live births

1990 2010

800 194†

600 200

490 260

Infant immunisation rate, %

1990 2008

64 94

59 66

48 80

Female (aged 15-24) literacy rate, %

1991 2009

38 77

49 74

na 61

Underweight children, % of total

1990 2007

62 36†

60 44

39 31

SOURCES: WORLD BANK; UNICEF; WHO; national statistics

* Purchasing-power parity † 2011 SOURCE: THE ECONOMIST

That quote is from a November 2012 Economist article. That article, and accompanying editorial, had a go at explaining the paradox. Dhaka Tribune’s Joseph Allchin had a crack more recently in the NY Times. The suspects are usual: garments, remittance, NGOs. But we economists are a parsimonious lot, or so we like to think.

We would like to know exactly what contribution each of these factors made, what was the channel through which the factors affected growth and development, what role, if any, did government policy play, and what all that means for future.

I haven’t seen a comprehensive analysis of the Bangladesh Paradox.

And no, I am not going to provide the answer in this article. Rather, here is a research agenda on how to analyse the Paradox.

Let’s recap the Paradox with the “Wealth and Health” Table from the Economist.

The first thing to explore is whether Bangladesh is compared with an appropriate benchmark? Is it that Bangladesh has done better with its growth and income, or is it India (or Pakistan) that is the exception?

The Economist notes that Bangladesh has a few features that India or Pakistan lacks: “Because of its poverty, it has long been a recipient of vast amounts of aid. With around 150m people crammed into a silted delta frequently swept by cyclones and devastating floods, it is the most densely populated country on Earth outside city states. Hardly any part is isolated by distance, tradition or ethnicity, making it easier for anti-poverty programmes to reach everyone.

Unusually, it has a culture that is

distinct from its religion: although most Bangladeshis are Muslims, their culture and language are shared with the non-Muslim Indian state of West Bengal. Religious opposition to social change has been mild.”

Has Bangladesh received more aid per capita than other poor countries? How does Bangladesh’s growth-development trajectory compare with other densely populated monsoon deltas – say, countries along the Mekong? Or perhaps, Bangladesh should not be compared with India and Pakistan as a whole, but with the four Pakistani provinces and 32 Indian states?

Does a paradox remain if the comparators change? Does Bangladesh still perform better in terms of development/living standard given its growth/level of income? A proper research agenda would answer these questions first. Suppose the answer is yes, that the Paradox still remains, its resolution will rest on a two-part investigation.

The first part would explore the GDP story in detail. That Bangladesh does better given its GDP does not make GDP irrelevant. Quite the contrary. Bangladesh was a wretchedly poor place until the 1980s. It’s not a coincidence that things started getting better as the economy started accelerating. We would want to know what is it about the GDP growth process that may have contributed to the development in a relatively favourable manner.

What do we know about the growth story of the past few decades? From a strictly growth accounting perspective, we know that while favourable demographic transition and female workforce participation have helped, it is multifactor productivity that explains the GDP acceleration.

From a sectoral perspective, we know that agriculture’s share of the economy has shrunk, that of manufacturing has risen, and services have become more productive. And we know the particular industry that has led the charge – readymade garments.

So far, this seems like a straightforward export-led, manufacturing-driven growth story a la our neighbours to the east and north.

Yet, it’s not so clear-cut when we look at the expenditure side of GDP.

RAJIB DHAR

would be implied by wages growth coming from industrialisation?

In addition to the macro trend, do industrialisation, remittance and microcredit interact in a way that have microeconomic – that is, household and firm level – impact favouring consumption over investment even after accounting for various market and government failures that inhibit investment?

What am I getting at here? Well, how about a stylised, and very speculative, story along this line — while RMG has meant women entering the formal workforce, migrant worker boom has sent a lot of risk-taking men

MELLOWING FRUITFULNESS Fertility in Bangladesh Total fertility rate

Contraceptive prevalence rate, %

7

70

6

60

5

50

4

40

3

30

2

20

1

10

0

1975

85 83

91 89

96† 93*

2004 99‡

07 06

0

10 08

11

Survey years Source: World Bank

*1993-94

†1996-97

‡1999-2000 SOURCE: THE ECONOMIST

overseas; aided by the NGOs and microcredit, households have smoothed consumption and invested in human capital of their children; but they have not invested in physical capital, avoided entrepreneurial activities, and have not pushed for a more investment-friendly polity.

We would want to explore this story further. We would also want to explore the income side of GDP, and tie it into a political economy analysis.

Does Bangladesh still perform better in terms of development/ living standard given its growth/level of income? A proper research agenda would answer these questions first

Unlike the Asian fast industrialisers, Bangladesh has not experienced an investment boom. In fact, low private investment relative to GDP may be the single most important problem facing the country’s economy.

Of course, why investment hasn’t grown is a question that needs further exploration – and the answers will have obvious policy implications. But is there something to the consumption pattern as well? Particularly, have remittance and microcredit affected consumption above and beyond what

but not invested in a productive way, rather they ended up fuelling land/ stock prices – this is an area that needs to be explored in detail.

What about the RMG boom? Theoretically, proceeds of the manufacturing boom should accrue to both labour and capital. Has that happened?

Has the process of distribution been dynamic or static? Here, by dynamic I mean whether the industries are going up the value chain – from the cheapest t-shirts to more expensive designer brands to leather and other fancier fashion items to toys to cheap electronics to expensive electronics to stuff that requires more skilled labour.

If the process has been dynamic, then we should expect less tension between labour and capital, because both wages and profits rise over time.

In addition to the detailed exploration of the growth process, the research agenda will need to focus on the factors that explain the development above and beyond what might be expected from the growth itself.

As a starting point, let’s take the four factors listed by the Economist: government spending and policies on social programmes that assisted family planning and empowered women; the green revolution; remittance; and NGOs. Let’s think about these factors in a systematic way. The “Fertility in Bangladesh” graph from the Economist illustrates the female empowering social transformation. But how important has the government, and NGO, interventions been relative to the advent of the RMG sector. As far as girls’ education is concerned, Mushfiq Mobarak of Yale finds the garments made the difference (this is a subject of a detailed post). We would like to see the relative impacts of industrialisation, direct government policies,

The remittance boom, for example, should see the labour share of the economy rise. Of course, the question is, what happens to the money that is remitted back? It’s reasonable to assume that unskilled labourers are from the poorer parts of the society.

So, in the first instance, any remittance back to the villages is a good thing in that it reduces the direst type of poverty — that is it stops things like famine or malnutrition. But what happens after that? My tentative hunch is that a lot of remittance has been saved

and NGO activities analysed across various metrics.

The green revolution is a relatively straight-forward story, and remittance we have discussed above. In addition, we would want to know how, if at all, the impact of these factors have changed (and is likely to change) in a more rapidly urbanising Bangladesh.

Finally, we would want to analyse the economics and political economy of the NGOs – what the Economist calls the “magic ingredient.”

Large NGOs such as BRAC are as much business conglomerates as philanthropies. In fact, the Economist compared BRAC to Korean chaebols.

Is that a reasonable comparison? Do we understand the microeconomics of NGOs? Does our view of Bangladesh Paradox change at all if we viewed these NGOs as little different from Korean or Japanese business houses at comparable stages of development?

And what about the impact of the NGOs on public finance, and indeed the state’s capacity to build institutions in general?

Needless to say, this is a pretty ambitious research agenda. But it’s hardly impossible. Is there anyone out there to tackle this? l Jyoti Rahman is a political blogger. This article was first posted on alalodulal.org.

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Blockade hits the markets Price of vegetables shoots up, middle-income groups suffer

n FM Mizanur Rahaman The price of essential commodities has soared across the markets in Chittagong due to disruption caused by the opposition’s non-stop nationwide blockade.

Whilst visiting different markets across the port city yesterday, it was found that prices of commodities, particularly vegetables, have risen significantly.

The markets concerned include: Karnaphuli Market, Kazir Dewri Bazar, Reazuddin Bazar, Bahaddarhat and Chawk Bazar.

“Prices of almost all the vegetables have increased in the past three to four days,” said Mohammed Yusuf, a customer at the Karaphuli Market.

Middle-income people like him are finding it difficult to buy vegetables within their family budgets.

Delwar Hossain, a trader at Reazuddin Bazar, said five days ago he bought a dozen eggs for Tk85 and one kilogram of onions for Tk55, but now they are Tk95 and Tk70 respectively.

Mohammed Idris Mian, a vegetable

vendor at Karnaphuli Market, told the Dhaka Tribune that fewer vegetables had been coming in since the blockade started.

The traders now have to purchase the commodities from the wholesalers at a higher price, he said.

“We are being compelled to sell vegetables at higher prices even during the peak season as our purchase costs have increased due to the blockade.”

Mohammed Jamal, a retailer at the market, said: “We are selling, per kilogram, tomatoes at Tk100, brinjals at Tk50-40, cauliflowers at Tk40, cabbages at Tk30 and beans at Tk100.”

Before the blockade tomatoes were sold at Tk70-80. Prices of other vegetables rose by Tk10-30, he claimed.

Abdul Khalek, a vegetable seller at Kazir Dewri Bazar, said the blockade had seriously hindered the transportation of vegetables, as hardly any vehicles could reach Chittagong from other parts of the country.

Very small volumes of vegetables were reaching the port city from different upazilas in the district, he said.

“The wholesalers are bringing fewer

Vendors water vegetables at a kitchen market in the city vegetables from the upazilas, particularly from Sitakunda and Hathazari.

The truckers do not dare to drive their

DHAKA TRIBUNE

vehicles, in fear of subversive activities.”

“This has pushed up the transporta-

tion costs,” he added.

He also said there was inadequate supply to meet the daily demand, and

Hope for consensus still BCL activist ‘harassed on: Obaidul Quader female CU student’

Three government officials shot in Rangamati n Our Correspondent, Rangamati n Mohosinul Karim Rangamati district administration Public Surveyors Bassu Moni Chakma and Ripan Chakma, and speedboat driver Nasir, were shot in Kattali under Longadu Upazila in the district yesterday.

Police said four members of the district administration office, lead by Additional Deputy Magistrate Shaiful Islam, went to Amtali union under Baghaichari upazila to demarcate the boundaries of Amtali union, adding that they were shot by unknown miscreants on their way back.

At another incident, miscreants opened fire on 10 leaders and activists, including Udayan Tripura, Subarna Chakma and Podang Tang Randal, members of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS). However, no one was reported injured in the incident.

PCJSS members were coming back from Baghaichari and Longudu Upazila after attending a demonstration about the implementation of the CHT accord, sources said.

Sajeeb Chakma, assistant press and publication secretary of the PCJS, blamed the United Peoples’ Democratic Front for the incident.

When contacted the UPDF denied their involvement in the incident. l

Communication Minister Obaidul Quader said the chance to reach a political consensus through negotiation was not over yet with foreign diplomats and local politicians still trying to find a breakthrough.

Talking to reporters in his ministry office yesterday, the minister said: “We still have a hope to reach a consensus with the opposition.”

“We hope that the efforts will draw a short-term consensus among the major political parties for holding a peaceful election with the participation of all.

However, the wound created by the recent violence will not be healed easily,” he said.

“The movement initiated by the opposition has already gone to the hands of extremists. The recent extension of their blockade programme will simply reinforce the power of the extremists once again. The opposition should take

it as a ‘red signal’.”

“The opportunists, both from home and abroad, are happy to see the ongoing violence in the country as they have always been jealous of Bangladesh’s success and progress. So we should immediately come to an agreement to protect the interest of the country and people,” he continued.

Urging the opposition, the presidium member of the ruling Awami League said: “Please, come to a consensus.

Otherwise, the country may fall in the hands of extremists. That will not bring anything good for the politicians.”

When asked about the possibility of declaring state of emergency, the minister said: “We are not thinking about it right now. Everything depends on the situation. The law enforcing agencies are trying to control the law and order situation. It is still under control.”

Asked if there was any possibility of rescheduling the election, he said, “Time will say everything.” l

n CU Correspondent A Bangladesh Chhatra League activist, also a student of Chittagong University, has been accused of harassing a female student of the university.

The complainant, a second year student of the philosophy department at CU, filed a general diary with Hathazari police station and submitted a written complain to the proctor.

The accused, Rubel Dey, is a third year English student at CU and also a follower of ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, city unit president of Awami League.

According to the written complaint, since July Rubel Dey had been mentally harassing the female student by mobile phone and taunting abusive words towards her on her way to campus. He also allegedly threatened to throw acid on her.

Professor Khan Tawhid Osman, proctor of CU, said he had already di-

At least 16 candidates of different parties and two independents yesterday submitted nomination papers for six constituencies in Khulna for January 5 elections.

The two candidates who submitted nomination papers for Khulna-1 constituency to Nurul Hafiz, assistant returning officer and UNO of Dakop upazila (Batiaghata-Dakop), were Panchanon Biswas(Awami League) and Sunil Subho Roy (Jatiya PartyErshad).

The three candidates who submitted nomination papers for Khulna-2

munul Haque, who had been declared unwanted on campus by its leaders and activists earlier this year.

Campus sources said last year Rubel was expelled from the university for six months for attacking a student of Department of Communication and Journalism. l

n Tribune Report

A man is brought to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in a van as no ambulance was available

DHAKA TRIBUNE

18 submit nomination papers for six constituencies in Khulna n Tribune Desk

According to the written complaint, since July Rubel Dey had been mentally harassing the female student by mobile phone and taunting abusive words towards her on her way to campus. He also allegedly threatened to throw acid on her

Natore BNP calls fresh 60-hr hartal from today n Tribune Desk Local unit BNP called a 60-hour hartal again from Tuesday protesting the killing of a local leader of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal during the day-long shutdown yesterday.

District BNP General Secretary Aminul Haque announced the fresh shutdown programme yesterday.

The hartal will begin at 6 am on Tuesday and continue until 6pm on Thursday, reports BSS. Earlier, a local leader of JCD, the student front of BNP, was shot dead and 15 others were injured in a clash with Awami League activists in Kanaikhali culvert area of the town during the daylong hartal enforced by local BNP in the district protesting the arrest of Ruhul Kuddus Talukdar Dulu yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Saifuzzaman Sujon, the 24-year-old joint secretary of Poura unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal. l

Chittagong candidates submit nomination papers

60,786 people are disabled in Mymensingh n Our Correspondent, Mymensingh A recent survey says 60,786 people are disabled in Mymensingh. Among them are 35,459 men, 25,239 women and 88 hijras.

The local Social Services Department has conducted the survey to determine the actual number of disabled people in the country.

The goverment’s aim is to ensure the welfare of disabled people by starting a welfare programme. l

rected an assistant proctor to investigate the incident.

Rubel, however, brushed aside the allegations, saying the incident was stage-managed by BCL President Ma-

that extra transportation costs had compelled them to sell different kinds of vegetables at a higher price. l

constituency (Sadar-Sonadanga) to Mesbahuddin, returning officer and deputy commissioner, were Mizanur Rahman Mizan (AL), Abdul Gaffar Biswas (Jatiya Party-Ershad), and Rashida Karim (JP-Monju), reports BSS. Among the five candidates who submitted nomination papers to the Khulna Returning Officer for Khulna-3 (Khalishpur- DaulatpurKhanjahan Ali) were state minister for labour and employment Begum Monnuzan Sufian (AL), and AL rebel candidate and ex-panel mayor-2 of Khulna City Corporation Moniruzzaman Mony. The other three were AL city unit publicity secretary Ashraful

Islam, Shafiqul Islam Modhu (Jatiya Party-Ershad), and independent candidate and councilor of KCC Shahida Begum.

Three candidates submitted nomination papers to Khulna Returning Officer for Khulna-4 constituency (Rupsha-Terokhada-Dighalia).

They are SM Mostofa Rashidi Suja (AL), Mallick Hadiuzzaman (Jatiya Party- Ershad) and Rupsha upazila chairman Ali Akbor.

AL sitting lawmaker Narayan Chandra Chanda submitted nomination paper to Selim Reza, assistant returning officer and acting UNO of Dumuria Upazila, while M Zohor Ali Morol of Jatiya

party (Ershad) and Comorade Hafizur Rahman of Workers party submitted nomination papers to Lulu Bilkis Banu, assistant returning officer and UNO of Phultala upazila for Khulna-5 (Dumuria-Phultala) constituency.

Advocate Sheikh Md. Nurul Haque of AL submitted nomination paper to Khulna Returning Officer while Mostofa Kamal Zahangir of Jatiya Party (Ershad) submitted nomination paper to Md. Hazrat Ali, Assistant Returning Officer and UNO of Koyra for Khulna-6 (Koyra-Paikgachha) constituency.

At least 24 candidates bought nomination papers for the upcoming parliamentary election. l

Nominated candidates from different political parties submitted their papers yesterday for the January 5 elections.

The aspirant candidates from 16 constituencies in the city and districts submitted their nomination papers at their respective election offices with much enthusiasm and festivity amid tight security measures, reports BSS. Of the total, candidates from six constituencies in the city corporation area submitted their papers in the office of the divisional commissioner while the remaining 10 candidates from different upazilas filed their paperwork in the offices of the deputy commissioner and upazila nirbahi officer.

Awami League (AL) candidate Nurul Islam, BSC, nominated for Chittagong-9 constituency (Kotwali-Bakalia) submitted his nomination paper at the office of the divisional commissioner, accompanied by AL leaders including Chittagong city AL President ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury and General Secretary (GS) AZM Nasir Uddin.

AL presidium member Engineer Mosharraf Hossain for Chittagong-1 constituency (Mirsarai), ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury for Chittagong-6 constituency (Raozan- Hathazari), and Banskhali upazila AL president Mostafizur Rahman Chowdhury for Chittagong-16 constituency (Banskhali) submitted their nomination papers at the office of the deputy commissioner.

Meanwhile, supporters of Mahmudul Islam Chowdhury, nominated from Jatiya Party for Chittagong-16 constituency (Banskhali), submitted nomination papers on behalf of Mah-

mudul Islam at the same office.

Chittagong-13 constituency (Anwara) candidate Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Jabed, Chittagong-3 constituency (Sandwip) candidate Mahfuzur Rahman Mita, Chittagong-12 constituency (Patiya) candidate Shamsul Hoque Chowdhury, Chittagong-11 constituency (Bandar) candidate MA Latif and Chittagong-4 constituency (Sitakunda) candidate Didarul Alam all submitted their nomination papers from AL at the deputy commissioner’s office.

Chittagong-15 constituency (Satkania-Lohagara) candidate Abu Reza Mohammad Nezamuddin Nadavi and Chittagong-2 constituency (Fatikchhari) candidate Khadizatul Anwar Sony submitted their nomination papers from AL.

Of the total, candidates from six constituencies in the city corporation area submitted their papers in the office of the divisional commissioner while the remaining 10 candidates from different upazilas filed their paperwork in the offices of the deputy commissioner and upazila nirbahi officer Chittagong divisional commissioner Mohammad Abdullah said they distributed an adequate number of nomination papers and hoped that the election would be held in a free and fair manner.

According to the election schedule, the deadline for submission of nomination papers ends today while the last the date for withdrawal of the candidatures is December 13. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

Two Paba villages free from curse of child marriage n Tribune Desk

The village of Govindapur under Paba upazila in Rajshahi was declared free from child marriage on November 27 last year.

Since then, not a single child marriage has been solemnised in the remote village which is now being portrayed as free from early marriage.

In remarkable successes, two more adjacent villages, Jhinaipukur and Ashgram, were declared child marriage free on Thursday.

Sources said the villagers took the matter of announcing the Govindapur village as child marriage free in positive manner. Now the girls are studying in school and colleges as the parents and guardians are not interested in marriage before 18, reports BSS. If someone goes to the three villages under Damkura union parish-

ad, around 12 kilometres away from Rajshahi city, he or she will find three separate signboards inscribed with “a village free from early marriage” at the entrance of each village.

People of the villages have declared their villages as free from early marriage while the issue of child marriage is being seen as an obstacle towards social development in almost all villages of the region.

Damkura union parishad in association with a non-governmental development organisation, the Centre for Mass Education in Science, took the initiative and declared the villages as free from early and child marriage on that day.

Abdib Hossain, a member of the union parishad, said around 90 to 95% people of the villages are educated and they are more aware than any other surrounding villages. For this reason, the village people extended their

whole-hearted support towards the announcement.

Taslima Begum, a housewife of the village, observed that early marriage always led to suffering in both boys and girls.

Early marriage destroys the life of the couple. Early-marriage female victims become weak physically and mentally. Earlier, many people did not know the matter. But, at present the guardians have started realising the grave issues.

“This is our preliminary step. We got spontaneous support from the villagers. We will work to declare all the adjacent villages free from child marriage in the days ahead,” said Ismat Ara Noyan, Organiser (Gender) of SMES. Shahjahan Ali, Chairman of Damkura Union Parishad (UP), says the public representatives face manifold problems in checking child marriage as

7

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

many people become unhappy over the issue. But the intensive work of SMES contributes a lot towards the process.

He says the village level educational institutions, especially high schools and colleges, need to be more effective and girl-friendly to make the effort sustainable.

Paba Upazila Nirbahi Officer Razzaqul Islam said such concerted efforts of local government and a non-governmental organisation brought the desired result in preventing child marriage.

He said steps have been taken to build a model village free from child marriage in each of the union parishads under the upazila in phases in the future.

Dr Amir Hossain, deputy director of Department of Family Planning, said early marriage and early pregnancy in particular have been posing a serious threat to the family planning activities especially in the rural areas. l

Boro to be cultivated on 174,774 hectares in Netrakona n Tribune Desk The Department of Agriculture Extension has taken up a programme to cultivate Boro paddy in 10 upazilas of the district during the current Rabi season.

The DAE office sources said, under the programme, a total of 174,774 hectares of land would be brought under Boro cultivation with the production target of 690,000 tonnes of paddy, reports BSS. Of the total, 1 65,297 hectares of land would be brought under High Yielding Variety, 8,795 hectares under hybrid variety and 682 hectares of land would be brought under local variety of the paddy.

As part of the programme, a total of 11,417 hectares of land have been earmarked in the district by the DAE to set up seed beds.

Meanwhile, the farmers have already set up seed beds on over 5,000 hectares of land by spreading improved quality Boro seeds there, the sources said.

Meanwhile, the crop specialists and field-level officials of the DAE have started providing their field-level service to the cultivators following the directives of the government.

The concerned officials have also started visiting rural areas of the district to let the cultivators know about the latest methods of Boro cultivation and get the best yield by reducing production costs of the paddy, said Deputy Director DAE Kazi Nurul Islam.

The deputy director also said different state-run commercial banks, including Bangladesh Krishi Bank, have disbursed agri-loan to the farmers to make the cultivators capable of running their Boro cultivation. l

Upholding social values emphasised to prevent AIDS n Tribune Desk World AIDS Day was observed in all eight districts under Rangpur division yesterday with a fresh call for creating awareness and obeying social values to prevent the deadly disease.

The Day was observed with the theme of ‘Zero new HIV infections and zero AIDS related deaths: Vow to build a discrimination-free world.’

The district health administrations in association with different government and non-governmental organisations arranged colourful rallies, cultural functions, screening of documentary films and the presentation of folk songs and discussion meetings, reports BSS. In Rangpur, hundreds of people including officials and employees of government and non-government, sociocultural and voluntary organisations, professionals, teachers and students brought out a huge colourful rally.

Divisional Director Dr Shahadat Hossain led the rally and attended the main discussion meeting held at the conference room of the Civil Surgeon as the chief guest with Civil Surgeon Dr Reajul Islam in the chair.

Deputy Director (Local Government) of Rangpur Ershadul Haque, former President of the Rangpur unit

Committee for physically challenged people’s welfare formed n Tribune Desk An 11-member District Employment Implementation Committee for physically challenged people was formed at a meeting.

Rangdhanu Zilla Protibandhi Adhikar Sangstha with the assistance of ADD International and financial support from the Manusher Janno Foundation, organised the meeting for the civil society members, professionals and the elite of the city.

President of the district legal aid committee for people with disability, and noted writer and social worker of the city, Advocate MA Basher Tipu presided over the meeting.

The meeting discussed issues, including creating awareness of the legal and constitutional rights of the physically challenged population and good governance, reports BSS. The committee will work to explore employment opportunities of persons with disabilities for their jobs in the government and other organisations.

The newly-formed committee will also work to create awareness of the fixed government quota for jobs for physically challenged people among the concerned government and non-governmental departments and private bodies.

Noted lawyer and writer Advocate MA Basher Tipu and Capacity Development Facilitator of Rangpur district office of ADD International Marufa Begum, have been elected as the President and General Secretary of the committee respectively.

The executive committee are: Monwar Hossain, senior vice president, Advocate Khairul Alam Kalam, vice president and senior reporter of Bangladesh and Sangbad Sangstha Mamun Islam, joint secretary. l

of ‘Pollisree’ Ahsan Habib Rabu and President of Rangpur Podatik Advocate Rothish Chandra Bhowmick Babu Sona were the special guests.

They said there is no alternative to creating mass awareness among common people, especially young generations and vulnerable groups, to prevent the spread of the deadly HIV/AIDS disease.

They asked to launch a stronger movement involving all in society by creating awareness and following the social values to build a HIV/AIDS-free Bangladesh.

They urged the government, non-government organisations and the conscientious citizens to come forward with effective steps to resist the threat of HIV/AIDS and to protect the people from the diseases.

The chief guest suggested taking special measures with an accelerated velocity to stop the spread of HIV infection as the country has become vulnerable to incurable AIDS disease and also Sexually Transmitted Diseases.

There is no alternative to creating adequate social awareness among vulnerable people, sex workers, drug users as well as the youth community to lead a safer life to save the future generations from the wrath of the killer diseases, he said. l

Police try to remove a log which was put on a road by hartal supporters to disrupt communication in Mymensingh yesterday

Dhaka Tribune

Social awareness stressed Five killed in separate incidents to eradicate tuberculosis n Tribune Report

n Tribune Desk Speakers at a conference yesterday stressed the need to create adequate social awareness to eradicate tuberculosis and free the nation from the completely curable disease once for all.

They said about 317,800 people are infected by TB every year and 64,800 patients die every year.

They put maximum emphasis on comprehensive government and NGO efforts involving the common citizens to detect and bring all tuberculosis patients under a direct observation treatment short course programme.

District Civil Surgeon office and BRAC jointly organised the roundtable on Tuberculosis Control Programme with the participation of journalists, high government officials, school and college teachers and local elite at Narsingdi Press

Club Auditorium. Deputy Commissioner of Narsingdi Obaidul Azam attended the conference as the chief guest while civil surgeon of Narsingdi Dr Rashid Ahammed was in the chair.

BRAC District Representative Probal Shasha delivered the welcome speech.

Health Programme Manager of BRAC Sarwar Jahan presented the keynote paper narrating the present scenario of TB in the district and the country as a whole, and future planning for eradicating the disease effectively.

He also elaborately presented the reasons behind TB infection and multidrug resistant tuberculosis and talked about the treatment process and available facilities, reports BSS. The roundtable revealed that 2,236 TB patients including MDR patients are now undergoing treatments in the district, taking medicines regularly. l

At least five people were killed in separate incidents in Pabna, Natore, Jhenaidah and Comilla.

Two employees of Pubali Bank were found dead at a sugarcane field in Sugar mill area in Ishwardi upazila yesterday.

The deceased were identified as Abul Kalam Azad, 35, junior cash officer of Pubali Bank’s Maligacha branch, and a resident of Radhanagar area, and Ameer Hossain, 26, a peon of the bank and son of Muktar Hossain of Tebunia Raninagar village.

Biman Kumar Das, officer-in-charge of Ishwardi Police Station, said, being informed by local people, police recovered the bodies from the sugarcane field at about 10 am and sent those to Pabna Medical College Hospital morgue, reports UNB. Police said the bodies bore several injury marks and the key of the bank locker and some documents were

found near the bodies.

In Natore, a local leader of JCD, the student front of BNP, was shot dead and 15 others were injured in a clash with Awami League activists in Kanaikhali culvert area of the town during the daylong hartal enforced by local BNP in the district protesting the arrest of Ruhul Kuddus Talukdar Dulu yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Saifuzzaman Sujon, 24, joint secretary of the Poura unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal. Witnesses said the clash broke out when local Awami League men obstructed a BNP procession brought out in support of the hartal at about 11am.

At one stage, the rival groups attacked each other and fired several rounds, leaving 15 people injured on both sides.

Critically injured Sujon was rushed to the Baptist Missionary Hospital in the district town, where he died.

Later, police fired several rounds of rubber bullets and released tear gas to

bring the situation under control.

In Jhenaidah, police recovered the bullet-hit body of a Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal activist from the Padma River in Goalanda upazila yesterday morning.

The deceased was identified as Saddam Sardar, 24, a second year student of Rajbari Dr Abul Hossain College and son of Siddique Sadar of Daulatdia Bazaar of the upazila.

Saddam was an aspirant for a post in the Goalanda upazila unit of JCD, said Mojammel Haque of Laltu, acting president of Daulatdia union unit of JCD. Moreover, a local leader of Juba Dal was hacked to death by miscreants in Gauripur area of Daudkandi upazila on Sunday night.

The victim, identified as M Jahangir Sarkar, 35, was general secretary of Hatchandina village unit Juba Dal. Sources said a gang of unidentified miscreants hacked Jahangir in the area around 9:00pm, leaving him critically injured. Later, he died. l

NEWS IN BRIEF

Police intercept activists of the BNP-led 18-party alliance after they brought out a procession in Nilphamari yesterday

FOCUS BANGLA

Schoolteacher killed in Rajshahi bike crash

RSM sets to produce sugar from December 13

A schoolteacher was killed and another person injured as a truck hit a motorcycle on the Rajshahi-Nagaon Highway in the Shah Makhdum Airport area of the city on Sunday night. The deceased was identified as Ali Hasan, 40, an assistant teacher of Baksimoil High School in Mohanpur upazila. Hafizur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Shah Makhdum police station, said the accident took place on the highway in the airport area around 8:30pm when a truck coming from the opposite direction hit Ali’s motorcycle in the front, leaving him dead and his co-rider Ratan injured.

Critically injured, Ratan was taken to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. The truck fled the scene quickly. The body was sent to the RMCH morgue for an autopsy. – UNB

Rangpur Sugar Mills Limited, a state owned enterprise, is going into sugar production from December 13. Mills sources said the management has set a target to produce 4,550 tonnes of sugar worth about Tk230m by crushing 70,000 tonnnes of sugarcane during the current crushing season. A total of 7,000 acres of land had been brought under the sugarcane farming during the 2012-2013 sugarcane season, general manager (Agri) Aleek Shom said. Earlier, loan and subsidies were distributed to the growers of mill zone areas to help them with sugarcane farming, he said. Managing Director of mill Abdul Khaleque said they were making all sorts of preparations to start the crushing season at the scheduled time. Last season, the mills also produced, 2,738 tonnes of sugar. – BSS

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

International

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Ukraine protesters declare general strike after clashes

Egypt’s draft constitution consolidates army power

n AFP, Kiev

Egypt’s draft constitution, which has been approved for a referendum, would consolidate the power of the military, which had promised a “democratic transition” when it ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.

The document has raised fears among Islamists and secular activists alike of a return to a police state less than three years after Hosni Mubarak, an air force commander who went on to rule Egypt for 30 years, was toppled by pro-democracy protests.

Since a group of mid-level army officers overthrew the monarchy in 1952, the military has supplied all of Egypt’s leaders except Morsi and has maintained extensive privileges, including a budget beyond civilian scrutiny and the power to try civilians.

The draft constitution “confirms the domination of the military,” said Mustafa Kamel al-Sayyed, a political science professor at Cairo University, adding that an article retaining military trials for civilians “violates all democratic standards.”

The new constitution explicitly states that civilians cannot be tried by military tribunals unless they carry out “direct attacks” on the armed forces, but critics fear the provision could be expansively interpreted to apply to journalists, protesters and dissidents.

Thousands of Islamists have been

Ukrainian protesters declared a general strike and blockaded government buildings Monday after violent clashes in which more than 100,000 sought early elections over the authorities’ rejection of a historic EU pact.

Nearly 10,000 supporters of the ex-Soviet state’s alliance with the European Union and disavowal of old master Russia camped out overnight on Kiev’s iconic Independence Square in a bid to keep alive Ukraine’s biggest pro-democracy protest since the 2004 Orange Revolution.

Thousands then moved toward government and state administration buildings calling for President Viktor Yanukovych’s immediate ouster and a nationwide strike.

Streams of cars honked their horns in support while church bells rang out across the heart of the ancient capital in scenes posing the single biggest challenge to the president’s three-year rule.

The swarming crowd had first defied a ban on protests on Sunday by driving lines of helmeted police off the same expansive square that provided the setting of the dramatic 2004 revolt.

Some of the more militant in the group also steered a bulldozer within striking distance of barricades protecting the Yanukovych administration building.

A street is blocked in Kiev December 2. About 1,000 protesters blocked off the Ukrainian government’s main headquarters REUTERS Security forces outside the president’s seat of power fired dozens of stun grenades and smoke bombs at masked demonstrators who were pelting police with stones and Molotov cocktails.

Kiev’s city government said in an update Monday that 165 police officers and demonstrators had been injured in the most serious clashes witnessed in Ukraine since the Soviet Union’s demise.

The economically struggling nation of 46 million was thrown into crisis when Yanukovych snubbed EU lead-

Netanyahu talks tough on Iran before Vatican talks n AFP, Rome Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has restated his firm opposition to a nuclear deal with Iran during a visit to Rome in which he was set to meet Pope Francis and Prime Minister Enrico Letta on Monday.

“It is very easy to receive a pat on the shoulder from the international community, to bow one’s head,” Netanyahu said on Sunday at a candle-lighting ceremony in Rome’s main synagogue which he visited with Letta.

“I would like to dispel any illusions.

Iran aspires to attain an atomic bomb. It would thus threaten not only Israel but also Italy, Europe and the entire world,” he was quoted as saying on his website.

“There should be no going astray after the attack of smiles. Today there is a regime in Iran that supports terrorism, facilitates the massacre of civilians in Syria and unceasingly arms its proxies,” he said.

Netanyahu later on Monday will be received for the first time at an audience by Pope Francis, who is expected to travel to the Middle East next year.

Israeli sources say the visit could take place before Israeli President Shimon Peres ends his term in July.

Although no date has been made official, sources on both sides say it is likely to take place on May 25-26.

Israel and the Vatican first estab-

lished full diplomatic relations in 1993, but have been engaged in years of thorny diplomatic negotiations over property rights and tax exemptions for the Catholic Church, which have yet to be fully resolved.

Netanyahu and Francis are also expected to discuss negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, which resumed in July after a three-year hiatus but have faltered due to Israeli plans for new settlement building.

Netanyahu will then hold a meeting with Letta and a joint press conference is expected at around 1400GMT. Iran has agreed to curb its nuclear programme for the next six months in exchange for limited sanctions relief following marathon in Geneva last month.

But Israel, Iran’s arch-foe, has slammed the deal as an “historic mistake” and US Secretary of State John Kerry is due in Israel this week to try to ease tensions.

Tehran has a long history of belligerent statements toward the Jewish state, and Israel – the Middle East’s sole if undeclared nuclear power – has warned that a nuclear Iran would pose an existential threat.

“The most dangerous regime in the world must not be allowed to have the most dangerous weapon in the world,” Netanyahu said on Sunday, adding that the sanctions regime on Iran was “liable to collapse.” l

ers at a summit on Friday and refused a deal that would have paved Ukraine’s way to eventual membership in the 28-nation bloc.

EU leaders primarily blamed the decision on the stinging economic punishments Russia had mooted should Ukraine take the fateful step toward the West.

Yet the move now threatens to backfire on Yanukovych as his political foes try to build momentum amid discontent with state corruption and disappearing jobs. l

Singapore, which has Southeast Asia’s most modern military, said Monday it was acquiring two new submarines from German defence contractor ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems. In a statement, the defence ministry said it signed a contract to acquire two “Type 218SG” submarines, which are projected to be delivered in 2020. It said the deal included a logistics package and a crew training arrangement in Germany, but did not reveal the total cost.

The two new submarines, along with Archer-class submarines purchased from Sweden in 2005 will replace its Challenger-class submarines that were built in the 1960s and acquired by the city-state in the 1990s. The German firm said the propulsion system significantly increases a submarine’s underwater range, reducing the risk of discovery.

Singapore announced in September it was acquiring an advanced European air defence system to replace its ageing US-made Hawk surface-to-air batteries.

It has set aside Sg$12.34 bn ($9.84bn) for defence in 2013, up from Sg$11.83bn in 2012.

Azeri border guard killed in shootout on Iranian frontier

An Azerbaijani border guard has been killed in a firefight with unknown assailants along the ex-Soviet state’s frontier with Iran, the border service said in a statement Monday. The armed clash occurred Sunday in the southern Lankaran region when unidentified indi-

viduals illegally attempted to cross over the border from Iran, the statement said.

The latest incident follows the temporary closure last month of several crossings along the border of Iran and the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan following an alleged shooting incident. Baku and Tehran have somewhat tetchy relations, with Azerbaijani officials previously linking Iran to an alleged plot to stage a wave of attacks during the Eurovision song contest held in mainly Muslim, but officially secular, Azerbaijan in May 2012.

Oil-rich Azerbaijan enjoys warm relations with the United States and Israel and has become an increasingly important energy supplier to Europe.

Choppy seas hamper Italy migrant boat rescue

Italian coast guards on Monday were trying to reach a fishing boat packed with some 100 migrants adrift off the coast of southern Italy in gale-force conditions.

Coast guards said the boat was around 70 nautical miles southeast of Crotone but getting too close to it could cause an accident because of the size of the waves.

Four merchant ships were in the area, along with a coast guard patrol boat and an Italian navy frigate. “We are waiting for a break in the weather to operate safely,” coast guard spokesman Filippo Marini said. The Beaufort wind force scale in the area was 8 out of 12, which can create waves up to 7.5 metres high. Marini said there were women and children on the 20-metre (66-foot) boat, spotted on Sunday after a satellite phone call from an Egyptian national on board. Hundreds of

jailed since Morsi’s July 3 overthrow, and hundreds of pro-Morsi protesters were killed when security forces stormed two Cairo sit-ins in mid-August, in the worst mass killing in modern Egyptian history.

More recently, several non-Islamist activists have been detained for violating a new law regulating protests, including well-known blogger Alaa Abdel Fattah, who is accused of beating a police officer, among other charges.

In addition to allowing military tribunals for civilians, the draft constitution keeps the military budget beyond civilian scrutiny and allows the military to appoint the defence minister, raising concerns that it will effectively exist outside the civilian government.

“The military has managed to retain total autonomy,” said James Dorsey, a Middle East specialist at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.

In addition to enjoying legal immunity, the military would be able to maintain its vast economic and commercial interests, he added.

Vague poll schedule leaves opening for Sisi The 50-member panel rejected an article setting out a strict timetable for the referendum – expected in January – to be followed by parliamentary and then presidential elections. l

The Foreign Press Association on Sunday accused the Israeli army of “deliberately targeting” journalists after soldiers fired rubber bullets and threw stun grenades at photojournalists clearly identified as press.

In a statement, the Tel Aviv-based group, which represents journalists of all foreign media, including AFP, said troops had directly targeted a group of photographers covering skirmishes at Qalandia crossing between Jerusalem and Ramallah.

“On Friday afternoon, Israeli forces threw stun grenades at FPA photojournalists as they were leaving Qalandia.

The FPA members had put their hands in the air, indicating to the forces that they were leaving at which point the grenades were thrown from close quarters directly at their backs,” it said.

Earlier an Italian freelance photographer covering the same incident had almost been hit in the face by a rubber bullet, it said.

“Fortunately the photographer was taking pictures at the time and the rubber bullet shattered the camera instead of his head. All the photographers in question wore clearly-marked jackets and helmets,” the FPA said.

“There is no question that the forces were directly targeting the journalists.” l

LOOKING FOR LIGHT IN THE DARK

A Palestinian man attends evening prayers at al-Khaldi mosque on the beachfront north of Gaza City shortly before the entire area is plunged into darkness due to the ongoing power outage AFP

WORLD WATCH Singapore to acquire two submarines from German firm

n AFP, Cairo

Press body accuses Israel army of targeting journalists n AFP, Jerusalem

migrants drowned in two shipwreck tragedies in October near the Italian island of Lampedusa after the heavily overcrowded vessels capsized.

Malaysian in London Maoist group not a ‘slave’

The Malaysian woman who was one of three allegedly held captive by a Maoist couple in London for 30 years was not “enslaved,” her sister said Monday after visiting her. Kamar Mahtum told AFP after returning to Malaysia that her long-lost sister Siti Aishah Abdul Wahab, 69, looked “healthier than me” despite reports of sordid modern-day slavery that have shocked Britain. “No, she can’t be, she looked so well,” the 73-year-old said when asked during a telephone interview if Siti Aishah had been a slave at the Maoist “collective.”

Kamar, who met with Siti Aishah for 90 minutes after being taken by car to a location six hours from London on Thursday night – she believes it to be around Manchester – said her sister was physically, mentally and emotionally fine. Siti Aishah came to Britain as a high-flying student in around 1968 but turned her back on her family after joining a radical left wing group. The other women allegedly held by the couple are believed to be the daughter of a World War II code-breaker who also became a communist, and a 30-year-old who has spent her entire life inside the Maoist “collective.” An Indian-born man and his Tanzanian wife - believed to have led a small Marxist splinter group in the 1970s - were arrested last week over accusations of keeping the women as “slaves” in a south London flat

Islamist attacks prompt 24-hour curfew in Nigeria’s Maiduguri

Somali PM ousted in no-confidence vote

n AFP, Maiduguri

n AFP, Mogadishu

Overnight attacks by Boko Haram Islamists forced authorities on Monday to impose a 24-hour curfew in Maiduguri, northeast Nigeria, closing the airport and shutting roads into and out of the city.

The government in Borno state said the decision was taken after consultation with the military, which is believed to have been the target of the strikes by hundreds of militant fighters.

“The imposition of the curfew is necessitated by an attack in Maiduguri by people suspected to be Boko Haram members in the early hours of today,” said state government secretary Baba Ahmed Jidda. The apparently largescale attack in a major urban centre will cast further doubt on military claims that Boko Haram, which was last month designated a terrorist group by the United States, has been pushed into remote areas. At the weekend, the military said they would tighten security in communities near Nigeria’s northern and eastern borders with Chad, Niger and Cameroon due to fears about Boko Haram strikes over the Christmas and New Year period. Army spokesman Ibrahim Attahiru told AFP on Monday that one of the attacks struck near the city’s airport but he was not able to provide further details, amid reports that the airport and a nearby air force base were targeted. l

The prime minister of Somalia was ousted by parliament Monday amid a bitter power struggle within the internationally-backed government that could undermine efforts to rebuild the war-torn nation and tackle Islamist rebels.

Abdi Farah Shirdon, prime minister of the Horn of Africa nation for just over a year, lost a confidence vote in

parliament after he resisted President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s demand that he resign.

“The motion has passed,” said speaker Mohamed Osman Jawari, adding that 184 out of 249 lawmakers in parliament voted to sack Shirdon.

“The current prime minster and his government will continue with their work until a new prime minster and a cabinet is nominated,” Jawari added. l

Australia spy agency offered to share data n AFP, Sydney Australia’s spy agency offered to share information about its own citizens with foreign intelligence partners, according to leaked documents published Monday, sparking calls for an inquiry.

The latest revelations by US intelligence fugitive Edward Snowden, reported by The Guardian Australia, show that the Defence Signals Directorate (DSD) discussed the option of sharing “medical, legal or religious in-

formation.”

The partners included the United States, Britain, Canada and New Zealand, collectively known as 5-Eyes, with the document, marked secret, based on notes from a conference hosted by Britain in 2008.

According to the report, the DSD, now known as the Australian Signals Directorate, told its global partners it could share “bulk, unselected, unminimised metadata as long as there is no intent to target an Australian national.” l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Pakistan envoy sees ‘light at end of tunnel’ with India n AFP, New Delhi Pakistan’s outgoing envoy to New Delhi said Monday he saw “light at the end of the tunnel” in diplomatic relations and predicted the improvement would survive next year’s Indian elections.

High Commissioner (ambassador) Salman Bashir said calm had returned to the neighbours’ de facto border in disputed Kashmir after a deadly flareup earlier in the year and both sides were committed to improving ties.

“I do not want to sound over-optimistic or exaggerate but what I am saying is that there is light at the end of the tunnel,” Bashir told a farewell press conference in the Indian capital.

“We have constantly worked for the improvement in relations between the two countries and at this point of time I am personally optimistic that we will be on the upward trajectory in the coming months.”

Some observers have predicted ties between the nuclear rivals could be hit if hardline Hindu nationalist leader Narendra Modi emerges as prime minister after elections due in India by next May. Modi, who is ahead in the polls, has been an outspoken critic of Pakistan and has accused the current Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of not being tough enough towards Islamabad.

But Bashir said the outcome of the Indian elections was “not material” to Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s stated goal of improving ties.

“The improvement in relations with India is very emphatically a state policy. We believe it’s in our interest and we believe it’s in the interest of the region,” said the high commissioner.

“Our prime minister is on record as having very emphatically stated that improvement of relations with India is a priority. l

International

launches first moon rover mission Suspected rebels China n kill police officer in Indian Kashmir AFP, Beijing

n AFP, Srinagar Suspected rebels in Indian Kashmir shot dead a police officer and wounded two of his colleagues on Monday outside the main city of Srinagar, an official said.

Unknown gunmen opened fire on the officer who was patrolling a market in Chadoora, 25km from Srinagar, in an attack that also injured a shopkeeper, the police official said.

The “officer died in the attack. We are ascertaining what exactly happened,” inspector general of police, Abdul Gani Mir, told AFP, adding that the injured were taken to hospital.

Intelligence reports suggested militants were planning to step up at-

tacks on police officers in the restive Himalayan territory, police recently said.

Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan by a de facto border known as the Line of Control but it is claimed in full by both countries.

More than a dozen armed rebel groups have been fighting Indian forces since 1989 for the region’s independence or its merger with Pakistan.

Attacks in Indian Kashmir are at their lowest in 20 years, but the region remains tense with many Kashmiris chafing under tight security.

Tens of thousands of people have died in the fighting by official count while local rights groups estimate up to 70,000 have lost their lives. l

Bus ravine plunge kills 10 in Pakistan’s Kashmir n AFP, Muzaffarabad At least 10 people were killed on Monday when a passenger bus plunged into a ravine in Pakistan’s Kashmir region, close to the disputed border with India.

The bus travelling from the garrison city of Rawalpindi to the frontier town of Forward Kahuta, fell down the 150metre slope early in the morning.

Senior local police official Riaz Abbasi told AFP that around 20 people were on board. He said 10 had been killed and four were injured.

A senior government official also

confirmed the incident.

“The accident occurred around 5:00am. We have moved the injured to hospitals and handed over dead bodies to the relatives,” local administration official Sardar Shahbaz Ali said.

The officials said the cause of accident was not immediately known.

Pakistan has a poor record for fatal traffic accidents, with poorly maintained roads and vehicles and reckless driving often the cause.

The narrow, twisting roads in mountainous Kashmir are particularly hazardous. l

Thai PM rejects protest demands n AFP, Bangkok

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Monday rejected the demands of anti-government protesters who are attempting to topple her, indicating she would not resign. In a defiant address to the nation, her first since peaceful protests turned violent late Saturday, she said demands to dissolve parliament and establish a “People’s Council” were unconstitutional.

Opposition leader Suthep Thaugsuban’s call to shift power from the elected premier to the people “does not exist under constitutional law,” Yingluck said. “Anything I can do to make people happy, I am willing to do...but as prime minister, what I can do must be under the constitution,” she added.

Critics say Suthep, who on Sunday issued a two day ultimatum to the prime minister to quit, is using increasingly violent street protests to engineer a military coup to replace Yingluck’s elected government.

Thailand has seen 18 actual or attempted coups since 1932, most recently with Thaksin’s overthrow in 2006, but the military has appeared reluctant to intervene in the current standoff. l

Afghans refugees living in Iran are being plunged deeper into poverty as sanctions slapped on Tehran over its disputed nuclear drive sap the economy, a refugee agency has warned.

“Sanctions on Iran have been bad news for both Afghan refugees and for humanitarian operations,” Jan Egeland, secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), told AFP during a visit to Tehran this week.

Some five million Afghans driven by war, oppression and poverty have crossed the border into Iran and Pakistan in the past three decades, seeking better lives and jobs.

Almost a million Afghans also are illegal immigrants in Iran, according to police figures published on Monday.

While some 840,000 Afghans have been able to register as refugees in Iran, many others have lived among Iranians with relative ease for many years, and those permitted to work have been able to seize opportunities in the labour sector.

But as Iran faces its own economic problems, exacerbated by sanctions targeting its vital petrodollar and access to the global banking system, those opportunities have progressively dried up.

China launched its first moon rover mission early Monday, the latest step in an ambitious space programme seen as a symbol of its rising global stature.

The Chang’e-3 mission is named for the goddess of the moon in Chinese mythology and the rover vehicle is called Yutu, or Jade Rabbit, after her pet.

The Long March-3B carrier rocket China’s largest such vehicle – blasted off around 1:30am (Sunday 1730 GMT), live coverage on state broadcaster CCTV showed. As it shot into the night sky, mission observers could be heard reporting at regular intervals that events were proceeding “normally.”

Within an hour the launch centre’s director Zhang Zhenzhong appeared before staff and declared the mission a “success,” CCTV showed.

The probe is due to land on the moon in mid-December to explore its surface and look for natural resources.

It is the world’s third lunar rover mission following the United States and former Soviet Union decades ago.

China sees its space programme as a symbol of its growing international status and technological advancement, as well as of the Communist Party’s success in reversing the fortunes of the once impoverished nation.

It aims to establish a permanent space station by 2020 and eventually send a human to the moon.

Users of Sina Weibo, a Chinese version of Twitter, expressed pride and excitement in the hours after the launch.

“This makes Chinese people get excited and forget their own bad situation,” one poster wrote. “Every time they launch a rocket, it’s very moving,” said another. “Soon, Chinese people will be able to go to the moon.”

The mission will bolster scientific knowledge as well as national pride, said Morris Jones, an independent space analyst based in Australia.

“The Chinese are making rap-

A Buddhist monk wearing a face mask stands along with volunteers near the Government house during ongoing anti-government demonstrations in Bangkok AFP

“The Afghans allowed to work had been able to help the Iranian economy and also take care of themselves,” Egeland said. “But there is now exploding unemployment among Afghans.”

Sanctions are designed to coerce Tehran into rolling back its nuclear drive, which Western powers and Israel suspect mask military objectives.

Iran says its work is peaceful and has defiantly expanded its activities.

But its economy has gone drastically downhill in the past two years, struggling with rampant inflation of nearly 40 percent, a massive depreciation of the national currency, and a double-digit unemployment rate, according to official figures.

The situation has also led to “increased tension between Iranian local communities and Afghans who have lived well together for years,” Egeland said, pointing to rising calls by Iranians for the refugees to return to Afghanistan.

Afghanistan – whose weak economy is mostly supported by foreign aid – is unprepared to host a large return of refugees, the NRC chief said, adding that the situation would become even worse once NATO forces depart in 2014. l

China space programme The Asian giant has launched the world’s third lunar rover mission following the United States and former Soviet Union decades earlier

The “Feitian” space suit

Key events

1956 Opens its first Missile and Rocket Research Institute

In the waves of protests that have swept Thailand since the last days of the Thaksin Shinawatra administration in 2006, one thing that’s been fairly common is the recurring use of gimmicks.

First there were Yellow Shirts, then Red Shirts, then Multi-colored Shirts. Later, in a breathtaking display of historical ignorance, pro-monarchy protesters were wearing V-for-Vendetta style Guy Fawkes masks oblivious to the fact that Guy Fawkes is of course famous in England for plotting to kill the King. Today’s incarnation of anti-Thaksin protesters might be the most annoying one yet – blasting shrill whistles non-stop, they call themselves “whistle-blowers.”

They have some spiel about how they’re whistle-blowers because they’re exposing government corruption or something but no one really cares. You blow whistles, you call yourselves whistle-blowers, we get it, please stop blowing these whistles.

These demonstrators, mostly middle-aged or older, mostly rich, have been protesting against a democratically elected government supported by a majority of the population. They are doing so in the

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif appealed Monday to Saudi Arabia to work together with his government toward achieving regional “stability,” as he pressed a tour seeking rapprochement with Gulf Arab states.

Zarif arrived in Doha after first stopping over in Kuwait and Oman for meetings with top officials aimed at giving assurance that a deal Tehran se-

cured with world powers on its nuclear programme is in their interest.

He was to hold talks in Qatar with emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Than as well as with his Qatari counterpart Khaled al-Attiyah, an Iranian diplomat in Doha told AFP. During his stopover in Muscat, Zarif appealed to Saudi Arabia to jointly work with Iran to resolve regional issues.

“I believe that our relations with Saudi Arabia should expand as we con-

A controversial state secrets bill is expected to become law in Japan this week despite objections from a broadening coalition who say the legislation is being rushed through parliament.

Lawyers, journalists, religious leaders and a Nobel physicist are among a growing group of opponents who think the act is worryingly vague and gives too much power to the government.

And an opinion poll released Monday showed increasing disquiet among voters over a law that would dramati-

cally ramp up punishments for people convicted of giving away state secrets – an elastic category that can be expanded by ministers or bureaucrats to cover a wide range of information.

Conservative Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says the bill is necessary to plug a notoriously leaky government machine that prevents chief ally the United States sharing intelligence.

The powerful lower house of parliament passed the bill last week and Abe has vowed to push it through the upper chamber by Friday, provoking accusations of steamrollering.

Cost: US$23 million

1970 Becomes the fifth country in the world to send a satellite into orbit 1995 CZ-2E rocket explodes during take-off from Xichang, killing six people 1999 First Shenzhou spacecraft is launched, returns to earth after 14 orbits

Rear hatch entry

2002 Launches Shenzhou III and IV

Shenzhou VII

2003 Shenzhou V blasts into orbit, carrying China's first man in space, Yang Liwei. He returns to Earth after 21 hours

Orbital module can stay in space after astronauts return to Earth

Return module for re-entry to Earth

2005 Shenzhou VI completes five-day orbit around Earth, carrying two astronauts 2007 Launches the Chang'e-1, its first lunar probe

Service module powers the craft

2008 Launches Shenzhou VII. Zhai Zhigang successfully completes China's first-ever space walk using Feitian space suit 2010 Launches Chang'e-2, its second lunar probe

Long March 3-A

Launch vehicle of Chang’e-1

2011 September First experimental module (Tiangong-1) of China’s planned space station launched November Shenzhou-8 and Tiangong-1 complete first unmanned docking

Resource module contains power supply, water, support equipment

Tiangong-1

“Heavenly Palace” Working and living area Docking ports on front and rear ends

Facilities Control centre

Launch facility

2012 June 16, 2012 China’s first woman in space, Liu Yang June 24 Shenzhou-9 completes first manual docking in orbit with Tiangong-1

Jiuquan

December 2, 2013 Launches it first moon rover mission

BEIJING Taiyuan Xian

2013 June 26, 2013 Longest manned mission yet completed after 3-person crew spends 15 days in space

Xichang 600 km Launch site of Chang’e-3 rocket carrying the Jade Rabbit (Yutu) moon rover

id advances in spaceflight,” he said.

“They’re going to get a lot of prestige out of this mission.”

The moon remains “largely unexplored,” Jones added, so “I expect that the Chinese rover will probably throw a few surprises our way scientifically.”

Since 2003 China has sent 10 astronauts into space and launched an orbiting space module, Tiangong-1. It

Thai way – they picnic, they take lunch breaks, they party, they take a lot of photos. This has led to a lot of international media snark – a common refrain has been “The Revolution Will Be Selfied.”

The protests might represent a lastgasp (or maybe not so last-gasp, who knows) effort of the old elite to cling to power, but they represent, and that’s the point here. The opposition Democrat Party might be ineffectual and opportunistic, but they represent the interests of a significant portion of the Thai population – the residents of the South, Bangkok, and the country’s upper- middle class in general. The ruling Pheu Thai Party might be corrupt, but they represent the interests of poor farmers of the North and the Northeast and most of the country’s population. It’s not just a power struggle between a few at the top (it is that, but it’s not just that) with public interest being a non-factor. The two factions represent segments of society who actually have something at stake in seeing their side win.

And this is progress. l The author is a freelance journalist based in Thailand

sider Saudi Arabia as an extremely important country in the region and the Islamic world,” Zarif told AFP. “We believe that Iran and Saudi Arabia should work together in order to promote peace and stability in the region.”

He also praised Oman’s role in last month’s negotiations between Iran and world powers including the United States that paved the way for the landmark nuclear deal. l

Japan set to pass secrets law n AFP, Tokyo

120 kg

Liquid cooled undergarment

Built-in backpack life support system

Iran FM on Gulf tour urges Saudi cooperation for ‘stability’ n AFP, Doha

Built in China

1960 Develops its first rocket, aided by Russian scientists, named Changzheng, or "Long March”

Representing in living colour n Maher Sattar

Afghan refugees suffer under Iran sanctions: NGO n AFP, Tehran

9

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

A survey by the liberal Asahi Shimbun showed 61 percent of voters think the pace of the bill’s passage is “problematic,” with more than three-quarters of those polled saying the law would create new secrets, rather than better safeguarding existing ones.

The survey of around 2,000 households comes after a string of influential groups have expressed opposition, including The Japan Federation of Bar Associations and more than 2,000 academics, among them 2008 Nobel physicist Toshihide Masukawa.l

Launcher: Long March 2F rocket Sources: CNSA/state media

also sent probes to orbit the moon in 2007 and 2010, the first of which intentionally crashed into the lunar surface at the end of its mission. The second probe was sent to “verify key technology,” orbit the moon and take pictures of the landing site in preparation for Chang’e-3, before being sent into deep space to monitor an asteroid, said the official news agency Xinhua. l

UK’s Cameron emphasises business in China visit

n AFP, Beijing

British Prime Minister David Cameron emphasised trade on Monday in his first visit to China since incurring Beijing’s wrath for meeting the Dalai Lama.

Cameron arrived in the world’s second-biggest economy with “the largest British trade mission ever to go to China” in tow, said a statement about the trip from the British embassy. His first official meeting was with Premier Li Keqiang, who made an apparently oblique reference to the patching up of a dispute over Cameron’s May 2012 meeting with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, whom Beijing reviles as a separatist.

“The UK has voiced its respect for China’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, and the persistence of the one China principle, respecting China’s core interests and its major concerns, for which China expresses its appreciation,” he said. Cameron touched briefly on the issue of rights by praising China’s wide-raising reform pledges in a key meeting last month “including issues like governance and the judicial protection of human rights.” l

Top Chinese filmmaker admits multiple children

n AFP, Beijing

One of China’s top movie directors has admitted having three children with his current wife, according to a studio media posting, after months of speculation he broke the country’s controversial family planning laws several times.

Zhang Yimou, the maker of “Raise the Red Lantern” and “Red Sorghum,” has two sons and a daughter with his current wife, the Yimou Studio said in its verified account on Sina Weibo, a Chinese equivalent of Twitter. That would mean Zhang, 62, has a total of four children including a daughter with his ex-wife, potentially violating China’s one-child policy.

Zhang “would like to make a sincere apologies to the public for the negative ramifications caused,” said the posting

by Yimou Studio, which says it is affiliated to the director.

The disclosure comes after months of speculation that he has seven or eight children by three or four women.

Yimou Studio dismissed those allegations as “untrue” and threatened to hold the rumourmongers legally responsible.

“The false allegations have seriously affected the normal life of Zhang Yimou’s family and led to an egregious impact on society,” said the statement. l

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Letters to

www.dhakatribune.com

the Editor

LETTER OF THE DAY

Unite stakeholders to save the RMG sector

10 killed on 2nd day of blockade November 28

All this because one party desperately wants to stay in power.

T

he fire and apparent sabotage at the Standard Group factory at Konabari, Gazipur, has caused estimated losses of more than Tk12bn and left almost 20,000 workers jobless.

It is clearly important to investigate how and why an exemplary factory with compliant working conditions was destroyed in this manner.

RMG is a vital provider of jobs and foreign exchange for the economy. We have been relentless in our support for the need for reforms in the RMG sector, from ensuring We support the worker safety and compliongoing initiatives ance issues to settling wage to improve safety disputes. However, it is clearly and conditions in the also of utmost priority that the industry and call on all sector is not also undermined stakeholders to work by saboteurs. together better in The media has a role to order to secure future play. It is never fair to tarnish growth such a large and diverse sector with the same brush, as this weekend’s incident shows, so reporters need to be careful not to demonise the entire industry.

We support the ongoing initiatives to improve safety and conditions in the industry and call on all stakeholders to work together better in order to secure future growth.

Incidents of fires and unrest, whether accidental, deliberate, or institutional in cause, have been too frequent.

They tarnish the reputation of the industry and hinder the progress that has been made on the key issues for factory owners and workers alike.

All stakeholders need to come together to save this industry. The risks that entrepreneurs face have to take come from fair market forces, not acts of sabotage.

Poverty: Boy drinks dog-milk for 6yrs November 28

I saw with dismay a picture of a 6-year boy drinking the milk of a dog in the Dhaka Tribune of November 28. It is reported that poverty forced the minor boy of Gobindaganj upazila in Gaibandha to do so to quell his hunger. It is further reported that “the incident created a sensation among locals, with bystanders regularly crowding around to see the unbelievable sight.”

According to the report, he began by “drinking the milk of his pet dog and is said to have continued this habit ignoring the prohibition and rebuke of his parents and neighbours.” “I feel no hesitation,” the boy told the correspondent of the Dhaka Tribune who went to meet him. Though his pet dog died, he could not stop the practice.

He says he drinks dog-milk whenever he sees a mother dog.

Having read the news, I remembered another incident that happened years ago. A morgue attendant of the Dhaka Medical College Hospital

I

CROSSWORD

The address could be summed up through the following words: confusing, broken, irrelevant, uninformed. shahriar

DOWN 1 Latvian capital (4) 2 Cause to flow (4) 4 Beverage (3) 5 Ballot choices (5) 6 At all times (4) 7 Strong cloth (5) 10 Dumb (4) 11 Material for overalls (5) 13 Part of flower’s calyx (5) 16 Taps lightly (4) 17 Ribbons (5) 18 Mental discernment (5) 20 Fish (4) 22 Gem (4) 23 Break suddenly (4) 25 Slippery catch (3)

Is this about drugs or something else? How come he didn’t attack the kids or others? How was he subdued?

Fayyaz Mustafa Nasty. The poor kids and teachers!

Shamina Rahman Peters Was he on psychoactive prescription medications too, as most of the young people who go shoot up schools are?

Shalanda Pichoff Caudillo

Editorial: Divide and misrule?

November 25 As per the constitutional provision according to PM! Babul Sarwar More like, multiply and misrule.

Anjan Kumar Deb

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

HC: Why not order RPO change for ‘no vote’

November 24 I voted “no” last time. I won’t get to vote this time but I hope the no vote is reinstated.

Saif Ahmed

CALVIN AND HOBBES

PEANUTS

CODE-CRACKER ACROSS 1 Deeply engrossed (4) 3 Undulates (5) 8 Fondness (4) 9 Gloomily sullen (4) 11 Discourage from proceeding (5) 12 Trick (4) 14 Work unit (3) 15 Looks after (5) 18 Dark brown (5) 19 Top card (3) 21 Early Christian pulpit (4) 24 Jury (5) 26 Whirl (4) 27 Scottish Gaelic language (4) 28 Charm (5) 29 Failure (4)

regularly used to eat raw livers of dead bodies kept in the morgue. Did he do it out of poverty?

No, if I remember correctly, it was a psychiatric case. Later, I saw the same man begging in front of Azimpur graveyard. To me, he always appeared like an abnormal person.

How many boys in our country drink dog-milk to quell hunger? Is there any other instance? I don’t remember to have read another similar story. It must be an isolated case. Why it is necessary for a 6-year old boy to drink dog-milk even when he is rebuked by his parents and neighbours? He cannot be rebuked if no provision is made for his food.

Clearly, it is not a case of poverty. It is, most probably, another psychiatric case. He may be addicted to dog-milk or he may find it amusing to create a scene that is enjoyed by the local people.

In my opinion, the boy should be examined by a pediatric psychiatrist. I am sure he will be cured if treated properly.

I must add here that the matter should have been properly investigated by the reporter before publication with identification and picture of the boy. The boy’s identity should not have been disclosed. As a psychiatric patient, he deserves secrecy and sympathy. Moreover, any sensational news without proper investigation brings a bad name to journalism and to our country.

Abdul Matin

Okay, is the government not aware of the severe drug problem in BD? It has become an epidemic in recent years.

Tanim Ud Dowlah

Change the capital. Make Chittagong the capital.

Faisal Mohammed Hossain

November 26

t has been 16 years since the CHT accord was signed by an AL-led government. In the intervening period, both main parties – plus the 1/11 military-backed government – have been in power. None of them have been pro-active in implementing the agreement, even though it is clear from the recurrence of incidents in the region that implementation would help resolve grievances.

The original 1997 accord was a good achievement, but to be effective, paper commitments must be put into practice. For the AL, which was elected for a second term with a large majority, it is poor show All parties must be that it has done so little in its more diligent about tenure to ensure progress on making progress on implementation of the accord, the accord that was one of its proudest first term achievements.

The land displacement problem has yet to be resolved, with thousands of land-grabbing cases still tied up in the courts, and nearly 147,000 indigenous people internally displaced.

On top of that, an amendment to the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Land Dispute Resolution, which would have made possible the return of illegally leased and occupied land to displaced CHT inhabitants, was turned down by the government this November.

All parties need to do more to prove they care about guaranteeing peace in the region. They must be more diligent about making progress on the accord.

16 years is sufficient time to have implemented all of the accord’s measures, to have resolved the land dispute issues, and brought peace to the region. There is no excuse for the parties to drag their feet.

Druggie hacks 3 in kindergarten school November 25

Parliament election on January 5

Implement the CHT accord

rutland waters

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS Crossword

Sudoku

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

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Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Keeping the peace in CHT n Lt Col Abdullah Al Yusuf

T

he people of Bangladesh are quite used to watching the armed forces aiding the civil administration in maintaining law and order. They are also familiar with the role of the armed forces following a disaster, natural or manmade. In the recent past, people have also witnessed the acclaimed role of the army in voter registration and preparation of national ID. The army’s contribution in some of the

In our long journey towards sustainable peace in CHT, we have only reached an important milestone; much of the journey still lies ahead

Morning constitutional

M

n Ikhtisad Ahmed

yopic Bangladeshis aside, 2011 is remembered as the year of the Arab Spring that had begun in December the year before. As Geneva hosts productive discussions between Iran and China, Russia, Germany, France, the UK, and the USA about Tehran’s nuclear program, all other Arab states are forgotten, for now and the immediate future at least.

The time is ripe to be nostalgic about the myopia. The actions of June 30, 2011, are the reasons why a country with a lot of heart is presently in flames.

Not for the first time, the constitution of Bangladesh was amended with arrogant ease. Debating the merits of the 15th amendment, passed on that day, is about a lot more than where one’s political allegiance lies.

That, however, is what it has been boiled down to by the dichotomous politicians. They love such over-simplification because it helps them conquer the country by dividing the people. The aforesaid amendment is little more than the latest misdirection, diverting everyone’s attention from the poison seeping through the country’s veins.

Both sides of the existing order have turned to Don America to allow them to continue their reign of terror.

Neither has, however, turned to the Constitution of the USA for answers to

the constitutional conundrum.

If any Bangladeshi had, he/she would have known that the integrity of the constitution, be it preservation of illogical elements or amendment for a greater cause, comes at the price of a high body-count. 212,994 more Americans have lost their lives due to the use of firearms in the USA in the last 45 years than in all the wars the country has ever been involved in.

Significantly fewer soldiers have died in active combat since the first casualties in the Battle of Lexington than the scores of innocents who have died since the shooting of Robert F Kennedy.

Debating the merits of the 15th Amendment, passed on that day, is about a lot more than where one’s political allegiance lies

Firearms account for 32,000 deaths every year, and even if that number was not rising, which it is, the already substantial gap between civilian deaths within the borders of the global superpower and military deaths in the line of duty would only grow. Yet, as right-wing politicians never tire of reminding their herd, the constitution, that most sacred of documents, demands the right to bear arms.

Except, the constitution is not quite

the New Testament it is made out to be. Abraham Lincoln defied it and the Bible to abolish slavery. Surely, the American founding fathers, who also indoctrinated that only free persons were to be considered fully as human beings, either did not intend for the right to bear arms to be interpreted perversely as it is being, or got that wrong as well. The hundreds of thousands of lives lost in the American Civil War were because of a perceived flaw in the constitution that was corrected by the 13th amendment.

The millions of deaths caused by firearms are because of the perceived sanctity of the very same document.

Lincoln, who took a stand and acted, had morality and justice on his side.

The present-day politicians, who have remained decisively inactive, have the strength, wealth and influence of the gun lobby on theirs.

Lincoln’s efforts saw his country and the world do the right thing. There was development, and an end to the worst kind of repression that itself was responsible for innumerable deaths.

The nation and the people have benefitted as a result for decades since.

The corporate murder carried out

by American politicians, under the aegis of the gun lobby, benefits no one but those involved in a self-propagating corrupt system. Despite the choice seeming simple, the past two and a half years in Bangladesh have been building up to precisely what is currently happening.

Everyone knows it, but for all the

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empty words spoken by experts, self-proclaimed and otherwise, politicians, all of whom give their vocation a bad name, and members of the civil society, meek and inactive, not a single person is being honest, nor is anyone taking responsibility.

Patriotism is dead. No one has lifted a finger in a gesture resembling even a halfhearted attempt for 887 days, and counting, to truly address the burning question

Patriotism is dead. No one has lifted a finger in a gesture resembling even a half-hearted attempt for 887 days, and counting, to truly address the burning question. It really has been that easy to go from the hope derived from a return to democracy on December 29, 2008, to a nation being plunged into a familiar darkness.

The constitution is merely semantics, as it has always been. Now, every single Bangladeshi has blood on his/ her hands, and Arabia certainly does not have enough perfume to sweeten them. l Ikhtisad Ahmed is a writer and an erstwhile lawyer. He can be contacted on Twitter via @Ikhtisad.

It’s not getting any better n Mohammad Ali Sattar

A

mos Bronson Alcott said: “Our bravest and best lessons are not learned through success, but through misadventure.” I don’t know what inspired Amos to say this, but I would like to extend the adage by commenting thus: Our misadventures make us neither brave nor gifted learners, we decide on the pits.

To speak of the present, we are all engrossed in frenzied politics and violence. It has now become impossible to disconnect politics from violence or ghoulish killings. Brutality is carried out with great confidence, finesse, and little fear, as though the perpetrators have realised that there was none to resist.

With each passing day, our wits and spirits have somewhat gotten used to the repetition of acts and words from the known quarters. We are now unmoved because it’s been the same thing, done, reported, and cried over.

It is a soaring inferno, shattered concrete, or a battered face, backed up by wails and tears of the hapless souls.

In this month of victory, how do we describe our dreams and reality?

We thought that with the victory achieved, we should be a happy and prosperous nation. Time proved us wrong. Fate threw us wide off the mark. Fortune had no smiles for us.

Instead we were dumped into the jaws of famine and natural calamities. We have been silent onlookers or victims of countless ordeals. We have seen Tazreen Fashions go up in flames, and we have also seen the crumbling of Rana Plaza bury a thousand lives.

One day, our press will run out of words to describe the current paradoxes, our speech will get slurred by so much of talking, and our vision will get blurred by witnessing repeated catastrophes and senseless bloodletting.

On the other hand, police hound opposition members and fling them in dungeons. Mahbubul Alam Hanif notes that opposition leaders have been detained on convincing grounds.

The communications minister says, once there is some kind of settlement between the opposition and the government, arrested leaders will be set free. What do we make of that statement?

There was some hope when eminent citizens like Dr Kamal Hossain,

We have been silent onlookers or victims of countless ordeals. We have seen Tazreen Fashions go up in flames, and we have also seen the crumbling of Rana Plaza bury a thousand lives

But it’s unlikely that our political players will tire. They barely realise that gradually there will be fewer fighters for them to trade blows with.

Let’s take stock of recent expressions from ruling quarters. The prime minister has challenged Begum Khaleda Zia to come out on the streets and test the ruling party’s strength. In the same breath, she invited her for talks, offered ministries, called upon her to join the polls-time government, and take part in elections.

Dr Akbar Ali Khan, Barrister Shadhin Malik, and a few others met the president requesting his intervention to save the country from cracking further. Not much happened. They had to swallow castigation from ruling quarters for meeting the head of state.

These days, TV talkers have also been drawing conclusions that there really seems to be no hope for a solution.

Most interesting was the outburst

of Kazi Zafar Ahmed. The veteran left leader, having shifted his position a number of times, at last realised that it was time for him to do the needful. He lambasted his party chairman Ershad when he decided to join the Hasina-led polls-time cabinet.

He set up his own camp, which many believe was a bold move. Kazi Zafar went further by meeting the BNP chairperson without much delay, and declared his adherence to the opposition movement.

That gives BNP and the allies a shot in the arm. We might see some more old-timers come out of hibernation and join the anti-government movement. This will cause some anxiety in the ruling party. Meanwhile, an added problem has unfolded in the Awami League (AL) camp.

AL members and followers who failed to get nominations for the upcoming polls went berserk in some parts of the country. Consequently, we will have another round of crises with new actors.

Yet again, the UN secretary-general writes to the PM and the BNP chairperson for holding peaceful dialogue and EU refuses to send polls-time observers! It is not a good showing for the government. l Mohammad Ali Sattar is a journalist, political analyst, and DT columnist.

mega projects like Hatirjheel and some fly-overs has further demonstrated its ability and willingness to play a significant role in the national development activities. While all these activities have been duly recognised and appreciated by the nation, a segment of the people are seemingly oblivious about the silent role security forces are playing in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), so much so that some sceptics even wonder why the security forces should continue their presence in CHT following the Accord.

Such scepticism is quite understandable on two accounts. Firstly, unlike the magnificent role and contributions of security forces in the burgeoning metropolis areas, their relatively quiet performance in the CHT is not quite visible. Secondly, we haven’t yet fully conceived the diverse role armed forces can and should play in promoting and protecting the national interests.

The lack of general awareness about the performance of security forces in CHT is absolutely natural due to the limited media access to those far-flung areas. But the scepticism over their role in a post-Accord environment is indicative of the prevailing ignorance about the nature and extent of duties armed forces are expected to perform in pursuit of the national interest.

The role security forces are performing in CHT today is providing the essential thread for the multiple disciplines of the state to work synergistically towards the unmistakable goal of ensuring people’s security against a whole range of threats.

The security forces are no more fighting the insurgents in CHT. Conventional wisdom would probably suggest putting a full stop here and seek new challenges elsewhere for the security forces to fight against. But indeed the end of insurgency does not signify the end of the story but rather denotes the end of an episode only.

In our long journey towards sustainable peace in CHT, we have only reached an important milestone; much of the journey still lies ahead.

Promoting and sustaining peace is oftentimes more challenging than merely establishing peace.

To have a better grasp over the ongoing security challenges facing CHT, it might be useful to discuss those under five distinct heads: economic security, food security, health security, environmental security, and personal security.

The economic security of any locality hinges on a few basic initiatives: unlocking the local potential, creating employment opportunity and

Let’s maintain this peace

connecting the local resources with the mainstream economy through extensive communication infrastructure.

The security forces have been doing a marvelous job in all these three fields.

The local potentials have been unlocked through training, inspiring and guiding the locals in optimising the use of local resources towards income generation.

Food security implies having ready access to food and adequate nourishment. A person or family may not have access to food due to poverty or due to a natural or manmade disaster. The Government of Bangladesh usually takes care of the vulnerable groups through social safety nets.

The jungle-clad and hilly landscape of CHT sometimes makes it extremely difficult for the traditional system to extend the safety net beyond a reasonable limit. And when the traditional system culminates, the security forces take over the arduous task of extending the net even further inside the remotest and most inaccessibly areas reaching the marooned and extremely vulnerable groups.

The traditional health-care system becomes seriously handicapped beyond the road network in CHT. Ambulances cannot ply across deep ravines and high ridges, but the stretcher-bearers can. An army foot patrol can surmount any conceivable natural barrier. Any ten-man army patrol in CHT would invariably include a first-aid qualified person equipped with the essential knowledge and kits for basic surgery and medication.

Upon meeting a patient, the patrol would apply the first-aid.

Illegal exploitation of natural resources is one of the principal threats to environmental security.

Illegal collection of timber through indiscriminate deforestation can seriously damage the ecosystem in CHT, if unchecked. Such environmental degradation would inevitably lead to natural disasters like land erosion and landslides with their consequent impact on precious lives and property.

They are still performing the same classic role of providing security to the people of CHT

The security forces, in close coordination with the forest department, have been doing an excellent job in checking against such illegal practices.

Not much needs to be said about the brilliant role security forces are performing towards enhancing the personal security of the people of CHT. The incessant efforts of the security forces towards the recovery of illegal weapons, apprehending the miscreants and preventing illegal toll collection has made today’s CHT a much safer place to live in.

In the end, it should be noted that the security forces have not undertaken an absolutely new role in CHT following the Accord. They are still performing the same classic role of providing security to the people of CHT. Only the nature and scope of their role have transformed from a parochial, to a more comprehensive and holistic one. l Lt Col Abdullah Al Yusuf is Directing Staff at Defence Services Command and Staff College.

WIKIMEDIA

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

BENGAL CLASSICAL MUSIC FESTIVAL 2013

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Chhobir Haat marks its 10th year n Shadma Malik To celebrate ten years of Chhobir Haat, “the open market of ideas” is holding an elaborate celebration with a monthlong programme which began on December 1. The programme features art exhibitions, Jatra Pala, a children’s art show, a puppet show, Baul music, street performances, and many more.

A celebration rally was held on December 1, followed the inauguration of an art show that will continue until December 12. Holding the flag of Bangladesh, attendees sang patriotic and inspiring songs such as Dhono Dhanno Pushpe Bhora and Anondoloke Mongolaloke.

The display at the art show is comprised of paintings, photography and installations. The installation We and Bio-diversity by M I Mithu is made with the roots of a tree. The artwork urges saving the environment. The artist says about his work: “Although we are turning the world into desert in the name of mordernisation and advancement, basic things, such as trees and other elements of nature are important parts of our existence and maintain the balance of the ecosystem.”

Grohon by Rashedul Huda is a charcoal on paper artwork. The artist said: “Grohon is about acceptance in life.

Due to the suppression that exists in society, free thought is restricted. The rings in my work symbolise hope.”

Pijush Kanti Sarkar’s Live, Life, After is about establishing the identity of Bangladeshis and is a part of his Breaking Wall series. “It shows the importance of a solid foundation, on which a nation can thrive.

We and Bio-diversity by M I Mithu On December 16, 2003, a group of creative young minds who graduated from the Fine Art, University of Dhaka initiated Chhobir Haat as an artistic development and exchange.

The title Chhobi (picture) refers to the artistic imagination of an individual who pursues his creativity in various genres. A platform to explore aesthetic ideas, Chhobir Haat invites artists, singers, actors, littérateurs, filmmakers and many cultural personalities to exchange their ideas.

The philosophy of Chhobir Haat can be separated from other cultural associations. It has been inspired by our rural Haat, where everyone gathers at a common place once a week to trade their commodities. Chhobir Haat opens every Friday with the artists to sharing their knowledge and thoughts with each other in the urban environment. It is also an open-air market where artists exhibit and sell their artworks. l

TODAY IN DHAKA Film

Pacific Rim in 3D, Riddick, The Conjuring Titanic (3D), Step Up Revolution in 3D Level 8, Bashundhara City

Exhibition Bringing together maestros of Hindustani classical music, the Bengal Classical Music Festival 2013 ended with grandeur on December 2. A huge crowd of about 30,000 witnessed an array of fascinating performances by local and Indian artists on the last day of the four-day event, claimed to be the biggest festival of its kind. At the concluding ceremony, the organisers promised to come back again next year at the same time SADIA MARIUM

Very Graphic: The Art of Storytelling in Graphic Detail, Group Exhibition Time:12pm – 6pm

Bengal Art Lounge, 60 Gulshan Avenue Handicraft Exhibition Time: 10am – 7pm Nalini kanta Bhattashali Gallery, National Museum, Shahbagh Western Classical Music Time: 7pm – 8:30pm Red Shift Coffee Lounge Radius Centre, 5th Floor, Bay’s Galleria , 57 Gulshan Avenue

Guerrilla’s world TV premier on Victory Day Salman Khan claims to be saving n Entertainment Desk

Ferdous and Joya in a scene from Guerrilla

Winner of 10 awards in different categories in National Film Award 2012, Guerrilla will have its world TV premiere this Victory Day on Channel i.

Jaya Ahsan stars in Guerilla, a Liberation War based film by Nasiruddin Yousuff Bachchu. It is an adaptation of poet-playwright Syed Shamsul Haque’s novel Nishiddho Loban.

The gripping story of the film revolves around a freedom fighter named Bilkis, played by Joya Ahsan, whose husband disappears as the Liberation War breaks out. As the war progresses, she starts actively collaborating with the freedom fighters, hoping for the safe return of her husband. At one point, she gets caught by the Pakistani force. ATM Shamsuzzaman, Pijush Bandyopadhyay, Raisul Islam Asad, Shampa Reza, Ahmed Rubel, Gazi Rakayet and Shatabdi Wadud also acted in the film.

Guerilla, produced by Impress Telefilms, was released on April 14, 2010 and received acclaim.

The director Nasiruddin Yousuff, who is also a freedom fighter, has portrayed his personal experiences during the war along with a fictitious story in the movie.

The movie was released in April 2011 and gained huge acclaims from both audiences and critics. l

himself for future bride n Entertainment Desk The fourth season of talk show Koffee with Karan was aired on Saturday night with 47-year-old superstar Salman Khan telling filmmaker Karan Johar that he was saving himself up for his future bride.

When a surprised Karan asked if this meant he was still a virgin, Salman looked at him straight in the face and said yes, nodding. So you did not have sex with all the women you have been with, Karan said, jokingly.

They were just friends, Salman said.

Salman also said he liked to sleep alone at night and even lie down on the couch at the studio to show the various ways he can spread his legs if there is not someone else sharing his bed.

Karan pushed more and asked Salman whom he would like to marry,

naming three actresses. He said he would like to marry Preity Zinta.

In the rapid fire question round, Karan asked Salman if someone put a gun on his head and asked whom he would like to have a gay encounter with, Salman first said no such gun can

ever be made. Then he said he could have such an encounter with Karan.

Asked what he liked and didn’t like, Salman said he liked getting into trouble. “What I don’t like is not being able to get out of it.” The show was aired on Star World. l

O-er Golpo features revenge Fast and Furious future in limbo after death of franchise star of a heartbroken lover n Entertainment Desk Drama series O-er Golpo features crime and supernatural stories based on real incidents. This episode, the series will air a story about how a heartbroken lover takes revenge on his ex-girlfriend named Antara. Today’s episode titled Antara Amar Bhalobasha will be aired at 9:05pm on Banglavision.

The drama series is about the real stories that take place in our everyday life. The production aims to inform general people and help them to take precautions.

Directed by Hossain Probal, the programme is anchored by Shamim Shahed. Tonight’s episode features, Munshi Mojnu, Sheli Ahsan, Shahriar Rana, Jeny and many more. l

n Entertainment Desk

The lucrative Fast and Furious action movie franchise was in the midst of filming its seventh installment when main actor Paul Walker tragically died in a car accident on November 30.

As news of the action star’s death sent shockwaves through Hollywood, the future of the mega-hit franchise currently hangs in the balance as filmmakers must consider how to proceed without one of their biggest stars.

Walker, 40, was killed in a single car crash in Southern California on Saturday, after the Porsche he was riding in flew off the road and hit a tree, killing him and the driver, Roger Rodas, in a fiery explosion - a rep for the actor confirmed. He was a main character in six of the seven Fast films to date — all except the third installment, Tokyo Drift.

The franchise also stars Vin Diesel, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Michelle Rodriguez and Dwayne Johnson. The films have grossed more than $2 billion worldwide, according to Boxofficemojo.com.

The actor’s tragic passing happened in the midst of filming the seventh installment of the popular action franchise.

The movie will likely halt production Recently Universal Pictures announced that the seventh film was slated for a July 11, 2014 release date.

Production on Fast & Furious 7 is ongoing, a source close to the film told BuzzFeed, but Universal has not made any official announcements about how the film will be affected.

There will likely be a “halt in production” as the film undergoes rewrites, but also because some of the cast are “too distraught” to return to work.

ON TV MOVIE 6:30pm Zee Studio Miami Vice

9:30pmStar Movies This Means War

DRAMA 7:30pm Star plus

Saath Nibhana Saathiyan

10:00pm Zee Tv Qubool hain

Diesel, 46, tweeted that he was “absolutely speechless” upon learning about the passing of his “brother,” while Gibson, 34, echoed the sentiment on his Facebook page.

While the Fast & Furious films have routinely been some of the biggest box office draws each summer, Walker’s fans could be deterred by the irony of his death. His on-screen character, Brian O’Conner, shared many similarities with the actor’s real life as a fast car aficionado. l

COMEDY 2:00pm Z Cafe

Malibu Country

8:30pm Star World The Neighbours

MIXED 10:30am Discovery Food Factories

9:30pm MTV Dewarists

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Sport

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

14 Messi-less Barcelona beaten again

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13

DHAKA TRIBUNE

15 ‘My goal is to always be at my best’

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS Sk Russell

2-2

BJMC

Saiful 22-og, (4-5) Ikanga 38, Usucar 59 Amine 73-og a quick counter attack results in Mahadi Hasan Tapu providomg a through pass to Ismael Bangoura in the box but the Guinean striker shoots straight to the keeper.

GOAL! Shakil Ahmed’s cross from the left flank is met by Mithun Chowdhury at the second bar and the national midfielder’s header falls at the goal mouth where defender Saif accidentally puts the ball into his own net.

GOAL! Jean Jules Ikanga equalizes the margin with a penalty.

Ismail Bangoura was brought down inside the penalty by Russell defender Rajani Kanta.

Tapu heads Bangoura’s cross just over the bar.

Eric Roger hits the woodwork from a 35-yard free-kick.

GOAL! Roger earns a penalty after being brought down by BJMC goalie Ariful and Francisco Usucar puts Russell ahead from the spot.

GOAL! BJMC restore the parity again after an own goal by Mohamed Amine.

Ismail Bangoura earns another penalty after being pushed down by Fazley Rabbi but Ikanga fires it over the crossbar.

19”

22”

38”

45+” 48” 59” 73”

103”

Team BJMC players burst with joy after sealing their Walton Federation Cup semi-final spot at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday

BJMC upset Russell in dramatic encounter n Shishir Hoque Jean Jules Ikanga and Ismael Bangoura put on an impressive display as Team BJMC swept into the semi-final of the Walton Federation Cup by beating Sheikh Russell KC 5-4 in a tie-break after a dramatic quarter-final match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

The breath-taking victory, that contained plenty of drama including two own goals and a missed penalty, set up BJMC for a semi-final clash with Muktijoddha on December 7.

Sheikh Russell went ahead twice in the game but BJMC’s Cameroonian forward Jean Jules Ikanga contributed in leveling matters and at the end of 90 minutes, the game was tied 2-2. It was the same Ikanga who missed a penalty in the 103rd minute, sending the ball over the bar.

Had it not been for Muktijoddha’s veteran goalkeeper Biplob Vattacharjee, who produced a series of saves in the first 15 minutes of added time, BJMC would have won the game earlier. Biplob also saved BJMC’s fifth penalty taken by Saif but at the end of the match, BJMC had the last laugh when Nigerian Uche Felix coolly converted his chance.

The understanding between the BJMC’s foreign attackers, especially Bangoura and Ikanga, was the key to their domination of the game. BJMC initiated the first real attack in the 19th minute but their defender Saiful Islam Saif’s clearance four minutes later went into his own net to put Russell ahead. Russell forward Mithun headed Shakil Ahmed cross and as Saif tried to clear the ball from the goal mouth, he ended up putting the ball in his own net.

A controversial penalty decision in the 30th minute caused the game to be halted for eight minute before Ikanga equalized from the spot. The TV replay showed Bangoura was brought down

by Rajani inside the box.

Both side’s started the second half with more attacking instincts and Tapu headed just over the bar while Eric Roger hit the woodwork from a 35-yard free-kick within three minutes of the second session.

BJMC goalie Ariful brought down French midfielder Roger to give Russell another chance to take the lead. Uruguayan forward Francisco Usucar made no mistake in converting the penalty in the 57th minute.

BJMC leveled the margin again in the 73rd minute. With the goal-mouth crowded, Bangoura’s shot off Samson’s header hit the back of the net after Mohamed Amine’s touch.

Three minutes later Mithun got away from being sent off. Two minutes after receiving his first booking, the national forward stabbed BJMC keeper in a dead ball situation. Referee Mizanur Rahman however, did not card the player.

Biplob produced three brilliant saves within in the first 10 minutes of added time, denying Sajib, Bangoura and Ikanga in turn.

Ismail Bangoura earned another penalty after being pushed down by Fazley Rabbi in the 103rd minute but Ikanga fired the ball over the crossbar.

In the penalty shootout, Roger, Usucar, Amine and Mithun scored for Russell while Samson, Bangoura, Faisal, Ikanga and Felix converted for BJMC. Shakil and Reza missed the penalties that cost Russell the game, while Saif was the only one to miss for BJMC. l

MUMIT M

Nasir hails team effort n Raihan Mahmood Team BJMC coach Ali Asgar Nasir hailed his team’s effort in moving to the semifinals of the Walton Federation Cup while Sheikh Russell coach Maruful Haque said lack of quality forwards cost him the match.

The change in the BJMC side was clearly visible after the inclusion of striker Ismael Bangoura as the Guinean‘s presence in the attacking line made the three pronged attack of BJMC more versatile. “I came just a few hours before the match and I got the message that we have to win. I knew all the players and that’s why it was not so hard to get accustomed to the atmosphere. I tried hard and we deserved to win,” said Ismael Bangoura.

Coach Nasir said his pressing football tactic made all the difference. “We played pressing football and we came back twice and that manifestos our confidence. We believed that we can make a comeback and we did it. The players worked hard, we want to play a more passing game, my players ran better than our opponents and that made the difference,” said Nasir.

BJMC captain Jen Jules Ikanga, who

ICC inspectors happy with stadiums n Mazhar Uddin An eight-member International Cricket Council (ICC) inspection team led by Chris Tetley visited the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium and the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday and the head of the team declared that they are happy with the preparations of the venues for the upcoming T20 World Championship which will be held in Bangladesh next year.

“We are happy. This is our first day of inspections, today we have been to Fatullah and Mirpur. So far our plans have been good and plans are progressing as we would expect,” said Tetley.

The head of the inspection team was pleased to see the facilities of the Fatullah stadium, where four dressing rooms have been built in consideration of double headers in next year’s event. “The dressing room facilities here are fantastic. We have four dress-

ing rooms here which we need for the double-headers, during the ICC World Twenty20 you have two games on the same day which means there will be four teams. The two new dressing rooms here are first class, as good as anywhere in the world,” said Tetley.

The ICC inspection team will visit the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong today and later they will visit to the newly built Sylhet Divisional Stadium, which is almost ready to host the next year’s T20 World Championship.

“As you know, it’s part of ICC’s normal process to make regular inspections of the venues and have meetings.

The purpose of our trip this week is to do just that. We will have a look at the venues to discuss progress on construction of venues and modifications that we need for the tournament and have our normal operational meetings with the BCB,” informed Tetley.

Tetley also spoke about the security

situation, in light of political unrest in the country. “Security is something we keep discussing. Obviously the things today could be different tomorrow.

There will be a continual review of our arrangements against the situation. But at this stage, we are definitely happy.

“As I say this is a situation that we have to consistently monitor. But right now, we are planning for the tournament,” said Tetley.

He went on to affirm that the tournament would go ahead in Bangladesh as planned and would not be moved to another country. “That’s not something that we are here to speculate about. We are planning for the tournament to be held here in Bangladesh, whilst we take into account all of the other factors that might be going on.

Anything like that is not for speculation,” said Tetley, referring to the possibility of moving the tournaments to another country. l

missed a penalty in the stipulated time, was relieved after converting from the spot when the game went to tie-breaker.

“It was a pressure for me to take the penalty after missing one in the stipulation time. I told myself that if I miss this one BJMC loses, I am happy to see my team in the semis. Ismael inspired me that I can do it, BJMC played good football and won the match,” said the Cameroonian.

Meanwhile, Russell coach Maruf accepted the defeat and said, “We took the lead twice and failed to keep it and that says the story. If we could have played to our level we would have been the runaway winners, but we played rash football. I won’t say that my defeat was an unfortunate one, BJMC was the deserved winner,” said Maruf who won three titles including the Federation Cup last year.

“Mithun was my lone forward, Moroccan Younness Raux is injured,” said Maruf pointing out that he lacked the attacking option. “I lacked one forward who would hold the ball in the opposition danger zone and distribute it, my midfield worked a lot but lack of finishing cost me the match, we would be working hard for the upcoming league,” added Maruf. l

Bangladesh junior golf team leaves for India today n Raihan Mahmood

Members of ICC inspection team speak with BCB Media Manager Rabeed Imam (R) and BCB acting CEO Nizam Uddin Chowdhury (C) during their visit to Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday RATON GOMES/BCB

A four-member Bangladesh junior golf team will leave for Kolkata today to participate in the Asia Pacific Junior Golf Championship at the Kolkata Golf Club from December 5.

The Bangladesh team comprises of Md Riad Hossain Ahmed, Afnan Mahmud Chowdhury, Liza Akter and Zakia Sultana.

Lt. Col. (rtd) Md Tojammel Haque, the CEO of Kurmitola Golf Club is the team leader.

Royal Calcutta Golf Club also known as the “Royal” is synonymous with the game of golf in India. Founded in 1829, Royal is the oldest golf club outside the British Isles, the oldest being the Royal and Ancient, St. Andrews in Scotland, the home of golf. l

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Llorente late show rescues misfiring Juventus n AFP, Milan

Juventus' Fernando Llorente celebrates after scoring against Udinese during their Italian Serie A match at Juventus stadium in Turin on Sunday

Hanover break winless run with Frankfurt win n AFP, Berlin Senegal striker Mame Diouf scored his first Bundesliga goal since August as Hanover broke their seven-match winless streak with a 2-0 victory over ten-man Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday.

RESULTS Hanover

2-0

Frankfurt

Gladbach

1-0

Freiburg

Diouf 24, Huszti 68 Raffael 63

Diouf helped ease the pressure on Hanover coach Mirko Slomka when he headed home on 24 minutes for the opening goal, his third of an injury-hit season. Szabolcs Huszti then swung in a superb free-kick on 68 minutes for his sixth goal of the season as Hanover picked up their first win since September to go ninth.

Moenchengladbach picked up their fifth consecutive win at home with a 1-0 victory over Freiburg, as Brazilian midfielder Raffael scored the 63rd-minute winner to leave Gladbach fourth. l

Messi-less Barca beaten again n AFP, Madrid Barcelona slipped to a second consecutive defeat for the first time since April 2012 as they lost for the first time in the league this season 1-0 away to Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.

Barcelona had suffered their first defeat under coach Gerardo Martino against Ajax in midweek and Athletic appeared to learn from the Dutch champions’ approach as, without the injured Lionel Messi, Barca struggled to impose themselves on the game.

Iker Muniain slotted home the only goal of the game from Markel Susaeta’s cross 20 minutes from time as a third straight win moved the Basques into fourth. The Catalans remain top of La Liga on goal difference only from Atletico Madrid with Real Madrid now just three points behind the leaders.

And the champions were left to complain about referee Juan Martinez Manuera’s decision to only show Ander Iturraspe a yellow card when he pulled back Neymar as the Brazilian bore down on goal with the score still at 0-0.

“They are a god team and it is difficult

RESULTS Real Betis

2-2

Rayo Vallecano

Granada

1-2

Sevilla

Valencia

3-0

Osasuna

Athletic Bilbao

1-0

Barcelona

Amaya 27, Verdu 81 Brahimi 61-pen

Jonas 45, 48, 54 Muniain 70

Bueno 51, 90

(Bacca 23, Gameiro 87)

when we have chances and don’t take them,” said midfielder Sergio Busquets.

“And yes the referee didn’t do his job well either because it is a red card and that made it more difficult.

“I think that would have changed the game. He was through on the goalkeeper, I don’t know where (Mikel) Balenziaga was but it was a clear one-on-one and for me it is a red card.”

On top of Messi’s absence, Barca were also missing Victor Valdes and Dani Alves and Busquets insisted they have to concentrate on not losing any more ground in the two league games that remain before the winter break with Messi and Valdes due back in January.

Neymar had Barcelona’s best effort of the first-half with a curling effort that

Manchester United legends (L-R) Paul Scholes, Phil Neville, Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt, David Beckham and Gary Neville attend the world premier of the film 'The Class of 92' in London on Sunday REUTERS

Beckham joins United legends for London film premiere Six Manchester United icons including David Beckham on Sunday attended the London premiere of a film celebrating the youth team that would go on to transform the English football club into a global phenomenon.

Speaking on the red carpet in front of hordes of fans at London’s Leicester Square, Beckham predicted high emotions when he and his family watched “The Class of 92”, a documentary which goes behind the scenes of United’s legendary 1992 youth team.

The film focusses on the six players who went on to star for the first team during a period of unprecedented success for the northern England powerhouse, under the guidance of recently retired manager Alex Ferguson.

The other five players -- brothers

Gary and Phil Neville, midfielder Nicky Butt, current first-teamer Ryan Giggs and recently retired Paul Scholes -- were also in London for the premiere.

“There will be a few tears in there from my mum I’m sure,” said Beckham, who was flanked by his wife Victoria and three sons, Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz.

“There were good times, there were bad times, there were troubled times where we all stuck together,” explained the 38-year-old.

“But that is part of the movie, part of the history of the six of us. That is why it makes this such a great story.”

Pundits wrote off United when the youngsters were thrown into the first team at the start of the 1995 season.

Instead, the often underperforming club went on a trophy binge and became one of the world’s most recognised sporting brands. l

was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Gorka Iraizoz.

However, it was the hosts that had the better of the chances before the break as Muniain fluffed his lines after Andoni Iraola’s cross was deflected perfectly into his path before Gorka Toquero headed wide when unmarked from Muniain’s cross. Martino’s men improved after the break as Athletic’s pressing wavered slightly and Neymar should have given them the lead when he raced onto Cesc Fabregas’s fine through ball but slipped as he shot and the ball sailed well over.

Barca were then left infuriated at Manuera for not sending-off Iturraspe when he pulled back Neymar as the Brazilian was played in on goal.

Neymar pulled himself up to take the resulting free-kick which curled inches wide of Iraizoz’s right-hand post.

However, it was Athletic who finally made the breakthrough when Ander Herrera robbed the ball deep inside Barca territory and fed Susaeta, whose cross from the right was turned home by Muniain for his third goal of the season.

Toquero then passed up a great chance to make it 2-0 as he headed straight at Jose Manuel Pinto from Muniain’s inch-perfect cross.

Athletic Bilbao's midfielder and captain Carlos Gurpegi (L) vies with Barcelona's Brazilian forward Neymar da Silva Santos during their Spanish league match at the San Mames stadium in Bilbao on Sunday AFP Martino surprisingly withdrew Xavi and Andres Iniesta for Sergi Roberto and Pedro Rodriguez respectively in his

search for an equaliser. But Athletic saw the game out comfortably to register their first win over Barcelona since 2006. l

Ibra scores twice as PSG outclass Lyon

Fulham sack manager Martin Jol n AFP, London

n AFP, Paris

n AFP, London

REUTERS

An injury-time header from Spain striker Fernando Llorente rescued misfiring Juventus in a 1-0 win over Udinese that sent the champions three points clear of Roma in Italy’s Serie A on Sunday.

Early season pacesetters Roma had spurned the chance to regain top spot earlier when Rudi Garcia’s men had to settle for their fourth draw in succession, 1-1 away to Atalanta.

Juve seized the chance to widen the gap but missed an embarrassing amount of chances before Llorente secured the points after heading Stephan Lichsteiner’s shot past Zeljko Brkic in second-half injury time.

Juve’s 12th win of the season -- their sixth consecutively, all with clean sheets -- leaves them three points clear of Roma with Napoli in third, a further six points adrift, ahead of their trip to Lazio on Monday when Fiorentina, in fifth, also host Verona.

Conte told Sky Sport Italia: “Picking up a point or taking none would not have changed a thing for us, but taking three does.

“All games are important. If we hadn’t beat Livorno (last week) we wouldn’t have had the chance to pull ahead today.

Let’s not forget, Roma had a five-point cushion not so long ago.”

Udinese coach Francesco Guidolin

said: “Losing in the 91st minute is terrible, but that’s football.

Juve suffered an early blow when midfielder Andrea Pirlo was forced off with an apparent knock to his knee, to be replaced by Paul Pogba, but the hosts should have gone in for the half-time interval several goals to the good.

Carlos Tevez was a constant threat and tested Brkic throughout although Juve survived a scare on the half hour when defender Leonardo Bonucci lost possession to Antonio Di Natale, who saw goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon halt his cheeky lob.

Juve’s frustrations continued throughout the second half, when Buffon also had to stop strikes from Di Natale and Andrea Lazzari, but the hosts turned up the pace when Conte introduced Lichsteiner, then Fabio Quagliarella. Swiss international Lichsteiner made his long-awaited return from injury when he replaced Simone Padoin just before the hour and with 15 minutes remaining striker Quagliarella replaced wing back Paolo De Sceglie.

“There’s only a one-point difference between a draw and defeat, so I preferred to throw on another striker,” explained Conte.

Quagliarella and Llorente both came close in the final 10 minutes but as the match looked to be heading for a draw Llorente reacted quickly to Lichsteiner’s shot from the edge of the area to head past the wrong-footed Brkic. l

Paris Saint-Germain underlined their superiority over the rest of the French top flight on Sunday as Zlatan Ibrahimovic netted twice in a 4-0 win against Lyon at the Parc des Princes.

Ibrahimovic scored both of his goals from the penalty spot as he moved clear at the top of the Ligue 1 scorers chart, while South Americans Edinson Cavani and captain Thiago Silva also found the target to help PSG continue their unbeaten record in all competitions this season.

They remain four points clear of Lille

McGeady on way out at Spartak n AFP, Moscow Spartak Moscow head coach Valery Karpin has sidelined Irish international midfielder Aiden McGeady for disobeying team orders.

“McGeady has been removed from practice sessions for failing to comply with the demands of the head coach both during the practices and the matches,” Karpin said.

“Everything else is an internal affair of the club.”

The 27-year-old midfielder, who has made no comments on the decision, is expected to continue training with the club’s youth team. There had been rumours that a dispute between McGeady and Karpin after the recent match with CSKA, which Spartak lost 1-0, was the reason behind the Irishman’s exile.

McGeady is expected to leave the club during the winter break. l

RESULTS Bordeaux

4-0

Jussie 9, 68, Sertic 50, Maurice-Belay 55

Ajaccio

Bastia

2-0

Evian

PSG

4-0

Lyon

Krasic 49, Khazri 90+5 Cavani 36, Ibrahimovic P-41, P-83, Silva 60

and five ahead of Monaco at the top of the standings.

PSG got their noses in front nine minutes before the interval when Cavani met a corner from the left and headed in through the legs of Yoann Gourcuff, who was standing on the near post.

Five minutes later, the Uruguayan was brought down again inside the box. This time, Lyon goalkeeper Remy Vercoutre was the culprit, and a penalty was awarded. Ibrahimovic sent Vercoutre the wrong way as he coolly chipped into the net, and Lyon’s chances of getting back into the game appeared to be over by the interval.

They conceded again on the hour mark, though, Brazil skipper Silva converting the loose ball following a corner for his first ever goal in Ligue 1.

And there was more pain to come for the visitors as Ibrahimovic beat Vercoutre from the spot once again after being fouled by Samuel Umtiti, taking his tally to 20 goals in his last 13 games for club and country. l

Premier League strugglers Fulham have sacked manager Martin Jol, the club announced Sunday.

The London side have won just three out of 13 league games under the Dutchman this season, with only Sunderland and Crystal Palace below them in the table.

Fulham said former Manchester United assistant manager Rene Meulensteen, who only recently arrived at Craven Cottage as a coach to work under Jol, would assume responsibility for the first team with “immediate effect”. l

Sturridge injury worries Rodgers n AFP, Kingston Upon Hull

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers fears Liverpool will struggle to replace the firepower of injured striker Daniel Sturridge after seeing his side beaten 3-1

by Hull City at the KC Stadium.

England international Sturridge has been ruled out for up to eight weeks after suffering ligament damage to his left ankle in training last week and didn’t play at Hull. He is Liverpool’s top scorer this season, with 11 goals, and the highest scorer in the Premier League in 2013, with 19 goals to his name.

Rodgers also revealed Brazilian Philippe Coutinho is suffering with an ankle strain and had injections to ensure he was fit enough to be named as a substitute against Hull.

“The quality of our squad, with all due respect, isn’t big enough to cope with missing two big players,” Rodgers insisted.

“Daniel’s out for what could be eight weeks, which is a big blow for us.

“Philippe didn’t train all week. He’s had an ankle strain and has had to have injections just to get on the bench.

“They’re two very good players that have been very efficient for us this season.”

Jake Livermore, the midfielder on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, gave Hull the lead in the 20th minute with a deflected drive from 20 yards before Steven Gerrard equalised with a free-kick seven minutes later.

David Meyler put Hull 2-1 ahead midway through the second half before Martin Skrtel headed Tom Huddlestone’s chipped shot into his own net with three minutes left to seal the home side’s victory.

The defeat left Liverpool seven points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal.

Rodgers challenged the rest of his for-

wards to fill the void and keep Liverpool in the title hunt.

“This is a very busy period we’re coming into,” said the Northern Irishman. “We’re a squad that needs as many of our good players as possible. It’s a big blow for us.

“We’ve got other players that will hopefully come in and stake their claim now,” he added.

“The front area of the pitch has been reasonably settled with our big players but this will give someone else an opportunity to come in.

“This little period now will test us.

We’ve got players who will come in and it’s a great opportunity for them to stake their claim in the team.

“Hopefully, we can get back to winning games.”

But there was no denying Hull deserved a first win over Liverpool in the 109-year history of the East Yorkshire club. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

New Zealand lose Williamson on eve of Windies Test

QUICK BYTES Goalkeepers shortlisted for FIFPro team of year

n AFP, Wellington

Five goalkeepers were shortlisted on Monday for the FIFPro world team of the year for 2013, voted for by 50,000 members of the international players’ union. The five goalkeepers in the running for the award are Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus/Italy), Iker Casillas (Real Madrid/Spain), Petr Cech (Chelsea/ Czech Republic), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich/Germany) and Victor Valdes (Barcelona/Spain). Casillas has been named in the FIFPro team of the year every year since 2008 and is shortlisted again despite having lost his place at Real Madrid. The defenders, midfielders and forwards nominated will be announced over the course of the week.

The team of the year will be announced at the FIFA Ballon d’Or gala in Zurich, Switzerland on January 13.

– AFP

Pakistan’s Malik, Razzaq out of Sri Lanka series

Pakistan have included uncapped opener Sharjeel Khan in their squad for this month’s Twenty20 internationals against Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, but senior players Shoaib Malik and Abdul Razzaq were left out. Malik and Razzaq, who both returned home early from the recent tour of South Africa due to fitness problems, were overlooked for the series in the United Arab Emirates in favour of left-handed opener Khan. Left arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar has also been recalled after recovering from an injury problem. Pakistan play Afghanistan on Dec. 8, followed by two clashes with Sri Lanka on Dec. 11 and 13. Pakistan squad: Muhammad Hafeez (captain), Sharjeel Khan, Ahmed Shahzad, Sohaib Maqsood, Umer Amin, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Zulfiqar Babar, Bilawal Bhatti, Junaid Khan, Sohail Tanvir, Anwar Ali, Saeed Ajmal, Haris Sohail.

– Reuters

Two Eritrean players go missing in Kenya Two members of the Eritrean national team have disappeared in Kenya while playing in a regional tournament, a senior regional soccer official said, raising suspicions the pair will seek asylum in the east African country. It is not the first time players from the national squad have defected abroad, seeking to escape one of the world’s most repressive states that is ruled by a reclusive president. Last December, 17 players and the team doctor claimed asylum in Uganda, eighteen months after 13 players from an Eritrean club side sought refuge in Tanzania. In 2009, a dozen members of the national team disappeared in Kenya. “This is an unfortunate incident happening again and it is causing a lot of concern to the East and Central Africa soccer officials,” Nicholas Musonye, secretary general of East and Central Africa Football Association (CECAFA), told Reuters.

– Reuters

Bresnan called into England squad for Adelaide test

Bowling all-rounder Tim Bresnan was called into the England squad for the Ashes series on Monday and will be available for the second test against Australia in Adelaide this week. Bresnan, who suffered a stress fracture in his back which ruled him out of the final test of the first Ashes series earlier this year, which the hosts won 3-0, travelled to Australia with England’s Performance Programme. Having proved his fitness, Bresnan’s stock rose as, apart from Stuart Broad, England’s attack disappointed in the first test at Brisbane, which Australia won by 381 runs largely on the back of aggressive pace bowling.

– Reuters

Captain of Nepali national cricket team Paras Khadka (C) is given a hero's welcome by Nepali supporters upon the team's arrival at the airport after qualifying for the first time in ICC World Twenty20 Cricket in Bangladesh next year in Kathmandu o Sunday REUTERS

New Zealand batsman Kane Williamson has been ruled out of the opening Test against the West Indies starting in Dunedin on Tuesday with an injured thumb.

His withdrawal opens the way for Aaron Redmond to return to the side after a five-year absence.

Williamson, who bats at number three, fractured his left thumb playing against Bangladesh in late October, and captain Brendon McCullum said it was always going to be a close call whether he would be fit for the first West Indies Test.

“It was a tough decision, but in the end it was a touch too early for Kane,” said McCullum when he named the playing eleven on Monday.

“He probably could have played, but in the grand scheme of the season we’ve got in front of us and how valuable he is to us, we saw it as a more safe option to let him miss this one out and have another week to recover.”

The loss of Williamson, a handy spin bowler, has ensured a start for spinner Ish Sodhi, who made his international debut against Bangladesh two months ago.

New Zealand: Brendon McCullum (captain), Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Peter Fulton, Aaron Redmond, Hamish Rutherford, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling, Doug Bracewell (12th man). l

'My goal is to always be at my best' Since arriving at Atletico-MG you’ve been playing as more central, playmaking attacker rather than a left-sided forward. What difference has this made to your game?

It’s a role I played when I was younger, when I started out as a professional.

Then when I arrived at Paris Saint-Germain I started to play out wide on the left, and I continued in the same position at Barcelona. But when I came to Atletico and Cuca explained to me what he had in mind for the team, I said it sounded great. I love being the main creator: it’s something I’ve always done.

For me it works perfectly, on a practical and emotional level. It just makes sense.

Was the vision for the team that Cuca had back then reflected in the side that won the Libertadores?

No doubt about it. Cuca deserves a lot of credit. He planned it all and went after players that would fit the way he wanted the team to play. It was great. In the beginning we had Danilinho to provide the pace, and then came Bernard. There was Jo in the centre-forward role and later came [Diego] Tardelli. It was no accident

Ahmed Australia’s Muslim sports person of the year n AFP, Sydney Pakistan-born cricketer Fawad Ahmed has been named Australia’s Muslim sportsperson of the year, beating codehopping rugby league superstar Sonny Bill Williams.

Cricket Australia, which worked to have Ahmed’s citizenship fast-tracked earlier this year, welcomed the announcement of the award, which acknowledges the spin bowler’s contribution to Australia’s Muslim community.l

In an exclusive interview with Fifa.com, the iconic Brazilian Ronaldinho Gaucho discussed the upcoming trip to Morocco, the Libertadores triumph that got them there and being given the freedom to play through the middle at Atletico. He also talked about Bayern and being reunited with Pep Guardiola, as well as his determination to play in the Club World Cup, a title he missed out on in 2006 when Barcelona lost to Internacional. Nor has he given up hope of appearing in the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ - clearly Ronaldinho’s level of belief, just like that of O Galo fans, is in no danger of running out. that everything fitted together so well.

Will your experience in Europe make a difference at Morocco 2013, considering it will be the first international club tournament for many of the squad?

We talk a lot about the differences in strength, intensity and style. I try to explain this to the players whenever I can.

I’m not the only with such experience, after all. There’s Gilberto Silva, Josue and Jo too, players who have played in the English and German leagues. All leagues and competitions are different, and I think it helps that we have knowledge of some of them.

You know Guardiola well. Do you think he has already made a difference to Bayern Munich?

Well, I don’t really analyse football that much, but I have noticed that there is a little of his style in the way they move the ball around, the passing triangles in tight spaces, the way they keep possession. I think you can see this with Bayern already, as the team gets used to playing according to his style.

Guardiola was coach of Barcelona B when you were at the club. From the contact you had with him back then, did you imagine that he would be so successful?

I did, because Barcelona’s ideology is that everybody should play like the first team, starting with the juniors. This helps the coaches as well as the players. When a player comes up through the ranks he is already prepared for the

first team, because all the teams in the Barcelona system play the same way. I think everybody thought he would do well, because he’d been doing a great job with Barcelona B and was using the same ideas.

When you’ve been given the chance to play for Brazil, since joining Atletico, how do you think you’ve done? Do you think you could have done anything differently?

It was great to be back with the national squad. Luiz Felipe Scolari and I have won so much together and we have a good relationship. He is a very direct person and is always open with me. I know that there are still opportunities available for those who are playing well. He seems to have the core of

his squad decided, but whoever is in good form at the right time will go too.

Do you see yourself fitting well into the way Brazil are playing at the moment, considering the position you play for Atletico?

I don’t see a problem, tactically speaking. I can play any position from midfield to further forward. I’ve already played most of them in fact, that’s why I’m so relaxed about it. (laughs) Are you still determined to play in the World Cup? Of course. I’m always working hard to improve. If there is a chance of playing in the World Cup, I’ll be ready, and I’ll be at my peak. My goal is to always be at my best.

Could the Club World Cup be an important step towards playing in the World Cup? Anything can happen. The plan is get back to the form I showed before the injury. My objective is to be right physically, to be able to hit the same high standards I was managing before. l

West Indies Under-19 in Bangladesh n Minhaz Uddin Khan

A 15-member West Indies U-19 cricket team arrived in Dhaka yesterday. They will face the Bangladesh U-19 in seven Youth ODIs during their 20-day tour.

The last time the two sides met was in October in the Caribbean Islands in a seven-game youth ODI series and which Bangladesh won 4-3.

Bangladesh U-19 skipper Mehidy Hassan Miraz informed the media that the team is ready to carry on from where they left off four months ago.

“We had a very good tour, winning the series. I believe the good memories

will give our confidence a boost and we’re look forward to the home series that starts in few days,” Miraz told the media yesterday.

The six-day training camp that the 15-member Bangladesh squad have undergone will help the home side, thought Miraz.

“I think this was the first time that we had a camp as a squad. This allowed is to concentrate on areas that needed to be improved and also gel as a team.

I hope this will have a positive effect in the series,” said the 16-year old rightarm all-rounder.

The seven-match series will begin

with the first ODI at Chittagong’s Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium on December 6. The second game will take place at the same venue on December 8.

The third ODI will be held either in Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium in Cox’s Bazar or ZACS on December 11.

The fourth and the fifth ODI will be played on December 14 and 17 at Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium and the sixth and the seventh games of the series will be played at Sher-eBangla National Stadium on December 19 and 20. l

Harris vows ‘all guns blazing’ in Adelaide

Clarke limps through practice session

n AFP, Adelaide

Skipper Michael Clarke alarmed Australian ranks on Monday when he appeared to turn his ankle before completing a net session without complaint just days before the start of the second Ashes Test. Clarke was seen limping slightly, favouring his right ankle, as the Australians performed fielding drills at Adelaide Oval in preparation for the match against England starting on Thursday.

– AFP

DAY’S WATCH Star Sports 4 2:00AM English Premier League Crystal Palace v West Ham Ten Action 1:30AM DFB Pokal (German Cup) Saarbrucken v Borussia Dortmund

15

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Bangladesh junior golf team along with the officials pose for a photograph yesterday. The team will leave for Kolkata today to participate in the Asia Pacific Junior Golf Championship at the Kolkata Golf Club from December 5 COURTESY

Australian paceman Ryan Harris vowed Monday to go into the second Test against England with “all guns blazing”, rather than holding back to get through the game unscathed.

Coach Darren Lehmann has made it clear that Australia’s controversial bowler rotation policy, designed to guard against them breaking down from too much cricket, is over -- which means Harris will not be rested.

Harris dismissed speculation he may bowl in shorter spells to preserve his injury-prone body.

“I’ll be all guns blazing here,” the 34-year-old told reporters before the Test starting on Thursday.

“I’m not going to miss a Test unless I really have to. I’ve said that from the start, I’m here to play five.

“I had the turnaround in England and I got through it okay. The wickets here are a little harder, that’s probably

the only difference.

“If I was only going in bowling 30, 35 overs I wouldn’t play because you can’t have that,” he added.

“You can’t have one bloke going half-hearted because it puts pressure on your two or three other bowlers. So I’m going in as if I’m bowling 50 overs, it doesn’t really matter how many I bowl.”

Harris wants to see Ian Bell promoted up the order into the pivotal firstdrop role, instead of Joe Root.

“It’s a great loss with Trotty not there, it’s going to be interesting to see who they put in there,” Harris said.

“Hopefully it’s Bell, because we get an earlier chance to get him out, that is what I’m thinking.

“I want to get him in there early. He did very well in that last series and he came in at times when they were under the pump and made big scores.

“It (number three) obviously gives him more time to get in, but it also gives us more time to have a crack at him.” l

McIlroy in ‘better place’ ahead of World Challenge n AFP, SYDNEY Rory McIlroy heads to his final event of the year at the Tiger Woods-hosted World Challenge this week saying he is in a “better place” mentally after winning his first tournament of 2013.

The Northern Irishman overhauled crowd favourite and reigning US Masters champion Adam Scott with a final round 66 to win the Australian Open on Sunday by a single shot with an 18-under-par tally.

It was his first victory for more than 12 months and came at the expense of the popular Australian, who misjudged the wind and could only manage a bogey on the last hole at Royal Sydney.

Despite early season woes after his much-publicised switch of clubs from Titleist to Nike, McIlroy has slowly begun rekindling the form that earned him two Major victories, finishing sixth and fifth in his final two European Tour events. l

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

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Tuesday, December 3, 2013

AGONY OF ARSON VICTIMS

Left: Burn victims of the 18-party alliance’s blockade admitted to Chittagong Medical College Hospital l Top: Arif, 5, feeds his father Sabed Ali at the DMCH burn unit; Sabed, a CNG-run auto-rickshaw driver, received burn injuries as pickets hurled a petrol bomb on his three-wheeler l Bottom left: Mother falls asleep beside her son Mahbub, driver of the bus set ablaze at Shahbagh on Thursday during the opposition’s blockade l Bottom right: A CMCH doctor examines a little girl who received burn injuries during the opposition’s blockade in Chittagong DHAKA TRIBUNE

HUMANITY VS POLITICAL VIOLENCE

People extend support to save victims 95-year-old donates Tk50,000 As he can hardly move about, he n Moniruzzaman Uzzal sent his nephew and an associate to doAround midday yesterday, two men came to the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, looking for Dr Samonto Lal Sen. They found the doctor who heads the Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit as he was hurrying to leave his office for a meeting at the health ministry. But when Dr Sen heard what the men wanted, he had to stop and assist them.

One of them told Dr Sen that his uncle, Md Fazlul Hoque, is 95-years-old.

He lives at Tajmahal Road in the capital’s Mohammadpur area.

The former businessman is now hard of hearing and though his eyesight is poor, he still reads newspapers and watches TV. When he saw the victims of the recent firebomb attacks agonising in their hospital beds with burns all over their bodies, he had to do something.

nate Tk50,000 for the hapless victims of political violence.

Expressing his gratitude to the elderly man for his humanity, Dr Sen took the nephew to a colleague, Dr Md Sazzad Khondokar, who has been receiving donations from the people.

Dr Khondokar received the money and gave them a letter of appreciation for Fazlul Hoque.

Like Fazlul Hoque, a cross-section of people have come forward to aid the burn victims out of sheer humanity.

They are giving money to the doctors or family members to ensure better care for the victims.

Moreover, the doctors, nurses and other supporting staff of the burn unit have also been busy providing the best possible treatment to the victims. They were also known to buy medicines with

their own money for their patients.

Dr Khondokar told the Dhaka Tribune that burn patients need specialised, long-term treatment that can be very costly. “The financial aid from the general people has been contributing a lot towards their care,” he said.

“We have to change their medicines randomly. We need an emergency fund to buy strong antibiotics,” he added.

He said they had received about Tk300,000 from a few people in the last two days. Some donors did not even disclose their names.

The doctor himself has contributed Tk36,000, while a resident surgeon gave Tk12,000 from his own pocket to buy medicines.

“We do not know whether we will be reimbursed, but we have done it out of humanity,” Dr Khondokar said.

A total of 51 people have been admitted to the state-run hospital following

arson attacks during recent opposition hartals and blockades.

Of them, nine have died, five were admitted to the ICU (intensive care unit), seven to the HDU (high dependency unit) and 23 are undergoing treatment in general wards.

Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has given a new ambulance to the burn unit, and plans to provide Tk1m to buy medicines and other supplies.

Dr Shah Newaz, director (administration) of DGHS, said the ambulance was given on an emergency basis. However, he said he had no specific information on the Tk1m fund.

During a visit to the hospital on Sunday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina donated Tk10,000 each to 35 burn patients. She also directed health officials to ensure the best treatment for the innocent victims. l

Blockade crunches ATM service n Jebun Nesa Alo Clients are having trouble withdrawing cash through ATMs as banks cannot refill the machines fearing insecurity during the ongoing blockade of the BNP-led 18-party opposition alliance.

“Most of the ATMs in the city have been empty as we could not move cash because of the continuous blockade,” said Dutch-Bangla Bank’s Vice-President Iqbal Hossain yesterday.

ATM booths had seen huge pressure of salary withdrawal yesterday besides other transactions, which had also increased recently as people had been reluctant to go to banks during blockade, he said.

“But we could not refill the machines as they need restocking manually,” Iqbal told the Dhaka Tribune.

ATM card holders of Dutch-Bangla Bank and BRAC Bank suffered more yesterday as these two banks have maximum number of ATM booths.

Dutch-Bangla Bank has 2,400 ATM booths across the country and some 3.3 million card holders. Around Tk80m is transacted a day, according to the bank.

An ATM machine can be refilled with Tk4m at a time but banks normally do the refilling according to the demand, location and security of the booth, bank officials said.

Banks could not also credit money deposited by clients at the banks’ kiosks and the amounts will not show in the accounts of the clients concerned until they are deposited at the relevant branch offices.

BRAC Bank MD Syed Mahbubur Rahman said: “We have about 200 booths in Dhaka, but the security forces [employed by the bank] are not willing to risk their lives during the blockade…We are trying to address the problem and maintain our customer satisfaction index intact.”

Pubali Bank MD Helal Ahmed Chowdhury said: “We did not face problem [refilling the ATMs] as we have fewer ATM booths and all are located near the bank branches.”

Banking transaction through ATMs in the country marked 150% growth during 2010-2012 with the annual volume reaching Tk1tn last year. Bangladesh Bank data shows that transactions through ATMs rose from Tk400bn in 2010 to Tk600bn next year.

Out of the 47 scheduled banks, 42 offer full or partial online banking services and facilities of debit and credit cards.

In 2012, as many as 40 commercial banks had their own ATM booths; the number of booths now stands at 2,958 across the country. l

General people stage a protest demonstration at the Central Shaheed Minar under the banner of Otishtho Jonogon yesterday SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

More patients for DMCH burn unit Jamil Khan and n Mohammad Aminul Islam Babu The families of a number of victims of blockade violence have been waiting for a miracle of some sort as their only earning members squirm in pain at the burn unit of the Dhaka Medical College Hospital, with some running high risks of death.

Abu Talha, who owned a small sanitary shop in the capital’s Bangshal, was inside the fateful bus that was set on fire by blockade supporters at Shahbagh on Thursday.

“If anything happens to him, I do not know what to do or where to go,” said Talha’s wife Nur Jahan after her husband was shifted to the intensive care unit (ICU) from the burn unit as his condition got worse.

Mawlana Abdus Sattar, a 65-year old retired madrassa teacher from Barisal, has also been shifted to the ICU. Sattar sustained 64% burns after the auto-rickshaw he was in was set on fire by pickets. He was put in life support yesterday.

Other than Sattar, Jahangir Hossain Babu with 28% burn from the Shahbagh arson, who was already in the ICU, was also put on life support.

The DMCH saw five more admissions today – three of them were arson attack victims, who had been admitted to the burn unit, while the remaining two, who were hit by bomb splinters, had been admitted to the regular wards.

One of them, Nayan Manir, 36, driver of a pickup van, came to the burn unit with 13% injuries around 2:30pm

yesterday. On November 25, he was coming to Dhaka from Chittagong with an iron rod-laden van. When he came to Feni, pickets set fire to his van using a crude bomb. After coming to Dhaka, Nayan took treatment in a local clinic.

Suddenly yesterday, the bruises in his arm started swelling.

Mohammad Sultan Sardar, 40, an auto-rickshaw driver from Barisal, sustained 20% burn when his vehicle came under an arson attack in the Bamrail area of the district Sunday night. He was brought to the DMCH yesterday.

The on-duty doctors said the lower part of his body was badly burnt and they might need to amputate his lower limbs.

When he was asked why he had come out during blockade, he shot back at this reporter saying: “If I do not come out what will I eat? How will I feed my family? Will you give me the money?”

Sultan’s wife said they had a 14-month old baby boy. “I have no idea what I will do if my husband’s legs are cut off.”

Yesterday in the afternoon, 25-year old Abdur Razzak was brought the DMCH from Nazirpur in Habiganj. He suffered 7% burn on Sunday night after his vehicle came under attack on the highway.

The two other victims of crude bomb blasts were van driver Delowar, 25, and his assistant Monir Hossain, 21. They suffered injuries on their right hands after pickets hurled crude bombs at them around 2:30pm near the FDC gate in the capital’s Tejgaon. l

Stop killing us, people urge politicians n Mohammad Atiqur Rahman

A group of people holding placards, with visible disgust on their faces, was seen yesterday walking quietly along the pavement from the FDC intersection towards the Dhaka University campus.

Coming from all walks of life, they marched to the Shaheed Minar under a common banner, demanding a stop to the killing of ordinary people in political violence.

“We don’t understand the ruling party or the opposition, the responsibility for the killings lies equally with both parties” read one placard. Another said: “People’s Republic of Bangladesh, NOT Kingdom of Bangladesh”.

The protest event was organised by Otishtho Jonogon (frustrated public)

through a post on Facebook on Saturday night.

“We are falling victim to the fight between political parties. Killing people cannot be a way to do politics,” Moin Hassan Prince, a participant, said.

Sishir Das, another student, was walking near Suhrawardy Udyan when he saw the procession and joined in.

A new voter this year, Sishir said he would put his mark alongside “no vote”, or just spoil his ballot paper.

Along with many other protesters, he expressed raw hatred towards Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia, who head the country’s two main parties, saying they were not “people-friendly.” He also criticised Jatiya Party chief HM Ershad, calling him “the third billy goat.”

AKM Golam Kibria, a private universi-

ty student, said he could not attend half of his classes due to political violence.

“We cannot attend classes because of political violence, although we are required to attend at least 75% of classes to sit the exams,” he said.

Syed Hasibuddin Hussain, a garment factory owner, said: “We have to come forward to let the politicians know that we, the people, do exist.”

“We are disgusted by all these political activities. There is no guarantee that we will not face the same fate as the burn victims,” said Rowshon Akter Shuvo, who joined the procession near Bangla Motor.

Two of the participants later went to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital to express their solidarity with the victims of the latest firebomb attacks.

Kawsar Morol, a National University student who came from Gazipur, said it was all about ensuring one’s “security and the certainty of returning home without facing an unnatural death”.

At the start of the procession the peaceful protesters were stopped by police near the Hatir Jheel-FDC intersection.

They were later permitted to go ahead.

“We have orders from high-ups to look into the matter. We will allow them to proceed after confirmation from the authorities concerned,” Md Selim Mia of Ramna police said earlier.

Rushad Faridi, a university teacher, said Bangladesh was becoming a “police state.”

“We do not need to chant slogans as we are holding placards. We are doing it peacefully,” he said. l

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Business

B2 Remittance declines 14% in November

B3 WTO Ministerial Council kicks off today

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2013

Business www.dhakatribune.com/business

IPOs bounce back in 2013 n Kayes Sohel The country’s stock exchanges have seen a significant growth in the launch of initial public offerings (IPOs) in 2013 following a three-year “drought.”

DSE figures show the number of IPOs has increased this year by 60% while the value rose over 13% from the previous year.

Analysts attributed the growth of IPO to a “relatively better performance of the stock markets in 2013” compared to the years since the 2010 debacle.

The country’s stock exchanges have seen 16 private companies completing IPO as of November this year, raising a total proceed of Tk8.8bn.

In 2012, there were 10 companies which had completed IPOs and raised Tk7.7bn, according to the Dhaka Stock Exchange data.

Two more IPOs will begin collection of subscriptions next month.

“IPO draught has ended as the stock markets have experienced a better year,” said MA Hafiz, president of Bangladesh Merchant Bankers Association.

The benchmark index of Dhaka Stock Exchange, DSEX, rose 8% to 4,395 as of November 21 since January this year.

Besides, higher subscription has also encouraged the companies to go public, said Hafiz, also a director of AAA Consultant, a leading issue management company in

Bangladesh.

In 2012, many IPOs suffered low subscription, discouraging the companies to launch IPOs. The companies that suffered low subscription included Summit Purbanchal Power Company and Unique Hotel and Resorts.

This indicates that the business in the country was not good this year because of political chaos ahead of general election During the year, even the regulator had cautiously relieved IPOs because of the unsettled market.

In 2013, more than half of IPOs have raised fund to repay bank loans, according to the prospectus of the companies.

When IPOs increase, it usually means the economy is getting back its strength.

“But the perception is not true for the country’s stock markets as most of the companies here raise fund through IPOs make loan repayments,” Rezaul Haque, head of operations of Prime Finance, however, said.

“This indicates that the business in the country was not good this year because of political chaos ahead of general election.”

The IPO market was sluggish since the beginning of 2011 when the market boomed and then doomed as the regulator has tried to limit new issues.

Seven private companies made IPOs of Tk1.4bn at the Dhaka Stock Exchange in 2011 and five in 2010.

Since 2005, IPO activity began to rise to tap the primary markets, taking advantage of growing demand for shares.

Primary market is a market where securities issued by a company for the first time are offered to the public before being listed with the stock exchange.

“Fund flow acts like oxygen in the IPO market. More new issues mean more fund flow,” said Jahangir Alam, chief executive of Janata Capital and Investment.

He said maintaining the normal flow of IPOs is very important to overcome any shortage of quality issues in future.

The most recent debutants received relatively better responses from the investors, pushing up their prices higher than the offer prices.

An IPO is a type of public offering where shares of stock in a company are sold to the general public, on a securities exchange, for the first time.

IPO is used by companies to raise expansion capital, to possibly monetize the investments of early private investors, and to become publicly traded enterprises. l

BSEC to simplify IPO shares application n Kayes Sohel Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) is planning to make application process for initial public offering shares easier and free of hassles for retail investors.

The regulator made a presentation on the new plan before stakeholders at its office in Dhaka yesterday.

Sources said the plan will be finalised on the basis of opinions of stakeholders.

BSEC said the retail investors, if the plan implemented, can apply for IPO shares allotment through their respective brokerage firms and merchant banks and deposit money to their beneficiary owner’s (BO) accounts.

Under the new plan, the money will be transferred from BO accounts of successful investors in the IPO lottery to the issuing companies.

It is expected the change will reduce hassles of cheque handling and processing time currently associated with manual applications.

As per the present procedures, investors need to submit money with their applications for IPO shares to their bank accounts where hours wasted standing in queues.

But the new application process will help reduce the troubles faced by the investors while applying for IPO shares, said the stocks regulator.

A BSEC official said the proposed process will eliminate expenses and unnecessary times which the issuers require in refunding warrant money of unsuccessful investors in the IPO lottery.

Representatives from Dhaka Stock Exchange and Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) and other stakeholders were present during the presentation.

The BSEC official said once the new process is done, it might help ease liquidity shortage in the secondary market.

Huge amounts of money remain stranded from the date of application to refunding of warrant under the existing system, he said.

Syed Sajid Husain, CSE’s chief executive officer, said: “BSEC made a presentation about its proposal on IPO share application process and sought our opinions before finalisation.”

“The stakeholders will send their opinions within a week after examining every pros and cons of the proposal,” he said.

He said the regulator intended to initiate a slew of measures to make application for IPO shares for retail investors easier and less expensive for companies. l

2 Japan’s Seiko to invest $1.02m in Mongla EPZ

n Tribune Business Desk Bangladesh Seiko Electronic Products Company Ltd is going to set up an industry of electrical and mechanical parts in Mongla export processing zone.

An agreement has been signed between Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) and Bangladesh Seiko Electronic Products in Dhaka yesterday at BEPZA Complex in Dhaka.

According to the agreement, the fully foreign owned Japanese company will invest $1.02m for setting up their plant with annual production capacity of 2.5m pieces of hair spring and inductor coil.

The plant is expected to create employments for 33 Bangladeshi nationals, said a press release.

Sayed Nurul Islam, Member (Investment Promotion) of BEPZA and Hisashi Miyazawa, Managing Director of Bangladesh Seiko Electronic Products signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations.

BEPZA executive chairman Major General Md Habibur Rahman Khan ndc psc, member (engineering) Khandakar Aktaruzzaman, member (finance) AKM Mahbubur Rahman, secretary Md Shawkat Nabi, general manager (public relations) Nazma Binte Alamgir, Bangladesh Seiko Electronic’s director (corporate sales and marketing) Tsuge Naoko and general manager (human resources) FHM Shamsuzzaman Shaams were also present at the signing ceremony. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2013

Remittance declines 14% in November n Tribune Report The country saw 14% fall in November remittance inflow from the previous month, showed Bangladesh Bank data.

During the month, the wage earners in abroad sent a total of $1.05bn home. In October, the figure was $1.23bn.

‘Issues like political turmoil and weak dollar are discouraging expatriates to send money home now’

According to the central bank officials, the drop in remittance was due to aggravating political unrest currently sweeping through the country.

“Issues like political turmoil and weak dollar are discouraging expatriates to send money home now,” said a high official of Bangladesh Bank.

Of the remittance received during the

month of November, the four state-owned commercial banks channelled $339.56m compared to $382m in October.

Private commercial banks remitted $686m in November compared to October’s $825m while foreign commercial banks helped $12.93m channelling compared to $15m in October.

The state-owned specialised banks remitted $12.25m while the figure was $12.55m a month earlier.

In first four months of the current fiscal year, the total remittance dropped to $4.50bn from $5bn one year before.

A World Bank report described Bangladesh as the 7th most remittance earning country in 2012.

Remittance has been growing at double digits since 1980s and currently accounts for nearly 11% of GDP. As policy steps to boost remittance inflow, separate savings instruments have been created for non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs).

The instruments include, among others, non-resident foreign currency deposits, US dollar premium bonds and wage-earners’ development bonds, said Bangladesh Bank.

Smart cards or mobile phone banking services were also introduced to facilitate remittance channelling.

Bangladesh’s foreign currency reserves have exceeded $16bn recently though remittance inflow has been slow since first month of the current fiscal year. l

Oil prices edge higher after upbeat Chinese data n AFP, Singapore Oil prices rose in Asian trade yesterday as dealers welcomed upbeat manufacturing data in China, the world’s top energy consumer, analysts said.

New York’s main contract, West Texas Intermediate for January delivery, was up 47 cents at $93.19 in afternoon trade while Brent North Sea crude for January climbed 39 cents to $110.08.

Official data Sunday showed China’s manufacturing growth in November maintained its strong pace from the previous month to stay at a 19-month high.

The purchasing managers’ index (PMI) was at 51.4, unchanged from October, and at the highest level since April 2012.

Global banking giant HSBC’s own index of the country’s manufacturing activity came in at 50.8 yesterday, better than the 50.4 initially estimated. A reading above 50 signals expansion while a figure below indicates contraction.

Singapore-based Phillip Futures said the PMI data “topped analysts’ estimates in a sign that the country’s economy may have bottomed out and is garnering recovery momentum”.

Official data in October showed at China’s economy, an important driver of regional and global growth, expanded 7.8% from July to September, snapping two quarters of slowing.

Analysts said dealers were also looking ahead to a slew of US economic data scheduled to be released this week, including on third quarter gross domestic product estimates and November non-farm payrolls. l

City Bank chairperson Rubel Aziz seen offering his speech at the bank’s EGM on Thursday

City Bank shareholders approve bonds worth Tk3bn

n Tribune Business Desk

Members of Board of Directors of Standard Bank Ltd attends a board meeting at the bank’s head office in Dhaka Saturday

Standard Bank holds board meeting

n Tribune Business Desk Standard Bank Ltd held its 216th board meeting on Saturday at head office in Dhaka.

Chairman of the Board of Directors Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed presided over the meeting, said a press release.

It was also attended by vice chairman Ashok Kumar Saha and directors.

Managing Director Md Nazmus Salehin, DMD and Group Company Secretary AFM Nizamul Islam Chowdhury and DMD Mamun-ur Rashid were also present.

The Board took various important decisions regarding bank’s investment policy in the field of trade, commerce and industries and approved proposals received from different branches. l

The City Bank held its Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) in Cox’s Bazar on Thursday.

Rubel Aziz, Chairman of the bank presided over the meeting.

Directors, Mohammad Hossain Khaled, Mohammad Shoeb, Syeda Shaireen Aziz and

Managing Director and CEO Sohail RK Hussain along with a large number of shareholders attended the meeting.

The shareholders unanimously approved Tk3bn (tenor of 72months) the proposal for issue of Tier-II subordinated debt (bond) to meet Capital requirement under Bassel-II, subject to the approval of the regulators. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2013

WTO Ministerial Council kicks off today Delegates make effort to reach closer to Bali Package on November 28, the LDCs and stand in the way. n Meer Saiful Islam, from Bali, Indonesia keyMeanwhile The Acting Coordinator of the LDC Group, stakeholders have reached an agreement

Ambassador Mosé of the Solomon Islands, said: “The Least-Developed Countries are looking up to the entire WTO membership to make all efforts to conclude the Bali package without delay, thus contributing to the development of the most disadvantaged peoples of the world.”

As many as 46 ministers or their representatives, including those that are also members of the G-33, yesterday held a meeting In Bali as part of a series of events of the World Trade Organisation’s biennial ministerial conference.

“We will discuss efforts to enhance food security, eradicate poverty, and develop underdeveloped regions in developing countries,” Indonesian Minister of Trade Gita Wirjawan told a press conference after the meeting.

The meeting also highlighted the importance of the conference instrengthening the role of the WTO as an international organisation that ensures a multilateral trade system that is healthy, fair and provides certainty to the global economy.

“The G-33 agreed on the reformation of the agricultural sector and the finalisation of the Doha Development Agenda (DDA), including reducing trade barriers which can decrease productivity and competitiveness of millions of farmers in developing countries,” Gita stated.

The minister also mentioned that the G-33 wanted the proposal of G-33 be agreed upon, specifically the one which is related to the food security. “This proposal is important considering the volatility of world’s food prices, which is continuously increasing,” said the trade minister of Indonesia. l

A 17-member Bangladesh delegation is taking part in the ninth WTO Ministerial Council meeting begins here today. The world trade leaders also started getting together to join the four-day conference.

Commerce secretary Mahbub Ahmed is leading the delegation comprised of members from public, private and civil societies to the MC9 to be formally inaugurated at 3 pm.

Before the formal inauguration, the ministers and delegates were however holding meetings to push forward the effort to reach a consensus on the Bali package by December 6.

Officials said as a member of LDCs, Bangladesh would focus on the least developed countries demand to implement the duty-free and quota-free market access (DFQF) to the developed markets.

As per the commitment, the countries that were not in a position to award DFQF for 100% of the LDCs products had committed LDCs to provide the trade concession for 97% of the products. “It’s now eight years when the commitment was made in Hong Kong, they did not implement their commitment,” said a senior official.

The commerce ministry earlier finalised a position paper for the ministerial meeting, deciding also to focus the country’s position on the issues of rules of origin, waiver to the LDCs from the efforts to open up the services sector, the cotton issue, monitoring mechanism, trade facilitation and agriculture negotiation.

The ministry set the strategy paper through consultation with the business leaders, garment makers and exporters and private sector representatives at a preparatory meeting for the upcoming ministerial conference.

which largely stabilised section two of the trade facilitation text. The LDC Group said this resolves all of their outstanding issues and that the Bali package is important for the credibility of multilateral trading system.

DSE sees surge in foreign investments for 2nd straight month n Tribune Report

Stocks rebound amid cautious trading

Net foreign investment at the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) increased for the second consecutive month, standing at Tk2.8bn in November.

Analysts attributed such increase to lower prices of shares in the falling market.

It has had a significant impact on the market of foreign trade, as foreign investment makes up less than 1% of total DSE market capitalisation, which is the lowest in South Asia.

According to the DSE, the surge in November was over 21% from the previous month’s Tk2.3bn Local stock brokers, who trade on behalf of the foreign investors, also mentioned the lower stock prices as the reason of surge in net portfolio investments.

“Lower prices attracted the foreign funds, despite political uncertainty,” said Wali-ul-Islam, chief executive officer of Lanka Bangla Securities. l

The LDC Group calls on all WTO members to take the necessary steps to ensure success in Bali. The coordinators of the Africa Group and the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific Group join these calls.

In an initiative between the LDC Group and some key stakeholders significant progress has been made over the last two days. This morning they invited the Director-General, Robert Azevêdo, to join their meeting, where they informed him of this breakthrough.

They told the Director-General that Section Two of the Trade Facilitation text is now largely stabilised and that this resolves all of their outstanding issues with the package, said a WTO statement. They said that the LDCs are now calling wholeheartedly for a deal to be reached in Bali and for other Members to resolve any remaining issues which

n Tribune Report Stocks rebounded amid a volatile trading yesterday, breaking a four-day consecutive fall.

But the market witnessed a poor turnover as risk-averse investors preferred staying on the sidelines and taking cue from the ongoing political turmoil.

The benchmark DSEX surged more than 50 points or 1% to close at 4198, driven by the heavyweight banking sector that gained 2.3%.

The blue chip index DS30 added nearly 9 points or 0.6% to settle at 1,479.

Chittagong Stock Exchange Selective Categories Index, CSCX, also gained 83 points to 8,191.

Total turnover at the DSE was Tk3.5bn, which was 0.2% lower than that of the previous session. The low turnover indicated that the investors are not yet confident of upward move of prices.

Investors perceived the market to be over-corrected within very short time period, and started to buy shares at lower prices, said Lanka Bangla Securities in its market analysis.

It said volatility of benchmark index had been observed.

After getting started with a positive note, the index was pulled down at the middle of the trading session but later ended with a positive vibe.

Among the major sectors, non-banking financial institutions, telecommunications and pharmaceuticals, witnessed moderate gain.

Gainers were larger in number than the losers in yesterday’s trading. Out of 284 issues traded, 207 gained, 53 declined and 24 remained unchanged on the prime bourse.

The news of the increased foreign investment could not encourage investors much to the bourse as blockade of the 18-party alliance had been extended, said IDLC Investments.

“As a result, turnover declined, staying below Tk4bn-mark.”

Delta Life Insurance continued to dominate the trading for the third straight session with shares worth Tk430m changing hands.

It accounted for 12.4% of the total market turnover.

Other turnover leaders were BD Building, Bengal Windsor and Thermoplastics Ltd, Generation Next Fashion, RN Spinning, Paramount Textile and Central Pharmaceuticals. l

3

IMF: Unrest poses challenge for expansion n Tribune Report The political turmoil is a challenge now for Bangladesh economy as it already slows down the economic growth of the country, observed International Monetary Fund.

“Strikes and uncertainty associated with the upcoming elections, an attendant slowdown in growth, pose challenges ahead,” said IMF Deputy Managing Director Naoyuki Shinohara.

He came up with the observation as the lender completed the third review under the Extended Credit Facility Arrangement with Bangladesh on Sunday.

IMF approved $140.4m disbursement. With it, the total disbursement under the ECF now stands at nearly $561.4m. The three-year ECF arrangement for Bangladesh was approved by the executive board on April 11, 2012 for a total amount of about $982.5m, or 120% of quota.

While talking about Bangladesh’s political unrest, the global lender cautioned that it is important to persevere with a strong policy framework in the run-up to national elections and beyond.

IMF approved $140.4m disbursement. With it, the total disbursement under the ECF now stands at nearly $561.4m It said the progress on macro-stabilisation and structural reforms has been strong under Bangladesh’s policy programme, supported by the ECF. “International reserves have risen and underlying inflation is moderating. Progress has also been made in lowering subsidies, raising development spending, improving public financial and debt management, and strengthening financial supervision,” IMF stated.

About fiscal policy, the IMF said the policy should remain prudent and provide space to raise public investment and social-related spending.

“Further reforms to modernise the tax system and generate additional resources for development spending over the medium term are critical, with implementation of the new value added tax a priority.”

IMF viewed that the restrained monetary policy has curbed inflationary pressures and supported reserve accumulation.

“The stronger external position could allow scaling back foreign exchange intervention while continuing sterilisation efforts,” it said.

According to IMF, Bangladesh Bank should fully utilise its enhanced supervisory powers to bolster financial stability. The programme for reforms at the state-owned commercial banks should be firmly advanced, backed by recapitalisation, the lender added.

“Reforms to achieve sustained and inclusive growth should aim at further removing critical infrastructure bottlenecks, while streamlining the trade regime and foreign exchange regulations to improve the business climate.”

Advancing initiatives to strengthen labour and garment factory safety conditions is also critical, while the targeting of social safety net programmes needs to be further improved, the IMF said. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2013

China to resume IPOs after year-long hiatus n AFP, Shanghai

State oil firms now sourcing all dollars from market: RBI n Reuters The Reserve Bank of India said yesterday state-run oil companies were now sourcing their entire dollar demand in markets, but added it would consider re-opening a special swap window on “rare days” of strong greenback demand.

The RBI also asked the oil marketing companies to smoothen their daily dollar demand so that upcoming bunched up demand was covered in advance in forward markets

or on days with low dollar demand.

The central bank had opened a special forex swap window for oil marketing companies in late August, providing dollars via a forward swap agreement to reduce pressures on the rupee.

Oil refiners are the single largest purchasers of dollars in markets.

The RBI added it would “keep all options open” regarding the settlement of the swaps, including the option of rupee settlements.

Traders had worried about a surge in dollar

demand from oil companies looking to repay their swap agreements.

The RBI added it has received $34bn under its two forex swap windows, which are now closed. Any further funds raised under the foreign currency non-resident deposits or from banks’ Tier I borrowings will flow directly into the market and not to the country’s forex reserves.

The rupee trimmed gains and was trading at 62.22/23 to the dollar from 62.15 before the RBI statement. l

New share offerings will resume in China as early as next month, the country’s stock regulator said, ending a ban in place for more than a year, after leaders vowed to give private firms a bigger role in the economy.

There are 760 firms lined up for initial public offerings (IPO) in the world’s second-largest economy, and about 50 are expected to go to market by the end of January, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) said.

Despite a decades-long boom that was triggered by the loosening of state restrictions, China’s Communist authorities retain strong controls over much of the economy, including the power to decide which firms can launch IPOs and when.

However, the CSRC issued new guidelines at the weekend to give the market a bigger role in the listing mechanism.

The move was in line with a document issued two weeks ago after a key Communist Party meeting at which Beijing vowed to let market forces play a more “decisive role” in its economic reforms.

China suspended approvals for new IPOs in November last year, just before the country’s once-in-a-decade leadership transition, in an effort to stabilise the ailing stock market.

On Monday stocks tumbled as much as 2.16% on worries about the imminent relaunch, but the Shanghai Composite Index recovered to close down 0.59% at 2,207.37.

The guidelines “sparked worries that a flood of IPOs could divert funds from the secondary market”, Zheshang Securities analyst Zhang Yanbing told AFP, but added that they “should be positive to the market in the long run”.

“The reform of the listing mechanism will help restore the fundraising function, which is the fundamental function of the stock market, and it’s beneficial to the long-term healthy development of the market,” Zhang said.

Instead of focusing on firms’ profitability, the CSRC said it will focus on whether they can meet requirements for information disclosure and let investors and the market assess the value and risks of the IPOs. But it stressed that government regulation would continue, saying the changes “cannot be understood as the regulator will have no oversight”. l

Dollar weakens in Asia ahead of US data n AFP, Tokyo The dollar weakened in Asia yesterday ahead of a raft of US economic data that will provide a better idea of the future of the Federal Reserve’s stimulus programme.

The greenback bought 102.38 yen in Tokyo afternoon trade, against 102.42 yen on Friday in New York, while the euro strengthened to $1.3604 from $1.3590.

The European single currency also rose to 139.29 yen from 139.18 yen as traders await a European Central Bank (ECB) meeting.

This week in Washington will see the re-

lease of data on third-quarter growth, November non-farm payrolls, manufacturing activity and home sales, while the Fed will also open up its Beige book on regional economies.

The figures will give dealers a handle on the state of the world’s largest economy, while Fed policymakers are expected to use them when considering their plans for the bank’s $85bn a month stimulus.

The bank’s next policy meeting begins on December 17.

“Over coming days there will be plenty of evidence to finalise opinions about what the Fed will do at its meeting,” Credit Agricole

said. “We maintain the view that the Fed will likely begin to taper in January.”

“Monetary policy will be at the heart of the market’s radar-screen throughout the coming weeks,” it added. “Even if the first rendezvous will be with the ECB, the behaviour of the Federal Reserve Bank in the US will be the main point of scrutiny.”

Investors will be watching the ECB meeting this week to see if it ushers in any more monetary easing after recently cutting interest rates to an all-time low of 0.25%.

The dollar was mixed against other Asia-Pacific currencies yesterday afternoon.

It rose to 32.20 Thai baht from 32.11 baht Friday, after weekend street violence in Bangkok which left four dead and dozens wounded, while the dollar edged up to 1,058.46 South Korean won from 1,058.34 won, and to 11,885 Indonesian rupiah from 11,868 rupiah.

The greenback slipped to 62.23 Indian rupees from 62.29 rupees, to Sg$1.2537 from Sg$1.2553, to 43.71 Philippine pesos from 43.76 pesos, and to Tw$29.56 from Tw$29.60.

The Australian dollar strengthened to 91.55 US cents from 90.87 cents, while the Chinese yuan inched up to 16.78 yen against 16.74 yen. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2013

5

Data and ECB may help set tone for investors looking ahead to 2014 n Reuters

Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda leaves a news conference at the BOJ headquarters in Tokyo

BOJ’s Kuroda unwavering on inflation goal as Japan capex rises n Reuters Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda said on Monday he saw no need to water down the bank’s commitment to achieve 2% inflation in two years, stressing that the country was on track to meet the target despite risks from soft overseas growth.

He also signaled the bank’s readiness to maintain its ultra-loose policy for as long as needed to sustainably achieve the inflation target, or expand stimulus further if the economy and prices sharply undershoot its forecasts.

Kuroda has faced a rift in the nine-member board with four voicing doubts about the BOJ’s rosy projections, including two skeptics of the price target who made unsuccessful proposals in October to water it down.

Many economists also doubt the BOJ can reach its inflation goal so soon.

Describing 2% inflation as a “global standard” adopted by most major central banks, Kuroda shrugged off the view the price target was too ambitious for a country mired in deflation for 15 years, or that the BOJ’s board was split on the feasibility of the target.

“I do not think that achieving 2% inflation in two years has become difficult or that such views have grown (within the board),” Kuroda told a news conference after meeting with business leaders in Nagoya, central Japan.

“I see no need and have no plan to modify the target.”

The remarks came after data showed on Monday Japanese companies raised spending on factories and equipment by 1.5% in July-September from a year ago, although

the slow pace of increase cast some doubt on the strength of capital spending that is key to sustaining economic growth.

The reading suggests that Japan’s gross domestic product growth for July-September is likely to be little changed, after preliminary data showed a 0.5% expansion from the previous quarter, or an annualized rate of 1.9%.

Kuroda said capital expenditure will likely increase as a trend, though he warned that overseas uncertainties were among key risks in meeting the central bank’s price goal.

“Of course, we are ready to adjust monetary policy without hesitation if upside or downside risks materialize,” he told business leaders in Nagoya, reiterating the bank’s readiness to offer further stimulus if risks threaten the price target.

“If overseas economies perform worse than expected, this may affect Japan’s economy,” he said.

Capital spending has been a weak spot in Japan as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe struggles to spur business investment and wage increases at many companies, which remain unconvinced that his reflationary policies will have a lasting impact.

Japan’s economic growth has outpaced that of its G7 peers this year, but the pace slowed in July-September as private consumption and exports moderated. Economists expect growth to pick up again in the current quarter as consumers rush to buy goods before a national sales tax hike next April.

Pessimists in the BOJ board have warned that risks to the economy and prices were tilted to the downside, pointing to weak

REUTERS

exports, an expected slump in household spending after the tax hike and the risk firms may be slow in raising wages.

Kuroda, however, maintained his upbeat view on Japan’s economy, saying it was recovering moderately and proceeding steadily towards the BOJ’s 2 percent price target.

“There is a risk the negative impact from the sales tax hike may prove to be bigger than expected,” he said, although adding that he saw the chance of this happening as slim.

The yen has been under pressure on speculation that the BOJ may ease policy again around next spring to offset the pain from the sales tax hike. The BOJ argues that the damage to the economy will be limited, and that its rosy projections already factor in the impact from the tax hike.

Under its framework put in place in April, the BOJ aims to double base money in two years to 270tn yen ($2.6tn) by the end of 2014 via purchases of government bonds and risky assets.

Kuroda said that target was by no means signaling a timeframe for ending the ultra-easy policy, stressing that the BOJ was ready to maintain the framework even beyond end-2014 if its price target was not met by then.

He also signaled the BOJ’s readiness to extend two special loan facilities, aimed at encouraging banks to boost lending, beyond the current deadline of March, saying that they have been “fulfilling their functions well.

The MOF’s capital spending data will be used to calculate revised third-quarter GDP data, which is scheduled for release at 8:50 a.m. on December 9 l

A rush of key economic releases this week and the European Central Bank’s last meeting of the year may help set the tone for investors and traders looking ahead to 2014.

Like the two years preceding it, 2013 has been a damp squib for the global economy, beset by political wrangling in the United States, recession in Europe and disappointing growth in China.

Economists are optimistic that next year augurs better - even if only slightly - and data this week should point the way towards this gradual improvement.

Surveys from the world’s No1 economy are expected to show steady growth in American businesses going into next year, even if few expect much of an improvement.

And official data are expected to confirm the US economy grew at the fastest pace in a year from July through September, although the pace of hiring probably sagged last month.

“The US is looking in the strongest position,” said Andrew Kenningham, senior global economist at Capital Economics, on the prospects for next year.

Data last week showed that the British economy grew at its fastest pace in three years in the third quarter.

“So you’ve got the Anglo-Saxon world doing pretty well, the euro zone doing poorly - despite Germany - and Japan still doing poorly.”

With emerging markets avoiding major crises, he said that points to global growth rising incrementally over the next two years, from around 3.0 percent this year to 3.5% in 2015.

Analysts forecast US economic growth for the third quarter will be revised up to 3percent in The ISM business surveys and Friday’s US employment data are the biggest market-moving indicators this week, while as economists expect the US economy added 185,000 more non-farm jobs in November, less than the 204,000 created the previous month.

Kenningham said the outlook should improve for the US next year, assuming Washington’s political impasses does not result in more sudden fiscal retrenchment.

NO SURPRISE PRESENTS FROM THE ECB Few expect the ECB’s December policy decision to result in another shock for the markets after it cut interest rates to a record low of 0.25% last month.

But the tone of ECB President Mario Draghi’s comments in Thursday’s press conference may provide hints on how he intends to conduct monetary policy next year - especially as he will be armed with new forecasts from the bank’s staff.

Draghi will be helped by the fact that euro zone inflation ticked up last month to 0.9% after slumping to 0.7% in October, which prompted talk of a deflation scare and more radical monetary policy action.

“The increase in euro area inflation in November is, in our view, only the first in a series of increases that will drive the inflation rate to 1.5% by the end of 2014,” wrote Michael Rottmann, head of fixed income strategy at UniCredit. l

6

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2013

DSE Broad Index: 4197.92⇑1.22%, Turnover: 3478.52 M.Tk⇓ 0.24%, PE: 12.86 Turnover 3,897.20 MTk . ⇓ 1.04% 2 December 2013 MarketCap. 2,037.45 BTk.⇑1.35% CSE All Share Index: 12959⇑1.04%, Turnover: 418.68 M Tk.⇓ 7.22%, PE: 12.66 Combined Turnover Leader Delta Life Insu. -A

CompanyCode | EPS | BV | Volume Traded (Share) DSE/CSE: ClosePrice ⇓/⇑ Chn % | Avg.Price | Hi / Lo

BANK

ABBANK | 2.95 | 32.60 | Vol. 277826 D: 26.60 ⇑ 1.92% | 26.69 | 28.00 / 23.50 C: 26.80 ⇑ 2.68% | 26.48 | 26.90 / 26.10 CITYBANK | 1.15 | 25.97 | Vol. 430177 D: 20.10 ⇑ 3.08% | 19.90 | 20.30 / 18.00 C: 19.90 ⇑ 3.11% | 19.78 | 20.20 / 19.30 IFIC | 1.10 | 18.34 | Vol. 949702 D: 32.70 ⇑ 4.47% | 32.07 | 32.80 / 29.10 C: 32.30 ⇑ 3.53% | 32.06 | 32.50 / 31.50 ISLAMIBANK | 3.78 | 27.16 | Vol. 646492 D: 36.20 ⇑ 3.13% | 35.81 | 37.00 / 33.00 C: 35.50 ⇑ 0.28% | 35.44 | 35.70 / 35.10 NBL | 1.05 | 15.76 | Vol. 3292095 D: 11.90 ⇑ 4.39% | 11.89 | 12.20 / 11.00 C: 11.90 ⇑ 2.59% | 11.89 | 12.10 / 11.60 PUBALIBANK | 1.92 | 21.18 | Vol. 572952 D: 32.40 ⇑ 4.18% | 31.93 | 32.40 / 28.00 C: 32.30 ⇑ 4.87% | 31.73 | 32.40 / 31.00 RUPALIBANK | 6.70 | 64.27 | Vol. 28518 D: 64.30 ⇑ 1.90% | 63.72 | 65.10 / 63.00 C: 66.70 ⇑ 5.87% | 65.99 | 67.90 / 63.90 UCBL | 1.90 | 21.72 | Vol. 3841298 D: 24.90 ⇑ 6.87% | 24.25 | 25.00 / 21.20 C: 24.50 ⇑ 4.26% | 24.21 | 24.70 / 23.50 UTTARABANK | 3.42 | 26.97 | Vol. 402287 D: 30.60 ⇑ 0.99% | 30.52 | 31.00 / 29.50 C: 30.40 ⇑ 1.00% | 30.47 | 31.00 / 30.10 ICBIBANK | -1.60 | -13.03 | Vol. 1042500 D: 7.10 ⇑ 4.41% | 7.26 | 7.40 / 6.50 EBL | 3.91 | 28.22 | Vol. 29938 D: 28.20 ⇑ 1.08% | 28.13 | 28.50 / 25.30 C: 28.00 ⇑ 4.87% | 27.95 | 29.00 / 27.50 ALARABANK | 2.03 | 14.91 | Vol. 1774666 D: 19.00 ⇑ 3.83% | 18.74 | 20.00 / 17.50 C: 18.80 ⇑ 1.62% | 18.69 | 19.20 / 18.20 PRIMEBANK | 2.89 | 22.40 | Vol. 153731 D: 23.30 ⇑ 0.87% | 23.09 | 23.80 / 21.00 C: 22.80 ⇑ 2.24% | 22.78 | 23.00 / 22.60 SOUTHEASTB | 1.89 | 22.66 | Vol. 633417 D: 17.90 ⇑ 2.29% | 17.69 | 18.30 / 16.00 C: 17.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 17.68 | 18.10 / 17.40 DHAKABANK | 1.46 | 18.08 | Vol. 150626 D: 18.70 ⇑ 2.75% | 18.29 | 19.00 / 17.00 C: 18.20 ⇑ 1.11% | 18.13 | 18.50 / 18.00 NCCBANK | 1.90 | 15.88 | Vol. 738727 D: 13.80 ⇑ 4.55% | 13.55 | 14.50 / 11.90 C: 13.60 ⇑ 1.49% | 13.59 | 13.80 / 13.40 SIBL | 2.05 | 14.47 | Vol. 532126 D: 13.20 ⇑ 3.13% | 13.17 | 14.00 / 11.60 C: 13.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 13.14 | 13.30 / 11.90 DUTCHBANGL | 11.57 | 54.27 | Vol. 15830 D: 98.00 ⇑ 0.72% | 96.99 | 98.00 / 92.00 MTBL | 1.17 | 17.27 | Vol. 25504 D: 15.40 ⇑ 0.00% | 15.43 | 15.60 / 14.50 C: 15.50 ⇑ 2.65% | 15.50 | 15.50 / 15.50 STANDBANKL | 2.33 | 14.41 | Vol. 275477 D: 14.70 ⇑ 2.08% | 14.66 | 15.50 / 13.20 C: 14.70 ⇑ 2.08% | 14.66 | 15.00 / 14.00 ONEBANKLTD | 2.35 | 15.34 | Vol. 705060 D: 16.10 ⇑ 2.55% | 16.01 | 16.30 / 14.40 C: 15.90 ⇑ 1.92% | 15.97 | 16.50 / 15.60 BANKASIA | 1.35 | 20.80 | Vol. 69816 D: 18.60 ⇑ 2.20% | 18.41 | 18.80 / 16.60 C: 18.10 ⇑ 0.56% | 18.14 | 18.40 / 18.10 MERCANBANK | 2.07 | 16.59 | Vol. 1975824 D: 15.70 ⇑ 4.67% | 15.67 | 16.10 / 14.00 C: 15.70 ⇑ 4.67% | 15.68 | 15.90 / 15.00 EXIMBANK | 1.80 | 14.31 | Vol. 600864 D: 12.50 ⇑ 3.31% | 12.46 | 13.00 / 11.00 C: 12.50 ⇑ 2.46% | 12.42 | 12.50 / 11.00 JAMUNABANK | 2.47 | 18.56 | Vol. 123365 D: 16.40 ⇑ 1.23% | 16.27 | 17.00 / 15.00 C: 16.00 ⇑ 1.91% | 15.97 | 16.10 / 15.80 BRACBANK | 1.51 | 24.87 | Vol. 322715 D: 30.90 ⇑ 0.98% | 30.67 | 31.00 / 28.00 C: 30.50 ⇑ 0.99% | 30.27 | 30.50 / 27.20 SHAHJABANK | 2.61 | 14.47 | Vol. 532369 D: 16.80 ⇑ 1.82% | 16.69 | 17.30 / 15.00 C: 16.70 ⇑ 0.60% | 16.58 | 17.00 / 15.80

Vol. 1621450

TO M. Tk.

% of TTL

Avg. P

471.34

12.09

290.69

BD Building Systems -N

2551000

171.70

4.41

67.31

164.01

Bengal Windsor-N

2658600

R. N. Spinning-A

4009885

Generation Next Fashions-A

4417140

142.28 136.68

DSE Gainer

A%

CP

DSE Loser

C%

A%

CP

9.97

2.55

70.60

Stylecraft-A

-6.25

-6.25

1077.20

Rahima Food -A

9.84

9.12

55.80

Atlas BD-A

-5.14

-5.23

158.60

4.21

61.69

Central Pharm-A

9.74

-0.59

42.80

Kohinoor Chem-A

-4.23

-3.98

340.00

3.65

35.48

Northern Jute-Z

9.70

9.53

32.80

Power Grid Co.-A

-3.89

-5.46

54.40

64.90

Paramount Textile Ltd.-N

-3.25

-5.51

50.60

3.51

PREMIERBAN | 1.18 | 13.95 | Vol. 675116 D: 11.50 ⇑ 3.60% | 11.38 | 11.60 / 10.10 C: 11.40 ⇑ 2.70% | 11.35 | 11.50 / 11.10 TRUSTBANK | 0.50 | 18.00 | Vol. 748974 D: 19.30 ⇑ 0.52% | 19.34 | 19.80 / 18.00 C: 18.80 ⇓ 2.08% | 18.76 | 19.30 / 18.50 FIRSTSBANK | 1.85 | 13.89 | Vol. 553800 D: 14.90 ⇑ 3.47% | 14.82 | 15.20 / 14.00 C: 14.80 ⇑ 1.37% | 14.74 | 15.20 / 14.50

NON BANKING F I

IDLC | 4.43 | 29.18 | Vol. 110288 D: 58.50 ⇓ 0.34% | 58.82 | 59.70 / 53.00 C: 59.30 ⇑ 0.17% | 59.52 | 61.70 / 56.00 ULC | 1.80 | 14.90 | Vol. 120735 D: 28.30 ⇓ 0.35% | 28.39 | 31.20 / 27.00 UTTARAFIN | 7.16 | 41.54 | Vol. 65110 D: 77.50 ⇓ 0.77% | 78.18 | 80.00 / 73.00 C: 79.60 ⇑ 3.38% | 77.46 | 79.60 / 77.00 MIDASFIN | 0.16 | 10.21 | Vol. 5554 D: 30.00 ⇑ 3.45% | 29.96 | 30.00 / 27.50 C: 27.10 ⇓ 1.45% | 27.05 | 27.20 / 27.00 FLEASEINT | 2.34 | 13.93 | Vol. 404401 D: 28.60 ⇑ 4.00% | 28.30 | 29.00 / 26.00 C: 28.40 ⇑ 2.16% | 28.05 | 28.50 / 27.00 PLFSL | 1.37 | 17.48 | Vol. 358324 D: 23.00 ⇑ 1.77% | 22.93 | 23.20 / 21.00 C: 22.90 ⇑ 1.78% | 22.95 | 23.70 / 22.50 PRIMEFIN | 0.87 | 17.88 | Vol. 105450 D: 23.60 ⇑ 1.72% | 23.44 | 23.80 / 23.20 C: 23.70 ⇑ 1.72% | 23.47 | 23.90 / 23.20 PREMIERLEA | 0.10 | 11.37 | Vol. 50000 D: 10.00 ⇑ 1.01% | 10.00 | 10.10 / 9.90 C: 10.10 ⇑ 1.00% | 10.09 | 10.50 / 10.00 ISLAMICFIN | 1.03 | 15.48 | Vol. 281500 D: 16.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 16.05 | 16.50 / 15.50 C: 16.10 ⇓ 0.62% | 16.05 | 16.30 / 15.90 LANKABAFIN | 1.61 | 31.07 | Vol. 273425 D: 53.30 ⇑ 1.72% | 52.82 | 55.00 / 50.00 C: 52.90 ⇑ 1.54% | 52.50 | 53.80 / 51.20 BIFC | 0.15 | 18.58 | Vol. 138845 D: 15.70 ⇓ 0.63% | 15.75 | 16.20 / 14.90 C: 16.00 ⇑ 0.63% | 16.04 | 16.70 / 15.80 IPDC | 1.23 | 19.43 | Vol. 84229 D: 17.90 ⇑ 1.70% | 17.72 | 18.00 / 16.00 C: 17.10 ⇓ 2.84% | 17.10 | 17.10 / 17.10 UNIONCAP | 0.54 | 17.85 | Vol. 43748 D: 29.00 ⇑ 1.40% | 28.29 | 29.00 / 26.00 C: 28.10 ⇑ 1.81% | 28.10 | 28.20 / 28.00 BDFINANCE | 0.57 | 14.77 | Vol. 355080 D: 19.00 ⇑ 6.15% | 18.72 | 19.20 / 16.50 C: 18.30 ⇑ 3.39% | 18.12 | 18.60 / 17.50 ILFSL | 0.35 | 12.19 | Vol. 163125 D: 14.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 14.19 | 14.50 / 12.80 C: 14.10 ⇓ 0.70% | 14.21 | 14.90 / 12.80 PHOENIXFIN | 2.46 | 19.39 | Vol. 109102 D: 31.30 ⇑ 2.29% | 31.02 | 31.60 / 28.00 C: 31.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 31.31 | 31.60 / 30.00 FASFIN | 0.19 | 13.56 | Vol. 223700 D: 13.60 ⇑ 0.74% | 13.57 | 14.00 / 13.50 C: 13.60 ⇓ 0.73% | 13.61 | 13.80 / 13.50 DBH | 4.47 | 21.27 | Vol. 36426 D: 52.90 ⇑ 0.38% | 52.68 | 53.50 / 51.50 NHFIL | 0.57 | 12.70 | Vol. 111168 D: 29.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 29.44 | 30.20 / 28.00 C: 29.40 ⇑ 1.03% | 29.44 | 30.00 / 29.30 BAYLEASING | 0.72 | 25.55 | Vol. 89482 D: 28.30 ⇑ 3.28% | 27.96 | 28.70 / 25.00 C: 28.30 ⇑ 1.07% | 28.20 | 28.30 / 28.00 ICB | 89.23 | 607.74 | Vol. 3150 D: 1505 ⇑ 0.94% | 1496 | 1510 / 1480 C: 1501 ⇓ 0.66% | 1501 | 1502 / 1500 GSPFINANCE | 1.63 | 22.23 | Vol. 62436 D: 25.80 ⇑ 4.03% | 25.23 | 25.90 / 22.40 C: 24.50 ⇓ 0.81% | 24.45 | 24.70 / 24.20 FAREASTFIN | 0.68 | 13.64 | Vol. 480000 D: 13.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 13.63 | 13.90 / 13.50 C: 13.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 13.69 | 13.90 / 13.50

INVESTMENT

C%

BD Building Systems -N

5THICB | 23.45 | 188.92 | Vol. 500 D: 146.5 ⇓ 1.08% | 146.50 | 146.5 / 146.5

30.94

Bengal Windsor-N

9.26

1.65

6THICB | 10.99 | 60.14 | Vol. 10000 D: 52.00 ⇑ 0.58% | 51.90 | 52.70 / 51.70 8THICB | 12.47 | 70.07 | Vol. 2500 D: 52.80 ⇑ 0.38% | 53.20 | 54.00 / 52.50 AIMS1STMF | 3.02 | 15.70 | Vol. 247250 D: 38.20 ⇑ 0.79% | 38.19 | 38.90 / 37.70 C: 37.80 ⇓ 1.56% | 37.81 | 38.00 / 37.50 ICBISLAMIC | 2.21 | 26.81 | Vol. 26500 D: 17.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 17.70 | 17.80 / 17.40 GRAMEEN1 | 6.26 | 33.23 | Vol. 138000 D: 42.50 ⇓ 0.23% | 42.49 | 43.40 / 42.00 C: 42.40 ⇓ 0.70% | 42.44 | 42.50 / 42.30 ICB1STNRB | 4.06 | 35.31 | Vol. 500 D: 25.20 ⇓ 2.70% | 25.20 | 25.20 / 25.20 ICB2NDNRB | 2.49 | 16.24 | Vol. 64000 D: 9.90 ⇑ 1.02% | 9.83 | 10.00 / 9.70 C: 9.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 9.70 | 9.70 / 9.70 GRAMEENS2 | 2.17 | 16.41 | Vol. 303000 D: 16.00 ⇑ 0.63% | 15.99 | 16.20 / 14.50 C: 15.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 15.96 | 16.10 / 15.80 1STPRIMFMF | 0.64 | 11.63 | Vol. 394500 D: 21.40 ⇑ 4.39% | 21.11 | 21.50 / 20.70 C: 21.10 ⇑ 2.43% | 20.98 | 21.40 / 19.10 EBL1STMF | 0.55 | 12.62 | Vol. 294725 D: 7.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 7.11 | 7.20 / 6.50 C: 7.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.99 | 7.00 / 6.80 ICBAMCL2ND | 0.60 | 12.12 | Vol. 170000 D: 5.80 ⇓ 1.69% | 5.82 | 5.90 / 5.80 ICBEPMF1S1 | 0.52 | 11.32 | Vol. 67000 D: 5.90 ⇓ 1.67% | 5.96 | 6.10 / 5.90 TRUSTB1MF | 0.75 | 11.65 | Vol. 288458 D: 7.40 ⇑ 1.37% | 7.33 | 7.50 / 6.70 C: 7.40 ⇑ 1.37% | 7.34 | 7.40 / 7.30 PRIME1ICBA | 0.42 | 11.18 | Vol. 120500 D: 5.40 ⇑ 1.89% | 5.33 | 5.40 / 5.20 C: 5.60 ⇓ 1.75% | 5.54 | 5.70 / 5.40 DBH1STMF | -1.12 | 10.15 | Vol. 324000 D: 5.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.63 | 5.70 / 5.60 C: 5.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.60 | 5.70 / 5.50 IFIC1STMF | 0.83 | 11.88 | Vol. 141500 D: 6.60 ⇑ 1.54% | 6.62 | 6.70 / 6.00 C: 6.70 ⇑ 3.08% | 6.70 | 6.70 / 6.70 PF1STMF | 0.51 | 11.11 | Vol. 109000 D: 5.70 ⇑ 3.64% | 5.54 | 5.70 / 5.50 C: 5.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.50 | 5.50 / 5.50 ICB3RDNRB | 0.00 | 10.60 | Vol. 221500 D: 5.30 ⇑ 1.92% | 5.21 | 5.30 / 5.10 C: 5.20 ⇓ 1.89% | 5.25 | 5.30 / 5.20 1JANATAMF | 0.78 | 10.68 | Vol. 91500 D: 6.00 ⇑ 1.69% | 5.98 | 6.10 / 5.90 C: 6.00 ⇑ 1.69% | 5.96 | 6.00 / 5.90 GREENDELMF | -0.82 | 9.72 | Vol. 208500 D: 5.40 ⇑ 1.89% | 5.39 | 5.40 / 5.30 C: 5.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.30 | 5.30 / 5.30 POPULAR1MF | 0.77 | 11.38 | Vol. 336820 D: 6.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.02 | 6.60 / 5.50 C: 6.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.08 | 6.10 / 6.00 IFILISLMF1 | 0.00 | 10.45 | Vol. 375500 D: 5.90 ⇑ 1.72% | 5.84 | 6.00 / 5.70 C: 5.70 ⇓ 3.39% | 5.76 | 5.80 / 5.70 PHPMF1 | 0.63 | 10.92 | Vol. 605000 D: 5.60 ⇑ 1.82% | 5.54 | 5.70 / 5.50 C: 5.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.53 | 5.70 / 5.50 AIBL1STIMF | -0.07 | 9.25 | Vol. 8500 D: 7.20 ⇑ 4.35% | 7.20 | 7.20 / 7.00 C: 6.60 ⇑ 1.54% | 6.60 | 6.60 / 6.60 MBL1STMF | -0.16 | 9.08 | Vol. 36500 D: 6.20 ⇑ 1.64% | 6.13 | 6.20 / 6.10 C: 6.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.15 | 6.20 / 6.10 SEBL1STMF | 0.94 | 11.85 | Vol. 289850 D: 7.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 7.96 | 8.00 / 7.20 C: 8.00 ⇑ 1.27% | 7.96 | 8.00 / 7.90 RELIANCE1 | 0.95 | 10.33 | Vol. 239200 D: 8.50 ⇓ 1.16% | 8.55 | 8.80 / 8.00 C: 8.50 ⇓ 3.41% | 8.53 | 8.60 / 8.50 LRGLOBMF1 | 0.45 | 10.78 | Vol. 40500 D: 6.70 ⇑ 1.52% | 6.66 | 6.80 / 6.60 C: 6.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.70 | 6.70 / 6.70 ABB1STMF | 0.92 | 10.63 | Vol. 134000 D: 7.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 7.13 | 7.20 / 7.10 NLI1STMF | 1.17 | 12.22 | Vol. 458600 D: 9.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 8.98 | 9.20 / 8.90 C: 9.00 ⇑ 1.12% | 8.99 | 9.00 / 8.90

FBFIF | 1.30 | 10.27 | Vol. 11500 D: 9.00 ⇑ 3.45% | 8.78 | 9.00 / 8.40 NCCBLMF1 | 1.16 | 10.48 | Vol. 4000 D: 8.30 ⇑ 1.22% | 8.25 | 8.30 / 8.10 ICBSONALI1 | 0.00 | 10.39 | Vol. 287000 D: 8.00 ⇑ 3.90% | 7.96 | 8.00 / 7.80 C: 8.00 ⇑ 2.56% | 7.99 | 8.00 / 7.80

ENGINEERING

AFTABAUTO | 4.03 | 56.91 | Vol. 353718 D: 100.4 ⇓ 0.79% | 101.09 | 103.0 / 92.00 C: 101.2 ⇑ 0.10% | 101.29 | 99.00 / 100.5 AZIZPIPES | 0.39 | -42.04 | Vol. 10900 D: 17.40 ⇓ 1.14% | 17.58 | 17.70 / 17.40 C: 18.30 ⇑ 1.10% | 17.37 | 18.30 / 16.90 OLYMPIC | 5.23 | 14.73 | Vol. 114997 D: 148.6 ⇑ 0.95% | 149.70 | 153.4 / 144.0 C: 146.8 ⇑ 0.14% | 148.51 | 150.0 / 146.8 BDLAMPS | -5.31 | 37.07 | Vol. 2050 D: 126.5 ⇑ 0.40% | 126.84 | 128.8 / 125.7 C: 125.2 ⇓ 1.49% | 125.20 | 126.1 / 124.5 ECABLES | 2.04 | 18.87 | Vol. 74300 D: 83.00 ⇑ 3.75% | 81.66 | 83.00 / 80.80 C: 80.60 ⇑ 9.96% | 80.45 | 80.60 / 74.00 MONNOSTAF | 5.31 | 44.78 | Vol. 750 D: 316.7 ⇑ 4.18% | 317.33 | 328.5 / 314.9 SINGERBD | 9.99 | 45.74 | Vol. 52550 D: 191.0 ⇑ 0.84% | 189.51 | 192.0 / 188.0 C: 190.3 ⇑ 0.42% | 188.86 | 191.0 / 188.0 ATLASBANG | 9.14 | 222.05 | Vol. 31600 D: 158.6 ⇓ 5.14% | 158.61 | 162.0 / 157.0 BDAUTOCA | -0.43 | 5.68 | Vol. 39650 D: 31.60 ⇑ 2.93% | 31.07 | 32.00 / 30.00 QSMDRYCELL | 1.06 | 52.31 | Vol. 141754 D: 34.40 ⇑ 0.88% | 34.55 | 35.50 / 32.00 C: 34.50 ⇑ 2.68% | 34.53 | 35.40 / 34.00 RENWICKJA | 5.77 | -31.13 | Vol. 6650 D: 146.5 ⇑ 1.31% | 145.41 | 148.8 / 143.0 NTLTUBES | 0.67 | 311.00 | Vol. 75060 D: 71.70 ⇑ 0.84% | 72.12 | 73.00 / 70.00 BDTHAI | 0.43 | 39.35 | Vol. 139787 D: 26.50 ⇑ 2.32% | 26.31 | 26.80 / 24.00 C: 26.10 ⇑ 1.16% | 25.95 | 26.30 / 25.70 ANWARGALV | 0.52 | 8.10 | Vol. 287500 D: 26.00 ⇑ 3.17% | 26.22 | 27.50 / 25.40 C: 26.30 ⇑ 2.73% | 26.38 | 26.80 / 25.60 KAY&QUE | -3.89 | 6.03 | Vol. 12500 D: 15.20 ⇑ 2.70% | 15.28 | 15.90 / 14.90 RANFOUNDRY | 2.84 | 18.62 | Vol. 23000 D: 82.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 83.73 | 85.00 / 82.70 C: 85.00 ⇑ 1.80% | 85.00 | 85.00 / 85.00 SALAMCRST | 3.31 | 20.00 | Vol. 280690 D: 42.90 ⇑ 2.39% | 42.40 | 43.10 / 38.00 C: 42.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 41.99 | 42.20 / 37.90 GOLDENSON | 3.70 | 28.70 | Vol. 555573 D: 48.90 ⇑ 1.45% | 48.51 | 49.50 / 44.00 C: 48.90 ⇑ 1.24% | 48.19 | 49.00 / 47.00 BSRMSTEEL | 3.06 | 19.53 | Vol. 195458 D: 70.80 ⇑ 0.85% | 70.50 | 72.00 / 65.00 C: 70.30 ⇑ 0.43% | 72.73 | 73.60 / 70.00 NAVANACNG | 4.09 | 27.04 | Vol. 81221 D: 65.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 65.28 | 66.50 / 60.00 C: 64.70 ⇓ 1.37% | 64.74 | 65.00 / 64.50 DESHBANDHU | 0.26 | 10.67 | Vol. 329809 D: 18.10 ⇑ 1.12% | 18.03 | 18.40 / 16.30 C: 18.00 ⇑ 0.56% | 17.90 | 18.20 / 17.60 GPHISPAT | 2.11 | 15.27 | Vol. 479290 D: 56.20 ⇓ 0.18% | 55.31 | 58.00 / 51.00 C: 56.30 ⇑ 0.18% | 56.06 | 58.00 / 53.90 BENGALWTL | 3.85 | 24.30 | Vol. 2658600 D: 64.90 ⇑ 9.26% | 61.68 | 65.10 / 58.20 C: 63.30 ⇑ 6.39% | 61.80 | 64.90 / 58.40 BDBUILDING | 1.33 | 12.70 | Vol. 2551000 D: 70.60 ⇑ 9.97% | 67.26 | 70.60 / 64.80 C: 70.60 ⇑ 9.97% | 67.69 | 70.60 / 65.10 NPOLYMAR | 2.38 | 32.89 | Vol. 248300 D: 57.60 ⇑ 1.95% | 58.32 | 59.90 / 56.50 C: 57.10 ⇑ 1.06% | 58.06 | 59.80 / 56.00

FOOD & ALLIED

APEXFOODS | 2.54 | 90.81 | Vol. 28500 D: 87.10 ⇑ 1.16% | 88.00 | 89.80 / 86.40 C: 86.00 ⇓ 1.26% | 87.60 | 88.00 / 86.00

BANGAS | 7.20 | 50.27 | Vol. 42856 D: 448.2 ⇑ 0.43% | 449.03 | 454.9 / 440.0 C: 446.3 ⇑ 0.52% | 446.80 | 455.0 / 443.0 BATBC | 65.69 | 117.22 | Vol. 4450 D: 1680 ⇑ 2.03% | 1689 | 1698 / 1680 GEMINISEA | -15.39 | -5.70 | Vol. 1050 D: 157.4 ⇑ 2.61% | 158.10 | 163.9 / 154.2 NTC | 29.88 | 110.05 | Vol. 100 D: 815.0 ⇑ 1.46% | 810.00 | 815.0 / 805.0 AMCL(PRAN) | 6.85 | 57.14 | Vol. 32500 D: 182.0 ⇑ 1.05% | 181.45 | 183.5 / 179.3 C: 176.7 ⇓ 1.83% | 176.83 | 181.0 / 175.1 RAHIMAFOOD | 0.52 | 4.45 | Vol. 1009500 D: 55.80 ⇑ 9.84% | 55.18 | 55.80 / 52.00 C: 55.60 ⇑ 9.45% | 55.59 | 55.80 / 54.20 FUWANGFOOD | 0.94 | 12.28 | Vol. 305553 D: 22.80 ⇑ 0.00% | 22.83 | 23.20 / 21.00 C: 22.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 22.77 | 23.00 / 22.50 MEGHNAPET | -0.50 | -1.52 | Vol. 26000 D: 6.60 ⇑ 1.54% | 6.54 | 6.60 / 6.40 MEGCONMILK | -7.48 | -23.70 | Vol. 33000 D: 7.30 ⇑ 1.39% | 7.27 | 7.40 / 7.20 BEACHHATCH | 1.01 | 12.48 | Vol. 439674 D: 21.30 ⇑ 2.40% | 20.95 | 21.50 / 19.00 C: 21.20 ⇑ 0.95% | 21.10 | 21.60 / 20.50 FINEFOODS | 0.05 | 10.63 | Vol. 918650 D: 22.00 ⇑ 7.32% | 21.83 | 22.40 / 20.50 C: 21.90 ⇑ 6.31% | 21.99 | 22.60 / 20.80 RDFOOD | 0.91 | 16.84 | Vol. 553450 D: 23.50 ⇑ 2.17% | 23.46 | 24.00 / 21.90 C: 23.80 ⇑ 2.59% | 23.69 | 24.10 / 23.20 GHAIL | 2.31 | 24.36 | Vol. 665400 D: 43.90 ⇑ 4.52% | 42.73 | 43.90 / 38.00 C: 43.40 ⇑ 3.33% | 42.76 | 43.90 / 41.00

FUEL & POWER

LINDEBD | 31.71 | 144.00 | Vol. 5710 D: 628.0 ⇑ 1.72% | 625.08 | 628.7 / 619.4 PADMAOIL | 27.62 | 79.74 | Vol. 182288 D: 313.9 ⇑ 0.48% | 310.93 | 316.0 / 305.0 C: 311.9 ⇑ 0.13% | 311.34 | 315.0 / 309.1 EASTRNLUB | 5.33 | 71.01 | Vol. 250 D: 315.0 ⇑ 0.22% | 312.00 | 315.0 / 308.0 BDWELDING | 0.33 | 16.82 | Vol. 263704 D: 21.80 ⇑ 2.35% | 21.49 | 21.90 / 19.90 C: 21.30 ⇓ 0.47% | 21.38 | 21.60 / 21.10 SUMITPOWER | 3.17 | 19.26 | Vol. 559238 D: 38.70 ⇑ 3.48% | 38.24 | 38.80 / 35.00 C: 38.50 ⇑ 2.67% | 38.35 | 38.80 / 37.60 DESCO | 2.34 | 31.27 | Vol. 78743 D: 59.40 ⇑ 0.85% | 59.09 | 60.00 / 56.00 C: 59.10 ⇑ 1.37% | 58.76 | 59.50 / 58.20 POWERGRID | 2.19 | 63.69 | Vol. 125840 D: 54.40 ⇓ 3.89% | 53.19 | 54.40 / 51.00 C: 52.90 ⇓ 6.21% | 53.35 | 54.00 / 52.20 JAMUNAOIL | 21.81 | 72.05 | Vol. 327486 D: 235.0 ⇓ 1.14% | 236.23 | 240.0 / 234.0 C: 236.0 ⇓ 1.26% | 236.91 | 246.0 / 234.8 MPETROLEUM | 21.34 | 59.26 | Vol. 264440 D: 223.5 ⇓ 0.22% | 223.89 | 226.0 / 216.0 C: 221.9 ⇓ 0.54% | 222.47 | 228.9 / 220.0 TITASGAS | 9.20 | 46.26 | Vol. 226169 D: 73.50 ⇑ 0.55% | 73.36 | 74.50 / 70.00 C: 73.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 73.03 | 73.10 / 72.50 KPCL | 4.73 | 15.86 | Vol. 110195 D: 49.90 ⇑ 2.67% | 48.99 | 49.90 / 44.00 C: 49.30 ⇑ 1.44% | 49.09 | 49.80 / 48.30 BEDL | 1.48 | 19.43 | Vol. 757660 D: 31.40 ⇓ 0.32% | 31.49 | 33.10 / 28.40 C: 31.50 ⇑ 0.64% | 31.60 | 32.50 / 31.00 MJLBD | 2.73 | 30.24 | Vol. 53167 D: 72.50 ⇑ 0.14% | 72.29 | 73.50 / 66.00 C: 72.00 ⇑ 0.42% | 71.82 | 73.00 / 71.30 GBBPOWER | 1.86 | 22.63 | Vol. 659610 D: 29.20 ⇑ 1.39% | 28.96 | 30.00 / 26.00 C: 29.00 ⇑ 1.40% | 28.97 | 29.50 / 28.00 SPPCL | 3.81 | 23.34 | Vol. 828920 D: 61.60 ⇑ 2.67% | 60.48 | 61.80 / 56.00 C: 60.90 ⇑ 2.01% | 60.40 | 61.70 / 58.70

JUTE

JUTESPINN | -48.14 | -39.89 | Vol. 7400 D: 81.80 ⇑ 0.12% | 81.62 | 84.00 / 80.50

DHAKA TRIBUNE

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7

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2013

December 02, 2013 Sectotal Index: BANK: 36,632.34 ⇑ 2.19% NBFI: 19,822.24 ⇑ 1.20% INVS: 4,752.68 ⇑ 0.09% ENGG: 6,216.23 ⇑ 0.81% FOOD: 9,791.05 ⇑ 0.81% F&P: 10,175.60 ⇓ 0.06% TEXT: 3,385.63 ⇓ 0.24% PHAR: 17,948.69 ⇑ 0.52% PAPR: 1,046.19 ⇑ 0.19% SERV: 2,978.21 ⇑ 0.03% LEAT: 5,302.90 ⇓ 0.97% CERA: 515.32 ⇑ 0.02% CMNT: 4,258.15 ⇑ 1.11% INFO: 7,310.69 ⇑ 0.06% GINS: 9,164.16 ⇑ 0.36% LINS: 121,334.38 ⇑ 1.99% TELC: 1,333.23 ⇑ 0.62% MISC: 6,467.89 ⇑ 0.81%

CENTRALPHL | 1.62 | 12.24 | Vol. 2600550 D: 42.80 ⇑ 9.74% | 40.34 | 42.90 / 35.10 C: 41.70 ⇑ 6.38% | 40.44 | 43.10 / 37.90

ISNLTD | 0.28 | 17.31 | Vol. 103017 D: 17.80 ⇑ 0.00% | 17.99 | 18.40 / 17.60 C: 18.00 ⇑ 0.56% | 17.99 | 18.40 / 17.80 BDCOM | 1.40 | 14.41 | Vol. 103287 D: 25.30 ⇓ 1.17% | 25.64 | 26.00 / 24.00 C: 25.30 ⇓ 2.32% | 25.29 | 25.30 / 25.20 INTECH | 0.94 | 10.08 | Vol. 110269 D: 15.60 ⇓ 0.64% | 15.72 | 16.00 / 14.50 C: 15.70 ⇓ 0.63% | 15.75 | 16.00 / 15.70 AGNISYSL | 0.96 | 14.90 | Vol. 128550 D: 20.80 ⇑ 0.00% | 21.11 | 21.40 / 19.00 C: 20.70 ⇓ 2.36% | 20.73 | 20.90 / 20.60 DAFODILCOM | 0.85 | 10.99 | Vol. 151000 D: 13.70 ⇑ 2.24% | 13.52 | 13.80 / 13.30 C: 13.60 ⇑ 0.74% | 13.59 | 14.00 / 13.50 AAMRATECH | 1.33 | 19.91 | Vol. 760475 D: 34.60 ⇑ 3.90% | 34.13 | 34.80 / 32.00 C: 34.50 ⇑ 3.92% | 34.28 | 34.90 / 33.50

PAPER & PACKAGING

GENERAL INSURANCE

NORTHERN | -9.98 | -18.22 | Vol. 1400 D: 32.80 ⇑ 9.70% | 32.86 | 32.80 / 32.00 SONALIANSH | 5.54 | 218.80 | Vol. 5200 D: 132.7 ⇓ 1.56% | 134.04 | 135.5 / 132.0

TEXTILE

AL-HAJTEX | 2.22 | 16.53 | Vol. 44811 D: 70.90 ⇓ 0.14% | 70.89 | 72.90 / 65.00 STYLECRAFT | 20.00 | 287.30 | Vol. 100 D: 1077 ⇓ 6.25% | 1077 | 1077 / 1077 RAHIMTEXT | 4.65 | 56.68 | Vol. 350 D: 231.0 ⇑ 2.71% | 231.43 | 235.0 / 230.0 SAIHAMTEX | 2.75 | 29.50 | Vol. 365900 D: 27.30 ⇓ 2.15% | 27.61 | 28.30 / 27.00 C: 27.30 ⇓ 2.15% | 27.35 | 28.50 / 27.00 MODERNDYE | 0.91 | 10.37 | Vol. 5300 D: 102.1 ⇑ 0.39% | 105.85 | 109.9 / 102.0 DSHGARME | 0.88 | 12.12 | Vol. 85800 D: 72.00 ⇑ 5.42% | 71.69 | 74.00 / 69.00 DULAMIACOT | -1.90 | -29.70 | Vol. 300 D: 7.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 7.50 | 7.50 / 7.50 TALLUSPIN | 1.75 | 16.17 | Vol. 667430 D: 35.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 35.07 | 35.80 / 32.50 C: 35.00 ⇓ 0.57% | 35.17 | 35.90 / 34.40 APEXSPINN | 2.01 | 49.32 | Vol. 9000 D: 67.20 ⇓ 1.18% | 67.33 | 69.50 / 66.80 MITHUNKNIT | 2.87 | 20.53 | Vol. 62400 D: 71.90 ⇑ 1.13% | 71.63 | 72.80 / 70.60 C: 71.50 ⇓ 0.56% | 71.37 | 71.50 / 71.10 DELTASPINN | 3.06 | 26.84 | Vol. 311300 D: 28.20 ⇓ 2.08% | 28.44 | 29.30 / 26.50 C: 28.30 ⇓ 2.41% | 28.55 | 29.50 / 27.90 SONARGAON | 0.27 | 34.50 | Vol. 137263 D: 17.30 ⇑ 1.76% | 17.19 | 18.00 / 16.50 C: 17.40 ⇑ 1.75% | 17.27 | 17.60 / 16.90 PRIMETEX | 1.21 | 59.34 | Vol. 134000 D: 24.70 ⇑ 1.65% | 24.75 | 25.20 / 24.30 C: 24.50 ⇑ 0.41% | 24.63 | 24.90 / 24.40 ALLTEX | -1.26 | 8.10 | Vol. 105000 D: 7.20 ⇓ 2.70% | 7.19 | 7.30 / 7.10 C: 7.20 ⇓ 1.37% | 7.33 | 7.50 / 7.20 ANLIMAYARN | 1.36 | 11.99 | Vol. 113770 D: 26.00 ⇑ 1.56% | 25.71 | 27.90 / 24.00 C: 25.70 ⇓ 0.39% | 25.70 | 25.70 / 25.70 HRTEX | 2.08 | 14.92 | Vol. 269000 D: 38.00 ⇓ 1.04% | 38.01 | 39.70 / 37.00 C: 38.10 ⇓ 1.04% | 38.39 | 39.30 / 37.20 CMCKAMAL | 1.37 | 19.31 | Vol. 1271268 D: 31.50 ⇑ 0.64% | 31.69 | 33.00 / 29.00 SAFKOSPINN | 0.95 | 21.78 | Vol. 244670 D: 25.00 ⇑ 0.81% | 25.03 | 25.50 / 22.50 C: 25.10 ⇑ 0.80% | 25.07 | 25.40 / 24.50 SQUARETEXT | 4.32 | 31.82 | Vol. 80074 D: 92.40 ⇑ 0.43% | 92.40 | 92.90 / 90.00 C: 92.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 92.01 | 92.10 / 92.00 METROSPIN | 0.56 | 17.71 | Vol. 878297 D: 21.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 20.80 | 21.60 / 20.00 C: 20.70 ⇓ 2.36% | 20.88 | 21.80 / 20.40 MAKSONSPIN | 0.16 | 20.55 | Vol. 2103432 D: 18.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 18.00 | 19.00 / 16.50 C: 18.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 17.97 | 18.60 / 17.50 DACCADYE | 0.93 | 25.85 | Vol. 582020 D: 24.40 ⇓ 0.41% | 24.38 | 25.50 / 24.00 C: 24.30 ⇓ 1.62% | 24.51 | 25.40 / 24.10 RNSPIN | 2.80 | 16.58 | Vol. 4009885 D: 35.60 ⇑ 0.85% | 35.46 | 36.50 / 32.00 C: 35.50 ⇑ 0.28% | 35.59 | 36.40 / 34.80 BXSYNTH | 0.93 | 25.42 | Vol. 262652 D: 16.70 ⇑ 2.45% | 16.53 | 17.00 / 15.00 C: 16.70 ⇑ 1.21% | 16.67 | 17.00 / 16.40 MALEKSPIN | 2.81 | 43.48 | Vol. 863310 D: 27.70 ⇑ 0.36% | 27.87 | 29.80 / 25.00 C: 28.00 ⇑ 1.08% | 28.00 | 28.50 / 25.00 ZAHINTEX | 1.20 | 31.07 | Vol. 168150 D: 26.30 ⇑ 0.38% | 26.05 | 26.80 / 25.00 C: 26.20 ⇓ 0.76% | 26.38 | 27.00 / 26.00 SAIHAMCOT | 1.92 | 23.62 | Vol. 411750 D: 23.70 ⇓ 0.84% | 23.74 | 24.30 / 23.30 C: 23.60 ⇓ 1.67% | 23.88 | 24.30 / 23.30 GENNEXT | 1.68 | 15.15 | Vol. 4417140 D: 31.20 ⇓ 0.32% | 30.94 | 32.00 / 28.50 C: 31.10 ⇓ 1.27% | 30.96 | 31.90 / 29.70 ENVOYTEX | 3.10 | 37.86 | Vol. 777260 D: 54.00 ⇓ 1.64% | 54.01 | 55.60 / 49.50 C: 53.90 ⇓ 1.64% | 53.85 | 59.50 / 53.00

ARGONDENIM | 1.89 | 38.86 | Vol. 708795 D: 72.00 ⇑ 3.45% | 70.74 | 73.50 / 63.00 C: 72.20 ⇑ 4.03% | 71.08 | 73.00 / 69.00 FAMILYTEX | 3.72 | 14.68 | Vol. 298000 D: 50.50 ⇓ 0.39% | 50.08 | 51.50 / 48.10 C: 49.70 ⇓ 0.60% | 49.62 | 51.50 / 48.20 PTL | 2.25 | 21.72 | Vol. 2562750 D: 50.60 ⇓ 3.25% | 50.98 | 52.90 / 49.80 C: 50.80 ⇓ 2.68% | 51.12 | 53.00 / 49.70

PHARMACEUTICAL & CHEMICAL

AMBEEPHA | 3.94 | 26.15 | Vol. 12450 D: 275.0 ⇑ 2.69% | 272.91 | 278.0 / 263.6 C: 272.9 ⇑ 2.17% | 272.44 | 275.0 / 270.2 BXPHARMA | 3.77 | 52.55 | Vol. 195782 D: 46.60 ⇑ 1.53% | 46.49 | 50.00 / 42.00 C: 46.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 45.99 | 47.00 / 45.50 GLAXOSMITH | 20.25 | 123.32 | Vol. 500 D: 955.0 ⇓ 1.41% | 954.00 | 955.0 / 950.0 ACI | -5.82 | 126.42 | Vol. 5754 D: 170.6 ⇑ 0.77% | 170.06 | 171.6 / 158.0 C: 166.2 ⇓ 1.66% | 166.20 | 166.2 / 166.2 RENATA | 33.57 | 138.83 | Vol. 5050 D: 720.0 ⇓ 0.01% | 721.39 | 724.4 / 719.0 PHARMAID | 1.39 | 26.19 | Vol. 27500 D: 162.0 ⇑ 1.82% | 161.02 | 162.6 / 158.6 KOHINOOR | 11.46 | 15.99 | Vol. 500 D: 340.0 ⇓ 4.23% | 340.00 | 340.0 / 340.0 IBNSINA | 3.44 | 34.02 | Vol. 46676 D: 100.5 ⇓ 0.20% | 100.64 | 102.9 / 96.00 C: 100.5 ⇓ 0.40% | 101.30 | 103.0 / 100.4 LIBRAINFU | 4.21 | 1567.59 | Vol. 3200 D: 455.5 ⇑ 8.74% | 440.94 | 455.5 / 425.0 ORIONINFU | 1.27 | 7.00 | Vol. 74300 D: 40.10 ⇑ 1.52% | 40.33 | 41.50 / 39.90 C: 40.20 ⇑ 0.25% | 40.84 | 42.00 / 39.40 SQURPHARMA | 6.93 | 37.18 | Vol. 309219 D: 194.0 ⇑ 1.15% | 191.99 | 194.1 / 180.0 C: 191.6 ⇑ 0.47% | 191.51 | 192.5 / 188.0 IMAMBUTTON | -1.51 | 4.16 | Vol. 22500 D: 7.30 ⇓ 1.35% | 7.37 | 7.40 / 7.30 C: 7.40 ⇑ 1.37% | 7.40 | 7.40 / 7.40 KEYACOSMET | 1.55 | 21.54 | Vol. 886109 D: 26.90 ⇑ 2.67% | 26.58 | 27.50 / 23.90 C: 26.70 ⇑ 1.52% | 26.67 | 27.20 / 24.00 ACIFORMULA | 3.33 | 38.08 | Vol. 13350 D: 73.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 73.64 | 74.10 / 73.00 C: 74.40 ⇑ 0.40% | 74.42 | 74.50 / 74.00 MARICO | 27.53 | 62.47 | Vol. 1850 D: 754.0 ⇑ 0.68% | 751.89 | 755.0 / 746.3 BEACONPHAR | 0.04 | 12.01 | Vol. 328800 D: 13.10 ⇑ 0.77% | 13.24 | 14.30 / 11.70 C: 13.00 ⇑ 1.56% | 12.88 | 13.00 / 11.90 ACTIVEFINE | 3.23 | 13.89 | Vol. 205223 D: 84.00 ⇑ 1.20% | 83.62 | 84.50 / 75.00 C: 84.10 ⇑ 1.57% | 83.70 | 84.50 / 83.00 SALVOCHEM | 0.68 | 10.57 | Vol. 487527 D: 22.00 ⇑ 2.33% | 21.88 | 23.10 / 20.00 C: 21.90 ⇑ 0.92% | 21.83 | 22.40 / 20.00 GHCL | 2.14 | 57.31 | Vol. 549250 D: 58.50 ⇑ 4.09% | 57.48 | 58.60 / 55.00 C: 58.10 ⇑ 3.20% | 57.26 | 58.40 / 55.50 ORIONPHARM | 5.02 | 68.68 | Vol. 1033140 D: 61.50 ⇑ 2.50% | 60.66 | 61.80 / 54.00 C: 61.00 ⇑ 1.33% | 60.77 | 62.70 / 55.00 JMISMDL | 1.12 | 12.83 | Vol. 196500 D: 197.3 ⇑ 0.61% | 200.96 | 204.9 / 197.0 C: 201.3 ⇑ 1.26% | 202.98 | 208.0 / 197.1

HAKKANIPUL | 0.51 | 31.01 | Vol. 63500 D: 28.70 ⇓ 1.03% | 29.52 | 30.40 / 27.70 C: 29.90 ⇑ 2.40% | 29.73 | 30.40 / 29.00

SERVICE

SAMORITA | 2.49 | 57.42 | Vol. 37550 D: 89.40 ⇑ 0.11% | 89.74 | 95.00 / 89.20 SAPORTL | 1.23 | 38.39 | Vol. 336762 D: 29.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 29.54 | 30.40 / 27.00 C: 29.40 ⇑ 0.68% | 29.42 | 30.00 / 29.00 EHL | 2.81 | 18.44 | Vol. 282664 D: 51.80 ⇑ 1.37% | 51.32 | 52.60 / 49.00 C: 51.40 ⇑ 0.39% | 51.25 | 52.80 / 48.00

LEATHER

APEXTANRY | 6.57 | 69.38 | Vol. 65100 D: 120.2 ⇑ 2.65% | 119.30 | 120.4 / 116.5 C: 117.3 ⇑ 0.69% | 117.23 | 120.7 / 115.1 BATASHOE | 49.12 | 135.53 | Vol. 15900 D: 731.0 ⇓ 1.62% | 729.86 | 740.0 / 726.0 C: 734.0 ⇓ 2.39% | 734.14 | 738.0 / 732.0 APEXADELFT | 23.01 | 203.26 | Vol. 14600 D: 373.8 ⇑ 0.46% | 374.73 | 377.5 / 373.2 LEGACYFOOT | 0.63 | 17.19 | Vol. 678619 D: 39.80 ⇓ 0.75% | 40.35 | 42.00 / 37.40 C: 40.50 ⇑ 0.25% | 40.40 | 42.00 / 39.00

CERAMIC

MONNOCERA | 0.35 | 95.30 | Vol. 32800 D: 33.60 ⇑ 0.30% | 33.67 | 34.40 / 33.00 C: 34.00 ⇑ 0.59% | 34.00 | 34.00 / 34.00 STANCERAM | 1.12 | 15.49 | Vol. 1500 D: 37.50 ⇓ 2.85% | 37.33 | 37.50 / 36.60 FUWANGCER | 0.65 | 12.70 | Vol. 480432 D: 19.90 ⇑ 0.51% | 19.89 | 20.60 / 17.90 C: 19.80 ⇑ 0.00% | 19.81 | 20.40 / 19.20 SPCERAMICS | 0.62 | 30.92 | Vol. 416223 D: 18.20 ⇑ 1.68% | 17.94 | 19.00 / 16.40 C: 17.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 17.92 | 18.50 / 17.60 RAKCERAMIC | 1.98 | 16.76 | Vol. 154507 D: 51.40 ⇑ 0.59% | 51.23 | 52.20 / 46.00 C: 51.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 51.31 | 52.00 / 50.80

CEMENT

HEIDELBCEM | 22.85 | 111.50 | Vol. 16050 D: 381.0 ⇑ 1.14% | 379.37 | 382.3 / 377.3 C: 378.7 ⇑ 0.45% | 378.70 | 380.0 / 376.1 CONFIDCEM | 6.23 | 90.76 | Vol. 69256 D: 121.1 ⇑ 2.28% | 119.30 | 121.2 / 117.0 C: 119.6 ⇑ 0.76% | 119.71 | 120.9 / 119.0 MEGHNACEM | 6.28 | 33.81 | Vol. 42500 D: 125.2 ⇑ 1.54% | 124.06 | 126.0 / 123.1 C: 125.0 ⇑ 2.88% | 123.90 | 125.0 / 122.7 ARAMITCEM | 3.03 | 14.65 | Vol. 194500 D: 76.30 ⇑ 8.23% | 73.25 | 76.30 / 70.40 C: 73.50 ⇑ 4.70% | 74.15 | 75.20 / 73.50 LAFSURCEML | 1.60 | 7.22 | Vol. 727000 D: 33.30 ⇑ 2.46% | 32.96 | 33.50 / 32.50 C: 32.80 ⇑ 2.18% | 32.75 | 33.00 / 32.40 MICEMENT | 4.48 | 37.67 | Vol. 74291 D: 81.10 ⇑ 0.50% | 80.88 | 82.20 / 74.00 C: 80.50 ⇓ 0.74% | 81.08 | 82.00 / 80.30 PREMIERCEM | 5.00 | 32.60 | Vol. 88800 D: 97.60 ⇓ 0.10% | 97.55 | 99.70 / 96.60 C: 96.80 ⇓ 1.93% | 97.30 | 99.00 / 96.00

IT IINDUSTRIES

BGIC | 1.65 | 20.33 | Vol. 32524 D: 29.00 ⇓ 0.34% | 29.06 | 29.60 / 29.00 C: 28.90 ⇑ 1.05% | 28.93 | 29.50 / 28.80 GREENDELT | 4.05 | 64.44 | Vol. 361661 D: 93.40 ⇑ 5.54% | 94.21 | 96.00 / 80.00 C: 93.10 ⇑ 5.92% | 93.45 | 96.00 / 90.20 PEOPLESINS | 2.05 | 20.72 | Vol. 52884 D: 34.90 ⇑ 1.16% | 34.57 | 35.50 / 32.00 C: 34.00 ⇓ 0.58% | 34.01 | 34.10 / 34.00 EASTERNINS | 2.22 | 35.88 | Vol. 19130 D: 38.00 ⇑ 1.06% | 37.64 | 38.10 / 36.00 JANATAINS | 0.78 | 17.07 | Vol. 82350 D: 27.70 ⇑ 0.73% | 27.80 | 28.10 / 26.80 C: 27.40 ⇑ 0.00% | 27.46 | 28.10 / 27.00 PHENIXINS | 2.70 | 20.96 | Vol. 29790 D: 42.00 ⇑ 2.94% | 41.79 | 42.60 / 37.00 EASTLAND | 4.06 | 23.29 | Vol. 59849 D: 47.70 ⇓ 0.21% | 47.88 | 48.50 / 47.00 C: 47.80 ⇑ 0.00% | 47.84 | 47.90 / 47.80 RUPALIINS | 2.76 | 23.38 | Vol. 69400 D: 33.30 ⇑ 0.91% | 32.87 | 33.60 / 31.80 C: 32.60 ⇓ 0.31% | 32.59 | 32.70 / 32.50 FEDERALINS | 1.10 | 10.98 | Vol. 133269 D: 23.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 23.89 | 24.40 / 23.00 C: 23.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 23.87 | 24.20 / 23.70 RELIANCINS | 3.93 | 61.52 | Vol. 1500 D: 69.20 ⇓ 2.40% | 70.00 | 70.90 / 69.20 PURABIGEN | 1.05 | 18.71 | Vol. 58700 D: 23.40 ⇑ 0.43% | 23.50 | 23.80 / 23.00 PRAGATIINS | 2.01 | 50.30 | Vol. 5549 D: 58.00 ⇑ 2.84% | 57.61 | 59.00 / 55.00 PRIMEINSUR | 2.14 | 14.14 | Vol. 43615 D: 31.20 ⇓ 1.27% | 31.31 | 31.80 / 30.00 PIONEERINS | 3.11 | 23.84 | Vol. 103420 D: 68.90 ⇑ 2.23% | 67.71 | 69.00 / 63.00 MERCINS | 1.53 | 14.50 | Vol. 43861 D: 27.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 26.87 | 28.60 / 25.00 C: 26.00 ⇓ 7.14% | 25.99 | 26.50 / 25.70 AGRANINS | 1.73 | 14.39 | Vol. 38395 D: 27.60 ⇑ 2.60% | 27.17 | 27.80 / 24.30 GLOBALINS | 1.09 | 11.78 | Vol. 16561 D: 28.40 ⇑ 1.43% | 28.05 | 28.50 / 26.00 NITOLINS | 2.59 | 15.41 | Vol. 16500 D: 33.70 ⇑ 1.20% | 33.45 | 33.80 / 33.20 ASIAPACINS | 1.84 | 13.76 | Vol. 11000 D: 29.50 ⇓ 0.67% | 29.55 | 30.00 / 29.00 SONARBAINS | 1.68 | 13.38 | Vol. 69000 D: 24.20 ⇑ 0.41% | 24.04 | 24.40 / 23.80 PARAMOUNT | 1.26 | 13.19 | Vol. 17847 D: 24.00 ⇑ 0.84% | 23.79 | 24.30 / 22.00 CITYGENINS | 1.65 | 14.26 | Vol. 54000 D: 27.20 ⇑ 0.74% | 26.91 | 27.90 / 26.70 CONTININS | 1.41 | 15.68 | Vol. 81354 D: 29.40 ⇑ 1.73% | 29.12 | 29.60 / 27.50 TAKAFULINS | 2.19 | 15.17 | Vol. 142500 D: 38.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 38.00 | 38.80 / 37.70 C: 38.30 ⇑ 0.52% | 38.25 | 38.50 / 38.00 STANDARINS | 2.58 | 13.99 | Vol. 42500 D: 40.10 ⇓ 1.47% | 40.24 | 42.20 / 39.00 NORTHRNINS | 1.77 | 11.15 | Vol. 21678 D: 41.40 ⇑ 0.24% | 41.35 | 43.00 / 38.00 C: 40.50 ⇓ 1.22% | 40.48 | 40.50 / 40.40 REPUBLIC | 2.14 | 12.42 | Vol. 86532 D: 41.80 ⇓ 0.24% | 41.86 | 42.80 / 39.00 ASIAINS | 1.56 | 17.34 | Vol. 36398 D: 27.00 ⇑ 1.12% | 26.77 | 27.20 / 25.50 C: 26.80 ⇓ 0.37% | 26.75 | 27.00 / 26.70

ISLAMIINS | 1.29 | 11.96 | Vol. 18001 D: 32.20 ⇓ 1.23% | 32.46 | 32.70 / 30.00 C: 33.00 ⇑ 1.23% | 33.00 | 33.00 / 33.00 PROVATIINS | 1.90 | 14.30 | Vol. 13000 D: 28.00 ⇑ 1.82% | 27.92 | 28.50 / 27.60 C: 27.30 ⇓ 0.36% | 27.30 | 27.30 / 27.30 DHAKAINS | 2.84 | 18.02 | Vol. 58850 D: 40.90 ⇑ 1.74% | 40.34 | 41.40 / 39.00 C: 39.90 ⇓ 2.92% | 40.80 | 42.10 / 39.90

LIFE INSURANCE

NATLIFEINS | 12.34 | 80.99 | Vol. 9949 D: 257.0 ⇑ 4.05% | 252.03 | 257.0 / 248.0 C: 254.0 ⇑ 2.42% | 251.50 | 254.0 / 250.0 DELTALIFE | 38.53 | 189.40 | Vol. 1621450 D: 302.0 ⇑ 8.40% | 290.57 | 302.9 / 278.0 C: 298.7 ⇑ 5.88% | 291.94 | 305.0 / 281.0 SANDHANINS | 2.39 | 28.22 | Vol. 31691 D: 71.40 ⇑ 2.44% | 70.39 | 71.80 / 65.00 POPULARLIF | 3.70 | 715.41 | Vol. 34616 D: 240.0 ⇑ 2.61% | 237.95 | 248.0 / 230.0 C: 232.5 ⇑ 0.22% | 236.88 | 239.0 / 232.5 FAREASTLIF | 9.21 | 60.79 | Vol. 32244 D: 97.80 ⇑ 0.41% | 97.05 | 99.00 / 88.00 C: 95.60 ⇑ 0.31% | 95.55 | 95.60 / 95.50 MEGHNALIFE | 10.82 | 48.87 | Vol. 31000 D: 109.4 ⇑ 3.01% | 107.60 | 110.0 / 100.0 C: 106.0 ⇑ 0.86% | 106.00 | 106.0 / 106.0 PROGRESLIF | 2.30 | 31.45 | Vol. 18373 D: 119.9 ⇑ 7.15% | 117.83 | 123.0 / 105.0 C: 120.1 ⇑ 26.29% | 120.05 | 130.0 / 110.1 PRAGATILIF | 0.60 | 30.15 | Vol. 27500 D: 161.0 ⇑ 1.71% | 162.51 | 169.0 / 157.1 PRIMELIFE | 5.51 | 27.10 | Vol. 8878 D: 95.70 ⇑ 1.27% | 94.10 | 95.70 / 90.00 C: 94.10 ⇓ 9.43% | 94.11 | 96.00 / 94.00 RUPALILIFE | 3.75 | 31.25 | Vol. 205780 D: 114.0 ⇑ 8.37% | 111.20 | 115.5 / 105.0 C: 111.2 ⇑ 9.99% | 110.55 | 111.2 / 109.9 PADMALIFE | 1.63 | 25.76 | Vol. 103460 D: 58.60 ⇑ 2.45% | 58.51 | 62.00 / 51.90 C: 58.10 ⇑ 1.75% | 57.97 | 59.50 / 57.00 SUNLIFEINS | 0.00 | 0.00 | Vol. 114025 D: 57.00 ⇑ 3.07% | 55.65 | 57.00 / 50.00 C: 56.30 ⇑ 2.55% | 56.77 | 58.00 / 55.20

TELECOM

GP | 12.96 | 26.26 | Vol. 361200 D: 201.1 ⇑ 0.30% | 201.37 | 204.0 / 199.5 C: 201.6 ⇑ 0.70% | 201.24 | 203.7 / 200.0 BSCCL | 5.82 | 26.38 | Vol. 203385 D: 169.5 ⇑ 0.06% | 169.93 | 174.0 / 160.0 C: 168.7 ⇑ 0.36% | 169.27 | 184.8 / 155.0

TRAVEL & LEISURE

UNITEDAIR | 1.10 | 12.87 | Vol. 2603131 D: 16.40 ⇑ 0.00% | 16.54 | 17.00 / 14.90 C: 16.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 16.55 | 16.80 / 16.30 UNIQUEHRL | 4.02 | 86.29 | Vol. 499965 D: 82.60 ⇑ 1.10% | 81.89 | 82.90 / 75.00 C: 81.60 ⇓ 0.24% | 81.75 | 83.00 / 81.00

MISCELLANEOUS

ARAMIT | 16.07 | 99.93 | Vol. 650 D: 333.0 ⇓ 1.74% | 335.00 | 336.0 / 333.0 C: 311.0 ⇑ 0.29% | 311.00 | 311.0 / 311.0 BSC | 1.77 | 565.82 | Vol. 46685 D: 432.3 ⇑ 0.41% | 433.01 | 438.5 / 427.0 C: 430.8 ⇑ 0.54% | 431.59 | 437.8 / 427.8 GQBALLPEN | 6.55 | 250.45 | Vol. 22324 D: 141.8 ⇑ 1.14% | 140.53 | 142.5 / 140.0 C: 139.5 ⇑ 0.29% | 139.36 | 140.0 / 139.0 USMANIAGL | 3.45 | 27.20 | Vol. 25122 D: 128.6 ⇑ 0.70% | 128.60 | 131.0 / 125.0 C: 127.0 ⇓ 0.78% | 127.74 | 129.0 / 127.0 SAVAREFR | 0.14 | 10.57 | Vol. 100 D: 57.90 ⇑ 8.63% | 60.00 | 57.90 / 57.80 BEXIMCO | 3.24 | 86.74 | Vol. 1327276 D: 33.60 ⇑ 2.13% | 33.23 | 35.00 / 29.70 C: 33.50 ⇑ 1.82% | 33.43 | 34.10 / 32.60 SINOBANGLA | 1.75 | 21.01 | Vol. 71500 D: 21.30 ⇑ 0.47% | 21.35 | 21.60 / 21.10 C: 21.50 ⇓ 0.46% | 21.30 | 21.50 / 21.20

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2013

Amazon unveils futuristic drone delivery plan n AFP, Washington Want that Amazon order in just 30 minutes?

Company CEO Jeff Bezos says he hopes to soon deploy an armada of mini-drones able to drop small packages at your doorstep.

The US online retail giant’s revolutionary project still needs extra safety testing and federal approval, but Bezos believes that Amazon “Prime Air” would be up and running within four to five years.

“These are effectively drones but there’s no reason that they can’t be used as delivery vehicles,” Bezos told CBS television’s “60 Minutes” program late Sunday.

“I know this looks like science fiction. It’s not,” he said.

“We can do half-hour delivery . . . and we can carry objects, we think, up to five pounds (2.3 kilograms), which covers 86% of the items that we deliver.”

A video posted on the company’s website shows a prototype drone. The body of the device is about the size of a flat-screen monitor, and it is attached to eight small helicopter rotors and sits on four tall legs.

The claws under the belly of the “octopeter” then latch onto a standard sized plastic bucket that rolls down a conveyer belt at Amazon’s distribution centre. Inside the bucket is the order.

The drone lifts off and whizzes into the air like a giant mechanical insect to deliver the package just 30 minutes after clicking the “pay” button on Amazon.com. Then it buzzes back into the air and returns to base.

The mini-drones are powered by environmentally-friendly electric motors and can cover areas within a 10-mile (16-kilometer) radius of fulfilment centres, thus covering a significant portion of the population in urban areas.

A box from Amazon.com is pictured on the porch of a house in Golden, Colorado in this July REUTERS The drones operate autonomously and follow the GPS coordinates they receive to drop the items off at target locations.

“It’s very green, it’s better than driving

trucks around,” said Bezos.

He also claims they are safe; the prototype has redundant motors that will keep it in the air and prevent it from crashing.

“The hard part here is putting in all the redundancy, all the reliability, all the systems you need to say, ‘Look, this thing can’t land on somebody’s head while they’re walking around their neighbourhood,’” Bezos told CBS. Amazon said the octocopters would be “ready to enter commercial operations as soon as the necessary regulations are in place,” noting that the Federal Aviation Administration was hard at work hammering out rules for the use of unmanned aerial vehicles.

Amazon projected a more optimistic timeline than Bezos himself for the project to be activated, saying the FAA’s rules could be in place as early as 2015, and that Amazon Prime Air would be ready at that time.

Bezos hinted that part of the motivation behind the mini-drones was to make sure Amazon remains on the cutting edge of the retail industry.

“Companies have short life spans ... And Amazon will be disrupted one day,” he said.

“I would love for it to be after I’m dead.”

If the plan succeeds other retailers like Wal Mart, or even the local pizza store, could also start home deliveries via drone.

Comments on Twitter about the program ranged from amazed to humorous.

“If this weren’t on the CBS website, I would think this Amazon drone thing was an Onion article,” wrote Iris Blasi, referring to the popular satirical tabloid.

FAA chief Michael Huerta earlier said he expects some 7,500 small unmanned aircraft buzzing in the US skies in the next five years.

Michael Toscano, head of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), predicted that a booming market for civilian drones will lead to the creation of 100,000 jobs over the next decade. l

Foreign investors changing European football landscape n AFP, Paris Asian tycoons, Russian oligarchs, Arab sheikhs, American businessmen - 10 years after Roman Abramovich’s takeover of Chelsea, European clubs remain targets for wealthy foreign investors, and rarely for their love of the shirt.

From Chelsea to the recent buyout of Italian giants Inter Milan by Indonesian media mogul Erick Thohir, a long list of clubs on the continent have changed hands over the last decade.

The trend is most striking in England’s Premier League, where the environment is more welcoming to potential investors, with many clubs listed on the stock exchange.

In total, 11 of the 20 clubs in England’s cash-rich top flight are in foreign hands.

But investors have also turned their attentions to other European leagues, notably France, where clubs are not weighed down by massive debts as is often the case in Spain and Italy and are not protected in the same way as in Germany, where the law prevents any private investor from owning more than 49 percent of a club’s shares.

As a result, Paris Saint-Germain were bought out by Qatar Sports Investments in

2011 and Russian billionaire Dimitry Rybolovlev took control of Monaco in December of the same year before going on to dramatically revive the fortunes of the principality club.

“The influx of money has an immediate impact on the market. The first thing these new owners do is pay huge sums for the best players. That causes inflation and sometimes a sporting imbalance with clubs who can no longer keep up,” says Didier Primault, co-director of the Centre for the Law and Economics of Sport (CDES) in Limoges, France.

The CDES have produced a report for the European Union as part of their efforts to regulate the football transfer system.

In their report, the CDES have noted that the greatest inflation occurred following Abramovich’s arrival at Chelsea in 2003, after Manchester City were bought by the Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008 and last summer, when PSG and their Ligue 1 rivals Monaco fought with each other to break the French transfer record while Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona also splashed out.’Different types of investors’ Fortunes have been used up to clear clubs’ debts, with 200 million euros ($267m, £167m) of Thohir’s initial investment in Inter

going on reducing the Nerazzurri’s arrears.

But lavishing such sums on debt management and buying players is sometimes done without any regard for the economic logic of the state of the markets at that moment in time.

The recent case of Monaco was a perfect example, with the principality club marking their promotion back to France’s top tier by spending 167 million euros in the summer transfer window.

Then there was the remarkable policy of another Russian billionaire, Suleiman Kerimov, who turned unfashionable Anzhi Makhachkala from the volatile region of Dagestan into a major player on the European stage by spending big to bring in a whole host of players in 2011, notably Cameroonian striker Samuel Eto’o, who was rumoured to be the world’s highest-paid player when he signed from Inter.

More recently, Malaysian Vincent Tan has steered Cardiff City into the English Premier League for the first time, but his methods including changing the club’s colours from blue to red and putting a family friend in charge of player recruitment - have not gone down well with supporters.

“There are different types of investors,”

says Frederic Bolotny, a consultant on the economics of sport.

“Some are looking for indirect benefits, as part of a political strategy, such as Qatar’s ownership of PSG. Others are more irrational.

“Abramovich at Chelsea or Rybolovlev at Monaco are looking for respectability regardless of whether they can make money out of it. “Not of all of these investors can be compared.”

Indeed, cases in which foreign investors actively look to make money - such as the Glazers at Manchester United - are very rare.

The gradual introduction of Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules by European football’s governing body UEFA in a bid to stop clubs spending more money than they actually generate should - in theory - prevent more instances of such irrational spending as have become commonplace.

“I don’t see how all this can go on once financial fair play is in full force,” says Bolotny, who points a finger towards the “golden contract, completely out of keeping with the market” that PSG recently agreed with the official Qatar Tourism Authority and which will eventually net the French capital club 200m euros. l