December 19, 2013

Avenue T

Freedom and contouring

Poush 5, 1420 Safar 15, 1435 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 1 No 265

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

Thirteen BCL men given life term; arrest warrants issued for fugitives n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu

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File Photo: Unruly Chhatra League leaders and activists beat and hack Bishwajit reportedly mistaking him for an opposition activist during a countrywide blockade programme in Old Dhaka on December 9 last year

Killers bash media for their predicament n Mohammad Jamil Khan “There is the High Court over the judge court; try to do something for me there; don’t worry for me, I will be alright, nothing will happen to me,” said impertinent Mohammad Rafiqul Islam Shakil, a death row convict in

the Bishwajit Das murder case.

Shakil told this to his brother Masud Rana while he was being whisked into the prison van around 12.45pm after the court declared its verdict on the much-talked-about murder case.

He also lashed out at the media blaming journalists for causing them

trouble. If it was not for them it would not have been a big issue, Shakil said.

His brother Masud Rana claimed that Shakil was the victim. He is not involved in the murder.

Babu Akter, an engineer by profession and elder brother of another death  PAGE 2 COLUMN 6

An innocent victim of a political crime n Julfikar Ali Manik The murder of innocent Bishwajit Das will remain etched in public memory as an abhorrent political crime during the Awami League-led government mainly for two reasons: repetition of politics of killing and then trying own party followers for crime, which is very rare in the country’s political history.

After the shocking killing of Bishwajit, a 24-year-old tailor at his brother’s shop in Shakhari Bazar of Old Dhaka who had never been a political activist, media exposed the killers who were influential leaders and activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League, the unofficial student wing of Awami League.

Private television channels broadcast the most shocking footage of the killing that took place in broad daylight on a road near Jagannath University on December 9 last year.

Newspapers also published photographs of the killers and the incident with supporting evidences making it clear that most of the killers were from the Chhatra League.

But after the murder, the Prime Minster’s Office, the home minister, some AL leaders and the Chhatra League repeatedly denied the political identity of the killers saying that none of them was from the Chhatra League. They rather claimed that the killers were

Hasina blasts Pak rulers for condemning Molla’s execution n Tribune Report Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday blasted Pakistani rulers for adopting a resolution condemning the execution of war crime convict Abdul Quader Molla in the Pakistan parliament, saying that people of Bangladesh except for the collaborators of the Pakistani occupation force in 1971, were happy with the verdict.

The move of the Pakistan parliament exposed the fact that the present rulers of Pakistan still could not accept their defeat in 1971 and they were not remorseful for the crimes against humanity committed in Bangladesh during the Liberation War, she said, according to BSS. “It also exposed the political intention of the leader of the opposition and its ally Jamaat-e-Islami which are out to protect the war criminals. The BNP leader and Jamaat is carrying out same crimes and destruction on the people of Bangladesh in 1971 style,” Hasina said.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 6

INSIDE Business

B1 Bangladesh Bank has exchanged observers between ICB Islamic Bank Ltd and Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd.

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5 The Westin has been possessing a large portion of the Gulshan Avenue illegally, contributing to the traffic congestion as well as hindering pedestrians’ movement.

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6 Wide-range expansion of wheat farming can mitigate the existing water stress condition in the highly elevated Barind tract.

Gala affair at World Cup display

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8 to die for killing Bishwajit A Dhaka court yesterday ordered the death of eight leaders and activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League for beating and hacking Bishwajit Das, a tailor, to death in broad daylight a year ago.

Thirteen others of the ruling party’s student wing unit at Jagannath University were sentenced to life for the sensational murder that shook the whole nation. The justice seekers condemned the incident vehemently after footages and photos of the brutality of December 9 last year in Old Dhaka were publicised widely in the media.

Judge ABM Nizamul Haque of Speedy Trial Tribunal 4 pronounced the judgement in a crowded courtroom around 12:25pm. He also issued warrants for the arrest of 13 fugitives, saying the verdict would be executed after their arrests or when they surrendered.

Six of the eight detainees and two among the 13 absconders were given death sentence.

The life-term convicts were fined Tk20, 000 each and one year rigorous imprisonment upon failure to pay the fines. They were also fined Tk500 each and imprisonment for six months for being found guilty in line with section 143 of the Penal Code. A violation

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linked with Jamaat-e-Islami, and its student’s body Islami Chhatra Shibir and the BNP’s youth wing Juba Dal. The then home minister Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir on December 12 told reporters: “It is clear that Chhatra League was not involved in the killing.” It was the home minister’s denial for the second time after the murder.

Abul Kalam Azad, press secretary to the prime minister, at a press briefing at the PMO on December 13 last year denied the killers’ link to the Chhatra League. Besides denial, he gave names of six killers claiming that their families had been involved with the BNP or Jamaat politics.

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NEWS ANALYSIS

But hours before the killing, the killers were seen in the front of row of a Chhatra League procession brought out against the opposition’s blockade programme.

The media reported quoting some Chhatra League leaders, teachers, students many other witnesses in and around Jagannath University that those killers used to participate in the programmes of the Chhatra League’s campus unit. But surprisingly, the Chhatra League central leaders in a  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

VISAS FOR BISHWA IJTEMA

Nine countries to be under close watch Karim and n Mohosinul Rabiul Islam

Barred by the police at Gulshan 2 circle, activists of Ganajagaran Mancha engage in an altercation with the law enforcers yesterday as they march towards the Pakistan High Commission SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

The government is planning to take precautionary measures in issuing visas, especially for the citizens of nine countries, on the occasion of Bishwa Ijtema – in apprehension of subversive acts.

Bishwa Ijtema (the second congregation of Muslim community) is scheduled to be held in two phases at Tongi.

The first phase will be held on January 24-26, 2014 and the second one on January 31 and February 2.

On December 12 in a letter signed by Deputy Secretary Shahan Ara Banu the home ministry requested the foreign ministry to carefully issue visas for the people of those nine countries.

The Dhaka Tribune obtained a copy of the letter that said visas had to be issued taking into consideration the security concern.

The countries are: Nigeria, Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Sudan, Syria, Egypt, Yemen and Pakistan.

According to the letter, in the case  PAGE 2 COLUMN 6

Sever diplomatic ties with Islamabad, ‘Decision on army protesters tell government deployment Friday’ Bakar Siddique and n Abu Manik Miazee Activists of Ganajagaran Mancha yesterday seized the Pakistani Embassy in Dhaka, beating several police blockades on their way, to protest the Pakistani parliament’s resolution against the hanging of Quader Molla.

They demanded that the government temporarily break off diplomatic relations with Islamabad by 3pm today and warned of a non-stop sit-in programme if the demand was not met.

Mancha Spokesperson Emran H Sarker announced the demand while addressing the demonstration.

“The government has to break off diplomatic relations with Pakistan temporarily within 20 hours and the police officials who charged at our activists have to be punished,” he said.

It was around 3pm when about 500 people, including activists of Ganajagaran Mancha as well as family members of the Liberation War martyrs and women gathered at Gulshan-2.

The crowd chanted slogans like: “We don’t forget, we don’t forgive”; “We refuse Pakistan’s concern”; and “Pakistan: oil your own machine.”

Sarwar Ali, a trustee of the Liberation War Museum, told the Dhaka Tribune: “The principle of Pakistani government towards Bangladesh has not changed, 42 years after of our independence, which is intolerable.”

“Their remarks on the Quader Molla issue were an attack on our sovereignty,” he said.

The crowd gradually swelled and soon numbered thousands.

The law enforcement agencies tried to confine them in the area and requested them not to march towards the Pakistani Embassy.

However, the attempts of police and Rab failed around 3.20pm and the protesters marched towards their destination avoiding the police barricade.

The protesters crossed three blockades and finally a section of the protesters reached the Pakistan Embassy at around 4pm while the rest were

stopped near the Australian High Commission by police.

They kept chanting their slogans against Pakistan in front of the embassy for around three minutes before the law enforcers withdrew them by force.

Mancha activist Lucky said the scuffle between police and the activists had left at least eight activists injured. They were taken to a nearby united hospital.

Later, the procession of Ganajagaran Mancha held a sit-in near the Australian High Commission on road 83 in Gulshan 2, a three-minute walking distance from the Pakistan High Commission.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Lutful Kabir expressed his regret on behalf of police to the Mancha about the police action.

Earlier on Tuesday, a press release signed by Ganajagaran Mancha Spokesperson Emran H Sarker announced the programme, hours after the Bangladesh government condemned the resolution and asked for its withdrawal and an apology for 1971.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

n Mohammad Zakaria Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division Lieutenant General Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Huq, held a closed-door meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad yesterday.

The commission has proposed army deployment as an “aid to the civil power”, suggesting stationing a battalion each in district headquarters as striking force, and two to four platoons at upazila towns After the half an hour-long meeting, the CEC told the media that the commission in its next meeting on Friday would decide on the deployment of army to help conduct the 10th parliamentary polls.

Before the meeting the CEC and the PSO also held an hour-long meeting with the EC secretary Muhammed Sadique.

Following the meetings, however, PSO Shafiul Huq did not reveal the content of discussion.

The commission has proposed army deployment as an “aid to the civil power”, suggesting stationing a battalion each in district headquarters as striking force, and two to four platoons at upazila towns, EC sources said.

However, it said the army should not play any role inside the polling centres or vote counting rooms.

As there was no need to hold parliamentary polls in 154 constituencies, elections for the rest of the 146 seats would be held on January 5.

On December 10, the armed forces division sent a letter to the commission seeking around Tk27 crores for maintaining the law and order situation during the polls.

On November 28, The EC had held meeting with high officials of law enforcing agencies and was set to hold meetings with the returning officers and chief of law enforcement agencies 3pm tomorrow. l

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Bishwajit’s family in fear as 13 convicts still absconding Court warns n political parties over violence Md Sanaul Islam Tipu

Islam Tipu and n Sanaul Mohammad Jamil Khan The Dhaka court, which yesterday sentenced eight people to death and 13 to life for killing Bishwajit Das in old Dhaka last year, warned the politicians and asked them to maintain restraint and stop violence in name of political movement.

ABM Nizamul Haque, judge of the Speedy Trial Tribunal 4, made the remark in the verdict’s observation.

He said if political shutdown, blockade and procession continued and took the path of violence, “then in future we will have to see many more killings like that of Bishwajit, which is not expected by the peaceful people of the country.”

With a view to sustain rule of law and democracy, all political parties including the ruling and the opposition while enforcing hartal or blockade should ensure that the people’s lives and property were not affected, said the judge.

The 24-year-old tailor was beaten and hacked to death by a group of students belonging to Bangladesh Chhatra League, the ruling party’s student wing, in broad daylight in Old Dhaka City on December 9 last year. Minutes

before he was attacked, the pro-opposition lawyers brought out a procession in support of its countrywide blockade.

The judge also lambasted the defence counsels for trying to hide the main perpetrators through tricks. The lawyers had placed irrelevant and illogical information, which were full of falsity, said the court. “The court officers [lawyers] should do their duties with a responsible and helping mentality and not by insulting the truth.”

The judge observed that the killers must be punished regardless their political affiliation, class or status.

Judge Nizamul said: “This is not just another killing rather it is exceptional and sensitive from different aspects.

It did not happen in a dark night or secretly; Bishwajit Das was hit hard by the accused with knives, machete, rod and sticks in broad daylight.

“The death of an innocent person and unnecessary bloodshed cannot be accepted from any perspective – either humanity or ethics.”

Even though media footage and photographs suggest that the law enforcers deployed in the area were inactive at the time of attack, the court did not say anything on the issue. l

JS chief whip protests Pakistan resolution on Molla n Kamran Reza Chowdhury Chief Whip Abdus Shahid yesterday strongly condemned Pakistan National Assembly’s resolution that criticised the execution of pro-Islamabad politician and war criminal Abdul Quader Molla as a “stark interference” in Bangladesh’s internal affairs.

War criminal and Jamaat-e-Islami leader Quader Molla, who was known as the Butcher of Mirpur, had been hanged after exhausting all legal procedures, he told a press conference at the parliament media centre.

The chief whip’s protest came a day after the foreign ministry had sum-

moned the Pakistan envoy in Dhaka and handed down a strong protest note.

He said he had arranged the press conference on behalf of the MPs as parliament represents the 160 million people of Bangladesh, who had been hurt by the Pakistan parliament’s resolution.

Shahid said he had called Opposition Chief Whip Zainul Abdin Farroque to request him to be present at the press conference, “but he did not receive my call.”

Farroque was not available for comments.

Shahid said he would consult Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury to decide if she would send a protest note to the Pakistan National Assembly speaker. l

Bishwajit’s father Ananta Chandra Das and mother Kalpana Rani Das told the Dhaka Tribune they were passing their time in fear as 13 of the murder convicts were still absconding.

Ananta Chandra Das and brother Uttam Kumar Das testified in the case in September at Dhaka’s Speedy Trial Tribunal-4.

Ananta Chandra told the Dhaka Tribune: “We are in fear. 13 of the convicts are still absconding and they could commit any kind of crime against our family.”

Uttam was present in the court during the verdict. He said he expected the higher court to uphold the verdict.

He also demanded the immediate execution of the capital punishment for those who killed his brother.

Eight leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Chhatra League, a front organisation of ruling Awami League, were awarded death sentence and 13 others life term for killing Bishwajit Das. The tribunal’s Judge ABM Nizamul Haque delivered the verdict yesterday against the 21 accused. All were students of Jagannath University.

The court observed that the murder

Banks open on Friday n Jebun Nesa Alo

was particularly heinous as it was carried out in broad daylight.

“The peaceful and law abiding peo-

tions during the verdict.

“The tribunal thinks justice will be served by awarding maximum pun-

Family members of Bishwajit Das devastated at the news of his death FILE PHOTO ple also expect that the ruling party and the opposition will direct their political programmes for the welfare of the people, not for this type of heinous killing,” the court said in its observa-

ishment, considering the extent of the crime,” the judge said.

The murder had put the ruling party in a tight spot as all those accused belonged to the party’s student affiliate,

Mozena discusses security of embassy with FM

All branches of the scheduled banks will remain open throughout the country this Friday for what authorities said public interest.

Bangladesh Bank on Wednesday issued a notification signed by AFM Asaduzzaman, general manager at governor secretariat of the central bank, in this regard.

The move to keep banks open on Friday, a holiday, comes in view of poor business environment standards amidst agitation programmes.

Most of November and December were wasted in agitation programmes like blockades and hartals of the BNPled 18-party alliance.

Businessmen said such situation ahead of the January 5 elections were proving a big challenge for trade and business of Bangladesh.

Recently, the business community were compelled to come down to the streets demanding an end to the current political impasse. l

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US Ambassador to Dhaka Dan W Mozena at a meeting with Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali yesterday expressed deep concern over security of the embassy and his staff.

The envoy sought intervention of the minister in the wake of recent demonstrations and troubles that took place around the embassy complex, located in the diplomatic enclave of the capital, said an official of the foreign ministry.

The minister assured him of appropriate measures. At the meeting, they also discussed issues related to bilateral interest, the official added.

US embassy Press and Information Officer Kelly McCarthy told the Dhaka Tribune through email: “They discussed issues related to security of diplomatic missions.”

Mozena also raised the issue of security during his unscheduled meeting with Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul

Haque on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the meeting between the minister and the ambassador was scheduled to be held at the ministry around noon. But it was rescheduled to 2pm at state guest house Padma, apparently due to the desire of the minister to avoid media.

And, the media was not notified about the rescheduling of time and venue.

Some journalists with their own initiatives knew about it and waited outside the guest house but none of them talked to the press while no press statement was issued.

Later, the government deployed a number of police personnel in addition to the chancery police as required by the US embassy, said another official of the ministry.

“Security officials of all embassies have a regular monthly meeting with the DC Chancery [of the police] and seek additional security protection if they need,” he said. l

alliance government in 2001-06, the then ruling leaders had repeatedly denied the brutal acts of Islamist militants, and the administration’s and party leaders’ patronisation of those terrors.

After a blast of crude bombs near the Chhatra League procession held against the opposition blockade on December 9 morning, the killers who were in the procession had started to chase pedestrians around there. Bishwajit who ran for life and got into a nearby building was also chased by them.

The killers beat and hacked Bishwajit, suspecting him to be an opposition activist, by sharp weapons like machet-

es and iron rods.

The 24-year-old youth was never involved in politics; he was working at the tailoring shop and used to live with his brother in Old Dhaka, according to his family.

But after the murder, main opposition BNP’s acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir claimed Bishwajit to be their party activist.

In the middle of the blame and claim games, there was apprehension that Bishwajit killers might evade arrest and trial as they belonged to Chhatra League and its parent organisation was in power.

As part of the political culture, no

ruling party usually arrest and try its own followers even though there is clear allegation of their involvement with the criminal activities. In the Bishwajit murder incident, police failed to arrest 13 accused in the charge sheet.

Despite these, it was hard to find any other example, other than the trial of Bishwajit killers, verdict in which has been delivered at least in the trial court, though only eight accused among 21 are in jail. The rest could evade arrest and still long way to go to ensure justice of this chilling murder as the case has to be disposed of at the High Court and the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court. l

Sheikh Shahariar Zaman

An innocent victim of political crime  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

statement on December 11 denied the killers’ involvement with the organisation.

The businessmen of Shakhari Bazar also had said the identified killers of Bishwajit had been involved in extortion, mugging and other criminal activities around the campus.

The killers were so influential because of their link with the Chhatra League, as its parent organisation AL was in power, that none dared to protest them before the Bishwajit murder, which finally prompted others to raise voice against them.

Soon after the Awami League-led alliance’s massive victory in the ninth

parliamentary election in 2008, Chhatra League earned huge criticism for repeated criminal activities and orchestrating muscle by their men on many campuses and places of the country.

Though the organisation officially is no more the student wing of the Awami League since 2008, in fact, it functions as its unofficial student organisation. For this, the Awami League also came under huge criticism for failing to control the Chhatra League leaders and activists.

The trend of denial, which is a longstanding culture in the country’s politics, had also seen in other regimes.

During the BNP-Jamaat-led four party

Sever diplomatic ties with Islamabad, protesters tell government  PAGE 1 COLUMN 4

Earlier in the day, the foreign ministry summoned Pakistani High Commissioner Mir Afrasiab Koreshi and handed over an Aide Memoire to him condemning the resolution.

Foreign Secretary Mostafa Kamal (Bilateral and Training) handed over the Aide Memoire to the Pakistani high commissioner.

Information Minister Hasanul Haq

Inu condemned the resolution and asked for its withdrawal and an apology for 1971.

On Monday, the Pakistan National Assembly adopted a resolution expressing concern over Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdul Quader Molla, who was executed for his crimes against humanity during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971.

“This House expresses deep con-

cern on the hanging of a veteran politician of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh for supporting Pakistan in 1971,” said the resolution passed by majority vote.

The House expressed grief and sorrow with the bereaved family and demanded to avoid reviving the wounds of 1971 and to resolve cases amicably against Bangladeshi leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami.

In Chittagong, the flag of Pakistan was

set on fire in separate places yesterday protesting the role of the country over the execution of war criminal Quader Molla, our Chittagong office reported.

Awami League men set the Pakistani flag on fire in front of the Darul Fazal Market. Jege Otho Bangladesh, a social organisation, set the flag on fire at Chittagong Press Club premises.

Activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League’s Chittagong University unit set

the Pakistani flag on fire at the Shaheed Minar premises. The effigy of Nisar Ali Khan, the federal interior minister of Pakistan, was also burnt at the places during the demonstrations.

Speakers at the event condemned the resolution adopted by Pakistan assembly over the execution of Quader Molla and remarks of Nisar Ali Khan over the issue. They demanded that the Pakistani embassy be shut down. l

He was brutally beaten up and hacked mercilessly for half an hour, in the presence of the police, by the ruling party men who reportedly mistook him for a pro-opposition activist.

At one point, he ran towards Shakhari Bazar and fell down on the street in front of a rickshaw. The rickshaw-puller took him to Mitford Hospital where he succumbed to injuries.

Bishwajit was cremated at his village home in Shariatpur’s Naria where the family members erected his bust.

The incident was widely covered by the media and the killers were clearly identified through photographs and video footage. It raised an outcry over the credibility of the law enforcers in containing crimes committed by activists of the ruling party.

Sutrapur police filed a murder case the same day. Later, a pro-BNP lawyer submitted a petition at the court to include the members of police as accused in the case for neglecting their duties.

The court, however, rejected the plea.

The government first refuted the

claims that the accused were Chhatra League leaders and activists and said they had been infiltrators.

A total of 32 out of 60 prosecution witnesses testified in the trial.

On March 5, DB police submitted the charge sheet before the court against the accused after dropped the names of four other arrestees finding no proof of their link with the incident.

On April 4, the Dhaka’s metropolitan magistrate took into cognisance the charges and issued arrest warrants against the fugitives.

On April 29, the case document was transferred from the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court to the Dhaka’s Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court for trial.

Later Judge Md Jahurul Haque framed the charges against the accused on June 2.

On June 30, the home ministry issued a gazette notification for transferring the case to the Dhaka’s Speedy Trial Tribunal for quick trial. According to the Speedy Trial Tribunals Act, the court will have to finish the trial within

135 working days.

After transfer of the case to tribunal 4, the court’s acting judge Dewan Md Safiullah fixed on July 14 to begin trial.

However, the trial began on July 14 with the deposition of Sub-Inspector of Sutrapur police station Md Jalal Uddin, also complainant of the case.

On October 24, the tribunal concluded recording of statements of the prosecution witnesses.

Arguments of the prosecution and the defence ended on December 4 when the court set the verdict date.

When the trial began, the proceedings started with acting judge Dewan Md Shafiullah. Later came ABM Nizamul Haque but as he felt sick the trial was continued for long time by acting judge Md Nuruzzman. Finally, the verdict in the much-talked-about case was declared yesterday by Nizamul Haque.

Expressing fulfilment over the verdict, special public prosecutor SM Rafiqul Islam told the Dhaka tribune: “We got justice in the sensational killing case.” l

8 to die for killing Bishwajit  PAGE 1 COLUMN 1

would result in six-month rigorous imprisonment. But the section 143 will not applicable for them who got death penalty.

The arrestees were produced before the court at 12:20pm. Later they were sent to jail on a prison vehicle.

During the delivery of the judgement, victim’s brother Uttam Kumar Das and cousin Rabin Kumar Das were present at the court. Uttam later told the Dhaka Tribune that he was happy with the verdict.

The death row convicts are Md Rafiqul Islam Shakil, Mahfuzur Rahman Nahid, Emdadul Haque Emdad, GM Rasheduzzaman Shaon, Quiyum Miah Tipu, Saiful Islam, and the absconding Rajon Talukder and Mir Md Noor-e-Alam Limon.

Meanwhile, Golam Mostafa and AHM Kibria, currently under police custody, and fugitives – Monirul Haque Pavel, Obaidul Quader Tahsin, Imran Hossain, Khondoker Md Yunus Ali, Tarique Bin Zohor Tamal, Azizur Rahman Aziz, Al

Amin Sheikh, Mosharraf Hossain, Rafiqul Islam, Md Alauddin and Md Alauddin – were given life-term imprisonment.

Of them, Shakil, Nahid, Shaon and Emdad earlier made confessional statements before the court.

Though the police claimed that they could not find the fugitives, some of the 13 convicts had been seen in the capital’s different areas in the recent days.

Bishwajit, a 24-year-old tailor, was hacked to death on December 9 by 2025 Chhatra League activists near Bahadur Shah Park in the court area soon after pro-opposition lawyers brought out a procession in support of a countrywide blockade.

The JnU unit Chhatra League brought out the procession to prevent the blockade supporters. The top leaders of the unit also joined the procession from where they chased the lawyers’ parade. Several lawyers were also injured in the attack.

Bishwajit ran to go to safer place during the clash, but fell victim to the rage of the Chhatra League activists.

Bangladesh Chhatra League.

Bishwajit was hacked to death by Bangladesh Chhatra League activists on December 9 last year near the Bahadur Shah Park in Old Dhaka during a strike called by the BNP-led 18-Party alliance.

Sutrapur police station Sub-Inspector Jalal Ahmed filed the case accusing 25 unknown people. Later they were arrested through video footages and paper clippings.

Opposition leaders had severely criticised the ruling party for accusing unidentified people even after newspapers and TV channels carried reports with photos and visuals of those who attacked Bishwajit.

Jagannath University (JnU) authorities expelled the students whose photos were published in the news reports amid the police investigation.

Registrar of Jagannath University Wahiduzzaman told the Dhaka Tribune that the university would take actions against the rest of the convicts after an academic council meeting.

Investigation Officer of the case Tajul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune he was satisfied that the court had punished the accused. He also said the local police station would take necessary actions to arrest the absconding convicts. l

Killers bash media for their predicament  PAGE 1 COLUMN 4

penalty awarded accused GM Rasheduzzaman Shaon, told the Dhaka Tribune that Shaon is a brilliant student and he was not involved in any kind of such incidents.

“We are not happy with the judgement of the court.”

Shaon also expressed his anger over the media correspondents while getting into the prison van. He blamed the media for their punishment.

Mizanur Rahman Mollah, defence lawyer of HM Kibria who was awarded lifetime imprisonment, said state lawyers had failed to prove any complaint brought against his client.

“We hope the court would release him. We will go to the High Court for a fair trial.”

Selim Sarker, defence lawyer of death penalty awarded convict Emdadul Haque, too claimed that his client was not guilty of the murder.

The investigation agency will not able to prove anything against him and he was not seen in the video footage, he added.

After the verdict, several accused were found crying. Dr Mobarak Hossain, elder brother of Mostofa, told the Dhaka Tribune that his brother did not do anything wrong.

He is a meritorious student and an innocent victim, he added. l

Nine countries to  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

of arrival of members of Tablig Jamaat from those countries the visa authorities will ask for recommendation from the Tablig Jamaat from the countries concerned.

On the basis of recommendation by the Tablig Jamaat visa can be issued.

Earlier, the directorate of National Security Intelligence, Special Branch and Madrasa Ulumi Dinia Alwali Masjid in this regard sent letters to the home ministry, the letter said. l

Hasina blasts  PAGE 1 COLUMN 1

The prime minister was giving an introductory speech at a meeting with the 14-party leaders at her Ganabhaban residence yesterday evening.

Hasina said the execution of death penalty for Quader Molla had delivered justice to the families of martyrs who lost their near and dear ones in the war in the hands of the Pakistani army and their local cohorts. Only the Pakistani rulers and their cohorts in Bangladesh including the opposition leader and the Jamaat could not accept the execution.

Meanwhile, the sub-committee on international affairs of the ruling Awami League said the war crimes trial was an internal matter of Bangladesh. “Pakistan has shown audacity by adopting a resolution of condemnation in parliament over the issue.”

Former ambassador M Jamir, chairman of the sub-committee, expressed this view of the party after a meeting at the party president’s Dhanmondi office.

Jamir said: “We strongly condemn this. This will further encourage destructive activities of the BNP-Jamaat.”

Party’s International Affairs Secretary Col (Retd) Faruq Khan, Nilufar Jafrullah, Nasrul Hamid MP, Kazi Nabil Ahmed, Mainul Islam Mostaq and Nazma Aktar attended the meeting, which was held for the first time after its inception. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

3

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Bill placed in Indian parliament on LBA n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman

An activist of Ganajagaran Mancha chants slogans in the capital’s Gulshan 2 circle area yesterday, during a protest against the Pakistan parliament’s resolution against war criminal Quader Molla’s execution SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

After a long wait, Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid has placed the constitution amendment bill to pave the way for ratifying the land boundary agreement between Bangladesh and India.

With Bangladesh bracing for its 10th Parliamentary election on the other side of the border, the Indian minister, in his third attempt, successfully placed the bill at the Rajya Sabha yesterday.

The minister earlier tried to place the bill in two previous sessions but failed due to strong resistance from the members of Assam Gana Parishad, BJP and Trinomul Congress.

“The bill has been placed, but there is only two days left before the current winter session of Rajya Sabha is prorogued, and it would be difficult to pass the bill,” said an official at the Bangladesh foreign ministry.

He said the bill, however, would be valid for the next Indian government as the country would also go to the polls in April. “We have had repeated assurance from the Indian side. We can say it is concluded once it is passed in both houses in India.”

After passage of the bill in the Rajya Sabha, it needs to be approved by Lok Sabha, the lower chamber of the Indian Parliament.

Khurshid in the parliament said: “I move for leave to introduce a bill further to amend the Constitution of India to give effect to the acquiring of territo-

ries by India and transfer of certain territories to Bangladesh in pursuance of the agreement and its protocol entered into between the Governments of India and Bangladesh.”

Dhaka has ratified the agreement in 1974 just after it was signed by then President of Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and late Indian Premier Indira Ghandhi. The government had also and issued gazette notification in the same year, but, India is yet to ratify it.

Salman Khurshid, at a joint press briefing on February 16 this year had said he hoped that the LBA would be ratified in the budget session at the Indian parliament.

Exchange of enclaves, APL

There are 111 Indian enclaves in Bangladesh’s territory where 34,000 people live while Bangladesh has 51 enclaves comprising 17,000 people, inside India and the fate of these people would be settled after the implementation.

Bangladesh and India have a vast porous border measuring 4,076km with 6.5km of it un-demarcated in three places.

In the 12 APL patches, the total land size is about 5,500 acres and after the adjustment, Bangladesh would get about 2,300 acres of land while India over 3,400, sources said.

The 6.5km un-demarcated border has a total land size of about 150 acres, a foreign ministry official said.

Bangladesh will get 35 acres in Matamuhuri, 70 in Doikhata and 35 in Lathithuli borders, he added. l

BNP: EU envoys’ absence from Victory Key point installations at risk in Chittagong Day programme shame for country n

Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

The BNP yesterday said absence of ambassadors of European Union from the National Mausoleum to mark the National Victory Day is a kind of protest against the government’s “undemocratic attitudes”.

“It is not usual. We think this is a sort of protest against the government’s move to hold farcical polls and its undemocratic attitude,” Nazrul Islam Khan, party’s standing committee member, said.

Addressing a press briefing at party chairperson’s Gulshan office in the capital on the second day of nationwide 72-hour blockade Nazrul also said: “It

Security tightened at Pakistan Embassy

n Kailash Sarkar The Chancery unit of police in cooperation with the crime division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) beefed up the security in and around the Pakistan Embassy.

Additional forces were deployed to ward off any untoward incidents at the Pakistan Embassy along with patrol by crime busting force Rapid Action Battalion members, said officials of the Chancery unit and Rab. Kamal Hossain, senior assistant commissioner of the Chancery unit, said: “Security measures in the entire Diplomatic Zone had been intensified over the last few

‘The measures have been taken to avert any kind of untoward incident in Pakistan Embassy and other embassies in the diplomatic zone’ months. But it was further tightened after the resolution adopted by Pakistan National Assembly over the execution of war criminal Abdur Quader Molla and subsequent protest by Bangladesh.”

The Chancery police official said as part of the beefed up measures deployment of forces including plain-clothes policemen have been increased alongside the vigilance and patrol around the Pakistan Embassy.

“The measures have been taken to avert any kind of untoward incident in Pakistan Embassy and other embassies in the diplomatic zone,” he said.

Wing Commander ATM Habibur Rahman, Director of Legal and Media Wing of Rapid Action Battalion, said they keep their forces on high alert to ensure security to the Pakistan Embassy and its officials as well as to other embassies and diplomats.

Witnesses said a large number of additional forces from police and Rab were seen deployed in and around the Pakistan Embassy and residence of its ambassador. l

is also a shame for the country.”

Issuing a note of warning that the more the regime gets repressive the more the movement will be intensified the BNP leader asked the government to refrain from holding a unilateral poll and to return to the path of compromise.

Nazrul claimed that on the second day of blockade 373 were arrested and 2007 cases filed against the opposition leaders and activists across the country.

When asked about whether it is a violation of diplomatic norms as the EU ambassadors did not join the state programme, Nazrul, also a former ambassador, said: “It is not a matter of

right or wrong. It is a shame for us.”

When asked about the verdict on Bishwajit Murder case, Nazrul said: “It is a good news.”

Meanwhile, at a press release, party’s acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir alleged that the ministers and the ruling party leaders were talking about 11th general elections to mislead people of the country.

“The BNP participated in the dialogue to discuss the polls-time government with a demand for suspending the election schedule, not to discuss the 11th general elections. Rumour on dialogue on 11th general election is a pack of lies and

baseless,” he said.

About the dialogue Fakhrul said two meetings between Awami League and BNP were held in the capital on the initiative of UN special envoy Oscar Fernandez Taranco while another meeting was held after he returned to the UN. Fakhrul said: “At the third round of meetings both the parties placed some proposals to reach a consensus to break the political impasse. Both the party secretaries agreed to reply on the proposals and set the date for the fourth round of meetings after discussing with party high-ups. But until now the ruling party has set any date for dialogue.” l

Double murder suspect killed in police ‘shootout’ in the capital n Kailash Sarkar The suspected killer of two daylabourers in the capital’s Badda was reportedly been killed in a “shootout” with police in Rampura yesterday, the day after the double murder.

Identified as Mohammad Sohag, 26, the youth succumbed to his bullet wounds whilst undergoing treatment at the Orthopedic Hospital (Pongu Hospital) in the capital’s Agargaon area during the afternoon.

“The deceased was one of the criminals, who fired a gun leaving Faruq Hawlader, a contractor of day labourers, and labourer Milon Hawlader, 26, dead. He also injured another labourer, Mahmud Hossain,” said Iqbal Hossain, officer-in-charge of

Badda police station.

“Having been tipped-off that Sohag had been staying in Aftabnagar between Badda and Rampura, a team of police raided the area at 5pm,” said the OC. Sensing a police presence, the criminals opened fire on the law enforcers, prompting them to retaliate, resulting in a gunfight for several minutes.

The police official said that at one stage the gang of criminals ran away leaving the wounded Sohag.

The Badda OC said they arrested the wounded Sohag with a pistol in his possession and admitted him to the Pongu Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries in the afternoon.

Sub-Inspector Golam Mostofa of Badda police station said Faruq

Hossain, owner of the underconstruction building where the gun attack took place, filed a case in connection with the double murder, accusing unidentified armed criminals.

Police said a few other suspects had also been detained in this regard, but they declined to disclose their identities.

A gang of masked criminals launched a gun attack at the construction site on Tuesday morning, leaving two daylabourers dead and another injured, in the capital’s Moinarbagh at Modhya Badda.

Police and witnesses said the gun attack was carried out following a refusal to pay extortion money to the gang by the owner of the construction site. l

Violence resistance committees formed in districts and upazilas n Mohosinul Karim and Rabiul Islam A series of new committees have been formed across the country to resist the Jamaat-Shibir violence that has been causing huge loss of life and property.

The committees under the banner: “Spirit of Liberation War Implementation Mancha,” came into being in districts and upazilas to ward off the violence of the hartals and blockades sponsored by the BNP-led 18-party alliance.

The 18-party alliance had long been demanding a caretaker government system under which to hold the next general elections.

The move was initiated by the deputy commissioners after the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs asked the former to form such committees by December 13.

On December 9, the ministry issued letters to the deputy commissioners and upazila nirbahi officers in this regard.

According to the letters, the committee has been formed at upazila level by inducting 31 members into it.

A former commander of the freedom fighters is the convener of the committee.

Similarly, at district level a 101-member committee has been formed with the former commander as its convener.

“I received a letter on December 9 and a committee entitled “Spirit of Liberation War Implementation Mancha,” was formed in my upazila,” an anonymous UNO from Kishoreganj told the Dhaka Tribune over the phone.

The official said the UNOs and DCs had been relieved of their convenor-ships at upazila and district levels by

the freedom fighter’s command councils.

The official added that from now on former freedom fighters’ commanders would head up the committee.

“We have decided to organise the platform to resist the violence of Jamaat-Shibir,” Vice-President of Jatiya Sramik League, and Shipping and Liberation War Affairs Minister, Shajahan Khan told the Dhaka Tribune.

Shajahan is the convener of the central committee of the Spirit of Liberation War Implementation Mancha.

The minister hoped that the newly formed committees would be able to build up resistance against the Jamaat-Shibir violence.

A freedom fighter, on condition of anonymity, said when Jamaat-Shibir ran riot freedom fighters could not sit idle. l

n Tushar Hayat, Chittagong

Law-enforcement agencies failed to ensure security at key point installations (KPIs) in Chittagong city during the recent opposition shutdowns as a number of important places were attacked by party activists.

According to Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) records, opposition activists blasted crude bombs at different high security places, including Shah Amanat International Airport, Bangladesh Bank, BTV Centre, Power Development Board office, radio station, court buildings and Bangladesh Railway workshop and sheds during BNP-Jamaat hartals and blockades over the past two weeks.

Picketers also set fire to a covered van near the EPZ gate, killing the driver and his helper.

There are a total of 46 KPIs in the city, including Chittagong Port, Chittagong Urea Fertiliser Ltd, Karnaphuli Fertiliser Company, Customs House, Export Pro-

cessing Zone (EPZ) and Chittagong Central Jail.

CMP sources said police were stationed at 17 KPIs round the clock, while authorities at the other KPIs relied on Ansars and their own security guards.

Banaz Kumar Majumder, CMP additional commissioner (crime and operation), said the police directly ensures security of the 17 KPIs and keeps vigil on the others during routine patrolling.

The police official said security measures were stepped up recently at the KPIs due to the ongoing political unrest.

However, a number of untoward incidents had taken place inadvertently, he admitted.

Majumder said extra police forces were posted at the 17 KPIs following the untoward incidents.

Authorities of the other KPIs were also advised to increase the number of security guards, he said, adding that the CMP could not deploy forces at all the places due to a manpower shortage. l

Subhan’s indictment order December 31 n Udisa Islam The war crimes tribunal yesterday deferred giving order on the framing of formal charges against Jamaat-e-Islami leader Maulana Abdus Subhan, a key leader of collaborators in Pabna during the 1971 Liberation War. After beginning of the day’s proceeding, the International Crimes Tribunal 1 said it was not prepared and set December 31 to deliver the indictment decision.

Jamaat Nayeb-e-Ameer Subhan, 84, was in the dock.

On September 15, the prosecution pressed nine charges against the Jamaat leader including genocide, abduction, murder, looting and arson in Ishwardi and Pabna. The tribunal took the charges into cognisance on September 19.

The three-member tribunal 1 headed by Justice ATM Fazle Kabir said they had perused the formal charges and statements of the witnesses along with other documents submitted by the prosecution and found that there was a strong case against the accused.

The charge framing hearing against the accused began on October 2.

On November 24, chief defence counsel Abdur Razzak, also a senior Jamaat leader, in his argument on the charges brought against Subhan. He claimed that the charges did not fulfil the requirements of the law and that the prosecution had failed to specify the offences against the accused.

According to the charges, Maulana Subhan was the acting ameer of Pabna district Jamaat and vice-president of the district Peace Committee during the war. He was also a key leader of the collaborators’ forces – razakar, al-Badr, al-Shams and Mujaheed Bahini – in the region. He was nominated for the by-elections held in late 1971.

In 1972, he was accused by a special tribunal for collaborating with the Pakistani occupation army. The tribunal asked him to be present on February 29 that year. But he did not as he had fled to Pakistan with then Jamaat chief Ghulam Azam. After 40 years, detectives arrested him on September 20 last year. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Rock extraction at Maddhapara stalls as miners strike n Aminur Rahman Rasel A miners strike at the Maddhapara granite mine since November 25 has delayed hard rock mining at the site in Dinajpur.

The mine, operated by Maddhapara Granite Mining Company Limited (MGMCL), a company of Petrobangla under the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, was expected to start production under a new contractor in January next.

A total of 308 workers of the MGMCL Workers-Employees’ Union have been staging a demonstration outside the company building since they went on a strike for indefinite period, pressing home a five-point demand.

Managing Director of the company, Mohammad Moinuddin, yesterday told

the Dhaka Tribune that if the workers did not agreed to get back to work, they would ask the new contractor, Germania-Trest Consortium (GTC), to recruit fresh miners to continue rock extraction.

“We have already assured them of fulfilling some of the demands, including a salary hike. But it’s not possible to make their jobs permanent or give five suspended workers’ their jobs back, as the matter is in court.”

However, Khairul Islam, president of the miners’ union, claimed that the authority would not be able to hire new workers, as the current ones were skilled, and the new recruits would take at least six months to one year to become well trained.

“The Court has ordered them to give us our jobs back, but the authorities

are holding up the decision. They can make our jobs permanent if they want.

We will not join work until these two demands have been met,” he said.

Their demands include job regularisation, providing a 20% dearness allowance, putting an end to lay-offs, re-appointing retrenched workers, and stop to the appointment of miners by outsourcing.

The workers started the work abstention after the company started handing over the mine to the Germania-Trest Consortium.

On September 2, the state-owned MGMCL signed a deal with the Germania-Trest Consortium to produce about 9.2m tonnes of hard rock, worth Tk20.7bn over six years. The MGMCL, country’s only hard rock company, has been mining rocks at the site since 1994.

Mohammad Moinuddin said Germania-Trest Consortium (GTC) would work as a contractor to develop and operate the mine. It would increase the mine’s hard rock production to 5,000 tonnes per day from the present 900 tonnes.

As per the contract, the GTC will work on the project for the next six years, at an estimated cost of $171.86m.

They will produce 9.2m tonnes of hard rock during the contract period.

The GTC, a consortium of Bangladesh-based Germania Corporation Limited and Belarus-based JSC Trest Shakhtos Petsstroy, was selected for the project through a tender process contested by five international companies.

The hard rock mine was discovered through a Geological Survey of Bangladesh (GSB) in 1974 at a depth of 136 metres at Maddhapara, Parbatipur in Dinajpur. l

Nahid: Students to get textbooks on first day of new academic year n Mushfique Wadud Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid yesterday ruled out the fear of delay in textbook distribution to students, saying all students in primary and secondary levels would get textbooks on the first day of the new academic year.

“Despite violence by opposition parties, we will distribute textbooks to all students on the first day of new academic year,” he said while speaking at a discussion programme at National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) auditorium.

NCTB officials, however, told the Dhaka Tribune on Tuesday that 10% of the 30 crore copies of textbooks had not reached schools yet.

Officials said they could not transport textbooks to some parts of the country because of violence.

The textbook distribution was delayed mainly because of the consecutive shutdowns and road, rail and waterway blockade programmes.

NCTB officials and printers told the Dhaka Tribune that all students would not get full sets of books on the first day.

Nahid claimed that the current government brought discipline to the education sector in its tenure as it distributed textbooks to students on the first day of every academic year, adding that it would not allow any break to this discipline.

“We will observe ‘Textbook Festival’ on the first day,” he also said. l

Kamal Majumder fined for electoral law violation n Mohammad Zakaria

Indictment of Adilur, Nasir deferred 2nd time n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu

A mobile court has fined Awami League parliamentary candidate Kamal Ahmed Majumder Tk25,000, or 15 days’ imprisonment by default, for violating the electoral code of conduct.

Executive Magistrate Tasnia Jaygirder handed him the penalty yesterday for pasting his polls campaign posters on walls instead of hanging them as directed by the electoral law.

Meanwhile, Awami League candidate of Dhaka 7 Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin accused independent candidate Md Selim of violating the electoral code by using party chief Sheikh Hasina’s photo in his poster.

Officials at the Election Commission said an enquiry committee would investigate the allegations. l

The Dhaka’s Cyber Crime Tribunal yesterday deferred the indictment hearing of human rights organisation Odhikar officials until December 28 in the case filed for distorting facts about the eviction drive against Hefazat-e-Islam in Motijheel.

Judge AKM Shamsul Alam passed the order as Odhikar Director AKM Nasiruddin Elan could not be produced before the court because of his illness.

Secretary Adilur Rahman Khan, however, was present.

On November 28, the tribunal deferred the hearing until yesterday.

Adilur was freed on bail on October 11 while Elan secured bail on November 24. Elan surrendered before the tribunal on November 6.

The DB police pressed charges against the duo on September 4 after completing a probe into the claim of the human rights body that 61 people had been killed in the law enforcers’ crackdown in Motijheel in the early hours of May 6.

They were charged under the Information and Communication Technology Act 2006 and the Penal Code. The tribunal took the charges into cognisance on September 11.

The DB submitted the charges after investigating the General Diary at Shapla Chattar on May 5. l

Nominations open for International Holcim Awards n Tribune Report The fourth cycle of the Holcim Awards, offering a total of $2m in prize money in the field of construction and urban planning, is now open for nominations.

The competition, organised by Swiss-based Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction, seeks leading projects from industry professionals and bold ideas that contribute to sustainability within architecture, building, civil engineering, landscaping and urban design.

Projects must have reached an advanced stage of design, have a high probability of execution, and may not have started construction before July 1. All authors must be aged 18-30 years. Entries must be submitted online at www. holcimawards.org by March 24, 2014. l

GRABBING OF STATE PROPERTY

Moudud’s lawyer terms case politically motivated n Nazmus Sakib

WEATHER

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

Light to moderate fog might occur over river basins of the country during late night till morning, Met Office said.

Night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country.

The sun sets in the capital at 5:16pm today and rises at 6:36am tomorrow.

Country’s highest temperature 27.5 degree Celsius was recorded at Cox’s Bazar and lowest 6.5 degrees at Srimangal 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

26.0 25.0 24.7 22.8 26.0 26.3 25.8 27.5

13.0 13.2 12.4 12.5 14.3 11.5 11.0 13.5

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

Activists of Workers Party of Bangladesh torch posters of Imran Khan, a Pakistani politician and former cricketer, yesterday in front of the National Press Club after he discredited and commented on the execution of war criminal Quader Molla DHAKA TRIBUNE

5:15am 6:35am 11:56am 3:39pm 5:15pm 6:36pm

Source: IslamicFinder.org

AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, lawyer of senior BNP leader Moudud Ahmed, yesterday alleged that the case accusing his client and his brother of grabbing government property worth Tk300 crore was filed for political reasons.

Khokon, who is also a BNP joint secretary, made the claim at a briefing at the Supreme Court Bar Association.

The Anti-Corruption Commission lodged the case against Moudud, who is now in jail, and his brother, Manzur Ahmed, who lives in London, with the Gulshan police station on Tuesday.

Khokon said the property in question was never owned by the state, but belonged to two Pakistani nationals, Md Ehsan and his wife, Inge Maria Flatz.

Manzur purchased the property in the capital, where Moudud resides as a tenant, the lawyer said.

“As a case is pending with the appellate division over the property, the

ACC’s case has no legal basis,” Khokon said.

“The government by mistake declared the property as abandoned in 1972. Later in 1980, the property that includes a house was registered mentioning Maria as the owner. Manzur bought the land from the lady,” he elaborated.

According to the case statement, the house was included in the government’s list of abandoned properties in 1972 as the owner had left the country before the Liberation War in 1971.

In 1973, Moudud prepared a fake power of attorney to seize the property. Since then, he has been living in the house as a tenant of Maria Flatz. While holding different ministerial posts between 1978 and 2006, Moudud tried to grab the house, misusing his power. He made the fake documents in the name of his expatriate brother, Manzur Ahmed, the statement adds. l

Jamaat: Govt may attack major establishments n Tribune Report Jamaat-e-Islami has alleged that the government may attack important establishments and people in the country, whilst blaming the opposition.

Jamaat-e-Islami acting ameer Mokbul Ahmed said yesterday in a press statement: “It has been heard the government may play an evil game and blame the opposition by attacking important establishments, especially

foreign missions and embassies, and also foreigners who are working in Bangladesh.”

Jamaat also called upon the international community to raise their voices, asking people to continue a “peaceful movement” against government activities.

“We request that the people and party activists be careful and raise their voices against government conspiracies,” the statement read. l

Khoka to be questioned at prison gate n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu

A Dhaka court yesterday rejected remand and bail petitions for BNP ViceChairman Sadeque Hossain Khoka in two cases and sent him to jail.

Police produced Khoka before the court in the morning and sought 10day remands for the Sutrapur arson case and the Paltan sedition case in the morning.

Additional Public Prosecutor Shah Alam Talukder of Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court represented the state while Sanaullah Miah pleaded for

Awami League strips Awlad off party responsibilities

n

Emran Hossain Shaikh

The ruling Awami League yesterday expelled a primary member of the party for violating party decisions.

Dr Awlad Hossain, a primary member and former assistant personal secretary to party chief Sheikh Hasina when she was the opposition leader of the eighth parliament, was expelled after he decided to contest in the upcoming elections from Dhaka 4 independently.

A press release signed by Awami League Office Secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap said Awlad had involved himself in anti-organisational activities by violating the party’s decision and for this he was exempted from all his designations, including party’s primary membership.

The press release also prohibited its ward level activists of Dhaka 4 from cooperating with him and warned of taking punitive actions.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Awlad said: “It is a party decision and everybody has to follow it.

“But my election symbol is not the boat anymore. I decided to contest as an independent candidate at the requests of local people,” he added. l

bail on behalf of the accused.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrates Md Maruf Hossain and Tareq Moinul Islam Bhuiyan separately passed the order for the Sutrapur and Paltan cases respectively.

The court also ordered the authorities concerned to interrogate him at jail gate within 10 days.

On November 11, nine people were burned when a human hauler was set ablaze near Victoria Park in old Dhaka, the Sutrapur arson case statement said.

Khoka called upon all BNP supporters to take to streets armed with ma-

chetes and axes at a party programme, according to the Paltan sedition case statement.

The BNP vice-chairman was arrested on the night of December 4 from a Uttara residence in the capital when arson charges were pressed against him.

Earlier on December 5, another Dhaka CMM court granted a two-day remand prayer for the BNP leader in a case filed with the Shahbagh police station.

Khoka reportedly had been in hiding since November 26 after the announcement of the rail, road and waterways’ blockade. l

JP submits memos demanding Ershad’s release n Manik Miazee The Jatiya Party yesterday submitted memorandums to deputy commissioners (DCs) and brought out processions in several districts as part of a two-day programme to press for the release of party Chairman HM Ershad.

Rangpur metropolitan and district committees of the party also enforced a 48-hour hartal from Tuesday to protest against Ershad’s alleged detention.

Committees in Rajshahi, Sylhet, Noakhali, Chandpur and a few other districts submitted memorandums to the DC offices concerned.

“Law enforcers picked our chief at night without any reason and sent him to the Combine Military Hospital, causing him mental torture. We want his release as soon as possible,” the memorandum said.

Ershad was picked up by Rab personnel from his Baridhara residence last Thursday night and admitted to the CMH. The government has denied detaining him, saying he was hospitalised because of ill heatlh.

JaPa leader Kazi Firoz Rashid yesterday dispelled rumours that Ershad might be sent overseas for treatment.

“There is no need for Ershad to go abroad as he will be taking treatment here,” Rashid told journalists after a meeting with Rawshan Ershad at her residence yesterday afternoon.

Earlier, media reports claimed that the JaPa chief had agreed to a government proposal to go abroad, apparently to pave the way for a section of his party men to contest the January 5 elections, which the former military dictator has decided to boycott.

Grassroots JaPa leaders and activists expressed anger at the party’s central committee for its activities regarding Ershad’s release and the polls issue.

“We are still confused about the activities of the central leaders. Now, our leaders are not clear about their position on taking part in the polls,” Faisal Ahmed, president of the Dhaka University unit of Jatiya Chhatra Samaj, the party’s student wing, told the Dhaka Tribune.

Also yesterday, several hundred party activists waited outside the residence of Secretary General ABM Ruhul Amin Hawlader for his statement.

Hawlader, however, did not meet with them and ignored their phone calls, sources said. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

5

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Westin hotel annexes a public road Sources at Dhaka North City Corporation said the hotel had not got any approval 18-party alliance was ongoing. n Abu Bakar Siddique In reply to a question on whether The Westin, a luxurious hotel in the capital, has been possessing a large portion of the Gulshan Avenue illegally, contributing to the traffic congestion as well as hindering pedestrians’ movement.

Authorities of the hotel, which is located just around 100 metres away from Gulshan circle-2, have also set up a temporary stand on the front road to check vehicles carrying their guests.

Rehana Parvin said traffic congestion was a common phenomenon in Gulshan area especially at afternoon and morning when classes of most of schools and colleges start and end. The tailback will intensify as the Hotel has possessed a portion of road.

Tarique Hasan said not only the Hotel Westin but many others organisations have grabbed roads at different points of the city under the nose of authority concerned, law enforcers should take stern actions against them.

Taimur, security and safety officer of the hotel, told the Dhaka Tribune that they had marked the road by rope cordon to ensure security for guests as the blockade sponsored by the BNP-led

they have taken permission from the authority concern to use the road space for their own purpose, he said Dhaka Metropolitan Police had given them permission to use the road.

However, Ruhul Amin, deputy commissioner for traffic (Dhaka north), told the Dhaka Tribune that they were not the relevant authority, and could not give permission to anybody to use public spaces.

“I am not aware of the issue, but if they do we will take action against them,” he added.

Usually, Dhaka City Corporation works as the legal authority to lease anybody, or any organisation, public space for their own purpose – including car parking.

An official of the estate department of Dhaka city corporation (north), who preferred to be unnamed, said the Westin had not gotten any approval from the department to use the footpath.

In addition, DCC does not have the authority to lease any road to anybody because roads are only for public communications, he added. l

A section of the road, along with the footpath, in front of Westin Hotel in the capital’s Gulshan 2 area is being ‘illegally’ occupied by the hotel authorities. The photo taken yesterday shows road blocks restricting traffic from a section of the road in front of the hotel SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

53,000 die from malnutrition every year in Bangladesh n Tribune Report At least 53,000 children die every year in Bangladesh due to complications related to malnutrition as the country is exposed to the highest rate of child and maternal malnutrition in the world.

Moreover, 45% of deaths among the Under-5 children are caused by malnutrition since millions of children suffer from one or more forms of malnutrition, including low birth weight, stunting, underweight and Vitamin A and Iodine deficiencies.

It is malnutrition that puts the children into a state of compulsion to usually suffer from psychological impairment and different forms of mental disorders that appear as threats to their future development.

According to statistics, 41% of the Under-5 children in Bangladesh are stunted, 36% of them underweight in terms of age and 16% are underweight compared to their height.

Among them, 51% are suffering from anemia. On the other hand, 42% adolescent girls in Bangladesh are exposed

to malnutrition obviously due to their economic insolvency and, to some extents, lack of awareness.

Malnutrition travels from generation to generation because the malnourished mothers give birth to malnourished babies. If they are girls, these children often become malnourished mothers themselves, and this how the vicious cycle continues.

Girls are more exposed to malnutrition than boys as they (girls) are sometimes deprived of nutritious foods in their families. Bangladesh can overcome the situation if more pragmatic efforts are taken in this regard Nutrition experts said the future generation (children) of Bangladesh is in a vulnerable position on nutritional matters as millions of them are growing onward bearing the curse of malnutrition.

However, girls are more exposed to malnutrition than boys as they (girls)

are sometimes deprived of nutritious foods in their families. Bangladesh can overcome the situation if more pragmatic efforts are taken in this regard, the experts said.

Statistics revealed that 25% women under 20 year of age, 57% women at the age of 20 and 17% women at the age of 30 become mothers in Bangladesh.

Director of Nutrition and Food Safety Centre of the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) Tahmid Ahmed said early pregnancy caused many difficulties as both age and weight of the adolescent girls are not conducive to giving birth.

As a result, the weight of a baby inside the mother’s womb cannot be increased, Tahmid said, and so the mother has to give birth to an underweight baby which suffers from malnutrition.

There is a relation between child marriage and malnutrition. So, child marriage has to be prevented to address the malnutrition issue properly in the country, the ICDDR’B Director said.

According to the nutrition experts, Zinc is an essential component for hu-

man body especially for the pregnant women as its deficiency can cause a serious health hazard for the pregnant women and new mothers.

Zinc also supports normal growth and development during pregnancy, childhood, and adolescence and is required for proper sense of taste and smell.

Daily intake of zinc is required to maintain a steady state because the body has no specialized zinc storage system. Considering the zinc deficiency, Bangladesh has been taking hectic efforts to develop zinc supplement foods to address the zinc deficiency in Bangladesh.

Besides, lack of education and awareness is emerging as major impediments to face malnutrition challenges in Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, a global initiative styled SUN movement has been launched under the auspices of different front organisations of the United Nations to eradicate malnutrition from the world aiming to build healthy and mentally sound future generations. l

JU Chhatra League leader beats students n JU Correspondent A leader of Jahangir Nagar University’s Chhatra League unit allegedly beat a couple of students as they refused to join the procession in front of Pakistani High Commission yesterday.

Enamul Haque Bhuiya Nolok, general secretary of A F M Kamaluddin Hall Chhatra League unit, beat two students— Md Abdullah Al Amin Limon, a second year student of Environmental Science, and Md Abdur Rob, a first year student of Government and Politics – as they refused to go to Dhaka to join the human chain protesting Pakistan’s recent reaction to Quader Molla’s execution.

Some students, who wished to remain anonymous, said Enamul beat the duo with a cricket stump in front of the guest room of the dormitory around 1:30pm.

They also added that while Enamul

made the attack on the students, some other activists of the party, including hall president Md Al Amin, were present.

Students alleged that Chhatra League activists forced junior students of the hall to join the programme, but some of them refused to go to Dhaka amid the countrywide three-day-long blockade imposed by the BNP-led 18-party alliance.

Victim Limon said Enamul has beaten him without even asking the reason behind his reluctance to join the programme.

Two journalists who work with different media outlets and residents of the hall alleged that Chhatra League leaders also forced them to join the human chain.

The university Proctor Md Muzibur Rahman, acknowledged hearing of the incident unofficially, and said he is looking into the matter. l

Safe migration through legal procedure underscored n Our Correspondent, Barisal

People set fire to the national flag of Pakistan at Satmatha in Bogra town yesterday, protesting Islamabad’s reaction to the execution of Quader Molla FOCUS BANGLA

Police arrest two siblings for murder n FM Mizanur Rahaman, Chittagong

Police arrested two siblings in Hathazari upazila, in connection with the killing of a real estate agent, during separates drives in Chittagong early yesterday.

The arrested are Shah Alam, 28, and Monir Hossain, 35, sons of Asraf Ali of Sikdarpara area under Hathazari upazila, police sources said.

Liakat Ali, officer-in-charge of Hath-

azari police station, told the Dhaka Tribune that a team of police, led by Assistant Superintendent Nizam Uddin, conducted a drive in Dakksin Madarsha under the upazila and arrested Shah Alam around 4:30am.

According to the confessional statement of Shah Alam, police apprehended his brother Monir Hossain from Dakksin Burischar in the same upazila with a 9mm pistol, two rounds of am-

munition. One magazine and six machetes were also recovered from Monir’s house.

Shah Alam, in his confessional statement before the court, said they had killed Kasru over a land dispute.

On November 6, the two brothers slaughtered Amir Kasru, 27, a real estate agent, and dumped his body in a bush in Katakhali under Hathazari upazila of Chittagong. l

Discussants at a programme stressed the importance of assuring the safety and security of migrant workers by maintaining legal procedures with transparency and accountability.

Migration is as old as humanity and we live in an era of unprecedented human mobility, the speakers said, so we need to start thinking about it in new, smarter ways.

The development organisation Brac, the Barisal district administration, and the employment and manpower office jointly organised the programme at Ashwani Kumar Hall in Barisal city, marking International Migrants’ Day. Md Shohidul Alam, deputy commissioner of Barisal, presided over the discussion with the slogan “avibasir abodan, samunnato desher maan (the contribution of migrants glorify the prestige of the motherland).” It was conducted by Zakir Hossain, field coordinator of the Brac migration pro-

gramme. Nurul Amin, divisional commissioner, was present as chief guest.

Demographics, disasters, demand, disparities, dreams and desperation contribute to the migration story. Migrants are often forced to travel to the most dangerous places – shoreline, mountain slope, riverside and deserts, discussants said.

Tightened border surveillance and reduced opportunities for unskilled migrants drive people into the hands of manpower smugglers, whose unscrupulous trade is the fastest-growing sector in the organised crime world.

The contribution of migrants to growth and development is enormous, in both their host and home countries, but sadly many have been subjected to exploitation, harassment, abuse and even human trafficking, they observed.

The participants also stated that the lack of awareness puts migrant workers at risks. The most common forms of exploitation include overwork, monthly income below the minimum

wage, lack of social security and sexual abuse.

Speakers emphasised the need for unconditional assistance from embassies, and for recruiting agencies to be transparent and accountable, to achieve the safe migration of manpower and safe repatriation of the workers during crisis periods.

They also focused on the essentials of changing migration management, migration market development, preparations for regional and global events information dissemination and counseling for safe migration.

They suggested launching an awareness campaign and comprehensive action plan for the protection of migrant workers, including the revision and application of the legal framework, and the training of migrant workers in labour rights.

Shawkat Ali, deputy director divisional public library, and Jalaluddin, vice president of Islami Bank, were among those who addressed the event. l

Environmental lab inaugurated at Cuet n CU Correspondent Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (Cuet) inaugurated a new laboratory at the campus yesterday, which according to Cuet authorities is the country’s first modernised and technology based “Environmental Lab.” The lab was established at the Architecture department with the financial assistance of the World Bank’s Higher Education Quality Enhancement Project, said an official press release.

Prof Dr Jahangir Alam, vice-chancellor of Cuet, inaugurated the lab while Prof Mohammed Rafiqul Islam, pro vice-chancellor, was present as a special guest at the inaugural session.

Addressing as the chief guest, Prof Jahangir said the lab would be helpful for the students and the researchers in receiving a world class educational facilities.

A workshop on “Building Performance Monitoring Tools and Techniques” was held at the lab after the inaugural ceremony.

Different scientific instruments including a laser non-contact thermometer, a pen type digital thermometer, a thermo hydrometer, a data login light meter, a lax meter and an integrating sound level meter would be available at the lab.

Among others, Prof Dr Md Saiful Islam, chief of the University Academic Innovation Fund Secretariat, Dr Md Hazrat Ali, dean of the Architecture and Planning faculty, were present at the inaugural programme. l

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Wheat farming may mitigate Barind’s water stress condition n Tribune Desk

A fire broke out at Manikchhari police station of Khagrachhari in the early hours of yesterday

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Wide-range expansion of wheat farming can mitigate the existing waterstress condition in the highly elevated Barind tract, as wheat is an environment friendly crop, experts said on Tuesday.

They viewed that the time had come to enhance the acreage of wheat farming instead of only depending on IrriBoro rice in the dried area to ensure food security amid the adverse impact of climate change.

Apart from this, they said about seven to eight bighas of wheat could be cultivated with the irrigated water of only one bigha of Boro rice through soil moisture utilisation and the best uses of modern technologies.

Agriculturist Abu Muhammad Musa identically said the adverse impact of climate change had been posing a serious threat to the irrigation dependent crops, particularly Irri-Boro rice, as both the underground and surface water resources were gradually declining.

Impact of climate change on ecology is diverse. It affects soil salinity, drought, crop survival, irrigation economy, fresh water availability and so on.

Quoting research findings on the issue, Musa said the dried area com-

prising of Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj and Naogaon districts had been seeing drought conditions with gradual increase of extreme weather conditions, sharp decline in groundwater table and decreasing rate of rainfall.

Dr Jalal Uddin, director of Wheat Research Station, said wheat plays an important role to ensure food security, adding that its consumption was increasing day by day.

He, however, said the Rajshahi region contributes 35% of total area and 44% of total production. Not only that, there are around 50,000 hectares of more rain fed land in the Barind area and there have been bright prospects of bringing the land under wheat cultivation.

Dr Ilias Hossain, senior scientific officer of Regional Wheat Research Centre, viewed water shortage was gradually becoming acute in the drought-prone Barind area due to scanty rainfall and excessive extraction of groundwater for irrigation as well as adverse impacts of climate change.

Simultaneously, the unprecedented fall of water level in the river Padma and its tributaries and other wetlands has created an adverse impact on the livelihood of people especially farmers and other marginal groups. l

Police station armoury burns down in Manikchhari

Lemon brings good fortune to many

n Our Correspondent, Khagrachhari

Lemon cultivation in the orchards and homesteads has already become profitable, bringing fortune to hundreds of farmers, commoners and poor women in recent years in the northern districts.

More than 2,000 farmers have achieved self-reliance through lemon farming in Rangpur region alone, changing their fate by selling their lemons at fair prices in a hassle-free manner.

According to officials and experts in the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) and NGOs, cultivation of lemons has been expanding every year, following repeated bumper harvests and lucrative market prices.

Khandker Md Mesbahul Islam, a horticulture specialist at the DAE, said most of the people have been farming

Manikchhari police station, along with its armoury, was gutted in a fire in Khagrachhari in the early hours yesterday.

Officer-in-charge of the police station Keshob Chakrawarty told the Dhaka Tribune that the fire had originated from an electrical short circuit at its barracks around 7am, and soon engulfed the nearby armoury.

The wireless operator room and detention cell inside the police station were also burnt to ashes, the OC said.

Upon receiving information, a firefighting unit from Ramgarh upazila rushed to the spot and doused the blaze with the help of policemen around 8am

The OC claimed that property worth about Tk 1 crore was gutted in the fire.

The police station is located atop a hill in Manikchhari upazila, almost 70km away from Khagrachhari district headquarters.

There are no fire service and civil defence station at that upazila, the OC said.

Firefighters arrived from the adjacent Ramgarh upazila, which is 50km away from the spot.

However, no casualties were reported, as most of the policemen were on blockade duty.

Those police personnel who were at the police station managed to escape after the fire broke out. l

n Tribune Report

lemons on their homesteads, though many farmers have also set up lemon orchards as hedgerows surrounding crop fields.

Talking to BSS, farmer Motiar Rahman from the village of Deodoba said he has planted over 3,000 lemon trees as hedgerows around his 1.5 acre litchi orchards, he earns Tk800,000 just from these lemons without having to use separate land for cultivation.

Farmers Shahadat Ali and Rahim Uddin, and local women Sohagi Khatun and Nabiron Bibi, of different villages in Rangpur, said they are cultivating lemons as hedgerows for their orchards and homesteads, earning excellent profits every year.

Quasem Ali from the village of Patrokhata Khondkerpara in Kurigram said he has been earning over

Tk800,000 annually by selling his lemons grown on 12 decimals of his 48 decimals of croplands.

This season, Quasem Ali sold 22,000 lemons at Tk60,000 per day and has been selling at least 200,020 lemons annually, after distributing his produce among his relatives, neighbours and villagers.

Quasem said: “I mostly cultivate local, China and Duck Zamir varieties of lemons, consumption of the Duck Zamir variety lemon is very beneficial to those suffering from jaundice and coughs, it also increases milk production in mothers.”

Side by side, Quasem Ali cultivates mango, jackfruit, black berry, litchi, papaya and coconut, Baukul, ginger, turmeric, pineapple, betel leaf; and the medicinal plants Pathorkuchi, Horitoki, Ol-kochu, Koromcha, Bashak and

Ghritokumari as relay crops.

He also cultivates various crops like chili, mustard, pulses, paddy, jute, potatoes, arum, ol-kochu and others in the rest of his adjoining land. He has adopted inter- cropping methods to earn another Tk800,000 annually.

Similarly, farmers Ayub Ali of Rangpur, JoynulAbedin of Lalmonirhat, Nabinur Rahman of Panchagarh, Abdul Haque, Aminur Rahman, KoohinurMian of Kurigram and many others, have achieved self-reliance through lemon cultivation.

Talking to BSS, Rangpur Regional Additional Director of the DAE Sikander Ali said lemon farming has become popular and profitable way of bringing self-reliance to hundreds of farmers and commoners, especially women, in the northern region. l

Police yet to make any headway in Pangsha gang-rape case n Our correspondent, Rajbari Police have yet to make any headway in their investigation into a gang-rape incident that occurred earlier this week at the Dhuliat village of Mowrat union in Pangsha, Rajbari.

None of the accused in the case was arrested yet, although police claimed progress in probe.

“A case was filed in this connection by an uncle of the victim. We are investigating the incident,” said Md Aminur Rahman, officer in charge of Pangsha police station.

According to sources, the incident occurred on December 15 when the victim, a student of class eight, was returning home from her aunt’s house

Temples vandalised in Magura n Tribune Desk Panic gripped Hindu community people as a gang of unidentified miscreants attacked Pachuria, Hatbaria, Kanutia and Binupur villages under Mohammadpur upazila of Magura and vandalised 15 idols in Hindu temples Tuesday early morning.

Police said more than 15 idols of different temples of the villages had been damaged by the miscreants.

General Secretary of Mohammadpur upazila Puja Udjapan Committee Kanu Tawori demanded arrest of the miscreants and exemplary punishment for them immediately.

Police said they were trying to arrest the criminals involved in the vandalism of Hindu Idols. l

along with two cousins and intercepted by a group of five miscreants, near a deserted eidgah ground.

The incident sparked agitation from local people who brought out a procession demanding punishment to the rapists The miscreants took them to a nearby jungle and gang-raped the girl, with the cousins tied up. Razu Dewan, 22, nephew of a local Awami League leader, was identified as the kingpin behind the incident.

His four other associates were Sohel Biswas, 22, Suman Mia, 23, Jewel Chawdhury, 21, and Shantu Mia, 21.

Anxious relatives of the three managed to track them down in the evening and rescued the girl in critical condition.

Dr Selima Kamal Rima, a gynecologist at the Rajbari Sadar Hospital, said the fact of the rape was proven after some medical tests. “She is still suffering from rape trauma syndrome.”

Mowrat Union Parishad Chairman Abdur Razzaque confirmed the news and said he had advised the victim’s parents to solve the case through arbitration, when they came to meet him on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the incident sparked agitation from local people who brought out a procession demanding punishment to the rapists. l

Law enforcers clear the Faridganj-Raipur road in Chandpur yesterday after pro-blockade activists left tree logs on the road as part of the 72-hour blockade enforced by the BNP-led 18-party alliance DHAKA TRIBUNE

Youth lynched in Jessore

NEWS IN BRIEF Jubo League activist killed in Lakshmipur

A local activist of Juba League, the youth associate body of the ruling Awami League, was hacked to death by miscreants at Uttar Raipur village in Raipur upazila on Tuesday night. The deceased was identified as Kiron Hossain Pathan, a Juba League activist, and son of Mansur Ahmed of the village.

Officer-in-charge of Raipur police station Nasiruzzaman said unidentified miscreants hacked Kiron near his home around 10:30pm, leaving him dead on the spot.

– UNB

50 injured over clash in Sunamganj A t least 50 people were injured in a clash between two groups of villagers over the possession of a land at Kumankandi village in Chhatak upazila on Tuesday. Twenty

of the injured were admitted to Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital. Police said Amirul Islam of the village had long been at loggerheads with his fellow-villager Maksud Mia over a piece of land. On Tuesday afternoon, supporters of both groups had an altercation that was followed by a clash, leaving the 50 people injured. – UNB

Youth found dead in Comilla Police recovered the body of a young man from a pond at Nashratpur village in Laksham upazila yesterday afternoon after five days of his missing. The deceased was identified as Mamun, 23, son of Amir Hossain of Khajuria village of Senbagh upazila of Noakhali district. Police and locals said Mamun remained missing since he went out of his house at about 12 noon on December 13. Abul Khayer, officer-in-charge

of Laksam Police Station, said local people spotted the floating body of Mamun at noon and informed police. – UNB

Drug peddler held in Cox’s Bazar Rapid Action Battalion arrested a drug peddler with heroin worth about Tk one crore from city’s Fish bazar area yesterday morning. Acting on a tip-off, members of the elite forces arrested Aausa Rakhain alias Usa Rakhain, 30, around 7am, said Major Rashed, in-charge of Cox’s Bazar Rab camp.

“We arrested him with 1,600gm heroin,” he said. During interrogation, the arrestee confessed that he had been involved with the illegal drug trading in the locality for long. Major Rashed also said drive was going on to arrest other members of the drug syndicate. Rab said it was not the first time for Usa Rakhain. – Our Correspondent

n Tribune Report Two young men died in separate incidents in Jessore and Chittagong yesterday. One of them has been missing for the last six days, the other was mobbed for his alleged involvement in theft.

In Jessore, a youth was lynched to death by unruly mob in Talshari village under Benapole port police station early yesterday. The dead was Shahidul Islam, 34, of Talshari village.

Police and locals claimed that Shahidul was beaten up seriously by the mob around 11pm on Tuesday. He was rushed to Jessore Medical College by his relatives soon after the incident. He died in the hospital around 2am.

Manirul Islam, a sub-inspector of Benapole port police station, said Shahidul was killed by the mob for his alleged involvement in a theft.

In Chittagong, police recovered the decomposed body of Masud Parvaz, 20, a pipe mechanic, from a drain in Chittagong city’s Chandgaon area.

Shah Mohammad Abdur Rouf, assistant commissioner of Panchlaish circle of Chittagong Metropolitan Police, said police recovered the body of Masud from a drain beside Osmania Glass Factory in the area around 8:30am.

Later, the dead body was sent to Chittagong Medical College Hospital morgue for post mortem examination.

Police could not detect the cause of death as it was found in a fully decomposed condition, he said.

Police called four people to Chandgaon police station for interrogation but the law enforcers did not mention their names for the sake of the investigation. A case was lodged in this regard, the AC added. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Juris

7

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Ensuring human rights for all

JURIS QUOTE

National Human Rights Commission is entrusted with the responsibility The law, which restrains a man from doing mischief to his fellow citizens, though it diminishes the natural, increases the civil liberty of mankind.

–William Blackstone

Martin Luther King, Jr.

LAW CARTOON

BIGSTOCK

H

n SM Saiful Haque uman Rights Day is globally observed on December 10 every year. On that date in 1948 the United Nations General Assembly had adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, proclaiming its principles as the “common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations.”

Though Human Rights Day is being observed with much enthusiasm and importance, many of us still do not know what our human rights are or what action can be taken if our human rights are violated.

Human rights

Human rights are generally understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being. These rights are inherent to all human beings, whatever our nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, language, or any other status. We are all equally entitled to

our human rights without discrimination. These rights are all interrelated, interdependent and indivisible.

l Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman

Human rights in Bangladesh

l International Convention on the Elimination of All

According to the Section 2(f) of the National Human Rights Commission Act, 2009 “Human Rights” means Right to life, Right to liberty, Right to equality and Right to dignity of a person guaranteed by the constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and such other human rights documents and ratified by the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and enforceable by the existing laws of Bangladesh.

Moreover, Bangladesh has either ratified or acceded to the following human rights conventions and therefore is pledge-bound to ensure the rights stipulated in those conventions for the people of Bangladesh. l International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, 1966 l International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cul-

tural Rights, 1966

UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, 1948 Right to equality

Right to be considered innocent until proven guilty

Right to participate in government and in free elections

Freedom from discrimination

Freedom from interference with privacy, family, home and correspondence

Right to social security

Right to life, liberty, personal security

Right to free movement in and out of the country

Right to desirable work and to join trade unions

Freedom from slavery

Right to asylum in other countries from persecution

Right to rest and leisure

Freedom from torture and degrading treatment

Right to a nationality and the freedom to change it

Right to adequate living standard

Right to recognition as a person before the law

Right to marriage and family

Right to education

Right to equality before the law

Right to own property

Right to participate in the cultural Life of community

Right to remedy by competent tribunal

Freedom of belief and religion

Right to a social order that articulates this document

Freedom from arbitrary arrest and exile

Freedom of opinion and information

Community duties essential to free and full development

Right to fair public hearing

Right of peaceful assembly and association

Freedom from state or personal interference in the above rights

or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, 1984 Forms of Racial Discrimination, 1965

l Convention on Elimination of All forms of Discrimina-

tion against Women, 1979

l Child Rights Convention, 1990 l Disability Rights Convention, 2006 l International Convention on the Protection of the

Rights of All Migrant Workers, 1990

Violation of human rights

Human rights violations occur when actions by state (or non-state) actors abuse, ignore, or deny basic human rights (including civil, political, cultural, social, and economic rights). Furthermore, violations of human rights can occur when the same actor breaches any international human rights or humanitarian law.

The National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh

The National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh (NHRC) is an independent statutory body formed under the National Human Rights Commission Act, 2009. NHRC works as the major national human rights watchdog, monitoring implementation of state obligations to respect protection and the fulfillment of the rights of every citizen of society.

If your human rights are violated

You or any person on behalf of you can submit complaints in the NHRC if your human rights are violated, or abetment of violation exists, by a person, state or government agency or institution or organisation or a public servant.

You can physically go to the office of the NHRC or you may log on to www.nhrc.org.bd/hr.html and lodge a complaint online. You will be given a complaint number and you can track the status of your complaint using the number. l The author is Senior Lecturer at Daffodil International University.

CARTOON BY RIO SHUVO

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Crime and punishment in the cyber world n Nabil Ahsan

E

lectronic crime is at present a very live issue in Bangladesh. Every day the number of internet users is increasing and with the advent of smartphone devices, information is literally in your palm now. However, the open nature of the cyber world allows people to interact with a level of independence not imaginable in the real world, and naturally this luxury is exploited by criminals to serve nefarious purposes. It is inevitable that laws are necessary to deter evil schemes from being materialised in the guise of freedom of information exchange. It is essentially a question of fine balance.

Section 57 of the Information and Telecommunication Act, 2006 makes it a serious offence if any person deliberately publishes or transmits or causes to be published or transmits in the website or in electronic form any material which falls into any of the following categories:

sentenced to imprisonment for a period of maximum 14 years and minimum seven years. Moreover, the offence is non-bailable which means court will generally not give bail unless the accused can satisfy the court that there is no reasonable case against him. Also, police may arrest a person any time without obtaining an arrest warrant from the magistrate.

At first instance the above law appears to be a draconian provision and is also to some extent vague. Below I will make some observations about it.

Definition is not precise

It is not explained with sufficient clarity what amounts to “hurting religious sentiment” or “tarnishing image of the state or person” or “induce a person to immoral and corrupt act.” The threshold for commission of the offense is not clearly defined. So, hypothetically speaking, is it an offense if someone criticises the act of the government in very strong language or even goes further to call a minister or prime minister by foul names?

In light of the fact that the definition of the offense is not sufficiently clear, it leaves room for application of arbitrary and discretionary actions on the part of the law enforcement personnel which may very well lead to abuse of process in some circumstances. There is room for selectively targeting members of particular political belief and putting them behind bars in the name of law enforcement.

Punishment is too harsh

If a person is found guilty the minimum punishment is seven years. So it appears a person may be locked up in prison for seven years of his life for advocating civil unrest against government by electronic means such as blogs or social media. There may be instances when such a harsh punishment is justifiable, for example, when someone advocates the murder of another.

So the maximum punishment of 14 years makes sense.

But the minimum punishment of seven years imprisonment is unreasonable. If a person is convicted, the court is obliged to give him a sentence of at least seven years, no matter what impact such statement had on the overall scheme of things.

Ultimately, this law may be challenged in a court of law, for failing to live up to the standards prescribed by our constitution which gives every citizen a guaranteed right to freedom of expression subject to reasonable restriction. But as of now it stands as the law.

As discussed above, given the lack of clarity in the law, at present there appears to be ample room for abuse of process of this otherwise necessary piece of legislation. l

l Fake and obscene l Likely to induce person to immoral or corrupt acts l Causes defamation l Causes to deteriorate or creates possibility to deterio-

rate law and order

l Prejudice/tarnishes the image of the State or person l Hurts or causes to hurt religious sentiment or uses any

such statement to instigate any person or organisation

If a person is found guilty of any of the above he may be

Wide discretionary power

BIGSTOCK

The author is a practising lawyer and lecturer of legal studies. He can be reached at nabil.ahsan@hariffbd.com

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

International

UN says 210,000 displaced in CAR violence n Agencies

The United Nations’s refugee agency has said that approximately 210,000 people have been displaced in the capital of the Central African Republic, Bangui, in the past two weeks as a result of sectarian violence. Central Africans have been running away from the fighting between Muslims and Christians in the country, where France has around 1,600 troops, acting with the African Union-led forces on the ground.

Humanitarian organisations say that at least 500 people have been killed in Bangui in December in killing sprees on civilians by both sides.

“In Bangui, our staff are reporting continued shooting and a mood of widespread fear,” a UNHCR spokesman said on Tuesday.

“We continue to hear of attacks against Christians by former Seleka [mostly Muslim disbanded militias] with looting, killing and houses being set on fire.”

The agency also said that hundreds have risked their lives by fleeing the country by boat across a branch of the Congo River.

The UN World Food Program said on Tuesday that it was resuming food delivery to about 40,000 people near the Bangui airport after the security situation forced the work to stop over the weekend.

The agency also warned that up to a quarter of the mineral-rich nation’s 5.2 million population risks going hungry.

The UN has been criticised for its response to the crisis, but Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday said the international organisation is scaling up its humanitarian response.

Meanwhile, Laurent Fabius, France’s foreign minister, said that some European countries would send troops to the CAR in support of French forces there.

A handout photo released by the UNMISS shows more civilians seeking shelter, entering the UNMISS compound adjacent to Juba airport AFP At a European Union foreign ministers meeting on Monday, France requested more help from allies to bolster its peacekeeping mission beyond logistical and financial aid.

“We will soon have troops on the ground from our European colleagues,” Fabius told the French parliament in response to a question on a lack of European support in the CAR. European nations including Poland, Britain, Germany, Spain and Belgium have provided various forms of assistance on the crisis in the CAR. However, French troops are not militarily supported by any other European army in the CAR. Diplomats said the ground troops involved could come from Belgium and Poland and may be used to relieve French forces who are securing the airport in Bangui, according to Reuters news agency.

London-based rights group Am-

nesty International warned that more troops were urgently needed to protect residents in the capital where it said war crimes had been committed.

“The continuing violence, the extensive destruction of property, and the forced displacement of the population in Bangui are feeding enormous anger, hostility and mistrust,” Amnesty’s Christian Mukosa said on Tuesday.

The fighting in the former French colony is between the mainly Muslim Seleka rebels - originally from neighbouring Chad and Sudan - and the Christian anti-Balaka whose name means “anti-machete,” the weapon of choice for Seleka.

The Christian fighters oppose the Muslim ex-rebels in charge of the CAR since March.

Michel Djotodia, rebel leader-turned interim president, has largely lost control of his loose band of fighters, who ended up being disbanded. l

Thursday, December 19, 2013

French minister: Germany, UK help with logistics in CAR n AFP, Paris Germany and Britain are providing logistical support to a military force in the Central African Republic, a French minister said Wednesday, amending comments made earlier indicating they were considering sending troops.

Speaking on RTL radio earlier Wednesday, European Affairs Minister Thierry Repentin said that Belgium could send troops at the end of January to prop up a 1,600-strong French force attempting to quell deadly sectarian violence in Central Africa.

“There’s also talk of Germany, of Britain,” he had added.

But in later comments to AFP, Repentin backtracked and said he was “actually only referring to logistical support from Britain and Germany, which has already been provided” with transport planes.

France has been pushing hard for more help on the ground in Central Africa, which has spiralled into chaos since a March coup by the mainly Muslim Seleka rebel group overthrew president Francois Bozize.

Rebel leader Michel Djotodia was installed as president and disbanded Seleka, however many of the rebels went rogue, spreading terror which government forces could not stop.

Months of massacres, rapes and looting followed, with locals forming Christian vigilante groups in response.

As violence spiked in the capital, France deployed troops to its former colony on December 5 under a UN mandate to support a struggling African peacekeeping force already on the ground. On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius announced other European nations would “soon” deploy troops to Central Africa to help out. l

Syria barrel bomb raids on Aleppo kill 135 n AFP, Beirut Regime warplanes pounded Syria’s second city Aleppo for a fourth straight day Wednesday in air raids that have killed at least 135 people, many of them children, a monitor said. The attacks focused on rebel-held areas of eastern and northern Aleppo, once the country’s commercial hub, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Sunday’s first day of the raids produced the highest daily toll with 76 dead in six neighbourhoods, among them 28 children, the Britain-based watchdog said. Monday saw 20 dead including four children, and eight children were among 39 killed on Tuesday, said the Observatory which relies on a

network of sources on the ground for its information.

It did not say whether or not any of those killed included rebels battling the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

Many of the fatalities were caused by so-called “barrel bombs” packed with explosives and dropped from both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.

An estimated 126,000 people have been killed in Syria’s civil war, which erupted after a brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protests first held in March 2011.

Doctors without Borders (MSF) reported more than 100 people killed by barrel bombs from helicopters, and already stretched hospitals overflowing with wounded. l

Hundreds dead in South Sudan fighting as coup bid denied n AFP, Juba South Sudan’s fugitive former vice president denied Wednesday accusations he led a coup bid against his archrival President Salva Kiir after days of fierce fighting that has killed hundreds of people and sent thousands fleeing to UN bases.

The deadly unrest in the capital Juba has alarmed the international community and sparked fears of a return to civil war in the world’s youngest nation.

Kiir on Monday accused soldiers loyal to his arch-rival, former vice president Riek Machar, of staging a coup attempt in the oil-rich but deeply impoverished nation, which has struggled with instability since becoming independent in 2011.

But in comments published Wednesday, Machar denied any attempt to topple the president, and instead accused Kiir of using the violence as a pretext to purge any challengers.

“What took place in Juba was a misunderstanding between presidential guards within their division, it was not a coup attempt,” he told the Paris-based Sudan Tribune website in his first public remarks since the fighting erupted.

“Kiir wanted to use the alleged coup attempt in order to get rid of us,” said Machar, who was sacked by the president in July.

The government said 10 key figures, many of them former ministers, have been arrested in the crackdown, and that others, including Machar, were on the run. Amid fears that South Sudan could descend into wider ethnic violence, the United States ordered non-essential embassy staff out of the country.

The fighting has highlighted the bitter fault lines in the country, which is awash with guns after decades of war. l

Italy migrant video sparks Rights group raises alarm Ukraine PM hails ‘historic’ deal with Russia European outrage over migrants in Qatar n AFP, Rome A video of a group of migrants being washed down in a centre on the Italian island of Lampedusa has caused a wave of outrage in Rome and Brussels, less than three months after a shipwreck in which hundreds died.

The male migrants – some of them naked – are shown queuing up to be disinfected after being checked by nurses in what appears to be an open space at the centre in footage shown by Rai 2 state television.

The EU’s Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmstroem on Wednesday condemned “appalling conditions” at some of the migrant centres in Italy including Lampedusa and said an EU investigation was already under way.

“The EU is committed to assist Italy in receiving migrants, but it has to be done in decent conditions,” Malmstroem said on Twitter, adding: “We will

not hesitate to launch an infringement procedure to make sure EU standards and obligations are fully respected.”

After Lampedusa’s mayor Giusi Nicolini said the images were reminiscent of “a concentration camp,” Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta promised to investigate and to punish anyone held responsible.

The United Nations refugee agency UNHCR in a statement joined the chorus of outrage, which coincides with the UN’s International Migrants Day. “The constant overcrowding that occurs is unsustainable and leads to a situation where, despite the efforts of humanitarian workers, the assistance offered is far below the minimum standards,” spokesman Laurens Jolles said.

‘Migrants were impatient’ But Cono Galipo, the head of the contractor that runs the Lampedusa centre on behalf of the interior ministry, rejected the accusations. l

WORLD WATCH Father seeks one million Facebook ‘likes’ as dowry

A father in Yemen has asked, not for money, but for one million Facebook “likes” as dowry for his daughter’s hand in marriage.

Yemen is a very traditional society, but one marriage there has been given a very modern twist. Instead of asking his daughter’s husband-to-be for a dowry payment, Salem Ayash, a poet from the city of Taiz, has asked for one million Facebook likes. That’s a lot in a country of just 25 million, where internet use is limited. “It’s the first time we’ve heard of something like this,” says Bashraheel Bashraheel, a journalist with Yemen’s Al-Ayyam newspaper. The story has made big waves on social media there, he says, with countless bloggers writing urging people to support the page so the couple can get married. The page was set up on Sunday and has 30,000 likes so far. “Noone in Yemen can afford dowries anymore,” says Ayash, explaining why he’s asking for a digital dowry - rather than gold or money.

Briton faces fine over Nazi uniform that got MP sacked

A French prosecutor has requested a 1,500-euro ($2065) fine for a Briton who wore a Nazi uniform to a ski-resort stag party attended by Aidan Burley, a Conservative MP. Burley was dismissed from his position as parliamentary private secretary to Britain’s transport minister after newspapers published pictures of the boozy bash and reported that guests had been toasting the memory of Nazi leaders.

The stag, Mark Fournier, was subsequently prosecuted for wearing a Nazi uniform and

insignia, which is outlawed in France. A police tribunal in Albertville in the French Alps will deliver its verdict on January 21, a spokesman for the local prosecutor told AFP. The controversial party took place on December 3, 2011 in a restaurant in upmarket ski resort Val Thorens. Fournier, who was photographed in full SS regalia whilst giving the Nazi salute, initially faced more serious charges including denial of war crimes or crimes against humanity and incitement to racial hatred.

n AP, Dubai Dozens of migrant workers hired to do construction work on a prominent skyscraper in Qatar are running low on food after working for almost a year without pay, a leading rights group said on Wednesday. The allegations

by Amnesty International add further pressure on the tiny but wealthy Gulf nation over its treatment of overseas laborers transforming the country as it prepares to host the World Cup in 2022.

Qatar and neighboring Arab Gulf states rely on millions of low-wage migrant workers, mainly from South Asia, to provide the muscle to raise high-rise towers, stadiums and other large-scale building projects. Although standards have improved in some cases, complaints persist about substandard conditions and abuse such as employers withholding workers’ passports.

Amnesty alleges that more than 80

mostly Asian laborers working on two floors of the Al Bidda Tower in the Qatari capital, Doha, are still waiting for up to a year’s worth of salaries from their employer for a project that finished in October. The tower is home to the Qatar Football Association.

Many of the affected workers come from Nepal, though there are also laborers from Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Nigeria, China and Bangladesh. It is unclear why their employer, Lee Trading and Contracting, did not pay. Documents suggest the workers are owed about $412,000, according to Amnesty.

Company-provided payments of about $69 per month for food allowances stopped arriving in October, and some of the workers have complained of hunger, the rights group said. Under Qatari law, foreign employees’ sponsorship in the country is tied to their employer, meaning the workers could not legally find work elsewhere in the country. l

n Agencies Mykola Azarov, the Ukrainian prime minister, hailed a “historic” economic agreement between his country and Russia and said that Kiev has avoided “bankruptcy and social collapse” thanks to the deal. Azarov defined the deal, which involves Moscow to buy $15bn of Ukrainian bonds and slash natural gas prices by about one-third, as the only option for the country at a time of economic crisis. The settlement, reached at talks in Moscow between the Russian and Ukrainian presidents on Tuesday, came amid anti-government protests going on for over three weeks in reaction to Kiev’s decision to slash a free trade deal with the European Union.

“What would have awaited Ukraine [without the deal]? The answer is clear bankruptcy and social collapse,” Azarov told the parliament. “This would have been the New Year’s present for the peo-

ple of Ukraine,” he added ironically.

Azarov said there was no way Ukraine could have signed the proposed Association Agreement with the EU as Kiev would have had to have accepted unfeasibly stringent International Money Fund conditions for economic reform. Meanwhile, Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, said that Western countries continued to put “overt pressure” on the Ukraine to choose closer ties with Europe even though Kiev accepted the offer of financial assistance from Moscow.

Russia is “surprised by attempts to put overt pressure on the Ukrainian government, which continue despite the decisions made in Moscow yesterday,” Lavrov said in remarks to Russia’s upper house of parliament on Wednesday.

Russia-Ukraine deal is intended to help Ukraine stave off economic crisis as Moscow hopes to keep Kiev in its political and economic orbit. l

Surge in journalist abductions in 2013: RSF n AFP, Paris

Media rights watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said Wednesday 71 journalists were killed in 2013, a slight fall from the previous year,

but there was a surge in kidnappings.

“Syria, Somalia and Pakistan retained their position among the world’s five deadliest countries for the media,” the Paris-based watchdog said in its annual round-up of press freedom violations.

“They were joined this year by India and the Philippines, which replaced Mexico and Brazil...” Overall, the number of journalists killed in connection with their work this year fell by 20 percent compared with 2012, which was

an “exceptionally deadly” year with a total of 88 deaths.

But there was a big increase in the number of journalists kidnapped, from 38 in 2012 to 87 in 2013 – more than half in Syria. l

Egypt’s Morsi to stand trial for ‘espionage’ n AFP, Cairo

China zookeeper mauled to death by tiger

A Chinese zookeeper was killed by a tiger while cleaning out his cage, officials from Shanghai Zoo said Wednesday. The nine-year-old tiger mauled the man to death, said a message on the zoo’s official microblogging page on Sina Weibo, a Chinese version of Twitter. The Shanghai Daily said the victim was a 57-year-old man surnamed Zhou, who had been due to retire from the zoo in three years. The man was mauled by the tiger before it had been fed, it added, but quoted a zoo official ruling out hunger being a motive behind the attack. “It is not likely the tiger killed Zhou because of hunger, as tigers in the zoo are fed once every day except Friday to train tigers’ ability to hunt food by imitating the wild environment,” said Tu Rongxin, director of the feeding division of the zoo. Zhou had taken care of the tiger for three to four years, the newspaper said, citing Tu. The tiger was named in reports as Yingying and was born at the zoo, in China’s commercial hub.

Members of a dance ensemble ‘Momix Botanica’ pose on December 16, 2013 in Duesseldorf, Germany

AFP

Egypt’s deposed president Mohamed Morsi will be tried on charges of “espionage” that aided acts of “terrorism,” state media reported on Wednesday.

Morsi, an Islamist who the military toppled in July after a single year of turbulent rule, is already on trial over alleged involvement in the killings of opposition protesters. Thirty-five other defendants, including former presidential aides and top leaders of Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood movement, would stand trial with him, the official MENA news agency reported.

Prosecutors accuse Morsi of “espionage for foreign organisations abroad to commit terrorist attacks in the country,” the agency reported. The trial appears to stem from an investigation into prison breaks during a 2011 uprising against strongman Hosni Mubarak, when Morsi and other Islamist prisoners escaped. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Pakistan doctor who helped find bin Laden in legal tussle

n AFP, Peshawar

A Pakistani doctor jailed after helping the CIA find Osama bin Laden faces fresh legal wrangling after an appeal tribunal Wednesday said a retrial order was “ambiguous” and needed clarification.

Shakeel Afridi was convicted of treason under the country’s tribal justice system for alleged ties to militants and jailed for 33 years in May 2012, but the authorities set aside the sentence in August on appeal and ordered a retrial.

Lawyers for the doctor challenged the August ruling, made by the commissioner of the northwestern city of Peshawar, in the Federally-Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) Tribunal.

They sought bail for Afridi and argued that the retrial should involve a complete re-investigation of the case including hearing and cross-examining witnesses again, and not simply a reconsideration of the existing evidence.

The FATA Tribunal said Wednesday in a written judgment that the August ruling was “ambiguous and self-contradictory” and directed the Peshawar commissioner to issue a fresh order to clarify matters.

“The tribunal has asked him to remove ambiguities from his order and make a clear decision and send it back to us,” tribunal chairman Shah Wali Khan told reporters after issuing the order.

Afridi was arrested after US troops killed Al-Qaeda chief bin Laden in May 2011 in the northwestern town of Abbottabad. Islamabad branded the raid a violation of sovereignty and US relations fell to an all-time low.

Afridi had been recruited by the CIA to run a vaccination programme in Abbottabad in the hope of obtaining DNA samples to identify bin Laden, although medics never managed to gain access to the family.

He was convicted not for working for the CIA, for which the court said it had no jurisdiction – but for alleged ties to militants.

Angry lawmakers in the US saw the original sentence as retaliation for the bin Laden raid and threatened to freeze millions of dollars in vital aid to Pakistan.

The then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton denounced Afridi’s treatment as “unjust and unwarranted.” l

International

India diplomat says she faced cavity search in New York City

Supporters of Rashtrawadi Shiv Sena, a Hindu hardline group, carry placards during a protest near the US embassy in New Delhi December 18, 2013. Indian police removed concrete security barriers outside the US Embassy in New Delhi REUTERS

n AP, New Delhi An Indian diplomat said US authorities subjected her to a strip search, cavity search and DNA swabbing following her arrest on visa charges in New York City, despite her “incessant assertions of immunity.”

The case has sparked widespread outrage in India and infuriated the New Delhi government, which revoked privileges for US diplomats to protest the woman’s treatment. It has cast a pall over India-US relations, which have cooled in recent years despite a 2008 nuclear deal that was hailed as a high point in the nations’ ties.

Devyani Khobragade, India’s deputy consul general in New York, was arrested Thursday outside of her daughter’s Manhattan school on charges that she lied on a visa application about how much she paid her housekeeper, an Indian national.

Prosecutors say the maid received

After sea incident, China praises ties with US n AP, Beijing Military relations with the United States face a rosy outlook, China’s Defense Ministry said Wednesday, in an apparent attempt to limit damage from a recent confrontation between the countries’ navies in the South China Sea. A ministry statement said the sides discussed issues relating to the Dec. 5 incident through normal channels and “carried out effective communication.”

“Relations between the Chinese and US militaries enjoy excellent prospects for development and both sides are willing to boost communication, coordinate closely, and work to maintain regional peace and stability,” the statement said.

In its first official comment on the incident, the ministry offered few details other than to say the Chinese amphibious ship involved had been on regular patrol and “appropriately handled the matter in strict accordance with operational procedures.”

The US Pacific Fleet has said the cruiser USS Cowpens maneuvered to avoid a collision while operating in international waters. It said both vessels eventually “maneuvered to ensure safe passage” after discussions between officers onboard.

However, a newspaper published by the ruling Communist Party on Monday accused the US ship of crowding Chinese ships accompanying the country’s first aircraft carrier on sea trials.

The Global Times said the Cowpens came within 45 kilometers (30 miles) of the Chinese squadron, inside what it called its “inner defense layer.”

The incident came amid heightened tensions over China’s expanding navy and growing assertiveness in the region, where it claims vast areas of heavily trafficked waters and numerous island groups.

Beijing recently declared a new air defense zone over parts of the East China Sea encompassing Japanese-controlled islands claimed by China, prompting heavy criticism and defiance from Washington, Tokyo and others.

During visits this week, US Secretary of State John Kerry said Washington would provide more than $70 million in security assistance to Vietnam and the Philippines — countries locked in competing claims with Chinaover territory in the South China Sea. The Dec. 5 confrontation was the most serious incident between the two navies since 2009, when Chinese ships and planes repeatedly harassed the US ocean surveillance vessel USNS Impeccable in the South ChinaSea. Partly to avoid such confrontations, the US has been pushing for increased exchanges and limited joint exercises with the Chinese military. Next year, China’s navy is set to take part for the first time in a major international maritime exercise known as Rim of the Pacific. l

Chinese media said the US vessel ‘posed a threat to China’s military security’

REUTERS

less than $3 per hour for her work.

In an email published in India media on Wednesday, Khobragade said she was treated like a common criminal.

“I broke down many times as the indignities of repeated handcuffing, stripping and cavity searches, swabbing, in a holdup with common criminals and drug addicts were all being imposed upon me despite my incessant assertions of immunity,” she wrote.

An Indian official with direct knowledge of the case confirmed to The Associated Press that the email was authentic. The official, who spoke anonymously because of the sensitivity of the case, said India’s priority now is to get the woman returned home.

“India’s top demand right now is: Return our diplomat,” he said, adding that Khobragade, who was released on $250,000 bail, would have to report to police in New York every week.

Khobragade’s case has touched a nerve in India, where the fear of pub-

lic humiliation resonates strongly and heavy-handed treatment by the police is normally reserved for the poor. For an educated, middle-class woman to face public arrest and a strip search is almost unimaginable, except in the most brutal crimes.

Prosecutors say Khobragade claimed on visa application documents she paid her Indian maid $4,500 per month, but that she actually paid her less than $3 per hour. Khobragade has pleaded not guilty and plans to challenge the arrest on grounds of diplomatic immunity.

Marie Harf, US State Department deputy spokeswoman, said Khobragade does not have full diplomatic immunity. Instead, she has consular immunity from the jurisdiction of US courts only with respect to acts performed in the exercise of consular functions.

If convicted, Khobragade faces a maximum sentence of 10 years for visa

9

Thursday, December 19, 2013

fraud and five years for making a false declaration. The fallout from the case was growing. India retaliated against US diplomats with measures that include revoking diplomat ID cards that brought certain privileges, demanding to know the salaries paid to Indian staff in US Embassy households and withdrawing import licenses that allowed the commissary at the US Embassy to import alcohol and food.

Police also removed the traffic barricades near the US Embassy in New Delhi in retaliation for Khobragade’s treatment. The barriers were a safety measure but India said they clogged up traffic.

On Wednesday, dozens of people protested outside the US Embassy, saying Khobragade’s treatment was an insult to all Indian women.

In New Delhi, the lower house of Parliament had to be temporarily adjourned Wednesday after lawmakers noisily demanded that it adopt a resolution against the United States.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh described Khobragade’s treatment as “deplorable.”

Arun Jaitely, leader of the opposition in the upper house, said the government had to register its “strongest protest” to the US government for the “lack of respect for India.” He called for a review of India’s relations with the United States, a demand that was vociferously seconded by many lawmakers.

Commerce Minister Anand Sharma said the arrest was a “matter of national outrage.” He promised angry lawmakers that the government would make an official statement in Parliament on the incident. Harf said Tuesday that federal authorities would work on the issue with India.

“We understand that this is a sensitive issue for many in India,” she said.

“Accordingly, we are looking into the intake procedures surrounding this arrest to ensure that all appropriate procedures were followed and every opportunity for courtesy was extended.”

Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade has since been transferred to the permanent mission in New York, which entitles her to full diplomatic immunity. l

India approves historic anti-corruption law

n AFP, New Delhi

India’s parliament Wednesday passed a law to create a powerful anti-graft watchdog following a mass anti-corruption movement that swept the country two years ago and galvanised politicians into action.

The ruling Congress and main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) showed rare unity in the lower house of parliament to approve the bill creating a corruption ombudsman with sweeping powers to prosecute all politicians and civil servants.

“It is historic and landmark legislation,” Prime Minister Manmohan Singh declared after the Lokpal or ombudsman bill was passed.

The bill’s approval comes as general elections loom early next year and as the electorate has become increasingly incensed over a string of corruption scandals that have engulfed the nation.

All ministers and senior public servants are covered by the bill, first proposed nearly five decades earlier, and even the prime minister falls under the scope of the law.

A stunning performance in state polls by an upstart party, whose mission is to clean up pervasive corruption and create a “bribe-free India,” underscored the potential damage the issue would cause major parties at the ballot box next year, giving them extra motivation to pass the bill.

Civil servant-turned-corruption fighter Arvind Kejriwal and his Aam Aadmi Party or Common Man Party trounced the Congress party in Delhi state polls this month and deprived the BJP of a majority.

The Congress-led national government has been hit by a string of multi-billion-dollar corruption scandals from allegations of illegal distribution of cut-price telecom licences to the 2010 graft-tainted Commonwealth Games. The father of the anti-corruption campaign, 76-year-old social crusader Anna Hazare, drank coconut water to break a nine-day fast that he was staging to push for the bill in his home village in western Maharashtra state after the legislation was passed.

“This has been for the country... it has been a lot of work by a lot of people,” Hazare told a sea of jubilant supporters waving green, white and orange Indian flags. l

Philippines launches $8.17bn Haiyan rebuilding plan

UN: Poverty pushing Myanmar opium output higher

The Philippine government launched an $8.17bn plan on Wednesday to rebuild the lives of millions battered by Super Typhoon Haiyan.

President Benigno Aquino appealed for international assistance and private sector pledges to help his government rehabilitate hundreds of devastated communities and increase their resilience to natural disasters as well as the adverse impacts of climate change.

“The task immediately before us lies in ensuring that the communities that rise again do so stronger, better and more resilient than before,” he told foreign diplomats and aid officials in a speech at the launch of the initiative.

“Every dollar of funding assistance will be used in as efficient and as lasting a manner as possible,” he pledged.

Haiyan left nearly 8,000 people dead or missing after it struck the central islands on November 8, wrecking more than a million houses with 315 kilometres (195 miles) per hour winds and giant tsunami-like waves created by storm surges.

Aquino said the typhoon, one of the strongest to ever hit land and already the second-deadliest natural disaster in the history of the storm-prone Philippines, caused $12.9bn in damage and destruction.

The economic planning department said the government’s rehabilitation plan called for spending 360.9bn pesos ($8.17bn) over a four-year-period until 2017, according to the document released Wednesday.

Donors will be asked to put up some of the costs, it said, but no breakdown was given.

In his speech, Aquino thanked the global community for the outpouring of support for the typhoon victims. But he stressed there was still much more work to do.

“Your help is all the more necessary today, because in confronting the escalating effects of climate change the resources of countries like the Philippines will be strained to the limit,” he said.

He said the plan involves both meeting immediate as well a longer-term needs as the devastated communities attempt to get back to normalcy, with food aid expected to be needed until March next year at the latest. l

n AP, Bangkok

n AFP, Manila

Official efforts to stamp out opium production in Myanmar are falling flat because poor farmers don’t have alternative ways to make a living, a UN agency said Wednesday.

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime estimated in its annual Southeast Asia Opium Survey that Myanmar will produce 870 metric tons of opium in 2013, remaining the world’s second-largest grower after Afghanistan. That would be a 26 percent rise over 2012 production.

The agency said last month that Afghanistan’s opium production this year was 5,500 metric tons, a 49 percent rise.

The report said rising demand in Asia for illicit drugs has also have fueled Myanmar’s increase.

The UN agency said the trend is particularly alarming as economic integration and improved infrastructure binding Southeast Asia and southern China facilitate opportunities for criminal trafficking.

The drug-producing heartland where the borders of Myanmar, Thailand and Laos converge, the infamous Golden Triangle, is also a major source of methamphetamine as well as heroin, which is derived from opium.

“The organized criminal networks that benefit from Southeast Asia’s illicit drug trade are well positioned to take advantage of regional integration,” UNODC representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific Jeremy Douglas said in a statement.

The report said that just over 9 metric tons of heroin was seized in East and Southeast Asia in 2012, compared to 6.5 metric

tons in 2010, while 2.7 metric tons of opium was seized in 2012 compared to 2 metric tons in 2010.

“The figures make clear that efforts to address the root causes of cultivation and promote alternative development need to be stepped up,” UNODC executive director Yury Fedotov said in a foreword to the report.

“Surveys of farmers in poppy-growing villages indicate that the money made from poppy cultivation remains an essential part of family income. Villagers threatened with food insecurity and poverty need sustainable alternatives, or they will continue out of desperation to turn to growing this cash crop.”

The report also noted that “opium cultivation is generally linked to the absence

of peace and security, which indicates the need for both political and economic solutions.” A reformist, elected government in Myanmar, which in 2011 replaced almost five decades of military rule, is striving to make peace with ethnic minority rebels who have been battling for autonomy for decades.

Myanmar in 1999 declared a plan to eliminate illicit crop production by 2014, and production slipped to a low of 315 metric tons in 2006, but since then has been increasing.

The report recalled that Myanmar in the 1980s had been the world’s largest producer of illicit opium. Although Afghanistan replaced it in 1991 as the largest producer, Myanmar’s output climbed to a high of 1,600 metric tons in 1996. l

Activists demand due process following Singapore riot n AFP, Singapore Activists Wednesday urged Singapore to ensure due process and address migrant worker grievances after the government said it would deport 53 South Asian labourers for their alleged involvement in a rare riot.

Home Affairs Minister Teo Chee Hean on Tuesday said the deportation of the men – 52 Indians and one Bangla-

deshi – as well as criminal charges filed against 28 other Indians would “send a strong signal that we will not tolerate actions by anyone which threaten law and order in Singapore.”

The riot on December 8, Singapore’s worst outbreak of violence in four decades, saw hundreds of South Asian workers go on a rampage that left 39 persons, including police officers, injured and 25 vehicles damaged or burnt.

It was triggered after an Indian construction worker was hit by a bus and killed at a district known as Little India, where tens of thousands of South Asian labourers converge on weekends.

But the city’s moves to hand out swift punishments to those allegedly involved in the riot has caused some activists to accuse the government of arbitrarily deporting people without proper due process. l

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Letters to

www.dhakatribune.com

the Editor

LETTER OF THE DAY

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina should follow the teachings of Nelson Mandela

Decision free from politics

December 16

W

e welcome the verdicts that were handed down yesterday in the case of Bishwajit Das, the tailor who was brutally murdered by a mob in Dhaka last December. Death sentences were issued to eight of the 21 convicted persons, while the remaining 13 were sentenced to life imprisonment, in a landmark judgement.

What makes the verdicts so noteworthy is that all 21 of the accused and subsequently convicted were Chhatra League activists at Jagannath University, but that their affiliation to the Let us hope that the ruling party was not sufficient to Bishwajit verdict sends allow them to escape justice. a clear message that In the past there has often politically connected been far too much impunity persons can no longer for crimes committed by those expect leniency for the with political connections, crimes they commit especially when the criminals have connections to the party in power, be it AL or BNP. While crimes committed by the student fronts of both parties are a routine occurrence, it is rare indeed that anyone is prosecuted as a result, and rarer still for them to be found guilty and to face the full extent of the law.

Let us hope that the Bishwajit verdict, which was in part spurred by the public outrage generated by the incident that occurred in broad daylight and was captured on camera, will emerge as a watershed moment for our judiciary and sends a clear message from the law enforcement authorities that politically connected persons can no longer expect leniency for the crimes they commit.

The sentences come as a much needed boost to the credibility of the judiciary and its ability to act independently and decisively, even in politically sensitive cases.

South Africa’s anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela has passed away. It is like a great light going out. A person of expansive wisdom and compassion leaving us.

Our government announced three days national mourning to pay homage to the great man, it is fitting but is that all to show respect to the icon who was the symbol of peace and forgiveness?

We should give heed to his words and follow in his footsteps of sacrifice and reconciliation. But alas, what we see is the opposite.

In the publication, “Wise words from Mandela,” Mandela was quoted as saying, “Finally, I want to say that I have been elected the president of South Africa Anything that happens in South Africa now reflects on me regardless of our history. I am responsible for everything that happens in my country.”

I wish Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will read this, as she is responsible for everything that happens here. The whole country is looking up to her. By allowing the next general to be held under a neutral government, she can stop all the violence in a moment. But it seems that all is in vain because she is as rigid as ever. We are astounded by her attitude. Does she not have an iota of feeling for the country or its people?

Nur Jahan Chittagong

International community opposes Mollah’s execution December 12

Ritu Gupta Why are people trying to save him? He is a disgrace to humanity.

An Observer I’m just wondering where the UN and the EU were when Saddam Hossain was hanged and that too on Eid day. Wasn’t the war on Iraq based on a lie about WMDs? Samkqboro An Observer: The execution of Saddam was done many months after several rigorous appeals through the national level courts in Iraq.

SY An Observer: You got that right.

Largest human flag set to become 5th world record December 16

Industrial park the right move for RMG

T

he BGMEA has announced plans to establish an industrial park at Bausia in Munshiganj for the country’s apparel makers. This is a sensible and long overdue move to encourage relocation of industry away from central Dhaka.

The park, which is planned to be established on 532 acres, will provide modern safe facilities in brand new factories. The plans incorporate power, transport, A new industrial zone child care, sewage, and waste is the type of bold step facilities.

The BGMEA chief has needed to improve said that small and medium conditions in the sector entrepreneurs will get priority and to help win back in the allotment of plots, as it buyer confidence is intended that non-complaint companies will be encouraged to move to this park. Over 1,700 applications have been received for the 432 units to be allocated in the proposed park.

The establishment of the park will be a boon to the garment industry for various reasons – it will not only ensure safety standards are maintained by the factory owners, but by ensuring facilities such as child care, it will help improve the working condition of garment workers. Establishment of a central effluent treatment plant will also help reduce the environmental impact of the industry.

The RMG sector faces growing competition from other manufacturing countries such as India, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Building custom made facilities and establishing a new industrial zone is the type of bold step needed to improve conditions in the sector and to help win back buyer confidence in the Bangladeshi RMG sector.

CROSSWORD

MD Easir Arafat Siddik Well done, keep it up. Huge achievements.

Himel Patoari The previous record was set by Russia, not Pakistan. Pakistan set the record on October 21, 2012, and it was broken by Russia in July earlier this year.

DOWN 1 Mediterranean country (5) 2 United (3) 4 Bait (4) 5 Self (3) 6 Dance (5) 8 Ingrained dirt (5) 9 Level (4) 12 Fruit of the oak (5) 14 Servant (4) 15 Absurdity (5) 17 Eat greedily (5) 18 Labour (4) 20 Dry, of champagne (3) 22 Not at home (3)

December 16

Dear readers, I have a few questions for you.

First, should we blame others and not prepare our own populace for the garment industry?

Second, do we have enough motivated colleges/universities that offer a degre programme in Industrial Management? Third, should our colleges/universities minimise enrollment in Islamic History etc and start producing experts for our industries? Fourth, why are our college/universities not teaching advance technologies like information assurance, cybersecurity, and privacy classes?

And finally, should we continue blaming advanced countries for our own failure and not start to develop our infrastructure to prepare for the future?

Muktijoddha D Emarat Hossain Pannah USA

December 15 Muhammad Safder Ali Democracy in action.

Muhaiminul Islam Jaan Democracy isn’t running properly?? Then what is democray?? Democracy is the biggest bluff and a failed system to run a state.

Mukto Kotha For a better democracy, you should also highlight the other side, leaving the partiality behind. In the last three days, about 24 Jamaat-Shibir men were killed. Irony is, still they’re the ones blamed as “terrorists!”

I am Rumana December 15 What an inspirational, and disturbing, story. Do you know this woman? 87% of married Bangladesh women are subject to violence from their husbands? Wow. If this is the case, these women really need you and your stories.

Nicole Post Egan What rubbish! The writer seems bent on making these two ladies (Malala and Rumana) comparable, but why? What’s the big deal?

Why do they have to resemble each other, or be compared to for that matter? They are just as good without having to be compared.

Rumee Haque

Retaliation after victory day, says Hanif December 15

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

They are not concerned with winning the people’s love. This grab for power is not going to last them long.

Ruhela Sharmin Choudhury

Unopposed candidates: The number now goes up to 151 December 15 The spirit of democracy continues to prosper!

Abdullah Saquib

CALVIN AND HOBBES

PEANUTS

CODE-CRACKER ACROSS 1 Unruly crowd (3) 3 Otherwise (4) 6 Graceful bird (4) 7 Limb (3) 9 Therefore (4) 10 Floor covering (3) 11 Utter wildly (4) 13 Vestment (5) 16 In the midst of (5) 18 Layer (4) 19 Lubricant (3) 20 Given shoes (4) 21 And not (3) 23 Offensive to sight (4) 24 Young horse (4) 25 Consumed (3)

Bangladesh itself is responsible

For a better democracy

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS Crossword

Sudoku

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

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Thursday, December 19, 2013

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The need for democracy n Mamun Rashid

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What gives them the right?

AFP

The audacity to criticise

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n Shafin Fattah

y now, most of you know about the resolution that was passed in the Pakistani parliament on December 16 to condemn the execution of notable war criminal and Jamaat leader Quader Molla. The resolution urged Bangladesh to not revive the old wounds of 1971 and to free all Jamaat leaders facing trial for the sake of reconciliation.

The Pakistani interior minister, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, termed the execution as judicial murder, and stated that Molla was executed because of his loyalty to Pakistan during 1971.

To make matters more farcical, Imran Khan, former Pakistan captain and leader of PTI, claimed that Molla was innocent according to one of the lawyers who defended him in the ICT. Now let’s ask a few serious questions. What gave Pakistan the moral ground to accuse Bangladesh of “judicial murder”? Why should Bangladesh even listen to Pakistan and reconcile with war criminals? What makes Imran Khan think Quader Molla was innocent based on the words of a defence lawyer? Actually, I can ask a thousand questions on the issue at hand but let’s just move on and try to answer Pakistan and its “concerns.”

Firstly, I find it hilarious that Pakistan, the country behind the 1971 massacre, thinks it has a moral high ground to accuse Bangladesh. Let’s face it: We proclaimed our independence on March 26, 1971, but Pakistan

didn’t give up its rights on Bangladesh till December 16, 1971.

Hence, we all know and saw how it came down upon its “own people” to commit “extrajudicial murders” for 9 months. Moreover, let’s not forget that Pakistan was all set to commit its own “judicial murder” by producing a death sentence for Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in a court whose “international standard” very few across the world surprisingly questioned at that time.

of Hamoodur Rahman Commission Report.

Moreover, I must admit that Jamaat-e-Islam Pakistan, and the Pakistani government indirectly debunked a few myths about Quader Molla as claimed by the pro-Jamaat media in Bangladesh. Firstly, I remember an issue of Amar Desh claiming that Molla was a “freedom fighter” himself.

Now, don’t you find it funny that a “pro-Pakistani loyalist” would fight against his own country? Secondly,

What gave Pakistan the moral ground to accuse Bangladesh of ‘judicial murder’? Why should Bangladesh even listen to Pakistan and reconcile with war criminals?

Of course, Pakistan thinks it has a moral high ground. After all, collective national amnesia kicks in when a nation wants to forget its lowest points in history. Please do understand the sarcasm intended here.

However, I must admit that the Pakistani interior minister did get the reason behind the execution partially correct. After all, the root cause of Molla’s heinous crimes in 1971 was that he wanted a united Pakistan, and knew his crimes would go unpunished because of his loyalty to Pakistan, just like the crimes of the Pakistani army officials went unpunished despite overwhelming evidence in the hands of the Bhutto government after the Liberation War in the form

and more importantly, Quader Molla claimed from time to time that he maintained a relatively low profile during the Liberation War and lived far away from the places he was claimed to be at committing atrocities during the Liberation War. Now, if Molla was really innocent (or even a freedom fighter as claimed

by Amar Desh) and maintained a low profile, how did the Pakistani interior minister claim with conviction that Molla was an ardent advocate of a united Pakistan throughout 1971? You can answer this question for yourself, for I see plenty of friction between the two stories.

On that note, let me talk about Imran Khan too. Actually, I wouldn’t

say much except that I was thoroughly entertained by how “naively” he believed that the defence lawyer was being honest, without objectively judging the credibility of the claim. In doing so, he has questioned the judiciary procedure of a sovereign country, for which he should apologise to say the least, especially when the judiciary of his own country is questioned from time to time.

I would like to conclude with Pakistan’s notion of “reconciliation,” as it urges Bangladesh to reconcile with the war criminals. Honestly, I don’t really understand what Pakistan means by reconciliation as it didn’t even have the decency, as a nation, to officially apologise for the atrocities of 1971, let alone pay any compensation and punish those responsible for the heinous crimes of 1971.

Moreover, for Pakistan, reconciliation means poking its “official” nose into the internal affairs of a sovereign friendly state, questioning its judiciary system and terming a convicted war criminal as “innocent” which, in my opinion, are nothing short of acts of implicit hostilities.

Now that Pakistan has shown that it is concerned enough to pass resolution about Bangladesh in its parliament, I look forward to seeing the Pakistani government pass one to officially apologise to us for one of the worst genocides in modern history. l Shafin Fattah is a freelance contributor. He can be reached at @shafinfattah on Twitter, or at shafinfattah.wordpress.com.

angladesh needs military intervention.”

Rest assured, I didn’t say this. I don’t have the required courage to say this in public. My teachers, who have always been championing democratic values, would have hated me for saying this. My journalist friends, who support democratic institutions to spur on Bangladesh, would have marginalised me. My economist friends, who would always say in the talk shows that countries prosper under democratic rule, would have pitied me. This comment came from the representative of a large apparel buyer from North America. Her firm procures more than a billion dollars worth of designer clothes from Bangladesh.

I was talking to her, sitting in the office of a strategic vendor of Gap Incorporated at the Chittagong EPZ. The vendor exports apparel worth more than $300 million to North America, the European Union, Canada, and Japan. Lately, they have started to export to China too. I thought Chittagong apparel producers were better positioned with the timely export of “Made in Bangladesh” apparel, and enjoying the upside of the capacity and price advantage available for them.

However, the lady told me, that while they still believe that Bangladesh remains an industry champion with very good capacity, diversity, and prices, they were concerned with future supplies from Bangladesh considering the ongoing political situation, and more importantly, not knowing where it was going, and when it may come to normalcy, if at all.

High street retailers like H&M and others are yet to find alternate producers in India or Cambodia to gradually replace Bangladesh

She told me that though they were shifting some fashion retail orders to Indonesia, Vietnam, and China at a bit of a higher price, the factories in those countries were yet to reach the required scale and capacity. High street retailers like H&M and others are yet to find alternate producers in India or Cambodia to gradually replace Bangladesh, she added.

So they are kind of stuck. They like Bangladeshi entrepreneurs. Bangladeshi workers are extremely hard working and always ready to go the extra mile. Sri Lanka or Pakistan can’t let their workers replace their Bangladeshi counterparts, despite better run ports and lower lead time, she continued.

She thought if Bangladesh could maintain its supply side smooth, no matter how the Rana Plaza collapse

or Tazreen fire had dented Bangladesh, Bangladesh would remain a star performer from Asia to the rest of the world. Then she said: “In order to maintain the supply chain for the global apparel industry, Bangladesh needs military rule like in 2007-08.”

‘Military rule can’t be an answer; we must give democracy a chance’

She is tunnel visioned, only focused on procuring better clothes from Bangladesh at the most competitive price. Bangladesh gives her company a lot of upsides. They, in the recent past, shifted orders from Latin America to Bangladesh, and were planning to give more orders for Bangladeshi vendors to fill up their stores in China.

She was not too bothered about giving democracy a continuous chance to stabilise. She is least bothered with how the local polity is divided, or whether Bangladesh has pro-AL or pro-BNP businessmen, economists, singers, players, university professors, doctors or engineers. She only thought Bangladesh could come out of poverty through massive industrialisation, and thereby generate adequate employment for the surplus labour force.

She thought the Bangladesh manufacturing sector could offer better employment opportunities to even non-resident Bangladeshi workers, like in the Philippines or Thailand, as the need for good workers would continuously rise in the manufacturing bases.

It was very hard for me to answer her. I kept on echoing my recent conversation with a few senior military personnel and university professors: “No, no, military rule can’t be an answer; we must give democracy a chance.”

My economics degree came to play a role to here: Economies can only prosper in democracy. You will see, one day we will be a very respectable democracy with respected institutions to look after the interests of the common people, I said. She became a little embarrassed this time.

With a smile, but firmly, came her reply: “Mr Rashid, with so many people below the poverty line, and an increasing number of people unemployed, you need to let trade and commerce surge faster than in the past, and reap benefits from growing globalisation.”

I had a flight to catch, and she had business to attend to. We both reconciled over a good cup of coffee. But I was thinking that we were all perhaps disconnected from the ground realities. Myths were taking too much time to demystify. l Mamun Rashid is a business professor and financial sector entrepreneur.

Consular rights don’t include a cut rate nanny n Sandip Roy

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evyani Khobragade has done the impossible. She has enabled Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi to find common ground. The Indian deputy-consul general’s arrest in New York has caused a major diplomatic row.

US Ambassador Nancy Powell had already been summoned to South Block. External Affairs minister Salman Khurshid has called it an “insult.”

India has also stopped all import clearances for US embassy including food and liquor.

Yashwant Sinha has suggested that after the Supreme Court verdict, India could now arrest same-sex partners of American diplomatic officials.

The story has quickly become one about national pride. How could India’s consular official be strip-searched and made to stand with common criminals and drug addicts by the police? While the treatment meted out to Ms Khobragade is being perceived as a major insult to India, we seem less concerned with the treatment meted out to her maid, the reason why she was arrested in the first place.

There are obviously questions about whether the correct diplomatic protocols were followed or what the difference is between diplomatic immunity and consular immunity. But that’s a process debate. There’s a more fundamental question here separate from the rule book of consular relations.

It is simply this. Do Indians have a domestic help problem? And why do we not seem to get it no matter how many times we trip up?

In 2012 Neena Malhotra, India’s cultural and press counselor in New York was ordered to pay out nearly $1.5 million for forcing an underaged Indian girl to work with little to no pay in their plush 43rd Street Manhattan apartment. She had been told she would be raped, beaten and sent to India as “cargo” if she left the home without their permission.

In 2011 Prabhu Dayal, the consul general in New York was accused of treating his domestic help as a “slave.”

Santosh Bhardwaj, the maid in question, said in her lawsuit that she was forced to work long hours for $300 a month, her passport was confiscated and she had to sleep in a storage clos-

et. She also alleged sexual overtures which Dayal vehemently denied.

Ms Khobragade is accused of visa fraud and exploiting her babysitter and housekeeper. According to the 11-page criminal complaint in her A-3

It is simply this. Do Indians have a domestic help problem?

And why do we not seem to get it no matter how many times we trip up?

visa application for her domestic help, the domestic help alleged she worked far more than 40 hours a week and was paid less than $9.75 per hour as had been agreed to in a contract she had signed with Ms. Khobragade for her visa application. Ms Khobragade reportedly got her help to agree to being paid no more than Rs30,000 which works out to about $3.31 per hour.

“Foreign nationals brought to the United States to serve as domestic workers are entitled to the same protections against exploitation as those

afforded to United States citizens,” said Preet Bharara, the US attorney for the Southern District of New York. His office alleges Ms Khobragade tried to circumvent US protections for workers by submitting false documents and information while applying for a visa for “a babysitter and housekeeper” she brought from India.

During the Dayal case, his lawyer Ravi Batra alleged that the housekeeper was just trying to extort the couple. “This fraudster of a woman, seeing dollar signs, has hit on a ‘get rich quick’ scheme after a year and a half of illegally staying and working in New York: fraudulent defamation of a highly respected and honored member of the diplomatic corps,” Batra wrote.

That is for courts to judge. But India is a signatory to the Domestic Workers Convention. Should it not be concerned that its diplomatic officials, the ones who represent India abroad, embarrassingly run afoul of labour laws? And no, whether diplomats from elsewhere do the same or worse isn’t a good counter argument.

Khobragade’s father, Uttam, a retired IAS officer has raised the point that it is numerically impossible for

her to pay her nanny $4,500 a month as required by US law when she herself is only paid $4,120 a month.

But that unfortunately for Ms Khobragade is India’s problem, not the United States, that it does not pay its consular officials enough to hire a livein nanny.

Anyway it’s not like there aren’t plenty of mid-career professionals in the US who work and clean their toilets and make dinner for their children on their own precisely because they cannot afford cooks and nannies. We cannot have the old world convenience of domestic help in the United States and not be prepared for the inconvenience of the price tag it comes with.

We might come from a country where labour is cheap and no one raises an eyebrow that millions of Indians come to our homes everyday to cook and clean, seven days a week, 365 days a year and have their pay docked when they fall sick and don’t make it to work.

But that does not our cultural attitude towards domestic help will not cause a stink outside our borders.

Just because our diplomats’ nannies

live in Manhattan and not a chawl in Mumbai does not mean that they should be grateful and not gripe about not being paid according to US labour laws.

The Indian government is perfectly justified in arguing whether or not the US went overboard when it handcuffed Ms Khobragade. It should definitely make sure that proper process was followed as befits a con-

As consular staff member representing India abroad, Ms Khobragade enjoys many rights. The right to a domestic help at cut-rate wages however is not one of them sular staff member. As consular staff member representing India abroad, Ms Khobragade enjoys many rights.

The right to a domestic help at cutrate wages however is not one of them. l This piece was first published in First Post.

Reprinted by arrangement.

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment Chhayanaut’s classical music festival begins today n Staff Correspondent

Farhana Mili’s schedule takes a spin once again n Entertainment Desk Recently, Mili’s calm schedule is moving to the fast lane once again and shooting for her recent project Shunno Theke Shuru, a drama series written and directed by Alvi Ahmed has already begun. Mili took a step back from her busy career a year ago to settle down with her new married life and embraced motherhood in the process.

About her recent project, Mili said: “I always had a keen interest for working in significant roles and good scripts. I will be playing the role of Dipa in the drama series and I am very much encouraged to play the role. I will continue to work in drama series if the script is good and the character offered is important enough. I love acting and strong characters are always a good actor’s dream.”

Director Alvi says, “The drama Shunno Theke Shuru has an interesting storyline that revolves around a group of friends, I hope that the audience will appreciate the drama series, it is the only incentive for making good dramas.”

Talented with the beauty of a classic Bengali

woman, Mili came into the limelight with Gias Uddin Selim’s film Monpura that received audience appreciation and critics’ praise. As a student of the department of Drama and Dramatics of Jahangirnagar University, she has the experience of working in theatres. About her dream role, Mili told Dhaka Tribune: “Recently I saw a theatre play of Loko Natyadal titled Lilaboti Akhyan. The story brought tears to my eyes and I had an urge to work on the character of Lilaboti, as it is a strong and challenging character, the kind of role I would love to play. It was a heartbreaking experience to see a girl’s unjustified suppression in the society. I also want to do roles in Tagore’s adaptations.

About her favourite co-actors, Mili said: “A year back, I worked with many brilliant actors, among them I enjoyed working with Nayeem, Nisho and others as well.

Mili was multitalented from her childhood and was involved in singing, performing and recitation. She also took lessons in the art of both singing and performing. Mili was selected for the National Performance Award (Child) in 1997 and 1998. l

Bhalobashar Mane Ki Bhul airs tonight

Chhayanaut is holding a two-day classical music festival (both vocal and instrumental) at its main auditorium from today. The festival comprises three sessions – first from 6pm to 10:30pm on the opening day, second from 9am to 1pm tomorrow and the same day features the concluding session starting from 7pm which will come to an end on Saturday morning.

The festival will see participation of noted local and two Indian vocal artistes – Saurav Kumar Nahar and Tushar Dutta who will perform on the first session and third session respectively.

Vocalists Amaresh Roy Chowdhury and Latifun Julio, and mohan veena player Dolon Kanungo will perform on the opening day. The second session will feature Satindranath Halder, Bijon Chandra Mistry and Alok Sen in vocal renditions and instrumentalists Shiwly Bhattacharjee (violin) and Iftekharul Alam Pradhan (tabla).

The concluding session will see Khairul Anam Shakil, Fakir Shahidul Islam, Anil Kumar Saha, Rezwan Ali, Asit Dey and Priyanka Gope performing vocal music while Ebadul Haque Saikat, Md Maniruzzaman and Swarup Hossain will be playing violin, flute and tabla. Besides, Chhayanaut artistes will present group performances in every session. l

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Prachyanat to stage Circus Circus today n Entertainment Desk Popular theatre troupe Prachyanat’s play Circus Circus will be staged today 6:30pm at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. The production is the first full-length play by the group and was quickly recognised as one of the major productions of Prachyanat.

Directed by Azad Abul Kalam, the play illustrates the cultural oppression in the name of religion in post-Liberation War Bangladesh.

The story is about a circus troupe, The Great Bengal Circus, that was widely famed under its founder owner Laksman Das. After his death, the company was managed by his brother

who rebuilds the business, that was ravaged during the liberation war in 1971. In the course of events, the company arrives at a village to put up a show. It is plagued by a number of problems-unskilled performers, strained relationship and rivalry among the members and more. To make things worse, members of a fundamentalist religious group threatens to stop the show.

The hostility grows not only outside, but also from within. In such a precarious moment the fundamentalists unleashes a reign of anger and hatred. The Great Bengal Circus is totally gutted in the fire along with three players and all its animals. l

TODAY IN DHAKA Exhibition

Woman in Gossamer

By Nurun Naher Supti Time: 3pm – 9pm Alliance Francaise de Dhaka Return to Eden

By Nasima Khanam Queenie

Time: 10am to 8pm Alliance Francaise Dhanmondi Quest for Reality

By Rafiqun Nabi Time: 12pm-8pm Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts

House No 42, Road No 16, Dhanmondi

To live is to be slowly born

By Kashef Chowdhury Time: 12 – 8pm Bengal Art Lounge 60 Gulshan Avenue, Circle 1

ON TV MOVIE 5:24pmWB District 9

8:00pm Zee Studio Sleepers

DRAMA 10:00pm Sony Jee Le Zaraa

10:30pm Colors Uttaran

NEWS 2:00pm Desh Tv News

n Entertainment Desk

10:00pm ATN News

Telefilm Bhalobashar Mane Ki Bhul airs on Maasranga at 8pm today. Written by Ali Suzan and Directed by Minhazul Islam, the telefilm features Sayed Babu, Farah Ruma, Sohan Khan, Sultan Selim, Badol and many more.

Story of the telefilm revolves around a businessman named Odit, whose mother wants to marry him off to a girl of her liking. Odit, being a dutiful son marries Paru, a girl picked out by his dominating mother. But soon enough, a dispute arises between the couple. Paru is in love with another man named Rohan and wants to leave. Meanwhile, Odit’s mother has a heart attack and in the brink of a panic, Odit requests his wife to forget her past and give their marriage an honest chance. l

News Now

COMEDY 1:30pm Comedy Central Awkward

8:30pm Z Cafe

The Big Bang Theory

Paul Walker’s Fast & Furious Car Up For Sale n Entertainment Desk Days after Paul Walker’s burial, a car collector in Germany is selling the blue Nissan Skyline GT-R the actor drove in the 2009 film Fast & Furious. The price tag upwards of $1,000,000.

Before Walker tragically died in a fiery car wreck on November 30, the current owner of the Skyline GT-R told a German car magazine that he was seeking a mere 300,000 euros ($412,410) for the vehicle.

In the wake of Walker’s death, the owner is now asking more than three times the original price, listing the car at 1,000,000 euros, or $1,374,700.

A known car enthusiast,

Walker never owned this Nissan Skyline GT-R, although he did tell Collider in a 2009 interview that the Skyline was one of the most enjoyable cars he had driven in the series.

It will likely not be an American experiencing the joys of Walker’s GT-R from Fast & Furious. As Autoblog notes, its “illegal to import the car for street use,” and it ended up in Germany after filming in order to avoid its destruction by the United States government.

Then again, if you’re an American with $1,374,700 to spend on a car, you might also be able to swing the cost of a small place outside of the US. l

Popular actress Swagata plays the role of Shanta in the drama serial Keboli Swapan Korechhi Bapan, being aired on ATN Bangla every Thursdays and Fridays at 9:20pm.

In the serial, Shanta is a jolly and happening young lady who falls in love with an accomplished researcher Arman. Their families gladly agree to their marriage and soon arrange the ceremony. But, just before arriving at his wedding, Arman is killed in a road accident.

Shanta becomes traumatised by the accident and after a couple of years, she starts recovering when an unknown guy shows interest in her.

Nirvana, KISS among 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees n Entertainment Desk Nirvana, the influential Seattle grunge band founded by the late Kurt Cobain, and the flamboyant 1970s rockers from KISS were among six new inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the organisation said.

British singers and songwriters Peter Gabriel and Cat Stevens, folk-pop singer Linda Ronstadt and rock and soul duo Hall and Oates completed the list of performer inductees to the

prestigious Hall of Fame, chosen from 16 nominees.

The induction ceremony will take place in New York City on April 10, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation said in a statement.

Nirvana was chosen as an inductee in its first year of eligibility.

The Cleveland-based Hall of Fame establishes that an artist or group must have released their debut album or single at least 25 years earlier to be eligible.

The inductees were chosen by more than 700 voters from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, but fans were also allowed to cast votes online for the artists they believe were the most deserving of induction. Three of the top five artists from the fan ballot will be inducted in 2014.

“This year’s Hall of Fame Inductees really capture the passion of the fans,” said Joel Peresman, President and CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. l

Did you know?

Edin Dzeko has scored seven goals in eight League Cup appearances for Man City

Sport

13

Thursday, December 19, 2013

DHAKA TRIBUNE

14 Ki sinks Blues with late winner, Citizens cruise

15 Kohli’s career-best ton keeps Proteas at bay

0 8 7 DAYS TO GO

(Clockwise from left) Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club players relish the moment of watching the Fifa World Cup trophy, BFF president Kazi Salahuddin and DMP Commissioner Benazir Ahmed grace the opening ceremony and a group of young spectators in high spirits in front of the trophy at the Radisson Blu Hotel yesterday MUMIT M

team conspicuous Gala affair at World Cup display National by their absence n Raihan Mahmood

The glittering and gorgeous Fifa World Cup trophy enthralled sports lovers of the country, who flocked in droves to the Radisson Hotel yesterday to catch a glimpse of world sports’ most coveted prize.

Amid a blockade declared by the mainstream opposition party, no less than 9,500 sports enthusiasts made it to the hotel for the once in a lifetime opportunity and their delight was doubled when pictures they took with the trophy were efficiently delivered to them within two minutes.

The code printed on the picture also revealed that the pictures will appear in the Fifa’s website in the trophy tour section.

A festive atmosphere prevailed at the hotel and there was a long queue of people waiting outside the hotel

before the official procedure started at 9:00am. The commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Benazir Ahmed and the president of Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) Kazi Salahuddin were present at the short inaugural ceremony. Kazi Salahuddin later added that the venue was shifted from the Bangabandhu National Stadium to Radisson as requested by the organisers.

The BFF chief himself was thrilled with having the trophy in the country. “With the arrival of the Fifa World Cup trophy in the country, Bangladesh has proved that it has the potential to go ahead. We are hopeful of raising the standard of our football and the trophy is the inspiration,” said Salahuddin.

The change of the venue forced the organisers to cut the programs such as a hologram display and interactive

games, but this did not seem to dim the spirits of those present. People of all ages could be seen at the event.

Fahim Ahmed, an ‘O’ level student and his two younger brothers were delighted. “We will never forget the occasion, coming close to the most coveted trophy and having snapshots is definitely one of the greatest moments of my life,” declared Fahim.

Former football stars Badal Roy, currently a vice president of BFF, and Imtiaz Sultan Johnny thought the experience would motivate this generations footballers. “We played in the first World Cup qualifiers of Bangladesh back in 1984-85 season.

At that time, we had the motivation to play well and reach the next stage. The future planning and other infrastructural support was not there, but this generation of footballers should set a target of playing at the

Wrestling

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Bangladesh Police emerged as the champions in the men’s and women’s events respectively in the Victory Day Wrestling Championship yesterday.

BGB claimed seven golds and one silver to become champions for the 15th time while Bangladesh Police finished second with six silvers.

Police earned four golds and silvers each in the women’s event to clinch the first spot. This is the first time Police have won the Victory Day Wrestling. Bangladesh Armature Wrestling Federation vice president Iqbal Bin Anwar distributed prizes to the winners as chief guest. l

The day-long Victory Day 3-on3 Basketball Championship will get underway at the Dhanmondi Basketball Gymnasium tomorrow.

Vertical Horizon will lock horns with BKSP in the opening match. A total of 12 teams will be taking part in the meet. Bangladesh Basketball Federation president Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin will inaugurate the tournament as chief guest. l

Hockey

Usha Krira Chakra and Azad SC swept into the semi-final of the Walton Victory Day Hockey Tournament from group B yesterday. In the day’s first match, Azad edged past Bangladesh Police 1-0 at the Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium. Mir Mahbub scored the all-important goal for Azad in the 25th minute from a penalty stroke. In the other match, Usha were held to a 1-1 draw by Bangladesh Air Force. Maksud Alam Habul put Usha ahead in the 19th minute before Mamim Mia leveled the margin from a penalty corner in the 65th minute. Usha earned seven points to finish top of the group. l SHISHIR HOQUE

n Raihan Mahmood The absence of the Bangladesh national team from the Fifa World Cup trophy display program at Radisson Hotel raised many eyebrows amongst the spectators yesterday.

Bangladesh Football Federation did not arrange any measures to bring the national booters to the venue after it was shifted from the Bangabandhu National Stadium. National skipper Mamunul Islam, who arrived as a player of Sheikh Jamal, seemed a little disheartened.

“It’s a great occasion, all over the world the football players’ ultimate dream is to win the World Cup. Maybe we have not reached that level but we can dream that one day we will be playing at the greatest show on earth.

Maasranga set to land Sri Lanka series rights

VICTORY DAY SPORTS

Basketball

highest level and start working hard to achieve it,” said Badal.

The official mascot of World Cup Fuelco and Abdul Halim, the man who holds the record for distance moved while balancing a ball on his head in the Guinness Book of World Record, added extra glamour to the event. Fifa officials also shot a documentary on the hotel premises.

In the latter half of the day, all the players and coaching staff of Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club arrived on the scene and their yellow clad appearance was beautiful to behold. Abahani players goalkeeper Sohel, midfielder Pranaotosh and defender Mishu made appearences.

Today the trophy will be open for the NGO’s, Special Olympic Team and other stake holders of Coca Cola before departing for Bhutan tomorrow morning. l

n Minhaz Uddin Khan

BGB players celebrate winning the Victory Day Wrestling title at the handball stadium yesterday COURTESY

Maasranga Television, one of the private satellite channels of Bangladesh, is on the verge of securing the television rights for Bangladesh’s home series against Sri Lanka in January.

Gazi Television was Maasranga’s only competitor in the run. Gazi won the right to televise Bangladesh’s last series against New Zealand in October, but better payment and quality assurances make Maasranga the favourites to land the deal currently on the table.

“The deal is mostly done. They (Maasranga) were well ahead in the race and assured broadcasting of international quality,” BCB chairman of marketing and

commercial Kazi Inam Ahmed told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday. Inclusion of speedometer, timeline breaks between overs and other important aspects are being assured, added Inam.

“We will have a few more meetings in next two days regarding technical issues and then pen down the contract,” he concluded.

The BCB failed to pen down a long-term TV right since the expiry of the previous contract with Nimbus in April 2011.

However, Nimbus brought the rights for the home series against West Indies and Pakistan in 2011, while Channel 9 bought the rights for the home series against West Indies last year. l

The trophy’s magnificent presence will be a great memory for me, but we expected that the national team will be together to be inspired by it,” said Mamunul.

Reacting to the incident, BFF general secretary Abu Naeem Shohag presented a solution. “We had plans to assemble the national booters in the BFF House when the venue was in the Bangabandhu National Stadium. As all the players are scattered in different clubs, it was hard for us to assemble them as the venue was shifted late in the day. We will bring all the national team players today” said Shohag.

Meanwhile head coach Lodewijk de Kruif flew to Holland yesterday for a Christmas vacation but assistant coach Rene Koster will be accompanying the team today. l

JCC annual athletic meet underway n Our Correspondent, Jhenaidah The three-day annual athletic meet of Jhenaidah Cadet College got underway at the college campus yesterday.

Principal of the college Lieutenant Colonel Benazir Ahmed inaugurated the event.

More than 100 participants from Badr, Hunayin and Khaibar houses will compete in 41 events during the three days.

Area Commander of the Bangladesh Army (GOC) Major General Matiur Rahman is expected to be the chief guest of the prize giving ceremony tomorrow. l

Four DPL clubs to play T20 tournament n Mazhar Uddin The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) changed its plans for a T20 tournament beginning on December 22 yesterday.

Earlier, the competition was supposed to feature four, franchise based teams but the new plan will see four Dhaka Premier League clubs - Abahani, Mohammedan, Prime Bank and one other club who have yet to be confirmed – fight it out instead.

The selection of the clubs seems to have largely been based on the clubs’ willingness to participate, “Our board president [Nazmul Hassan] has convinced Abahani and Mohmmedan Sporting Club to take part in the T20 tournament. Prime Bank is the other team. We are looking for a fourth, after which an official announcement will be made, most probably on Friday,” said a board

official, who requested anonymity.

Meanwhile, Saiful Islam, an official from the Prime Bank Cricket Club, said that they have heard about the issue but have yet to receive anything official from the board. “We heard about this but we did not receive any official

BCB president has convinced Abahani and Mohmmedan Sporting Club to take part in the T20 tournament. Prime Bank is the other team indications from the BCB. After we do, we can say anything about the issue,” he said.

BCB recently arranged the Challenge series where national team played the ‘A’ time in three T20 matches and this next tournament is a continuation in their efforts to prepare the Bangladesh

team for the World T20 Championship, which Bangladesh is set to host next year.

The board is also looking to financially benefit the cricketers. Players will be divided into two categories and the 16 national cricketers will be divided across the four teams. “A” category players will receive Tk35,000 while the other cricketers will be category “B” and receive Tk25,000.

The team that wins the event will receive Tk2.5m and the runners-up will get Tk10m. The four teams will play in a double league with each side playing two matches with the other three teams. All the matches will be held at the Sylhet Divisional Stadium. The BCB had earlier planned to arrange the tournament at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium but changed the venue in accordance with ICC instructions. l

Spectators form a long queue to get a glimpse of the Fifa World Cup trophy at the Radisson Blu Hotel yesterday MUMIT M

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Chelsea lack killer instinct, says Mourinho n Reuters, London

Sunderland's Ki Sung-yueng (R) celebrates scoring during their English League Cup quarter-final against Chelsea at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland on Tuesday

Ki sinks Blues with late winner, Citizens cruise n Reuters, London

Substitute Ki sungYueng drove in an extra-time winner to take the Premier League’s bottom club Sunderland into the League Cup semi-finals with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Chelsea on Tuesday.

Ki smashed home in the 118th minute after being teed up by Fabio Borini, who had come off the bench to force extra time with an 88th-minute equaliser.

In the night’s other quarter-final, Edin Dzeko scored twice as free-scoring Manchester City booked their place in the semi-finals with a 3-1 win at second-tier Leicester City.

Chelsea, third in the Premier League, looked on course to reach the last four after taking the lead when goalline technology adjudged that a combination of Frank Lampard and Sunderland’s Lee Cattermole had bundled a cross over the line.

But they were pegged back two minutes from time when on-loan Borini steered an expert finish past two Chelsea defenders on the line from a tight angle.

The hosts then laid siege to the Chelsea goal and were rewarded two minutes from time when Ki smashed home a low drive to send the home crowd wild.

“This gives us momentum going

into Saturday (against Norwich) and keeps the season alive,” Sunderland midfielder Lee Cattermole told Sky Sports.

RESULTS Leicester

1-3

Sunderland

2-1

Dyer 77

Borini 88, Ki 118

Man City

Kolarov 8, Dzeko 41, 53

Chelsea

Cattermole 46-og

“The priority is always the league.

We played extra time but this win gives us some belief.”

Dzeko made his case for a more regular starting spot in City’s star-studded line-up with goals either side of

Bayern crush Guangzhou to reach world club final

Vidic must earn his place, says Moyes n AFP, London

n AFP, Agadir

Manchester United manager David Moyes on Tuesday warned captain Nemanja Vidic that he faces a fight to win back his place in the starting XI. Vidic missed United’s last two matches with a minor injury sustained in the 1-0 Premier League defeat at home to Newcastle United. Jonny Evans and Phil Jones impressed at centreback against Villa, and with Vidic increasingly plagued by injuries and his regular partner Rio Ferdinand now 35, Moyes says that the old hierarchy is no more.

“Nemanja is just about ready to play now,” Moyes told a press conference.

“But we have five centre-halves.

We can use Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Jonny Evans, Rio Ferdinand and him.

There is competition for places there and you are going to have to play well to stay in the team.”l

European champions Bayern Munich booked their place in the Club World Cup final with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Asian champions Guangzhou Evergrande in Tuesday’s semi-final in Agadir.

Goals by France winger Franck Ribery, Croatia’s Mario Mandzukic and Germany star Mario Goetze saw the German giants through to Saturday’s final in Marrakech, Morocco.

Bayern will face the winners of Wednesday’s other semi-final between Morocco’s Raja Casablanca and Brazil’s Atletico Mineiro.

Already twice a winner of the Club World Cup title with his former club Barcelona, Bayern coach Pep Guardiola is on course for a third global crown as his German champions swept aside Marcello Lippi’s Guangzhou.

Having become the first German team to win the treble of European, Bundesliga and domestic cup titles, Bayern are closing in on their fifth title of 2013.

Lippi, World Cup winning coach with Italy in 2006, said that the many different roles Bayern’s players could

RESULT Bayern Munich Ribery 40, Mandzukic 44, Goetze 47

3-0

Guangzhou

fill and that all of them were capable of scoring was a crucial difference.

Ribery, on the shortlist with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for the Ballon d’Or, got the breakthrough Bayern craved when he drilled his shot past Guangzhou goalkeeper Zeng Cheng on 44 minutes.l

Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery celebrates his goal against Guangzhou Evergrande during their Fifa Club World Cup match at Agadir Stadium in Agadir Tuesday REUTERS

halftime after Aleksandar Kolarov had given the visitors an early lead.

Lloyd Dyer grabbed a consolation for Leicester.

“We had a very good first half, and then we had the possession and dominated the game until they scored. It is an important competition, it is important to win every game you play in and to get to the final at Wembley would be wonderful for the supporters,” Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini said.

“I think the Capital One Cup is different to normal because we could have Tottenham and Manchester United also in the semi-final so that would be beautiful for the fans.” l

REUTERS

Villas-Boas needed to be miracle worker: Allardyce n Reuters, London Andre Villas-Boas would have had to have been a “miracle worker” to blend seven new signings into a title-challenging team this season, according to West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce.

Tottenham Hotspur sacked young Portuguese manager Villas-Boas on Monday when chairman Daniel Levy wielded the axe in the wake of Sunday’s 5-0 home thrashing by Liverpool.

Despite still being in touch with the top four Tottenham also lost 3-0 at home to struggling West Ham this season and 6-0 at Manchester City, results which had already piled huge pressure on Villas-Boas before the Liverpool humiliation.

Allardyce, himself under pressure as

Barcelona's Brazilian forward Neymar (R) shoots during their Spanish Copa del Rey (King's Cup) match against FC Cartagena at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on Tuesday AFP

Wilshere charged

by FA over Man City gesture n AFP, London

Barcelona cruise into Copa del Rey last 16

The Football Association (FA) announced on Tuesday that Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has been charged over an alleged offensive gesture during his side’s 6-3 Premier League defeat at Manchester City last Saturday.

Television pictures showed Wilshere raising his middle finger - apparently towards home supporters.

Wilshere has been charged under a new FA pilot project enabling a three-man disciplinary panel to review footage of incidents not seen by the match officials and advise if action needs to be taken. l

La Liga leaders Barcelona comfortably secured their place in the last 16 of the Copa del Rey with a 3-0 win over third-tier Cartagena on Tuesday, to seal a 7-1 win on aggregate.

However, any hopes the visitors had of a famous victory were quashed when Pedro neatly swept home Martin Montoya’s cross for his third goal of the tie.

Without a host of regular starters, Barca struggled to create clear-cut openings all evening but they were

n AFP, Madrid

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was forced to recount a familiar tale as he bemoaned his team’s latest failure to turn chances into goals after their 2-1 extra-time defeat by Sunderland in the League Cup on Tuesday.

“The quality of football we produced is amazing. We never lost a match because we didn’t play or that the opponent was stronger, it’s just we don’t kill opponents and we give them life,” Mourinho told Sky Sports after his team were knocked out in the quarter-finals.

“Every opponent knows they can score a goal (against us). We had fantastic chances to score and didn’t score.”

While Chelsea sit third in the Premier League and are safely through to the knockout stages in the Champions League, surprise recent results have forced the Mourinho on to the defensive about his team’s chances of silverware.

Two defeats and a draw in their last seven Premier League matches as well as a double reverse against Swiss side Basel in Europe have turned the focus on the club’s mis-firing strikers, Fernando Torres, Demba Ba and Samuel Eto’o.

The trio have managed five league goals between them all season.

Asked why his current Chelsea team is not as ruthless as the one he had in his first spell with the club, Mourinho said: “I can’t answer this question.

I’m the manager of this team not the manager of the old team. We are not behind the old team, but in front in terms of quality. l

gifted a second goal 23 minutes from time when Mariano Martinez turned Cristian Tello’s cross into his own net.

And Neymar rounded off the scoring with his sixth goal in his last three games when he headed home Andres Iniesta’s cross three minutes from time.

Barca will also face Getafe in the last 16 after the Madrid side thrashed Girona 4-1 to secure their place in the next round by the same score on aggregate.

Levante hammered Recreativo Huelva 4-0 to also progress 4-1 on aggregate, while second division team Alcorcon who overcame a 2-0 first-leg deficit to beat Granada 5-4 on penalties.l

his relegation-threatened side prepare for Wednesday’s Capital One Cup quarter-final at Tottenham, expressed sympathy for the man he was expecting to be facing at White Hart Lane.

“You would have to be a miracle worker to get everybody functioning to the best of their ability,” told a news conference on Tuesday.

“They’ve arrived from foreign countries in a different culture and an arena that they’ve never played in before.”

Tottenham spent the 100 million euros they received from Real Madrid for Gareth Bale on the likes of Roberto Soldado, Paulinho, Erik Lamela, Etienne Capoue and Christian Eriksen but have looked disjointed so far.

Allardyce said that was to be expected. l

RESULTS

0-1

Villarreal

Osasuna

1-1

Malaga

Getafe

4-1

Girona

Levante

4-0 Recreativo Huelva

Granada

0-2

Alcorcon

Barcelona

3-0

Cartagena

Elche

Perbet 59 Villarreal win 3-2 on aggregate

Weligton 1-og Eliseu 61 3-3 on aggregate, Osasuna go on away goals Sarabia 2, Jandro 59-P Colunga 5-P, Lafita 35, Lisandro 73 Getafe win 4-1 on aggregate Simao 4, Garcia 18, Ivanschitz 50, Camarasa 54 Levante win 4-1 on aggregate

Verdes 41, Nagore 82 2-2 on aggregate, Alcorcon win 5-4 on penalties

Pedro 30, Mariano 67-og, Neymar 87 Barcelona win 7-1 on aggregate

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Kohli ton keeps Proteas at bay

QUICK BYTES

Navy hockey team off to winning start Bangladesh Navy hockey team began their All India Sahibzada Ajit Singh Hockey Champion Trophy 2013 campaign with a 3-1 victory over Namdhari Academy at Olympian Pirthipal Singh Hockey Stadium, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana in Punjab yesterday. Chayan scored the opener in the first minute from a penalty corner before Rimon and Shihab extended the margin in the second half. Navy will face ONGC in their second game today.

–SH

n Reuters, Johannesburg

India's batsman Virat Kohli celebrates his century on the first day of their first Test against South Africa at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg yesterday AFP

New Zealand aim to ram home advantage

Harris in ‘drunken’ Twitter rant n AFP, Sydney

Djoker hires Becker as head coach

n AFP, Hamilton

Australia’s Ryan Harris has discovered that winning the Ashes does not guarantee access to Perth’s casino, with the bowler launching a foul-mouthed tweet after he was initially refused entry for being drunk.

The team’s celebrations after clinching the series against England on Tuesday, hosted by former great Shane Warne, stretched long into the night with Harris, in particular, letting off steam.

“A tip for all those heading to Perth!

Avoid the crown or casino! Shithole, can’t get in if you have had a drink #shitplace#dickheads,” he tweeted, reportedly at 3:30 am.

The tweet has since been removed but newspapers took a screenshot and it was widely reproduced on Wednesday.

“Poor old Ryan Harris. Apparently denied entry to the Crown in Perth for being too drunk last night. Australian Fun Police at their finest,” said one tweet.

Another said “Feel ya pain son.”

A sheepish Harris apologised on Wednesday.

“Obviously I made a silly mistake this morning and I tweeted something I probably shouldn’t have,” he told reporters after arriving at his home base in Melbourne, adding that the bouncers on the door eventually let him in. l

n AFP, Belgrade

Germany’s 100m sprint champion Julian Reus has challenged Borussia Dortmund winger Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to a sprint race to prove whether the football star is faster than Usain Bolt.

Aubameyang, who has scored nine Bundesliga goals this season, has clocked 3.7seconds over 30 metres in training, suggesting that he is faster than Bolt, who clocked 3.78secs over the same distance en route to setting the 100m world record of 9.58secs in 2009.

Last Saturday, Gabon international Aubameyang told German television show Sportstudio that he is faster than Bolt, a claim German sprint champion Julian Reus is eager to challenge and wants to race him.

–AFP

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has revealed his star striker Sergio Aguero could be out of action for longer than expected. Pellegrini had previously said he expected Aguero to be out for up to four weeks after he suffered a calf injury in Saturday’s 6-3 thrashing of Arsenal. But there remains uncertainty as to the true extent of the problem and Pellegrini said it could be worse than first feared. Pellegrini, speaking after City’s 3-1 League Cup quarter-final win at Leicester on Tuesday, said: “I am not a doctor. It is very difficult. “The doctor has said he has at least one month or eight weeks. We will see. Aguero’s absence for that length of time would be a major blow to City, with the 25-year-old having scored 19 goals already this season.

–AFP

Ex-Juve chief Moggi’s jail term cut Former Juventus chief Luciano Moggi has had his jail term for his role in a match-fixing scandal cut to two years and four months after an appeal hearing on Tuesday. Moggi had appealed against the original conviction of five years and four months going back to 2006 before a court in Naples. The former general manager of Italy’s most successful Serie A club was effectively banned from the game for life after being found guilty of sporting fraud and conspiracy in an affair known as ‘Calciopoli’. The scandal centred on the role and influence of referees appointed for league matches and led to Juventus losing the two league titles they won in 2005 and 2006 and to their demotion to Serie B. –AFP

Perth Glory sack coach after player revolt Perth Glory were on the hunt for a new coach Wednesday after sacking former Socceroo Alistair Edwards following a reported player revolt led by skipper Jacob Burns. Edwards was given his marching orders by the A-league club, which boasts former Arsenal and Chelsea star William Gallas among its ranks, just one year into a three-season deal. Perth media said senior players had become increasingly frustrated over his team selections, including perceived nepotism towards his two sons Cameron and Ryan, who play for Glory. Tensions reached a flashpoint on Friday, which the club acknowledged in a statement Chief executive Jason Brewer said the club tried to reach a compromise but “regrettably that was not possible”.

–AFP

DAY’S WATCH Ten Sports 02:00 PM South Africa v India 1st Test, Day 2 Sony Six NBA 2013-14 6:00AM Miami v Indiana 8:30AM Houston v Chicago 11:30PM Fifa Club World Cup Semi-final Raja Casablanca v Atletico Miniero

deserved more than just the wicket of Murali Vijay (six) who was caught behind by AB de Villiers.

Dale Steyn beat the bat with regularity, his only reward the wicket of Shikhar Dhawan (13), caught by Imran Tahir at fine leg attempting an ill-advised hook.

Pujara was the victim of some poor calling from Kohli, who initially asked for a run having tapped Tahir into the onside and then sent his partner back to the non-striker’s end where he was well short of his ground as Hashim Amla removed the bails. Vernon Philander had Rohit Sharma (14) caught behind to get in on the wickets. l

A career-best 119 from Virat Kohli lifted India to a respectable 255 for five at the close on an even opening day of the first test against South Africa at the Wanderers on Wednesday.

Kohli has taken over from the great Sachin Tendulkar in the number four position in the Indian batting order and with those massive shoes to fill, showed touches of genius, and no shortage of courage, in his 181-ball innings that included 18 fours.

He put on 89 with Cheteshwar Pujara (25) for the third wicket and 68 with Ajinkya Rahane (30 not out) for the fifth as India patiently played their way out of early trouble having won the toss and elected to bat.

When Kohli’s demise came, it was surprisingly soft. Jacques Kallis floated a half-volley outside off-stump and the centurion guided it straight to JP Duminy at cover.

Kohli stayed motionless for some time after the shot, perhaps disbelieving of his generosity just when he had seemed destined to kick-on for a big hundred having surpassed his previous test best of 116.

MS Dhoni (10 not out), captaining India for a record 50th time, will resume on the second morning with Rahane at a ground where India have never lost a test in three previous matches.

Morne Morkel impressed with his steepling bounce in his first spell and

Athlete challenges Aubameyang to sprint race

Aguero could face longer spell on sidelines

15

Thursday, December 19, 2013

New Zealand will field an unchanged side for the final Test against the West Indies starting in Hamilton on Thursday as they chase back-to-back victories for the first time in nearly six years.

The home team are hot favourites to seal the three-match series after snapping a year-long win drought by wrapping up the second Test inside three days against a struggling West Indies side who will now be missing suspended legspinner Shane Shillingford.

The last time New Zealand won consecutive Tests was against Bangladesh in January 2008 and they last managed the feat against a top eight nation two years earlier when playing the West Indies.

After rain ruined a likely New Zealand win in the first Test of this series, and New Zealand won the second by an innings and 73 runs, captain Brendon McCullum said Wednesday his side needed to ram home their advantage.

“We’re going to play the same team,” he said after all-rounder Corey Anderson came through a fitness Test unscathed following a shin problem.

“It will give the guys the opportunity to build on what we’ve done in the last two Test matches.”

EU probes aid to Spain football clubs n AFP, Brussels The European Commission on Wednesday launched an investigation into seven Spanish football clubs, including Barcelona and Real Madrid, after complaints they accepted illegal state aid.

The Commission said it was concerned the alleged aid – believed to be worth several billion euros – had given the clubs an unfair advantage at a time when they were struggling financially.

“The European Commission has opened three distinct in-depth investigations to verify whether various public support measures in favour of certain Spanish professional football clubs are in line with EU state aid rules,” said a commission statement.

“Professional football clubs should finance their running costs and investments with sound financial management rather than at the expense of the taxpayer,” commented Joaquin Almunia.

The complaints concern state aid for Barcelona, Real Madrid, Athletic Bilbao, Osasuna (Pamplona), Valencia, Hercules (Alicante) and Elche.

“The Commission has concerns that these measures provided significant advantages to the beneficiary clubs to the detriment of the clubs which have to operate without such support,” the statement said. l

Although the line-up was decided, McCullum remained uncertain whether he would bat or bowl first if he won the toss, although the pitch is expected to hold promise for the seam bowlers.

Seddon Park, where New Zealand have lost their past three Tests (against Australia, Pakistan and South Africa), has proved an enigma for the team winning the toss.

Traditionally, the successful captain elects to bowl, although six of the 13 matches to produce a result at the ground have been won by the team batting first.

“Who knows how it will play but I’m expecting it to be a good Test wicket,” McCullum said.

“The important thing in Hamilton is the overhead conditions and the mugginess which is around. If there is some cloud cover then the ball can swing quite a lot.

“We’ve seen in previous Test matches here that a lot of wickets can fall in one session. We’ve got to be mindful of that with bat and ball.”

The West Indies delayed their team announcement as they weighed their options following the ban on Shillingford after the International Cricket Council ruled his bowling action was illegal.l

Novak Djokovic has hired German tennis legend Boris Becker as his head coach ahead of the Australian open in January, the Serbian player announced on his website Wednesday.

“I am really excited to have the opportunity to work with Boris,” Djokovic said.

“He is a true legend, someone who has great tennis knowledge and his experience will help me win new trophies from the grand slams and other tournaments,” the world number two said.

‘Boof’ behind Aussie turnaround n AFP, Perth

Australia’s dramatic turnaround to dominate England and win back the Ashes just months after a 3-0 series defeat to their traditional rivals has largely been attributed to the man they call “Boof”.

Darren Lehmann instigated a reinvigoration of Australian cricket in just six months, since stepping into the hot seat vacated by the sudden sacking of Mickey Arthur.

The 43-year-old, who played 27 Tests from 1998 to 2004, has always been credited with a razor-sharp cricket mind. He saw enough during the July-August series in England to detect weaknesses in the England batsmen which he sought to exploit in the backto-back series.

Lehmann raised eyebrows when he observed towards the back-end of the last series: “We’ve shown some cracks in their batting which is exciting for us as a bowling unit. Has the momentum shifted? I think it has, but only time will tell.”

They were to prove prescient words as Lehmann got down to work devising plans for each English batsman. These were implemented to devastating effect

by Johnson, Harris and Peter Siddle.

Australia stymied skipper Alastair Cook’s scoring shots on the leg side, while the impetuous Kevin Pietersen was forced into errors by the nagging consistency of Siddle. Ian Bell’s late cut to third man, his chief scoring area when he made three centuries in the

English series, was dried up.

Matt Prior was denied width and Australia’s bowlers were told to bounce the tailenders. By the Perth Test the England team had largely disintegrated.

Lehmann wanted to take Australian cricket back to the golden eras of Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson, the Chappells and Steve Waugh of the 1970-80s.

He insisted on aggressive, in-yourface cricket and no one embraced this more avidly than Johnson, who disconcerted the England batsmen with his terrifying short-pitched bowling.

“He’s has done a fantastic job, he’s made us work hard, he’s made us maximise our potential,” skipper Michael Clarke said of the coach after wrapping up the Ashes with a 150-run win in Perth on Tuesday.

Perhaps Lehmann’s greatest success was the rebirth of left-arm paceman Johnson, a figure of fun for England’s Barmy Army supporters in the 2009 and 2010/11 campaigns, and absent from this year’s series in England.

Another former Australian Test great, wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist, believes Lehmann has freed up the players to play their best cricket.

“I can’t remember such a shift in power between two teams in such a short space of time,” Gilchrist said.

“Obviously Mitchell Johnson has been of vital importance but I continue to go back to Darren Lehmann and the seeds that he would have planted as soon as he assumed that role. His fingerprints are all over the atmosphere around that team.” l

SCORE CARD, DAY 1 INDIA 1ST INNINGS M. Vijay c De Villiers b Morkel 6 S. Dhawan c Imran Tahir b Steyn 13 C. Pujara run out (Imran Tahir) 25 V. Kohli c Duminy b Kallis 119 R. Sharma c De Villiers b Philander 14 A. Rahane not out 43 M. Dhoni not out 17 Extras (lb3, nb1, w14) 18 Total (5 wkts, 90 overs) 255 Fall of wickets 1-17 (Dhawan), 2-24 (Vijay), 3-113 (Pujara), 4-151 (R. Sharma), 5-219 (Kohli) Bowling Steyn 23-5-56-1 (2w), Philander 21-255-1, Morkel 19-10-27-1 (1nb, 2w), Kallis 14-4-37-1 (2w), Imran Tahir 8-0-47-0, Duminy 5-0-30-0

Six-time Grand Slam champion, 46-year old Becker said he was “proud Novak invited me to become his head coach.”

“I will do my best to help him reach his goals, and I am sure we can achieve great things together,” he said.

Becker will join Djokovic’s coaches Marian Vajda, Miljan Amanovic and Gebhard Phil-Gritsch, the website said.

Vajda, who has worked with Djokovic for almost eight years, welcomed Becker into the team, saying it was a “good solution” to choose the German player. l

Prior facing axe after Ashes failure n AFP, Perth England coach Andy Flower Wednesday admitted out-of-sorts wicketkeeper Matt Prior may be axed for the fourth Ashes Test after Australia raced to an unbeatable 3-0 lead.

Prior, 31, has made just 107 runs at 17.83, with 69 of them coming in the second innings of the second Test in Adelaide when he threw the bat with England’s cause already lost.

With the Ashes back in Australian hands with two Tests to go, Flower said he would contemplate replacing Prior with Jonny Bairstow, 24, who has averaged 30.2 from 12 Tests.

“It’s a possibility of course,” Flower told reporters in Perth. “Matt Prior has been an outstanding cricketer for England during a second phase of his English career.

“But like all those positions we have to review them. We constantly review what our best side will be and we also have to have an eye to the future as well.

Several senior England players are facing tough questions about their futures after underperforming in Australia, including Kevin Pietersen, Graeme Swann and James Anderson, along with captain Alastair Cook. l

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Political unrest hits hard real estate sector

FIRE AT STANDARD GARMENT FACTORY

Workers wait to rejoin work n Our Correspondent, Gazipur

Ongoing political stalemate has halved the sale of plots and flats He said the realtors along with cusn Abu Hayat Mahmud tomers who bought flats with bank Political instability in the country along with the impact of the past global economic recession have brought the country’s real estate companies to their knees.

Real estate companies are passing a hard time as sales of plots and flats, which were otherwise robust even a few years back, are now on the decline.

Sales fell by a half in recent times because of the ongoing political turbulence creating a cash crunch in the housing sector.

The Real Estate and Housing Association (Rehab) has already postponed its biannual exhibition, Rehab Winter Fair 2013, which usually takes place in the month of December.

A few months back the government ensured that it would give fresh gas and electricity connections but it was not true to its words, said an association member.

Even people are feeling discouraged to purchase a flat with gas and electricity connections given the current political uncertainty.

Sheltech Managing Director Toufiq M Seraj said: “The business of real estate has been in trouble over the last two years and the political instability in the country is now rubbing salt into its wounds.”

He claimed that in 2006 about 5,684 flats were built by the private real estate companies and in 2010 the number went up to 13,309. The figure began to come down since the recent economic recession.

“If political stability is not ensured this sector is sure to meet its doom,” he added.

The association’s Senior Vice-President Mokarram Hossain Khan said: “There are about 20,000 flats ready for sale worth about Tk 600 crore. But buyers are reluctant to buy flats.”

loans owe more than Tk18, 000 crore to banks.

“We are counting loss every day because of unrest,” he added.

Meanwhile, the classified loan in the real estate sector increased rapidly due to sluggish investment amid political unrest ahead of the upcoming general election in the country.

The Rehab leaders said the total classified loan known as non-performing loan almost doubled. It rose to 7% from 4% during October 2012 to June 2013, according to the Bangladesh Bank data.

Moreover, around 20,000 to 22,000 ready flats worth between Tk 140bn and Tk 160bn have remained unsold and the construction works of over 8,000 flats remained suspended.

The average sales of both flats and land plots dropped by 60% in 2012 compared to the level of the previous year.

Rehab General Secretary Md Wahiduzzaman told the Dhaka Tribune: “The real estate companies are passing hard times as sales of plots and flats have dropped sharply.”

Japan Garden City Ltd’s Managing Director Wahiduzzaman also said: “We have been hit hard by the political unrest. Our transactions have reached a record low. Most construction projects have been put on hold as the developers cannot bring raw materials due to blockades.

Because of the political unrest, financial crisis and non-availability of utilities connections banks are shying away from providing loans.

Under such circumstances the leaders of Rehab, a trade union of real estate agents, threatened to announce a tougher movement if the countrywide political violence was not stopped immediately. l

People shopping at a makeshift vegetable market set up on railway tracks in the city’s Tejgaon area are completely oblivious to the risk of accidents that might even take their lives. The photo was taken yesterday SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

High school education a far cry for kids in Brahmaputra char n Abu Bakar Siddique Khaled Khan on life support n Afrose Jahan Chaity Eminent actor and director Khaled Khan has been on life support at the intensive care unit of Birdem Hospital as he got a respiratory attack on Monday afternoon.

Khaled Khan, who now works at the University of Liberal Arts as the treasurer, went to a doctor for a regular check up. His brother Shahin Khan said Khaled felt sick when he was coming back to his home after finishing the check up, and they had to admit him at the hospital in a critical condition.

Khaled Khan gained his popularity both on television and on stage as he played in numerous plays.

The famous actor has been suffering from motor neuron disease for the last 12 years which has left the lower part of his body paralysed. l

Long-route buses to ply from Friday n Rabiul Islam The leaders of transport owners’ and workers’ organisations decided to operate buses on long-distance routes from Friday during blockades, following government assurances of adequate security.

Transport owners said they could not pay back their bank loans for many days because of blockades, while labour leaders said the workers were passing through hardship as the buses did not run during blockades fearing attacks.

Since November 26, the 18-party alliance has enforced continuous blockades. l

Deprivation of education and impoverishment go hand-in-hand with the life of children living in remote shoal areas in Kurigram district.

The ignited hearts of those kids sink as they are unable to enrol in a handful of high schools in the vicinity of their dwelling.

The lack of secondary schools in Datiar Char under Chilmari upazila is a bar to continuing their education and materialising dream, thus ultimately leading the children to end up in the gutter.

Like Jesmin, Sheuly, Sabina and Banesa residing across Brahmaputra chars in the area expressed their concern about high school education while talking to this correspondent a few days ago.

A visit to the area revealed that the shoal areas lacked adequate number of secondary schools in terms of children coming out of primary schools sucesfully.

The kids said there was no high school within a few kilometres from their dwelling.

According to Kurigram district au-

Jesmin residing on Brahmaputra char expressed concern about getting admitted to high school DHAKA TRIBUNE The children of Shishu Shiksha Kendra – a primary school in the area – are facing such stumbling block to starting subsequent academic life.

“I want to enrol in high school after finishing elementary education, but I do not know what I am destined for,” said Jesmin – an examinee of Primary School Certificate examinations from the school.

She said she was hopeful about her good result, but uncertain about her admission in high school.

thorities, there are some 350 Primary Schools in about 420 different chars around Brahmaputra, Teesta, Dhorola and other rivers in the district.

But there are only two high schools and one madrasa in those shoal areas, which cannot provide education for around 1,00,000 students passing from the primary schools every year.

Khaleda Khatun, headmistress of Digholkandi Government Primary School, told the Dhaka tribune frustration seized the students because of an

inadequate number of high school in the area.

“In most cases, parents marry their daughters off after their primary education. They think that girls are the burden on their family,” she added.

The government statistics shows that the overall dropout rate after primary education is about 29.7% in 2011 while it is 39.8% in 2010.

Asked what she would do if she failed to get admitted to high school, Sheuly said she might move to Dhaka to work in readymade garment factory like one of her neighbours who did so after primary school.

Like the girls, a great many boys follow suit after finishing their primary education despite having enthusiasm to continue their education.

Most of them dare not move to district town to join high school as their parents do not have abilities to bear educational expenses.

Kordobanshpata Government Primary Schoolteacher Janab Ali said many parents thought that it was a mere waste of money to spend on children’s education.

“That is why they prefer that their kids engage in income-generating activities,” he said.

ABM Azad, deputy commissioner of the district, told the Dhaka Tribune they knew that the kids were being deprived of education but somehow they could not create the facility of high school education for them in the shoal areas.

Dr Ahsan Uddin Ahmed, executive director of Centre for Global Changes, who conducted research on the life and livelihood of the Char people, said this happened because of the government’s ‘wrong’ development policy.

He suggested that running development projects like Char Livelihood Programme and safety-net programmes won’t be enough to solve the problems.

“In fact, there exists a huge coordination gap and lack of up-to-date plan in the government’s strategy to ensure people’s rights, he added.l

Hundreds of workers of Gazipur’s Standard Garment Factory – which was gutted down in a fire last month – have been passing days of hardship as they wait to get their jobs back.

More than 300 workers gathered in front of the factory yesterday, hoping to be re-recruited, as production had resumed on a limited capacity on December 11.

Kamrul Islam, a worker of the cutting department, said he had rejoined work four days ago and had received the salary for November.

Nobi Hossain, who has been working up to 10-hours-a-day as line chief since the production restarted, said: “The factory owner will rerecruit the previous workers soon.

At least 120 labourers worked in each line and the line can only be restarted if all the labourers started working.”

However, those who were yet to rejoin work, were passing tough times, with many of them being unable to pay back the money owed to landlords and shopkeepers.

Asadul Islam, a worker, said: “I have been roaming around the factory every day since December 11. It has now become a routine work.”

Anjuara Begum, a sewing operator of the factory, said: “A few days ago I had an altercation with the manager of the landlord about paying the rent.

“How can I pay back what I owe when I have yet to get the salary?” she posed a question.

Dulal Mia, another worker, said: “I sent money to my family in November, but failed to send any money this month. I went to the factory every day and wait for their call to join work.”

A shop owner of the area Shariful Islam said: “Many workers have taken goods without paying money,” and expressed doubts whether the workers would get their jobs back.

Abbas Uddin, a landlord in the locality, said: “Most of the workers have not paid the rent of November. Although they give assurance of paying the rent after re-recruitment, I cannot rely on them.” l

Another arson victim dies n Mohammad Jamil Khan Yet another arson-victim lost the battle for his life yesterday after two weeks of struggle at the burn unit of the DMCH. Mohammad Al-Amin, 26, died from infections in his urinary and respiratory systems.

The father-of-one, driver of a Horizon Garments staff bus, had been undergoing treatment since December 3 when he suffered burns while inside the vehicle torched by pickets. Dr Partha Shankar Pal, a resident surgeon of DMCH, confirmed the news of his death.

Shakhwat Hossain, brother-in-law of the deceased, said: “He had been away from home for a while before he came back to Bangladesh three years ago.

“After returning from Dubai, he took a job at a garments factory in Savar but then left it for another situated at Rajendrapur – not far from his Gazipur residence. He was a very caring person and forbade us to visit him at hospital fearing we might too get attacked.”

Al-Amin, son of Awal Molla and Laili Begum, is the latest victim of the country’s intensified political tension and deteriorating law and order, which show little signs of improving despite enormous pressure from home and abroad.

His bus came under attack in Kalamdia of Gazipur as he was making his way home after taking his company’s

staff members to their respective destinations. Ironically, he never managed to make it to his own destination.

The only earning member of his six-member family, Al-Amin was admitted at the DMCH with 25% burns.

Ayrin Akter, his younger sister, said he was the first child of their parents, born nine years into their marriage. “Naturally, they loved him a lot. Upon hearing the death news, my mother became sick while my father unconscious.”

“The last time we talked, over phone, was Monday. He told us that he was not feeling well and that he might not survive another week. He asked for forgiveness – which was really heart-wrenching – and expressly forbade us to come and visit him since it was dangerous outside,” Ayrin, with eyes growing misty, said.

“He often told me that he wanted to see me become a doctor. He wouldn’t be there to see that even if I become one someday.”

The premature death of Al-Amin – sixteenth from such cases at the DMCH’s burn unit in the last three months – not only left his family mourning, but also without a shelter.

“He had been both a husband and a father-figure for me, always taking care of us. I don’t know what the future holds for us now that he is no more there,” Papia Sultana, his wife, said. l

A relative covers the body of Al-Amin, a bus driver who succumbed to his injuries received in an arson attack on December 4 in Gazipur, yesterday at the DMCH MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

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 ‘Govt to take fresh

initiative to enlist SOEs with stock exchanges’

B3 Price hike belies

regulatory efforts

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

Business www.dhakatribune.com/business

BB swaps Islami Bank, ICB observers Islami bank now under regulatory scanner after allegations of terrorist financing He served three years as observer in the regulator’s observer in ICB Islamic Bank. n Jebun Nesa Alo ICB Islamic Bank.

On the other hand Kazi Sayedur Rahman,

According to sources, Governor Dr Atiur Rahman had to remove Abdul Wadood from ICB Islamic Bank due to pressure from the bank’s directors.

On the other hand, Abul Kalam Ajad, general manager of inspection department of the central bank, performed as observer in Islami Bank prior to Kazi Sayedur Rahman.

Earlier on November 27, Bangladesh Bank posted an observer in the trouble-hit BASIC Bank Ltd to ensure enforcement of regulations and help revive the bank from continuous financial deterioration.

Ashok Kumar Dey, general manager the department of banking inspection, has been posted as BASIC Bank observer and assigned to attend all the board meetings of the bank and observe the audit reports. l

Bangladesh Bank has exchanged observers between ICB Islamic Bank Ltd and Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd. The decision on exchange was taken at a meeting held on Tuesday with Governor Dr Atiur Rahman in the chair.

Recently, Bangladesh Bank has increased surveillance on financial activities of Islami Bank after allegations of militancy financing.

The central bank however has found no clue yet regarding such financing, said the central bank officials.

According to the decision, Shafiqul Islam, general manager of Bangladesh Bank’s foreign exchange operation department, has been shifted to the Islami Bank as observer.

Shafiqul Islam was serving as the

general manager of foreign exchange and treasury management department of central bank, has been placed at the ICB Islami Bank as observer. He was working as observer in the Islami Bank.

Bangladesh Bank sent a letter to both of banks in this respect, said official sources.

According to sources, Shafiqul Islam was reluctant to continue as observer in ICB Islamic Bank.

Earlier, KM Abdul Wadood, general manager of banking regulation and policy department of Bangladesh Bank, was deployed as observer in the ICB Islamic Bank.

But he was withdrawn from that bank a month earlier and transferred to Housing Fund and Fund Management Unit.

No fund for state banks this month

FIXING BANDWIDTH PRICE

n Asif Showkat Kallol

The government has decided not to disburse in December the fund from the national budget to meet the capital shortfall of four state-owned commercial banks during the present interim government tenure, officials said.

Finance Division yesterday informed the decision to the banking division at a meeting on setting priority to disburse the fund. Additional Secretary of the finance division Ranjit Kumar Chakraborty presided over the meeting at the finance ministry. The Banking and Financial Institutions Division wanted to disburse the fund this month, but the Finance Division argued International Monetary Fund imposed a condition to disburse the Tk4,100cr fund under its Extended Credit Facility programme, said a senior official.

Sources said the government does not want to disburse any budget fund in December as the fund will be required to meet other expenditure while the economy is in shock due to the prolong violence and political deadlock.

The banking division proposed to disburse the amount to the banks, but the division is not interested to disburse any fund for three of them – Bangladesh Commerce Bank, Bangladesh Krishi Bank and Basic Bank, source in the meeting said. Sonali Bank will get highest amount of Tk2,000cr and rest of the fund would go to three banks, officials said .

Banking Secretary Dr Aslam Alam told Dhaka Tribune the budget division will also impose their conditions to disburse fund for the state owned banks. l

Airtel supports while others reluctant n Muhammad Zahidul Islam While some other mobile phone operators are not interested in, Airtel says it will favour fixing of mobile internet bandwidth prices.

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has recently decided to set the bandwidth prices like voice and SMS tariffs.

It will be especially for mini packs, which will protect end-users, said sources.

“Currently, we are the price leader in data and voice market. So, we always welcome price packaging,” said Adnan Bin Taj, head of data of Airtel, while talking to the Dhaka Tribune on the sideline of a workshop yesterday in Dhaka.

Airtel and Telecom Reporters’ Network, Bangladesh jointly organised the workshop on “Prospect of 3G in Bangladesh” at a hotel.

BTRC already held a meeting with the mobile phone operators while the tariffs are likely to be finalised after another meeting next week.

The country’s telecom watchdog has compared different packages of the operators and decided to fix the bandwidth prices per 100 Megabits (MB) below Tk20.

The prices will be applicable for both 2G and 3G users simultaneously, said BTRC sources.

BTRC also wants to reduce the number of packages to “protect users from different traps.”

But three leading mobile phone operators are not currently willing to accept such price

regulation as they said the action will make them lose revenue.

“We’ve just entered 3G era. The service and also the data market need some time to get matured,” said a senior executive of a mobile phone operator. But the telecom watchdog argued price regulation is necessary for “the betterment of the industry” and such action is a continuous process.

Airtel said it wished to be the leader in data service in the market.

“We want to be the data service leader in the market,” said Airtel’s public relations head Shamit Shahabuddin.

“Airtel has a large number of users from young generation. We need to take care of their demands.” Earlier, BTRC fixed a ceiling for call tariff at Tk0.25-2 per minute in 2008.

The regulator also directed operators to charge off-net call (from one operator to another) not less than Tk0.60.

In 2011, BTRC fixed the local SMS tariff at the maximum Tk0.50 and for international operators at Tk2. BTRC introduced 10-second pulse in any type of calls last year amid opposition from the operators.

Grameenphone, the leading operator, currently offers 500MB bandwidth at only Tk50 with 512Kbps (kilobits per second) speed in 3G for a five-day use.

Another operator Banglalink offers 50MB bandwidth for Tk50 with 1Mbps speed which can be used 15 days.

Robi offers 200MB bandwidth for Tk100 with 512Kbps speed for a seven-day use. l

5 insurance licences awarded under political pressure n Tribune Report The insurance regulator yesterday approved five new life insurance companies under political consideration.

The approval was given five months since Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority (IDRA) issued 11 licences.

The new companies are Alfa Islami Life, Shawdesh Life, Trust Islami Life, Jamuna Life and Diamond Life Insurances.

Nazimuddin Ahmed, an apparel exporter and manufacturers, received licence of Alfa Islami Life in recommendation of Shahriair Alam, Member of the Parliament (MP) elected from Rajshahi-6 constitution, sources said.

The regulator issued licence of Diamond Life Insurance to former Chhatra League former General Secretary Ishaq Ali Khan, Jamuna Life Insurance to MP of AL Mosharraf Hossain, Shawdesh Life Insurance to president of the Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra Nurul Alam Chowdhury and Trust Islami Life Insurance to AL leader living in Australia Zaker Ahmed Bhuiyan, according to them.

“Licences of five new insurance companies were issued,” said IDRA Chairman M Shefaq Ahmed told the Dhaka Tribune. “IDRA is an autonomous body, so there is no room for political consideration in issuing licence.”

The approval was given in line with the finance ministry’s instruction, said a source in the IDRA. Bangladesh Insurance Association (BIA) President Sheikh Kobir Hossain said insurance sector suffered for skilled manpower. “As a result 11 companies are yet to take off. In this context, the government should take the decision taking the present situation into the account.”

Earlier the IDRA issued licences to nine new life insurance companies and two general insurance companies.

The companies were- Mercantile Islami Life Insurance Ltd, Taiyo Summit Life Insurance Co Ltd, Sonali Life Insurance Co Ltd, NRB Global Life Insurance Co Ltd, Protective Life Insurance Co Ltd, Guardian Life Insurance Ltd, Chartered Life Insurance Co Ltd, Best Life Insurance and Zenith Islami Life Insurance Ltd. Sikder Insurance and Sena Kalyan General Insurance got licenses for setting up general insurance companies. l

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

Proposed financial reporting law to go next parliament n Tribune Report

GENERATION NEXT

Market leader for second consecutive session n Tribune Business Desk Generation Next Fashions Limited emerged as the market leader for the second consecutive session of Dhaka Stock Exchange yesterday.

The stocks worth more than Tk36.4 crore changed hands, contributing 7.5% of the total DSE turnover.

The volume (in amount) traded yesterday increased by 38% in comparison with the preceding trading day, which was worth Tk26.1 crore.

The price of each share that ranged between Tk36.4 and Tk37.9 rose 1.94% to Tk36.8 at closing.

The end-of-trading closing price of Tk36.8is the highest closing price registered by the companyin the last six months.

Investors believed the market confidence in the stock is pulling up the price of the stock.

Brokers said the share price increase is influenced by a declaration disclosed on Tuesday that the company obtained positive rating by Credit Rating Information and Services Limited (CRISL).

The company disclosed it was given the ratings “A-” in the long-term and “ST3” in the short-term loan that was mostly reflected by its financials (audited) up to June 30, 2013, and relevant quantitative and qualitative information up to the date of rating declaration.

Previously, the management disclosed a quarterly profit of Tk11.6 crore against Tk5 crore in the same period last year.

The company has also reported a profit of Tk28.5 crore in the first nine months of the current year, which is an increase of 75% of the profit (Tk16.4 crore) during the same period last year.

The company listed in the engineering segment of the stock market has an EPS of Tk1.69 and a price to earning ratio of 16.02, according to DSE. l

BB asks banks to offer special privileges for SMEs

n Tribune Report Bangladesh Bank has asked the scheduled banks to offer some privileges for the small and medium enterprise sector hit by political unrest.

Among the privileges directed are considering down payments of rescheduled loans on the basis of bank-client relationships, fixing the restructuring period of non-classified loans (standard and small amounts) to a logical level, transferring of credit to blocked accounts if need be and allowing an amount of flexibility in determining interest rates.

A circular issued yesterday made the directives. These concessions, aimed at maintaining sufficient credit flow for the SMEs, are to be allowed until the end of June next year, the circular stated.

Bangladesh Bank said the SME sector has a significant contribution to the country’s economy and should be helped out of the impacts of ongoing political unrest. l

Finance Minister AMA Muhith delivering speech at a meeting with the board of directors of DSE at the finance ministry in Dhaka yesterday

‘Govt to take fresh initiative to enlist SOEs with stock exchanges’ n Tribune Report

Finance Minister AMA Muhith yesterday said the government would take a fresh initiative to enlist the state-owned enterprises with the stock exchanges as it has taken go-slow strategy due to the volatility of the capital market.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina earlier directed listing the SOEs, but the finance ministry delayed the process because of unstable market, he told reporters after a meeting with the board of directors of Dhaka Stock Exchange at the finance ministry. A decision would be taken soon, he said.

Muhith said the government has taken a number of measures, including amendments to laws, along with providing financial facilities because it wanted to create the country capital markets as “major source of business.”

About the stock market debacle in 2010, he said the crash could not be controlled because the prices of most listed companies were overvalued. He, however, pointed out the investment increased recently compared to the

previous time.

DSE Director Ahmed Rashid Lali said the stock exchanges badly need five facilities, including tax holiday, separate clearing and settlement company, withdrawal of 1.5% tax on stamps, and extension of provisioning period for banks and non-banking financial institutions.

Those facilities are not necessary due to the execution of demutualisation as the government is implementing the process, Lali said.

Meanwhile, a DSE statement said it demanded relaxing the rules for opening new branches by brokerage firms considering the present situation.

Earlier, the securities regulator had put a curb on opening new branch of brokerage houses in and out of the city after market debacle three-year back. During the market booming, the DSE at the district level opened around 600 branches of brokerage firms to net more investors across the country.

DSE also met with National Board of Revenue Chairman Md Ghulam Hussain later on the day, placing almost similar demands. l

BSEC asks CDBL to update BO accounts, approves rights shares for Rupali life insurance n

Tribune Report

The stock regulator has asked the Central Depository of Bangladesh to update beneficiary owner’s account as part of simplifying the application process for IPO shares.

Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission issued a statement in this regard yesterday.

In addition, BSEC approved rights offer of Rupali Life Insurance Company Ltd that will issue more than 12m ordinary shares of Tk30 each, including Tk20 in premium, with the target to raise over Tk360m from investors.

The offer is of one rights share per existing share. The rights share issue proceeds will be used for business expansion and for the strengthening of the company’s capital base.

It also approved the trust deed for an open

fund titled “ICB AMCL First Converted Unit Fund” worth Tk500m.

The regulator is now discussing the application process for initial public offering shares with the stakeholders and intends to streamline the procedure for retail investors.

Bangladesh Merchant Bankers Association and the stock exchanges already submitted their opinions over the issue.

Under the new plan, the money will be transferred directly from BO accounts of successful investors in the IPO lottery to the issuing companies. The retail investors will be able to apply for IPO share allotments through their respective brokerage firms and merchant banks.

It is expected that the change will reduce hassles of cheque handling and curtail the processing time lag currently associated with manual applications. l

The proposed financial reporting law will have to wait for the next parliament to be enacted as Finance Minister AMA Muhith said in Dhaka yesterday.

He said the interim government would finalise the draft of the law, which will have to be passed by the next parliament when a new government would come to power. The minister told reporters of the development after a meeting with the board of directors of Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE).

The present government had initiated formulating the law due to misleading reports by a section of ill-motivated companies that caused distortion on the financial markets. A draft of the law has also been approved by the cabinet of the government.

“The country’s chartered accountancy has not developed compared to other developing countries,” Muhith said, expressing dissatisfaction. “There is some problem lies in the system.” He pointed out that there are talks about the chartered accountants firms regarding the financial reporting act, but the cost management firms have backed the government move.

As a result, he said, the government will not face any problem to enact the financial reporting law. l

Individuals, cos fined for share price manipulation n Tribune Report The securities regulator has fined four individuals and nine companies Tk75 lakh for manipulating scrips between 2009 and 2011.

Abdur Rahim, an individual, faced Tk25 lakh fine for manipulating Rahim Textile, Bangas, Mithun Knitting, Renata, Reckitt Benckiser and Phoenix Finance First Mutual Fund scrips, said Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission in a statement yesterday. The commission found that Abdur Rahim and his associates committed serial transaction of the above scrips each other for influencing share prices in 2009-2010, which is false and misleading appearance of active trade, the commission said. l

Rejoinder

NRB Bank Limited in a rejoinder has objected to a headline titled “New bank violates rules” published in Dhaka Tribune yesterday. They termed the headline as “negative and provocative.”

The bank said: “Any policy of the bank is always approved by the board of directors and any exception thereof is also approved by the board. The appointment of the senior executive was duly approved by the board and accordingly and informed to the regulator.”

Regarding purchase of a car, it mentioned that the bank didn’t violate any rule in terms of car purchase policy of Bangladesh Bank. In order to keep the expenses under control, the bank hired the vehicle on rental basis in compliance with the regulator’s policy. Our reply: The story we published was based on a Bangladesh Bank letter sent to NRB Bank Limited and the allegations were brought by the central bank. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

LOW CAP STOCKS

Price hike belies regulatory efforts n Kayes Sohel The prices of low-cap stocks began to rise again, making a mockery of the securities regulator’s efforts to put a lid on unusual price hike of the scrips.

The stock prices of these junk-rated companies have jumped on average by between 150% and 23% in the last month.

Of the low cap companies, CVO Petro Chemical Refinery Ltd came to the spotlight despite the company is not in continuous production in last six months, according to the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE).

As soon as it resumed trading on Sunday after two and half month, its share prices increased 7% to Tk943 each. Yesterday, it declined to Tk881.

On September 24, Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) suspended trading the share for its abnormal price hike.

The commission found that the scrips of the company were manipulated between April and August when prices jumped more than 100% to over Tk634.

As a result, three companies were fined Tk22lakh, which is lighter than the wrongs they did, said a market player.

The BSEC is now in the process of appointing a chartered accountant firm to carry out a special audit of the company, said

SINOBANGLA INDUSTRIES

DSE top gainer n Tribune Business Desk

Shares of Sinobangla Industries registered highest gains of 9.16% to close at Tk28.4 each on Dhaka Stock Exchange yesterday.

Some 0.7% of the total DSE trades or Tk3.8 crore worth of the shares exchanged hands, despite having no recent positive disclosure of the company in the recent times.

The shares closed at the highest closing price in last six months.

The company reported its third quarter profit of Tk67.6 lakh ending in July 2013 that was lower than the profit of Tk69.9 lakh in the same period last year.

In addition, the company’s last published nine-month profit was almost half of the profit in the same period last year.

However, the company has been consistent in giving out cash dividend to its investors in the past ranging from 10% to 20% of face value.

Earlier on October 31, the company disclosed that it was given the ratings “A-” in the long-term and “ST-3” in the short-term loan that was mostly reflected by its financials (audited) up to June 30, 2013, and relevant quantitative and qualitative information up to the date of rating declaration.

The company’s 65.48% of the stock is public whereas only a smaller percentage of 27.41% shares belong to the company sponsors/directors.

Sinobangla Industries is listed in the miscellaneous segment at DSE and has an EPS of Tk0.48 along with a price to earnings ratio of 44.38, according to DSE. l

an official.

Other low cap companies which are still under regulator’s scanner continued to rise shrugging off the regulator’s warnings.

“This may cause huge losses for the late-comer and over enthusiastic investors,” said an analyst at a brokerage firm, adding that some have been trying to fish out of the troubled water.

The market remained volatile over the last several months due to the ongoing political turmoil over the general election.

Amidst such chaotic situation, low cap companies dominated the trading, making their scrips overvalued.

A stock dealer, requesting not to be named, said if take a look at the price movements of scrips that are under investigation, you can see soon after enquiry made by the DSE, share prices of the scrips going up.

“That’s why investors swoop on those stocks to make a quick gain amid common perception that the regulator has nothing to do.”

Share prices of Rahima Food sharply rose more than 137%, Modern Dyeing 35% and JMI Syringe 23% in the last one month.

Earlier, the BSEC had opened a probe into the abnormal share price rise of CVO Petrochemical and other low cap companies, including Mithun Knitting, Tallu Spinning, JMI Syringes and Medical Devices, Alhaj

Textiles, Bangas, Modern Dyeing and Anawar Galvanising.

The BSEC investigative team has already submitted their reports against those low cap companies’ unusual rise of share price.

An official said the team found some institutions involved with price manipulation of the low cap companies.

For poor performance, the DSE has downgraded Rohima Food, Modern Dyeing and CVO Petrochemical to the Z-category with effect from yesterday.

Earlier, the DSE served a show-case notice on 16 low-cap companies to know the cause of the abnormal price hike. All the companies replied they have no price sensitive information.

DSE Chief Executive Officer Swapan Kumar Bala said: “Investors should be cautious about the unusual price hike of the low-cap companies.”

In every possible way, he said they were making the investors aware about those scrips that may upset their investment, he said.

Another analyst said price may increase by 100% in 10 days for different factors like growth prospect, low cap, low free-float and finally, if the buyers want.

“In a free market, I think, smarts win and fools die. So, if an investor is willing to give 100% higher price, regulator should do nothing,” he added. l

Stocks fall for fourth day n Tribune Report Stocks extended losses for the fourth consecutive session yesterday with thin trading amid long spell of political violence across the country.

The market was in the positive territory in first hour of trade but the momentum failed to sustain as sale pressure mostly from textile and energy stocks came in.

The benchmark index, DSEX, lost 30 points or 0.8% to close at 4,240. The blue chip comprising DS30 index fell nearly 10 points or 0.7% to 1,468.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange Selective Category Index, CSCX, was down 77 points to 8,402.

The total DSE turnover stood at about Tk483 crore, a decrease of 18.7% over the previous session, indicating that investors were reluctant to put funds on stocks.

“Quite similar with recent sessions, market was upbeat at the beginning, but quickly started losing momentum as the session progressed,” said IDLC Investment

in its market analysis.

Negativity gradually overcame optimism, forcing most major sectors to close red. But after rally in the last few days, small cap companies declined on profit taking.

Downgrading of CVO Petrochemical Refinery Ltd and Rahima Food in ‘Z’ category put negative impact on overall food sectors.

This caused Rahima Food to become the top loser with a fall of 10%.

Lanka Bangla Securities said the consolidation in market continued for the fourth consecutive trading session as investors are eyeing on recent economic slowdown.

Market sentiment has been gripped by ongoing political unrest that is narrowing the investment in manufacturing sectors and affecting the export and import of the country, it said.

Golden Son topped the turnover list, followed by Envoy Textile, Delta Life Insurance, Paramount Textile, CVO Petrochemical Refinery Ltd, CVO Petrochemical Refinery Ltd, Generation Next Fashion and Bengal Windsor Thermoplastics Ltd. l

3

Rahima Food becomes worst loser as it is downgraded to Z-category n Tribune Business Desk The stock price of Rahima Food has eroded by 10% to Tk82.8 each at the Dhaka Stock Exchange yesterday with a traded volume worth Tk2.3 crore.

DSE on Tuesday placed the company in the “Z” category of shares from the “A” category effective since yesterday as the company failed to continue operations for more than last six months.

The decision was made in accordance with securities laws.

Rally of the shares stopped in the on-going week that brokers predicted to be based on market jitters such as the price fall of palm and palm oil last year (major raw materials imported by Rahima Food) would improve the company’s profitability.

Since last September, the price of the stock rose up from Tk17 each to Tk92 on Tuesday.

The trading of the stocks was put to a halt since the beginning of October for more than one and a half month in order to stop price manipulation and irrational price hike of the shares.

According to auditor’s observation published on DSE in the current month, the company has a huge chunk of receivables of Tk97.7 crore to Elias Brothers Limited, which is close to the total yearly sales of the company.

Rahima Food sales are only made to the Elias Brothers and the dependence on one party is very much risky and threat for the company’s viability, said an analyst.

According to the agreement made before, the interest on bank loan taken for importing raw materials is being paid by Elias Brothers Limited on behalf of Rahima Food.

The company reported a quarterly loss in the first quarter as it had to bear the expenses without any production.

The stock price ranged between Tk14.4 and Tk92 in last six months.

The company is listed in the food and allied segment of the stock market that has a negative EPS of Tk0.16 and a negative price to earning ratio of -129.38, according to DSE. l

DCCI gets new office bearers n Tribune Business Desk

Shipping and real estate businessman, Mohammad Shahjahan Khan has been elected as president of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) for the year 2014.

The election was held at the 52nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of DCCI at its auditorium in Dhaka yesterday, said a press release.

Osama Taseer was elected as senior vice president whereas Kh Shahidul Islam elected as vice president.

The newly elected directors for the term 2014-16 are Sameer Sattar, AKD Khair Mohammad Khan, KG Karim, Mukter Hossain Chowdhury and S Rumi Saifullah. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

TRANS-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP

A blessing for Asia-Pacific economies? n BSS Ministers from the 12 nations involved in the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade talks wrapped up their four-day meeting here last Tuesday without a full agreement, thus failed to cut a deal by the end of this year as Washington had expected.

A few days earlier, the 159-member WTO reached an agreement in the Doha round of its multilateral trade negotiations at its ninth ministerial meeting in Bali, Indonesia. The breakthrough came, however, after many missed deadlines in more than a decade of negotiations.

The two meetings, though with different agenda and outcome, underlined nevertheless the complexity and difficulties for global trade rule setting.

The Bali accord served to offer some confidence to the world trade body, especially at a time when many countries are seeking regional trade agreements outside the WTO framework such as the TPP and Transattlantic Trade and Investment Partnership(TTIP).

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Asian economies, ASEAN nations in particular, have embarked on a combination of multilateral and unilateral measures to reduce barriers to trade goods, services and investments. Since 2000, however, a lack of progress in multilateral liberalization, and domestic reform has led to a proliferation of ASEAN free trade areas (FTAs).

But according to a report by the Asia Development Bank,” while these agreements commit the parties to eliminating tariffs on trade between themselves, they do not effectively address regulatory barriers and other non-tariff barriers like product standards and mutual recognition agreements, services, investment, intellectual property rights, government procurement or the movement of business people - which are all more important than tariffs for regional economic integration.”

That’s probably part of the reason why four ASEAN members - Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam - have decided to join the TPP that also involves Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, the United States and Peru.

The TPP has been envisioned as “a high-standard, comprehensive and forwardlooking trade agreement that aims to address the challenges of the modern economy.”

Termed as “the agreement of the 21st century” by its proponents, the TPP is very ambitious. When negotiations have concluded, it could potentially create a free-trade bloc that will comprise some 40% of the global economy, according to leading economists.

It aims to reduce tariffs on goods and services to close to zero among disparate economies, and address issues beyond traditional trade and investment, such as labour and environment standards, intellectual property and competitive advantage of state-owned enterprises.

As the leading drive force for the negotiation, the United States has insisted on addressing all these so-called 21st century issues, and asked its TPP partners to commit themselves to a high-standard agreement.

Trade ministers meeting in Singapore said on December 10 that talks on a US-led Pacific trade pact will resume in January, missing a deadline to agree a deal this year AFP However, different economic interests and diverse levels of economic growth inevitably make the negotiations very difficult from the very start.

Given the complexity of the pact and the political pressure governments face in winning domestic approval, most analysts had long viewed the goal of cutting a deal by the end of this year as unrealistic. They predict that hard haggling lie ahead even in late January next year.

In a recent interview with Xinhua, Sarah Tong, senior research fellow at the East Asian Institute of National University of Singapore, compared TPP with Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership(RCEP), the free trade pact among 10 ASEAN countries and its FTA partners of Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand to be concluded by the end of 2015.

She noted that the RCEP comes to economies in the Asia- Pacific region as something more natural and something easier to understand, which offers members tangible benefits in such spheres as supply chains and regional economic integration.

As economies in the region have achieved a lot in bilateral trade pacts and regional economic integration, what they need to do is further integration, namely to add all things up and, in the process, address the inconsistencies, she said.

By comparison, TPP seems to have taken a top-down approach, in which objectives are set first, then deduction is performed to leave out what is unattainable at the moment or allow members to opt out of some of

their obligations. Therefore, TPP faces much greater difficulties, she added.

To John Franklin Copper, professor emeritus of international studies at Rhodes College, Memphis, Tennessee, TPP differs from other trade arrangements in that it aims at fair trade or management of trade, instead of merely dealing with free trade.

“The TPP seems to be trying to regulate trade, and more regulate financial transactions and things that are connected to trade somehow,” he told Xinhua in a recent interview.

TPP is widely believed the economic pillar of U.S. President Barack Obama’s pivot to Asia, which, with its pronounced military presence in the region, has led to increased suspicion over its intention. Some western media put it more bluntly as “having the political purpose of countering the growing influence of China.”

Lisa Brandt, trade policy analyst at the European Centre for International Political Economy, said in an article that TPP would have economic benefits. But it is also underpinned by geopolitical ambitions.

“The United States is keen to promote stability in the region and establish a set of rules that can serve as a future template for international economic relations.” Her views were echoed by Professor Copper, who noted that TPP is viewed by some as part of the Asian pivot.

“Since the Asian pivot is really a strategic idea, of the military thought. It means it’s missing the economic aspect to it. And the TPP is the economic side...Some said that

the Asian pivot will not work without TPP.” However, Many Asian economies are reluctant to choose sides between major powers in the region. When geopolitical consideration outweighs economic reality, TPP would lose appeal to its potential members. As Professor Copper noted, “Asians do not think of balance of power as the United States do...They are thinking of it more in economic terms than military power relations.”

TPP, as a major regional trading arrangement, will inevitably have great impacts on the economic integration in the Asia- Pacific region. Despite allegation that TPP is intended to contain China’s growing influence, China has adopted an open attitude toward TPP. Yu Jianhua, China’s deputy international trade representative, told a press conference in Bali in October that China maintains different economies should uphold the principle of openness, inclusiveness and transparency in negotiating free trade areas.

In the FTA negotiations, they should not exclude each other and each should not go his own way, but keep open to one another and be mutually promotive so that different FTAs would ultimately integrate, he said.

Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng told a press conference in March this year that China has adopted an open and inclusive attitude toward regional economic cooperation mechanism and held that all economies in the world have the right to choose the path to economic integration that best suit them.

“However, all FTA negotiations, including the TPP, should follow the principle of non- discrimination and transparency and serve as a useful supplement to multilateral trading rules rather than their replacement,” he said.

According to the Asian Development Bank, there are currently more than 130 free trade pacts across Asia and another 100 in the works. Some experts have called attention to the proliferation of free-trade deals in the Asia-Pacific region and warned that this might hamper free trade itself.

For one thing, countries with smaller market make them less attractive as trade partners and are often left out of free trade agreements. For another, different and sometimes conflicting standards, rules can possibly stagnate economic growth, they argued.

Regional trading pacts led by major powers such as the TPP, should offer economies at different stages of development wider choices for liberalization and facilitation of regional trade and investment, rather than creating an overgrowth of competing trade mechanism where the law of jungle prevails, they noted.

In an earlier interview with Xinhua, APEC Secretariat Executive Director Allan Bollard said it is important for the different regional architecture of economic cooperation like TPP and RCEP to “potentially converge.”

“If they diverge, that is a problem. We would not want to see part of the big economies in the Pacific in one direction and part of the other ones in another direction,” he said. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

5

India says better prepared to deal with Fed tapering n Reuters India is in a much better position to deal with the impact of the US Federal Reserve’s possible move to reduce monetary stimulus that has supported inflows of cash to emerging markets, a top government official said on Wednesday.

Globally, investors are awaiting the outcome of a Federal Reserve meeting on Wednesday for some clarity as to when the central bank will begin trimming its stimulus.

Worries over the Fed’s possible tapering had triggered massive capital outflows this summer from emerging markets. Saddled with hefty current account and fiscal deficits, India looked the most vulnerable. The rupee went in a free-fall, losing as much as 20% against the dollar before recovering.

Arvind Mayaram, India’s economic affairs secretary, reckons Asia’s third-largest economy is in a much better shape this time, thanks to the measures taken to bolster the forex reserves and control the current account deficit, to handle the fallout of any decision to reduce the stimulus.

“So, all these measures taken together I believe would keep the market stable and there is not going to be a very great impact from the taper on the rupee going forward,”

he told reporters on the sidelines of a G20 conference.

“I would not say no impact but I would say there would be little impact and whatever impact is there would be short-term impact on the rupee.”

The policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee is expected to issue a statement on Wednesday at the meeting’s conclusion.

While the Fed isn’t expected to start winding down its purchases of $85bn a month in bonds until March, recent stronger-than-expected economic data increased the odds that tapering could occur sooner.

The rupee was trading at 61.86/87 against the dollar after rising to as high as 61.77, as caution prevails ahead of the Fed’s decision later in the evening. It had closed at 62.01/02 on Tuesday.

Mayaram ruled out any new measures to bolster the currency, if the Fed’s decision created any volatility in the forex market. India had unveiled a slew of measures between May and September to stem capital outflows and stabilise the rupee.

It also clamped down on gold imports to control the current account deficit that hit a record high 4.8% of gross domestic product (GDP) in the fiscal year that ended in March.

But gold import curbs along with a rebound in merchandise exports have helped narrow

A man watches television inside his currency exchange shop in New Delhi the deficit to 1.2% in the last quarter.

India is also talking with JP Morgan and others to gain entry to benchmark indexes for emerging market debt in hopes of attracting billions of dollars in investment that could act

REUTERS

as an insurance against any external shock.

Mayaram said the government is still discussing inclusion in global bond indices and would prefer incremental change in foreign investment limit in the sovereign debt. l

Euro zone set for drawn-out battle over banking rules n Reuters Euro zone finance ministers started tense talks on Tuesday to agree the details of one of their most ambitious financial reforms yet with a scheme to close banks, a deeply divisive issue on which Germany has dug in its heels.

More than five years into a financial storm that toppled banks and dragged down states from Ireland to Spain, Europe wants to seal its biggest project since the euro - a framework to police banks and tackle their problems together.

As ministers gathered in Brussels, German Chancellor Angela Merkel underscored the importance of the negotiations to complete banking union - of which agreement on how to close bad banks are a key part - and said she hoped they would reach a deal before she and other EU leaders meet on Thursday.

“For the acceptance of the euro on financial markets, the banking union is very important,” Merkel said.

That gives ministers 36 hours to clinch agreement on an agency and fund to shut weak banks to complement European Central Bank supervision of the sector if European Union leaders are to sign off on it this week.

But discussions over a banking union have already dragged on for the best part of a year and are growing ever more complex as they reach their climax.

Wolfgang Schaeuble, Germany’s finance

of problem banks across the euro zone.

With divisions running deep, ministers may sidestep this thorny issue so as to reach a general political agreement and stick to an ambitious timetable for the banking union project to start in 2015.

“Too cumbersome”

European Central Bank (ECB) President Mario Draghi talks to Dutch Finance Minister and Eurogroup chairman Jeroen Dijsselbloem (right) during a eurozone finance ministers meeting in Brussels REUTERS minister, sounded a downbeat note before the meeting, saying there was no consensus. “The work remains difficult,” he told reporters. “We have different opinions on several points.”

The sense of urgency was highlighted by Dutch Finance Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem, who chairs the meetings of euro zone finance ministers. “We have to get a result,” he said.

Olli Rehn, the European economic commissioner who is at the talks, called for everyone to redouble their efforts in order to have

“Christmas peace”.

Ministers have already agreed on the first plank of banking union, making the European Central Bank supervisor of the region’s largest banks from the end of 2014.

But the second pillar - an agency for winding up problem banks and a fund to pay for the clean-up - is difficult.

Germany, the euro zone’s largest economy, has raised the greatest concerns about the fund, which it fears is a step towards sharing the costs

There is also a question mark over the new procedure for closing a bank. Documents circulating among diplomats and seen by Reuters show an increasingly complicated structure emerging.

“The proposal on governance looks very complicated,” said Michael Noonan, finance minister for Ireland, which saw its economy almost collapse after its banking crisis.

“In resolving a bank, one would want to be able to do it over a single weekend at the maximum. So anything that is too cumbersome, with various layers to it, won’t be effective.”

A general agreement among the ministers is all that is needed to start negotiations with the European parliament on the legislation.

Yesterday, ministers from the wider EU will join the group to discuss who will have the power to close down a laggard bank in the euro zone. On Tuesday, the talks are focusing on who pays.

Under draft plans, banks will provide the cash to pay for the closure of failed lenders, giving roughly 55bn euros ($76bn) over 10 years. l

6

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

DSE Broad Index: 4240.13 ⇓ 0.71% ,Turnover:4826.72M.Tk⇓18.70%,PE:13.02 Turnover5,408.03MTk.⇓18.99% 18 December 2013 MarketCap.2,042.34BTk.⇓0.63% CSEAllShareIndex:13180⇓0.84%,Turnover:581.31MTk.⇓21.31%,PE:12.87 10000

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CompanyCode | EPS | BV | Volume Traded (Share) DSE/CSE: ClosePrice ⇓/⇑ Chn % | Avg.Price | Hi / Lo

BANK ABBANK | 2.95 | 32.60 | Vol. 628489 D: 25.80 ⇓ 1.53% | 25.96 | 27.00 / 23.60 C: 26.10 ⇓ 0.76% | 26.13 | 26.60 / 25.80 CITYBANK | 1.15 | 25.97 | Vol. 387936 D: 20.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 20.01 | 21.00 / 18.00 C: 20.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 20.11 | 20.60 / 20.00 IFIC | 1.10 | 18.34 | Vol. 1015027 D: 33.40 ⇑ 1.21% | 33.58 | 34.00 / 31.20 C: 33.40 ⇑ 1.21% | 33.52 | 33.90 / 33.20 ISLAMIBANK | 3.78 | 27.16 | Vol. 596312 D: 34.10 ⇓ 0.29% | 34.14 | 35.00 / 32.50 C: 33.90 ⇓ 2.31% | 34.32 | 35.00 / 33.80 NBL | 1.05 | 15.76 | Vol. 1464491 D: 11.80 ⇓ 0.84% | 11.92 | 12.30 / 11.00 C: 11.90 ⇓ 0.83% | 11.95 | 12.10 / 11.90 PUBALIBANK | 1.92 | 21.18 | Vol. 178161 D: 31.80 ⇑ 0.63% | 31.85 | 32.90 / 29.00 C: 31.30 ⇓ 0.32% | 31.44 | 31.90 / 31.20 RUPALIBANK | 6.70 | 64.27 | Vol. 10575 D: 64.60 ⇑ 0.94% | 64.55 | 65.60 / 61.50 C: 64.50 ⇓ 0.15% | 64.53 | 65.00 / 64.00 UCBL | 1.90 | 21.72 | Vol. 1164360 D: 24.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 24.35 | 25.50 / 22.00 C: 24.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 24.39 | 24.60 / 24.20 UTTARABANK | 3.42 | 26.97 | Vol. 297782 D: 30.90 ⇓ 0.32% | 31.06 | 31.50 / 27.90 C: 30.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 30.69 | 31.00 / 30.50 ICBIBANK | -1.60 | -13.03 | Vol. 265000 D: 6.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.09 | 6.20 / 6.00 EBL | 3.91 | 28.22 | Vol. 97370 D: 27.90 ⇓ 0.36% | 28.03 | 28.90 / 26.00 C: 27.60 ⇓ 1.08% | 27.47 | 27.60 / 27.00 ALARABANK | 2.03 | 14.91 | Vol. 1380312 D: 19.20 ⇓ 0.52% | 19.37 | 20.00 / 17.90 C: 19.10 ⇓ 1.04% | 19.31 | 19.60 / 19.00 PRIMEBANK | 2.89 | 22.40 | Vol. 93302 D: 23.10 ⇑ 0.87% | 23.03 | 23.30 / 21.00 C: 22.90 ⇑ 0.88% | 22.76 | 23.00 / 22.60 SOUTHEASTB | 1.89 | 22.66 | Vol. 272068 D: 17.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 17.99 | 18.20 / 16.20 C: 18.00 ⇑ 0.56% | 18.03 | 18.20 / 17.50 DHAKABANK | 1.46 | 18.08 | Vol. 112193 D: 18.60 ⇓ 0.53% | 18.71 | 18.90 / 17.00 C: 18.60 ⇓ 1.06% | 18.66 | 18.70 / 18.60 NCCBANK | 1.90 | 15.88 | Vol. 574412 D: 13.10 ⇓ 0.76% | 13.19 | 13.80 / 12.00 C: 13.10 ⇓ 2.24% | 13.23 | 13.80 / 12.20 SIBL | 2.05 | 14.47 | Vol. 303685 D: 13.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 13.26 | 13.60 / 12.00 C: 13.20 ⇓ 0.75% | 13.27 | 13.50 / 13.20 DUTCHBANGL | 11.57 | 54.27 | Vol. 75500 D: 103.5 ⇑ 1.47% | 102.83 | 103.9 / 101.5 MTBL | 1.17 | 17.27 | Vol. 14959 D: 15.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 15.91 | 16.20 / 15.00 STANDBANKL | 2.33 | 14.41 | Vol. 464214 D: 14.60 ⇓ 0.68% | 14.64 | 14.90 / 13.40 C: 14.60 ⇓ 1.35% | 14.67 | 15.60 / 14.00 ONEBANKLTD | 2.35 | 15.34 | Vol. 747396 D: 16.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 16.03 | 16.20 / 14.50 C: 16.00 ⇓ 0.62% | 16.06 | 16.30 / 15.90 BANKASIA | 1.35 | 20.80 | Vol. 100845 D: 18.80 ⇓ 0.53% | 18.80 | 18.90 / 17.30 MERCANBANK | 2.07 | 16.59 | Vol. 2717093 D: 16.30 ⇑ 0.62% | 16.30 | 16.50 / 15.00 C: 16.20 ⇓ 0.61% | 16.26 | 16.40 / 16.10 EXIMBANK | 1.80 | 14.31 | Vol. 610402 D: 12.30 ⇓ 0.81% | 12.33 | 13.00 / 11.20 C: 12.40 ⇓ 0.80% | 12.37 | 13.00 / 11.30 JAMUNABANK | 2.47 | 18.56 | Vol. 114078 D: 15.90 ⇓ 1.24% | 15.93 | 17.00 / 14.90 C: 16.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 16.04 | 16.10 / 16.00 BRACBANK | 1.51 | 24.87 | Vol. 153224 D: 31.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 30.98 | 32.00 / 29.00 C: 30.90 ⇑ 0.65% | 30.40 | 31.00 / 29.70 SHAHJABANK | 2.61 | 14.47 | Vol. 537938 D: 16.60 ⇑ 0.61% | 16.61 | 17.80 / 14.90 C: 16.60 ⇓ 0.60% | 16.64 | 16.80 / 15.10 PREMIERBAN | 1.18 | 13.95 | Vol. 384164 D: 11.10 ⇓ 1.77% | 11.25 | 12.00 / 10.40 C: 11.20 ⇓ 0.88% | 11.24 | 11.50 / 11.10 TRUSTBANK | 0.50 | 18.00 | Vol. 96939 D: 20.20 ⇑ 0.50% | 20.39 | 20.60 / 18.10 C: 20.60 ⇓ 0.48% | 20.58 | 20.70 / 20.50

Combined Turnover Leader Generation Next Fashions-A LankaBangla Fin. -A

Vol. 10892980

TO M. Tk. 404.12

% of TTL 7.47

Avg. P 37.10

2994908

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FIRSTSBANK | 1.85 | 13.89 | Vol. 625701 D: 15.00 ⇓ 0.66% | 15.20 | 16.00 / 14.00 C: 15.00 ⇓ 1.32% | 15.16 | 15.50 / 14.50 NON BANKING F I IDLC | 4.43 | 29.18 | Vol. 198830 D: 60.90 ⇑ 0.33% | 61.77 | 63.10 / 55.00 C: 61.10 ⇑ 0.66% | 61.50 | 63.00 / 61.00 ULC | 1.80 | 14.90 | Vol. 453347 D: 29.40 ⇑ 2.44% | 29.46 | 30.00 / 27.50 UTTARAFIN | 7.16 | 41.54 | Vol. 137569 D: 78.40 ⇓ 0.38% | 79.31 | 80.80 / 71.00 C: 79.20 ⇑ 0.25% | 80.10 | 81.80 / 79.10 MIDASFIN | 0.16 | 10.21 | Vol. 500 D: 34.70 ⇓ 9.40% | 34.70 | 34.70 / 34.70 FLEASEINT | 2.34 | 13.93 | Vol. 1590296 D: 31.60 ⇑ 0.64% | 32.31 | 33.00 / 30.00 C: 31.90 ⇑ 1.92% | 32.39 | 33.00 / 31.50 PLFSL | 1.37 | 17.48 | Vol. 708526 D: 23.80 ⇑ 0.42% | 24.08 | 25.50 / 22.00 C: 23.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 24.29 | 24.80 / 23.80 PRIMEFIN | 0.87 | 17.88 | Vol. 328667 D: 24.60 ⇑ 0.82% | 24.90 | 25.50 / 22.00 C: 24.80 ⇑ 1.22% | 25.20 | 25.70 / 24.70 PREMIERLEA | 0.10 | 11.37 | Vol. 141532 D: 10.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 10.20 | 10.30 / 9.30 C: 10.00 ⇓ 1.96% | 10.10 | 10.40 / 10.00 ISLAMICFIN | 1.03 | 15.48 | Vol. 460109 D: 16.70 ⇓ 1.18% | 17.00 | 17.50 / 15.90 C: 16.80 ⇓ 0.59% | 17.18 | 17.50 / 16.80 LANKABAFIN | 1.61 | 31.07 | Vol. 2994908 D: 63.30 ⇑ 0.32% | 64.60 | 65.90 / 57.00 C: 63.50 ⇑ 0.95% | 64.60 | 66.00 / 60.00 BIFC | 0.15 | 18.58 | Vol. 218567 D: 17.20 ⇓ 0.58% | 17.49 | 17.90 / 16.00 C: 17.10 ⇑ 0.59% | 17.36 | 18.00 / 17.10 IPDC | 1.23 | 19.43 | Vol. 118585 D: 18.70 ⇑ 1.63% | 18.69 | 19.00 / 18.40 C: 18.70 ⇑ 1.63% | 18.58 | 18.70 / 17.10 UNIONCAP | 0.54 | 17.85 | Vol. 41903 D: 29.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 28.91 | 30.30 / 27.00 C: 28.80 ⇑ 0.70% | 28.96 | 29.50 / 28.60 BDFINANCE | 0.57 | 14.77 | Vol. 448962 D: 19.10 ⇑ 1.60% | 19.55 | 20.00 / 18.00 C: 19.20 ⇑ 1.05% | 19.62 | 20.20 / 19.20 ILFSL | 0.35 | 12.19 | Vol. 572105 D: 15.00 ⇑ 1.35% | 15.28 | 15.70 / 13.40 C: 15.20 ⇑ 2.01% | 15.29 | 15.80 / 15.00 PHOENIXFIN | 2.46 | 19.39 | Vol. 345027 D: 33.10 ⇑ 0.30% | 33.75 | 35.00 / 32.00 C: 33.90 ⇑ 2.73% | 33.89 | 34.50 / 33.60 FASFIN | 0.19 | 13.56 | Vol. 891716 D: 15.10 ⇑ 0.67% | 15.30 | 15.60 / 14.00 C: 15.10 ⇑ 0.67% | 15.39 | 15.60 / 14.50 DBH | 4.47 | 21.27 | Vol. 21000 D: 53.80 ⇑ 0.75% | 54.15 | 55.00 / 53.60 C: 53.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 53.73 | 54.00 / 53.20 NHFIL | 0.57 | 12.70 | Vol. 361345 D: 30.60 ⇑ 0.33% | 31.05 | 32.00 / 30.00 C: 30.60 ⇑ 1.32% | 31.18 | 31.70 / 30.50 BAYLEASING | 0.72 | 25.55 | Vol. 1319876 D: 30.80 ⇑ 3.01% | 31.12 | 31.60 / 27.00 C: 30.90 ⇑ 4.39% | 30.98 | 31.60 / 30.00 ICB | 89.23 | 607.74 | Vol. 4002 D: 1481 ⇓ 1.09% | 1488 | 1510 / 1477 GSPFINANCE | 1.63 | 22.23 | Vol. 579043 D: 28.40 ⇑ 2.90% | 28.88 | 29.80 / 25.00 C: 28.50 ⇑ 3.26% | 29.57 | 30.30 / 28.40 FAREASTFIN | 0.68 | 13.64 | Vol. 3175000 D: 17.90 ⇑ 5.92% | 17.95 | 18.30 / 16.90 C: 18.00 ⇑ 5.88% | 17.95 | 18.40 / 16.80 INVESTMENT 5THICB | 23.45 | 188.92 | Vol. 300 D: 151.0 ⇑ 0.33% | 150.00 | 152.0 / 150.5 6THICB | 10.99 | 60.14 | Vol. 17300 D: 52.00 ⇓ 2.44% | 52.31 | 54.00 / 52.00 8THICB | 12.47 | 70.07 | Vol. 3000 D: 53.10 ⇓ 1.12% | 53.10 | 53.10 / 53.10 AIMS1STMF | 3.02 | 15.70 | Vol. 994000 D: 42.80 ⇓ 4.25% | 43.42 | 45.20 / 42.50 C: 42.90 ⇓ 4.03% | 43.11 | 44.20 / 41.80 ICBISLAMIC | 2.21 | 26.81 | Vol. 5000 D: 18.30 ⇓ 2.66% | 18.40 | 18.40 / 18.30 GRAMEEN1 | 6.26 | 33.23 | Vol. 557500 D: 46.80 ⇓ 3.11% | 47.82 | 50.10 / 46.70 C: 47.00 ⇓ 4.28% | 47.18 | 48.30 / 46.10

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200

Fine Foods-A

-7.69

-8.43

25.20

0

Fareast Finance-N

5.92

4.48

17.90

S. Alam CR Steel-A

5.18

5.20

48.70

Argon Denims Limited-A

4.88

5.40

ICB1STNRB | 4.06 | 35.31 | Vol. 10500 D: 25.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 25.52 | 26.10 / 25.00 ICB2NDNRB | 2.49 | 16.24 | Vol. 124500 D: 9.90 ⇓ 1.00% | 9.98 | 10.10 / 9.90 GRAMEENS2 | 2.17 | 16.41 | Vol. 2639850 D: 18.20 ⇓ 3.70% | 18.77 | 19.50 / 18.00 C: 18.40 ⇓ 3.16% | 18.60 | 19.50 / 18.20 1STPRIMFMF | 0.64 | 11.63 | Vol. 969000 D: 25.60 ⇓ 3.03% | 26.06 | 27.10 / 25.50 C: 25.70 ⇓ 2.28% | 26.00 | 26.50 / 25.30 EBL1STMF | 0.55 | 12.62 | Vol. 131921 D: 7.10 ⇓ 1.39% | 7.19 | 7.50 / 6.80 C: 7.20 ⇓ 1.37% | 7.17 | 7.50 / 7.10 ICBAMCL2ND | 0.60 | 12.12 | Vol. 8000 D: 5.90 ⇓ 1.67% | 6.00 | 6.10 / 5.90 C: 6.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.00 | 6.00 / 6.00 ICBEPMF1S1 | 0.52 | 11.32 | Vol. 127000 D: 5.90 ⇓ 3.28% | 5.98 | 6.10 / 5.90 C: 6.00 ⇓ 1.64% | 6.07 | 6.10 / 6.00 TRUSTB1MF | 0.75 | 11.65 | Vol. 828094 D: 7.50 ⇓ 1.32% | 7.65 | 7.80 / 6.90 C: 7.60 ⇓ 1.30% | 7.69 | 7.80 / 7.50 PRIME1ICBA | 0.42 | 11.18 | Vol. 454000 D: 6.10 ⇑ 3.39% | 5.95 | 6.20 / 5.90 C: 5.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.90 | 5.90 / 5.90 DBH1STMF | -1.12 | 10.15 | Vol. 348000 D: 5.80 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.80 | 5.90 / 5.70 C: 5.90 ⇑ 1.72% | 5.81 | 5.90 / 5.70 IFIC1STMF | 0.83 | 11.88 | Vol. 169849 D: 6.70 ⇓ 1.47% | 6.79 | 6.90 / 6.70 C: 6.70 ⇓ 1.47% | 6.70 | 6.80 / 6.60 PF1STMF | 0.51 | 11.11 | Vol. 106000 D: 5.70 ⇓ 1.72% | 5.79 | 5.90 / 5.70 C: 5.70 ⇓ 1.72% | 5.70 | 5.70 / 5.70 ICB3RDNRB | 0.00 | 10.60 | Vol. 179500 D: 5.30 ⇓ 1.85% | 5.41 | 5.50 / 5.30 C: 5.40 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.41 | 5.50 / 5.30 1JANATAMF | 0.78 | 10.68 | Vol. 119000 D: 6.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.20 | 6.30 / 6.10 C: 6.20 ⇓ 1.59% | 6.20 | 6.30 / 6.10 GREENDELMF | -0.82 | 9.72 | Vol. 131000 D: 5.40 ⇓ 1.82% | 5.48 | 5.60 / 5.40 C: 5.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.47 | 5.50 / 5.40 POPULAR1MF | 0.77 | 11.38 | Vol. 487882 D: 6.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.22 | 6.40 / 6.00 C: 6.10 ⇓ 1.61% | 6.19 | 6.20 / 6.10 IFILISLMF1 | 0.00 | 10.45 | Vol. 248000 D: 5.70 ⇓ 1.72% | 5.76 | 5.80 / 5.70 C: 5.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.89 | 6.00 / 5.80 PHPMF1 | 0.63 | 10.92 | Vol. 462000 D: 5.60 ⇓ 1.75% | 5.70 | 5.80 / 5.60 C: 5.60 ⇓ 3.45% | 5.69 | 5.90 / 5.60 AIBL1STIMF | -0.07 | 9.25 | Vol. 41000 D: 7.00 ⇓ 1.41% | 7.10 | 7.10 / 6.90 C: 6.80 ⇓ 5.56% | 6.80 | 6.80 / 6.80 MBL1STMF | -0.16 | 9.08 | Vol. 71000 D: 6.20 ⇓ 1.59% | 6.21 | 6.30 / 6.20 SEBL1STMF | 0.94 | 11.85 | Vol. 688500 D: 8.20 ⇓ 3.53% | 8.28 | 8.70 / 7.70 C: 8.30 ⇓ 2.35% | 8.36 | 8.50 / 8.30 EBLNRBMF | 1.07 | 10.88 | Vol. 278000 D: 7.80 ⇓ 7.14% | 8.38 | 8.50 / 7.70 RELIANCE1 | 0.95 | 10.33 | Vol. 923900 D: 8.60 ⇓ 4.44% | 8.87 | 9.20 / 8.50 C: 8.70 ⇓ 4.40% | 8.71 | 8.80 / 8.70 LRGLOBMF1 | 0.45 | 10.78 | Vol. 182500 D: 6.80 ⇓ 2.86% | 6.99 | 7.10 / 6.80 C: 6.90 ⇓ 1.43% | 6.90 | 6.90 / 6.90 ABB1STMF | 0.92 | 10.63 | Vol. 673500 D: 7.20 ⇓ 1.37% | 7.45 | 7.70 / 7.20 C: 7.20 ⇑ 1.41% | 7.20 | 7.20 / 7.20 NLI1STMF | 1.17 | 12.22 | Vol. 824650 D: 9.60 ⇓ 3.03% | 9.72 | 10.20 / 9.00 C: 9.50 ⇓ 5.94% | 9.64 | 9.90 / 9.50 FBFIF | 1.30 | 10.27 | Vol. 2000 D: 9.20 ⇑ 2.22% | 9.20 | 9.20 / 9.20 NCCBLMF1 | 1.16 | 10.48 | Vol. 11500 D: 8.40 ⇑ 0.00% | 8.43 | 8.90 / 8.40 ICBSONALI1 | 0.00 | 10.39 | Vol. 780500 D: 8.30 ⇓ 3.49% | 8.61 | 8.90 / 8.30 C: 8.40 ⇓ 2.33% | 8.63 | 9.00 / 8.30 ENGINEERING AFTABAUTO | 3.60 | 50.81 | Vol. 361026 D: 90.10 ⇓ 1.96% | 90.82 | 92.90 / 83.00 C: 89.30 ⇓ 2.62% | 90.33 | 92.70 / 88.30

96.70

DSE Loser Rahima Food -A

C% -10.00

A% -9.75 -9.61

CP

1200

82.80

1000

34.70

800

44.10

AZIZPIPES | 0.39 | -42.04 | Vol. 18000 D: 22.40 ⇓ 5.08% | 23.13 | 23.80 / 22.20 C: 22.70 ⇓ 6.20% | 22.79 | 23.10 / 22.50 OLYMPIC | 5.23 | 14.73 | Vol. 155000 D: 147.1 ⇓ 1.93% | 147.73 | 151.0 / 146.8 C: 147.5 ⇓ 1.67% | 148.10 | 150.0 / 147.0 BDLAMPS | -5.31 | 37.07 | Vol. 15350 D: 128.2 ⇓ 1.76% | 128.72 | 130.4 / 127.7 C: 128.1 ⇓ 1.08% | 128.54 | 132.0 / 128.0 ECABLES | 6.10 | 23.97 | Vol. 20500 D: 90.00 ⇓ 3.95% | 91.48 | 94.40 / 89.80 C: 91.50 ⇓ 3.58% | 91.53 | 92.00 / 91.50 MONNOSTAF | 5.31 | 44.78 | Vol. 1650 D: 300.3 ⇓ 0.76% | 301.21 | 303.1 / 298.5 SINGERBD | 9.99 | 45.74 | Vol. 70787 D: 193.1 ⇓ 0.41% | 193.35 | 197.0 / 192.2 C: 191.7 ⇓ 0.67% | 191.71 | 194.5 / 191.6 ATLASBANG | 9.14 | 222.05 | Vol. 24066 D: 157.2 ⇓ 0.25% | 157.41 | 158.0 / 142.0 BDAUTOCA | -0.43 | 5.68 | Vol. 57300 D: 34.20 ⇓ 5.00% | 34.45 | 35.90 / 34.00 QSMDRYCELL | 1.06 | 52.31 | Vol. 1236595 D: 39.80 ⇓ 2.69% | 40.56 | 42.40 / 36.90 C: 40.10 ⇓ 3.37% | 40.59 | 42.20 / 39.00 RENWICKJA | 5.77 | -31.13 | Vol. 7200 D: 144.1 ⇓ 2.70% | 144.58 | 147.0 / 143.7 NTLTUBES | 0.67 | 311.00 | Vol. 62300 D: 73.30 ⇓ 1.08% | 73.80 | 75.00 / 72.90 BDTHAI | 0.43 | 39.35 | Vol. 1557367 D: 33.90 ⇑ 0.89% | 34.35 | 36.00 / 31.00 C: 34.50 ⇑ 2.07% | 34.85 | 37.00 / 33.50 ANWARGALV | 0.52 | 8.10 | Vol. 356000 D: 33.60 ⇓ 5.08% | 33.97 | 35.00 / 33.00 C: 33.70 ⇓ 6.39% | 34.05 | 35.80 / 33.40 KAY&QUE | -3.89 | 6.03 | Vol. 15000 D: 19.40 ⇓ 2.51% | 19.43 | 19.90 / 18.90 C: 18.80 ⇑ 1.08% | 18.75 | 19.00 / 18.50 RANFOUNDRY | 2.84 | 18.62 | Vol. 46000 D: 93.30 ⇓ 3.52% | 93.93 | 97.00 / 93.20 C: 93.20 ⇓ 9.51% | 93.15 | 93.20 / 93.10 SALAMCRST | 3.31 | 20.00 | Vol. 2263060 D: 48.70 ⇑ 5.18% | 48.16 | 49.00 / 42.00 C: 48.80 ⇑ 5.17% | 48.15 | 49.00 / 47.20 GOLDENSON | 3.70 | 28.70 | Vol. 2681443 D: 56.60 ⇓ 1.74% | 57.28 | 59.00 / 52.00 C: 56.60 ⇓ 2.08% | 57.59 | 59.60 / 56.10 BSRMSTEEL | 3.06 | 19.53 | Vol. 227866 D: 68.60 ⇓ 0.72% | 69.32 | 70.50 / 67.00 C: 68.80 ⇓ 1.57% | 69.74 | 71.00 / 68.50 NAVANACNG | 4.09 | 27.04 | Vol. 88623 D: 64.90 ⇓ 0.76% | 65.15 | 66.00 / 60.00 C: 65.30 ⇓ 0.46% | 65.31 | 65.80 / 65.00 DESHBANDHU | 0.26 | 10.67 | Vol. 1893970 D: 23.90 ⇓ 1.65% | 24.32 | 25.50 / 22.00 C: 24.30 ⇓ 0.41% | 24.92 | 26.50 / 24.10 GPHISPAT | 2.11 | 15.27 | Vol. 395730 D: 54.80 ⇓ 2.14% | 55.62 | 57.00 / 51.00 C: 55.40 ⇓ 1.42% | 56.72 | 58.00 / 54.80 BENGALWTL | 3.85 | 24.30 | Vol. 702200 D: 62.50 ⇓ 3.55% | 63.73 | 66.10 / 62.20 C: 62.40 ⇓ 3.26% | 63.72 | 65.70 / 62.20 BDBUILDING | 1.33 | 12.70 | Vol. 741000 D: 72.40 ⇓ 2.03% | 73.42 | 75.90 / 71.80 C: 72.30 ⇓ 2.43% | 73.36 | 75.50 / 71.90 NPOLYMAR | 2.38 | 32.89 | Vol. 149537 D: 56.70 ⇓ 2.58% | 57.04 | 60.00 / 53.00 C: 56.50 ⇓ 2.25% | 56.14 | 56.50 / 56.00 FOOD & ALLIED APEXFOODS | 2.54 | 90.81 | Vol. 96800 D: 102.3 ⇓ 6.75% | 103.78 | 109.7 / 101.1 C: 102.1 ⇓ 9.65% | 106.94 | 110.9 / 101.7 BANGAS | 7.20 | 50.27 | Vol. 42790 D: 466.4 ⇓ 4.09% | 471.45 | 484.0 / 450.0 C: 469.2 ⇓ 3.16% | 470.15 | 475.0 / 465.0 BATBC | 65.69 | 117.22 | Vol. 1050 D: 1588 ⇓ 1.29% | 1589 | 1600 / 1580 GEMINISEA | -15.39 | -5.70 | Vol. 800 D: 156.2 ⇓ 1.95% | 156.25 | 159.3 / 155.2 NTC | 29.88 | 110.05 | Vol. 850 D: 805.0 ⇓ 0.42% | 805.00 | 805.0 / 805.0 CVOPRL | 0.58 | 13.86 | Vol. 11040 D: 881.2 ⇓ 6.61% | 881.21 | 883.0 / 881.2 C: 889.3 ⇓ 5.79% | 889.33 | 905.0 / 881.5 AMCL(PRAN) | 6.85 | 57.14 | Vol. 37900 D: 191.2 ⇓ 3.68% | 192.15 | 198.0 / 190.1 C: 191.3 ⇓ 4.21% | 192.38 | 199.0 / 191.0

TO (Value) CSE Index

14000 13800 13600 13400 13200

600

13000

400

12800 12600 12400 12200 20 21 24 25 26 27 28 1 2 3 4 5 8 9 10 11 12 15 17 18

SHYAMPSUG | -45.77 | -396.49 | Vol. 900 D: 8.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 7.78 | 8.20 / 8.00 RAHIMAFOOD | 0.52 | 4.45 | Vol. 393000 D: 82.80 ⇓ 10.00% | 82.97 | 85.90 / 82.80 C: 82.50 ⇓ 9.93% | 82.66 | 88.00 / 82.50 FUWANGFOOD | 0.94 | 12.28 | Vol. 1458284 D: 25.90 ⇓ 2.26% | 26.09 | 27.00 / 24.00 C: 26.00 ⇓ 2.26% | 25.97 | 26.40 / 25.70 MEGHNAPET | -0.50 | -1.52 | Vol. 17000 D: 7.10 ⇓ 1.39% | 7.12 | 7.30 / 7.00 MEGCONMILK | -7.48 | -23.70 | Vol. 22500 D: 8.10 ⇓ 2.41% | 8.13 | 8.50 / 7.90 BEACHHATCH | 1.01 | 12.48 | Vol. 2452370 D: 31.20 ⇓ 5.74% | 31.59 | 33.00 / 29.80 C: 31.70 ⇓ 5.65% | 31.82 | 33.60 / 31.00 FINEFOODS | 0.05 | 10.63 | Vol. 568000 D: 25.20 ⇓ 7.69% | 25.43 | 26.90 / 24.90 C: 25.20 ⇓ 7.35% | 25.26 | 26.00 / 25.00 RDFOOD | 0.91 | 16.84 | Vol. 2859641 D: 27.60 ⇓ 6.12% | 28.42 | 29.40 / 26.70 C: 27.80 ⇓ 7.33% | 28.72 | 29.90 / 27.60 GHAIL | 2.31 | 24.36 | Vol. 1546200 D: 46.90 ⇓ 3.50% | 47.77 | 49.30 / 44.00 C: 47.10 ⇓ 3.29% | 47.77 | 50.00 / 47.00 FUEL & POWER LINDEBD | 31.71 | 144.00 | Vol. 8610 D: 615.3 ⇓ 0.53% | 616.49 | 619.1 / 600.0 PADMAOIL | 27.62 | 79.74 | Vol. 137850 D: 307.6 ⇓ 1.88% | 309.62 | 318.0 / 300.0 C: 308.4 ⇓ 1.34% | 309.77 | 314.5 / 305.0 BDWELDING | 0.33 | 16.82 | Vol. 829635 D: 24.70 ⇓ 6.08% | 25.26 | 26.30 / 23.90 C: 24.90 ⇓ 5.68% | 25.27 | 26.30 / 24.80 SUMITPOWER | 3.17 | 19.26 | Vol. 704045 D: 37.10 ⇓ 0.80% | 37.25 | 38.10 / 34.00 C: 37.30 ⇓ 0.53% | 37.34 | 38.00 / 37.10 DESCO | 2.34 | 31.27 | Vol. 115113 D: 59.50 ⇓ 0.67% | 59.56 | 60.00 / 55.00 C: 59.40 ⇓ 0.50% | 60.07 | 61.90 / 59.00 POWERGRID | 2.19 | 63.69 | Vol. 137752 D: 53.80 ⇑ 0.94% | 54.00 | 55.00 / 50.00 C: 52.70 ⇓ 0.57% | 52.81 | 52.90 / 52.50 JAMUNAOIL | 19.83 | 57.32 | Vol. 100563 D: 195.2 ⇓ 0.96% | 195.95 | 200.7 / 190.0 C: 194.6 ⇓ 1.52% | 194.70 | 196.0 / 194.1 MPETROLEUM | 21.34 | 59.26 | Vol. 255924 D: 208.4 ⇓ 1.47% | 209.31 | 213.4 / 205.0 C: 208.6 ⇓ 1.51% | 209.29 | 210.2 / 208.2 TITASGAS | 9.20 | 46.26 | Vol. 355902 D: 74.20 ⇑ 0.68% | 73.88 | 74.90 / 67.00 C: 73.50 ⇑ 0.27% | 73.46 | 74.50 / 73.20 KPCL | 4.73 | 15.86 | Vol. 230694 D: 48.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 48.51 | 50.00 / 45.00 C: 48.10 ⇓ 0.82% | 48.34 | 49.00 / 48.00 BEDL | 1.48 | 19.43 | Vol. 773130 D: 33.00 ⇓ 1.79% | 33.27 | 34.00 / 30.60 C: 32.90 ⇓ 2.08% | 33.08 | 33.80 / 32.70 MJLBD | 2.73 | 30.24 | Vol. 107484 D: 74.00 ⇓ 0.13% | 73.94 | 75.00 / 69.00 C: 73.30 ⇓ 1.21% | 73.18 | 75.50 / 73.00 GBBPOWER | 1.86 | 22.63 | Vol. 698562 D: 29.40 ⇓ 2.00% | 29.82 | 30.50 / 27.00 C: 29.70 ⇓ 1.33% | 29.88 | 30.50 / 29.50 SPPCL | 3.81 | 23.34 | Vol. 602020 D: 60.00 ⇓ 1.64% | 60.60 | 62.20 / 55.00 C: 60.20 ⇓ 1.31% | 60.46 | 61.10 / 59.70 JUTE JUTESPINN | -48.14 | -39.89 | Vol. 500 D: 77.00 ⇑ 0.26% | 78.00 | 79.70 / 74.20 NORTHERN | -9.98 | -18.22 | Vol. 2600 D: 55.30 ⇑ 9.94% | 55.30 | 55.30 / 55.30 SONALIANSH | 2.65 | 226.00 | Vol. 12350 D: 136.9 ⇓ 3.05% | 138.87 | 142.0 / 136.0 TEXTILE AL-HAJTEX | 2.22 | 16.53 | Vol. 57150 D: 73.30 ⇓ 1.35% | 73.51 | 74.90 / 72.90 RAHIMTEXT | 4.65 | 56.68 | Vol. 1000 D: 245.8 ⇓ 3.49% | 246.00 | 254.9 / 243.0 SAIHAMTEX | 2.75 | 29.50 | Vol. 579100 D: 29.80 ⇓ 0.67% | 30.04 | 30.70 / 29.70 C: 29.70 ⇓ 1.66% | 29.73 | 30.40 / 29.50

DHAKA TRIBUNE

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

7

December 18, 2013 Sectotal Index: BANK: 36,521.85 ⇓ 0.55% NBFI: 21,570.49 ⇑ 1.11% INVS: 4,940.08 ⇓ 1.40% ENGG: 6,426.37 ⇓ 1.56% FOOD: 11,052.03 ⇓ 4.65% F&P: 10,011.61 ⇓ 0.79% TEXT: 3,789.51 ⇓ 1.23% PHAR: 18,171.77 ⇓ 0.65% PAPR: 1,336.93 ⇑ 1.66% SERV: 2,993.28 ⇓ 0.95% LEAT: 5,311.10 ⇑ 0.70% CERA: 534.40 ⇓ 2.33% CMNT: 4,289.30 ⇓ 1.51% INFO: 8,491.60 ⇓ 4.75% GINS: 9,159.03 ⇓ 0.83% LINS: 125,550.34 ⇓ 0.99% TELC: 1,322.54 ⇓ 0.47% MISC: 6,462.39 ⇓ 0.97% MODERNDYE | 0.91 | 10.37 | Vol. 2400 D: 90.20 ⇓ 5.55% | 90.00 | 91.00 / 88.00 DSHGARME | 0.88 | 12.12 | Vol. 34300 D: 68.20 ⇓ 3.81% | 68.86 | 70.70 / 67.80 DULAMIACOT | -1.90 | -29.70 | Vol. 2800 D: 8.60 ⇓ 3.37% | 8.60 | 8.60 / 8.60 TALLUSPIN | 1.75 | 16.17 | Vol. 1855210 D: 37.50 ⇓ 1.32% | 37.96 | 38.60 / 37.10 C: 37.60 ⇓ 1.57% | 38.09 | 38.70 / 37.10 APEXSPINN | 2.01 | 49.32 | Vol. 15200 D: 76.20 ⇓ 2.56% | 77.43 | 79.00 / 75.10 MITHUNKNIT | 2.87 | 20.53 | Vol. 90400 D: 78.80 ⇓ 1.50% | 79.47 | 81.00 / 78.10 C: 77.80 ⇓ 3.83% | 78.35 | 80.10 / 77.70 DELTASPINN | 3.06 | 26.84 | Vol. 1780900 D: 40.10 ⇓ 4.98% | 40.83 | 42.90 / 38.00 C: 40.10 ⇓ 5.42% | 40.80 | 43.10 / 39.90 SONARGAON | 0.27 | 34.50 | Vol. 373493 D: 20.40 ⇓ 2.86% | 21.28 | 22.00 / 20.00 C: 20.70 ⇓ 3.27% | 21.27 | 22.30 / 20.60 PRIMETEX | 1.21 | 59.34 | Vol. 665250 D: 27.30 ⇓ 1.09% | 27.92 | 28.90 / 26.70 C: 27.20 ⇓ 1.81% | 28.00 | 28.70 / 27.00 ALLTEX | -1.26 | 8.10 | Vol. 66500 D: 7.40 ⇓ 2.63% | 7.45 | 7.70 / 7.40 C: 7.30 ⇓ 1.35% | 7.39 | 7.70 / 7.20 ANLIMAYARN | 1.36 | 11.99 | Vol. 145000 D: 28.30 ⇓ 3.41% | 28.75 | 29.40 / 28.00 C: 28.70 ⇓ 3.69% | 29.05 | 29.90 / 28.60 HRTEX | 2.08 | 14.92 | Vol. 332500 D: 43.90 ⇓ 3.09% | 44.76 | 47.10 / 42.60 C: 43.20 ⇓ 4.64% | 44.35 | 45.90 / 43.10 CMCKAMAL | 1.37 | 19.31 | Vol. 1500834 D: 33.00 ⇓ 1.20% | 33.53 | 34.30 / 30.50 SAFKOSPINN | 0.95 | 21.78 | Vol. 841752 D: 29.80 ⇓ 4.49% | 30.45 | 31.60 / 28.40 C: 29.90 ⇓ 5.68% | 30.50 | 31.50 / 29.30 SQUARETEXT | 4.32 | 31.82 | Vol. 82675 D: 91.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 91.48 | 95.00 / 85.00 C: 91.90 ⇓ 0.11% | 91.80 | 92.00 / 91.50 METROSPIN | 0.56 | 17.71 | Vol. 1146027 D: 21.80 ⇓ 1.80% | 22.09 | 23.00 / 21.50 C: 21.90 ⇓ 2.23% | 22.17 | 22.80 / 21.80 MAKSONSPIN | 0.16 | 20.55 | Vol. 3377220 D: 20.50 ⇓ 0.97% | 20.80 | 22.00 / 18.80 C: 20.50 ⇓ 1.44% | 20.86 | 21.40 / 18.80 DACCADYE | 0.93 | 25.85 | Vol. 601540 D: 25.50 ⇓ 2.67% | 25.74 | 26.60 / 24.00 C: 25.70 ⇓ 1.91% | 25.99 | 26.40 / 25.50 RNSPIN | 2.80 | 16.58 | Vol. 3599731 D: 36.20 ⇓ 1.36% | 36.69 | 37.30 / 34.00 C: 36.30 ⇓ 1.36% | 36.63 | 37.30 / 36.10 BXSYNTH | 0.93 | 25.42 | Vol. 564399 D: 17.30 ⇓ 2.81% | 17.56 | 18.00 / 16.50 C: 17.40 ⇓ 1.69% | 17.66 | 18.00 / 17.20 MALEKSPIN | 2.81 | 43.48 | Vol. 864730 D: 27.90 ⇓ 1.06% | 28.23 | 29.00 / 26.00 C: 27.90 ⇓ 1.76% | 28.06 | 28.50 / 27.70 ZAHINTEX | 1.20 | 31.07 | Vol. 337250 D: 28.90 ⇓ 3.02% | 29.48 | 30.20 / 28.70 C: 29.10 ⇓ 3.64% | 29.57 | 30.90 / 28.90 SAIHAMCOT | 1.92 | 23.62 | Vol. 726250 D: 25.80 ⇓ 1.90% | 26.11 | 26.70 / 25.70 C: 25.90 ⇓ 1.89% | 26.20 | 26.80 / 25.60 GENNEXT | 1.68 | 15.15 | Vol. 10892980 D: 36.80 ⇑ 1.94% | 37.10 | 37.90 / 33.00 C: 36.90 ⇑ 2.22% | 37.10 | 37.90 / 36.00 ENVOYTEX | 3.10 | 37.86 | Vol. 2236120 D: 57.30 ⇓ 4.02% | 58.65 | 60.50 / 54.00 C: 57.30 ⇓ 4.18% | 58.65 | 60.90 / 57.00 ARGONDENIM | 1.89 | 38.86 | Vol. 1695000 D: 96.70 ⇑ 4.88% | 95.26 | 97.30 / 84.00 C: 96.60 ⇑ 4.66% | 93.74 | 98.00 / 91.10 FAMILYTEX | 3.72 | 14.68 | Vol. 652500 D: 68.00 ⇑ 0.29% | 69.02 | 71.90 / 67.40 C: 68.30 ⇑ 0.44% | 69.01 | 70.50 / 67.50 PTL | 1.89 | 17.91 | Vol. 2083250 D: 63.90 ⇓ 4.20% | 65.21 | 67.80 / 63.50 C: 64.20 ⇓ 4.04% | 65.20 | 67.90 / 63.60 PHARMACEUTICAL & CHEMICAL AMBEEPHA | 3.94 | 26.15 | Vol. 7900 D: 267.5 ⇓ 1.76% | 269.47 | 271.0 / 267.0 C: 270.6 ⇓ 0.33% | 270.63 | 277.0 / 265.0 BXPHARMA | 3.77 | 52.55 | Vol. 245641 D: 46.90 ⇓ 1.05% | 47.08 | 49.00 / 44.00 C: 46.60 ⇓ 1.06% | 47.04 | 47.40 / 46.60 GLAXOSMITH | 20.25 | 123.32 | Vol. 950 D: 960.7 ⇑ 0.51% | 961.05 | 962.0 / 960.0

ACI | -5.82 | 126.42 | Vol. 5794 D: 169.9 ⇓ 0.76% | 170.10 | 172.0 / 166.0 C: 169.1 ⇓ 1.69% | 169.21 | 170.1 / 169.0 RENATA | 33.57 | 138.83 | Vol. 9950 D: 728.3 ⇑ 0.68% | 727.64 | 740.0 / 725.0 RECKITTBEN | 27.16 | 78.89 | Vol. 250 D: 890.0 ⇓ 1.57% | 890.00 | 890.0 / 890.0 PHARMAID | 1.39 | 26.19 | Vol. 25800 D: 167.5 ⇓ 1.82% | 168.33 | 172.0 / 167.0 KOHINOOR | 11.46 | 15.99 | Vol. 3000 D: 338.3 ⇓ 3.18% | 338.33 | 345.1 / 330.0 IBNSINA | 3.44 | 34.02 | Vol. 51910 D: 102.2 ⇓ 3.13% | 103.62 | 106.9 / 102.0 C: 102.4 ⇓ 3.67% | 103.75 | 105.0 / 102.0 LIBRAINFU | 4.21 | 1567.59 | Vol. 400 D: 397.6 ⇓ 5.33% | 397.50 | 409.0 / 386.2 ORIONINFU | 1.27 | 7.00 | Vol. 102600 D: 41.50 ⇓ 1.66% | 41.88 | 42.80 / 41.40 C: 42.40 ⇑ 0.95% | 42.42 | 43.70 / 41.70 SQURPHARMA | 6.93 | 37.18 | Vol. 239829 D: 192.5 ⇑ 0.26% | 192.28 | 195.0 / 180.0 C: 192.1 ⇑ 0.00% | 191.98 | 193.0 / 190.0 IMAMBUTTON | -1.51 | 4.16 | Vol. 21000 D: 8.10 ⇓ 2.41% | 8.15 | 8.30 / 8.10 C: 8.10 ⇓ 7.95% | 8.10 | 8.10 / 8.10 KEYACOSMET | 1.55 | 21.54 | Vol. 1555266 D: 28.50 ⇓ 3.06% | 29.00 | 32.00 / 26.50 C: 28.60 ⇓ 3.38% | 29.15 | 30.00 / 28.50 BERGERPBL | 32.46 | 100.20 | Vol. 1400 D: 844.7 ⇓ 0.94% | 845.00 | 850.0 / 821.0 ACIFORMULA | 3.33 | 38.08 | Vol. 54450 D: 79.00 ⇑ 0.13% | 78.89 | 80.00 / 78.30 C: 79.30 ⇑ 0.38% | 78.90 | 79.30 / 77.80 MARICO | 27.53 | 62.47 | Vol. 1550 D: 750.2 ⇑ 0.03% | 750.32 | 754.0 / 750.0 BEACONPHAR | 0.04 | 12.01 | Vol. 428675 D: 13.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 13.33 | 13.50 / 12.20 C: 13.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 13.36 | 13.60 / 13.20 ACTIVEFINE | 3.23 | 13.89 | Vol. 386336 D: 83.80 ⇓ 1.30% | 84.29 | 86.00 / 77.90 C: 83.50 ⇓ 1.42% | 84.47 | 85.00 / 83.50 SALVOCHEM | 0.68 | 10.57 | Vol. 1612789 D: 26.00 ⇓ 2.99% | 26.62 | 27.60 / 24.50 C: 26.10 ⇓ 3.33% | 26.54 | 27.60 / 25.80 GHCL | 2.14 | 57.31 | Vol. 680500 D: 57.60 ⇓ 3.52% | 58.68 | 60.50 / 57.30 C: 57.60 ⇓ 3.84% | 58.41 | 61.90 / 57.10 ORIONPHARM | 5.02 | 68.68 | Vol. 1025920 D: 60.70 ⇓ 0.65% | 60.99 | 61.90 / 55.00 C: 60.40 ⇓ 1.15% | 60.74 | 61.50 / 60.20 JMISMDL | 1.12 | 12.83 | Vol. 217500 D: 210.7 ⇓ 7.02% | 216.33 | 224.9 / 208.6 C: 211.8 ⇓ 6.12% | 215.87 | 227.0 / 210.1 CENTRALPHL | 1.62 | 12.24 | Vol. 1495775 D: 50.20 ⇓ 1.18% | 51.67 | 53.40 / 46.00 C: 50.20 ⇓ 1.57% | 51.33 | 53.00 / 49.80 PAPER & PACKAGING HAKKANIPUL | 0.51 | 31.01 | Vol. 37500 D: 37.10 ⇓ 6.08% | 37.69 | 41.80 / 36.50 C: 39.00 ⇓ 4.41% | 38.79 | 41.00 / 37.40 SERVICE SAMORITA | 2.49 | 57.42 | Vol. 32050 D: 89.50 ⇓ 4.07% | 90.20 | 92.60 / 89.00 C: 89.40 ⇓ 5.89% | 89.35 | 90.00 / 88.70 SAPORTL | 1.23 | 38.39 | Vol. 310957 D: 30.40 ⇓ 2.56% | 30.73 | 31.50 / 29.00 C: 30.40 ⇓ 2.88% | 30.74 | 31.30 / 30.20 EHL | 2.81 | 18.44 | Vol. 263137 D: 51.40 ⇓ 0.58% | 51.65 | 53.00 / 50.00 C: 51.30 ⇓ 0.77% | 51.60 | 52.50 / 51.10

LEATHER APEXTANRY | 6.57 | 69.38 | Vol. 42000 D: 125.4 ⇓ 1.65% | 126.98 | 129.5 / 125.0 C: 136.5 ⇑ 8.51% | 136.50 | 136.5 / 136.5 BATASHOE | 49.12 | 135.53 | Vol. 4200 D: 697.8 ⇓ 0.57% | 699.29 | 703.0 / 697.0 APEXADELFT | 23.01 | 203.26 | Vol. 30000 D: 394.5 ⇓ 0.63% | 395.80 | 399.8 / 390.0 SAMATALETH | 0.22 | 12.93 | Vol. 5000 D: 25.10 ⇓ 4.20% | 25.10 | 25.10 / 25.10 C: 23.40 ⇓ 7.87% | 23.35 | 23.70 / 23.00 LEGACYFOOT | 0.63 | 17.19 | Vol. 553846 D: 44.10 ⇓ 8.88% | 45.04 | 48.00 / 43.70 C: 44.10 ⇓ 8.70% | 44.86 | 47.00 / 43.70 CERAMIC MONNOCERA | 0.35 | 95.30 | Vol. 81650 D: 34.60 ⇓ 5.21% | 35.06 | 36.10 / 34.30 C: 34.60 ⇓ 5.72% | 34.77 | 35.00 / 34.50 STANCERAM | 1.12 | 15.49 | Vol. 2100 D: 37.90 ⇓ 6.19% | 38.00 | 38.10 / 37.70 FUWANGCER | 0.65 | 12.70 | Vol. 1452000 D: 22.00 ⇓ 3.51% | 22.50 | 23.00 / 21.00 C: 22.30 ⇓ 1.76% | 22.67 | 23.10 / 22.20 SPCERAMICS | 0.62 | 30.92 | Vol. 527963 D: 18.80 ⇓ 3.09% | 19.04 | 20.00 / 18.00 C: 18.70 ⇓ 4.10% | 19.05 | 19.60 / 18.50 RAKCERAMIC | 1.98 | 16.76 | Vol. 174474 D: 51.40 ⇓ 0.77% | 51.64 | 52.00 / 47.00 C: 51.50 ⇓ 1.72% | 51.77 | 52.40 / 51.30 CEMENT HEIDELBCEM | 22.85 | 111.50 | Vol. 17000 D: 375.4 ⇓ 0.66% | 377.05 | 380.8 / 375.1 C: 375.0 ⇓ 0.27% | 375.00 | 375.0 / 375.0 CONFIDCEM | 6.23 | 90.76 | Vol. 388776 D: 127.2 ⇓ 3.93% | 129.17 | 134.7 / 120.0 C: 128.0 ⇓ 3.61% | 129.38 | 132.5 / 127.5 MEGHNACEM | 6.28 | 33.81 | Vol. 310210 D: 145.5 ⇓ 5.40% | 148.71 | 155.0 / 143.0 C: 144.4 ⇓ 6.54% | 148.78 | 153.0 / 143.1 ARAMITCEM | 3.03 | 14.65 | Vol. 137500 D: 87.50 ⇑ 0.23% | 87.87 | 89.90 / 86.50 C: 86.40 ⇓ 1.82% | 87.78 | 90.00 / 86.20 LAFSURCEML | 1.60 | 7.22 | Vol. 437000 D: 31.80 ⇑ 0.00% | 31.85 | 32.00 / 31.70 C: 31.60 ⇓ 0.94% | 31.85 | 32.20 / 31.60 MICEMENT | 4.48 | 37.67 | Vol. 199519 D: 82.70 ⇓ 0.72% | 82.95 | 84.00 / 78.00 C: 82.00 ⇓ 1.32% | 82.11 | 83.00 / 81.80 PREMIERCEM | 5.00 | 32.60 | Vol. 287600 D: 103.0 ⇓ 3.74% | 104.80 | 108.9 / 102.1 C: 104.3 ⇓ 1.32% | 105.49 | 109.9 / 104.0 IT IINDUSTRIES ISNLTD | 0.28 | 17.31 | Vol. 210269 D: 20.40 ⇓ 5.99% | 20.68 | 21.50 / 20.30 C: 20.90 ⇓ 3.69% | 20.92 | 21.90 / 20.70 BDCOM | 1.40 | 14.41 | Vol. 603020 D: 31.40 ⇓ 3.09% | 31.89 | 33.00 / 30.90 C: 31.20 ⇓ 4.00% | 32.45 | 32.80 / 31.00 INTECH | 0.94 | 10.08 | Vol. 271541 D: 17.30 ⇓ 3.35% | 17.60 | 18.20 / 16.50 C: 17.40 ⇓ 4.92% | 17.55 | 18.50 / 17.30 AGNISYSL | 0.96 | 14.90 | Vol. 767683 D: 24.70 ⇓ 5.00% | 25.12 | 26.20 / 24.00 C: 24.70 ⇓ 5.36% | 25.14 | 26.00 / 24.60 DAFODILCOM | 0.85 | 10.99 | Vol. 528509 D: 15.30 ⇓ 4.38% | 15.41 | 16.00 / 14.50 C: 15.30 ⇓ 4.97% | 15.49 | 16.00 / 15.20 AAMRATECH | 1.33 | 19.91 | Vol. 1380200 D: 38.60 ⇓ 3.98% | 39.33 | 41.20 / 36.20 C: 38.50 ⇓ 4.70% | 39.42 | 42.50 / 38.20

GENERAL INSURANCE BGIC | 1.65 | 20.33 | Vol. 82509 D: 29.20 ⇓ 1.02% | 29.42 | 30.00 / 27.50 C: 29.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 29.32 | 29.50 / 29.20 GREENDELT | 4.05 | 64.44 | Vol. 41300 D: 86.70 ⇓ 0.91% | 86.37 | 87.40 / 79.00 C: 87.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 86.84 | 87.00 / 86.60 UNITEDINS | 2.47 | 21.04 | Vol. 2000 D: 43.80 ⇓ 2.45% | 44.00 | 44.90 / 43.70 PEOPLESINS | 2.05 | 20.72 | Vol. 41890 D: 33.80 ⇓ 1.74% | 34.21 | 35.00 / 31.00 EASTERNINS | 2.22 | 35.88 | Vol. 13000 D: 37.20 ⇓ 0.53% | 37.33 | 37.70 / 37.00 C: 37.10 ⇓ 5.12% | 37.06 | 37.10 / 37.00 JANATAINS | 0.78 | 17.07 | Vol. 133490 D: 27.10 ⇓ 1.45% | 27.42 | 27.70 / 27.10 C: 27.20 ⇓ 1.45% | 27.24 | 27.50 / 27.00 PHENIXINS | 2.70 | 20.96 | Vol. 30350 D: 41.80 ⇓ 1.18% | 42.11 | 42.60 / 41.80 EASTLAND | 4.06 | 23.29 | Vol. 262214 D: 47.50 ⇓ 0.63% | 47.52 | 48.80 / 43.10 C: 48.00 ⇑ 0.21% | 48.00 | 48.00 / 48.00 CENTRALINS | 1.54 | 19.04 | Vol. 31748 D: 29.90 ⇓ 0.66% | 30.02 | 31.00 / 27.10 C: 30.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 30.00 | 30.00 / 30.00 KARNAPHULI | 1.56 | 19.42 | Vol. 197660 D: 24.30 ⇓ 2.02% | 24.46 | 25.30 / 24.00 RUPALIINS | 2.76 | 23.38 | Vol. 100620 D: 34.40 ⇑ 0.29% | 34.41 | 35.30 / 34.00 C: 34.30 ⇓ 1.15% | 34.32 | 34.50 / 34.10 FEDERALINS | 1.10 | 10.98 | Vol. 331300 D: 24.80 ⇓ 1.59% | 25.01 | 25.60 / 22.70 C: 24.70 ⇓ 2.37% | 25.06 | 25.60 / 24.60 RELIANCINS | 3.93 | 61.52 | Vol. 2096 D: 71.80 ⇓ 1.78% | 72.04 | 76.00 / 70.00 PURABIGEN | 1.05 | 18.71 | Vol. 898500 D: 26.70 ⇓ 7.93% | 27.40 | 28.90 / 26.50 PRAGATIINS | 2.01 | 50.30 | Vol. 77464 D: 54.50 ⇓ 2.68% | 55.30 | 57.50 / 54.10 PRIMEINSUR | 2.14 | 14.14 | Vol. 59950 D: 32.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 32.09 | 33.00 / 31.50 PIONEERINS | 3.11 | 23.84 | Vol. 36500 D: 66.00 ⇓ 0.45% | 66.27 | 67.40 / 65.90 MERCINS | 1.53 | 14.50 | Vol. 98902 D: 27.10 ⇓ 0.73% | 27.38 | 29.00 / 25.50 C: 26.90 ⇓ 1.10% | 26.08 | 26.90 / 24.90 AGRANINS | 1.73 | 14.39 | Vol. 46000 D: 27.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 27.72 | 28.20 / 27.30 GLOBALINS | 1.09 | 11.78 | Vol. 45000 D: 28.70 ⇓ 1.03% | 28.84 | 29.00 / 28.60 NITOLINS | 2.59 | 15.41 | Vol. 17679 D: 33.90 ⇓ 0.59% | 34.00 | 34.40 / 33.00 ASIAPACINS | 1.84 | 13.76 | Vol. 25500 D: 29.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 29.95 | 30.00 / 29.70 C: 29.40 ⇑ 0.00% | 29.51 | 29.80 / 29.30 SONARBAINS | 1.68 | 13.38 | Vol. 99100 D: 25.00 ⇓ 1.19% | 25.26 | 25.80 / 24.50 C: 26.30 ⇑ 0.77% | 26.29 | 26.70 / 25.00 PARAMOUNT | 1.26 | 13.19 | Vol. 74149 D: 24.90 ⇓ 1.58% | 25.17 | 26.00 / 24.00 C: 24.50 ⇓ 3.54% | 24.47 | 24.80 / 24.40 CITYGENINS | 1.65 | 14.26 | Vol. 144496 D: 27.80 ⇓ 1.07% | 28.20 | 30.00 / 26.50 C: 28.00 ⇓ 0.71% | 28.01 | 28.10 / 28.00 CONTININS | 1.41 | 15.68 | Vol. 104965 D: 29.50 ⇓ 0.67% | 29.69 | 30.00 / 27.00 C: 29.70 ⇓ 2.62% | 30.09 | 30.50 / 29.30 TAKAFULINS | 2.19 | 15.17 | Vol. 165561 D: 39.10 ⇓ 2.49% | 39.46 | 40.20 / 39.10 C: 39.10 ⇓ 2.49% | 39.45 | 40.00 / 39.10 STANDARINS | 2.58 | 13.99 | Vol. 7943 D: 39.70 ⇓ 0.25% | 39.71 | 39.80 / 37.00 C: 38.80 ⇓ 1.27% | 38.75 | 39.00 / 38.50 NORTHRNINS | 1.77 | 11.15 | Vol. 52724 D: 40.50 ⇓ 1.94% | 40.70 | 41.10 / 40.50 C: 40.70 ⇓ 2.16% | 40.99 | 41.10 / 40.50 REPUBLIC | 2.14 | 12.42 | Vol. 181205 D: 42.90 ⇓ 1.83% | 43.13 | 43.90 / 40.00 C: 42.70 ⇓ 1.39% | 42.81 | 43.10 / 42.70 ASIAINS | 1.56 | 17.34 | Vol. 317904 D: 29.20 ⇑ 1.39% | 29.28 | 30.00 / 27.00 C: 28.70 ⇑ 1.41% | 29.12 | 29.80 / 27.30 ISLAMIINS | 1.29 | 11.96 | Vol. 310500 D: 33.90 ⇓ 0.88% | 33.61 | 36.30 / 32.80 C: 32.60 ⇓ 8.17% | 32.60 | 32.60 / 32.60 PROVATIINS | 1.90 | 14.30 | Vol. 33662 D: 28.40 ⇓ 0.70% | 28.54 | 28.90 / 28.30 C: 28.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 28.29 | 28.50 / 25.70

DHAKAINS | 2.84 | 18.02 | Vol. 53125 D: 41.20 ⇓ 1.44% | 41.39 | 42.00 / 40.00 C: 41.20 ⇓ 2.37% | 41.34 | 41.50 / 41.10 LIFE INSURANCE NATLIFEINS | 12.34 | 80.99 | Vol. 30592 D: 297.4 ⇓ 3.32% | 297.30 | 302.0 / 283.0 DELTALIFE | 38.53 | 189.40 | Vol. 506900 D: 272.7 ⇓ 2.26% | 275.48 | 282.0 / 272.0 C: 272.9 ⇓ 2.19% | 275.39 | 282.0 / 272.0 SANDHANINS | 2.39 | 28.22 | Vol. 60129 D: 73.70 ⇓ 1.73% | 74.23 | 76.00 / 72.00 C: 73.50 ⇓ 2.39% | 73.87 | 74.00 / 73.20 POPULARLIF | 3.70 | 715.41 | Vol. 10500 D: 216.1 ⇓ 2.48% | 216.19 | 217.4 / 214.0 FAREASTLIF | 9.21 | 60.79 | Vol. 107217 D: 99.00 ⇓ 0.50% | 99.56 | 102.0 / 95.00 C: 100.5 ⇑ 0.00% | 100.50 | 100.5 / 100.5 MEGHNALIFE | 10.82 | 48.87 | Vol. 65330 D: 117.4 ⇓ 2.00% | 119.12 | 130.0 / 117.0 C: 117.1 ⇓ 3.14% | 117.00 | 121.9 / 115.2 PROGRESLIF | 2.30 | 31.45 | Vol. 10045 D: 116.1 ⇓ 0.26% | 116.16 | 117.0 / 108.0 PRAGATILIF | 0.60 | 30.15 | Vol. 7650 D: 166.7 ⇓ 1.24% | 166.86 | 180.0 / 160.0 PRIMELIFE | 5.51 | 27.10 | Vol. 38606 D: 96.50 ⇓ 2.13% | 98.41 | 100.5 / 95.90 C: 100.0 ⇑ 0.00% | 100.00 | 100.0 / 100.0 RUPALILIFE | 3.75 | 31.25 | Vol. 315023 D: 118.2 ⇓ 5.74% | 119.72 | 124.0 / 116.0 C: 125.5 ⇓ 2.11% | 125.50 | 129.0 / 122.0 PADMALIFE | 1.63 | 25.76 | Vol. 199320 D: 64.60 ⇓ 2.12% | 65.30 | 67.00 / 61.00 C: 64.40 ⇓ 2.72% | 68.38 | 69.80 / 64.40 SUNLIFEINS | 0.00 | 0.00 | Vol. 184450 D: 59.00 ⇓ 1.34% | 59.43 | 60.50 / 54.00 C: 58.90 ⇓ 1.67% | 59.45 | 60.90 / 58.80 TELECOM GP | 12.96 | 26.26 | Vol. 296276 D: 200.2 ⇑ 0.00% | 200.40 | 201.4 / 196.8 C: 200.2 ⇓ 0.20% | 200.59 | 202.5 / 200.0 BSCCL | 5.82 | 26.38 | Vol. 196195 D: 167.1 ⇓ 1.18% | 167.95 | 170.0 / 155.0 C: 166.7 ⇓ 1.42% | 167.93 | 170.3 / 166.1 TRAVEL & LEISURE UNITEDAIR | 1.10 | 12.87 | Vol. 3207202 D: 16.60 ⇓ 1.19% | 16.71 | 17.50 / 16.00 C: 16.70 ⇓ 0.60% | 16.73 | 17.10 / 16.60 UNIQUEHRL | 4.02 | 86.29 | Vol. 397410 D: 80.70 ⇓ 0.37% | 81.01 | 82.30 / 73.00 C: 80.60 ⇓ 0.74% | 80.93 | 81.60 / 80.00 MISCELLANEOUS ARAMIT | 16.07 | 99.93 | Vol. 11350 D: 328.2 ⇑ 0.71% | 333.75 | 338.0 / 327.1 C: 338.0 ⇑ 8.68% | 338.00 | 338.0 / 338.0 BSC | 1.77 | 565.82 | Vol. 49825 D: 426.3 ⇓ 1.50% | 428.82 | 435.8 / 425.5 C: 426.5 ⇓ 1.50% | 428.73 | 435.0 / 426.0 GQBALLPEN | 6.55 | 250.45 | Vol. 36290 D: 146.8 ⇓ 1.28% | 147.22 | 148.9 / 146.0 C: 146.3 ⇓ 1.22% | 146.86 | 148.0 / 146.0 USMANIAGL | 3.45 | 27.20 | Vol. 82214 D: 143.2 ⇓ 1.72% | 144.60 | 148.4 / 142.0 C: 141.6 ⇓ 3.54% | 141.43 | 142.1 / 141.0 SAVAREFR | 0.14 | 10.57 | Vol. 1400 D: 63.20 ⇓ 1.56% | 63.57 | 63.60 / 62.60 BEXIMCO | 3.24 | 86.74 | Vol. 1406296 D: 33.40 ⇓ 2.34% | 33.76 | 36.00 / 30.80 C: 33.60 ⇓ 1.75% | 33.80 | 34.50 / 33.50 SINOBANGLA | 1.75 | 21.01 | Vol. 1674500 D: 28.40 ⇑ 8.40% | 28.28 | 28.80 / 26.50 C: 28.50 ⇑ 6.74% | 28.52 | 29.20 / 26.80 MIRACLEIND | 0.09 | 14.41 | Vol. 485000 D: 18.60 ⇓ 2.11% | 19.07 | 19.50 / 18.20 C: 18.80 ⇓ 1.05% | 18.84 | 19.50 / 18.40 BOND IBBLPBOND | 0.00 | 1000.00 | Vol. 735 D: 979.3 ⇓ 0.15% | 979.59 | 981.0 / 978.8 ACIZCBOND | 0.00 | 1000.00 | Vol. 18 D: 892.0 ⇑ 0.17% | 888.89 | 900.0 / 890.0 BRACSCBOND | 0.00 | 0.00 | Vol. 5 D: 995.0 ⇓ 0.50% | 995.00 | 995.0 / 995.0

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

RBI chief says not buying FX in market to increase reserves n Reuters The Reserve Bank of India is currently not buying dollars from the forex market to increase its foreign exchange reserves, its chief Raghuram Rajan said yesterday.

“We are not, in a sense, targeting an exchange rate and, therefore, we are not going into the market and buying reserves

at this point to increase the foreign exchange reserves,” Rajan said in a post-policy press conference.

“We have not done that and the increase in reserves thus far have come from those windows,” he said, referring to the two concessional forex swap facilities opened by the central bank during the rupee crisis. l

Leather and ceramic producers to get EDF loans

n Tribune Report

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Raghuram Rajan REUTERS

To facilitate development of backward linkage industries, the central bank has asked all authorised dealer banks dealing with foreign exchange in Bangladesh to provide Export Development Fund to the members of leather and ceramic industries.

Members of Leather goods & Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association of Bangladesh (LFMEAB) and Bangladesh Ceramic Wares Manufacturers’ Association (BCWMA) will be entitled to get the credit facility, according to a circular issued yesterday. It said the mills registered with the LFMEAB will be eligible for the EDF loans along with the mills of BCWMA. l

No joke: Carnival, World Cup could hit Brazil growth in 2014 n Reuters A tongue-in-cheek “Brazilian 2014 Calendar” making the rounds on Facebook jokes that, because of the soccer World Cup, an unusually late Carnival, other holidays and a presidential election, real work will only be possible during three months next year.

But some people aren’t laughing.

The unusual schedule could in fact cause significant damage to productivity and be a further drag on an economy that has already been spinning its wheels, some business leaders and economists say.

“I’ve heard many people say that 2014 will be a lost year. That’s absurd, but if people believe it, I guess it will be true,” said Paulo Motta, head of a retailers’ union in the northeastern state of Bahia.

In a worst-case scenario, the “calendar effect” could shave as much as 0.3 percentage points off Brazil’s gross domestic product next year, said Andre Perfeito, an economist at Gradual Investimentos in Sao Paulo.

Other economists consulted by Reuters said they thought any damage would be much smaller, while some said the effect was just too difficult to forecast.

What’s clear is that, with Brazil’s economy forecast to grow just 2.3% this year, and barely 2% in 2014, even a small hit to output is bad news.

The problems start early.

Traditionally, the Brazilian summer vacation season stretches from Christmas into January and beyond.

While some work gets done, meetings are difficult to schedule and many Brazilians say, only half-jokingly, that the business year doesn’t start in earnest until Carnival ends.

This year, Carnival ended on February 12.

But in 2014, because of the lunar calendar that dictates the pre-Lenten festival’s timing, its last day will be March 4. That means many Brazilians will extend their vacations, or at least keep “summer hours” for an extra few weeks.

Beware the world cup - whether Brazil wins, or loses

The World Cup, which Brazil will host for a month starting on June 12, could pose an even greater distraction.

A worker paints parts of a carnival float at Mangueira Samba School in preparation for next year’s carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro REUTERS When Brazil’s team plays, offices and factories around the country traditionally shut down so employees can watch on TV. But those won’t be the only lost hours this year. A law passed last year gives the 12 cities hosting World Cup matches, and the states where they are located, the right to declare special holidays on game days.

That’s largely to ensure that visiting teams and their fans won’t have to deal with usual workday traffic gridlock on their way to stadiums.

Most cities and states have not yet confirmed whether they will go ahead with the holidays. But in Sao Paulo alone, it could mean six additional days off - all of which, by coincidence, would fall on weekdays.

Brazil’s biggest stock exchange operator, BM&FBovespa SA, has said its trading calendar could be affected if the holidays are declared.

Meanwhile, the thrill of hosting the World Cup for the first time since 1950, and root-

ing for Brazil to win a record sixth championship, means that even when people do show up for work, many will be furtively live-streaming games on their computers or phones.

A study of about 20 leading Brazilian corporations this year by Fundação Dom Cabral, a business school, found that all of them plan to defer business travel during the Cup because of possible airport chaos and other distractions.

Indeed, many people admit they’ll find it hard to concentrate on anything else until the tournament ends on July 13.

The humorous calendar circulating on social media shows all of May blacked out as “Preparation for the World Cup.” June is simply “World Cup,” while July is entirely dedicated to “Celebration or Mourning” of the tournament’s result.

Some retailers are begging to work

that’s obviously an exaggeration - many Bra-

zilians don’t even like soccer, and those that do will still have performance goals to meet, shelves to stock or clients to keep happy.

Meanwhile, some business groups are pressuring city governments to reduce the number of holidays, or perhaps just limit them to students, so as not to hurt their profits.

Motta, the retailers’ union chief, said his members lost 40% of their usual sales when the city government of Salvador declared holidays during the Confederations Cup - a kind of warm-up event for the World Cup in June 2013.

“We can’t afford that again,” he said.

David Beker, chief economist for Brazil at BofA Merrill Lynch, said some manufacturers may accelerate production early in the year to help offset the expected World Cup lull.

A last-minute rush of construction on Cup-related infrastructure could end up boosting the economy, although economists expect it to fall well short of the building bonanza the government was touting just a few years ago.

Spending by as many as 600,000 foreign tourists expected to visit will also help offset lost productivity.

Beker acknowledged that the confluence of events was making economic forecasts “extremely complicated” for Brazil next year.

The other big disruptive event will be the presidential election on October 5, in which Rousseff is expected to run for a second term. If no candidate gets more than 50% of the vote, there will be a runoff on October 26.

Even though none of the opposition candidates are advocating a major shift from Rousseff ’s left-leaning policies, some executives still say they’re likely to be more cautious about investments until the election is over.

All told, in terms of distractions, “it’s like we’re having three carnivals this year,” one local economist said.

The calendar on Facebook went even further than that. After accounting for the elections, the World Cup and Carnival, plus holidays in April and December, it listed the only “working months” in Brazil in 2014 as August, September and November. l