10 December 2013

TMAG

Let the hunger games begin

Agrahayan 26, 1420 Safar 6, 1435 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 1 No 256

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2013 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

Sport

14

Ronaldo caught up on beauty sleep during WC draw

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

AL, BNP rigid on PM issue

Molla’s lawyers to meet him in jail today n Kailash Sarkar

EC skips UN call for shifting polls Reza Chowdhury, n Kamran Mohammad Al-Masum Molla and Mohammad Zakaria The ruling Awami League and the opposition BNP are still adamant on their stance as the UN envoy Oscar Fernandez-Taranco trying to persuade a deal between the parties to ensure an inclusive election.

At a meeting with visiting UN envoy yesterday, the Awami League told him that they would not budge an inch from the stance of Sheikh Hasina being the chief of the polls-time government, the ruling party sources said.

CEC Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad told the visiting UN negotiator that shifting polls might not guarantee the participation of the opposition parties On the other hand, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia told the UN assistant secretary general that Sheikh Hasina’s remaining in office was a bar to any positive outcome from any dialogue, BNP sources said.

However, Fernandez-Taranco said Bangladesh could overcome the ongoing political deadlock provided that the parties demonstrate leadership and compromising attitude.

A senior BNP leader told the Dhaka Tribune that if they got assurance from the government, a dialogue could be held between BNP acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam anytime.

Meanwhile, BBC Bangla Service reported that a BNP source confirmed them that Fernandez-Taranco had been trying to convince the main opposition about a formula to resolve the prevailing political deadlock while keeping Sheikh Hasina in office.

The report said the UN was looking for a solution within the constitution while proposing various assistance at the same time to ensure level-playing field for all parties. One of the proposals is holding the election in the presence of a large team of UN observers so that any “bias or government influence” could be prevented.

The BBC said the BNP did not show unwillingness to discuss the proposal.

Meanwhile, Taranco’s proposal for deferring the January 5 general elections saw a setback as the Election Commission yesterday “did not discuss” the issue in absence of a hint of a political consensus for changing the schedule.

At the Sunday’s one-to-one meeting, Chief Election Commissioner  PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

A crude bomb, wrapped in red electric tape and lying on the road, becomes the traffic signal at the capital’s Shanir Akhra as vehicles stop metres away from running over it. Abandoned crude bombs have hurt several kids in recent times DHAKA TRIBUNE

Child killed, blockade extended n Tribune Report A 12-year-old became the latest victim of the ongoing political confrontation when he was hit by a stray bullet during a violent clash between police and activists of the 18-party opposition alliance in Sirajganj yesterday.

In another incident, an activist of Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, was killed in a blast while making bombs in a house in Yeakubnagar area of Sitakunda upazila in Chittagong last night.

War crimes witnesses left vulnerable Hossain, back from n Emran Pirojpur

Bangladesh to attempt biggest human flag Zahidul Islam and n Muhammad Tazlina Zamila Khan

This victory day is like no other because an initiative has been taken to rekindle the sense of nationalism among the Bangladeshis by attempting the biggest ever human flag in the world.

More than 30,000 volunteers will gather at the National Parade Ground in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar on Victory Day, December 16, to form the world’s largest human flag.

Bangladeshis will form the world’s  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

As the next election rings a bell and cashing in the ongoing anti-government movement, Jamaat-e-Islami has started flexing muscles, with attacks made right on the target.

The witnesses in war crimes cases are at the top of the party’s hit list, apparently for testifying at the International Crimes Tribunal against the crimes committed by its front leaders during the country’s 1971 Liberation War. In the judgements sentencing six Jamaat leaders to death and two others to different terms in prison, the two tribunals observed that Jamaat had been involved in war crimes as a political party. Jamaat lost its party registration couple of months ago for having provisions in its party charter contrary to the constitution.

“Where the hell is that son of a bitch!

We will have his head. Do not you [victim] want to hang Sayedee? We will

hang you,” Rina Begum quoted one of the attackers who vandalised her house on October 28. Over 200 activists of Jamaat and BNP went on a rampage in their house in broad daylight.

She is the wife of Mahbubul Alam Hawlader, plaintiff of a case and key witness against Jamaat leader Delawar Hossain Sayedee, who was sentenced to death on February 28. To save life, Mahbub took shelter in an under-construction floor while his wife Rina and their child at a dark corner.

The Dhaka Tribune reporter stayed in Pirojpur for a week to understand the experience the witnesses were going though in an area where Sayedee hails from and had been elected a lawmaker twice.

One of the witnesses went on to identify Pirojpur as “mini Pakistan,” given that Jamaat-BNP constituted almost three fourths of the area.

Many of the witnesses now spend their nights sleepless while some seek  PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

INSIDE Business

B1 International Monetary Fund has set three new conditions for four stateowned commercial banks under the extended credit facility loans.

News

3 Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad is ready to take part in the upcoming parliamentary polls under a caretaker government.

Nation

7 Farmers from areas of the eight northern districts are harvesting four crops a year through a new cropping pattern that ensures food security.

Jamaat leader Abdullah Mohammad Taher getting on a microbus after a meeting with UN envoy Taranco yesterday RAJIB DHAR

Jamaat leaders defy hartal n Julfikar Ali Manik Four leaders of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami yesterday defied the party’s own dawn-to-dusk countrywide hartal and their alliance’s blockade to meet visiting UN envoy Oscar Fernandez-Taranco at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in the capital.

Barrister Abdur Razzaq, Jamaat’s assistant secretary general, Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, Executive

Council member, Jasimuddin Sarker, legal affairs secretary, and Mir Ahmad bin Kashem, son of war crimes accused Mir Kashem Ali, went to the hotel by two microbuses, which they parked a little afar so no one could notice.

According to witnesses, Razzaq and Jasimuddin entered the hotel premises on foot, apparently to avoid being seen using a car during their own hartal. But they were seen getting on a microbus  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Meanwhile, as the BNP-led 18-party opposition alliance extended the nationwide rail, road and waterways blockade for another 72 hours.

A Shibir activist dies in blast while making bombs in Chittagong In Sirajganj, Sumon Sarker Hridoy sustained bullet injuries as he was crossing the Sirajgani-Rayganj Road at Bahuli Bazar where Jamaat and BNP men were fighting with police.

Death row war criminal Quader Molla is yet to make it clear to the jail officials whether he will seek the president’s clemency. The Jamaat-e-Islami leader has rather told the prison officials that he wanted to talks to his lawyers.

Jail officials also claimed that the death row prisoner was physically fit, had three meals and passed his time as usual yesterday.

Inspector General of Prisons Mainuddin Khandaker said they would now wait for his lawyers, who are scheduled to visit him today.

According to jail officials, a five-member team of lawyers was scheduled to visit the Dhaka Central Jail at 10am and discuss the next steps with Molla.

P3 MORE STORIES ON MOLLA

The BNP and Jamaat activists had cordoned off the area where two police teams had taken positions and hurled crude bombs and bricks at the law enforcers who tried to bar them from blocking the road. Police retaliated by firing shotguns and launching teargas shells.

During the clash around 11am a stray bullet hit Hridoy, leaving him dead on the spot. The BNP has claimed his father is an activist of the party and called a hartal in the district for today.

The IG-Prisons said: “It seems to me that Quader Molla is trying to hide his mental state as well as his desires.

“I have not noticed any significant changes in his physical or mental expressions,” he said.

However, a number of senior jail officials alleged that Molla was trying to buy time with excuses.

Forman Ali, senior superintendent of the Dhaka Central Jail, said: “Although we have not yet received any directive regarding the execution of Quader Molla, the Dhaka Central Jail has kept its jollads [executioners] prepared.”

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 6

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

No review for Molla, says AG n Udisa Islam The attorney general yesterday said the government could carry out the death sentence of convicted war criminal Abdul Quader Molla any time as there was no scope to file a review petition against the verdict of the Appellate Division.

“The defence can only seek presidential mercy now, nothing else,” Mahbubey Alam said when journalists asked him about a right of review claimed by the defence.

Meanwhile yesterday, the defence served a legal notice to the government asking it not to carry out the verdict until the petition is filed. They termed the death warrant “illegal” and maintained there is scope to submit a review petition against the verdict as per article 105 of the constitution.

Article 105 says: “The Appellate Division shall have the power, subject to the provisions of any Act of parliament or of any rules made by that division, to review any judgement pronounced or order made by it.”

The attorney general said: “The International Crimes (Tribunals) Act is protected by the constitution. The Act gives scope only for appeal, not review, of any Appellate Division verdict.”

However, according to the top law

officer of the country, the constitution does allow review petitions against Appellate Division verdicts, but this is not applicable for the convicted war criminals.

State Minister of Law Quamrul Islam confirmed there was no scope to review the Supreme Court verdict since the appeal hearings had taken place under the ICT Act. The government would now execute the verdict through an executive order as per the tribunal Act, he said.

Following the release of the full verdict in the appeals case against Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Quader Molla on December 5, the war crimes tribunal on Sunday issued a death warrant to execute the death sentence.

In its short verdict delivered on September 17, the Appellate Division overturned the life sentence given by the International Crimes Tribunal on February 5.

Arunav Chakrabarty, deputy registrar of the tribunal, said there was no scope of filing a review petition against the verdict and no timeframe had been laid down in the Act for the execution of the verdict.

Referring to the ICT Act, he said: “The sentence awarded under this Act shall be carried out in accordance with

the orders of the government.”

Additional Attorney General MK Rahman, also coordinator of the tribunal’s prosecution team, said the constitution restricted the rights of anyone convicted for crimes against humanity. Referring to article 47 (3) and 47A (2) of the constitution, he said: “The tribunal law does not mention a review; it just gives the right to appeal.”

Notice seeks review scope

The defence yesterday served legal notice to prevent the government from carrying out the death sentence while the review petition is being prepared.

The notice states that the warrant issued by the registrar of International Crimes Tribunal violates the jail code, said Abdur Razzak, also a Jamaat assistant secretary general, at a briefing at the Supreme Court Bar Association building.

The jail code says the death warrant has to be issued by the court that gave the verdict, he said.

Razzak sent the notice to the home ministry, the inspector general of prisons, the deputy inspector general of prisons, the Dhaka district magistrate, and the jailor and senior superintendent of Dhaka Central Jail. l

Bangladesh to attempt biggest human flag  PAGE 1 COLUMN 1

largest human flag to demonstrate that the nation is united and ready to steer the country out of crisis, said Maj Gen Chowdhury Hasan Sarwardy, 9th Infantry Division &Savar Area Commander.

The announcement came at a press conference organised at a city hotel yesterday.

Robi Axiata Ltd, in partnership with the Bangladesh Army, is attempting to set a new world record for the largest human flag in order to break the current Guinness World Record set by 24,200 Pakistani youths in Punjab last year.

The Dhaka Tribune is one of the media partners of the event.

Maj Gen Sarwardy said: “It will be a strong image of the unity of our people; it will be recognised internationally.”

Faridur Reza Sagor, managing director of Impress Telefilm Ltd, who was present at the conference, said: “People, by forming the largest human flag in the world, will express their love for

the country to the world. No country like us has ever fought for its language.

It is our pride and on Victory Day people will once again feel proud, by forming the largest ever human flag.”

The speakers said they have been following the ratio of national flag that is mentioned in the Bangladesh gazette. The purpose of such a move is to unite the people of country under one umbrella.

The programme will start at 10am.

Around 11:30am noted singer Rezwana Chowdhury Bonnya will perform.

Around 12pm volunteers, mostly students from different institutions, will form the human flag, and after that noted singer Ayub Bachchu and Bappa Mazumder will lead a concert performance.

A Guinness-accredited auditor will be present to oversee the attempt, and after successful completion of the event all relevant documents and images will be sent to the Guinness World Record committee for validation. To

capture the aerial view, helicopters will be used.

The Organisers,Robi, haveobtained permission from the defense and home ministriesfor the attempt, and areinvesting around Tk30m. The placards have already been printed. The rehearsal will be held on December 14.

Around 10,000-15,000 spectators can collect tickets for free from any Robi customer care centre. Around 1200 tickets will be available at the entry gates on Victory Day. Approximately 1000 guests; celebrities, sportspersons, educationalists, businesspersonsand other noted individuals;will be invited.

Officers of the Bangladesh Navy, BDR, Police, Ansar and Biman will be deployed to strengthen the security in the area.

Zafar Sobhan, editor of the Dhaka Tribune, Robi Chief Human Resource Officer, Matiul Islam Nowshad, and Muhammed Rezaul Huq, Director & COO of Radio Foortiwere among those at the press conference. l

Jamaat leaders defy hartal  PAGE 1 COLUMN 3

parked nearby and leaving for their next destination.

A witness confirmed that Taher got down at the hotel from a vehicle with the label “press.” The other vehicle was meant for an ambulance.

Barrister Abdur Razzaq is the chief counsel for the Jamaat leaders accused in war crimes cases, and he along with other defence counsels never attended the tribunal during the opposition’s hartal on grounds of difficulties in travelling.

The war crimes tribunals had to defer the dates of the proceedings on many occasions, which is one of the major reasons behind delayed disposal of the cases.

Jamaat enforced the countrywide hartal yesterday, protesting the death warrant for convicted war criminal and Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Molla issued by the tribunal on Sunday. The party called another hartal for today.

When the Dhaka Tribune contacted to learn their opinion on using vehicles during their own hartal, Jasimuddin expressed annoyance and said: “Can this be an issue of news at a time when we are working in the greater interest of the country in this crisis situation?

“We used vehicles that were out of the purview of the hartal.”

He said: “Barrister Razzaq was ill.

So, I went to his home [in Dhanmondi] on foot to accompany him [on the way

Child killed, blockade extended  PAGE 1 COLUMN 5

In Sitakunda, two other Shibir activists whose names could not be ascertained by police were injured in the explosion in which Russell died, reports Chittagong correspondent.

Syed Iqbal Ali, assistant superintendent of police of Sitakunda circle, told the Dhaka Tribune: “The Shibir activists were making bombs in the house and suddenly a bomb exploded around 10pm leaving Russell dead on the spot.”

Police recovered Russell’s body and some bomb-making materials.

The ASP said locals had seen the two injured fleeing the scene immediately after the explosion.

In a video message, BNP’s Joint Secretary General Salahuddin Ahmed said: “As the government did not pay any heed to our demand for the suspension of the election schedule, the ongoing blockade will now continue until Friday 6am.”

Friday is the last day for withdrawing candidacies for the 10th general elections.

Violence occurred in many parts of the country since the BNP-led opposition enforced back-to-back blockades after the Election Commission announced the parliamentary polls’ schedule.

In addition, Jamaat, a key component of the opposition alliance, yesterday protested what it said was a “conspiracy to execute Abdul Quader Molla by defying the jail code.”

The party has announced another countrywide dawn-to-dusk hartal for today.

The blockade and hartal saw clashes, vandalism, attacks on police and arson attacks across the country yesterday.

In Chittagong, Sub-Inspector Anwar Hossain of Bakulia police station sustained injuries during a clash with Jamaat-Shibir activists. Police said the activists had blasted a number of crude bombs aiming at two police teams.

The blockaders vandalised and torched a goods-laden truck on the Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar highway at Satkania, and vandalised at least six vehicles, including two buses, in Patenga, Akmal road and Barpol areas.

In Bogra town, blockaders vandalised two trucks, and torched anther two, and blasted four crude bombs, targeting the Awami League district unit office on the Temple Road at Shatmatha.

In Rajshahi, two constables sustained splinter injuries when Shibir men clashed with the law enforcers at Shalbagan around 9am.

The Rapid Action Battalion and Border Guard Bangladesh brought the situation under control by firing more than 100 rounds and 10 teargas shells. At least eight Chhatra Dal leaders and activists of Rajshahi University unit were injured as police fired at a procession in the morning.

In Narail, blockaders exploded more than 100 crude bombs at different key points, including in front of the offices of the deputy commissioner and superintendent of police and at the

to the hotel] and we both came to the hotel by an ambulance.”

After their hour-long meeting with UN Assistant Secretary-General Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, Razzaq told the media that the other members of the Jamaat delegation had gone to the hotel separately, so he had not been aware of their travelling.

“Our whole delegation did not go to the hotel together – we [Razzaq and Jasimuddin] met others on the hotel premises before the meeting. So, I do not know how others came there and left,” said Jasimuddin.

Taher could not be reached as his mobile phone was switched off yesterday evening. l

residences of Awami League district unit president and general secretary, the sub-registrar office, Circuit House, Ghorakhali intersection, Aoriya intersection and Sharnaghat areas.

In Comilla, a trucker and his helper suffered burn injuries when Jamaat-Shibir activists set the vehicle on fire in Debidwar upazila.

Jessore police fired four teargas shells and blockaders exploded 15 cocktails. Clashes between Shibir and Chhatra League men left 13 people injured in Nawapara and Monirampur of Jessore.

Three were injured in Narayanganj as police fought with Jubo Dal and Jamaat-Shibir men at Golachipa and Sonargaon upazilas. Police arrested two Jubo Dal men.

In Gazipur, six BNP men sustained injuries from rubber bullets in a clash with police in the bus terminal area of the town. Blockaders torched three vehicles there.

Blockaders also torched a bus at Savar and vandalised several vehicles in Barisal following confrontations with the cops.

The Capital

Police arrested a woman named Shahnur, 30, opposite the Westin Hotel in Gulshan 2 as she was fleeing after hurling crude bombs in the area.

Five crude bombs exploded near the DC office around 2:30pm as blockaders torched a bus in Dhanmondi. A rickshaw-puller was hurt by a cocktail at Azimpur in the evening. l

UN Assistant Secretary-General Oscar Fernandez-Taranco meets BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at her Gulshan residence yesterday

BNP

Hefazat calls hartal for Dec 15 in Ctg n Tushar Hayat, Chittagong

Hefazat-e-Islam yesterday at a press conference announced that if it were restrained from holding a two-day-long conference on December 12 and 13, it would enforce a dawn-to-dusk hartal in the port city on December 15.

“We sought approval on November 4 to hold the conference on the Jamiatul Falah Mosque premises, but the authority

has yet to approve it,” said Azizul Hoque Islamabadi, organising secretary of Hefazat, as he read out a written statement.

He said they would enforce a daylong hartal in Chittagong next Sunday, in addition to staging a demonstration on Friday, if they were not allowed to hold the pre-scheduled conference.

Hefazat General Secretary Junaid Babunagari, while responding to the queries of reporters, said the govern-

ment had been trying to hold one-sided elections, which would spark subversive activities and instability in the country."

He said the caretaker government system was necessary to hold an impartial election.

The Hefazat leader announced that they would hold a grand rally, scheduled for December 24 at Shapla Chattar in Dhaka, at any cost. l

AL, BNP rigid on PM issue  PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad told the visiting UN negotiator that shifting polls might not guarantee the participation of the opposition parties.

“And I do believe that there is a possibility of finding a peaceful solution to the current deadlock, if we have political will, if we have leadership, if we have an attitude of compromise and most importantly, if we are able to engage in a peaceful dialogue,” Taranco told reporters after his second meeting with the CEC. The UN envoy said he would hold more meetings with the representatives of other parties and brief the media about the outcomes.

Fernandez-Taranco held a meeting with Khaleda for the second time at her Gulshan residence where Khaleda expressed her party’s stance over the prime minister, said a senior leader.

A source in the party said even a proposal was mooted asking the BNP whether it would participate in the polls if Hasina’s power was curtailed.

The BNP, however, rejected the proposal, saying it was unrealistic and impossible.

Another senior leader, however, denied having discussed anything like that, saying: “The door for discussion is still wide open.”

After Fernandez-Taranco’s meeting with Khaleda, BNP Vice-Chairman Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury told journalists: “The discussion is going on and will continue.”

After the UN envoy’s departure, Mirza Fakhrul, Standing Committee members Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain, Nazrul Islam Khan and Adviser Osman Farruk went to Khaleda’s residence and held a meeting.

Another senior leader told the Dhaka Tribune that Khaleda had asked them to be present in the party’s demonstration programme schedule for December 15.

Later, Fakhrul told reporters that the discussion and the movement would go simultaneously.

After a separate meeting with the UN envoy, Prime Minister’s International Affairs Adviser Gowher Rizvi said they agreed not to disclose the contents of the discussions.

Taranco is set to hold his second round of meeting with Sheikh Hasina this afternoon.

On this second meeting, which lasted more than 10 minutes, CEC Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad told reporters that an important discussion was going on.

“Let it go on,” he said.

During yesterday’s meeting, the EC did not raise the issue of shifting the polls date as was proposed by the UN negotiator, apprehending a “no compromise” attitude from the two major political parties over the structure of the polls-time government.

The commission, the lone authorised body to change the schedule or announce fresh timings for the general elections, can meet any time for rescheduling provided the parties reach a consensus, according to the commissioners.

However, Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, a UN assistant secretary-general in charge of its political wing, sees a “possibility of finding a peaceful solution to the current deadlock,” caused by the reversed opinion on the interim government that would supervise the polls.

The UN secretary-general’s envoy met the CEC yesterday again following his separate meetings with the representatives of the Awami League and Jamaat-e-Islami.

On Sunday, Fernandez-Taranco, who came to Dhaka on Friday, saw the CEC, asking him whether the scheduled January 5 polls could be shifted to accommodate the BNP and its allies, who had already announced to boycott the polls.

“We have not discussed the proposal of Mr Fernandez-Taranco [about shifting the polls] as the commission is yet to get any signal of consensus among the political parties,” Election Commissioner Md Shah Newaz told the

War crimes witnesses left vulnerable  PAGE 1 COLUMN 3

hideouts in the nights, in apprehension of an attempt on their lives. Some are jobless and their children living a life of fear, abandoned by their friends.

One of the prosecution witnesses called the reporter from Pirojpur on Sunday evening. His voice was trembling in fear as he talked about the attack that came in the day’s wee hours on another witness.

He said a group of Jamaat-Shibir cadres had a discussion at a shop nearby his house in Pirojpur town around 7:30pm. The shopkeeper alerted the witness as he overheard his name being part of the discussion.

Only hours later came the attack on Golam Mostafa, identified as a brave witness against Sayedee even by the district’s police superintendent.

The brave Mostafa and his family were sleeping when the attack was made around 3am on Sunday. Mostafa was hacked in the head. His son Hafizur Rahman recognised two of the three attackers as Jamaat-BNP activists.

Prosecutor Syed Haider Ali said they were concerned about the rise of attacks on the witnesses.

The wife of Shukharanjan Bali, a prosecution witness who allegedly turned hostile, occasionally hides at

her sister’s house located in a remote area of Pirojpur. In her Umdepur residence, lives her only daughter Monika Mandal and her husband, almost abandoned by their neighbours.

An elderly Hindu said: “We are minorities. We are naturally scared. Now is the time of blockade. We do not know what awaits us in the future.”

The question of security is not limited to the issues of attacks or social reprisals, but also livelihood of the witnesses.

Ashish Mandal of Mandal Para has lost his business to his Jamaat-linked partner for being a witness against Sayedee. Though he had not turned up at the tribunal to testify, he would not get his business back.

He cannot even find a buyer for his land for some cash. He owes the house tutor of his children six months’ salary.

“I need a job so badly,” said Ashish.

Some do not care given that all of this hardships and sufferings were about ensuring justice against Sayedee, better known as Delu Razakar in the area. Such a man is Manik Poshari, who receives threats consistently. “They [Hindus] will be wiped out by their generations,” he said.

Shilpi Molongi, sister-in-law of Sukharanjan Bali, shares the same fear.

Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

“The commission can meet any time to change the polls schedules, of course staying within the constitutional framework, provided the parties would reach a consensus. Political consensus matters, the commission meeting does not,” he said.

He said the commission was constitutionally bound to hold the 10th parliamentary polls before January 24.

The election commissioner said Monday’s commission meeting had discussed the recruitment of officers and employees for the commission.

In 2006, the controversial election commission, headed by Justice MA Aziz, first fixed the election date on January 11 and then January 16 as the Awami League threatened to boycott.

The commission reset the polls date on January 23 following Awami League’s signal for contesting the elections.

Because of a festival of the Hindus, the final polls date was fixed on January 22.

Eighteen candidates including Tarique Rahman were elected before the elections.

The election commission, headed

by ATM Shamsul Huda, changed the schedules three times to hold inclusive elections on December 29, 2008. The commission first proposed holding the elections on December 18, the date the BNP objected to.

The elections took place on December 29 since the BNP agreed to vie in the elections. l

Molla’s lawyers  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

Rafiqul Islam, the senior most physician of the Prisons Department, said: “Until Monday night, there has not been anything abnormal with Molla’s physique.

“There is no need to bring any change in his food menu or for any other special arrangement for him”, said Dr Rafiqul. l

“As Sayedee has not been executed, we cannot say justice is delivered. We will be wiped off the earth by our generations now.”

Interestingly, the witnesses are apparently held in contempt even by many local AL activists and supporters.

Though the attack on Mahbub’s house lasted for almost an hour in broad daylight, no resistance was put up by the local AL. Rather, the police deployed in front of their houses or nearby had been withdrawn. The attack on Mahbub came only a week after the police protection had been withdrawn. Same was the case for Mostafa too.

Police withdrawal coincided with the countrywide intermittent blockades enforced by the BNP-Jamaat opposition alliance.

The war crimes trial began after the AL-led grand alliance assumed power winning the 2008 elections by a huge margin, apparently on its electoral pledge to try the war criminals.

The call for a witness protection law has long been unheard. The law ministry prepared a draft law titled “Witness Protection Act 2011” and sent it to the home ministry couple of years back.

But since then, it had been lying idle with home ministry. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Ershad now in favour of caretaker government JP ministers submit resignation to PM n Manik Miazee Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad is ready to take part in the upcoming parliamentary polls under a caretaker government as the party claims hat the resignation letters of its seven ministers and advisers in the polls-time government were submitted yesterday.

At a press conference yesterday afternoon, Ershad said he might take part in the polls under a caretaker government “for the sake of fairness.”

It is the BNP that has waged a movement demanding restoration of the non-party caretaker government to hold the next parliamentary elections.

Ershad has always spoken against the caretaker government, saying the previous caretaker governments did him injustice.

Ershad’s statement in favour of the

caretaker government system came all of a sudden, especially after his latest proposal for deferring the January 5 elections.

Ershad accused the polls-time government of creating a “smokescreen” over the resignation of his party’s ministers.

“We could not reach the prime minister for the past two days for submitting our resignation letters. The letters were finally sent by courier on Sunday, but the prime minister did not receive those,” he told reporters at a press conference at his Baridhara residence.

“Now my secretary general is going to hand over the resignations to the prime minister in person,” he said, adding: “However, we are well informed that she will not accept it.”

The former military dictator said: “Whatever the case, we are no more in the government and our ministers are

not going to take part in any meeting of the cabinet.”

He also reiterated that he would not take part in the election under this government. “My party members have been ordered to withdraw their nominations by December 13.”

Later in the evening party Secretary General ABM Ruhul Amin Hawlader told reporters: “Our resignation letters have reached the prime minister. It is none of our concern whether our resignations have been accepted or not. Our duty is over.”

Party insiders, however, said Ershad could still overturn his decision and join the upcoming national elections.

“He will stage a new drama and suddenly announce that he will participate in the polls in the greater interest of the country,” said a party Presidium member on condition of anonymity.

The Jatiya Party candidates across

3

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

the country did not apply for withdrawal of their candidature as of last night although a press release issued in the morning said all the candidates from the party had been asked to submit the applications to the Election Commission offices concerned.

A party source said the chairman himself had not yet submitted his nomination withdrawal application.

The last date for withdrawing candidature is December 13.

The Jatiya Party joined the “all-party” interim cabinet formed to oversee the upcoming 10th national parliament elections.

Six ministers of the 29-member polls-time cabinet were from the Jatiya Party who took oaths on November 18.

On December 3, Ershad declared that his party would not participate in the upcoming election without participations of all political parties. l

PM asks ministers to resist ‘anti-election forces’ n Mohosinul Karim The government has apparently given up hope of Jatiya Party joining the upcoming parliamentary elections, and plans to move forward with the polls with the participation of ruling Awami League and its 14 smaller allies, a source said.

During the regular cabinet meeting at the secretariat yesterday, ministers of the polls-time cabinet were asked to strengthen their field-level activities and build up strong resistance against anti-election forces, a minister who attended the meeting told the Dhaka Tribune on condition of anonymity.

“The prime minister asked the ministers and 14-party alliance leaders to prepare for the elections without the Jatiya Party. The polls will be held in due time by any means, no matter who is participating or not,” the minister said quoting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Six Jatiya Party ministers, who were asked by their party chief HM Ershad to resign from the polls-time cabinet, skipped yesterday’s meeting.

Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told reporters that his office had contacted the JP ministers, but

Hannan, Rizvi sent to jail

Court recalls warrants for Tarique’s arrest n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu A Dhaka court has ordered for withdrawal of all warrants for the arrest of BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman in a money laundering case involving Tk20.41 crore as he was acquitted of the charges.

“We sent the recall order to the foreign affairs ministry and the deputy commissioner of the prosecution yesterday,” said Ariful Islam, bench assistant officer of Special Judge’s Court 3.

The court had issued the arrest warrant on August 8, 2011. On May 26 this year, it issued another warrant for his arrest with the help of Interpol.

On November 17, the court ordered the foreign ministry, OCs of cantonment and Banani police stations and the prosecution DC to recall all the warrants for Tarique’s arrest in the case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission.

The court said as Tarique had been acquitted from the money laundering case unconditionally, the arrest warrants should be withdrawn. l

n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu

A Jamaat-Shibir activist lights up a petrol bomb during Jamaat’s dawn-to-dusk hartal in Rajshahi’s Shalbagan area yesterday

Government discusses Quader Molla’s execution procedure n Tribune Report The government yesterday discussed the procedure for executing war crimes convict and Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Molla.

Shafiq Ahmed, prime minister’s adviser for legal affairs, chaired the meeting at his office yesterday.

After the meeting, IG-Prisons Mainuddin Khandakar, who is also an additional secretary of the home ministry, told the Dhaka Tribune: “We have discussed all the issues including a probable mercy petition and controlling law and order while executing the verdict. We have fixed a strategy at the meeting.”

The meeting also issued some instructions to the home ministry for tightening security around the country.

A law ministry source said the meeting had also discussed various intelligence reports, which said Jamaat and its student front Shibir might give rise to massive subversion when Molla would be taken to the gallows.

Molla family’s presser

Molla’s family has alleged that the gov-

they said they would not be joining the meeting.

“No seats were reserved for the [JP] ministers in Monday’s cabinet meeting, as they had sent back the folders containing the notice for the meeting,” Bhuiyan said.

“I’m not aware about the resignations of the [JP] ministers, as we are yet to get papers from the PMO. They will be considered as ministers until the president approves their resignation letters, and an order is issued from the cabinet division declaring their posts vacant,” the secretary added.

On Sunday, Ruhul Amin Howlader, JP secretary general, had said: “We will not join Monday’s cabinet meeting.”

He made the announcement while talking to reporters after visiting President Abdul Hamid on Sunday night.

Howlader, who was appointed as the civil aviation minister, earlier said they sought prime minister’s appointment to hand in the resignation letters.

Ershad yesterday said they sent the resignations by courier.

On Tuesday, Ershad declared that his party would not contest the upcoming elections slated for Januray 5 without the participation of “all political parties.” l

ernment has been denying him the constitutional right of reviewing verdict and is in a hurry to execute him.

The war criminal’s wife Sarwar Jahan and his son Hasan Zamil at a press conference made the comment yesterday.

Family, UN, HRW for allowing him to file review petition “Quader Molla has a constitutional right to appeal for review. But we came to know that the government wants to execute him in a hurry,” they said.

“This verdict is wrong,” his family said, threatening that the verdict would trigger an Islamist movement.

They also alleged that the execution of Quader Molla was moving under pressure of the Ganajagaran Mancha.

On the chances of seeking presidential clemency, the family said the decision would wait until they talked to the lawyers and Quader Molla.

HRW statement

The Human Rights Watch yesterday said Mollah should be granted the right

Hasan Jamil, son of convicted war criminal Abdul Quader Molla, speaks at a press conference at the High Court auditorium yesterday MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

to appeal for review against the conviction and death sentence.

“Human Rights Watch opposes the death penalty in all circumstances as an irreversible, degrading, and cruel punishment,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “It is particularly reprehensible in cases where laws were retroactively passed in order to enable the death penalty, and where the right to appeal against such a final judgment is not allowed.”

The death sentence was handed down based on retroactively amended legislation, a move which violates international fair trial standards, the HRW said.

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Bangladesh is a state party, prohibited the retroactive application of criminal law that has a negative effect on the defence, HRW added.

UN experts’ statement

Two UN human rights experts have urged the government to halt the execution of Quader Molla and uphold his right to review.

“Anyone convicted of a crime has the right to have his or her conviction and sentence reviewed by a higher tribunal, as laid down in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Bangladesh is a party,” said UN Special Rapporteurs on the independence of judges and lawyers Gabriela Knaul.

Special Rapporteur on summary executions, Christof Heyns noted: “In countries that have not abolished the death penalty, capital punishment may be imposed only following a trial that complied with fair trial and due process safeguards.”

They cautioned: “Under such circumstances, the execution of Mr Mollah could trigger further violence and unrest that has been agitating the country in the recent months.” l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

A Dhaka court yesterday sent three detained BNP leaders – Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, BNP leader ASM Hannan Shah and Executive Committee Member Belal Ahmed – to jail after rejecting their bail plea and police’s remand prayer in three cases.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Asaduzzaman Noor issued the order and asked the investigation officers to quiz them at jail gate within 10 days.

Defence counsels Md Sanaullah Miah and Masud Ahmed Talukder, in their plea, claimed that the government arrested them to ruin the opposition movement and suppress the legal movement of the people.

Public Prosecutor Md Abdullah Abu opposed the bail and demanded remand against the accused.

The Detective Branch of police detained Hannan Shah on November 25 while plainclothes police arrested Rizvi and Belal on November 30 in cases filed with Paltan and Motijheel police stations. l

Jamaat discusses ‘Jamaat-Shibir planning its prospect to join polls with Taranco massive destruction’ and participate in the upcoming genern Tribune Report n Mohosinul Karim al elections, as the government has no Senior Jamaat-e-Islami leaders at a meeting with visiting UN envoy Oscar Fernández Taranco yesterday discussed how the party could join the upcoming elections.

“We have discussed the issue. It is possible to find out a solution,” Assistant Secretary General Abdur Razzak told reporters when asked whether they discussed Jamaat’s scope to participate in the polls as its registration was cancelled by the High Court.

He said Jamaat had joined all the elections since 1979 until 2008, and had representation in all the parliaments.

“So, Jamaat is a factor in this country.

They [delegation] also accepted this [fact]. We also discussed how Jamaat can contest in the upcoming elections.

But I cannot elaborate more.”

Razzak briefed media after the meeting at Sonargaon Hotel. The meeting was earlier scheduled for Sunday.

In response to a query, Razzak said they had also discussed how to tame the ongoing violence to make the elections peaceful. “He [Taranco] has asked for finding a solution. It may be possible through consultation among all parties.”

He said there had been no violence earlier when all parties joined the elections.

Razzak said they also discussed how level playing field could be ensured for an inclusive election.

After the High Court verdict, Jamaat cannot contest the polls with its symbol.

However, the party leaders can join the polls as independent candidates, as mentioned by the chief election commissioner. Jamaat leaders Jasimuddin Sarkar, Abdullah Mohammad Taher and Mir Ahmed Bin Kashem were also present at the meeting with Taranco yesterday.

Razzak, also chief counsel for Jamaat leaders facing war crimes charges, said: “We have conveyed our concern that the government may bypass the rules and execute the death sentence of Abdul Quader Molla.” l

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and its students’wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir, “are planning massive destruction” on December 12, surrounding the execution of International Crimes Tribunal’s verdict against Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Abdul QuaderMolla for his involvement in war crimes in 1971.

The information was disclosed yesterday at a cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the Secretariat, as was confirmed by several ministers who attended the meeting.

One of the ministers seeking anonymity said the cabinet discussed the information elaborately, following which, the prime minister ordered the state minister for home to take tough steps against any sabotage attempt and tighten security measures.

Meanwhile, ministers and leaders of the 14-party alliance were asked to deploy their activists in the field until December 16, to participate in programmes to observe victory day, he said.

He said according to the PM’s instructions the allies will host programmes at thana and ward-level. Freedom fighters, pro-liberation organisations and activists will also be requested to stay on the field for the victory day celebrations.

The prime minister also asked the alliance to go ahead with all its activists

plans to defer the election date.

The election will be held according to the existing schedule, the premier assured them.

The political programmes of the opposition will be countered politically, the minister said.

Regarding Quader Molla’s death sentence, the premier has reportedly assured the ministries of home and law that they will be given all the facilities and the time to carry out the ICT verdict, and no one can question it.

It could at best be subject for the president’s consideration, if Quader Mollah wants a presidential pardon, he said.

Speaking about the recent violence in Satkhira, the minister said the government had information that the superintendent of the district may be biased towards Jamaat-e-Islami.

“He has given them the scope to commit destructive activities and violence.

The ministry of home was asked to remove him from his post,” he said. The cabinet hoped that the situation would change after his removal.

Another minister said the prime minister has asked the home ministry to strengthen the security of the railways and other transport carrying commodities during the opposition blockades and hartals. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Government blames traders for onion price hike n Asif Showkat Kallol Expressing grave concern with the skyrocketing price of onion, commerce ministry officials have said there is no apparent reason for the abnormal hike at the peak of the harvest season.

Commerce Secretary Mahbub Ahmed told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that a section of “crooked” businessmen had been hoarding onion, resulting in the excruciating price. “We will try to stop the game of raising onion prices,” he said.

He also said the ministry officials were likely to sit in a meeting today to find out about the actual situation on the ground.

The ministry would send letters to the deputy commissioners, asking them to monitor the supply chain and

demand pattern of the essential commodity, the commerce secretary said.

Market surveys suggest that as of yesterday, onion was selling at Tk140 per kilogram in the capital. Last week, the price was Tk100.

Last month the home ministry, upon requests from traders, arranged for police protection for onion-laden trucks coming from Cox’s Bazar during hartals. However, the businessmen have not put forward any request in recent times, the commerce secretary said.

Commerce ministry sources said the businessmen had not made any request off late because the police personnel had not been able to protect themselves while discharging duty. Neither have they dispatched enough onions to meet the demand in the country.

Pratasha 2021 Forum forms a human chain in the capital’s Shahbagh yesterday in rememberance of Nelson Mandela

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

SC verdict says Momena genuine witness Tribunal irked at defence

HALL-MARK SCAM

ACC examines nine Sonali Bank n Nazmus Sakib officials n Tribune Report The Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday took statements from nine Sonali Bank Limited officials, the witnesses in the Tk372crore loan embezzlement case of Hall-Mark Group.

A seven-member probe team led

by Deputy Director Mir Joynul Abdin Shibly questioned the officials at the ACC headquarters. They are assistant general managers Abul Basher and M Mukhlesur Rahman, senior executive officers M Sirajul Islam Chowdhury, M Azizul Haque Chowdhury, AKM Mansur Rahman Mallik and M Sohrab Hossain, Executive Officer M Asaduzaman, Hania Ahmed, and Senior Officer (IT) M Shafiqul Islam. l

EC to hear rejected appeals today n Mohammad Zakaria The Election Commission would start hearing of the appeals of the candidates whose nominations were cancelled by the commission from today, said Basudev Roy, deputy secretary of the legal wing of the Election Commission.

The hearing would continue till December 12, he said.

About 138 aspirant candidates have filed appeal to the Election Commission against cancellation of their nomination by the returning officer during the scrutiny.

Election Commission cancelled 260 nominations out of a total 1107 submitted for the 10th parliamentary election slated for January 5. l

WEATHER

Weather likely to remain dry n UNB Light rain is likely to occur at one or two places over Chittagong, Khulna, Barisal and Sylhet divisions until 6pm today.

Weather might remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country, Met Office said.

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

The sun sets in the capital at 5:13pm today and rises at 6:31am tomorrow.

Country’s highest temperature 30.2 degree Celsius was recorded at Sandwip and lowest 14.0 degrees at Dinajpur yesterday. Highest and lowest temperatures recorded in some major cities yesterday were: City

High

Low

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

28.5 28.0 28.5 27.2 28.4 28.2 27.3 29.5

17.0 19.5 16.0 15.0 16.5 16.5 17.2 21.0

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

Sources also said although the commerce ministry had asked the home ministry and directed the district administration and the government offices concerned to ensure security for the onion-laden trucks during hartals, in reality, these instructions had hardly ever been followed.

According to a UNDP report, disruption in supply chain during hartals has resulted in 12% rise in the price of essentials.

Data released last week by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics showed that food inflation rose to a sevenmonth high 8.55% on a point-to-point basis in November. The hike was attributed to the spiralling prices of essentials because of the disruption in supply chain caused by the ongoing political turmoil. l

5:10am 6:30am 11:51am 3:36pm 5:12pm 6:32pm

Source: IslamicFinder.org

Sanowar Jahan, wife of death row convict Abdul Quader Molla, yesterday claimed that the prosecution witness, because of whose testimony the Appellate Division gave death penalty to the Jamaat leader, was a fake witness.

The same allegation was raised

by Jamaat-e-Islami in its statement released on Sunday, soon after the issuance of the death warrant by the International Crimes Tribunal.

The apex court, in its full verdict, said witness Momena Begum, a rape victim, was undoubtedly reliable.

Quader Molla was sentenced to

death by a majority on charges of killing Hazrat Ali as well as three members of his family on March 26, 1971, when the rape also occurred.

Justice Md Abdul Wahhab Miah, who dissented with the other four panel judges, gave a life sentence to the Jamaat assistant secretary general by relying on the testimony of Momena.

Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha observed: “She is a very natural eyewitness...The defence thoroughly cross examined her but failed to shake any of her statements...[Chief defence counsel Abdur] Razzak finds it difficult to discard her testimony and simply pointed out that she was a vitally

interested witness.”

Justice Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik observed: “We are unable to accede to [Abdur] Razzak’s contention that the third prosecution witness was a hearsay witness. Except as to the killing of her father, she is an eyewitness. She was no doubt an eyewitness on the act of rape committed on her sister by those who came with Quader Molla.

She was also an eyewitness on the slaughtering of her pregnant mother, her three sisters, two year old brother, and of course as to the act of dragging her father out by Quader Molla.

She was also the circumstantial witness as to the rape committed on her ownself.” l

Witness claims Khokon raped Radha Rani n Udisa Islam Two witnesses called against absconding war crimes suspect Zahid Hossain Khokon, alias Khokon Razakar, told the war crimes tribunal yesterday of his alleged involvement in rape and arson in Chandhaat of Faridpur during the 1971 Liberation War. They placed their depositions regarding the same incident mentioned in charge four.

Rabindranath Dutta, the 10th witness, said when Khokon and some razakars attacked their village he was hiding in a bush. “I saw Khokon taking Radha Rani into the room of Surendra-

nath Dutta. Then I also heard gunshots from the house of Bhuban Mohan Dutta and the house was set afire.”

Then 20-year-old Rabindranath said, after some time, Khokon with his razakar group looted all the houses and torched them. After they had left, all the women of the house broke into tears. “Radha Rani wanted a sari. When she came out of the room, she had a body covered in injury marks. She said she was raped.”

The other witness, Jagannath Dutta from Chandhaat, also said Khokon had raped married and unmarried women of their village. They were unable to tolerate the torture of the accused and

his brother Zafar Razakar.

After the depositions, state defence counsel Md Abdus Shukur Khan cross examined the witnesses separately.

They denied the counsel’s suggestion that Khokon had not been present during any incident and that he was a freedom fighter.

The prosecution will produce their next witness today.

Meanwhile, the defence counsel submitted a list of 30 witnesses to testify in favour of Khokon Razakar.

The tribunal said they would check whether there is any provision to produce a defence witnesses on behalf of an accused fugitive. l

KALPANA CHAKMA ABDUCTION

Eminent citizens demand fair probe n Tribune Report Thirty-three eminent citizens including rights activists, academics, writers and journalists have demanded fair investigation into the abduction of Kalpana Chakma and punishment of the abductors.

They made the call yesterday in a memorandum submitted to the inspector general of police. The civil society leaders demanded re-investigation of the case to ensure fair judgement, quizzing the accused identified by witnesses and quick disposal of the case.

Kalpana, organising secretary of Hill Women’s Federation, had been abducted on June 12, 1996 allegedly by Lt Ferdous from her home at New Lalyaghona of Baghaichhari in Rangamati. The incident had taken place several hours before the seventh national elections.

She was campaigning for independent candidate Bijay Ketan Chakma, then senior presidium member of Pahari Gana Parishad.

According to the victim’s family, Lt Ferdous was assisted by commander of the village defence party (VDP) Nurul

Haque and its member Saleh Ahmed.

So far, three reports – two final reports and one judicial inquiry commission report – have been placed before the court.

Locals allege that she has been assassinated by the abductors.

The signatories are Sultana Kamal, Hamida Hossain, Khushi Kabir, Nirupa Dewan, Ayesha Khanam, Rokeya Kabir, Farah Kabir, Shirin Huq, Shahin Alam, Dhaka University teacher Amena Mohsin, Mesbah Kamal, Sadeka Halim, Anu Muhammad, Robaet Ferdous and Iftekharuzzaman. l

n Udisa Islam The International Crimes Tribunal 2 yesterday was disappointed with the defence of accused AKM Yusuf for mentioning the tribunal as “subordinate” to the Appellate Division in an adjournment petition.

The tribunal asked the junior defence counsel to inform his seniors: “None has the authority to direct us as the three-member tribunal bench is higher than any other bench.”

The defence yesterday submitted a time petition again, saying the conducting senior counsels could not appear because of personal difficulties.

The defence said: “Aforesaid appeal was also listed for hearing before the Appellate Division on November 27-28 and December 1-5 and 8, and no counsel could be present during the [general] strike/blockade enforced by various opposition political parties. The Appellate Division did not take up the matter for hearing.”

The application also stated that the tribunal being subordinate to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court was required to follow and adopt the practices developed by the Appellate Division.

The tribunal asked junior counsel Gazi MH Tamim about the writer of the petition. Tamim said senior counsel Imran Siddiq wrote it.

The tribunal said: “We do not think that he was told to write so. You have no idea about the law. Show us where you found that the tribunal is subor-

dinate to the Appellate Division. Tell your seniors that we asked them to learn law first.”

Before the hearing, the tribunal closed the cross-examination of the 15th witness as the defence lawyer did not appear.

The tribunal, being subordinate to the Appellate Division, is required to follow and adopt its practices, says the defence petition Later 16th prosecution witness Lutfar Rahman Nakib testified against Yusuf, describing how razakars had converted Hindus into Muslims in Bagerhat. In mid July, some 30 razakars had gone to Shakharikati village on order of Yusuf. They forcefully converted over 200 Hindus by feeding them beef forcefully.

He claimed that he had seen the killing of 42 people near Shakharikatthi Bazar on November 5. The razakars came and captured all the Hindu shopkeepers and selected 42 people. They were tied with local towel and shot.

On completion of the witness’s testimony, defence counsel Tamim first denied to cross-examine him.

The tribunal said: “If you do not start the cross-examination, the witness may claim to add further statement.” Tamim later began questioning the witness, but it remained incomplete and the tribunal adjourned the proceedings until today. l

Sing national anthem together n Tribune Report The Victory Day celebration committee has invited all citizens to sing the national anthem together at 4:31pm on December 16.

People have been asked to send a message to 3636 writing “Y” to confirm their participation in the main programme to be held at the south plaza of parliament building, said a press release issued by the platform’s Member Secretary Imran H Sarkar.

Chief Adviser of the celebration

committee Air Vice Marshal (retd) AK Khandakar said: “We will sing the national anthem together at the same moment, wherever we are.”

The organisers expect a gathering of at least three lakh people to sing the national anthem at 4:31pm.

It will also hold a daylong programme on that day that begins at 10am. Different cultural organisations, singers and groups will perform there.

The segment from 2pm-10pm has been entitled “Concert for Freedom.” l

REHAB, FBCCI warn of Dhaka Tribune reporter wins TIB award tougher movement

for investigative journalism

n Abu Hayat Mahmud Leaders of Real Estate and Hosing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) and Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) threatened to jointly announce a tougher movement if the ongoing political violence was not stopped immediately.

The leaders came up with the threat while addressing a press conference at the National Press Club yesterday.

“The FBCCI has decided to form a human chain holding white flags in front of the organisation’s headquar-

n Tribune Report Julfikar Ali Manik, a special correspondent of the Dhaka Tribune, was yesterday awarded the TIB Investigative Journalism Award 2013 for his investigative reports on the attacks on Buddhists in Ramu, Cox’s Bazar.

The report titled “A Devil’s Design” was published in The Daily Star on October 14, 2012, before Manik joined the Dhaka Tribune.

The report briefly illustrated the shocking outrage that took place in Ramu on September 29, 2012. The report then revealed, in detail, the process of how the criminals used the social networking website Facebook as a tool to provoke local people into going on a rampage against the Buddhist community. In his report, Manik tried to reveal the identity of the criminals, and shed light on how social networks are being used to do misdeeds.

Along with Manik, HM Alauddin, a staff reporter of Khulna based Dainik Purbanchal, and Apurbo Alauddin of Jamuna Television (formerly a special

Winners of the TIB Investigative Journalism Award 2013 with the noted guests correspondent at Independent Television) also won this year’s award.

Mohsin Mukul, a camera crew from Independent Television, received an honour for bravely recording the report.

All three reporters received certificates, a crest and a cheque for Tk80,000, while the camera crew received Tk50,000.

Sony Ramani and Shumon Yusuf

DHAKA TRIBUNE

were also honoured at the ceremony for coming out first and third in an international photography competition organised by Transparency International, and MA Ahad for his special contributions.

The awards were given at a ceremony organised by Transparency International Bangladesh at the capital’s Brac Centre Inn, marking the International Anti-Corruption Day. l

ters on December 15. The REHAB will also stage a demonstration in front of its office on Sonargaon Road,” said Md Wahiduzzaman, general secretary of REHAB. “REHAB will not hold a winter fair, which has been held for the last few years, due to the political unrest,” he said.

Vice-President of the FBCCI Helal Uddin said: “The violent is yet to stop. In this situation, our backs are up against the wall. So now we are demanding a stop to the political agitation and violence.” l

Stakeholders for immediate factory inspection n Tribune Report Speakers at a programme yesterday called for immediate inspection at every garment factory in the country to avert reoccurrence of industrial disasters like the Rana Plaza tragedy.

“Though we have made commitments of inspecting the factories, time is really sensitive,” said Director of the

ILO Office in Dhaka Srinivas B Reddy.

He was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of Alliance for Bangladesh Workers Safety’s Dhaka office.

The ILO would coordinate the activities of all the stakeholders to ensure that a standard is followed to inspect the factories, he said adding that the alliance had targeted over 600 factories across the country by July 14 next year. l

Special

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Solidarity works!

I

n Miriam Ebner

n Bangladesh, volunteering and mutual help are core values of society: around 16 million people annually decide to get involved in their community and volunteer. Interestingly, volunteerism in Bangladesh is neither restricted to a specific sector nor to any age group.

Old and young, men and women, they all dedicate their time to change society from within, playing an important role in transforming society.

Volunteerism permeates every aspect of society. Many volunteers

Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger: Sajal Roy

Since its establishment, Jege Otho Foundation fully relies on committed volunteers to plan and implement projects several days a week in schools, public spaces and the Jege Otho training center in Jessore. Sajal is the coordinator of PATSHALA, a game school where children and youths can come together to develop life skills in an informal setting.

Many underprivileged kids from poor backgrounds come together and play football, cricket as well as discussing personal issues with the volunteers of Jege Otho. Sajal believes that through exercise and the experience of a safe space, they will develop mentally as well as physically. “Even though we do not directly reduce poverty by for example distributing food items, I think our work contributes in many ways to society” Sajal says.

Achieve Universal Primary Education: Daina Chakma

As a national UN Volunteer, Daina Chakma has been supporting the Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Facility of UNDP. As an Educational Assistant she worked with communities to strengthen community education project: many people joined the project and volunteered in the renovation and constructions of schools by providing local materials and free labor. Through the construction of these schools, access to education was improved in many remote communities and children do not have to walk long distances to go to school.

Daina believes that education is key for people’s development and really enjoyed her volunteer service.

What will happen after 2015?

The MDGs, which have formed and defined the global development discourse in the past years, have played an important role in focusing on core development issues. While we are getting closer to our deadline, people all over the world are discussing the next development framework.

The United Nations has taken up the challenge to ensure that the next development framework comes out of a transparent and open global debate, in which civil society organizations can share their vision for post-2015.

Together with three youth-led organizations, namely JAAGO, Youth Power in Social Action (YPSA) and Jege Otho Foundation, UNV has organized and facilitated three youth consultations in Jessore, Chittagong and Dhaka, allowing youths to share their thoughts on the next development framework.

Over 80 young people representing 30 organizations came together and discussed issues close to their heart, like the lack of equality in access to information, education, employment, health facilities and basic rights. Their visionary thinking clearly showed that they are not only looking at their community, their region or their country, but rather aspire to a movement for global equality.

The results of the youth consultations will be published in January 2014 and are supplemental to the already published Report on the Post-2015 Development Agenda for Bangladesh.

5

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

How volunteers contribute to common goods

strengthen education and health services in the public sector. Others volunteer in non-governmental organizations and contribute to the vibrant civil society of Bangladesh.

Particularly when it comes to disaster response, the Bangladeshi volunteer spirit has come out and amazed the world. Millions of people are engaged in organizations such as the Bangladesh Scouts, Cyclone Preparedness Programme (CPP) or the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society and play an essential role in early warning and disaster response.

During acute disasters, these volunteer-based organizations bridge the gap between the national government and local communities, through volunteers who travel to every village and inform the population about the magnitude and impact of cyclones.

Volunteers assist in disaster response and have in the past evacuated people in need. Due to the efforts of these dedicated people, who are willing to risk their lives for others, the number of deaths caused by natural disasters has reduced significantly.

Their contribution to reducing the disaster vulnerability has been highlighted in the Disaster Management Act (DM Act 2012). The act emphasizes the role of community self-help organizations and local networks as the most effective resources for reducing risk vulnerability in communities and building adaptive capacity. As such, the DM Act 2012 proposes the estab-

lishment of a National Volunteer Corps to integrate volunteers into disaster management.

People’s motivation to be engaged in their community is also seen on a much smaller scale, for example, in schools and universities, where young people come together to form social clubs. These clubs aim to improve the life of disenfranchised groups in Bangladeshi society. They work towards promoting a more environmental friendly society or address other issues close to their heart.

organizations offer people the opportunity to become active citizens and contribute to the development of their country.

The great contributions of volunteers towards development are annually celebrated on the 5th of December, International Volunteer Day. People around the world take time to pause and reflect on the tremendous contribution of civil society towards a more just world and volunteerism is specifically acknowledged as an important catalyst for social transformation.

When talking about the MDGs and the many positive changes that occurred in the last decade in Bangladesh, we should not forget that it is people who change their world In recent years, Bangladeshis have repeatedly proven that they are willing to volunteer for their community, regardless of financial incentives and other forms of recognition.

The spontaneous urge to help each other became obvious following the complete collapse of the Rana Plaza building in April, when hundreds of people flocked to Savar to assist in rescue efforts.

Rickshaw-pullers, street vendors, university students and day laborers joined hands and worked tirelessly alongside the rescue operations teams of the Fire Service and Civil Defense, saving 2,500 people from the rubble.

Many different volunteer-based

Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women: Rowshon Akhter Urmee Violence against women is a critical issue in Bangladesh.

The youth-led Brave Men campaign aims at raising awareness on the issue by addressing concepts of masculinity.

Urmee believes that gender stereotypes effect everyone and many boys are socialized in a context where violence against women – either verbal or physical – is accepted by society. Together with some friends she started to hold workshops on gender in boy’s schools. Their aim is to deconstruct the concept of bravery – which is often closely connected to violence against women – of teenage boys. The completely volunteer-based movement runs 2-month workshops in different schools and is happy to contribute to gender equality.

Improve Maternal Health: Halima, Jesmin and Farida During their nursing training, Halima, Jesmin and Farida witnessed the dangers of childbirth for women as well as newborns first hand. Since then, these three dedicated women have dedicated a lot of time and energy to improving maternal health and are part of the first group of certified midwives in Bangladesh. They met during a training course for midwifery and decided to create the Bangladesh Midwifery Society (BMS), an organization that advocates for their profession and offers trainings for nurses to become midwives. Next to their regular job as midwives and nurses, they are midwifery trainers and are board members of the BMS. The BMS offers a support structure for newly certified midwives and plays an important role in consolidating this new profession within the medical system in Bangladesh.

Ensure Environmental Sustainability: Sharmin Bulbul Lita The Noazesh Knowledge Center (NKC) was founded in 2011 by the NGO WildTeam, which focuses on the protection of the Bengal Tiger and nature conservation. The NKC provides information on conservation and environmental issues to the public. 450 young members from different socio-economic backgrounds use the library or go on study trips to learn about environmental challenges in Bangladesh. Volunteers play a crucial role in the activities of the NKC: The center, which has only two paid staff members, relies on volunteers for activities such as data-collection, data entry, and support in organizing events, such as the Rikshaw challenge in February 2013, where 20 activists cycled from Teknaf to Chandpai to spread the message of tiger protection and environmental conservation.

The latter is directly linked to reducing the effects of climate change and thus contributes to reducing the threats of natural disasters.

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the United Nations (UN) organization that contributes to peace and development through volunteerism worldwide. Since 1975, when the first international UN Volunteer started his assignment in Bangladesh, hundreds of UN Volunteers have supported different UN Agencies, government offices and civil society organizations. Every year passionate Bangladeshi volunteer abroad through UNV: they strengthen development programmes in countries like Sudan, Pakistan, Jamaica and Cote d’Ivoire.

On International Volunteer Day, we look at the achievements and celebrate volunteerism worldwide.

This year, UNV wants to highlight the contributions of volunteers towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Bangladesh.

The eight MDGs, which range from halving extreme poverty to providing universal primary education, form a blueprint agreed by all world’s countries. Bangladesh is one of the top performing least developed countries and has achieved great successes, especially in the provision of education and the reduction of maternal and neonatal mortality.

When talking about the MDGs and the many positive changes that occurred in the last decade in Bangladesh, we should not forget that it is people who change their world. To achieve these fundamental, but ambitious, development goals it requires much more than the involvement of governments and the international community. Of course policies play an important role, but in the end it is the knowledge, solidarity and creativity of millions of people that ensure the sustainability of our achievements.

The stories below show what change can occur because of an individual’s decision. They only exemplify the many ways in which volunteers contribute to positive and sustainable change in Bangladesh and many more stories could be told. We hope that the stories remind everyone that it is the small changes that really make a difference and change people’s lives.

Reduce Child Mortality: Minjoon Kim Minjoon Kim decided to serve as an international UN Volunteer in 2012 and moved from Seoul to Dhaka. Minjoon is supporting UNICEF as an international UN Volunteer, is part of a team that gives trainings and support to hospitals and community workers on newborn care practices in Tangail district. When he arrived in Bangladesh, he was nervous: “Did I have the necessary skills? Would my experience as surgeon be enough?” were the questions he asked himself. After several field trips and discussions with colleagues, he grew confident. Now, he supports local NGOs in the monitoring process and conducts trainings with community help workers and implementing partners. He is part of a project that contributed to the globally acknowledged success in reducing under-5 mortality rate.

Combat HIV/Aids, Malaria and other Diseases: Sharif Kaukab Since the early 1990s, Sharif Kaukab has been serving as an international UN Volunteer in many different countries, such as Liberia, Nigeria and now Bangladesh. As the UN physician, he supports staff members and their families and plays an important role in the well-being of many people.

As an experienced doctor, he has seen the devastating effects of global public health issues such as HIV/Aids and malaria. These two illnesses cause many deaths worldwide and Sharif believes that one reason for this is lack of knowledge. Thus, it is important to spread information on these issues, for example through community talks. He believes that “an open and pro-active approach is essential to stop the spread of HIV: access to treatment and a non-discriminatory way of engaging with HIV-infected people build an important basis for preventative methods to be fruitful.”

A Global Partnership for Development: Mohammad Mamun Mia

When I enrolled in university, I started to volunteer at the United Nations Youth and Student Association of Bangladesh (UNYSAB), which was a game-changer for me. After volunteering in the organization for some years, I am now working as the President of UNYSAB. By joining UNYSAB or participating in the activities, students get the chance to work on a variety of social and global issues, such as the spread of HIV or the development of a global partnership. We introduce the United Nations to youth and encourage young people to inform themselves and participate in a global network created by different UN student groups all over the world. We promote volunteering because we see volunteerism as a means to develop leadership skills. Giving back to the community and advocating for the rights of groups at the margins of society are essential characteristics of good leadership.

If you want to read more on volunteering for the MDGs or have questions and comments, please contact: unvbgd.bd@undp.org. Miriam Ebner is UNV Programme Officer, Bangladesh.

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Passengers suffer as DNCC delays road repair project n Tazlina Zamila Khan Dilapidated condition of various roads in the city’s Mirpur and Uttara areas is proving to be a constant irritant for passengers and pedestrians, who complained of daily commuting hazards including adverse health effects and high fares.

The authorities, they said, have failed to properly respond to the urgency of road repairs.

Dhaka North City Corporation – which takes care of the affairs of the two areas – planned a two-phase repair project several months ago with the first scheduled to begin in October and the second in December, but none of them has come to pass yet.

Many have blamed “lack of sincerity” of the corporation officials for the failure to initiate the project.

Nisha, a schoolgirl living in Uttara, said the road from her residence to school offered a bumpy ride because of the “countless potholes” on it. “It has become a difficult journey for me.”

Tasmia Islam, another resident of the area, said the ongoing renovation in the Sonargaon Janapath road required swift implementation as it was a busy road.

Patients, pregnant women and elderly people are the worst victims of the roads long lying in disrepair, said Anis Ahmed, 66, a resident of Mirpur.

“There are several roads in Mirpur which need urgent repairs. For old people like me and others, a journey by rickshaw these days is like a

journey into pain.”

“I doubt if the DNCC officials really want to find a quick remedy for problems facing the city dwellers.”

Several roads, lanes and by-lanes in Beribadh and Mazar areas of Mirpur and different sectors of Uttara have become unfit for use over the years and are in need of renovation.

The situation, however, created an occasion for the operators of CNG-run automobiles and rickshaws to raise fares at will – sometimes double the amount usually charged.

“Rickshaw pullers in the Beribadh (dyke) area sometimes charge Tk60-65 for a journey to the Mazar Road area although the standard fare is between Tk30-40,” said Tarikul Islam. “This is because of the dilapidated condition of the roads on the way.”

While contacted, Brig Gen Md Abul Khair, chief engineer of the DNCC, confirmed the news of delay in initiation of the project but said it would start soon.

About the Sonargaon Janapath road, he said the repair work had started but stopped after a short while as construction workers were unwilling to work during the blockade.

“I know people are suffering because of the hazardous condition of the roads but we had trouble accumulating construction materials and other things necessary. There were other problems as well.”

“But the project would indeed end by this year,” he said, without explaining, however, how he planned to do that in such a short period of time. l

Activists worried over tribes’ rights violations n Mohammad Atiqur Rahman Rights activists yesterday expressed their worries over violations of the human rights of tribal women and children, and blamed the Bangalee setters for creating conditions not conducive to multi-ethnic coexistence.

Chanchana Chakma, president of Hill Women’s Federation (HWF), citing a report concerning Jumma women and children, said tribal communities had to live in fear and anxiety amidst what she called a “hegemonic presence” of Bangalee setters and the Army.

According to the report; which corroborated the findings of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti (PCJSS), HWF and local newspapers; at least 122 Jumma women and children were victimised by setters between January 2007 and December 2012.

Of them, Chanchana said, more than

60 women were either raped or killed and many had to face various forms of abuse and torture.

She was speaking at a discussion on the human rights situation in the tribes, held in the auditorium of the Women’s Voluntary Association.

“Tribal people do not have a level playing field when it comes to business.

There are too many checkpoints in Bandarban and Khagrachari, which make you feel as if you are captive in your own land. Additionally, this Operation Uttaran of the Army has also become quite unnerving,” Chanchana said. She accused army officials of masterminding the abduction of HWF Organising Secretary Kalpana Chakma on June 12, 1996.

Rokeya Kabir, executive director of Bangladesh Nari Progati Sangha, alleged that many army officials posted to the region were leasing land for their own use under false identities. l

Anti-Corruption Commission brings out a procession in the capital yesterday holding various placards to mark the International Anti-Corruption Day

‘Curbing Anti-Corruption Commission’s power is a deviation from UN convention’ n Tribune Report By adopting a discriminatory law, Bangladesh has deviated from the conditions of United Nations Convention against Corruption, ACC Commissioner M Shahabuddin said yesterday.

He said Bangladesh had adopted the UNCAC in 2007 and according to the ratification, Bangladesh must follow all its conditions.

“None of the countries, which ratified the convention, can adopt any discriminatory law. But, Bangladesh has deviated from its position by initiating the recently passed law,” the commissioner said.

The parliament on November 10 approved the controversial bill further curbing the power of the already beleaguered graft busting agency of the

Begum Rokeya Day observed in befitting manner n Tribune Report Begum Rokeya Day, marking the birth anniversary of the pioneer of an awakening for women’s rights in the subcontinent, was observed in a befitting manner across the country yesterday.

The Women and Children Affairs Ministry and various socio-cultural and political organisations has marked the day with elaborate programmes.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presented Begum Rokeya Padak-2013 at a function at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the city to two erudite women for their outstanding contribution to the spread of female education, ensuring of human rights and immense work for the socio-economic development of rural people.

The recipients are Jharnadhara Chowdhury and Professor Hamida Banu.

On the occasion, teachers and students of Dhaka University brought out a rally on the campus.

DU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique inaugurated the rally as the chief guest.

In Rangpur, the three-day celebration of Begum Rokeya Day-2013 began at her birthplace in Pairaband village under Mithapukur upazila yesterday.

Divisional Commissioner Muhammad Dilwar Bakht inaugurated the celebrations by placing floral wreaths at the altar of Begum Rokeya Smriti Stambha in the morning.

Recalling the contribution of Rokeya, the divisional commissioner she was the first woman to realize absolute necessity of ensuring education

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presents Begum Rokeya Padak-2013 to Jharnadhara Chowdhury (left) and Professor Hamida Banu PMO and rights of womenfolk for their advancement and civilized status.

Special prayers were offered seeking divine blessings for the departed soul of the pioneer of women renaissance in the sub- continent at Pairaband Jam-eMosque.

Deputy Commissioner Farid Ahammad, Mithapukur upazila parishad chairman Zakir Hossain Sarker, officials of the divisional district and upazila administrations, teachers, students, civil society members, professionals and elite were present.

Besides, a three-day traditional “Rokeya Fair” is being organised from yesterday and dramas are being staged focusing Rokeya’s dreams, discriminations against womenfolk, women empowerment and rights.

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Meanwhile, a discussion and award-giving ceremony was held at the conference hall of Deputy Commissioner in Faridpur.

DC Abu Hena Morshed Zaman attended the function as the chief guest while ADM of Faridpur MA Rashid in the chair.

DC Morshed Zaman said Begum Rokeya was an inspiring figure in this sub-continent who contributed much to the struggle to liberate women from the bondage of social malaises. He said that her life could be seen in the context of other social reformers within what was then India.

Rokeya Shakhawat Hossain was born on December 9 in 1880 at Pairaband village in Rangpur. She also passed away on December 9 in 1932. l

country, with a provision that made it mandatory for the Anti-Corruption Commission to have “prior approval” of the government before filing cases against judges, magistrates and public servants.

‘None of the countries, which ratified the convention, can adopt any discriminatory law.

But, Bangladesh has deviated from its position by initiating the recently passed law' According to a 2009 compliance report, Bangladesh was effectively implementing anti-corruption legislation. “But today, we have deviated from that position and this is not satisfactory,” Shahabuddin said at a programme.

To mark the International Anti-Corruption Day, the ACC organised the discussion at the Shilpakala Academy in the capital yesterday.

With the theme “Act Against Corruption Today,” the United Nations declared December 9 as the Anti-Corruption Day to strengthen the anti-graft movement across the world.

“Bangladesh has made significant progress in the CPI 2013”, the commissioner claimed.

According to Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2013, Bangladesh climbed seven places to reach 136 this year in the ranking of 177 countries, while its benchmark score improved by one point to 27.

Replying to journalists, ACC Chairman M Bodiuzzaman said: “We will not

go to court regarding the controversial provision of the act; rather we will try to amend the provision in the next parliamentary session.”

On October 31, 2003, the General Assembly adopted the United Nations Convention against Corruption which came into force in December 2005.

To mark the day, Transparency International Bangladesh organised several programmes including an award-giving ceremony titled “Investigative Journalism Award 2013.” TIB also formed a human chain on the Dhaka University campus demanding immediate cancellation of the amendment to the ACC act.

With support from the telecommunications ministry, mobile text messages containing anti-graft slogans were served to 10 crore people. l

JU teachers ‘ban’ VC from campus n JU Correspondent A section of Jahangirnagar University teachers yesterday declared a ban on Vice Chancellor Anwar Hossain entering the campus and sealed off his residence as part of an ongoing movement to oust him.

The teachers, under the banner of “JU Teachers-Students and Officers-Employees United Forum”, at a press conference yesterday, announced that Anwar Hossain was prohibited from entering the campus as their demands had not been met.

On December 2, forum members confined the VC at his residence for a third time. After three days of confinement, the government sent Anwar Hossain on a five-day leave from Friday, and made Pro-VC Afsar Ahmed (administration) the acting VC. The VC is supposed to return to his duties at the university tomorrow,

sources said. Anwar Hossain, however, could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Kamrul Ahsan, secretary member of the forum, said the protesting teachers welcomed the government initiative, but it was not enough.

“We have been demanding the VC’s removal. The forum will not withdraw the movement until our demands are met,” Ahsan said.

The forum’s demands include ensuring the removal or resignation of Anwar Hossain, holding VC panel elections immediately with the present senate executing the chancellor’s directives, punishing the culprits who assaulted teachers on October 9, forming a judicial probe committee to investigate and punish the perpetrators who bombed the residence of the JU Teachers’ Association president, and keeping all administrative activities and all recruitment suspended until the appointment of a new VC.

Later in the day, forum members locked all the entrances of the VC’s residence, and vowed to keep the house sealed off until the VC leaves his post.

“In the presence of registrar Abu Bakr Siddique, deputy registrar and VC’s office secretary Amzad Hossain and university security officer Jefrul Hasan Chowdhury, the agitators have locked and sealed off the VC’s residence, demanding the removal or resignation of Prof Anwar Hossain,” said Kamrul Ahsan.

However, the registrar denied being present at the scene during the incident.

A section of pro-Awami League and pro-BNP teachers have been agitating against Anwar Hossain since April 6.

On November 6, JU chancellor, President Abdul Hamid, also asked the VC to hold senate elections and select a VC panel in line with the JU Act, in order to resolve the crisis that has been hampering academic activities at the university. l

JCD leader gunned down in Jessore

BU admission tests rescheduled n Our Correspondent, Barisal

n Our Correspondent, Jessore

Barisal University admission tests have been rescheduled for the third time because of nationwide blockades imposed by the BNP-led 18-party alliance.The rescheduled date is December 21.

The admission tests were to be held on November 28 originally, but were later shifted to December 7 due to an blockade. “Gha” unit’s tests would be held at 10am-11am, while ‘Ga’ unit’s at 1pm-2pm, and ‘Ka’ and ‘Kha’ unit’s exams would be held at 4pm-5pm on December 21, 2013. l

Unidentified miscreants gunned down a Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal leader at the Civil Court intersection, near the Jessore Press Club, around 6:35pm yesterday.

The district unit BNP declared a daylong shutdown in Jessore tomorrow, in protest at the killing.

Witnesses said some 5-6 miscreants shot Kabir Hossain, vice-president of district unit Chhatra Dal, in the head while he was having tea with his friends; adding that he was rushed to Jessore Medical

College Hospital, where the attending doctor, Moniruzzaman, pronounced him dead.

Emdadul Haque Sheikh, officer-in-charge of Kotwali police station, said: “Kabir might have been killed over a business feud.”

Syed Saberul Haque Sabu, general secretary of district unit BNP, said: “The BNP has announced a dawn-to-dusk general strike in Jessore, protesting the incident.”

Following the incident, tension ramped up in the area and all business outlets were shut, sources said. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Farmers get 4 crops a year through alternative cropping pattern The method has also created work opportunities for labourers all year round under the supervision of Rangpur assistant agriculture officer of RDRS Nayarhat village in Lalmonirhat sadar. n Our Correspondent, Lalmonirhat ed Farmers Rakhal Chandra Roy, Banai Dinajpur Rural Service Bangladesh, Bangladesh.

Farmers from areas of the eight northern districts are harvesting four crops a year through a new cropping pattern that ensures food security.

According to sources, change in climate has been noticed in recent years in the country including, temperature fluctuations, devastating floods, cyclones, river erosions, severe droughts and cold waves, causing grave concern among farmers.

Agriculture experts have given importance on proper cropping pattern with effective farming, strategies and technologies as crop production is being seriously hampered due to the adverse impact of climate change.

The programme is being implement-

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University with financial assistance of Krishi Gobeshona Foundation, sources said.

Under the crops farming pattern, two crops (Aman and Boro paddy) land are being turned into four crops, one through cultivating short duration Aman paddy-mustard, potato-mung bean-parija paddy following the suggestions of field level agriculture officials, farmers said.

A toral of 1,750 bighas of land have been brought under the programme this year and high quality seeds, fertiliser, and other agro inputs were distributed amongst farmers to make the programme a success, said Saiful Islam,

According to the RDRS, 400 farmers from eight northern districts – Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Nilphamari, Dinajpur, Panchagarh, Thakugaon and Rangpur – were involved in experimenting with the new cropping pattern which was tested over last couple of years, and become quite popular at farmer’s level.

Nibaron Chandra Roy, a farmer at Sindurmati village in Lalmonirhat sadar, said production of pulses and soyabeans was increasing day by day in the region.

“The cropping pattern also created work opportunities for farm labourers all the year round, including the lean period of Ashwin and Kartik months of Bangla year,” said farmer Jafar Ali at

Chandra Roy, Abed Ali, and Shafiqul Islam at Mohendranagar village echoed the same opinion.

Hamidul Haque, a farmer of Char Gukunda under Lalmonirhat, said after harvesting a high yielding variety of mustard, he would direct his attention towards mung bean and Parija paddy farming on the same land, thus harvesting four crops from a plot of land in a year.

Agriculture officer of Lalmonirhat sadar upazila Mohammad Nuruzzaman said, considering system productivity, the alternative cropping pattern with four crops in sequence increased the yield by 20.79% and gross return by 76.81%.. l

7

Rajshahi City Corporation to conserve 53 ponds n Tribune Report Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) has planned to conserve 53 natural water bodies in the city, in order to retain its surface water resources for protecting the environment from further degradation.

The city corporation has adopted a Tk206 crore uplift project titled “Natural Water Bodies Conservation and Development in Rajshahi City” to attain the cherished goal, side by side with protecting the ponds from further dumping.

Ashraful Haque, chief engineer of RCC, told BSS that under the project 53 ponds – at least one or more ponds in each of the city’s 30 wards, would be preserved and 98 acres of land would be acquired for the purpose. He said no one would be allowed to fill up the ponds.

The banks of the ponds will be concretised with retaining wall aside

from the necessary excavation and reexcavation. In addition to benches and walkways, concrete stairs will be constructed in all the developed ponds for the benefit of the people.

Engineer Ashraf said there were 729 ponds and canals in the metropolis in 2002, but the figure had fallen to 393 because of indiscriminate land filling and unplanned urbanisation.

He said because of abnormal decline in surface water dependence on groundwater had been increasing to ensure water supply to city dwellers causing unusual lowering of the groundwater table over the past few years.

The situation worsens during the dry season, leaving most of the handdriven tube wells inoperative. “We have no way to conserve surface water resources from all sorts of depletion to ensure that the groundwater table remains intact,” Ashraf said. l

Call to increase number of female public representatives n BSS, Rangpur Speakers at a leadership training course in Gangachhara observed that a larger number of female public representatives at the grassroots level would help ensure sustainable development as well as equal rights for women.

They made the observation at the concluding session of a two-day training course organised by the Gangachhara upazila parishad on Sunday.

Elected female representatives from all 10 union parishads under the upazila participated in the event.

The programme was intended to train them in various female capacitybuilding initiatives and was organised with the assistance of the Upazila Governance Project (UZGP) and the Union Parishad Governance Project (UPGP).

UNO Tauhidur Rahman chaired the event while upazila chairman Majibar

Rahman Pramanik and vice-chairwoman Khyanto Rani Roy were present as chief guest and special guest respectively. Officials from different government departments conducted the sessions on the course.

Speakers at the programme discussed various topics including gender issues, female leadership, health issues, child marriage, domestic violence, education, women rights and female empowerment.

In turn, the participants stressed the importance of equal rights and the scope for female representation in local government, so they could play an effective role in accelerating the pace of development.

They also emphasised the need for empowerment of women, eradication of gender inequalities, and increased participation of women in social causes. l

Growers have piled paddy sacks on the bank of a river at Kolapara in Patuakhali as they could not send the food grain to different parts of the country for lack of transportation for the on-going blockade across the country

‘Social movement against corruption a must’ n BSS, Rajshahi Speakers pressed the need for forging a social movement against corruption to build a poverty-free Bangladesh at a participatory discussion, which was held to mark the Corruption Resistance Day-2013 yesterday.

They viewed that community participation towards the anticorruption campaign had become an urgent need for building mass-opinion against corruption.

District Anti-Corruption Committee and Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) jointly organised the discussion at the Public Library conference centre in Rajshahi.

Commissioner of Rajshahi division Helaluddin Ahmed addressed the dis-

cussion as chief guest with committee President Advocate Mohsin Khan in the chair.

‘Local level corruption could be greatly reduced through ensuring transparency, accountability and responsible administration together with a free flow of information’ Former chair of Rajshahi Education Board Prof Nurul Alam was the keynote speaker while Deputy Director of ACC Monzur Murshed, Poet Prof Ruhul Amin Pramanik and banker Ariful Haque Kumar spoke as panel discussants.

The speakers viewed that wide participation of community people in the service sector could curb corruption.

They underlined the need for enhancing empowerment of the community people so that they could raise their voices against any sort of corruption or monopoly.

They laid stress on making both the government and non-government service-delivery activities transparent and accountable for freeing those from corruption.

Local level corruption could be greatly reduced through ensuring transparency, accountability and responsive administration together with free flow of information, they added.

Earlier, the ACC officials, staff and committee members formed a human chain at the Alupatty intersection to create mass-awareness against corruption. l

Farming in Barind track gains ground n BSS, Rajshahi

Farmers in the region including the vast barind tract are showing much interest in vegetable farming as it fetches them more profit than any other crop.

As a result, vegetable farming is on the gradual rise.

However, the irrigation costs being incurred by farmers are high because of changing climatic condition.

Meanwhile, the early harvest of winter vegetables also made farmers happy as they got better prices during the season’s start, farmers and market sources said.

Horticulture Specialist Monzurul Huda said Rajshahi had been regarded as the country’s most prospective vegetable producing region. Production

NEWS IN BRIEF Human chain against corruption formed in Jamalpur A human chain was formed in front of Jamalpur central Shaheed Minar yesterday, marking the International Anti-corruption Day. District Anti-corruption Prevention Committee and Conscious Citizen Committee jointly arranged the programme. Speakers at the programme stressed the need to raise mass awareness among the people to prevent corruption in the society. They also said people should come forward to prevent corruption for the development of the country. A good number of people from all walks of life joined the hour-long human chain. Civil Surgeon Dr Mohammad Hafizur Rahman, Advocate Jahid Anwar, Masum Alam Khan, AAK Mahmudul Hassan, Jahangir Selim and Advocate Shamim Ara addressed, among others. – BSS

Two throat-slit bodies recovered in Chuadanga

Police recovered the bodies of two unidentified people with the throats slashed from Dalka Laxmipur village of Damurhuda

upazila yesterday morning.

Officer-in-charge of Damurhuda Model police station Ahsan Habib said local people had spotted the bodies of two unidentified men near Dalka beel (water body) of the village in the morning and informed them. Later, police recovered the bodies that bore several stab injury marks and sent those to Chadanga Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy.

Miscreants killed the two men by slitting throats elsewhere after chopping them with sharp weapons and dumped the bodies there, said police. – BSS

14 crude bombs recovered in Bhola Detective Branch of police recovered 14 crude bombs from a pond of Bhola district town early yesterday. Officer-in-Charge of Bhola Sadar police station Sultan Mahmud said acting on secret information, a team of police conducted a drive in the area at about 2:30am and recovered the bombs from a garden in an abandoned condition.

However, miscreants fled the scene before police came. Police sources said the bombs might have been kept there for committing subversive activities during hartal and blockade programme. – UNB

Jamaat-Shibir activists stage a demonstration after blocking a road with logs in Kurigram yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

One killed in Pabna clash n Tribune Desk

A young man was killed and 10 others were injured in a clash between two groups of villagers over ownership of a piece of land at Kenai Madhyapara village in Faridpur upazila yesterday morning.

The deceased was identified as Jakirul Islam Jaku, 35, son of Sohrab Pramanik of the village.

Locals and police said there had been a longstanding conflict between Jakirul Islam and Ramzan of the village over a piece of land.

As a sequel to the conflict, men of the duo equipped with lethal arms locked in a clash in the village at about 9am, leaving Jakirul dead on the spot and 10 others injured.

On receiving information, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.

The injured were admitted to the upazila health complex.

Police recovered the body and sent it to hospital morgue for an autopsy.

Later, additional police members were deployed in the area to avoid further trouble. l

of vegetables was one of the major income-generating activities in the region, he added.

“Consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits are helpful in fortifying the physical and mental power of babies”, he clarified.

In terms of food and nutritive values, green vegetables are vital as these are enriched with vitamin A, B, C, calcium and iron that are essential for the human body irrespective of age and sex.

He said due to its environmental and financial aspects, more people have been involving themselves in horticulture recently, creating a huge demand for fruit saplings, vegetable seeds and saplings of ornamental plants.

Deputy Director of Department of

Agriculture Extension (DAE) Nurul Amin said the DAE had set a target of bringing 7,430 hectares under vegetable farming in the district during the current winter season and that the farmers had exceeded the fixed target.

“Farming of late variety winter vegetables will continue even after the harvesting of traditional variety TAman paddy,’ the DAE officials said.

Apart from this, different commercial banks, Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank and NGOs disbursed agriculture loans and interest- free loans amongst farmers to make the massive vegetable farming programme successful.

The DAE officials are expecting a bumper production of vegetables during the current season. l

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

International

Violence rattles TurkeyKurd peace process

Putin eradicate state owned news agency n Tribune Desk On Monday Russian state owned agency RIA novosti was dissolved by President Putin, Kremlin sources confirmed.

From now on a news agency called Russia Today will replace RIA. Dmitry Kiselev, known as a hardcore kremlin supporter will lead the agency.

Voice of Russia, another state owned media is also been closed.

The news agency is being restructured in order to make it more economical while increasing its reach, the head of kremlin administration Sergey ivanov, said to journalists.

They have done it for ‘more rational use of public money’ he added.

Despite being a state owned agency novosti tried to balance its news and is often critical to he Kremlin, a report of BBC claimed.

Reporting on its own demise, RIA noted in its news report that “the move is the latest in a series of shifts in Russia’s news landscape, which appear to point toward a tightening of state control in the already heavily regulated media sector.”

A decree published on the Kremlin’s website on Monday announced the appointment of Dmitry Kiselyov to be head of Russia Today, which will replace RIA Novosti in a major structural overhaul of the company.

The Russian TV anchor has been known for his controversial and conservative views. In one August episode of his show, he said he believed that the organs of homosexuals were not fit for transplants, and should be burned.

The decree, which effectively transferred all property of RIA Novosti to Russia Today, was effective immediately. The chief can be appointed or dismissed directly by Putin. l

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

n AFP, Istanbul

A protester breaks apart a statue of Lenin at a monument in his honour after it was pulled down during a mass rally called ‘The March of a Million’ in Kiev’s Independence Square AFP

Ukrainians keep up protests after Lenin statue toppled n AFP, Kiev Pro-EU Ukrainian demonstrators on Monday kept up their protest against President Viktor Yanukovych after symbolically toppling the statue of the Soviet Union’s founder Vladimir Lenin during a gigantic rally in central Kiev.

Hundreds of protestors braved early morning sub-freezing temperatures to maintain the open-ended demonstration on Independence Square in Kiev while others staffed barricades thrown up the day earlier around key government buildings.

“It is impossible now to make a step backwards,” said protestor Volodymyr

Kiblyk from the central town of Znamenka who has been at the Kiev protests for two weeks.

Hundreds of thousands had on Sunday filled Independence Square to bursting point to denounce Yanukovych’s rejection of an EU pact under Kremlin pressure, in the biggest protests since the 2004 Orange Revolution.

In a hugely symbolic denouement to the rally, dozens of masked protesters, some brandishing flags of the ultra-nationalist Svoboda (Freedom) party, tore down a 3.4 metre (11 feet) high statue of Lenin after putting a rope noose round his neck.

They then hacked away with axes at

the remnants of the monument lying flat on the ground. Parts of the statue including one of its hands were afterwards triumphantly brandished at the main demonstration on Independence Square.

Police opened a criminal probe into “mass riots” over the felling of the monument but said Monday that so far no-one has been arrested over the incident.

Upping the stakes in the confrontation, demonstrators have erected oneand-a-half metre (five feet) high barricades outside the seat of government, making it impossible for ministers to go to their offices by car. l

The peace process between Turkey and Kurdish rebels appeared fragile on Monday after three days of violent confrontations rocked the Kurdish southeast.

The weekend clashes in several cities, which left two protesters dead and saw four Turkish soldiers briefly kidnapped, were the worst since Kurdish rebels announced a ceasefire nine months ago.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday accused certain groups of trying to damage the peace process.

“These are actions perpetrated by those who want to hurt the process,” Erdogan said. “However, we will continue the process... without falling into this trap.”

Kerry ideas will cause ‘total failure’ of talks: Palestinians n AFP, Ramallah US proposals on security presented by Secretary of State John Kerry will lead to the “total failure” of peace talks with Israel, a senior Palestinian official told AFP on Monday.

“These ideas will drive Kerry’s efforts to an impasse and to total failure because he is treating our issues with a high degree of indifference,” said Yasser Abed Rabbo, a top official with the Palestine Liberation Organisation, referring to the US diplomat’s proposals on future security arrangements in the Jordan Valley.

His remarks were made just days after Kerry’s latest visit to the region,

100,000 genomes to be mapped in Saudi Arabia n Tribune Desk Up to 100,000 people in Saudi Arabia are to have their genetic codes mapped in a new human genome project. The research will look at genes linked with diseases, and pave the way for prenatal and premarital screening.

The project, funded by the Saudi Arabian national science agency, will create a DNA database to develop personalised medicine.

A similar UK scheme is under way to map the genomes of 100,000 NHS patients.

Genome studies are moving from analysing the personal DNA code of individuals for research purposes, to clinical applications, such as treatments tailored to the genetic makeup of cancers. The Saudi effort will focus on sequencing 100,000 human genomes over the next five years to study both normal genes and those linked to disease.

King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology president Dr Mohammed Bin Ibrahim Al Suwayl said: “We have clear strategy and policy of the importance of science to a knowledge-based society and we believe the Saudi human genome programme will

help shape the understanding of health and disease and usher in an era of personalised medicine in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and we are grateful for the investment and vision of the Saudi leadership.”

The research will take place at 10 genome centres across Saudi Arabia, with another five genome centres to be created in coming years. UK genome expert Dr Ewan Birney, said while big genetic differences between Middle Eastern populations and populations outside the Middle East were unlikely, there may be a slightly different spectrum of genetic diseases in Saudi Arabia. Commenting on the announcement of the project, Dr Birney, associate director at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory - European Bioinformatics Institute, said: “I’m excited that Saudi Arabia is taking a substantial step forward in sequencing genomes in their clinical healthcare. “I hope to see broader engagement between Western countries and Middle Eastern countries in this area, and data sharing and expertise sharing in both directions.” A number of genome sequencing efforts are under way around the world. l

Nigeria’s president said he has given his backing to the creation of an African rapid reaction force, adding that it could help tackle the Boko Haram insurgency, in comments published Monday.

“We fully support this rapid reaction force,” Goodluck Jonathan told French radio station RFI in an interview on the sidelines of the recent France-Africa summit in Paris.

Jonathan’s French counterpart Francois Hollande called for an African force to be set up, and said France was prepared to train 20,000 soldiers a year if the project goes ahead.

Hollande said France was offering to provide equipment, logistical support and advice on coordination for the force, and was seeking wider European Union funding for it to be operational by 2015.

Jonathan said he envisaged that the force could be deployed to hotspots across the continent, including in northern Nigeria, which has been in the grip of Islamist-linked violence since 2009.

Sustained attacks blamed on Boko Haram prompted the government in Abuja to impose a state of emergency in three northern states – Borno,

which focused squarely on Israel’s security needs in any future peace deal.

Proposals laid out by Kerry and his security adviser General John Allen were reportedly welcomed by the Israelis but were coldly dismissed by the Palestinians, with one official describing them as “very bad ideas which we cannot accept.”

Commentators said the proposals would allow Israel to maintain a military presence in the Jordan Valley, which runs down the eastern flank of the West Bank, in a move completely rejected by the Palestinians who claim it would make a mockery of their sovereignty and merely perpetuate the occupation. l

S Africans remember Mandela with praise and prayers

n Reuters

Citizens release doves in a symbolic gesture of freedom at an evening inter-faith prayer service for Mandela in Cape Town

French troops start Africa rapid reaction force disarming fighters in CAR could tackle Boko Haram Yobe and Adamawa – to try to stop the n AFP, Bangui n AFP, Lagos bloodshed. The military has claimed French troops on Monday began disarming fighters in the Central African Republic after a swell in sectarian violence that has claimed hundreds of lives and terrified inhabitants.

But Paris warned the task would be difficult as former Seleka rebels who seized power in a March coup shed their combat gear to avoid detection, and clashed sporadically with soldiers dispatched to quell violence in the unstable country.

Announcing the beginning of the disarmament, the army’s general staff said the process was going smoothly for the moment, despite a brief shootout Monday morning between soldiers and armed men near the airport.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius warned that the disarmament would not be “an easy task.”

“The problem is that many of the former Seleka (rebels) have traded their uniforms for civilian clothes... and it is difficult to identify individuals,” he said on France Inter radio.

France is deploying 1,600 soldiers to its former colony, which has plunged into chaos since the Seleka rebels seized power, with reports of widespread rape and public killings taking place. l

The wave of unrest was triggered by reports that cemeteries containing the bodies of fighters from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the southeastern town of Yuksekova had been destroyed – claims denied by the local authorities.

Two protesters were shot dead by police in clashes in Yuksekova on Friday night, setting off weekend protests in several towns including the main southeastern city of Diyarbakir and even Turkey’s biggest metropolis Istanbul.

In a statement from his prison cell, jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan denounced the deaths.

“These killings are a great provocation against the peace process,” said Ocalan. l

that the banned militant group has been pushed into more remote, rural areas, yet violence has continued.

Last week, Boko Haram launched a daring raid on military targets in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, leading to a city-wide curfew.

Jonathan said the state of emergency, which was extended for another six months in November, had been effective, particularly in Adamawa state.

But he said the Maiduguri attack demonstrated that Boko Haram should not be underestimated – and raised the possibility that the group was getting outside support, particularly in the supply of weapons.

Jonathan meanwhile dismissed repeated claims from human rights groups about abuses against Boko Haram suspects held at military detention facilities in the north.

He said those claims had been exaggerated but he had nevertheless sanctioned the release of one billion naira ($6.2 million, 4.5 million euros) to improve conditions.

Arrested Boko Haram militants were held in “satisfactory” conditions, he added, reiterating that the government was open to dialogue with the militant group. l

Car bomb and roadside bombings kill 15 in Iraq n AP, Baghdad A car bomb outside a cafe and other attacks in central Iraq killed at least 15 people on Monday, officials said.

The car bomb went off outside the cafe in the town of Buhriz, about 60 kilometers (35 miles) north of the capital, Baghdad, killing 12 people and wounding 24, police officials said.

In the southwestern suburbs of Baghdad, a roadside bomb hit a car with anti-al-Qaida Sunni fighters, killing two and wounding three, police and hospital officials said.

The Sunni militia group, known as the Sahwa, had joined forces with US troops at the height of the Iraq war to fight al-Qaida. Since then, it has been a target for Sunni insurgents, who call its members traitors. Also Monday, a roadside bomb targeted an army patrol just south of the capital, killing one Iraqi soldier and wounded two others.

Hospital officials confirmed the casualty figures for all the attacks. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Monday’s attacks, but insurgent groups frequently target civilians in cafes and public areas, as well as members of the security forces. l

COURTESY

With hymns and eulogies, South Africans of all colors and creeds remembered Nelson Mandela in a day of prayers on Sunday, holding him up as a symbol of freedom, forgiveness and hope for the nation and the world.

At churches, mosques, synagogues and community halls from the Limpopo River to the Cape, millions offered praise and reflected on a man celebrated as “Father of the Nation” and as a global beacon of integrity, rectitude and reconciliation.

Mandela, South Africa’s first black president who steered his nation out of apartheid and into multi-racial democracy, died on Thursday at the age of 95 after months of illness. Since then, the country has been gripped by an outpouring of emotion unrivalled since Mandela’s release from 27 years of prison in 1990 and his subsequent election victory. Crowds have piled flowers, candles, balloons and messages outside his Johannesburg home. l

WORLD WATCH WW 2 era Japanese submarine found off Hawaii coast

Scientists plumbing the Pacific Ocean off the Hawaii coast have discovered a World War Two era Japanese submarine, a technological marvel that had been preparing to attack the Panama Canal before being scuttled by US forces. The 400-foot (122-meter) “Sen-Toku” class vessel — among the largest pre-nuclear submarines ever built - was found in August off the southwest coast of Oahu and had been missing since 1946, scientists at the University of Hawaii at Manoa said. The I-400 and its sister ship, the I-401, which was found off Oahu in 2005, were able to travel one and a half times around the world without refueling and could hold up to three folding-wing bombers that could be launched minutes after resurfacing, the scientists said. The accidental discovery of the 1-400, an aircraft-toting I-400 mega sub, on the rock- and debris-littered ocean floor, some 2,300 feet beneath the surface, has solved the mystery surrounding a ship long thought to be further afield.

Why Teenage Brains Are Different From Everyone Else’s Being a teenager is as infuriating as it is amazing. Caught between childhood and adulthood, adolescents often have fully developed bodies, but their brains are still under construction. Here’s what neuroscience is learning about the remarkable teenage brain, and how it affects behavior. Humans go through two

distinct developmental phases, childhood and adolescence, the latter being defined as the transition into adulthood, starting with puberty and ending (at least in theory) with the successful independence from the parent. Though many pubescent teens ook like adults, their brains are still growing and changing. As hard as it is to believe, the maturation phase doesn’t typically end until we reach our early 20s; we take a very long time to truly grow up.

Facebook Makes Us Sadder And Less Satisfied, Study Finds

Facebook’s mission “to make the world more open and connected” is a familiar refrain among company leaders. But the latest research shows connecting 1.1 billion users around the world may come at a psychological cost. A new University of Michigan study on college-aged adults finds that the more they used Facebook, the worse they felt. The study, published in the journal PLOS One, found Facebook use led to declines in moment-to-moment happiness and overall life satisfaction.

Researchers tested the variables of happiness and satisfaction in real time on 82 participants. The researchers text-messaged them five times a day for two weeks to examine how Facebook use influenced how they felt. Participants responded to questions about loneliness, anxiety and general emotional well-being.

The study authors did not get at the reasons Facebook made their test subjects feel glum. But Jonides suspects it may have to do with social comparison.

DHAKA TRIBUNE

International

Thai PM dissolves Parliament

Foreign worker riot shocks Singapore

n AP, Bangkok Desperate to defuse Thailand’s deepening political crisis, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Monday said she is dissolving the lower house of Parliament and called for early elections.

But the moves did nothing to stem a growing tide of more than 150,000 protesters vowing to overthrow her in one of the nation’s largest demonstrations in years.

Analysts said the steps come too late and are unlikely to satisfy opponents who want to rid Thailand of her powerful family’s influence. The protesters are pushing for a non-elected “people’s council” to replace her democratically elected government.

Thailand has been plagued by major bouts of upheaval Yingluck’s brother Thaksin was toppled in a 2006 army coup that laid bare a deeper conflict between the elite and the educated middle-class against Thaksin’s power base in the countryside, which benefited from populist policies designed to win over the rural poor.

An attempt by Yingluck’s party last month to pass a bill through Parliament that would have granted amnesty to Thaksin and others triggered the latest round of unrest.

“After listening to opinions from all sides, I have decided to request a royal decree to dissolve Parliament,” said Yingluck, her voice shaking as she spoke in a nationally televised address Monday morning that broke into reg-

Commuter train, truck collide in Jakarta; 7 dead

n AP, Jakarta

A commuter train collided with a truck hauling gasoline in Indonesia’s capital Monday, killing at least seven people and sending a fireball of orange flames and black smoke shooting skyward.

The collision in southern Jakarta killed the train engineer, a technician and at least five others, said Jakarta police spokesman Col. Rikwanto, who uses one name like many Indonesians. More than 70 people were injured, according to Budi Satriyo, chief of Suyoto Hospital.

“The engineer attempted to brake, but then a fuel truck ran onto the railroad tracks and the brakes could not stop it from hitting the truck. It exploded and bounced off,” said Imron, a passenger who escaped from a vehicle nearby. “It happened so fast!”

The burned-out passenger car was seen lying on its side while plumes of black smoke billowed from parts of the engulfed train. It was headed to central Jakarta when it hit the truck carrying 24,000 liters (6,340 gallons) of gasoline just before noon. About 500 passengers were aboard the train’s eight cars, and all train signals were working at the time of the crash, said train company spokesman Sukendar Mulya. The driver survived and was being treated at a hospital. Two train cars derailed, including a women-only car, as hundreds of panicked passengers ran away, many screaming and crying. Rescuers pulled out three bodies pinned under the wreckage, said Sukarno, a firefighter. The cause of the accident is being investigated. l

n AFP, Singapore

Anti-government protesters make their way on a street during a march rally in Bangkok ular programing. “There will be new elections according to the democratic system.”

Yingluck’s ruling party won the last vote two years ago in a landslide, and is likely to come out victorious in any new ballot. Government spokesman Teerat Ratanasevi said the Cabinet had proposed a new vote be held Feb. 2. The date must be approved by the Election Commission, and electoral officials will meet with the government

in the next few days to discuss it, said Jinthong Intarasri, a spokeswoman for commission.

Yingluck said she will remain in a caretaker capacity until a new premier is named.

As Yingluck spoke Monday, long columns of marching protesters paralyzed traffic on major Bangkok boulevards, filling four-lane roads as they converged from nine locations on Yingluck’s office at Government House.

AP

Many feared the day could end violently and more than 60 Thai and international schools have closed as a precaution.

Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban said he would announce his reaction to Yingluck’s moves once his march reaches Government House. He has repeatedly said, however, that calling fresh elections and even Yingluck’s resignation would not be enough to end the conflict. l

Singapore faced shocking scenes of burning cars and littered streets Monday following a riot by South Asian workers in the worst outbreak of violence in more than 40 years in the tightly controlled city-state.

The hour-long fracas on Sunday night, triggered when an Indian construction worker was struck and killed by a private bus in the Little India district, compelled Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to order the creation of a special committee to investigate the incident.

Police said about 400 people were involved in the riot, and that 27 South Asian workers had been arrested on charges punishable by up to seven years in prison as well as caning.

Lee said there could be “no excuse” for the rampage that left 39 police and civil defence staff injured, and 25 vehicles – including 16 police cars – damaged or torched.

“The riot was an isolated incident arising from the unlawful actions of an unruly mob reacting to a fatal traffic accident,” Lee said in a statement.

“We must not allow this bad incident to tarnish our views of the foreign worker community here.”

Lee added that the committee of inquiry to be convened by the interior ministry will review the factors that led

New party’s wins leave Delhi leadership unclear n AP, New Delhi

A new political party pledging to sweep corruption from the Indian capital made surprising gains in state elections, grabbing a huge share of votes from the incumbent Congress party and leaving Delhi with no clear leader on Monday — and no party willing to form a coalition.

The fledgling Aam Aadmi Party, or Common Man’s Party, seized 28 of Delhi’s 70 assembly seats just nine months after its formation. The Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party took first place with 31, while Congress was left with a meager eight, a stunning decline from its previous 43.

All three ruled out entering into a governing alliance, leaving the capital in a leadership lurch and raising the possibility of new elections.

“Since I don’t have the magic number of 36, I really cannot be part of the government formation in Delhi,” the BJP’s chief ministerial candidate, Harsh Vardhan, said after the election results were released late Sunday.

The Aam Aadmi Party was just as adamant about remaining on the outside.

“We are not going to form the government. We will sit in the opposition,” top AAP member Yogendra Yadav said, according to the Press Trust of India news agency. “We have not got a majority, so it is very surprising that the No. 1 party (BJP) is not ready to form the government and telling us to do so.”

The statements seemed to suggest that neither party would seek to form

Supporters throw flower petals as Arvind Kejriwal, center, leader of India’s Aam Aadmi Party, or Common Man’s Party, speaks as they celebrate the party’s performance in Delhi AP an insecure minority government that would have to rely on outside support. The idea of poaching Congress members appeared anathema to both parties bent on giving the capital’s 17 million people a fresh start.

‘We are not going to form the government. We will sit in the opposition’ “I don’t believe in coalition politics,” said AAP’s founder, Arvind Kejriwal, a former tax accountant who last year organized enormous anti-corruption protests that helped make India’s systematic graft a subject of national outrage.

Delhi may be left with a nonpartisan caretaker administration until new elections can be held.

Experts said the AAP’s success in the capital, which it hopes to repeat in nationwide elections next year, resulted from its singular focus on eliminating the corruption that plagues all levels of Indian government, from top officials embroiled in multimillion-dollar scandals to minor bureaucrats demanding token bribes for basic services.

The party chose a broom as its symbol, signifying its promise to sweep government clean.

It carried out a two-pronged campaign — reaching out to university professors, activists and students by social media while sending hundreds of

volunteers into Delhi’s poorest neighborhoods. The platform hit a nerve.

Already reeling from runaway inflation and slowing economic growth, Delhi residents have become incensed over graft.

“What was incredible was the cross-section support for AAP from top-level elites to rickshaw drivers and house cleaners, from rich, poor, young and old,” Delhi-based independent political analyst Arati Jerath said. “The dominant emotion was disillusionment with mainstream parties and traditional politics, with their cold, mathematical calculations over how to woo voters.”

The Washington-based Global Financial Integrity institute estimates that bribery, corruption and kickbacks inIndia have resulted in at least $462 billion being secreted in foreign accounts since 1948. In 2010, Indians moved $1.6 billion overseas, according to the watchdog, which listed India in the top 10 countries sending illicit funds abroad.

Leaders of the Congress party — long the dominant force in Indian politics — pledged a period of soul-searching to analyze what went wrong in the elections. Congress also lost by landslides to BJP in the states of Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.

“We will introspect and take action to rectify our mistakes,” Congress leader Sonia Gandhi said, before calling an emergency meeting of party officials Monday.

Votes were still being counted in northeast Mizoram state, with results expected late Monday. l

Hagel to meet with Pakistan’s PM Abe defends Japan China withholds visas for n AP, Islamabad US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel arrived in Pakistan Monday for meetings with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the nation’s new army chief, hoping to further repair a strained and sputtering relationship between Washington and Islamabad. His visit comes on the heels of the latest interruption of US military shipments out of Afghanistan through the main border crossings into Pakistan.

Anti-American protests along the route in Pakistan prompted the US to stop the shipments from Torkham Gate through Karachi last week, due to worries about the safety of the truckers.

The protests center on the CIA’s drone program, which has targeted and killed

many terrorists but has also caused civilian casualties. Pakistan has called the drone attacks a violation of the country’s sovereignty, but the issue is muddied by the fact that Islamabad and the Pakistani military have supported at least some of the strikes in the past.

Sharif’s office said in a statement the prime minister and Hagel had “in-depth exchanges on a whole range of issues of mutual interest” including bilateral defense, security cooperation and Afghanistan. Sharif’s office also said the prime minister conveyed Pakistan’s deep concern over continuing US drone strikes, “stressing that drone strikes were counter-productive to our efforts to combat terrorism and extremism on an enduring basis,” the statement said.l

Pakistan’s army chief General Raheel Sharif (R) meets with US defence secretary Chuck Hagel at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi AFP

secrets law as poll ratings plunge n AFP, Tokyo

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday defended as “necessary” an unpopular secrets law that he rushed through parliament, as a new poll showed his support rating had plunged 10 percent in a month.

The conservative hawk admitted he could have better explained the new law, but insisted that it was a vital step to protect Japan and bring it into line with its allies.

“Unless our country establishes rules to manage confidential information, we cannot obtain such information from other countries,” he told reporters. “In order to protect people’s lives and property, it was necessary to pass the special secrecy law as quickly as possible.”

The bill, which vastly broadens the scope of information that ministers can designate as a state secret, was railroaded through both chambers in just a month, thanks to the handsome majority Abe commands in the two houses.

Supporters have claimed Japan’s notoriously leaky government machine needs to be plugged to help support the creation of a new US-style National Security Council, and to encourage ally Washington to share its secrets. l

9

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

NYT, Bloomberg reporters n AP, Beijing Chinese authorities have been withholding residence visas for reporters working for The New York Times and Bloomberg in apparent retaliation for the agencies’ investigative stories on wealth accumulated by leaders’ families.

If authorities do not soon start approving renewals for visas due to expire by the end of the year, it would effectively shut down or significantly curtail the two organizations’ newsgathering operations in the country.

The Foreign Correspondents Club of China said in an emailed statement to members Monday that none of the correspondents working for The Times and Bloomberg in China have been able to renew their residence visas for next year. “The authorities have given no public explanation for their actions, leading to the impression that they have been taken in reprisal for reporting that displeased the government,” the statement said.

A Bloomberg spokeswoman in Singapore declined comment while The Times did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Beijing’s Public Security Bureau, which grants residence permits, did

not respond to a faxed list of questions.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Monday at a regular briefing that China’s treatment of foreign journalists consistently follows laws and regulations.

US Vice President Joe Biden met with US journalists working in Beijing during his visit last week and publicly criticized their treatment by the Chinese government.

Biden also raised the issue directly with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The Times and Bloomberg have nearly two dozen journalists in China whose visas are up for renewal by the end of the month and that Beijing has refused to act on them, the paper reported last week. In addition, the Times has been unable to obtain resident journalist visas for its China bureau chief Philip Pan and correspondent Chris Buckley.

Beijing-based reporters from The Times were among those who met with Biden. The newspaper said he told them that he warned Chinese leaders there would be repercussions for China if the journalists were expelled, especially in Congress. The Times said Biden told reporters that Xi insisted that foreign journalists were being treated according to Chinese law. l

to the riot, as well as existing measures to manage areas where foreign workers congregate. Singapore is one of the wealthiest places in the world, but the island republic of 5.4 million people depends heavily on guest workers, with labourers from South Asia dominating sectors like construction.

Widely regarded as one of the world’s safest societies, the city-state prides itself on social order and racial harmony, and many citizens expressed dismay over the mayhem.

“My God,” a reader named Hayeden wrote on the Yahoo! Singapore website.

“How can such a thing happen to my Singapore.”

Prominent blogger Andrew Loh said Singaporeans were astonished as “we have not seen something of this scale before.”

Police said the 27 men arrested were aged between 23 and 45, and included 24 Indian nationals, two Bangladeshis and one Singapore permanent resident.

Analysts played down suggestions that the riot, which was brought under control by elite police commandoes, could be an indication of wider discontent among poorly paid migrant workers.

Devadas Krishnadas, the founder and managing director of Future-Moves, a Singapore-based risk consultancy, said it was “an isolated incident where a variety of factors combined to blow matters out of hand.” l

Frustrated India investors cheer opposition gains n AP, Mumbai Sweeping wins for India’s pro-business opposition party in state elections are being welcomed by investors as a sign that national polls next year will deliver a government capable of tackling the malaise in Asia’s third-largest economy.

India’s benchmark Sensex stock index surged 1.6 percent Monday to a record high after official results confirmed the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party trounced the ruling Congress Party in four heartland states, including the capital New Delhi.

Business leaders are openly cheering on the BJP. Several surveys show overwhelming business support for its prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi, reflecting widespread frustration with the ruling Congress-led government’s failure to end extravagant corruption and scythe through a thicket of bureaucratic red tape that has stifled investment.

India’s economy has slowed from an average 8 percent growth over a decade to less than 5 percent in the last year, too slow to alleviate the poverty affecting hundreds of millions of people or provide enough jobs for its swelling population.

Investors hope the BJP can do better, given an earlier incarnation as a government that opened markets.

They are especially banking on Modi’s reputation for promoting the western state of Gujarat, which he’s led for 12 years, as an industrial haven. l

Purge sends chilling message to NKorea’s elite n AP, Seoul While the rest of North Korea’s top brass leaped to their feet before Kim Jong Un, clapping wildly in a requisite show of respect at high-level meetings, his uncle, Jang Song Thaek, often seemed nonchalant, at times even bored. Once considered the force behind the young leader, he displayed a bold insouciance that seemed calculated to show he was beyond reach. So by purging his own uncle, Kim has delivered a more chilling message: No one is beyond the rule of law, not even family. Jang’s fall from grace, accompanied by allegations from corruption to womanizing and capped by his dramatic arrest at a party meeting Sunday, has no doubt spooked Pyongyang’s elite. It also suggests Kim is still trying to consolidate the power he inherited from his father two years ago. This is far from Kim’s first purge. Several defense ministers and army chiefs have been replaced as the Workers’ Party has asserted control over the military after 17 years of military-first rule under late leader Kim Jong Il. But it is the ouster of Jang, who had been considered North Korea’s second-most-powerful figure, that sends the strongest signal to anyone seeking to challenge Kim Jong Un. l

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Letters to

www.dhakatribune.com

the Editor

LETTER OF THE DAY

WTO deal only the first step

An open letter to the people of my country to stand up against political burning December 5 Dear readers, I would like for you to participate in an experiment with me. For the first part, light a matchstick, then immediately cover your hand over it. Keep the lit match under your hand for half a minute. The second part is the same, but with two matchsticks.

I don’t know if you succeeded but I do know very few succeed (I could bear up to 5-6 seconds). And I merely proposed this to bring you on the same page as those who are lying now in Dhaka Medical College hospital. Imagine what you felt on your hand multiplied by a thousand and on 60% of your body. You might find my explanation gruesome but it needed to be done for you to understand.

Why? Because I want you to be as outraged as me at the injustice that is happening in our country. We live in a time when it is okay to throw petrol bombs at buses filled with innocents, yet our country isn’t at war nor is there a civil revolution, just the passing of the torch. My dear politicians, how much money is enough and how much power is plentiful? For how long will we suffer and why should we?

Can you not hear my outrage? Can you not feel my pain, and the pain the burn victims are in? Feel the anger within you dear readers. Let your outcry be heard so that it rings out in unison: “Stop!” I urge the youth to come out of the safety of our houses and march to Shahabag where 18 souls were burnt. Don’t be silent.

Wasique Islam

B

angladesh’s delegation to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) summit in Bali deserves praise for helping the WTO to increase the level of duty-free and quota-free market access for developing countries in the world’s leading markets.

Consensus has been reached on a deal which seeks to improve terms of trade and slash customs red tape, while allowing developing countries to retain subsidies for welfare programs to feed the poor.

This agreement is however only the start. In order to fully benefit from the changes, Bangladesh and other developing countries still need to negotiate enhanced trade facilIn order to fully ities with other states. The Bali deal merely provides a clearer benefit from the framework. Progress needs to changes, Bangladesh be furthered on agreements still needs to such as TICFA in order to reap negotiate enhanced the benefits with countries trade facilities with such as the US. other states Some estimates suggest the deal will reduce the cost of doing business by 10% to 15% and thereby provide a $1tn boost to annual global trade.

However, this is only a crude average. Bangladesh faces many trade barriers in the SAARC region, notably with India, the removal of which could boost the economy as much as improved deals with China or the EU. The scale of the task remaining should not be underestimated therefore. Whether measured in terms of the size of the country’s exports or the size of its economy, 10% to 15% growth represents billions of dollars. Such amounts will not just magically flow through our doors. Exporters need to keep raising their game and the government needs to be vigilant in representing the country’s interests in trade negotiations, in order to allow the economy to compete and grow.

Considering political gain through education Now Ershad backtracks from polls December 3 Lutfor Rahman We are fed up with the ongoing political turmoil. Till today we have seen no sign of holding the much expected dialogue between these two rivals. The whole country is now a place of panic. There is no surety whether one will come home or not, once one steps out the door.

One may be victimised in a cocktail/ petrol bomb explosion. Normal life has been severely obstructed. Under these circumstances, the government should be more flexible to meet the opposition’s demand for holding the next national polls under a non-partisan government.

Wakho There is a proverb in Bangla, “Torabalir paye ball, dui goalkeeper shabdhan” (Torab Ali has got the ball, goalkeepers on both sides must be careful.) HM Ershad is a personification of this proverb. There is still time for the people to watch on which side he finally scores his goal. :-)

Corruption remains a challenge

D

ecember 9 is marked by the UN as international anti-corruption day.

Whilst Bangladesh may have improved slightly in studies on corruption compared to previous years, the problem remains vast. Bangladesh scores only 27 points out of 100 in Transparency International’s most recent global ranking of levels of public sector corruption. Its score is second from bottom in the South Asia region ahead only of Myanmar, so the fact that Bangladesh moved to 136th from the 144th position is only a small consolation.

The Anti-Corruption ComThe political crisis mission notes the country should not deflect still has a long way to go to attention from the adequately challenge and reurgent need for action duce corruption. The recently to fight corruption passed law, which requires government approval for the filing of cases by the ACC against judges, magistrates and public servants, weakens its powers and is clearly a retrograde step in the fight against corruption.

As political interference in the public sector is the strongest driver for corruption in Bangladesh, this move should be reviewed and reversed.

The consequences of corruption are serious. Corruption is a major impediment to progress on all development and economic goals. High levels of public sector corruption directly hurt our prospects of attracting foreign business and investment.

Campaigners against this scourge deserve more support.

The political crisis should not deflect attention from the urgent need for action to fight corruption.

December 2 The incumbent government has not taken any initiative to create a congenial atmosphere in the government primary school at Bagaichhari in Rangamati. More than 500 hundred students attend this school and teachers have had to take some classes in the verandas. Haats have been held in the school premises, the ceiling has cracks and is damp, as are the walls, and the building my collapse any time. There’s a lack of classrooms, of qualified teachers, suitable blackboards, and too many students.

The government is planning to give out multimedia projectors, laptops and other accessories, but this will be a loss of public money.

In each upazila in this area, only one or two schools are well-suited for multimedia classes, so it makes sense to give it only to them, and bring the other schools up to scratch first.

After all, education should not be the means of political gain.

Mawduda Hasnin, Rajshahi

December 3

Common sense states that BNP wants power and will get it with the illiterate, uneducated people’s support.

They want to show people they are fighting for liberation, as we did to liberate Bangladesh from Pakistan. But the Awami League invited Khaleda Zia to accept an important part in the all-party interim government to ensure political field is level for all parties including the AL. So why does she not accept the AL’s invitation to make the field level?

It indicates Khaleda Zia wants power by force, to paralyse the country. Why do she and her party not understand that when EU and UNO are committed to monitoring the election and ensuring it’s free and fair, she has nothing to fear? The BNP has no confidence in the people.

Afzalur Rahman Helal

EC staff found dead in city

December 3 Very sad news as any unnatural death always is. But this could be unrelated to his job! It reminds me of a news item long time back. “A Bangladesh Biman passenger is hijacked near Gulistan,” cried the daily.

As if the airline had something to do with it!

WaliulHaqueKhondker

Be Heard Write to us at: Dhaka Tribune FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath Sukrabad, Dhaka-1207 Email us at: letters@dhakatribune.com

‘BNP against polls because popularity down’ December 4

Here you can produce anything if that is what you desire.

Malcolm Arnold

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

CALVIN AND HOBBES

PEANUTS

CROSSWORD

SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS Crossword

ACROSS 1 Cordial (6) 5 Allow (3) 7 Vegetable (3) 8 Whole (6) 11 Knight’s title (3) 12 Farm animals (5) 14 Deserve (4) 16 Staggers (5) 18 Woody plants (5) 20 Chair (4) 21 Make suitable (5) 23 Unwell (3) 24 Heavenly body (6) 27 Consumed (3) 28 Distress signal (3) 29 Cold symptom (6)

Two killed in Chittagong blockade violence

DOWN 1 Garden tool (3) 2 Liable (3) 3 Was monarch (7) 4 Edible rootstock (4) 5 One granted a lease (6) 6 Push forcibly (6) 9 At hand (4) 10 Corn spike (3) 13 Having left a will (7) 14 Science of morals (6) 15 Kingdoms (6) 17 Be idle (4) 19 Undermine (3) 22 Scheme (4) 25 Born (3) 26 Digit (3)

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

Code-Cracker

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

The conviction of Bangladesh

A pledge for human rights n Shohag Mostafij

H

uman rights education is about more than merely the knowledge of a set of rules and principles. It is also about attitude and behaviour. Everyone must be shown how human rights are relevant to them, and how they can apply these rights in their life and work. Frederick Douglass said: “Knowledge makes a man unfit to be a slave.” Once we are aware of our rights, we feel powerful, since knowledge is power.

Human Rights Day is observed around the globe on December 10 to honour the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

What is the proportional response?

I

n Ikhtisad Ahmed

rony is a word that is readily misused, particularly by the generations born in the 1980s and 1990s. Alanis Morissette’s famous song “Ironic” shoulders a lot of the blame for subjecting millions of people to a supposedly profound word and forcing upon them its various incorrect usages.

One might be tempted to turn to this word when thinking or talking about the tributes paid by Bangladeshi politicians to the now late great Nelson Mandela. There can be no doubt that human beings of his stature are rare to the point of being non-existent.

However, when Bangladeshi leaders talk about Tata Mandela’s legacy being one of choosing reconciliation over revenge, peace and unity over hatred and discrimination, irony is somehow too small a word. There is merit in arguing that it is hypocritical, but that too somehow falls short.

The deeply divided nation is experiencing what is a civil war in all but name. While no one is asking, nor caring about what the people want, it does not matter because they are little more than a pawn and an inconvenience in the violent game that is being played out in the name of politics and democracy, fuelled by hate, discrimination and greed.

The facts remain that nameless people are dying, and that unnamed people are being paid to carry out these heinous acts. Regardless of who

is behind all of this, the one thing that cannot be disputed is that none of this is acceptable in a civilised society in the 21st century.

What makes this particular strategy, one that has been adopted by the mafia and drug lords to great effect, even more distasteful, as if that was possible, is that children are involved. They are dying, and they are being used to carry out violent acts and supposed protests.

DHAKA TRIBUNE

portional response is given credence as it is believed to be the one thing that forces nuclear powers to exercise restraint. Forgotten in that argument is Claude Eatherly, unwittingly complicit in the bombing of Hiroshima.

Horrified when he found out the consequences of his actions, he campaigned against nuclear proliferation and was discredited by the authorities. The Bangladeshi population is suffering from not having the likes of

There never has been, nor will there ever be proportionality in retribution, because retribution by definition is about crushing the other side since it is responsible for a slight, perceived or real

The inevitable escalation of violence in Bangladesh is attributable to the world’s belief in disproportional response. Global politics promulgates proportional response. Evidence suggests there is no such thing.

Kill an archduke, the world goes to war. A harbour that is a military base is attacked, drop a nuclear bomb on innocents. Two towers collapse, level two countries. There never has been, nor will there ever be proportionality in retribution, because retribution by definition is about crushing the other side since it is responsible for a slight, perceived or real.

The virtue of the principle of a pro-

Eatherly in its midst, and from having an establishment that does not have the restraint that keeps superpowers from unleashing a nuclear holocaust.

Moreover, the argument about the bomb is one of morality, not proportionality. Sadly, this too is lacking in Bangladesh. Thus, all that remains is the doctrine of disproportional response that results in exponentially increasing violence every time either side acts.

The incomparably irresponsible Bangladeshi politicians can be counted on to be reliable about one thing: blaming the opposing faction. It is always the other side that is accused of

11

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

unconscionable death, and the cost of lives is worn as a badge of honour that displays political strength.

Those who apparently know better, variously applaud such actions and their justifications, get on their high horses and deride such inhuman incidents, or arrogantly state that they had posited as much.

In the practice of indulging their egos so, they neither do anything to prevent the ludicrous repetitions and disproportional responses, nor give the populace the leadership and hope it so desperately needs in these never-ending testing, turbulent times. The sideshow of clairvoyants and savants, like the political strife, has gone on for too long.

The political system that passes for democracy in Bangladesh was birthed by one-time apostles, clothed as intellectuals, as those who know better. In reality, these apostates resuscitated ailing dynasties who have brought the nation to its knees and still show neither care nor remorse for their greed-induced actions lacking completely in reason.

Having found a second wind, they show no signs of going anywhere.

Mandela is dead, and Bangladesh has been convicted. It will serve its punishment of being ruled by these dynasties because those who know so much have always done so little. l Ikhtisad Ahmed is a writer and an erstwhile lawyer. He can be contacted on Twitter via @ Ikhtisad.

There is an inseparable relationship between sustainable development and human rights. This relationship can be seen in many different ways. Yet, just as the environment and development are closely bound to each other, they are also bound to human rights. Respect for human rights has been recognised as a prerequisite for development. If people’s fundamental human rights are threatened, if people lack the basic human rights of food, health, education, shelter, freedom of expression, and the right to political participation, their ability to participate in sustainable development is hampered.

To address basic social and economic issues, as well as issues related to the environment, public mobilisation is needed. Yet, it is when public mobilisation happens that human rights are likely to be violated.

Environmental degradation as a result of irresponsible practices by governments, industry, and transnational corporations fundamentally infringe on the right of all people to a healthy environment, yet when these powers are challenged, there is a risk involved for those who dare to challenge them.

Where there are people willing to cry out and protect their land, community, environment or their rights, there are people willing to put their lives at risk. Indigenous people protecting their traditional culture and land face marginalisation and persecution.

Young people as a group often lack political power, and are often the ones willing to take risks in order to speak out against injustice. In some countries, entire generations have been wiped out through repression. Every day people die from hunger. One in three children suffers from malnutrition. This is one of the greatest violations of human rights in a world where the distribution of resources, rather than scarcity, is the problem.

Human Rights Day is observed around the globe on December 10. The date was chosen to honour the United

Nations General Assembly’s adoption and proclamation, on December 10, 1948, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the first global enunciation of human rights and one of the first major achievements of the new United Nations.

This year, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights marks 20 years since its establishment. The United Nations General Assembly created the mandate of high commissioner for the promotion and protection of all human rights in December 1993. The General Assembly was acting on a recommendation from delegates to the World Conference on Human Rights held in Vienna earlier the same year.

The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference, marked the beginning of a renewed effort in the protection and promotion of human rights, and is regarded as one of the most significant human rights documents of the past quarter century.

It is indeed high time to accelerate the pace of the global human rights movement. Once people know about their rights, they will want to be a part of this movement. Let’s share with each other what our human rights are.

Words are powerful weapons. Words have the power to evoke emotion.

There is no denying that knowing about the 30 articles in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) will motivate millions of people around the world. It will give hope to the discouraged in tough times, honour the dead, and change the course of history.

It is time to accelerate the pace of the human rights movement. Once people know about their rights, they will want to be a part of it Every single human being has the right to know about human rights. Many of us realise the fact and act accordingly.

Let’s be thankful for our awareness.

Let’s share the knowledge with others and make serious efforts.

This is our time. Let’s make a better world together through the human rights movement. Together, we can make human rights a global reality.

We must do it at this moment, as the Chinese proverb says: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the second best time is now.”

One of the greatest human rights advocates in the world, Nelson Mandela, passed away during the month of December. We can pledge to continue to uphold the spirit and ideology of Mandela for creating a world without discrimination. l Shohag Mostafij is a development professional.

Mandela changed politics n Mohammad Ali Sattar

I

would prefer to take a break from our political hullabaloo for a while.

I transport myself to the distant land of the great man who quietly passed away. He lived a quiet but steady and uncompromising life. He passed away in somber silence. He lived more than a full life of nearly a hundred years. He did not belong to our race or community, but he certainly left a lot that we can emulate.

African National Congress (ANC), white supremacy was being seriously put into question. The regime started pursuing the line of giving rights to blacks. The civil rights movement gained momentum everyday and there were agitations, demonstrations and killings. The horrifying scenes of torture by the government forces still give us the shivers.

The world could only witness the atrocities that took place in the open.

We heard about the merciless perse-

His appearance under the shades of Suhrawardy Udyan is part of our history. He touched our souls as he walked on our soil. But could we take anything from him?

NeIson Mandela was born in 1918 during the Great War, into a family where wealth and education was absent. He became the first to attend school in his family. South African history had been one of white rule of mindless ruthlessness and apartheid. Racism reached a new height prior to the arrival of Mandela as a leader of the downtrodden blacks. For decades, South Africa was known as a land of racism, and a breeding ground for hatred and class difference.

With the rise of Madiba and the

cution that was carried out inside different jails and torture houses. Many horrid accounts shall remain buried in the dampened soils of the dingy cells.

The most interesting part of his 27 years in jail was, not for a single day did the South Africans rest in their fight for rights. The idea of freedom sowed by the leader grew each day. It expanded with the winds and storms.

The spirit injected in their veins made the generation stronger and soon reached a point where they spoke only of freedom.

FW de Klerk replaced Botha as president of South Africa. By the time he took over, things became much more difficult for the whites to cling on to power. At last de Klerk declared in parliament that the authorities decided that Mandela would be freed unconditionally.

The history of South Africa took a sharp turn and started to be rewritten.

The world waited eagerly to have a glimpse of this man.

All these years in jail, Mandela could not speak his mind. The mountain that gradually built in him was unimaginably heavy, but even greater was his strength to carry the load and walk out into the open with all smiles and a sense of achievement.

Look at this man who came out of prison as an old man with the vigour of youth. The entire world was behind him. Not only South Africans, but the struggling people of the world waited to hear from him when he was off the circuit physically for nearly 30 years.

His life changed even before he was free. Society started to change.

Ideas of rights, freedom, and dignity reverberated in the far corners of the country, and generations grew a sense of belonging. Mandela’s breath emanated the power that brought about the steady revolutionary change in the thought process of the people.

That was his achievement, which no other leader could achieve in the last hundred years.

He walked out a frail man but

AFP

stronger in conviction. He renounced violence, and could successfully manage to guide his people to be peaceful.

It was the rarest instance of non-violent change.

The oppressive classes of the world braced themselves for a new genocide to be carried out by the new rulers of South Africa. They knew nothing could stop Mandela in avenging the losses and deaths.

He proved to the world that he was on a much higher plank. World leaders simply faded in his presence. As the

president of his people he guided them to be peaceful. He said goodbye to violence in his land. South Africans have a different society now.

The great man visited us in 1997. He spoke to us. He affirmed that people of South Africa was with us. His appearance under the shades of Suhrawardy Udyan is part of our history. He touched our souls as he walked on our soil. But could we take anything from him? l Mohammad Ali Sattar is a journalist, political analyst, and DT columnist.

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

City of Rhythm on at IAC

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Independent film making is not an easy task: Raffael Ahsan n Afrose Jahan Chaity Ferdous’ film Noy Chhoy will hit cinemas soon. Directed by Raffael Ahsan, the film is getting its release after a year of its making.

Along with celebrated actor Ferdous, the rest of the cast is comprised of Shahidul Alam Sachhu, Pran Roy, Moutushy and many more. The film is produced by Raffael as well, along with a bunch of young enthusiasts Rajib Kumar Datta, Naser Abdullah Al Naser and Aftab Hossain. The group received further support from renowned producer Khorshed Alam Khoshru, who helped them to complete the film.

Raffael Ahsan shares his experience with the Dhaka Tribune in an exclusive interview:

Artworks by Kazi Salahuddin Ahmed

n Entertainment Desk City of Rhythm, the 28th solo exhibition of Kazi Salahuddin Ahmed portrays the vibrant colours and the traditional way of life that is still present in the old town area of Dhaka. The exhibition jointly organised at the Institute of Asian Creatives by Shilpangon and IAC is a treat for art lovers as it showcases some unique pieces that try to highlight the fact that unity is rather more important than individuality that has created a havoc in our society.

At the exhibition, 38 artworks are on display that are composed of acrylic on canvas and experimental work of colouring bamboo mats with wood powder to add dimension and edge to the pieces. With the advent of modernity, pressure of urbanisation and development, old Dhaka is losing its appeal

and the structures are losing its value.

The artist is from the old town of Dhaka and has tried to capture the positive aspects of the close knitted society and settlement, through his experience as a local. His current exhibition is a reminiscence of his memories of the joy and closeness he enjoyed during his childhood and portrays the feeling of belonging that is apparent in such settlements.

About this exhibition, the artist mentions: “The main objective of my work is to break the stereotypes of old Dhaka, created by the dominant paradigm, that renders it useless. I grew up perceiving the Mughal architecture, that made the provincial center of commerce in Eastern Bengal. In my paintings, the structure and lives of the people have been reflected through forms, compositions and colours. The art-

works also incorporate elements from my childhood memories, aspects of daily existence and is blended together to reflect the fantastic rhythm, music, smell and texture of the old city.”

Salahuddin also said : “Commerce has always been the heart of old Dhaka, but the current level of commercialisation cannot be confined within the older part of Dhaka. As a result, marginalisation and decay have become the order of the day. All around me, lives and structure, of our heritage is falling apart. My artworks are an attempt to show our legacy and reinvent the old town.”

The inauguration of the exhibition was attended by Trustee of Shilpangan, Salahuddin Ahmed, President of the France Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Humayun Rashid and art critics Rabiul Hossain. l

Why is the film being released after such a lengthy period of its making?

Independent film making is not an easy task, throw in limited budget and it becomes the ultimate challenge. From the very beginning, we had to manage working with whatever means available at hand, as we did not have the proper budget to work on. The shooting went on for a long period, whenever we were able to arrange money, we went for a shoot. The post production process was also a bit difficult, as it is our first film, we had experimented a lot.

On the other hand, we had to change the name of the film, previously, it was titled Sixty-nine Patla Khan Lane, which is an address. It came as a shock, as we never expected this development. Suddenly, we received a call from FDC notifying us that the owner of a house with the address of our film’s title has opposed in using his home ad-

dress, as the title of our film. We even got a legal notice. We had to re-shoot and re-edit the film. But, we are thankful for the generous support from the Bangladesh Film Directors Association.

Why did you choose to make a comedy?

As a filmmaker, we want to come up with new approaches to filmmaking in our industry, where arranging proper budget and support for a film is a bit tough. A situational smart comedy is an interesting way to represent the truth

easily with facts and practical scenario of the society.

What is the film about?

It is a fun-filled story about everyday life. Ferdous, the protagonist of the film plays the character of a middle class employee, who faces family problems and career pressure. The clash between his expectations from life and the crucial reality of life will be shown in a humorous manner. It might not be a commercial film, but we are promising an entertaining production. l

TODAY IN DHAKA Film

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

Popular singer Tapan Chowdhury will be seen in a street show Raat Birate tonight at 11:25pm on Banglavision. In the programme, he will talk about his future ventures and also share some personal stories on-screen. Beside all this, the singer will be taking the audience for a ride around his favourite places which contain many old memories and will sing some of his favourite songs. The programme is produced

by Kaunain Sourav and anchored by Poet Asad Chowdhury

Exhibition

Nayika Sangbad airs on GTV n Entertainment Desk Drama series Nayika Sangbad will air on GTV tonight at 9:35pm. Written and directed by M R Mizan, scripted

by Naznin Hasan Chumki, the drama series features popular soap actors Mosharraf Karim, Nadia, Naznin Hasan chumki, Jayraj, Swagata, Sazzad Reza and many more.

The plot of the drama revolves around a village named Sundorpur. Abdul Kuddus is a resident of the village and lives

with his family. Kuddus’s older son Rinto takes care of their lands and since he is very fond of his wife, he usually spends his free time with her. But, Rinto is a gambler, so whenever he gets some money he gambles it all away. His younger brother Poltu leaves for Dhaka to make a stable life for himself and returns home with his newlywed wife. Excitement spreads throughout the village as Poltu’s wife is not an ordinary citizen but a renowned heroine and the villagers become interested in their personal life. l

Amitabh Bachchan detests the tag ‘developing nation’ n Entertainment Desk Megastar Amitabh Bachchan says he does not like India being called a developing nation.

“I feel proud of the fact that those very things that India was once criticised for, like our growth of population, etc is now looked upon by developed nations for great consumer consumption. It goes well.

I hate India being called as a developing nation. I want it to be known a developed nation. I think we are moving forward in that direction,” Bachchan said at a function.

“I don’t believe in goals. I hope there is some opportunity and challenge that the future directors will offer me. Each decade is providing great expansion in our medium of media and entertainment.

Like the growth of television, growing mobile penetration,” he said.

The

legendary actor further said, “In our business of films we are we are judged by people like you. Audiences make us, their taste changes. They decide what kind of films and actors they like to watch... it is important to be in tune with the audience.

The most difficult task in our business is to know what they are going to like and dislike.”

“If we are able to judge how the audience will appreciate a particular kind of film, then we will make those kinds of films.

But we don’t know what will work how and when.

Corporate have research department, but in film business audience taste and thinking keeps changing,” he added.

He reveals when he entered the industry, the industry people rejected him for being so tall saying no heroine would work with him. Considering that his father Harivansh Rai had already established himself as a poet, they said he should do something like that and not think of acting.

“One should remember all these things (criticising) encourage you to go out and do better. All those who said no to me (for films), I eventually worked with them in all their films.” l

Solo Painting Exhibition

By Nurun Naher Supti Time: 3pm – 9pm Alliance Francaise de Dhaka 26 Mirpur Road, Dhanmondi Quest for Reality Rafiqun Nabi Time: 12pm-8pm Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts House No 42, Road No 16, Sheik Kamal Sarani, Dhanmondi, City of Rhythm Kazi Salahuddin Ahmed Time: 12pm to 8pm Institute of Asian Creatives House 9, Road 36, Gulshan 2

Sanjay out on parole Santana, Shirley MacLaine honoured at Kennedy Center for wife’s illness n Entertainment Desk

Billy Joel joins Carlos Santana, Herbie Hancock, opera star Martina Arroyo and actress Shirley MacLaine in receiving the Kennedy Center Honors

n Entertainment Desk With notes of rock, jazz and opera, Washington feted piano man Billy Joel, actress Shirley MacLaine and guitarist Carlos Santana on Sunday at the Kennedy Center Honors, the capital’s annual celebration of the arts.

Jazz pianist Herbie Hancock and opera singer Martina Arroyo rounded out the list of honorees at the country’s prestigious awards ceremony for stars of the stage, screen and concert hall.

“The diverse group of extraordinary individuals we honor today haven’t just proven themselves to be the best of the best,” President Barack Obama said at a White House ceremony before the show.

“Despite all their success, all their fame, they’ve remained true to themselves - and inspired the rest of us to do the same.”

The evening started with a tribute to Santana, a 10-time Grammy winner originally from Mexico.

Singer Harry Belafonte, himself a Kennedy Center honoree, joked that he was a victim of the Latino musician’s greatness, saying he thought Santana got his spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

“We should’ve built a bigger fence,” he deadpanned, referring to the debate in Washington about immigration reform and border security with Mexico.

“The Latino thing has arrived. It has become the new black. And now Carlos is a citizen of the world.”

The theme continued when Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Hispanic member of the nation’s highest court, introduced opera diva Arroyo. The daughter of a Puerto Rican father and an African-American mother, Arroyo grew up in an unlikely place for a future opera star: New York City’s Harlem borough.l

Faced with criticism over granting parole to Bollywood actor and 1993 Mumbai blast convict Sanjay Dutt, Pune Divisional Commissioner Prabhakar Deshmukh clarified that he gave the green signal only after the Mumbai police sent a report that verified the claim that Dutt’s wife Maanyata was unwell and needed treatment.

Deshmukh said that he had rejected the first report by the Mumbai police on the ground that it did not follow the procedure laid down by the government. Dutt first applied for parole on July 26. As per the guidelines, the local Assistant Commissioner of Police is required to conduct an investigation to verify the claims made in a parole application.

The first report submitted on September 16 by Bandra ACP Shivajirao Kolekar was found unsatisfactory by Deshmukh. “The report was ambiguous and unclear. The police had not taken any stand, neither had they conducted any enquiry into the grounds for the parole. They had only suggested that it should be approved,” said Deshmukh on Sunday.

“There was no medical report attached, neither was the doctor’s recommendation mentioned.”About this, ACP Kolekar said: “I receive many applications for parole and don’t recollect clearing the actor’s.”

The second report submitted to Deshmukh on November 26 fulfilled the required criteria. “This report made it clear that Maanyata Dutt had a tumour in her liver which needed treatment.”

Twitteratis lashed out against this development with tags. There was an influx of tweets directed at the justice system and disparity between treatment meted out to cases involving celebrities and poor citizens. l

Did you know?

Hashim Amla on Sunday became the fastest player to 4,000 ODI runs, in 81 innings, beating Viv Richards’ mark of 88 innings

Sport

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

DHAKA TRIBUNE

13

0 9 6 DAYS TO GO

14 Ronaldo caught up on beauty sleep during WC draw

15 Big win puts Aussies on brink of Ashes victory

Jurgensen happy with players’ fitness n Mazhar Uddin The Bangladesh national team and “A” team squads began their fitness training yesterday ahead of the threematch T20 Challenge Series between the sides starting tomorrow.

Tigers head coach Shane Jurgensen expressed his satisfaction over the fitness level of the players on the day and also added that the Challenge series will be great help to the cricketers.

However, the return of Shakib al Hasan in a competitive match will be delayed as the all-rounder, preparing for his marriage reception ceremony, is on leave till December 15.

Newly married Marshal Ayub also missed the opening day of training, but he will join the “A” team today.

“The test mainly focuses on the cricketers fitness and it assess either any cricketers is suffering from injury or not where we can identify from the test and I am happy as there was no injury problem on the camp,” said Jurgensen after the day’s session at Mirpur Shere-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS).

Jurgensen suggested the Challenge series will benefit the cricketers who

have not played enough of the format.

“We have not played any T20 game for some time and I think the three T20 matches of the series will help the cricketers to adopt the format at the same time the boys will prepare themselves for the upcoming Sri Lanka series,” he said.

Tamim Iqbal’s return after a thigh strain was something the Tigers were looking forward to and Jurgensen was happy with the effort the opener put in.

“Tamim is working hard in the fitness test and I think he has given his best today (yesterday). He has been working for last one week and I think this is a good sign for the team,” said the Australian.

Earlier the fitness camp was originally scheduled for Sunday, but the Bangladesh Cricket Board delayed it by a day due to the strike in the capital.

The first T20 match of the Challenge series was also deferred by a day and it will now be played tomorrow instead of today at SBNS. The remaining matches will be played on December 12 and 14 respectively at the same venue. l

Players of the Bangladesh national cricket team engaged in a running session during their practice at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday

BCB chief plays down West Indies U-19 withdrawal n Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan down-played the withdrawal of the West Indies U-19 team is unlikely and expressed the opinion that it is unlikely to have a long-term effect on cricket in Bangladesh, although the ICC has asked the BCB to inform them about the security situation in the country, according to BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury The West Indies Cricket Board’s (WICB) move to withdraw their U-19 team for safety and security concerns on Sunday has tarnished Bangladesh’s cricket image. Bangladesh is only a month away from starting a busy calendar of cricket and many have expressed

doubts if the BCB will be able to execute the events successfully.

“The current political situation cannot sustain for long. I hope the political issues will be solved before the World Twenty20 because if that doesn’t happen, not only cricket but any country will collapse. I think the situation will improve within few weeks,” said Nazmul to the media yesterday.

In January, the Tigers are scheduled to lock horns with Sri Lanka in a bilateral home series, followed by the Asia Cup 2014 in February and the ICC World Twenty20 2014 in March.

Nazmul stated that he is not concerned with the World Twenty20 as there is still plenty of time before the event.

“Yes, we have the Sri Lanka series and the Asia Cup in January but I believe the political tension will cool down by December because a country can’t run like this. The situation has to get better,” said Nazmul.

Nizamuddin Chowdhury was of the same opinion.

“I am saying this again, that the incident with the WI U-19 was sole. I don’t think that the situation is that bad that a team will have to leave. I believe the security report from their end has not highlighted the way we are thinking of the situation and it might also be that they are more concerned because they have an age-group team here,” said Nizamuddin.

Nizamuddin went on to talk about

Ronaldo, Messi, Ribery up for Ballon d’Or n Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Franck Ribery are in the running for the Ballon d’Or. Fifa announced the shortlist Monday after voting rules changes made Ronaldo the favorite after helping Portugal qualify for the World Cup last month.

Fifa gave voters — national team captains and coaches, plus selected journalists — two extra weeks to choose from 23 candidates, and even change preference.

Ronaldo’s hat trick against Sweden helped lift his tally to 67 goals for Portugal and Real Madrid in 2013.

Messi, who has won the last four player of the year awards, scored 45 goals for Argentina and Barcelona before being injured.

Ribery was already named Europe’s best player for helping Bayern Munich win the

Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup last season.

The award ceremony is Jan. 13.

Ribery had been the favorite until FIFA’s surprising announcement to re-open voting the morning after Portugal’s playoff victory in Stockholm.

Speculation about FIFA’s motives was fuelled by a bizarre public spat weeks earlier between Ronaldo and FIFA President Sepp Blatter.

Blatter offended the 2008 award winner with comments and mimicry when addressing students at Oxford University in England.

Contrasting Messi’s humble, low-key personality with Ronaldo’s apparent vanity, Blatter then stood to act out what he described as the Portugal winger’s “commander in the field” stature.

Ronaldo responded in a barbed statement on his Facebook page and celebrated a goal in his next match with a mock military salute gesture.

The Portuguese government got involved to defend its national hero, and the dispute seemed to confirm to Madrid fans and media that Fifa is biased toward Barcelona, even though Ballon d’Or ballots are cast independently.

Messi has won the world player award each year since 2009, and three times Ronaldo has been runner-up. In the 2010 award, Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta completed an all-Barcelona podium.

In January 2012, Ronaldo and then-Madrid coach Jose Mourinho skipped the gala ceremony in Zurich despite being on the shortlists, citing a clash with preparation for a Copa del Rey match. l

the ICC’s reaction to the incident. “The ICC has asked for an update from us about the security situation in the country and what steps we are taking to remedy the situation. We are in the process of replying to them right now.”

The explosion of a crude bomb a short distance away from the team hotel in Chittagong on Saturday evening rocked the visitors after which the second youth ODI on Sunday was pushed back.

The BCB after much discussion with the WI U-19 team management agreed to continue the seven-match youth ODI series and reschedule the second match for Monday. However the situation took a sharp turn after WICB decided to withdraw their U-19 side from the rest of the tour due to security concerns. l

MUMIT M

Windies youths fly back to Dhaka today n The West Indies Cricket Board’s (WICB) decision to withdraw their U-19 team from the ongoing Bangladesh tour sustained until yesterday night.

The WICB on Sunday night, acting in the interest of the safety of their young cricketers, decided to withdraw the team after receiving a report of the situation in Bangladesh from WICB Security Manager Paul Slowe.

It was learnt that the WI U-19 team is likely to fly to Dhaka today and then catch the earliest flight possible to the Caribbean.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) worked to try and convince the visitors that the security situation is under control and that the blast of a crude bomb outside the

team’s hotel in Chittagong was an isolated incident.

High officials of the BCB were in contact with both the officials of the WICB and the team management of the visiting side.

“We will ask for a logical explanation for their decision,” BCB president Nazmul Hasan told the media yesterday.

“As I said before, this was an isolated incident due to the political unrest and the they (WI U-19) were not a target,” he added.

The BCB beefed up security for the WI U-19 team after a couple of crude bombs exploded near the hotel where the team is staying in Chittagong on Saturday following which, the visitors decided to not play the second youth ODI against Bangladesh U-19 on Sunday. l

Naveed unveils hockey development plan

V-Day Hockey from Friday

n

The tournament committee of the Bangladesh Hockey Federation decided to start the Victory Day Hockey – which will feature seven teams – at the Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium next Friday.

The seven teams have been divided into two groups, with Abahani, Bangladesh Army and Ajax SC in Group A and Usha KC, Bangladesh Air Force, Azad SC and Bangladesh Police in Group B. Mohammedan, Mariners, Wari and Bangladesh Sporting are not playing in the meet as they have decided not to take part in any tournaments under the current executive committee. The meet is scheduled to be followed by the Club Cup and then the premier hockey league. l

National hockey coach of Bangladesh Naveed Alam has chalked out a plan for the betterment of his players and the national team and is looking forward to implement them soon.

Naveed visited Chittagong, Rangpur, and BKSP in the last month and also arranged an open trial at the Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium three days ago. The four phases of the trial process saw Naveed select around 110 players for three different levels - U-18, U-21 and the ‘A’ team.

“There are a lot of talented players and they will be enrolled in the different levels. The concluding note of the process is that we now we know how many players are there and how many we can insert into the process.

“The idea is to form the back-up of the national team, to prepare the players who will be ready to take the responsibilities of the national team when they mature. I want to start my camp with 50 boys and after three weeks, we will re-asses their progress.

The training will be held on a phase by phase basis,” said the former Pakistan national team player.

Naveed said he wants to continue the camp with the youngsters before the camp for the Asian Games qualifiers commences. “The youngsters will be going through the camp and I will ask the federation to arrange the presence of the players who have been a part of the national team for special

fitness programs. This program will make the players fit and save valuable time in the time,” said Naveed.

Bangladesh Hockey Federation suspended four national player - forward Rasel Mahmud Jimmy, midfielder Kamruzzaman Rana, defender Imran Hasan Pintoo and goalkeeper Zahid Hossain - on disciplinary grounds after Bangladesh’s disastrous campaign in the Asia Cup. Bangladesh finished seventh out of eight in the premier continental hockey meet. With all four players regarded as unreliable for national duty, it will be interesting to see how the federation and the team management fill the vacuum.

Moreover the hockey arena remained troubled with three leading clubs - Mohammedan, Mariner and Wari - declining to participate in the premier division hockey league. A number of national players were supposed to play for these clubs and they may have to sit idle during the hockey season that starts next week. l

n

Zia drew in London, Niaz loses in India n Grandmaster Ziaur Rahman drew with Fide Master Stigar Petter of Norway in the 2rd round of the 5th London Chess Classic FIDE Open at the Olympia Conference Center, Kensington, in London yesterday. Zia has 1.5 points at the end of the second round and will play FM Berry Neil of Scotland in the 3rd round.

Meanwhile, GM Niaz Murshed lost to Indian International Master Anurag Mhamal in the 5th round of the SREI International Grandmaster Chess Tournament in Kolkata yesterday, leaving him with three points. l

14

Sport

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Ronaldo caught up on beauty sleep during WC draw n

(From L) Real Madrid football players, Argentinian midfielder Angel di Maria, French forward Karim Benzema, Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas, Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo, Brazilian defender Marcelo and Croatian midfielder Luka Modric pose with their respective national team jerseys during a press conference to give their thoughts on 2014 World Cup draw, at the Valdebebas training ground in Madrid on Sunday AFP

While the eyes of the football world were focused on Brazil for the World Cup draw, Cristiano Ronaldo caught up on his beauty sleep.

Ronaldo didn’t watch Friday’s draw, when his native Portugal was placed alongside Germany, Ghana, and the United States in Group G, because he was “sleeping,” he told a news conference on Sunday.

When he did awake to see his country’s positioning, he felt confident about their chances.

“It’s a very difficult group. Germany is always a candidate to win it, Ghana and the United States are great teams, so it’s difficult,” Ronaldo said.

“But from my point of view, we can get through. It depends on how confident the team is. The team’s training camp will be very important.”

Brazil fullback Marcelo doesn’t see Spain as a direct rival, although the pair could meet in the second round.

Croatia midfielder Luca Modric said the pressure will be solely on the hosts, who are overwhelming favorites in the group. Other players present on Sunday were France striker Karim Benzema and Argentina midfielder Angel Di Maria.

But all of the players responded similarly when asked about their teams’ chances of winning the World Cup, saying each country was taking it game-by-game and just looking to get out of the group. l

Now-or-never for CL last-16 hopefuls n Holders Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona are already through to the Champions League round of 16.

Smarting from their fifth Premier League defeat of the season, already qualified Manchester United host Shakhtar seeking some much needed European solace. United’s second successive home defeat, a 1-0 reverse to Newcastle on Saturday, has taken much of the gloss off their superb 5-0 rout of Borussia Dortmund a fortnight ago, a demolition which sealed their passage

Kenyan fan commits suicide after United's loss n A Kenyan soccer fan unable to cope with Manchester United’s loss to northern rival Newcastle United committed suicide over the weekend, a senior Kenyan police official said on Monday.

John Macharia, 28, plunged to his death from a multi-storey apartment in Nairobi after Moyes’ men suffered a second home defeat in four days, denting the champions’ chance of retaining their Premier League title. Newcastle’s first win at Old Trafford since February 1972 means the champions are now 13 points adrift of league leaders Arsenal.

Macharia’s death is reminiscent of the suicide by a Kenyan Arsenal fan in 2009.

Suleiman Omondi, 29, was found hanging in his flat after the Gunners were trounced 3-1 by Manchester United. l

to the knockout stages. David Moyes will want a quick and sharp response from his team which he said had lacked sparkle against Newcastle, a loss which left the Premier League titleholders 13 points off leaders Arsenal. A draw is essential to take Group A honours and give United a much needed boost ahead of the crammed Christmas domestic programme. United are boosted by the return of Wayne Rooney, suspended for Saturday’s game.

Leverkusen will qualify for the last 16 at the expense of Shakhtar as long as they see off winless Real and the Ukrainians lose at Old Trafford. A draw will be enough for Leverkusen if Shakhtar lose thanks to their superior head-tohead.

VfL Wolfsburg extended their unbeaten run to eight matches with a 3-0 win at strugglers Freiburg on Sunday to climb up to fifth in the Bundesliga table.

Wolves raced into a 2-0 lead after only 11 minutes as Germany Under-21 forward Maximilian Arnold netted with a deft touch before ex-Bayern Munich star Luiz Gustavo laid the ball off for Croatia’s Ivica Olic to blast home.

Freiburg squandered a couple of clear chances before Wolfsburg’s Germany defender Marcel Schafer came off the bench for Olic to score their third in added time.

Freiburg remain third from bottom with a third straight defeat and to make matters worse they had French midfielder Francis Coquelin, on loan from Arsenal, carried off with a

Man United Sociedad Galatasaray Copenhagen Benfica Olympiakos Bayern Munich Plzen

v v v v v v v v

Shakhtar Leverkusen Juventus Real Madrid PSG Anderlecht Man City CSKA Moscow

A draw would be enough to see Juventus through to the knock-out stages, given their better head-to-head record against Copenhagen than Galatasaray’s, but even a draw is a tall order in the Istanbul cauldron the Turks call home. It is made even more so by the fact that

the Turin club were dealt a severe blow with the news that influential playmaker Andrea Pirlo will miss what is their most important test of the season so far with knee ligament damage, which is expected to sideline him until the New Year -- by which time Juve’s Champions League campaign could be a fading memory.

Copenhagen have only pride left to play for as even an unlikely victory over Real would leave them in third place in the group and out of the competition.

Real, on the other hand, have cruised through their campaign so far, scoring at will, most recently with the 4-1 drubbing of Galatasaray which, ironically, rekindled rivals Juventus’ hopes of progressing. Despite being already quali-

fied, coach Carlo Ancelotti is expected to line out with stars Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Benfica do have a bit of a hold over the French visitors in that they have beaten them in Lisbon on the last two occasions they have played there. Much could depend on what sort of side PSG coach Laurent Blanc selects, whether he opts to rest several first team regulars or throws them all in as they seek to better their overall points haul of 15 -they presently have 13 -- from last year’s group stage. Olympiakos should logically seal their place in the knockout stages at home to a Belgian outfit which has garnered just one point from their five games -- albeit a draw with PSG -- and whom the hosts trounced 3-0 in

Belgium with Kostas Mitroglou scoring a hat-trick. Anderlecht will finish bottom of their group for the seventh successive season they have competed in the competition.

Defending champions Bayern, buoyed by a 7-0 demolition of Werder Bremen on Saturday which extended their unbeaten Bundesliga run to 40 matches, are already through to the last-16. They will win the group with a draw or with a defeat that is no bigger than their 3-1 away victory in Manchester in the teams’ first game.

City coach Manuel Pellegrini is hoping to have Spanish playmaker David Silva back from injury. The Spanish attacking midfielder has missed City’s last five matches due to a calf injury. l

Iranians troll Messi on FB Monaco go second in France n

The 2014 World Cup draw that grouped Iran with heavyweights Argentina has provoked thousands of Iranians to trash the Facebook page of Argentine superstar Lionel Messi.

Iran was drawn in Group F alongside Argentina, reigning African champions Nigeria and newcomers Bosnia-Herzegovina, and will open their fourth campaign in the final stages of the World Cup on June 16.

The reaction in Iran was mixed, with some football-mad Iranians embracing the first-ever chance to play Argentina, and some even expressing ambitious hopes of beating the star-studded former World Cup champions.

But it was a different story online and particularly on Facebook, which many are able to access despite it being blocked in Iran under a systematic filter-

Wolves floor Freiburg to extend unbeaten run n

FIXTURES

RESULTS Freiburg

0-3

Eintracht

0-2

Wolfsburg

Arnold 8, Olic 11, Schaefer 90+1

Hertha Berlin

Ramos 20, Cigerci 80

suspected broken ankle just after the break.

Hertha Berlin stayed seventh and kept hosts Eintracht Braunschweig rooted to the bottom of the table with a 2-0 away win.

Colombia striker Adrian Ramos headed Berlin into a first-half lead before 20-year-old midfielder Tolga Cigerci added a late second with his first for the club.

Second-placed Bayer Leverkusen stayed four points behind Bayern with a hard-fought 1-0 win at thirdplaced Borussia Dortmund, who now find themselves six points behind Leverusen and ten points behind Munich. l

ing of the Internet mechanism.

Several thousand derogatory remarks were left on Messi’s Facebook page, many in Persian, trashing the 26-yearold superstar, winner of four FIFA Ballons d’Or -- the world player of the year.

Some made fun of the fact that Messi means “of copper” in Persian.

“Messi, you are made of copper. Even if you were out of gold, you could not do a damn thing” against Iran, said one commentator.

The remarks sparked a strong reaction by others who expressed support for the Barcelona man, and even apologised for the actions of their compatriots.

“As an Iranian, I want to apologise to you. Iranian people are not like that at all,” said Ali in a post in English.

Iran’s football federation also expressed regret, as did several Iranian national players. l

n

RESULTS

Emmanuel Riviere scored his eighth goal of the season to give Monaco a 1-0 win over 10-man Ajaccio on Sunday and cut the gap on Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain to two points.

Riviere struck in the 75th minute as Monaco replaced Lille, who had lost 1-0 at Bordeaux earlier in the day, in second spot.

PSG stayed top on Saturday with a 5-0 demolition of rock-bottom Sochaux.

With top scorer Radamel Falcao out of action with a thigh strain for a third successive match, Monaco’s scoring onus once again fell on the shoulders of his Colombian compatriot James Rodriguez who had netted twice in his last two games.

But it was Anthony Martial who had

Bordeaux

1-0

Lille

Bastia

1-3

Lyon

Toulouse

1-1

Montpellier

Monaco

1-0

Ajaccio

Kjaer 27-og Raspentino 34

Aguilar 72

Riviere 75

Lacazette 54, Benzia 56, B. Gomis 85 S. Camara 18

the first shot on target after 16 minutes with the teenager’s fierce drive wellsaved by Ajaccio’s Mexican goalkeeper Francisco Ochoa.

Ivory Coast striker Gadji Celi Carmen Junior had Ajaccio’s first attempt on goal after 30 minutes, but Monaco goalkeeper Danijel Subasic saved well.

Martial again came close early in the second half but a diving header went just wide.

Ajaccio’s task became even tougher just after the hour mark when JeanBaptiste Pierazzi was red-carded for a foul on Rodriguez.

Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama’s run of not conceding a goal ended after 1,062 minutes on Sunday with an own goal by Lille team-mate Simon Kjaer in the clash with Bordeaux.

The Danish defender deflected a harmless looking shot by Bordeaux’s Landry N’Guemo which tantalisingly hit the post before entering the net in the 28th minute.

It was the first time Enyeama had had to pick the ball out of his net since September 15 in the 2-0 defeat by Nice.

It also proved to be the only goal of the game.

Enyeama had been closing in on the overall Ligue 1 record of 1176 minutes held by Gaetan Huard for Bordeaux during the 1992-93 campaign. l

3 fans critically hurt at Brazil league match n

Brazil’s organisational reputation, already under fire in the run-up to the World Cup, suffered another blow Sunday when three spectators were seriously hurt in violent clashes at a league match.

Police said that fans of Atletico Paranaense and Vasco da Gama fought running battles in the stands at the Santa Catarina stadium from as early as the 17th minute when Atletico took a 1-0 lead.

A police helicopter was forced to land on the pitch to bring the violence to an end and medical help to the injured.

The match was held up for an hour before being restarted.

Police blasted the arrangements at the ground where private security had been employed.

Santa Catarina, in the south of the country, is not hosting a match in the World Cup which starts on June 12. l

Inter Milan's Rodrigo Palacio (top) heads the ball to score a goal against Parma during their Italian Serie A match at the San Siro stadium in Milan on Sunday. The match ended 3-3 REUTERS

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

15

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

QUICK BYTES

Zakirul Islam

Amer Khan

New Ex-Co of Little Friends Club A new 51-member executive committee of the Gopibagh Little Friends Club was formed in the annual general meeting held at the club premises on Sunday.

Former mayor of Dhaka City Corporation Sadeque Hossain Khoka was elected as the president of the executive committee for the next two year. Zakirul Islam and Amer Khan were elected as the president and the secretary of the football committees respectively and were asked to start forming the team immediately.

- RM

Cairns calls in lawyers over fixing claims Former New Zealand great Chris Cairns said Monday he has engaged lawyers after being linked to a match-fixing probe, even though investigators have still not contacted him. Cairns is reportedly one of three former New Zealand representatives under investigation by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for alleged match-fixing. Two ex-Black Caps, Lou Vincent and Daryl Tuffey, have confirmed they are cooperating with the inquiry. But Cairns said he had not been contacted by the ICC, nor received any official confirmation he was part of the probe. Cairns, one of only 12 players in Test cricket history to score the all-rounders’ double of 200 wickets and 3,000 runs, said he wanted to know how his name had been leaked to the media in connection to the investigation.

–AFP

Johnson steals Tiger’s thunder with Sherwood win Tournament host Tiger Woods was denied a sixth win of the year in sensational fashion when he lost the Northwestern Mutual World Challenge in a playoff with Zach Johnson at Sherwood Country Club on Sunday. Johnson, who had twice finished second to fellow American Woods at this elite limited-field event, sealed victory with a rock-solid par at the 18th, the first extra hole, where Woods lipped out with a five-footer to bogey. The duo had finished regulation amid high drama and sharp swings of fortune on 13-under 275, Woods parring the last for a twounder 70 and Johnson, who came from four strokes behind with four birdies in the last eight holes, closing with a 68.

“It was a bit too much drama at the end there,” a beaming Johnson told reporters after earning the winner’s cheque for $1 million. “I feel very fortunate and somewhat lucky to be sitting here as a champion.”

–Reuters

Scorecard, Day 5 England's last batting pair James Anderson (C) and Monty Panesdar (R) walk back towards the pavilion as Australia's cricketers celebrate their victory in the second Ashes Test match in Adelaide yesterday AFP

Aussies on brink of Ashes win n AFP, Adelaide

Australia wrapped up a comprehensive 218-run victory over England on Monday to take a 2-0 series lead, leaving them on the brink of reclaiming the Ashes.

The home team captured the four remaining wickets in just under an hour on the final morning in Adelaide and are now just one victory away from winning back the famous urn after three consecutive series defeats.

It was a second emphatic reverse for England after they lost in Brisbane by 381 runs and the tourists must regroup before the third Test, which starts in Perth on Friday. England have only won once in 12 Tests on the traditionally pacy WACA pitch.

“I think that something that is most

Kubica named FIA’s Personality of the Year Robert Kubica, the former Formula One driver seriously injured in a 2011 crash, has been named Personality of the Year in a vote by motorsport’s governing body the FIA. The 29-year-old is embarking on a new career in rallying after his F1 hopes crumbled when he suffered life-threatening injuries in an accident in the Ronde di Andora Rally three years ago. The Polish driver’s right-hand was partially severed in the crash in northern Italy when he hit a safety barrier and had to be cut free from his car. He also suffered serious injuries to his shoulder and leg. Kubica, who won the 2008 Canadian F1 Grand Prix for Renault, is in line for a drive with Citroen or Ford in next year’s world rally championship.

–AFP

DAY’S WATCH Ten Sports Junior Hockey Mens World Cup 2013 02:30PM Germany v Egypt 04:30PM Belgium v Pakistan 06:30PM Netherlands v Canada 08:30PM India v Korea UEFA Champions League 2013/14 Ten Sports 1:45 AM Bayern Munich v Man City Ten Action 1:45 AM Man United v Shakhtar Ten HD 1:45 AM Copenhagen v Real Madrid

Waqar Younis

pleasing is we are finally getting some results,” said Australian skipper Michael Clarke, who nevertheless cautioned that his side still had work to do in their quest to return to the top of the world rankings.

“I think we have to be realistic,” said Clarke. “That’s our second Test win in the past 12 months -- certainly not a record we’re proud of. There’s a lot of work for us to do to get back to being the number one team in the world and that’s our goal.”

Australia’s victory in Brisbane was their first Test win since they beat Sri Lanka in January. They lost 3-0 to England in July-August.

England captain Alastair Cook admitted his side lost the game on the first day when they were guilty of several dropped catches, allowing Austra-

Pakistan overcame stiff resistance from minnows Afghanistan to win the firstever Twenty20 international between the two countries by six wickets in Sharjah on Sunday.

Chasing a challenging 138-run target, Pakistan were held to the final over of the match and won on a wide off the last delivery of the match.

Skipper Mohammad Hafeez kept his cool to finish with a 37-ball 42 not out as Pakistan needed six off the final over bowled by Dawlat Zadran and one off the last delivery.

Hafeez hit two boundaries and a six during his knock and avoided any major hiccup against a fighting Afghan team.

Pakistan got off to a solid start with a stand of 47 between Ahmed Shehzad (35) and debutant Sharjeel Khan (18) by the eighth over.

Shehzad, who hit six boundaries during his 37-ball knock, holed out while Sharjeel miscued a drive off Mohammad Nabi in the tenth over.

Despite a tight line and length by Af-

was named man-of-the-match for the second consecutive Test after his seven for 40 in England’s first innings.

“I guess having that intimidation factor is definitely a bonus,” said Johnson, who has now taken 17 wickets in the series at 12.70, silencing the England fans who mercilessly taunted him for wayward bowling during the last Ashes series Down Under.

“It wasn’t probably quite there in the last couple of Ashes series for me, so to be able to come out, just back my ability, and know what I wanted to bowl, I have just really enjoyed it, so I will continue to do that throughout the series.”

Under overcast skies on Monday, wicketkeeper Matt Prior showed defiance for the tourists, reaching 69 off 102 balls, before he became the ninth batsman to go. l

Total (all out; 101.4 overs) 312 Bowling: Harris 19.4-3-54-3 (1nb, 2w), Johnson 24-8-73-1 (2w), Siddle 19-4-574, Lyon 26-7-78-1, Watson 6-3-6-0, Smith 7-0-43-1 Result: Australia won by 218 runs Australia lead series 2-0

Waqar, Gilchrist inducted into ICC’s Hall of Fame

Johnson, Stokes not guilty: ICC

n AFP, New Delhi

Australia’s man-of-the-match Mitchell Johnson and England’s Ben Stokes have been found not guilty of making deliberate physical contact during the second Ashes Test in Adelaide, the ICC said on Monday.

Both players were charged under the International Cricket Council’s Code of Conduct, which refers to “inappropriate and deliberate physical contact between players in the course of play during an international match” during the fourth day’s play on Sunday.

The incident occurred in the 84th over of England’s second innings when the players collided as Stokes was making a run.

Both players pleaded not guilty to the charge and separate hearings were held after the second Test on Monday, following which match referee Jeff Crowe cleared them of the charges. l

Pakistan’s pace bowling great Waqar Younis and former Australian wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist were on Monday inducted into cricket’s Hall of Fame, the International Cricket Council said.

Waqar joins Hanif Mohammad and former team-mates Imran Khan, Javed Miandad and Wasim Akram as the Pakistanis in the exclusive club. Gilchrist will be the 19th Australian male inductee, the ICC said.

Waqar will be honoured by the governing body during the Twenty20 international between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Dubai on Wednesday, while Gilchrist will be feted during the third Ashes Test in Perth on Friday.

Waqar claimed 373 wickets in 87 Tests and 416 wickets in 262 one-day internationals before retiring after the 2003

Pakistan clinch last-over win against Afghanistan n

lia to pile up an imposing 570 for nine declared, with Clarke making 148.

“On that first day we had an opportunity to a put a bit of pressure on Australia. We let a few chances go, and they really made us pay for that,” he said.

Cook said England’s first innings total of 172 was not good enough.

“You don’t get too many chances on good wickets and we had the opportunity then and we didn’t take it. I thought that was the main difference.

Australia took their chances very well,” he said.

“The only guys who can change it are the guys in the dressing room. No one else can change it for us. We can’t sit there moping about it. It’s hurting us like hell but we’re the only guys who can change it.”

Demon paceman Mitchell Johnson

Australia 1st innings 570 for 9 declared (M. Clarke 148, B. Haddin 118; S. Broad 3-98) England 1st innings 172 (I. Bell 72 not out, M. Carberry 60; M. Johnson 7-40) Australia 2nd innings 132 for 3 declared (D. Warner 83 not out; J. Anderson 2-19) England 2nd innings (overnight 247 for 6): Alastair Cook c Harris b Johnson 1 Michael Carberry c Lyon b Siddle 14 Joe Root c Haddin b Lyon 87 Kevin Pietersen b Siddle 53 Ian Bell c Johnson b Smith 6 Ben Stokes c Clarke b Harris 28 Matt Prior c Harris b Siddle 69 Stuart Broad c Lyon B Siddle 29 Graeme Swann c Clarke b Harris 6 James Anderson not out 13 Monty Panesar c Rogers b Harris 0 Extras (lb1, w4, nb1) 6

BRIEF SCORE Afghanistan 137/8 in 20 overs Najibullah 38, Junaid 3-24 Pakistan 138/4 in 20 19.5 overs Hafeez 42*, Shehzad 35 Pakistan win by six wickets ghanistan’s bowlers, Hafeez and Akmal kept their cool, taking Pakistan close to their victory target.

Akmal hit two sixes in his 28 off 23 balls. “I think they scored what they wanted, then bowled tight and put up a good show,” said Hafeez. “I am happy with the win but we made some mistakes and need to learn from them.”

Afghan captain Mohammad Nabi conceded his team were 20-30 runs short. “But I am happy the way my team fought against a strong team like Pakistan,” said Nabi, whose team has qualified for World Twenty20 which Bangladesh hosts in March-April next year.

Afghanistan, who won the toss and batted, had a poor start as they lost both their openers Mohammad Shahzad (two) and Nawroz Mangal (one) by the fifth over. l

World Cup. He now works as a television commentator.

“It’s a huge honour for me,” said the 42-year-old Waqar.

“I’m truly grateful to the people who’ve considered me worthy of such an honour.”

Gilchrist, also a prolific batsman, was a three-time World Cup winner in 1999, 2003 and 2007.

He played 96 Tests during a 12-year career that ended in 2008, making 5,570 runs and claiming 416 dismissals behind the stumps. In 287 one-day internationals, he scored 9,619 runs and dismissed 472 batsmen.

“I am delighted to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, and to be doing it in front of my home crowd on the first day of the third Test will be a very special occasion for me and my family,” Gilchrist, 42, said in the same statement. l

n AFP, Adelaide

Adam Gilchrist

Sharapova Blackburn striker Campbell happy with ‘baby arrested in fixing probe step’ return n n

Maria Sharapova described her comeback after a four-month injury absence as a ‘baby step’ forward in her recovery.

The four-time major winner took on 2008 French Open champion Ana Ivanovic in an exhibition match in Bogota as she tests the injured shoulder which forced her to call time on her 2013 season after a first round loss in Cincinnati in August.

“After months of not competing, tonight was a baby step forward! I missed this so much!Thank you Colombia for such a warm welcome. #imback,” tweeted the Russian superstar on Sunday.

Sharapova lost the match 6-1, 1-6, 12-10 to the Serb.

The right shoulder injury forced the 26-year-old world number four to miss the US Open as well as the season-ending WTA Championships.

Sharapova is due to make her competitive return at the Brisbane International from December 30. l

Former English Premier League striker DJ Campbell has been arrested as part of a match-fixing investigation, his club Blackburn Rovers said on Monday.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) said on Sunday it had launched a second probe into alleged match-fixing in English soccer after a Sunday newspaper claimed a player told an undercover reporter he could guarantee certain events in a Championship match.

The NCA confirmed on Sunday that six people had been arrested following the Sun on Sunday investigation.

Striker Campbell, 32, played for Blackpool and Queen’s Park Rangers in the Premier League before joining Blackburn in July. The Sun on Sunday said it had evidence of a player saying he arranged a booking in a recent Championship match in which another received a 30,000 pounds ($49,100) payment for getting a yellow card.

The same player allegedly boasted he could also “rig” Premier League games. Michael Boateng and Hakeem

Adelakun, both 22 and from Whitehawk FC in Brighton, along with Chann Sankaran, a 33-year-old Singapore national, and Krishna Sanjey Ganeshan, a 43-year-old with dual UK and Singapore nationality, were charged with conspiracy to defraud contrary to common law. l

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Process to slash budget outlay starts

EC staff on transfer, leave spree n Mohammad Zakaria

Decline in foreign assistance has its toll on the ministry budget execution plans nomic activities, including developn Asif Showkat Kallol ment work, had come to a halt. “You The government has started the process for slashing the current budget outlay because of the decline in foreign assistance and stalling of development projects for continuous hartals and blockades.

A senior official of the Finance Division told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that the ministries and divisions had already started sending proposals on their budget cut.

The official said the Finance Division had called the budget revision meetings 22 days before schedule as the government departments had exhausted their allocations. More funds would be disbursed after revising the budget.

Usually, the meetings for revising the budget are held on January 7-24, but the Finance Division issued a circular, signed by Deputy Secretary Muhammad Walid Hossain, yesterday, convening 70 meetings with 65 ministries and divisions from December 15 to January 19.

The Finance Division official said the amount of the budget cut would be determined at those meetings.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Sunday said the development budget needed slashing in the current fiscal year as the inflow of foreign loans and aids was dropping sharply.

“The inflow of foreign assistance has come down because of the continuous blockades, which will require us to cut the current fiscal budget,” he said.

The finance minister said the eco-

cannot ask a man to come and join work. He might be hit by a bullet or might be burnt. The situation is similar to that in 1971.”

At the request of the then Pakistan government a World Bank mission had visited Bangladesh and submitted a report to the headquarters on the situation prevailing, said Muhith, who was a public servant during the Liberation War. Quoting the report, Muhith said the mission had found deserted cities and a feeling of fear among people with no economic activities. Based on the report, the US government had stopped aid to Bangladesh.

Economic Relations Division data shows that the inflow of foreign funds to Bangladesh dropped by 29% to $576.80m during July-October owing to the political impasse.

During the same period last year, donors working in Bangladesh had disbursed $809.60m foreign assistance, said the ERD figures released last week.

The ERD said commitment of foreign funds from multilateral and bilateral donors had also dipped by 25% to $1.33bn in July-October from $1.77bn one year earlier.

According to the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division, the implementation progress of the Annual Development Programme (ADP), except for the self-financed projects, in the first four months of the current fiscal year was 15% compared to 20% during the same period in 2012-13. l

Officials and employees of various offices form a human chain on Kemal Ataturk Avenue in Banani, demanding a stop to the killing of people in arson attacks during hartals and blockades SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Dump truck helper comes under petrol bomb attack n Mohammad Jamil Khan A dump truck helper yesterday took the brunt of an arson attack by pickets in Debidari area of Comilla district while he was on a trip to Choumohoni.

The arson victim is Mujibur Rahman, 42, who is now undergoing treatment at the Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Mujibur hails form Shampur of Barisal.

Sources said the helper was going to Choumohoni with goods when he fell victim to a petrol bomb attack.

He was taken to a local clinic from where the doctors referred him to DMCH as his condition was deteriorating.

Dr Partha Shankar Pal, resident surgeon of the burn unit, told the Dhaka Tribune that 20% of his body including the face, throat and hands had been burnt.

Jahangir Hossain, a truck driver, told the Dhaka Tribune that Mujibur with his driver Abdur Rahman loaded hardware from Shoari Ghat area of the capital and was going on a trip to Choumohoni.

However, soon after reaching Comilla, they came across a pile of bricks in the middle of the road blocking the way.

The driver reduced the speed while pickets hurled petrol bomb at the vehicle, thus setting it on fire.

The attack left Mujibur Rahman critically and trucker, Abdur Rahman, partially injured.

Abdur Rahman was admitted to a local clinic, but Mojibur had been sent to DMCH, said Jahangir.

Mujibur’s mother Aleya Begum was struck dumb at the sight of his son’s wounds. She was gazing at her son’s burnt face with vacant eyes, with tears

rolling down her cheeks.

Manju Ara Bgum, wife of the victim, said: “We were poor, but were passing days happily with our three children – Sonia, 14, Tania, 11, and Saidul, 15. Destiny worked against us and an ill-luck befell our family.”

Earlier on Sunday night, Rehana Khatun, 23, succumbed to her injuries at Enam Medical College around 8pm after receiving an arson attack by pickets on December 2 at Savar while returning to the capital.

Rehana hailed form Kashiani of Gopalganj, the wife of Sobur Khan Shipon.

On the other hand, 32 blockade victims who came under arson attack were undergoing treatment in Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Of them, five are in critical condition at the Intensive Care Unit. l

The Election Commission has received around 1,800 applications of officials and employees for transfer, maternal leave and casual leave following the announcement of polls schedule.

The commission has received applications of 1,695 consultants of the Health Ministry for promotional transfer, EC officials said.

The officials said the commission would approve most applications with careful scrutiny.

The commission would take a hard line to ensure neutrality during polls and even go for reshuffles of officials if necessary for the sake of free and fair election.

A senior EC official seeking anonymity yesterday told the Dhaka Tribune that the EC would approve applications about transfer, promotion and casual leaves after much scrutiny.

The commission examines the applications very carefully and makes sure that the officials related to polls do not transfer without the EC permission even two weeks after election.

According to the article 44E of the Representation of the People Order (RPO), for any kind of transfer and leave, the Election Commission approval would be necessary.

In this regard, the EC sent separate letters to the Public Administration and Cabinet Division not to transfer, promote and issue leave for the officials without permission of the commission.

However, last week, the Health Ministry sent letter to the commission for promoting professors, assistant professors, senior consultants and junior consultants and for transferring them.

The commission approved the transfer order for those not related to the election process.

Police administration sent letter to the EC for transferring around 50 policemen including a police super and 22 police inspectors.

A maximum of them got the approval of the commission.

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

Editor: Zafar Sobhan, Published and Printed by Kazi Anis Ahmed on behalf of 2A Media Limited at Dainik Shakaler Khabar Publications Limited, 153/7, Tejgaon Industrial Area, Dhaka-1208. Editorial, News & Commercial Office: FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Shukrabad, Dhaka 1207.

Phone: 9132093-94, Advertising: 9132155, Circulation: 9132282, Fax: News-9132192, e-mail: news@dhakatribune.com, info@dhakatribune.com, Website: www.dhakatribune.com

Continue to the Business section...

Business

B2 Apparel makers want interest waiver

B3 Package needs to be legally binding

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2013

Business www.dhakatribune.com/business

3 new IMF conditions for state banks Four state-run commercial banks asked to ensure full recovery of loans in default n Asif Showkat Kallol International Monetary Fund (IMF) has set three new conditions for four state-owned commercial banks under the extended credit facility loans.

The conditions include restoration of capital position, full recovery of defaulted loans from state-run enterprises and automation of system by March 2014.

An IMF staff report released recently said the conditions come as the banks’ financial performance has deteriorated along with the Hall-Mark and Bismillah scams.

Bangladesh Bank conducted a diagnosis of Bangladesh’s state-owned commercial banks. On the basis of the diagnosis, the global lender set those conditions.

The central bank examination of stateowned banks found significant weaknesses

in asset quality, liquidity management, and internal audit control.

The state-owned commercial banks are Sonali, Janata, Agrani and Rupali banks.

As per the first condition, IMF has asked to recapitalise the banks to restore their capital position in line with the regulatory standards set under the revised memoranda of understanding signed between Bangladesh Bank and four state-owned commercial banks.

The second condition has set time limit for the banks to bring automation system by March 2014 as the global lender says automation reduces operational costs and risks of corruption.

According to the third condition, finance ministry will have to repay all defaulted loans of state-run enterprises.

The state-owned enterprises had Tk2,400 crore in default as of September 2013.

In diagnosis, Bangladesh Bank found 13 shortfalls of the banks. The shortfalls include, among others, problematic loans not getting bank officials’ attention, insufficient control over lending activities at branches, inadequate internal control and absence of an independent internal audit system.

Last week, a finance ministry meeting decided to revise the banks’ recapitalisation proposals. After revision of proposals, the banking division will disburse Tk4,100 crore.

The high officials of the state-owned banks said some of the amount will be used for automation.

The central bank last week sent business plans of the banks to banking division, said a finance ministry official. The credit risk management policy is a major component of the plan, he added.

In the first phase, the government will give

four state-run banks Tk4,100 crore against their capital shortfall of Tk8,863 crore.

In line with Bangladesh Bank’s recommendations, Sonali Bank will receive around Tk 1,200 crore and Agrani Bank Tk800 crore.

But Janata and Rupali banks will get funds next year, the official said.

Sonali and Agrani banks drew a sector-wise credit growth plan in their credit risk management policy, according to the business plans of the banks.

Sonali Bank showed that its highest credit growth would not exceed 8% in the trading sector and 2% in the industrial sector.

In line with the IMF’s conditions tagged with loans under its ECF, the government has taken initiatives to meet the capital shortfall of the banks in two phases.

The government also apprised the IMF of the reforms, said an official source. l

Agent banking on the cards n Tribune Report The central bank has laid out agent banking guideline with a view to creating an enabling environment for commercial banks to offer financial services to a new customer base.

Bangladesh Bank published the guideline yesterday, said a circular.

The guideline will be ensuring safety, security and soundness of the proposed delivery channel to permit banks to be engaged in agent banking.

Agent banking will allow an agent to provide limited scale banking and financial services to the underserved population through engaged agents on behalf of a bank under a valid agency agreement.

Agents’ activities will be within normal course of banking business of the scheduled banks but conducted at places other than bank premises and ATM booths.

The services may include collecting small amount of cash deposits and processing cash withdrawals, handling inward foreign remittance disbursement, facilitating small value loan disbursement and recovery of loan installments, facilitating utility bill payments and cash payments under the social safety net programme of the government.

The agent may also generate and issue mini bank statements, sell crops and provide other insurance services.

Customers will not be charged directly by the agents for the services as banks will be paying reasonable fee to its agents for the services provided.

Bangladesh Bank published a guideline on agent banking yesterday An agent will be eligible for the agreement after meeting some requirement and must provide its services in a designated business premises, according to the guideline.

The agents will also need to ensure com-

pliance with Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Financing of Terrorism standards set by AML/CFT rules and regulations.

The guideline comes under the article 74(e) of Bangladesh Bank Order 1972, section

DHAKA TRIBUNE

45 of Bank Company Act 1991 and section 4 of Bangladesh Payment and Settlement Systems Regulations, 2009. The purposes of these guidelines are to provide regulatory framework for agent banking. l

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2013

Apparel makers want interest waiver Political unrest almost halts shipment, says BGMEA; a meeting with bankers set today that they had been affected by the political ed by global economic recession, political n Jebun Nesa Alo turmoil, labour unrest, price hike of raw maunrest.

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) sent a letter to Bangladesh Bank seeking interest waivers as the apparel makers could not ship their products due to continuous hartals and blockades.

The letter was sent on 5th this month signed by BGMEA vice president Shahidullah Azim.

But Bangladesh Bank sources said the central bank is not the authority to ask the banks for interest waiver.

They said it is the matter of respective banks if they would come up with such facility for the apparel makers.

BGMEA letter claimed due to political and labour unrests, the garment manufacturers failed to meet supply orders from international buyers, Wages of the workers also could not be paid, it said, adding that running of business has become difficult for the garment owners.

BGMEA is set to hold a meeting today with managing directors of all commercial banks in respect of interest waiver facility.

Bangladesh Bank sources meanwhile said many garment owners were also trying to reschedule their loan accounts claiming

“We could not ship our products on 21 days in last two months because of hartals, blockades and violence.

Owners and workers are the sufferers,” said Shahidullah Azim.

He said BGMEA wants interest waiver till the end of the current political turmoil.

Many garment owners were also trying to reschedule their loan accounts claiming that they had been affected by the political unrest When contacted, a high official of Bangladesh Bank said the central bank is not authority to ask the banks for providing interest waivers.

“It is the matter of respective banks whether they will waive interest,” he said.

Bangladesh Bank data showed Janata Bank’s client Angels Composite Knitting Industry applied for rescheduling of a demand loans of Tk23.5 crore for the second time.

The firm opened the account against back to back letter of credit.

Angels Composite said it has been affect-

terials and decrease of products price.

Janata Bank’s board of directors already approved the rescheduling application of Angels Composite. The approved application was sent to Bangladesh Bank for non-objection.

In a special initiative for the fire-ravaged Standard Group, Bangladesh Bank offered five-year loan scheduling without any down payment with one year grace period.

A central bank meeting with five banks, BMGEA leaders and Standard Group took the decision on Sunday.

Bangladesh Bank governor Dr Atiur Rahman presided over the meeting.

Standard Group has loans of $31.84 million as of December 4, 2013 under the export development fund facility, said Bangladesh Bank.

The meeting also decided to give low-cost loans of $50 million or Tk400 crore to make a comeback. Bangladesh Bank and commercial banks will provide the loans.

Based on a rumour of a worker’s death in police attack, a group of workers set ablaze a ten-story factory building of Standard Group in Gazipur last month.

The workers were allegedly outsiders. The fire ravage the factory. l

n AFP, Singapore Oil prices rose in Asian trade yesterday as robust US jobs data boosted hopes for stronger energy demand in the world’s biggest economy.

New York’s main contract, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for January delivery, was up 18 cents at $97.83 a barrel in afternoon trade, while Brent North Sea crude for January rose 13 cents to $111.74.

Singapore’s United Overseas Bank said in a research note that prices were supported “by the outlook for increased demand after strong jobs data from the US, the world’s top oil consumer”.

The US government reported last week that the unemployment rate fell sharply to 7% in November from 7.3% in October.

The data, which pointed to further strength in the US economy, also saw a better-than-expected surge of 203,000 new jobs created.

As the world’s largest oil consuming nation, the health of the American economy has a major influence on the crude oil market.

The price of a West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for December delivery, fell 42 cents to $94.18 a barrel. l

SIBL holds farewell reception in honour of its MD

Microsoft Office 365 Home Premium brought to local market Smart Technologies BD Ltd has started distributing the most powerful Microsoft Office 365 Home Premium which will allow users to access the smarter versions of their favorite applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, and Access) and new cloud services that connect them to their documents and settings when and where they need them.

Office 365 includes an extra 20 GB of online storage in SkyDrive (27 GB total) that will allow users to store necessary data and 60 minutes of Skype calls each month to phones in 40+ countries. l

Stronger demand helps oil prices to climb in Asian trade

JBL inaugurates new branch Jamuna Bank Limited (JBL) inaugurated its 89th Branch at Rupgonj, Narayangonj. JBL Director Golam Dastagir Gazi, Bir Protik, MP inaugurated the Rupgonj branch as the chief guest. Chairman Kanutosh Majumder was present as the guest of honour. Jamuna

LBFL and bKash sign agreement LankaBangla Finance Limited (LBFL) and bKash Limited recently signed an agreement at bKash Corporate Office to collect monthly payments of LBFL Money Builder (DPS) through bkash. LBFL Managing Director Mohammed Nasir Uddin Chowdhury and bKash Limited CEO Kamal Quadir signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations. LBFL SVP & Head of Treasury Quamrul Islam, Manager & Head of Retail Liability Sales Maidul Islam Bhuiyan and bKash Head of Sales & Distribution Rezaul Hossain, Head of Direct Sales Golam Anjumanarul Islam along with other officials of both organisations were also present at the signing ceremony. l

Bank Foundation (JBF) Chairman Al-Haj Nur Mohammed, JBL Sponsor Hasina Gazi and Director Gazi Golam Murtoza were present at the program as special guests. Managing Director Shafiqul Alam presided over the ceremony. l

Al-Arafah Islami Bank Limited holds an induction course on Islamic banking A 3 days-long training course named “Induction Course on Islamic Banking” started at Al-Arafah Islami Bank Training & Research Academy (AIBTRA) on December 7. Managing Director Md Habibur Rahman inaugurated the course as chief guest. Among others AIBTRA Principal Md Zahid Hasan were also present in the occasion. 52 Officials of selected branches of the bank participated on the course. l

Shahjalal Islami Bank Management (SIBM) organised a farewell reception to its recently retired Managing Director Md Abdur Rahman Sarker in a city hotel on December 7.

Md Abdur Rahman Sarker seen receiving a Crest from Shahjalal Islami Bank Ltd (SIBL) Board of Directors Chairman AK Azad. The Board Vice-Chairman Syed Nurul Arefeen, Directors Akkas Uddin Mollah, Engineer Md Towhidur Rahman, Mohammed Solaiman, Anwer Hossain Khan, Mohammad Hasan, Khandoker Sakib Ahmed, Tofazzal Hossain, Alternate Directors Rukun Uddin Khan and Md Masud, Managing Director Farman R Chowdhury, Deputy Managing Directors Md Abdul Jabber Chowdhury and Md Setaur Rahman were present on the occasion. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2013

WTO TRADE DEAL

Package needs to be legally binding n Tribune Report The Bali package falls short of specific time frame and legally binding commitments on duty free and quota free market accesses to the developed countries, particularly USA, says trade analysts yesterday.

Through duty free quote free (DFQF) treatment for all goods originating from all least developed countries (LDCs) was a key demand of the LDCs during the Doha round negotiations that began in 2001 in Qatar.

“The accord produces no new gains for Bangladesh as it is hardly going to make any difference for the least developed countries,” said Professor Mustafizur Rahman, executive director of Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD) at a press briefing in the city.

He said there are no specific timeframe and legally binding commitments to execute. “Unless the obligation is legally binding with concrete time frame Bangladesh will not receive any additional benefit as its major export item RMG is on the 3% exclusion list of the USA.” The World Trade Organisation’s Bali meeting that ended on December 6 decided that developed country members that do not yet provide DF-QF market access for at least 97% of produces originating from LDCs shall seek to improve their existing DF-QF coverage to provide increasingly greater market access to LDCs, prior to next ministerial meeting.

Professor Rahman said the WTO meeting is important for Bangladesh, as 50% of its total GDP is caught up with the global trade.

“Negotiators now have to find a longterm solution to change the rules that stand in the way of getting market access of poor countries to the developed countries, like USA,” he said.

About the WTO meeting in Bali, he said the consensus among the member countries

Professor Mustafizur Rahman, executive director of Center for Policy Dialogue was reached on some issues, including food security and cotton; otherwise it raises question of its existence.

The draft deal, unveiled in Bali, Indonesia, was the first multilateral agreement negotiated by the WTO’s 159 member nations.

The deal was made on the three areas based on negotiations in Geneva are trade facilitation, agriculture $ cotton and development issues.

Bali meeting offered a trade facilitation pact to make trade easier, faster and cheaper by smoothing customs procedures and reducing red tape around the world.

“Implementation of trade facilitation measures will help reduce cost of trading in Bangladesh. However, Bangladesh will need both technical and financial support towards this,” said Fahmida Khatun, a CPD research director, in its presentation paper.

She said LDCs have been asked to identify

where they need the support. “Bangladesh has to make infrastructural real development and practice modern customs systems and behaviour in order to access the full merit of Bali outcome on trade foliation.”

The deal reached in Bali lets India and other developing nations continue to subsidize their crops to bolster food security without having to worry about legal challenges, so long as the practice doesn’t distort international trade, according to a draft text.

However, the proposed solution is interim until they reached for a permanent one.

Fahmida said this will allow India to stock foods, which could raise food prices regionally which could adversely affect Bangladesh consumers during food crisis.

“Stockpiling of food could result in ban on export of food, which may have adverse impact for Bangladesh,” she said referring 2008 when the world fell in food crisis.

On cotton issues, the WTO meeting proposed to continue to discuss considering all forms of export subsidies for cotton and all export measures with equivalent effect.

“If export subsidies on cotton are withdrawn as a cotton imprinting country, Bangladesh will have to import cotton at a higher price. This could increase the cost of production of RMG,” said CPD research director.

As to operatnisation of the services waiver, the WTO decided that a high level meeting will be organized in 2014 to deal with operanilsation of the services waiver for LDCs, which will allow for preferential market accesses to LDC services and service supplies in the developed country markets.

Fahmida said Bangladesh will fail to enjoy the facility unless trade barriers like non-tariff are eliminated. “Bangladesh needs to increase exports of its semi-skilled and skilled manpower related to the apparel sector, construction, care industry and education sector.” l

Stocks edge lower though turnover rises n Tribune Report The country’s stock exchanges edged lower yesterday as late profit booking cut early gains.

After rising more than 45 points in the morning, the benchmark index –DSEX - ended at 4289 with a slight fall of 12 points or 0.3%.

The DS30 Index comprising blue chips declined marginally over 5 points or 0.4% to 1495.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange Selective Category Index, CSCX, fell 16 points to close at 8413.

Trading activities increased as the total DSE turnover was over Tk647crore, which was almost 23% higher over the previous session. It was also the highest turnover since November 26 this year.

Out of 291 issues traded, 132 advanced, 130 lost and 29 remained unchanged.

IDLC Investments said as economy is in dire straits amid no hopes of solution to political crisis, the market turned bearish.

“However, entrance of contrarian investors boosted turnover by 23%, which absorbed much of the selling pressure, helping

stocks to stay steady.”

A few scrips dominated investors’ mindset and remained at the center of increased activities, as observed in top 10 active stocks accounted for 45% of the total turnover.

LankaBangla Investments said domestic economy is being grilled by continuous strikes and political violence.

It said economic indicators seem to be favourable but investors are still not confident of testing the depth of the market with their both feet as political uncertainty continues.

Despite the negative movement of the

market, non-banking financial institutions rose 1.6% and pharmaceuticals 0.4%.

The negative performing sectors included telecommunications, banks and power.

Generation Next Fashion was the most traded stocks with shares worth more than Tk333 changing hands.

According to a corporate disclosure published yesterday, Trust Bank has decided to issue subordinated bond worth Tk200 crore to strengthen its tier II capital that is subject to approval in its AGM and also by the regulatory authorities. l

3

Toll-free phone numbers on the way n Muhammad Zahidul Islam Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) published a guideline for toll-free phone services in both local and overseas connections.

The regulator made it public on Monday.

The guideline got BTRC approval last week.

Toll-free phone customers are usually the emergency service sector organisations like police, health and fire. If a service-seeker calls to a toll-free phone of a service provider, the caller will not be charged.

Under the 2G licence renewal guideline, mobile phone operators need to ensure tollfree phone service for those organisations.

“Now the launch of a guideline will empower customers and make the market more mature,” Md Giashuddin Ahmed, vice chairman of BTRC, told the Dhaka Tribune.

The regulator has set 0888-XXXXXXX numbers for international toll-free services and 0800-XXXXXXX numbers for local toll-free services, according to BTRC directive.

‘Now the launch of a guideline will empower customers and make the market more mature’

Interested business entities and service providers can choose the last seven digits on first-come-first-served basis.

All emergency numbers will be based on three digits.

For international toll-free phone call services, the call rate is $0.075 per minute while revenues will be shared by three parties – the international gateway (IGW), interconnection exchange (ICX) and BTRC. For local toll-free services, the call rate has been fixed at Tk0.60 per minute.

Number allocation fees is Tk25,000 and early renewal fees at Tk12,000 for local numbers. For the international service, the respective fees is set at Tk50,000 and Tk24,000.

Many countries have toll-free phone services. All the European Union countries are using 112 numbers for toll- free calls and Pakistan 117, and India uses different numbers for different services, said BTRC. “It has also clearly been specified in the National Numbering Planning, but operators are yet to provide the services,” said a BTRC official.

The BTRC in its recent draft of Customer Protection Guideline also said toll-free numbers will be made mandatory for the mobile phone operators.

The toll-free emergency numbers will be for police, ambulance services, hospitals, fire services, coast guards, border guards and immigration services, according to the draft guideline.

Earlier, the BTRC made the customer care number of mobile phone companies tollfree. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2013

Small steps to Mars are a big leap for Indian companies n Reuters Indian companies that built most of the parts for the country’s recently launched Mars mission are using their low-cost, hightech expertise in frugal space engineering to compete for global aerospace, defence and nuclear contracts worth billions.

Mangalyaan spacecraft was launched last month and then catapulted from Earth orbit on December 1, clearing an important hurdle on its 420 million mile journey to Mars and putting it on course to be the first Asian mission to reach the red planet.

The venture has a price tag of just 4.5bn rupees, roughly one-tenth the cost of Maven, NASA’s latest Mars mission. Two-thirds of the parts for the Indian probe and rocket were made by domestic firms like Larsen & Toubro, the country’s largest engineering firm, Godrej & Boyce, and state plane-maker Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.

‘We think over the next two to three years we will be able to convert this (the venture) into a profit centre’

While such companies have a long way to go before they can attract big business in the commercial space sector, years of work on home-grown space projects are helping them carve out a niche as suppliers of pre-

cision parts for related sectors like defence, aeronautics and nuclear energy.

Those firms with proven space know-how will find themselves with the advantage as India, the world’s biggest arms importer, shells out $100bn over a decade to modernise its military with the country favouring local sources.

India in June strengthened a defence policy stipulating that local firms must be considered first for contracts and foreign companies winning contracts worth more than 3bn rupees must “offset” at least 30% of the deal’s value in India.

“We think over the next two to three years we will be able to convert this into a profit centre,” said SM Vaidya, the business head of Godrej’s aerospace division, which made the rocket’s engine and fuel-powered thrusters for the Indian Mars probe.

Thanks to the space work, the company’s engineers now know how to handle the specific metal alloys and the high-precision welding needed for aircraft and missiles as well as rockets, Vaidya added.

Godrej has worked with India’s space agency for almost three decades and in recent years started making engine parts for aircraft makers Boeing Co, the Airbus unit of EADS and Israel’s state-owned Rafael Advanced Defence Systems Ltd. It is in talks with Boeing to make parts for aircraft frames.

Home-grown, go it alone

India launched its domestic space program 50 years ago and had to develop its own rocket technology after Western powers lev-

An employee works on the production line inside the heavy electrical manufacturing unit of Larsen & Turbo in Mumbai REUTERS ied sanctions in response to a 1974 nuclear weapons test, resulting in a “go it alone” development mentality.

The Indian Space Research Organisation, or ISRO, has worked to keep import costs low by designing most of the parts for its programme that are then outsourced to the domestic private sector.

ISRO must still import some metal alloys used in the space programme that it then gives to its contractors and Indian companies also must buy some of the machinery needed to make the parts from Europe and Japan.

India’s heavy reliance on domestic companies for its space programme allows it to tap homegrown technicians and engineers who earn half as much as those in the West.

Starting salaries for aerospace engineers in India are at most $2,000 per month, according to Indian recruitment consultancy TeamLease.

The same role in the United States brings in about $5,300 on average, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

“The commercial value of the business with ISRO is not high, it is the spin-offs that are valuable,” said MV Kotwal, president of the heavy engineering division at Larsen & Toubro, which has made $5.7m in parts for ISRO in recent years.

L&T has also supplied $240m worth of parts so far to ITER, an inter-governmental science experiment that is building a thermonuclear reactor in southern France.

Godrej earlier this year won a deal to build a frame for the world’s largest optical telescope in collaboration with University of California, the California Institute of Technology, and the Association of Canadian Universities for Research in Astronomy.

Walchand Nagar Industries, a Pune-headquartered company that made 100m rupees worth of parts for India’s Mars rocket, said the project helped it win contracts worth double that amount for a state-run nuclear plant in Gujarat. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2013

5

TRANS-PACIFIC TRADE DEAL

Expectation grows after WTO n Reuters Expectations are growing that an ambitious trade pact between a dozen nations around the Pacific Rim may be wrapped up in 2-3 months, with signs that political desire for a deal is trumping a string of technical difficulties in drawing it up.

Just days after the first World Trade Organisation trade reform deal was pushed through on Saturday, trade ministers from 12 countries are in closed-door talks in a Singapore hotel to try to tie up the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

Agreement would establish a free-trade bloc stretching from Vietnam to Chile and Japan, encompassing some 800 million people and almost 40% of the global economy.

More far-reaching than other deals, it would go beyond tariffs on physical trade and try to regulate sensitive areas such as government procurement and give companies more rights to sue governments.

Just a few months ago a deal looked a long way off, with Japan only entering into the talks in July and many countries at odds over issues ranging from tariffs on farm produce to rules on Internet freedom and stateowned enterprises.

However, a push by the United States to try to reach some kind of agreement by the year-end looks as if it may be starting to pay off. Japan’s trade minister Yasutoshi Nishimura told reporters on Monday that progress was made during talks over dinner on Sunday, and observers say plenty of pre-work for the TPP talks went on during last week’s WTO meeting in Bali.

“I would like to continue to make efforts toward an agreement by the year-end,” Nishimura said, adding he planned to hold bilateral talks with the United States later today.

Observers say that while an agreement in Singapore by the time the 4-day talks end is unlikely, there could be enough impetus to conclude a deal within the next couple of months, even if many technical issues are not finalised.

“If they’re close enough on the political issues, they could announce a sort of political agreement and say ‘we’re done’, and the

Singapore Minister of Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang (left) speaks as US trade representative Michael Froman listens during the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Ministerial Meeting in Singapore AFP last little bits will be resolved on their own,” said Deborah Elms, head of the Temasek Foundation Centre for Trade & Negotiations.

“That’s possible.”

One sticking point has been Japan’s long-stated aims to exempt five sensitive farm products - rice, wheat, beef and pork, dairy products and sugar - from the scrapping of tariffs.

Nishimura said they are unlikely to move far on that issue. “I’ve already mentioned the parts we can’t budge on, so the issue is what both sides can do based on that,” he said, referring to the bilateral talks between Japan and the US “For my part, I would like the United States to show flexibility.”

The TPP negotiations, which have run for three years, have been mired in controversy

over a lack of transparency, and slowed by the conflicting interests of the negotiating countries, US lawmakers and advocacy groups.

No draft of the entire text has been released - a move criticised by campaigners, who say they are being kept in the dark about what’s at stake. A leak of a draft chapter on intellectual property, released by Wikileaks last month, revealed a number of serious rifts among the countries, which would have suggested a deal was some way off. However, observers say political manoeuvring is likely to push it through.

“We are not in a rational zone, we are in a political zone and this agreement has increasingly become one about foreign policy issues and strategic alliances, and making the least worst trade-offs to achieve a final agreement,” said Jane Kelsey, a law profes-

sor at the University of Auckland, who is in Singapore to try to observe the talks.

The US has also faced roadblocks at home, with Congress complaining about a lack of consultation over the deal and opposing proposed new legislation that would give the White House a freer hand to clinch such trade agreements. Even if a deal is reached within the next few months, it’s likely to be some time until it comes into effect.

With the US government lacking the ability to “fast track” approval of the deal and mid-term elections coming up next year, it may not be put before Congress for approval until November at the earliest. “Best case scenario is July 1, 2015, and probably more likely is January 1, 2016 for this to come into force,” said Elms at the Temasek Foundation Centre. l

Slower China inflation reduces worries of tighter policy n Reuters China’s annual consumer inflation unexpectedly slowed in November, easing market fears of any imminent policy tightening as authorities meet this week to outline their policy and reform priorities for 2014.

Rising money market rates and bond yields indicate the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) is tightening liquidity conditions, to reduce debt levels and contain credit growth, but there is little sign of a sharp turnaround in monetary policy.

Annual consumer inflation unexpectedly slowed to 3% in November from an eight-month high of 3.2%, the National Bureau of Statistics said yesterday. Analysts had expected the inflation rate to hold steady at October’s level.

“Inflation will not be a big problem in the coming months and we expect monetary policy to stay neutral,” said Luo Wenbo, an economist at Xiangcai Securities in Shanghai.

From a month earlier, consumer prices fell 0.1%, the first fall in six months and a touch weaker than market expectations they would be flat.

“While headline inflation could moderate further in December, due to a high base last year and the PBOC maintaining a tightening bias on liquidity, upward pressures on inflation remain,” Jian Chang, China economist at Barclays Capital in Hong Kong, said in a research note.

Producer prices fell 1.4% in November from a year earlier - the 21st consecutive month of decline - versus a fall of 1.5% in the previous month, the bureau said. On a monthly basis, producer

prices were unchanged.

A strong jump in exports and a run of surveys of factory and service sector activity indicate the world’s second-largest economy has regained some momentum since arresting a protracted slowdown in the middle of the year.

But data on factory output, fixed-asset investment and retail sales due today is expected to show some moderation, consistent with expectations annual growth will slow slightly in the fourth quarter from the third.

A Reuters poll in October showed annual growth was forecast to slow to 7.5% in the final quarter of 2013 from 7.8% in the September quarter. Full-year growth was forecast at 7.6% - the weakest in 14 years, but just ahead of the government’s target of 7.5%.

China’s leaders have said they will accept slower growth as they try to remake the economy so it is not dependent on investment and exports and instead driven by consumption, services and innovation, which they consider more sustainable.

Top government think tanks, which make policy proposals for the leadership, are debating whether the growth target should be cut to 7% in 2014, but the official China Securities Journal said the government would probably keep it at 7.5%.

“Reform is more important than growth, but that does not mean that we will allow a ‘hard landing’ in China’s economy. We need appropriate economic growth to help maintain employment and social stability,” the paper said in a front-page commentary.

“Economic growth target for 2014 is more likely to be maintained at around 7.5%,” it said. l

6

Share

DHAKA TRIBUNE

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2013

DSEBroadIndex:4289.82⇓0.30%,Turnover:6473.69M.Tk⇑22.93%,PE:13.24 Turnover7,234.06MTk.⇑21.70% 9 December2013 MarketCap.2,072.84BTk.⇓0.26% CSEAllShareIndex:13313⇓0.19%,Turnover:760.37MTk.⇑12.10%,PE:13.04 Combined Turnover Leader

CompanyCode | EPS | BV | Volume Traded (Share) DSE/CSE: ClosePrice ⇓/⇑ Chn % | Avg.Price | Hi / Lo

BANK ABBANK | 2.95 | 32.60 | Vol. 415043 D: 27.30 ⇑ 0.37% | 27.46 | 29.00 / 24.50 C: 27.20 ⇓ 0.73% | 27.40 | 27.90 / 27.10 CITYBANK | 1.15 | 25.97 | Vol. 620056 D: 20.70 ⇑ 0.49% | 20.75 | 21.10 / 19.00 C: 20.60 ⇓ 0.96% | 20.65 | 20.80 / 20.40 IFIC | 1.10 | 18.34 | Vol. 1134948 D: 33.40 ⇑ 0.30% | 33.91 | 34.50 / 30.00 C: 33.80 ⇑ 1.50% | 33.99 | 34.60 / 33.50 ISLAMIBANK | 3.78 | 27.16 | Vol. 299729 D: 35.20 ⇓ 0.56% | 35.34 | 35.80 / 33.00 C: 35.00 ⇓ 1.13% | 35.05 | 35.70 / 34.90 NBL | 1.05 | 15.76 | Vol. 1384470 D: 12.10 ⇓ 0.82% | 12.18 | 12.50 / 11.60 C: 12.10 ⇓ 1.63% | 12.17 | 12.30 / 12.10 PUBALIBANK | 1.92 | 21.18 | Vol. 175727 D: 32.20 ⇓ 0.62% | 32.27 | 32.90 / 30.00 C: 31.80 ⇓ 0.93% | 31.84 | 32.30 / 31.60 RUPALIBANK | 6.70 | 64.27 | Vol. 20958 D: 65.30 ⇑ 0.46% | 65.38 | 66.80 / 62.50 C: 67.10 ⇑ 1.67% | 67.05 | 67.30 / 67.00 UCBL | 1.90 | 21.72 | Vol. 3061689 D: 24.50 ⇓ 0.81% | 24.68 | 25.00 / 23.00 C: 24.60 ⇓ 0.81% | 24.72 | 25.50 / 23.50 UTTARABANK | 3.42 | 26.97 | Vol. 250877 D: 31.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 31.76 | 33.00 / 29.30 C: 31.30 ⇓ 0.63% | 31.55 | 32.00 / 31.20 ICBIBANK | -1.60 | -13.03 | Vol. 87500 D: 6.80 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.88 | 6.90 / 6.80 EBL | 3.91 | 28.22 | Vol. 136082 D: 28.60 ⇓ 2.39% | 28.88 | 29.80 / 26.70 C: 29.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 28.96 | 29.50 / 28.50 ALARABANK | 2.03 | 14.91 | Vol. 1710102 D: 19.60 ⇑ 1.03% | 19.67 | 20.10 / 18.00 C: 19.70 ⇑ 1.03% | 19.68 | 20.00 / 19.50 PRIMEBANK | 2.89 | 22.40 | Vol. 328608 D: 24.00 ⇓ 1.64% | 24.28 | 24.70 / 22.80 C: 24.00 ⇑ 0.84% | 23.26 | 24.00 / 22.00 SOUTHEASTB | 1.89 | 22.66 | Vol. 858410 D: 18.20 ⇓ 2.15% | 18.36 | 19.00 / 16.90 C: 18.30 ⇓ 1.61% | 18.43 | 18.50 / 18.20 DHAKABANK | 1.46 | 18.08 | Vol. 152629 D: 19.00 ⇓ 1.04% | 19.10 | 19.40 / 17.50 C: 18.80 ⇓ 2.59% | 18.99 | 19.80 / 18.80 NCCBANK | 1.90 | 15.88 | Vol. 860548 D: 13.70 ⇓ 1.44% | 13.81 | 14.50 / 12.60 C: 13.80 ⇓ 0.72% | 13.81 | 14.00 / 12.60 SIBL | 2.05 | 14.47 | Vol. 658411 D: 13.20 ⇓ 1.49% | 13.35 | 14.00 / 12.10 C: 13.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 13.48 | 13.70 / 13.40 DUTCHBANGL | 11.57 | 54.27 | Vol. 18580 D: 99.60 ⇓ 1.78% | 99.66 | 100.4 / 95.00 MTBL | 1.17 | 17.27 | Vol. 24620 D: 16.10 ⇓ 0.62% | 16.14 | 16.50 / 15.00 C: 15.50 ⇓ 3.73% | 15.52 | 15.80 / 15.30 STANDBANKL | 2.33 | 14.41 | Vol. 643825 D: 15.00 ⇓ 1.32% | 15.16 | 15.50 / 13.80 C: 15.00 ⇓ 1.32% | 15.14 | 15.30 / 15.00 ONEBANKLTD | 2.35 | 15.34 | Vol. 1120296 D: 16.40 ⇓ 1.80% | 16.54 | 18.00 / 15.20 C: 16.40 ⇓ 2.38% | 16.59 | 17.00 / 16.30 BANKASIA | 1.35 | 20.80 | Vol. 497068 D: 19.20 ⇑ 2.67% | 19.13 | 19.50 / 17.10 C: 18.90 ⇓ 0.53% | 18.90 | 18.90 / 18.90 MERCANBANK | 2.07 | 16.59 | Vol. 4976413 D: 16.20 ⇓ 1.22% | 16.36 | 17.00 / 15.00 C: 16.40 ⇓ 0.61% | 16.41 | 16.60 / 16.20 EXIMBANK | 1.80 | 14.31 | Vol. 833802 D: 12.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 12.62 | 13.60 / 11.40 C: 12.60 ⇓ 1.56% | 12.68 | 12.80 / 12.60 JAMUNABANK | 2.47 | 18.56 | Vol. 124511 D: 16.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 16.65 | 16.80 / 15.20 C: 16.30 ⇓ 0.61% | 16.43 | 16.50 / 16.30 BRACBANK | 1.51 | 24.87 | Vol. 506603 D: 31.60 ⇓ 1.25% | 31.97 | 32.50 / 30.00 C: 31.50 ⇓ 0.32% | 31.57 | 31.90 / 31.40 SHAHJABANK | 2.61 | 14.47 | Vol. 493446 D: 17.00 ⇓ 0.58% | 17.22 | 18.00 / 16.00 C: 17.20 ⇓ 0.58% | 17.23 | 17.40 / 17.10 PREMIERBAN | 1.18 | 13.95 | Vol. 541006 D: 11.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 11.54 | 12.00 / 10.40 C: 11.50 ⇓ 0.86% | 11.59 | 11.70 / 11.50

Vol.

TO M. Tk.

% of TTL

Avg. P

366.57

5.07

35.60

Generation Next Fashions-A

10297500

Delta Life Insu. -A

996720

285.70

3.95

286.64

G Harvest Agro-N

5661620

268.22

3.71

47.38

P Textile Ltd.-N

3846500

Central Pharm-A

5071060

260.19 237.05

3.60 3.28

TRUSTBANK | 0.50 | 18.00 | Vol. 718262 D: 21.00 ⇑ 0.48% | 21.23 | 21.70 / 18.90 C: 21.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 21.29 | 21.50 / 21.00 FIRSTSBANK | 1.85 | 13.89 | Vol. 915356 D: 15.50 ⇑ 0.65% | 15.46 | 15.70 / 14.00 C: 15.30 ⇓ 1.29% | 15.42 | 15.60 / 15.30 NON BANKING F I IDLC | 4.43 | 29.18 | Vol. 162585 D: 61.00 ⇑ 1.50% | 61.51 | 62.00 / 55.00 C: 61.40 ⇑ 0.99% | 61.37 | 61.90 / 60.80 ULC | 1.80 | 14.90 | Vol. 200676 D: 29.10 ⇓ 0.34% | 29.53 | 30.20 / 28.00 UTTARAFIN | 7.16 | 41.54 | Vol. 131413 D: 80.50 ⇑ 1.00% | 80.77 | 81.50 / 72.00 C: 80.30 ⇑ 0.50% | 81.09 | 84.00 / 80.30 MIDASFIN | 0.16 | 10.21 | Vol. 24065 D: 29.70 ⇑ 0.34% | 29.83 | 30.00 / 29.00 C: 29.00 ⇑ 7.01% | 29.00 | 29.00 / 29.00 FLEASEINT | 2.34 | 13.93 | Vol. 1228068 D: 30.90 ⇑ 4.75% | 30.80 | 32.00 / 27.00 C: 31.00 ⇑ 5.08% | 31.04 | 31.60 / 30.40 PLFSL | 1.37 | 17.48 | Vol. 593557 D: 23.60 ⇑ 0.85% | 23.86 | 24.20 / 21.50 C: 23.60 ⇑ 0.85% | 23.91 | 24.30 / 22.00 PRIMEFIN | 0.87 | 17.88 | Vol. 351962 D: 24.60 ⇑ 1.23% | 24.69 | 25.00 / 22.50 C: 24.60 ⇑ 1.23% | 24.72 | 25.10 / 24.50 PREMIERLEA | 0.10 | 11.37 | Vol. 168495 D: 10.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 10.02 | 10.10 / 9.00 C: 10.00 ⇓ 1.96% | 10.03 | 9.90 / 10.00 ISLAMICFIN | 1.03 | 15.48 | Vol. 640535 D: 16.70 ⇑ 1.21% | 16.92 | 18.00 / 15.00 C: 16.80 ⇑ 0.60% | 16.90 | 17.20 / 16.60 LANKABAFIN | 1.61 | 31.07 | Vol. 2109836 D: 57.00 ⇑ 3.45% | 56.95 | 59.00 / 51.00 C: 57.10 ⇑ 3.44% | 57.49 | 58.90 / 55.90 BIFC | 0.15 | 18.58 | Vol. 112819 D: 16.10 ⇑ 0.63% | 16.20 | 16.30 / 15.80 C: 16.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 16.05 | 16.50 / 15.80 IPDC | 1.23 | 19.43 | Vol. 85000 D: 18.40 ⇑ 2.22% | 18.44 | 18.60 / 18.10 C: 18.40 ⇑ 2.22% | 18.26 | 18.50 / 18.00 UNIONCAP | 0.54 | 17.85 | Vol. 41060 D: 28.00 ⇓ 0.36% | 28.04 | 28.60 / 26.00 C: 27.50 ⇓ 1.79% | 28.06 | 28.50 / 27.10 BDFINANCE | 0.57 | 14.77 | Vol. 277524 D: 18.90 ⇑ 1.61% | 18.92 | 19.20 / 17.00 C: 18.60 ⇑ 1.09% | 18.53 | 18.90 / 18.10 ILFSL | 0.35 | 12.19 | Vol. 354423 D: 14.50 ⇑ 1.40% | 14.57 | 14.70 / 13.50 C: 14.60 ⇑ 2.10% | 14.73 | 14.90 / 14.50 PHOENIXFIN | 2.46 | 19.39 | Vol. 480661 D: 33.50 ⇑ 2.45% | 33.51 | 34.00 / 31.00 C: 33.20 ⇑ 3.11% | 33.44 | 34.00 / 33.00 FASFIN | 0.19 | 13.56 | Vol. 401500 D: 13.80 ⇑ 0.00% | 13.95 | 14.10 / 13.80 C: 13.90 ⇑ 0.72% | 14.02 | 14.10 / 13.90 DBH | 4.47 | 21.27 | Vol. 33905 D: 54.80 ⇑ 0.92% | 54.81 | 55.30 / 50.00 C: 55.90 ⇓ 0.18% | 55.92 | 56.00 / 55.50 NHFIL | 0.57 | 12.70 | Vol. 235737 D: 30.50 ⇓ 0.33% | 30.82 | 31.50 / 29.00 C: 30.90 ⇑ 0.98% | 30.94 | 31.20 / 30.70 BAYLEASING | 0.72 | 25.55 | Vol. 217844 D: 28.60 ⇓ 0.69% | 29.06 | 29.60 / 26.90 C: 28.70 ⇑ 0.35% | 29.16 | 30.00 / 26.50 ICB | 89.23 | 607.74 | Vol. 7819 D: 1533 ⇑ 1.62% | 1538 | 1560 / 1415 C: 1560 ⇑ 2.63% | 1560 | 1560 / 1560 GSPFINANCE | 1.63 | 22.23 | Vol. 307332 D: 26.10 ⇑ 2.76% | 25.99 | 26.50 / 23.00 C: 26.20 ⇑ 2.75% | 26.23 | 26.60 / 25.60 FAREASTFIN | 0.68 | 13.64 | Vol. 997000 D: 14.00 ⇓ 0.71% | 14.17 | 14.30 / 14.00 C: 14.10 ⇓ 0.70% | 14.23 | 14.40 / 14.10 INVESTMENT 2NDICB | 44.10 | 253.11 | Vol. 250 D: 265.6 ⇓ 2.35% | 264.00 | 270.0 / 262.0 3RDICB | 26.16 | 235.16 | Vol. 50 D: 200.0 ⇑ 4.55% | 200.00 | 200.0 / 200.0 4THICB | 29.24 | 229.24 | Vol. 400 D: 188.2 ⇓ 5.95% | 187.50 | 189.0 / 188.0 5THICB | 23.45 | 188.92 | Vol. 1700 D: 152.9 ⇑ 1.93% | 152.94 | 155.0 / 151.0

67.64 46.74

DSE Gainer

C%

A%

CP

C%

A%

CP

Aziz Pipes-Z

10.00

12.68

20.90

Libra Infusions-A

-7.82

-7.85

421.00

Northern Jute-Z

9.94

10.61

36.50

Eastern Cables-Z

-6.81

1.76

99.90

DSE Loser

Samata Leather-Z

9.89

10.07

20.00

Rangpur Foundry-A

-6.34

-3.01

96.10

Rahima Food -A

9.84

7.34

77.00

4th ICB M F-A

-5.95

-6.25

188.20

Central Pharm-A

9.79

6.17

48.20

Metro Spinning-A

-4.89

-0.59

21.40

6THICB | 10.99 | 60.14 | Vol. 6700 D: 53.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 53.28 | 53.70 / 53.00 8THICB | 12.47 | 70.07 | Vol. 500 D: 53.40 ⇓ 0.56% | 53.40 | 53.40 / 53.40 AIMS1STMF | 3.02 | 15.70 | Vol. 193500 D: 38.80 ⇑ 0.78% | 38.93 | 39.30 / 38.10 C: 38.50 ⇓ 0.26% | 38.69 | 39.10 / 38.40 ICBISLAMIC | 2.21 | 26.81 | Vol. 20000 D: 18.00 ⇓ 0.55% | 18.05 | 18.40 / 17.90 GRAMEEN1 | 6.26 | 33.23 | Vol. 300500 D: 43.90 ⇑ 1.15% | 44.28 | 45.00 / 43.60 C: 44.10 ⇑ 0.46% | 44.04 | 45.00 / 43.00 ICB1STNRB | 4.06 | 35.31 | Vol. 3000 D: 25.40 ⇑ 0.00% | 25.40 | 25.40 / 25.40 ICB2NDNRB | 2.49 | 16.24 | Vol. 257000 D: 9.80 ⇑ 0.00% | 9.91 | 10.10 / 9.80 C: 9.90 ⇓ 1.00% | 9.93 | 9.90 / 10.00 GRAMEENS2 | 2.17 | 16.41 | Vol. 1075600 D: 16.50 ⇑ 2.48% | 16.48 | 16.60 / 15.00 C: 16.50 ⇑ 2.48% | 16.48 | 16.60 / 16.30 1STPRIMFMF | 0.64 | 11.63 | Vol. 2886000 D: 24.10 ⇑ 9.05% | 23.75 | 24.30 / 22.20 C: 24.10 ⇑ 7.59% | 23.76 | 24.30 / 22.90 EBL1STMF | 0.55 | 12.62 | Vol. 277670 D: 7.10 ⇑ 1.43% | 7.13 | 7.50 / 7.10 C: 7.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 7.10 | 7.20 / 7.10 ICBAMCL2ND | 0.60 | 12.12 | Vol. 28500 D: 5.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.00 | 6.00 / 5.90 C: 6.00 ⇑ 1.69% | 5.96 | 6.10 / 5.90 ICBEPMF1S1 | 0.52 | 11.32 | Vol. 42000 D: 5.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.00 | 6.10 / 5.90 C: 5.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.90 | 5.90 / 5.90 TRUSTB1MF | 0.75 | 11.65 | Vol. 308290 D: 7.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 7.42 | 7.50 / 6.90 C: 7.40 ⇑ 0.00% | 7.41 | 7.50 / 7.40 PRIME1ICBA | 0.42 | 11.18 | Vol. 187500 D: 5.40 ⇓ 1.82% | 5.52 | 5.60 / 5.40 C: 5.60 ⇓ 1.75% | 5.65 | 5.80 / 5.60 DBH1STMF | -1.12 | 10.15 | Vol. 257500 D: 5.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.66 | 5.70 / 5.60 C: 5.70 ⇓ 1.72% | 5.66 | 5.70 / 5.60 IFIC1STMF | 0.83 | 11.88 | Vol. 532000 D: 6.60 ⇓ 1.49% | 6.63 | 6.70 / 6.60 C: 6.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.65 | 6.70 / 6.60 PF1STMF | 0.51 | 11.11 | Vol. 216000 D: 5.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.57 | 5.70 / 5.50 C: 5.50 ⇓ 1.79% | 5.57 | 5.60 / 5.50 ICB3RDNRB | 0.00 | 10.60 | Vol. 430500 D: 5.20 ⇓ 1.89% | 5.37 | 5.50 / 5.20 C: 5.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.30 | 5.40 / 5.20 1JANATAMF | 0.78 | 10.68 | Vol. 460000 D: 6.20 ⇑ 3.33% | 6.19 | 6.30 / 6.00 C: 6.10 ⇑ 1.67% | 6.06 | 6.20 / 5.90 GREENDELMF | -0.82 | 9.72 | Vol. 192500 D: 5.40 ⇑ 1.89% | 5.40 | 5.50 / 5.40 C: 5.40 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.50 | 5.50 / 5.40 POPULAR1MF | 0.77 | 11.38 | Vol. 703426 D: 6.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.13 | 6.20 / 5.80 C: 6.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.12 | 6.20 / 6.00 IFILISLMF1 | 0.00 | 10.45 | Vol. 230500 D: 5.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.73 | 5.90 / 5.70 C: 5.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.74 | 5.80 / 5.70 PHPMF1 | 0.63 | 10.92 | Vol. 779000 D: 5.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.59 | 5.70 / 5.50 C: 5.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.59 | 5.70 / 5.50 AIBL1STIMF | -0.07 | 9.25 | Vol. 52000 D: 7.00 ⇑ 1.45% | 7.04 | 7.50 / 6.90 C: 7.10 ⇑ 2.90% | 7.08 | 7.20 / 7.00 MBL1STMF | -0.16 | 9.08 | Vol. 300500 D: 6.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.24 | 6.30 / 6.10 SEBL1STMF | 0.94 | 11.85 | Vol. 387400 D: 7.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 7.96 | 8.10 / 7.50 C: 7.90 ⇓ 1.25% | 7.94 | 8.10 / 7.80 EBLNRBMF | 1.07 | 10.88 | Vol. 120584 D: 7.90 ⇑ 5.33% | 7.94 | 8.00 / 7.50 RELIANCE1 | 0.95 | 10.33 | Vol. 797250 D: 8.40 ⇓ 1.18% | 8.57 | 8.70 / 8.40 C: 8.50 ⇓ 2.30% | 8.51 | 8.60 / 8.50 LRGLOBMF1 | 0.45 | 10.78 | Vol. 69500 D: 6.70 ⇑ 1.52% | 6.79 | 6.90 / 6.70 ABB1STMF | 0.92 | 10.63 | Vol. 633000 D: 7.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 7.30 | 7.40 / 7.20 C: 7.30 ⇑ 1.39% | 7.30 | 7.30 / 7.30 NLI1STMF | 1.17 | 12.22 | Vol. 495500 D: 9.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 9.22 | 9.40 / 9.10 C: 9.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 9.14 | 9.30 / 9.10

FBFIF | 1.30 | 10.27 | Vol. 5000 D: 9.00 ⇑ 1.12% | 9.00 | 9.10 / 9.00 NCCBLMF1 | 1.16 | 10.48 | Vol. 39000 D: 8.10 ⇓ 1.22% | 8.18 | 8.40 / 8.10 ICBSONALI1 | 0.00 | 10.39 | Vol. 641500 D: 8.10 ⇑ 2.53% | 8.16 | 8.30 / 7.90 C: 8.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 8.08 | 8.30 / 8.00 ENGINEERING AFTABAUTO | 3.60 | 50.81 | Vol. 519261 D: 93.70 ⇓ 0.64% | 94.95 | 96.80 / 85.00 C: 94.40 ⇓ 0.21% | 95.13 | 96.90 / 94.10 AZIZPIPES | 0.39 | -42.04 | Vol. 33800 D: 20.90 ⇑ 10.00% | 20.89 | 20.90 / 20.60 C: 21.40 ⇑ 9.74% | 21.40 | 21.40 / 21.40 OLYMPIC | 5.23 | 14.73 | Vol. 243022 D: 152.2 ⇓ 0.13% | 153.39 | 157.0 / 140.0 C: 153.1 ⇑ 0.39% | 154.02 | 158.0 / 153.0 BDLAMPS | -5.31 | 37.07 | Vol. 25675 D: 134.8 ⇓ 3.78% | 136.57 | 141.8 / 134.2 C: 136.7 ⇓ 2.36% | 136.69 | 137.0 / 136.0 ECABLES | 6.10 | 23.97 | Vol. 21400 D: 99.90 ⇓ 6.81% | 102.72 | 111.0 / 98.10 C: 99.90 ⇓ 4.03% | 100.17 | 98.00 / 100.2 MONNOSTAF | 5.31 | 44.78 | Vol. 6250 D: 308.1 ⇓ 1.12% | 308.48 | 314.8 / 306.0 SINGERBD | 9.99 | 45.74 | Vol. 102000 D: 196.0 ⇑ 0.98% | 196.55 | 197.9 / 195.0 C: 195.7 ⇑ 1.19% | 196.13 | 198.6 / 194.7 ATLASBANG | 9.14 | 222.05 | Vol. 13401 D: 162.6 ⇓ 0.49% | 163.35 | 166.0 / 154.0 BDAUTOCA | -0.43 | 5.68 | Vol. 145200 D: 36.70 ⇑ 3.09% | 36.84 | 38.20 / 35.60 QSMDRYCELL | 1.06 | 52.31 | Vol. 356889 D: 36.00 ⇓ 0.28% | 36.45 | 37.20 / 32.50 C: 36.00 ⇓ 1.37% | 36.19 | 36.50 / 35.00 RENWICKJA | 5.77 | -31.13 | Vol. 19500 D: 145.9 ⇓ 1.95% | 147.44 | 149.1 / 144.0 NTLTUBES | 0.67 | 311.00 | Vol. 79800 D: 75.60 ⇓ 1.82% | 77.46 | 78.60 / 74.00 BDTHAI | 0.43 | 39.35 | Vol. 861348 D: 30.70 ⇑ 1.66% | 30.83 | 31.60 / 27.20 C: 30.90 ⇑ 1.31% | 30.90 | 31.20 / 30.50 ANWARGALV | 0.52 | 8.10 | Vol. 759500 D: 33.30 ⇑ 9.18% | 32.13 | 33.50 / 30.40 C: 33.30 ⇑ 8.82% | 32.27 | 33.60 / 30.50 KAY&QUE | -3.89 | 6.03 | Vol. 79900 D: 17.60 ⇑ 9.32% | 17.40 | 17.70 / 16.00 C: 17.40 ⇑ 9.43% | 16.99 | 17.40 / 16.30 RANFOUNDRY | 2.84 | 18.62 | Vol. 107500 D: 96.10 ⇓ 6.34% | 98.30 | 104.8 / 95.20 C: 97.70 ⇓ 1.81% | 98.33 | 98.50 / 100.0 SALAMCRST | 3.31 | 20.00 | Vol. 654260 D: 44.40 ⇑ 2.07% | 44.61 | 46.00 / 40.00 C: 44.60 ⇑ 1.36% | 44.65 | 45.00 / 44.40 GOLDENSON | 3.70 | 28.70 | Vol. 3169299 D: 52.90 ⇑ 4.96% | 52.93 | 54.00 / 46.00 C: 53.10 ⇑ 4.73% | 53.18 | 54.00 / 52.30 BSRMSTEEL | 3.06 | 19.53 | Vol. 535670 D: 72.70 ⇑ 1.11% | 73.64 | 79.00 / 68.00 C: 72.90 ⇑ 0.28% | 74.01 | 75.00 / 72.10 NAVANACNG | 4.09 | 27.04 | Vol. 201292 D: 65.80 ⇓ 1.35% | 65.92 | 68.10 / 61.40 C: 66.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 66.52 | 67.00 / 66.10 DESHBANDHU | 0.26 | 10.67 | Vol. 1315714 D: 20.80 ⇓ 0.48% | 21.14 | 21.90 / 19.50 C: 20.90 ⇓ 0.48% | 21.10 | 21.70 / 20.70 GPHISPAT | 2.11 | 15.27 | Vol. 1056220 D: 57.70 ⇑ 2.12% | 58.98 | 60.80 / 50.90 C: 58.30 ⇑ 3.92% | 59.27 | 60.30 / 58.00 BENGALWTL | 3.85 | 24.30 | Vol. 2918400 D: 67.00 ⇑ 1.67% | 67.73 | 69.90 / 65.50 C: 66.80 ⇓ 0.15% | 68.11 | 69.90 / 66.10 BDBUILDING | 1.33 | 12.70 | Vol. 1659000 D: 77.40 ⇓ 1.53% | 78.54 | 81.70 / 76.30 C: 77.70 ⇓ 1.40% | 78.62 | 82.00 / 76.60 NPOLYMAR | 2.38 | 32.89 | Vol. 294300 D: 60.40 ⇓ 1.15% | 61.23 | 62.80 / 60.00 C: 60.50 ⇓ 4.27% | 60.85 | 62.00 / 60.20 FOOD & ALLIED APEXFOODS | 2.54 | 90.81 | Vol. 38000 D: 92.10 ⇓ 1.81% | 92.75 | 95.00 / 91.10 C: 92.60 ⇓ 0.96% | 92.63 | 92.70 / 92.50 BANGAS | 7.20 | 50.27 | Vol. 93121 D: 473.9 ⇓ 2.17% | 480.01 | 489.0 / 449.0 C: 477.5 ⇓ 1.67% | 479.40 | 485.0 / 473.0

BATBC | 65.69 | 117.22 | Vol. 300 D: 1662 ⇓ 0.19% | 1662 | 1662 / 1662 GEMINISEA | -15.39 | -5.70 | Vol. 1150 D: 155.3 ⇓ 2.51% | 155.65 | 156.6 / 151.1 NTC | 29.88 | 110.05 | Vol. 50 D: 815.0 ⇑ 0.00% | 815.00 | 815.0 / 815.0 ZEALBANGLA | -28.94 | -221.34 | Vol. 400 D: 7.80 ⇑ 0.00% | 7.50 | 7.90 / 7.80 AMCL(PRAN) | 6.85 | 57.14 | Vol. 64010 D: 194.6 ⇓ 3.14% | 197.47 | 202.0 / 185.0 C: 193.0 ⇓ 3.74% | 197.95 | 200.0 / 192.0 RAHIMAFOOD | 0.52 | 4.45 | Vol. 862830 D: 77.00 ⇑ 9.84% | 73.27 | 77.10 / 68.00 C: 77.40 ⇑ 9.63% | 73.78 | 77.60 / 70.00 FUWANGFOOD | 0.94 | 12.28 | Vol. 750028 D: 23.50 ⇑ 0.43% | 23.81 | 24.40 / 22.00 C: 23.70 ⇑ 0.42% | 24.06 | 24.50 / 23.50 MEGHNAPET | -0.50 | -1.52 | Vol. 500 D: 6.70 ⇑ 3.08% | 6.70 | 6.70 / 6.70 MEGCONMILK | -7.48 | -23.70 | Vol. 20000 D: 7.00 ⇓ 2.78% | 7.05 | 7.20 / 7.00 BEACHHATCH | 1.01 | 12.48 | Vol. 3255165 D: 24.70 ⇑ 8.81% | 24.23 | 24.90 / 21.00 C: 25.00 ⇑ 9.17% | 24.34 | 25.10 / 23.10 FINEFOODS | 0.05 | 10.63 | Vol. 977360 D: 23.20 ⇑ 6.91% | 23.01 | 23.50 / 21.50 C: 23.10 ⇑ 5.48% | 23.00 | 23.50 / 21.60 RDFOOD | 0.91 | 16.84 | Vol. 2649591 D: 25.50 ⇑ 1.59% | 25.70 | 26.20 / 23.50 C: 25.50 ⇑ 1.19% | 25.64 | 26.20 / 24.90 GHAIL | 2.31 | 24.36 | Vol. 5661620 D: 48.60 ⇑ 8.24% | 47.36 | 49.30 / 42.00 C: 49.20 ⇑ 9.33% | 47.50 | 49.50 / 43.70 FUEL & POWER LINDEBD | 31.71 | 144.00 | Vol. 14250 D: 636.3 ⇓ 0.25% | 637.33 | 640.0 / 630.0 PADMAOIL | 27.62 | 79.74 | Vol. 161732 D: 318.1 ⇓ 0.19% | 320.62 | 324.0 / 305.0 C: 317.9 ⇓ 1.00% | 319.42 | 323.8 / 316.1 EASTRNLUB | 5.33 | 71.01 | Vol. 5200 D: 326.5 ⇑ 1.08% | 324.42 | 334.0 / 323.0 BDWELDING | 0.33 | 16.82 | Vol. 1029579 D: 23.30 ⇑ 1.75% | 23.44 | 23.90 / 21.50 C: 23.50 ⇑ 3.52% | 23.54 | 24.00 / 21.50 SUMITPOWER | 3.17 | 19.26 | Vol. 1103080 D: 38.40 ⇓ 2.54% | 39.01 | 40.40 / 36.00 C: 38.70 ⇓ 1.53% | 39.28 | 41.00 / 38.50 DESCO | 2.34 | 31.27 | Vol. 120390 D: 59.60 ⇑ 0.34% | 59.67 | 60.00 / 55.00 C: 59.90 ⇑ 0.34% | 60.27 | 61.70 / 57.10 POWERGRID | 2.19 | 63.69 | Vol. 150577 D: 54.70 ⇓ 0.73% | 54.88 | 55.10 / 51.00 C: 53.70 ⇓ 0.74% | 53.70 | 53.80 / 53.60 JAMUNAOIL | 19.83 | 57.32 | Vol. 265148 D: 207.4 ⇓ 0.34% | 208.17 | 212.0 / 200.0 C: 206.7 ⇓ 1.29% | 207.97 | 210.0 / 205.0 MPETROLEUM | 21.34 | 59.26 | Vol. 249128 D: 222.7 ⇓ 0.36% | 224.04 | 226.0 / 210.0 C: 222.9 ⇓ 0.36% | 224.40 | 226.4 / 222.3 TITASGAS | 9.20 | 46.26 | Vol. 332605 D: 74.00 ⇓ 0.13% | 74.15 | 75.10 / 71.00 C: 74.00 ⇓ 0.27% | 74.35 | 76.00 / 74.00 KPCL | 4.73 | 15.86 | Vol. 333254 D: 49.40 ⇓ 0.40% | 49.67 | 50.30 / 45.00 C: 49.50 ⇓ 0.20% | 49.61 | 50.00 / 49.40 BEDL | 1.48 | 19.43 | Vol. 1410780 D: 33.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 33.39 | 34.50 / 29.70 C: 33.00 ⇑ 0.30% | 33.43 | 34.00 / 32.80 MJLBD | 2.73 | 30.24 | Vol. 97953 D: 75.60 ⇓ 0.13% | 75.58 | 76.30 / 70.00 C: 75.10 ⇑ 0.67% | 74.56 | 76.00 / 74.50 GBBPOWER | 1.86 | 22.63 | Vol. 1613141 D: 30.00 ⇑ 1.69% | 30.05 | 30.60 / 27.00 C: 29.60 ⇑ 0.68% | 30.01 | 30.50 / 29.50 SPPCL | 3.81 | 23.34 | Vol. 1343960 D: 63.00 ⇓ 1.56% | 64.28 | 69.00 / 57.60 C: 62.70 ⇓ 2.18% | 64.00 | 65.60 / 62.30 JUTE JUTESPINN | -48.14 | -39.89 | Vol. 7250 D: 84.40 ⇓ 4.42% | 84.55 | 87.00 / 83.70 NORTHERN | -9.98 | -18.22 | Vol. 600 D: 36.50 ⇑ 9.94% | 36.50 | 36.50 / 36.50 SONALIANSH | 2.65 | 226.00 | Vol. 67200 D: 156.2 ⇑ 0.97% | 156.09 | 163.9 / 153.2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Share

7

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2013

December 09, 2013 Sectotal Index: BANK: 37,443.26 ⇓ 0.72% NBFI: 20,629.46 ⇑ 1.58% INVS: 4,805.59 ⇑ 0.27% ENGG: 6,563.48 ⇑ 0.71% FOOD: 10,290.82 ⇑ 1.53% F&P: 10,293.82 ⇓ 0.55% TEXT: 3,672.82 ⇓ 0.30% PHAR: 18,399.22 ⇑ 0.07% PAPR: 1,226.04 ⇑ 5.16% SERV: 3,019.07 ⇓ 0.20% LEAT: 5,361.40 ⇑ 0.24% CERA: 537.97 ⇓ 0.18% CMNT: 4,366.40 ⇑ 0.46% INFO: 7,849.58 ⇑ 2.95% GINS: 9,140.77 ⇓ 0.10% LINS: 125,230.95 ⇑ 0.38% TELC: 1,355.29 ⇓ 0.99% MISC: 6,537.57 ⇓ 0.61% TEXTILE AL-HAJTEX | 2.22 | 16.53 | Vol. 92900 D: 76.50 ⇓0 3.89% | 77.79 | 80.80 / 76.00 RAHIMTEXT | 4.65 | 56.68 | Vol. 11400 D: 269.6 ⇓ 1.06% | 273.25 | 289.8 / 263.0 SAIHAMTEX | 2.75 | 29.50 | Vol. 396300 D: 28.30 ⇓ 1.74% | 28.65 | 29.50 / 28.10 C: 28.40 ⇓ 1.05% | 28.68 | 29.10 / 28.00 MODERNDYE | 0.91 | 10.37 | Vol. 2350 D: 101.7 ⇑ 1.09% | 101.70 | 103.0 / 101.5 DSHGARME | 0.88 | 12.12 | Vol. 69800 D: 72.10 ⇑ 0.14% | 72.61 | 74.60 / 71.40 DULAMIACOT | -1.90 | -29.70 | Vol. 18100 D: 7.60 ⇓ 2.56% | 7.68 | 7.90 / 7.60 TALLUSPIN | 1.75 | 16.17 | Vol. 2411400 D: 37.40 ⇓ 3.61% | 38.20 | 39.30 / 37.30 C: 37.70 ⇓ 3.08% | 38.35 | 39.30 / 37.30 APEXSPINN | 2.01 | 49.32 | Vol. 3800 D: 74.10 ⇓ 2.37% | 74.21 | 75.80 / 73.00 MITHUNKNIT | 2.87 | 20.53 | Vol. 272616 D: 79.70 ⇓ 4.67% | 81.41 | 83.90 / 79.20 C: 80.50 ⇓ 3.94% | 81.26 | 83.00 / 79.50 DELTASPINN | 3.06 | 26.84 | Vol. 2143300 D: 33.30 ⇑ 5.05% | 32.77 | 34.40 / 31.00 C: 33.20 ⇑ 4.73% | 32.66 | 34.30 / 31.00 SONARGAON | 0.27 | 34.50 | Vol. 711475 D: 20.30 ⇑ 4.10% | 20.25 | 20.60 / 18.50 C: 20.40 ⇑ 4.08% | 20.44 | 21.00 / 20.00 PRIMETEX | 1.21 | 59.34 | Vol. 472000 D: 26.30 ⇓ 2.23% | 26.76 | 27.50 / 26.00 C: 26.10 ⇓ 3.33% | 26.52 | 27.00 / 25.90 ALLTEX | -1.26 | 8.10 | Vol. 259000 D: 7.40 ⇑ 2.78% | 7.45 | 7.60 / 7.30 C: 7.50 ⇑ 1.35% | 7.40 | 7.50 / 7.30 ANLIMAYARN | 1.36 | 11.99 | Vol. 427000 D: 27.80 ⇓ 3.14% | 28.16 | 29.00 / 27.60 C: 28.20 ⇓ 3.09% | 28.73 | 29.30 / 27.80 HRTEX | 2.08 | 14.92 | Vol. 691831 D: 44.10 ⇓ 1.78% | 44.31 | 45.70 / 41.00 C: 44.30 ⇓ 2.21% | 44.66 | 48.90 / 44.00 CMCKAMAL | 1.37 | 19.31 | Vol. 1686830 D: 32.50 ⇓ 2.11% | 32.80 | 35.00 / 30.00 SAFKOSPINN | 0.95 | 21.78 | Vol. 777500 D: 27.40 ⇓ 1.79% | 27.90 | 28.70 / 25.50 C: 27.50 ⇓ 1.43% | 27.92 | 29.00 / 27.30 SQUARETEXT | 4.32 | 31.82 | Vol. 78721 D: 92.50 ⇓ 0.54% | 92.75 | 94.00 / 84.10 C: 93.80 ⇑ 0.97% | 93.85 | 95.00 / 92.50 METROSPIN | 0.56 | 17.71 | Vol. 990500 D: 21.40 ⇓ 4.89% | 22.02 | 23.00 / 20.30 C: 21.60 ⇓ 4.42% | 22.03 | 23.00 / 20.40 MAKSONSPIN | 0.16 | 20.55 | Vol. 6449298 D: 20.30 ⇓ 0.98% | 20.72 | 21.40 / 18.60 C: 20.40 ⇑ 0.00% | 20.73 | 21.20 / 18.40 DACCADYE | 0.93 | 25.85 | Vol. 466480 D: 24.90 ⇓ 1.19% | 25.22 | 25.80 / 24.00 C: 25.00 ⇓ 1.19% | 25.21 | 25.50 / 24.70 RNSPIN | 2.80 | 16.58 | Vol. 5865274 D: 36.20 ⇓ 1.90% | 36.47 | 37.70 / 34.50 C: 36.30 ⇓ 1.89% | 36.55 | 37.50 / 36.10 BXSYNTH | 0.93 | 25.42 | Vol. 519222 D: 16.80 ⇓ 0.59% | 16.99 | 17.20 / 15.90 C: 16.90 ⇓ 0.59% | 17.01 | 17.20 / 16.80 MALEKSPIN | 2.81 | 43.48 | Vol. 1908520 D: 28.20 ⇓ 2.42% | 28.60 | 29.70 / 26.50 C: 28.30 ⇓ 2.75% | 28.98 | 29.60 / 28.10 ZAHINTEX | 1.20 | 31.07 | Vol. 893650 D: 28.30 ⇓ 2.08% | 28.72 | 29.50 / 28.00 C: 28.30 ⇓ 1.74% | 28.70 | 29.50 / 28.20 SAIHAMCOT | 1.92 | 23.62 | Vol. 1032750 D: 24.20 ⇓ 2.42% | 24.52 | 25.20 / 24.20 C: 24.50 ⇓ 1.21% | 24.63 | 25.10 / 24.30 GENNEXT | 1.68 | 15.15 | Vol. 10297500 D: 34.90 ⇓ 2.79% | 35.61 | 36.60 / 32.70 C: 35.00 ⇓ 3.58% | 35.51 | 36.60 / 34.70 ENVOYTEX | 3.10 | 37.86 | Vol. 2004070 D: 56.30 ⇓ 2.43% | 56.72 | 58.50 / 52.00 C: 56.70 ⇓ 1.90% | 57.22 | 58.30 / 56.10 ARGONDENIM | 1.89 | 38.86 | Vol. 1878520 D: 84.20 ⇓ 0.47% | 84.39 | 85.80 / 77.00 C: 84.70 ⇑ 0.83% | 83.64 | 85.00 / 83.00 FAMILYTEX | 3.72 | 14.68 | Vol. 1061500 D: 59.70 ⇑ 6.61% | 60.19 | 61.60 / 57.40 C: 61.00 ⇑ 9.12% | 59.33 | 61.40 / 57.00 PTL | 2.12 | 20.06 | Vol. 3846500 D: 69.40 ⇑ 4.36% | 67.62 | 70.20 / 65.80 C: 69.20 ⇑ 4.22% | 67.75 | 70.30 / 65.50

AGNISYSL | 0.96 | 14.90 | Vol. 1084668 D: 22.80 ⇑ 4.11% | 22.99 | 23.50 / 21.00 C: 22.80 ⇑ 4.11% | 23.07 | 23.60 / 22.10 DAFODILCOM | 0.85 | 10.99 | Vol. 1081312 D: 14.30 ⇑ 4.38% | 14.38 | 14.70 / 12.50 C: 14.40 ⇑ 4.35% | 14.36 | 14.60 / 13.80 AAMRATECH | 1.33 | 19.91 | Vol. 1277949 D: 36.00 ⇑ 0.28% | 36.63 | 37.60 / 33.00 C: 36.20 ⇑ 0.84% | 36.70 | 37.60 / 34.00

PHARMACEUTICAL & CHEMICAL AMBEEPHA | 3.94 | 26.15 | Vol. 10200 D: 275.4 ⇓ 2.44% | 281.84 | 290.0 / 272.0 C: 278.2 ⇓ 0.82% | 277.89 | 282.0 / 276.0 BXPHARMA | 3.77 | 52.55 | Vol. 285988 D: 46.80 ⇑ 0.43% | 47.21 | 48.00 / 44.00 C: 47.00 ⇑ 0.64% | 47.19 | 47.90 / 46.70 GLAXOSMITH | 20.25 | 123.32 | Vol. 2300 D: 981.0 ⇑ 1.44% | 979.57 | 990.0 / 967.0 ACI | -5.82 | 126.42 | Vol. 9840 D: 177.1 ⇑ 0.23% | 176.79 | 180.0 / 160.0 C: 174.5 ⇓ 0.40% | 174.35 | 175.0 / 173.1 RENATA | 33.57 | 138.83 | Vol. 15010 D: 755.3 ⇓ 0.01% | 758.20 | 770.0 / 747.0 RECKITTBEN | 27.16 | 78.89 | Vol. 450 D: 892.0 ⇑ 0.11% | 892.00 | 892.0 / 892.0 PHARMAID | 1.39 | 26.19 | Vol. 31650 D: 180.0 ⇑ 0.95% | 180.57 | 183.1 / 177.3 KOHINOOR | 11.46 | 15.99 | Vol. 5500 D: 369.7 ⇑ 3.07% | 369.82 | 379.9 / 365.0 IBNSINA | 3.44 | 34.02 | Vol. 128770 D: 104.7 ⇓ 2.70% | 106.63 | 109.8 / 103.0 C: 104.7 ⇓ 2.33% | 107.80 | 110.0 / 104.1 LIBRAINFU | 4.21 | 1567.59 | Vol. 1000 D: 421.0 ⇓ 7.82% | 421.00 | 422.3 / 419.4 ORIONINFU | 1.27 | 7.00 | Vol. 251400 D: 42.40 ⇑ 0.00% | 43.32 | 44.00 / 42.30 C: 42.50 ⇓ 0.47% | 42.51 | 43.80 / 42.00 SQURPHARMA | 6.93 | 37.18 | Vol. 212853 D: 195.0 ⇑ 0.10% | 195.09 | 196.0 / 183.0 C: 194.8 ⇓ 0.26% | 194.76 | 195.5 / 194.1 IMAMBUTTON | -1.51 | 4.16 | Vol. 21000 D: 7.30 ⇑ 2.82% | 7.35 | 7.60 / 7.20 C: 7.80 ⇑ 9.86% | 7.56 | 7.80 / 7.20 KEYACOSMET | 1.55 | 21.54 | Vol. 1703301 D: 27.20 ⇓ 1.09% | 27.63 | 29.00 / 24.80 C: 27.20 ⇓ 1.09% | 27.86 | 28.30 / 27.10 BERGERPBL | 32.46 | 100.20 | Vol. 250 D: 862.0 ⇑ 0.31% | 864.00 | 865.0 / 860.0 ACIFORMULA | 3.33 | 38.08 | Vol. 89430 D: 80.60 ⇓ 0.98% | 81.87 | 83.90 / 75.00 C: 81.10 ⇓ 0.98% | 82.61 | 85.00 / 80.90 MARICO | 27.53 | 62.47 | Vol. 2700 D: 759.9 ⇑ 0.00% | 760.00 | 765.0 / 756.3 C: 745.0 ⇓ 0.80% | 745.00 | 745.0 / 745.0 BEACONPHAR | 0.04 | 12.01 | Vol. 266425 D: 13.00 ⇓ 0.76% | 13.07 | 13.30 / 12.80 C: 13.10 ⇓ 0.76% | 13.14 | 13.20 / 13.10 ACTIVEFINE | 3.23 | 13.89 | Vol. 1223421 D: 88.90 ⇑ 0.45% | 89.61 | 91.30 / 80.00 C: 89.60 ⇑ 1.01% | 90.18 | 91.10 / 88.50 SALVOCHEM | 0.68 | 10.57 | Vol. 1872962 D: 23.40 ⇑ 1.74% | 23.63 | 24.20 / 21.00 C: 23.30 ⇑ 1.75% | 23.57 | 24.20 / 23.00 GHCL | 2.14 | 57.31 | Vol. 1367500 D: 63.70 ⇑ 1.59% | 63.91 | 64.70 / 62.80 C: 63.80 ⇑ 1.59% | 64.00 | 65.00 / 62.90 ORIONPHARM | 5.02 | 68.68 | Vol. 2498400 D: 63.10 ⇑ 2.10% | 63.59 | 65.00 / 55.70 C: 63.20 ⇑ 1.94% | 63.65 | 64.50 / 62.20 JMISMDL | 1.12 | 12.83 | Vol. 327000 D: 212.5 ⇓ 2.66% | 218.51 | 228.9 / 211.6 C: 212.1 ⇓ 3.42% | 218.66 | 229.0 / 210.2 CENTRALPHL | 1.62 | 12.24 | Vol. 5071060 D: 48.20 ⇑ 9.79% | 46.60 | 48.20 / 39.80 C: 48.40 ⇑ 10.00% | 47.33 | 48.40 / 40.00 PAPER & PACKAGING HAKKANIPUL | 0.51 | 31.01 | Vol. 155000 D: 39.10 ⇑ 9.52% | 38.67 | 39.20 / 37.00 C: 40.20 ⇑ 9.84% | 39.68 | 40.20 / 38.00

SERVICE SAMORITA | 2.49 | 57.42 | Vol. 66000 D: 93.50 ⇓ 3.21% | 94.60 | 98.40 / 93.10 C: 94.90 ⇓ 1.76% | 94.93 | 96.00 / 94.30 SAPORTL | 1.23 | 38.39 | Vol. 454820 D: 29.80 ⇓ 1.65% | 30.24 | 32.00 / 29.00 C: 29.90 ⇓ 1.64% | 30.39 | 31.20 / 29.60 EHL | 2.81 | 18.44 | Vol. 746705 D: 53.70 ⇓ 1.65% | 54.23 | 55.20 / 52.00 C: 53.90 ⇓ 1.64% | 54.39 | 55.90 / 53.70 LEATHER APEXTANRY | 6.57 | 69.38 | Vol. 85600 D: 129.0 ⇓ 2.79% | 131.27 | 136.6 / 128.2 C: 129.9 ⇓ 1.22% | 130.25 | 134.9 / 128.1 BATASHOE | 49.12 | 135.53 | Vol. 13805 D: 697.3 ⇓ 0.44% | 697.86 | 702.0 / 680.0 APEXADELFT | 23.01 | 203.26 | Vol. 54000 D: 400.0 ⇓ 0.65% | 402.28 | 408.0 / 399.0 SAMATALETH | 0.22 | 12.93 | Vol. 14500 D: 20.00 ⇑ 9.89% | 20.00 | 20.00 / 20.00 C: 19.10 ⇑ 9.14% | 19.10 | 19.20 / 19.00 LEGACYFOOT | 0.63 | 17.19 | Vol. 844658 D: 46.90 ⇑ 8.82% | 46.41 | 47.30 / 40.00 C: 46.90 ⇑ 8.56% | 46.38 | 47.20 / 44.40 CERAMIC MONNOCERA | 0.35 | 95.30 | Vol. 79400 D: 34.40 ⇑ 1.18% | 34.45 | 35.00 / 34.10 C: 34.30 ⇑ 0.29% | 34.34 | 37.40 / 33.00 STANCERAM | 1.12 | 15.49 | Vol. 5000 D: 38.10 ⇓ 1.30% | 38.20 | 39.60 / 37.50 FUWANGCER | 0.65 | 12.70 | Vol. 3533163 D: 21.50 ⇓ 0.46% | 21.99 | 22.70 / 20.00 C: 21.60 ⇓ 0.46% | 22.02 | 23.00 / 21.40 SPCERAMICS | 0.62 | 30.92 | Vol. 478317 D: 18.40 ⇑ 0.55% | 18.62 | 19.00 / 16.60 C: 18.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 18.54 | 18.80 / 18.40 RAKCERAMIC | 1.98 | 16.76 | Vol. 135262 D: 52.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 52.92 | 53.70 / 48.00 C: 53.00 ⇓ 0.19% | 53.15 | 53.50 / 52.70 CEMENT HEIDELBCEM | 22.85 | 111.50 | Vol. 55000 D: 385.7 ⇓ 0.67% | 388.66 | 394.0 / 383.6 C: 390.0 ⇑ 1.04% | 389.88 | 390.0 / 388.0 CONFIDCEM | 6.23 | 90.76 | Vol. 353499 D: 123.6 ⇓ 0.56% | 125.73 | 130.2 / 120.0 C: 123.6 ⇓ 0.80% | 126.18 | 128.1 / 123.0 MEGHNACEM | 6.28 | 33.81 | Vol. 199400 D: 132.3 ⇑ 2.40% | 134.28 | 136.9 / 129.4 C: 135.5 ⇑ 3.91% | 135.46 | 137.0 / 133.0 ARAMITCEM | 3.03 | 14.65 | Vol. 171000 D: 86.70 ⇓ 3.67% | 88.06 | 91.00 / 85.10 C: 87.80 ⇓ 3.73% | 92.58 | 94.90 / 82.10 LAFSURCEML | 1.60 | 7.22 | Vol. 517500 D: 32.70 ⇓ 0.61% | 32.93 | 33.20 / 32.70 C: 32.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 32.90 | 33.10 / 32.60 MICEMENT | 4.48 | 37.67 | Vol. 147108 D: 82.90 ⇓ 0.12% | 83.64 | 85.00 / 78.00 C: 83.30 ⇑ 0.48% | 83.57 | 84.60 / 83.00 PREMIERCEM | 5.00 | 32.60 | Vol. 931400 D: 104.2 ⇑ 2.56% | 106.57 | 108.4 / 103.0 C: 104.7 ⇑ 3.56% | 105.72 | 108.0 / 103.6 IT IINDUSTRIES ISNLTD | 0.28 | 17.31 | Vol. 326774 D: 19.70 ⇑ 2.60% | 19.89 | 20.50 / 18.00 C: 20.00 ⇑ 3.63% | 19.99 | 20.80 / 19.20 BDCOM | 1.40 | 14.41 | Vol. 446709 D: 26.60 ⇑ 1.53% | 26.90 | 27.30 / 24.50 C: 27.10 ⇑ 3.83% | 26.88 | 27.10 / 26.50 INTECH | 0.94 | 10.08 | Vol. 616874 D: 16.70 ⇑ 1.83% | 16.88 | 17.10 / 16.50 C: 16.90 ⇑ 2.42% | 16.90 | 17.20 / 16.60

GENERAL INSURANCE BGIC | 1.65 | 20.33 | Vol. 108072 D: 29.40 ⇓ 1.01% | 29.55 | 30.00 / 28.00 C: 29.60 ⇓ 1.33% | 29.52 | 30.30 / 28.50 GREENDELT | 4.05 | 64.44 | Vol. 55620 D: 87.50 ⇑ 0.11% | 87.66 | 88.30 / 84.00 C: 87.20 ⇑ 1.87% | 87.28 | 87.50 / 87.20 UNITEDINS | 2.47 | 21.04 | Vol. 22213 D: 43.20 ⇓ 1.82% | 43.38 | 44.00 / 43.00 PEOPLESINS | 2.05 | 20.72 | Vol. 64590 D: 35.20 ⇓ 2.49% | 35.47 | 36.30 / 33.00 EASTERNINS | 2.22 | 35.88 | Vol. 18372 D: 37.50 ⇓ 0.79% | 37.64 | 38.30 / 34.50 C: 37.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 35.00 | 37.70 / 37.70 JANATAINS | 0.78 | 17.07 | Vol. 106910 D: 27.30 ⇓ 0.36% | 27.48 | 27.80 / 26.30 C: 27.70 ⇑ 0.36% | 27.74 | 28.10 / 27.60 PHENIXINS | 2.70 | 20.96 | Vol. 81211 D: 41.90 ⇓ 1.64% | 42.41 | 44.00 / 38.50 EASTLAND | 4.06 | 23.29 | Vol. 123765 D: 47.60 ⇓ 1.86% | 48.00 | 48.80 / 47.00 C: 47.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 47.74 | 47.80 / 47.70 CENTRALINS | 1.54 | 19.04 | Vol. 36200 D: 29.60 ⇓ 0.67% | 29.67 | 30.30 / 29.40 KARNAPHULI | 1.56 | 19.42 | Vol. 47020 D: 24.30 ⇓ 0.41% | 24.45 | 24.70 / 23.50 RUPALIINS | 2.76 | 23.38 | Vol. 150260 D: 33.40 ⇓ 0.89% | 33.73 | 34.40 / 33.20 C: 33.60 ⇓ 1.18% | 34.95 | 35.00 / 33.60 FEDERALINS | 1.10 | 10.98 | Vol. 106702 D: 24.30 ⇓ 0.41% | 24.43 | 26.00 / 23.40 C: 24.30 ⇓ 0.82% | 24.24 | 24.50 / 24.10 RELIANCINS | 3.93 | 61.52 | Vol. 1500 D: 72.40 ⇓ 0.82% | 72.67 | 72.70 / 72.10 PURABIGEN | 1.05 | 18.71 | Vol. 221720 D: 23.50 ⇓ 0.42% | 23.65 | 23.80 / 22.00 PRAGATIINS | 2.01 | 50.30 | Vol. 6000 D: 57.70 ⇑ 0.17% | 57.83 | 58.60 / 57.50 PRIMEINSUR | 2.14 | 14.14 | Vol. 108376 D: 33.90 ⇑ 0.59% | 34.08 | 34.50 / 32.50 PIONEERINS | 3.11 | 23.84 | Vol. 134452 D: 67.50 ⇑ 0.15% | 67.72 | 69.40 / 63.00 MERCINS | 1.53 | 14.50 | Vol. 107667 D: 27.20 ⇓ 1.45% | 27.63 | 28.00 / 26.00 AGRANINS | 1.73 | 14.39 | Vol. 46473 D: 27.30 ⇓ 1.09% | 27.39 | 27.60 / 26.00 GLOBALINS | 1.09 | 11.78 | Vol. 91989 D: 28.30 ⇓ 2.08% | 28.62 | 29.00 / 28.00 NITOLINS | 2.59 | 15.41 | Vol. 23000 D: 34.60 ⇑ 0.87% | 34.52 | 35.00 / 34.10 ASIAPACINS | 1.84 | 13.76 | Vol. 62100 D: 29.80 ⇑ 0.00% | 29.90 | 30.60 / 29.70 C: 30.00 ⇑ 0.33% | 30.00 | 30.00 / 30.00 SONARBAINS | 1.68 | 13.38 | Vol. 62500 D: 24.60 ⇓ 1.60% | 24.75 | 25.10 / 24.50 C: 24.90 ⇑ 2.05% | 24.94 | 25.00 / 24.80 PARAMOUNT | 1.26 | 13.19 | Vol. 47161 D: 24.60 ⇑ 0.41% | 24.69 | 24.90 / 23.00 C: 24.60 ⇓ 7.87% | 24.61 | 25.00 / 24.20 CITYGENINS | 1.65 | 14.26 | Vol. 158017 D: 27.20 ⇓ 0.37% | 27.38 | 27.90 / 24.90 C: 27.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 27.25 | 27.30 / 27.00 CONTININS | 1.41 | 15.68 | Vol. 111458 D: 29.90 ⇓ 1.32% | 30.13 | 30.50 / 29.00 C: 29.90 ⇑ 1.36% | 29.98 | 30.10 / 29.80 TAKAFULINS | 2.19 | 15.17 | Vol. 163871 D: 38.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 38.71 | 39.20 / 35.00 C: 38.50 ⇓ 2.53% | 38.60 | 38.80 / 38.50 STANDARINS | 2.58 | 13.99 | Vol. 33296 D: 39.30 ⇓ 2.00% | 39.60 | 40.00 / 39.00 C: 40.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 41.40 | 40.10 / 40.10 NORTHRNINS | 1.77 | 11.15 | Vol. 86840 D: 41.30 ⇓ 0.24% | 41.67 | 42.90 / 40.00 REPUBLIC | 2.14 | 12.42 | Vol. 213271 D: 42.70 ⇑ 0.23% | 42.89 | 43.30 / 38.90 C: 42.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 42.66 | 43.00 / 42.50 ASIAINS | 1.56 | 17.34 | Vol. 55413 D: 27.50 ⇓ 0.72% | 27.59 | 28.00 / 26.00 C: 27.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 27.61 | 28.30 / 27.30

ISLAMIINS | 1.29 | 11.96 | Vol. 16247 D: 33.50 ⇑ 0.30% | 33.48 | 35.00 / 31.10 PROVATIINS | 1.90 | 14.30 | Vol. 32447 D: 28.40 ⇓ 1.39% | 28.56 | 29.00 / 26.00 C: 28.40 ⇓ 4.70% | 28.40 | 28.40 / 28.40 DHAKAINS | 2.84 | 18.02 | Vol. 82000 D: 40.90 ⇑ 0.25% | 41.25 | 41.80 / 40.60 C: 40.80 ⇓ 0.24% | 41.56 | 42.00 / 40.60 LIFE INSURANCE NATLIFEINS | 12.34 | 80.99 | Vol. 69837 D: 281.1 ⇑ 0.93% | 282.66 | 288.0 / 273.0 C: 280.0 ⇑ 3.70% | 277.60 | 280.0 / 260.0 DELTALIFE | 38.53 | 189.40 | Vol. 996720 D: 282.2 ⇓ 2.56% | 286.64 | 293.8 / 281.0 C: 283.3 ⇓ 2.34% | 286.68 | 293.8 / 280.1 SANDHANINS | 2.39 | 28.22 | Vol. 153038 D: 74.30 ⇑ 0.27% | 75.60 | 76.90 / 70.90 C: 74.00 ⇑ 1.23% | 74.23 | 75.00 / 74.00 POPULARLIF | 3.70 | 715.41 | Vol. 9680 D: 234.6 ⇑ 1.47% | 234.09 | 239.4 / 220.0 FAREASTLIF | 9.21 | 60.79 | Vol. 137123 D: 103.3 ⇑ 0.39% | 104.33 | 106.1 / 98.00 C: 102.3 ⇑ 0.59% | 102.68 | 103.8 / 101.6 MEGHNALIFE | 10.82 | 48.87 | Vol. 151490 D: 113.4 ⇓ 2.16% | 116.56 | 118.1 / 113.1 C: 116.8 ⇑ 0.69% | 117.69 | 118.9 / 116.6 PROGRESLIF | 2.30 | 31.45 | Vol. 8090 D: 121.2 ⇓ 0.57% | 121.12 | 125.9 / 110.0 PRAGATILIF | 0.60 | 30.15 | Vol. 12000 D: 163.2 ⇓ 1.57% | 163.25 | 173.9 / 161.4 PRIMELIFE | 5.51 | 27.10 | Vol. 30982 D: 102.3 ⇓ 0.29% | 102.92 | 105.0 / 94.00 C: 98.20 ⇓ 1.80% | 98.16 | 98.60 / 98.00 RUPALILIFE | 3.75 | 31.25 | Vol. 274585 D: 120.3 ⇓ 3.68% | 125.46 | 135.0 / 114.0 PADMALIFE | 1.63 | 25.76 | Vol. 1054620 D: 68.80 ⇑ 3.93% | 70.13 | 72.80 / 59.60 C: 69.50 ⇑ 5.14% | 70.45 | 72.70 / 67.80 SUNLIFEINS | 0.00 | 0.00 | Vol. 637075 D: 63.40 ⇑ 0.96% | 64.90 | 67.50 / 60.00 C: 63.30 ⇑ 0.96% | 65.33 | 67.50 / 62.70 TELECOM GP | 12.96 | 26.26 | Vol. 534180 D: 204.7 ⇓ 1.25% | 206.99 | 209.7 / 190.0 C: 204.9 ⇓ 0.92% | 206.71 | 209.0 / 204.1 BSCCL | 5.82 | 26.38 | Vol. 282336 D: 171.8 ⇓ 1.04% | 172.96 | 180.0 / 160.0 C: 171.6 ⇓ 1.27% | 172.59 | 175.7 / 171.0 TRAVEL & LEISURE UNITEDAIR | 1.10 | 12.87 | Vol. 3632628 D: 16.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 16.73 | 17.10 / 15.90 C: 16.70 ⇑ 0.60% | 16.71 | 17.00 / 16.00 UNIQUEHRL | 4.02 | 86.29 | Vol. 699810 D: 81.30 ⇓ 0.97% | 81.98 | 83.50 / 74.00 C: 81.50 ⇓ 0.49% | 82.19 | 83.50 / 81.00 MISCELLANEOUS ARAMIT | 16.07 | 99.93 | Vol. 4500 D: 341.1 ⇓ 0.67% | 343.15 | 351.0 / 337.1 C: 349.5 ⇑ 6.88% | 349.50 | 349.5 / 349.5 BSC | 1.77 | 565.82 | Vol. 72570 D: 437.3 ⇓ 1.02% | 440.69 | 448.0 / 436.0 C: 435.8 ⇓ 1.18% | 439.21 | 446.0 / 435.0 GQBALLPEN | 6.55 | 250.45 | Vol. 79128 D: 151.7 ⇓ 2.32% | 152.46 | 156.0 / 150.0 C: 152.5 ⇓ 2.87% | 152.84 | 154.6 / 150.5 USMANIAGL | 3.45 | 27.20 | Vol. 146376 D: 138.8 ⇑ 0.51% | 140.52 | 142.0 / 125.0 C: 138.5 ⇑ 1.39% | 140.29 | 142.5 / 138.5 SAVAREFR | 0.14 | 10.57 | Vol. 1800 D: 61.60 ⇑ 4.23% | 61.67 | 62.90 / 60.50 BEXIMCO | 3.24 | 86.74 | Vol. 1671465 D: 33.50 ⇓ 0.59% | 33.81 | 34.50 / 30.40 C: 33.50 ⇓ 1.18% | 33.77 | 34.30 / 33.40 SINOBANGLA | 1.75 | 21.01 | Vol. 463000 D: 23.90 ⇑ 2.58% | 23.91 | 24.30 / 23.40 C: 24.00 ⇑ 3.00% | 23.80 | 24.10 / 23.50 MIRACLEIND | 0.09 | 14.41 | Vol. 471621 D: 17.50 ⇑ 2.34% | 17.75 | 18.20 / 16.00 C: 17.80 ⇑ 4.09% | 17.79 | 18.00 / 17.40 BOND IBBLPBOND | 0.00 | 1000.00 | Vol. 500 D: 988.3 ⇑ 0.20% | 988.00 | 989.0 / 985.5 ACIZCBOND | 0.00 | 1000.00 | Vol. 28 D: 890.0 ⇑ 1.08% | 884.62 | 891.0 / 890.0 C: 880.0 ⇓ 2.22% | 880.00 | 880.0 / 880.0

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2013

Mosharraf: We will rise from ashes Managing Director of fire-ravaged Standard Group expresses his optimism to Dhaka Tribune

Mosharraf Hussain, MD of Standard Group

n Kayes Sohel and Ibrahim Hossain Ovi The dream was reduced to ashes along with the Standard Group apparel factory on November 29.

“We two friends started our apparel business in 1984 and wanted to expand it,” said Mosharraf Hussain, managing director of Standard Group, in an interview with the Dhaka Tribune.

The 10-storey apparel factory building in Gazipur on the outskirts of Dhaka City was deliberately set ablaze by a group of garment workers.

The fire gutted machinery, fabrics and raw materials housed in more than 8.5 lakh square feet of floor space in the building, and also destroyed garments loaded into 27 trucks.

Losses from the fire were estimated at Tk12bn.

“The incident has left me perplexed,” said Mosharraf, an engineer. The Standard Group had 95% of its workforce from his ancestral home district of Sirajganj.

During recent labour unrest, workers of the company never joined in any of the demonstrations and production was not hampered.

“My factory workers were forced and intimidated to stage a demonstration,” said the MD, who categorically denied that he had any foe in the locality.

Mentioning that the government on December 2 formed a nine-member investigation committee to find out the reasons behind the fire, he said the culprits involved in the planned sabotage should receive exemplary punishment.

The two friends – Mosharraf and Atiqur Rahman – established a construction-based company in 1969 after graduating from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology.

That was the beginning of the Standard Group, and since then they have never looked back. The company has earned many awards and recognition at national levels.

In the mid-80s when the garment industry revolution was emerging, the two dreamed big to expand their business and create employment opportunities for the distressed population.

“I am from an area of river erosion. I have seen many of my neighbours and relatives lose their land to rivers,” he said, recalling the hard days. They passed days and nights half-fed and sometimes unfed after losing everything in the river, added Mosharraf.

“This made me think of doing something for them and primarily I helped them by giving money but they failed to use it properly,” he said. “Then the idea to set up an apparel

factory came and I thought this could help arrange a livelihood for many at a time.”

In 1984, he engaged in the readymade garment business with an initial investment of Tk2bn at the city’s Kalabagan, employing over 1,500 workers – around 90% of whom were his neighbours and relatives.

The time when he started the apparel business was the blooming era for the neo-industrial revolution in Bangladesh after the jute industry. Today Standard Group stands as one of the leading garment manufacturers in Bangladesh.

The company currently exports RMG products worth $300bn and employs more than 55,000 workers.

It is now planning to rehabilitate work-

ers by engaging them in double shifts in the factory.

Mosharraf has appealed to Bangladesh Bank to waive the interest of credit he took from various commercial banks and give an opportunity to pay loans in instalments within his capacity.

He also appeals to buyers to continue the business relation with him as the company will try to supply products as per their demand maintaining the best quality.

“I still believe that my factory will be able to rise from its ashes,” said Mosharraf.

The apparel company supplies to the world’s biggest apparel retailers, including GAP, ZARA, Tommy Hilfiger, Sears, American Eagle Outfitters, Kohl’s and Gymboree. l

File photo shows garment workers passing by the burnt factory of Standard Group in Gazipur RAJIB DHAR

Mobiles to drive faster global advertising growth n Reuters Growth in global advertising spending will accelerate to 5.8% a year by 2015, driven by demand for marketing via mobile devices and a broad-based economic recovery, a market research group forecast yesterday.

ZenithOptimedia said spending on advertising was expected to rise by 3.6% this year, an upward revision from its September forecast of 3.5%.

‘Mobile technology is creating new opportunities for marketers to connect with consumers’

A woman talks on her mobile phone as the rain begins to fall in New York

REUTERS

Advertising spending will then increase by 5.3% in 2014 and by 5.8% in 2015 and 2016, said Zenith, the forecasting unit of Publicis Groupe, the world’s third-biggest advertising company by sales.

Zenith compiled its Advertising Expenditure Forecasts by aggregating data from leading media owners and advertising agencies in 80 countries.

“Mobile technology is creating new opportunities for marketers to connect with consumers,” said Steve King, Chief Executive of Zenith. “Combined with the continued rise of young, dynamic markets, this will spur healthy and sustained growth in global adspend over the next three years.”

Zenith predicts mobile technology will contribute 36% of the extra ad spend between 2013 and 2016.

Next year’s Winter Olympics, soccer World Cup and US mid-term elections will also boost ad spending, it said.

A separate report published by GroupM, part of WPP the world’s largest advertising company, revised its worldwide advertising spending growth forecast for 2014 downward to 4.6%, giving a total of $531bn, from growth of 5.1% predicted earlier this year. It blamed economic gridlock in the United States and persistent financial crisis in the eurozone for the revision.

GroupM predicted that 2013 worldwide advertising spending will hit $508bn, a 3.3% increase over 2012 spending. l