December 05, 2013

Avenue T Mumu’s passion on display

Agrahayan 21, 1420 Muharram 30, 1435 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 1 No 251

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Lebanese women futsallers kick down barriers

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2013 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

Five killed in Gaibandha rail sabotage n Kamran Reza Chowdhury Just a day after the rail link across the country was restored for the first time in over a week, the biggest acts of sabotage yet carried out on the network killed five passengers in Gaibandha and caused two more derailments in Jessore and Chandpur.

The gravest incident took place around 1am close to Bhurungi bridge

Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh meets Hasina, Khaleda, Ershad in storm trip tem and it would happen in that way. n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman She was also not willing to disclose

India wants to see the upcoming election staged with the maximum number of participants At the media interaction session, Sujatha gave short answers to most of the questions, and on politically-sensitive questions she tried to remain vague.

When asked if she supported an inclusive and participatory election, Sujatha said India wanted to see the upcoming election staged with the “maximum number of participants.”

When a journalist raised a question if BNP did not participate in the polls would it be a credible one following the UN definition, Sujatha said if somebody wanted to teach her with Webster or other dictionary, she would not understand it.

She said Bangladesh had its own sys-

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the matters discussed between her and the political leaders. “What we discussed is a matter between the leaders and us,” she reportedly said.

However, the secretary hoped that the next election would be free, fair and violence free and people would accept it.

One-to-one meeting with PM

After the meeting with the prime minister, a diplomat told the Dhaka Tribune: “They had a one-to-one meeting for about half an hour, but we do not know about the details. It is assumed that the secretary gave a message to the prime minister.”

The diplomat was present at the PMO during the meeting.

At the formal call-on with the prime minister, the Indian foreign secretary assured Hasina that India would try to resolve the pending Land Boundary Agreement, according to the diplomat who said he was not authorised to speak to media.

“The winter session of the Indian parliament will convene tomorrow [today] and the Indian side reassured that they will try to place the constitution amendment bill [to pave the way for ratification of the LBA],” he said.

Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid has twice failed to place the bill before.

Earlier in the morning, Sujatha called on Foreign Minister Mahmood Ali and had a discussion for about half an hour. Foreign Secretary Shahidul, Secretary (bilateral) Mustafa Kamal and Director General of South Asia Md Jashim Uddin were also present.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 6

RMG industry: EU warns Bangladesh of compliance

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India: Elections must be held on time India has sent a strong message to Bangladesh that the upcoming parliamentary elections must be held in line with the schedule.

“For building democratic institutions, the election must be held,” Indian Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh told a group of journalists at a hotel in Dhaka yesterday.

Sujatha arrived in the city on a special flight in the morning on a 24-hour visit. She had a 30-minute meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and hour-long discussion with Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia. She also met with Jatiya Party chief HM Ershad.

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A number of people gather around the Padmaragh Express which skidded off the rail tracks yesterday morning after pro-blockade activists removed the fishplates near Bhurungi Bridge in Bonarpara of Gaibandha DHAKA TRIBUNE

Awami League firm on holding polls on Jan 5 n Emran Hossain Shaikh The Awami League Central Working Committee yesterday vowed to hold the upcoming 10th parliamentary election on January 5 and they would not accept any shift from the schedule announced by the Election Commission.

Against the backdrop of HM Ershad’s announcement of boycotting the polls, ruling AL’s highest decision-making body yesterday sat in an emergency meeting at the prime minister’s official residence Ganabhaban. AL President Sheikh Hasina presided over the closed-door meeting that lasted for over three hours.

The committee members unanimously decided that they would not accept any deviation from the announced

election schedule and suggested that the government take necessary steps to ensure it, several meeting insiders told the Dhaka Tribune.

“Without mentioning the opposition leader’s name, the prime minster in her speech hinted that the government may even arrest Khaleda Zia, if needed,” said a central leader on condition of anonymity.

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COMBING OPERATION

Two other party leaders also confirmed her remark.

Earlier, at another meeting with National Defence College delegation, she asked the army to remain alert for any situation.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

BLOCKADE: NINE KILLED

near Bonarpara of Gaibandha district.

At least five passengers were killed and over 100 injured when Padmaragh Express skidded off the tracks after blockaders removed the fish plates and clips that fix the rails to the sleeper.

Gaibandha Fire Service and Civil Defence Deputy Assistant Director Kobad Ali Sarkar confirmed the death toll.

Kobad, who led the rescue team,  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Prima ‘Ershad’ Donna He threatens to commit suicide was impossible to hold peaceful elecn Manik Miazee tions amid the political turmoil.

Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad yesterday threatened to commit suicide after he remained untraceable for 26 hours before he resurfaced yesterday afternoon.

“If anyone tries to outwit me – I have four pistols and all are loaded – I will commit suicide,” he told reporters at his Baridhara residence last night after a day full of dramatic events.

“This is a commitment to my countrymen; this is my last decision and I will stick to it till my last breath,” said the former military dictator, who has had records of swinging between decisions and indecisions.

In the afternoon he told media that he had asked his party members to resign from the polls-time cabinet as it

In a 13-minute press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Ershad announced that he had decided to quit polls – a day after 255 JP men submitted nomination papers for the 10th parliamentary elections.

In the 1980s, Ershad was the Chief Marshal Law Administrator (CMLA). At that time, it was often said that CMLA meant “cancel my last announcement” because of his habit of changing decisions in matters of minutes.

He went off the grid at around 5:15pm Tuesday, soon after his press conference finished, until 3:18pm yesterday, when he appeared in white microbus at the back gate of his Baridhara residence.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 3

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

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Thursday, December 5, 2013

PM asks armed forces to remain alert n UNB Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday asked the armed forces to remain alert all the time to face any situation.

“We want peace. But you have to remain alert all the time to face any situation and we have to enhance our capability to this end,” she said during a meeting with delegation of the National Defence College comprising commandant, faculties, staff members and participants of the NDC and War Course 2013 held at her office.

Hasina said having strong armed forces in a country like Bangladesh did not mean that it would engage in war.

“The armed forces will be used for maintaining peace not merely in the country, but also across the world.”

In this connection, she mentioned the Bangladesh armed forces’ role in the UN Peacekeeping operations across the world.

The prime minister said despite financial constraints, the government had increased the budgetary allocation for the modernisation of the armed

forces. “We increased the allocation so that our armed forces can compete with other armed forces of the world.”

She hoped that the armed forces would continue to maintain its high standard of efficiency and professionalism.

Mentioning that Bangladesh’s strategic geographic location was important in global politics, the premier said Bangladesh was playing a major role in promoting regional integration. Moreover, the country was also playing a key role in establishing peace at domestic, regional and international levels.

Hasina said Bangladesh’s domestic policies had proved to be effective in human development and economic empowerment of the people in general while the foreign policy had worked to create a most favourable environment for national development.

A total of 64 participants including 26 from China, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Malaysia and Tanzania are taking part in the NDC and War Course 2013. l

PM’s new advisers given portfolios n Mohosinul Karim The four newly-appointed advisers to the prime minister were handed their portfolios yesterday as Jatiya Party chief HM Ershad ordered his party leaders to resign from the polls-time government.

Jatiya Party Presidium Member Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu has been given the office of the education and women development affairs. Earlier, he was given the assignment to oversee the health and women development affairs.

Jatiya Party President Anwar Hossain Manju has been given the assignment to oversee the shipping and post and telecommunications ministries.

Shafique Ahmed got the assignment of oversee the law and justice affairs ministry, while Dilip Barua got agriculture, industry and social welfare ministries.

Earlier yesterday, Ershad ordered his party leaders to resign from the pollstime cabinet as his party will not participate in the next general election without participation of all the political parties. l

Rab nabs Khoka from Uttara n Tribune Report

Indian Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh talks with Indian High Commissioner Pankaj Saran before the visiting secretary was set to meet Foreign Minister Abul Hasan Mahmood Ali at the ministry yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

Election Commission to return UNDP’s ‘transparent’ ballot boxes n Mohammad Zakaria The Election Commission has decided to withdraw from field and send back 40,000 transparent ballot boxes provided by the UNDP. The officials concerned informed the commission that the imported boxes were not transparent, and later the EC asked regional election offices not to distribute the boxes to the field-level offices.

In October, the commission sent 40,000 ballot boxes to 10 regional offices for holding the upcoming parliamentary elections slated for January 5.

However, the UNDP has assured of providing 20,000 new ballot boxes

‘Use of state-owned resources in pre-election campaign increased’ n Tribune Report Tendency of using state-owned resources in pre-election campaign rose among ministers and MPs, particularly from ruling party lawmakers, a civil society platform yesterday said.

Ministers and MPs of the ruling party have used state resources, particularly government vehicles, properties and government meetings for their pre-election campaign and seeking votes for the 10th parliamentary polls, Election Working Group, a platform of several civil organisations claimed yesterday through a press release.

“At least 34 such incidents, out of a total 41 were done by the Awami League lawmakers and ministers

which is 82.9% of the total incidents,” it said adding that “The ruling party has asked for votes through billboards at major cities, including Dhaka where achievements of the ministries (health, education, foreign earning) were described thoroughly, which could interrupt creating a level playing field during the elections.”

With the coming 10th parliamentary polls, the EWG has done the pre-election campaign observation report through filed visits of its observers at 118 constituencies during September 25 to October 24 this year, and the report was released yesterday signed by its director M Abdul Alim.

During the surveillance process, EWG observers found the PM, with her visit

Five killed in Gaibandha rail  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

said: “Four bodies were found first and during the rescue operation we discovered another inside the train.” Noticing the broken track, the train driver braked hard to stop the vehicle, but five compartments hit one another at the rear at high speed, the officials said.

Witnesses said the train slid off the tracks with a bang near Bhurungi bridge under Bonarpara, Gaibandha.

Angry local people caught two opposition activists – Saddam Hossain and Dudu Mia – for their alleged act of sabotage and handed them over to police.

“Saddam and Dudu are the activists of the BNP-Jamaat alliance. They were caught red-handed,” said the deputy commissioner.

The deliberate act of sabotage has snapped the rail communication of Lalmonirhat with Dhaka, Bogra and other destinations.

Last week, local people in Jamalganj and Joypurhat saved an inter-city train “Simanto Express” from a major disaster as the blockaders removed the tracks from a bridge on a canal.

The local train – “Padmaragh” – mainly used by poor people, runs between Lalmonirhat and Shantahar in Bogra district.

The track was yet to be restored at the time of filing this report.

Other accidents

Elsewhere, Sujit Kumar Biswas, divisional traffic officer (Pakishi), told the Dhaka Tribune that three coaches of the Khulna-bound train – “Nakshikantha” – derailed yesterday around 1am between Noapara and Tejerhat in Jessore.

“It is a clear act of sabotage as they

removed fish plates and clips,” he said.

Sujit said the communication link had already been restored.

In Chandpur, two coaches and the locomotive of the Chittagong-bound “Meghna Express” derailed around 5:40am near Shahtali in the district.

Some 500 passengers boarded the train that ran between Chandpur and Chittagong.

The passengers destined for Khulna, Barisal, Bhola and other southern districts were stranded there by the opposition-enforced blockade.

The train driver AK Niazi told the Dhaka Tribune Chandpur Correspondent that the blockaders removed the fish plates along 39 feet of tracks.

Maruf Hossain, assistant manager of the Chandpur rail station, said the troublemakers committed the act of sabotage. The communication links are yet to be restored.

Syed Zahurul Islam, director (traffic) of the railway, said many trains fell behind schedule because of the incidents.

Sarder Shahadat Ali, divisional railway manager (Dhaka), told the Dhaka Tribune the drivers had been instructed to drive the trains at low speeds as a precaution.

“Besides, we have been operating trolleys and engines ahead of the trains to detect any sabotage on the track.

The trolleys or engines preceding the trains would derail first in case of sabotage,” he said.

The railway witnessed over 200 accidents including 20 big attacks since the BNP-led opposition called a series of blockades protesting the announcement of schedules of the 10th parliamentary polls slated for January 5. l

to field-level sought votes for the ruling party several times while inaugurating development projects, laying foundation stones of projects or during rally, which could hamper equal participation for a free and impartial poll, it said.

It also said: “As part of the pre-election campaign, the political parties used other mediums including distribution of sacrificial animals’ meats, and clothes and cash where probable candidates of AL allegedly spent Tk1lakh while it was around Tk30,000 for leaders from other parties.”

The group also identified some challenges for the polls including current MP’s influence, debatable changes in administration, control of the overall situation, black money and muscle power. l

which would reach Dhaka by December 23, the EC sources said. But the authorised officers denied talking about the matter.

In this regard, the United Nations residential coordinator for Bangladesh, Neal Walker, met with Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad on Monday. After the meeting, Walker avoided the media.

Additional Secretary of the EC Sirajul Islam said he would not talk about the issue. He, however, said the matter would be disclosed to the media later.

To look into the matter, the commission formed a committee led by a deputy secretary. The committee report is also negative about the transparency of

the ballot boxes.

When asked, Deputy Secretary Matiar Rahman said he did not know about the matter.

Regional Election Officer of Chittagong Abdul Baten said: “We have received a directive from the commission not to distribute the ballot boxes. The ballot boxes of Chittagong are kept at the election office.”

On October 8, the EC sent 13,660 ballot boxes to the Dhaka regional office; 3,500 to Rangpur; 4,000 to Rajshahi; 4,000 to Khulna; 2,000 to Barisal; 4,000 to Mymensingh; 2,000 to Faridpur; 2,000 to Sylhet; 2,500 to Chittagong; and 1,840 to the Comilla regional office. l

Members of Rapid Action Battalion arrested BNP Vice-Chairman Sadeque Hossain Khoka last night at a house of Sector 4 in the capital’s Uttara.

Nazmul Alam Matubbar, deputy commissioner of Detective Branch, said: “A team of Rab personnel arrested the BNP leader around 9:45pm at a house in Uttara where he was holed up.”

The official did not give more details.

A source said a team of DB police, on information, also went to the spot but the Rab men had picked him up before they reached there. Khoka was taken to the Rab 1 office, according to a source.

A former Dhaka City mayor, Khoka had been staying at an undisclosed location since last month when he was implicated in three cases over arson attacks during the opposition’s blockade programmes.

Several top BNP leaders have recently been arrested and charged with various criminal offences.

BNP’s Dhaka metropolitan unit Convener Khoka called party supporters to form an armed resistance against “the attack of Awami League” last month.

On November 12, police filed a case against 26 opposition leaders and activists, including Khoka, for arson attack on a human haulier. l

Shafi for nonpartisan admin n Tushar Hayat, Chittagong Shah Ahmed Shafi, chief of radical Islamist group Hefazat-e-Islam, yesterday urged the prime minister to pave way for an impartial election by forming a non-partisan government.

“The premier recently announced that she does not want the post of prime minister, rather she wants peace and stability. In this unstable situation, it is necessary to fulfil the demand for a non-party government for the sake of national interest,” Shafi said in a statement. l

AL firm on holding polls on Jan 5  PAGE 1 COLUMN 4

The meeting insiders said the prime minister also told party leaders not to take the upcoming polls lightly. She firmly said the polls date would not be deferred.

“She [Hasina] said the election will be held on time at any cost and she told the leaders to ensure maximum number of voter turnout in the election,” said a leader adding that Hasina also directed the party candidates to stay in their respective constituencies from now on.

According to meeting sources, the meeting did not widely discuss Ershad’s announcement of boycotting the polls.

About Ershad’s dramatic shift, AL General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam told the meeting that there was no time to have a look who was participating

in the election and who not, said the meeting sources.

“Syed Ashraf also said few people are thinking that the prime minister will quit her post or her power will be curtailed. These remarks will not bring any benefit. According to the constitution the election must be held on time under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina,” said a meeting source. Referring to the 1986, ‘88 and ‘96 national elections, Ashraf said there was no problem over holding the upcoming polls.

The sources also said Hasina told the party leaders that the recent violence and attacks had taken place in the areas where the party’s organisational strength was weak, and asked them to strengthen the party to prevent the opposition’s subversive activities.

Citing an example, the party chief said the situation in Satkania of Chittagong came under control as the district leaders were organised.

Sources said a committee member suggested that the party leaders to get information whether Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir men at student dormitories and messes were planning further subversive activities.

After the meeting, Ashraf told journalists: “Awami League will participate in the election overcoming all hurdles.

It will not accept any deviation from the election schedule.”

He said the polls could not be foiled by carrying out secret attacks.

When the journalists asked about the Ershad’s latest dramatic shift, the AL general secretary only said: “Wait and see what happens.”l

they would join the polls and try to convince Ershad to come back.

GM Quader, Ershad’s younger brother and minister of the interim cabinet, told the Dhaka Tribune over phone last evening that nomination papers could not be withdrawn all of a sudden.

“There is a procedure to follow.”

Meanwhile, Election Commission officials have said that there was no scope of withdrawing nomination papers until the commission finished scrutinising them.

Farhad Hossain, senior assistant secretary of EC secretariat, told the Dhaka Tribune that if any of the JP candidates decided not to withdraw nomination paper, he would be able to go to the polls with JP’s traditional symbol.

Only if the party chief sent a letter to the commission asking for not allocating the party symbol to that candidate, the commission would give other symbols options to him, Farhad said.

Suicide threat

Prima ‘Ershad’ Donna  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

By 2:30pm, a crowd of JP leaders and supporters had already gathered in front of Ershad’s house. He reportedly directed them through his Press Secretary Sunil Suvra Roy in the morning to gather there around 3pm.

But none of the leaders and supporters were allowed to enter the house, triggering a protest. “Every house will be on fire, if something happens to Ershad,” the crowd chanted.

A little later, former military ruler Ershad sat in a brief meeting with the members of the JP presidium council.

Emerging from the meeting, JP Secretary General and a minister of the polls-time cabinet Ruhul Amin Howlader told media that the party leaders would withdraw their nomination papers today.

Minutes later, visiting Indian Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh came to meet Ershad at his residence.

He held a 38-minute meeting with Sujatha ending at 4:50pm at his residence. Finally, around 5pm, Ershad started briefing media.

“I asked party members to resign from the polls-time cabinet, as it is impossible to hold elections in a peaceful manner during such a time,” Ershad said. “I have decided not to join the polls without the participation of all the parties.”

Regarding the meeting with the Indian diplomat, Ershad said: “During the meeting, Sujatha said there might be a resurgence of Jamaat if Jatiya Party rejects the polls. In reply, I said if that happens, the government will be responsible.”

Ershad said he told Sujatha: “The

voters will not be able to go to the polling centres. Only 2% votes will be cast if elections take place.”

The Indian foreign secretary, however, declined talking to the waiting reporters. The only thing she said was that it was a “good meeting.”

Nomination withdrawal

In reply to a question about when the JP ministers would pull out of the polls-time cabinet, Ershad yesterday said: “Leave the timetable to me,” adding that he had instructed his party candidates to withdraw nomination papers.

A JP minister of the interim cabinet Anisul Islam Mahmud told the Dhaka Tribune that he and his fellow party men would abide by the chairman’s instructions to withdraw nomination.

Anisul Islam Mahmud and prime minister’s adviser Zia Uddin Ahmed Bablu yesterday told the premier in an informal meeting at Ganabhaban that

Arrest rumour

A large number of law enforcers, including members of police and Rab cordoned off Ershad’s house after the Indian foreign secretary left. Their heavy presence triggered a rumour that Ershad might be arrested.

Kismat Hayat, chief of Rab 1 and in-charge of security of the diplomatic zone, went to meet Ershad around 5:45 pm. They talked for about 10 minutes.

“We are here to ensure the security of the diplomatic zone and Mr Ershad,” Kismat told reporters after coming out.

When asked whether there was any chance of arresting Ersahd, he said: “We do not have any instruction like this.”

Around 11:10pm Ershad suddenly came down to the waiting room of his Baridhara house to talk to his party leaders and activists.

As waiting reporters approached him he declined to say anything. At the insistence of reporters he began to speak out: “If anyone tries to outwit me – I have four pistols and all are loaded – I will commit suicide.”

“This is a commitment to my countrymen; this is my last decision and I will stick to it till my last breath,” he added.

On Tuesday, the chameleon man of Bangladesh politics changed his decision regarding the election and declared to quit from the elections.

Replying to a question, he said: “Many fear that I might be arrested but I am confident that Rab do not have the guts to touch me.”

He said if Rab try to touch him then the whole country would be put on fire.

He said his decision to quit election was a timely one. He also claimed that his party is an independent party with its own principle. People are behind him and all have rejected the government. l

India: Elections  PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

It is standard practice when foreign dignitaries meet the foreign minister, for only the director general of the desk concerned to be present at the meeting.

This is Sujatha’s first visit in a secretary capacity at the invitation of Shahidul Haque at a time when the country is plunged into chaos with a series of blockades and agitation over the arrangement of election. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

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Thursday, December 5, 2013

Nine killed on fifth day of blockade

‘India to strengthen ties with BNP’ n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

n Tribune Report Subversive activities targeting rail communication, sporadic clashes with law enforcers and rival party men amid arson and vandalism marked the fifth day of blockade enforced by BNP-led 18-party opposition combine yesterday.

At least five persons were killed and 35 injured when a train derailed after miscreants removed fishplates from the rail tracks at Bonarpara of Gaibandha in the early hours. Police detained two Islami Chhatra Shibir men for the sabotage.

The same kind of sabotage left two passenger trains off the track in Khulna and Chandpur leaving train communication in Dhaka-Khulna and Chandpur-Chittagong routes halted. At least 10 passengers were injured in the incident.

On the other hand, violent clashes between BGB and Jubo Dal men in Feni left a person dead and five including three policemen bullet hit.

One person died and 10 other labourers injured when a pick-up van chased by pickets overturned in Binnati area on Kishoreganj-Bhairab highway in the early hours.

Dhaka College student Wahidur Rahman Babu, who sustained burn injuries during the Shahbagh bus arson attack last week, died at the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital yesterday.

Freedom fighter Alauddin Khokon, 62, injured in an attack allegedly by the activists of Jamaat-Shibir at Bhara-Simla village in Kaliganj upazila of Satkhira Tuesday, died at a hospital yesterday morning. BNP called a dawn-to-dusk hartal in Gazipur and Manikganj districts while Jubo Dal called hartal in Feni district for today.

In the capital, pickets torched vehicles and exploded crude bombs. Apparently more vehicles were seen on the streets than the previous days. No longroute bus left Dhaka while launch communication was also uninterrupted.

Activists of the ruling Awami League vandalised a private hospital owned by Jamaat at Dhanmondi. However, Ibn Sina Hospital authorities said relatives of a patient along with some outsiders had vandalised the hospital following a row over hospital bill.

In Pallabi, blockaders exploded eight crude bombs at the bus stand and its nearby areas in the morning. Police

Rizvi sent to jail n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu

A Dhaka court yesterday rejected the bail petition of detained BNP Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and sent him to jail.

Earlier, around 10am police produced Rizvi before the court with a 10-day remand prayer to quiz the BNP leader in a vehicle torching case. The court rejected the remand prayer. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate MA Salam passed the orders after hearing both the petitions.

It told Investigating Officer MA Jalil, also officer-in-charge of the Shahbagh Police Station, to interrogate Rizvi at the Jail Gate regarding the arson case.

The magistrate also said as Rizvi is an honourable person and indisposed the IO could question him at the jail gate, if needed, for ten days. Defence counsel Md Sanaullah Miah filed the bail petition along with the remand rejection petition to the court.

The case was filed on November 29 with the Shahbagh Police Station against 17 senior BNP leaders for setting a running bus on fire in the capital on Thursday evening. Three, amongst the 19 burn victims of the incident, have died. The accused in the case include BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Amanullah Aman, Sadeque Hossain Khoka, Mirza Abbas, Barkatullah Bulu and Goyeshwar Chandra Roy. On Saturday, detectives arrested Rizvi from BNP Nayapaltan office in the capital two days after 19 people suffered burn injuries when miscreants set fire to a bus at Shahbagh.

Earlier on Saturday, police raided BNP’s Nayapaltan headquarters in the capital and arrested Rizvi.

He had been staying at the headquarters for the past few months before police detained him. l

A policeman try to douse the flames on a bus after pro-blockade activists set fire to it during the fifth day of the 18-party alliance blockade yesterday in the capital’s English Road DHAKA TRIBUNE

picked up four Chhatra Dal activists from the spot with four live crude bombs and two bottles of petrol. From Badda, police detained a Swechchhasebak Dal activist with two handmade bombs from Malopara. Later a mobile court sentenced him to one year imprisonment.

Miscreants torched a bus in Tantibazar area of Old Dhaka around 9:15am.

No one was injured in the incident.

At Gabtoli, blockaders exploded three crude bombs near a police outpost around 10:45am.

In Feni town, Jubo Dal men clashed with the BGB leaving Vice-President of Farhadnagar union unit Harun-Ur-Rashid killed and 50 others

injured. The clash erupted as activists of Chhatra League and Jubo League allegedly hurled five crude bombs at a Jubo Dal procession in Trunk Road area around 4:15pm, witnesses said.

Angered by the bomb blasts, hundreds of opposition activists attacked and vandalised roadside shops, banks and police camps. Police and BGB personnel opened fire on the mob. Harun was taken to Feni Sadar Hospital where doctors declared him dead.

In Kishoreganj, pick-up van driver Ujjal Sarker was carrying 20 day labourers from Tarakanda area in Mymensingh to Comilla’s Itkhola area. The van overturned as the driver tried to escape the

rage of the pickets.

Blockade supporters early yesterday torched the residence of Awami League candidate from Gazipur 1 AKM Mozammel Haque when his family members were asleep. Mozammel is also the president of district unit.

The miscreants set fire to the house with kerosene around midnight. Locals helped douse the fire while no casualty was reported from the arson. Mozammel was not present at home during the incident. In Gazipur town, blockade supporters in the morning clashed with police leaving at least 30 people injured.

In Jhenaidah town, 15 persons including two journalists were injured in

Law enforcers asked to prepare for combing operation Islam and n Rabiul Mohammad Jamil Khan The government has decided to conduct a combing operation across the country to catch the culprits carrying out sabotage in the name of politics.

The cabinet committee on law and order made the decision at a meeting held at the home ministry yesterday.

“We have asked the law enforcement agencies, especially the police, Rab and Ansar to make preparations for carrying out combing operations which may happen anytime,” a minister who attended the meeting told the Dhaka Tribune on condition of anonymity, as he was not authorised to speak to media.

A senior official, who also took part in the meeting, said law enforcement agencies had been asked to take action with the help of intelligence agencies.

Those instigating arson attacks, uprooting railway fishplates and vandalising vehicles would also be arrested, the official said.

Meanwhile yesterday, the prime minister, at a meeting with a delegation from the National Defence College, asked the army to stay alert to any sort of incident.

Because of the series of blockades called by the BNP-led 18-party alliance, law and order has deteriorated across the country. Dozens of people have been killed, and hundreds of others injured, in fierce clashes and attacks.

A senior official of the police headquarters, on request of anonymity, told the Dhaka Tribune that in a bid to enact a special joint operation, “the headquarters have already deployed law en-

forcers in plainclothes at different sensitive points of the country.”

They were deployed to collect information about the attackers and terrorists groups, he said.

Moreover, an intelligence report mentions that the opposition will carry out killings, and bomb and arson attacks more often than on previous occasions.

For this reason, they would detain and

The police headquarters have already deployed law enforcers in plainclothes at different sensitive points of the country arrest the opposition leaders and activists including financiers, sources said.

While briefing journalists, Land Minister Amir Hossain Amu, who chaired the meeting, claimed that law and order was improving gradually.

He also blamed the media for not reporting the real picture. “Some 2,000 goods-laden vehicles moved between Dhaka and Chittagong, but the media did not report it.”

Amu alleged that blockaders had been highlighting negative news to the media. They call journalists and then vandalise vehicles or explode bombs so that the footage gets aired, apparently to prove that law and order is degrading.

The minister admitted that 3,000km of railway lines could not be protected due to a shortage of manpower, but he said manpower was being increased.

Industries Minister Tofail Ahmed said the opposition leaders and activists had targeted December 2 so that

aspirant MP’s could not submit their nomination papers. However 1,108 candidates successfully submitted nomination papers.

He said the elections would be held in due course, and the law enforcement agencies would do whatever was needed to create a suitable atmosphere for peaceful elections.

Among others, Jute Minister Abdul Latif Siddique, Telecommunications Minister Rashed Khan Menon, Rail Minister Mujibul Hoque, State Minister for Home Shamsul Hoque Tuku, State Minister for Law Kamrul Islam, Cabinet Secretary Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan and Senior Secretary CQK Mustaq and the heads of the police, Rab and BGB were present at the meeting.

Hassan Mahmood Khandker, inspector general of police, told the Dhaka Tribune that the law enforcers were ready to tackle any kind of situation.

Asked about any special raids, he said they might conduct raids but would consider the situation and some technical issues. “If needed, the law enforcers will take any action for the greater interest of the people,” he added.

The detectives are also tracking mobile phones of the police’s senior officials, especially from the metropolitan areas of the seven divisions, to identify those working as informers for the opposition alliance.

Home State Minister Tuku also confirmed the action. He told the Dhaka Tribune: “We have issued proper instructions to law enforcers to investigate the ongoing situation. Stern action will be taken against those who are guilty,” the minister warned. l

Local government bodies asked to protect people’s lives n Mohosinul Karim The government has asked the local government bodies to protect people and their assets during the opposition’s movements and to take legal action against the attackers.

The local government division under the LGRD and cooperatives ministry gave the directives yesterday in a letter to administrators,

mayors and chairmen of all local government institutes – districts councils, city corporations, municipalities, upazila parishads and union councils.

Md Jahangir Alam, deputy secretary of the division, signed the letter on behalf of its secretary.

The letter reads: “It was seen that some miscreants are uprooting the sleepers of the railway tracks, cutting

trees from different roads and torching people’s houses and different public establishments. Some of the media are publishing and broadcasting such reports.

“They are killing the innocent people by blasting bombs and throwing petrol bombs. They are destroying the public assets. It is cognisable offense. It is necessary to take legal action against them under the public

safety act.”

The letter says it is the duty and responsibility of the local government chiefs to ensure safety and security of the people as per the local government law and related rules. So they must act against such violence.

Jahangir yesterday said he hoped that the local government chiefs would take necessary steps. l

a fierce clash at Arappur in the morning.

Earlier, the Jamaat-Shibir men attacked the police and vandalised a police car when they went there to arrest an accused. On Kaliganj road in Satkhira, pickets hacked and injured union-level AL leader Abdus Sattar.

In Barisal, 11 persons including two policemen were injured in a clash when the pickets tried to block Dhaka-Barisal highway.

Blockade in Chittagong city was almost peaceful except for the injuries to rickshaw-puller Md Siraj and passenger Md Tareque when the pickets hurled bricks at the vehicle in Buripukur area of Hathazari. l

Visiting Indian Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh yesterday told the leader of the opposition that her country’s relations with the BNP will be strengthened further in the days to come.

“We have worked with you (Khaleda) in the past and hope to do so in the future… we have personal relations with you…we want to make the relations with BNP stronger in the days ahead,” Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury, vice-chairman of the BNP, quoted the Indian foreign secretary as saying.

Sujatha, who is in Dhaka on a 24-hour trip, arrived at the BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s house around 4.40 pm with a seven-member delegation. They held an hour-long meeting with her.

Mobin briefed the media about the meeting.

The BNP vice-chairman said Sujatha told Khaleda that India’s relation with BNP had reached a “new height” following her India visit in 2012, and she hoped that it would improve further in the days to come.

In reply, Khaleda told Sujatha that she (Khaleda) wanted to build a good relationship with neighbouring countries.

“The relations between Bangladesh and India should move forward on the basis of mutual benefits,” Mobin quoted Khaleda as saying to Sujatha.

Mobin claimed Sujatha agreed with the opinion of the leader of the opposition saying India wanted to strengthen the multifaceted relations with Bangladesh.

BNP leader said Khaleda told the Indian foreign secretary that India’s interest was linked to peace and stability in Bangladesh. “If stability persists in Bangladesh, it will help gear up socioeconomic development in the region.”

The Indian foreign secretary reportedly said her country wanted to see “stability and the continuation of democracy” in Bangladesh.

“Various bilateral issues were discussed at the meeting. The Indian foreign secretary said they wanted peace and stability to continue in Bangladesh, with the continuation of democratic processes for the sake of the socioeconomic development of the region,” Mobin said.

When asked whether they discussed the upcoming elections, Mobin said they did not discuss anything related to the polls, which are slated for January 5. l

BNP, allies mull more blockades n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla As the 131-hour blockade ends today, the main opposition BNP-led 18-party alliance is planning to wage another spell of nationwide blockade from Saturday demanding suspension of the election schedule and the formation of a non-partisan interim administration.

Even though UN Assistant Secretary-General Oscar Fernandez Taranco is scheduled to visit Dhaka tomorrow, this time the opposition combine would not refrain from observing blockades. But party Chairperson Khaleda Zia will make the decision, according to a senior BNP leader.

The leader also said they were thinking of keeping Taranco’s movements out of the blockade purview.

BNP’s Joint Secretary General Sa-

lahuddin Ahmed in a video message has already threatened to announce a tougher movement if the demands were not met by 5pm today, when the six-day blockade ends. A Standing Committee member, seeking anonymity, told the Dhaka Tribune that if they paused in the ongoing movement, then the law enforcement agencies would start arresting the opposition men.

“Apart from this, any pause may make the movement sloppy ahead of our tougher programmes next week,” he said. The leader also said they might offer a Gayebana Janaza tomorrow after Juma prayers when the announcement of blockade programmes might come.

Another senior leader said the district- and thana-level leaders were sending messages to the party chief to continue the ongoing movement. l

BISHWAJIT MURDER CASE

Verdict on December 18 n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu The verdict in Bishwajit Das killing case would be delivered on December 18 – a year after the murder in Old Dhaka, a Dhaka court said yesterday.

Dhaka Speedy Tribunal 4 Judge ABM Nizamul Haque fixed the date after completing hearing of closing arguments by defence lawyers of 21 accused Chhatra League leaders and activists for six days.

On October 24, the court completed recording the statements of 32 out of 60 prosecution witnesses.

SM Rafiqul Islam, special public prosecutor of the tribunal, claimed that the state side had proved that the accused had killed the victim heinously in pub-

lic; and therefore, the accused should be handed down capital punishment.

On the other hand, the defence counsels claimed that the prosecution could not present any evidence against the accused and none of the witnesses mentioned that the accused had killed Bishwajit. So, the accused should be released unconditionally.

Bishwajit, a 24-year-old tailor, was hacked to death on December 9 last year, by the activists of Chhatra League, student front of Awami League, near Bahadur Shah Park in Old Dhaka.

He was hacked and beaten up for half an hour, in the presence of police and several hundred people, by the ruling party men, who apparently mistook him for a pro-opposition activist. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Kailashtila well drilling deferred by 3 months After September inauguration, drilling was set to start in December

n Aminur Rahman Rasel The scheduled oil well drilling at Kailashtila has been deferred by at least three months as the Sylhet Gas Fields Ltd (SGFL) has failed to complete the necessary paperwork, said SGFL officials.

At the time of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurating the project on September 17, drilling was scheduled to begin in December. This has now been pushed back by at least three months.

“We failed to start drilling as the contract signing with Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Ltd (Bapex) was delayed as the paperwork was not done. We hope to start the drilling in March and end in June. Hopefully, we can go for production in August,” Md Tofazzal Hossain, managing director (MD) of SGFL, a Petrobangla subsidiary, told the Dhaka Tribune.

Bapex - Bangladesh’s sole oil and gas exploration firm - will undertake the drilling at Kailashtilla.

Meanwhile, a Malaysian consultancy firm, Oriax, has been appointed to assist Bapex, as it did not have experience in oil production. The estimated cost of the project is around Tk220 crore.

In May 2012, Bapex, a Petrobangla subsidiary, found oil reserves of nearly 137m barrels in Sylhet’s Kailashtilla and Haripur areas “We have already signed a contract with SGFL for the drilling of Kailashtilla well,” the managing director of Bapex, MA Baki, told the Dhaka Tribune.

In May 2012, more than two decades after the discovery of the first two oil fields in Bangladesh, Bapex, a Petro-

bangla subsidiary, found oil reserves of nearly 137m barrels in Sylhet’s Kailashtilla and Haripur areas after conducting 3D seismic surveys at the sites.

The surveys estimated 109m barrels of oil reserve at 4,000m depth in Kailashtilla and 28m barrels at 2,600m in Haripur. But, according to Petrobangla, only 55m barrels or 7.50m tonnes can be recovered.

The Kailashtilla and Haripur gas fields are currently under the supervision of SGFL. In 1986, Petrobangla’s exploration division discovered the Haripur oil fields. It was leased to a foreign company, Scimitar, which managed to extract approximately 68,873 tonnes of oil from 1987 to 1994.

Kailashtilla, one of the oldest gas fields, was discovered in 1962 and produces around 80m cubic feet of gas every day from six wells. l

United States for consensus, says it has no stake in elections n Tribune Report The United States and its friends in the international community do not have a stake in the upcoming elections in Bangladesh, Nisa Desai Biswal said in Washington.

But, the US would like to see a process of free, fair, credible and violencefree polls, the assistant secretary for south and central Asian affairs said in a press briefing Tuesday.

“For that, both major political parties need to come together,” she said

stressing that any solution will not come from the international community.

“The solution is there within the people and the institutions and parties of Bangladesh,” she said. “What needs to heppen for that is dialgoue that allows a compromise, for elections with the confidence of the people.”

Nisha arrived in Dhaka during November on a three-day visit which took place before she had the ceremonial swearing-in.

She said the US welcomed the an-

nouncement of elections on January 5.

“We think there is an urgent call for concerted effort at dialogue to bring the two major political parties closer.

That had been my message and emphasis during my trip, which continues to be our call today.”

About violence, she called on all sides to restrain violence as violence has no place in the democratic process.

“We think it’s very important that all sides find ways to move forward to have free, fair, credible, and peaceful or violence-free elections in Bangladesh.” l

Two Koreans Writ petition questions jailed for illegal possession of beer legality of Ticfa Moksadul Islam told the Dhaka Trin Nazmus Sakib n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu bune that the treaty had not been apA Dhaka court yesterday awarded two Korean citizens three years rigorous imprisonment in connection with a drug case.

Speedy Trial Tribunal 4 Judge ABM Nizamul Haque also fined each of the accused Tk2,000 and a default of two months of additional imprisonment.

The convicts are South Korean citizens Zun Jeung Won and Lee Jong Heung.

Gulshan police arrested the duo with 3,000 units of beer at a rented house in Gulshan on April 1 last year.

Police produced them before a lower court in a drug case and the accused got bail on April 17.

Investigating Officer of the case Md Ajam Shah Alamgir pressed charge sheet against the two accused under the Narcotics Control Act, 1990.

Later on August 1, the court framed the charges against the duo. l

WEATHER

A writ petition was lodged yesterday with the High Court challenging the legality of the Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum Agreement (Ticfa) signed between the USA and Bangladesh on November 25.

It sought a ruling on the government to explain why the signing of Ticfa should not be declared unconstitutional.

The secretaries to the cabinet division, the Prime Minister’s Office, ministries for law, commerce and foreign affairs, and the USA ambassador to Bangladesh were made respondents to writ petition.

The plea also sought an injunction so that further steps could not be taken to implement the agreement.

The petition was registered by Supreme Court lawyer Moksadul Islam on behalf of three other lawyers namely Md Nasir Uddin, Ariful Islam, and M Monirul Islam Khan, and an individual citizen Abdullah Al Mamun.

proved by parliament before being signed which was a violation of the article 145A of the Constitution.

He cited the constitutional provision as stating: “All treaties with foreign countries shall be submitted to the president, who shall cause them to be laid before parliament; provided that any such treaty connected with national security shall be laid in a secret session of parliament.”

The writ plea said the USA signed Ticfa only with relatively small developing countries and economic blocs.

None of the large emerging countries like Argentina, Brazil, China or India agreed to sign the treaty except Iceland, Switzerland and New Zealand.

The Ticfa emphasises the on prohibition of protectionist trade policies, protecting intellectual property rights, the role of the international anti-corruption convention and its importance, the protection of labour rights and WTO commitments. l

Two Desa workers work on the power grid in the capital’s Dhanmondi area yesterday without any safety measure

JU VC confined at home for three consecutive days n JU Correspondent The agitating teachers of Jahangirnagar University confined the vice-chancellor at his home for the third consecutive day yesterday to demand the implementation of the chancellor’s directives.

Under the banner of “JU TeachersStudents and Officers-Employees United Forum” the protesting teachers shut the two entrances of the vice-chancellor’s house and took position in front of it on Monday night after the VC denied them a meeting.

The forum members also seized JU administrative office on November 20 and all administrative activities have been halted since then.

VC Prof Anwar Hossain claimed the teachers were not allowing access to the employees of his residence.

JU Registrar Abu Bakr Siddique and Proctor Prof Md Muzibur Rahman asked the agitating teachers to let the domestics in, but the teachers did not pay any heed to their request.

The weather may remain dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country until 6pm today.

The night temperature might rise slightly and the day temperature will remain nearly unchanged over the country, the met office said. The sun sets in the capital at 5:11pm today and rises at 6:27am tomorrow. The country’s highest temperature, 31.9 degree Celsius, was recorded at Srimangal and the lowest, 13.7 degrees Celsius, at Srimangal yesterday. The highest and lowest temperatures recorded in some major cities yesterday were: High

Low

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

30.5 27.8 29.0 28.4 29.5 29.5 30.2 30.2

17.5 19.9 16.2 16.7 17.6 16.4 17.8 20.5

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

5:07am 6:26am 11:49am 3:35pm 5:11pm 6:31pm

Source: IslamicFinder.org

Forum’s Member Secretary Prof Kamrul Ahsan said: “We are not preventing any officials or employees from entering the VC’s residence.

“Actually, they do not want to associate themselves with the incumbent VC because they have already expressed solidarity with us,” he said.

From November 20, JU teachers confined two pro-VCs Prof MA Matin (education) and Prof Afsar Ahmed (administration), and released them on Monday night after 12 days of confinement.

Chancellor and President Abdul Hamid on November 6 asked the VC to hold a senate election immediately and select a VC panel through the senate in the line with the JU Act. Following the chancellor’s directives, authorities arranged JU Central Students’ Union (Jucsu) polls and teachers’ representative polls in order to reform the current senate as some 83 of 93 senate members’ tenure had already expired.

Teachers’ representative polls have been suspended because of the teachers’ movement while the Jucsu polls were halted due to the parliamentary elections on January 5.

Agitating teachers are demanding VC panel elections through the current senate while JU authorities think that the reform of the senate is a must for holding such an election.

VC Prof Anwar told the Dhaka Tribune: “I do not want to see any mudslinging in the VC panel polls. I am determined to reform the expired senate through which I will take initiatives to select the VC panel in the line with the JU Act and the chancellor’s directives.”

A section of teachers backed by former VC Prof Sharif Enamul Kabir and pro-BNP teachers have been protesting against Prof Anwar for the last nine months, bringing some 18 allegations against him.

A probe committee formed by the education ministry to look into the allegations is yet to publish its report. l

Banks start putting money in ATMs again

Dry weather likely n UNB

City

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

n Tribune Report

A security official sits in front of an out of order Brac Bank ATM booth in Green Road yesterday

Syed Zakir Hossain

Banks have loaded their ATM machines again after police made special security arrangements for them.

Following a number of incidents of vandalism at ATM booths around the country in the recent political unrest, most commercial banks decided not to keep cash in the Automated Teller Machines, especially in the capital.

As a result, people, who have got used to taking out the required money from ATM machines instead of cashing cheques at bank branches, having faced a lot of trouble over the last few days.

The Bangladesh Bank on Tuesday requested the Dhaka Metropolitan Police to enhance security for banks for

carrying money to refill ATM machines.

The central bank yesterday provided Tk500 crore to the banks, which was deposited in their accounts for refilling.

“We got special security from DMP yesterday to carry money to the ATM booths. We could not refill all empty ATM machines because we got the money from the Bangladesh Bank just today. Loading all the machines is a lengthy process,” said Dutch-Bangla Bank Vice-President Iqbal Hossain.

The Dutch-Bangla Bank operates the highest number of ATM booths in the country.

He said: “The loading activities will continue today [yesterday]. After the blockade is over, we will launch fullfledged money loading activities.” l

Jail authorities send copies of BDR carnage verdict n Nazmus Sakib

Dhaka central jail authorities yesterday sent all 138 copies of BDR carnage verdict to the High Court for attaching to the jail appeals of the death row convicts.

However, lawyers of the convicts said it was unusual to send copies of

rulings with jail appeals. Rather, the copies should be handed over to the counsels of the convicts for lodging regular appeals.

Forman Ali, senior jail super of Dhaka central jail, told the Dhaka Tribune that the copies of the judgement must be attached with the jail appeals. “But

we could not provide this as we did not get those copies earlier,” he said.

Supreme Court Registrar AKM Shamsul Islam said they had received those copies yesterday.

On November 5, Dhaka Metropolitan Additional Sessions Court Judge Md Akhtaruzzaman sentenced 152 BDR

men, of whom 14 were on the run, to death and 411 others to differing terms of imprisonment.

On November 10, the convicts filed appeals against the verdict with the High Court through jail authorities as they did not get copies of the verdict, said Shameem Sardar, a defence counsel.

He said: “The convicts cannot instruct personal lawyers to move to the High Court if they do not get certified copies.

Those copies have not been provided yet to the convicts. This is shameful for the judiciary – that the jail authorities are not giving the copies to the convicts, rather they had sent those to the High Court.” l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Juris

5

Thursday, December 5, 2013

BMS law: Protecting the future generation

JURIS QUOTES

The recently updated law on baby food substitutes completely restricts promotion of such products Registration is a must

Section 5 of this act prohibits import, manufacture, sale and distribution of food supplements for children without prior registration under Institute of Public Health and Nutrition (IPHN), Bangladesh. Section 10 authorises the director of IPHN to give registration of breast milk substitutes, baby foods, and commercially manufactured supplementary baby foods. Such registration is for three years and is renewable after expiration.

Cancellation of registration

Section 11 deals with cancellation of registration. The director of IPHN can cancel the registration for breast milk substitutes, baby foods, and commercially manufactured baby food supplements with a prior notice of fifteen days, if the concerned party gives false information while getting registration or violates any provision of the act.

One who breaks an unjust law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for law.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

No advertising to public

This is the quintessence of this act. According to section 4, following activities will be considered as violation of the law if done by any manufacturer or representative of breast milk substitutes, baby foods, supplementary baby foods, and its equipment with a view to promoting their products: l BIGSTOCK

n Kajal Abdullah

B

angladesh enacted its first ever law regarding breast milk substitutes (BMS) to protect and promote the breast-feeding of children almost 30 years ago. The ordinance was called “Breast Milk Substitutes (Regulation of Marketing) Ordinance, 1984.” The law had some limitations and was weakening over time.

In 2013 Bangladesh Government has come up with a stricter act abolishing the previous ordinance.

This act is entitled “Breast-Milk Substitutes, Baby Foods, Commercially Manufactured Supplementary Baby Foods and Its Equipment (Regulation of Marketing) Act, 2013.”

The aim of this act is to protect the children of zero to five years of age.

The act calls for complete restriction on advertisement of breast milk substitutes, baby foods, children’s food supplements and its equipment.

Also, it authorises the government to form a nine mem-

l

ber national advisory committee headed by a chairman to ensure implementation of the law.

l

Breast milk substitutes, baby foods, and commercially manufactured supplementary baby foods

l

According to the law, breast milk substitutes refer to any food which is represented as a partial or total substitute to breast milk for the infant up to six months of age.

Whereas baby foods refer to any food for the children more than six months of age which is represented as partial or total substitute to breast milk. On the other hand, commercially manufactured supplementary baby foods refer to any additional food which is manufactured commercially for the kids aged six months to five years.

Equipment of BMS and Baby foods

It refers to the equipment which is used in feeding breast milk substitutes, baby foods and supplementary baby foods such as feeding bottles, teats etc.

l l

Containers and labelling

According to section 6 of the act, each food supplements must situate in a sealed and hermetically closed container and they cannot be marketed unless fulfilling the following conditions:

l

PENALTY

SECTION

l

l l

Violation of any provision of the law Repetition of a offence If any baby falls sick or dies after consuming breast milk substitutes, baby foods, supplementary baby foods, and its equipment

Violation of the law by any company or firm

LAW CARTOON

Containers and labels of BMS products must include

OFFENCE & PENALTY

OFFENCE

Display, distribute, exhibit, publish, or advertise in any form to public (especially to the people related to health, nutrition and education sector).

Offer any kind of promotional package like free products, discount, gifts, etc for the purpose of selling or marketing.

Organise or support any event, programme, and competition to promote any breast milk substitutes, baby foods, and supplementary baby foods.

Use health care centres or drug stores as sales or promotional points.

Directly contact with expecting and breast feeding mothers.

Allure anybody (especially health officials and staff ) to attend any seminar/conference/symposium/workshop/ study tour/research which is sponsored/organised by firm/company related to breast milk substitutes, baby foods, supplementary baby foods, and its equipment.

A maximum of three years jail term or a fine of Tk5 lakh or both The punishment will be doubled for every subsequent violation

A visible and intelligible message in BANGLA has to be printed on the container to the effect that “nothing is substitute for or equivalent or superior to breastmilk.”

Ingredient used, batch number, registration number, and the dates of its manufacture and expiry have to be printed on the container.

Clear instructions on preparation and composition.

Some basic information about breastfeeding.

Containers and labels of BMS products mustn’t include

Section 12

l

Section 13

l

Any picture of infant or mother or both or such other picture or writing which may establish the use of these products.

Use of cartoons or signs identifying the alternative baby foods and food supplements.

Enforcement

A maximum of 10 years of jail or a fine of Tk50 lakh or both

Everybody within the company directly involved with the violation will be penalised under section 12, and the company can be fined separately in the line with the code of criminal procedure

Section 12

Section 14

A H Mamun/DT Infographic

IPHN, Bangladesh is the authority under this act to enforce the law. Civil surgeon at district level and chief health officer at city corporation area are the authorised persons to look after the law. Any authorised person can search any place to inquire about any stuff which may cause violation of this act.

Despite being a good piece of legislation, the law suffers from poor enforcement. The government’s focus should be on proper implementation of the law. Fortunately, social awareness is our only strength to fight against the powerful BMS companies and child malnutrition. We must make use of this strength to ensure proper nutrition for our future generation. l Kajal Abdullah is a journalist and a development activist. He can be reached at kajalfbi@gmail.com.

CARTOON BY RIO SHUVO

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TICFA’s impact on Bangladesh’s IPR regime: Nothing lies beneath n ABM Hamidul Mishbah

O

n November 25, 2013, Bangladesh and the US have signed the “Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum Agreement (TICFA).” The treaty has been signed to ensure a platform for Bangladesh and the US to formally engage in regular discussions, explore opportunities of bilateral trade and investments and identify and overcome barriers to increase bilateral trade and investment between these two countries.

One of the main aspects of TICFA is that the treaty, in addition of fostering bilateral trade and investment, acknowledges the importance of compliance of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in accordance with the national laws and the international treaties that are applicable to these countries.

This, nonetheless, sensitised various quarters including the members of the civil societies, activists and the edified citizens, who are concerned that TICFA will have a farreaching impact in terms of the implementation of the IPR in Bangladesh.

TICFA in its preamble states: “Recognizing the importance of providing adequate and effective protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights and adherence to intellectual property rights norms, in accordance with the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on TRIPS, the Berne Convention, and any other IPR related international agreements as applicable to the parties.”

It would be complimentary to refer that Bangladesh and the US are signatories of both the WTO Agreement on Trade Related Aspect of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) and the Berne Convention, and hence are pledge bound to ob-

serve the rights and obligations conferred thereto.

TRIPS member states, in addition, have the obligation of implementing the provisions of TRIPS within their own legal system. The obligation however, does not inhibit their freedom to choose the appropriate approach or framework for implementing such provisions within their national laws.

TRIPS also ensures that the member states treat the nationals of other member state equally as it would treat its own nationals with regard to the protection of IPR, subject to the exceptions provided therein.

Likewise the Berne Convention, to which Bangladesh has been a signatory since February 4, 1999, provides for the

protection of the rights of the authors (creators) in their literary and artistic works.

Bangladesh, however, has formulated her own set of IPR legislations, ie Copyright Act, 2000, Trademarks Act, 2009 and the recently adopted Geographical Indications Act, 2013, these are all, except the Patents and Designs Act 1911, in line with the major international IPR Treaties, ie TRIPS and the Berne Convention. The existence of national IPR laws, in addition to the international treaties on IPR, compounds Bangladesh to comply with and enforce IPR within her legal system by default.

The existence of national IPR laws, in addition to the international treaties on IPR, compounds Bangladesh to comply with and enforce IPR within her legal system by default

BIGSTOCK

To this extent, any individual or entity that has registered its respective Intellectual Properties under the IP laws of Bangladesh shall enjoy protection of the same within the jurisdiction of Bangladesh, as the ‘Principle of Territoriality’ applies. This notion shall equally apply to other countries including the US. This means, intellectual properties registered under the laws of the US shall enjoy protection within the US only, un-

less a party wants to avail the facilities provided under various multilateral treaties, ie Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), Madrid Protocol System (for Trademarks), etc, to which the respective country has become a party or member.

Bangladesh has not joined the PCT or Madrid Protocol System and hence is not eligible to avail the facilities provided thereunder. Therefore, in order to secure protection internationally, the respective countries have to rely on the provisions of the international treaties they have signed.

Moreover, it is important to mention that, TICFA in its Article 5 clarifies that the provisions of the bilateral Agreement are not in prejudice or deterrence to the existing laws of the countries or to their rights, obligations and privileges provided under any other agreements.

This, coupled with the applicability of the national laws and the international treaties, adequately guarantees that the sovereignty of the national laws will prevail and the exemption until July 1, 2012, which Bangladesh is enjoying as a LDC country to do away with the implementation of TRIPS within its jurisdiction, along with other rights and privileges, will continue to remain valid and in full force.

TICFA, therefore, so far the compliance and enforcement of IPR is concerned, is just another piece of legal instrument that reiterates Bangladesh and the US’ commitment made at the WTO level, and does not seem to have any further or fresher impact in Bangladesh’s IPR scenario as it has been contemplated by some hyper sensitive intellectuals. l Barrister ABM Hamidul Mishbah is an Intellectual Property lawyer, practising at the Supreme Court of Bangladesh. He can be reached at mishbah@oldbaileybd.com.

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Mirpur-Agargaon link road Welcoming songs for migratory birds at JU to miss another deadline Dhaka North City Corporation authority blamed the procrastination n Mahadi Al Hasnat Native and migratory birds that travel on the country’s current political state to Jahangirnagar University every win-

n Abu Hayat Mahmud The construction of the Mirpur-Agargaon link road in the capital is likely to miss another deadline as authorities claim they do not know of when the project will be completed.

Earlier, officials of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) said the construction was supposed to be finished by June this year.

The authorities added that the link road was slated to be completed by the end of 2014.

The state-run agency DNCC authority blamed the procrastination on the country’s current political state.

Although construction started in 2010, the DNCC suspended its work because of difficulties in acquiring land for the project.

It resumed construction again in 2012.

The densely populated Mirpur area in the city faces huge traffic congestion due to a lack of proper road networks in the area.

Therefore, the link road was proposed in the Dhaka Metropolitan Development Master Plan in 1994 that

explained the urgency of such a road to streamline traffic movement.

Local people and laborers said the deadline had passed but the DNCC has yet to complete the land-acquiring.

It would need at least another year to complete the road, they said.

The city corporation high-ups, however, refuted what the locals described.

Md Tazul Islam, a resident in the area adjoining the proposed road, told the Dhaka Tribune that although the city corporation initiated the project a year ago, it spent most of the time acquiring land, even then, they still have not been able to finish doing so.

“So, finally to finish the project, it will need another year,” he added.

The resident said, occasionally they visited the site, but hardly saw any steps being taken to start construction.

DNCC Chief Engineer Brigadier General Mohammad Abul Khayer said, “At present, the construction work is being hampered by the opposition enforced hartals and blockades.”

“So, under the present circumstances it would be difficult to say when the

construction project would be completed,” he added.

“The engineers and the laborers are unable to kick off construction as they cannot buy materials and carry them to the project site,” he added.

Brigadier General Khayer claimed that the land acquisition had been completed.

“We have acquired land carefully so that no landowner is affected. For this reason, additional time was needed to complete the land-acquisition,” he said.

During a recent visit to the project site, it was found that construction of only a small part of the road was completed, along with the sewer.

The proposed link road is to be built at a cost of Tk2.4b. The 3.5km-long and 60-feet wide link road, with four lanes and a footpath, will start from the Grameen Bank headquarters at Mirpur 2 to Agargaon.

It will connect to the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Road, Statistics Road and Begum Rokeya Sarani in Agargaon and different intersections within the vicinity. l

ter, to take refuge in several lakes and water bodies on the campus are undoubtedly the most beautiful and significant features of country’s only residential institute for higher education.

Like every year, a number of these birds have already stationed themselves at the lake in front of the JU administrative building this year with the onset of winter, while many were seen flying over.

More birds would soon be flocking to the other water bodies on campus, as the JU campus was considered a haven for migratory birds coming from colder regions in and around the country every winter, said experts.

Meanwhile, in absence of any welcoming programme organised by the university authority because of the ongoing teachers’ movement to oust JU VC, the students have taken initiatives to welcome the winter birds.

JU students under the banner of ‘Hahakar,’ will arrange a concert titled ‘Pakhider Jonno Gaan’ tomorrow.

At least five solo singers and 11 groups of the country will perform at the programme at the ‘Selim Al Deen Muktamancha’ from 3pm, which would continue until night, organisers said.

The attending bands were Samageet, Chitkar, Monosoroni, Shoptashindhu, Anyoswar, Biscuit, Surja Sarathee, Soul Rebel, Trimangal while the solo artists were Kafil Ahmed, Abhijit Das, Anom, Akil Ashraf and Sayem Joy, they said.

The organisers have already begun working on graffiti and wall paintings, decorating the campus for the occasion.

AKM Zakaria, student of the government and politics department and one of the organisers of the music fest, told the Dhaka Tribune: “In our university, winter means migratory birds on campus. We have arranged the programme welcoming the migratory birds while our objective is to spread awareness amongst students and university residents so that we all help in maintaining JU as a safe refuge for migratory birds.” l

402 RU teachers condemn countrywide violence n RU Correspondent A total of 402 teachers from Rajshahi University on Wednesday issued a joint statement condemning the ongoing subversive activities conducted by 18-party alliance members across the country during the blockade.

In the written statement, the progressive alliance, backed teachers, protested the killing of common civilians by setting vehicles on fire.

The teachers said activists of the BNP-led 18-party alliance have been committing crimes against humanity, just as they did during the 1971 liberation war, in the name of anti-government movements.

They also urged the government to take action against the “culprits” who were killing innocent people.

The teachers also urged the opposition alliance to come to a consensus in order to resolve the ongoing political crisis in the county.

Among others, Prof Ananda Kumar Saha, Prof M Entajul Haque, Prof M Jalal Uddin, Prof Syed Shamsuddin Ahmed, Prof AKM Abdul Mazid, Prof Nazrul Islam, Prof Elias Hossain, Prof Sadekul Arefin Matin, Prof Mushfik Ahmed, Prof Shafikunnabi Samadi, Prof Golam Sabbir Sattar and Prof Abul Kashem signed the statement. l

School dropout rate falls in spite of hurdles n Tribune Desk Bangladesh has performed well in reining in school dropouts in spite of hurdles, like poverty, lack of awareness and an inadequate number of schools.

The government is making efforts to make all children aged between 6 and 10 school-oriented, so that 100% go to school and the country is made free of illiteracy. But one cannot say that they have yet succeeded fully.

According to reports, children in six unions of Jamalpur upazila, which are located in the shoals of the Jamuna River, are being deprived of primary education. Schools in 16 of the villages have been washed away by the river.

Schools are far away, that is why children do not want to go there.

But the district education officer Md Abdul Alim has a different story to tell. The enrollment rate in Jamalpur district is 98%. The percentage of school attendance is 85%. The rate of dropouts in the entire district is only 11.8%.

Durgapur upazila of Netrakona is girdled by mountains. It is the abode of ethnic minorities. A local ethnic leader reported that 70% of Garo children go to school, while the rate for Hajong children is 30%.

Alauddin, a primary school teacher explained the reasons for their poor attendance: poverty, linguistic problem, and sale of labour along with the parents - these he felt alienate them from schools. Those who do get admitted also discontinue after a time, reports UNB. The primary education officer of Durgapur upazila Binoy Chandra Sarkar says the dropout rate in the entire upazila is 33%.

According to the Primary Education Annual Sector Performance Report2012, the number of non-school-going children between the ages of 6 and 10

is 26 lakh. But according to official figures, 99.34% of children are enrolled in schools and 21% of them drop out.

These figures are from the Primary and Mass Education Ministry. But in 2013, 29 lakh 50 thousand 193 children took part in the primary level examinations. Of them, 26 lakh 35 thousand 406 students participated in the primary examinations, while 3 lakh 14 thousand 787 students sat for the Ebtedayee exams. About 160,000 students did not take part in the examinationss even after filling up the forms.

The high rate of dropouts is no reason for frustration. Because it has come down significantly over the years. For instance, the rate of dropouts was 47.2% in 2005. It rose to 49.5% in 20062007; and only slightly decreased to 49.3 in 2008.

From 2009 to 2011 the rate came down gradually to 45.1%, 39.8% and 29.9% respectively. The rate of enrollment has increased significantly. Between 2006 and 2010 the rate of admission stood at 90.9%, 91.1%, 90.8%, 93.9% and 94.8% respectively.

From different sources it has been confirmed that in 47 districts, 100% of children have been enrolled. Following different initiatives of the government, children in remote areas including in erosion-prone river and oceanic areas have been brought under the programme and the dropout rate has fallen considerably.

However, progress in the hilly regions has not been particularly satisfactory. This is largely because of poverty, lack of awareness, inadequate numbers of schools and last but not least: Language problems.

For instance a Marma child speaks in his mother tongue from his childhood.

And the problem arises as the books are all in Bangla which has nothing to do with his mother tongue. The instructions are all in Bangla. His lack of skills in Bangla hinders his education. l

A human chain was formed in front of the National Press Club yesterday, protesting attacks on journalists

DWASA: 30% of sewerage facilities functioning n Abu Hayat Mahmud

Managing Director of the Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (DWASA) Taqsem A Khan said DWASA was operating only 30% of the city’s sewerage facilities, with 70% of the facilities remaining out of service due to a lack of funds.

“Our water supply sector is profitable, but sewerage and drainage systems are making a loss. For this reason we are running only 30% of the sewerage facilities in the capital, 70% are out of service. The government has to give us a subsidy, as the [state-owned] DWASA system is the only one in the city,” he said this while speaking at a

press conference arranged to mark the 50th anniversary of DWASA. To reduce waterlogging in the capital, the DWASA has set up pumping stations in Kalyanpur and Dholaikhal.

Construction has begun on two highpower water pumps for storm waters in Rampura and Kamlapur; and all canals in the city have been cleaned to facilitate drainage.

A Khan said DWASA had already started work on a plan to capture surface water for re-distribution, to reduce dependency on groundwater.

“22.5% of DWASA water supplies come from surface water sources. We hope that about 70% of our water will come from surface water sources by

2018-19, it will be ecologically and environmentally friendly,” he said.

DWASA is supplying 2.42bn litres of water and the demand is 2.25bn litres.

The DWASA has taken five new projects – the Padma Jashaldia Treatment Plant, the Gandhabpur Water Treatment plant, the Sayedabad Water Treatment Plant (Phase 3), the TetuljhoraBhakurta Project, and the Dhaka Water Supply Sector Development Project.

“To ensure a legal water supply throughout the pipelines, Wasa has already given 1,221 water lines to 315 slums, including city’s biggest slum Karial,” he said,” adding that Karail slum will be fully brought under the legal pipeline water network by the end of December.

HALL-MARK-SONALI BANK SCAM

ACC questions 7 BB officials n Tribune Report

Blockaders put logs on a road to disrupt communication, protesting death of a BNP activist

DHAKA TRIBUNE

DHAKA TRIBUNE

The Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday took statements from seven Bangladesh Bank (BB) officials who were witnesses in the Tk3.72bn loan embezzlement case involving the HallMark Group.

According to officials, a sevenmember probe team, led by ACC deputy director Mir Joynul Abdin Shibly, questioned the witnesses at the commission headquarters in the capital.

The BB officials included joint director Monir Ahammad Shikder, deputy director M Anwar Hossain and assistant director Muhammad Abdullah Al Mamun of the financial integrity and customer services department; deputy directors M Rezaul Islam and M Hasan Askari Bhuiyan of the department of banking inspection; and joint director

M Siddiqur Rahman Molla and deputy director Kazi Arifur Rahman of the foreign exchange inspection and vigilance department.

Violating the central bank’s rules, officials from Sonali Bank and five business entities of Hall-Mark Group embezzled Tk3.72bn which was taken in the form of loans, between October 2011 and May 2012 from the bank’s Ruposhi Bangla branch.

The five companies are: T & Brothers Ltd, Paragon Knit Composite Ltd, Nakshi Knit Composite Ltd, Khan Jahan Ali Sweaters Ltd and DN Sports Limited.

The ACC, in January this year, filed as many as 26 cases against 18 senior executives of the five companies and 17 officials of Sonali Bank for their alleged involvement in misappropriating the state-owned bank’s money. l

The managing director also said all slum dwellers in the capital would be connected to the legal water connections of DWASA by 2015.

He said the present system loses 26% of the water it carries. Earlier it had been 40%, a result of leakage from worn pipes and illegal pipelines siphoning off water.

He also said different international donor agencies, including the World Bank, The Asian Development Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency have agreed to provide funding to DWASA. He expressed hope that in the future they would service 100% of the city’s inhabitants. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

GOLAHAT GENOCIDE

Untried crimes against humanity n

Tribune Report

The Golahat genocide, a horrific crime against humanity committed by the Pakistani occupation forces with Behari collaborators on June 13, 1971 at the Syedpur township of Nilphamari, remains untried.

Pakistani occupation forces with their collaborators killed 437 Marwari and Hindu people including men, women and children on the day, reports BSS. Relatives of these martyrs still tremble while narrating the events of that unfortunate day. Talking to BSS, Nironjan Kumar Agarwala Niju, 52, son of a Golahat genocide martyr Rameswar Lal Agarwala, one of the eyewitnesses narrated the killings and named a few war criminals.

While narrating the genocide at Golahat in the presence of Syedpur Upazila Muktijoddha Commander Ekramul Haque and its former Commander Zikrul Haque, Niju, who lost nine family members including his father, could not control his tears.

“The then Muslim League leader and peace committee Chairman Izahar Ahmed, his brother Nesar Ahmed, NSF leader Tawqir Ahmed Kennedy and others led the genocide,” Niju said.

Led by these Beharis, the occupation forces apprehended 185 Marwari and Hindu males and took them to Syedpur Cantonment on June 1 in 1971 and forced them into hard labour at Syedpur Airport. On June 12 in 1971, Major Gul hatched a plan, which involved informing the hostages that they would be sent to India through the bordering Haldibari rail station.

“Accordingly, the killers took them to Syedpur station by trucks around 5am to 6am on June 13, asked them to go home and come back with their family members to travel to India by train,” Niju said.

The frightened hostages went home and 447 people returned including women, children and elderly family members.

“The killers sealed off all doors and windows after pouring males into two

trucks and women with children into two other trucks before the train started very slowly around 6am to 7am from Syedpur station,” Niju said.

Niju followed the train that stopped at Golahat culvert at Syedpur Township when local villagers soon jumped into the bushes to hide.

The killers took them to Syedpur station by trucks around 5am to 6am on June 13, asked them to go home and come back with their family members to travel to India by train “I saw the killers opening doors, forcibly taking hostages one by one including women and children out and stabbing them to death with sharp weapons and bayonets,” he said.

The crying minors were murdered by being thrown on to the metallic rail lines, while the others were thrown up into the air, only to fall onto a bed of bayonets, Niju added. Thus, 437 Marwari and Hindu people embraced

7

Thursday, December 5, 2013

martyrdom, while the remaining 10 escaped by smashing through the windows of the trucks.

“My mother Shanti Devi failed to board the train, now she lives in a comatose state and expresses her dissatisfaction at the war criminals’ trial, that is yet to be completed,” Niju said.

Former lawmaker Alim Uddin, freedom fighter Salah Uddin Beg, Shomsher Ali Bosunia, Professor Moslem Uddin Ahmed, Shamsul Huda Kadam and many others could not control their emotions while narrating the deadly Golahat genocide. “The Beharis led by peace committee chairman Izahar Ahmed killed my father, cut off his head and brought out a ‘victory’ procession with the head in Syedpur,” emotional Salah Uddin Beg said.

Syedpur Muktijoddha Commander Ekramul Haque said his office submitted a list of 84 living war criminals from Syedpur to the International Crimes Tribunal more than two years ago, but none have been arrested so far. l

Call for ensuring quality healthcare services n BSS Speakers at a public awareness seminar in Rangpur yesterday called on all concerned to ensure better health services for all citizens, in order to build a healthier nation.

The Rangpur unit of the Family Planning Association of Bangladesh (FPAB) organised a satellite clinic and a seminar in the city’s Munshipara area.

Its Medical Officer Dr Samorpita Ghosh Tanya chaired the seminar.

Former Mayor of the defunct Rangpur Pourasabha Kazi Mohammad Junnon attended the occasion as the chief guest.

District Officer of FPAB Jafrul Bari described the health service programmes for new born babies, pregnant women, breast cancer, family planning, safe baby deliveries, reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, malnutrition, along with reducing maternal and infant mortality rates.

Public representatives, civil society members, health service recipients of all ages (including mothers and pregnant women), professionals, and socio-cultural activists participated in

the inauguration of the satellite clinic and in the seminar.

The speakers said the nation had achieved huge success on numerous fronts: providing medical care, family planning and nutrition services to the common people; changing the mindset of physicians; establishing accountability and good governance in medical institutions.

They suggested proper coordination of the healthcare service providers at all levels to further reduce maternal, neonatal and infant mortality rates; malnutrition; and to make the government’s health service programme for all a success.

The physicians of FPAB provided cost-free medical care to over 300 people of all ages at the day-long satellite clinic.

Councilors of Rangpur City Corporation Jafrin Islam Ripa and Nizamul Islam Badal, President of Raja Ram Mohan Club Monwar Hossain, Advocate Safia Khanom, Advocate Zakia Sultana Choiti, FPAB executives Lion Shahidul Anam Tuhin, Sohel Ahammed Litan, Sabiba Ahmed Sneha and Sayma Ahmmed, addressed. l

Rural population reels from spiraling prices n Our Correspondent, Narsingdi The life of those on low incomes in Narsingdi has become even more difficult as the price of essentials soars in the district.

Many people expressed anxiety about how they will cope. People on low fixed incomes will be in trouble if the political situation causes prices to rise further in the coming days.

The people who lead a hand-tomouth existence will suffer most.

“I earn Tk350 to Tk400 in per day, it is becoming tough for me to maintain my family on that income as the price of essentials skyrockets,” said rickshaw puller Kashem, who hails from Ghoradia village in the district.

He said he needed at least two kilograms of rice per day for his family, adding, “If I buy rice I can hardly afford others commodities with the little amount of money I have.”

“My income has decreased because of back-to-back hartals and blockades, now I can only earn Tk200 to Tk220 per day as my employer has reduced my rate due to the political situation.”

Prices of all the essentials including rice, vegetables, meat, fish, and edible oil have risen sharply, said primary schoolteachers Fazlul Haque and Abdul Hye .

The price rises are affecting profes-

sionals as well.

“I earn Tk12,000 per month, but my family expenditure has become Tk15,000,” said Abdul Bari, a high school teacher in Narsingdi town.

“Winter has come and I will have to purchase warm clothes for my family.

I do not even know how I will manage my family in the coming days.”

The Dhaka Tribune visited Narsingdi Bara-Bazar, Natun Bazar, UMC Bazar, and Bhelanagar Bazar and found that the prices all kinds of essential commodities have been raised.

Low quality rice is selling at Tk38 to Tk40 per kg, medium quality rice is selling at Tk43 and fine quality at Tk46.

Nasirshail is selling at Tk50 per kg, onions (local) are Tk105 per kg, and imported onions are Tk95 per kg.

Soybeans are selling at Tk115 per kg, 5 litres of Fresh oil is selling for Tk585 and the same volume of Teer (soybean oil) is Tk580. The government, however, has ordered traders to sell soyabean oil at Tk110 per kg.

All kinds of other vegetables prices have also been increased. Aubergines are selling at Tk55 per kg, Papaya at Tk20 per kg, tomatoes at Tk100 per kg, bitter gourd at Tk60 per kg, cucumbers at Tk50 per kg, potatoes at Tk22 per kg, green chilies at Tk80 per kg, spinach at Tk30 per kg and beans at Tk60 per kg. l

Circle of life could not be stopped by arson attacks. The women of Charkawa Nomo Para did not give up even after the gutting of 15 houses and two temples on November 15. The photo taken yesterday shows that women reconstructing their houses DHAKA TRIBUNE

Aman farmers in Rajshahi beam with delight due to good yield, fair price n BSS

Aman farmers in Rajshahi were happy after pulling in a good yield coupled with fair price this season, everywhere in the region.

According to reports from different areas in the district, farmers were busy harvesting in the final stages.

Currently, a maund (37.33kg) of Aman paddy was being sold for Tk640 to Tk710 at different markets in the district while the production cost of each maund was Tk420 to Tk450, farmers said.

During the initial stages of the farming season, farmers were frustrated due to dry conditions. Though some of them, having requisite irrigation facilities started transplanting seedlings with irrigation, all the farmers could do same, thanks to frequent rainfall later in the season.

Agriculturists said growers sowed high quality Aman seeds like BINA-7, BR-49 and local early variety Basmati paddy while the DAE officials provided farmers with training and necessary instructions to bring in better yields.

Nurul Amin, deputy director of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), said Aman was cultivated on 70,360 hectares against the target of 68,513 hectares in nine upazilas of the district this year.

Farmers got at least 2.93 tonnes of the crop from each hectare this year against the target of 2.66 tonnes fixed by the DAE, he said.

This season the farmers were getting a fair price for their crop, which is now being sold between Tk700 to Tk750 per mound, said Jakir Hossain, a farmer of

Chowbaria in Pabaupazila.

“Good Aman harvest was expected this season in the district as weather condition remained favourable, prices of fertiliser and other inputs were relatively low while pest attacks did not affect the crop,” he said.

“I have harvested 18 to 20 maunds of HYV of aman crop per bigha of land, as weather flood was almost favourable this year,” said Abdur Rahim, a model farmer from Bargachhi in Pabaupazila.

Nabibur Rahman, 43, a farmer from

Four firearms, ammunition seized in Chapainawabganj

n Tribune Desk

Police disperse blockaders who attempted to halt road communication in Jhenaidah district town yesterday

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Members of Rapid Action Battalion in Shibganj of Chapainawabganj seized four firearms and a huge amount of ammunition and arrested two alleged firearms traders yesterday.

The arrested persons were identified as Maidul Islam Biswas, 32, and Abdus Sobhan, 28.

Acting on a tip-off, a team of the elite force conducted a raid in Rashidnagar area around 1:20pm and arrested them with the firearms.

Police said they were listed criminals in the locality.

A case was recorded with the police station concerned and the seized firearms and ammunition were handed over to the police, the sources said. l

Kachua in Tanore Upazila, said, “I cultivated high yielding flood tolerant Aman paddy on 68 decimal of land this year and got 25kg of paddy from each decimal. It was only 18 kg last year.”

“I received seed and technical support from the regional office of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute to cultivate the variety. I will cultivate it on more land next season,” he said.

“I cultivated Aman on four acres (1.61 hectares) of land spending Tk7,000-8,000 per acre and got 35-36 maunds of paddy from each acre. The

new paddy was selling at Tk750 per maund and I hope to get a profit of Tk30,000-32,000,” said Jahangir Alam, a farmer from Kaligonj in Manda upazila.

Saleh Ahmed, Upazila Agriculture Officer of Paba said favourable weather conditions including timely rain aided in a bumper Aman yield this season and its price was good as well.

“Now the farmers are applying scientific methods for cultivation. They do not use excessive fertiliser and insecticides on their croplands,” he said. l

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

International

Hezbollah says top leader killed, blames Israel n AFP, Beirut Hezbollah said Wednesday one of its top leaders was killed near Beirut, and blamed Israel, at a time of soaring tensions in Lebanon linked to the war in neighbouring Syria.

The slain leader, identified as Hassan Hawlo al-Lakiss, was the most senior figure in Hezbollah to be assassinated since Imad Mughniyeh was killed in a Damascus bombing in 2008, which the movement also accused Israel of carrying out.

Both men were part of Hezbollah’s secretive top leadership, and Lakiss was virtually unknown before his death was made public.

“The Islamic resistance announces the death of one of its leaders, the martyr Hassan Hawlo al-Lakiss, who was assassinated near his house in the Hadath region” east of Beirut, said Hezbollah.

“Direct accusation is aimed of course against the Israeli enemy which had tried to eliminate our martyred brother again and again and in several places but had failed, until yesterday evening.

“This enemy must bear full responsibility for and all the consequences of this heinous crime,” Hezbollah said on its Al-Manar television channel without elaborating.

Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor dismissed the allegations as “yet another Pavlovian response from Hezbollah, which makes automatic accusations (against Israel) before even thinking about what’s actually happened.”

WORLD WATCH Return the treasures Britain looted, Chinese tell Cameron

British Prime Minister David Cameron faced demands for the return of priceless artefacts looted from Beijing in the 19th century on Wednesday, the last day of his visit to China. Cameron travelled to the southwestern city of Chengdu on the third day of what embassy officials said was the largest ever British trade mission to the country. British officials say 5.6bn pounds ($9.2bn) worth of deals have been signed so far on the trip, but Cameron has been derided by both Chinese staterun media and the country’s sharptongued Internet users. The prime minister last Friday set up his own microblogging page on Sina Weibo, China’s version of Twitter, attracting more than 230,000 followers by Wednesday. He invited netizens to ask questions, saying that he would aim to reply during the visit.

Pay-what-you-like restaurant in China loses thousands

A Biblically-named restaurant in China where patrons can pay whatever they want – or nothing at all – has shown that while loving your neighbour may be laudable, it is a risky business model. The “Five Loaves and Two Fish” restaurant, named for the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand, has been serving up hot meals and coffee daily to a packed house in Fuzhou since it opened its doors in August. The city centre eatery is open 24 hours a day and is known for its seafood and local Fujianese cuisine, with specialities including garlic scallops, beef with scallions, and pickled pork. Diners are expected to wash their own dishes after eating and then put whatever money they want to pay into a box. But according to its investors, as many as one fifth of patrons opt to pay nothing, and the restaurant has lost 250,000 yuan ($41,000) since it opened.

Looting in Argentine province after police shun work to demand raises

People looted stores Tuesday in the central Argentine province of Cordoba after police demanding pay raises refused to leave their barracks, TV footage showed. Vandals, some on motorcycles, ransacked stores as they took advantage of the lack of police, local TV reported. Police want higher salaries and better working conditions, said a lawyer for the police officers, Miguel Ortiz Pellegrini. Some 3,000 police in Cordoba refused to leave police stations to go on patrol. The province has 22,000 officers for a population of 3.5 million, the largest in Argentina after Buenos Aires province. Cordoba is big farm producer and lure for tourists who come to enjoy its countryside.

Who are Hezbollah?

Hezbollah fighters carry the coffin of Hassan al-Laqis, a senior commander “Israel has nothing to do with this,” he said. The Hezbollah channel said Lakiss had been shot repeatedly with a silenced handgun after parking his car in the building where he lived, adding that more than one assailant took part in the attack.

A source in the Shia movement said Lakiss was close to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Hezbollah emerged during Lebanon’s civil war in the 1980s with the aim of driving Israeli forces out of the country and battled the Jewish state to a bloody stalemate in 2006.

Hezbollah said Lakiss’s son was killed in the war, which claimed the lives of some 1,200 Lebanese, mainly civilians, and more than 150 Israelis,

AP

mainly soldiers.

A resident of the building in front of Lakiss’ home, Mohammad Abdallah, said he did not know the slain man but that he was always accompanied by bodyguards.

“Whenever any car that wasn’t from the neighbourhood was parked nearby, he would ask the building concierge who it belonged to. He always had his curtains drawn,” said the young Abdallah.

Ali Fares, who lived in Lakiss’ building, said his son saw from his window two men fleeing.

“I went downstairs with the other neighbours and I saw the body. It appears they attacked him when he was getting out of his car,” Fares added.

Bosnia survivors outraged over war criminals’ release n AFP, Sarajevo In a bid to rectify a legal error, hundreds of convicted Bosnian war criminals are set to be released and retried under a more lenient criminal code, outraging survivors who say they fear being traumatised all over again.

Twelve war criminals have already walked free since mid-October, six of whom were found guilty of genocide for their role in the massacre of some 8,000 Muslim men and boys at Srebrenica, the worst atrocity on European soil since World War II. “It’s scandalous!” said Hatidza Mehmedovic, who heads the Srebrenica Mothers association and whose husband and two sons were among those killed by Bosnian Serb forces in the eastern town at the end

of Bosnia’s 1992-95 war.

“Shame on those judges who reward genocide and who continue to punish the victims! We are disgusted and we are also scared since they already started to release the worst butchers,” she told AFP. The legal upset comes after the Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in July ruled in favour of Goran Damjanovic – a former Bosnian Serb soldier sentenced to 11 years for war crimes – who argued he had been tried under the wrong criminal code.

Damjanovic said he should have been judged under the 1976 penal code that was in force when the crimes were committed, instead of being subjected to a stricter 2003 law that punishes war crimes with jail terms ranging from 10 to 45 years..l

Hezbollah - or the Party of God - is a powerful political and military organisation in Lebanon made up mainly of Shia Muslims.

It emerged with financial backing from Iran in the early 1980s and began a struggle to drive Israeli troops from Lebanon.

Hostility to Israel has remained the party’s defining platform since May 2000, when the last Israeli troops left Lebanon due in large part to the success of Hezbollah’s military arm, the Islamic Resistance.

Hezbollah’s popularity peaked in the 2000s, but took a dent among pro-Western Lebanese when it was at the centre of a major, destructive war with Israel following the capture of two Israeli soldiers in 2006.

Its intervention in the conflict in neighbouring Syria on the side of the regime of President Bashar al-Assad has also been highly controversial, condemned within Lebanon and also internationally.

Despite heavy rainfall, thousands of people turned out for Lakiss’ funeral in his native Baalbek, a Hezbollah stronghold in eastern Lebanon.

His coffin was carried through the crowds, wrapped in the Shia movement’s yellow and green flag.

Several Hezbollah leaders have ben assassinated since the movement was created by Iran in the 1980s.l

Perched on the tip of Istanbul’s historic peninsula, Hagia Sophia – with its spectacular dome, elegant curves and towering minarets – is an iconic sight for millions of tourists visiting the city each year.

But should it be a mosque, a church or a museum? The 1,500-year-old complex overlooking the Bosphorus is at the heart of a bitter dispute over its fate after Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc called for it to be converted back into a Muslim place of worship.

His comments, though not official policy, have added to concerns over what critics say is the government’s increasing efforts to impose Islamic values on secular Turkish society.

And the Byzantine monument could

become a political hot potato for Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is seeking to shore up flagging support among conservative Muslims ahead of elections next year.

Hagia Sophia, which in Greek means “Holy Wisdom,” was built in the sixth century and served as an Orthodox church for centuries – and as the seat of the Patriarchate of Constantinople – before being converted to a mosque by the Ottomans in the 1400s.

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the modern Turkish republic, declared it a museum in 1934 and it opened the following year. “We are looking at a sad Hagia Sophia, but hopefully we will see it smiling again soon,” Arinc said earlier this month.

Greece, whose territory was once

Bill Clinton: clear rules needed for spying on leaders n AFP, Washington Revelations that the National Security Agency spied on world leaders has tarnished America’s image and reinforced the need for reform, former US president Bill Clinton said Tuesday in a broadcast interview. “I think there ought to be very explicit rules on listening in on conversations of world leaders,” Clinton told the Fusion network’s show “America with Jorge Ramos.”

The administration of current President Barack Obama has been under fire this year after a former NSA analyst leaked documents showing the extent of US spying, reportedly including on world leaders such as those in allies Mexico, Brazil and Germany.

Clinton said that during his 19932001 presidency, he had “serious reservations” about such intelligence gathering on leaders.

“Well, it depended on who they were,” said Clinton, who like Obama is a Democrat. “If we thought they were engaged in hostile acts against the United States... then (American agencies) might do it. But – I’m not sure – we didn’t have the capability then to do a lot of what’s being done today.”

Over the last several months US lawmakers have debated the benefits of operations that have seen intelligence agencies scoop up vast amounts of personal data, including from most phone calls in the United States, in an effort to thwart terrorist attacks. l

Syria’s Assad to lead during transition: minister n AFP, Damascus Syria’s Bashar al-Assad will remain president and lead any transition agreed upon in Geneva peace talks planned for next month, a government minister insisted on Wednesday.

“If anyone thinks we are going to Geneva 2 to hand the keys to Damascus over (to the opposition), then he might as well not go,” Information Minister Omran al-Zohbi said in remarks carried by the official SANA news agency.

“The decision rests with President Assad. He will lead the period of transition, if there is one. He is the leader of Syria... And he will remain the president of Syria.” Zohbi also said that Saudi Arabia, a strong backer of the rebels, should be excluded from the peace conference.

The rebels battling Assad’s regime in a war that has claimed 126,000 lives

since March 2011 have insisted he step down as part of any transition.

The two sides are set to meet in Geneva on January 22 in talks brokered by the UN-Arab league envoy Lakhdar Brahimi. But the dispute over Assad’s role in the transition, and the endemic divisions among both the external opposition and rebels battling on the ground, have cast doubt over whether the two sides can even reach an agreement let alone implement it.

The National Coalition, an umbrella opposition group, has demanded the creation of a “transitional governing body” with “full executive powers” that excludes Assad and his inner circle. The conflict began nearly three years ago with peaceful pro-democracy protests inspired by the Arab Spring but escalated into a full-scale civil war after Assad’s regime launched a brutal crackdown.l

Rockets kill 18 in govt-held areas of Syria’s Aleppo: NGO n AFP, Beirut Rocket fire against government-held areas of Syria’s main northern city of Aleppo killed at least 18 people on Wednesday, a monitoring group said.

Among the dead were “five regime troops, including an officer,” the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

The attack on the Furqan and Meridian neighbourhoods also wounded at least 30 people, the Britain-based watchdog added.

State television said at least 17 people were killed in what it described as an attack by “terrorists.”

Aleppo, which was once Syria’s bustling commercial hub, has been one of the main focuses of the 33-month conflict since rebels seized large swathes of the city in an offensive launched in July last year.

But despite persistent skirmishes between loyalist forces and the rebels, the front lines have changed little in more than a year..l

Bikes big hit in checkpoint-strewn Syria capital! n AFP, Damascus Damascus bike shop owner Ali Jumaa is a happy man despite the civil war raging across Syria: with checkpoint-weary locals in the capital increasingly swapping their cars for bicycles, business has never been better.

“Bike sales are exploding,” he said with a big smile. Young Damascenes especially have turned to bikes en masse to avoid the endless traffic jams caused by hundreds of army checkpoints. Two and a half years into Syria’s brutal war, the economy has taken a beating, with inflation soaring at 68 percent and scores of businessmen leaving the country. While the conflict has caused heavy losses for most businesses in Damascus, Jumaa, a trader in his 40s, is among the lucky ones. It’s hard to miss his store, which sells bicycles of all types and colours as well as carrying out repairs.

“We have regular clients,” said Jumaa, while repairing a bicycle in front of his shop

Istanbul landmark rekindles religious tensions n AFP, Istanbul

Thursday, December 5, 2013

on Khaled bin Walid Street.

“Young women, including university professors, use bicycles to get around,” he said. Syria is a conservative Muslim country and women on bicycles used to be a rare sight. But for months now, residents say driving in Damascus has turned into a nightmare because of the multitude of army checkpoints which have popped up across the city, with troops inspecting every passing car.

More than half the capital’s streets have been shut down, leading to traffic jams which can paralyse the capital’s roads for hours on end. The aim of the checkpoints is to protect the capital from bomb attacks and to stop weapons and explosive-laden cars from slipping in.

The drastic security measures and the congestion they cause have encouraged people to use bicycles, whereas just a few months ago only delivery men and newspaper distributors could be seen using them.

Mohammad Sabbagh, an engineering student, is thrilled at having taken to two wheels.

“I get to university in 20 minutes, while it used to take me one or two hours (by bus), depending on the traffic,” said Sabbagh, parking his bike.

“I can do whatever I want with my time now, as I don’t have to wait for the bus any more,” he smiled.

Manar Masri, also a student, said he took up cycling after he stumbled on a Facebook page named “We need a bike.”

“It’s wonderful that all these people, especially young girls, want to cycle,” he said.

Even some religious figures have joined in. Mohammed Ali Malla, a cleric at Leila Basha mosque, said on the group’s Facebook page: “To navigate the streets of Damascus, our only option is bicycles.”

Another social media user wrote: “When I’m stuck at a checkpoint and I see 32 bicycles in front of me, I think to myself, I really need a bike.”l

THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT

part of the Ottoman empire and is often at odds with Turkey over religious issues, reacted furiously, saying such comments offended the religious feelings of millions of Christians.

Mihail Vasiliadis, editor-in-chief of Istanbul-based Greek daily Apoyevmatini, says Hagia Sophia is an important symbol for the entire Orthodox Christian community. “There are some who have been seeing a sad Hagia Sophia for more than 500 years and they are the ones who want to see it returned as a church,” he told AFP. Last month, Greece flatly rejected the idea of reviving two mosques in Athens in return for the reopening of an Orthodox clergy school in Turkey.

Two other churches that also bear the name Hagia Sophia have recently been turned into mosques in Turkey. l

US woman denies Google Glass driving charge

n AFP, Los Angeles

A US woman thought to be the first person to get a traffic ticket for wearing Google Glass pleaded not guilty in court Tuesday, her lawyer said. Cecilia Abadie, who was wearing the hi-tech eye-wear but says it was not turned on at the time, was charged with speeding and distracted driving on a San Diego area freeway on October 29.

On Tuesday, her lawyer William Concidine appeared in court with the 44-year-old to deny the charges. “Our primary argument is that Ms. Abadie was not driving while the Google Glass was actually operational,” he told AFP, adding: “There is nothing illegal about simply wearing the Google Glass while it is not turned on.” l

A protester holds a poster against police violence reading “Protect our Children” during a rally in front of Ukrainian parliament on December 3, 2013. The Ukrainian government survived a no-confidence vote after the prime minister apologised for a brutal police crackdown on protests that were sparked by the ex-Soviet state’s rejection of a historic EU pact. Following pressure from the opposition, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov arrived at an emergency parliament session and personally apologised for a crackdown in a bid to defuse the ex-Soviet nation’s worst political crisis in a decade AFP

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Anti-corruption party tested in Delhi polls

n AFP, New Delhi

A new Indian political party rooted in an anti-corruption movement that swept the country in 2011 faced its first electoral test Wednesday as voters in New Delhi headed to the ballot box.

The Aam Aadmi (“Common Man”) Party, led by former tax inspector Arvind Kejriwal, is contesting the New Delhi state election and hoping for a victory that would be a political earthquake ahead of national polls next year.

New Delhi, whose 16.8 million inhabitants elect their own assembly, has been run by the Congress party since 1998 but it is seen as struggling with voter fatigue, inflation, and anger over crime against women and corruption.

Kejriwal cast his vote at a polling station in central Delhi early on Wednesday accompanied by about 100 supporters wearing white Gandhi caps which, along with a broom, has become the party’s trademark.

“Broom! Broom! Broom!,” said street food vendor Rajesh Sharma, 49, after casting his vote in the chaotic old city area. “Kejriwal deserves a chance to show what he’s got.”

The Delhi election, along with four other state polls over the last month, are also crucial for the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its newly chosen hardline leader Narendra Modi.

Modi, a prime ministerial candidate for next year’s general elections, has campaigned hard and will hope to see the BJP make gains when results are announced for all five state elections on Sunday. Kejriwal, 44, believes his promise of clean politics, young candidates and pursuit of black marketeers who he blames for soaring food prices will see his party surge to victory. l

Australian FM heads to Indonesia, China after spy row n AFP, Sydney Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop will hold talks with Indonesia on Thursday to help repair ties strained by a spying row and draw up a code of ethics to govern relations.

The nation’s top diplomat will also visit China, where relations are likewise on edge after Canberra’s criticism of Beijing’s new air defence identification zone, which covers East China Sea islands disputed with Japan.

“The minister will lead a high level delegation to Jakarta for broad-ranging discussions about the bilateral relationship, following President (Susilo Bambang) Yudhoyono’s recent statement,” her office said. Reports last month that Australian spies tried to tap the phones of Yudhoyono, his wife and his inner circle in 2009 sparked one of the worst diplomatic crises between the two strategic allies in years.

Jakarta reacted furiously, ending cooperation on military exercises and in the key area of people-smuggling while recalling its ambassador from Canberra.

Tensions calmed after Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott sent Yudhoyono a letter of explanation, with the two leaders agreeing that top-level envoys would discuss protocols and a code of ethics to govern relations that were “clear, fair and abided to.” l

International

Nepali Congress says it will form next government

Shias rally in Karachi against leader’s killing

n AFP, Karachi

n AFP, Kathmandu The Nepali Congress party said Wednesday it hopes to lead a broad-based coalition after winning the most votes in last month’s election, with agreement on a new constitution its top priority.

The Nepali Congress, one of the country’s oldest parties, won 196 of the 575 seats up for grabs in the November 19 polls, according to the final results, pushing the former ruling Maoists into third place.

The Unified Marxist-Leninist (UML) party secured 175 seats in the constituent assembly. The Maoists, who swept Nepal’s first post-civil war elections in 2008, were humiliated with a tally of 80 seats.

“Our first priority is to form a consensus (cross-party) government,” Nepali Congress general secretary Prakash Man Singh told AFP. “A consensus government will make it easier for us to promulgate the constitution, which is our primary task,” Singh added. The Maoists, who entered the political mainstream in 2006 after a decade-long civil war, have alleged that the polls were marred by fraud, leaving their participation in the constituent assembly in doubt.

Singh said his party wanted the Maoists on board but added that it was prepared to form a “majority” government with the UML, if they refused to join a cross-party coalition.

UML spokesman, Pradeep Gyawali, told AFP the party was open to a power-sharing deal with the Nepali Congress, but cautioned, “we can’t isolate the Maoists, we need to bring them on board.”

The Maoists are expected to make a

Supporters of the Nepali Congress party celebrate with their party flag decision on whether they will join the assembly by Tuesday, which is the election commission’s deadline for all parties to present a list of prospective lawmakers.

Senior Maoist leader, Devendra Paudel, told AFP the party would not join a Congress-led government.

“We are considering the option of joining the assembly,” Paudel said, adding that the two major parties would still need to seek a consensus on

drafting the constitution.

“If the Nepali Congress and UML don’t forge an agreement with our party, there won’t be a way out,” he said.

The former rebels gave up arms after signing a peace agreement, which ended royal rule and transformed Nepal into a secular republic.

Since then a string of coalition governments have squabbled and failed to agree on the text of a constitution,

AP

forcing the collapse of the first constituent assembly in May 2012.

The Maoists now want an all-party consensus rather than a two-thirds majority to pass the new constitution – a demand that may prolong the drafting process, with the new assembly expected to include left, centrist and far-right parties.

A total of 30 parties have won seats in the elections, which saw more than 100 parties field candidates. l

Around 1,200 Shias rallied in Karachi on Wednesday to protest the killing of a senior community leader in a sectarian attack, blocking an arterial road in the southern Pakistani city.

They offered funeral prayers for Allama Deedar Ali Jalbani, shot dead along with his guard by gunmen in the eastern neighbourhood of Gulshan-eIqbal on Tuesday.

They also shouted slogans against the killing and demanded the government arrest Jalbani’s killers.

The city’s main artery, MA Jinnah Road, which links different busy districts and shopping areas was shut for hours due to the Shias’ protest.

“We closed the road and stopped movement of traffic in the surrounding areas also to avoid any untoward incident,” senior police official Pir Muhammad Shah told AFP. Private schools in the city remained shut and public transport was thin due to security fears following a protest call given by Shias’ representative organisation, Majlis-e-Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM), of which Jalbani was the deputy secretary general.

Three main universities, Karachi university, Federal Urdu university and NED university postponed examinations scheduled for Wednesday.

At least five people including Jalbani, his guard and three members of Islamic preaching group were shot dead in Karachi on Tuesday.

Shias make up around 20% of Pakistan’s population, which is largely Sunni Muslim.

Karachi, a city of 18 million people which contributes 42% of Pakistan’s GDP, has been plagued by sectarian, ethnic and political violence for years. l

Indonesian mastermind Indonesia jails Myanmar Muslims over Buddhist killings of Myanmar embassy n bomb plot confesses AFP, Medan

n AFP, Jakarta An Indonesian on trial for a foiled plot to bomb the Myanmar embassy confessed to being the mastermind Thursday, saying he was “still at war” with anyone oppressing Muslims.

Sigit Indrajid, 23, testified that he led a group of Islamic extremists that networked over Facebook in a plan to attack Myanmar’s mission in Jakarta in May. The group wanted to avenge the harsh treatment of Muslim-minority Rohingya in Myanmar – an issue that has resonated widely in Indonesia, the world’s biggest Muslim-majority nation.

“It was my initiative,” he told the South Jakarta district court.

Asked by a judge if he regretted his actions, Indrajid responded in a raised voice: “No. This was a warning to Myanmar as well as others who treat Muslims as they please.”

“I am still at war – as long as there is oppression of Muslims,” he said.

Indrajid faces three charges under tough anti-terror laws, including possession of weapons or explosive mate-

rials, which carries a maximum penalty of death.

He said he became incensed after reading reports on Facebook about the violence against Rohingya in the Buddhist-majority country, many of whom have died in sectarian unrest since last year.

He got the idea to attack the embassy after being invited by a local Muslim group to take part in a protest against the violence in Myanmar.

He said he met up with an accomplice, Separiano, who goes by one name and has also been charged by the same court over the plot.

“I said to him, ‘Let’s just bomb (the embassy)’. And he agreed,” Indrajid told the court.

The attack by the group – part of the network Negara Islam Indonesia (The Islamic State of Indonesia) – was foiled on May 2, the day before it was due to take place, when police arrested two men on a motorbike carrying a backpack full of pipe-bombs.

Prosecutors earlier said Indrajid met some of his accomplices on Facebook, where he posted messages about the need to avenge the killing of the Rohingya. l

An Indonesian court Wednesday jailed 14 Muslim Rohingya men from Myanmar for nine months each for bludgeoning eight Buddhists from their country to death in an Indonesian detention centre.

The Rohingya asylum-seekers in April killed the Buddhist men, who had been detained for illegally fishing in Indonesian waters, as sectarian tensions in their home country flared.

The Rohingyas, aged 18 to 37, accused the fishermen of sexually harassing two Rohingya women and said the Buddhists started the violence in the detention centre, in the port town of Belawan near Medan city on Sumatra island.

“The defendants have been proven legally and convincingly guilty of working together to blatantly carry out violence, which resulted in the loss of human lives,” chief judge Aksir told the Medan district court.

“We sentenced them to nine months in prison,” he said. The sentence was lighter than the two-year term sought by prosecutors and the maximum penalty for violence resulting in death, which is 12 years. The men, along with 100 Indonesian Muslim supporters, chanted “Allahu Akbar” (God is greater) in the court room after the light sentences were handed down.

Myanmar Rohingya Muslims shout slogans as police place them at the court’s detention house in Medan, North Sumatra AFP According to court documents, a fisherman had tried to stab one of the Rohingya men, who retaliated by hitting him with a broomstick.

A mass fight broke out and eight Myanmar Buddhists were found dead and bloodied when the police arrived at the scene.

Three minors suspected to be involved in the attack were freed in July due to lack of evidence.

Biden in China as air zone tensions simmer Temporary Thai truce on

eve of king’s birthday

n AFP, Beijing US Vice President Joe Biden arrived in Beijing Wednesday to raise concerns over a Chinese air zone that has ramped up regional tensions, and said the world’s two biggest economies’ relationship will “affect the course of the 21st century.”

His trip – which began in Japan and ends in South Korea – follows weeks of furore after Beijing declared an “air defence identification zone” (ADIZ) covering East China Sea islands disputed with Japan.

Washington has declared a “pivot” towards in its foreign policy towards Asia, and the dispute illustrates the careful path it needs to tread with an ever more powerful China, while at the same time maintaining a security alliance with Japan.

“This is a hugely consequential relationship that is going to affect the course of the 21st century,” Biden said after being welcomed by his counterpart Li Yuanchao.

Their ties will become the “central, sort of, organising principle in international relations for a long time,” he added. “Like all complex relationships, it calls for sustained, high-level engagement,” he said, adding he believed China’s President Xi Jinping was com-

9

Thursday, December 5, 2013

n AFP, Bangkok

Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao, right, and U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, left mitted “to managing our differences candidly and constructively.”

Li also called US-China ties “the most important bilateral relationship in the world,” adding that strong relations would be “not just a blessing for the people of our two nations but also very important to development and

AP

stability in the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large.”

The decades-old argument over East China Sea outcrops which Beijing calls Diaoyu and Tokyo calls Senkaku flared after Japan bought some of the islands from their private owners in September 2012. l

Thailand’s anti-government protesters and security forces on Wednesday observed a temporary truce as the nation prepared to mark the birthday of the revered king, after police stepped back in a dramatic move to calm violent clashes.

In the day’s only significant demonstration, hundreds of protesters descended on the national police headquarters in Bangkok’s glitzy downtown shopping district, where police allowed them to cut barbed wire and pull away sections of a concrete barrier. The demonstrators withdrew shortly afterwards.

The overwhelming mood was calm in the capital, as demonstrators joined Bangkok authorities to clean up the area around Democracy Monument, where tens of thousands have camped out in more than a month of rallies against the embattled government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

The area is a focus for the celebrations on Thursday for the 86th birthday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej – a date normally observed in a spirit of calm

and reverence for the ageing monarch.

Some debris has been cleared at battle-scarred areas around key government buildings which saw ugly clashes with police earlier in the week.

The several days of street battles abruptly paused Tuesday as protesters in the Thai capital gave police flowers after security forces said they would no longer use force against demonstrators trying to storm Yingluck’s offices as well as the city police headquarters.

The unexpected about-turn in tactics followed two days of violent clashes between stone-throwing mobs and police firing tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets.

Protest leaders say they have not abandoned their campaign to overthrow Yingluck’s administration and curb the political influence of her billionaire brother Thaksin Shinawatra, who was deposed by royalist generals in a coup seven years ago.

Authorities were not worried about the gathering at the police headquarters, said Paradorn Pattanatabut, head of Thailand’s National Security Council, on Wednesday. l

The attack underscored the soaring Buddhist-Muslim tensions that have overshadowed political reforms in Myanmar.

The men’s lawyer, Mahmud Irsyad Lubis, said the men would appeal for freedom.

“They said they wanted freedom because there was no real evidence shown during the trial that they committed a violent attack,” he told reporters. l

One dead, 19,000 evacuated in Malaysia floods

n AFP, Kuala Lumpur

Floods in Malaysia caused by heavy rains have left a teenager dead and forced authorities to evacuate thousands of people, officials said Wednesday.

Some 19,000 people have been relocated to evacuation centres set up in schools in the east coast states of Pahang and Terengganu and Johor in the south, an official and news reports said.

A 17-year-old boy who was fishing with his father in Terengganu drowned after being swept away in a swollen river, a state police official said.

A Meteorological Department official said river levels continued to rise due to the high tide and water being released from dams, but the body expected rain to ease in the flood-hit areas.

“It’s still raining today, but we expect the rain to stop by tomorrow,” he told AFP. “Then the situation will improve.”

The department issued an “orange” alert for Pahang and Terengganu on Monday, warning residents to be prepared for a possible evacuation.

Floods caused by annual monsoon rains that begin around November are common in the Southeast Asian country. l

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Letters to

www.dhakatribune.com

the Editor

LETTER OF THE DAY

Right to vote No adds to people’s choice

O

n November 24, the High Court asked the government and Election Commission to give reasons why the Representation of the People Order (RPO) should not include provision for a “no” vote.

Bangladeshi elections have offered a no vote option in the past. The court order was issued in response to a petition making reference to the recommendation to include a “no” vote in the RPO amendment proposal of 2009.

Past evidence from elections in the 12 different countries, including Bangladesh, that have included variants of “no” or “none of the above” options on ballot papers is highly positive. Voters exercise the The ‘no’ vote would option to vote “no” sparingly add to the power of and responsibly. the electorate and Indeed at the last election, should be made the existence of a no vote available in elections option did not prevent either a very high turnout or the vast majority of voters from giving their vote positively to a candidate of their choice.

The use of “no” vote options is spreading as other countries and US states have been considering adding this choice to their voting papers.

Whether or not the “no” vote is used much in practice, it seems clear to us that it is preferable to merely allowing people to choose not to vote or to spoil their ballots.

By empowering people with the ability to reject all candidates and trigger a fresh election, it adds to democratic choice. The “no” vote is a sensible addition to the power of the electorate and should be made available in elections.

Dr Kamal for restoration of caretaker government November 29

I would love to see both major political parties lose the election and some third party given the chance to rule the country for the next five years (but it must be by the people’s mandate). At least the public will know if there are more capable people in the country to run it.

TruthnLie

A hartal by any other name November 27

WaliulHaqueKhondker Although both hartal (strike) and oborodh (blockade/siege) have definitive dictionary meanings, in practice they translate into entirely different political actions. The purpose of both is to create a state of anarchy by means of violence. No prior warning can be issued as in case of weather warnings, because it is not based on science.

The severity of hartal and oborodh is directly proportional to the degree of unscrupulousness of its perpetrators. Something one can measure only after it has occurred, which can reach even a magnitude of mayhem.

If going out of the house is absolutely necessary

Mega windmill on the cards November 28

T

abani Beverage, a concern owned by Muktijoddha Kallyan (the freedom fighters’ welfare trust), used to manufacture Coca-Cola in Bangladesh but ceased doing so in 2008 after incurring heavy losses.

Due to a lack of decision making by the cabinet, the government, which has oversight of the trust, has failed to proceed with an opportunity to revitalise this operation. The Coca-Cola Company had planned to write off $16m of outstanding dues from Tabani Beverage and to invest another $50m to restart production. The $16m of funds freed up by this proposal was earmarked to benefit the trust.

However, even though the proposal dates back to 2010 and had been recommended by the finance minister, the Not only has a cabinet could not make a decimajor investment sion to go ahead with the plan. opportunity been This lack of decision making overlooked, but the is even more astonishing when welfare trust has one considers that although lost out on funds for Tabani has not been in operabeneficiaries tion, the government has been paying the salaries of its employees for over three years.

There is no excuse for this type of poor decision making. Not only has a major investment opportunity been overlooked, but the welfare trust has lost out on funds for beneficiaries, while the government is still continuing to pay salaries for employees of a non-operating business.

Nobody, least of all the freedom fighters trust, benefits from this type of mismanagement, which is enabled by a culture of lack of concern for taxpayer funds that slows down rational decision making.

With other private sector companies successfully making this product for many years, the government should have acted to either ensure investment earlier or to close down the operation and use the funds misspent on salaries to create other jobs or to benefit freedom fighters directly.

CROSSWORD

Bangladesh should install these wind-power towers along the border fence that India has created. Put one every 200 feet. We can generate a lot of electricity from this. Our people cannot go to the border anyways. So why not use the border for something good? Imagine having 100,000 of these towers along the border with India!

SaleemAlim

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

DOWN

1 Foundation (5)

1 Inflamed swellings (5)

4 High mountain (3)

2 Play for time (5)

6 Ship’s company (4)

3 View (5)

8 Silly (5)

4 Absent (4)

9 Slope between

5 Mild explosions (4)

levels (4)

7 Build (5)

11 Facial features (4)

10 Table-shaped

12 Explain (5)

hill (4)

15 Vapour (5)

13 Baking chamber (4)

18 At hand (4)

14 Stanza (5)

20 Burden (4)

15 Unmoving (5)

21 Metal casting (5)

16 Bird of prey (5)

22 Stagger (4)

17 Legends (5)

23 Mineral spring (3)

18 Intellect (4)

24 Vegetables (5)

19 Subtle emanation (4)

shawkat hussain Thanks nahiyan. sajjad hussain shawkat hussain: You have brought out a pragmatic and a totally different perspective.

Using political lens only It is obvious that either Hasina or Khaleda will be the next PM of Bangladesh. We the general populace have faced sufferings, however. We travel across the country with great fear, as a handful has had to die or live with pain and loss.

The Intercity Haor Express, travelling from Dhaka to Mohangonj, fell at 5 am on Tuesday because of besiegers who opened the fishplates at Shyamgonj in Mymenshingh; 20 people were injured.

This is becoming a far too common incident.

Sheikh Hasina claims the BNP is responsible but the BNP claims that the government is responsible. Both are still thinking of themselves to be in the right. We, meanwhile, have to venture out of our homes to perform our necessary duties, but there is no guarantee we will come back home safely.

It is as if neither Hasina nor Khaleda is bothered about our sufferings, and they see and do everything only through their political lens.

Mawduda Hasnin Rajshahi

November 29

Shakhawat Khan The country needs martial law for the next 10 years for development.

Sayad Kalakutta What the country needs is strong civil infrastructure to grow, and a stable military superstructure for regulation.

Running bus set on fire, one killed November 29

Waziuddin Chowdhury There should be armed personnel (army, BDR, RAB, police) lining up on sides of the main streets.

Whether AL or BNP is at fault is not the issue.

Destruction of property and killing of innocent civilians shall not go unpunished.

Kazi Ahmed Strict action. It’s a timely need.

Fahmida Sultana Why innocent people?? Why? Greg Gray Insane. Those poor innocent people. When will this madness end? No one is the winner in this ridiculous power play.

Another Hindu village comes under Jamaat-Shibir attack November 29

Aunshuman Sengupta During times of political violence, the minority have always suffered. I have no idea why; maybe minority voters are a big factor for the political party to win the election?

Rajesh Evergreen Aunshuman Sengupta: I agree with your thinking.

Shahzia Mohsin Khan Chingri-La Aunshuman Sengupta: No one should be considered as a “minority.” Every life is equal and important. But tags such as major/minor only lead to divide and rule. We’re witnessing all party alliances when it comes to killing innocents or disrupting our lives, the lives of the citizens.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

PEANUTS

CODE-CRACKER ACROSS

nahiyan_dhaka1 Sir, a big thanks for deciding to write this! I completely endorse the idea of giving the vote to the party that does enough to deserve it.

December 1

Be Heard

No excuse for mismanagement

during hartal and oborodh, it is preferable to use one’s sixth sense and act accordingly.

Police can tackle violence, no army now

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS Crossword

Sudoku

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

11

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Who pays the price? n Ikhtiar Kazi

T

he current state of affairs in Bangladesh of shutting down the entire country through strikes is not an acceptable form of protest. This is not civil disobedience rooted in moral authority, it is not a democratic process, and should not be associated with legitimate historical movements and uprisings.

The current “protests” have caused indiscriminate nationwide suffering, inflicted deaths and fear, paralysed the economy and pushed the agendas of political parties by any means necessary – this is homegrown terrorism.

Those who are calling the strikes from their air-conditioned houses, with well-stocked refrigerators, and servants for their every demand, do not experience what the vast majority experience – until they do, there will be no change in policy.

The impact of the shutdown is vastly different for the poor and middle class versus the wealthy, since the options they have are drastically different. The wealthy can ride out the storm, while the poor have to walk through the storm.

The girl working in the garment factory risks her life to walk to work, while the guard at the bank has no choice but to ride on a bus and potentially become a burn victim of petrol-bombs.

The poor do not have the luxury to sit around and have intellectual debates about politics and human suffering over tea while strikes continue, they have to go to work, and make their day-to-day living. Nearly the entire population is affected by strikes; unfortunately, the burden is unequally distributed, and that is why the history of shutdowns keeps repeating, regardless of the party in power.

Even the most resilient economy cannot withstand strikes that shut everything down. From agricultural products rotting in trucks on highways, to garments unable to be shipped overseas, wanton waste and inefficiency is pervasive. Even with all the setbacks Bangladesh’s economy has faced in the last many years, the country has still done remarkably well, and thus received well-deserved accolades.

Yet one should not lose sight, that even with GDP growing 4% to 7% (for the last 20 years), Bangladesh will still require several generations to reach the status of a middle-income nation.

When lack of resources and infrastructure are often cited for meek economic growth, bad policies, wrong strategies and especially self-inflicted wounds are not acceptable. This is especially why the strikes are appalling.

No form of terrorism is tolerable, but when the victims are poor, the burden is even more unbearable. Not only has the recent terrorist activities of throwing bombs in civilian buses maimed innocent people and caused painful deaths, it has permanently damaged the fragile and budding economy of Bangladesh – the full extent of the impact is yet to be felt.

The damage from repeated strikes leads to negative market perception and decrease in economic productivity. The compound effect over many years will further hold back millions in poverty.

No citizen, especially a politician, has the right to call a strike that

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What does India want from us?

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n Mamun Rashid sk that question to Indian foreign ministry officials or journalists here in Dhaka, and they would reply that India wants peace and stability in this part of the world, that India does not want Bangladesh territory to be used for any anti-India insurgency activities, or for Bangladesh to harbour terrorist groups. They may even tell you they want Bangladesh to help smooth their supply chain with the northeastern provinces.

If you ask them why Indian territory was used to harbour Shanti Bahini or separatists from Bangladesh, or why the BSF are killing ordinary Bangladeshis, they will immediately change the subject. On the other hand, they would not miss a chance to tell you how bureaucratic the Bangladesh board of investment is.

India has many friends among our politicians, journalists, singers, musicians, university teachers or economists, who always feel that we could do more for India, and that we need an India-friendly government here in Dhaka. They all love to visit India. Someone from their family was either born in or studied in India.

India helped us in 1971. Rabindranath Tagore was born in India.

Lately, we are seeing many Indian nationals joining senior positions

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with local and global companies here in Bangladesh, though the number obtained from the board of investment always differs from actual numbers.

Their spouses are joining English medium schools, or various Indian joint ventures here without even any valid work pass.

would write a better report.

We have always been told we can’t afford to have a large neighbour like India not being friendly to us.

However, with the recent outcome of the Felani killing case, or BSF killings, or India’s inability to ensure sharing the water of the common rivers, I am

We wanted India to help our “made in Bangladesh” goods to find their abode in the Indian states without any hassle.

There have been many visits from the Indian seniors. Indian companies are seeing good sales in Bangladesh.

Many Indian citizens have been recognised for their roles in our War of Liberation and there have been many cultural as well as youth exchange programs.

These are all good gestures from both the parties. Yet, people here feel we are giving away too much to India in exchange for little material gains.

Businessmen and professionals also feel that commercial deals were not done in a transparent way, giving too much leeway to the Indian telecom or power companies.

No doubt, Bangladesh in its own interest should try to make the best out of this relationship. At the same time, India as a large neighbour and an emerging global voice has many things to do for its next door neighbour and long term friend. Bangladesh always gave less pain to India than Pakistan, or even Sri Lanka. Bangladeshis were always warm and hospitable to any Indian visitor or friend. We wanted to be a good friend, not a distant rural cousin. l

What did we get from this relationship? What did we get from Manmohan Singh? What did we get from our said-to-be longtime friend Pranab Mukherjee?

Nowadays, India has emerged as the only “saviour” of the present government, despite tremendous criticism home and abroad. Rumour has it, the entire Ershad drama was orchestrated

by India, where huge money is alleged (though there is no evidence) to have changed hands.

We were surprised to see the Indian envoy visiting Ershad at his house just the day after the Ershad drama. I don’t know how Indian media would have reacted towards similar things committed by a foreign diplomat in India. Look at Indian media reports on Bangladesh: These are ill-drafted or motivated without any background research. Even an apprentice journalist with any Bangladesh newspaper

asking: What did we get from this relationship? What did we get from Manmohan Singh? What did we get from our said-to-be longtime friend Pranab Mukherjee?

Our seniors always wanted better connectivity between people of the two countries. We wanted the Indian private sector to see synergy with our private sector. We wanted Indian researchers in tropical medicine and agriculture to find friends among our researchers and try to help create more synergy between our academic institutions, especially management and technology ones.

Bangladesh wanted a piece of the growing Indo-Bangla trade, which is seriously lopsided towards India.

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impinges on the rights and wellbeing of others. If an organisation wants to march, picket or protest, they have the right to do so, but this has to happen in an orderly fashion, where it does not infringe on other’s rights. When a group can shut down a country at will, with impunity, they are violating democratic rights of other citizens.

Freedom can never be absolute.

When one has limitless freedom, often it comes at the marginalisation of others. Bangladesh in its entire history has never been able to strike the right balance, and therefore Bangladeshi people have had to suffer.

The recent terrorist activities of throwing bombs in civilian buses maimed innocent people, caused painful deaths, and has permanently damaged the economy Regardless of the political party in power, one issue that needs to be addressed before all else is, those who incite, inflict or associate with terrorism, must bear the full punishment of the law. The public must decide how to hold those who commit violence accountable. It should be noted, since both parties are guilty of violating the rights of Bangladeshi citizens, they have an incentive not to overplay their hand.

Today in the highly interconnected global economy, market participants have many options as to how they allocate their resources. Just because the garment industry has done well in Bangladesh, this does not mean that it will continue to be successful in the future. Foreign firms, who may have considered Bangladesh for investment, may now recalibrate their decision factors and look elsewhere, due to the political chaos.

Furthermore, for Bangladesh to rise a notch higher on the economic ladder, the country has to go beyond garments, and attract more hi-tech and sophisticated industries. Will CEOs of innovative companies such as Apple, Amazon, Google and Samsung set up operations in Bangladesh, and put in peril the lives of their employees? Will they risk establishing large offices and factories that may be burnt down? The answer is no.

National stability and minimising volatility is key to attracting foreign firms and investments. Political chaos, acts of terrorism and uncertainty about the future undermine the potential of Bangladeshi people. Political parties need to understand that as Bangladesh grows, they too will personally benefit.

A larger pie benefits everyone, but when personal vengeance outweighs rational decisions, the future will remain uncertain. Ultimately, those who bear the highest price from the strikes and shutdowns are those who can least afford it. l Ikhtiar Kazi is a capital markets professional, human rights activist, and writer, residing in New York City. He was educated at the University of Chicago and the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Additional information about the writer is on his blog http:// strategyandexecution.wordpress.com/ and his Facebook page facebook.com/ strategyandexecution.

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Rethinking who our heroes are n Farzana Nawaz

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have a confession to make – I have not been following the grim political theatre that has captivated the country for the last month because I find it boring. I find it profoundly, mind-numbingly, spirit-crushingly boring. This is not because I’m in a position of privilege where I don’t “have” to care about what is happening since it doesn’t affect my life or livelihood.

Most of the people I know who have been spilling a lot of ink on this topic and foaming at the mouth discussing it are barely affected by the outcome of this grotesque theatre.

In fact, many seem to take a kind of perverse pleasure in it. The cycle of political dysfunction, like clockwork, is necessary to ensure the relevance and livelihood of so many of our socalled intellectual elites.

My boredom comes from a much more cynical place. It comes from the conviction that all the mayhem, loss of lives and posturing is ultimately meaningless.

For as long as I can remember, the politicians in Bangladesh have been toying with the fate of the country and the lives of ordinary people with impunity. Not much in this toxic political culture has changed, no matter how

many revolutions we’ve had or which party has come to power. So why should this time be any different?

One clue to why the status quo never changes might be found if we look closely at how we select and what we value in our leaders – be it of the political variety or the intellectual.

It is no secret that the “elite” of Bangladesh is a fairly small and closed group, the majority of whom are located in Dhaka. As a repatriated Bangladeshi who has lived in Dhaka now for just over six months, I am struck by the fact that the same group of people tend to show up at all the important meetings, roundtables, and even cultural events, such as prestigious international literary festivals.

Membership in this group is a difficult to gain and one could even say that you need to be “born into it” to have a reasonable chance of gaining entry. While the starkest example of this is the two main political parties, other parts of the elite ecosystem are also governed by similar rules.

This very small group are not only divorced from the reality of the majority of the country (the 99%, if you will), they also have very little vested in changing the status quo. If the current system ensures them a place of privilege and a comfortable life fueled

by cheap labour then why would they?

A few weeks ago I read a rather amusing op-ed in this very newspaper lamenting the lack of superheroes in Bangladesh. I wanted to write to the author and ask him if he has had a conversation lately with his maid or chauffeur.

Consider the struggle of the working poor against the odds to earn enough to feed their family or send their children to school, or the journey of a young illiterate boy from a village to a foreign country where he doesn’t even speak the language. If these acts don’t count as being heroic then I would seriously question our understanding of what that word actually means.

But of course that’s not the view we have of the working class in our society, is it? I can’t count the number of times I have witnessed members of the intelligentsia or the cultural elite here berate and mistreat servers at restaurants. Maids and chauffeurs working for expat friends have told me that they prefer working for foreigners since they are not only paid more fairly but are treated with more dignity there.

The media is just as complicit in perpetuating the status quo. We tend to glorify the so-called “successes” of those who were already born with silver spoons in their mouths but

disregard the acts of courage and perseverance of the “normal” people who keep this country afloat.

We are even busy telling our next generation how to be “global consumers,” which products would make them “cool,” instead of helping them connect to the reality of the country that they live in and how (or even whether!) they should contribute to making it better.

I’m not trying to minimise the contribution of entrepreneurs and the business class in their work to steadily improve the overall economic condition of the country.

However, let us not forget that their success is only made possible on the backs of the poor men and women who see little of that prosperity trickle down to them. The struggle of the RMG workers in securing a “decent” minimum wage, which is still far below a “living wage,” only provides proof this fact.

In governance literature there is a term used to describe the type of power imbalance that exists in our country between the elite and the rest. It’s called “elite capture” –“where resources transferred for the benefit of the masses are usurped by a few, usually politically and/or economically powerful groups, at the expense of the

less economically and/or politically influential groups.”

One would be hard pressed to find another country that is so thoroughly in the grips of this phenomenon. As long as this problem persists where the interests and the voices of the working class, the real backbone of the country, are not represented and we continue to leave the future up to the disinterested elite then it matters little who wins one particular election.

Consider the struggle of the working poor against the odds to earn enough to feed their family. If these acts don’t count as being heroic then I would seriously question our understanding of what that word actually means

Five years from now we will read again the news of “ordinary” people being sacrificed by the hundreds so that one party or the other can fulfill their aims.

Until we can change our perception of who the real heroes are, the curtain on this grotesque theatre of folly won’t come down. l Farzana Nawaz is a GIZ returning expert and editorial fellow at the Dhaka Tribune.

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Shimarekha gets uncut censor certificate

New silver screen couple Fahim and Fariha in Shimarekha

n Entertainment Desk Shimarekha, a film produced by the directors of two Bengals to reinforce cultural ties, gets uncut censor certificate.

Many artistes from Bangladesh and Kolkata have acted in the big budget film produced by Dewan Nazmul and renowned Kolkata filmmaker Swapan Saha. Another interesting aspect of this uncensored film is that, it is about to introduce new big-screen couple Fahim and Fariha.

After the completion of the shooting, the film was submitted to the censor board where it received appreciation and approval of the members of the board after they watched the film.

After receiving the certificate for uncut censor, Dewan Nazmul enthusiastically shares: “It is quite an achievement, it feels like my child finally got to see

the light of the day. The appreciation and approval of the film by the censor board members have given a boost to my work. I don’t want to make romantic films only, as a responsible member of the society, I want to make films that focus on social issues. For this reason, none of my films are similar in nature.

In the meantime, I have also completed hooting another film titled Nakphul.”

About the story of Shimarekha, Nazmul said: “It is a unique love story between a girl from the other Bengal Shreya and a boy from this side of the fence Babai. Through rose tinted glasses, the lovelorn couple strives to overcome all odds against societal and religious barrier that chases them.

To see the result of their struggle, the audience will have to wait till Valentine’s day.” l

Lubna Marium represents Nrityajog at WDA meet n Entertainment Desk Eminent dancer, Lubna Marium represented Bangladesh at the two-day Annual General Meeting (2013) of the World Dance Alliance - Asia Pacific (WDA-AP), which concluded at Taipei (Taiwan) on December 1. The event was hosted by the Dance Department of the University of Taipei and the Dance Research Society of Taiwan. Lubna Marium, who is Vice-President (South Asia) of WDA-AP, participated in the meet, representing Nrityajog - the Bangladesh chapter of WDA-AP. Besides presenting the annual report of Nrityajog at the conference, Lubna also presented a scholarly paper on the various plural practices of performing arts in Bangladesh, that was much appreciated by all delegates.

At the AGM of WDA-AP it was decided that a South-Asian and South-East Asian dance event was to be organized in Dhaka in the winter of 2014 with participation by local and visiting dancers.

Furthermore, at the AGM, it was decided that Nrityajog should propose to hold the WDA-AP AGM for 2015 in Dhaka. l

ON TV

n Entertainment MOVIE

7:48pm HBO

Paranormal Activity 4

10:35pmFox Movies Premium Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World

DRAMA 8:20pm ETV Chaar Konna

11:30pm NTV

Yes Boss No Boss

COMEDY 3:30pm Comedy Central Yes Dear

8:00pm FX

The Simpsons

Post-mortem conducted on Paul Walker n

Expatriates regularly watch Bangladeshi channels: Nadia n Entertainment Desk Versatile artiste Nadia Ahmed is currently touring the US. Nadia’s talent stretches from modelling to acting and dancing.

The artiste was highly impressed with the appreciation and praise of her work from Bangladeshi expatriates residing in the US. Nadia shares her US experience over the phone: “All the Bangladeshis residing here watch Bangla channels regularly.

At present, the drama series Kalantor, in which I played the character of Paula is being aired at ATN Bangla every Monday and Wednesday at 9:15pm. My acting in the series was praised by many and I feel very special. I have never come across such incidents before. I am grateful to writer Pantho Shahriar and director Shoma and I’m enthralled to receive the love of the Bangladeshi immigrants, their kind and welcoming behaviour is praiseworthy.”

Nadia will return home on December 20 and will be working out her commitments. l

Lubna Marium

Liberation War based single-episode play Khando Golpo will be aired on Chaanel i at 3:30pm today. The play features a number of famed actors such as Raisul Islam Asad, Subarna Mustafa, Azad Abul Kalam, Chitralekha Guha and Sanjida Preeti.

Aamir Khan emerges as a skilled tap dancer When it comes to Dhoom: 3, the surprises just keep on rolling one after another. The makers have released the promo of the new song for the film, featuring lead actor Aamir Khan who plays the role of the thief, Sahir.

Though there’s no doubt about Aamir Khan’s acting skill, its common knowledge, the actor isn’t much of a dancer especially in comparison to Hrithik Roshan, who starred in Dhoom 2.

However, the video features Aamir Khan doing a tap dance solo and is surprisingly adept at it. Set in some kind of a warehouse, the actor kicks up a dust storm as he moves and shakes to the music.

Known for being extremely particular on getting absolutely right, “Mr Perfectionist,” as he’s so rightly called, flew all the way to Australia to learn tapdancing from a professional instructor. l

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Champa as Tarabanu in Liberation War based play n Entertainment Desk

Eminent actor of silver screen Champa plays the role of a brave woman named Tarabanu in the single-episode play Sedin Tarabanu Aj Tarabanu, to be aired on Maasranga tonight at 8pm. Set to the backdrop of the Liberation War in 1971, the play is written by Masum Reza, directed by Abu Sufian Biplob and also features seasoned actor Tariq Anam Khan.

When the war breaks out, Tarabanu falls in trouble when she discovers her father-in-law named Wahed is a collaborator of Pakistani armed forces. Her husband Asman is also inspired by his father’s ideology. But, Tarabanu is a firm supporter of Muktibahini, Bengali resistance forces which fought against the Pakistani occupation army. Finally she manages to convince her husband to join Muktibahini and fight for the independence of Bangladesh.

Later, the play turns to the current period where Asman and Tarabanu are divorced and he stays with his second wife and father. One day Wahed is accused of war crime by the court and Asman gets an unpleasant surprise to find out, that the case has been filed by Tarabanu. l

TODAY IN DHAKA

Entertainment Desk

A post-mortem examination has been carried out on the body of Fast and Furious star Paul Walker who was killed in a car crash. Test results are expected to be released later, authorities have said.

The 40-year-old actor was a symbol of street-racing and car culture after his roles in the successful film franchise that began in 2001. Production on the latest movie Fast and Furious 7, which Walker was starring in, is on hold following his death. Shooting had been scheduled to resume this week in Atlanta but was cancelled on Monday and Tuesday. More than half the movie has reportedly been made and a spokesman for Universal Pictures declined to say when filming will resume.

There has also been an autopsy on Mr Rodas and the families of both men have given authorities dental records, which will provide formal identification of the bodies. Accident investigators are trying to work out what happened in the moments leading up to Saturday’s tragedy in Santa Clarita, California, about 30 miles northwest of Los Angeles, California.

But their inquiries have been hindered by the crowds of fans that have continued to flock to the crash site. Investigators do not believe Mr Rodas and Walker had been racing another car, but they were speeding on a street with a 45mph limit, said Los Angeles County Sheriff ’s department.

Paul Walker wasn’t the first to allegedly experience mechanical issues inside a Porsche Carrera GT reports TMZ, the car company was sued over a deadly 2005 crash involving the same vehicle and it paid dearly in a massive settlement.

According to the lawsuit, two men (a driver and his passenger) were killed on a California race track while driving a 2005 Carrera GT, hitting a wall at over 100 MPH while trying to avoid another car on the track.

The family of the passenger sued practically everyone involved in the accident for gross negligence - and won $4.5m in a giant settlement, $350,000 of which was paid by Porsche. l

Film

Pacific Rim in 3D Escape Plan Titanic (3D) The Conjuring Step Up Revolution in 3D Purno dhorgho prem kahini Riddick Level 8, Bashundhara City Panthapath

Exhibition

Very Graphic: The Art of Storytelling in Graphic Detail Group Exhibition Time:12pm – 6pm Bengal Art Lounge, 60 Gulshan Avenue Handicraft Exhibition Time: 10am – 7pm Nalini kanta Bhattashali Gallery National Museum Shahbagh Solo Painting Exhibition

By Nurun Naher Supti Time: 3pm – 9pm Alliance Francaise de Dhaka 26 Mirpur Road (corner road n3) Dhanmondi Dhaka 1205

Songstress Rita Ora lands role in 50 Shades of Grey n Entertainment Desk She is known more for her singing talent rather than her acting skills.

But this is set to change as Rita Ora has landed her first big Tinsletown acting role in the upcoming big-screen adaptation of the popular erotic chick lit Fifty Shades of Grey.

The RIP songstress shared her good news with her three million fans on Twitter and wrote: “It’s official! I’ve been cast in Fifty Shades of Grey as Christian’s sister Mia.” Rita’s casting news left the 23-yearold Roc Nation signee in good spirits as she made an appearance at last night’s British Fashion awards which took place at London’s extravagant Coliseum venue.

Calvin Harris’s girlfriend is no stranger to acting as she previously had a small part in Fast & Furious 6 - a role she apparently beat Rihanna to.

And the platinum blonde beauty is certainly going to busy over the next couple of months as she will be juggling penning her second album alongside filming scenes and spending time with her hunky Scottish DJ boyfriend.

Shooting has already begun for 50 Shades as Jamie Doran was spotted on set this week with Mel Griffith’s daughter Dakota Johnson - who plays the seemingly shy Anastasia Steele. l

Did you know?

New Zealand’s 609-9 declared yesterday was their fourth highest total in Tests and highest against West Indies

Sport

Thursday, December 5, 2013

14 Chamakh heads Palace to win on Pulis home debut

14 Lebanese women futsallers kick down barriers

DHAKA TRIBUNE

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15 Buoyant Indian batting faces tough pace test in SA

Sylhet all ready to go n Mazhar Uddin

Srilankan Achininimeshika Mudiyanselage attempts a return during her women’s single match in the Yonex-Sunrise Bangladesh Open Challenge at Shaheed Sohrawardi Indoor Stadium on Tuesday

Rais knocked out of Bangladesh Open n Shishir Hoque Bangladesh shuttler Md Rais Uddin got knocked out of the YonexSunrise Bangladesh Open Challenge

by Subhankar Dey of India in the tournament’s second day at the Shaheed Sohrawardi Indoor Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.

After being outplayed in the first set by 21-6, Rais showed little resistance in the second set, but eventually lost it by 21-15.

“I tried to stage a comeback in the second set after losing the first one.

I fought well, but could not make it at the end. My today’s (Wednesday) opponent (Subhankar) is really a good player and he deserved to win,” said Rais Uddin who earlier beat Malaysian Jinn Yee Tin on Tuesday.

In the women’s singles event Bangladeshi Shapla Akter crashed out of the tournament against Sara Sunil Arathi of India. Shapla lost 21-11, 21-16.

In the men’s doubles event, Bangladeshi pair Moajjam Hossain and Minhaz Mohammad lost to Liang Jui Wei and Liao Kuan Hao of Chinese Taipei by 21-10,21-13; Deepak Khatri and Gaurav Venkat of India beat Chand Lal and Saif Uddin; Md Anamul Haque and Md Ahsun Habib Parash were

outplayed by S Sanjeeth and Jagadish Yadav of India 21-12,21-17 and another Indian pair Abhishek Ahlawat and Bhaskar Chakraborty beat Md Jamil Ahmed and Mohammad Jabed Mostafa by 21-19, 19-21, 21-13 points.

Meanwhile in the mixed doubles, two Bangladesh pairs Mohammad Jabed Mostafa-Aktar Shapla and Parash-Aktar Nabila reached the second round after getting walkover from their Nepalese opponents. Chand Lal and Rehana Parvin lost to Sri Lankan pair T Sepalage Perera and U Weerasinghe by 21-16, 21-11 while Indians Abhishek Ahlawat and Sanskriti Chhabra defeated Md Jamil and Bristy Khatun by 21-15, 21-16 points.

Hsu Jen Hao of Chinese Taipei, Deepak Khatri, Ketan Chahal and Subhankar Dey of India, Dinuka Karunaratne of Sri Lanka, Alrie Guna Dharma of Indonesia, Yogendran Khrishnan and Shahzan Shah Misfahul of Malaysia registered victories in their respective matches of men’s singles to move to the quarterfinals.

In the women’s singles, Pai Hsiao Ma of Chinese Taipei, Trupti Murgunde and Juhi Dewangan of India, Sannatasah Saniru of Malaysia and A Kapuru Mudiyanselage of Sri Lanka reached the second round posting victories yesterday. l

West Indies U-19 thrash hosts n Minhaz Uddin Khan

The visiting West Indies under-19 side got off to a flying start by winning the sole warm-up 50-over game against hosts Bangladesh U-19 by a 114 runs at Chittagong’s Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium (ZACS) yesterday.

Riding on opening batsmen Shimron Hetmyre and Jeremy Solozano’s 105 run partnership the young Windies side posted 263/5 in their 50 overs.

Hetmyre scored 56 off 75 balls while Solazano made a 109-ball 72 before top order batsman Tristann Coleman made 42 and Brandon King made 51.

Bangladesh left-arm spinner Rahatul Ferdous took two wickets for 61 runs from his 10 overs.

In reply, Bangladesh U-19 lost three wickets with only 21 runs on the board.

Though wicket-keeper batsman Prosenjit Dash stroked 73off 82 balls, the side failed to recover from the early damage and were bowled out in 38.2 overs for 149. West Indies right-arm spinner Ramaal Lewis bagged three wickets while Jerome Jones took two.

The defeat will be a wakeup call for the young Tigers who had expected a positive result against the visitors after beating them 4-3 in the Caribbean earlier in the year. The first match of the seven-game youth ODI series will take place on December 6 at the ZACS. l

All set for tomorrow’s WC draw n AFP, Costa Do Sauipe Sweltering temperatures and palm-tree fringed beaches home to dozens of newly-hatched turtles heading for a glisten-

ing azure sea were the setting as World Cup organisers met Wednesday to finalise preparations for Friday’s draw.

Fifa chose the northeastern resort of Costa do Sauipe for the draw, an hour by

Dutch footballer Clarence Seedorf (R) along with Brazilian footballers Hernanes (C) and Cafu pose holding the 2014 World Cup official ball, called Brazuca, after it was unveiled in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Tuesday AP

road north of the city of Salvador, once Brazil’s capital and still the focus of the country’s African heritage.

World football’s governing body Tuesday had to accept publicly that three of the 12 tournament venues will not meet what had been a strict December 31 delivery deadline -- but Fifa maintains that will not affect the event being a success.

Work stopped temporarily at Sao Paulo’s Arena Corinthians venue last week following a fatal accident which killed two construction workers, while Cuiaba and Curitiba are also running late, with authorities saying they may not be ready before February.

But Fifa president Sepp Blatter insists everything will come together in time to stage an event to remember. Known for its fine Bahia region cuisine and carnival, Salvador also revels in the monicker of Brazil’s capital of happiness.

However, that was not the image it transmitted during last June’s Confederations Cup, when violent street protests were what put it in the headlines. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

The newly built Sylhet Divisional Stadium was given the green signal for the World Twenty20 next year from the ICC venue inspection team yesterday. After assessing all the facilities, the head of delegation Chris Tetley informed that the stadium is ready to host the mega tournament and also the international matches ahead.

“It’s a beautiful stadium and it has been build according to the ICC instructions and I think this is one of the beautifully located stadiums in Bangladesh,” said Tetley. The inspection team earlier visited the venue couple of times, but was unsatisfied with the work. However, they called a press conference yesterday and briefed about their observations.

The Sylhet stadium was a major concern for the cricket board ahead of the mega event as the venue earlier failed to meet two deadlines to finish the works. The newly built stadium will host six men’s qualifying matches along with 22 out of 30 matches of the women’s tournament.

Meanwhile it was also learnt that the Sylhet stadium is likely to make its debut in the upcoming Sri Lanka series in January 2014. l

100-day countdown begins today n Minhaz Uddin Khan The 100-day countdown before the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014 is set to be marked by celebrations at three different cities in the country today.

Fireworks, and performances by local bands will be held at various locations across the country in the countdown ceremony. The countdown in Dhaka will be held at the South Plaza of the Parliament Bhaban at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, beginning at 10:30pm with performances by local band Shunno

and singer Mehreen Mahmud.

Twelve distinct clocks across the country will be following the countdown to the international event. Three of them are in Chittagong, two in Sylhet while the remaining seven will be set up in Dhaka. The timepieces will be set up at Gulshan circle 1 and 2, Mirpur-10 intersection, Bijoy Nagar intersection, Airport in Dhaka.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan, ICC event director Chris Tetley, former and current national cricketers, organizers and board directors will be present at the Dhaka ceremony.

At Chittagong, the ceremony will be

National athletics meet in February n Raihan Mahmood Bangladesh Athletic Federation has decided to hold the 38th edition of national athletics in the first week of February next year. The previous meet was held in February 2012.

The federation has already sent invitations to different districts, divisions and services teams for the three day meet. “We have taken the decision to hold the national meet in the first week of February and after that, the national junior meet will also be held.

We are yet to finalise the date but hope to host it a month after the national meet,” said Tofazzal Hossain, the acting general secretary of the federation.

A total of 600 athletes from 81 organisations participated in their quest to win 41 gold medals in the last edition of the meet and on that occasion the federation provided cash rewards to the participants for the first time. The gold, silver and bronze medalists received Tk2,000, Tk1,000 and Tk500 respectively.

Last edition’s sponsors Walton Group have provided Tk300,000 of the Tk1m meet, while co-sponsors National Credit and Commerce Bank and Reflection Holdings Ltd delivered Tk150,000 and 100,000 respectively Meanwhile, it was also learnt that the athletic federation has selected former national athlete Khurshida Khatun to accomplish a one year long track and field training course provided by Germany National Athletic Federation. The papers await the approval of the ministry. l

held at the outer field of the MA Aziz Stadium. The BCB cricket operations committee chairman Akram Khan, BCB director AZM Nasir Uddin, Chittagong City Mayor Mohammad Monjurul Alam will be present on the occasion.

At Sylhet, the countdown will be held on the bank of the Surma River.

National cricketers Rubel Hossain, Anamul Haque, Alok Kapali, Rajin Saleh and Sylhet City Mayor Ariful Haque CHowdhury are expected to be present to inaugurate the Sylhet chapter.

Grey Event is the event management company that has handling the countdown program. l

Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar celebrates his coach Ramakant Achrekar’s birthday at a Mumbai Cricket Association function in Mumbai on Tuesday AP

Siddikur eyes strong finish in Hong Kong n Tribune Sports Desk Siddikur Rahman is looking forward to ending the most eventful year of his career on a high note when the Bangladesh golfing sensation tees off in the US$1.3 million Hong Kong Open at the Hong Kong Golf Club which starts today.

The country’s number one golfer has been in terrific form this year and enjoyed the biggest victory of his career in winning the Hero Indian Open last month at the Delhi Golf Club. He also finished inside the top 10 in seven tournaments out of the 19 he participated in

- a feat that put him in third position in the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

After the World Cup of Golf, the 29-year-old, who achieved has achieved many firsts for Bangladesh in the sport, finished fourth in the Indonesia Open last week.

The Hong Kong Open is Hong Kong’s oldest professional sporting, having started in 1959. It is co-sanctioned by The European Tour, the Asian Tour and the Hong Kong Golf Association. The Hong Kong Open is the third event of The 2014 Race to Dubai, and one of the last on the 2013 Asian Tour schedule. l

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Dortmund advance, Schalke crash out of cup

Rodriguez strikes again as Monaco close gap on leaders n Reuters, Paris

n AFP, Berlin

Monaco’s Colombia forward James Rodriguez got his second goal in four days to lead his side to a 3-0 victory at neighbours Nice on Tuesday as they moved within two points of Ligue 1 leaders Paris St Germain.

Rodriguez, who netted his first of the season when he opened the scoring in Saturday’s 2-0 home win over Stade Rennes, put Monaco ahead after five minutes in Nice.

Striker Emmanuel Riviere headed their second in the 23rd from Anthony Martial’s cross and Lucas Ocampos added the third just before fulltime.

Monaco stay third but now have 35 points from 16 games behind PSG, who visit Evian TG on Wednesday.

Monaco are one point behind second-placed Lille, who beat Olympique Marseille 1-0 thanks to an added-time goal by Nolan Roux. Marseille remain in fourth place on 27 points. In Nice, Rodriguez converted his first chance with a curling shot after Joao Moutinho set him up down the right wing.

Led by Rodriguez and 17-year-old Martial, who was starting his second straight league game up front in Radamel Falcao’s absence with injury, Monaco pushed for a second goal and were rewarded when Riviere finished off a fine collective move.l

Borussia Dortmund advanced to the German Cup quarter-finals with a 2-0 win at minnows Saarbruecken on Tuesday, but Ruhr Valley neighbours Schalke 04 suffered a third-round exit.

German Cup holders and European champions Bayern Munich host Bundesliga rivals Augsburg on Wednesday.

Schalke crashed out with a 3-1 defeat at home to top-tier rivals Hoffenheim.

The Royal Blues’ defence was left in disarray as Hoffenheim raced into a 3-0 lead after just 35 minutes with goals by Kai Herdling, Kevin Volland and Roberto Firmino.

Schalke pulled one back through Peru forward Jefferson Farfan with just over half an hour to go.

Promising 21-year-old attacking midfielder Jonas Hofmann added a second just after the break.

Hamburg went through as they enjoyed a 2-1 win over second-division Cologne, while Union Berlin went down 3-0 at home to Kaiserslautern in an all second-division tie.

In Wednesday’s other ties, Freiburg host Bayer Leverkusen in an allBundesliga clash, while Wolfsburg host Ingolstadt 04 and Eintracht Frankfurt are at home to Sandhausen. l

RESULTS Union Berlin

0-3

Hamburg

2-1

Schalke 04

1-3

Beister 42, Ilicevic 85 Farfan 67

Saarbruecken

Kaiserslautern

Orban 18, Zoller 45+1, Gaus 83

RESULTS

Cologne

Hoffenheim

Monaco's Emmanuel Riviere of France does a somersault after scoring the second goal during French League One match against Nice, in Nice stadium on Tuesday

Chamakh heads Palace to win on Pulis home debut n AFP, London Marouane Chamakh’s goal took Crystal Palace off the bottom of the Premier League table as they beat West Ham 1-0 in Tony Pulis’s first home game in charge at Selhurst Park on Tuesday.

Chamakh scored the only goal of the game – the Moroccan’s first since August 24 – when he headed in Barry Bannan’s curling cross in the 42nd minute.

The striker had previously scored just one goal this season – although that was still one goal more than he managed in five months on loan at West Ham last term.

West Ham came into this all London clash boosted by a 3-0 win over Fulham but have still to record back-to-back Premier League wins since being promoted last year.

Victory left Palace just three points adrift of safety and West Ham, one of several clubs on 13 points who could yet

Keane, Cahill among MLS Top 11 n AFP, New York Irish forward Robbie Keane of the Los Angeles Galaxy and Australian midfielder Tim Cahill were among six players from outside North America named Tuesday to the Major League Soccer Best 11.

The lineup of the US and Canadian league’s top players at each position for the 2013 season was revealed four days before Sporting Kansas City hosts Real Salt Lake in the MLS Cup championship playoff final.

Keane scored 16 goals and set-up 11 others for the Galaxy, who lost to Salt Lake in the first round of the playoffs.

He was joined among Best 11 forwards by his two rivals for the MLS 2013 Most Valuable Player Award -- US striker Mike Magee of Chicago and Italian attacker Marco Di Vaio of Montreal.

Di Vaio netted 20 goals, five of them game winners and no penalties or free kicks, while Magee, who joined the Fire after being traded from the Galaxy on May 25, plundered 21 goals.

Cahill, a 33-year-old from Sydney who played for English Premier League side Everton from 2004 through last year, scored 11 goals and helped the New York Red Bulls claim the best regular season record in MLS this year. l

Valenciennes

Lille

1-0

Marseille

Nice

0-3

Monaco

Roux 92

Dortmund

Schieber 19, Hofmann 48

2-1

Bedoya 59, Aristeguieta 89

Matuschyk 54

Herdling 21, Volland 32, Roberto Firmino 35

0-2

Nantes

get drawn into a relegation battle.

“We stayed strong and didn’t give them the chances to score and I hope it will be like that every week until the end of the season,” said Pulis.

Meanwhile West Ham manager Sam Allardyce bemoaned his side’s performance at both ends of the pitch.

“Not enough cutting edge. I think that’s the problem for us,” Allardyce said. “Then we gave away the most ridiculous goal I’ve seen in a long, long time from our point of view.

“I haven’t got the words for it when everybody has a marker and the ball comes in from the corner, you still have your marker, you don’t lose your marker but we did and being in the middle of the goal with a free header they’re not going to miss.

“That’s the most disappointing thing for me today (Tuesday) because that’s lost us the game effectively.

“On such a crucial game we should not have let that slip. A point at the end of the day wouldn’t have been a bad re-

sult. It’s all our fault today.”

Palace captain and Australia international Mile Jedinak, released Jason Puncheon early on, only for Puncheon

Crystal Palace manager Tony Pulis to shoot tamely at Jussi Jaaskelainen.

West Ham, however, then looked the more likely to open the scoring with Mark Noble failing to connect properly with a close-range shot following a well-worked free-kick routine.

The Hammers then created another

fine chance only for Mohamed Diame to head over the bar from Stewart Downing’s curling cross.

And moments later Palace took the lead when, after Bannan’s initial cross was blocked, the Scotland midfielder whipped in a second ball glanced in by the now unmarked Chamakh.

The second half saw Palace go in search of a second goal that would put the result beyond doubt and give Pulis the boost of a victory after his first game in charge ended in defeat by Norwich last weekend.

Another Bannan cross was headed narrowly over by Kagisho Dikgacoi and Jaaskelainen did well to spread himself to deny Cameron Jerome after he raced through one-on-one.

West Ham, however, did have the ball in the net after 65 minutes when England winger Downing lashed in a low volley but James Tomkins had already been penalised for a foul in the area, although it looked as if the Hammers man had been impeded first.l

A group of Lebanese women have shrugged off family disapproval and paltry resources to create their country’s first female league for futsal – the faster, five-a-side variety of football.

“My family was against me playing at the start. They’d say neither football nor futsal is a women’s sport, but I fought for it, and kept on training,” said Aya Chiry, 27.

Today, Chiry is the captain of a Lebanese women’s futsal team called the Stars Academy for Sports.

Along with eight other teams, SAS took part in the opening round of Lebanon’s first national women’s futsal league which kicked off at the weekend.

Chiry, who lives in Beirut, eventually managed to convince her parents “by studying extra-hard and by just keeping at it, showing them that this is what makes me happy”.

Without an official five-a-side league, there was little opportunity for either her talent or women’s futsal to be recognised.

“I’ve been playing for five years, and the sport has taken me to Spain, Italy and Jordan for games. But we didn’t have a league in Lebanon. I’m really proud we do now,” Chiry said.

Like Chiry, many girls on the team have faced a lifetime of discouragement, mostly

from family members who felt the game was unsuitable for women.

But today Chiry combines her love for the game with her MBA studies in marketing and her job at a skincare company.

Among the team’s new recruits is Aya alKhatib, a 20-year-old Palestinian from Jericho, who travelled to Lebanon just to play in the opening season.

“Football and futsal have been part of my life since I was 11 years old,” said Khatib, who wears her hair short and dyed platinum blond.

For her, sport is about much more than exercise.

“Sport is the only thing that brings us together. People from many countries that have suffered problems in the past have overcome them through sport,” said Khatib, who is a midfielder on the team.

‘What our region needs’ “The fact that you have to shake hands with your adversary at the start of every game means you are contributing to peace, and that is what our region needs,” she

Players of the first Lebanese female futsal league get ready for a training session on November 27, 2013 in Beirut AFP

Rodriguez 5, Riviere 23, Ocampos 89

Lack of stadium blocking Beckham's MLS deal n AFP, New York Major League Soccer wants a new team in Miami backed by England icon David Beckham, but MLS commissioner Don Garber said Tuesday that the deal still lacks a downtown stadium deal.

“We can’t go into Miami without the right stadium solution,” Garber said in his annual state of the league comments, which came four days before Sporting Kansas City hosts Real Salt Lake in the MLS Cup championship playoff final.

Garber refused to put a timetable on the project or address the notion that Beckham faces time pressures under terms of his former MLS playing contract that gave him rights to an expansion club at a discounted rate.

“We’re very excited about the opportunity of David putting together an ownership group and finalizing a site in downtown Miami so we can have our 22nd team,” Garber said.

“But there’s a lot of work that needs to happen.”

Garber said that there will be an MLS board meeting on Friday and Beckham’s Miami bid “will be a key subject at that board meeting but they are not coming

Lebanese women futsallers kick down barriers n AFP, Beirut

AP

J. Saez 52

added.

For the Lebanese members of the team too, the game is a chance to forget the sectarian and political barriers that so deeply divide their country.

“Our players come from all over Lebanon and from all the sects, but here we just don’t care about that. We are one team,” said Rania Chehayeb, a 30-year-old from the mountain town of Aley, whose husband “is very supportive” of her love of the game.

Lebanon has a national women’s football team, and neighbouring Jordan and the Palestinian territories both have women’s futsal leagues.

“There has been a women’s football league in Lebanon for seven years,” said SAS coach Wael Gharzeddine, 35.

“Now we get to have a futsal league as well, and that will help give even more exposure in Lebanon to the fact that this is a women’s game too.”

“It will also give our national (football) team a better chance to star in international competitions, because leagues allow more time for talent identification and training,” he added.

Gharzeddine brushes aside traditionalist naysayers.

“We’re in the 21st century. Things have changed now. Women do jobs that were long reserved for men, while men now do things only women used to do.” l

with a proposal for us.”

Bolivian-born billionaire Marcelo Claure and British entrepeneur Simon Fuller are said to be two of the projects backers with even NBA Miami Heat star LeBron James having spoken about it with Beckham.

Newspaper and television reports in Miami say Beckham is interested in a downtown port site for a stadium of about 25,000 seats. But no deal is done and Garber made it clear no team will come without it.

“We want to work with David and Simon Fuller to get something done as quickly as we can,” said Garber. “We’re making progress in Miami with David Beckham and his partners.

“We believe Miami can work if we have the right stadium situation. We’re not there yet. But we hope to get there soon.

“We believe Miami can work if we get David Beckham and his partners to come together and be as strong as other ownership groups. That is still to be seen.”

Garber’s goal is to have 24 MLS teams by 2020. The league has awarded teams to New York and Orlando that will launch in 2015, giving the league 21 clubs.l

Ronaldo to open museum dedicated to himself n AFP, Lisbon Footballing legend Cristiano Ronaldo said Tuesday he is opening a museum dedicated to himself on the Portuguese island where he was born. The 28-yearold Real Madrid player will use the museum to showcase memorabilia from his hugely successful career, which began in the 1990s on the island of Madeira.

Ronaldo said he would be there in person on December 15 for the opening of the museum in Madeira’s capital Funchal, which will showcase memorabilia including footballs, photographs and trophies. He was speaking in Madeira, where he had travelled with his mother and young son, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr, to finalise plans for the opening.

One of the world’s footballing greats, Ronaldo began his career with the small tourist island’s local club FC Andorinha, where his father worked.

He moved to Lisbon aged 12 and was picked up by Sporting Portugal, launching his international career when he signed with Manchester United at the age of just 18. Asked by local media in Madeira about his chances of picking up the Ballon D’Or 2013, which he is tipped to win, he would only say that a space has been reserved in case of success.l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Taylor fights off his demons with double ton

QUICK BYTES Condolence Abdus Salam, the father of Banglavision’s sports reporter Jahirul Islam Jewel, passed away at the age of 65 yesterday after a battle with cancer.

All the members of the Bangladesh Sports Journalists Community expressed deep shock over the death of Salam and prayed for the salvation of the departed soul.

–Tribune Desk

n AFP, Dunedin

Hughes named Inverness manager John Hughes has been appointed as the new manager of Inverness Caledonian Thistle on a two-and-a-half-year contract, the Scottish Premiership club announced on Wednesday. The 49-year-old former Celtic defender, who was sacked by English side Hartlepool at the end of last season, succeeds Terry Butcher, who left Inverness to join Hibernian last month. “It’s a massive challenge,” Hughes told the club website. “Terry’s done a wonderful job up here, so it’s taking over the mantle and carrying on. I’ve got a real feel for the club. I want to immerse myself in the history and the fabric of the football club, and really go and enjoy it. I’m coming to something special.”

–AFP

Heat’s 10-game win streak snapped

by Pistons

With star guard Dwyane Wade sidelined by sore knees, the reigning NBA champion Miami Heat saw their 10-game win streak snapped Tuesday, falling to the Detroit Pistons 107-97. Kyle Singler’s 18 points led seven double-figure scorers for the Pistons while Greg Monroe and Rodney Stuckey each added 16 points and Brandon Jennings and Josh Smith both scored 15 points for Detroit. The Heat had not lost since Boston won at Miami on November 9 on Jeff Green’s 3-pointer at the buzzer. LeBron James and Michael Beasley each scored 23 points to pace the Heat, who had won 14 of their previous 16 meetings with the Pistons. Andre Drummond scored 10 points and grabbed 18 rebounds and the Pistons took full advantage of 11 steals, four from Jennings, to produce 29 points off 19 Heat turnovers. The Heat trailed 82-68 entering the fourth quarter and fell behind by as many as 17 points before pulling within 91-88 on a James slam dunk.But James and Chris Bosh each missed potential tying 3-point shots and Miami went nearly four minutes without making a shot from the field, falling behind 98-91 and coming no closer the rest of the way.

–AFP

Lee to lead PM’s XI against England Former Test fast bowler Brett Lee will captain the Prime Minister’s XI against England in Canberra next month, Cricket Australia said on Wednesday. Lee is one of only four Australian bowlers to take more than 300 Test wickets. “I know first-hand how this important fixture on the Australian cricketing calendar can help propel the careers of young aspiring cricketers,” Lee said. “I first played in the Prime Minister’s XI against India in 1999 and was fortunate enough to take four wickets in that match. “Less than three weeks later I found myself on the biggest stage of all playing at the MCG on Boxing Day in my first Test match for Australia.

“More than 14 years on, I’m proud to lead what I’m sure will be an emerging team of stars here next month.”

–AFP

Former cricketer Vinod Kambli with wife Andrea after he was discharged from a hospital in Mumbai on Tuesday.

Kambli was admitted to hospital after suffering heart attack AP

DAY’S WATCH Ten Sports 05:30PM South Africa v India 1st ODI Ten Golf 11:00AM Hong Kong Open Day 1 Ten Action 02:00AM French Ligue 1 Olympique Lyon v Toulouse FC Star Sports 1 6:00AM (Friday) Australia v England Second Test, Day 2

15

Thursday, December 5, 2013

New Zealand's Ross Taylor celebrates his double century against West Indies on the second day of their first Test match at University Oval in Dunedin, New Zealand yesterday AP

Clarke urges Aussies to stay grounded n AFP, Adelaide Captain Michael Clarke Wednesday told his Australian team not to gloat after their emphatic first Ashes Test victory over England, and focus on winning again in the second match in Adelaide.

The Australians trounced the Ashes holders by 381 runs in the opening clash at the Gabba for their first Test win over England in almost three years to make the early running in the fiveTest series.

Skipper Alastair Cook admitted his England side were “totally outplayed” in Brisbane, but Clarke urged his team to stay grounded heading into what is shaping up as a crucial Test in the series on Thursday.

England fought back to draw the opening Test of the corresponding se-

ries in Brisbane three years ago before thumping Australia by an innings and 71 runs in Adelaide and going on to take the series 3-1.

Clarke said the Australia side was a long way from being the team they wanted to be.

“I’m excited by the way we played in Brisbane. But, if you look at our results over the past 12 months, we have no reason to brag, or gloat or be over the top,” he told reporters.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do. Every single player, their feet are well and truly on the ground.

“Our celebration after Brisbane wasn’t anything like I’ve seen Australian teams celebrate when we’ve had big wins like that.

“I think that’s because everybody knows we’re a long way from being the team we want to be. It’s only one Test

win and we’ve got some work to do in this second Test and throughout the series.”

Clarke named an unchanged team for Adelaide, the first time he has been able to do so since the corresponding match last summer against South Africa.

“We looked at the wicket and thought about the extra bowling option with James Faulkner in the team,” he said.

“But having Wato (Shane Watson) there, who is back to 100 percent fit, and capable of bowling in both innings is a real positive for the team.

“We’ve seen through his career that his overs are crucial for this team.

On good flat wickets like this wicket looks here I think his bowling is going to be very handy not just for taking wickets but also building pressure from one end.”l

World Cup on track despite stadium setback: Fifa

Rapturous welcome for Nepal’s heroes n AFP, Kathmandu

n AFP, Costa Do Sauipe

Hundreds of cricket fans packed the streets of Nepal’s capital Kathmandu Wednesday, hailing the Himalayan nation’s newest heroes at a victory rally after their shock qualification for the Twenty20 World Cup finals.

Dressed in navy blue jackets, the players boarded an open-topped bus covered with marigold garlands, waving to fans at their first public appearance since their return home from Abu Dhabi where they clinched qualification last week.

“I bunked school today to participate in the victory rally. So you can imagine how happy I am,” Chiran Panday, a gleeful ninth-grader, told AFP as he waved a small national flag.

Fans danced to traditional music and smeared holy vermilion powder on the cricketers’ faces to express their joy at the team’s feat last Thursday, when they qualified for the finals of a major cricket tournament for the first time. l

Global football chief Sepp Blatter insisted preparations for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil were on track Tuesday despite construction delays and a deadly accident which mean three stadiums will miss an end-of-year deadline to be ready.

As the football world geared up for Friday’s eagerly-anticipated draw, governing body Fifa revealed three of the tournament’s 12 venues would not be able to meet the December 31 deadline for delivery.

One of the venues, Sao Paulo’s Itaquerao stadium, was the scene of a fatal accident last week which claimed the lives of two workers who were crushed to death when a crane toppled over.

In addition, the delivery of stadiums at Curitiba and and Cuiaba is now set for February, just four months before the finals kick off in June.

Fifa President Blatter however played

down the significance of the construction delays, saying he was confident Brazil would be successful hosts of their first World Cup since 1950.

“We have just received a report.

There are some small delays in construction of stadia. But so small that with one exception (Sao Paulo) we can say everything is ready,” said Blatter.

Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke said the stadium in Curitiba, which has been lagging behind schedule more than the other venues, would not be ready until the end of February.

“Curitiba is the one where we are facing the most problems and won’t be delivered before the end of February 2014.

“We will be ready to get the stadium by the end of February 2014,” Valcke said.

The Arena Amazonia in Manaus, in the heart of the tropical rain forest, also remains under construction, as does the one at Cuiaba. l

A maiden double century to put New Zealand in firm command of the first Test against the West Indies on Wednesday proved the sweetest way Ross Taylor could find to “fight off those demons”.

Taylor was unbeaten on 217 when New Zealand declared at 609 for nine in the final session at University Oval in Dunedin and at stumps the West Indies were 67 for two in reply.

A year ago Taylor’s morale was hit hard and he went into a self-imposed exile after being dumped as the New Zealand captain.

After his return to Test cricket in March he failed to set the scoreboard alight with his batting form hindered by a troublesome knee that required surgery before this match.

But that changed when the 29-yearold right-hand batsman strode to the wicket on Tuesday to start a marathon 491 minutes at the crease in which he became only the 13th New Zealand batsman to reach 200.

He put away the slog-sweep that has often been his undoing, batting with confidence to surpass his previous highest score – 154 not out against England at Manchester five years ago – and lifting his Test average to 45.36.

“It was nice to fight off those demons,” Taylor said, as he rated the innings one of the best he has produced.

“Mentally, it was my best innings with the way I structured it in my head.

“The way I started and the frame of mind I was in, I was happy to be able to bat as long as I did.

“I was supported by a lot of batters and it was nice to get to 200.”

Taylor produced 23 boundaries in his marathon innings, but there was no lofted risk taking and his one life was a missed chance by Kieran Powell at short leg.

His innings also featured a New Zealand record 195-run fourth wicket stand against the West Indies with new captain Brendon McCullum and Taylor stressing there was no rivalry between the two despite the past.

“No, we’re teammates. We want to

Gaining in confidence with every series, India’s in-form young batsmen are set to be put through their sternest test this season when the team takes on the mighty South Africa in a three-match ODI series starting Thursday.

It is an ODI contest with context but that has got nothing to do with the political intrigue that led to this tour being shortened.

Nor is it just another three-match series between the number one and number five ranked sides.

This affair has a certain context, all of it pertaining to what happens within the boundary ropes.

For Team India, it will be an exercise to reaffirm faith in their young batsmen. This is the same bunch that has been busy lighting up cricket grounds with some breathtaking stroke-play.

Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, each have scored more than thousand runs in ODIs played this calendar year, each of them averaging

over fifty.

There can be two ways to look at this statistic. First, they have scored runs in India, England, West Indies and Zimba-

AB de Villiers and MS Dhoni pose with the tournament trophy in Johannesburg yesterday

SCORE CARD, DAY 2

New Zealand 1st innings (overnight 367 for 3) R Taylor not out 217 B McCullum b Sammy 113 C Anderson c Ramdin b Best 0 B Watling c Edwards b Best 41 T Southee c Bravo b Deonarine 2 I Sodhi c & b Deonarine 35 N Wagner run out (Bravo/Best) 37 Extras (b 10, lb 10, nb 1) 21 Total: (9 wickets dec; 153.1 overs) 609 Fall of wickets 1-95, 2-117, 3-185, 4-380, 5-385, 6-469, 7-472, 8-548, 9-609 Bowling Best 34.1-5-148-3, Gabriel 27.5-4-148-0, Sammy 23.1-4-79-2 (1nb), Shillingford 46-7-138-1, Deonarine 22-0-76-2 West Indies 1st innings K Edwards c Fulton b Boult 0 K Powell c Watling b Southee 7 D Bravo not out 37 M Samuels not out 14 Extras: (lb8, nb1) 9 Total: (2 wickets; 24 overs) 67 Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-24 Bowling Boult 8-5-7-1, Southee 7-1-15-1, Wagner 6-2-27-0 (1 nb), Sodhi 3-0-10-0

Nepalese national cricket team participate in a victory rally in Kathmandu yesterday after qualifying for next year's ICC World Twenty20 to be held in Bangladesh AFP

Buoyant Indian batting faces tough pace test n Agencies

do well for the team and the country,” Taylor said.

“There’s always going to be that comparison until he retires, or I retire, but we can’t control that. We just have to do our best every time.”

Tailender Neil Wagner, who made 37 in a 61-run ninth-wicket stand with Taylor, relished the opportunity to see New Zealand’s senior batsman back to his best.

“It was an awesome knock,” Wagner said. “He played with a lot of freedom and played positive and never game them a chance.”

With three days remaining, Taylor has batted New Zealand into a strong position to win their first Test in over a year under McCullum’s leadership.

Wagner said the wicket was already showing “inconsistency in the bounce.

Some (deliveries) seem to die a bit and some seem to take off ”. l

bwe, in different conditions.

Their confidence is sky-high at the moment and in their respective purple patches, all they can think of is playing the next match and batting on.

Their great run has meant that the Indian batting has started to look topheavy, and this is the second point, albeit a bit worrisome.

In 31 matches this year, Suresh Raina averages only 36. In 21 matches, Yuvraj Singh has scored at only 21.23.

In the last nine matches (seven completed innings each) against Australia and West Indies, they have fared worse – Raina has scored at 22.42 and Yuvraj at 19.66, facing the same bowling as Dhawan, Sharma and Kohli, on the same pitches.

Along with the inform top-order and below Yuvraj and Raina, is Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who too has maintained his touch this year. l

Pakistan’s Irfan doubtful for Sri Lanka series n AFP, Lahore

Pakistan paceman Mohammad Irfan has been advised to take six weeks’ rest after fracturing his hip, officials said Wednesday, making him doubtful for the series against Sri Lanka starting later this month.

The 7ft one inch Irfan – the tallest man ever to play international cricket – fell during the second Twenty20 international against South Africa in Dubai on November 15. Pakistan Cricket Board director Intikhab Alam said Irfan will need at least six weeks to recover.

“Irfan was perfectly all right when he played that game but unfortunately he fell on his hip bone and MRI scans showed it’s a fracture,” Alam told reporters on the sidelines of the Pakistan-Sri Lanka series launch. l

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Businessmen seek interim loan from government to pay workers’ wages n Ibrahim Hossain Ovi

A bus driver breaks down in tears after the BNP led 18-party men set his vehicle on fire at Sholoshahar area in Chittagong city during the countrywide blockade programme yesterda DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business leaders yesterday expressed concern saying they might not be able to pay their workers’ wages if the current political crisis persisted.

They urged different trade bodies to set up a fund with the help of the government’s special privilege as they could not make shipments due to political unrest.

“Owners are passing a crucial time as production and shipments are being disrupted leading to fund shortage,” Mohammad Hatem, first vice-president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), said.

A group of owners urged the BKMEA to appeal to the government for an interim loan to pay the wages of workers, he added.

“Owners have to pay wages as per the new wage structure, but we are facing cash crunch,” said Hatem.

On November 21, the government’s wage board fixed Tk5, 300 as minimum wage for garment workers which came into effect this month.

He also said they, at a meeting,

Pains and pangs of victims Procession of dead getting bigger of arson attacks

‘Please, stop the dirty politics that kill our children’

Two more admitted to DMCH says Ayesha. n Mohammad Jamil Khan Riaz used to Riaz, a son of a crippled father, whose treatment depends on his son’s income, is now groaning in excruciating pain at the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMC) after she suffered grievous burn injury last Thursday.

He was one of those ill-fated people who were travelling on the bus that came under arson attacks by blockaders near Shahbagh that day.

Riaz, 23, is a glitter button vendor; he is suffering from 15% burn injury; he comes from Sonaimuri of Noakhali; he is the second of three brothers. His two sisters were given in marriage.

Visiting the hospital yesterday afternoon this correspondent came across Riaz’s mother Ayesha Khatun sitting by the bedside of her son. She said she came alone all the way to the capital as her husband was lame.

Two of his sons including Riaz earn a living for the family. Riaz lives in Dhaka and Sabuj in village who is a farmer,

send Tk2,000 to Tk3,000 a month with which they used to buy daily necessaries and medicines for his father, says Ayesha.

“The month has ended and a new month is running and now we are at a loss as my son is in the hospital; what would we do now? Why does the cruel fate always befall us?” her face suddenly became pale as she was speaking.

Like Riaz 36 others are now undergoing treatment at the burn unit while six of them at the Intensive Care Unit as their condition is deteriorating.

Of the six, the condition of bus driver Mahbub, who is suffering from 30% burn injury, is stated to be critical.

Visiting the hospital on Tuesday noon this correspondent spotted Mahbub’s mother Momota Begum at her son’s bedside. She was holding son’s hands tight. Mahbub was requesting his mother to offer a special prayer as he could no more cling on to life.

His mother choking back her tears

He had no idea humans could be so inhuman n Syeda Samira Sadeque There was a strand of hair stuck on Mahbub’s forehead. His wife, who was cleaning him, tried to carefully remove it. After a few attempts, she sighed. It would not move.

The natural instinct of anyone would be to jump in and suggest she picks it with tweezers or a nail-clipper. But that is out of the question here because Mahbub’s forehead, including the rest of his face, arms and back, have been burnt in the recent political violence that have erupted across the country.

His wife Shahanaz had been cleaning him for more than twenty minutes in this nineroom ward at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

His face, a haunting combination of burnt brown, his own skin colour, and the yellow ointment, cringed every other moment as Shahanaz continued her process of cleaning.

Mahbub, 27, was the driver of the bus that came under arson attack in Shahbagh just a week back during the opposition’s ongoing blockade programme. He suffered 30% burn.

“I only remember I was driving, and there were two men standing on the divider. They threw two bottles that hit the windshield and the next thing I knew, I had fallen to the ground. The bus was in flames.

I was in flames,” he said, writhing in pain; his words barely audible.

“He cannot open his mouth, it is too painful for him,” said Shahanaz, who is a garments worker in the city.

Despite the pain, he kept mumbling things – inaudible things – as Shahanaz continued to clean him.

In a broken voice, he said the pain that had subsided in the last few days, had been increasing again since Tuesday night.

When asked if he understood the

“Ma, do not cry; why are you worrying about me? I will be alright,” these were the last words of Ohidur Rahman Babu, one of the 19 burn victims of a passenger bus that came under arson attack near Shahbagh last Thursday.

Babu, 23, a first-year student of Political Science Department at Dhaka College, succumbed to his injuries around 4:30pm yesterday.

He was undergoing treatment at the intensive care unit of Dhaka Medical college Hospital (DMCH), Dr Partha Sankar Pal, residential surgeon of the unit told the Dhaka Tribune.

“Babu died as 28% of his respiratory system was damaged from the fire; he had been on life support since Monday,” says Dr Partha.

With the death of Babu the death toll in Shahabagh bus fire stands at three.

Earlier, two cousins died within a span of two days into the incident.

After his death a pall of gloom descended on hospital with his relatives bursting into tears.

“Babu went out of his rented house at Bangabazar around 5:30pm and on his way to Shahbagh. He promised he would be back early but he could not keep his promise,” Babu’s mother Saleha Khatun whimpered under her breath.

Babu was so strong-willed boy that he told his mother not to cry as he believed nothing would happen to him.

“He was supposed to go to America on December 17 but he left us for a country unknown to us,” Saleha said fighting her tears back.

Hailing from Biramganj of Noakhali he was the son of Hazi Waziullah who has been missing since 2011. He has two brothers and two sisters.

Before he was put on life support doctor Azad told Babu after the life support he may die or survive. The doctor asked for his decision. “Is it really needed? Will it be a problem for me?” he asked the doctor.

On hearing the death news of Babu all his relatives and friends dashed to the burn unit. His sister-in-law Shanara Akter Shanu cried her heart out: “Babu wants to live but the dirty politics of our country did not let him live.

“Can the government bring our children back? Please, stop the nasty politics that takes children away from their mother’s lap,” Shanu was seething with anger.

She was cursing the foul politics of the country as she was wailing and sobbing. l

Home ministry for monitoring 3G services n Muhammad Zahidul Islam

political game that had landed him on this hospital bed, Mahbub groaned: “All I know is, one side kicks the other side, and we get trapped in the middle.”

“We work as per our need. We do not do politics; our children do not do politics. We do not understand politics. So why do we fall into it?” said Momota, Mahbub’s mother, who had come from Gaibandha to see her son. She watched her daughter-in-law clean her son, and broke down from time to time.

“We used to depend on his earnings.

How will we live?” She eventually raised the bitter truth.

Mahbub and Shahanaz’s son, eight-year old Shahin, came to visit his father soon after he had been hospitalised, but fell sick upon seeing his scalded face.

As Shahanaz tried to sit him up, Mahbub screamed in pain. Shahanaz, who had been calm throughout, merely frowned.

She seemed tired. The nurses cannot manage to clean one patient 2-3 times a day, as is needed; therefore Shahanaz has to do the job.

She took a look behind his ear, and told Momota: “This will be difficult to clean, it is in bad shape.”

Momota handed her two packets of ear buds and cotton balls. DMCH has been providing them with the medicines so far, but this is just the beginning of a whole new life that sparked off with a mere throw of “two bottles” from presumably blockade supporters – but who knows, they could have been anyone. They could have been any of his fellow countrymen.

“I used to be careful while driving during hartals and blockades; yes I used to be,” Mahbub wailed. “But I had no idea our people could be so cruel, I had no idea humans could be so inhuman.” l

The home ministry has urged the telecom regulator to monitor the third generation mobile data services (3G) so that nobody can use it with an “ill-motivation.”

“There is huge chance that this data services can be used during the ongoing political upheaval and if anybody uses this technology effectively, it may cause serious damages,” Shafiqur Rahman, a deputy secretary of the home ministry who is attached with its political wing, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

He also said the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC) asked the government to take necessary action. For this, the home ministry wrote to the telecom regulator, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).

The letter reached the BTRC on Thursday, whereupon the ministry requested it to ensure lawful interception in 3G services.

Out of six mobile phone operators in

13kg gold recovered at Dhaka airport n Kailash Sarkar

Customs officials recovered another haul of smuggled gold from the toilet of a plane at Hazarat Shahjalal International Airport, this time weighing 13kg and arriving on an early morning flight from Malaysia.

Zakiya Sultana, commissioner of customs at the airport, confirmed the recovery, saying that a total of 120 gold bars worth around Tk6 crore were found on a Regent Airways flight that landed at Dhaka around 4:30am from Kuala Lumpur, but none claimed its ownership.

n Mohammad Jamil Khan consoled him: “You will be alright; nothing will happen to you, my son.”

Meanwhile, two more arson victims were admitted to the DMCH in the early hours of yesterday.

Al-Amin, 31, a bus driver, son of Abdul Awal, comes from Bondhan area of Gazipur came under attack of blockaders in front of Kolombia Garment Factory of Gazipur while he was parking the bus after completing his day’s work.

He said some youths approached us around 8:30pm on Tuesday and in no time they set fire to the bus with a petrol bomb before we could apprehend anything.

Before he came out of the bus it went up in flames. The fire burnt 20% of his body while his helper, Mohammad Solaiman, 22, son of Hazrat Ali, hailed from Baishara, received 10% burn injury.

They were first taken to Gazipur Tairunnesa Medical Hospital but as their condition deteriorated, they were shifted later to the DMCH burn unit. l

urged the prime minister for a special allocation to pay wages. “The prime minister assured us [of looking into the matter].”

Most of the members of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) demanded contingency loan to pay wages for the month of November “as they could not ship their products because of political turmoil,” said Shahidullah Azim, vice-president of the trade body.

The owners said they would be able to pay wages if the government sanctions them a short-term loan, which they would pay off within three months, he said.

Helal Uddin, vice-president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), urged bank authorities to allow waivers on interest during this crucial period.

For over a month, Bangladesh has witnessed series of unprecedented number of violent shutdowns and blockades sponsored by the BNP-led 18-party-alliance demanding a nonparty polls-time government. l

the country, five are currently offering 3G services.

According section 97 of the amended telecommunication act, operators are bound to ensure lawful interception, says the letter.

The government has established the NTMC to ensure intelligences observations.

But the mobile phone operators claimed that they were already under monitoring.

“We are already connected with the NTMC and all calls and data including the 3G services are monitored by the law enforcement agencies,” Tanveer Mohammad, chief technological officer of Grameenphone, told the Dhaka Tribune.

State-owned operator Teletalk has been offering 3G service in the name of a “commercial test run” since October last year while Grameenphone, Robi, Airtel and Banglalink since October this year.

Currently, total 3G subscribers are not more than 1m, market sources say. l

‘The gold bars were wrapped in black tapes in six packets and were hid behind the looking glass of a toilet.

Perhaps someone of the flight had kept the gold bars in the toilet.’

Qamrul Hasan, an assistant commissioner of the customs, said acting on information provided by the captain of the flight, two assistant commissioners – Abdul Alim and Shamsul Arefin – recovered the gold.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Assistant Commissioner Shamsul Arefin, however, claimed that they made the recovery as per their own intelligence information, adding that the captain had cooperated in it.

“As per our earlier information, we had been waiting for the arrival of the flight,” said Shamsul Arefin, adding that as they had no idea about the specific hiding place of the gold, they had scanned all the passengers from the suspected flight at the green channel.

Ehtesam-ul-Huq, an assistant superintendent of the Armed Police Battalion (APBn) at the airport, said: “The gold bars were wrapped in black tapes in six packets and were hid behind the looking glass of a toilet. Perhaps someone of the flight had kept the gold bars in the toilet.”

A record quantity of over 550kg smuggled gold has been recovered at the airport in last 11 months.

According to sources, many smuggling rings are active at the airport and a section of officials and staff of different government and private agencies and crews of different flights are allegedly involved in moving the gold.

Customs officials alleged that Dhaka had turned into a route for smuggling since India increased taxes on gold. l

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Continue to the Business section...

Business

B2 Rangpur Sugar Mills in

trouble with unsold stock

B3 LDCs reach consensus to take common stance

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2013

Business www.dhakatribune.com/business

RMG INDUSTRY

EU warns Bangladesh of compliance It indicates following the US in suspending GSP n Meer Saiful Islam, from Bali, Indonesia EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht yesterday warned Bangladesh of implementing the mutually agreed roadmap to improve the security of readymade garment factories to avert a serious consequence in its export trade.

“If nothing substantial progress is made, there will be a serious problem with the EU and EU parliament,” he told a press conference on the sidelines of ninth WTO Ministerial Conference in Bali, Indonesia.

Bangladesh enjoys duty-free and quota-free market access of its products to the European market under the Everything But Arms (EBA) programme of the EU – the largest export destination of Bangladesh.

The EU Trade Commissioner was replying to a question about their intention over the trade concession to Bangladesh as the USA has suspended the GSP facilities in June after the deadliest Rana Plaza factory collapse and Tazrin Fashion fire incident.

B3

LDC CONSENSUS

He rang alarm bells for the first time after signing the EU and Bangladesh agreement on improving the factory condition on July 8, mediated by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

“It’s true that USA suspended GSP, but that has very limited practical impact,” Karel said, ponting out that the EU market is very important for Bangladesh.

“Yes, we have set some points. We wanted your government to do a number of things (as) we wanted to keep duty-free quota-free market access and it is essential for you,” he said.

Karel De Gucht EU Trade Commissioner delivers his speech during the plenary session of the 9th WTO Ministerial Conference in Nusa Dua yesterday But, he said, it all depends on labour rights, collective bargaining agents, improvement of factory conditions and security in workplaces.

He said the EU was working closely with the government of Bangladesh to improve the situation – what is now happening and what should happen to improve the working condition. “It’s for the best of your interest, take this roadmap seriously, put things

right,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh officials are claiming that they have made some progress in an action plan taken through consultation with the stakeholders and based on the instructions by the US authorities as well as the agreement with the EU. “We’ve taken the initiatives to implement what needs to be done to improve the working conditions,” said Commerce Secretary

AFP

Mahbub Ahmed, who is leading the Bangladesh delegation to the conference.

He said the action plan of the government adopted on the basis of what the USA and European Union want has achieved substantial progress in implementation, and the developments were being regularly shared with them.

“Now, they will decide what they want to do with the issue,” said the secretary. l

REVIVING GSP

Plan to inform foreign envoys about labour standard n Asif Showkat Kallol The Ministry of Commerce has undertaken a plan to hold talks with the Dhaka-based ambassadors of other countries, specially United States, Canada and European Union, in an effort to get back the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) for local export items.

It would explain the real situation of labour standard in Bangladesh – a lack of which considered to have suspended the export preference, officials said.

Commerce Secretary Mahbud Ahmed will hold a meeting with the ambassadors in the middle of this month to inform them about how the government is trying to execute labour standards in consistent with the outline of the office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), said a senior official.

He said the ambassadors would then inform their respective authorities about the situation.

Commerce ministry sources said a three-member US team is now in Dhaka to hold talks about labour standard and how the government was executing the 17 conditions of USTR till December 11.

Commerce Secretary Mahbub Ahmed told Dhaka Tribune on Thursday last that the USTR officials have already went through our report on progress of implementation of the conditions discussed after signing the Trade and Investment Cooperation Framework Agreement (TICFA) with the USA. He said the US government suspended the GSP facilities for a review from July 2013.

“We also discussed with the USTR officials about the efforts Bangladesh made to improve the working conditions in the readymade garment

factories.”

Mahbub said they are satisfied with the progress of Bangladesh labour standard, but it does not mean that Bangladeshi exporters would regain the GSP facilities.

If we would not review GSP facilities for local export items in December, it will be reviewed in March, he also said.

The GSP status has been scrapped on June 27, citing serious shortcomings in labour rights and safety in factories after the Tazreen fire and Rana Plaza building collapse. l

Business Rangpur Sugar Mills in trouble with unsold stock

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2013

Production cost was higher than market prices n Our Correspondent, Gaibandha With a massive stock of unsold sugar worth Tk16.5 crore lying idle in the warehouse, the Rangpur Sugar Mills Limited is going to start crushing sugarcane again.

Factory sources said the crushing was likely to begin on December 6.

In 2011-12 and 2012-13 fiscal years, RSML produced 32.67bn tonnes of sugar but the mill authority could not sell the produce because production cost was higher than market prices, a factory insider said.

In the last one year, not even a single kilogram of sugar had been sold, the source added.

Mill authorities set prices of sugar at Tk50 per kg and signed agreement with 15 local dealers. But the dealers did not buy a single kilogram of sugar because of soaring prices, an official of RSML told the Dhaka Tribune.

As a result, 32.67bn tonnes of sugar worth TK16.5 crore remained unsold, resulting in financial worries to the local sugarcane

growers as well the mill. Consequently, the mill management has been having troubles in paying wages and borrowing from the head office.

“I am not interested in buying sugar at Tk50 per kg as I can buy it Tk44 from the exporters,” said a dealer preferring not be named.

Mill authorities set prices of sugar at Tk50 per kg and signed agreement with 15 local dealers.

But the dealers did not buy a single kilogram of sugar because of soaring prices, an official of RSML told the Dhaka Tribune

He also said: “If I buy sugar at the price set out in the agreement, I will have to suffer huge losses as the market price is lower than that set by the mill.”

Currently, a one kg packs of Fresh and

Teer sugar are being sold at TK 44/45 in the local market.

“If the mill authorities fail to pay their dues in time, farmers may lose interest in sugarcane in the next season,” said M Zinnat Ali Prodhan, a farmer from Gaibandha.

He urged the mill management to pay farmers’ dues as soon as possible, otherwise it could have negative impact on production.

Abdul Khaleque, managing director of RSML, admitted that there was stocked sugar worth over 16 crore. “It would be very difficult for us to store new production set to start next week, if we cannot vacant the store quickly.”

Stocked sugar had already started melting which would degrade the quality and might result in huge financial losses for the company, he added.

The factory management should sell out the stored sugar, by lowering prices if needed, before going into further production, said Abul Khayer Mursalin Parvez, president of Gaibandha Chamber of Commerce and Industry. l

State banks asked to revise capital shortfall proposals

n Tribune Report

Bank and Financial Institutions Division asked managing directors of four state-owned commercial banks to precisely present their proposals of meeting capital shortfalls.

The four banks- Soanli, Rupali, Janata and Agrani – earlier submitted proposals seeking help to meet capital shortages through budget funding. “It is hard to find the real situation of capital shortfalls in those proposals. They need to be revised,” said a senior official of the Division yesterday.

A meeting at the secretarial decided to ask for revision of the proposals. Additional secretary of Bank Division and head of scrutiny committee of the proposals Amalendu Mukherjee presided over the meeting.

Earlier, the government formed a three-member committee headed by banking additional secretary Amalendu Mukherjee to scrutinise the proposals of the stateowned commercial banks.

Following the meeting, a high official of a state-owned commercial bank told the Dhaka Tribune that as the Banking Division asked for revision, the government will disburse Tk41bn after the revision. As a condition, some fund will have to be used to develop the banks’ automation system, he added. According to official sources, in the first phase, the government will give four state banks Tk41bn against their capital shortfall of Tk88bn. l

Delta Life and Aparajito Enabler sign contract for micro insurance services Delta Life Insurance Company Ltd and Aparajito Enabler Ltd signed a contract on December 2 to provide micro insurance services.

The higher officials of both the organisations signed a contract to this effect in an unceremonious programme at the board room of Delta Life Insurance Company Ltd, said a press release.

The organisations will work to take insurance services to the doorstep of people of the country, as per the contract.

Adeeba Rahman, ACII (UK), Consultant of Delta Life, Dr Ashraf Uddin, ED, Group and Health Insurance, Biddut Kumar Basu, Chairman Aparijto Enabler Ltd and Partha Pratim Sarkar, CFO were also present on the occasion. l

IPDC signs corporate privileges pack with BSRM

New Zealand Dairy Products Bangladesh re-launches Anchor Anchor held a re-launch press conference at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel on December 4.

The attendees at the conference were, New Zealand Dairy Products Bangladesh Limit-

ed Managing Director SA Mallick, Head of Marketing G M Kamrul Hassan and Fonterra Limited Business Development Manager Henry Heng. l

Kazi Samiur Rahman, Head of Retail Business of IPDC of Bangladesh Ltd and Zohair Taherali, Director of BSRM Group of Companies signed an agreement in Chittagong recently.

IPDC will provide special rates and privileges to the employees of BSRM through its Corporate Privilege Pack.

Aameir Alihussain, Managing Director of BSRM Steels Ltd, was also present at the meeting. l

PRAN achieves national export trophy The Government of Bangladesh awarded best national export trophies (Gold) and (Silver) respectively to PRAN Exporters Limited and PARN Agro Limited for FY 201011 for playing vital role in export sector.

The trophy was handed over by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to PRANRFL Group Corporate Finance Director Uzma Chowdhury at Osmani memorial auditorium in Dhaka recently. Commerce Minister GM Quader and high officials of export promotion bureau and others prominent person were present on the occasion. l

Managing Director and CEO of Modhumoti Bank Limited Md Mizanur Rahman has inaugurated the workshop on ‘Bangladesh Automated Cheque Processing Systems and Bangladesh Electronic Fund Transfer Network’ recently. Md Humayun Kabir General Manager Payment System Department of Bangladesh Bank was the Key-Note Speaker, among others Khondaker Rahimuzzaman Head of Operation, Sufi Tofail Ahamed, CTO, Fahmida Sayeed Saki, Head of ID, S M Imran Alam, Head of HR and others Divisional Head were also present.

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2013

WTO MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE

LDCs reach consensus to take common stance n Meer Saiful Islam, from Bali, Indonesia The group of least developed countries has reached almost a consensus to take a common stance at the WTO Ministerial Conference, which steps into negotiation stage on the so-called Bali package yesterday.

“The differences within the group have been resolved at the LDC trade ministers’ meeting on Tuesday,” Commerce Secretary Mahbub Ahmed, who is leading the Bangladesh delegation, told reporters on the sidelines of the conference.

Before starting the conference officials had expressed concern weather the LDCs would take a common stand amid protests by few members of the group.

“Lesotho and Nepal raised differences on few points. The trade ministers’ meeting helped reducing the gap,” said the delegation head, who represented Bangladesh at the trade ministers’ meeting.

In the earlier occasion, the LDCs generally held a mini-ministerial to decide their stance well ahead of the WTO ministerial council.

But this time, they held the meeting just a day before the ministerial meeting stepping into the negotiation stage.

The secretary would present the country position at the plenary session today. He would propose a time bound measure for the LDCs to enlarge the duty-free and quota-free market access from what had agreed at the Hong Kong Ministerial back in 2005.

Now, Bangladesh would seek expansion of the facility from 97% of products and implement it by the year 2015.

“The Honk Kong declaration was not time bound … no progress has been made since then as few countries were protesting it,” said an official of the Bangladesh delegation.

The official said the Bali package is made up of negotiation on three pillars – agriculture,

(From left-right) Magali Silva Velarde Alvarez, Peru's Minister for Trade and Tourism, Shahid Bashir Pakistan's ambassador to the WTO, Gita Wirjawan Indonesia's Minister of Trade, Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Roberto Azevedo WTO Director General, Indonesia's Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, Stephen Green, British minister for trade and investment, Francois Kanimba Rwanda's Minister of Trade and Industry pose for a photo session after the opening ceremony of the 9th WTO Ministerial meeting Nusa Dua on Tuesday AFP trade facilitation and development issues.

The development issues consists of duty-free and quota-free market access of LDC products to developed market, relaxation of rules of origin, services waiver and cotton issue are the main concerns of Bangladesh as also other LDCs. Whether the negotiation on the Bali package is heading towards signing a deal, the commerce secretary said the negotiation would continue till the concluding session tomorrow afternoon. “It’s not possible to predict the outcome till the end of negotia-

tion.

Officials, however, said there has been not much progress on the agriculture issue, particularly the food security issues with which the United States and India taking opposite stance. The US wants to allow government procurement of foods at 10% only for four years, but India want it permanently.

“Let’s see what happens during the sessions scheduled for today,” said senior official of the delegation. He said the deal hinges on what development takes place in the food security issue. l

3

Robi to introduce ‘IT Helpline’ through mobile n Tribune Report Mobile phone operator Robi is going to introduce ‘IT Helpline’ service for the first time in the country to its subscribers.

Robi was given the approval for the service on Monday from Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission.

Robi will be providing solutions to IT problems though phone calls, a high official informed.

Within a very short time Robi will award a five digits short code to maintain the services.

BTRC sources said, for enjoying the service subscribers will be charged a call rate of Tk5 per minute including 10 seconds pluse facility.

Subscribers also can enjoy day-to-day service through SMS at a cost of Tk2. l

Banks in industrial areas open on Saturday n Tribune Report

Scheduled bank branches situated in industry dense area will remain open on Saturday to facilitate garment workers for getting wages.

A circular issued yesterday by Bangladesh Bank said, bank branches related with apparel sector situated in Dhaka city, Ashulia, Tongi, Gazipur, Savar, Narayanganj, and Chittangong industrial area will remain open on Saturday.

The decision was taken at the request of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters (BGMEA) to facilitate its salary payment, said the circular. l

Stocks edge lower amid volatility

Oil extends gains as traders eye new US pipeline

n Tribune Report

n AFP, Singapore

Stocks edged lower amid volatility yesterday, just a day after making a record high share price index.

The market opened higher with indices rising almost 40 points in the morning but the momentum failed to sustain throughout the session as investors went for booking quick profits.

The DSEX ended at 4340, shedding 16 points or 0.4%. The DS30 Index comprising blue chips was slightly up 1 points or 0.2% to 1507. The Chittagong Stock Exchange Selective Category Index, CSCX, fell 27 points to close at 8418.

The trading also experienced a jolt as DSE turnover stood at Tk4.6bn, decreasing more than 14%. Out of 285 issues traded, 145 advanced, 115 declined and 25 remained unchanged.

“Gloomy political outlook still remains a

bottleneck for the market,” said Lanka Bangla Securities in its market analysis.

After steep rise in the previous session, the banking sector was the worst performer.

“With strong confidence on positive longrun outlook, absolute uncertainty prevails in the market, regarding the short run,” said IDLC Investment.

The decline can be attributed largely to poor performance of heavyweight bank that shed 1.5% and life insurance 0.8%. Telecom-

munications and energy were the positive performers.

Delta Life Insurance maintained its top position in the turnover’s chart for the sixth consecutive session with shares worth Tk320m changing hands.

Other turnover leaders were Generation Next Fashion, Paramount Textile, Argon Denim, Fu-Wang Ceramic, Grameenphone, RN Spinning, Meghan Petroleum and Padma Oil. l

Oil prices extended gains in Asian trade yesterday on news that part of a major US pipeline could open next month and ease oversupplied inventories, analysts said.

New York’s main contract, West Texas Intermediate for January delivery, was up $1.18 at $97.22 a barrel in afternoon trade, while Brent North Sea crude for January gained 26 cents to $112.88.

WTI surged $2.22 in New York after TransCanada, the Canadian firm building the Keystone Pipeline, said in a filing with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that the southern portion of the pipeline would begin carrying crude from backed-up inland depots to Texas coast refineries on January 3.

WTI traded above $100 a barrel for much of the summer, but oversupply concerns and easing geopolitical concerns in the Middle East have dampened prices. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2013

Japan readies $182bn economic package ‘The amount will not require new debt issuance’ n Reuters Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is readying a $182bn economic package this week in his latest bid to pull the economy out of deflation, but the new measures will not require the government to sell more debt.

The package, to be approved by Abe’s government today, will have a headline value of 18.6tn yen ($181.6bn), people familiar with the process said yesterday.

That puts the overall package on a par with Abe’s 20tn yen burst of spending early this year as part of his campaign to end 15 years of falling prices and tepid growth.

But the bulk of the package includes loans from government-backed lenders, spending by local governments and corporations, the sources said. The headline figure usually announced by the Japanese government on economic measures often includes spending that has already been committed, and tends to far exceed the amount of actual new government spending. The long-expected core of the package will be spending measures Abe ordered in October to bolster the economy ahead of a national sales-tax hike in April, the sources told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Government officials at the time said the main stimulus steps, to be approved on Thursday, would be worth about 5tn yen.

Sources said on Tuesday the stimulus will be between 5.4tn yen and 5.6tn yen.

Businessmen are seen inside a high-rise office building in Tokyo This amount will not require new debt issuance as it will be covered by tax revenues that have exceeded initial budget projections due to the economic recovery, as well

REUTERS

as using unspent funds from other accounts, the sources said.

Measures include steps intended to boost competitiveness; assist women, youth and

the elderly; accelerate reconstruction from the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami; and build infrastructure for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, they said. l

China’s economy seen in mild downswing in November n Reuters China’s economy may have lost some momentum in November as inflation hugged its high for 2013, a Reuters poll showed, although analysts think any cooling will be mild and short lived due to signs of a revival in global growth.

Optimism that the world’s No 2 economy is not sliding into a protracted downswing has been boosted by data in the past month showing activity stabilising as 2013 winds down.

Still, analysts expect that tighter credit supply and fading effects from the earlier government stimulus tempered activity last month. Unsteady global demand and a slower rebuilding of inventories by firms also hindered growth.

“Our estimates for the monthly indicators for November are not looking so hot,” said Carl Weinberg from High Frequency Economics, who forecast a slowdown of annual growth rates for retail sales and factory output in October.

But all indicators point to a strong expansion in activity ahead, Weinberg said. “We see this as a brief slowdown, not the start of any downturn,” he said.

Factory output growth is seen slipping to a four-month low of 10.1% in annual terms on November, the median forecast from 22 analysts showed, from October’s 10.3%.

Investment - which accounted for 56% of

economic growth in the first nine months - is forecast to have risen 20% from a year earlier, a substantial rise but still the weakest increase in nearly 11 years.

Export growth, which has whipsawed this year, is seen quickening to a three-month high of 7.1% from a year earlier, up from October’s 5.6% and a sign that external demand may be improving.

An improving US economy, China’s biggest export market, has also the brightened

the outlook for 2014.

The annual inflation rate for November is forecast to be unchanged from October’s eight-month high of 3.2% due to elevated food prices, holding below the central bank’s 3.5% target for 2013.

Views that any moderation in activity would be temporary appeared to be supported by four separate purchasing managers’ indices (PMIs) this week pointing to growth in the factory and services sectors.

A woman bites off a piece of sticky tape at a supermarket in Huaibei, Anhui province

REUTERS

But some analysts argue that a closer look showed the PMIs indicated softening demand with falling input prices and new orders, and that the economy may slow further in 2014.

“We believe that already the fourth quarter will see some slowdown,” said Dariusz Kowalczyk, an economist at Credit Agricole CIB. “Gross domestic product growth will ease in annual terms from 7.7% in 2013 to 7.2% in 2014.”

Indeed, a cooldown may be what authorities in Beijing want. Two influential Chinese think-tanks have suggested Beijing cut its 2014 growth target to 7% from 7.5% in 2013.

A lower growth target would give authorities more flexibility to push ahead with plans to reshape the economy into one driven by consumption at the expense of investment and exports, in the biggest policy overhaul in 30 years.

The government is expected to decide its 2014 economic growth target at this month’s Central Economic Work Conference, the date of which has not been announced.

November’s data releases will kick off on Dec 8, Sunday, with the trade report. Inflation data will be published on Dec 9 and activity indicators, including investment, factory output and retail sales, will be out on Dec 10.

Figures for money supply growth and new loans issued are due between Dec 10 and Dec 15. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2013

5

OPEC set to maintain oil output ceiling n AFP, Vienna OPEC was expected to stick by its oil output limit at a meeting yesterday, even as Iraq and Iran eye higher crude exports amid slashed Libyan production.

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries does not see a need to alter the cartel’s crude production ceiling of 30 million barrels per day, member nations led by the world’s biggest oil producer Saudi Arabia said in Vienna ahead of the meeting.

Pumping about one third of the world’s crude, OPEC will decide also on whether to replace Abdullah El-Badri as secretary general.

“We know demand is good, economic growth is good, supply is good,” Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi told reporters at OPEC headquarters in the Austrian capital.

OPEC members Nigeria and Venezuela each said they believed the cartel would agree to maintain its crude oil production ceiling.

Oil market analysts were meanwhile not expecting any surprises from OPEC, whose dozen member nations from the Middle East, Africa and Latin America are together producing slightly below its output target.

“It is unlikely that OPEC will adjust its official notional production ceiling as it is unlikely that either Iran and Iraq can contribute incrementally in any significant manner to the cartel’s supply next year,” Harry Tchilinguirian, BNP Paribas’ global head of commodity markets strategy, told AFP. OPEC is facing also demand strains as consumers turn to cheaper oil and gas extracted from shale rock, particularly in North America.

At the same time, cartel members Iraq and Iran are seeking to increase their production after sizeable falls to output in recent years.

OPEC members welcome $100 crude oil Saudi Arabia and other OPEC members argue that benchmark crude oil prices, currently averaging $100 per barrel, provide acceptable income for producers without weighing too heavily on consumers.

“The price of oil is acceptable and there will be some additional oil coming to the market from OPEC and outside OPEC,” Qatar’s Energy Minister Mohammed al-Sada said on Wednesday.

Mustafa al-Shamali (centre), deputy prime minister and minister of oil of Kuwait, talks to a journalist (right) as he presides the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) conference at their 164th meeting in Vienna AFP “What is more important is that this additional oil will be needed for the signs of economic recovery.”

Sada added: “The current (output) situation seems to be comfortable ... 30 million barrels seems to do justice to the current economic situation.”

Iran’s Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh this week said that the country would be able to “immediately” export 4 million barrels per day (bpd) once sanctions are lifted in the wake of the international deal to roll back its nuclear programme.

Iranian crude oil exports have been slashed to about 1.2 million bpd from 2.5 million bpd in 2011, according to Zanganeh.

At the same time, Iraq’s Oil Minister Abdelkarim al-Luaybi said his country hoped to export 3.4 million bpd of crude oil next year, including 400,000 bpd from Iraqi Kurdistan, as it looks to recover from years of bloodshed.

This compares with exports of 2.38 million bpd in November.

The market though doubts how quickly new production can come on board.

“OPEC will find it very hard to come to an agreement to cut production given a significant number of its members -- Iran, Iraq, Libya, Nigeria -- are suffering from constrained production,” said Thomas Pugh, commodities analyst at Capital Economics consultants.

Libya’s output has plunged to about

Google steps up its battle for Internet ‘cloud’ n AFP, San Francisco Google is stepping up its efforts to move into the Internet “cloud,” taking on rivals like Amazon and Microsoft in competition for business customers.

The California tech giant said Tuesday that its cloud platform’s key compute engine was now “generally available” after a test period, and that it has lowered prices by 10% and dropped storage prices by at least 60%.

“We’re looking forward to this next step for Google Cloud Platform as we continue to help developers and businesses everywhere benefit from Google’s technical and operational expertise,” said Google’s Ari Balogh in a blog post.

Cloud computing is one of the fastest-growing services in the tech sector, enabling companies to store data and provide services from a cloud provider without having to install their own servers and maintain them.

Will Google be able to make inroads into Amazon’s domination of the IaaS (infrastructure as a service) landscape? Developers will tell Google cloud customers include Snapchat, the fast-growing social network which handles hundreds of millions of messages each day, and Rovio, creator of the “Angry Birds” online game.

Romin Irani, who blogs at the website Programmable Web, said Google “is positioning itself as a major player to help mobile developers get off the block fast.”

He added that Google has worked out ways to “provide infrastructure and security management automatically,” simplifying the task of creating mobile applications.

“Will Google be able to make inroads into Amazon’s domination of the IaaS (infrastructure as a service) landscape? Developers will tell,” Irani said.

Amazon, a big player in cloud computing which recently won a CIA contract, saw its stock price fall 2% to $384.38 after the Google announcement. Rackspace, another big cloud player, was down 5.5% at $35.43. l

250,000 bpd amid deadly fighting between radical Islamist fighters and the army, but oil minister Abdelbari al-Arusi said he hoped production would be back to its normal level of 1.5 million bpd within two weeks.

Nigeria is meanwhile facing regular acts of sabotage to its oil pipelines.

Saudi Arabia is battling against Iraq and Iran for the position of succeeding El-Badri, who has steered the cartel through the financial crisis in the role of administrative head since 2007.

OPEC voted in December last year to reappoint the Libyan for another year after members failed to agree on a new secretary general. l

Wal-Mart pays lawyer fees for dozens of execs in bribery probe n Reuters Wal-Mart Stores Inc is paying for lawyers to represent more than 30 of its executives involved in a foreign corruption investigation, according to people familiar with the matter, an unusually high number that shows the depth of the federal probe.

The US Department of Justice is investigating whether Wal-Mart paid bribes in Mexico to obtain permits to open new stores there, and whether executives covered up an internal inquiry into the payments. The department is also looking into possible misconduct by the world’s largest retailer in Brazil, China and India. l

6

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2013

DSEBroadIndex:4294.23⇓0.38%,Turnover:4637.09M.Tk⇓14.37%,PE:13.20 Turnover5,226.00MTk.⇓16.22% 4December2013 MarketCap.2,072.14BTk.⇓0.03% CSEAllShareIndex:13315⇓0.31%,Turnover:588.91MTk.⇓28.43%,PE:13.00 Combined Turnover Leader Delta Life Insu. -A

% of TTL

Avg. P 290.20

1220100

354.08

6.78

234.09

4.48

58.41

Generation Next Fashions-A

6402360

214.28

4.10

33.47

R. N. Spinning-A

4320938

Fu-wang Ceramic-A

BANK ABBANK | 2.95 | 32.60 | Vol. 354216 D: 27.70 ⇓ 3.15% | 27.93 | 29.50 / 26.00 C: 27.70 ⇓ 1.77% | 27.79 | 28.90 / 27.50 CITYBANK | 1.15 | 25.97 | Vol. 442208 D: 20.70 ⇓ 1.43% | 20.84 | 21.40 / 19.00 C: 20.60 ⇓ 1.90% | 20.82 | 21.30 / 20.50 IFIC | 1.10 | 18.34 | Vol. 1491018 D: 33.80 ⇓ 2.31% | 34.67 | 35.70 / 32.00 C: 33.80 ⇓ 3.15% | 34.50 | 35.50 / 33.70 ISLAMIBANK | 3.78 | 27.16 | Vol. 123714 D: 35.80 ⇓ 0.28% | 35.86 | 36.20 / 33.00 C: 36.00 ⇓ 0.28% | 35.95 | 36.10 / 35.60 NBL | 1.05 | 15.76 | Vol. 1641206 D: 12.20 ⇓ 3.17% | 12.32 | 13.00 / 11.50 C: 12.30 ⇓ 2.38% | 12.38 | 12.80 / 12.20 PUBALIBANK | 1.92 | 21.18 | Vol. 355705 D: 32.80 ⇓ 0.30% | 32.71 | 33.10 / 29.80 C: 32.70 ⇓ 0.30% | 32.32 | 33.00 / 32.10 RUPALIBANK | 6.70 | 64.27 | Vol. 36640 D: 65.30 ⇓ 1.80% | 65.92 | 66.70 / 62.00 C: 66.20 ⇓ 0.60% | 66.17 | 66.50 / 65.70 UCBL | 1.90 | 21.72 | Vol. 1983809 D: 24.70 ⇓ 2.76% | 25.08 | 27.00 / 23.00 C: 24.80 ⇓ 2.75% | 25.10 | 25.90 / 24.60 UTTARABANK | 3.42 | 26.97 | Vol. 238378 D: 31.80 ⇓ 2.15% | 32.27 | 33.10 / 31.00 C: 31.90 ⇓ 1.24% | 32.08 | 32.80 / 31.80 ICBIBANK | -1.60 | -13.03 | Vol. 202500 D: 6.70 ⇓ 2.90% | 6.81 | 6.90 / 6.70 EBL | 3.91 | 28.22 | Vol. 95242 D: 29.30 ⇑ 0.34% | 29.06 | 29.70 / 26.80 C: 28.60 ⇓ 0.69% | 28.47 | 28.60 / 28.10 ALARABANK | 2.03 | 14.91 | Vol. 2718797 D: 19.50 ⇓ 2.50% | 19.92 | 20.90 / 18.00 C: 19.80 ⇓ 1.49% | 20.00 | 20.90 / 19.50 PRIMEBANK | 2.89 | 22.40 | Vol. 1586411 D: 24.60 ⇓ 0.81% | 24.66 | 25.10 / 22.60 C: 24.50 ⇓ 1.21% | 24.50 | 24.50 / 24.50 SOUTHEASTB | 1.89 | 22.66 | Vol. 874080 D: 18.50 ⇓ 1.07% | 18.56 | 19.00 / 17.00 C: 18.50 ⇓ 0.54% | 18.47 | 18.80 / 18.20 DHAKABANK | 1.46 | 18.08 | Vol. 208283 D: 19.10 ⇓ 1.04% | 19.28 | 20.00 / 17.80 C: 19.00 ⇓ 1.55% | 19.16 | 19.50 / 19.00 NCCBANK | 1.90 | 15.88 | Vol. 705759 D: 13.80 ⇓ 4.17% | 14.05 | 15.00 / 13.00 C: 14.00 ⇓ 3.45% | 14.08 | 15.00 / 13.20 SIBL | 2.05 | 14.47 | Vol. 504863 D: 13.70 ⇓ 2.14% | 13.82 | 15.00 / 13.00 C: 13.70 ⇓ 2.14% | 13.78 | 14.00 / 13.60 DUTCHBANGL | 11.57 | 54.27 | Vol. 18660 D: 98.60 ⇑ 0.20% | 98.81 | 100.0 / 92.00 MTBL | 1.17 | 17.27 | Vol. 48978 D: 16.10 ⇓ 0.62% | 16.19 | 16.30 / 15.00 C: 16.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 16.00 | 16.20 / 16.20 STANDBANKL | 2.33 | 14.41 | Vol. 704376 D: 15.10 ⇓ 1.31% | 15.41 | 16.00 / 13.80 C: 15.10 ⇓ 1.95% | 15.35 | 15.60 / 14.90 ONEBANKLTD | 2.35 | 15.34 | Vol. 2174347 D: 16.80 ⇓ 1.75% | 16.99 | 18.00 / 15.60 C: 16.90 ⇓ 1.17% | 17.01 | 17.60 / 16.70 BANKASIA | 1.35 | 20.80 | Vol. 326678 D: 18.90 ⇑ 0.53% | 19.13 | 19.70 / 18.00 C: 19.00 ⇓ 1.04% | 19.00 | 19.10 / 19.00 MERCANBANK | 2.07 | 16.59 | Vol. 2081448 D: 16.00 ⇓ 3.61% | 16.32 | 17.20 / 15.00 C: 16.20 ⇓ 3.57% | 16.36 | 17.40 / 16.00 EXIMBANK | 1.80 | 14.31 | Vol. 853294 D: 12.70 ⇓ 2.31% | 12.88 | 14.00 / 11.80 C: 12.90 ⇓ 0.77% | 12.94 | 13.30 / 12.80 JAMUNABANK | 2.47 | 18.56 | Vol. 154767 D: 16.50 ⇓ 0.60% | 16.50 | 17.00 / 15.50 C: 16.40 ⇓ 1.20% | 16.41 | 16.50 / 16.20 BRACBANK | 1.51 | 24.87 | Vol. 160157 D: 31.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 31.61 | 32.40 / 29.50 C: 31.50 ⇓ 0.63% | 31.60 | 31.90 / 31.40 SHAHJABANK | 2.61 | 14.47 | Vol. 569653 D: 17.40 ⇓ 2.25% | 17.68 | 18.30 / 16.10 C: 17.70 ⇓ 1.12% | 17.75 | 18.00 / 17.00 PREMIERBAN | 1.18 | 13.95 | Vol. 463236 D: 11.70 ⇓ 1.68% | 11.83 | 12.20 / 10.90 C: 11.70 ⇓ 2.50% | 11.76 | 12.00 / 11.60

TO M. Tk.

4007500

Paramount Textile Ltd.-N

CompanyCode | EPS | BV | Volume Traded (Share) DSE/CSE: ClosePrice ⇓/⇑ Chn % | Avg.Price | Hi / Lo

Vol.

6698576

159.68 146.50

3.06 2.80

TRUSTBANK | 0.50 | 18.00 | Vol. 217803 D: 20.60 ⇓ 2.37% | 21.07 | 21.80 / 19.00 C: 20.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 21.09 | 21.70 / 20.60 FIRSTSBANK | 1.85 | 13.89 | Vol. 968707 D: 15.30 ⇓ 4.38% | 15.69 | 17.20 / 14.50 C: 15.50 ⇓ 3.13% | 15.73 | 16.60 / 15.30 NON BANKING F I IDLC | 4.43 | 29.18 | Vol. 72430 D: 60.80 ⇓ 0.16% | 61.24 | 62.90 / 58.00 C: 60.80 ⇓ 0.33% | 61.26 | 62.30 / 60.50 ULC | 1.80 | 14.90 | Vol. 178330 D: 29.10 ⇓ 1.69% | 29.56 | 31.00 / 29.00 UTTARAFIN | 7.16 | 41.54 | Vol. 54502 D: 81.00 ⇑ 0.37% | 80.86 | 82.00 / 73.00 C: 80.50 ⇑ 0.63% | 80.34 | 81.90 / 79.60 MIDASFIN | 0.16 | 10.21 | Vol. 3000 D: 29.70 ⇑ 0.34% | 29.67 | 30.00 / 29.30 FLEASEINT | 2.34 | 13.93 | Vol. 761978 D: 29.30 ⇓ 2.33% | 29.81 | 30.90 / 28.00 C: 29.40 ⇓ 2.97% | 29.92 | 31.10 / 29.20 PLFSL | 1.37 | 17.48 | Vol. 404895 D: 23.70 ⇓ 0.42% | 23.88 | 24.40 / 21.50 C: 23.70 ⇓ 0.84% | 24.02 | 24.50 / 23.00 PRIMEFIN | 0.87 | 17.88 | Vol. 205129 D: 24.40 ⇑ 0.41% | 24.57 | 24.90 / 23.00 C: 24.40 ⇓ 0.41% | 24.67 | 25.20 / 24.30 PREMIERLEA | 0.10 | 11.37 | Vol. 129488 D: 10.10 ⇑ 1.00% | 10.12 | 10.20 / 9.10 C: 10.20 ⇓ 0.97% | 10.15 | 10.30 / 10.10 ISLAMICFIN | 1.03 | 15.48 | Vol. 306863 D: 16.60 ⇓ 1.78% | 16.85 | 17.20 / 15.30 C: 16.70 ⇓ 1.76% | 16.92 | 17.40 / 16.00 LANKABAFIN | 1.61 | 31.07 | Vol. 364689 D: 54.30 ⇓ 1.81% | 55.16 | 57.50 / 50.00 C: 54.70 ⇓ 0.73% | 55.26 | 56.80 / 54.60 BIFC | 0.15 | 18.58 | Vol. 79891 D: 15.90 ⇑ 0.63% | 16.05 | 16.40 / 15.00 C: 16.40 ⇑ 2.50% | 16.22 | 16.40 / 16.10 IPDC | 1.23 | 19.43 | Vol. 37605 D: 18.00 ⇓ 1.10% | 18.21 | 18.60 / 17.00 UNIONCAP | 0.54 | 17.85 | Vol. 25472 D: 28.00 ⇓ 2.78% | 28.04 | 29.00 / 26.00 C: 28.40 ⇑ 0.71% | 28.39 | 28.50 / 28.20 BDFINANCE | 0.57 | 14.77 | Vol. 79559 D: 18.50 ⇓ 1.60% | 18.73 | 19.00 / 18.00 C: 18.50 ⇓ 0.54% | 18.63 | 18.90 / 18.30 ILFSL | 0.35 | 12.19 | Vol. 262000 D: 14.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 14.84 | 15.20 / 14.00 C: 14.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 15.02 | 15.40 / 14.70 PHOENIXFIN | 2.46 | 19.39 | Vol. 320282 D: 32.20 ⇓ 3.88% | 32.97 | 34.20 / 30.90 C: 32.20 ⇓ 3.30% | 33.53 | 34.00 / 32.10 FASFIN | 0.19 | 13.56 | Vol. 410839 D: 13.90 ⇑ 0.72% | 14.08 | 14.30 / 13.80 C: 13.90 ⇓ 0.71% | 14.19 | 14.60 / 13.00 DBH | 4.47 | 21.27 | Vol. 32625 D: 54.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 54.25 | 54.80 / 52.00 C: 55.00 ⇑ 0.55% | 55.00 | 55.00 / 55.00 NHFIL | 0.57 | 12.70 | Vol. 273566 D: 30.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 30.29 | 30.70 / 29.90 C: 30.30 ⇓ 1.62% | 30.26 | 30.70 / 29.90 BAYLEASING | 0.72 | 25.55 | Vol. 121754 D: 28.60 ⇓ 1.72% | 28.96 | 29.50 / 27.00 C: 28.70 ⇓ 2.05% | 29.35 | 31.00 / 28.50 ICB | 89.23 | 607.74 | Vol. 1800 D: 1515 ⇑ 1.39% | 1516 | 1525 / 1500 GSPFINANCE | 1.63 | 22.23 | Vol. 70515 D: 25.70 ⇓ 1.91% | 25.88 | 26.50 / 23.70 C: 25.80 ⇓ 0.77% | 25.85 | 26.00 / 25.80 FAREASTFIN | 0.68 | 13.64 | Vol. 2053000 D: 14.40 ⇑ 3.60% | 14.51 | 14.80 / 14.00 C: 14.40 ⇑ 3.60% | 14.60 | 14.90 / 14.00 INVESTMENT 1STICB | 75.63 | 942.30 | Vol. 450 D: 878.0 ⇑ 0.92% | 878.00 | 878.0 / 878.0 5THICB | 23.45 | 188.92 | Vol. 1400 D: 150.0 ⇑ 2.39% | 150.00 | 150.1 / 150.0 6THICB | 10.99 | 60.14 | Vol. 7200 D: 53.10 ⇑ 0.95% | 53.33 | 54.00 / 52.70 8THICB | 12.47 | 70.07 | Vol. 6500 D: 54.30 ⇑ 0.56% | 54.31 | 55.00 / 54.00 AIMS1STMF | 3.02 | 15.70 | Vol. 159250 D: 38.70 ⇓ 0.77% | 39.07 | 39.90 / 38.60 C: 38.70 ⇓ 0.26% | 38.66 | 39.00 / 38.50

36.96 21.87

C%

A%

CP

C%

A%

CP

Rangpur Foundry-A

DSE Gainer

9.99

9.38

101.30

Northern Jute-Z

-7.32

-7.49

30.40

Rahima Food -A

9.79

1.49

61.70

Bengal Windsor-N

-4.74

-2.81

62.30

BD Building Systems -N First Security Bank-A

-4.58

-2.75

70.90

-4.38

-0.57

15.30

Progressive Life-A

-4.29

-4.30

118.30

DSE Loser

Legacy Footwear -A

9.52

4.30

41.40

Anwar Galvanizing-B

9.06

4.60

27.70

JMI Syringes MDL-A

8.80

4.37

216.40

ICBISLAMIC | 2.21 | 26.81 | Vol. 4500 D: 18.20 ⇑ 1.11% | 18.22 | 18.30 / 18.10 GRAMEEN1 | 6.26 | 33.23 | Vol. 91000 D: 43.80 ⇑ 0.00% | 44.18 | 44.80 / 43.60 C: 43.50 ⇓ 1.14% | 43.74 | 44.00 / 43.30 ICB1STNRB | 4.06 | 35.31 | Vol. 6500 D: 25.30 ⇓ 0.39% | 25.38 | 26.00 / 25.30 ICB2NDNRB | 2.49 | 16.24 | Vol. 44500 D: 9.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 10.00 | 10.10 / 9.90 GRAMEENS2 | 2.17 | 16.41 | Vol. 423800 D: 16.20 ⇓ 0.61% | 16.39 | 16.70 / 16.00 C: 16.40 ⇑ 0.00% | 16.44 | 16.60 / 16.20 1STPRIMFMF | 0.64 | 11.63 | Vol. 498500 D: 22.10 ⇓ 0.45% | 22.33 | 22.80 / 22.10 C: 22.10 ⇓ 1.34% | 22.47 | 23.00 / 22.10 EBL1STMF | 0.55 | 12.62 | Vol. 321289 D: 7.20 ⇑ 1.41% | 7.20 | 7.30 / 6.40 C: 7.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 7.21 | 7.30 / 7.00 ICBAMCL2ND | 0.60 | 12.12 | Vol. 13000 D: 6.00 ⇑ 3.45% | 6.00 | 6.10 / 6.00 C: 5.90 ⇓ 1.67% | 5.90 | 5.90 / 5.90 ICBEPMF1S1 | 0.52 | 11.32 | Vol. 75000 D: 6.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.01 | 6.10 / 6.00 C: 6.00 ⇓ 1.64% | 6.00 | 6.00 / 6.00 TRUSTB1MF | 0.75 | 11.65 | Vol. 417030 D: 7.50 ⇓ 1.32% | 7.58 | 7.80 / 7.00 C: 7.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 7.56 | 7.70 / 7.50 PRIME1ICBA | 0.42 | 11.18 | Vol. 349500 D: 5.50 ⇓ 3.51% | 5.85 | 6.00 / 5.50 C: 5.90 ⇑ 5.36% | 5.86 | 5.90 / 5.70 DBH1STMF | -1.12 | 10.15 | Vol. 201000 D: 5.60 ⇓ 1.75% | 5.70 | 5.80 / 5.60 C: 5.70 ⇓ 1.72% | 5.77 | 5.80 / 5.70 IFIC1STMF | 0.83 | 11.88 | Vol. 173391 D: 6.80 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.80 | 6.90 / 6.80 C: 6.80 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.70 | 6.80 / 6.70 PF1STMF | 0.51 | 11.11 | Vol. 176000 D: 5.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.74 | 5.80 / 5.60 C: 5.80 ⇑ 1.75% | 5.80 | 5.80 / 5.80 ICB3RDNRB | 0.00 | 10.60 | Vol. 186000 D: 5.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.36 | 5.40 / 5.30 C: 5.30 ⇓ 1.85% | 5.33 | 5.40 / 5.30 1JANATAMF | 0.78 | 10.68 | Vol. 65000 D: 6.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.03 | 6.10 / 6.00 C: 6.00 ⇓ 1.64% | 5.98 | 6.00 / 5.90 GREENDELMF | -0.82 | 9.72 | Vol. 217000 D: 5.50 ⇑ 1.85% | 5.46 | 5.60 / 5.40 C: 5.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.50 | 5.50 / 5.50 POPULAR1MF | 0.77 | 11.38 | Vol. 348837 D: 6.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.22 | 6.30 / 5.50 C: 6.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.20 | 6.30 / 6.00 IFILISLMF1 | 0.00 | 10.45 | Vol. 814500 D: 5.80 ⇓ 1.69% | 5.94 | 6.10 / 5.80 C: 6.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.02 | 6.10 / 5.90 PHPMF1 | 0.63 | 10.92 | Vol. 592500 D: 5.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.66 | 5.80 / 5.60 C: 5.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.69 | 5.80 / 5.60 AIBL1STIMF | -0.07 | 9.25 | Vol. 6000 D: 7.00 ⇓ 1.41% | 7.11 | 7.10 / 7.00 C: 6.90 ⇑ 1.47% | 6.90 | 6.90 / 6.90 MBL1STMF | -0.16 | 9.08 | Vol. 35500 D: 6.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.26 | 6.30 / 6.20 C: 6.40 ⇑ 3.23% | 6.40 | 6.40 / 6.40 SEBL1STMF | 0.94 | 11.85 | Vol. 242350 D: 8.10 ⇑ 1.25% | 8.13 | 8.30 / 7.90 C: 8.10 ⇑ 1.25% | 8.08 | 8.10 / 8.00 EBLNRBMF | 1.07 | 10.88 | Vol. 192000 D: 7.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 7.50 | 7.80 / 7.50 RELIANCE1 | 0.95 | 10.33 | Vol. 225900 D: 8.60 ⇓ 1.15% | 8.76 | 9.00 / 8.60 LRGLOBMF1 | 0.45 | 10.78 | Vol. 77000 D: 6.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.78 | 6.90 / 6.70 ABB1STMF | 0.92 | 10.63 | Vol. 148500 D: 7.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 7.40 | 7.50 / 7.30 C: 7.60 ⇓ 1.30% | 7.60 | 7.60 / 7.50 NLI1STMF | 1.17 | 12.22 | Vol. 1647000 D: 9.20 ⇑ 1.10% | 9.45 | 9.70 / 9.10 C: 9.30 ⇑ 2.20% | 9.31 | 9.40 / 9.30 FBFIF | 1.30 | 10.27 | Vol. 1500 D: 8.80 ⇓ 1.12% | 8.80 | 8.80 / 8.80 NCCBLMF1 | 1.16 | 10.48 | Vol. 7500 D: 8.40 ⇑ 2.44% | 8.40 | 8.50 / 8.40 ICBSONALI1 | 0.00 | 10.39 | Vol. 164000 D: 8.10 ⇓ 1.22% | 8.24 | 8.40 / 8.10 C: 8.00 ⇓ 2.44% | 8.10 | 8.20 / 8.00

EXIM1STMF | 0.00 | 10.91 | Vol. 25500 D: 7.80 ⇓ 1.27% | 7.88 | 8.00 / 7.80 ENGINEERING AFTABAUTO | 4.03 | 56.91 | Vol. 810433 D: 101.7 ⇓ 0.59% | 102.37 | 105.0 / 92.10 C: 101.6 ⇓ 0.78% | 102.39 | 103.9 / 101.0 AZIZPIPES | 0.39 | -42.04 | Vol. 9600 D: 17.60 ⇑ 0.57% | 17.58 | 17.70 / 17.50 C: 17.80 ⇓ 2.73% | 17.87 | 18.00 / 17.80 OLYMPIC | 5.23 | 14.73 | Vol. 276562 D: 151.8 ⇓ 1.30% | 153.90 | 156.3 / 150.0 C: 153.1 ⇓ 0.58% | 154.51 | 156.1 / 152.7 BDLAMPS | -5.31 | 37.07 | Vol. 56651 D: 136.5 ⇑ 3.80% | 135.43 | 138.0 / 130.5 C: 133.8 ⇑ 3.48% | 133.69 | 140.0 / 131.4 ECABLES | 2.04 | 18.87 | Vol. 57200 D: 84.90 ⇓ 2.30% | 84.97 | 87.00 / 84.00 MONNOSTAF | 5.31 | 44.78 | Vol. 1950 D: 315.2 ⇑ 3.07% | 314.87 | 317.9 / 309.1 SINGERBD | 9.99 | 45.74 | Vol. 88275 D: 196.8 ⇑ 1.92% | 195.82 | 198.0 / 182.0 C: 197.0 ⇑ 1.23% | 196.31 | 197.6 / 191.5 ATLASBANG | 9.14 | 222.05 | Vol. 18878 D: 162.1 ⇑ 1.25% | 160.40 | 163.0 / 158.0 BDAUTOCA | -0.43 | 5.68 | Vol. 177000 D: 32.90 ⇑ 7.52% | 32.01 | 33.60 / 30.00 QSMDRYCELL | 1.06 | 52.31 | Vol. 200539 D: 35.90 ⇓ 1.10% | 35.89 | 36.70 / 33.00 C: 36.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 35.26 | 36.30 / 36.30 RENWICKJA | 5.77 | -31.13 | Vol. 22850 D: 152.8 ⇑ 5.89% | 152.30 | 156.5 / 145.2 NTLTUBES | 0.67 | 311.00 | Vol. 99040 D: 75.70 ⇑ 3.70% | 75.58 | 76.90 / 71.50 BDTHAI | 0.43 | 39.35 | Vol. 183626 D: 27.10 ⇑ 0.37% | 27.13 | 28.00 / 24.80 C: 27.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 27.08 | 27.50 / 26.80 ANWARGALV | 0.52 | 8.10 | Vol. 650500 D: 27.70 ⇑ 9.06% | 26.83 | 27.90 / 25.40 C: 28.10 ⇑ 9.77% | 27.17 | 28.10 / 25.70 KAY&QUE | -3.89 | 6.03 | Vol. 5000 D: 16.00 ⇑ 4.58% | 16.00 | 16.00 / 16.00 C: 15.40 ⇑ 2.67% | 15.39 | 15.70 / 15.00 RANFOUNDRY | 2.84 | 18.62 | Vol. 375500 D: 101.3 ⇑ 9.99% | 98.80 | 101.3 / 95.00 C: 102.8 ⇑ 9.95% | 102.54 | 102.8 / 99.00 SALAMCRST | 3.31 | 20.00 | Vol. 251230 D: 43.10 ⇓ 0.92% | 43.31 | 44.00 / 40.00 C: 43.20 ⇓ 0.92% | 43.61 | 45.40 / 43.00 GOLDENSON | 3.70 | 28.70 | Vol. 494511 D: 49.40 ⇓ 1.59% | 49.79 | 51.00 / 46.00 C: 49.50 ⇓ 1.20% | 49.94 | 52.00 / 49.20 BSRMSTEEL | 3.06 | 19.53 | Vol. 223455 D: 72.40 ⇑ 0.28% | 72.15 | 73.00 / 66.00 C: 72.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 71.91 | 76.00 / 69.00 NAVANACNG | 4.09 | 27.04 | Vol. 73163 D: 66.50 ⇑ 0.30% | 66.76 | 68.80 / 60.00 C: 66.60 ⇓ 0.15% | 66.44 | 67.50 / 62.00 DESHBANDHU | 0.26 | 10.67 | Vol. 591809 D: 18.70 ⇑ 1.63% | 18.58 | 18.90 / 17.00 C: 18.80 ⇑ 2.17% | 18.59 | 18.90 / 17.50 GPHISPAT | 2.11 | 15.27 | Vol. 651340 D: 57.80 ⇑ 2.48% | 58.55 | 60.00 / 51.00 C: 57.90 ⇑ 1.40% | 58.27 | 59.00 / 57.30 BENGALWTL | 3.85 | 24.30 | Vol. 1415800 D: 62.30 ⇓ 4.74% | 63.53 | 66.00 / 61.70 C: 62.10 ⇓ 4.61% | 63.09 | 65.10 / 61.40 BDBUILDING | 1.33 | 12.70 | Vol. 1349500 D: 70.90 ⇓ 4.58% | 72.26 | 76.00 / 70.40 C: 70.70 ⇓ 5.10% | 72.24 | 74.50 / 70.00 NPOLYMAR | 2.38 | 32.89 | Vol. 449117 D: 61.70 ⇑ 5.65% | 59.63 | 62.20 / 55.00 C: 61.70 ⇑ 7.87% | 60.90 | 62.70 / 59.00 FOOD & ALLIED APEXFOODS | 2.54 | 90.81 | Vol. 103800 D: 96.40 ⇑ 4.90% | 94.58 | 96.90 / 91.20 C: 96.00 ⇑ 8.72% | 94.88 | 96.00 / 93.50 BANGAS | 7.20 | 50.27 | Vol. 155972 D: 497.9 ⇑ 7.38% | 485.60 | 501.2 / 450.0 C: 500.2 ⇑ 7.85% | 488.51 | 501.3 / 474.0 BATBC | 65.69 | 117.22 | Vol. 750 D: 1657 ⇑ 0.28% | 1657 | 1670 / 1650

NTC | 29.88 | 110.05 | Vol. 1150 D: 812.8 ⇑ 0.49% | 813.04 | 815.0 / 810.0 ZEALBANGLA | -28.94 | -221.34 | Vol. 100 D: 7.70 ⇑ 2.67% | 7.70 | 7.70 / 7.70 AMCL(PRAN) | 6.85 | 57.14 | Vol. 158900 D: 200.4 ⇑ 6.54% | 196.47 | 202.2 / 190.0 C: 200.6 ⇑ 8.08% | 196.92 | 202.0 / 192.0 SHYAMPSUG | -45.77 | -396.49 | Vol. 6700 D: 7.00 ⇑ 4.48% | 7.16 | 7.30 / 7.00 RAHIMAFOOD | 0.52 | 4.45 | Vol. 987390 D: 61.70 ⇑ 9.79% | 58.39 | 61.80 / 53.30 C: 61.80 ⇑ 9.77% | 59.37 | 61.90 / 54.10 FUWANGFOOD | 0.94 | 12.28 | Vol. 820449 D: 23.50 ⇑ 1.29% | 23.35 | 24.00 / 22.00 C: 23.70 ⇑ 2.16% | 23.58 | 24.00 / 22.90 MEGHNAPET | -0.50 | -1.52 | Vol. 50000 D: 6.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.58 | 6.60 / 6.50 MEGCONMILK | -7.48 | -23.70 | Vol. 8500 D: 7.20 ⇓ 1.37% | 7.18 | 7.30 / 7.10 BEACHHATCH | 1.01 | 12.48 | Vol. 457155 D: 21.50 ⇓ 0.92% | 21.57 | 23.00 / 20.00 C: 21.60 ⇓ 0.92% | 21.61 | 22.00 / 19.70 FINEFOODS | 0.05 | 10.63 | Vol. 992741 D: 22.50 ⇑ 6.13% | 21.68 | 22.90 / 20.10 C: 22.40 ⇑ 5.66% | 21.96 | 23.00 / 20.80 RDFOOD | 0.91 | 16.84 | Vol. 807408 D: 24.30 ⇑ 2.10% | 24.16 | 25.00 / 22.00 C: 24.30 ⇑ 1.67% | 24.10 | 24.70 / 23.80 GHAIL | 2.31 | 24.36 | Vol. 951660 D: 43.30 ⇓ 3.35% | 44.23 | 45.50 / 41.00 C: 43.50 ⇓ 2.90% | 44.12 | 45.60 / 43.30 FUEL & POWER LINDEBD | 31.71 | 144.00 | Vol. 6050 D: 631.3 ⇓ 0.22% | 631.40 | 635.0 / 626.1 PADMAOIL | 27.62 | 79.74 | Vol. 293583 D: 322.8 ⇑ 4.36% | 322.35 | 330.0 / 300.0 C: 323.7 ⇑ 4.49% | 321.97 | 329.9 / 312.1 BDWELDING | 0.33 | 16.82 | Vol. 310558 D: 22.10 ⇓ 0.45% | 22.12 | 22.50 / 20.00 C: 22.00 ⇓ 1.35% | 22.17 | 22.60 / 21.80 SUMITPOWER | 3.17 | 19.26 | Vol. 741632 D: 39.60 ⇓ 0.75% | 39.88 | 40.60 / 36.00 C: 39.90 ⇓ 0.50% | 39.95 | 40.60 / 39.20 DESCO | 2.34 | 31.27 | Vol. 69268 D: 59.80 ⇓ 0.17% | 59.91 | 60.40 / 56.00 C: 60.80 ⇑ 0.66% | 60.14 | 60.80 / 59.90 POWERGRID | 2.19 | 63.69 | Vol. 143851 D: 54.60 ⇑ 2.25% | 54.13 | 55.00 / 49.00 C: 53.50 ⇓ 0.74% | 53.11 | 53.50 / 52.00 MPETROLEUM | 21.34 | 59.26 | Vol. 473283 D: 229.3 ⇑ 3.15% | 228.65 | 232.6 / 220.0 C: 229.6 ⇑ 3.24% | 229.33 | 232.9 / 226.8 TITASGAS | 9.20 | 46.26 | Vol. 340755 D: 74.90 ⇑ 0.81% | 74.51 | 75.20 / 67.00 C: 74.90 ⇑ 1.08% | 74.80 | 75.10 / 73.60 KPCL | 4.73 | 15.86 | Vol. 206901 D: 49.70 ⇓ 1.19% | 50.07 | 51.40 / 48.00 C: 49.80 ⇓ 1.19% | 49.84 | 50.00 / 49.00 BEDL | 1.48 | 19.43 | Vol. 708813 D: 32.60 ⇓ 0.91% | 32.93 | 34.50 / 29.70 C: 32.70 ⇓ 0.30% | 33.00 | 34.00 / 29.60 MJLBD | 2.73 | 30.24 | Vol. 164100 D: 75.00 ⇑ 0.13% | 74.90 | 75.60 / 68.00 C: 75.00 ⇑ 1.76% | 74.74 | 75.20 / 73.20 GBBPOWER | 1.86 | 22.63 | Vol. 785597 D: 29.40 ⇓ 2.00% | 29.78 | 30.50 / 27.00 C: 29.40 ⇓ 2.00% | 29.77 | 30.50 / 27.00 SPPCL | 3.81 | 23.34 | Vol. 747560 D: 61.80 ⇓ 2.52% | 62.51 | 64.30 / 58.00 C: 61.90 ⇓ 2.37% | 62.73 | 64.20 / 61.70 JUTE JUTESPINN | -48.14 | -39.89 | Vol. 10750 D: 84.30 ⇑ 3.18% | 83.35 | 84.70 / 81.10 NORTHERN | -9.98 | -18.22 | Vol. 1000 D: 30.40 ⇓ 7.32% | 30.40 | 30.40 / 30.40 SONALIANSH | 2.65 | 226.00 | Vol. 43130 D: 141.6 ⇑ 3.96% | 140.20 | 144.0 / 130.0 TEXTILE AL-HAJTEX | 2.22 | 16.53 | Vol. 151172 D: 76.70 ⇑ 5.79% | 76.16 | 77.20 / 72.50

DHAKA TRIBUNE

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2013

7

December 04, 2013 Sectotal Index: BANK: 37,915.12 ⇓ 1.37% NBFI: 20,361.57 ⇓ 0.57% INVS: 4,831.87 ⇓ 0.11% ENGG: 6,398.99 ⇓ 0.38% FOOD: 10,024.81 ⇑ 1.33% F&P: 10,421.36 ⇑ 0.96% TEXT: 3,511.06 ⇑ 0.05% PHAR: 18,317.21 ⇓ 0.05% PAPR: 1,071.20 ⇑ 0.97% SERV: 3,035.80 ⇓ 1.49% LEAT: 5,337.29 ⇓ 0.03% CERA: 538.24 ⇑ 0.80% CMNT: 4,362.43 ⇓ 0.04% INFO: 7,531.73 ⇓ 0.55% GINS: 9,206.88 ⇓ 0.09% LINS: 124,482.86 ⇑ 0.39% TELC: 1,377.69 ⇑ 1.67% MISC: 6,550.50 ⇓ 0.51%

PHARMACEUTICAL & CHEMICAL AMBEEPHA | 3.94 | 26.15 | Vol. 23056 D: 287.7 ⇑ 7.19% | 280.76 | 289.9 / 270.0 C: 287.6 ⇑ 6.32% | 283.20 | 289.0 / 270.0

Rangpur Foundry Three Months Graph 60

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Turnover Price

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95

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85

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75 1 2 3 6 7 8 9 10 20 21 22 23 24 27 28 29 30 31 3 4 5 6 7 10 11 12 13 14 17 18 19 20 21 24 25 26 27 28 1 2 3 4

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BXPHARMA | 3.77 | 52.55 | Vol. 217639 D: 46.90 ⇓ 1.68% | 47.28 | 48.20 / 43.00 C: 47.30 ⇓ 0.84% | 47.81 | 48.70 / 47.00 GLAXOSMITH | 20.25 | 123.32 | Vol. 800 D: 951.3 ⇓ 1.17% | 951.25 | 963.0 / 921.0 ACI | -5.82 | 126.42 | Vol. 19150 D: 174.3 ⇑ 0.64% | 177.04 | 183.0 / 165.0 C: 172.0 ⇑ 0.00% | 172.44 | 175.0 / 170.2 RENATA | 33.57 | 138.83 | Vol. 12350 D: 735.8 ⇑ 0.05% | 735.79 | 739.9 / 730.0 KOHINOOR | 11.46 | 15.99 | Vol. 1000 D: 346.0 ⇑ 1.76% | 346.00 | 350.0 / 342.0 IBNSINA | 3.44 | 34.02 | Vol. 256980 D: 109.7 ⇑ 5.79% | 107.76 | 110.3 / 104.1 C: 109.9 ⇑ 4.07% | 108.59 | 110.0 / 105.8 LIBRAINFU | 4.21 | 1567.59 | Vol. 600 D: 456.6 ⇓ 0.46% | 456.67 | 470.0 / 450.0 ORIONINFU | 1.27 | 7.00 | Vol. 173200 D: 41.50 ⇓ 1.43% | 41.80 | 42.90 / 41.20 C: 41.50 ⇑ 0.24% | 41.65 | 41.80 / 41.50 SQURPHARMA | 6.93 | 37.18 | Vol. 270975 D: 195.0 ⇑ 0.05% | 195.05 | 196.0 / 182.0 C: 195.0 ⇑ 0.36% | 194.94 | 196.0 / 193.2 IMAMBUTTON | -1.51 | 4.16 | Vol. 35000 D: 7.20 ⇓ 2.70% | 7.27 | 7.40 / 7.00 C: 7.50 ⇑ 1.35% | 7.50 | 7.50 / 7.50 KEYACOSMET | 1.55 | 21.54 | Vol. 1279680 D: 27.20 ⇓ 1.09% | 27.29 | 27.90 / 24.80 C: 27.10 ⇓ 2.17% | 27.40 | 28.10 / 25.00 ACIFORMULA | 3.33 | 38.08 | Vol. 22550 D: 75.30 ⇑ 0.27% | 75.50 | 76.60 / 74.80 C: 75.30 ⇓ 0.53% | 75.09 | 75.30 / 75.00 MARICO | 27.53 | 62.47 | Vol. 4750 D: 760.1 ⇑ 0.89% | 760.00 | 763.0 / 760.0 BEACONPHAR | 0.04 | 12.01 | Vol. 156125 D: 13.00 ⇓ 0.76% | 13.12 | 13.40 / 13.00 C: 13.30 ⇑ 1.53% | 13.22 | 13.40 / 13.00 ACTIVEFINE | 3.23 | 13.89 | Vol. 430874 D: 87.80 ⇑ 2.45% | 87.63 | 88.40 / 79.00 C: 87.70 ⇑ 1.50% | 87.45 | 88.00 / 86.20 SALVOCHEM | 0.68 | 10.57 | Vol. 472862 D: 22.30 ⇓ 0.45% | 22.44 | 22.80 / 20.50 C: 22.30 ⇓ 0.89% | 22.43 | 22.90 / 20.30 GHCL | 2.14 | 57.31 | Vol. 721000 D: 58.90 ⇓ 3.28% | 59.95 | 62.00 / 58.10 C: 59.20 ⇓ 2.79% | 59.85 | 61.30 / 59.00 ORIONPHARM | 5.02 | 68.68 | Vol. 1293440 D: 61.00 ⇓ 2.09% | 61.74 | 63.50 / 56.10 C: 61.10 ⇓ 2.40% | 61.96 | 63.80 / 57.50 JMISMDL | 1.12 | 12.83 | Vol. 433000 D: 216.4 ⇑ 8.80% | 210.01 | 216.4 / 200.2 C: 213.3 ⇑ 7.73% | 208.07 | 215.5 / 198.0 CENTRALPHL | 1.62 | 12.24 | Vol. 2216275 D: 41.00 ⇓ 3.07% | 41.41 | 42.80 / 38.10 C: 41.10 ⇓ 3.75% | 41.36 | 42.60 / 40.60 PAPER & PACKAGING HAKKANIPUL | 0.51 | 31.01 | Vol. 121500 D: 29.80 ⇑ 5.67% | 29.66 | 30.40 / 28.20 C: 30.30 ⇑ 1.68% | 30.16 | 31.20 / 28.00 SERVICE SAMORITA | 2.49 | 57.42 | Vol. 180552 D: 100.8 ⇑ 5.55% | 100.46 | 104.0 / 98.00 C: 102.1 ⇑ 7.47% | 102.24 | 99.80 / 100.0 SAPORTL | 1.23 | 38.39 | Vol. 421280 D: 30.10 ⇓ 0.99% | 30.43 | 33.00 / 28.00 C: 30.30 ⇓ 0.66% | 30.39 | 30.90 / 30.00 EHL | 2.81 | 18.44 | Vol. 606065 D: 53.30 ⇑ 1.14% | 53.75 | 54.50 / 50.00 C: 53.50 ⇑ 0.94% | 53.98 | 54.70 / 53.00

AAMRATECH | 1.33 | 19.91 | Vol. 1002250 D: 35.60 ⇓ 2.47% | 35.99 | 37.10 / 33.00 C: 35.80 ⇓ 2.98% | 36.10 | 37.40 / 35.50

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RAHIMTEXT | 4.65 | 56.68 | Vol. 1550 D: 231.3 ⇑ 0.57% | 231.61 | 235.0 / 230.0 SAIHAMTEX | 2.75 | 29.50 | Vol. 338000 D: 28.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 28.35 | 28.90 / 28.00 C: 28.30 ⇓ 0.35% | 28.44 | 28.80 / 28.10 MODERNDYE | 0.91 | 10.37 | Vol. 2550 D: 103.8 ⇓ 1.89% | 103.92 | 106.0 / 103.5 DSHGARME | 0.88 | 12.12 | Vol. 90100 D: 73.90 ⇑ 6.48% | 72.76 | 75.80 / 68.90 DULAMIACOT | -1.90 | -29.70 | Vol. 10800 D: 7.80 ⇑ 4.00% | 7.87 | 7.90 / 7.70 TALLUSPIN | 1.75 | 16.17 | Vol. 1392003 D: 36.70 ⇑ 2.51% | 36.45 | 37.00 / 34.00 C: 36.60 ⇑ 2.23% | 36.39 | 37.00 / 35.90 APEXSPINN | 2.01 | 49.32 | Vol. 8400 D: 72.30 ⇑ 3.43% | 72.50 | 73.40 / 70.40 MITHUNKNIT | 2.87 | 20.53 | Vol. 305352 D: 79.50 ⇑ 8.76% | 77.36 | 80.00 / 71.10 C: 80.10 ⇑ 7.52% | 77.99 | 81.00 / 74.50 DELTASPINN | 3.06 | 26.84 | Vol. 385000 D: 29.80 ⇑ 1.02% | 30.26 | 30.70 / 29.50 C: 29.90 ⇑ 1.01% | 30.14 | 31.60 / 29.60 SONARGAON | 0.27 | 34.50 | Vol. 146431 D: 17.80 ⇑ 0.56% | 17.82 | 18.20 / 16.60 C: 17.90 ⇓ 0.56% | 17.92 | 18.00 / 17.80 PRIMETEX | 1.21 | 59.34 | Vol. 128000 D: 24.90 ⇓ 0.40% | 25.15 | 25.70 / 24.90 C: 24.60 ⇓ 1.99% | 24.72 | 25.10 / 24.60 ALLTEX | -1.26 | 8.10 | Vol. 130500 D: 7.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 7.22 | 7.30 / 7.20 C: 7.30 ⇑ 1.39% | 7.26 | 7.40 / 7.20 ANLIMAYARN | 1.36 | 11.99 | Vol. 352000 D: 27.50 ⇑ 4.17% | 27.33 | 27.70 / 26.20 C: 27.70 ⇑ 2.59% | 27.40 | 27.80 / 26.30 HRTEX | 2.08 | 14.92 | Vol. 275500 D: 39.40 ⇑ 2.07% | 39.14 | 39.90 / 38.10 C: 39.70 ⇑ 2.32% | 39.36 | 40.30 / 38.60 CMCKAMAL | 1.37 | 19.31 | Vol. 1279616 D: 32.10 ⇓ 1.83% | 32.57 | 35.00 / 30.00 SAFKOSPINN | 0.95 | 21.78 | Vol. 213310 D: 25.50 ⇓ 0.39% | 25.85 | 27.20 / 23.20 C: 25.40 ⇓ 0.39% | 25.86 | 26.80 / 25.30 SQUARETEXT | 4.32 | 31.82 | Vol. 76577 D: 92.60 ⇓ 0.86% | 92.77 | 93.90 / 89.00 C: 92.50 ⇓ 0.64% | 92.92 | 93.50 / 92.30 METROSPIN | 0.56 | 17.71 | Vol. 606241 D: 21.20 ⇓ 2.30% | 21.60 | 22.10 / 20.00 C: 21.20 ⇓ 2.75% | 21.56 | 22.20 / 21.00 MAKSONSPIN | 0.16 | 20.55 | Vol. 3825631 D: 19.20 ⇓ 0.52% | 19.28 | 20.00 / 17.50 C: 19.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 19.28 | 19.70 / 19.00 DACCADYE | 0.93 | 25.85 | Vol. 544710 D: 25.00 ⇑ 1.21% | 25.25 | 25.60 / 23.00 C: 25.00 ⇑ 0.40% | 25.19 | 25.80 / 24.80 RNSPIN | 2.80 | 16.58 | Vol. 4320938 D: 36.50 ⇓ 0.82% | 36.94 | 37.90 / 34.00 C: 36.60 ⇓ 0.81% | 37.02 | 37.90 / 36.40 BXSYNTH | 0.93 | 25.42 | Vol. 471815 D: 16.60 ⇓ 1.78% | 16.90 | 17.50 / 15.30 C: 16.90 ⇓ 1.74% | 17.07 | 17.40 / 16.80 MALEKSPIN | 2.81 | 43.48 | Vol. 1151965 D: 28.60 ⇓ 1.04% | 28.94 | 29.50 / 26.10 C: 28.50 ⇓ 1.38% | 28.81 | 29.70 / 28.40 ZAHINTEX | 1.20 | 31.07 | Vol. 272500 D: 26.70 ⇑ 0.38% | 26.54 | 27.00 / 26.30 C: 26.60 ⇓ 0.37% | 26.42 | 26.70 / 26.20 SAIHAMCOT | 1.92 | 23.62 | Vol. 471000 D: 24.00 ⇓ 0.41% | 24.14 | 24.80 / 23.90 C: 24.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 24.18 | 24.70 / 24.00 GENNEXT | 1.68 | 15.15 | Vol. 6402360 D: 33.40 ⇑ 2.77% | 33.46 | 33.90 / 30.00 C: 33.40 ⇑ 2.45% | 33.58 | 34.10 / 33.00 ENVOYTEX | 3.10 | 37.86 | Vol. 1034960 D: 54.00 ⇓ 1.10% | 54.55 | 55.70 / 49.20 C: 53.90 ⇓ 1.46% | 54.81 | 56.10 / 53.70 ARGONDENIM | 1.89 | 38.86 | Vol. 1905520 D: 76.00 ⇑ 3.12% | 75.79 | 76.40 / 68.00 C: 76.20 ⇑ 3.96% | 75.46 | 77.00 / 75.00 FAMILYTEX | 3.72 | 14.68 | Vol. 2126000 D: 53.10 ⇑ 1.92% | 50.52 | 54.60 / 50.00 C: 52.20 ⇑ 0.97% | 52.49 | 53.90 / 51.90 PTL | 2.12 | 20.06 | Vol. 4007500 D: 57.50 ⇓ 1.03% | 58.49 | 60.30 / 57.30 C: 57.10 ⇓ 1.89% | 58.15 | 59.50 / 56.70

LEATHER APEXTANRY | 6.57 | 69.38 | Vol. 188900 D: 127.4 ⇑ 1.03% | 127.24 | 129.0 / 124.0 C: 127.3 ⇑ 2.25% | 127.23 | 129.0 / 124.0 BATASHOE | 49.12 | 135.53 | Vol. 13800 D: 726.2 ⇓ 0.08% | 726.72 | 730.0 / 724.0 C: 706.5 ⇓ 3.75% | 706.50 | 706.5 / 706.5 APEXADELFT | 23.01 | 203.26 | Vol. 168400 D: 399.9 ⇑ 1.60% | 401.74 | 407.9 / 395.0 C: 400.0 ⇑ 2.56% | 401.00 | 405.0 / 400.0 SAMATALETH | 0.22 | 12.93 | Vol. 8500 D: 15.30 ⇑ 1.32% | 15.33 | 15.70 / 14.80 C: 15.00 ⇑ 0.67% | 15.00 | 15.00 / 15.00 LEGACYFOOT | 0.63 | 17.19 | Vol. 780849 D: 41.40 ⇑ 9.52% | 40.22 | 41.50 / 35.40 C: 41.80 ⇑ 10.00% | 40.58 | 41.80 / 37.20 CERAMIC MONNOCERA | 0.35 | 95.30 | Vol. 124880 D: 34.90 ⇑ 2.65% | 34.67 | 35.40 / 33.00 C: 34.40 ⇑ 3.61% | 34.91 | 35.50 / 34.10 STANCERAM | 1.12 | 15.49 | Vol. 12500 D: 39.20 ⇑ 0.51% | 39.25 | 39.40 / 38.50 C: 37.50 ⇑ 6.23% | 37.50 | 37.50 / 37.50 FUWANGCER | 0.65 | 12.70 | Vol. 6698576 D: 22.30 ⇑ 5.69% | 21.85 | 23.00 / 20.00 C: 22.30 ⇑ 5.19% | 22.09 | 22.90 / 21.10 SPCERAMICS | 0.62 | 30.92 | Vol. 457507 D: 18.40 ⇑ 0.00% | 18.55 | 18.90 / 17.00 C: 18.60 ⇑ 1.09% | 18.66 | 19.20 / 18.20 RAKCERAMIC | 1.98 | 16.76 | Vol. 193418 D: 52.80 ⇓ 0.19% | 52.92 | 53.80 / 48.00 C: 52.40 ⇓ 0.95% | 52.60 | 53.60 / 50.00 CEMENT HEIDELBCEM | 22.85 | 111.50 | Vol. 53850 D: 391.0 ⇑ 0.80% | 390.66 | 394.0 / 389.0 C: 387.7 ⇑ 0.36% | 388.64 | 390.5 / 387.1 CONFIDCEM | 6.23 | 90.76 | Vol. 125379 D: 124.4 ⇑ 0.16% | 124.93 | 126.5 / 118.9 C: 123.4 ⇓ 0.16% | 123.43 | 124.5 / 123.0 MEGHNACEM | 6.28 | 33.81 | Vol. 64800 D: 127.2 ⇓ 0.31% | 127.88 | 132.0 / 126.7 C: 128.0 ⇓ 0.93% | 127.72 | 128.0 / 126.3 ARAMITCEM | 3.03 | 14.65 | Vol. 199000 D: 86.10 ⇑ 6.03% | 83.90 | 86.90 / 79.30 LAFSURCEML | 1.60 | 7.22 | Vol. 600000 D: 33.50 ⇑ 0.30% | 33.49 | 33.80 / 33.20 C: 33.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 33.10 | 33.30 / 33.00 MICEMENT | 4.48 | 37.67 | Vol. 78600 D: 83.40 ⇑ 0.24% | 83.08 | 87.00 / 77.00 C: 83.20 ⇓ 0.48% | 82.96 | 83.50 / 82.30 PREMIERCEM | 5.00 | 32.60 | Vol. 282600 D: 104.9 ⇑ 0.38% | 104.84 | 106.4 / 102.8 C: 103.9 ⇓ 0.38% | 103.95 | 105.0 / 102.2 IT IINDUSTRIES ISNLTD | 0.28 | 17.31 | Vol. 247101 D: 18.40 ⇑ 3.95% | 18.15 | 18.70 / 16.00 C: 18.50 ⇑ 5.11% | 18.20 | 18.80 / 17.50 BDCOM | 1.40 | 14.41 | Vol. 93170 D: 26.20 ⇑ 0.77% | 26.03 | 26.50 / 23.40 C: 26.10 ⇑ 0.38% | 26.09 | 26.20 / 23.50 INTECH | 0.94 | 10.08 | Vol. 228041 D: 16.10 ⇑ 1.90% | 15.97 | 16.50 / 15.00 C: 16.20 ⇑ 1.89% | 16.06 | 16.40 / 15.70 AGNISYSL | 0.96 | 14.90 | Vol. 165332 D: 21.40 ⇑ 0.47% | 21.46 | 21.70 / 20.00 C: 21.40 ⇑ 0.00% | 21.34 | 21.70 / 21.20 DAFODILCOM | 0.85 | 10.99 | Vol. 266000 D: 13.50 ⇓ 0.74% | 13.54 | 13.80 / 13.40 C: 13.60 ⇓ 0.73% | 13.60 | 13.70 / 13.50

GENERAL INSURANCE BGIC | 1.65 | 20.33 | Vol. 33953 D: 29.90 ⇑ 0.34% | 29.88 | 30.00 / 29.00 C: 29.50 ⇓ 1.34% | 29.43 | 30.00 / 29.30 GREENDELT | 4.05 | 64.44 | Vol. 75015 D: 86.10 ⇓ 0.23% | 87.10 | 90.00 / 83.00 C: 86.70 ⇓ 1.14% | 86.73 | 87.00 / 86.00 UNITEDINS | 2.47 | 21.04 | Vol. 6600 D: 45.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 45.61 | 46.30 / 44.50 PEOPLESINS | 2.05 | 20.72 | Vol. 167700 D: 36.30 ⇑ 1.97% | 36.29 | 37.50 / 35.20 C: 35.60 ⇑ 4.71% | 35.60 | 35.60 / 35.60 EASTERNINS | 2.22 | 35.88 | Vol. 5800 D: 38.10 ⇑ 0.26% | 38.13 | 38.80 / 37.50 C: 37.70 ⇑ 6.80% | 37.72 | 38.80 / 37.00 JANATAINS | 0.78 | 17.07 | Vol. 104580 D: 27.60 ⇓ 2.13% | 27.79 | 28.50 / 26.90 C: 27.60 ⇓ 1.43% | 27.76 | 28.50 / 27.00 PHENIXINS | 2.70 | 20.96 | Vol. 33062 D: 42.40 ⇓ 0.47% | 42.69 | 43.60 / 40.00 C: 42.50 ⇑ 0.47% | 42.50 | 42.50 / 42.50 EASTLAND | 4.06 | 23.29 | Vol. 75990 D: 48.40 ⇓ 1.22% | 48.77 | 51.70 / 44.10 C: 48.30 ⇓ 1.43% | 48.30 | 48.30 / 48.30 CENTRALINS | 1.54 | 19.04 | Vol. 30335 D: 29.40 ⇓ 2.00% | 29.50 | 29.90 / 28.00 C: 29.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 26.30 | 29.20 / 29.20 KARNAPHULI | 1.56 | 19.42 | Vol. 32740 D: 24.50 ⇓ 1.21% | 24.74 | 25.10 / 22.50 RUPALIINS | 2.76 | 23.38 | Vol. 40360 D: 33.90 ⇓ 0.88% | 33.94 | 34.90 / 33.00 C: 34.70 ⇑ 2.97% | 33.39 | 34.70 / 33.20 FEDERALINS | 1.10 | 10.98 | Vol. 120815 D: 24.40 ⇓ 0.81% | 24.55 | 25.90 / 24.00 C: 24.50 ⇓ 1.21% | 24.53 | 24.70 / 24.40 RELIANCINS | 3.93 | 61.52 | Vol. 4584 D: 72.50 ⇑ 0.14% | 72.67 | 73.00 / 72.00 PURABIGEN | 1.05 | 18.71 | Vol. 82000 D: 23.60 ⇓ 0.84% | 23.67 | 24.20 / 23.30 PRAGATIINS | 2.01 | 50.30 | Vol. 1433 D: 58.50 ⇓ 0.51% | 58.62 | 58.70 / 55.00 PRIMEINSUR | 2.14 | 14.14 | Vol. 19250 D: 32.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 32.21 | 32.60 / 32.10 PIONEERINS | 3.11 | 23.84 | Vol. 70000 D: 68.00 ⇓ 2.30% | 68.50 | 69.60 / 67.70 C: 65.00 ⇓ 7.14% | 65.00 | 65.00 / 65.00 MERCINS | 1.53 | 14.50 | Vol. 54198 D: 27.30 ⇓ 1.44% | 27.47 | 27.80 / 25.50 C: 28.40 ⇑ 9.23% | 28.22 | 28.40 / 28.00 AGRANINS | 1.73 | 14.39 | Vol. 42577 D: 27.10 ⇓ 1.45% | 27.17 | 29.00 / 26.00 GLOBALINS | 1.09 | 11.78 | Vol. 25204 D: 28.60 ⇓ 1.04% | 28.63 | 28.90 / 28.00 NITOLINS | 2.59 | 15.41 | Vol. 12000 D: 34.50 ⇑ 0.88% | 34.61 | 35.00 / 34.40 C: 35.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 35.00 | 35.00 / 35.00 ASIAPACINS | 1.84 | 13.76 | Vol. 15100 D: 29.80 ⇓ 1.00% | 29.85 | 30.30 / 28.00 SONARBAINS | 1.68 | 13.38 | Vol. 63000 D: 24.40 ⇓ 2.01% | 24.71 | 25.30 / 24.30 PARAMOUNT | 1.26 | 13.19 | Vol. 22200 D: 24.40 ⇑ 0.41% | 24.43 | 24.60 / 22.00 CITYGENINS | 1.65 | 14.26 | Vol. 68383 D: 27.30 ⇓ 1.09% | 27.57 | 28.20 / 24.90 C: 27.00 ⇓ 2.17% | 27.18 | 27.60 / 27.00 CONTININS | 1.41 | 15.68 | Vol. 67227 D: 30.30 ⇓ 0.66% | 30.32 | 30.50 / 29.00 C: 30.60 ⇑ 1.32% | 30.60 | 31.00 / 30.20 TAKAFULINS | 2.19 | 15.17 | Vol. 113000 D: 38.70 ⇓ 1.53% | 39.09 | 40.00 / 38.60 C: 39.80 ⇓ 0.25% | 39.23 | 39.80 / 38.70 STANDARINS | 2.58 | 13.99 | Vol. 32636 D: 39.00 ⇓ 2.26% | 39.25 | 40.00 / 38.00 NORTHRNINS | 1.77 | 11.15 | Vol. 21089 D: 41.60 ⇓ 0.72% | 41.71 | 42.00 / 41.20 C: 41.00 ⇓ 0.24% | 41.00 | 41.00 / 41.00 REPUBLIC | 2.14 | 12.42 | Vol. 52646 D: 42.70 ⇓ 0.47% | 42.83 | 43.10 / 39.90 C: 43.00 ⇑ 4.62% | 43.00 | 43.00 / 43.00 ASIAINS | 1.56 | 17.34 | Vol. 25025 D: 27.70 ⇑ 1.09% | 27.75 | 28.00 / 24.70 C: 27.60 ⇓ 1.43% | 27.60 | 27.60 / 27.60 ISLAMIINS | 1.29 | 11.96 | Vol. 32500 D: 34.10 ⇑ 0.29% | 34.12 | 34.50 / 33.90

PROVATIINS | 1.90 | 14.30 | Vol. 67442 D: 28.60 ⇓ 0.69% | 28.63 | 29.00 / 26.00 C: 28.20 ⇓ 3.42% | 28.76 | 29.50 / 28.20 DHAKAINS | 2.84 | 18.02 | Vol. 135625 D: 40.80 ⇓ 2.63% | 41.02 | 42.60 / 39.50 C: 41.00 ⇓ 5.31% | 41.25 | 41.70 / 41.00 LIFE INSURANCE NATLIFEINS | 12.34 | 80.99 | Vol. 9417 D: 260.3 ⇑ 0.97% | 259.20 | 262.0 / 245.0 C: 262.0 ⇑ 0.77% | 262.00 | 262.0 / 262.0 DELTALIFE | 38.53 | 189.40 | Vol. 1220100 D: 288.4 ⇓ 2.00% | 290.14 | 297.0 / 285.0 C: 288.5 ⇓ 2.24% | 290.83 | 299.0 / 286.3 SANDHANINS | 2.39 | 28.22 | Vol. 32890 D: 73.30 ⇓ 2.27% | 73.65 | 75.80 / 68.00 C: 73.00 ⇓ 2.54% | 73.00 | 73.10 / 72.00 POPULARLIF | 3.70 | 715.41 | Vol. 9771 D: 233.8 ⇓ 2.54% | 233.66 | 247.0 / 226.0 C: 246.1 ⇑ 5.85% | 246.10 | 246.1 / 246.1 FAREASTLIF | 9.21 | 60.79 | Vol. 105200 D: 103.3 ⇑ 3.09% | 102.73 | 105.9 / 92.00 C: 100.3 ⇑ 2.03% | 101.84 | 108.1 / 98.00 MEGHNALIFE | 10.82 | 48.87 | Vol. 90280 D: 109.7 ⇓ 1.88% | 110.47 | 114.0 / 109.0 C: 108.1 ⇓ 3.83% | 108.10 | 108.1 / 108.1 PROGRESLIF | 2.30 | 31.45 | Vol. 8100 D: 118.3 ⇓ 4.29% | 118.35 | 120.0 / 114.0 PRAGATILIF | 0.60 | 30.15 | Vol. 19658 D: 159.1 ⇓ 2.27% | 160.46 | 176.9 / 147.0 PRIMELIFE | 5.51 | 27.10 | Vol. 36478 D: 104.2 ⇑ 3.17% | 102.74 | 105.0 / 96.00 RUPALILIFE | 3.75 | 31.25 | Vol. 75275 D: 113.9 ⇓ 0.78% | 113.24 | 115.7 / 105.0 PADMALIFE | 1.63 | 25.76 | Vol. 504980 D: 66.20 ⇑ 2.80% | 66.51 | 70.80 / 60.00 C: 66.50 ⇑ 4.07% | 66.31 | 68.00 / 58.10 SUNLIFEINS | 0.00 | 0.00 | Vol. 456800 D: 60.80 ⇓ 1.78% | 62.46 | 64.50 / 57.00 C: 60.90 ⇓ 0.98% | 62.52 | 65.00 / 60.60 TELECOM GP | 12.96 | 26.26 | Vol. 697000 D: 207.2 ⇑ 1.17% | 207.28 | 208.1 / 205.2 C: 207.6 ⇑ 1.57% | 207.16 | 208.2 / 205.2 BSCCL | 5.82 | 26.38 | Vol. 395159 D: 176.6 ⇑ 2.02% | 175.77 | 180.1 / 160.0 C: 176.5 ⇑ 2.02% | 175.80 | 177.0 / 173.6 TRAVEL & LEISURE UNITEDAIR | 1.10 | 12.87 | Vol. 3449630 D: 16.60 ⇓ 1.78% | 16.75 | 17.30 / 16.00 C: 16.70 ⇓ 2.91% | 16.89 | 17.40 / 16.00 UNIQUEHRL | 4.02 | 86.29 | Vol. 497080 D: 82.70 ⇓ 0.48% | 83.29 | 84.50 / 75.00 C: 82.70 ⇓ 0.72% | 83.27 | 84.50 / 82.30 MISCELLANEOUS ARAMIT | 16.07 | 99.93 | Vol. 5550 D: 358.0 ⇑ 0.82% | 356.04 | 369.9 / 347.0 BSC | 1.77 | 565.82 | Vol. 77455 D: 442.0 ⇓ 0.06% | 445.70 | 450.0 / 440.5 C: 442.3 ⇓ 0.49% | 445.32 | 453.0 / 440.5 GQBALLPEN | 6.55 | 250.45 | Vol. 19404 D: 143.9 ⇑ 0.56% | 143.72 | 144.5 / 132.0 C: 144.4 ⇑ 0.35% | 144.45 | 145.8 / 142.2 USMANIAGL | 3.45 | 27.20 | Vol. 88445 D: 136.4 ⇑ 3.18% | 135.22 | 139.0 / 130.0 C: 135.8 ⇑ 3.59% | 136.22 | 139.0 / 132.0 SAVAREFR | 0.14 | 10.57 | Vol. 800 D: 56.90 ⇑ 1.07% | 57.50 | 57.30 / 56.60 BEXIMCO | 3.24 | 86.74 | Vol. 1912226 D: 33.90 ⇓ 2.02% | 34.46 | 36.00 / 31.20 C: 34.00 ⇓ 2.02% | 34.57 | 35.50 / 33.90 SINOBANGLA | 1.75 | 21.01 | Vol. 120500 D: 22.10 ⇑ 1.38% | 22.10 | 22.30 / 21.90 C: 22.20 ⇑ 0.45% | 22.06 | 22.40 / 21.50 MIRACLEIND | 0.09 | 14.41 | Vol. 322500 D: 16.20 ⇑ 1.25% | 16.18 | 16.40 / 15.90 C: 16.30 ⇑ 1.24% | 16.29 | 16.50 / 15.90 BOND IBBLPBOND | 0.00 | 1000.00 | Vol. 210 D: 988.0 ⇑ 0.36% | 985.71 | 990.0 / 980.0 ACIZCBOND | 0.00 | 1000.00 | Vol. 6 D: 880.5 ⇑ 0.06% | 880.50 | 880.5 / 880.5

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2013

NTB roadblocks Bangladesh-India trade n Wasi Ahmed Growth of our export is considerably hampered because of Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) and Para-Tariff Barriers (PTBs) within SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) region despite SAFTA (South Asian Free Trade Area), especially when it comes to accessing the Indian market.

While some non-tariff measures are applied for legitimate reasons, others can be used as barriers to trade.

Those measures turning into effective trade barriers are generally called Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs), and can be considered as a subset within the broader set of Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs).

An ITC (International Trade Centre) survey on 30 countries suggests that many NTMs, apparently believed to be in conformity with multilateral trading culture, cut across trade related procedures, technical regulations, standards, trade defense measures such as anti-dumping duties etc, security, health, environment, sanitary and phytosanitary measures.

These are also characterized by frequent changes that often render compliance difficult and hence create barriers.

In Bangladesh’s bilateral trade with its immediate neighbour India, NTBs have been a perennial irritant, and are generally considered to be a critical factor not allowing Bangladesh exports to grow up to their potentials (believed to be around $2bn).

There are also quarters that attribute the Indian NTBs as a calculated handiwork stemming from a mindset nurtured for long to protect India’s domestic supplies, to the disadvantage of exports from its neighbours.

Nonetheless, looking at India’s NTMs up close, one may find that some of the measures are not NTMs per se.

Lack of clarity coupled with cumbersome procedures makes them at times extremely difficult to comply with. The federal structure of India’s administration conflicting at times with the regulations of the States is also seen as NTBs that have no way to be negotiated bilaterally.

It is worth taking note those NTMs that are transparent and well-founded hardly ever figured in the debate.

It may be recalled that one of the most daunting of the Indian NTMs, relating to standards compliance when export of cement from Bangladesh got blocked due to the BIS’s (Bureau of Indian Standards) mandatory standard requirements in 2005, did not cause much of a fuss.

The procedures for compliance were clearly set out and, despite being time and cost-consuming, Bangladeshi exporters meticulously followed the necessary procedures including factory inspection to obtain BIS registration to recommence exports.

This clearly testifies that where there is an NTM in its truly authentic spirit, it is not being construed as an NTB. On the flip side, the imposition of anti-dumping duties on export of lead acid batteries from Bangladesh around a decade ago may be a case in point.

A bad case recognised by most Indian experts, the case lingered well over half a dec-

Free trade with India seems like a good idea for us ade and eventually got dragged to the “value and volume definition” in the final court ruling by CEGAT (Central Excise and Gold Appellate Tribunal) which many in Bangladesh tend to view as not only arbitrary but thoroughly deliberate.

It was only after Bangladesh moved the DSB (Dispute Settlement Body) of the WTO that the Indian authorities removed the anti-dumping duties on the basis of a review petition to the Department of Commerce.

This battery case, though too complex to be understood by commoners, has done much disservice to bilateral relations.

Coming to NTBs as roadblocks to trade, it may be seen that much of what are being raised now from Bangladesh’s side are not new. They have been on the agenda for some time now at official-level meetings, and discussed time and again by the leading Chambers of both countries.

These, broadly speaking, cut across a host of trade policy practices, customs and banking procedures, and infrastructure related matters.

These bottlenecks in various shapes and forms are decades old. The post shipment testing requirement, for example, has been a deterrent for long.

While the need for testing cannot be argued, the testing procedures for leather and leather goods, jamdani products exported from Bangladesh are stumbling blocks, potentially threatening to disrupt exports to India.

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

While most of these goods are transported through land routes, testing of these articles are done in laboratories as far as in Chennai and Delhi.

The delay in reaching the test results to the customs points heavily offsets trade benefits by way of, among others, cost escalation.

Equally flawed is the testing procedure for processed food products. Exported through land routes too, these products have to wait for test results conducted in central food testing labs in Guwahati, far away from the land ports.

There were instances of consignments held up for indefinite period, causing cancellation of orders.

Labelling and marking, printing of retail price (impractical from the exporter’s point of view) have also been causing glitches that can be easily addressed. The jute sack labelling requirement with “made in Bangladesh” boldly stitched on all individual pieces does sound outrageously trade-deterring, although it has been quite a while the issue is talked over and “taken note of” but kept unsettled.

These are more than just bottlenecks that prevent forging long term trade partnerships.

Mentioning the NTBs will make a long list, some of which are difficult to reason as they amount to alleged harassment by way of non-acceptance of certificates issued by designated agencies in Bangladesh, non-rec-

ognition of circulars of the Indian customs or of the DGFT (Director General Foreign Trade) by the land customs points, disputes (at times unnecessary) over HS classification of goods and so on.

Given where things stand, it makes sense that instead of pointing fingers, attempts should continue to engage both sides on issue-based agenda.

In this context, it might seem heartening to see that the joint customs group meeting between the two countries, held recently in Dhaka, attempted to address some of the longstanding barriers, which though mostly related to operational matters, would ease much of the difficulties once these are settled.

Notable among these include synchronizing of working hours and days at 16 land customs stations (LCSs), extension of car pass system within each other’s territory, allowing customs officials to cross the borders to each other’s LCSs for coordination and resolving operational issues.

Remarkable among these is the decision to keep two important LCSs on either side open on all seven days of the week, namely Benapole-Petrapole and Akhaura-Agortola LCSs. These are steps that do speak of engaging each other in a more forthcoming manner than perhaps ever before.

The writer is a former senior trade diplomat.

He may be contacted through email: wasiahmed.bd@hotmail.com