January 02, 2014

Poush 19, 1420 Safar 29, 1435 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 1 No 279

THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

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12 Shilpacharya’s birth centenary

8 Musharraf goes on trial

Slack picketing on 1st day of blockade One killed in Chandpur; vehicles torched, 3 burnt; polls campaign offices set on fire n Ashif Islam Shaon A ward-level leader of Jubo Dal died when members of Border Guard Bangladesh opened fire on blockaders in retribution for sudden attack on them in Sadar upazila of Chandpur yesterday evening.

Deceased Faruk Patwari, 35, was previously the president of BNP’s youth wing in ward 7 under Shahmahmudpur union in the district.

The BGB personnel came under attack on Chandpur-Comilla highway around 5:15pm as soon as their patrol team along with a magistrate reached Mohamaya in the upazila, said Chandpur Superintendent of Police Amir Zafar.

The blockaders suddenly swooped on the law enforcers and vandalised one of their vehicles, prompting the BGB men to retaliate with gunshots. A half-hour-long clash took place, which left at least 20 people injured, the SP added.

Jubo Dal leader Faruk received bullets in the chest and succumbed to his injuries on the way to Chandpur Sadar Hospital.

Magistrate Aminur Rahman who was with the BGB teams said the attackers would have killed them if they had not responded with gunfire.

Chandpur BNP has called a half-day hartal, protesting Faruk’s death.

Meanwhile, three people suffered burn wounds as blockade campaigners hurled a Molotov cocktail at a vegetable-laden truck at 10:30pm on the Dhaka-Tangail highway in Kaliakoir upazila.

The victims were named as vegetable vendors Alamgir Hossain, 40, Lokman Hossain, 38, and truck driver Moksed Ali, 31.

Apart from the death, the first day of the opposition’s non-stop blockade on railways, roads and waterways passed off with a few incidents of vandalism, arson attack and clashes.

Most divisional cities and districts passed the New Year’s Day without major incidents of violence and picketing.

Like the previous blockades, no long-route buses operated. Train services were almost normal except falling behind schedules. Launches also  PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

Commerce minister continues official work despite resignation n Kamran Reza Chowdhury and Asif Showkat Kallol

A train driver at Kamalapur Railway Station dons a helmet to protect himself from probable attacks of pickets on the first day of indefinite blockades yesterday

Despite rendering his resignation from the polls-time cabinet, GM Quader, a senior leader of HM Ershad-led Jatiya Party, continued with his duties as the commerce minister by signing the souvenir of the annual Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) yesterday, official sources said.

The DITF 2014 souvenir is to be presented at the opening ceremony on January 11.

In early December, GM Quader, a JP presidium member, categorically told the media that he had resigned from the cabinet following Ershad’s announcement of boycotting the 10th parliamentary polls without the participation of all parties.

Quader has not attended his commerce ministry office since, although Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina did not accept his resignation letter.

Quader told the Dhaka Tribune over phone yesterday that he just gave his consent to signing the fair souvenir.

Meanwhile, a commerce ministry official confirmed that Quader had NASHIRUL ISLAM

New govt likely after Jan 24 BNP: Salman Khurshid’s n Emran Hossain Shaikh The ruling Awami League has planned to form the new government at the earliest after holding the January 5 elections.

As part of the preliminary plans, the party leaders at a high profile meeting on Tuesday night decided to form the government after January 24, the day when the current parliament tenure expires.

The meeting was held to analyse the legal process of forming the new government.

Meeting sources told the Dhaka Tribune that the new MPs would take oath on January 25 while the government on January 27. The party has plans to hold the first session of the 10th parliament on February 16.

In the meantime, the process of election of the lawmakers to the reserved seats would start.

The source also said the leaders

INSIDE Business

B1 The telecom watchdog is going to introduce a new benchmark with 13 key performance indicators to assess mobile phone operators’ service quality.

Sport

13 New Zealand all-rounder Corey Anderson scored the quickest century ever in international cricket yesterday, taking just 36 balls against West Indies to break the record long held by Shahid Afridi.

would finalise the initial plans after sharing those with the prime minister within a short time.

Another source close to the premier told the Dhaka Tribune that in the current political situation, the prime minister would not agree to keep a long vacuum after the election.

“She wants to hold the polls as soon as possible. After the polls, if there is any legal process to form the government before January 24, she may execute the process,” the source said.

The meeting was held late Tuesday night at the Indira Road residence of the PM’s Legal Affairs Adviser Shafique Ahmed when party advisers HT Imam and Mashiur Rahman, State Minister for Law Quamrul Islam and Attorney General Mahbubey Alam were present.

Earlier in the day, a delegation of the Awami League, led by HT Imam, met with the election commissioners. l

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Our reporter travelled on a motorcycle some 400km areas of Satkhira district for five days mostly in the guise of an NGO worker, as these areas are well-guarded by the Jamaat-Shibir men to protect ‘their territory’ from any ‘intruders.’ This is the first of a series of special reports on the recent violence in the district

statement unwarranted n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

Opposition BNP yesterday described the Indian external affairs minister’s statement as “unexpected, unwarranted and unfortunate.”

India hinted that it wanted to reach an understanding with the US regarding Bangladesh “This [Bangladesh] is an independent and sovereign country. This country was not born to remain subservient to a country after the Liberation War. It will not be possible to...People will not allow it to come into effect until the last drop of blood is remain,” Vice-Chairman Selima Rahman said at a press conference at her residence.

India hinted that it wanted to reach an understanding with the US regarding Bangladesh. “There were obviously some differences of perception that I noticed last time I was there [Washington],” Salman Khurshid said, according to a report of The Hindu.

The differences were “particularly in the dealing of the present government [in Bangladesh] with some of their own internal issues,” he said.

Khurshid pointed out that India’s understanding of Bangladesh would “help” the US. Selima made the statement several hours after US Ambassador Dan W Mozena paid a visit to BNP chief Khaleda Zia, who had been held in “confinement” at her residence since December 24. l

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 6

Believe it or not!

Reza Chowdhury and n Kamran Muhammad Zahidul Islam It may sound unbelievable that an Awami League lawmaker and former minister owns a cot, almirah, chair and table that cost a meagre figure of Tk900 causing raised eyebrows.

The lawmaker provided the information in his affidavit he submitted to the Election Commission ahead of the 10th parliamentary polls.

Lawmaker Ramesh Chandra Sen, the immediate past water resources minister, in his previous affidavit for the 2008 polls put the value of his furniture at Tk4, 700. He did not say the number of the furniture.

This year too he has not mentioned the number of the furniture in the affidavit.

Another Awami League MP owns a sofa set, a dining table, four cots, two  PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

Jamaat ‘protector of Islam’ in Satkhira Hossain, back from n Emran Satkhira Opposition Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir formed huge brigades of infantry comprising children, teenagers and their mothers in Satkhira district, cashing in their loyalty to Islam, to fight against law enforcers and pro-government activists.

The action groups work as human shield for the Jamaat-Shibir activists who confront the law enforcers on the streets during violent demonstrations and also when the police or the joint forces conduct drives to nab those responsible for such violence.

The infantry of ordinary village people, mostly not educated enough to try rumour against logic, took bullets

as they continued to unleash a reign of terror across the district, situated in the south-western part of the country along Indian border. The district remained virtually seized by the Jamaat-Shibir men since the execution of Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Molla on December 12.

In the last 10 months, several groups  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Conspiracy on to foil polls: Hasina n Emran Hossain Shaikh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said a clique was involved in a conspiracy to thwart the 10th parliamentary election scheduled to be held on January 5.

“There are people who are scared of democracy want to bring back 2007like situation to destroy democracy,” she said while addressing election rallies in different parts of Dhaka city.

Sheikh Hasina, also Awami League president, took part in election campaigns for her party candidates Kamal Ahmed Majumdar for Dhaka 14 constituency, Ilias Uddin Mollah for Dhaka 16 and Shahara Khatun for Dhaka 18.

Party activists were seen joining the meetings riding on trucks chanting slogans in favour of their candidates.

Some people claiming to be intellectuals wanted to destroy democracy by floating Kings Party in 2007 and now they have become active again, she observed.

They are distinguished personalities but want to establish an undemocratic and unconstitutional government in the country.

She instructed her party members to go from door to door and to convince people to cast their votes.

The January 5 election is very important for the continuation of country’s democracy, she said seeking votes for party symbol Boat.

Expressing her gratitude to people for their valuable votes in the previous polls

she said her government has developed every sector of the society and this time if she has another chance she will turn Bangladesh into a mid-income country by 2021 and a developed one by 2041.

Describing her success she said her government has changed the face of Dhaka.

She reiterated that the polls on January 5 will be free, fair and neutral.

Blasting the BNP Chairman Khaleda Zia the Awami League president said she [Khaleda Zia] was not joining the polls as the Jamaat was not able to contest the election.

She branded the Jamaat as a militant organisation for which, she said, the BNP leader has a soft corner.

In a note of warning the premier asked the leader of the opposition: “You can boycott the polls but who has given you the license to kill people in the name of resisting election?”

She urged her party men to teach a proper lesson to those who want to resist the election.

Referring to her several initiatives to bring the opposition to a negotiation table she said: “I told her [Khaleda Zia] to join the election and wanted to talk to her but she did not respond.”

The prime minister in her speeches renewed her vows to trial those who have killed members of law enforcement agencies and burnt innocent people to death. “And Khaleda Zia will be made principle accused of those murders,” she said. l

Consul general in Milan to be recalled n Sheikh Shaharar Zaman

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina poses in front of the media with primary school students yesterday after distributing textbooks among them at the Ganabhaban PMO

Moon sighting panel sits today

n UNB

The National Moon Sighting Committee will sit in a meeting today to decide the date of Eid-e-Miladunnabi, the day of birth and demise of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SM).

The meeting will be held at the Islamic Foundation’s Baitul Mukarram conference room at 5:30pm.

The meeting will announce the date of Eid-e-Miladunnabi after reviewing information on the sighting of the Rabiul Awal moon. Railways and Religions Affairs Minister and Chairman of the moon sighting committee M Muzibul Haque will preside over the meeting. l

BD Polls: India’s border to be sealed for 3 days from January 4 n UNB Bangladesh’s close neighbour India has decided to keep its border sealed for three days from January 4, a day ahead of the 10th national election scheduled for January 5.

India has also taken additional security measures to avert any negative impact on its state West Bengal, following the overheated political situation ahead of the elections, reports BBC Bangla.

The report quoted West Bengal Home Secretary, Vasudev Banarjee, saying the border would remain sealed

until January 6.

The country’s Border Security Force (BSF) have been ordered increased vigilance over land and water boundaries, while police stations near the borders have been asked to be on high alert, it said.

Earlier, Additional Director General (East) of BSF, BD Sharma said two additional battalions, around 2500 of BSF, have been deployed on the southern frontier alone.

Meanwhile, the BSF has been ordered to handle the situation humanely if the people of the Hindu community from Bangladesh try to enter Indian

border in the face of violence.

The decision was taken on Tuesday following a meeting at state secretariat Nabanna in Howrah between the Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami and state Chief Secretary Sanjay Mitra, Home Secretary Basudev Banerjee, ADG BSF BD Sharma and representatives of other security and intelligence agencies, says a report carried by The Statesman.

Petrapole in North 24-Parganas, Chengrabanda in Cooch Behar and Fulbari in Jalpaiguri are among the border transit points that West Bengal has with Bangladesh. l

Jamaat ‘protector of Islam’ in Satkhira  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

of Jamaat-Shibir cadres allegedly killed over three dozens of people including 16 Awami League activists in Satkhira.

The incidents have taken place mainly after February 28, when another Jamaat leader Delawar Hossain Sayedee was sentenced to death for crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War, according to newspaper reports.

The victims were slaughtered, hacked and beaten to death in broad daylight, in the middle of local marketplaces or anytime they had chosen for having the job done.

About a dozen of the killings took place only in December in Kolaroa, Devhata, Kaliganj and sadar areas.

Jamaat-Shibir dominates the ideology of the people through a wellplanned network of activities, executed by involving mainly the mosques, madrasas, and orphanages.

These findings were made through interviews of Jamaat-Shibir supporters, victims of their crimes and eye witnesses.

The situation in Satkhira has been so dreadful that even the police cannot go to many areas to quell violence or arrest the accused. On more than one occasion, the joint forces had to retreat in the face of obstacles put up by felling trees on the roads.

“They cut ‘Islam’ off the name of ‘Nazrul Islam College,’ making it simply ‘Nazrul College.’ They likewise want to kill Islam in this country,” this reporter heard as the motorcycle he was riding drove past Sarashkathi’s Bamonkhali Government School around 3pm on December 26.

A makeshift roadside tea stall was set up there to keep playing all day long the recorded “religious sermons” of Sayedee.

It shows the extent to which the Jamaat-Shibir is able to operate in the district with its propaganda campaigns imbued with anti-independence teachings.

Jamaat, which is responsible for siding with the Pakistani occupation forces and committing crimes in 1971,

treats the freedom fighters as “enemies of Islam.” The Jamaat had advocated for a unified Islamist Pakistan and formed collaborators’ groups including para militia al-Badr.

As the war crimes trial began four decades after the independence in 2010, the Jamaat picked Satkhira, considering its historical stronghold, for staging massive violence to give an impression that a large part of the countrymen were against the trial.

How the party was preparing since the trial began could be assessed from the words of Mujibor Sarder. He is the father of Deyara union’s ward seven Swechchhasebak League General Secretary Rabiul Islam, who was hacked to death on November 26.

According to Mujibor, the Jamaat-Shibir activists made the village women taking oath with the Qur’an to work for the “protection of Islam.” And the process of motivating them had been done through the party’s women activists during the weekly meetings, known as “Talim” or “Boithak.”

“Even the women whose husbands are involved with the Awami League politics were motivated through these meetings. And they do not prefer sharing with their husbands what is discussed in those meetings,” said Mujibor.

Many women who this reporter spoke to throughout the trip admitted to have attended the Jamaat meetings regularly.

“We sought Allah’s blessings for saving the life of Sayedee, an innocent man made to bear responsibility for the crimes he did not commit,” said one of the women, preferring not to be named.

It has been proved at the International Crimes Tribunal that Sayedee had changed his name from Delu Shikder when he became a popular religious preacher. Eventually he turned a politician. Framing Sayedee for crimes committed by Delu Shikder was one of the main defence arguments. But it was not proved.

Rabiul’s sister-in-law Sharmin divulges more about what was discussed

in those meetings. “If we die for establishing Islam, we will be entitled to go to heaven. The hells are only for the Awami League men,” she said.

The women have also been trained to move stealthily while carrying machetes during attacks on the “enemies of Islam.”

Rabiul was hacked with a machete in the afternoon of November 26 at Deyara Bazar in Kolaroa upazila. The Jamaat-Shibir activists were allegedly carrying 100 machetes, locally known as Ramda, on that day, said Abdul Motaleb, another villager. He claimed that the machetes had been kept in the house of a member of Deyara Union Parishad.

Investigations reveal that the machetes were made with money realised from local workers of a 2012-project who had built an embankment to protect the area against inundation during floods. Some locals collected the money and gave it to the Deyara UP chairman, Ibrahim Hossain, who charged Tk500 for each of those workers.

Deyara unit Jubo League President Quddus Hossain himself collected Tk500 from each of the 30 workers who were under his supervision. He alleged that with the fund, the chairman had made some 100 machetes, each costing not less than Tk1,500.

The Jamaat men motivated the adult male population mainly by using mosques and local gathering places where fake information and rumour about their leaders were spread. The Imams described Sayedee and Quader Molla as “messengers of God” falling victims to politics for campaigning the “principles of Islam.”

Special doa was also offered, especially after every Jum’a prayers, to save these “messengers.”

“I myself heard once during a Jum’a prayer when Allah’s blessings were sought for saving the lives of ‘protectors of Islam,’” said a BGB personnel at the Hizalti border outpost in Chandanpur. l

JaPa to announce polls manifesto today n Manik Miazee The HM Ershad-led Jatiya Party will announce its election manifesto today at 10am in the capital’s Hotel Sonargaon.

Joint Office Secretary Abul Hasan Ahmed Jewel confirmed this to the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

Ershad had earlier declared that he would not take part in the upcoming elections slated for January 5.

However, party sources claim that Ershad had told the leaders to take part in the polls. They have been campaigning under the leadership of party’s senior Presidium member Rawshan Ershad, also wife of the party chief.

JaPa’s Research and Strategy Wing in a statement yesterday said its head Bobby Hajjaj, also a special adviser to Ershad, had conducted a video conference with the party leaders and assured them that Ershad was not a part of the polls.

Soon after Ershad’s arrest on De-

cember 12, the wing in a statement claimed that it had stopped its activities because of unknown reasons.

Meanwhile, police yesterday barred JaPa from holding any founding anniversary programmes in the capital.

JaPa Dhaka Metropolitan (north unit) arranged the programme at a convention centre in Gulshan 1 in the morning with party’s Secretary General ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader and Presidium member GM Quader as guests. Both are ministers in the current “all-party” polls-time government.

The unit’s president, HM Faisal Chishti, alleged that the police had forced everyone out of the venue and taken away the banners.

Presidium member Delawar Hossain Khan said the police had also obstructed the party men from organising any programmes in the central office at Kakrail. He alleged that no one had been allowed to enter the office premises since morning. l

Believe it or not!  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

almirahs and a cupboard costing only Tk15, 000, says his affidavit for this year’s election.

He is none but controversial Awami League MP Abdur Rahman Badi (Cox’s Bazar-4 constituency) who frequently came in the media spotlight for his unruly behaviour in his constituency in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar.

Chief Whip Abdus Shahid in his affidavit showed the value of his furniture Tk15, 000, without giving the number.

The furniture traders say the value of the aforesaid MPs mention in the affidavit for contesting the polls is not practical.

Ramesh Chandra Sen is contesting the Thakurgaon-1 seat. He owns a motorcycle that costs only Tk2, 200. He has Tk359 only in cash while the deposit in the bank stands at Tk1, 867,000.

Elected uncontested, Abdur Rahman (Faridpur-1 constituency) says the

value of the furniture in his apartment in Dhanmondi stands at Tk75, 000.

Deputy Leader of the House Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury in her affidavit put the value of her furniture at Tk50, 000 not referring their number and types.

Zahid Maleque (Manikganj-3 constituency), who has house in posh Baridhara area, says he owns furniture worth Tk70, 000 only.

However, some Awami League MPs have showed the value of their furniture that is consistent with the market prices.

Awami League candidate for Madaripur-1 constituency Noor-E-Alam Chowdhury, elected unopposed, in his affidavit said he and his wife owned furniture worth over Tk2477, 000.

Senior Awami League MP Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim in his statement said he had furniture at his Banani residence worth about Tk12 lakh. l

The government has decided to recall Bangladesh Consul General in Milan Md Tauhedul Islam for his “indecent behaviour” towards a female colleague.

A primary investigation conducted by a team of officials from the Prime Minister’s Office and the foreign ministry found evidence of the misconduct.

The ministry formed the probe team with PMO Additional Secretary Paban Chowdhury, ministry’s Additional Secretary Jishnu Roy Chowdhury and director Kazi Anarkoly. “The team went to Milan in October and found primary evidence against him [the consul general],” said an official.

In its report submitted in November, the probe team recommended recalling Tauhedul because he lost his credibility to work in the mission, the official added.

As per government rules and regulations, a detailed investigation will be conducted against Tauhedul and the ministry will take action in line with the recommendations put forward.

An officer of the 17th BCS cadre, Tauhedul served in Bangladesh Permanent Mission in New York prior to his posting in Milan. l

Youth jailed for one year for harassing girl n Our Correspondent, Gazipur A mobile court yesterday sentenced a youth in Kaliganj on charge of harassing a girl.

Ramjan Ali, 23, an HSC student of Jamalpur College and son of Saidul Islam of Fuinpur village under Sreenagar upazila of Munshiganj, tried to sexually abuse a girl of Jamalpur village, said Kaliganj police station SI Mujibur Rahman. She is an SSC examinee.

Locals and members of her family caught Ramjan red-handed when she shouted. Later, the incident was informed to Kaliganj upazila UNO Kamrul Ahsan Talukder.

The mobile court of Kaliganj upazila Assistant Commissioner (land) Bhashkar Debnath Bappi gave the verdict around 10pm yesterday by the order of UNO. l

Commerce minister  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

already signed a summary of the export fair. However, the minister would not be attending his secretariat office until Sunday’s general elections, the official added.

The month-long DITF 2014, which was scheduled to begin yesterday, was deferred by 10 days following requests from the country’s business community and fair participants. The largest trade fair of the country will now kick off on January 11 in the capital’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.

Earlier, nearly 100 domestic and foreign participants had threatened to stay away from the fair unless the opening was deferred until the elections were over. Small businessmen had also threatened to stop constructing pavilions and stalls at the fair site. l

Slack picketing on 1st day of blockade  PAGE 1 COLUMN 1

operated without interruption. The vehicles, however, had fewer passengers.

The BNP-led opposition combine called the non-stop blockade to resist the “one-sided” January 5 polls.

The capital saw a slack blockade with a large number of vehicles running on roads; shopping malls and educational institutions were open.

However, two miscreants riding a motorbike exploded at least 15 crude bombs in between Bangladesh Sheikh Mujib Medical University main gate and Shahbagh intersection.

In Chittagong, a microbus driver of private television channel, Somoy TV, sustained injuries when miscreants hurled a crude bomb at his vehicle parked along the road in front of the television channel office in Ashkar Dighir Par. Abdul Hakim received splinter injuries around 6am. He was undergoing treatment at Chittagong Medical College and Hospital.

Blockaders also torched two trucks in front of the city’s Directorate of Environment Office and Muradpur Intersection and vandalised 15 vehicles in the city’s Kajir Dewri and Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar Highway at Satkania upazila.

They also blasted at least 30 crude bombs at different points of the city and elsewhere in the district.

A group of Jammat-Shibir men, riding motorcycles, CNG-run auto-rick-

shaws and chanting religious slogans on foot, rampaged through SS Khaled Road from Kajir Dewri to Askar Dighir Par area in the city around 5:50pm, leaving four people injured, said eye-witnesses.

Blockaders torched five vehicles and an election campaign office in four districts while law enforcers arrested 52 activists of BNP and Jamaat-Shibir raiding different areas of Jessore, Brahmanbaria, Gazipur and Satkhira.

In Gazipur, the opposition men set fire to two covered van in the morning and evening.

Of the two, the first was torched at Rajendrabazar in Sreepur upazila around 4:30am while the second – which belonged to a garment factory – was set on fire on Sreepur-Maona highway around 8pm.

Both of the vehicles remained parked, said Amir Hossain, officer-in-charge of Sreepur police station.

Locals and on-duty policemen doused the fire immediately.

Besides, law enforcers detained 10 people in the district on suspicion of creating anarchy, according to police control room of the district.

In Bhola, blockaders hurled a patrol bomb at a passenger bus at Taltoli in Sadar upazila around 10am.

None was reported hurt as all passengers managed to get down from the bus in a hurry, said Sultan Mahmud, OC of Sadar police station.

The bus came under attack when it was going to Chittagong from Bhola, the OC added.

Our Satkhira correspondent reports activists of Jamaat-Shibir attacked an election campaign motorcade of independent candidate of Satkhira 2 constituency Saiful Karim Sabu, leaving four of his campaigners injured. The attackers also torched three motorbikes.

Locals said Sabu was on his way to Satkhira from Bhomra while one motorbike of the motorcade ran out of fuel. With other two bikers, the three polls campaigners – Kabir, Azizul and Babu, stopped to collect fuel.

“All of a sudden Jamaat-Shibir men attacked them and torched the vehicles. They beat the trio,” said Saiful Karim Sabu. The Jamaat-Shibir men also torched the candidate’s “easy bike” a few days back.

Enamul Haque, OC of Satkhira Sadar police station said they rescued the injured on information.

Meanwhile, in Jhenaidah, a gang of troublemakers torched the election office of Awami League candidate for Jhenaidah 3 (Moheshpur-Kotchandpur) Prof Nabi Newaj.

Golam sarwar, Awami League convener, Kotchandpur Municipal committee, said a group of about 100 Jamaat-Shibir men brought out a rally and burned down the office around 12:30pm. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Dhaka lacking election ambiance Voters express mixed feelings about ballot-casting n Tazlina Zamila Khan Every five years, the country experiences a wave of excitement ahead of the general elections, with candidates busy in election campaigns and voters enthusiastic about their right to elect representatives for shaping the course of the country.

But the situation is totally different this time.

Many voters are unwilling to go to the polling centers to cast their ballots, while many first-time voters were disappointed as unopposed wins by lone candidates deprived them of their voting experience in the upcoming 10th parliamentary polls.

Kaniz Fatema, 22, student and a new voter of Dhaka-10 constituency said: “I read in the newspaper that Fazle Nur

Taposh has been elected uncontested.

I don’t know whether he is a capable candidate or not. Besides, I lost the opportunity to give vote for the first time.”

For the first time in history, 153 lone candidates are set to be elected unopposed, depriving 48,280,620 voters from casting their ballots.

However, election campaigning has reportedly been going on in full swing in areas like Lalbagh, Mirpur, Pallabi, and Gandaria.

Rafiqul Islam, a 42-year-old businessman from Lalbagh (Dhaka-7), said: “Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin and Haji Mohammad Selim have been doing campaign in full swing through miking [loudspeakers] and public relations.

The whole area is surrounded with their posters.”

Chunnu Mia, a shop-owner at Killar-

mor in old Dhaka, however expressed his frustration: “Is it called an election?

Do politicians give any importance to our opinion?

“We don’t value these bribed politicians. We are fed up of this game. I am not going to give vote this time,” he added.

Anis Parvez, 50, a university lecturer in Dhanmondi, said: “Election may be held in January 5 as government is determined. But, people will not obey the elected government and the consequence will not be good.”

A businessman of Uttara (Dhaka-18), Tarikul Islam Miraz, said: “This election is a joke. Whom will I elect? Those politicians who made huge wealth by eating our property? I don’t want to waste my time in giving vote. Besides, half of the result is already published and the

rest will be done also without vote. Because, the politicians don’t need us,” Munira Islam, a housewife voting in the Dhaka-6 seat, said: “I have seen posters and heard slogans of Monir Hossain Komol and Habibur Rahman Molla. But, I don’t think the election is taking place on January 5, people will resist.”

Another voter of Mirpur, 43-year-old government employee Mokbul Hossain, however was more optimistic.

He said: “I noticed election campaigns here and I am interested to give vote. At the end of the day, every political party will join polls.”

Voters outside Dhaka also expressed their mixed feelings about the polls.

Galib Mujahid, a public university student in Chittagong, said: “I am confused about the election, but the can-

didates of Chittagong-9 constituency have been campaigning.”

He however expressed his unwillingness to vote because of dissatisfaction at politicians.

Although Galib said he saw posters of candidates in front of Jamalkhan election office and Cheragi Parar Circle, he observed that: “People aren’t talking about election in tea stalls like earlier.”

Muminul Islam, a septuagenarian voter from Gabtoli upazila in Bogra, said: “We’ve seen enough destruction of politicians. People are in fear centering election, because we are the ultimate victim of any incident.”

He added, “People are thinking about their security, not vote. I have never seen such a dull election in this stage of my life.” l

Bangladesh selected for Global Green Award 2014 n UNB Bangladesh has been selected for the “Global Green Award 2014,” Environment and Forests Minister Hasan Mahmud announced at a press briefing at the Secretariat yesterday.

He said Paris-based Otherways Management Association had decided to provide the award to the environment and forests ministry of Bangladesh for its outstanding contribution to the sustainable development of environment.

The award would be handed over at a function in Berlin on March 31, he said.

He informed that the country’s forest area had increased to 13.2% from 9.5% in last five years of the present government.

On average, about 12 crore saplings were produced each year during 201013. The minister said the government had established Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park on 4,000 acres in Gazipur at a cost of Tk220 crore. He also termed this park better than many parks in other countries.

The share of the poor has been increased to 75% from 40% under the government’s social afforestation programme, he added. l

Low income people go to their workplaces by rickshaw van yesterday as public transport was suspended during the blockades enforced by the 18-party alliance. The photo was taken from Babubazar Bridge in the capital SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Biman, CAAB officials among five held with 134 gold bars n Kailash Sarkar

Officials of Rapid Action Battalion yesterday arrested five individuals in possession of 134 gold bars smuggled through Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport a couple of days ago.

The five were identified as Kamrul Islam, security officer of Civil Aviation Authorities of Bangladesh (CAAB), Md Abu Zafor, sweeping supervisor of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Indian national Zamil Tuki, businessman Mohammad Ali and his associate Mohammad Labu.

They were arrested from different parts of the capital and are believed to be members of an airport-based smuggling syndicate.

The arrests add to a growing body of evidence suggesting increasing involvement of airport employees with smuggling. Earlier, a probe committee identified at least 18 Biman officials with links to two separate incidents of gold smuggling, including the

country’s biggest ever seizure of gold (124kg) that occurred last July.

Following the arrests, Rab officials claimed to have identified several other officials of CAAB and Biman as members of the syndicate.

“The arrestees are members of an international syndicate involved with gold smuggling,” said Col Ziaul Ahsan, additional director general for operations at Rab, adding they had been assisted for years by airport officials as well as outsiders.

“Each of them had their own role to play. The sweeping supervisor would sneak gold out of the airport; the CAAB security officer would support by passing information; Mohammad Ali, who led the group, would oversee the entire process of smuggling.”

The Indian citizen was behind the transportation of the seized gold bars from Hong Kong.

“Importantly, during our interrogation they’ve disclosed names of many other individuals, including

some working in different government and non-government agencies,” Ziaul said. “It won’t be long before we arrest those syndicate members also.”

In a separate drive yesterday, police also arrested two other individuals with 636 cartons of contraband cigarettes and 434 grams of gold smuggled from Kuala Lumpur by a flight of the Regent Airways.

They were identified as Zahir Uddin, 45, and Ali Sheikh, 40, said Alamgir Hossain Shimiul, assistant superintendent of police at the Armed Police Battalion.

According to sources, gold smuggling through the airports in Dhaka and Chittagong has become quite rampant in recent times, with an estimated 600-kg gold seized last year alone.

In addition, over 650 people, including officials of different government offices and airlines, were also arrested for their involvement with airport-based smuggling. l

EC completes all preparations for holding the 10th national polls n Mohammad Zakaria The Election Commission has completed all kinds of preparation of holding the 10th parliamentary elections in 147 constituencies, slated for January 5.

The election campaigning of candidates is scheduled to be ended at 8am on Friday and all types of vehicular movement would be stopped from Saturday midnight.

Special security measures would be taken at every polling centres before the election day, EC officials informed, adding that the commission would send a delegation to meet President Abdul Hamid today to inform him about the election preparation.

Around 3 lakh election officials would conduct the polls, EC officials said, adding that army had already been deployed on December 26 and it would remain

deployed till January 9. Besides, Rab, police, the BGB, Coast Guard and armed police battalion would be deployed on January 1-7 as mobile and striking force.

389 candidates are contesting the polls in 147 constituencies as 153 lone candidates are set to be elected uncontested The commission has already sent ballot papers and electoral equipment, which will reach the polling centres on January 4, under the security of Rab and the BGB. EC officials said 389 candidates are contesting the polls in 147 constituencies as 153 lone candidates are set to be elected uncontested. As a result, there will be no need to hold the elections in any constituencies of Chandpur, Shariatpur, Rajbari, Madaripur and Joypurhat,

BNP: Khaleda under house arrest

n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

Attorney general slams pro-oppn lawyers for refuting consensus n Nazmus Sakib The attorney general yesterday criticised the Supreme Court Bar Association president, AJ Mohammad Ali, for refusing the decision of consensus reached on Tuesday over not holding any rallies, processions and meetings on the court premises.

He said Ali had changed his position under pressure of the hardliners in Jamaat and BNP. Earlier in the day, the SCBA chief at a press briefing said at the meeting there was an agreement that none could reveal the issue of the discussion. “But unfortunately, the attorney general and a pro-Awami League lawyer circulated a confusing message.”

Pro-opposition lawyers after the briefing brought out a procession on the court premises. They also held a rally.

The meeting was held on Tuesday afternoon at the Judges’ Lounge of the Supreme Court where Chief Justice Md Muzammel Hossain, six other judges of the apex court, the attorney general, former SCBA presidents and secretaries, senior lawyers and the SC registrar were present. Later the attorney general made the disclosure about the meeting outcome.

AKM Shamsul Islam, the registrar, yesterday told the Dhaka Tribune that the lawyers had certainly agreed on keeping the court premises out of processions, rallies or meetings.

He said if the message of the meeting would not reach other lawyers, “then what was the purpose of holding the meeting?”

The attorney general told reporters that through such denial, the judiciary had been made controversial.

The top law officer the country, Mahbubey Alam also mentioned about a previous High Court verdict that had banned all types of processions and meetings on the court premises.

On Sunday, pro-Awami League men attacked pro-BNP lawyers who were demonstrating at the main entrance of the Supreme Court. The chief justice had called upon the meeting on Tuesday over the incident.l

3

Thursday, January 2, 2014

EC statistics shows.

On Wednesday, the EC issued a press statement that candidates would have to stop their election campaigning before 48 hours of the beginning of the polls and none can hold any rally and meeting within 48 hour after the polling day. The statement also states that all vehicular movement would be stopped at 12am on Saturday midnight.

Special monitoring team had started works to monitor the overall and law and order situation yesterday, EC officials said.

On the other hand, around 44 local observers have applied to the commission to observe the polls.

Banks would remain open on January 3 and 4 in the election areas, there would be general holiday in the election areas and the voting would be held from 8am4pm without any break. l

The main opposition BNP has alleged that party Chairperson Khaleda Zia is under “house arrest” and the prime minister is spending public money for her election campaign.

“There are no voters in the field…The prime minister is conducting her election campaign, using state funds, to hold a lopsided election.

“This sort of election campaign is not acceptable to the people of the country,” BNP Vice-Chairman Selima Rahman told journalists at her residence yesterday.

The party also termed the Indian external affairs minister’s statement on Bangladesh’s internal matters “unexpected, unwarranted and unfortunate.”

Selima said: “This is an independent and sovereign country. The country was not born to be subservient to another country…If anybody thinks that the independent people of the country could be made subservient forcibly, they are wrong. People will prevent such efforts with the last drop of their blood.”

Asked if they thought that Khaleda was under a house arrest, Selima said: “I think by cordoning off her effectively she has been kept under house arrest.

If it is not so, then why are leaders and activists barred from entering her residence?...Why was she barred from going to Nayapaltan to attend the March for Democracy programme?”

The BNP leader said the “farcical” elections would not be acceptable to anyone in the country and abroad.

“There is still time for a compromise.

Stop holding the farcical polls and hold it under a non-partisan government,” she said. Selima claimed that the press briefing had been called at her residence as police had cordoned off the party’s Nayapaltan headquarters and the chairperson’s Gulshan office.

Criticising the government for “repressing” opposition leaders and activists, she said: “The leader of the opposition has been kept confined in her residence illegally and by doing this the government has projected its fascist nature and political bankruptcy.”

Asked about a minister’s claim that Khaleda cordoned off herself, Selima said: “It is full of lie. If she is not cordoned off, then why did law enforcers take position in front of her residence and why are sand laden trucks parked there?” l

Three posts of secretary lying vacant

Public administration ministry yet to take steps retaries, they added. n Mohosinul Karim A section of influential additional The public administration ministry is yet to make any move to fill up the three vacant posts of secretaries who retired from services very recently.

The three are Parliament Secretariat’s senior secretary Ashraful Moqbul, Agriculture secretary SM Nazmul Islam, Science and Technology secretary Rafiqul Islam and another OSD secretary Mohammad Golam Quddus.

The secretaries retired from services on December 29 and 31 of the last year.

Filling up the vacant posts of secretaries is to be done immediately after the bureaucrat’s retirement, but the ministry concerned is yet to take any step in this regard.

The offices to be assumed by bureaucrats in the same post remain empty.

According to the ministry officials, the secretaries who retired from services tried to arrange contractual appointments, and to this end, sent files to the Prime Minister’s Office for approval.

But the PMO turned down their request.

The officials said the retirees had already got a two-year extension in service beyond their retirement age of public service.

If they got contractual appointments it would stand in the way promotion procedures for additional sec-

secretaries also opposed the move to bag the appointments on contract basis, the officials said.

According to the ministry officials, the secretaries who retired from services tried to arrange contractual appointments, and to this end, sent files to the Prime Minister’s Office for approval Public Administration Ministry’s Senior Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder told the Dhaka Tribune, “The ministry has sent a list to the premier’s office for filling up the vacancies, but we are yet to get any instruction from the high-ups of the government.”

“We will assign new officers to the posts immediately after getting instruction. It may take time. The files would be approved after January 5,” he said.

A good number of high-level civil bureaucrats serving as senior secretary, secretary and additional secretary in different ministries or divisions and some important offices will retire by 2014 March, two years after extension of their services.

The bureaucrats got a two-year extension in service while the government extended the retirement age of public servants to 59 years from 57 on December 26, 2011. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Thursday, January 2, 2014

2D survey for onshore oil-gas starts this month The survey will cover areas including Khulna, Gopalganj and Dhaka Gazipur, Mymensingh, Madaripur, n Aminur Rahman Rasel Netrakona, Moaulvibazar, Sunamganj, Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (Bapex) will start a 2D seismic survey in 282-line-kilometre area in some southwestern districts this month to explore onshore oil and gas.

Bapex Managing Director MA Baki told the Dhaka Tribune that the survey will cover areas of Khulna, Gopalganj, Shariatpur and Netrakona districts.

“We are hopeful about completing the 2D seismic survey by May this year,” he said.

The Bapex project, approved in 2012-13 with an estimated cost of Tk71.13 crore, aims at conducting 2D seismic surveys in yet untapped 1,800 line-km areas in Khulna, Gopalganj, Dhaka, Manikganj, Shariatpur, Munshiganj, Sherpur, Jamalpur, Tangail,

Habiganj and Sylhet.

The state-owned Bapex is the only company that has been exploring onshore oil and gas in the country since 1989.

In the field season of 2012-13, seismic data on 118 line-km has been acquired in Madaripur and part of Khulna.

Project Director Mohammad Nurul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune that the survey consisted of three phases: data collection – survey, seismic drilling and sound recording, data processing and analysis.

So far, there has been no gas and oil discovery in the western, northern and southwestern districts, which cover more than half of the country. All the existing gas fields are situated in the northeast, east and southeast. l

Workers observing abstention for salary hike n Our Correspondent, Gazipur

Another defamation complaint against Khaleda dismissed

The workers of apparel manufacturer Konabari Kader Synthetic Limited in Gazipur went on an indefinite work abstention yesterday demanding a salary increase.

They took the decision after coming to their workplace in the morning to find a notice saying their salaries were increased. But the increase was not consistent with an agreement they reportedly had with the factory’s authorities.

The protesters said their employers had earlier promised them to raise their salaries by at least Tk1,000, starting from December, but the renewed pay structure was not what they had been expecting.

However, a spokesman of the factory defended the increase. Zakir Hossain, civil engineer of the factory, said: “The factory is run according to the existing rules of the industry.”

“There are a total of 2,000 workers in the factory, 900 of them in the polyester department. The management has duly increased their attendance bonuses and gratuities and then issued the notice.”

The workers have been demonstrating inside the factory in a “peaceful manner,” said Inspector of Gazipur Industrial Police Nazrul Islam. l

n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu A Dhaka Court yesterday dismissed another defamation complaint against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia for her comment in which she said she would erase the name of Gopalganj.

Pro-Awami League organisation and founder President of Bangladesh Awami Muktijoddah League Md Mujibur Rahman Mollah from Gopalganj, approached the court with the complaint yesterday morning.

After recording the statement of the plaintiff Metropolitan Magistrate Md Asaduzzaman Nur at 3:30pm refused to accept the complaint.

In his complaint Mollah stated that Khaleda defamed the country’s founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

Several left parties bring out a procession in front of the National Press Club yesterday protesting the foreign intervention in the politics of Bangladesh

by saying that the name of Gopalganj, the birth place of Mujib, would be changed.

During an exchange with police personnel posted outside her Gulshan residence in the capital on December 29 Khaleda Zia asserted she would erase the name of Gopalganj from the map of Bangladesh.

After recording the statement of the plaintiff, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Asaduzzaman Nur kept pending his order till afternoon and finally dismissed the complaint.

In reaction, Mollah said that he would file a petition with the higher court seeking revision of the order after consulting his lawyers.

Advocate Nani Gopal Das put forward the petition as plaintiff pleader. l

Four dead in the capital n Tribune Report

A prisoner who was brought to Dhaka Central Jail recently from Kashimpur died yesterday with reasons unknown to hospital authorities.

Police said Shah Alam, aged around 35, was brought dead to Dhaka Medical College Hospital around 8am by a guard of Central Jail.

Sub-Inspector Md Hannan of Chawkbazar police station, who prepared Alam’s inquest report, said his body had injury marks in the forehead, nose and under the eyes.

The jail guard Sumon, who brought the body to DMCH, told reporters that Alam was feeling ill in the morning and so he was brought to the hospital. Shah Alam, prisoner number 7348/A, was son of Salauddin of North Manda in the capital’s Mugda.

Shah Alam’s mother, Farida Begum, said Alam was awarded nine-year imprisonment in an arms case filed with Mugda police station. She said: “My

n Manik Miazee Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, a member of the Awami League-led ruling alliance, unveiled its election manifesto yesterday.

In its 31-point manifesto, the party pledges to sustain development in line with the country’s constitution and democracy. It also calls for 33% reserved seats for women in parliament.

General Secretary Sharif Nurul Ambia presented the manifesto at a press conference held at the party’s headquarters in the city.

He said the party was taking part in the January 5 polls to protect the constitution. It would contest the polls in 19 seats with “torch” symbol, and four

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

Mild cold wave was sweeping over the regions of Mymensingh, Tangail, Madaripur, Rajshahi, Kushtia, Pabna, Comilla and Srimangal, Met Office said.

Moderate to thick fog may occur over the river basins and light to moderate fog elsewhere over the country during Midnight till morning. Night temperature may rise slightly and day temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country.

The sun sets in the capital at 5:23pm today and rises at 6:42am tomorrow.

Country’s highest temperature 27.4 degree Celsius was recorded at Sitakunda and lowest 7.4 degrees at Srimangal yesterday.

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

Low

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

25.7 24.1 25.3 24.7 25.6 25.7 26.7 26.5

11.2 12.6 09.5 11.2 12.0 11.0 11.1 12.8

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

5:21am 6:41am 12:02am 3:47pm 5:23pm 6:44pm

Source: IslamicFinder.org

son was in Kashimpur Jail and on December 28 he was brought to Dhaka Central Jail.” “Later he was sent to DMCH for treatment and the doctors at that time said he was okay,” she added.

She said: “When I visited him on Tuesday, he said he was feeling bad and today [yesterday], jail authorities called me and informed that Alam was rushed to DMCH again with chest pain.”

Police on the issue said they would be certain about the cause of death after the autopsy.

Meanwhile, in another incident, a scrap-leather trader Md Faizul Islam, 38, was brought dead to DMCH around 1:30am yesterday.

Mir Rezaul Islam, sub-inspector of Hazaribagh police station said Faizul had locked into an altercation with a roadside vendor, a betel leaf seller, in front of a food shop in Hazaribagh around 12:20am.

At one stage of the argument, a local youth named Shahin punched Faizul, taking side of the vendor. He then

smashed Faizul’s head onto a wall, leaving him dead on the spot, he added.

The SI said they have arrested Shahin and the victim’s body was sent to DMCH for autopsy.

In another incident, a private university student Mahfuzur Rahman, 23, died after being hit by a covered-van when he was crossing a road near Mohakhali Flyover around 12am.

SI Md Ashraf of Banani police station said they have detained the covered-van driver with help of locals.

Mahfuzur resided at Kalyanpur of Mirpur, he added.

Around the same time, in another incident, an unknown rickshaw puller died after being hit by an unidentified vehicle at Dholaikhal in the old part of the capital.

A woman named Sharmin rushed him to DMCH where he was declared dead. She told police that the rickshaw puller was lying beside his rickshaw which was smashed by the vehicle. l

JSD unveils election manifesto

WEATHER

City

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

under AL’s “boat.”

Party chief Hasanul Haq Inu, who is also the information minister, said the elections had to be conducted under the present government, headed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in line with the Supreme Court’s ruling on the 13th amendment to the constitution.

He also said holding the elections, being boycotted by major opposition parties, was mandatory for constitutional continuation.

In reply to a question, Inu said BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was not under house arrest.

“An order is issued before keeping anyone under house arrest,” the minister said. l

‘Living cost in Dhaka rose by 11% in 2013’ n UNB

Pro-BNP teachers of Dhaka University form a human chain in front of the Aparajeyo Bangla protesting terrorist attack on them NASHIRUL ISLAM

Pro-BNP teachers protest Dec 29 attack n Arif Ahmed Dhaka University Teachers Association yesterday formed a human chain at the base of the sculpture Aparejeyo Bangla, protesting Sunday’s attacks on its members by Awami Projonmo league activists near the National Press Club.

The DUTA members demanded immediate and exemplary punishment of

the miscreants who had attacked them when they were heading to join the opposition called “March for Democracy” programme.

The teachers also said: “The AL cadres attacked us without any cause and beat us mercilessly.”

DUTA Vice-President Professor Akthar Hossain Khan presided over the human chain programme

However, none of the members of DUTA from the AL-backed blue panel joined the human chain even though it was organised under the banner of DUTA. After the programme, the teachers went to meet DU VC Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique to press their demands. The visit was the second time they met the VC after the attack. l

The cost of living in the capital witnessed an 11% rise last year hitting hard the poorer section of over 1 crore population, according to an annual report released by the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB).

The cost of living has been calculated on the basis of the “weight” of products and services available in the consumers’ basket, said the report released yesterday.

Apart from the price hike of essentials, electricity, drinking water and fuel, the house rent in the city also witnessed a significant rise – 10.91% – last year, compared to the previous year.

“Many families have been forced to move to suburbs due to sharp rise in house rent,” said the report.

The prices of products and services increased by 12.17% last year, mainly because of political instability, it says.

The organisation made the report assessing the prices of 114 products, 26 essential commodities and 10 services. The percentage of the price hike

of products and services has been calculated considering the product and services price of some 15 wholesale and retail markets in the capital.

It found that the prices of ginger, onion, garlic and green chilli marked the highest 38.64%. “The price of onion has been on the rise since June [last year].”

According to the report, the prices of fish increased by 20.36%, spices by 15.25%, rice by 10.04% and fine rice (Perfumed rice) by 16.32% last year compared to 2012.

Meanwhile, electricity price increased by 7.30% while fuel price by 5.65%. The same way, the price of water (Wasa) was increased by 5.01%.

However, the price of soybean oil came down by 5.63%, salt by 5.16% and sugar by 12.84% last year.

The CAB recommended steps for proper imposition of the “Competition Law” to prevent syndicates in the market. It also urged the government to take necessary steps in stopping illegal hoarding of essentials and for making the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) effective in true sense. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

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Thursday, January 2, 2014

Mirpur residents suffer from dilapidated roads, bumpy rides No re-carpeting or major repair work has been carried out on these roads in a long time n Abu Hayat Mahmud The dilapidated conditions of most of the alleyways, as well as few of the major roads, in the capital’s Mirpur area have turned commuting into a nightmarish experience for the local residents.

No re-carpeting or major repair work has been carried out on these roads in a long time, allegedly because of negligence and lack of sincerity on the part of the authorities concerned of the city corporation (now Dhaka North City Corporation).

The DNCC authorities admitted of failing to properly respond to the urgency of road repairs, with two separate repair projects – the first scheduled to begin in October and the second in December – still waiting to be launched.

Apart from the severely potholed condition of the roads, the Mirpur residents also suffer from the growing traffic that has made the roads congested, while indiscriminate parking of vehicles on both sides of the roads has added to the woes.

“The conditions of most internal roads all over the Mirpur area are pathetic. Bad roads make it difficult to drive on certain stretches. So every vehicle driver use only the main road to avoid the bumpy journeys on bad roads, resulting in unbearable traffic jam on the main road from section-10 to 12,” said Kamal Miah, a tea stall owner of section-12.

“The city corporation had last repaired most of the internal roads four or five years ago; now it is unsuitable for use” he added.

Kalim Uddin, a rickshaw-driver of section-10, said the busiest road between section-10 and 14 has been un-

3 jailed for issuing death threat to election officer n Tribune Report A mobile court yesterday sentenced three people to one years’ jail for issuing death threat to an election officer.

The convicts are Mostafizur Rahman, 35, a lawyer of Kushtia District Court, Sahab Uddin Hossain Sabu alias Raju, 20, and Ujjal Miah, 20.

Executive Magistrate SM Jamal passed the order at night. Failing to find him at the office, they gave the death threat to other staff members before leaving the office.

Later, police arrested them iand produced them before the mobile court. l

der repair for a long “Because of the delay in construction, not only the residents of Mirpur but also commuters of different areas in the capital do not dare to use the road,” he said.

Mahmudul Hasan, a resident of Senpara of section-10, claimed that many roads in the area were in bad shape.

“Repairing of the internal main road in Senpara started a long time ago, and the development is now stopped because of the negligence of the authority concerned,” he said.

During a recent visit to Mirpur, the correspondent found most roads in every section to be in dilapidated conditions.

According to the correspondent’s observation and the locals’ opinions, the city corporation need to take steps to repair the roads 7 and 8 of block-A, road 4 of block-B in section-12, road 7 in section-7, and all the roads in Pallabi except its internal main road.

Moreover, roads 5, 6, 8 of block-A and roads 6, 7 of block-D in section-11 needed immediate repairs, while renovation was also needed for Paris Road, Benaroshi Palli road and adjoining roads of Bihari Palli in section-10 and 11.

In section-2, Barobagh road was found to be in a bad shape, and the construction of Mirpur-Agargaon link road was moving at snail’s pace.

In section-1, roads 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 of section-F, roads 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 including roads in Ahmednagar were in dilapidated condition.

When contacted, Brig Gen Md Abul Khair, chief engineer of the DNCC, told the Dhaka Tribune: “We have taken a project to repair and develop roads in the Mirpur area,” but admitted to de-

Labourers are engaged in road repair at Mirpur 14, hampering smooth vehicular movement lays in initiation of the project.

The project became hard to realise as construction workers were unwilling

to work during the blockade and hartal, he added.

Brig Gen Khair said the Mirpur res-

NASHIRUL ISLAM

idents were suffering because of the hazardous condition of the roads, adding that there had been trouble in ac-

Vaccine tests start at National Control Lab n Moniruzzaman Uzzal

The Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) has marked the first day of the year 2014 by launching the test of vaccines at the newly-built National Control Laboratory (NCL).

Initially, tetanus and typhoid vaccines of two local pharmaceuticals will be tested, while several types of other imported vaccines would also be tested in the near future.

Selim Barami, director (current charge) of the NCL and also one of the directors of the DGDA, confirmed this to the Dhaka Tribune yesterday, adding that the operations of the NCL began although the lab was yet to be inaugurated.

“If we do not run the high-tech ma-

chines of the laboratory, then it would run the risk of becoming out-of-order. It is a proud day for all of us that we now have the capability to test vaccine,” he said.

The test of vaccines will save money and time of the government as well as pharmaceutical companies, Barami added.

Earlier, the imported vaccines had to depend on documents provided by the vaccine’s company, while local companies had to send samples out of the country for tests.

Sources said the government bought around 400 crore vaccines, among the demand of 500 crore; while two local companies – Incepta and Popular Pharmaceuticals – have also been producing vaccines.

However, several officials of the DGDA, seeking anonymity, claimed that

the NCL did not have its own financial budget to administer the laboratory activities. Currently, the NCL has been running under the Institute of Public Health, which is providing the cost of day-to-day expenses and also supplying chemicals and other materials.

With a Tk25 crore cost, the NCL has been set up with the financial support of the World Bank and the World Health Organization on the premises of the Institute of Public Health in Mohakhali.

The installation of the laboratory had been completed a year ago, but it faced a delay in going into operation because of a fire accident which destroyed some equipment and cables, while additional fund was not available at the time from the government for re-

pair and replacement.

Seeking anonymity, several senior officials of the DGDA also said there was a shortage of well-trained manpower at the NCL, although the laboratory was fully-equipped with modern machines and other testing facilities.

The newly installed lab is likely to test up to 10,000 medicine samples a year, compared to the existing laboratory’s capacity of testing only 3,000 medicine samples – an amount which was inadequate given the current size of the pharmaceuticals market.

The newly-installed lab is aiming to get WHO accreditation within a year, as inspection teams will visit and assess the NCL’s performance in different phases. l

Textbook distribution festival to be observed today n Mushfique Wadud

Different types of vehicles, including human haulers, are kept at Rajshahi police lines field to avoid arson attacks during the non-stop blockade DHAKA TRIBUNE

Ivy and Sufian will be arrested soon: Nasim Osman n Our Correspondent, Narayanganj Jatiya Party leader Nasim Osman, who has been elected uncontested in the 10th parliamentary elections from Narayanganj sadar, yesterday said Narayanganj City Corporation Mayor Dr Selina Hayat Ivy and Awami League activist Abu Sufian would be arrested soon.

Nasim also thanked the BNPled 18-party alliance for not “killing people and damaging government properties” during hartal and blockade programmes.

While opening a new building of a school, the Jatiya Party leader claimed that Ivy and Sufian were hatching a “conspiracy” under the banner of Twaki Mancha against the nomination of Nasim and his brother Shamim Osman,

but failed.

Making an obscene remarks regarding Ivy and Sufian, Nasim also said they would arrested soon for their “conspiracy.”

Selina Hayat Ivy and Narayanganj Ganajagaran Mancha Convener and Twaki’s father Rafiur Rabbi had been blaming the Osman family for the killing of Tanvir Muhammad Twaki, an A level student who was found dead beside a canal of Shitalakhya River in Narayanganj on March 8 last year, two days after he went missing.

Presided over by Abu Zaher, president of Narayanganj district unit Jatiya Party, the programme was addressed by among others Minara Naznin, UNO of Bandar upazila and Abdur Rashid, president of Bandar upazila Awami League. l

The Education Ministry will observe a Textbook Distribution Festival today, distributing textbooks to 37,336,672 primary and secondary level school and madrasa students.

A total of 30 crore textbooks will be distributed among the students.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid will formally distribute the textbooks to students of the Government Laboratory High School in the morning.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday inaugurated the occasion by

distributing textbooks to students. The festival is usually observed on the first day of the new academic year but the first was a school holiday on the occasion of Akhari Chahar Somba, and therefore the distribution is being observed on the second day.

Shafikul Islam, chairman of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board, told the Dhaka Tribune that textbooks had already reached all schools. He said that despite the political instability, they were able to distribute the textbooks.

Students have been receiving textbooks on the first day of the new academic year for the last few years. l

Four people killed in two days n Tribune Report Four people were killed in Magura, Bogra, Khulna and Rajbari in the last two days. Of the victims, one had been abducted on the previous day.

Michael Hossen, 20, of Parnanduli area and Azibar, of the same area, locked into an altercation over riding motor bike on Tuesday morning .In the afternoon a group of six youths, led by Azibar, attacked Michael with sharp weapons at Magura bus terminal area, reports our Magura correspondent.

Magura police station sub inspector Milon Hossen said the victim was admitted to Magura Sadar Hospital .

As his condition deteriorated he was sent to Dhaka medical college hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

After the death of Micheal, some of his friends set Azibar’s house on fire.

On information police and fire fighters rushed the spot and brought the situation under control.

Magura Police Super Zihadul Kabir

visited the spot and deployed police at Parnanduli area.

In Bogra, a youth was killed over family feud in Buriganj under Shibganj upazila. The deceased was Shah Jalal, 24, reports our Bogra correspondent.

Md Fazlul Karim, officer-in-charge of Shibganj police station, said five people were injured in the clash and police arrested two people in this connection.

In Khulna, a youth named Mohasin, 20, hailed from Barisal, was hacked to death by unidentified miscreants in the city on Tuesday night, reports our Khulna correspondent.

Police recovered the body from Goalkhali Graveyard yesterday morning and sent it to Khulna Medical College Hospital for post-mortem examination.

Victim’s mother Aleya Begum said Mohasin along with his friends arranged a party at Nayabati intersection in the city on Tuesday night to celebrate the New Year. However, he did

not return home at night.

Sukumar Roy, officer-in-charge of Khalishpur police station, said the youth was hacked to death in the dead of night. They could not ascertain the motive of the killing.

In Rajbari, police recovered the body of a businessperson who was abducted by a gang in Sadar upazila on Tuesday.

The deceased was Md Sujan Sheikh 24, of village Nowdubi in Rajbari Sadar upazila.

Family Sources said Sujan was abducted from Afra Bus Stand area and his father Ansar Ali filed a case against five suspected miscreants of the village with Rajbari sadar police station.

Being informed, police recovered the body and sent it to the Rajbari Sadar Hospital Morgue for post mortem examination .

Office in-Charge of Rajbari sadar police station Md Abdul Khaleque said the killing might has been happened over previous enmity, they were trying to arrest the accused. l

cumulating construction materials and other necessary things, resulting in the delay of implementing the project. l

Global Tiger Conference in Dhaka on March 4-6 n Abu Bakar Siddique With an aim to strengthen the tiger conservation campaign the second global tiger conference is scheduled to be held in Dhaka on March 4-6 which is a follow-up of the first conference held in Saint Petersburg, Russia in 2010.

The Department of Forest along with Global Tiger Initiative, the Global Tiger Forum is jointly organising the Second Global Tiger Recovery Programme stocktaking conference among the tiger range countries.

“The conference will mainly focus on tiger conservation activities taken by the different tiger range countries and asses the advancement of the initiatives taken up in 2010,” said Yunus Ali, chief conservator of forest.

The global leaders of the tiger range countries had taken decision to double the number of tigers in the world by 2022 on the basis of the tiger population in 2010 when the number was approximately 3200.

The tiger range countries where tigers still roam freely are Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand, Vietnam and North Korea.

As per the joint census of Bangladesh and India in 2004 around 440 Bengal tigers were found in the Bangladeshi part of the Sundarbans.

Towards achieving the target of increasing the number of tiger population by stopping wildlife crimes like poaching and illegal trafficking, the government of Bangladesh has taken a project named Strengthening Regional Cooperation for Wildlife Protection Project with the budget of $36m funded by the World Bank in 2012.

Monirul H Khan, associate professor of the department of Zoology at Jahangirnagar University, told the Dhaka Tribune that taking up the project is the only visible measures to achieve the target taken at the 1st global tiger conference.

Prior to the global conference, the forest department will also arrange a two-day-long meeting on March 02-03 with South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network, World Bank and Interpol to find out a strategy to reduce the illegal trafficking of wildlife in the region. l

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

Passengers’ shed under the grips of AL men No step has been taken despite a written complaint submitted to the upazila nirbahi officer

n Our Correspondent, Lalmonirhat Commuters have been suffering over the last seven months as a group of local Awami League men grabbing a passengers’ shed have built three shops there.

Local people said a group of AL men led by Abu Bakkar Siddique Shyamal, Hatibanha upazila unit AL’s organising secretary and personnel assistant of former state minister for primary and mass education Motahar Hossain, had grabbed the shed, which is located beside Lalmonirhat-Burimari Highway in Milon Bazar area of Barokhata union at Hatibandha upazila in Lalmonirhat, on May 28 and built three shops overnight.

Majedul Islam, 50, a resident of Miloin Bazar village, said they had used

the passengers’ shed till May 28 last year, but now they had to stand at the roadside while waiting for buses.

Abu Hena Mostafa Jaman Sohel, chairman of Barakhata union parishad, said locals had submitted a written complaint to the then upazila Nirbahi officer seeking measures regarding the matter several times, but no step has been taken to free the shed from the grabbers for unknown reasons.

“We tried to free the shed from land grabbers, but that was not possible as the UNO did not help us. They also threatened us with dire consequences several times.”

Rafiqul Islam, a word councilor, said Shyamal and his cohorts had assaulted him and two other locals as they tried to their raise voices against them.

“We were admitted to Hatibandha Upazila Health Complex and took fiveday treatment there as they beat us up indiscriminately,” he said, adding that they had submitted a written complaint against them, but the district administration could not take any action in this regard.

The passengers’ shed was constructed by the district council at a cost of Tk4 lakh with a view to ease sufferings of commuters.

Shyamal, however, said he was not involved with the grabbing of the passengers’ shed.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mahbubur Rahman said he was not aware of the matter as he had joined recently.

He said he would take necessary steps to free the shed from the grabbers’ immediately. l

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Judge shortage hits lawsuits in Habiganj n Our Correspondent, Habiganj The lack of judges impedes the judicial process in Habiganj district, with at least seven key posts in the courts of the chief judicial magistrate and district and sessions judge remaining vacant for a long time.

Around 37,000 cases belonging to both courts have backlogged.

The lawyers association in the district held a human chain demanding recruitment of judges to those vacant posts.

The judicial process is conducted by only six judges instead of 12 in the court of district and sessions judge.

On the other hand, only two judges carry out functions in the chief judicial magistrate court.

Two posts of assistant judge, senior assistant judge and joint district sessions judge remained empty in the district and sessions judge court while four of judicial magistrate and two of senior judicial magistrate in chief judicial magistrate court.

Lawyers said they were facing problems in dealing with the cases.

They said their clients seeking justice were not having any schedules to deal lawsuits.

The judicial process is conducted by only six judges instead of 12 in the court of district and sessions judge.

On the other hand, only two judges carry out functions in the chief judicial magistrate court The justice seekers alleged that they were lost and undone after a long wait for getting justice and spending much on the litigation.

Saleh Uddin Ahmed, general secretary of the district lawyers’ associations, said: “We cannot give any satisfactory answers to our clients in the wake of the crisis.”

There would be a big problem if the crisis persists, added the lawyer. l

Charge sheet against 220 leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir of Bogra sadar unit has been prepared, accusing them of attacking and torching Sahjahanpur upazila Awami League office.

Superintendent of Police Md Mozammel Haq said he had signed the charge sheet yesterday, adding that it would be submitted at the court on Sunday.

Jamaat leader Yasin Ali, his son Rabiul Islam Rubel, upazila Jamaat Ameer Abdur Rahim Master and General Secretary Hasan Ali were also among the 220 accused.

Earlier, Sahjahanpur police station gave charge sheet against Yasin Ali and some other Jamaat-Shibir activists following the incident of vandalism and arson at the local Muktijoddha Sangsad office.

The investigation officer Sub-Inspector Alamgir Hossain said upazila Awami League General Secretary Abu Taher lodged a case in this regard against Yasin Ali with Sahjahanpur police station. l

3 AL men jailed for drug smuggling in Lalmonirhat n Our Correspondent, Lalmonirhat

Six AL men expelled for violating party decisions

Three Awami League men had been jailed yesterday for one month each for their involvement in smuggling drugs from India through Mogholhat border in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila.

A mobile court gave the jail sentence to the party activists.

Executive Magistrate Sanaul Haque of the mobile court passed the order in presence of joint forces of BGB and the police.

The forces arrested the three from the border Tuesday night, with some bottles of phensydil and hemp in their possession.

The three convicts were Abu Sufiyan, 48, president, Mogholhat union’s 2 No. ward unit AL, his son Habibur Rahman, Jubo League joint secretary of the unit and its member Rabiul Islam.

Mogholhat 15 BGB Company Commander Subedar Abdul Hamid said the convicts had long been involved in drug peddling. l

n Our Correspondent, Jhenaidah Six Awami League men, including the district unit secretary, were expelled from the party for contravening party decisions.

The decision was taken at a party meeting yesterday with central committee Organising Sectary BM Mojammel Haque in the chair.

The expelled leaders were Secretary of Sadar Upazila, Upazila Vice-Chairman JM Rashidul Alam, Joint Convener of Harinakundu upazila Afzal Hossain, Publicity Secretary Jibon Kumar, Member Azizur Rahman, President of Halidhani union Abdur Rashid and President of district Juba League Naser Alam Siddiquee Uzzal.

In a written statement, district unit Office Secretary Asaduzzaman Asad said the party men were expelled as they were working for rebel candidates in the upcoming national polls.

The decision has created dissatisfaction among the party men.

In the evening, a faction of the party brought out a protest rally against the decision. l

Charge sheet against 220 Jamaat-Shibir men n Tribune Report

The photo taken from Kaddar intersection in Sirajganj shows a few vehicles run during yesterday’s blockade

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Election equipment sent to voting centres Paddy farmers switch n Our Correspondent, Barisal

Barisal district election office yesterday distributed election equipment to the polling booths amid special security.

Election equipment such as ballot papers, ballot boxes, and stationary items were sent to 1614 polling booths at 291 centres in the district.

Md Dulal Talukdar, district election officer, said election tools were sent to 569 polling booths in 100 vote centres under Barisal-2 (Ujirpur-Banaripara upazila) constituency, 491 polling booths in 87 vote centres under Barisal-3 ( Babuganj-Muladi upazila) constituency, 554 polling booths in 104 vote centres under Barisal-4 (Mehendiganj upazila) constituency .

The three remaining constituencies – Barisal-1(Gournadi-Agoiljhara), Barisal-5(City Corporation and Sadar upazila) and Barisal-6(Bakerganj upazila) are not being contested.

A meeting of returning officers was held yesterday in the conference room

of the deputy commissioner of the district. The meeting discussed steps to be taken with regard to maintaining law and order during the upcoming elections.

Deputy Commissioner Shohidul Alam presided over the meeting attended by returning officers and high officials of the election commission, police, Rab, military, coast guard and Ansar.

In the meeting, it was decided to deploy sufficient forces, mobile teams and administrative magistrates in the election areas to conduct the polls peacefully.

In Rajshahi, the equipment were distributed from the office of returning officer and Deputy Commissioner with escort of joint forces.

Saiful Islam, district election officer, said the accessories were supplied for election in Rajshahi-3 (Paba-Mohanpur) and Rajshahi-6 (Charghat-Bagha) constituencies.

Meanwhile, a meeting of special

law-order committee relating to the forthcoming 10th parliamentary election was held at the conference hall of deputy commissioner in order to make the election free and fair.

The meeting passed a decision of ensuring security to the voters, polling centres and other officials concerned in the election.

In the meeting, officials of Bangladesh Army, RAB, Police and Ansar-VDP stressed the need for close and proper coordination among administrative officials, public representatives and law enforcers for overall security of the polling centers in the election. They also put emphasis on requisite special security to the hard-to-reach and vulnerable polling centres.

The meeting was told that law and order has been improved in the district in the wake of joint forces operation.

As a whole, the meeting underlined the need for successful holding of the 10th parliamentary election for upholding the constitutional obligation. l

to cereal cultivation in Barind tract n Tribune Report Farmers in barind areas under northwestern region have started switching to cereals from paddy with new technology and seed in the wake of adverse impact of climate change.

According to agriculture officials and scientists, the farmers reduced the cultivation of irrigation-dependent crop especially irri- boro paddy in the barind tract, commonly known as food storage of the country. As a result, the acreage of various crops and cereals like wheat, maize, chickpea and black gram is increasing gradually.

Agriculturist Abu Muhammmad Musa says, “Around 3,500 liters of water is needed to produce one kilogramme of paddy. Whereas, less than 1000 liters of water is required for the drought- tolerant varieties.”

“Development and dissemination of appropriate farm machinery like power tiller operated seeder, strip till and zero till, bed planter, reaper and thresher to

enhance the farm production especially wheat,” he says.

Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Deputy Director Nurul Amin said that the varieties would bring a positive result for around 2 million hectares of land in the rain-fed drought prone area.

According to sources, the continuous paddy farming in the barind tract will face an acute crisis.

Wheat Research Station Principal Scientific Officer Dr Israil Hossain said, “Irrigation has been reduced to a greater extent in the area that declines farming of transplanted aman paddy.”

According to sources, DAE has taken initiative to bring two drought- tolerant paddy varieties.

Paba Upazila Agriculture Officer Saleh Ahmed says life span of BRRIDHAN-57, a short duration and drought tolerant variety, is 10 days less than that of BINADHAN-7, an early and high yielding variety, while 15 days less than BRIDHAN-33. l

Land dispute kills one in Kishoreganj n Our Correspondent, Kishorganj

Labourers load election equipment on a pickup van in Barisal city yesterday

DHAKA TRIBUNE

A person was killed and 10 others were in a clash between two groups of villagers in in Ramshankarpur under Bhairab upazila in Kishoreganj on Wednesday afternoon.

The deceased was identified as Sajib Ahmed, 36.

Police and local sources said there was a longtime dispute between Bacchu Mia and Saddam Mia over land

property.

Bacchu Mia and Saddam Mia sat in an arbitration in the morning.

At the stage, they locked in clashes with each other with local weapons that left 11 people injured.

Later, Sajib was rushed to Bhairab Upazilla Health Complex where the duty doctor declared him dead.

Meanwhile, Sajib’s relatives vandalised some 25 houses of the opponent and torched a few haystacks. l

Birth anniversary of poet Jasimuddin observed n Tribune Report The 111th birth anniversary of poet Jasimuddin popularly known as “Polli Kobi” was observed at his ancestral house at Gobindapur village in Faridpur in a befitting manner.

To mark the day, Faridpur district administration and Jasim Foundation chalked out various programmes, including placing floral wreaths at the grave of the poet, discussion on his life, works and achievement as well as a Doa Mahfil.

Faridpur district administration led

by Deputy Commissioner Abu Hena Morshed Zaman, Jasim Foundation and representatives from Faridpur Foundation, Shilpakala Academy, Ansaruddin High School, Faridpur Shahitya and Sanskriti Unnayan Sangstha, Faridpur Shahitya Parishad, Faridpur Press Club and different socio-cultural organisations paid rich tribute to the poet.

With Additional Deputy Commissioner Md Jahangir Hossain in the chair a discussion was held at the tomb site.

Prof MA Samad, poet’s son Dr Jamal Anowar, President of Press Club Kabirul Islam Siddiqi, literary personality Abul Faez Shahnawaj, cultural activists – Mofij Imam Milon, Shamima Begum – and NGO activist Asma Aktar Mukta were present on the occasion.

A fortnight-long fair styled “Jasim Polli Mela” will be held at the village in observance of the birth anniversary.

Jasimuddin was born on January 1, 1903 and died on March 13, 1976. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Juris

7

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Election laws in Bangladesh

JURIS QUOTE

Representation of the People Order (RPO), 1972 is the principal law in election related matters

RAJIB DHAR

T

n SM Saiful Haque and Raju Mollah he Election Commission of Bangladesh (EC) is the constitutional body, which has been working to ensure the people’s right to vote and elect their representatives in the parliament. Article 118 of the Constitution of Bangladesh gives the provi-

sion for setting up an EC for the superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for election to the office of the president and to the parliament, and the conduct of such elections in accordance with the Constitution.

Formation of election commission

Article 118 of the constitution notes that the president is

ELECTION RELATED OFFENCES AND PENALTIES SECTION

OFFENCE

PENALTY

If any person:

Section 73 and 74 of RPO, 1972

l

Does bribery, personation or undue influence

l

Makes or publishes a false statement concerning the personal character of a candidate or any of his relations

l

Calls upon or persuades any person to vote, or to refrain from voting for any candidate

l

Causes or attempts to cause any person present and waiting to vote at the polling station to depart without voting

l

Votes or applies for a ballot paper for voting at an election knowing that he is not qualified for, or is disqualified from, voting

l

Votes or applies for a ballot paper for voting more than once in the same polling station

l

Votes or applies for a ballot paper for voting in more than one polling station for the same election

l

Removes a ballot paper from a polling station during the poll

Rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and shall not be less than two years, and also with fine

l

Section 79 and 80 of RPO, 1972

Disturbs or causes annoyance to any elector visiting a polling station for the purpose of voting Interferes with the performance of the duty of a presiding officer, assistant presiding officer, polling officer or any other person performing any duty at a polling station

l

Persistently shouts in such manner as to be audible within the polling station

l

Canvasses for votes

l

Solicits the vote of any elector

l

Persuades any elector not to vote at the election or for a particular candidate

l

Uses any gramophone, megaphone loudspeaker of other apparatus for reproducing or amplifying sounds in such manner as to be audible within the polling station

If any returning officer, assistant returning officer, presiding officer, assistant presiding officer, polling officer or any other officer or clerk performing any duty in connection with an election, or any member of a police force, in the conduct or management of an election or maintenance of order at a polling station: Section 84 of RPO, 1972

l Persuades any person to give his vote l Dissuades any person from giving his vote l Influences in any manner the voting of any person l Does any other act calculated to influence the result of the election

Functions of election commission

Article 119 of the constitution mentions that the superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of the electoral rolls for elections to the office of president and to parliament, and the conduct of such elections shall vest in the Election Commission which shall, in accordance with this Constitution and any other law to: (a)

hold elections to the office of president

(b) hold elections of members of parliament (c)

delimit the constituencies for the purpose of elections to parliament and

(d) prepare electoral rolls for the purpose of elections to the office of president and to parliament According to the Constitution, the EC is independent in the exercise of its functions, and subject only to the Constitution and applicable laws. Bangladesh EC is constitutionally responsible for the conduct of elections in a free and fair manner. To ensure such elections, transparency and accountability are required at all stages of the electoral process.

If any person, within a radius of four hundred yards of the polling station, on the polling day: l

LAW CARTOON

empowered to appoint the chief election commissioner, and not more than four election commissioners for five years, following the provisions of our constitution and the provisions of any law made in regards. In addition to that, the EC has its own secretariat, as per the Election Commission Secretariat Act, 2009, headed by a Secretary.

The secretariat is in Dhaka and has an electoral training institute, field offices at the regional, district and upazilla/ thana level. There are 10 regional election offices and 83 district election offices in the 64 districts.

Imprisonment for three years and shall not be less than six months, and also with fine

Imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years and shall not be less than one year, and also with fine

CARTOON BY RIO SHUVO

Legislations

The Constitution of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh, 1972, is the key law for the EC. The second most important law with regard to the functions of the EC is the Representation of the People Order (RPO), 1972. A number of laws, rules and regulations have also been enacted and/or provided.

These laws discuss, in detail, procedures of different functions such as preparation of electoral rolls, delimitation of constituencies, election of the president and women members of parliament, and conduct of the elections.

Another set of laws and rules provide for administrative functions with regard to salary and privileges of election commissioners, and appointment, promotion and transfer of the officials and staff of the EC Secretariat.

Moreover, EC prepares code of conduct of candidates for different elections. The EC has updated the Code of Conduct for Parliament Elections, 2008 ahead of the 10th parliamentary election which is scheduled to be held on January 5, 2014. l SM Saiful Haque is a senior lecturer of law at Daffodil International University and Raju Mollah is an advocate at Dhaka judges court and author of several law books.

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Landmark judicial decisions on election disputes n Juris Desk ‘Right to vote’ is a common law right

Ashby v White was an eighteenth century UK case where the court held that “right to vote” is a common law right and violation of the right calls for damages.

Matthew Ashby, a cobbler, turned up to cast his vote for the British Parliament in December 1701.

Ashby was turned away

by William White, a constable, on the grounds that “he was no settled inhabitant of the borough, and had never contributed either to the church, or the poor.

In spite of this his candidate won the election and no harm was caused to him. But Ashby refused to take this lying down, and sued for substantial damages. The defendants contended that since Ashby had suffered no loss as his candidate had won the election, he was not liable.

His suit was successful, but the House of Commons found Ashby guilty of a breach of parliamentary privilege for having carried through his action at common law. Chief Justice Holt then upheld Ashby’s appeal, arguing that what

was at issue was “a most transcendent thing, and of a high nature.”

Finally it was held that the defendant (White) by preventing the plaintiff (Ashby) from voting violated Ashby’s legal right and was entitled to damages.

Chief Justice Holt said, “Every injury imports a damage though it does not cost the party one farthing. For a damage not merely pecuniary, but an injury imports a damage, when a person is thereby hindered of his rights.”

Choosing ‘None of the Above’ in the fray

The Supreme Court of India, in its judgment dated September 27, 2013, in People’s Union for Civil Liberties and another v the Union of India and another, has directed the election commission to make necessary provision in the ballot papers/EVMs and provide a button for ‘None of the Above’ in EVMs so that the voters who come to the polling booth, and decide not to vote for any of the candidates in the fray, are able to exercise their right not to vote while maintaining their right of secrecy.

In accordance with the order of the Supreme Court “None of the Above” shall be printed in a separate panel on the ballot paper below the name of the last contesting candidate.

This ballot paper shall be affixed on the ballot unit of the EVM. If the voter presses the button next to “None of the Above” his desire not to vote for any of the candidates in the fray will get recorded in the EVM in secrecy.

Commission shall also make appropriate changes in Part2 of Form 17C used during counting and the result sheet in Form 20 to separately compile the number of persons who used the option not to vote for any of the candidates in the fray. Election Commission of India shall issue detailed instructions to ensure compliance with the order of the court as expeditiously as possible.

Voters have a right to know about the candidates

In the judgment of Abdul Momen Chowdhury v Election Commission (2005), the court held that at the heart of parliamentary system is free and fair election; when parliament has made valid laws related to election, the election commission shall act in conformity with the law, but where there is no law, article 119 which confers on the election commission the respon-

sibility of supervising and controlling the conduct of elections is a reservoir of power to act for the avowed purpose of holding free and fair election.

In order that the voters have a free choice, the must be provided with the material information about the candidates. The court further held that the voters have a right to know about the candidates and such right is included in the right to franchise.

Therefore, the High Court Division of Bangladesh held that the election commission may direct candidates for parliamentary elections to submit the following eight kinds of information: a) Academic qualification with certificate from board or university, if possess any qualification b) Whether he is accused in any criminal case at present c) Whether there was any past record of criminal case and the result d) Profession / occupation e) Source or sources of income f) Whether he was a parliament member earlier and the role he played individually and collectively in fulfilling the commitment to the people g) Description of assets and liabilities of the candidate and dependent of the candidate h) Particulars and amount of loan taken from bank or financial institutions deals with public money personally, jointly or by dependent or loan taken by the company from bank where the candidate is chairman, or managing director or director etc. l

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

International

Musharraf goes on trial for treason

North Korea’s Kim hails execution of powerful uncle

n Reuters, Islamabad Lawyers argued Wednesday that former Pakistani military ruler Pervez Musharraf could not receive a fair trial on treason charges, a case that could test the relationship between an increasingly assertive civilian government and the army.

Musharraf, 70, faces the death penalty over his suspension of the constitution and imposition of emergency rule in 2007, when he was trying to extend his rule as president in the face of growing opposition.

Musharraf, who did not appear in court, says the trial is a politically motivated vendetta.

His lawyers say Musharraf cannot get a fair trial in Pakistan because of his history of disputes with the judiciary and the involvement of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif whom he once overthrew in a coup.

“I would go beyond (the accusation of) bias. This is a fraud on the law,” said defence lawyer Anwar Mansoor Khan.

Musharraf ousted Sharif in a coup in 1999. Sharif was jailed for a period and then forced into exile. He returned eight years later and won a landslide victory in a general election in May. Musharraf himself stepped down in 2008 to avoid impeachment charges after judges and lawyers led street protests over his attempt to fire the thenchief justice.

The trial opened on December 24 but was immediately suspended after Musharraf did not appear because a bag of explosives was found on his route to the court. Another bag of explosives was found near his house on Wednesday.

Police told the judge they had deployed more than 1,000 officers to secure his route, but “yet again there was a bomb scare,” judge Faisal Arab said.

Khan said the defence had “zero confidence” in the police and said a mysterious unmarked car had tried to force him off the road.

Thursday, January 2, 2014

n AFP, Seoul

Pakistan’s former military ruler Pervez Musharraf addresses foreign media representatives in December

Musharraf, 70, faces the death penalty over his suspension of the constitution and imposition of emergency rule in 2007 Musharraf returned to Pakistan last year, hoping to contest elections that marked the first democratic transfer of power from one civilian government to another in coup-prone Pakistan’s history.

Instead, he was barred from standing and enmeshed in a web of legal cases, repeatedly charged and bailed.

In recent days, Musharraf has said in media interviews that the whole army supported him and was upset about his treatment. He also acknowledged that before his return to Pakistan, the army sent a top envoy to try to dissuade him from coming back.

The military is Pakistan’s most powerful institution and it has ruled the country for more than half its history since independence in 1947.

But in recent years the civilian government and judiciary have both become more assertive. Top military officers have been questioned although not convicted in human rights and corruption cases.

The military leadership has given no

AFP

indication it intends to intervene in the trial of Musharraf who was likely to be overstating the army’s support for him to help with his legal troubles, said retired general Talat Masood.

“He’s trying to twist facts in order to suit his case, to get sympathy and support,” he said. “These are tactics to protect and shield himself from the legal process.”

Masood said if the case was handled fairly, it could even strengthen relations between the government and military.

“This is a test of civil-military relations,” he said. “It is just one instance of the civil government trying to assert itself.” l

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un called for unity in a New Year message Wednesday and hailed the execution of his once-powerful uncle as a resolute act to remove “factionalist scum.”

“Our party took resolute action to remove... factionalist scum within the party last year,” Kim said in his message broadcast on state TV. It was his first public comment on the shock execution last month of Jang Song-Thaek, once the country’s unofficial number two and Kim’s political mentor, although the young leader did not mention him by name.

“Our party’s timely, accurate decision to purge the anti-party, anti-revolutionary and factionalist elements helped greatly cement unity of the party and the revolution and strengthened our solidarity by 100 times,” Kim said.

Kim’s tone was strong as he called for nationwide ideological education and political awareness to eliminate “even the slightest phenomenon and element” undermining unity.

“It is necessary to establish stringent revolutionary discipline and order in all domains of the revolutionary struggle and construction work,” he said, pledging a crackdown on “any sort of alien ideology and decadent lifestyle.”

Jang’s purge and execution was staged in an extraordinarily public and brutal fashion. A party statement denounced him as “human scum” and a drug-addicted womaniser who pocketed state money to support his decadent lifestyle.

Yang Moo-Jin, a professor at Seoul’s University of North Korean Studies, said the speech underlined Kim’s desire to portray himself as an unchallenged and stable leader, two years after he took power.

“He is sending a message to its people that, with Jang gone, now let’s put the purge behind and look to the future based on firm unity among the party,

Second Japanese minister Thousands rally on New Year’s Day for goes to war shrine Hong Kong democracy n Reuters, Tokyo A Japanese cabinet member visited a shrine seen by critics as a symbol of Tokyo’s wartime aggression on Wednesday, pouring salt on a fresh wound after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s pilgrimage there last week drew sharp criticism from China and South Korea.

Internal Affairs Minister Yoshitaka Shindo said he thought his visit to the Yasukuni Shrine was unlikely to become a diplomatic issue, Kyodo news agency reported.

But Beijing and Seoul have repeatedly expressed anger over politicians’ visits to Yasukuni, where Japanese leaders convicted as war criminals by an Allied tribunal after World War Two are honoured along with those who died in battle.

Both China and Korea suffered under Japanese rule, with parts of China occupied from the 1930s and Korea colonized from 1910 to 1945. Japanese leaders have apologized in the past but many in China and South Korea doubt the sincerity of the apologies, partly because of contradictory remarks by politicians.

China condemned Wednesday’s visit, which it said exposed Japan’s war crimes and attempts to “challenge the outcomes of the world’s anti-fascist war.”

“The Chinese people and people of other Asian nations will not allow Japan to drive history in reverse. We solemnly urge Japan to reflect upon

history and change course,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in a statement posted on the ministry’s website.

Underscoring the deteriorating ties between Asia’s two biggest economies, China said its leaders would not meet Abe after he visited Yasukuni on Thursday, the first visit by a serving Japanese prime minister since 2006.

A commentary in China’s ruling Communist Party’s top newspaper called Abe’s actions a threat to peace in the region.

“Abe paying homage at the Yasukuni Shrine is an offensive, open provocation, and announces to the world his old imperial dreams. The international community must strike back strongly and be on guard for the ashes of Japan’s militarism to reignite,” the paper said.

Ties between Japan and China were already precarious due to a simmering row over ownership of a group of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea. China has said it is willing to talk to Japan about the issue, but has accused Abe of not being serious about wanting to resolve the dispute.

Abe, a staunch conservative, has called for dialogue with China since returning to power a year ago, but Beijing had shown no inclination to respond to those overtures even before the latest Yasukuni controversy.

Experts see his visit as an attempt to recast Japan’s wartime past in a less apologetic light and revive national pride. l

Protesters march along a street in Hong Kong during a pro-democracy demonstration

n AFP, Hong Kong Thousands marched in Hong Kong Wednesday to demand a greater say in how their future leaders will be chosen, expressing fears that China will limit long-awaited political reforms.

“Democracy will prevail” read some banners as protesters sang and shouted slogans against the government of the semi-autonomous Chinese city, less than one month after the start of an official public consultation on a future electoral system.

“Because we are Hong Kong citizens, we must vote,” said Sharon Tang, a 49-year-old trading company employee, adding that residents of the former British colony have the intelligence to choose their leaders.

Mainland Chinese tourists took pictures of the march as protesters chanted “End one-party rule!”

China, which took back Hong Kong in 1997, has promised that its people will be able to vote in 2017 for their next chief executive.

Currently the leader is elected by a

military and the government,” Yang said.

Jang played a key role in cementing the leadership of the inexperienced Kim, who took over after the death of his father and long-time ruler Kim Jong-Il in December 2011.

But analysts said Jang’s growing political power and intervention in the lucrative coal trade was resented by his young nephew.

In his message Kim struck a rare relatively conciliatory note with South Korea, after extreme tensions in the spring of last year.

He called for a “favourable climate” to improve relations, saying it was “high time” for the two Koreas to stop doing “anything detrimental to national unity and reconciliation.”

‘Our party took resolute action to remove... factionalist scum within the party last year’

“We will join hands with anyone who opts to give priority to the nation and wishes for its reunification, regardless of his or her past, and continue to strive for better inter-Korean relations,” he said.

But Kim said North Korea would not beg for peace. He accused the United States and South Korea of manoeuvring for a nuclear war against the nuclear-armed North and vowed to strengthen its military power.

“If war breaks out again in this land, it will bring about a massive nuclear disaster and the US will also never be safe,” Kim said.

“We are faced with a dangerous situation in which a small, accidental military clash can lead to all-out war.”

Jang’s execution raised concerns over potential instability in the North, or military provocations such as an atomic test aimed at rallying domestic unity. l

Six killed as violence mars Philippine New Year celebrations

n AFP, Zamboanga

AFP

1,200-strong pro-Beijing committee.

But many fear that China will control the choice of candidates to secure the election of a sympathetic official.

“Hong Kong people have been on the streets over the years to strive for what we deserve, and what the Chinese government has not given us,” Charles Tam, 25, told AFP. One protester had red tape wrapped around her arms and covering her mouth to symbolise an inability to express one’s views. l

A suspected bomb attack left six dead while a separate grenade blast wounded five as violence marred New Year celebrations in the Philippines, authorities said Wednesday.

A blast from what is believed to be an improvised bomb caused the deaths in the town of Sumisip on the volatile southern island of Basilan two hours before midnight Tuesday, police said.

Basilan is a known hotbed of the Abu Sayyaf, an Al Qaeda-linked group blamed for the country’s worst terrorist attacks. Troops and police said the blast ripped through a party at the residence of Manuel Cisneros, a pro-government volunteer militiaman and driver for a nearby Catholic church.

Police said the motive for the attack was not clear, although Cisneros had apparently been helping protect rubber plantation workers from extortion by armed gangs including the Abu Sayyaf.

“We suspect it was the Abu Sayyaf,” provincial police chief Senior Superintendent Mario Dapilloza said over DZBB radio in Manila, describing the blast as “very powerful.”

However, investigators were also considering the possibility of an accidental explosion involving a grenade carried around by the militiaman.

The Abu Sayyaf, founded in the 1990s with seed money from Osama bin Laden, has been blamed for the country’s worst terrorist attacks, including kidnapping of foreigners and deadly bombings. l

China mulls revamping military regions Tunisia to vote on new constitution n AFP, Tokyo China is considering reorganising its seven military regions into five in a bid to respond more swiftly to a crisis, the Japanese daily Yomiuri Shimbun reported on Wednesday.

The news comes amid rising tensions over Beijing’s territorial claims in the region, with China and Japan squaring off over a chain of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea. Each of the new military regions will create a joint operations command that controls the army, navy and air force as well as a strategic missile unit, the major daily said citing senior Chinese military officials and other sources.

The planned revamp would mark a shift from the current defence-oriented military that relies mainly on the

army to one that ensures more mobile and integrated management of the army, navy, air force and strategic missile units, Yomiuri said.

‘It is a proactive measure with eyes on counteracting the Japan-US alliance’ “It is a proactive measure with eyes on counteracting the Japan-US alliance,” the daily quoted one of the officials as saying.

Tokyo and Beijing are locked in a simmering territorial row over Tokyo-controlled Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea which China also claims and calls the Diaoyus.

The United States, while insisting it does not take sides on sovereignty dis-

putes, has said that the islands are under Tokyo’s management and so come under a security treaty in which it is required to defend officially pacifist Japan against attack.

Under the proposed military structure China aims to strengthen its attack capability to secure air and naval superiority in the South China Sea and the East China Sea, the daily said.

The newspaper also reported that Japan plans to deploy its first “Global Hawk” unmanned surveillance planes at an airbase in Misawa, on the northern tip of Japan’s main Honshu Island, adjacent to a US airbase where the same type of aircraft will be based later this year.

Japan’s defence ministry plans to deploy three Global Hawk drones between April 2015 and March 2016, Yomiuri said. l

n AFP, Tunis Tunisia’s National Constituent Assembly is to begin voting on the future constitution Friday, three years after the country’s popular uprising and after five months of deadlock between the ruling Islamists and opposition.

The adoption of Tunisia’s constitution would represent a crucial milestone in the birthplace of the Arab Spring, where hopes of a successful democratic transition contrast starkly with other countries in the region rocked by regime change.

But with revisions added after intense last-minute negotiations, a final draft had yet to be circulated two days before the scheduled scrutiny of the long-delayed charter, which is to be voted on article by article.

Ennahda, the ruling Islamist party, said the text that was completed in June but rejected by the opposition will be submitted to MPs and will have an index detailing the revisions it thrashed out with the opposition in December.

The deadline for adopting the new constitution, which has been a work in progress for more than two years, has been set for January 14, the third anniversary of the revolution that ousted former autocrat Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Lawmakers must examine a text that includes about 150 articles and 225 proposed amendments, with each requiring endorsement by a majority of MPs. The constitution itself must then be approved by two thirds of the assembly’s 217 elected members or put to a referendum.

One of the key outstanding issues is

the power retained by the national assembly up until the next parliamentary elections, whose date has yet to be determined, with the Islamists, who hold the largest number of seats, insisting they should be able to legislate.

Other contentious topics, notably the prerogatives of the head of state in a country that recently emerged from five decades of dictatorship, appear to have been resolved.

The Islamists, who were persecuted under Ben Ali, had argued for maximum limitations, but many wanted to see power divided between the prime minister and the president.

The final version will give the head of state responsibility for “determining general policies in the areas of defence, external relations and national security,” according to the official TAP news agency. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

International

Visitors watch a light show as part of a New Year countdown celebration on The Bund in Shanghai

Thursday, January 2, 2014

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People watch fireworks on the new year’s celebration at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

AFP

Fireworks light up the sky in down town Beirut close to the Mohammed al-Amin mosque in Lebanon

AFP

REUTERS

2014

Balloons of the number 2014 are seen during New Year’s Eve celebrations in Times Square

REUTERS

People release balloons to celebrate the New Year during an annual countdown ceremony in Tokyo

AFP

2014 A reveller (unseen) writes “2014” with sparklers ahead of New Year’s Eve, in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

People gather to celebrate the New Year at the Piazza San Marco in Venice

REUTERS

AFP

Fireworks explode next to the Quadriga sculpture atop the Brandenburg gate

REUTERS

Fireworks explode around the London Eye

REUTERS

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Letters to

www.dhakatribune.com

Balance between public order and human rights

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in o Salish Kendra has expressed concern over the deteriorating human rights situation in our country, and with good reason. Despite our economic and social achievements, the past year seems to have seen us go backward in terms of fundamental human rights.

There is no question that the major contributory factor here is the unprecedented spate of violence that law enforcement has had to contend with. The past year has seen both the citizenry and law enforcement come under attack like never before, and many of the measures that have been put in place have been necessary for the maintenance of public order and to protect and safeguard the public.

However, be that as it may, maintaining law and order at the expense of fundamental freedoms is not a sustainable practice. Thus, while law enforcement needs to remain ever vigilant, there must also be lines that it does not cross in terms of arbitrary arrests, custodial torture, use of excessive force, and extra-judicial killings and disappearances.

While heavy-handed tactics used against political activists, miscreants, and those involved in violent confrontations with law enforcement or directed at the public are not to be condoned either, law enforcement must be extra vigilant to avoid actions which target or unacceptably harass ordinary citizens.

Finally, it is important that law enforcement be left to the law enforcers and that there be zero tolerance for ruling party supporters taking on a vigilante role and violence perpetrated by them should be treated the same way as that by anyone else.

We understand just how difficult the task facing our law enforcers is, and we salute their efforts. At the same time, in a democracy, respect for fundamental freedoms and rights must not be forgotten.

While law enforcement needs to remain ever vigilant, there must also be lines that it does not cross

Invest in workforce to mitigate remittance fall

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igures from Dhaka University’s Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit show a drop in remittances to $13.47bn last year, down from $14.17bn in 2012.

As remittance income has continually grown through past economic cycles and represents 11% of GDP, any fall represents a cause for concern. The drop partly reflects global economic conditions but there has also been a fall in the number of Bangladeshis working in established host nations in the Middle East Growth in overseas employment fell by a third last year with only 400,000 workers migrating to different countries in 2013, compared to over 600,000 in 2012.

While the government has been successful in increasing the amount of remittance coming via formal channels, it needs to do more to protect and boost the benefits received by the economy via remittances.

This includes improving diplomatic efforts to boost relations and trade links with host countries. The initiative to send workers to Malaysia under the government-to-government system, has for instance sent only around 1,000 workers so far, even though Malaysia is reported to have a demand for up to half a million new workers. Other nations such as Myanmar and Nepal have been more successful at promoting such overseas employment opportunities.

The government must give more priority to improving the skills of Bangladesh’s workforce in order to increase the likelihood of workers finding employment in other countries looking for labour.

More importantly, such investment would also boost the economy’s ability to add value and attract inward investment, which could grow employment at home and reduce the country’s dependence on overseas remittances.

the Editor

LETTER OF THE DAY

Knowledge is the result of suffering December 29

Everyone wants peace and happiness, so then why the suffering? This question has been around since the dawn of civilisation. The Greeks had found only one reply, in Aeschylus, who said: “Man must suffer to be wise.” They realised that without knowledge or experience of suffering, we will not gain the full meaning of being wise and happy. So, “suffering” is indispensable to attaining the meaning of life.

Similarly, both happiness and suffering can make us realise that they are necessary to understand our existence on earth.

Fahmida Bhuyan Germany

Election 2014 December 28

The givers and the grabbers Washington’s Bangladesh strategy December 26

WaliulHaqueKhondker The prime minister has certainly burnt her finger on the Yunus issue. It was not only uncalled for but has been unscrupulous as well. She gained no mileage in any direction whatsoever by demeaning Yunus.

Rather she had everything to gain by wooing Yunus in her favour. I wonder why none of her advisers or cabinet colleagues could tell her the universal truth that, “Discretion is the better part of valour!”

Aleef Khan Such disengagement and diplomatic strain with our foreign friends has never been such low for Bangladesh since the formal induction of democracy in 1990 – it’s a total disaster for the current government. A failure to realise so, and inaction of appropriate measures, will seriously affect Bangladesh on many fronts especially in business and economy. I hope the government will quickly realise how disconnected they are from the rest of the world.

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

December 27 Every morning on TV, we see our freedom fighters recount their valiant and selfless exploits that led to the birth of Bangladesh. These patriots gave their lives and limbs, and carried out the fight till outright military victory was theirs. They are the givers, who gave us their all to have this nation!

Today, however, we have those who grab at all they can get their hands on, for the sake of power, wealth, and other imaginable benefits, through any means, be it by begging, borrowing, buying, or stealing.

What a stark contrast between the givers, who were prepared to give their lives for their ideals, their most valued possessions, and the grabbers of today (notable exceptions excluded). This is the smashed-up version of democracy used as a toll for personal gain. For shame!

Unfortunate Bangali

Kabir Shabbir Who is going to vote? I’m not!

MD Easir Arafat Siddik That’s an incredible building, helpless in front of our “politicians.” Such a sad sentiment.

Hizb-ut Tahrir men clash with cops in capital December 27

Sooo sick and tired of all this garbage everyday!!

Farah Nusrat

Khaleda calls to defy barriers December 27

All should join the march.

Nabeeul Khan

Politics is about choosing sides December 26

Agree with the author about the need for sensible political dialogue beyond simple slogans and labels.

However, I beg to differ about where the primary blame lies. Will SH have accepted KZ as poll-time PM if the shoe were on the other foot? The answer is a clear no and, from any principle of fairness, her refusal to step away from the PM position is not acceptable.

Of course war-criminals and their supporters oppose her, but that is only a small (though the most violent elements) of the opposition. By refusing any reasonable terms for a reasonably acceptable level playing field, and by trying to lump together all opposition into one group and carrying on repression, the AL-led government is likely to fall with a thud that might bury the war criminal issue once for all.

The best, long-term interest of secularists is served not by exercising a binary choice (AL/not AL), but by defanging the most violent destabilising elements within the opposition through reasonable accommodation. This might lead to short-term BNP coming to power, but that is not the end of the world.

Saleh Tanveer

CALVIN AND HOBBES

The government needs to do more to protect and boost the benefits received by the economy via remittances

CROSSWORD

PEANUTS

CODE-CRACKER ACROSS 1 Black deposit (4) 4 Dry (4) 8 Floor covering (3) 9 Be concerned (4) 10 Smart and fashionable (4) 11 Riverside embankment (5) 12 Neat (4) 14 Sailor (3) 15 Indicate assent (3) 17 Bath (3) 19 Corded fabric (3) 21 Former Russian ruler (4) 23 Gather for oneself (5) 26 Seabird (4) 27 Grotto (4) 28 Passing craze (3)

29 Woody plant (4) 30 At hand (4) DOWN 1 Unrevealed fact (6) 2 Leave out (4) 3 Unspoken (5) 4 Top card (3) 5 Black bird (5) 6 Anger (3) 7 Scottish river (3) 11 Old stringed instruments (5) 13 Game of skill (5) 16 Trader (6) 18 Courageous (5) 20 Heathen (5) 22 Ill-mannered (4) 23 Perform (3) 24 Spoil (3) 25 Bishop’s territory (3)

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS Crossword

Sudoku

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

11

Thursday, January 2, 2014

A feminist response n Fahima Durrat

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Our national myths can be different from the reality

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

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Living with myths

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n Mamun Rashid

t seems that we have been living with too many myths for the last 42 years or so, and efforts to demystify those myths have been few. If you ask someone how many people were killed during the 1971 liberation war, the instant answer may be three million. Or, the person answering your question may take a deep breath and tell you he is not quite sure.

BBC and The Economist reports would tell you that around 500,000 people were killed in the 1971 liberation struggle. The same was the case with the number of women abused, or overall casualties. Since Bangabandhu erroneously mentioned the number to be three million in a television interview, his followers have been living for four decades with a wrong figure.

Recently, we have seen Indian researchers and other international news networks coming up with much lower numbers than the ones our political seniors have been claiming.

No matter how many people were killed, Bangladesh fought a valiant war against Pakistan and got its independence, and prospered. We all should be proud of this.

Who killed democracy in Bangladesh? Awami League stalwarts and Dhaka University professors might point fingers at BNP founder Ziaur Rahman. Reality tells us, when our father of the nation was brutally killed on August 15, 1975, there was no democracy in Bangladesh. The country had already been forced into one-party rule – Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League (BAKSAL).

Who did compromise with the Muslim rulers in the Gulf, including those

in Saudi Arabia? It was Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib, who was thoughtful enough to find out the importance and synergy of the emerging Muslim strength available for our Muslim majority country. He did it even at the cost of his friendship with Tajuddin Ahmed.

Who hijacked the ballot boxes in 1973? Even today’s leaders like Nuhul Alam Lenin or Matia Chowdhury would answer: It was nobody other than Awami League hoodlums. Who said: “We don’t want rule of law, we want rule of Mujib”? Even Tofael Ahmed may tell you it was Fazlul Haque Moni.

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give a lot of credit to Bangladeshis for their success in poverty alleviation, women’s empowerment, and inclusive growth. Ironically, most of those shouting for upholding the spirit of the liberation war didn’t join the war.

A few of them connived with Pakistan occupying forces. They never realised that our martyrs dreamt of upholding democracy too. They dreamt of the right to vote and to select our own leaders through a peaceful and inclusive election. People want the trial of the war criminals, but not at the cost of democracy. People want to decide who should run this country on their own.

Our ill-motivated political masters have so far been successful in deceiving many of us and keeping us engaged in unnecessary debates and fairy tales

Who said the skin of Sheikh Mujib was to be used for stitching shoes? Amir Hossain Amu might say it was today’s minister and erstwhile JSD leader Hasanul Haque Inu. If you don’t dare to ask these ministers now, go to a humble and soft speaking gentleman named Mujahidul Islam Selim, he should have an answer.

You hear every now and then that BNP wants to return Bangladesh to Pakistan. But nobody dares say it out loud. Bangladesh is an independent country. No matter who says what, thousands of Khaleda Zias can’t make Bangladesh into another Pakistan.

Ask any senior Pakistani. They don’t want Bangladesh back. Rather, they

Now coming to the much-discussed anti-India campaign, it was military ruler Ershad who kept pointing fingers at India for all the plights of Bangladeshis. Ziaur Rahman wanted migration of the best practices whenever and wherever possible. Sadly, he gave a lot of leeway to Islamist forces, including Jamaat-e-Islami, for the sake of multi-party democracy.

People didn’t want this from the Z Force commander, and more importantly, from the person who made the announcement of our independence on behalf of our great leader Sheikh Mujib. How did people like Khondoker Mostak Ahmed succeed? Was it because Bangabandhu believed in his

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story of Indian excesses with regard to the Ganges water treaty and border disputes? After the sad killing of Bangabandhu, many of his colleagues joined Mostak too, which had nothing to do with Zia. Ask any woman leader: Who should be blamed for the violence against women these days? While Muslim League Razakars or Jamaat’s al-Badr or al-Shams had proven engagement in the atrocities committed on our sisters and mothers in 1971, most of them would still point fingers at Jamaat or Hefazat or at least Islamist forces.

Ground realities may tell you different stories, and at times may put teachers, professionals, or civil society members in the dock for violence against women or keeping them in the corner. Social researchers would attribute this to social degradation, youth unemployment, the lack of legal enforcement, or corruption.

Our ill-motivated political masters have so far been successful in deceiving many of us and keeping us engaged in unnecessary debates and fairy tales. No doubt, we must always champion the causes of our liberation war, believe in the strength of people, and take the toiling masses forward through distributive justice.

But we also need to move on with the right campaign, the right direction, and no-nonsense attitude. We live in a globalised and integrated world now.

Back-dated and illogical thinking can only take us to the past and keep us there. But our young generation does not want to go back, rather, they want empowerment through good education and scientific thinking. l Mamun Rashid is a business professor and financial sector entrepreneur.

pparently the Indian PSA about sexual harassment is a violation of human rights, or so it would seem, from an article recently published in Dhaka Tribune (December 28).

It possibly tried to expose the double standards of society which simultaneously encourages and vilifies male sexuality. And, the double standard of women who are offended by lustful looks despite dressing in “low-cut low hips.” At the same time, the writer has managed to reach a very feminist position (although he might argue it’s a more holistic and truly egalitarian humanist position), and a very sexist one. Let me explain.

His position is feminist because unwittingly it identifies a core feminist concern – patriarchy. This is a system that ideally wants to see male sexuality as potent and dominant. It is patriarchy that teaches you, dear writer, and forces you, to stay up the ladder. In this system, sex is not a mutually satisfactory endeavour but an acquisition of pleasure.

In the messy reality, however, this can result in the demonisation of male sexuality where any man is a potential “pervert.” This is not women shortchanging you, this is patriarchy backfiring on you. You are, instead of acknowledging the existence of a bad system, trying to fix its little loopholes so you can get on with the program without any hassle.

The Mumbai ad itself is not necessarily feminist. But it gets across a point. The point is that this predator-prey mode of interaction, this age-old game of hide-and-seek where the female body is the “it,” where you score a point if you can get a peek, or get her to give you a peek – this is not a game women want to play.

Your moves and your victory dances are all happening with unwilling people. Often clothing isn’t sexual invitation, and even sexy attires are not permission to objectify. Even when you are invited, your response may still not be disrespectful to the host. In short, don’t pee in the pool.

Society does teach and encourage men to dehumanise and objectify women, and blaming the agents instead of the system can only go so far. Shouldn’t the attractive women also be blamed for following society’s dictates? This is why we need feminism: To point out the power disparity between sexes.

The men who harass women have the license from their society to look at women’s bodies in exclusion of their personhood and without any major repercussion. The best the unwilling recipients of this attention can do is to shame them (through an ad campaign, for example) and hope that the message sinks in.

Most women grow up knowing that their worth is directly proportional to their looks, then are vilified for trying to look as attractive as possible, and then get crucified for resisting the humiliation of objectification (and the harassment that follows).

Society has many ways of punishing women who don’t listen. The acceptance and encouragement of street harassment is one of the ways

to regulate our lives. Women find many ways to work with the system.

Slut shaming is a weapon designed to prevent women from manipulating the very system and use their sexuality to exercise power. Women may be victims, but not without agency.

What the ad apparently fails to convey is that maybe men and women shouldn’t have to interact within such a questionable system. That if they choose to interact sexually, it may be done in a way where all parties feel safe, secure and in control of what happens to their bodies.

The problem is not with men perceiving women as sexual beings.

Attraction between people is natural and healthy. What women object to is the sheer disregard lookers have for the owner of the body.

Society does teach men to objectify women, and blaming the agents instead of the system can only go so far The direct causation you feel between a woman’s clothing and your desire to leer is actually mediated by society’s attitude. Gradual changes in how women view the male body – from embarrassed to indifferent to appreciative – prove just that. Feigning helplessness in the hand of biology is wrong, because even what we would find attractive – height, width, complexion – is greatly dictated by norm.

You see this thing that we are doing – arguing over who should bear responsibility for street harassment – that is a political debate. This, my friend, is feminism.

Feminism is the activism to re-negotiate the balance of power between genders in a way that does not disfavour women and anything that is associated with femininity.

The word humanism doesn’t work, because it takes away focus from the power imbalance and glosses over centuries of structurally embedded inequality.

Let’s talk some more about power and privilege. When women notice men in the streets, do they feel bad?

Do women usually look at an attractive man in a way that makes him feel violated? Can women get away with it? These are questions of power. Not physical power, but a social one.

It’s entirely fair to raise questions about sexuality and human relationships, especially in societies where notions of propriety are changing, and the change is being interfered by consumerism. You can turn this into a zero sum battle between sexes where only one’s interest will take precedence.

Or you could turn this into a discussion about how to share responsibility and allowances, a conversation over keeping the public spaces between (and among) men and women reasonably desexualized, so all kinds of relationships can thrive. Be part of the solution, not the problem. l Fahima Durrat is a freelance contributor.

UN to the rescue? n Tamim Choudhury

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s Bangladesh witnesses a civil war-like scenario over the upcoming elections, the United Nations has been increasingly involved in its affairs. The UN Secretary General voicing strong concern over widespread election-related violence creates a sense of déjà vu as we have witnessed this scenario before. This time around, with the incumbent and opposition roles reversed, UN warnings to abide by international norms offer little solace to those injured and terrorised by opposition-launched attacks in the name of democracy.

From the UN secretary general calling the prime minister to condemn the ongoing violence, to UN Assistant Secretary General Oscar Fernandez-Taranco desperately attempting reconciliation between the warring parties, to UN High Commissioner Navi Pillay warning that Bangladeshi political leadership can face International Criminal Court prosecution for causing destructive brinkmanship, the UN has exhibited a high amount of interest in Bangladesh.

Although Mr Taranco tried to hold dialogues and reach a compromise, the winner-takes-all attitude prevailed, leading to the dysfunctional confrontational standpoint. Mr Taranco had also proposed election deferment

and UN assistance in conducting the parliamentary election. Whereas UN statements and actions appear well-intended to create a peaceful, inclusive, and fair election process, how beneficial has the global international cooperation organisation been for Bangladesh?

Political observers will recall how the events of January 11, 2007 changed the course of history for Bangladesh.

Former army chief General Moeen Ahmed stated that on that day, UN Undersecretary General Gueheno called him to warn that if the Bangladesh Army played a role in a one-sided election, the UN would consider withdrawing the nation’s armed forces from its peacekeeping operations.

Moreover, a US Embassy, Dhaka cable from January 12, 2007, reports that Brigadier Amin declared a number of reasons behind the military-issued state of emergency: The UN Secretary General’s concern on Bangladesh, the local UN representative specifically linking peacekeeping operations with military support for elections, and a letter from the UN linking military actions with peacekeeping.

The UN inciting a military takeover was a remarkable episode in its 60year history as a global peacekeeping institution. The lucrative peacekeeping contracts were used as leverage; this was a carrot-and-stick approach

by the UN to intervene in the nation’s internal political affairs. During 2007, Bangladesh’s peacekeeping contracts brought in $300 million annually, a significant sum for a cash-strapped nation; half of the funds went to the participating soldiers. The missions also provide the Bangladesh Army significant international exposure and are a significant point of pride.

As the military embarked upon ruling the nation from behind the curtain of a technocratic government, its notable successes included registering 80 million new voters and conducting the freest, fairest election in the nation, as judged by the international community. As protests were banned under the state of emergency, the nation was mostly safe from turmoil, except during the student-led riots of mid-2007 calling for restoration of democracy and disbandment of the army camp in Dhaka University.

The Anti Corruption Commission led an unprecedented campaign to eliminate corruption. Those who we thought were sky-high above the law were actually imprisoned. However, the military-installed caretaker government conducted mass arrests of politicians on spurious charges that blew away upon the changing of political winds, businessmen were arbitrarily detained and freed upon making payments to military officers,

as noted by Human Rights Watch, and the entire anti-corruption drive fell like a house of cards when Mr Ten Percent flew off to Britain.

Although a Human Rights Commission was formed and the judiciary was formally separated from the executive, the commission has become a mouthpiece begging for justice and the court has gone back into the prime minister’s fold.

Historically, Bangladesh fought to gain a seat at the UN. Upon dual vetoes by the Chinese in 1972 and 1973, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman could finally address the UN General Assembly on September 24, 1974. UN assessments are highly valued by the Bangladesh government. Receiving a UN award in 2010 for reduction of maternal and childhood mortality is cited as a distinguished achievement by the administration. Being ranked 16th out of 74 UN recipient nations on foreign direct investment flows is notably promoted by Bangladesh Embassy in Washington, DC. The global body carries authoritative weight on judging Bangladesh’s successes and failures.

A few years back, I visited UN headquarters in New York City. Located by East River on an 18-acre site in Manhattan, the world landmark includes the 39-story Secretariat, General Assembly, conference, and library buildings. Inside the perimeter,

a line of multicoloured flags depict 193 member states.

The tour starts from the General Assembly public lobby, leading to General Assembly hall, the central UN organ where member states discuss global issues requiring international cooperation.

troops, police, and military experts.

This source of national prestige and high revenue was utilised by the world’s international cooperation body in 2007 to avoid a one-sided election and the violence linked to it.

Whereas some civil society figures

After 42 years as a sovereign nation, if Bangladesh still requires international assistance for governance, it has serious problems The 1,800-person chamber holds a rostrum on front, with a green marble desk and matching lectern. The high ceiling is topped by a shallow dome ringed by light fixtures. Moreover, the chamber’s front portion is surrounded by a semicircular wall.

While trekking the halls, I noticed two South Asian gentlemen in suits and badges admiring a poster. One remarked to the other in Bengali: “The peacekeeping soldier in this photo is from Bangladesh.”

Currently, Bangladesh’s total contribution of uniformed personnel to UN peacekeeping operations is almost 8,000. This is the secondlargest deployment among contributing nations and includes

and organisations such as Asian Human Rights Commission have openly called for UN intervention “for saving ordinary people’s lives and liberties,” how much of a benefit will this have for the nation? After 42 years as a sovereign nation, if Bangladesh still requires international assistance for governance and holding elections, it has serious problems that must be remedied. The ultimate question is: Who helps Bangladesh when its leadership completely fails to safeguard its citizens? Is foreign intervention the nation’s only saviour to lift it out of this crisis? l Tamim Choudhury is a communications analyst based in greater Washington, DC.

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Bengal celebrates Shilpacharya’s birth centenary n Shadma Malik To mark pioneering artist Zainul Abedin’s birth centenary, an exhibition titled “Shilpacharya and His Outer World of Art” is being held at the Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts till January 11. The exhibition features 17 artworks by the legendary artist, popularly known as the Shilpacharya, and 53 artworks by the three generations of Abedin’s family members.

The pioneer of contemporary art in Bangladesh, Abedin has influenced many disciples and his teaching has spread through generations. Few members of Abedin’s extended family also chose fine arts as a profession.

Artwork Santal Couple by Zainul Abedin

Artwork Face by Manize Abedin

Telefilm Shopnokonya airs tonight on Maasranga TV n Entertainment Desk Telefilm Shopnokonnya featuring a love triangle will air tonight at 7:50pm on Maasranga TV. Written and directed by Sharmin Chowdhury Ifshita, the telefilm features Shojol, Momo and Alif in the lead roles.

Here Momo is the “dream girl” (Shopnokonya) of two friends enacted by Alif and Shajal.

The story opens with Alif and Momo’s preparation for marriage. The play turns to a different angle when Momo

has an accident which injures her head.

Alif’s friend Shajal visits Momo in the hospital and that totally changes the fate of the three. The two young hearts fall in love with each other and after a certain while Momo confesses to Alif about the sudden shift in her mind.

But, Alif does not take it seriously and thinks Momo is not in the proper state of her mind because of the accident.

On the other hand, Shajal also cannot help himself to forget Momo and it poses a dilemma for him whether to choose love over friendship. l

Nature-based water colour artworks

by Abedin’s youngest brother Zunabul Islam – who was the protégée as well as colleague of Abedin – are on display.

Abedin’s youngest son Maidul Abedin – who is an engineer – displayed faces, adding colour and design on it.

The Shilpacharya’s granddaughter Manize Abedin, daughter of his second son Khairul, exhibited paintings of faces; and like her famous grandfather, Manize has interest in drawing human faces.

It is noticeable that the common element in Abedin and his family’s style is their preference in choosing nature and people as subjects of artworks.

Abedin’s last painting Two faces with brush and ink, which has been collected by his widow Jahanara Abedin, is on display. At the inauguration, his wife recalled memories of her beloved husband by saying: “He was a true patriot. During the Liberation War he was offered to flee, but he refused by saying that he decided to stay with his people in Bangladesh.”

Joking, Jahanara said: “After my marriage, I always disagreed with the fact that he had a good sense of colours, as I always saw him giving me white coloured sarees.”

Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin established the Art Institute in 1948, paving way to start the journey of contemporary art in the region. It was his artistic endeavour to enrich the country through art. The legacy of Shilpacharya’s style have created many artists and shall encourage generations to come forward. l

MOVIE

COMEDY

From the beginning of her acting career, noted actor and director Afzal Hossain is a significant personality for popular TV actor Tarin’s career.

Tarin’s first TV play was “Phuler Bagane Shap” where she played the role of the child character of Afzal’s lover. Tarin’s first TV commercial was also directed by Afzal Hossain. Later they entertained viewers by pairing up in several productions and it was eight years back when they were last seen as a couple in a TV play titled U-Turn.

They will be seen together on the small screen once again in an upcoming play titled Golpoti

Shotti, directed by Noim Imtiaz Neyamul. The play will be aired on January 15 on SA TV on the occasion of the founding anniversary of the channel.

While talking about performing in this play Afzal Hossain said: “I don’t perform regularly in TV plays now-a-days. However, I cannot ignore it totally. I had to keep the request of Neyamul who had worked with me for a long time. Moreover, the story of the play is absolutely different.”

Tarin shared: “Afzal bhai is a living legend in our country. He is our family friend and it is always comfortable to work with him. Every time I work with him, I learn something new.” l

NEWS

MISC

11:00am FX

6:00pm Boishakhi Tv

11:30am Fox Traveller

9:30pm Star Movies

10:00pm Comedy Central

10:00pm Shomoy

10:30pm Vh1

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows Night at the Museum

TODAY IN DHAKA Exhibition

Shilpacharya and his Outer World of Art Time: 12pm-8pm Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts, House 42 Road 16 (New) / 27 (old), Dhanmondi

Whose Line Is It Anyway?

Yes Dear

Pacific Rim in 3D Escape Plan The Conjuring The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Star Cineplex Bashundhara Cityd Gravity Blockbuster Cinemas, Jamuna Future Park A scene from Shopnokonya

Hollywood on a high with bumper 2013 helped cement Warner Bros’ industry-leading $1.81b in domestic sales as of December 26, according to Box Office Mojo.

Disney’s Frozen dominated animation this December holiday season, with $248.4m domestically and $491.9 million worldwide, according to Mojo.l

Evening news bulletin Khoborer Shomoy

Kumar Biswajit to perform in 3 concerts in UK n Entertainment Desk Ace singer of the country Kumar Biswajit left for London yesterday to perform in three live concerts in three cities of UK: London, Bradford and Birmingham.

He will perform his ever popular numbers and also several requested songs by the audience. “All my performances are to please my audience, my music is for their pleasure,” says the gifted star. Besides, Kumar said he might also present a few of unreleased tracks from his upcoming album. Kumar Biswajit is one of the most renowned singers of our country who won the National Award twice. He will be heading towards Bangladesh on January 9. His next album is scheduled to be released on the Valentine’s Day this year. l

Film

US and Canadian cinemas are certain to pass last year’s record $10.8 billion in ticket sales. Studios spaced out their biggest films to avoid head-to-head competition, and produced more releases with domestic revenue of over

n Entertainment Desk

6:55pm HBO

Zainul Quamrul Exhibition Time: 10am – 8pm Nalini Kanta Bhattasali Gallery, National Museum

$200m, often with exhibitors charging extra for larger screens, plush seats and better sound.

Walt Disney’s Iron Man 3, topping the US box office with $409m in sales, underscored Hollywood’s success revisiting hits, leading the industry to a second-straight annual record after drops the previous two years. Eight of the top 10 films were sequels or revivals of action, fantasy, animation or scifi hits, according to Box Office Mojo.

Two of those, The Hunger Games and The Hobbit, return with new episodes in 2014.

With fewer releases bunched together, at least 12 films exceeded $200m in US ticket sales this year, compared with 11 in 2012 and seven in 2011, according to Box Office Mojo. The less competitive calendar also allowed sleeper hits to emerge. Gravity, the 3D space adventure with Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, opened in October and generated $254.6 million in domestic revenue for Warner Bros.

Gravity was the No. 2 film of the year for the studio, behind Man of Steel, and

Afzal and Tarin pair up after 8 years

ON TV

City of Rhythm Second phase of Kazi Salahuddin Ahmed Time: 12-8pm Shilpangan, House 7 Road 13 (New) Dhanmondi

n Entertainment Desk

A scene from Golpoti Shotti

Strictly Street Brit Invasion

Anil Kapoor to bring Nayak sequel

n Entertainment desk Inspired from the Tamil blockbuster Mudhalvan, Nayak remains as one of the milestones of Anil Kapoor’s career. Post the success of 24, the actor who is busy with a lot of films, has plans to make a sequel to his popular film.

Anil revealed that he will coproduce and act in the sequel which will have a different storyline with cues taken from real-life incidents.

The second installment will also have a plot revolving around politics where the lead will play a crusader of sorts. However, the female lead and director for the film is yet to be finalised.

While Anil maintains that the film is still in its early stages, he also stated that it will go on floor in early 2015. l

Madhuri Dixit in Dedh Ishqiya n Entertainment Desk Bollywood diva Madhuri Dixit is set to make a comeback on the screen in a never-seen-before avatar in readyto-release Dedh Ishqiya, a hinterland based thriller-drama.

Her role in Dedh Ishqiya is certainly a giant leap for the actress. Director Abhishek Chaubey is presenting her as a widow looking for a husband and she organises a poetry competition in her house every year where prospective grooms come and try to woo her.

“For women, it’s a great time to be in the industry. When they narrated the script to me, I was very excited.

It’s a role that appealed to me,” said Madhuri who has some bold scenes with Naseeruddin Shah in the film, which also stars Arshad Warsi.

“Begum Para is a beautiful character written by Abhishek. She is a poetic woman. She is a widow and her late husband’s wish was that if she ever marries again, she should marry a poet.

“So every year she organises a swayamvar for her. She has been completely unimpressed for two years, but in the third year Babban (Arshad) comes,” she said.

Begum Para in Dedh Ishqiya marks her second innings in filmdom post marriage

and when asked how important the film is for her, she said: “Everybody wants to see me after a gap. Begum is a strong character. She is a multi-layered kind of a woman. How the film does is very important.”

“The more depth in the character the more fun you get to perform,” Madhuri said when asked how comfortable she was with the bold role in Dedh Ishqiya, which brings her out of her comfort zone.

“I am so thankful that our cinema has come a long way, and I am happy that women are portrayed as characters and not just eye candy in the films. Women are very beautifully portrayed on the screen,” she said.

Dedh Ishqiya is a sequel to Ishqiya, a film that made its lead actress Vidya Balan a name to reckon with.

Madhuri rose on the film firmament in the late 1980s and 1990s with blockbusters like Tezaab, Ram Lakhan, Dil, Beta and Saajan.

After ruling the roost for years, Madhuri shifted base to Denver when she married US based doctor Sriram Nene in 1999. Her last big hit was Devdas. l

Did you know?

Manchester City scored 57 goals in their opening 20 games. The last team to score more were Spurs in 1962-63 (62)

Sport

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Country

Opposition

36 37 44 45 45 46 48 50 52 53

New Zealand Pakistan South Africa West Indies Pakistan New Zealand Sri Lanka Ireland India Pakistan

West Indies 2014 Sri Lanka 1996 Zimbabwe 2006 Bangladesh 1999 India 2005 West Indies 2014 Pakistan 1996 England 2011 Australia 2013 Bangladesh 2010

Corey Anderson Shahid Afridi Mark Boucher Brian Lara Shahid Afridi Jesse Ryder Sanath Jayasuriya Kevin O’Brien Virat Kohli Shahid Afridi

DAYS TO GO

Year

n Shishir Hoque

n Reuters

Corey Anderson of New Zealand bats during the third ODI match against West Indies in Queenstown yesterday

AFP

131 OFF 47 BALLS, BALL BY BALL

1.41.161.2146146166.6.61..666661.14411664124161221

World XI beckons Shakib, Tamim n Minhaz Uddin Khan Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib al Hasan and opening batsman Tamim Iqbal are likely to feature in the Rest of the World XI in two 50-over games against Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) on July 5 this year.

The matches will be played at the Lords and are arranged in order to celebrate MCC’s bicentenary in 1987 when

Mike Gatting - who will serve as MCC president next year - captained the club and scored 179, thus securing a place on the honours boards.

In 1814, the first match MCC played at its new ground was against Hertfordshire. On Sunday, June 22 this year - exactly 200 years to the day - the two clubs will meet again. In celebration, MCC will throw open its doors to local people and invite them in to see behind

Youngsters, old hands and security n Mazhar Uddin The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) successfully arranged the recently concluded Victory Day T20 Challenge Cup as the preparation for the national side for the upcoming World T20 Championship, which is scheduled to be hosted by Bangladesh this March.

New chief selector Faruk Ahmed earlier informed that there are many new cricketers in the line to get into the national side and after some good performances by Sabbir Rahman, Taijul Islam and Suvashish Roy, the selectors will have to think about these youngsters before the big event.

Prime Bank’s all-rounder Sabbir Rahman was one of the most impressive performers, as the all-rounder scored 268 runs,with three half centuries, at an average of 53.60, and also took two wickets. On top of that, Sabbir has consistently performed well in domestic cricket for a considerable time now.

Another young batsman, Anamul Haque, who had a terrible outing in the New Zealand series last year,was named man-of-the-tournament in the Victory Day event, having scored 298 runs – including a brilliant century.

Al Amin Hossain was another player who had a great tournament,as the right arm quickie created history by taking five wickets in a single over. Another pace bowler, Suvashis Roy, also impressed at the tournament.

Two established national stars,

Shakib al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal, validated their standing after having been out of cricket due to illness and injury respectively. Shakib claimed 11 wickets while Tamim was the second highest run scorer and made a hundred that was belligerent even by his standards. The big guns firing is a good sign for Bangladesh, with the home series against Sri Lanka just around the corner.

MOST RUNS Player

Inns

Runs HS

Ave

Anamul Haque 7

298

105

42.57

Tamim Iqbal

7

275

130

39.28 53.60

Sabbir Rahman 7

268

84*

Soumya Sarkar 6

179

55

29.83

Jahurul Islam

178

80

35.60

6

MOST WICKETS Player

Inns Wkts BBI

Econ

Al-Amin Hossain 7

13

5/17

7.68

Shakib Al Hasan 6

11

6/18

6.39

Taijul Islam

11

2/21

6.56

7

14 Younis, Misbah tons defy Sri Lanka

15 Solskjaer Cardiff ’s new manager?

Off-colour Abahani survive Brothers scare

Anderson scores fastest ODI century New Zealand all-rounder Corey Anderson scored the quickest century ever in international cricket yesterday, taking just 36 balls against West Indies to break the record long held by Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi.

Afridi scored a 37-ball hundred against Sri Lanka in 1996 and had remained the fastest across all formats of the international game since. Anderson, 23, brought up the mark with his 12th six of the innings after the third oneday international in Queenstown was reduced to a 21-over match due to rain.

“It’s one of those things you don’t plan on doing when you go out there but obviously with it (being) a reduced game it makes it easier to go harder at it earlier and Brendon showed his intent early on and Jesse played an unbelievable innings as well,” Anderson said in a televised interview.

Asked if he was aware of the record, the left-hander said: “No. I didn’t have a clue actually. It’s not like I look it up and take it down but I guess it’s nice to have that.” l

13

0 7 3

10 FASTEST CENTURIES IN ODIs

Balls Player

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Dewan Sabbir

5

11

4/22

9.25

Subashis Roy

6

10

4/27

8.86

The Victory Day T20 Challenge Cup also served the board in demonstrating that the security situation for cricketers was satisfactory. In this regard, the tournament was a success as on Tuesday, the Sri Lankan high commission gave the green light for the Lankan tour, which is scheduled to being on January 25, to go ahead. l

the scenes and partake in a range of activities at Lord’s.

“To play against MCC and be a member of the World XI is an honour,” said Tamim to the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

“MCC is the world’s biggest cricket brand and to play against them is an amazing thing to happen. Hope I can perform in the game,” he added.

However, the full squad for the Rest

of the World XI is yet to be revealed.

MCC, founded in 1787, owns, and is based at, Lord’s Cricket Ground. MCC was formerly the governing body of cricket both in England and Wales as well as worldwide. In 1993 many of its global functions were transferred to the International Cricket Council (ICC) and its English governance passed to the Test and County Cricket Board (TCCB) at the same time. l

Abahani Limited survived a scare from Brothers Union as they claimed a tight 1-0 victory in their opening Bangladesh Premier League match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

Ghanaian striker Osei Morrison netted the all important goal for the Sky Blues in the 49th minute and although the lead that was threatened by Brothers’ attackers on many occasions, Abahani – with not inconsiderable luck - were able to hold on to claim three points.

Brothers had at least four clear-cut chances throughout the game - one in the first half and the other three in the second – after Abahani took the lead. A misfiring and hurried attacking display

by Brothers along with two goal-line clearances by Meshu and Waly Faisal however, was enough to frustrate the Gopibag outfit.

It was Iranian coach Ali Akbar Parmoslemi’s first match in charge of Abahani after he rejoined the club after two years.

Brothers made the first attack at the quarter hour mark when Nigerian forward Kester Akon snatched the ball from Abahani defender Samad Yousef, but his shot from the edge of the box went straight to goalie Sohel.

The Orange almost scored the opener in the 38th minute. Abahani goalie Sohel was unable to completely neutralize a shot from Sohel Rana and the ball bounced back to Kester Akon in a goalmouth melee, but his shot was blocked by the goalkeeper.

Abahani initiated their first chance on the stroke of half-time when Brazilian midfielder De Souza’s corner flew into the middle of the box and Morrison tapped the ball but Brothers goalie Sabuj Das Roghu dived to his right to deny the Ghanaian.

The Sky Blues finally broke the deadlock four minutes into the second half through Osei Morrison, the top scorer in the Bangladesh Premier League last season. Touhidul Alam’s cross deflected off Brothers midfielder Nche Francis and Osei Morrision volleyed the ball home from

RESULT Abahani

Osei Morrison 48

1-0 Brothers Union

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS forward Kester Akon 14’Brothers snatched the ball from Abahani

defender Samad Youssif but shot straight to the goalie from the edge of the box.

Brothers midfielder Sohel Rana shot to Abahani goalie Sohel but the ball bounced off and in a goal mouth melee, Nigerian forward Victory Antony shot the ball over the crossbar.

Abahani midfielder De Souza’s corner flew into the middle of the box and found Morrison, who tapped but Brothers goalie Sabuj Das Roghu dived to grip the ball.

GOAL! Osei Morrison took the lead for Abahani. Touhidul Alam’s cross deflected off Francis and Morrison volleyed home from the middle of the box.

Rubel Miah made his way through the Abahani defence, with a Jewel Rana through but Waly Faisal made a goal line save. + Brothers Union forward Abdul Malek’s shot was cleared

by Abahani defender Mishu from the goal line.

38’

45’

48’ 77’

90’

the middle of the box.

Brothers went all out for the equalizer after that. They had three opportunities to restore the parity. In the 79th minute, Jewel Rana delivered a brilliant through pass for Rubel Miah to run towards the goal. Rubel broke into the penalty area, dribbled past the onrushing Abahani keeper and took a shot that was brilliantly cleared by Waly Faisal at the near post.

Four minutes later, Victori Antoni’s header from a cross from Kester Akon was cleared away by Cameroonian midfielder Yoko Samnick for a corner.

In injury time, after Rubel’s shot was blocked by Sohel, Kester received the rebound and passed it to an unmarked Abdul Malek, whose shot was cleared

by Meshu off the goal line. l

BFF renews coaches contracts

Zia in joint lead n Tribune Desk

n Raihan Mahmood

The second Grandmaster of Bangladesh, Ziaur Rahman moved to joint first at the Masters event at the 89th Hasting International Chess Congress after beating Fide Master Neil Stewart of Germany in the 4th round on Tuesday.

Zia shared the top spot with GM Mikheil Mchedlishvili of Georgia and GM Daniel Gormally of England with 3.5 points at the end of the 4th round.

Zia played with black pieces against Stewart’s English Opening. The game continued in unusual fashion before Zia won in 30 move. Zia was scheduled to play against Georgian Grandmaster Mikheil Mchedlishvili in the 5th round yesterday (Wednesday) night. Earlier on Monday, Zia defeated Prosviriakov Vladimir of USA in the 3rd round. l

Bangladesh Football Federation opted for quantity instead of going for quality by renewing the contracts of all 18 enlisted coaches yesterday. However, Saiful Bari Titu, expected to work with the Dutch national coaches, got his appointment.

It would be mentionable that BFF pays the coaches with the fund provided by Asian Football Confederation and it was also learnt that AFC has trimmed the payment from $5000 to $3700 per month.

In the last few days BFF officials came out with a plan of evaluating all its paid coaches in order to cut the numbers and ensure the quality. BFF also formed two committees to accomplish the job, but all of a sudden it took a U-turn. It’s been alleged that number of coaches are hardly active and committed towards their job, and only receives the salary at the end of the month.

It was also learnt that BFF president Kazi Salahuddin opined to renew the contacts of the coaches who have the qualities for the betterment of football.

Nevertheless, it did not happen.

Badal Roy, the vice president of BFF and the chairman of the Development Committee said chopping the number off will provide no benefit. “We thought a lot about the step and at last decided to renew all the contacts as we will take elaborative development programs in 2014. We need the coaches to implement our programs,” said Badal.l

Brothers Union’s Ghanaian defender Issah Yousuf denies Abahani’s Ghanaian striker Osei Morrison’s effort during their Bangladesh Premier League match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday COURTESY

Sky Blues look to improve n Raihan Mahmood Abahani Ltd’s Iranian coach Ali Akbar Parmoslemi cried out for more communication between his players after his team registered a narrow 1-0 win over Brothers Union at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday. His counterpart Indian legend Naeemuddin thought luck was not in his favour.

Abahani was fortunate to survive as the Brothers Union forwards saw two of their efforts cleared off the goal line but Parmoslemi thought it was due to lack of communication. “I took charge

just 10 days ago and I see the lack of communication between the players.

They need more understanding amongst themselves, it was evident everywhere - in the defence and also in the offence,” said the Iranian.

Asked if having just one forward resulted in Abahani lacking bit, Parmoslemi said that he prefered the 4-2-3-1 system. “They are yet to adapt to the system, if the two wings get closer in the opposition box then whatever is lacking would be more evident but with more practice, I think we can eliminate the weakness’,” he said.

Abahani defender Atikur Rahman Mishu admitted Abahani had not been at its best. “We did not play well and I think we are also lucky to avoid defeat.

We will work hard in the upcoming days” said Mishu, who cleared a ball from the goal line.

Naeemuddin thought the day was not theirs. “Two goal line saves and other hard efforts that did not see light.

We took the field to fight and win but it did not happen. However, I am proud of my young boys who lacked experience, but showed hurriedness. Actually quickness was required,” said Naeemuddin. l

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Dominant Azarenka into quarter-finals n AFP, Brisbane

Victoria Azarenka blows a kiss to the audience after defeating Casey Dellacqua in their women's singles match at the Brisbane International in Brisbane yesterday REUTERS

A dominant Victoria Azarenka sent a warning to her opponents after demolishing Australia’s Casey Dellacqua in the second round of the Brisbane International yesterday.

Second-seeded Azarenka had far too much firepower for Dellacqua, winning 6-3, 6-1 to book a quarter-final berth against unseeded Swiss Stefanie Voegele.

A day after top seed Serena Williams was pushed hard by Andrea Petkovic, Azarenka was never in any trouble against Dellacqua.

The Belarusian smashed 18 winners and made only 11 unforced errors, making 75 percent of her first serves in a solid start to the year.

The world number two, who won her maiden WTA title in Brisbane in 2009, beat Williams in an exhibition in Thailand late last year and showed enough to suggest she would be a danger to the American both in Brisbane and at the Australian Open, where she is defending champion.

Earlier the spate of withdrawals at the season-opening tournament continued with two more women pulling out.

German seventh seed Sabine Lisicki withdrew with a gastrointestinal illness before her match against Voegele, while 2013 runner-up Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova retired with a leg injury against fifth seed Angelique Kerber. l

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Younis, Misbah tons defy Sri Lanka n AFP, Abu Dhabi Exepreienced batsmen Younis Khan and Misbah-ul Haq hit sparkling hundreds as Pakistan took command of the first Test in Abu Dhabi yesterday.

Younis hit 136 for his 23rd hundred while Misbah was 105 not out for his fifth as Pakistan reached 327-4 at the close on the second day in reply to Sri

SCORECARD, DAY 2 SRI LANKA 1ST INNINGS 204

A. Mathews 91; Junaid Khan 5-58, Bilawal Bhatti 3-65 PAKISTAN 1ST INNINGS

(overnight 46-1) Khurram Manzoor run out 21 Shehzad c Karunaratne b Eranga 38 Mohammad Hafeez c Silva b Lakmal 11 Younis Khan b Eranga 136 Misbah-ul-Haq not out 105 Asad Shafiq not out 12 Extras: (lb1, nb2, w1) 4 Total: (four wkts; 109 overs) 327 Fall of wickets 1-46 (Manzoor 23), 2-59 (Hafeez), 3-83 (Shehzad), 4-301 (Younis) Bowling Lakmal 27-7-84-1 (1nb, 2w) Mathews 9-0-36-0, Eranga 24-5-63-2, Herath 31-9-77-0, Senanayake 18-2-66-0

Lanka’s first innings total of 204.

Asad Shafiq was the other not out batsman with 12 as Pakistan dominated the day after Sri Lanka took two early wickets in the first session. Pakistan now lead by a healthy 123 runs, primarily because of Younis and Misbah sharing 218 runs for the fourth wicket.

Younis hit spinner Rangana Herath for his 13th boundary to complete his hundred, taking just 47 balls for his second 50 runs. He also hit a six.

Younis equalled Javed Miandad’s record of 23 centuries, the third highest for Pakistan in the list topped by Inzamam-ul Haq (25) and Mohammad Yousuf (24).

Younis was finally bowled by paceman Shaminda Eranga after his 198-ball knock which included 19 fours and a six.

Younis was happy with his performance.

“I tried to motivate Misbah and he tried to do the same to me, saying that we must stay at the wicket and that’s how our partnership developed and gave the team a good position,” said Younis, who has now scored 1,659 runs in 22 matches against Sri Lanka – the most in Tests for Pakistan.

Former captain Inzamam-ul Haq scored 1559 in 20 Tests.

Younis is hoping Pakistan can build on the lead on Thursday.

“If we bat for another one hour tomorrow and add as many runs as possible, it will be good because Sri Lanka has some good players and I remember the last time we played them here (in 2011), Kumar Sangakkara got double hundred in the second innings (to draw the match).”

Misbah had luck on his side as he was dropped by Mahela Jayawardene when on 69, as he tried to paddle sweep Herath and the fielder, moving to legslip, failed to hold an easy chance.

Misbah had also survived a close leg-before appeal on 48 off a luckless Herath as Sri Lanka’s referral was wasted as TV umpire Ravi Sundaram adjudged the ball had hit the bat.

The Pakistani skipper reached his hundred with a single off spinner Sachitra Senanayake, taking 297 minutes for the century which included 12 boundaries.

He has so far hit 13 boundaries in his chancy innings and once again proved to be the mainstay for Pakistan. Sri Lanka had taken the second new ball with Pakistan 251-3 but they only bagged one wicket in the last two sessions.

Eranga was the best bowler with 2-63. Sri Lanka had started the day by dismissing Mohammad Hafeez (11) and Ahmed Shehzad (38) after Pakistan resumed at 46-1. l

Chelsea comply with FFP rules despite $81m deficit n Reuters, London Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea will comply with new European Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules despite returning to loss for the year ending June 2013.

“Although the Europa League was won, a reduction in income from that success compared with winning the Champions League in 2012 contributed to a loss for the financial year of 49.4 million pounds ($81.64 million),” the club said in a statement on Tuesday.

FFP regulations state a club can have a deficit of no more than 45 million euros (37 million pounds) a year but head of communications Steve Atkins told Reuters that because of complicated accounting rules, Chelsea’s actual loss was around 34 million pounds.

“Group turnover of 255.8 million pounds for the 12-month period is a record figure for the club despite elimination from the Champions League at the group stage last season,” Chelsea said in their statement.

“A 19% rise in commercial income from 67 million to 79.6 million pounds is a clear indication Chelsea is moving in the right direction in terms of business growth, as is a turnover figure that increased for a fourth consecutive year despite diminished European competition revenue.”

The year ending June 2012 was the first time Chelsea had made a profit since Russian oligarch Abramovich bought the club in 2003.

“The latest financial result combined with the previous year’s profit of 1.4 million pounds means for the first monitoring period for FFP regulations - which spans the 2011/12 and 2012/13 seasons we will fall comfortably within the breakeven criteria set by UEFA,” the club said.

“We have the fifth highest revenue of all football clubs in the world according to the latest published Deloitte figures.”

Chelsea are performing creditably on the pitch this season.

With Jose Mourinho back holding the reins as coach for the second time, the

Arsenal seek ‘special’ forward n AFP, London Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted that his side will be on the look-out for a “special” forward during the January transfer window.

The North London club finished 2013 on top of the Premier League table, but they have been heavily dependent on France international Olivier Giroud to lead the line.

Denmark’s Nicklas Bendtner, who has spent the last two seasons out on loan, is the only other orthodox frontman in the Arsenal squad and Wenger concedes that a new striker is his top transfer priority.

“We are like many clubs, certainly on alert,” Wenger said. If something special turns up we will not turn it down, but we are not as well desperate because we have a big depth in our squad.

“We have shown that because our midfield at West Ham and at Newcastle was completely different -- we changed three players and we still managed to have a very strong team.”

Wenger added: “I am quite confident with our squad. As has been mentioned, maybe up front we are a bit shorter with specialised people because most of the big clubs have three specialised central strikers. l

team occupy third place in the Premier League and are through to the last 16 of the Champions League where they will meet former striker Didier Drogba’s Galatasaray.

Chelsea have put pen to paper on major new partnerships with Audi, Delta and Azimut Hotels. A 10-year extension to a global agreement with Adidas was announced in June 2013, meaning the financial boost from the biggest deal the club has yet to sign will be recorded in the 2013/14 accounts.

“From the very beginning of the current ownership of Chelsea...a long-term objective was financial sustainability and the subsequent implementation of Financial Fair Play by UEFA and by the Premier League has brought that to the top of the agenda for football clubs,” said chairman Bruce Buck.

“By our own analysis we are progressing from a commercial viewpoint as well as continuing to add trophies to our collection which we never lose sight of as our most important goal.” l

Pakistan batsman Younis Khan (R) celebrates scoring a century as teammate Misbah-ul-Haq looks on the second day of the first Test match against Sri Lanka at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi yesterday AFP

Del Bosque warns Spain not to gloat n AFP, Madrid Spain coach Vicente del Bosque says his only fear for the 2014 World Cup is players gloating over past victories and failing to be humble in the face of the great challenge ahead in Brazil.

“We have to forget the past and not gloat over what we have won in previous years,” Del Bosque told Spanish daily AS in an interview published Tuesday.

“Humbleness is not an empty word.

When I ask for it, it is because it is the path to success.”

Spain, champions of Europe in 2008 and 2012 and World Cup winners in 2010, face fierce competition in the tournament, which kicks off in Brazil on June 12, he warned.

“The players have won a lot, almost everything, and their vision is not the same as it was five or six years ago.

That is my only fear. We come back to humbleness. You have to be humble, sportsmen, and good lads.”

Del Bosque said Spain are not inferior to any other team but they need to be cautious.

“We are the rival to beat and there

are powerful rivals, especially the South Americans and among them Brazil, Colombia, Argentina and Chile,” Del Bosque said.

“Then there are the Europeans, teams like Germany, Holland or Portugal. It is not easy and you have to show respect with all our rivals.”

Argentina’s Lionel Messi, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and France’s Franck Ribery were all heading to Brazil hungry for a first world title and backed by strong teams, the Spain coach warned.

“The small advantage Spain have is that we are a team, beyond our good in-

dividuals,” he said. “But there are other teams at our level.”

Del Bosque said 35-year-old Barcelona captain Carles Puyol, who has been dogged by injury problems over the last couple of seasons, is a “concern” but he hoped he would make the Spain team. “We still have time to make decisions,” he said.

The Spain coach said he was not worried about keeper Iker Casillas suffering from a lack of playing time after being left on the bench for Real Madrid’s Liga games, playing only in the Champions League and the domestic King’s Cup. l

Drogba, Toure on Allegri says he has spent his Ronaldinho final shortlist for 'last Christmas' as Milan coach voted South African award America’s best Reuters n AFP, Abuja Reuters, Montevideo n

Japan's Yokohama F Marinos captain Shunsuke Nakamura (C) holds up the Emperor's Cup during the awards ceremony of the Emperor's Cup final in Tokyo yesterday.

Yokohama F Marinos beat Sanfrecce Hiroshima with a 2-0 AFP

Ivory Coast and Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure remains on course for a third straight CAF African Player of the Year Award after he made the final three-man shortlist on Tuesday.

“The Ivorian pair of Yaya Toure and Didier Drogba make the final three for a second successive year and will be joined by John Obi Mikel of Nigeria,” the Confederation of African Football (CAF) said on their website.

The 30-year-old Toure won the award in 2011 and 2012.

Compatriot Didier Drogba, 35, who plays for Turkish club Galatasaray, has also won the award twice, in 2006 and 2009. It is the first time that 26-yearold Chelsea midfielder Mikel has made the final three. The 2013 winner will be announced at a ceremony in Lagos, Nigeria, on January 9. l

Beleaguered Massimiliano Allegri has spent his “last Christmas” as AC Milan coach, he said in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport on Tuesday.

Allegri, in his fourth season at the club, has survived a dreadful four months against a backdrop of political manoeuvring at the club, and admitted he had no thoughts of continuing next term.

“This is certainly my last Christmas at Milan, but I have eaten Panettone here once again and to be honest I had no doubt that I would,” he said, referring to the constant speculation about his future since early this season.

“I don’t know who will be the next coach and it’s not really my problem,” he added.

Milan reached the Christmas break in 13th place in Serie A with only 19 points from 17 games, and a mere four

wins to their credit. They are 17 points adrift of Napoli who are in third place, which earns a place in the Champions League playoff round.

They also performed erratically in the Champions League, winning only two group games, but managed to qualify for the last 16 and ironically are Italy’s only survivors in the competition.

“Realistically, I don’t know how far we can go in Europe, but we have a good chance of getting to the quarterfinals,” said Allegri whose side face Atletico Madrid in the last 16. “A lot can change between now and February.”

In another interview with Sky Sports Italia, Allegri admitted: “The last four months in the championship have been disastrous.

“For the new year, we must try and reach third place. It’s a huge gap but we have to do all we can to get as many points as possible, even knowing that it will be difficult.” l

n

Ronaldinho, who had a disappointing Club World Cup this month, has been elected South American footballer of the year in the annual poll conducted by the Uruguayan daily El Pais.

Ronaldinho, who helped Atletico Mineiro win the Libertadores Cup for the first time in July, finished ahead of fellow Brazilian Neymar, winner the previous two years who left Santos for Barcelona, with Argentina’s Maxi Rodriguez of Newell’s Old Boys third.

A World Cup winner with Brazil in 2002 but unlikely to win a place in the team hosting next year’s finals, Ronaldinho also won Europe’s Ballon d’Or in 2005 and FIFA’s World Player of the Year award in 2004 and 2005 when he was at Barcelona. Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli was second and Gerardo Martino, who left Newell’s for Barcelona in July, third. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

15

Thursday, January 2, 2014

QUICK BYTES Schumacher ‘stable’ as he enters new year in coma Formula One legend Michael Schumacher remained “stable” Wednesday after spending a third night in hospital with severe brain injuries sustained while skiing off-piste in the French Alps. The German racing great entered the new year in an induced coma and a critical condition, with his family at his bedside in the French Alpine city of Grenoble and doctors unsure of his future. The 44-year-old’s fight for survival after he fell and slammed his head on a rock Sunday has shocked legions of fans used to seeing him brave death on the racing tracks. “At the moment, he is stable,” the seven-time world champion’s manager Sabine Kehm told reporters massed outside the hospital in Grenoble on Wednesday, in a brief update before heading back inside.

–AFP

Cardiff City's owner Tan (L) and Solskjaer

Solskjaer Cardiff 's new manager? n Reuters, London

Haddin says England ‘not in a great place’ England are in disarray and their ragged fielding indicates the team is breaking apart heading into this week’s final Ashes Test, Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin said on Wednesday. England are struggling to avoid a 5-0 Ashes series whitewash after heavy defeats in all four Tests. They passed up the chance of a nets session at the Sydney Cricket Ground two days before the start of the fifth Test. “I don’t think they’re in a great place, to be perfectly honest,” team vice-captain Haddin told reporters. “I think you could probably tell a bit of that in their fielding the other day (in the Melbourne Test). I think that’s the first thing to go when you’re struggling a bit. “The batting and bowling, it’s an individual thing, but I think the team stuff looked like it was breaking a bit the other day.”

–AFP

Federer cruises past Nieminen in Brisbane Top seed Roger Federer cruised into the quarter-finals of the seasonopening Brisbane International with a comfortable 6-4, 6-2 win over Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen on Wednesday. The Swiss maestro, who has proved hugely popular in Brisbane this week, did not disappoint his many fans as he broke Nieminen once in the first set and twice in the second to power to victory in just 68 minutes. The former world number one dominated the Finn with his penetrating groundstrokes, but also tried to come to the net many times throughout the match -- a favourite tactic of new coaching adviser Stefan Edberg. Federer warned his opponents that he would only get better as the tournament progressed.

–AFP

Nadal’s atonement brings New Year resolution

World number one Rafael Nadal celebrated the New Year with a longawaited atonement and a resolution to win a uniquely elusive title. The top-seeded Spaniard’s 6-2, 7-6 (9/7) win against Lukas Rosol, a Czech who upset him sensationally in the second round of Wimbledon 2012, carried him into the second round of the Qatar Open on Tuesday. This is the only ATP World Tour tournament which Nadal has failed in five attempts to win. Nadal insisted, however, revenge was far from his mind despite celebrating the win with an extravagant air punch.

–AFP

DAY’S WATCH Sony Six NBA 2013-14 6:00AM Toronto v Indiana 08:00 AM LA Clippers v Charlotte 12:00PM Sri Lanka Tour of Pakistan 2013 1st Test, Day 3 8:45PM Club Football Friendly 2014 Paris St Germain v Real Madrid Star Sports 4 Hopman Cup 8:00AM Italy v Canada Ten Sports 07:00AM WTA Brisbane International Quarter-finals Star Sports 1 2:45PM Big Bash T20 Brisbane v Sydney 5:30AM (Friday) Australia v England 5th Test, Day 1

RESULTS

Arsenal 2-0 Cardiff City Bendtner 88, Walcott 90 Crystal Palace 1-1 Norwich Puncheon 44-P Johnson 39 Fulham 2-1 West Ham Sidwell 32, Diame 7 Berbatov 66 Liverpool 2-0 Hull Agger 36, Suarez 50 Southampton 0-3 Chelsea Torres 60, Willian 71, Oscar 82 Stoke 1-1 Everton Assaidi 49 Baines 90-P Sunderland 0-1 Aston Villa Agbonlahor 15 Swansea 2-3 Man City Bony 45, 90 Fernandinho 14, Toure 58, Kolarov 66 West Brom 1-0 Newcastle Berahino 87-P

Arsenal's Nicklas Bendtner (L) shoots and scores past Cardiff City goalkeeper David Marshall (R) during their English Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium in London yesterday REUTERS

Last-gasp Arsenal keep City waiting n AFP, London Nicklas Bendtner and Theo Walcott scored last-gasp goals as Arsenal edged Cardiff City 2-0 on New Year’s Day to preserve their place at the Premier League summit.

With former Manchester United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in attendance, amid reports he is due to succeed the sacked Malky Mackay as Cardiff manager, Arsenal dominated the game but looked destined to drop points until Bendtner’s dramatic intervention.

Arsene Wenger’s side did not man-

age to muster a single shot on target in the first half, although they were denied a penalty after Gary Medel appeared to trip Jack Wilshere inside the Cardiff area.

Wilshere struck the base of the post in the second half, before substitute Bendtner slammed home in the 88th minute after Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall parried a header from Bacary Sagna.

Walcott added a second goal in injury time to rubber-stamp Arsenal’s return to first place, after Manchester City had taken temporary possession of top spot by winning 3-2 at Swansea City.

City’s Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho scored the first goal of the new

year in the 14th minute at a rain-soaked Liberty Stadium, drilling home rightfooted after Swansea partially cleared a Samir Nasri corner.

Ivorian striker Wilfried Bony equalised with a well-placed header in firsthalf stoppage time, but his international colleague Yaya Toure restored the visitors’ lead with a deflected shot in the 58th minute.

City’s Serbian left-back Aleksandar Kolarov added a third eight minutes later, lashing a powerful strike past Swansea goalkeeper Gerhard Tremmel, before Bony struck again in injury time with a vicious low shot.

Fernando Torres gave Chelsea the lead

New Zealand M. Guptill c Ramdin b Holder J. Ryder c Miller by Holder B. McCullum c Simmons b Narine R. Taylor c Powell b Miller C. Anderson not out L. Ronchi not out Extras: (w2) Total: (four wickets; 21 overs)

Afridi hails new ODI century record holder n AFP, Karachi

Anderson, Ryder demolish WI n AFP, Queenstown New Zealand all-rounder Corey Anderson cracked the fastest century in one-day international cricket history on Wednesday as New Zealand thrashed the West Indies by 159 runs in a rainshortened third ODI. His whirlwind performance in partnership with Jesse Ryder, who smacked the sixth fastest century of all time in that form of the game, took New Zealand to 283-4 in a match reduced to 21

overs each side. The West Indies then wilted when faced with a daunting run rate of nearly 13.5 an over and could only manage 124-5 in reply.

The series is now all square at 1-1 with two matches to play.

Anderson -- who finished not out 131 – took a mere 36 deliveries to reach his century, beating the previous record set

by Shahid Afridi, who needed 37 balls to reach three figures playing for Pakistan against Sri Lanka in 1996. Ryder faced 46 deliveries to reach his ton.

The burly Anderson hit 14 sixes, the third highest in an ODI innings behind Rohit Sharma (16) for India against Australia two months ago and Australia’s Shane Watson (15) against Bangladesh in 2011.

“Some of the batting we saw was once in a lifetime stuff and it was great to watch,” New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum while West Indies skipper Dwayne Bravo said he was powerless to rein in the batsmen.

“It was a fantastic innings both by Anderson and Ryder. There’s noth-

McIlroy, Wozniacki engaged n AFP, Washington Two-time major golf champion Rory McIlroy and former women’s tennis world number one Caroline Wozniacki announced their engagement Wednesday in postings on Twitter.

McIlroy, the 24-year-old former world number one from Northern Ireland, posted pictures of himself and Wozniacki and a diamond ring on a woman’s left ring finger.

“Happy New Year everyone! I have a feeling it’s going to be a great year!! My first victory of 2014 #shesaidyes!!”

On her Twitter page, Wozniacki posted the same pictures with the caption “Happy New Year everyone! Rory and I started 2014 with a bang! ... I said YES!!!!”

Wozniacki, 23, withdrew from a WTA event in Brisbane last weekend due to a

shoulder injury but the Dane was looking forward to playing at Sydney in a tuneup event for the Australian Open.

McIlroy captured his first major title at the 2011 US Open and added another at the 2012 PGA Championship.

Wozniacki still seeks her first Grand Slam title, her deepest run in a major event being to the 2009 US Open final.

The romance has endured through a whirlwind year with rumors they were engaged a year ago, then speculation they had broken up in 2013. And both players struggled through a difficult 2013 season. McIlroy endured a winless US PGA season, his best showing a runner-up effort at the Texas Open last April just ahead of the Masters. His best major showing was a share of eighth in defending the PGA Championship title.

The frustrating campaign brought

on the hour with a close-range header after a deflected cross from Oscar came back off the post, with Willian making it 2-0 11 minutes later from Oscar’s pass.

Liverpool responded to consecutive losses at the hands of City and Chelsea by winning 2-0 at home to Hull City, which took them back into the top four.

Sixth faces seventh in the day’s late kickoff, with Manchester United welcoming Tottenham Hotspur to Old Trafford.

Everton slipped out of the bottom four despite Leighton Baines scoring an injury-time penalty to earn Roberto Martinez’s side a 1-1 draw at Stoke City, who had taken a 49th-minute lead through Oussama Assaidi. l

SCORECARD

ANDERSON WAGONWHEEL

Pakistan allrounder Shahid Afridi Wednesday hailed New Zealand batsman Corey Anderson, who broke his long-standing record for the fastest one-day century -- but admitted he had never heard of him before.

Anderson bettered Afridi’s 17-yearold record by one ball, reaching the three-figure mark off just 36 balls against the West Indies in Queenstown in the third one-day international.

Afridi set the mark aged just 16, in only his second limited-overs match, against Sri Lanka in Nairobi in October 1996.

He said he had never heard of Anderson before Wednesday morning.

“I never heard his name and early morning my nephew told me about his feat and I sort of said the first news of 2014 is of my record being broken,” Afridi told AFP. “But I must say it’s a great achievement and Anderson deserves all the praise. It needs a super effort to score a hundred off 36 balls,” Afridi told AFP. “Records are meant to be broken and I knew it would be broken some day.”

Afridi admitted he had hoped the record would last until he quit the game.

“I sort of wanted this record to stand until I retire because it has been a big pride for Pakistan and for me and whenever my name comes the record is mentioned,” he said.

“Now Anderson’s name will come but I am sure with the advent of Twenty20 cricket this record will surely be bettered in the future.”

He said he had always expected West Indian Chris Gayle or Australian David Warner to break the record.

“I had never expected it to be broken by a new player,” said Afridi. “I thought the way Gayle batted and hit sixes or the way Warner bats, they were favourites to break my record.”

“I wish any Pakistan player would break this record soon, but for the time being everyone must appreciate Anderson.” l

Former Manchester United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks set to take over as manager at Cardiff City after joining club owner Vincent Tan in the directors’ box to watch their Premier League match at Arsenal on Wednesday.

Norwegian media earlier reported that Solskjaer had flown from Kvernberget airport in Kristiansund, close to his home, in a Malaysian-registered private jet.

Citing sources close to the board of Norwegian club Molde, where Solskjaer has been manager for the past three seasons, TV2 reported that negotiations were at an advanced stage and that he was due to take over before Saturday’s FA Cup tie against Newcastle United. l

1 104 33 9 131 3 2 283

Bowling Narine 4-0-50-1, Holder 4-0-48-2, Rampaul 3-0-64-0, Miller 4-0-44-1, Bravo 4-0-48-0, Simmons 2-0-29-0 West Indies J. Charles c Neesham b Mills 0 L. Simmons c Milne b McClenaghan 13 C. Walton c Milne b Ryder 17 K. Powell c Neesham b McClenaghan 1 D. Bravo not out 56 N. Deonarine c Milne b Neesham 29 D. Ramdin not out 1 Extras: (lb 5, w 2) 7 Total: (five wickets, 21 overs) 124 Bowling Mills 2-0-11-1, McClenaghan 2-0-7-2, McCullum 5-0-27-0, Ryder 4-0-13-1, Neesham 4-0-21-1, Guptill 2-0-13-0, Milne 2-0-27-0 NZ won by 159 runs, Series: 1-1 ing you can do as a captain and bowler when those bats hit the ball so clean and everything goes their way.”

Anderson and Ryder put on 191 for the fourth wicket as they hammered the West Indies attack. After the start of the game was delayed five hours because of the weather, Ryder set the tone for the New Zealand innings when he cracked a boundary from the first ball he faced. l

West Brom president Silk dies aged 89 n AFP, London

critics, who questioned McIlroy’s decision to switch to new equipment in 2013. Some even questioned if he still had the passion for the sport.

But McIlroy, now sixth in the world rankings, ended a win drought of more than 12 months at the Australian Open a month ago and said in early December that he was pleased with how many times he had put himself in contention in a troubled season. l

West Bromwich Albion club president John Silk has died at the age of 89 following a short illness, the Premier League club announced on Wednesday.

Silk served as club chairman between 1988 and 1992 before succeeding the late Bert Millichip as president in 2003.

“John was very proud to be club president and took his duties very seriously,” said chairman Jeremy Peace.

“Until his illness, he was a constant presence at home and away matches.

Notably, he was in attendance for our 2-1 win at Old Trafford (against Manchester United) in September. l

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Tribunal 1 faces ‘little’ uncertainty Verdict in war crimes case against Nizami to be delayed as the tribunal has not got its chairman yet n Udisa Islam Verdict in the war crimes case against Jamaat-e-Islami chief Motiur Rahman Nizami is likely to be delayed as the International Crimes Tribunal 1 is yet to get a new chairman and the authorities are still undecided regarding whether the closing arguments would be re-heard.

Justice ATM Fazle Kabir of the three-member tribunal kept the case for judgement on November 13. As he went into retirement on Tuesday, everybody has been in puzzle about the case’s fate since then.

In this situation, the question of further arguments is raised as the new chairman would have to include his/her observation in the verdict.

Some prosecutors say there is no reason to hear the arguments again whereas other prosecutors and the defence say any member who joins in the middle of a trial conventionally hears the case again The tribunal 1 has already deferred all its proceedings until January 7.

From this, it is apparent that the new chairman may be appointed by this time.

When contacted, State Minister for Law Quamrul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that they would fill the position within the shortest possible time.

In this baffling situation, the question of further arguments is raised as the new chairman would have to include his/her observation in the verdict. Some prosecutors say there is no reason to hear the arguments again whereas other prosecutors and the defence say any member who joins in the

middle of a trial conventionally hears the case again.

If so, then the verdict will come in after much delay.

Yesterday, the judge came to the tribunal and met with his former colleagues. He had a relaxed day.

Tribunal sources said the government was considering extending the job of Justice Kabir. But there is a “technical problem” – the judge is now 67. According to article 96(1) of the constitution, a judge is supposed to retire after he reaches the age of 67 years. He was born on January 1, 1947 in Chapainawabganj.

The government is also weighing on two High Court judges for the position.

On the issues, Tureen Afroz, a prosecutor who also conducted arguments in the Nizami case, said everything would be smooth had the former chairman been reappointed.

“If a new judge is appointed, s/he will peruse both the witness testimonies and the evidences.”

She said, however, for the sake of justice and to come to a just conclusion, the judge would require hearing the arguments of both sides.

The prosecutor noted that the parties are not allowed to place new arguments during resubmissions.

Tajul Islam, defence counsel for Nizami, said the new chairman should hear both parties. “If not, then how will he take any part in the judgement?”

He added that the defence would submit a plea to re-hear the case, at least the argument part.

Sources said there was no legal bar to hear the case again if the tribunal wanted. But it is not mandatory. However, the judge might hear a short argument to ensure justice.

“Everything will be settled in a few days. These uncertainties will last for a very short time,” said a tribunal official seeking anonymity. l

A rare photo of the fruit of a tree, locally known as Shonatoler Gachh. The seed of this tree has long been used by goldsmiths for measuring gold. They say one seed of this tree is accurately one rotti, a local unit for measuring the precious metal. The photo was taken beside the rail tracks at Rajshahi’s Godagari Dhaka Tribune

FALLOUTS OF POLITICAL UNREST

Private med schools facing huge financial losses n Moniruzzaman Uzzal Many foreign students have reportedly decided to not get admitted to the private medical colleges in the country because of the prolonged political unrest, pushing many of these med schools on the verge of huge financial losses.

Not only have the foreign enrolments, many of these colleges failed to attract local students as well, despite offering instalment facilities for paying the admission fees.

The private med schools generally charge local students between Tk10 lakh and Tk20 lakh and foreign students Tk30 lakh and Tk40 lakh as admission fees.

As of last Thursday, most of the 85 private medical and dental colleges have failed to enrol students in all the available seats. It is feared that around 30-40% of the total number of seats available in all the private med schools will remain vacant for the ongoing academic session (2013-14).

At present, a total of 6,500 seats are available in the 65 medical and 22 private dental colleges in the country.

Documents show that only eight private medical colleges around the coun-

try have managed to fill up all their seats.

These are: Bangladesh Medical College, Birdem Medical College, Holy Family Red Crescent Medical College and National Medical College in Dhaka; Zohirul Islam Medical College in Kishoreganj; Islami Bank Medical College in Rajshahi; Ragib Rabeya Medical College in Sylhet; Mother and Child Medical College in Chittagong; and Khaja Yunus Ali Medical College in Sirajganj.

Meanwhile, the health ministry has extended to January 15, the date of admission for MBBS and BDS courses for the 2013-2014 academic year at different private medical colleges; the second such extension of its kind.

Prof Dr ABM Abdul Hannan, director (health education and development) of the health directorate, told the Dhaka Tribune that the ministry made the decision after the BPMCA sent a letter to the DGHS and to the health ministry, requesting to extend the date of admission.

The BPMCA letter said private med schools ran the risk of facing huge financial losses unless the admission date was extended, as students were not coming for admission because of the present political situation of the country.

Earlier, the ministry directed all 65 medical and 13 dental colleges to complete their admission process by December 20, which was later extended to December 30.

A total of 11 med schools have managed to fill up 40%-70% of their available seats, and the remaining 66 medical and dental colleges will have to do with about 70%-80% vacant seats this year. These private med schools can enrol foreign students in up to 35% of their seats.

The foreign enrolments in the private med schools mainly come from the sub-continental neighbours India and Nepal.

Sources said citing security reasons amid the ongoing political unrest, this year many of them have decided to take admission in private medical colleges in China and the Philippines instead of those in Bangladesh.

Shah Md Selim, owner of the Eastern Medical College in Comilla, told the Dhaka Tribune that the cost of setting up a private medical college in the country was Tk50 crore to Tk100 crore.

He claimed to have invested nearly Tk70 crore, including bank loans, for purchasing land, building hospital, fur-

niture and equipment for the medical college.

He said nine Nepalese students, who were contacted through agents, were supposed to enrol in his medical college. But all of them have recently cancelled their applications because of the ongoing political unrest.

That, he said, would not only cost his medical college at least Tk1 crore, but also take away the opportunity to pay back a bulk of the outstanding bank loan.

Selim , who is also the general secretary of Bangladesh Private Medical College Association (BPMCA), said the East West Medical College had Tk30 crore bank loan, Enam Medical College in Savar Tk30 crore and Tairunessa Medical College in Gazipur Tk20 crore in bank loans. These colleges all suffered cancellations from foreign students and would have to suffer heavily from the financial losses.

The Dhaka Tribune ran a story earlier this year in which owners of private medical and dental colleges expressed optimism about being able to enrol 300-400 foreign students because of a government-sponsored education fair arranged in a number of countries. l

Blockade halts English schools exams n Mushfique Wadud

Army personnel stand guard at Kharkhari in Rajshahi city yesterday, to avoid arson attack during the indefinite blockades

DHAKA TRIBUNE

In mid-December, Abdur Rab received a notice from his son’s school saying his son would not have to sit for any more half-early examinations, as the school would have its winter vacation and will not resume classes till mid-January.

Though his son was happy for not having to take the exams, Abdur Rab could not be.

“Classes were not held most of this year for strikes or street violence. If examinations are not held, it means that my son would not learn anything in this academic year. A year is lost,” he said.

With continuous blockade programmes being called by the opposition parties throughout December, most English-medium schools were forced to stop mid-way through their half-yearly exams and start winter vacation.

As an alternative, the schools gave students home assignments, while also extending their winter vacation antici-

pating more blockades and violence in the coming days.

School authorities told the guardians that results would be prepared according to the four or five examinations that the students were able to take.

A teacher of Maple Leaf International School told the Dhaka Tribune that the school could only take four out of the eleven half-yearly examinations and decided that the results would be determined on the basis of the results of the four examinations.

“We had to reduce our syllabus and we fear that we cannot complete even the reduced syllabus if political instability continues,” he said.

The teacher also said the students could not be taught properly as classes were not held.

Mastermind School, Dhaka issued a notice on December 14, saying: “There will be no more half-yearly examination. School will have winter vacation with effect from Sunday, 22nd December 2013. Regular classes will start from Sunday, 19th January 2014.”

As the school was closed, school authorities could not be reached for comments.

Oxford International School could only hold six examinations and after that they gave assignments to students before going on winter vacation.

Shahidul Alam Manju, principal of Oxford International School, told the Dhaka Tribune that they were facing serious problems in conducting examinations and academic activities for political instability.

“We could not conduct all half-yearly examinations and are now worried about the next examinations,” he said.

Scholastica School also could not conduct all half-yearly examinations.

English-medium school authorities said O-level examinees will face problems as their pre-Cambridge examinations were also affected.

Teachers said the O-level examinees might perform poorly as blockades and political instability were barring them from taking proper preparation. l

Uncontested polls frustrate first-time voters Chakma Sathi and n Muktasree Mohammad Zakaria

Young voters who cannot exercise their franchise, as candidates in their constituencies are likely to be declared uncontested, expressed their frustration.

The Election Commission is likely to announce names of 153 candidates winning the upcoming 10th national parliamentary election unopposed as those seats have single contestants.

As the main opposition BNP and some other parties are not taking part in the January 5 election, a total of 153 candidates have no competitors and consequently 48,103,069 voters cannot exercise their franchises this time.

According to the EC data, a total of 10,908,974 people have been enrolled as voters after 2008.

Of them, 6,957,946 were youths only in the year of 2012-2013. The total number of voters in the country currently stands at 91,965,977.

As many as 389 candidates will contest for 147 constituencies while 43,862,908 voters will enjoy their rights to vote. In the ninth parliamentary national election of 2008, a total of 70,012,191 votes were cast including 381,924 “no votes.”

The youths of the country played a significant role in electing the government in 2008. Such contribution of the youth was also addressed in the 2014 election manifesto of the Awami League.

EC Assistant Secretary Syed Rashed told the Dhaka Tribune: “Around 40 lakh young voters will be able to cast their votes. But, around 60 lakh first-time voters particularly the youths, however, will not be able to cast their votes as the constituencies have single candidates.”

When asked about his feeling, 23-year-old Sabuj from Nilphamari 2 constituency said: “I am not feeling good as I know who is going to win.”

Referring to recent media reports on lawmakers who have amassed huge wealth illegally in the last five years, Osman from Chittagong 7 responded: “The same corrupt people are going to be our lawmakers for the next five years in most of these 153 seats. The frustrating part is that we are not even given the chance to show them that we do not want them.”

Many young voters also said they were uncertain about polls in their constituencies.

SM Tareque, voter of Dhaka 7 constituency, said: “Will the election be held in my constituency? I do not even know this. I wish it were held without any untoward incidents. Things got complicated as soon as I became a voter.” l

Editor: Zafar Sobhan, Published and Printed by Kazi Anis Ahmed on behalf of 2A Media Limited at Dainik Shakaler Khabar Publications Limited, 153/7, Tejgaon Industrial Area, Dhaka-1208. Editorial, News & Commercial Office: FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Shukrabad, Dhaka 1207.

Phone: 9132093-94, Advertising: 9132155, Circulation: 9132282, Fax: News-9132192, e-mail: news@dhakatribune.com, info@dhakatribune.com, Website: www.dhakatribune.com

Continue to the Business section...

Business

B3 Rupee falls on first trad-

B4 EPB: Flower export exceeds target

ing day of 2014

THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014 www.dhakatribune.com/business

Mobile operators under 13 KPIs to improve services

Remittance drops 2% in 2013 n Tribune Report

The country received a total of $13.83bn in remittance in 2013, down by $338m or 2% from $14.17bn in the previous year.

However, it contributed a lot to build the highest foreign exchange reserve of over $18bn.

The remittance inflow was in down trend throughout the year due to falling manpower export and political unrest, said a senior executive of Bangladesh Bank.

The year passed with sluggish business environment due to political unrest and, as a result, expatriates were reluctant to send money home for investment, he said.

In December, the remittance inflow registered $1.2bn compared to $1bn in the previous month, according to the central bank figures released yesterday.

This year’s highest remittance of $1.32bn was bagged in January through formal banking channel. Then the trend remained in down trend. Even ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha the amount could not cross the first month’s receipts.

In the last month of the year, the country received $405.58m through state-owned commercial banks (SCBs), $15.03m through specialised banks, $780.47m through private commercial banks and $15.41m through foreign commercial banks.

The manpower export decreased by over two lakh as compared to last year, according to the Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU). l

BTRC set to approve guideline today n Muhammad Zahidul Islam The telecom watchdog is going to introduce a new benchmark with 13 key performance indicators to assess mobile phone operators’ service quality.

These KPI have been included in a draft guideline on the quality of service parameters.The guideline is likely to be approved today at a BTRC meeting.

Earlier, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) drafted the guideline and received views from different stakeholders on it.

Generally, complaints are prevalent against the operators’ voice service in Bangladesh, said BTRC high officials while talking to the Dhaka Tribune on the quality of service.

Some common complaints include call failure, call drop and network disruption.

According to the draft guideline, the operators will have to ensure a call success rate of 75% to maintain the service standard. The guideline includes a provision to calculate call attempts and the success rate.

Parameters have also been included to fix congestion in network.

The operators are yet to introduce toll-free numbers to which the customers will seek help regarding the service.

The current customer care number

121 was supposed to be made toll-free, but the operators didn’t.

Instead, they made a separate number 158 toll-free as there was a BTRC directive to introduce charge-free customer care number. But the fact is that the customers are completely unaware of the number.

“Bangladesh is a very big market when size is taken into consideration.

Sometimes we failed to protect users (from the operators’ bad service). Now we have to do something in this regard, though that should have been done much before,” said a high official of the BTRC’s Engineering and Operation Division.

The guideline also deals with the data service, saying that the operators will have to maintain at least 80% speed rate of offer announced.

The SMS attempts and success rate will also be measured by the KPI. After taking the charge of BTRC, Chairman Sunil Kanti Bose at his first meeting directed the officials to have a look at the service guidelines of the regional countries. At that meeting, BTRC chief expressed his dissatisfaction over the service quality of Bangladesh’s mobile phone operators.

In Bangladesh, the customer complaints against mobile phone service are nothing new. Operators have customer service desks, but they apparently have

failed to play an adequate role in solving the service problems.

The network disruption, call drops, delayed connection, poor voice quality, interconnection congestion, abnormal billing and delayed service responses from the customer care desks are the common complaints.

Bangladesh currently has more than 11 crore mobile users.

The quality of service parameter has been followed presently by the countries like Australia, India, Malaysia, Pakistan and Singapore.

BTRC earlier drafted a same guideline with the assistance from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

According to the previous guideline, the watchdog also planned to publish a rating of the operators every month. But they didn’t proceed later according to their plan.

A BTRC official said: “We can go hardline on the private operators, but there would be a problem with the stateowned Teletalk which doesn’t have any real time customer care centre or anything like this.”

The regulator sources said the guideline didn’t say anything about punishment for the violation and the regulator would need formation of rules to ensure punishments for violators and rewards for compliers. l

EPZs see Share margin loan investment reset at 100% growth of 29% n despite odds Kayes Sohel

n Tribune Report

The country’s eight export processing zones experienced a healthy growth in both local and foreign direct investments as they were able to attract more than 29% investments in the first five months of the current fiscal year despite the prevailing political turmoil. ‘’Actual investments in the country’s eight EPZs increased by 29.38% to $154.47m in July-November period of the current fiscal year compared to $109.08m for the same time of 2012-13 fiscal year,’’ according to a Bangladesh Export Processing Zone Authorities (BEPZA) statement.

’Actual investments in the country’s eight EPZs increased by 29.38% to $154.47m in July-November period of the current fiscal year compared to $109.08m for the same time of 2012-13 fiscal year' Despite the country’s industrial sector suffers from various hostile situation, the investment scenario is still encouraging, claimed BEPZA in its statement.

According to BEPZA, in July-November 2013, Chittagong EPZ attracted a total of investment worth $32.14m, followed by Dhaka EPZ of $57.25m, Karnaphuli EPZ of $13.57m, Adamjee EPZ of $35.79m, , Comilla EPZ of $3.92m, Uttara EPZ of $6.22m, Ishwardi EPZ of $1.63 m and Mongla EPZ of $3.94m.

Meanwhile, the cumulative investment stood at $2940m up to November 2013 in the operating and also in under construction enterprises of the eight EPZs, the BEPZA statement said.

Apart from that, the BEPZA has already signed investment agreements worth $85.35m with nine new companies, which would set up their industrial units in the EPZs as soon as possible.

Of the agreements, five 100% foreign owned companies-three from China, one from United Kingdom and one from South Korea, two joint venture companies from China, Pakistan, Mauritius and Bangladesh and the rest two unitswill be fully Bangladeshi owned industrial units in the EPZs. These units will produce garments, garments accessories, tents and bags and tooth brushes and ball pens.

After the completion of all those units, it is expected to create job opportunity for 25,750 Bangladeshi nationals.

Currently, over 3.82 lakh Bangladeshi nationals are employed in a total of 425 industrial units in the country’s eight EPZs up to November 2013. l

Margin loan ratio or credit against stock has been reset at 100% with effect from yesterday, as part of the regulator’s earlier decision to cut down the margin ratio in phases.

Lenders are now able to provide margin loan at 1:1 until June this year, cutting down from 1:1.5 – a ratio that expired yesterday, according to Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC).

As part of its master plan outlined in early 2011, the commission had decided to bring down the ratio of margin loan aimed at minimising the investment risk for the market participants.

The margin loan is the amount of loan provided by brokerage houses and merchant banks to the borrowers against the total value of their shares.

For example the 1:1 loan ratio means, if an investor has Tk10 in cash or stocks worth Tk10, he or she will be able to receive another Tk10 as credit against the money or securities.

The ratio will come down further to 1:0.5 from July 2014, according to the master plan. Earlier, it reduced to 1:1.5 from 1:2.

“We have already taken preparation

to follow new margin ratio beginning from today,” said MA Hafiz, ex-president of Bangladesh Merchant Bankers Association, yesterday.

“The modified margin loan criteria will reduce the risks of investment,” he said. He said purchasing capacity of most investors who invested in stocks on margin loans recently went in red because of big price correction.

“Investment without margin loan will help reduce risk substantially for retailers,” he added.

Asian Development Bank (ADB) earlier recommended the securities regulator to phase out the margin loan as investors who invested in the market taking credit from merchant bankers or brokers or dealers are vulnerable to sustain losses.

Under the present market situation that remained volatile over the months, retailers showed no interest to take margin loans unlike situation during 2009-2010 when the market was rising, dealers said.

“Everybody with their own fund prefers to short term investment because of the market volatility,” said a dealer. But investors have tendency to take loan when the market continued to spiral, he said. l

A motorised boat carrying goods on the Buringanga river as alternative to roads that meet intense picketing during the blockades and shutdowns SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Mandatory jute packaging starts 40 crore bags and sacks need annually n Rabiul Islam The government has finally started implementation of the Jute Packaging Act, 2010 which ensures mandatory use of jute for packaging of six essential products.

Consumption of locally produced and environment-friendly jute would be increased due to the implementation of the act.

As a result, the farmers would be more interested in producing more jute to be more financially benefited, said officials. The demand for jute would also go up in the global market as well.

“We have decided to implement the Mandatory Jute Packaging Act 2010 from today (Wednesday) and programmes would also be taken for creating mass awareness,” Chairman of Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) Major General (retd) Humayun Khaled told the Dhaka Tribune at his secretariat office after a meeting yesterday.

The meeting of the advisory committee on the implementation of the act was held at the Jute and Textile ministry with its secretary

State banks submit reform plan today Automation is one of the reforms under recapitalisation programme

n

Asif Showkat Kallol

Four state-owned commercial banks would place initial business and automation plans to the Banking and Financial Institutions Division today as part of complying conditions under their recapitalisation programme, officials said.

“We will discuss on how the banks will implement their respective automation plan, said a senior official. The plans were supposed to be submitted within January 15.

He said a committee headed by additional secretary of the division would scrutinise the plans.

Additional Secretary Amalendu Mukerjee would chair the meeting at finance ministry to be attended by chairmen and managing directors of the banks – Sonali, Janata, Agrani and Rupali.

The government disbursed a total of Tk4,100 crore last week to make up the capital shortfall of the banks on condition the banks would reform the credit risk-related issues.

Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund set three new conditions

Sonali Bank head office in Motijheel, Dhaka for the state-owned commercial banks under its extended credit facility loans.

The conditions include restoration of capital position, full recovery of default loans from state-owned enterprises and automation of the banking system by March this year.

An IMF staff report released recently said the conditions imposed as the banks’ financial performance deteriorated due to the credit scams of HallMark and Bismillah groups.

The banks would be liable to carry a string of operational measures to improve their financial portfolios as a pre-condition to have the fund disbursed in the way of meeting their shortfalls in capital.

The combined capital shortfall of the banks stood at Tk9,062 crore as of June 30 last year, an increase of about 360% from December 31, 2012, according to statistics of Bangladesh Bank.

The International Monetary Fund has also recommended the finance ministry to inject money into the troubled banks so the banks concerned could face their challenges, said an official. “The banks will have to implement a number of conditions to become eligible for the fund.”

An unusual spike in classified loan accounts for the astonishing rise in the shortfall, prompting calls for restructuring of the banks, said an executive of Bangladesh Bank.

As per the refinancing plan of the finance ministry, Sonali Bank has been provided with Tk1,998 crore, Agrani Bank Tk1,200 crore, Janata Bank Tk600 crore and Rupali Bank Tk300 crore. l

Phani Bhoushon Choudhury in the chair.

Around 40 crore bags and sacks would be required annually for packaging six essential products such as paddy, rice, wheat, maize, fertilizer and sugar, said the BJMC chairman.

We have decided to implement the Mandatory Jute Packaging Act 2010 from today (Wednesday) and programmes would also be taken for creating mass awareness BJMC would be able to provide fifty percent of the total requirement while the private jute mills would provide the rest of the demand, he added.

Md. Kefayetullah, a director of Jute Department, said: “We have already taken all the motivational programme to implement the act.”

At present synthetic bags are being indiscriminately used for packaging purpose, which is deteriorating our environment,’’ Bangladesh Jute Mills

Association secretary Barik Khan said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs has included the act in the schedule of its mobile courts.

According to the act, if essential products are not packaged with jute sacks, people involved in such act would be punished and even sentenced to jail.

The Mandatory Jute Packaging Act was enacted in October 2010 and the rules under the law were framed in June 2013 to facilitate the implementation of the law with a view to boosting domestic use of jute bags instead of synthetic.

As the implementation of the act has already started, an additional 15 lakh bales of jute would be needed for the jute mills to manufacture the required amount of bags and sacks, Md. Kamal Uddin, director general of Bangladesh Jute Research Institute, also a member of the advisory committee told The Dhaka Tribune.

The ministry concerned had initially put emphasis on creating mass awareness about the jute packaging for six products through advertisements in print and electronic media, he also said. l

Banks open on Friday, Saturday n Tribune Report

Banks cash and clearing activities will remain open on the weekly holidays of Friday and Saturday to facilitate transactions ahead of the general election.

The bank branches located in 59 districts across the country will remain open on the days, except five districts – Joypurhat, Rajbari, Madaripur, Shariatpur and Chandpur, said a circular Bangladesh Bank issued yesterday.

The branches in the 59 districts will, however, remain closed on the day of election (Sunday) to facilitate bankers franchise their votes.

The bank branches located in the five districts have been asked to remain open on Sunday to facilitate transactions and take necessary steps for keeping adequate fund. But clearing activities of the banks in the districts will remain close on the day. l

STOCKS DSEX DS30

0.46%

4286.15

0.83%

1478.38

▲ ▲

CSEX

0.54%

8422.92

▲

EXCHANGE RATES Average selling rates to public in BDT Banks Rupali Bank Sonali Bank Currencies SELL BUY SELL BUY USD 78.4 77.4 78.4 77.4 EURO

109.075

INR

1.335

SAR

21.005

105.863 108.323 1.179 1.28 20.537 21.010

105.847 1.18 20.534

B2

n Kayes Sohel

Turnover (Million Taka)

Stocks began the New Year with a modest gain yesterday, as most investors stayed away from the market taking cue from grim economic outlook hit by political unrest.

The benchmark index, DSEX, closed at 4,266 with a rise of 19 points or 0.5% to 4,286, extending the gaining streak for the second consecutive session.

The DS30 Index comprising blue chips also gained marginally 12 points or 0.8% to 1,478.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange Selective Category Index, CSCX, rose 45 points to 8,422.

Turnover improved a bit but it was still low considering market depth as it stood at Tk400 crore, an increase of almost 8% over the previous session. More than one-fifth of the total turnover came from the textile sector.

Many retailers preferred staying on the sidelines, while some institutional investors took position in the beginning of the New Year, analysts say.

Stocks of several low cap companies, including Rahima Food and CVO Petrochemical, hit upper limit circuit breaker, despite production of these companies remain suspended.

Like other days, investors’ presence at the trading floor was thin due to continued blockade that made everything to grind to a halt.

All the major sectors ended in green except banks which edged lower. The banks – the market bellwether that makes up more than 30% of the total market cap – remained under pressure because of

DSE LOSERS

R. N. Spinning-Z Midas Financing-Z Argon Denims Limited-A Sinobangla Indu.-A Bay Leasing.-A Usmania Glass -Z Reliance Insur -A Standard Ceramic -A Miracle Industries -B Bank Asia -A

Closing (% change) -9.76 -9.02 -8.32 -6.29 -6.12 -6.07 -5.14 -5.00 -4.59 -4.35

CSE LOSERS Company Usmania Glass -Z R. N. Spinning-Z Argon Denims Limited-A Pioneer Insur -A Bay Leasing.-A Sinobangla Indu.-A Apex Foods -A Daffodil Computers -Z Samorita Hospital -A Appollo Ispat CL -N

Closing (% change) -9.93 -9.76 -7.20 -6.81 -6.81 -5.38 -4.91 -4.29 -3.30 -3.27

(+) 0.46%

1478.38058

(+) 0.83%

13262.74620

(+) 0.45%

10919.83590

(+) 0.74%

8422.92310

(+) 0.54%

Average (% change) -9.16 -9.01 -6.56 -2.66 -2.75 -7.40 -5.12 -5.00 -2.10 -0.87 Average (% change) -10.73 -9.23 -6.36 -6.81 -1.96 -2.88 -4.90 -5.51 -3.30 -1.55

ANALYST

Closing average 33.61 35.33 88.99 30.73 41.00 131.82 75.60 38.00 19.16 22.71

Closing average 124.34 33.64 87.50 64.30 40.97 30.70 93.00 13.20 90.90 36.10

Closing 33.30 35.30 87.00 29.80 39.90 133.00 75.60 38.00 18.70 22.00

Closing 124.30 33.30 86.40 64.30 39.70 29.90 93.00 13.40 90.90 35.50

Bank NBFI Investment Engineering Food & Allied Fuel & Power Jute Textile Pharma & Chemical Paper & Packaging Service Leather Ceramic Cement Information Technology General Insurance Life Insurance Telecom Travel & Leisure Miscellaneous Debenture

DSE Million Taka 360.11 733.14 70.51 637.37 158.90 389.82 2.26 906.54 210.07 0.80 16.08 31.69 16.44 88.48 35.16 73.77 173.77 88.36 57.19 69.12 0.21

195

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

89

% change 8.74 17.80 1.71 15.47 3.86 9.46 0.05 22.00 5.10 0.02 0.39 0.77 0.40 2.15 0.85 1.79 4.22 2.14 1.39 1.68 0.01

Million Taka 36.12 77.90 4.55 95.83 15.58 29.40 86.46 21.32 0.15 1.37 3.81 4.18 8.25 6.95 2.46 8.89 8.06 10.01 13.19 0.02

5.23

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

7

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,066.68

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

25.05

Company Rahima Food -Z Northern G Insur-A Padma Oil Co. -A ApexAdelchi Ftr -A Aramit -A IDLC Finance -A ACI ZERO Bond-A Meghna Petroleum -A Imam Button -Z Sandhani Life -A

Closing (% change) 9.86 9.84 8.72 8.58 8.50 7.61 7.50 6.55 6.25 5.20

5.43

Average (% change) 9.91 19.95 6.77 8.56 7.40 6.15 7.50 4.96 7.69 5.29

Closing average

Closing

74.46 270.63 67.10 22.84 659.78 220.46 349.61 18.18 431.66 17.26

74.50 274.20 68.10 22.80 660.20 224.10 351.10 18.30 435.70 17.20

104.64

Closing average

104.60

Closing

70.20 41.30 269.99 434.25 356.14 67.18 881.50 220.58 8.54 74.90

70.20 41.30 274.20 434.30 359.80 67.90 881.50 224.40 8.50 74.90

Daily high 74.50 274.30 69.10 23.20 660.50 226.00 356.00 18.70 440.00 17.70

106.00

Daily high 70.20 41.30 274.20 435.00 359.80 69.30 881.50 226.00 8.80 74.90

Daily low 72.00 253.50 58.00 22.40 650.00 200.00 334.00 17.50 422.00 16.00

99.40

Daily low 70.20 41.30 253.10 434.00 344.00 64.20 881.50 214.00 7.90 74.90

Yearly high 1.995 80.238 74.258 0.217 2.428 98.910 7.237 8.155 23.396 4.188

11.764

Yearly high 0.070 0.062 6.453 0.347 0.321 9.495 0.002 2.026 0.030 0.037

Capital Market Highlights

Yearly low

Turnover in million

13.0 45.2 13.2 225.8 10.7 87.0 25.0 12.4 220.0 22.5

Yearly low

3.023 0.008 4.598 141.428 0.497 1.887 38.822 5.072 90.785 4.765

Turnover in million

87.2 13.5 7.0 24.2 228.3 23.0 225.0 65.1 13.2 26.0

0.077 2.052 0.048 0.037 13.592 0.092 0.869 0.128 0.091 8.232

WED 01-Jan

SUN 29-Dec

CSE key features December 30, 2013 Turnover (Million Taka)

434.18

Turnover (Volume)

12,460,279

Number of Contract

18,175

Traded Issues

217

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

139

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

69

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

8

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

1,984.26

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

24.05

Yearly high

Daily low 33.30 35.00 85.50 29.60 38.30 127.50 75.60 38.00 18.60 20.70

34.60 36.00 96.00 32.10 42.90 137.00 75.60 38.10 20.10 24.00

Yearly high

Daily low

126.00 34.60 91.50 64.50 43.00 32.40 93.00 13.50 90.90 37.10

CSE

The Ibn SinaA

CSE GAINERS

124.20 33.30 85.40 64.10 39.00 29.60 93.00 12.60 90.90 35.30

Yearly low 33.30 35.00 85.50 29.60 38.30 127.50 75.60 38.00 18.60 20.70

Yearly low

0.093 26.961 0.786 0.064 6.149 2.840 0.005 0.271 0.045 48.194

9.0 23.0 38.1 7.1 35.0 21.0 4.7 28.8 36.0 20.8

Turnover in million 164.561 0.212 66.114 10.816 47.815 6.090 0.076 0.057 4.608 5.737

Turnover in million 0.054 0.033 0.046 0.014 0.565 0.211 0.032 1.065 0.073 0.037

2014 started with focusing on what would go wrong. Investors are worried about political debacle, economic outlook and upcoming challenges if political unrest keeps going like we just have gone through in previous year

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY Sector

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

THU 26-Dec

34.60 36.00 96.00 32.10 42.90 137.00 75.60 38.10 20.10 24.00

Daily high

291

9.88 8.68 8.27 8.06 7.44 6.21 6.10 5.78 5.73 5.52

Average (% change) 10.47 7.22 6.02 7.99 8.39 4.89 6.60 3.65 4.28 5.63

MON 30-Dec

▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲

Daily high

Traded Issues

Closing (% change)

TUE 24-Dec

“2014 started with focusing on what would go wrong. Investors are worried about political debacle, economic outlook and upcoming challenges if political unrest keeps going like we just have gone through in previous year,” said Lanka Bangla Securities in its market analysis.

In this environment, stock market gave 5.19% return in 2013. Focusing on a batch of economic data like low inflation, slide in interest rates and record high foreign currency reserve achieved in the last year, investors have entered into a new year trading in stock market with a hope for strong base for investment, it said.

“However, challenges can be met avoiding risk only if the ongoing unrest over the election ends.” l

4286.15366

104,826

Rahima Food -Z Padma Oil Co. -A IDLC Finance -A Samata LeatheR -Z CVO PetroChem RL-Z Meghna Petroleum -A Aramit -A B I F C -A ApexAdelchi Ftr -A MutualTrust Bank-A

MON 23-Dec

Daily capital market highlights DSE Broad Index : DSE - 20 Index : CSE All Share Index: CSE - 30 Index : CSE Selected Index :

100,101,844

Number of Contract

Among the well performing sectors, power and financial institutions gained highest 1.8% and 1% respectively

Company

4,119.74

Turnover (Volume)

their profit dropping due to the political unrest.

Banks profit dropped in 2013 because of rising non-performing loans as news reports published yesterday.

Among the well performing sectors, power and financial institutions gained highest 1.8% and 1% respectively.

Gainers outpaced losers as out of 291 issues traded, 165 advanced, 97 declined and 29 remained unchanged.

Lanka Bangla Finance was the most traded stock, followed by Golden Son, Generation Next Fashion, RN Spinning, Appollo Ispat, Familytex and Delta Life Insurance.

Thursday, January 2, 2014

DSE GAINERS

DSE key features December 30, 2013

Stocks begin New Year with modest rally

Company

Stock

DHAKA TRIBUNE

% change 8.31 17.93 1.05 22.06 3.59 6.77 0.00 19.90 4.91 0.03 0.32 0.88 0.96 1.90 1.60 0.57 2.05 1.86 2.30 3.04 0.00

Million Taka 396.23 811.04 75.06 733.20 174.48 419.22 2.26 993.00 231.38 0.94 17.45 35.51 20.62 96.73 42.11 76.23 182.65 96.43 67.20 82.31 0.22

Total

% change 8.70 17.81 1.65 16.10 3.83 9.20 0.05 21.80 5.08 0.02 0.38 0.78 0.45 2.12 0.92 1.67 4.01 2.12 1.48 1.81 0.00

Prepared exclusively for Dhaka Tribune by Business Information Automation Service Line (BIASL), on the basis of information collected from daily stock quotations and audited reports of the listed companies. High level of caution has been taken to collect and present the above information and data. The publisher will not take any responsibility if any body uses this information and data for his/her investment decision. For any query please email to biasl@bol-online.com or call 01552153562 or go to www.biasl.net

News from trade server ICB M. FUNDS: Investment Corporation of Bangladesh (ICB) has informed that BSEC has extended the term of 8 Mutual Funds of ICB (i.e. 1st to 8th ICB Mutual Fund) up to December 31, 2014.

BEDL: Credit Rating Agency of Bangladesh Limited (CRAB) has announced the entity rating (surveillance) of the Company as "AA2" based on audited financial statements up to June 30, 2013; bank liability position as on December 30, 2013 and other relevant quantitative as well as qualitative information up to the date of rating declaration.

NPOLYMAR: Credit Rating Information and Services Limited (CRISL) has rated the Company as "A+" in the long term and "ST-3" in the short term in consideration of financials of the Company up to 30th June 2013 (audited) and other relevant quantitative as well as qualitative information up to the date of rating declaration.

GEMINISEA: The Company will be placed in "Z" category from existing "A" category with effect from January 01, 2014 as the Company did not approve any dividend for the year ended on September 30, 2013.

RNSPIN: The Company will be placed in "Z" category from existing "A" category

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company LankaBangla Fin. -A Golden Son -A Generation Next Fashions-A R. N. Spinning-Z Appollo Ispat CL -N Familytex (BD) Ltd.-N Delta Life Insu. -A Tallu Spinning -A Meghna Petroleum -A Mercantile Bank -A

Padma Oil Co. -A IDLC Finance -A Argon Denims Limited-A UCBL - A Bengal Windsor-N BD Building Systems -A First Lease- A Paramount Textile Ltd.-N Summit Purbanchol Power-N BATBCL -A

CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Appollo Ispat CL -N R. N. Spinning-Z Golden Son -A Paramount Textile Ltd.-N LankaBangla Fin. -A Generation Next Fashions-A Tallu Spinning -A People`s Leasing-A IDLC Finance -A Beach Hatchery -A

UNITED AIR-A Bengal Windsor-N First Lease- A Delta Life Insu. -A UCBL - A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A Padma Oil Co. -A Bay Leasing.-A

Summit Purbanchol Power-N

Barakatullah E. D.-A

Volume shares 3,242,348 3,450,035 4,535,020 4,895,983 4,502,200 2,287,500 449,150 2,554,308 448,661 4,885,845

296,488 1,106,622 742,900 2,560,129 996,200 901,650 1,818,706 1,118,000 898,940 30,800

Volume shares 1,335,200 801,350 349,596 282,750 197,150 349,060 277,875 384,328 141,327 299,000

544,933 130,800 247,000 29,000 295,875 205,512 23,900 150,100 93,680 165,506

with effect from January 01, 2014 as the Company failed to hold AGM in the year 2013.

USMANIAGL: The Company will be placed in "Z" category from existing "A" category with effect from January 01, 2014 as the Company failed to hold AGM in the year 2013.

DAFODILCOM: The Company will be placed in "Z" category from existing "A" category with effect from January 01, 2014 as the Company did not approve any dividend for the year ended on June 30, 2013.

RIGHT SHARE: ARAMITCEM: Subscription 23.03.2014 to 17.04.2014. Record date for entitlement of rights share: 09.01.2014. RUPALILIFE- Subscription 06.04.2014 to 05.05.2014. Record date for entitlement of rights share: 16.01.2014.

IPO Subscription: Emerald Oil Industries Limited subscription date 06-12 January 2014, NRB upto 21 Januray 2014. At per, face value taka 10 and market lot 500.

Matin Spinning Mills Limited subscription date 26-30 January 2014, NRB upto 08 Feburay 2014. @ Tk. 37/-, face value taka 10 and market lot 200.

80.24 74.26 66.11 65.13 64.72 63.14 61.78 60.45 56.97 52.28

Value in million 48.19 26.96 22.88 15.31 13.72 13.28 10.98 10.00 9.49 9.20

8.98 8.51 8.39 7.87 7.52 6.70 6.45 6.15 5.95 5.82

% of total turnover 5.48 5.46 4.16 3.99 3.94 3.25 2.97 2.45 2.40 2.04

1.95 1.80 1.60 1.58 1.57 1.53 1.50 1.47 1.38 1.27

% of total turnover 11.10 6.21 5.27 3.53 3.16 3.06 2.53 2.30 2.19 2.12

2.07 1.96 1.93 1.81 1.73 1.54 1.49 1.42 1.37 1.34

USMANIAGL: 11% Cash & 10% Stock, AGM: postponed, RD: 07.11.2013.

DESCO: 10% Cash & 15% Stock, AGM: 04.01.2014, RD: 05.11.2013.

ANWARGALV: 7% Case for general shareholders, AGM: 13.01.2014, RD: 11.11.2013.

MPETROLEUM: 70% Cash & 20% Stock, AGM: 17.01.2014, RD: 28.11.2013.

POWERGRID: 15% Cash, AGM: 18.01.2014, Time: 10:00 AM. RD: 01.12.2013.

EASTRNLUB: 30% Cash, AGM: 25.01.2014, RD: 04.12.2013.

JAMUNAOIL: 90% Cash & 10% Stock, AGM: 25.01.2014, RD: 04.12.2013.

SAVAREFR: No dividend, AGM: 30.01.2014, RD: 19.12.2013.

PADMAOIL: 90% Cash, 10% Stock, AGM: 15.02.2014, RD: 23.12.2013.

SAMORITA: 30% Stock, AGM: 11.01.2014, RD: 25.11.2013.

Dividend/AGM

Value in million 225.81 224.95 171.57 164.56 162.51 133.81 122.33 101.05 98.91 84.02

ECABLES: 10% cash, AGM: 01.03.2014, RD: 29.12.2013.

Daily closing 69.30 63.80 38.00 33.30 35.40 57.60 268.20 39.20 224.10 17.20

274.20 68.10 87.00 25.30 63.80 69.30 33.70 54.20 63.40 1595.20

Daily closing 35.50 33.30 63.80 54.20 69.50 38.10 39.30 25.90 67.90 30.10

16.40 63.90 33.80 265.20 25.30 32.40 274.20 39.70 63.50 35.20

Price change 4.21 -2.74 2.98 -9.76 -3.28 -0.86 0.56 2.89 6.21 2.99

Daily opening 66.50 65.60 36.90 36.90 36.60 58.10 266.70 38.10 211.00 16.70

Daily high 71.00 68.00 38.70 34.60 37.10 59.80 275.90 41.00 226.00 17.50

Price change -3.27 -9.76 -3.04 4.63 4.35 2.42 2.88 1.57 7.61 -3.22

Daily opening 36.70 36.90 65.80 51.80 66.60 37.20 38.20 25.50 63.10 31.10

Daily high 37.10 34.60 67.20 55.80 70.80 38.70 40.60 26.50 69.30 32.00

8.68 8.27 -8.32 0.80 1.43 2.51 1.51 4.84 2.92 -0.49

0.00 1.59 1.50 -0.71 0.40 0.93 8.72 -6.81 2.58 4.45

252.30 274.30 62.90 69.10 94.90 96.00 25.10 26.00 62.90 65.90 67.60 71.80 33.20 34.70 51.70 55.60 61.60 63.80 1603.10 1700.00

16.40 62.90 33.30 267.10 25.20 32.10 252.20 42.60 61.90 33.70

16.70 66.20 34.90 276.00 25.80 33.20 274.20 43.00 64.00 35.80

Daily low 60.00 60.00 34.00 33.30 35.30 57.00 267.50 36.50 200.00 15.20

Daily average 69.64 65.20 37.83 33.61 36.10 58.50 272.36 39.56 220.46 17.20

Daily low 35.30 33.30 63.30 51.80 67.00 33.50 38.30 25.50 64.20 29.50

Daily average 36.10 33.64 65.46 54.15 69.61 38.06 39.52 26.02 67.18 30.78

253.50 58.00 85.50 23.10 63.20 61.00 30.00 51.80 57.00 1592.30

16.30 63.20 33.30 263.60 25.00 31.00 253.10 39.00 62.10 34.40

270.63 67.10 88.99 25.44 64.97 70.03 33.97 54.07 63.38 1697.27

16.48 65.09 33.97 271.53 25.43 32.59 269.99 40.97 63.49 35.19

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Foreign portfolio investment jumps 145% in 2013 n Tribune Report Foreign investment on equities at the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) rose sharply in 2013, as foreign fund managers put funds on stocks availing lower prices last year.

'Foreign fund investment increased in the early part of the year, but in the recent months they remained watchful over the market because of political unrest' Net portfolio investment by foreign investors in the last year stood at Tk1,900 crore, a jump of 145% over the previous year’s Tk792 crore, according to the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE).

In 2013, foreign investors bought shares worth Tk2,652 crore, which was Tk1,348 crore in 2012 and sold stocks worth Tk700 crore against Tk550 during the period, according to DSE. Foreign investment in the Bangladesh stock market is the lowest among south Asian countries, as it accounts for around 2% of the total investment at the DSE. Banks were the foreign investors’ preferred sector, but non-bank financial institutions, power and energy, pharmaceuticals, multinationals, telecoms and IT also caught their attention in the last year.

“Foreign fund investment increased in the early part of the year, but in the recent months they remained watchful over the market because of political unrest,” said an analyst at a brokerage firm.

The figures for net portfolio investment may rise further in the coming days because of lower prices. But everything depends on political situation, he said. l

Business

RN Spinning worst loser as it turns junk stock

LankaBangla Finance DSE market leader

n Tribune Business Desk

LankaBangla Finance Limited was the most traded stocks at the Dhaka Stock Exchange yesterday.

Its shares valued at Tk22.5 crore were changed hands in the first trading session of the New Year. The value represents 5.5% of the total volume traded at DSE. The non-banking financial institution stock prices closed at Tk68.4 each, registering a rise of 2.86%.

According to the latest unaudited report (July to September 2013), the company made a net profit after tax of Tk23.6 crore, an increase of 77% from Tk13.3 crore in the same period a year ago.

In first nine months of 2013, its net profit was Tk42.9 crore against Tk37.9 crore in the corresponding period of 2012.

Despite a significant increase in

RN Spinning Mills Limited was the worst loser at the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) yesterday, following its degradation to Z-category from A-category.

Its share prices dropped 9.8% to Tk33.3 each, before rising as high as Tk34.6. The company’s face value is Tk10 each.

The company was placed in “Z” category from “A” category because the management has failed to hold its annual general meeting (AGM) in the year 2013, according to the DSE. With this, it failed to give any dividend over the last two years as no AGM was held during the period because of legal tangle related to its rights shares issuance.

The company was placed in “Z” category from “A” category because the management has failed to hold its AGM in the year 2013 Its shares worth more than Tk16 crore was changed hands, making up almost 4% of the total DSE turnover.

According to its third quarterly unaudited statement, the textile company’s profit stood at Tk40.8 crore, a sharp increase of 174% from profit it made in the same period a year earlier.

In the first nine months of last year, its net profit was Tk111.3 crore, which is more than 25% from Tk88.7 crore in the corresponding period a year ago, said the company.

Company’s performance over the last couple of years has been improv-

ing consistently as its retain earning doubled from Tk125 crore in January 2012 to Tk263 crore in September 2013.

The textile company’s stocks attracted investors recently because of the company’s satisfactory performance, said a stock dealer. The company’s a net asset value is Tk14.05 as of 2011.

The company plans to expand its business by investing approximately Tk95 crore, which will allow the company to produce the necessary raw materials, said a company official.

Currently it imports the raw materials from Germany.

Earlier, Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) fined the company and its directors for breaking securities rules in issuing rights shares.l

n Tribune Business Desk

Rupee falls on first trading day of 2014 n Reuters The rupee ended lower yesterday, the first trading session of 2014, with traders focused on key macroeconomic data ahead of the Reserve Bank of India’s rate meeting later this month.

Volumes were thin as most global markets were shut for new year holidays. Emerging from a year which saw the rupee plumbing to a series of lows, traders are awaiting allocations from for-

eign investors into local markets, which form a key support for the currency.

Foreign investors have been buyers of over $20bn in stocks in 2013 as local benchmark indexes hit record highs. The debt markets saw outflows of $8bn, primarily since mid-May, but have turned positive in December.

Both wholesale and retail inflation data due by mid-January will be closely watched ahead of the central bank’s monetary policy review on January 28.

Any rate hike to tamp down infla-

tion will have a negative impact on stocks and will hurt inflows.

“The rupee is likely to consolidate at the current levels keeping an eye on the data in US and political developments in India,” said Vikas Babu Chittiprolu, a senior currency dealer at Andhra Bank.

“Fresh fund allocations by the FIIs and continued importers demand will keep it range bound,” he said.

The partially convertible rupee closed at 61.90/91 per dollar compared

with 61.80/81 on Tuesday, in a range bound trading session. It ended 2013 down 11%, a third successive annual loss.

Analysts say elections will be another key theme in 2014, with a stable government likely to usher in the prospect of more reforms and support the rupee.

In the offshore non-deliverable forwards, the one-month contract was at 62.21, while the three-month was at 63.07. l

Padma Oil largest gainer at DSE

provision, the company came out with higher profit due to Tk20.2 crore income gained from its investing activity in the third quarter in 2013.

Income from investment was only Tk3.5 crore in the third quarter of 2012.

“We have performed very well during the last year in comparison to 2012,” said an official at Lankabangla Finance Limited.

Earlier, the company received positive credit rating from Credit Rating Agency of Bangladesh Limited (CRAB).

The company obtained ratings of “A2” in the long term and “ST-3” in the short term based on audited financial statements as on December 31, 2012.

The stock price of the company is the highest since December that has a net asset value of Tk31.07, earnings per share of Tk2.06 and a price to earnings ratio of 25.23. l

ABB gets new chairman n Tribune Report Eastern Bank Managing Director Ali Reza Iftekhar has been elected chairman of the Association of Bankers Bangladesh (ABB) for next two years.

He replaces previous chairman and NCC Bank Managing Director Nurul Amin.

Iftekhar has 26 years of career in the banking sector and working at EBL since 2007. He is also the member of Core Risk Management Group of Bangladesh Bank.

The bankers club was formed with 7 members in 1997 which later converted into an association. Presently, ABB has 150 members. l

China manufacturing index slips in December

n Tribune Business Desk Padma Oil Company emerged as the largest gainer at the Dhaka Stock Exchange yesterday.

Its stock prices rose 8.8% to Tk274, before falling its lowest at Tk67 and rising highest at Tk71. Its shares valued at Tk80 crore was changed hands.

Earlier, the state-owned oil distribution company declared 90% cash dividend and 10% stock dividend on its face value of Tk10 for the year ended on September 30 last year.

The dividends are, however, subject to approval at the company’s annual general meeting scheduled for February 15, 2014.

According to the company’s unaudited third quarter report ended on September 30, 2013, it posted profit of Tk66.9 crore against Tk43.2 crore in the same period last year.

Its current earnings per share is Tk6.82 along with a price to earnings ratio of 10.05. l

n AFP, Beijing

China’s manufacturing growth slowed in December for the first time in six months, official figures showed yesterday, suggesting the world’s second-largest economy faced headwinds at the end of last year.

The purchasing managers’ index (PMI) was at 51, down from November’s 51.4, the National Bureau of Statistics said on its website. A reading above 50 signals expansion while a figure below indicates contraction.

It marked the 15th straight month of growth but it is the first time the figure has dipped from the previous month since June.

The result came in below the median 51.2 forecast of eight economists by The Wall Street Journal as reported by Dow Jones Newswires. l

Eastern University distributes warm clothes to poor

Pubali Bank Ltd signs agreement with Bangladesh Bank

Gemini Sea Food holds AGM Gemini Sea Food Ltd held its 31st Annual General Meeting at Jabusha, Rupsha, Khulna in the Chair of Chairperson Ameenah Ahmed recently. The directors and shareholders of the company was present in the said meeting.

The meeting iterated the brief data of financial statements together with the directors report for the year 2012- 2013 have been disclosed in the meeting.

The meeting also iterated export turn-

B3

Thursday, January 2, 2014

over of Tk7.67 million for this current year. Gross profit earned during this year Tk59.8 million. Net Loss (before tax) and Net Loss (after tax) incurred Tk1.9 million and 16.9 million respectively during this year. Reports of the directors, audited financial statements of the company and others etc have unanimously been accepted and approved after discussion in presence of the shareholders. l

Pubali Bank Ltd (PBL) signed an agreement with Bangladesh Bank (BB) under JICA Assisted Financial Sector Project for the Development of Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SME) at Bangladesh Bank conference room recently. In the presence of BB Executive Director A H M Kai-Khasru, 7 banks and non-bank financial institutions, including PBL took part in the signing ceremony on behalf of their own organisations.

BB Department of SME and Special programs General Manager and Project Director Sukomol Singh Chowdhury and PBL Managing Director and CEO Helal Ahmed Chowdhury signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations at a simple ceremony.

Under this project, the Government of Japan will provide a total amount of 5bn yen for the Development of the SME sector, BB and participating banks and financial institutions.

PBL Credit Division General Manager Habibur Rahman and other senior officials of both organisations were also present at the signing ceremony. l

NRB Global Bank opens new branch NRB Global Bank Limited (NRBGBL) inaugurated its Panchgachia Bazar Branch at Feni recently.

Feni District Commissioner Md Humayun Kabir Khandakar inaugurated the operations of the branch as chief guest. Among others

Feni Pouroshova Mayor Nizamuddin Hazari, Feni Zilla Parishod Chairman Aziz Ahmed Chowdhury, Feni Sadar Upozila Chairman Abdur Rahman, branch managers, honourable and distinguish clients were also present on the occasion.l

Godrej to disburse factory expenses through bKash Jamuna Bank Foundation (JBF) organised an Art Competition at Bangladesh Shishu Academy, Dhaka on the occasion of Victory day 2013. Jamuna Bank Limited (JBL) Chairman Kanutosh Majumder was present as the chief guest. JBF Chairman Al-Haj Nur Mohammed presided over the ceremony and JBL Managing Director Shafiqul Alam was present as the guest of honour

Godrej Household Products (Bangladesh) Pvt Ltd (GHPL, Bangladesh) and bKash Limited recently signed an agreement under which Godrej will disburse their factory expenses through bKash. Anurag Pandey, Country Manager of GHPL, Bangladesh and Rezaul Hossain, Chief Commercial Officer of bKash Limited signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations. l

Eastern University Social Welfare Club (EUSOWCL) distributed warm clothes at Kamalapur Railway Station on December 27, 2013 after inaugurating its winter clothes collection campaign earlier on December 5, 2013 in the campus ground.

The club distributed warm clothes among more than 1,500 cold-afflicted people. The Club purchased clothes and blankets with money collected from students, teachers, EU officials and administration.

Dr Abdur Rab, Vice Chancellor and Oli Ahad Thakur, Chief Coordinator supported students to collect money. l

BASIC Bank makes a profit of Tk178cr Recovery drive compelled by the Basic Bank to reduce the rate of classification to 12.42%. Comparing to the last year’s total deposit growth during the year 2013 was 52.50% while loan grew by 21%. Though Bangladesh Bank intervened loan growth of the bank, BASIC succeeded in securing operation profit of Tk178 crore. Introducing various deposit schemes, the bank was able to maintain regulatory liquidity requirements. The bank paid around Tk9 crore among more than thousand root level peasants.

CSR activities of the bank focuses mainly on poverty alleviation, empowerment of women, sports and cultural activities, educational and technological development etc. l

Business

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Thursday, January 2, 2014

EPB: Flower export exceeds target

World’s biggest fish market set for new home

n Tribune Business Desk

Singapore’s 2013 economic growth higher than forecast n AFP, Singapore Singapore’e trade-sensitive economy exceeded forecasts to expand 3.7% in 2013, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Tuesday, as it benefited from a stabilising global economic environment.

In his New Year message emailed to the media, Lee said the growth rate was “better than initially expected”. It topped a previous forecast by him in August of 2.5-3.5% growth amid global uncertainties.

“The European and American economies are stabilising,” Lee said. “Asian prospects are still positive, but there are problems and tensions,” he added, referring to the various territorial disputes in the region as well as tensions in the Korean peninsula.

He said the city-state’s economy, seen as a bellwether for the region, is expected to achieve 2-4% growth in 2014.

Its gross domestic product (GDP) stood at Sg$345.6bn ($273.25bn) in 2012, according to latest official data.

Singapore’s exports, like those of other Asian countries, had been hurt by slowing demand from the United States and Europe this year, although the situation in those markets has now improved.

In his message, Lee said the government was continuing to tighten the influx of foreign labour, amid discontent among Singaporeans over the large foreign presence in the tiny city-state of 5.4 million people.

“We are taking a balanced approach, reducing but not cutting off the inflow of foreign workers,” Lee said. He said foreign workers were still necessary to “keep our economy running and to build critical infrastructure for Singaporeans”.

Authorities have been phasing in various measures to tighten foreign worker inflows, including a new policy announced in September requiring companies to show proof they first tried to recruit local citizens before hiring foreign professional workers.

The city-state however continues to depend heavily on about 700,000 guest workers who are employed in construction and other sectors shunned by Singaporeans. More than 200,000 others work as domestics.

The discontent over foreigners who are accused by Singaporeans of competing with them for jobs, housing, schools and space on public transport - spilled into general elections in 2011, when Lee’s long-ruling People’s Action Party garnered its lowest-ever vote count after more than 50 years in power. l

n AFP, Tokyo

Demand for flowers growing both at domestic and international market BFA official.

He urged the respective authorities to look into such matters for the betterment of the industry.

Tube rose, rose, orchid and marry gold are among the major flowers that make up Bangladesh’s floral basket for exports.

Most of the tube rose and rose sup-

As most of Tokyo sleeps, men in rubber boots haggle over tuna in the cavernous halls of Tsukiji market.

The clang of a bell around 5:30 am kicks off the action at the world’s biggest fish emporium. Traders flash hand signs and bellow out prices as they buy and sell what will soon end up on plates in the Japanese capital and beyond.

Fins are lopped off to expose the red flesh among rows and rows of the hulking tuna carcasses, which are still moved around the market by wooden cart.

In all, about $18m worth of fish, seafood and vegetables - over 2,900 tons - change hands each day at the market.

“Do you see how we use hand signs?” asks one bidder, seconds after another man violently rings the bell and starts yelling out bids.

“This is exactly how people used to trade stocks in the old days.”

Major stock markets have shifted to computer trading while Tokyo mushroomed into one of the world’s biggest cities over the decades, but little has changed in the way business is done at Tsukiji since its opening in 1935.

Now, almost 80 years later, the city plans to move the market to a new location and give the popular tourist draw what advocates say is a badly-need technological update.

But not everyone is happy about the move away from prime-real estate in the centre of the teeming metropolis.

Relocating the market and building to a modern facility about 40% larger with state-of-the-art refrigeration will cost upwards of $3.8bn.

And the move, now scheduled for 2016, has been marred by revelations of heavy soil contamination at the site, once formerly a gas plant about 2.3 kilometres away (1.4 miles).

That has saddled Tokyo with more than half a billion dollars in cleanup costs at the less-than-central location.

RAJIB DHAR

plies come from Jhikargachha of Jessore and Savar of Dhaka, marry gold from Chuadanga and orchid from Mymensingh and Manikganj.

Bangladesh exports flowers and floral products to India, Pakistan, Italy, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, the United States, South Korea, the Philippines, Singapore, Japan, Germany, Britain,

Denmark and France.

Kenya, Israel, Zimbabwe, Ecuador, Uganda appeared as major flower exporting countries as the cut flower trade is a multibillion dollar world industry with the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Italy, France, and Japan being major world consumers. l

Latvia adopts euro, becoming 18th eurozone member Latvia officially adopted the euro at the stroke of midnight local time, making the former Soviet state of two

million people the 18th member of the crisis-hit eurozone.

As a huge firework display roared

Latvia joins the euro club

150 km

The Baltic state becomes the 18th member of the eurozone on January 1 58% of Latvians are opposed to the euro (poll) c

Population (millions)

Liepaja

RIGA RUSSIA

LATVIA

1940-1941 Soviet, and later German, occupation 1945 Again occupied by the Soviet Union.

Repression and “Russification”

331.1

GERMANY

1991 The Soviet Union collapses.

2nd Independence.

1994 Joins NATO and the EU

FRANCE

11.1

EUROZONE

Record growth

Trend in GDP % Latvia

1.6

2011

Source: Eurostat, AFP

0.7 -0.7

a2012

2012

-0.4

2013*

Latvia

25,700

a2014

*Forecasts

6,800 Per capita income

1.1

0.5 a2013

Eurozone

Germany

4.1

4.0

3.3

a2011

Eurozone

2008-2009 Recession. Collapse in GDP of nearly 25% 2014 Joins the eurozone on January 1

GREECE

5.2

BELARUS

1920 Independence from the Russian empire

2.1

80.5

5.3%

Daugavpils LITHUANIA

A history closely tied to Russia

Eurozone

65.6

ESTONIA

tes sta

Created in 1999

European Union

pendence from the Soviet Union - to switch to the troubled European single currency. l

in Riga, the people of the Baltic state bade a reluctant farewell to their cherished lat - seen as a symbol of inde-

Ba lti

Exports of cut flower and foliage have exceeded its target by 15.2% as the emerging industry’s high potentials widen the export basket, officials said yesterday.

According to EPB export data, the country exported cut flowers and foliage worth $16.58m during July-November 2013, an amount that is 15.2% more than that of the export target, reports BSS. “Export of flowers and floral products has seen an impressive growth at these months contributing to the GDP as the entrepreneurs are trying to tap a strong demand for the non- conventional product in global market,” said an Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) official.

Horticulture experts said the country has competitive advantage due to its favourable climatic, topography.

He added, other factors such as lower labour cost and relatively low capital investment are also helping the industry to increase exports.

“Around 10,000 hectares of land are under flower cultivation in our country,” said M Ahsanullah, president of Bangladesh Flower Growers and Exporters Association (BFA).

He mentioned that Jessore is the region that accounts for the maximum volume of flower cultivation.

Dhaka Flower Merchant Welfare Association (DFMWA) leaders said appropriate training for the people involved in flower production, cutting, packaging and preservation and marketing could boost the industry further.

In addition to training facilities such as cold storage, air-conditioned vehicles for flower transports and subsidy in air cargo freight charges also need to be provided.

“There is no slab system in Biman for flowers and ornamental plants though it is available for vegetables and flowers are often damaged before reaching destination as Biman often does not maintain its proper flight schedule,” said a

RUSSIA

B4

2014*

1.7

2.3%

2.6% Inflation

11.9%

‘Totally outdated’

Hiroyasu Ito, chairman of the Seafood Wholesalers’ Association, insists the move is crucial for Tsukiji to handle modern-day demands for freshness.

“Railroad freight cars used to roll into the market and unload fish and goods right here,” he says, pointing to a large picture in his office that gives a birds-eye view of Tsukiji’s layout.

“We don’t use the rail cars anymore.

Now refrigerated trucks drive around instead.”

Key to ensuring perishable goods stay fresh is a so-called cold chain which maintains produce at a consistent temperature until consumers buy it, something the market is ill-equipped to do, Ito says.

“Customers want fresher and fresher seafood so that they can eat it raw, which puts pressure on us. Delivery people have had to come up with high-tech cooling methods,” he says.

“We have managed to keep the fish cold in high-quality foam coolers. But we’re pushing the limit - Tsukiji is totally outdated.

“In the new facility, we plan to shut out air from the outside and keep the fish section at a steady temperature.”

But the move to a scrubbed-clean market farther away from downtown is not popular with some shoppers.

“The messy and crowded scenes at Tsukiji are what makes the place attractive,” said out-of-town visitor Tetsuya Kojima, who added that he was unlikely to visit the new site.

Some of the old guard are not about to leave quietly either.

Union member Makoto Nakazawa, a leader in the fight to stop Tsukiji’s move, lashes out at what he sees as profit trumping all else. l

NEWS IN BRIEF Wall St ends best year since 1990s with moderate gains Stocks closed out their best year in more than 15 on Tuesday, with major indexes advancing throughout 2013 on the back of the Federal Reserve’s massive stimulus and expectations for accelerating growth going forward. Wall Street ended 2013 with its positive momentum intact, advancing in its final trading day of the year on the back of positive consumer confidence data. - Reuters

Hewlett-Packard to cut 5,000 more jobs Hewlett-Packard Co said it would cut 5,000 more jobs, bringing the total number of layoffs to 34,000, or 11% of its workforce. The company said in a regulatory filing on Monday that it would record a charge of $4.1bn in 2014, up from its prior estimate of $3.6bn. - Reuters

China house prices show signs of stabilizing: surveys Chinese property prices rose again in December, according to two private surveys, but are showing signs of stabilizing following government measures aimed at cooling the housing market and averting the threat of a bubble. - Reuters

Analysis: Scarred US consumers a hard sell for traditional retail If there was one lesson from this year’s holiday shopping season, it is that many traditional retailers are having to work a lot harder to persuade Americans to open their pocketbooks. A lot of stores had to discount heavily to eke out a modest increase in sales, likely squeezing profit margins in the process. Some improvement in the US economy and declines in the jobless rate, plus gains in stock and home prices, are failing to resonate with many Americans whose incomes are struggling to catch up to where they were before the financial crisis. - Reuters

Chinese recycling tycoon says he wants to buy New York Times An eccentric Chinese recycling magnate said on Tuesday he was preparing to open negotiations to buy the New York Times Co. Chen Guangbiao, a well-known philanthropist, is something of a celebrity in China. During a particularly murky bout of pollution in January, the ebullient and tireless self-promoter handed out free cans of “fresh air. - Reuters

Rupee falls on first trading day of 2014

12.2% Unemployment

It is unclear what will happen to the current site beyond building a new road linking downtown with some 2020 Olympic Games venues.

The rupee ended lower yesterday, the first trading session of 2014, with traders focused on key macroeconomic data ahead of the Reserve Bank of India’s rate meeting later this month. - Reuters