January 09, 2014

Poush 26, 1420 Rabiul Awal 7, 1435 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 1 No 286

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289 MPs-elect to be sworn in today

Khaleda to lose state facilities after 23 years n Kamran Reza Chowdhury

For the first time in 23 years, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will not hold any parliamentary post – either as leader of the House or leader of the opposition – which she had enjoyed after the restoration of parliamentary democracy in 1991.

After the oath-taking of new MPs, she will not get any support from the Parliament Secretariat or the government as the opposition leader which is equivalent to the rank of a minister as per the relevant law.

In 1991, Khaleda was first elected MP from five constituencies in the fifth parliament and became leader of the House and prime minister. She became opposition leader in 1996 by winning the same number of seats.

The BNP chairperson became prime minister again in the eight parliament

Two cannot join for violating polls code papers may be cancelled, EC officials n Kamran Reza Chowdhury have said.

Two hundred and eighty-nine MPs elected in the 10th parliamentary polls are set to take oath today, amid the opposition’s allegation that the government has been violating the constitution by keeping two parliaments alive simultaneously.

Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury told the Dhaka Tribune that she would administer oath to the newly elected MPs at 10am as the Election Commission published the gazette yesterday.

According to the parliament practices, 228 MPs belonging to the Awami League will first take oath in the oath room of the Jatiya Sangsad. Oath taking by the other MPs will follow.

‘I do not know whether the government will dissolve parliament. According to the constitution, the speaker is not the authority to dissolve parliament’ Sheikh Hasina has vacated the Rangpur 6 seat to represent the seat in Gopalganj 3.

The gazette says the other MPs are: 33 from Jatiya Party (Ershad), six from Workers Party, five from Jatiya Samajtatrik Dal, 14 independent, and one each from the Jatiya Party (Manju), Tariqat Federation and Bangladesh Nationalist Front.

It has excluded the names of Sk Afil Uddin (Jessore 1) and Monirul Islam (Jessore 2) as the Election Commission has been investigating allegations of electoral code of conduct violation by the two Awami League candidates.

If proven, their nomination

INSIDE Business

B1 The inter-bank call money rate remained low throughout last year due to dull investment as banks were sitting with huge liquidity.

News

3 Main opposition BNP is planning to enhance the security of party Chairperson Khaleda Zia, as her security protocol as the leader of the opposition is likely to be withdrawn soon.

5 Commuting has become a nuisance for locals in the capital’s Uttara, as the dilapidated roads in the area have not seen any repair work in the past 10-12 years.

Nation

6 Tobacco farming is increasing alarmingly in Lalmonirhat district causing threat to paddy cultivation.

Juris

7 Is our Supreme Court independent from the government or is it still a branch of the government? The ordinary answer would be, yes, our Supreme Court is independent and no longer a part of the government.

Op-Ed

11 Bangladesh Economic Association recently organised dialogue on the political impasse that has crippled the country and is eating into the future of the Bangladesh economy.

The gazette did not contain the names of eight constituencies where the Election Commission has announced re-elections for violence that disrupted polls.

Meanwhile, the opposition parties have claimed that the article 123 (3) (b) of the constitution debars the MPs of a new parliament from “assuming office” without the expiration of the stipulated five years of the previous parliament.

According to the opposition allegations, the MPs cannot take oath before January 24 when the current ninth parliament will expire after five years.

The government had not dissolved the ninth parliament till filing of the report at 8pm yesterday.

“I do not know whether the government will dissolve parliament. According to the constitution, the speaker is not the authority to dissolve parliament,” Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury told the Dhaka Tribune on Wednesday at her office.

“I am under constitutional obligation to administer oath in three days after the publication of the gazette by the Election Commission,” she said.

The speaker said it was a question whether the words “assuming the office” and “taking oath” could be interpreted differently.

“Our position is there cannot be two parliaments simultaneously; this is violation of the constitution. They [government] must dissolve the ninth parliament right now,” Lt Gen (Retd) Mahbubur Rahman, a member of the BNP’s highest policy making standing committee, told the Dhaka Tribune.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

Truck driver Safad Ali, injured in a petrol bomb attack on Tuesday, undergoing treatment in Sirajganj Sadar Hospital

FOCUS BANGLA

Burnt teacher tells of polls-day horror n Ashif Islam Shaon

Chemistry teacher Saidul Islam, who has been teaching in a Gaibandha college for more than 15 years, could not imagine that anybody can burn him near his college on an open road in broad daylight, but it did happen in the afternoon of January 5.

Along with him there burnt a police constable and election materials, when anti-polls activists hurled petrol bombs at an election conducting team.

“Situation had been deteriorating day by day. So, my family members were requesting me to do something to avoid election duty. But the day before polls I was appointed as a presiding officer,” said Saidul, a lecturer of Gobindaganj Women’s Degree College.

His election conducting team, escorted by two policemen and eight ansars, headed to Puntair Government Primary School in the nearby Mahimaganj union around 4pm.

“We reached the school and found

six abandoned crude bombs after opening three rooms to make booths,” he said, lying on a bed of Dhaka Medical College Hospital’s burn unit yesterday.

Saidul and his team got frightened and informed the assistant returning officer and the OC of Gobindaganj police station.

P3 ATTACKS ON HINDUS BLASTED “They said there was no bomb disposal unit to deal with the bombs. We were asked to take the bombs outside and make the polling centre secure.”

“The OC also phoned Abul Kalam, one of the policemen with me, and ordered him to dispose the bombs. But Kalam did not want to risk his life,” he said.

Local UP chairman and Awami League leader Abdul Latif came forward to help them. He himself took the bombs and put them in a sand bucket.

“Latif also assured us of secure

polls. That night he sent some of his followers to guard us till the morning,” Saidul added.

The next day polling took place without incident.

“But we were tense about safely going back with the election materials to the upazila sadar. I sought help for a striking force to the OC. But he denied saying there was a shortage of men.”

“Frustrated, we contacted a nearby polling centre’s presiding officer and planned to return along with his team.

The UP chairman said he and his men would escort us,” he said.

The two polling teams, UP chairman and his men started around 5pm. They had three auto-rickshaws and a few motorbikes in the motorcade.

“We were almost near the sadar upazila in the evening. Suddenly, we saw a road block with tree logs and sensing danger, the UP chairman and his men fled with their motorbikes,” he said.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 5

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 5

Rawshan to lead opposition in parliament n Manik Miazee Jatiya Party senior Presidium member and its chief HM Ershad’s wife Rawshan Ershad will lead the opposition in parliament.

At a press conference at the parliament media centre, Rawshan Ershad yesterday said JaPa would join parliament as the opposition and the party chief would also take oath as an MP. Asked about party MPs taking cabinet positions, she said: “We will be playing a responsible role as an active opposition party. We have not discussed among the party MPs yet about being ministers.”

She said all of the new JaPa MPselect had supported her as the leader of the opposition in parliament.

In reply to a question, she said: “Ershad told me that he used to be a  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Khairul Haque refutes opposition allegation n Nazmus Sakib Former chief justice ABM Khairul Haque yesterday refuted opposition’s allegation that scrapping of the 13th amendment to the constitution, which annulled the caretaker government, leading to the recent violence.

Justice Haque, who pronounced the verdict annulling the provision, said the court had no other option for upholding the sovereignty of the country’s people and democracy. “Our constitution does not support any situation, even if it is for three months, when the people will not be in power.”

He made the remark at a seminar in the capital when asked about the opposition’s allegation that the recent violence was a result of the annulment of the caretaker government system.

Haque is currently serving as the chairman of the National Law Commission.

Referring to the history of USA, he said: “After the assassination of President Kennedy, Vice-President Johnson was not given even half an hour. When Kennedy was killed, Johnson was on an aircraft and had to take oath on the wireless. That was done because peo-

ple’s sovereignty could not be put on hold even for a day.”

Condemning the recent attack on the Hindus, the former chief justice said: “I feel ashamed as a senior citizen and also as a Muslim that the minorities were being attacked before and after the national polls.”

Also present at the seminar, National Human Rights Commission Chairman Mizanur Rahman said the government had failed to take effective steps against those, who played havoc on the minorities.

In 1996, in the face movement by the then main opposition Awami League and other parties, the BNP brought the 13th amendment incorporating the provision for the caretaker government.

The weaknesses of the system came to the forefront after the previous army-backed caretaker government stayed in power for two years instead of stipulated three months. In 2011, an Appellate Division bench, headed by Justice Khairul Haque, scrapped the provision.

The BNP-led 18-party opposition alliance has been on the streets since, protesting the ruling. l

People want end to violence: British HC tells Khaleda n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman British High Commissioner Robert Gibson yesterday conveyed to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia people’s strong desire for an end to the ongoing violence he had received in his Twitter feed.

“I explained to @BegumKhaledaZia about this twitter feed and passed on the thrust of your messages,” he posted on his Twitter profile after a meeting with Khaleda at her residence yesterday evening.

In a Twitter message earlier in the day, he had sought people’s thoughts on the present political situation and received several replies.

“Many thanks for your comments so

5 JaPa leaders desire to be ministers n Manik Miazee At least five Jatiya Party leaders expect to get berths in the next cabinet.

They are JaPa Presidium member Anisul Islam Mahmud, Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu, ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader, Salma Islam and Mujibul Haque Chunnu, a party insider told the Dhaka Tribune.

When contacted later, Anisul Islam said it would not be a problem for the party to participate in the new cabinet and act as the opposition at the same time. “The world has many instances of this,” he said.

Two other of the five JaPa leaders also expressed desire to become ministers in the 10th parliament. They said a few were even lobbying with Rawshan Ershad to get their desired ministries.

The party source said Anisul Islam and Bablu were not rigid about the Awami League and might become ministers. l

Panchhari AL leader killed n Our Correspondent, Khagrachhari

An Awami League leader was killed yesterday allegedly by cadres of United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF) at Bidya Mohon Karbary Para under Panchhari upazila of Khagrachhari.

The dead was identified as Nabo Mohon Tripura, 42, a senior vice-president of Logung Union Parishad Awami League.

Quoting locals, Assistant Superintendent of Police Mohammad Sarwar Hossain said a group of 10-15 UPDF men attacked him in his residence and later shot him at point blank around 9pm, adding that he might have been killed for supporting Awami League candidate in the recent election.

A case would be filed in this connection after consulting with Nabo Mohon’s family, he added. l

far. Clear that main message is stop the violence,” he wrote in a tweet.

Sabihuddin Ahmed and Reaz Rahman, advisers to Khaleda Zia, were present in the meeting. However, they did not disclose anything about the meeting to the waiting journalists.

It was Gibson’s second meeting with Khaleda within a week as he had met her on December 30, the day he came back to Dhaka.

The British envoy also met Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam the next day.

On January 6, Gibson tweeted: “Meetings today with #Bangladesh government ministers to seek clarity over next steps post #election, and encourage resumption of dialogue.” l

Biman captain caught with Kuwaiti currencies n Kailash Sarkar

Gobindaganj Women's Degree College lecturer Saidul Islam lies on a DMCH bed after receiving burn injuries while performing duty as presiding officer NASHIRUL ISLAM

Sheikh Hasina gives 2 Paribagh burn victims die Miscreants set up Rangpur 6 seat fire to church two sons Swapon and Sujon were found Ashif Islam Shaon n mourning his death when this corre- in Sherpur n Mohammad Zakaria Two burn victims of the Paribagh petrol spondent visited the burn unit of DMCH Prime Minister and the President of bomb attack died yesterday after five yesterday. Nine-year-old Ripon, the coun Our Correspondent, Sherpur Awami League Sheikh Hasina decided days of struggle at the intensive care unit ple’s youngest child, had gone home to to quit Rangpur 6 parliamentary constituency as she would take oath as a Member of the Parliament elected from Gopalganj 3 constituency.

The premier yesterday submitted a letter to the Election Commission informing that she has left Rangpur 6 seat.

ABM Riazul Kabir Kauser, member of sub-committee of Awami League election steering committee, submitted the letter to the commission in the evening signed by Sheikh Hasina.

Sheikh Hasina along with other MPs is expected to take oath today.

According to the Election Commission’s rules, if any elected candidate dies or leaves his or her seat, the seat falls vacant and a by-election must be held within 90 days as per the constitution. l

of Dhaka Medical College Hospital. They died within a space of eight hours.

Insurance executive Shahina Akter, 42, succumbed to her injuries around 1:45am while fruit trader Farid Miah, 60, at 9:50am.

With the deaths, the total number of victims who died of burns in the DMCH since November 26 comes at 22. In most of the cases, unidentified arsonists hurled petrol bombs at vehicles carrying them.

On January 3, anti-election pickets hurled a petrol bomb at a passenger bus near Ruposhi Bangla Hotel in Paribagh leaving Farid, Shahina and the bus driver wounded.

Shahina was on her way to Gulistan to catch a Khulna-bound bus while Farid was travelling to Badamtoli to pick fruits for his Friday sale.

Farid’s wife Halima Akhter and their

Rawshan to lead opposition in parliament  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

president, so he would not be the leader of the opposition.”

JaPa had participated in the 10th parliamentary election for the sake of constitution and democracy, she said.

Asked if an all-party government would be formed, she said there had been no discussions on the matter but the party would discuss it.

Rawshan said she had heard the telephone conversation between Hasina and Khaleda and they had failed to reach an agreement. A mid-term election could be held if all parties agreed, she added.

“All decisions for the development of the country should come from parliament,” she said.

JaPa called on everyone to stop conflict and violence and come to an understanding for a free and fair election with the participation of all parties, she said.

“That will resolve the prevailing political crisis.”

Before the press conference, the

JaPa parliamentary body held a meeting at the parliament premises.

A JaPa leader present at the meeting said Rawshan had called Ershad during the meeting and requested him not to change his mind and to take oath as an MP. After the conversation, she looked upset for a few seconds but later announced that Ershad would take oath as an MP. Rawshan told the press conference:

“We participated in polls alongside him [Ershad].”

JaPa secured 13 constituencies in the 10th parliamentary elections held on January 5.

The main opposition boycotted the polls. The party demanded the polls should be held under a neutral, non-partisan government.

JaPa Chairman HM Ershad has been guiding party leaders from the Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Rawshan said, adding that the JaPa chairman was now okay and doctors would release him as early as possible.

“Jatiya Party Presidium member and Ershad’s brother GM Quader is also with us,” she added.

Rawshan thanked journalists for reporting on JaPa in the past two months.

“I came to know that reporters stood in front of my house for hours, but back then I had nothing to tell them, and I was not the party spokesperson.

“Today I have things to tell you and that is why we are holding this press briefing.” l

289 MPs-elect to be sworn in today  PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

The Awami League will then hold the meeting of its parliamentary party and select the leader of the House, who would form the government.

According to the constitution, the president must convene parliament in 30 days since oath taking.

After taking oath, the new MPs will join a meeting of the Awami League Parliamentary Party to re-elect Sheikh Hasina its leader and eventually she will form the new government, Chief Whip Abdus Shahid told the Dhaka Tribune after a meeting with Hasina.

The 10th parliament would start its journey after termination of the ninth parliament on January 24, he said.

“The newly elected prime minister will request the president to convene the first session of the 10th parliament after January 24,” Shahid said. “The new MPs will assume office as members of parliament with the start of the first session.”

A Biman Bangladesh Airlines captain was held with foreign currencies equivalent to Tk10 lakh at Shahjalal International Airport yesterday night.

The captain identified as Shakhwat Hossain was however freed after he signed a bond and the currencies confiscated.

Qamrul Hasan, assistant commissioner of the Customs Department, said the Biman captain was held at gate No 6 around 8:30pm when he was on way to Kuwait.

He said: “The captain is suspected to be involved with a smuggling ring and the Kuwaiti currencies were being carried for any of the ring members.”

A departmental case was filed in this connection, he added.

Last week, RAB officials arrested another Biman official and a CAAB official with smuggled gold at the capitals Moghbazar and Rampura. Seventeen officials of Biman have been identified as suspects in the smuggling 124kg of gold.

It is widely known that a section of officials of different airlines and other agencies at the airport are involved in the smuggling of gold, currencies and other valuables being the members of smuggling rings. l

The current ninth parliament started on January 25, 2009 and is set to end on January 24, 2014, according to the constitution.

When asked, Barrister Shafique Ahmed, the immediate past law minister and prime minister’s law affairs adviser, said he was not in a position to talk on this issue.

The debate over timing of taking office by the newly elected MPs of the 10th parliament arises following insertion of an article the original 1972 constitution contained. The article stipulates holding of the general elections 90 days before the expiry of the previous parliament.

In line with the article, the Election Commission arranged the 10th national polls on January 5, without dissolution of the ninth parliament.

Though inserted in 1972, the article of holding polls 90 days before the expiry of legislation could not be implemented because of interruption of the demo-

cratic practices. All the previous parliaments up to 1996 were dissolved before five years.

The BNP-led parliament that lasted for only 12 days dropped the provision, inserting the arrangement of the non-party caretaker government which used to assume office after the completion of the mandated five years.

The non-party caretaker government used to hold general election 90 days after the end of a parliament. The last caretaker government was in power for about two years beyond constitutional approval and arranged the ninth general polls on December 29, 2008.

On June 30, 2011, the Awami League government, in line with a directive of the Supreme Court, dropped the non-party caretaker government and restored the original provision of holding elections under the incumbent government in 90 days before expiry of the previous parliament. l

get some rest after staying the night at his father’s bedside.

“Have you ever heard that people can burn people on a Jumma day? Where will I go with my children now?” a wailing Halima said.

Farid was the sole breadwinner of the five-member family; he used to vend fruits on footpaths after buying them from Badamtoli.

Halima is uncertain about how to bury her husband. “If we get help we can bury him in Dhaka; otherwise we will have to take him to our ancestral village in Narshingdi.”

Shahina, who had suffered burns covering 64% of her body, was a Khulna-based employee of insurance company MetLife and left behind a marine engineer who living in Candada. She will be buried once her son comes back.

Miscreants had torched a church at Bakakura under Jinaighati upazila of Sherpur on Tuesday around 8pm.

Locals doused fire after an hour attempt.

One was arrested in connection with the incident. The arrestee was identified as Ameer Hossain, 55.

The church was mainly used by the indigenous people of the locality.

Indigenous leader Nobesh Khokshi, Hilari Marak and locals said petrol was poured into the church before setting the church on fire.

Jinaighati police station officer-in-charge said signs of petrol were found on the carpet of the church, adding that the gate of the church was heavily damaged.

Jinaighati Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mojammael Haq had visited the church. l

Burnt teacher tells  PAGE 1 COLUMN 5

“Several men started hurling brick chips like rain from both sides of the road. I asked the cops to open fire.”

But before they could, a petrol bomb went off inside an auto-rickshaw, just in front of Saidul.

“My coat caught fire and I jumped off defying the brick-chip. With a policeman I ran for life to the nearby houses for shelter,” he said.

But Saidul was unfortunate. The first house they stopped by denied to give them shelter, fearing attack on the house.

“The constable with me grabbed the man’s legs begging for shelter, but he would let us in. So we ran further.”

At last a family gave them shelter.

But they could not arrange to rush

them to the hospital in fear of attack.

“I was screaming in pain and fainted several times. After two hours, two of my students came and took me to the hospital,” he said.

“If I finally survive…do you think the scars on my face will be cured? Will I get back the shape of my face?” Saidul asked this correspondent with a feeble voice.

Constable Abul Kalam also sustained burn injuries. He was left unconscious on the spot for more than two hours. Finally a police team rescued him. He was also sent to the burn unit of DMCH. “Saidul and Kalam sustained 12 and 10% burns respectively. They are still in danger,” said Partha Sankar Paul, a physician of the DMCH. l

Khaleda to lose state facilities  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

with more than two-thirds majority.

In the December 29, 2008 polls, Khaleda came out elected in three seats. During her role as the opposition leader, she attended the ninth parliament 10 days out of the total 418 sittings.

The five-time MP and her party boycotted the January 5 polls.

She joined politics after the death of her husband and former president Gen Ziaur Rahman in 1981.

At present, Khaleda maintains an office inside the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.

The Parliament Secretariat provides her a private secretary, an assistant private secretary, two personal assistants, three office assistants, three peons, a full-time chauffeur-driven car and all logistic supports for the office.

The parliament canteen provides all entertainment facilities for the opposition leader.

According to the privilege act amended in 2010, the opposition leader gets monthly allowance of Tk53,100 and official residence that would be furnished at a cost of Tk5 lakh. If she lived in her own residence, Khaleda Zia would get Tk25,000 per month.

The government is to ensure all security arrangements for her residence, be it the official or personal. The state also provides her with all utilities including water, electricity, gas, and telephone and mobiles phone bills.

The transportation pool provides her two vehicles – one official car and an additional jeep for official business – on the government expense. She also gets a sumptuary allowance of Tk6,000 per month.

The opposition leader and her family members can travel by air with the state funding in the case of necessity.

Inside the country, she travels with the treatment of a VIP on trains, launches and other modes of transports, with up to 45,000kgs of goods.

An opposition leader can carry two of their personal servants on government expense.

The privileges act ensures for Khaleda the other facilities as enjoyed by a minister.

Jatiya Party’s senior Presidium member Rawshan Ershad, wife of former military dictator and party Chairman HM Ershad, is likely to be the next opposition leader and will be enjoying the facilities extended for the position. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

3

Thursday, January 9, 2014

BNP plans to boost Khaleda’s security Security protocol of the BNP chief is likely to be withdrawn soon Sarkar and Mohammad n Kailash Al-Masum Molla Main opposition BNP is planning to enhance the security of party Chairperson Khaleda Zia, as her security protocol as the leader of the opposition is likely to be withdrawn soon.

Jatiya Party leader Rowshan Ershad is set to be the new leader of the opposition, after the BNP boycotted the 10th general elections demanding polls under a non-partisan government.

Khaleda, who has always been close to power since 1991 – be it as the premier or as the leader of the opposition in the house, for the first time will not avail any protocol.

‘We are yet to seek Ansar support, but we are thinking of it’ “We are thinking of her [Khaleda] security and thinking of reinforcing her personal security force, as the leader of the opposition’s protocol is likely to be withdrawn,” Maj Gen (retd) Fazle Elahi Akbar, security adviser to Khaleda, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

However, a source in the party said Ansar personnel have already been sought for maintaining security of the BNP chairperson.

Akbar, on the other hand, said: “We are yet to seek Ansar support, but we are thinking of it.”

Since she became the opposition leader, Khaleda Zia’s protection has been ensured by the Chairperson’s Security Force (CSF), a group of security personnel, along with state protocol.

Akbar also said they were also thinking of reinforcing the CSF to ensure Khaleda’s security.

The comments came on the same day that intensified security measures surrounding the residence and office of the BNP chairperson in the capital’s Gulshan had been relaxed after around two weeks into the additional measures.

All the additional security forces,

MAY 5 CRACKDOWN

Adilur, Elan indicted for ‘distorting’ facts n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu A special Dhaka court yesterday indicted rights body Odhikar Secretary Adilur Rahman Khan and its Director AKM Nasiruddin Elan for providing distorted statistics regarding the law enforcers’ crackdown on Hefazat-e-Islam activists at Motijheel on May 5.

Dhaka’s Cyber Crime Tribunal Judge KM Shamsul Alam framed the charges against the duo in their presence after dismissing a discharge petition and set January 22 to hear opening statement and record statements of witnesses.

In the discharge petition, the defence counsel demanded that the rights group had published its report based on “authentic information.”

Earlier, the indictment in this particular case under Information and Communication Technology Act 2006 and under a newly-formed special tribunal was deferred three times.

Before framing of the charges, the court asked the accused whether they were guilty or not; both claimed themselves to be innocent.

Adilur, former deputy attorney general during BNP-Jamaat government’s tenure, and Elan are both on bail.

On May 5, law enforcers, in a late night operation, drove away Hefazat supporters from Motijheel’s Shapla Chattar. Odhikar on June 10 published a report claiming that it had collected the names of 61 people killed in the drive.

The government refuted that report.

The defence counsel also claimed that police in its report admitted the death of 51 people in that night. So Odhikar did not publish any false news.

He told the Dhaka Tribune: “The court framed the charges mentioning that primary elements of allegation are present. It is a very common practice.”

After the Odhikar report was published, the information ministry asked for the names and details of the 61 “deceased” persons, but Odhikar declined to comply. On August 10, plain clothes police arrested Adilur from near his Gulshan residence and a Dhaka court placed him on a five-day remand for interrogation. But the lower court order was stayed by HC and he was sent to jail. l

which had been deployed on security grounds on December 26, were withdrawn yesterday morning, while vehicular and public movement in the area also resumed as all the barricades were removed from adjacent roads.

However, no leader or activist was seen near the house or the office of Khaleda, while the leader herself also did not come out of her house.

Party sources said leaders did not attempt to meet Khaleda Zia just for avoiding arrest, as a large number of leaders had previously been arrested while trying to meet Khaleda and many others were forced to leave after being threatened with arrest.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Khandaker Lutful Kabir, deputy commissioner at Gulshan division of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, admitted the relaxation in the security measures for Khaleda.

“Additional forces have been withdrawn as the state of security regarding Khaleda Zia has returned to its earlier position. For the same reason, the barricades have been removed freeing the roads for vehicular and public movement”, said the DC. Answering to a query, he said apart from regular forces, over 100 police had been deployed in each shift for the intensified security for the opposition leader.

Asked about restrictions on the movement of Khaleda, Lutful Kabir said: “Usually the police are always informed before any move by Khaleda Zia. Accordingly, police will have to be informed of her movement.”

Witnesses said the additional forces were withdrawn and the barricades removed at around 7am.

Nurul Alam, assistant commissioner of Gulshan zone, said: “Keeping adequate security forces, additional forces have been withdrawn and barricades have been removed.”

“However, additional forces would be further deployed if the situation requires”, he said. l

Members of SHUJAN form a human chain in front of the National Museum at Shahbagh in the city yesterday condemning post-polls attacks on the Hindus

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

More censure for the attacks on Hindus n Tribune Report

Various political, social and civil bodies from around the country have condemned the communal attacks on religious minorities particularly in Jessore, Dinajpur, Gaibandha, Rangpur and Chittagong in the aftermath of the 10th national elections.

According to media reports since January 5, Jamaat-Shibir activists, equipped with firearms, crude bombs, machetes, iron rods and sticks, attacked the Hindus in these districts mainly because they cast votes. A good number of educational institutions, including primary schools, were also reportedly burnt down by Jamaat-Shibir men.

Our Jessore correspondents reported that law enforcers had arrested 23 people on charges of being involved with such attacks at Malopara in Jessore.

District administration assured that Malopara under Abhaynagar upazila would be given the due protection.

Speakers at various rallies and human chains, formed around the country to condemn the attacks, said the government could not overlook its liabilities in these attacks because no measure had been taken to prevent the post-polls violence.

“It does not matter whether BNP, Jamaat or any other force are involved with the attacks; the government has to take stern steps against the evil-forces,” said 14-party spokesman Mohammad Nasim at a meeting of the Dhaka city unit Awami League.

Nasim, also a presidium member of AL, urged the leaders and activists to resist the attacks and assist the victims.

Journalists based in Dhaka and Sushashoner Jonnyo Nagarik formed separate human chains at Shahbagh and National Press Club yesterday.

At the Shahbagh human chain, Dhaka University teacher Fahmidul Haque said: “The government has a tendency of shifting the liability [of the attacks]

on to Jamaat-Shibir and BNP. It is true that they are the ones staging such attacks, but the government is also liable for not bringing them to book.”

Rights activists Khushi Kabir said: “I want to know what the intelligence agencies were doing. Why did they not have any prior information of such attacks?”

The Communist Party of Bangladesh in a press statement yesterday said the government failed to provide security to the Hindus albeit keeping the army and law enforcement agencies on duty during the pre and post-polls time. The party called for forming communal resistance committee in villages and at every locality.

Bangladesh Rukhe Darao, a platform of progressive and pro-liberation forces, also condemned the attack through a press release.

The release, signed by eminent citizens like Professor Emeritus Dr Anisuzzaman, writer Syed Shamsul Haque

and former bureaucrat Dr Akbar Ali Khan, demanded immediate ban on Jamaat under the Anti-Terrorism Act. Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association also condemned the attack on minorities.

In Gopalganj, the Tungipara Puja Udjapon Parishad, staged a protest rally and submitted memorandum to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer calling upon the prime minister to protect the minorities, our correspondent reported.

Our correspondent from Manikganj reported that a number of human chains were formed in the district by journalists, the local unit of Bangladesh Mohila Parishad, the Jubo Union, the Chhatra Union and Udichi Shilpi Goshthi at different places of the town.

In Chittagong, various bodies, including the local Chhatra Union and the Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee formed human chains of their own at different places in the port city protesting the attacks. l

BNP’s Mahabub-Milon remanded, Afil, Monir face EC notice n Selima denied bail Mohammad Zakaria

n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu A Dhaka court yesterday placed BNP chairperson’s Adviser and Bar Council Vice-Chairman Khandker Mahbub Hossain and the party’s Organizing Secretary Fazlul Haq Milon on two days’ remand, rejecting their bail petition in a case filed with Ramna police station.

However, the court rejected both the bail and remand petitions of BNP Vice-Chairman Selima Rahman and permitted the police to question her at the jail gate within five working days.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Aminul Haque passed the order when Sub-Inspector Takhur Das Malo, also the investigation officer of the case, produced the three senior BNP leaders before the court seeking seven days’ remand for each in a case filed under the explosives act.

Defence lawyer Sanaullah Miah filed

the bail plea before the court for the three accused, mentioning that they were not accused in the First Information Report (FIR) list.

He also mentioned that his clients were aged and ill and they were not involved with the incidence.

Barister Rafiqul Haque, who also represented the accused, told the court that the unrecognized elected government was trying to ruin the opposition leaders who were speaking against them. So the case was false and fabricated.

On the other hand, Md Abdullah Abu, public prosecutor of the Dhaka metropolitan sessions’ judge court, opposed the bail plea mentioning that “the accused are the planners of the cocktail blasting incident and they are the abettor of this crime.

So they need to be under police remand for quizzing.”

After hearing, the court rejected the

bail plea and granted two days remand for Mahbub Hossain and Milon, and permitted the police to ask Selima Rahman at jail gate.

Earlier, plainclothes police arrested Mahbub Hossain, Selima Rahman and Fazlul Haq Milon from separate places in the capital on Tuesday.

After their arrest police showed the accused arrested in a case filed with Ramna police station under the explosives act.

According to the case statements, on January 4, miscreants hurled several crude bombs targeting the office of Deputy Commissioner of Ramna division, Maruf Hossain, a day before the 10th general election. Ten to 12 crude bombs were exploded during the attack.

Meanwhile, pro-BNP lawyers brought out a procession on the court premises protesting the arrest of the three BNP leaders. l

The Election Commission yesterday withheld the results of two Awami League lawmakers–elect for violating electoral code of conduct.

Sheikh Afil Uddin, who was elected uncontested from Jessore 1 constituency, and Monirul Islam, who won the Sunday’s polls in Jessore 2, were served show cause notices in this regard.

Afil at an election rally on December 30 had asked his supporters to cast false vote for Monirul and bring out victory procession before noon on the election day. On Sunday, Afil’s men took over the polling centres in Jessore 2 constituency and followed the instructions.

The electoral enquiry committee of

EU, Germany, France deplore violence n Tribune Report Expressing deep concern over the spate of violence centring polls, the European Union, Germany and France yesterday asked Bangladesh government and all political parties to find a political way through dialogue.

EU Foreign Affairs Spokesman Michael Mann in a statement said: “We strongly condemn the acts of violence which have occurred both on the run up to the elections and during the elections.”

According to the statement, the EU has taken note of the elections. “We are following the situation very closely through our delegation and through the embas-

BNP leaders Khandaker Mahbub Hossain and Fazlul Haque Milon are being taken to a Dhaka court by police yesterday

DHAKA TRIBUNE

the district also accused him of violating electoral codes.

According to the RPO, if any candidate violates the codes, the commission can cancel his/her candidature and mete out punishment.

Afil is the vice-president of Jessore district unit while Monirul is the organisational secretary of the same unit.

Afil made the directives while speaking as chief guest at a views exchange meeting of Monirul’s polling agents on Parbazar High School premises in Jhikargachha upazila.

The EC yesterday said re-voting in 392 polling centres in six districts would be held on January 16. The army is likely to remain deployed until January 18 in those districts, Election Commissioner Md Shah Newaz said. l

sies of our member states in Dhaka.”

Referring to the recent violent attacks on the minority community, Germany called upon all political forces to refrain from any sort of violence and intimidation, especially against religious minorities. In a statement, it said the elections were an extremely poor reflection of the electorate’s will.

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs also called upon the major political parties to resume dialogue within the framework of the country’s democratic institutions. “We call on all parties to demonstrate calm and restraint and encourage the main political forces to resume dialogue,” a statement said. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Illegal power connections on the rise n Aminur Rahman Rasel The number of illegal electricity connections has increased gradually across the country resulting in loss of revenues worth crores of taka.

Four distribution companies disconnected a total of 1,504 illegal connections in different areas of the country in December 2013.

It is suspected that over 200MW electricity is being pilfered daily through these illegal connections, distribution agency officials claimed.

They also said such illegal demand for power was unidentified, which created serious problems during load management and financial loss for the agencies.

Four distribution companies have disconnected a total of 1,504 illegal electricity connections in different areas of the country in December 2013. They disconnected 919 illegal electricity connections in August, according to the documents placed at the power division’s coordination meeting yesterday.

Despite having information about it, the distribution companies are yet to take any initiative, and continue to only cut or disconnect illegal connections.

“We have disconnected 30,915 elec-

tricity connections in December 2013 for not paying their due bills worth Tk22.3 crore,” Suman Mehedi, the senior information officer of power ministry, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

under REB, 1,640 under DPDC, 2,895 under Desco and 613 under WZPDCL. Makeshift shops in Dhaka, other cities and big towns keep using electricity through illegal connections for several

COMPANY-WISE ILLEGAL CONNECTION CHART Distribution Company Number of illegal connections disconnected in August 2013 PDB REB

Number of illegal connections disconnected in December 2013

58

361

689

934

DPDC

No activities

155

DESCO

170

54

WZPDCL

02

No activities

Total

919

1504

Source: Power Division Five companies – Power Development Board, Rural Electrification Board (REB), Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited (DPDC), Dhaka Electric Supply Company Limited (Desco) and West Zone Power Distribution Company Limited (WZPDCL) – distribute electricity through meters across the country.

Of those illegal connections, 8,900 connections were under PDB, 16,867

hours, power distribution agency officials said.

The connections are reportedly provided by people identifying themselves as linesmen of power supply authorities.

The so-called linesmen are making money from the illegal power consumption.

In some areas the illegal connec-

tions are given from the main lines and in some other areas from nearby shops.

Distribution agencies do not get the price of the electricity consumed by illegal consumers although they spend much more than the tariff set by the agencies, officials said.

Syndicates backed by distribution companies’ officers with linesmen of power distribution agencies have developed a business of providing such makeshift shops with illegal connections.

PDB Chairman Md Abduhu Ruhullah said power pilferage had reduced significantly, particularly in cities. He also said illegal consumers usually take connections from nearby shops or houses having meters.

“It is, however, not possible to check the pilferage all the time everywhere,” he added.

DPDC managing director Md. Nazrul Hasan admitted the power pilferage.

He said they DPDC was conducting drives against illegal connections to curb pilferage.

“No official or employee will dare to be involved in these acts. Local people might try to pass themselves off as DPDC men to carry on with their misdeeds.” he claimed. l

Attacks on minorities to divert attention: BNP n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla The main opposition BNP called upon the party leaders and activists of all tires to resist attack on the Hindu minority and ensure their security.

Condemning the attack, party’s acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday demanded an exemplary punishment of the real criminals.

“A planned attack was launched on the Hindu community across the country to divert people’s attention from the voterless January 5 farcical polls,” Fakhrul said.

People of the country spontaneously boycotted the election in the face of criticism from different countries and agencies, he added.

The BNP spokesperson also called upon leaders and activists of his party to continue the indefinite blockade programme peacefully to materialise the demand of polls under a non-partisan administration.

“The government’s conspiracy, propaganda and ill-strategy would not be able to stop the ongoing movement.

Writ plea filed for HC bench during hartals

We are determined to continue it till the demand is met,” he made the announcement on behalf of the party Chairperson Khaleda Zia in a press statement.

The opposition combine called blockade on the rail, road and waterways from January 1 demanding cancelation of the election and a new election under a non-partisan government.

The party also called hartals in two spells while the blockade continued protesting what they said “farcical polls”.

Fakhrul alleged that the “illegal government” pushed the country into an extreme chaos and uncertainty as it was implementing a plan to eradicate the opposition from the country using law enforcers.

The joint forces arrested more than 300 leaders and activists across the country and launched attack on their houses with the assistance of Awami League cadres, he allegedly said.

The leader said school and educational institutions were set on fire by the Awami League men, but the blame was laid on the opposition party. l

n Nazmus Sakib

Mob beats two robbers to death n FM Mizanur Rahman, Chittagong

A Supreme Court lawyer has filed a writ petition, seeking directives on taking necessary steps to ensure sessions of the High Court during hartals or blockades.

Lawyer Eunus Ali Akond filed the plea with the High Court yesterday, making the Supreme Court registrar, the home secretary, law secretary, finance secretary, cabinet secretary, the attorney general and the Supreme Court Bar Association as respondents.

In the petition, he said if the government gave 100% risk allowance to all the judges of the Supreme Court like the International Crimes Tribunal, the court might sit on the days of hartals or blockades. l

Agitated villagers beat two robbers to death in Fatehpur area of the port city’s Hathazari upazila after they were caught early yesterday during their attempt to flee the scene of a robbery.

The dead robbers were Md Jabed, 22, of Raozan, and Md Ismail, 25 of Hathazari, Officer-in-Charge Ismail Hossain of Hathazari police station said He said a gang of six to seven robbers had stormed into the house of Jalal Miah and robbed valuables at gun point around 2:30am. Locals chased the robbers and beat up the duo, leaving Jabed spot dead and Ismail critically injured, the OC said adding that Ismail had succumbed to his injuries at Chittagong Medical College Hospital at noon. l

Rabeya Bari dies n Tribune Report

JU winter vacation starts on 14th n JU Correspondent

Rabeya Bari Chowdhury, wife of late advocate Rafiqul Bari Chowdhury of Sunamganj, and eldest daughter of late Mahiuddin Ahmed of Sylhet, died yesterday.

She left behind her two daughters, two sons, grandchildren and lots of relatives and well wishers.

She was an active social worker and served as the president of Sunamganj Mahila Sangstha, according to a press release. l

WEATHER

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

Moderate to thick fog might occur over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka and Sylhet divisions and light to moderate fog elsewhere over the country during midnight until morning, Met Office said.

Moderate cold wave is sweeping over the regions of Rajshahi, Pabna, Tangail and Kushtia and mild cold wave is sweeping over Rangpur division and the regions of Mymensingh, Faridpur, Madaripur, Sylhet, Barisal and Jessore and it may continue. Night and day temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country.

The sun sets in the capital at 5:28pm today and rises at 6:43am tomorrow.

Country’s highest temperature 26.5 degree Celsius was recorded at Cox’s Bazar and lowest 6.0 degrees at Ishwardi yesterday. Highest and lowest temperatures recorded in some major cities yesterday were: City

High

Low

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

22.8 23.5 22.4 14.4 24.5 23.4 24.5 26.5

10.7 14.3 07.0 08.8 10.5 09.9 10.0 15.2

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

5:23am 6:42am 12:05am 3:51pm 5:27pm 6:47pm

Source: IslamicFinder.org

Members of CPB hold a rally at the city’s Shahbagh yesterday , protesting against atrocities carried out on the Hindu community across the country

Massive reshuffle likely in senior civil service n Mohosinul Karim The senior ranks of the civil service are likely to experience a massive reshuffle shortly, as some of the secretaries have already gone into post retirement leave (PRL) and some are waiting to start their retirement within this month.

The public administration ministry has already filled up some offices of the secretaries by posting some additional secretaries to the vacancies.

The public administration ministry yesterday posted three additional secretaries as acting secretary to fill up the offices of three important ministries and institutions.

Of them, Cabinet Division’s Additional Secretary Khandkar Md. Iftekhar Haidar was made Rector of Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre with the status of acting secretary.

He will replace BPATC Rector AZM Shafiqul Alam, who will start his PRL from February 24. The ministry has already approved his PRL. Directorate of Social Welfare Director General Nasima Begum was appointed acting secretary of the social welfare ministry. Social welfare Secretary Suraiya Begum was transferred to Privatisation Commission as a member.

Director General of Family Planning AKM Amir Hossain was appointed acting secretary of the science and technology ministry. Former secretary of the science and technology Rafiqul

Islam retired from his service on December 31. The office was vacant till yesterday.

Earlier, the government approved the contractual appointment of Agriculture Secretary SM Nazmul Islam and Internal Resources Division Secretary and National Board of Revenue Chairman Ghulam Hossain for one year.

The public administration ministry yesterday posted three additional secretaries as acting secretary to fill up the offices of three important ministries and institutions SM Nazmul Islam retired from his service on December 30 and NBR Chairman Ghulam Hossain was supposed to start his PRL from January 8.

According to the public administration ministry officials, parliament secretariat’s Senior Secretary Ashraful Moqbul, who retired on December 31, also got a contractual appointment from the secretariat on January 2.

The contractual appointment of Prime Minister’s Secretary Molla Waheeduzzaman will end on January 17.

Local Government Secretary Abu Alam Md. Shahid Khan will also retire on the same day.

Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Shaikh Md. Wahid Uz Zaman, Land Secretary Mokhlesur Rahman and OSD Secretary Nurul Haque will retire on March 7.

According to the ministry officials, though the high officials were trying to get contractual appointment to extend their service periods by managing government high ups, the civil administration will experience a fresh reshuffle shortly immediate after the new government takes its oath.

The offices of the secretaries would be changed and they would be assigned to new offices. Some additional secretaries, who are qualified for promotion, would be assigned as acting secretaries in the very beginning of the government, they said.

Public Administration Ministry’s Senior Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder told the Dhaka Tribune: “The public administration ministry has already begun filling up the vacancies. We are working to fill up the offices which will vacate soon. We have prepared the lists of officers for posting them in those vacancies.”

Some officers will be transferred according to promotion and transfer rules of the ministry. “We will follow the rules strictly,” he added.

When asked about the chance of contractual appointment, he said, “We have already issued some contractual appointment orders. We may issue more contracts, if the prime minister’s office gives consent.”

Public servants got two years of additional service period when the government extended the retirement age of the public servants to 59 from 57 years in December 2011. l

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

The authorities of Jahangirnagar University yesterday declared an eightday-long winter vacation that included Eid-e-Miladunnabi, a religious festival of Muslim.

The vacation would begin from January 14 and would be continued till January 21, said a press release, signed

by Registrar Abu Bakr Siddique.

The press release said regular academic and administrative activities of the university would remain closed during the leave. Classes and examinations would restart from January 22, the press release added. l

Muhith for law banning hartals, blockades Rehab demands Tk3,000cr fund to provide loans to new buyers

n Ibrahim Hossain Finance Minister AMA Muhith yesterday stressed the need to improve the country’s law and order situation to boost the economy in the wake of recent political turmoil.

“The country’s economic situation has gotten stuck in the face of worsening law and order situation, caused by political unrest, and it would become stable only if the situation improves,” the minister said while meeting with leaders of the Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (Rehab) at his secretariat office.

“Hartals and blockades have appeared as a major threat to the economy as such political programmes paralyse our economic development,” Muhith said.

“I am always in favour of putting a ban on destructive hartals through enacting a new law,’’ he added.

Referring to recent political violence, the frustrated finance minister said, “We don’t need any foreign enemy to destroy us, as we are good enough to destroy ourselves.”

Pointing at the businessmen who support BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, Muhith said they should react to the opposition leader’s activities in their own interest.

In response to a question from reporters, Muhith said the main chal-

lenge for the new government would be to restore law and order at any cost to stabilise the country’s economy.

The Rehab leaders, meanwhile, handed Muhith a two-point proposal for the government, demanding a stimulus package to revive the country’s troubled real estate and housing sector.

The realtor platform demanded formation of a Tk3,000 crore fund to provide long-term, low-interest loans to low- and mid-income buyers on an urgent basis. Rehab also demanded rescheduling of existing bank loans, with a one-year grace period without any down payment.

The minister, however, rejected the proposed fund for buyers, but added that it was important to reschedule loans for realtors.

In its proposal, Rehab also claimed that the sale of flats and plots had dropped by 60%, while undertaking of new projects by developers also declined by 75%. Rehab president Nasrul Hamid urged the finance minister to declare the real estate and housing sector as a productive sector.

Hamid said Bangladesh Bank through a circular identified the sector as a non-productive sector, prompting banks and financial institutions to stop financing developers.

Low and mid-income buyers were also not showing interest in buying flats due to high bank rates, he added. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

5

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Uttara roads without repair for a decade n Tazlina Zamila Khan Commuting has become a nuisance for locals in the capital’s Uttara, as the dilapidated roads in the area have not seen any repair work in the last 10-12 years because of alleged negligence from the authorities concerned.

During a recent visit to the area, it was observed that potholes covered the roads of sector 6 (Road No 3, 6, 8), sector 7 (Road No 1, 9/A, 9/B, 17, 18, 19, 20, 24), sector 8 (Road No 1, 3, 5), sector 9 (Road No 1/A, 1/B), sector 11 (Road No 14), and sector 12 (Road No 1, 4), causing risks for pedestrians and commuters.

According to the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk), the Uttara Model Town project was initiated in 1966 and completed in 1992, with 6,000 plots on 380 hectares of land being allotted in the first phase.

The development work of the second phase started in 1992 and was completed in 1998 and the authority acquired 175 hectares of land and allotted 5,315 plots.

However, no development work like repair of roads, footpaths and foot over-bridges were taken by the authorities concerned in the last 10-12 years.

The local residents alleged the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) of lacking sincerity in this regard.

Most footpaths in different sectors of Uttara stay occupied by illegal makeshift shops, forcing the pedestrians to walk on the main road. Jaywalking, added with potholes on the middle of the streets, create risk for both the vehicles and pedestrians using the roads.

Patients, pregnant women, and elderly people suffer the most while using the roads.

Anika Tahsin Jahan, a sixth grade student of Rajuk Uttara Model School & College of Azampur said, “The condition of the road in front of my school is very bad. I have to go through a bumpy ride every morning while going to school with my mother by rickshaw.

Besides, the condition of the road dete-

Vehicles move with difficulty in the dilapitated roads of Uttara sectors 3 and 13 riorates after cattle haat is set up during Eid-ul-Azha in front of the school which damages the road.”

Shahina Akhter, a resident of Uttara’s Sector 9, said: “I came here to reside in the year 2000, but have not seen any renovation of road since.”

A businessman from Uttara’s Jasimuddin area said: “Rickshaw-pullers in the Uttara sector 4 area sometimes

charge Tk45-60 for a journey to the Uttara Sector 9 although the standard fare is between Tk25-30.

“Most of the footpaths are broken or occupied and the foot over-bridges are covered with dish wires, creating problems in free movement,” he added.

In this regard, Brig Gen Md Abul Khair, chief engineer of the DNCC, admitted that he was aware of the matter,

NASHIRUL ISLAM

saying: “We have planned to repair the roads of only Uttara area for Tk25 crore from our own fund. The work will begin after election.”

He added: “A big project of Tk120 crore for the development work of the 14 sectors of Uttara was sent to the planning ministry. It will be approved in the next Ecnec [Executive Committee of National Economic Council] meeting.”

A two-phase repair project by the DNCC – with the first phase scheduled to begin in October and the second in December last year – was also yet to begin.

Brig Gen Khair blamed the ongoing political crisis for the delay in starting the project, saying: “We cannot bring bricks from Sylhet because of the political crisis, which is delaying the work.” l

Severe fuel crisis in Khulna n Our Correspondent, Khulna The south-western region of the country was facing a severe fuel crisis because of the ongoing political deadlock and unrest, businessmen claimed.

The fuel dealers have stopped taking deliveries of petroleum products from the state owned depots: Padma, Meghna and Jamuna oil companies in Khulna because of security concerns.

These three oil companies have been supplying fuel to many districts of the region including Bagerhat, Satkhira, Jessore, Kushtia, Meherpur, Chuadanga, Rajbari, Faridpur, Magura and Gopalganj.

Tank lorry driver Anawar Hossain of Magura said he would not carry any fuel oil deliveries taking the risk of being attacked by pro-blockade and hartal supporters, and added that he would make deliveries only when the political situation became normal.

Because of the current political turmoil, continuous blockade and hartals, the dealers are feeling insecure to continue their business. As a result, the government has been incurring huge loss as far the revenue earning is concerned.

Abdullah Rashed, Padma Oil Company depot manager, said not a single litre of petroleum products had been sold in last one and half months. This depot usually sell at least six lakh litres of petrol, octane and diesel every day if there is no strikes called by the political parties in the name of movement, he said.

Ibrahim Hamidur Rahaman, assistant general manager of the company, said dealers were not buying fuel oil from his depot because of security risk in highways during strikes called by the political parties.

Manager of Meghna Oil Company Mohiuddin Ahmed Chowdhury said his business had been absolutely dull because of continuous blockade programmes sponsored by the BNP-led 18-party alliance. Only 14,000 litres of fuel oil could be transported to some mills of Khalishpur Industrial belt through river routes with huge risk, he added. l

Without help, Hindus on a slow path to recovery Sirajganj Hindus n in panic Our Correspondent, Lalmonirhat

Attacked Hindu families in three villages of Lalmonirhat have started to regroup and rebuild their homes and shops damaged in a series of attacks by the opposition activists since late October.

However, lack of adequate funds and government help and minimum security arrangements are making their journey to recovery an excruciatingly slow one. Many, too poor to make a self-help recovery, are going through hard times.

The three Hindu-majority villages that came under attack in various phases are Satpatki Majhipara, Shafinagar and Ghoshpara.

Birendra Nath Sen, 48, whose shop was vandalised and goods worth Tk150,000

looted on October 27, said he had tried resuming his business but stopped halfway through because of fund crunch.

“Two of my computers and a photocopier were totally damaged. I had started my business with bank loan, which I haven’t repaid yet, and now came this new problem.

“I feel helpless. I don’t know how to recoup these losses and start my business all over again,” he said.

In the attack on that day, at least 18 shops owned by Hindus were either burnt, vandalised or looted – or all three at once in some cases. Dipend Chandra Sen, whose shop was one of those burnt, said he had taken up rickshaw-pulling in order to survive.

“I have no option but to take help if

I want to start my business again. I lost everything in that attack.”

In another attack on the eve of the Election Day, some six individuals including a community leader were stabbed and subsequently admitted to Rangpur Medical College Hospital. They are yet to recover fully.

On November 4, Satpatki Majhipara came under a major attack in which at least 40 houses were searched and four of them vandalised and looted. The assailants who carried out the attack also assaulted 15 individuals including several women.

Niro Bala, 60, a Hindu widow, alleged that the assailants had looted cash money from her house after damaging it. “I still don’t know how I am going to re-

Police recovers three bodies n Tribune Report

Police recovered three bodies killed in separate incidents in Pabna, Noakhali and Cox’s Bazar.

The deceases were Milon Hossain, 28, in Pabna, Belayet Hossain Belal, 25, of Begumgonj in Noakhali and an unidentified youth believed to be in his 20s was killed in Cox’s bazar.

The Dhaka Tribune’s Pabna correspondent reports, Milon was chopped to death when he was returning home

around 10:30pm on Tuesday night.

Police arrested a person named Md Roich Uddin of the village as one of the suspects of the murder.

Kazi Haniful Islam, officer-in-charge of Pabna sadar police station, said the youth might have killed as a result of previous enmity. A case was filed in this connection and police sent the body to Pabna medical college hospital morgue for post mortem.

Our Noakhali correspondent reports, Belayet Hossain Belal, a Jubo Dal activ-

ist, was found dead at Darogar Rastar Matha on Chaumuhani-Laxmipur road yesterday.

Mostafijur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Begumgonj Model police station, said there was bullet injury marks on the body.

Our Cox’s Bazar correspondent reports, police recovered the body floating in the water of an estuary at Ukhiya.

Zahidul Kabir, officer-in-charge of Ukhiya police station, said there was no any injury mark on the body. l

build my house.”

In another attack on 28 November, some seven trade centres and two houses of the Hindus at the Ghoshpara village were attacked, vandalised and looted by the Jamaat-Shibir cadres. The gang allegedly also assaulted several Hindu women and children during this time.

Ranjit Chandra Ghosh, 48, a shop owner who lost goods worth about Tk200,000 in the attack, said he had no way to recoup the loss. “I have been trying to manage a job, but luck hasn’t been in my favour since the attack.”

The attacked Hindus in the villages urged the government and the affluent section of society to extend their help in order for them to recover and rebuild their lives. l

n Our Correspondent, Sirajganj Locals in Dukuria Bera and Doulatpur union under Belkuchi upazila of the district are passing days in great fright centring the post-poll violence as these areas are strongholds of Jamaat-Shibir.

Belkuchi police station Officer-in-Charge Abdul Hai said he advised the locals to form resistance committees, adding that the union parishad members were asked to help the Hindus. Drives to arrest the perpetrators were going on, he also said.

Tapan Sarkar, Awami League leader of Tiashia village, said: “We are always

Turnout believable, claims CEC n Mohammad Zakaria Chief election commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad yesterday wondered why many did not believe the EC’s statistics of 40% voter turnout in 139 constituencies of Sunday’s parliamentary elections which he termed “free and fair.”

He said the final percentage could be published until holding elections in the postponed polling centres.

“Why do not you believe the percentage? Our returning officers send reports to the EC, and the commission prepares the percentage as per the reports.

“Observers registered 30% vote cast in the polls.”

He said the voter turnout could vary from seat to seat.

Asked about publishing gazette notification in a hurry, Rakibuddin said the

commission published the gazette like it had done during the previous election.

“If the EC delays in publishing the gazette, you may raise questions about it,” he added.

Enquired about the oath-taking of newly-elected MPs without dissolving the current parliament, the CEC said the commission bears the responsibility from announcing the polls schedule to publishing the gazette.

“Parliament will consider the rest of the process in this regard,” he said.

As the reporters asked him how and why not a single vote was rejected during the polls in Rangpur 6 constituency, the CEC said voters of the area cast their vote carefully.

Yesterday, Rakibuddin again claimed: “It is our great achievement to hold the polls in a free and fair manner despite obstacles.” l

Bangladesh Army man dies in Ivory Coast n Tribune Report

Female police stand guard in front of the main gate of the National Press Club yesterday

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

A Bangladesh Army doctor, who was critically injured in an accident while on a peace mission in Ivory Coast, died yesterday at a hospital in South Africa.

The deceased, Lt Md Tauhid-ul-Muluk, sustained severe head injuries in a road accident in the West African country on December 28, said an ISPR press release issued in Dhaka yesterday.

Lt Muluk was evacuated to the Mil-

park Hospital in Johannesburg where he was kept on life support. On-duty doctor declared him dead around 7.10 pm local time yesterday, Tauhid-ul-Muluk went to Ivory Coast on January 24, 2013 with BAN Medical-9. He worked as a cardiac anaesthetist at the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka before going on the UN mission.

He is survived by his parents, wife, a daughter and a son. l

in terror of the mayhem by Jamaat-Shibir activists as they vandalise and set Hindu residences and business establishments on fire. Their recent mayhem across the country has added panic among the Hindus of the locality.”

He added that the loom factory of his family came under attack on the very night of the execution of war criminal Abdul Quader Molla.

Police Superintendent SM Emran Hossain said police surveillance was intensified in Belkuchi and other upazilas of the district, and added that plain clothes police were also deployed to avoid any untoward incident. l

EC orders transfer of Laxmipur DC, Jessore SP n Our Correspondent, Lakshmipur The Election Commission yesterday ordered transfer of the deputy commissioner of Lakshmipur and the superintendent of police in Jessore for negligence of duty.

The commission also ordered transfer of the officer-in-charge of Doar upazila in Sunamganj district for the same reason, EC officials said.

The EC had previously ordered the transfer of eight upazila nirbahi officers of Gaibandha, Kurigram, Panchagarh and Dinajpur for negligence duty during the polls.

Re-voting of 392 polling centres in eight constituencies of six districts will be held on January 16. l

College student found dead in Faridpur n Our Correspondent, Faridpur The body of a college student was recovered from behind the Faridpur Pourasabha office in the town on Wednesday morning.

The deceased was identified as Ramendra Protap Das, 18, son of Rabindra Nath Das of Shaympur village under Sultanpur union of Rajbari district.

He was an HSC examinee of Faridpur City College. Locals found the body in a ditch and informed police.

The cause of the killing could be known yet. A case was filed with Kotwali Police Station in this connection. l

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Tobacco farming shoots up alarmingly in Lalmonirhat n Our Correspondent, Lalmonirhat Tobacco farming is increasing alarmingly in Lalmonirhat district causing threat to paddy cultivation.

According to Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources, at least 50 thousand hectares of land have been prepared by farmers this year for cultivating tobacco in the district where it was 25 thousand hectares last year.

Tobacco is being cultivated on large scale of lands that is double than that of the last year in five upazilas of the district this season due to lack of farmers ‘awareness.

Mahatb Hossain, a 70-year old farmer in Riktikir Hat village under Sadar upazila never cultivated tobacco in the past but this year he is encouraged to cultivate it on his three acres of land.

Like Mahatab, many farmers started cultivating tobacco on their croplands.

About two thousand farmers in the district newly enlisted their names as tobacco growers.

It has been increasing alarmingly in the region due to tobacco companies’ door to door active motivation.

Farmers at different villages said they were highly interested in cultivating tobacco instead of other crops especially paddy as it brought windfall profit for them.

They get seed, fertiliser and technical supports from tobacco companies.

They never face marketing problem as the companies purchase the products.

Farmer Dhirendra Nath Barmon of Kashipur village said, “I have prepared three hectares land for tobacco cultivation this year where these lands were cultivated for paddy last year.”

Farm labourers Ali Azgor. Soleman Ali, Mantez Ali, Narayan Chandra and Tipu Miah at Sarpukur village under Aditmari upazila said about double land than that of last year had been taken under the cultivation.

Atoar Rahman, a tobacco grower for the last twenty years in Saptibari village under Aditmari upazila said many farmers had started cultivating tobacco newly with the hope of windfall profit.

“We, the tobacco growers always get input and technical supports from the tobacco companies,” he said.

“We get interest free loan from the company in our crisis period,” said tobacco grower Nazmul Islam.

Farmer Hasen Ali in Karnapur village of Sadar upazila said, “Agriculture officials never come to build up farmers’ awareness against tobacco cultivation and maximum farmers are still unknown about its harmfulness.”

DAE Deputy Director AED Abdul Mazid said, “Agriculture officials conduct campaign to build up awareness among the farmers against tobacco cultivation.” l

Farmers work in a tobacco cultivation in Sarpukur village of Aditmari upazila in Lalmonirhat

Sirajganj enveloped in fear of highway violence n Our Correspondent, Sirajganj Businessmen, transport owners and workers in Sirajganj are still afraid to move their vehicles freely on the highways in anticipation of a renewed outbreak of violence which marked the run-up to the 10th parliamentary election.

The election took place on Sunday amid threats of consequence by the opposition alliance, stoking fears that highway violence might have a new lease of life if a political reconciliation is not reached soon.

Over a hundred of vehicles, including goods-carrying trucks, came under various forms of attack in the past one month in different upazilas of the district. They were torched, vandalised and often looted, by miscreants with suspected links to the opposition.

The Dhaka-Rajshahi and Bogra-Na-

garbari highways were at the forefront of risks, where incidents of arson, vandalism and robbery occurred almost on a regular basis. The arsonists, armed with petrol bombs and cocktails, often targeted vehicles late at night.

Three traders – Akhter Hossain of Pabna, Imran of Bogra, and another unidentified one – were killed during such late-night attacks lately. Among other victims were bus-driver Ataur Rahman and his assistant Shahin, both now undergoing treatment at a Dhaka hospital.

According to an unverified account, at least 50 people including transport workers and businessmen were wounded in highway attacks in the last one month.

Three suspected robbers were killed in a gunfight with police on the DhakaSirajganj-Rajshahi highway recently.

The reinforcement of highway officials, however, brought little relief to the dis-

DHAKA TRIBUNE

5 killed in road accidents n Tribune Report

traught businessmen who think no security initiatives will be enough unless backed by a political goodwill.

In this regard, Emran Hossain, superintendent of police in Sirajganj, said: “We have orders from the home ministry about ensuring security for goods-laden trucks.”

“Police as well as officials of Rab and Army are taking care of security risks on the highways. Some truck-drivers fell into the traps of miscreants because of their not seeking police security.”

Deputy Commissioner of Sirajganj Md Billal Hossain said: “Police, Army and Rab officials were deployed in the areas between Hatikumrul circle and Baghbari of the district to ensure safe transportation of urea fertilisers.”

“Fertilisers were transported without any hassle to different districts of the northern region in the past few days.” l

Five people were killed in Sylhet and Rajshahi in separate road crashes yesterday.

Four people were killed and another was injured as a pickup van collided head-on with a CNG-run auto-rickshaw in Karua in Sylhet, reports UNB. Three of the deceased were Hasmat, 45, of Oporpara village in Kanaighat upazila, Islam, 40, of Noagram village of the same upazila, and Kabir, 35, of Baroigram village in Jointapur upazila. Identity of the other deceased could not be known immediately.

Sub-Inspector Rakibul Islam of the Osmani Nagar police station said the Sylhet city-bound pickup van collided head-on with the auto-rickshaw coming from the opposite direction in the area at about 6am, leaving four people dead on the spot and another injured.

On information, police recovered the bodies and sent those to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital

morgue for post mortem examination and injured Saiful was admitted to the same hospital.

In Rajshahi, a schoolboy was killed on the spot when a human haulier hit him at Roipara area on Rajshahi-Durgapur road under Durgapur upazila, Rajshahi. The deceased was Nayeem Islam, 6, a student of class one of Roipara Government Primary School, reports BSS. Police said the accident happened when a human haulier hit the boy as he just appeared on the road from his school around 11:30am. Nayeem was on his way home from school after taking new books before death.

In protest against the death, local people stage demonstration on the road and reportedly vandalised five vehicles including the human haulier and three motorbikes.

Being informed police rushed to the scene and brought the situation under control, said Saiful Islam, officer-incharge of Durgapur police station. l

Customs officer beaten for extortion in Satkhira n Our Correspondent, Satkhira A group of miscreants beat up a customs officer severely for extortion on Tuesday evening at city’s Customs Godown office in Jail road.

The victim was identified as Ahmedul-Islam Chanachal, son of Abdul Matin of Katia area of the city.

Witnesses said, Saiful Islam Sumon, son of Shafiqul Islam used to demand money from Chanchal as extortion. He demanded Tk 10,000 on the day.

Chanachal was hit by Sumon and his associates while he was working at his office.

Locals sent him to hospital in critical condition.

Satkhira Customs Godown Officerl Nazrul Islam said action would be taken in this regard. l

20,000 char families change fortune through farming pumpkin n Tribune Report Over 20,000 extremely poor families, mostly landless and erosion victims, living in remote sandy-barren char lands on the Brahmaputra basin have changed their fates through farming pumpkin in recent years.

These families are now leading a better life through pumpkin (sweet gourd) cultivation with the assistances of different NGOs, reports BSS. Agriculture and Environment Coordinator of RDRS Bangladesh Mamunur Rashid said the NGOs have been extending assistance to more than 2,500 poor families. The families who had sowed pumpkin seeds would harvest Bandarban bus terminal bears an empty look as it is yet to start operation after 10 years of completion

Woman dies ‘mysteriously’ n Our Correspondent, Brahmanbaria A female employee of Christian Memorial Hospital died at Banik Para, Brahmanbaria yesterday. She fell from the roof of seven storey hospital building.

The deceased was Lipika Gomes, 45, a staff of accounts section of the hospital. Lipika, from Dhaka, had a husband and three daughters.

Witnesses said Lipika fell down on a tin-shed house behind the hospital building around 9am. Hearing the sound of her falling, locals rushed to the spot and took her to the hospital.

Doctors of Sadar hospital confirmed her death.

Sub-Inspector of Brahmanbaria sadar police station Md Rafiqul Islam said the death of Lipika was “mysterious” and they were investigating into the incident.

The body was sent to the Brahmanbaria Sadar Hospital morgue for most mortem examination, he said. l

n Our Correspondent, Bandarban The bus terminal of Bandarban is yet to go into operation although it was built more than a decade back.

Official concerned said the terminal was built on 1.6 hectares of land costing Tk1.36 crore, which was provided

by Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board, in 2002.

Sources alleged that the terminal was not started because of lack of coordination between board members, municipality authorities and members of “Poribahan Malik-Sramik Organisation.”

As a result, a temporary bus terminal was established beside the main road, the entrance to the town.

Different transport organisations

have been carrying passengers by establishing bus stands in the temporary terminal that have made it a permanent one, and the locals, passengers and tourists are suffering a lot as the buses are randomly parked on the main road.

Locals have long been demanding to open the main terminal to reduce sufferings of the passengers.

Local said population and number of Dhaka bound and Chittagong bound buses were increasing in the same pace, adding that random parking of those vehicles had been ruining the beauty of the town.

Md Javed Reza, Bandarban Municipality mayor, said: “Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board authorities have renovated the terminal and soon it will be opened in full fledge.” l

Many other farmers have also achieved similar success in Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Nilphamari, Gaibandha, Bogra and Sirajganj districts.

Horticulture Specialist of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Khandker Md Mesbahul Islam said that cultivation of pumpkin in the sandy-barren char lands has become popular in recent years through GONGO collaboration.

Deputy Director of the DAE Feroz Ahmed said pumpkin cultivation has become popular in riverine areas to assist the char people in achieving selfreliance through adapting with adverse climate to improve livelihoods and ensure food security. l

NEWS IN BRIEF

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Bandarban bus terminal yet to start even after a decade

the crop from May in Gangachara and Kawnia upazilas of Rangpur, Sadar and Nageswari upazilas of Kurigram, Sadar and Aditmari upazilas of Lalmonirhat, he said.

Erosion victim Chan Mina, 63, of Dhushmara Char in Kawnia upazila said he sowed 250 pumpkin plants on char lands this year. He had sold 1,650 pumpkins last year at Tk5 lakh and profited Tk60,000.

Mostafizar Rahman, 47, and widow Amena Begum, 45, of village Char Nazirdaho said they have cultivated pumpkin on 180 and 75 decimals char lands respectively. They earned huge profits Tk80,000 and Tk43,000 respectively last year through selling their products.

Tk20 lakh valuables looted in Sylhet Robbers looted valuables worth Tk20 lakh from an expatriate’s house at Barthakuri village in Jakiganj upazila early yesterday.

Locals said a gang of armed robbers stormed into the house of Abdul Jubbar around 2am and held the house inmates hostage at gunpoint. They looted 33 tolas of gold ornament, Tk3.50 lakh and other valuables.The robbers also beat up Jobbar’s wife Ayatunnesa, his son Hifzur Rahman and two daughters Shakera and Sajeda as they tried to resist the robbery, leaving them injured. Later,the robbers escaped with the booty. The injured were given first aid. On information, police visited the spot.

Officer-in-charge Yunus Mia of Jakiganj police station confirmed the incident and said a case was filed in this connection. – UNB

Construction worker electrocuted in Munshiganj A construction worker died from electrocution in Makhati area of Sadar upazila on Tuesday. The deceased was

Nazimuddin of Dobarchar village in Sherpur district. Witnesses said three construction workers – Nazimuddin,22, Sanwar Mia, 19, and Sunny, 30, came in contact with a live wire in Ikram Cold Storage as they were working there around 2pm, leaving Nazimuddin dead on the spot and the other two injured. The injured were admitted to Munshiganj General Hospital. – UNB

Robber killed in Chittagong An alleged robber was killed and another injured as a mob beat them up at Nehalpur village of Fatehpur union under Hathazari upazila, Chittagong on Tuesday night. The deceased was Jabed, 27, and the injured was Badsha, 28. Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Ismail Hossain of Hathazari police station said a gang of seven to eight robbers stormed into the house of Jalal Ahmed and looted gold, money and other valuables at gunpoint around 3:30am. As the inmates of the house made hue and cry, the locals rushed to the spot and caught the two robbers. They beaten the two and left Jabed dead on the spot.The house owner filed a

robbery case while the police filed another case in this connection. – BSS

Robber held in Sunderbans, arms and ammunition seized

The Coast Guard of Kokoilmony station in Mongla West Zone, Khulna arrested a robber from Shaowla canal under Sharonkhola range in the Sunderbans on Tuesday. The Coast Guard also seized two guns and three rounds of bullet from the spot. The detainee was Ali Sheikh, 45, second- incommand of Master Bahini. Sheikh, of village Bagha under Rampal upazila, Bagerhat was a listed criminal, a press release said.

The press release, issued by Lieutenant Commander ABM Mohiuddin of Coast Guard, said a unit of Coast Guard went on a drive at Shaola canal and arrested Sheikh.

He was hiding beside the canal with injuries and was rushed to Khulna Medical College Hospital in critical condition. Earlier, he was injured in a shootout between Kamal bahini and Master bahini. A case was filed with Sharonkhola police station in this connection. – BSS

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Juris

7

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Independence of Supreme Court in the cyber world

JURIS QUOTE

LAW CARTOON

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

I

n Abdullah Al Arif

s our Supreme Court independent from the government or is it still a branch of the government? The ordinary answer would be, yes, our Supreme Court is independent and no longer a part of the government.

But, at least the web address of our Supreme Court has yet to get independence from the government as the URL is www.supremecourt.gov.bd.

In the cyber world, country codes such as “.bd,” and generic suffixes such as “.com” and “.net,” are known as toplevel domains. The second-level domain is whatever precedes this suffix: for example “.edu” or “.gov.” Hence, www. supremecourt.gov.bd simply means the Supreme Court is a sub division of the Bangladeshi government.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom has decided to change its web address in the New Year, reflecting the court’s constitutional position as independent of other branches of government. A UK Supreme Court news release was issued in this regard on December 16, 2013. The previous URL of the UK Supreme Court was supremecourt.gov.uk.

In contrast, some of the most important UK national institutions – parliament, the police, the British Library, and, rather curiously, the Ministry of Defence – were allowed to dispense with a shared second-level domain. Instead, they use their own name or initials followed by the country code – for example, police.uk – enhancing their status while stressing their independence. In the same vein, the obvious web address for Britain’s Supreme Court was supremecourt. uk, one that was available but that the court was not allowed to use while the website was initiated more than eight years ago.

According to the press release, from January 6 this year,

the domain addresses of the UK Supreme Court and Privy Council will be www.supremecourt.uk and www.jcpc.uk respectively.

This move follows a drive for most public bodies to publish their online material under the single “gov.uk” portal.

The new arrangement reflects that the UK Parliament, which is not suffixed with a ‘.gov’ address, is free from the government’s interference and influence

The Supreme Court was concerned that such a move would risk undermining perceptions of its independence, especially when as many as half of the Supreme Court’s caseload involves the government as a party. The new arrangement reflects that the UK Parliament, which is not suffixed with a “.gov” address, is free from the government’s interference and influence.

The press release added: “The overall content and design of the two websites will not change. Users searching for the current “top level” domains – ie homepages – will be

automatically redirected to the new addresses from January, though web users who have bookmarked or published ‘deep links’ to pages or resources on the Supreme Court and JCPC websites will need to amend these to reach the new address.”

Legal professionals and other court users are also being informed of a corresponding change to the email addresses of Supreme Court staff and Justices, also effective from January 6.

Although we all know that the UK legal system is very sophisticated and has developed many new legal standards over the centuries, France is fairly ahead of them in this regard. The URL of the highest court of France is www.courdecassation.fr. While many other countries with rich legal traditions have not yet thought of it, the UK and France have already done it, and set a precedent for other countries to follow.

The web address of the US Supreme Court still bears a “.gov” suffix (http://www.supremecourt.gov/), and it seems difficult for them to find a quick alternative as the US domain addresses do not have country suffixes, such as “.us” or “.usa.”

India is a bit different. The web address of the Indian Supreme Court is www.supremecourt.nic.in. Here, the second level suffix “.nic,” which stands for national informatics centre (NIC), and the website is designed, developed and hosted

by NIC Computer Cell, Supreme Court of India. However, the content on the website is published and managed by the Registry of the Supreme Court of India.

To conclude, since our judiciary is independent from the government, the Supreme Court of Bangladesh should consider changing its web address in line with the example set by the UK Supreme Court and the highest court in France to ensure its independence in the cyber world. l

CARTOON BY RIO SHUVO

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Availing notary services in Bangladesh Fee for verifying, authentication, certifying or attesting the execution of any instrument is Tk20 n RaisuL Islam Sourav

U

sually, attestation by a notary public is required to authenticate various types of documents eg academic certificates, character certificates, birth/death certificates, emigration-related documents etc. It is mandatory to provide notary public endorsed copies of deeds or affidavits to transfer and register any kind of immoveable property.

Sometimes, endorsement by a notary public is also required to transfer some moveable property (eg sale of a car, etc). In case the original document is in a different language, attestation by a notary public is required to authenticate any translation of the original document. Moreover, a notary public prepares deeds for foreign dealings in a prescribed format.

Notary public also prepares charter party and other commercial documents, ensures safety of payment or demand of any promissory note or bill of exchange etc.

Fees

Most people are not aware of the actual charge of notary.

Many a time a notary public charges much higher than the actual fees, taking advantage of the ignorance of the common people. However, the fees have been fixed by the government and no one can charge more than that. If any notary public receives more than the specified fees, the injured party may a lodge a complaint against the notary public. According to Rule 10 of The Notaries Rules, 1964, the fee for administering oath to or taking affidavit from any person is Tk10 and for verifying, authentication, certifying or attesting the execution of any instrument is Tk20.

Generally, a person who has been a practicing lawyer for a term not less than seven years or had been a member of judicial service for a term not less than five years or had been serving as a government servant in the legislative drafting and law-making process of the government are eligible for appointment as a notary under the Notaries Ordinance and Notaries Rule, 1964. However, as per rule 60A of the Notaries Rule, 1964, every notary registrar must have an office and he/she cannot exhibit his signboard except in that office.

Beware of deception

How to authenticate

To attest any document, the concerned notary public must compare the copy produced before him/her with the original document. However, the executor of an affidavit must be present before the notary to execute an affidavit. After scrutinising the documents, the notary public will sign the document and affix a special government seal along with his official seal on the same.

Who could be a notary public?

BIG STOCK

SERVICES PROVIDED BY A NOTARY PUBLIC n

Verify, authenticate, certify or attest the execution of any instrument

n

Present any promissory note, hundi or bill of exchange for acceptance of payment or demand better security

n

Note or protest the dishonour by non-acceptance or non-payment of any promissory note, hundi or bill of exchange or protest for better security or prepare acts of honour under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, or serve notice of such note or protest

n

Note and draw up ship’s protest, boat’s protest or protest relating to demurrage and other commercial matters

n

Administer oath to, or take affidavit from any person

n

Prepare bottomry and respondantia bonds, charter parties and other mercantile documents

n

Prepare, attest or authenticate any instrument intended to take effect in any country or place outside Bangladesh in such form and language as may conform to the law of the place where such deed is intended to operate

n

Translate, and verify the translation of, any document from one language into another

Notary public authenticated documents have little worth to prove a legal claim. It basically ensures originality of a document or certifies a formal declaration. Hence, some notary publics may engage in deceitful activities. Often, the person who wants to get an affidavit does not present himself physically before the notary, which is a legal prerequisite to attest an affidavit.

Some do not have any authority to notarise, but they display fake signboards and fraudulently function as a notary public. Some of them use the name and seal of a notary public whose registration has expired. They endorse fake marriage in the name of “court marriage,” which does not have any legal effect, rather is a mere declaration. Hence, the concerned parties must observe their respective religious rituals and registration to solemnise a valid marriage.

Some notary publics may also notarise fictitious documents, helped along by some unscrupulous lawyers. Often, they prepare forged deeds and predate documents to establish their client’s claim. In addition, they may create fake power of attorney with a view to transferring property. Therefore, one has to be very careful before availing any service from a notary public and make sure that the notary public has valid and up-to-date registration from the government. l The author is a senior lecturer and coordinator, Department of Law, Dhaka International University.

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

International

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Morsi trial delayed due to ‘bad weather’ n Agencies Egyptian security officials say bad weather has delayed ousted President Mohammed Morsi’s helicopter flight from a prison in the country’s north to Cairo for the resumption of his trial on charges of inciting murder.

Morsi is being held in a prison near the Mediterranean city of Alexandria.

The officials say thick fog there on Wednesday meant he could not be flown to the court in Cairo.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.

Morsi and 14 others are on trial for inciting the killing of protesters outside a Cairo presidential palace in December 2012, when at least 10 people were killed and hundreds wounded. It’s one of three trials that Morsi faces. Charges in all three carry the death penalty.

Up to 20,000 security forces were on high alert for his court appearance in the capital Cairo, according to the interior ministry.

An Islamist coalition led by the Brotherhood had called for a “million man march” to coincide with the hearing.

Ahead of the trial, clashes brokeout in Cairo’s Nasr City district between pro-Morsi protesters and security forces, injuring several people, according to Al Jazeera’s correspondent.

Morsi first appeared in court in early November, insisting that he was still president and being held against his will.

A state prosecutor charged Morsi and 14 other Muslim Brotherhood members in 2013 with “committing acts of violence, and inciting killing and thuggery,” the state news agency reported.

The charges relate to violence in which around a dozen people were

killed outside the presidential palace in December 2012, after Morsi had ignited protesters’ rage with a decree that expanded his powers.

The episode was one of the most violent of his presidency.

Tens of thousands of people gathered outside the presidency to demonstrate against Morsi’s decree and a divisive, Islamist-tinged constitution that he planned to put to a referendum.

The Brotherhood’s leaders called on members to rally to his defence. The state news agency said they were now accused of mobilising their followers to forcibly disperse the protesters after the security forces rejected Morsi’s orders to do so.

The charges against Morsi include inciting his followers and assistants to commit crimes of premeditated murder and use violence and thuggery.

Morsi was toppled just a year into his term following mass protests fuelled by anger at economic mismanagement and Brotherhood attempts to entrench its power.

A state prosecutor charged Morsi and 14 other Muslim Brotherhood members in 2013 with ‘committing acts of violence, and inciting killing and thuggery’ His downfall has led to some of the worst violence in Egypt’s modern history, in the form of protests by his supporters, a bloody police crackdown on those supporters, and attacks on the police and churches.

At least 900 people, most of them Morsi supporters, were killed in August 2013 after the authorities smashed two protest camps set up by Morsi’s supporters in Cairo. l

Removal of Syria’s chemical weapons begins n Agencies

Rebels launched a series of strikes against the al-Qaeda affiliated ISIL in Syria

Syria al-Qaeda leader urges end to infighting n Reuters The head of al-Qaeda in Syria has called for a ceasefire between opposition factions who have clashed for five days in the bloodiest bout of infighting since the revolt against President Bashar al-Assad began.

An audio recording from the leader of the powerful Nusra Front, who goes by the name Abu Mohammad al-Golani, also laid much of the blame for the fighting on an al-Qaeda splinter group known as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

While both groups have roots in the global network and welcome foreign fighters, the Nusra Front has cooperated more with other rebel groups and has largely avoided the power struggles that ISIL has faced since wresting control of many opposition-held areas from other groups.

“The (Muslim) nation was shocked to hear of the internal infighting between the jihadist factions in the past number of days. We believe in an Islam with competing factions but a number of treacherous sides have exploited the current situation to carry out Western plans or for personal gain. We see the majority of the current fighting as a sedition amongst Muslims,” al-Golani said in his audio statement, published on Tuesday.

More than 274 people have been killed in the rebel-on-rebel clashes in Syria since they began on Friday, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition monitoring group.

Golani proposed forming an Islamic legal council to resolve feuds among the rebels and called for the fighters to return to their shared goal of fighting Assad’s forces, as the campaign to oust

the Syrian leader nears the end of its third year.

“There should be a ceasefire and compensation awarded for lost lives and money, the groups should be forced to all stand firmly together against any party that fails to adhere to the decision of the Sharia committee once it is taken,” Golani said.

Rebel groups last week launched a series of strikes against ISIL in northern and eastern Syria after months of increasing tensions with the group, which has alienated many Syrians in rebel-held regions.

Golani urged rebels not to become divided between foreign and local fighters, arguing that all were needed to launch jihad, or holy war, in the country.

He urged rebels to exchange prisoners and open roads to all opposition units. l

Gunmen kill three in Nigeria mosque attack

Brutal arctic chill means parts of US colder than Mars n AFP, Chicago A deadly chill had much of the United States and Canada in its wintry grip Tuesday, as a record-breaking cold snap brought temperatures lower than on the surface of Mars.

It was so cold in Chicago that the polar bear at the Lincoln Park zoo – who admittedly had not built up the winter fat stores of her wild cousins – was brought inside to warm up.

And in Kentucky, an escaped inmate begged to be let back into prison so he could warm up after spending the night shivering in an abandoned house.

All of Canada and all the US states bar tropical Hawaii recorded temperatures below freezing on Tuesday, even usually sunny and warm Florida and California.

But the most dangerous cold – cold that can cause frostbite in a minute and death in a matter of hours – hit the Midwest, dragged down as the ‘polar vortex’ brought frigid air from the Arctic.

Schools, businesses and government offices were closed. Water mains and household pipes froze. Airplanes were grounded, trains were halted and roads and sidewalks became ice rinks.

The town of Embarrass, Minnesota, recorded the lowest temperature in the United States Tuesday at a frigid -37 Celsius (-35 Fahrenheit).

Then there was the wind chill: a calculation that represents how much colder it feels when the blinding gusts hit you in the face.

That dipped as low as -52 Celsius in Montana and was in the -40 to -50 Celsius range in parts of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

That’s cold enough to toss a cup of boiling water into the air and watch it turn into snow before it hits the ground.

The Mars Rover has been sending back daily temperature readings from its tour of the Red Planet ranging from -25 to -31 degrees Celsius (-13 and -24 degrees Fahrenheit).

“To be fair, though, Mars is still way colder,” the Smithsonian Institute wrote in a blog post. “The Curiosity rover is driving around in a crater at, roughly, the equivalent latitude of Venezuela.”

But then again, Mars is 78m miles further away from the Sun. For a more Earthly comparison, the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station recorded a temperature of -23 Celsius (-9 Fahrenheit) and a wind chill factor of -35 Celsius (-31 Fahrenheit) on Tuesday. l

AFP

Syria has started moving chemical weapons materials out of the country in a crucial phase of an internationally backed disarmament programme that has been delayed by war and technical problems.

The joint mission overseeing the disarmament, the UN and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), said on Tuesday that the materials had been moved from two sites to the port of Latakia and then loaded onto a Danish commercial vessel.

“This is an important step commencing the transportation of these materials as part of the plan to complete their disposal outside the territory of Syria,’’ Mehmet Uzumcu, OPCW director-general, said in a statement.

“I encourage the Syrian government to maintain the momentum to remove the remaining priority chemicals, in a safe and timely manner, so that they can be destroyed outside of Syria as quickly as possible.’”

In separate interview with Al Jazeera, Sigrid Kaag, joint mission coordinator for the UN and OPCW, said the first shipment indicates the progress is being made.

“It is first in a series of moves that the Syrian authorities are expected to undertake to ensure that all chemical agents will be taken out of the country,” Kaag said.

Syria agreed to abandon its chemical weapons by June under a deal proposed by Russia and agreed with the United States after an Aug. 21 sarin gas attack that Western nations blamed on President Bashar al-Assad’s forces. Damascus blames rebels for the attack.

Washington welcomed the removal of chemical materials and said Assad’s government appeared to be sticking to the deal. l

n AFP, Kano

Former Somalia president and Puntland presidential candidate: Abdiwali Ali Gaas

AFP

Presidential poll underway in Puntland n AFP, Mogadishu Lawmakers in Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region on Wednesday started voting for a new president amid tight security, officials said.

The lawmakers – 65 men and one woman – were appointed by clan elders at the very end of next year.

All 11 candidates in this poverty-stricken region, that forms the tip of the Horn of Africa and makes up around a third of Somalia’s territory, swore to respect the result of the poll.

“I committed to fully abide by the outcome of the election for the Puntland presidency and my fellow candidates did likewise,” Abdiwali Ali Gaas, a former Somali prime minister told AFP.

The Puntland authorities are taking no chances with security. Roads into the capital Garowe have been closed since Tuesday evening and the area round the parliament building is closed even to pedestrians.

In early December a car bomb in Puntland’s main port Bosaso, which lies on the Gulf of Aden, left at least 11 dead.

Al-Qaeda linked Shebab insurgents operate from the rugged Golis mountains southwest of Bosaso, a lawless region under longtime control of warlord, arms dealer and Shebab ally Mohamed Said Atom, who is under UN Security Council sanctions for “kidnapping, piracy and terrorism.”

Shebab fighters have in the past launched attacks on military bases near Bosaso. l

The father of a state governor who defected from Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan’s ruling party escaped unhurt after gunmen attacked a mosque in his village, police said on Wednesday.

Musa Saleh Kwankwaso, whose son is Kano state governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, was at the place of worship in Kwankwaso village when the attack happened at about 7:30 pm (1830 GMT) on Tuesday.

Three worshippers were killed and 12 others were injured, said Kano state police spokesman Magaji Musa Majia.

“Among the worshippers at the mosque was the district head (chief) of Madobi (local government area) and father of Kano state governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who escaped unhurt,” he told AFP. “The identity of the attackers and motive of the attack are not yet known but (an) investigation has commenced.”

The banned Islamist militant group Boko Haram, fighting a four-yearlong insurgency in northern Nigeria, has previously attacked mosques in Kano.

It was unclear whether the attack was politically motivated.

The banned Islamist militant group Boko Haram, fighting a four-year-long insurgency in northern Nigeria, has previously attacked mosques in Kano The younger Kwankwaso was one of five state governors to defect from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) late last year.

The defections prompted 37 PDP lawmakers in Nigeria’s lower house of parliament to switch allegiance to the APC, with more moves expected in the upper chamber, the Senate.

A doctor at the Aminu Kano Teach-

ing Hospital (AKTH) in Kano, where the victims of the attack were taken, said the injured, including four children, were being treated for gunshot wounds.

One of two policemen attached to Musa Saleh Kwankwaso, who was shot in the hand, said the gunmen fired on the mosque from outside but were chased away after a shoot-out when reinforcements arrived.

“We kept firing from the windows toward any moving shadow we saw lurking around the mosque while the gunmen kept firing at the mosque, which helped in preventing them entering,” he said.

In February 2012, suspected Boko Haram gunmen fired at worshippers in the Tudun Maliki area of Kano city, killing five, including a local vigilante leader.

The previous month, the state capital was the scene of the most deadly strike in the insurgency when 185 people were killed in a co-ordinated bomb and gun attack.

But there has been a lull in violence in recent months. l

Turkey sacks more police as graft scandal deepens n AFP, Ankara The Turkish government fired 16 provincial police chiefs in a new mass purge Wednesday as a corruption scandal rocking Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan deepened.

Among those dismissed were police from several big cities and provinces including Ankara, Izmir, Antalya and Diyarbakir as well as the deputy head of national security, under a decree signed by Interior Minister Efkan Ala. The latest purge comes just a day after the government fired 350 police officers in the capital Ankara – bringing the total number sacked to over 700

since mid-December when the graft scandal broke, according to local media tallies.

Media reports Tuesday also said another 25 people had been detained on suspicion of bribery and fraud in the widening corruption probe that has targeted several key Erdogan allies.

The turmoil has rocked Erdogan’s government to its very core just weeks before crucial local elections in March and has sent Turkish financial markets tumbling.

‘Bid to shatter Turkey’s self-confidence’ But the government vowed Wednesday it would overcome the crisis. l

Villages near L’Aquila such as Onna were also shattered by the quake

AP

Four arrested over Italy earthquake bribes n AFP, Rome Four people were placed under house arrest on Wednesday for alleged bribery linked to reconstruction contracts following the 2009 earthquake in L’Aquila in central Italy which killed 309 people, police said.

Four more people have been notified they are under investigation,

including the quake-struck city’s deputy mayor, Roberto Riga, and a local official in charge of restoring damaged monuments, Vladimiro Placidi.

Police said the eight people under investigation received a total of 500,000 euros ($680,000) in kickbacks from construction firms.

They are also accused of falsifying papers to receive 1.2m euros in

public funds and one is suspected of profiting from the sale of post-quake housing.

L’Aquila and the surrounding area in the Apennine mountains were devastated by the earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale and many buildings in the city centre still lie in ruins, with few signs of the hundreds ofms of euros spent on reconstruction. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

International

Nine dead in Indian train fire near Mumbai

India targets American expatriate club as diplomatic row escalates

n AFP, Mumbai

n Reuters, New Delhi

A fire on an overnight train killed at least nine people Wednesday with sleeping victims overcome by flames and smoke as the blaze ripped through three carriages, a railway official said.

The blaze, which comes less than a fortnight after 26 people were killed in a similar fire tragedy, happened shortly after the train left Mumbai for the northern city of Dehradun.

“Nine people have died from the fire which spread to three coaches in the night. The fire broke out at about 2:30 am,” said the Western Railway spokesman Sharat Chandrayan.

The blaze, the cause of which is not yet known, started when the train was in Thane district neighbouring Mumbai.

“The gateman at a railway station informed the guard inside the

Indian firemen try to extinguish a fire layed by a violent mob at a veterinary office in Diphu

train,” Chandrayan said.

The train continued on its journey later in the morning after the three burnt carriages were detached and the fire was extinguished. So far four of the victims have been identified.

Many passengers managed to escape from the blazing and smoke-filled coaches by breaking open the back doors, a survivor, Mehul, told news channel CNN-IBN, but he said others died of suffocation.

“All the windows and doors were sealed shut and the compartments were packed with smoke. Some escaped but those who couldn’t died because they couldn’t breathe,” Mehul told the channel. Indian Railways Minister Mallikarjun Kharge ordered compensation for relatives of the victims as well as an enquiry into the incident, another Western Railway official said. l

AFP

Clashes in northeast India leave 17 dead as thousands flee

Thailand to deploy 15,000 police in shutdown

n AFP, Guwahati

Nearly 15,000 police and soldiers will be deployed in the Thai capital next week for the planned “shutdown” of Bangkok by demonstrators trying to overthrow the government, officials said Wednesday.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has called February elections following weeks of opposition street protests.

But the demonstrators have vowed to block the vote, which they fear will only prolong the political dominance of herbnaire family.

The protesters say they will occupy the capital from January 13 until they win their battle to topple the government.

They plan to set up stages around the city, preventing officials from going to work and cutting off power and water to state buildings.

The government is mobilising 14,880 police and soldiers for the mass rally, national police spokesman Piya Uthayo said in a televised briefing.

“Our goal is to prevent any violence or clashes,” he said.

Clashes between tribes in India’s restive northeast Assam state have left 17 dead and forced thousands to flee, officials said Wednesday.

Some 4,000 people have sought refuge in makeshift camps since fighting started in December in Karbi Anglong district, about 320 kilometres (199 miles) from the main city of Guwahati, a police spokesman said.

The latest violence, between the Karbi and Rengma Naga tribes over attempts to grab land, has involved villagers being shot at close range and their bodies dumped in a jungle area, officials told AFP. “Most of the people have fled their homes out of fear following violent clashes between the two tribes that have been raging on in the past fortnight,” state water resources minister Rajib Lochan Pegu told AFP. The latest violence, between the Karbi and Rengma Naga tribes over

attempts to grab land, has involved villagers being shot at close range and their bodies dumped in a jungle area, officials told AFP. Extra army, police, and paramilitary troopers have been deployed to prevent further clashes, said Pegu, who is overseeing security and relief operations in the district.

Northeast India has seen decades of unrest among ethnic and separatist groups Separatists belonging to the Karbi People’s Liberation Tigers attacked a Rengma Naga village in late December, killing seven residents, police officials said.

In a retaliatory attack, militants from the National Socialist Council of Nagaland, which comprises Rengma Naga tribes people, killed 10 Karbi villagers. Their bodies were found in an isolated jungle area near Dimapur, the commercial hub of adjoining Nagaland state, a police official said.

9

Thursday, January 9, 2014

“All the victims were first abducted, their hands tied and blindfolded and then shot at from close range with automatic weapons,” V.Z. Angami, police chief of Dimapur, told AFP. “There have been threats and counter-threats going on in the area with a sense of fear and hence the exodus of villagers from both communities,” local police official A. Das said.

Northeast India, linked to the rest of the country by a narrow land bridge, has seen decades of unrest among ethnic and separatist groups.

The region is home to dozens of tribal groups and small guerrilla armies that resist rule from New Delhi. Many are fighting for separate homelands for their tribes, and they often compete against each other. The minister blamed the latest violence on attempts by one tribal group to take control of land dominated by the other.

“It is nothing but a turf war between the two tribes that has resulted in the clashes,” he said. l

n AFP, Bangkok

Thai stocks and the baht currency have fallen sharply on concerns that the deepening crisis will scare off foreign tourists and international investment.

Singapore Airlines has already cancelled 19 flights to Bangkok between 14 January and 25 February.

Bangkok city authorities have instructed 146 schools to close on Monday because of the shutdown.

Officials say the government is ready to declare a state of emergency if needed to deal with any unrest, following several outbreaks of street violence in which eight people, including a policeman, have been killed and hundreds wounded.

Critics say the protesters want to provoke fresh clashes in the hope of triggering a military coup on the pretext of restoring order – an accusation the demonstrators deny.

Thailand has been periodically shaken by political bloodshed since Yingluck’s older brother Thaksin Shinawatra was toppled by royalist generals in a coup seven years ago. l

N Korea ‘election’ may provide clues to power shift n AFP, Seoul North Korea will hold elections to its rubber-stamp parliament in March, opening a rare window on possible power shifts in Pyongyang following the recent execution of leader Kim Jong-Un’s uncle.

The presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA) decided the election – held every five years – would take place on March 9, the North’s official KCNA news agency said Wednesday.

The last parliamentary vote – a highly staged process with only one approved candidate standing for each of the 687 districts – was held in 2009 under the leadership of Kim’s father, Kim Jong-Il. Kim succeeded his father in December 2011, and the candidate list for the March election will be closely watched for indications that he is seeking to strengthen his grip on power.

Kim has already overseen sweeping changes within the North’s ruling elite – the most dramatic example being the purging and execution of his powerful

uncle and political mentor Jang SongThaek last month on charges of treason and corruption.

In his New Year message last week, Kim said the country had been strengthened by the removal of “factionalist scum.”

Jang, like many top North Korean officials, was a member of the SPA, and the March vote will provide an opportunity to see if any senior figures are removed from the candidates’ list.

“It will also be interesting to see who the new faces are, as some of them may be tagged for a key role under Kim Jong-Un,” said Kim Yeon-Chul, a professor at Inje University’s Unification Department.

Cheong Seong-Chang of the Sejong Institute think-tank in Seoul said the election could herald a “generational change” under Kim Jong-Un. The young leader celebrated his birthday Wednesday and is believed to be 30 or 31 years old. Kim was expected to mark the day watching an exhibition basketball match in Pyongyang organised by the eccentric ex-NBA star Dennis Rodman. l

Security officers try to beat Buddhist monks who took part in a rally of the Cambodian National Rescue Party in Phnom Penh

AFP, Phnom Penh

n

The United States said on Tuesday it will send 800 more soldiers and about 40 Abrams main battle tanks and other armoured vehicles to South Korea next month as part of a military rebalance to East Asia after more than a decade of war in Afghanistan and Iraq. The battalion of troops and M1A2 tanks and about 40 Bradley fighting vehicles from the 1st US Cavalry Division based at Fort Hood, Texas, will begin a nine-month deployment in South Korea on February 1.

A Pentagon spokesman said the personnel would remain for nine months but on departing would leave their equipment behind to be used by follow-on rotations of US forces. “This addition of forces to Korea is part of the rebalance to the Pacific. It’s been long planned and is part of our enduring commitment

to security on the Korean peninsula,” Army Colonel Steve Warren said.

“This gives the commanders in Korea an additional capacity: two companies of tanks, two companies of Bradleys,” he said. US Secretary of State John Kerry met with South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se in Washington on Tuesday and stated the US position on nuclear weapons in North Korea.

“The United States and the Republic of Korea stand very firmly united, without an inch of daylight between us, not a sliver of daylight, on the subject of opposition to North Korea’s destabilizing nuclear and ballistic missile programs and proliferation activities,” Kerry said.

The United States has some 28,000 troops based in South Korea, which has remained technically at war with Communist North Korea since the 1950-1953 Korean conflict ended in stalemate. l

China reports first H7N9 bird flu death this year n AFP, Beijing China has reported its first death from the H7N9 bird flu virus in 2014 after a significant drop-off in fatalities following an outbreak last year.

A patient in the southern province of Guangdong died of the disease on Monday, the provincial health authority said on its website Tuesday.

Official statistics compiled by China’s health ministry show that by the end of October last year there had been 136 H7N9 cases and 45 deaths in the outbreak which began in February.

The ministry separately announced another three cases and one death for the month of November, while provincial governments have reported additional cases. The latest death appears to be the first in mainland China since November.

A Hong Kong man infected with the strain died late last month, the city’s first such fatality. The H7N9 outbreak began in China in February 2013 and reignited fears that a virus could mutate to become easily transmissible, potentially triggering a pandemic. l

Tainted frozen food sickens hundreds in Japan n AP

US sends reinforcements Cambodia defends bloody crackdown n to South Korea Reuters

India has told the United States it cannot permit non-diplomats to visit a club at its Delhi embassy, escalating a row over the arrest of an Indian diplomat in New York.

Hundreds of expatriate Americans use the American Community Support Association club, which has a bar, swimming pool, restaurant and a beauty parlour within the embassy premises. The club has been in existence for decades.

The embassy must cease all commercial activities benefiting non-diplomatic staff on its premises by January 16, a government source with direct knowledge of the dispute told Reuters.

India is furious at the December 12 arrest, handcuffing and strip search of its deputy consul in New York, Devyani Khobragade, who prosecutors accuse of underpaying her nanny and lying on a visa application.

Still festering nearly a month on, the row has started to affect the wider relationship between the world’s two largest democracies, with one high-level visit already postponed and a visit scheduled for next week by US Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz now looking doubtful.

India has already taken a number of retaliatory measures and is now stepping up the pressure on Washington ahead of a court appearance by the diplomat due on January 13.

The latest move is aimed at closing the embassy’s social club to non-diplomats. India says the facilities are tax free because they are located in the embassy grounds. l

Cambodia on Wednesday defended its bloody crackdown on street protests in the face of growing international alarm, denouncing the rallies against strongman premier Hun Sen as violent and illegal.

Anti-government demonstrations have been banned indefinitely after several striking workers were shot dead by police last week while dozens of others were injured.

On Monday five land activists were detained temporarily as they tried to hold a rally.

“The demonstrations abused the law,” Foreign Minister Hor Namhong told reporters, insisting that the government had exercised restraint for months.

“The public generally applauds the decision by the government to halt the violent demonstrations,” he said.

But the United Nations’ human rights office said Tuesday it

was alarmed by Cambodia’s crackdown and urged authorities to show restraint.

Hun Sen has faced an increasing challenge to his nearly three-decade rule from garment workers seeking a pay rise, as well as from opposition supporters demanding that he call a new election due to alleged vote fraud in a July poll.

The opposition party has boycotted parliament since last year’s election, alleging that Hun Sen was returned to power because of widespread vote-rigging Cambodia National Rescue Party leader Sam Rainsy and his deputy Kem Sokha have been summoned to Phnom Penh Municipal Court on January 14 for questioning in connection with the recent unrest.

AP

The opposition party has boycotted parliament since last year’s election, alleging that Hun Sen was returned to power because of widespread vote-rigging.

The 61-year-old prime minister has ruled for 28 years and vowed to continue until he is 74.

He has faced mounting criticism over his rights record as well as accusations of excessive force against demonstrators.

Last Friday police opened fire on striking garment factory employees demanding a minimum wage of $160 per month for their work in an industry which supplies brands like Gap, Nike and H&M. Rights activists said at least four civilians were shot dead in what they described as the country’s worst state violence against its citizens in 15 years.

The strike has since been called off and most of the garment workers have returned to work, while some fled back to their villages in fear. l

Hundreds of people have fallen sick across Japan after eating frozen food that may have been tainted with a pesticide.

Food maker Maruha Nichiro Holdings used full-page ads in major newspapers on Wednesday apologising and warning consumers not to eat any of the tainted food.

“The products will have a strong smell and eating them may cause vomiting and stomach pain,” it said in the notice, which included 51 colour photos of the products, including pizza, croquettes and pancakes manufactured at a factory north of Tokyo.

The health ministry said it had confirmed 556 people suffering such symptoms after eating those products as of late Tuesday. In a notice on its website, it ordered Maruha Nichiro to recall all potentially affected products and to inform the public about the situation.

The company began recalling 6.4m packages of various frozen foods on Dec 29, saying it found some were tainted by high levels of malathion.

Malathion is a pesticide used in farming and gardening and also to kill fleas on animals and people. At high enough concentrations, it can cause death.

There have been no reports of life-threatening illnesses from Maruha’s products, but police are investigating how the items were reportedly contaminated by up to 2.6m times the allowed limit. l

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Letters to

www.dhakatribune.com

Odhikar indictment a worrisome sign

the Editor

LETTER OF THE DAY

What the common people want

T

he indictments issued against the director and secretary of Odhikar for publishing a “false report” illustrate the draconian nature of the ICT law, enacted first by BNP in 2006 and amended by AL in 2013.

Odhikar staff have been charged in relation to their report that 61 people died when law enforcers forcibly cleared Hefazat-e-Islam activists out from Motijheel in the early hours of May 6 last year.

The police, who vigorously dispute the figure, have brought charges on the basis that a “false report” has tarnished the image of the state and law enforcement agencies.

If found guilty, the accused face up to fourteen years in jail under the ICT act and seven years under the Penal Code.

Under these laws, any newspaper or other media which publishes reports that can potentially be described as false runs the risk of facing similar charges. The chilling effect on free debate and free media of such laws is self-evident.

Free media not punitive tribunals should be the forum for debate about disputed reports.

Like everyone else, the police and government should debate the facts and veracity of disputed reports within free media.

They should not seek to punish citizens for merely disseminating information or points of view with which they disagree.

Even if it is proved that reports are factually incorrect, a potential prison sentence is not the appropriate penalty. Independent observers both inside the country and out have commented on the threat to freedom of expression posed by provisions of the ICT Act. This week’s indictment justifies these fears.

Coming at the same time when so many opposition figures continue to be taken into custody, this latest indictment raises a broader concern of the machinery of the state being misused to clamp down on voices of dissent.

Free media not punitive tribunals should be the forum for debate about disputed reports

Let’s get back to business

A

Thursday, January 9, 2014

huge toll is being exacted on everyday life by the political crisis. Attention needs to be paid to economic warning signs such as the reported slowdown in rates of GDP growth and investment.

Most importantly, we should not allow the pervading uncertainty to distract us from the bigger picture. Bangladesh’s economy is still expected to expand at a higher rate than many countries around the world this year and has huge potential for continued growth.

There is an open window of opportunity created by the demographic dividend of a large number of young people entering the workforce. Now is the time to invest in improving human capital and skills to raise productivity so that everyone can benefit from economic growth.

Most people ultimately do not care to debate who is at fault for the shutdowns that have held back the economy. Without endorsing the position of either the government or the opposition with respect to who is to blame for the current crisis, they simply want the shutdowns to end and for life to go back to normal.

Ordinary citizens have little alternative but to focus on getting on with their lives. Politicians may play out their differences as they will, but so long as people are left free to be able to go about their business, there is no reason to suppose that the economy should not be able to get back on track and start ticking at a faster rate again.

The political parties must allow this to happen by working towards conciliation without stoking up confrontation and economic shutdowns.

January 5 Mehrin Chowdhury’s article has a very simple answer: “Tranquility and peace!”

We live in a country where normal and important civic facilities are scarce, but taken for granted. To remind our political leaders, lest they forget, these are adequate drinking water, steady electric power supply and acceptable sewerage facility, which partially cover only our urban areas. If these are made available, it can bring a “sea change” of satisfaction to the people, most of whom live in rural areas, where it is practically non-existent!

Do our politicians at all care? Frankly, no! If they think the votes may not come their way, they ignore the elections, and go for “unbridled violence.” This we now see to our utter regret.

Frustrated Bangali

PM’s son defends Jan 5 polls Living with myths January 2

Populist Very brave write-up. Kudos to the author. nds Where have you been so long? It appears that every truth that has eluded us all is in your pocket.

The nation was really unfortunate that it had to wait so long to be blessed with such a great soul to demystify all the myths that have been haunting fools like us for so long. However, better late than never. At long last our salvation seems to be imminent.

WaliulHaqueKhondker What is wrong in living with myths? Myths are metaphorical. Some people (like this author) regard myths as mere fabrications, to be discarded in our enlightened age. Such people are repelled by the myths’ preposterous elements (such as centaurs) and contradictions (within an individual myth, or in its revisions from one oral transmission to the next). But mythology’s enduring worth is not in its possible historical or scientific accuracy; instead, myths are important because they are metaphors. We learn about life and people and values in a way which cannot be offered by dry historical or political accounts; in mythology, we learn through imagination, as we feel and visualise the colourful adventures of the heroes! Although a myth is not a literal rendering of a sociopolitical and economic history, we can still use myths to explore the sociopolitical culture – its viewpoints, activities, beliefs and dreams! rtnguy Is 500,000 Bangladeshis killed a small number? Today, Bangladesh, for all its problems, enjoys peace and happiness which one would never find in Pakistan.

What the people want January 4

Akhtar Shah It’s abundantly clear that even amongst AL higher-ups, this election is not acceptable. Your poll suggests that 2/3 of those polled confirm this. Now what next?

Mukti Chai Rubbish poll!

AB Why? Because it contradicts the nonsense supporters of another BKSAL have been spewing?

January 3

Akhtar Shah The gentleman is a king in the making!

Aleef Khan Mr Joy, people wanted to see you in a more positive role, and they expected that you will bring a fresh start to politics. But, you couldn’t have disappointed me more with your vindictive comments, no compromising attitude, and a tone in your expression which is little different from your mother and Begum Zia. Your comments signify your lack of maturity in politics.

Please try to understand the pulse of the people. Don’t be a tool of power. Start something fresh and different. People are really looking for a change in politics. Why not come forward and propose a solution that will ensure an environment for a free, fair and credible election? I can tell you with confidence that the people will repay you back very soon in your political career.

Commoners’ party? Not a chance January 3

It seems life and death are decided by politicians in this country PA

Clarification on Khaleda’s ‘confinement’ sought January 3

Human rights? There is no concept of “human rights” in Bangladesh, unless there is a non-partisan government like that of Justice Shahabuddin’s in office.

Arch Bishop

Domestic air tickets in black market January 3

Very, very shameful!

Zaidul Islam

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

Muhith: Fresh polls on consensus after Jan 24

Send us your Op-Ed articles: opinion@dhakatribune.com

January 3

Then what kind of polls were those held on January 5?

Zunaed Imran

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CALVIN AND HOBBES

Now is the time to invest in improving human capital and skills to raise productivity so that everyone can benefit from economic growth

PEANUTS

CROSSWORD

SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS Crossword

ACROSS 1 Fragments (6) 4 Period of time (3) 7 Sheeplike (5) 8 Collect (6) 11 Argument (3) 12 Drug-yielding plant (4) 13 That time (4) 15 Prophets (5) 16 Thin biscuit (5) 20 Scourge (4) 23 Uncommon (4) 24 Sharp blow (3) 25 Starry (6) 26 Ward off (5) 27 Bundle of notes (3) 28 Divers (arch) (6)

DOWN 1 Long, detailed stories (5) 2 Sticks (7) 3 Classify (4) 4 Dreadful (4) 5 Soon (4) 6 Tree (3) 9 Beverage (3) 10 Digit (3) 14 Encourage (7) 17 Distant (3) 18 Age (3) 19 Transmit in stages (5) 20 Molten rock (4) 21 Copied (4) 22 Headwear (4) 24 Uncooked (3)

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

Code-Cracker

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

Thursday, January 9, 2014

11

The selection game n Mehrin Chowdhury

T

Who will drive the necessary reforms?

T

H

I

PMO

R

D

E

Y

Where do we go from here?

B

n Mamun Rashid

angladesh Economic Association (BEA) recently organised dialogue on the political impasse that has crippled the country and is eating into the future of the Bangladesh economy. Some say it was organised in response to another recent citizens dialogue held by a few NGOs and advocacy groups.

I have been a life member of the BEA for the last 27 years. However, the BEA didn’t feel like inviting me and many of my friends to their dialogue.

Media reports showed a few ruling party supporters and loyal journalists, not necessarily economists or members of the BEA, taking central roles in the said dialogue.

As usual, the dialogue could not go beyond the narrow interests of the ruling party. I could see the BEA also forcing in a direction to give birth to another forum named EAB (Economic Association of Bangladesh), like DAB (Doctors Association of Bangladesh), or MAB (MBA Association of Bangladesh), or TAB (Teachers Association of Bangladesh). No matter who does this, it will be very shocking.

While the BEA has not produced anything satisfactory during past several years without publicising some utopian thinking of a few in their leadership, I would have thought the new leadership would do something strategically important for Bangladesh and its future.

However, they were clear on one thing – the ongoing political uncertainty was eating into the future of the country. No matter what happens in

the coming days or months, Bangladesh will be forced into an economically backward state. It will take a long time to recover, if that is at all possible.

I bet the problems are not going to be solved with the recently held election, which has helped the ruling Awami League earn a crude majority.

The honourable prime minister may crack down on political activists or troublemakers, her stalwarts might find a cunning way to further marginalise BNP, or become successful in sending Khaleda Zia out of the country, but Bangladesh won’t settle down politically in the short term.

tasks on their hands.

A few of the commanders are also exceptionally grateful to ruling party tycoons for where they have been brought today, and for more than adequate favours showered on them.

Many also think running state affairs have become extremely complex over the years. Therefore it is better to stick to business as usual.

This means a few of our civil society forerunners and international well-wishers are stuck for the time being. Uncertainly is likely to stay here for a few more months, if not years.

Our politics will limp along. More

The honourable prime minister may crack down on political activists or troublemakers, but Bangladesh won’t settle down politically in the short term Therefore, economic stagnation is here to stay with lower GDP growth, higher unemployment, more job losses, and perhaps even increases in the number of people living below the poverty line.

Some people thought military rule would have brought in some respite, or at least put a temporary brake to all these unnecessary killings, the supply chain breakdown, and disruption in business activities. But our military friends are thinking that military rule can’t be a solution. They are haunted by the failures of Moeen U Ahmed, or their cushy lifestyle is not allowing them to take any challenges or risky

importantly, our economic competitors will be gaining much out of our miseries, and smiling to themselves.

Governance failures, massive corruption, distribution of favours among the beneficiaries of misrule, institutional failures, and policy paralysis will become synonymous with Bangladesh. Some people will blame their fate, some will migrate to developed countries, and some will go for massive compromises.

The international community has more important issues like Sudan, Syria, Iran, or Africa to deal with. So they may pretend to be crying, but they don’t have much time and energy to

E

dedicate to Bangladesh. The Bangladesh situation is much more complex.

Politicians, and those who run them, are more cunning, lethal, and devastating.

Khaleda is unlikely to stop violence or leave Jamaat, as is desired by Sheikh Hasina. Bangladesh has nowhere to go. Television reports said civil society members (I don’t know what qualifies one to become a civil society member though) have opined that the newly elected government should try to go for another proper election involving all the parties within next two years or so.

I don’t know from where they got this “two years” term. According to Sheikh Hasina, the people of Bangladesh despite all odds and challenges have come to the polling centres and elected them for another five-year term to make Bangladesh a truly “Shonar Bangla” or Golden Bengal. The journey is on. We can’t succumb to the pressures of the few who do not want a prosperous or successful Bangladesh.

Yes, we wanted reform. We needed to go for massive political reforms which would change the way our politicians do politics. Who will drive these reforms? Sheikh Hasina or Khaleda Zia? Come on, give me a break. Will the Supreme Court or the media push us in that direction? That is not going to happen in the near future.

We needed an overhauling of our political system. We are waiting and praying. The Almighty can’t be so indifferent to Bangladesh with so many God-fearing people submitting to him five times a day. l

he so-called epoch-making selection in the name of an election has been carried out amidst cries of the civil society and woes of the international arena. All the voices have fallen on deaf ears. Now what?

The opposition will never accept this as it only promises its identity cessation. The retaliation has been displayed with the instant 48-hour hartal. A novice can tell that this sort of retribution will continue forever until a fair election takes place, and both the parties come to some sort of consensus.

Meanwhile, the country burns and the economy gets shoddier. The GDP of the nation which was slowly but steadily rising every year has taken a nosedive to 5%. Some assume the lowest GDP will be this year. With the continuous political problems, many foreign buyers of garments, 80% of our export material, are looking towards others countries as alternatives, based on the fear that our industries will not be able to supply materials in a timely manner. The cost of transportation is also steadily increasing. In addition, continuous questionable catastrophes related to the garments sector have become a regular topic of today.

With this superfluous selection-election game, the near future seems bleak as well. There is no hope for reconciliation with the opposition. This will create havoc and cause terror attacks as certain groups will go underground. Bangladesh, as a result, may become a failed state like Kenya, Congo, and South Sudan.

This beautiful country has abundant resources, especially millions of hardworking people in all sectors willing to make a difference. With good leadership, Bangladesh can easily become more like Malaysia and Singapore. It will be very sad for the common people to see their beloved nation slowly shatter into pieces in front of their very own eyes.

This once proud land, home of so many great minds, is being reduced to one where the children lose their limbs regularly, where women are beaten in broad daylight by men promising to support the spirit of freedom, where minorities are humiliated with no hope of retribution.

How long will this mockery continue? Will it go on until the country has been brought down to its breaking point, and been labeled as a rogue

Mamun Rashid is a business professor and financial sector entrepreneur.

state in the international arena that supports and feeds terrorists?

The leadership of this country has become a ping-pong ball that falls in the court of either of the two major parties, and the chaos continues between the two as long as the ball visits the other one’s court. There needs to be a rise in the number of parties, especially ones that actually represents the country, and are willing to sacrifice and work for the country.

India is a major nation, hoping to be the third largest superpower within 2020 after China and the USA. This country is assumed to be a friend of our country, and has recently seen the Aam Admi Party come to power.

Through this “common man’s party,” Arvind Kejriwal became the chief minister of Delhi. We have so much to learn from this nation, where the people have voted for someone to represent themselves.

Common people select a person to represent them, and later that person falls prey to power and misuses it

Aristotle said a long time ago that democracy was the devil in disguise. He had said that the system was flawed.

The common people select a person to represent them, and later that person falls prey to power and misuses it, forgetting once and for all why he was selected in the first place.

For this democracy to work properly, the legislative and the judicial processes must be separated from the ministry.

Otherwise, power can and will corrupt, and the lust for it will remain amidst violence. People will take unscrupulous measures to reach the top.

This craziness must stop. The swinging of the ping-pong ball must stop. Both the parties must realise the destruction they are causing, and come to a consensus for the greater good. For the umpteenth time, the general people must also raise their voices to save what is left of the beautiful country that was, and can be again. l Mehrin Chowdhury is a freelance contributor.

FOCUS BANGLA

Why India should rethink its Bangladesh policy n Shafquat Rabbee Anik

A

ny Indian reading this article should go to YouTube and do a search on “police brutality in Bangladesh.” Then they should watch some of the videos found at the top of the search. This should provide an idea of how, according to Ain o Salish Kendra, an average of 1.5 Bangladeshis a day have been killed in political violence, many by police bullets, in 2013.

About 500 have died, with countless others injured. These are merely official numbers, yet they are the highest in Bangladesh’s 42-year history. Needless to say, the majority of the wounded and dead are opposition activists, protesting actions of the most India-friendly government in the history of Bangladesh.

When the videos and the statistics sink in, Indian readers should try to understand the following: Bangladeshis have become increasingly pro-India in their outlooks over the last three decades. Unlike Pakistan, where there is hardly any political party who can express pro-India sentiments, the Awami League and its allies are openly pro-India. Their electoral popularity should be within 35% to 45% of the population, depending on which ally is in, according to the average of the last several elections.

Then you have Bangladesh’s other

large political party, BNP, whose standalone electoral popularity should be similar: Around 35% to 40%. BNP’s leadership was increasingly looking forward to improve ties with India.

BNP, for almost the last decade, refrained from resorting to anti-India rhetoric, which used to be a staple of the party’s political communication during the 80s and 90s.

The Islamic parties of Bangladesh, who on a combined basis won less than 5% of the national vote, are probably predominantly anti-India.

However, given their size, they are likely to be governed by one of the two major political parties of Bangladesh.

If India plays its cards of regional influence over the major parties fair and square, it is more than likely that both the major parties will happily address India’s legitimate security concerns in Bangladesh, to say the least.

Although Bangladeshis are very proud of their religious (read Muslim), ethnic (read Bengali), and independent (read 1971 war) identity, the majority of them enjoy Hindi movies, soap operas, music, and many are fluent in the Hindi language. A large portion of the population supports the Indian cricket team. In a nutshell, Bangladesh is by no means hostile territory for Indians, with or without India’s favourite political party in power.

Now contrast that India-friendly

social backdrop with the following recent trends: The vast majority of Bangladeshis now believe that India is the lone back-up for the government of Sheikh Hasina and her farce of an election, which was boycotted by all the opposition parties.

Taking matters to the next step, a majority of the Bangladeshi population now believe that based on India’s assurances alone, Sheikh Hasina has sent almost the entire opposition political leadership to jail. She sent the leader of the third largest political party General Ershad, who is also known to be pro-Indian, into a peculiar hospital confinement with golfing facilities.

And Begum Khaleda Zia is in house confinement. The entire senior leadership of the Jamaat-e-Islami, the largest Islamist party in Bangladesh, is in far worse shape. They will be lucky to be alive for more than a year, as most of them are awaiting death sentences to be handed out by a special tribunal, with one already executed. In short, as matters stand, for the first time in Bangladesh’s political history, the entire opposition leadership is praying hard to be simply alive and free.

Taking matters further, many in Bangladesh now believe in the following grave accusations: India is behind the day to day security protection of certain Bangladeshi leaders. India is carrying out stealth operations inside

Bangladesh wearing Bangladeshi forces’ dresses. India has trained and sent special operations teams in Bangladesh. India is lobbying Western countries to take Sheikh Hasina’s side.

The above list of anti-India accusations are ever-increasing, and cannot be brushed aside anymore. In fact, it is now common practice among the entire opposition bloc and talking heads on television to find an Indian hand behind almost all the political misadventures of Sheikh Hasina and the AL. Please note: The above is not the perception coming from some fringe element of Bangladeshi society. People with very credible backgrounds are joining the ring.

Considering the depth of these accusations, which are increasingly getting prominence, a fair conclusion for Indians will be that anti-Indianism of historic proportions is on the rise in Bangladesh. This cannot be, by any standard, welcome news for Indian business policy, geo-strategy, or for that matter, counter-terrorism matters related to Bangladesh.

Bangladesh may now officially enter the hall-of-shame of countries known as “one party states.” And India, along with Sheikh Hasina and the AL, will share that blame, perhaps in front of a global audience. The gravity of this blame sharing must be understood from Bangladesh’s history. Unlike

other Muslim-majority countries, Bangladesh has practiced multi-party elections going back over 40 years.

Indians, who were Bangladesh’s partners in its liberation war against Pakistan, should know very well that it was West Pakistan’s foolish reluctance to accept the all-Pakistan election results back in 1970. That foolish decision of West Pakistan to not honour the mandate of the East Pakistani voters eventually ended the existence of a united Pakistan on two sides of India.

Unlike in most democracies, Bangladeshis have regularly given their blood for protecting their right to vote As history suggests, Bangladeshis take elections and the democratic practice of voting very seriously. Unlike in most democracies, Bangladeshis have regularly given their blood for protecting their right to vote. Therefore, India should urgently rethink its policy in Bangladesh and align its policy with the rest of the world. l Shafquat Rabbee Anik is a social media activist.

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Prangonemor to stage Irsha in memory of Khaled Khan n Entertainment Desk In memory of the late Khaled Khan, Prangonemor is going to stage their 8th production, Irsha, at 6:30pm at the Experimental Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy today. Irsha is written by Syed Shamsul Haque and directed by Ananta Hira.

The play features a conversation among three characters named Jubok, Juboty, and Prouro. The founder member of Prangonemor told the Dhaka Tribune: “Our production of Irsha is composed of seven dialogues only. The longest duration of a dialogue is 26 minutes and the minimum duration is 12 minutes.

I am playing the character of Juboty, Ananta Hira will play the character of Jubok, as well as direct the play, and Ramiz Raju will play the character of Prouro. It’s a story about the conflict between lives, artists, artworks and a love triangle.” l

Uttam-Suchitra film festival n Entertainment Desk The mesmeric magic of onscreen duo Uttam Kumar and Suchitra Sen has a classic appeal to every film lover from the region of Bengal. Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy has organised a film festival to pay tribute to the two icons of Bengali cinema and their glorious cinematic journey. The festival began yesterday with the screening of film Shilpi at the academy’s Digital Cultural Archive Auditorium.

With her sophisticated looks, fiery eyes and strong personality.

Suchitra Sen was an instant hit with the youth of Bengal from the 1950s through to the 1970s. She was complimented by the famous smile and charming demeanour of Uttam Kumar. Among her 60 films, Suchitra Sen worked on 30 of them with Uttam Kumar, thereby ushering in a golden era of Bengali cinema.

The duo had a series of Blockbuster hits which are remembered not only as the best of Uttam and Suchitra, but as cinema that is poignant, sensitive and heart- rendering.

BSA’s festival brings a collection of ten such films, which will be screened everyday at the same auditorium at 6pm and is open to all.

Today’s schedule features the popular film Shobar Upore. l

TODAY IN DHAKA Exhibition

City of Rhythm Second phase of Kazi Salahuddin

Kandari Akhra’s new album released n Entertainment Desk

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

Theatre

Irsha

By Prangonemor, Experimental Theatre Hall Time: 6:30pm – 8:30pm Experimental Theatre Hall, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Shegun Bagicha

Film

Pacific Rim in 3D

Escape Plan The Conjuring The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Star Cineplex Bashundhara City Gravity Blockbuster Cinemas Jamuna Future Park Ka-244, Kuril, Pragati Avenue Dhaka

ON TV Kingbodontir Aj Holud Shondhya airs tonight

Kandari Akhra, an electronic music band, released their debut album recently. The album is available only on digital stores such as iTunes, Google Music Store, Amazon, Spotify, Bandcamp, Youtube and others.

This album is self-titled and focuses on political unrest, constitutional conspiracy, patriotism, suicide, anti-violence, and also the corrupted reality of the current music industry in Bangladesh, said the band members. The album is an experimental one and the genre of this band is alternative dubstep which is a combination of few major genres such as rock, metal, pop and hip-hop.

According to the band, the name Kandari comes from Kazi Nazrul Islam and Akhra comes from Lalon Shah.

The lineup of the band includes RV as composer, Mukul as vocalist and lyricist and Abir as coordinator, composer and rapper. l

MOVIE 8:50pm Zee Studio Dear John

9:30pmStar Movies

Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift

DRAMA

n Entertainment Desk

10:00PM Star Jalsha

Maasranga TV will air the single-episode play Kingbodontir Aj Holud Shondhya today at 7:30pm. Written by Sagor Jahan and directed by Ratan Ripon, the telefilm features Tisha, Anisur Rahman Milon, Farukh Ahmed and many more.

A ritual of her upcoming wedding ceremony is taking place at Kingbodonti’s (played by Tisha) home. All of a sudden her ex-boyfriend (played by Milon) comes to meet her at the ceremony. In the past he had broken Kingbodonti’s heart and left her. But now he realises how precious the girl is and wants her to come back. He starts to reminiscence about old times but Kingbodonti remembers the pain and humiliation she felt when they were together. She wants the ceremony to take place but inside her heart, she still feels for her old lover. l

10:30PM Star Plus

Jal Nupur

Pyar Ka Dard Hai Meetha Meetha Pyara Pyara

COMEDY 10:00am Comedy Central Key & Peele

8;30pm Star World Last Man Standing

MISC 11:30am TLC

World’s Weirdest Restaurants

8:30pm AXN

Amazing Race

Dhoom: 3 becomes first Indian film to gross Rs 500 crore

Salman Khan plans TV show based on social causes

n Entertainment Desk

n Entertaiunment Desk

Action thriller Dhoom: 3 has made history by becoming the first Bollywood film to gross Rs500 crore across the world, Yash Raj Films claimed yesterday.

The blockbuster, starring Aamir Khan, Katrina Kaif and Abhishek Bachchan, raked in Rs 500 crore by making Rs351.29 crore in India and Rs150.06 crore abroad, according

Ahmed Time: 12-8pm Shilpangan House 7, Road 13 (New) Dhanmondi

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

to the production house.

It is the third instalment of Dhoom series which saw Abhishek and Uday Chopra reprising their roles as Jai Dixit and Ali Akbar, respectively, while actors Aamir and Katrina were seen as the antagonist duo.

The movie has surpassed the previous highest-grossing Bollywood film Chennai Express starring Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone. l

After successfully hosting four consecutive seasons of reality show Bigg Boss, Bollywood superstar Salman Khan will return to the small screen next year as the host of a new show based on social causes.

In 2012, his contemporary Aamir Khan launched the 14-episode talk show Satyamev Jayate, which highlighted issues like female foeticide, the evils of dowry and malpractices in medicine.

“We are working on something which is different. It is not along the lines of Satyamev Jayate. We will have a lot more entertainment in it.

We will rock next year,” Salman said.

The 48-year-old, who helms the charity foundation Being Human, added: “The show that we are doing will change a lot of things. It’s a brand new show altogether, which will talk about social causes. I will be the host and this will definitely change a lot (of things).”

Recently the Bollywood megastar was caught in the lens of a photojournalist while helping a man and his wheel-chair bound son in the street.

Currently, Salman is gearing up for the release of Jai Ho!, an action film set for release on January 24. l

Jolie to star in movie on Nigella Lawson’s life

Angelina Jolie

n Entertainment Desk Angelina Jolie is set to play Nigella Lawson in a Hollywood movie about the British celebrated chef Nigella Lawson’s turbulent life.

Producers have reportedly made the 38-year-old actress their number one choice to play the TV chef who recently divorced husband Charles Saatchi and was ac-

Nigella Lawaon

cused of taking cocaine in a court case. She has recently admitted having taken cocaine and the news made huge waves in the media.

“Angie had planned to take a lot of time off next year but this role is very tempting,” an insider on the project revealed.

“She has been gripped like everyone else by all the drama surrounding Nigella these past few months, and thinks she is a remarkable woman,” the source added. l

Did you know?

This is the first time Manchester United have lost three games inside a week since April 22-26 1992

Sport

Thursday, January 9, 2014

0 6 6 DAYS TO GO

14 Real Madrid probe Di Maria crotchgrabbing incident

DHAKA TRIBUNE

13

15 West Indies destroy Kiwis to draw series

SLC, PCB to send security teams in Bangladesh

Darlington stars with hat-trick

n Minhaz Uddin Khan

The absence of star forward Sony Norde motivated Emeka Darlington to fill his shoes and the Nigerian striker responded perfectly by scoring Sheikh Jamal’s first hat-trick of the season in the 4-1 demolition of Brothers Union at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

The tall and tough Nigerian was always the livewire for Sheikh Jamal and his cool and controlled attitude made life difficult for the Brothers’ defence.

He was running down the flank and the midfield, switching his positions and showing efficient finishing ability inside the d-box.

The satisfaction of the feat was visible in the eyes of the marksman when he appeared at the post-match briefing.

“I am very happy to score a hat-trick, it’s not easy to achieve the feat and my first hat-trick for Jamal will continue to motivate me for further challenges. It’s my overall fourth hat-trick and I look forward to repeating it,” said Darlington.

The Nigerian admitted that Sony Norde’s absence spurred him to take the driver’s seat, “I am a forward and I have to score goals. I believe Sony Norde is the best player in Bangladesh but

Bangladesh will be keenly looking forward for a positive outcome from today’s International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting in Dubai as security concerns from the participating nations of the Asia Cup put a question mark on hosting any cricket in the country.

However, it is likely that Bangladesh will have to wait for a few more days for a concrete decision. Sri Lanka are scheduled to tour Bangladesh for a complete series of Tests, ODIs and T20s later this month while the Asia Cup involving the hosts, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and newly included Afghanistan is also dated in March.

However, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) are reluctant to send a team to Bangladesh due to the political violence while Pakistan had already raised questions and showed signs of not participating in the Asia Cup if held in Bangladesh.

Violence linked to polls in Bangladesh has claimed more than 150 lives since October, but the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has said the country would still host the five-nation tournament due to start on February 25.

SLC is expected to give a decision in today’s ICC meeting on whether they will go ahead with the bilateral series, but it is highly likely the final decision will be taken after a few days as a security team from SLC will visit Dhaka next

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS Darlington puts Jamal 18”GOAL! ahead, nodding in a low cross

off Okemmiri from the right flank.

GOAL! Ghanaian defender Issah Yousuf restores the parity for Brothers from the spot, after Nche Francis earned the penalty.

GOAL! Darlington dribbles past two defenders, skips by the goalkeeper and sends the ball into the net.

GOAL! Darlington completes his hat-trick, placing in a square pass from Wedson Anselme.

Sabuj Das Rogu produces a superb save to deny Wesdon’s free kick from 25 yards out.

Mamunul’s 25-yard powerful strike is tipped away by Rogu.

GOAL! Wedson smashes the ball in after a one-two with Darlington.

29” 33” 35”

48” 79” 81”

week to assess the arrangements only.

As part of the arrangement, BCB has already omitted Sylhet Divisional Stadium from the itinerary and shifted the matches to Dhaka instead. Sylhet was supposed to make its international debut with the first off the three-match ODI series between on February 17.

The Pakistan Cricket Board over the last few days expressed concern over the political turmoil and the growing anti-Pakistan sentiment in Bangladesh.

However, they too will send an official to assess security in Bangladesh before next month’s Asia Cup, officials said yesterday. PCB said it continues to have reservations over security and will send an official to attend an ICC meeting in Bangladesh to assess the situation. The ICC is also likely to decide on the fate of the World T20, scheduled to be held in Bangladesh in March-April this year.

“PCB has decided to send its security representative to Bangladesh to attend the ICC security meeting on 20th January to assess the situation there and report back,” said a statement.

“The PCB does have reservations on the prevailing security situation in Bangladesh with specific reference to Pakistan,” it quoted the board’s interim chairman Najam Sethi as saying.

Earlier, Sri Lanka offered to host both the Asia Cup and the World T20 if the security situation in Bangladesh does not improve. l

n Shishir Hoque Emeka Darlington continued his magnificent form in the Bangladesh Premier League as the Nigerian forward slammed a sensational hat-trick to give Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club a comfortable 4-1 victory over Brothers Union at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

Sheikh Jamal continued to excel, despite the absence of key player Haitian international striker Sony Norde and Darlington has effectively filled the gap in scoring five goals in two games.

Darlington gave his side the lead in the 18th minute, which was equalized

by Ghanaian defender Issah Yousuf from a controversial penalty 11 minutes later. Darlington then added two

Usha too hot for Azad Defending champions Usha’s prowess was too much for Azad as the Old Dhaka outfit registered a convincing 13-1 victory in the UCB Club Cup Hockey at the MaulanaBhashani National Hockey Stadium yesterday. The winners led the first half 6-0.

Azad Sporting, all of whose players are BKSP students, found it hard to cope with the pressure applied bytheir opponents, who fielded seven national hockey players. The penalty corner prowess of national skipper Maumunur Rahman Chayan, the speed of Jahid bin Talib, the neat distribution of Sarwar Hossain in the midfield and the scoring abilities of national forward Krishna Kumar andMainul Islam Koushik made all the difference. However the Azad though conceding goals at regular intervals, continued to play attackingly.

Chayan scored four goals with his pet penalty corners, mixing his drag

RESULT Brothers

Yousuf 29 Sheikh Jamal forward Emeka Darlington (L) tries to control the ball during their Bangladesh Premier League match against Brothers Union at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday MUMIT M

Jamal win second, move to top

Usha’s Maumunur Rahman Chayan strikes to score from a penalty corner against Azad Sporting during their UCB Club Cup Hockey match at the Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium yesterday MUMIT M

n Raihan Mahmood

n Raihan Mahmood

and flicks with power and precision in the 12th, 25th, 28th and 57th minutes respectively. He hit the roof of the net with two of his dragged efforts while the other two were typical pushes into the board.

Usha took the lead in the 3rd minute through midfielder Jahid bin Talib who finished after a combined move.

Jahid also scored the 12th goal in the 60th minute. The other players who followed Jahid bin Talib’s two goals were Krishna Kumar and Moinul Islam Koushik. Krishna netted in the 43rdand the 55th minutes, while Koushik’s goal were scored in the 47thand 69thminutes. The other three scorers were Bellal Hossain, Taposh Barman and Sarwar Hossain, who scored field goals in the 4th, 53rd and 33rd minutes respectively.

The consolation for Azad was scored

by Md. Mohsin, whose 17th minute strike squared the match 1-1 before Usha ran away with the game. l

more in the first half to complete his hat-trick and set up another goal for Wedson to seal Jamal’s second successive victory in the second half.

Jamal started without Sony Norde, who was resting due to an injury he sustained in the Federation Cup final.

However, their Nigerian coach Joseph Afusi claimed Sony is almost fit but he preferred to keep Sony rested for the game as a precaution. Skipper Mamunul, however, returned to the squad earlier than expected and controlled the midfield with Sohel Rana.

After initiating several attacks which they could not turn into genuine chances, Jamal finally broke the deadlock in the 18th minute by way of a lovely finish from Darlington. Nigerian midfielder Okemmiri delivered a low cross from the right flank that found Darlington, who nodded the ball home

past Brothers goalie Rogu.

The Gopibag outfit soon leveled the score as Ghanaian defender Issah Yousuf converted a penalty in the 29th minute. Nigerian midfielder Nche Francis earned the penalty after being brought down by Jamal defender Rayhan Hasan inside the box.

Darlington restored Jamal’s lead when he netted his second of the evening. The Nigerian striker dribbled past two defenders, rounded off the keeper and sent the ball into the net from a tight angle after Sohel Rana’s through found the Nigerian forward inside the box. It took Darlington just two more minutes to complete the fourth hattrick of his career. After receiving a square pass from Haitian forward Wedson Anselme, an unmarked Darlington placed the ball past Rogu to make the score 3-1.

Jamal continued to attack in the second half and created three chances before they got the fourth goal. Rogu produced a superb save to deny Wesdon’s free kick from 25-yards out just three minutes into the half. Jewel Rana missed a golden chance to pull one back for Brothers when his shot in a one-on-one situation with the keeper was knocked away by Zia for a corner.

Wedson completed the route in the 81st minute. Darlington was the architect of the goal. A quick one-two between the duo led to Wedson smashing the ball past the keeper from six yards.

Wedson earlier headed down a long ball to Darlington who passed it back to Wedson to unbolt the defence.

The victory saw Jamal move to the top of the table with six points, having won both of their games. Brothers, meanwhile, have yet to earn a point. l

1-4

Sk Jamal

Darlington 18, 33, 35 Wedson 81

I also have to score goals and serve my team, I was motivated to put forward my best and I am happy to see Jamal won by a good margin.”

The hat-trick man said he enjoyed his first goal the most of his strikes.

Meanwhile Jamal coach Josef Afusi was also a happy man to see his players produce another well-organised performance. “As a coach, I tried to use my resources and not think about who is present or absent. The team played well, Sony Norde has been rested as I don’t want to aggravate his injury.

Maybe he is fit to play but I am giving him rest for his safety, he will take the field when required. The league is a long journey and I have to use him with caution,” said Afusi.

Syed Naeemuddin, the Indian coach of Brothers Union, said the result was upsetting. “It was a bad day. We took the field to salvage a draw. The initial minutes were ok and we created some chances but later, the lapses in defence made the proceedings worse, but I have to say Sheikh Jamal is a strong team in comparison with Brothers.” l

Mahmud, McInnes Mahmudullah looks to cash in from BCL plan for the future said, “It will definitely help us. Playing and if he is available for the longer n Mazhar Uddin two matches before Sri Lanka arrives version it will be of great advantage for n Mazhar Uddin the Tigers.

The Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) will be great for the cricketers.”

The chairman of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) game development Khaled Mahmud informed that he sat with the head coach of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) Richard McInnes to plan strategies for the rising cricketers and also make use of the local coaches in various camps.

“There was very little work for the academy cricketers as there were no programmes so we had a long discussion regarding this issue at the same time we are thinking about utilising our local coaches for the camps,” said Mahmud yesterday.

Bangladesh U-19 team failed to reach the semifinals of the U-19 Asia Cup recently but the chairman of the game development informed that the main focus is to improve the game for the youngsters. “I won’t say that it was a failure, we are not thinking about winning a championship in the age levels. All we want is to improve the game and prepare those cricketers for future,” said Mahmud.

“Once we used to hide the age of the cricketers which is now not happening and we are spending so much to develop the cricketers where we don’t want to think about what happened in the past,” he added.

McInnes echoed Mahmud and said, “Sujon (Khaled Mahmud) and I both agreed to the point of utilising the young talents for future and also fulfill the requirements of the cricketers for the national side by preparing the cricketers from age levels.” l

will begin from January 12 and the first two rounds of the four-team competition will be held at the BKSP, informed the Bangladesh Cricket Board through a press release yesterday. The national selection panel has selected 20 players for each participating team and the teams will determine their final 15man squad. After the first two rounds, the franchisee-based first class tournament will take a break and make way for Sri Lanka’s tour of Bangladesh, the Asia Cup and the ICC World Twenty20.

Bangladesh vice-captain Mahmudullah is looking forward for the BCL as he thinks playing the longer version before the international series will be of huge benefit to the cricketers.

He expressed his desire for the BCL and

Jan 12-15

The right-handed batsman was hopeful that the series against Sri Lanka would go ahead and hoped the political issues going on at the moment gets better soon. “Asia Cup is a huge tournament which we are going to host. At the moment, we are only concentrating on the Sri Lanka series and we are preparing ourselves for that.

We all are working hard and hoping to play those two matches in the BCL where all the national cricketers can prepare and play against Sri Lanka positively,” he said.

Meanwhile, pacer Mashrafe bin Mortaza recovered from his injury and has been included in the BCL for Islami Bank East Zone. Mahmudullah said having Mashrafe back is a great boost

Central Zone v East Zone at BKSP-2 North Zone v South Zone at BKSP-3

Bangladesh faced Sri Lanka last year and produced some brilliant individual performances and Mahmudullah hoped they play as a team and fare well in the Tests. “We have played good cricket in Sri Lanka where we had some good individual performances and this time, we will be playing on our home condition and I am hoping to get something positive in the Test series,” he said.

Meanwhile, country’s leading allrounder Shakib al Hasan, named for Prime Bank South Zone, will be unavailable for his commitment to Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League in Australia. Shakib is expected to return prior to Bangladesh’s home series against Sri Lanka later this month. l

Central Zone v South Zone at BKSP-3 North Zone v East Zone at BKSP-2

Jan 18-21

SQUADS BCB North Zone Mushfiqur Rahim, Junaed Siddique, Naeem Islam, Nasir Hossain, Myshukur Rahman, Sabbir Rahman, Forhad Hossain, Mizanur Rahman, Saqlain Sajib, Sanjamul Islam, Taijul Islam, Sohrawardi Shuvo, Hamidul Islam, Farhad Reza, Muktar Ali, Shuvhashish Roy, Mahmudul Hasan, Delwar Hossain, Jahurul Islam, Nazmul Hossain

Islami Bank East Zone Tamim Iqbal, Nafees Iqbal, Mominul Haque, Nazim Uddin, Rumman Ahmed, Shafiul Islam, Tasamul Haque, Jubair Ahmed, Liton Kumar Das, Enamul Haque Jr, Nabil Samad, Dhiman Ghosh, Nur Hossain, Alauddin Babu, Abu Zahed Chowdhury, Mashrafe bin Mortaza, Mehedi Hasan Rana, Tapash Baisya, Yasin Arafat, Alok Kapali

Prime Bank South Zone Anamul Haque, Imrul Kayes, Md Mithun, Taibur Rahman, Soumya Sarkar, Nasiruddin Faruque, Monir Hossain, Salman Hossain, Fazle Rabbi, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Nazmul Opu, Shakib al Hasan, Abdur Razzak, Ziaur Rahman, Al Amin, Rubel Hossain, Robiul Islam, Murad Khan, Sohag Gazi, Shuvagata Hom

Walton Central Zone Shamsur Rahman, Mahmudullah, Abdul Majid, Roqibul Hasan, Shahriar Nafees, Sharifullah, Dewan Sabbir, Rony Talukder, Mehrab Hossain Jr, Marshal Ayub, Nurul Hasan, Elias Sunny, Arafat Sunny, Shahadat Hossain, Mohammad Sharif, Mohammad Shohid, Tarek Aziz, Saikat Ali, Sahagir Hossain, Talha Jubaer

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Moyes blames referees n Reuters, London

Sunderland's Fabio Borini (R) scores his goal from a penalty kick during their English League Cup semifinal first leg match against Manchester United at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland, England on Tuesday

Valencia hold Atletico n Reuters, Madrid

Valencia forward Helder Postiga headed an equaliser in the final minute of added time to snatch a 1-1 draw at home to King’s Cup holders Atletico Madrid in an intense and entertaining last 16, first leg tie on Tuesday.

After Raul Garcia had nodded the visitors ahead in the 72nd minute, Portugal forward Postiga finally beat inspired keeper Thibaut Courtois when he was on hand to send a mis-hit Sofiane Feghouli cross into the net from close range after 93 minutes.

In new coach Juan Antonio Pizzi’s second game in charge, a fired-up Valencia dominated possession at the Mestalla but fell behind when a fluffed clearance by keeper Vicente Guaita fell to midfielder Garcia.

Garcia also had Atletico’s best

chance of the first half but his rising effort was well saved by Guaita, while Valencia’s Juan Bernat drew a fine save from Courtois with a low drive seven minutes after the break.

Courtois made three more brilliant saves as Valencia pressed for an equaliser, first leaping to tip a curling effort from substitute Sergio Canales around the post in the 76th minute.

RESULT Valencia

Postiga 90+3

1-1

Atletico Madrid

Raul Garcia 72

The Belgium international, on loan from Chelsea, then denied Pablo Piatti in the 82nd before producing possibly his best stop of the night a minute later from Feghouli’s close-range blast.

It looked as if Diego Simeone’s Atletico side would hold on to their lead but Postiga struck in the final action of the game. l

AP

Manchester United have to play the officials as well as the opposition, manager David Moyes complained after his side were beaten 2-1 by Sunderland in the League Cup semi-final first leg on Tuesday.

Moyes, under pressure after losing his third consecutive game in all competitions, pointed the finger at referee Andre Marriner, who he criticised for awarding a free kick that led to Sunderland’s opening goal.

The referee also had a decisive hand in Sunderland’s winner, pointing to the penalty spot in the second half after Adam Johnson had been felled by Tom Cleverley, allowing Fabio Borini to smash the spot kick into the roof of the net.

“It is difficult we just need to keep going,” Moyes told Sky Sports. “We didn’t do a lot wrong. I thought the referee was going to blow in our direction for (the free kick that led to) the first goal. I couldn’t believe he gave (Sunderland) a free kick. It was a terrible decision.

“We are all just laughing at them (the officials) at the minute.

“It looks as though we are having to play them (officials) as well as the opposition at the moment.”

United, who were knocked out of the FA Cup by Swansea City on Sunday and beaten by Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on New Years’ Day, have endured a miserable start to the campaign under Moyes. l

Sunderland add to United pain n AFP, Sunderland

Manchester United crashed to a third consecutive loss for the first time since 2001 after losing 2-1 at Sunderland in their League Cup semi-final first leg on Tuesday.

United were looking to bounce back from successive home defeats by Tottenham Hotspur, in the league, and Swansea City, in the FA Cup, but instead they lost again, and to the Premier League’s bottom side.

Ryan Giggs, who had earlier hit the crossbar, gifted Sunderland the lead with an own goal and despite Nemanja Vidic equalising early in the second half, Fabio Borini’s 65th-minute penalty gave the hosts victory.

For United manager David Moyes, the gloom grows ever darker, with his hopes of claiming a piece of major do-

mestic silverware in his maiden season seriously compromised ahead of the second leg on January 22.

Having eliminated Chelsea in the previous round, Sunderland remain on course to reach a first domestic cup final since 1992, when they lost to Liverpool in the FA Cup final.

“It would be massive (to reach the final),” manager Gus Poyet told Sky Sports.

“You don’t get there too many times. It’s many, many years from the last one, so we will try our best.”

The importance of the fixture was evident in the fact that both managers made seven changes to the sides they fielded in the FA Cup at the weekend, although United were once again without the injured Wayne Rooney.

Eager to exploit any uncertainty in the visiting ranks, Sunderland looked to get balls into the box at the

earliest opportunity and saw Borini drag an early shot wide from just outside the area.

However, emboldened by the purposeful running of Adnan Januzaj, United began to assert control of the game.

RESULT Sunderland

Giggs 45+2-og, Borini 65-P

2-1

Man United

Vidic 52

Giggs sent a deflected 25-yard shot against the crossbar, while Januzaj had a goal ruled out for offside and Vidic planted a header wide from a corner shortly before half-time.

Sunderland emerged unscathed, though, and in first-half stoppage time they exploited defensive inattention from United to go ahead.

From Sebastian Larsson’s deep

free-kick, Wes Brown stole in behind Michael Carrick to volley the ball back across goal, and in attempting to prevent Phil Bardsley from prodding home, Giggs succeeded only in scoring himself.

The timing of the goal felt like a sucker-punch, but United regrouped at the interval and equalised within seven minutes of kick-off in the second period.

Tom Cleverley curled a left-wing corner to the back post and Vidic outjumped former team-mates Brown and John O’Shea to power a header past Vito Mannone.

For the umpteenth time this season, however, United’s momentum was to desert them.

Jonny Evans had to hobble off with an injury, and after Borini had sliced wide and Larsson had drawn a sharp save from visiting goalkeeper David de Gea, Sunderland restored their lead. l

Qatar WC will not be in summer AVERAGE TEMPERATURES IN QATAR (CELSIUS) Month

Minimum Maximum

January

12.8

21.7

February

13.7

23.0

March

16.7

26.8

April

20.6

31.9

May

25.0

38.2

June

27.7

41.2

July

29.1

41.5

August

28.9

40.7

September

26.5

38.6

October

23.4

35.2

November

19.5

29.5

December

15.0

24.1

n Reuters, Paris The 2022 football World Cup in Qatar will not be played in the summer months, Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke said on Wednesday.

“The dates of the World Cup will not be in June or July. I think it will be played between November 15 and January 15 the latest,” he told France Inter Radio.

“If you play between November 15 and, let’s say, the end of December, it’s the time when the weather is the most favourable,” Valcke added.

“You play with a temperature equivalent to that of a rather hot spring in Europe, you play with a temperature of

25 degrees (Celsius), which is perfect to play football.”

In October, Fifa delayed making a decision on whether to play the tournament in the winter saying it was setting up a consultation process to decide when the finals should be held.

At the time, football’s world governing body announced it would reach a conclusion sometime after this year’s World Cup in Brazil.

Valcke’s surprise announcement on Wednesday comes more than three years after Qatar was originally awarded the tournament in Dec. 2010.

The average temperature in the summer months in Qatar can be around 35C (95 Fahrenheit) and 45C (113F). l

Walcott’s World Cup injury blow saddens Hodgson

Qatar players Khaled Muftah (L) and Abdulaziz Hatim hold the trophy after winning the 8th West Asia cup (WAFF) against Jordan in Doha on Tuesday REUTERS

Schalke 04's players attend a training session at the Aspire Academy of Sports Excellence in Doha yesterday

AFP

Real Madrid probe Di Maria crotch-grabbing incident

Aguero close to City return

n AFP, London

n Reuters, Madrid

England manager Roy Hodgson spoke of his disappointment on Tuesday after Arsenal forward Theo Walcott was ruled out of this year’s World Cup with a serious knee injury.

Walcott, 24, damaged the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during Arsenal’s FA Cup victory over Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend, with his club announcing on Monday he will be unavailable for around six months.

It is the latest chapter in a story of World Cup misery for Walcott, who was called up for the 2006 tournament at the age of 17 but did not play and was then left out for the 2010 tournament by coach Fabio Capello.

“I spoke with Theo and just wanted to express my disappointment to him,” current England boss Hodgson told www.TheFA.com on Tuesday.

“It is a blow for him personally of course, and for both Arsenal and England. l

Real Madrid have launched an internal inquiry after their Argentina winger Angel Di Maria was seen to grab his crotch while he was being substituted in Monday’s 3-0 La Liga win at home to Celta Vigo.

Di Maria, who was replaced by Gareth Bale midway through the second half at the Bernabeu and was whistled by the home fans as he trudged off, insisted it was “a natural gesture” and said he apologised if anyone had found it offensive.

The incident was widely debated in the Spanish and Argentine media on Tuesday and prompted further speculation that Di Maria, who has made fewer appearances since the arrival of world record signing Bale, might be sold either in the January transfer window or at the end of the season.

“I did not want to do anything towards either the supporters or the coach as was being claimed,” the

Striker Sergio Aguero is back in training and close to returning for Manchester City after being out since before Christmas with a calf injury, manager Manuel Pellegrini said on Tuesday.

“I think Sergio will be back during January - he’s working, he is training,” Pellegrini told a news conference ahead of Wednesday’s league Cup semi-final, first leg against West Ham. “Of course it’s very good news. Any players that are recovering from their injuries is very good news, especially an important player like Kun Aguero.”

Argentine Aguero, who was injured in the 6-3 victory over Arsenal, is one of several City players ruled out of the West Ham clash with Stevan Jovetic and Jack Rodwell also missing while Jesus Navas has “a little problem” with his knee.

“Jovetic, Aguero and Rodwell are injured and cannot play tomorrow,” Pellegrini said.

“Jesus Navas has a little problem with his knee. It’s not very important, but we are just being cautious.” l

25-year-old was quoted as saying on Real’s website (www.realmadrid.com) on Tuesday.

“It was a natural gesture that any man does, and all the more so when he is running,” he added.

“You do it a lot on the pitch. On television you can see that it lasts a millisecond. It’s nothing.

“It’s not like I was doing it on purpose for an extended period of time.”

Di Maria said he was “in very good shape and very happy” at Real and that coach Carlo Ancelotti had faith in him. l

n Reuters, London

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

West Indies destroy Kiwis to draw series

QUICK BYTES

Shakib set for second BBL game National star all-rounder Shakib al Hasan will feature in his second game of the Big Bash league when his side the Adelaide Strikers lock horns with Melbourne Stars at Melbourne Cricket Ground today. The Strikers signed Shakib, the number four ICC Twenty20 all-rounder, as a replacement player for their injured captain Johan Botha and Shakib become the first Bangladeshi to play in the Big Bash League. The left-arm orthodox spinner and punishing batsman, said after completing the signing process, said he was on a mission to impress the Strikers. There was no better way to do so than hammering a 30-ball 46 (3 fours, 2 sixes) followed by the two wickets in his debut game earlier this week. Though his went onto lose the game to Sydney Sixers by six wickets, Shakib validated his place.

The game is scheduled to begin at 2:40pm BST and will be televised Live on Star Sports2.

–Tribune Desk

n AFP, Hamilton

Gurgaon Int'l GMs Chess ends SM Sharon finished the 2nd Gurgaon International Grandmasters Chess Tournament campaign in 74th position after beating Subhayan Kundu of India in the 10th and last round yesterday.

Sharon has a total of six points out of 10. Saimon Siddiqur Rahman became 104th with 5.5 points, Md Sharif Hossain was placed 107th with 5 points and Zoar Haque Prodhan came in 112th with 5 points. Saimon beat Kaur Palkin of India, Sharif lost to Gurung Rakesh of India and Zoar lost to FM Hamal Manish of India in the last round yesterday.

–Tribune Desk

Britain’s Deng traded from Bulls to Cavaliers

Britain’s Luol Deng, an NBA All-Star forward, was traded by the Chicago Bulls to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday in a deal for Andrew Bynum and draft picks, the teams announced.

Deng, a 28-year-old playmaker born in what is now South Sudan, has averaged a career-best 19.0 points in 23 starts for the Bulls this season, also grabbing 6.9 rebounds and making 3.7 assists a game and connecting on 45.2 percent of his shots from the court. Deng would have become a free agent at the end of the season. The Chicago Tribune reported he had rejected an extension with the Bulls worth $10 million (7.35m euros) a year for three or four seasons.

–AFP

No flag for India’s athletes at Winter Games

India’s athletes lost all hope Wednesday of competing under the national flag at the Winter Olympics after the country’s suspended Olympic association said it would hold elections two days after the Games open in Sochi.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) will hold a poll to elect new leaders on February 9, a senior source told AFP, meaning luge medal hope Shiva Keshavan and three other competitors will be classed as independents, not as Indians. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) froze India’s membership in December 2012 after the national association in New Delhi elected a number of tainted officials to key posts.

–AFP

DAY’S WATCH Sony Six NBA 2013-14 6:30AM Atlanta v Indiana 9:30AM LA Clippers v Boston 12:00PM Pakistan v Sri Lanka 2nd Test, Day 2 Star Sports 1 2:45PM Big Bash T20 Melbourne Stars v Adelaide Strikers Ten Sports 09:30AM WTA Apia International Sydney Semi-finals Ten HD 10:00PM Ram Slam T20 Challenge Titans v Cape Cobras Ten Action 11:00PM Coppa Italia 2013/14 Roma v Sampdoria 2:30AM Copa del Rey 2013/14 Real Madrid v Osasuna

15

Thursday, January 9, 2014

West Indies cricketer Kirk Edwards celebrates his century with teammate Dwayne Bravo (L) during their last ODI against New Zealand at Seddon Park in Hamilton yesterday AFP

Flower, Pietersen pour scorn on talk of England ‘rift’ n Reuters England coach Andy Flower and senior batsman Kevin Pietersen moved quickly on Wednesday to dampen media speculation of a rift in the dressing room in the wake of the 5-0 Ashes humiliation in Australia.

Following the whitewash, Zimbabwean Flower had declined to confirm whether Pietersen, England’s fourth highest test scorer of all time and runs leader in the recently completed series, will be part of a “new era” that he wanted to oversee.

British media reports on Wednesday said the coach had told the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) that he would quit if the flamboyant Pietersen continued to be a part of the team during the rebuilding process.

“Following speculation in the media today, I feel it necessary to reiterate much of what I said in my recent press conference,” the 45-year-old Flower said in an ECB statement.

“It would be sensible and responsible to review the tour in a calm and

Del Potro stands firm as seeds tumble in Sydney n Reuters, Melbourne World number five Juan Martin del Potro began his 2014 season with a win, albeit a scrappy one over Frenchman Nicolas Mahut to advance to the quarter-finals of the Sydney International yesterday.

The Sydney warmup to the Australian Open has proved a graveyard for the seeds this week but the 25-year-old former US Open champion avoided an early flight to Melbourne by coming back to win 1-6 6-3 6-4.

Rated a dark horse to win the title at Melbourne Park and add to his sole grand slam triumph at Flushing Meadows in 2009, the top seeded Argentine will next take on Czech veteran Radek Stepanek for a place in the last four.

Other seeds struggled, with third seeded Italian Andreas Seppi bundled out by Australia’s Marinko Matesovic 6-3 6-4 and sixth seed Julien Benneteau of France dumped in straight sets

by Ukraine’s Sergiy Stakhovsky.

In women’s draw third seed Sara Errani, was upset 7-6 (7-2) 6-3 by Bulgaria’s Tsvetana Pironkova in the quarter-finals. l

logical manner before assessing our options for the future and planning ahead.

“I repeat that neither I nor the wider ECB leadership group have made any decisions as to the future involvement of any individuals in the playing group or in the support staff.

“The reports that I have issued an ultimatum of some description to the ECB are totally inaccurate.”

Pietersen was one of several players who came under fire for their performances on the ill-fated tour but the South Africa-born batsman has ruled out retirement and wants to help England regain the urn when they host the series in 2015.

The 33-year-old former captain also took to Twitter to react to the reports.

“I am shocked and saddened by reports in the media today concerning my future with England,” wrote Pietersen, who scored 294 runs at an average of 29.40 during the five tests.

“I wish to repeat my strong desire to continue playing for my country, and to help us regain the Ashes in 2015.” l

SCORECARD, DAY 1 Pakistan 1st innings Khurram c Prasanna b Lakmal 73 Ahmed Shehzad lbw b Pradeep 3 Mohammad Hafeez b Pradeep 21 Younis Khan c Prasanna b Eranga 13 Misbah-ul Haq c Prasanna b Eranga 1 Asad Shafiq c Silva b Lakmal 6 Sarfraz Ahmed c Prasanna b Pradeep 7 Bilawal Bhatti not out 24 Saeed Ajmal c Silva b Herath 8 Rahat Ali lbw b Herath 0 Junaid Khan lbw b Herath 2 Extras: (lb7) 7 Total: (all out; 63.5 overs) 165 Fall of wickets 1-28, 2-78, 3-107, 4-109, 5-118, 6-127, 7-129, 8-151, 9-151 Bowling Lakmal 21-6-45-2, Eranga 14-4-25-2, Pradeep 18-2-62-3, Herath 10.5-3-26-3 Sri Lanka Ist innings D. Karunaratne lbw b Junaid 32 K. Silva not out 12 K. Sangakkara not out 12 Extras: (lb1) 1 Total: (for one wkt; 16 overs) 57 Fall of wickets 1-40 (Karunaratne) Bowling Junaid 7-1-26-1, Ali 7-1-28-0, Ajmal 1-10-0, Bhatti 1-0-2-0

The West Indies hammered their highest-ever limited-overs total to crush New Zealand by 203 runs in the fifth and final one-day international on Wednesday, drawing the series 2-2.

Skipper Dwayne Bravo and Kirk Edwards both scored centuries as the visitors flayed New Zealand’s attack to reach 363 for four, before Nikita Miller dominated with the ball to skittle the Black Caps for 160.

The mammoth total was the highest ever posted by the West Indies in a 50over match, surpassing the 360 against Sri Lanka in 1987.

Bravo, whose team has been hit by injuries and poor form while on tour, said the stunning victory showed anything was possible.

“We came into this game with our backs against the wall and needed a big win,” he said, “Everyone played a big part and played hard to represent our country.”

Bravo and Edwards came together at 143-3 and put on 211 runs, with Edwards finishing unbeaten on 123, his maiden ODI century. The captain was dismissed shortly before the end of the innings for 106.

Opener Kieran Powell had launched a blistering assault at the start of the innings, smashing 73 runs off just 44 balls with 12 fours and two sixes.

He plundered 18 off a single Mitchell McClenaghan over, with one lucky spectator winning NZ$100,000 ($83,000) from a beer sponsor by catching one of his sixes one-handed.

New Zealand made a disastrous start, slumping to 65 for five after just 15 overs through a combination of rash shots and a much-improved West

Indian attack.

“It was a terrible day for us. The WI boys certainly came out today and put in a performance we knew they were capable of,” McCullum said. l

SCORECARD West Indies K. Powell lbw N.McCullum 73 J. Charles run out (N.McCullum) 31 K. Edwards not out 123 L. Simmons c Williamson b Anderson 9 D. Bravo c McCullum b Williamson 106 A. Russell not out 6 Extras: (lb4, w11) 15 Total: (4 wickets; 50 overs) 363 Bowling Southee 10-0-64-0, McClenaghan 8-0-64-0, N. McCullum 10-0-64-1, Anderson 10-1-77-1, Mills 8-0-60-0, Williamson 4-0-30-1 New Zealand M. Guptill b Bravo 6 J. Ryder c Simmons b Holder 17 K. Williamson lbw Holder 16 R. Taylor c Ramdin b Miller 9 B McCullum c Charles b Miller 6 C. Anderson c Bravo b Russell 29 L. Ronchi hit wicket b Miller 15 N.McCullum c Ramdin b Russell 18 K.Mills run out (Holder) 26 T.Southee c Bravo b Miller 9 M.McClenaghan not out 0 Extras: lb6, w3) 9 Total: (all out; 29.5 overs) 160 Bowling Holder 5-0-35-2, Bravo 5-0-12-1, Miller 10-1-45-4, Narine 5.5-0-31-0, Russell 4-0-31-2 Result: West Indies won by 203 runs Series: Series is drawn 2-2

Michael Morton and his wife Nicola Morton with $100,000 cheque

Fan catches $82800 n Reuters, Wellington Catches, as cricket aficionados remind us, win matches yet one taken by Michael Morton during the fifth one-day international between West Indies and New Zealand on Wednesday earned the spectator NZ$100,000 ($82,800).

The 28-year-old Morton took a spectacular one-handed catch while sitting on the Seddon Park bank off a Kieran Powell six to win the prize as part of a local beer brand’s competition at New Zealand’s limited-overs matches.

“He smashed it pretty hard, so it was going pretty quick,” Morton told Fairfax Media in Hamilton.

“My dad was sitting next to me and he yelled out, ‘Michael’. I stood up and then I thought it was going to drop down in front of me, but it sailed straight into my hand.

“They’re pretty short boundaries, so I knew it was going to go pretty fast.

“If it was a skyer, plenty of people would have had a chance to get underneath it, but it was pretty flat, so noone really had any reaction time.”

Morton was the first person to succeed in the competition, which had staked NZ$100,000 for the first onehanded catch by a fan at each of the 12 limited-overs matches against West Indies (five ODIs and two T20s) and India (five ODIs). l

Greats Federer and Laver trade shots in Melbourne n AFP, Melbourne Two of the greatest ever tennis players, Rod Laver and Roger Federer, traded a few shots for the first time on Wednesday, with the usually unflappable Swiss champion admitting he was nervous.

Australian legend Laver, the only man twice to have won all four grand slam tournaments in a calendar year, surprised 17-time grand slam tournament winner Federer at the charity event in Melbourne.

The 75-year-old took to the Melbourne Park court named in his honour wearing a vest, shorts and tennis shoes. He briefly traded shots with Federer before the Swiss player took on Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in an exhibition match. Federer admitted he was nervous about rallying with Laver.

“The racquet feels a little heavy right now, I must say,” he said.

The 32-year-old Swiss famously showed his deep respect for the Australian when he burst into tears after winning the 2006 Australian Open, with Laver watching on the winner’s dais. l

Tennis legend Rod Laver of Australia (R) tosses the coin before the start of a charity match between Roger Federer of Switzerland (L) and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France (2R) as umpire Carlos Bernardes (2L) looks on in Melbourne yesterday AFP

Pakistan batting crumbles again in second Test n AFP, Dubai Sri Lanka owed it to their bowlers for taking the opening day honours against Pakistan in the second Test in Dubai on Wednesday.

A three-pronged pace and one-man spin attack helped Sri Lanka bowl out Pakistan for just 165 after Angelo Mathews won the toss and opted to bowl on a seaming Dubai stadium pitch.

Paceman Nuwan Pradeep finished with a career best 3-62 while spinner Rangan Herath took 3-26. Fast bowlers Shaminda Eranga (2-25) and Suranga Lakmal (2-45) were also useful in the second session.

By the close Sri Lanka had knocked off 57 runs for the loss of opener Dimuth Karunaratne, out leg-before to Junaid Khan for 32.

Kaushal Silva and Kumar Sangakkara were each on 12 as Sri Lanka now trail Pakistan by 108 wuns with nine wickets intact on a day dominated by the bowlers.

But initially it looked as if Sri Lanka had miscalculated in bowling first as Ahmed Shehzad, trapped leg-before

by Pradeep in the tenth over for three, was the only man out by lunch, but five wickets fell for 71 runs as Pakistan slumped from 57-1 to 128-6 at tea.

Opener Khurram Manzoor topscored with 73 in an otherwise insipid batting display.

Sri Lankan pacemen had little success in the first session and their hard work was also spoiled by sloppy fielding.

Mathews floored Shehzad in the slips off Lakmal with the batsman still to get off the mark, but the lapse did not prove costly.

Mahela Jayawardene dropped Hafeez off the first ball he faced from Pradeep, but the paceman had the last laugh when he bowled Hafeez through the gate soon after lunch.

Pakistan had pinned their hopes on Younis Khan and Misbah-ul Haq but they lost their last eight wickets for 58 runs.

Eranga had the prized wickets of Younis and Misbah in the space of seven balls. Younis, who made 13, tried to cut a wide delivery while Misbah was squared up on a moving delivery on one -- both caught behind. l

Schumi accident not due to skis, speed or signs n AFP, Albertville Investigators probing Michael Schumacher’s accident on Wednesday ruled out faulty skis, inadequate signage and excessive speed as possible causes of his life-threatening off-piste fall in the French Alps.

They said that signs marking the edge of the piste Schumacher skied off just before the accident on December 29 were in line with legal requirements, and said the Formula One legend had appeared in control of his speed.

Schumacher has been in a medically-induced coma since he fell on an offpiste section between two slopes in the ski resort of Meribel and slammed his head on a rock, prompting his evacuation to a hospital in the city of Grenoble.

Investigators probing the accident are seeking to determine why it happened, and whether anyone – the resort, the ski rental shop, Schumacher himself – is at fault. Patrick Quincy, the prosecutor in charge of the probe, told reporters that rules determining how to mark the edges of ski slopes had been “respected” and that the racing driver had deliberately skied into the off-piste area. l

16

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Thursday, January 9, 2014

‘Little doctors’ to ensure check-ups for primary school students

Destiny MD transferred Tk61cr to own account

Child-to-child education to promote health issues among 2.5 crore students

Destiny Group Managing Director Mohammad Rafiqul Amin transferred at least Tk61 crore to his personal bank account from the deposits that 17.5 lakh investors made with his company, an ACC probe has found.

According to the report of the Anti-Corruption Commission, the accused admitted to having transferred the amount in the form of commission, allowance, salary, remuneration, profit, incentive, dividend, etc from a total of Tk2,433 crore collected from the investors for Destiny’s tree plantation project.

The Destiny boss made the confession before a magistrate, the report said.

The money was collected from general investors with promises of high interests and making them shareholders of the company; but a major portion of the money was either laundered or transferred to the personal accounts of the company bigwigs, the report said.

Out of Tk61 crore, the Destiny boss transferred Tk50.14 crore as commis-

n Moniruzzaman Uzzal An innovative health service dubbed “Little Doctors” is set to be launched soon to ensure medical check-ups for 2.5 crore primary school students across the country.

The programme of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) will see around 1.5 lakh primary school students – trained as “little doctors” – provide information to their peers about personal hygiene, healthy lifestyle, prevention of diseases.

The programme has reportedly been built on the concept of child-to-child education, which engages children in learning about health issues and encourages them to disseminate their knowledge to other children, their families and their communities.

Prof Dr Be-Nazir Ahmed, line di-

rector of the Communicable Disease Programme (CDC) of the DGHS, said regular health check-ups would allow knowledge about children’s medical conditions.

He added that a healthy lifestyle adopted by the little doctors throughout their own lives would have a huge positive impact in the future health of the nation.

The pilot phase of the little doctor programme has already been carried out, while it is now going to be run across the country, Dr Be-Nazir added.

Sources said the DGHS will administer the little doctors’ health check-up programme twice (January and June) a year in one lakh primary schools across the country, with the first round of the programme to be held during January 18-20.

Initially in the first round, the little doctors will focus on collecting infor-

Police to escort O and A level examinees n Kailash Sarkar The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) authorities yesterday announced that the police will escort the “O” and “A” level examinees to ensure their security during examinations.

The examinations for the English medium students began from Tuesday.

But the British Council Bangladesh postponed the first two exams scheduled for Tuesday because of the ongoing nonstop blockade and general strike imposed by the BNP-led 18 party alliance.

Under this circumstances, the DMP Commissioner Benazir Ahmed at a press conference at the Media Centre of the DMP headquarters said if any

mation, measuring weight and height, and carrying out refraction test to check the eye-sight of each student.

As part of the preparations for the programme, Upazila Health and Family Planning Officers (UHFPO) will participate in the regular monthly teachers’ meeting organised by the upazila primary education officer on January 11, to instruct teachers about how they would train the students on health check-up and health messages.

Later on January 12, 13 and 15, advocacy meetings will be held for civil surgeons, UHFPOs and upazila primary education officers.

A total of 15 students, preferably from class five, would be selected and divided into five groups, one for each of the five classes. They will be regarded as “Little Doctors” and will follow a specific guideline.

A master trainer, who will be selected from the physicians and education officers working in the district, will train a teacher from every school in the area, who will in turn select and orient the students as little doctors and be responsible for implementation of the programme.

They will visit all the classes (I-V) of the school once or twice a month (to be decided) and discuss health issues using flip charts containing simple and short health messages.

Some health issues like personal hygiene, nutrition, de-worming, rabies etc will be applied universally throughout the country. Other issues like malaria, filarial and Kala-azar will be area specific according to endemicity of the particular disease.

The selected teachers will supervise and monitor the activity and guide the little doctors. l

n Syed Samiul Basher Anik

sions from the D2K packages – special commission from the Destiny Tree Plantation Limited – and from the Destiny Special Training Centre, Diamond Builders and Boishakhi Limited.

He also took Tk1.18 crore from Softalk Online Ltd and Tk2.76 crore from Destiny Diamond Builders Ltd to buy a land in Feni; Tk1.49 crore from Destiny Tree Plantation Ltd to buy a flat at Dhanmondi; and Tk1.72 crore from Destiny Media and Publications Ltd to buy a Vivek Real Estate flat, the inquiry found.

The ACC probe team on Monday submitted its findings on the embezzlement allegations of Tk4,119 crore by Destiny Group. It recommended pressing charges against at least 50 people, including Destiny Group President and former army chief M Harun-ur-Rashid and MD Mohammad Rafiqul Amin.

The team found that the company had collected Tk2,433 crore from some 17.5 lakh investors from March 21, 2006 to February 17, 2009 under the tree plantation project, and the directors had embezzled Tk2,257 crore of the amount. l

Four succumb to injuries; blockade to continue

guardian feels that he or she needs personal escort for his or her children’s safe movement during examination, police will take special arrangements to ensure their security.

But to get this special escort guardians have to file a request in relevant police station.

The DMP commissioner also added that they have to take the decision as students’ academic lives are at risk because of continuous political unrest in the country for last few months.

Police said they are on high alert to foil attacks on schools.

Recently, more than 500 educational institutes, including schools and colleges, were torched across the country during the election violence. l

Lowest temperature of the year recorded n Abu Bakar Siddique The country has experienced the lowest temperature of the year yesterday as mercury fell down to 6 degrees Celsius in Ishwardi.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department confirmed the information, and added that it recorded 6.5 degrees Celsius in Sreemangal on December 18.

However, the highest temperature 26.5 degrees Celsius was recorded in Cox’s Bazar while in the capital the lowest temperature was 10.7 degrees Celsius yesterday.

The ongoing moderate cold wave with chilled wind and dense fog is sweeping across the country, causing difficulty to carry on regular life, especially for the poor people of the Northern districts.

The cold spell has also triggered cold related diseases including pneumonia, asthma and respiratory complications in the northern districts like Kurigram.

“At least 125 children have been admitted in Kurigram District Sadar Hospital yesterday with cold related complications,” said Dr Nazrul Islam, residential medical officer of the hospital.

Locals of Lalmonirhat said the in-

tensity of cold wave with the dense fog had paralysed the normal life in the areas near to the Mountain Himalaya.

Farm labourers were forced to leave their work because of the extreme cold, causing ultimate wage hike in the area.

Some farm labourers have increased their daily wage to Tk360, which was earlier Tk180, showing the cause of heavy cold, said land owner Meher Ali at Saptibari village of Aditmari upazila of Lalmonirhat.

The lowest temperature in the country was 6 degrees Celsius in Ishwardi while the highest temperature 26.5 degrees Celsius was recorded in Cox’s Bazar yesterday.

The dense fog for the last few days had also been disrupting the road and water transportations. The ferry service on Mawa-Keurakandi and Paturia-Dawlatdia ghats were suspended for 12 hours because of heavy fog.

Sirajul Islam, manager of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation, Mawa, said water transports and ferry services were suspended to avoid accidents. l

Relatives burst into tears as Farid Mia’s body is taken to DMC morgue. Farid, injured in a petrol bomb attack on a bus at Shahbagh on January 3, died yesterday MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

n Tribune Report The last 12 hours of the BNP-led 18-party opposition combine’s 60-hour hartal ended yesterday with very few incidents of blasts and clashes in Dhaka, Satkhira and Chandpur.

Main opposition BNP in a statement said the nationwide nonstop rail, road and waterway blockade would continue until a further programme was announced.

Yesterday, a garment worker died, five days after he was critically injured in an attack by pro-blockade activists in Chittagong. Also in Sirajganj, police recovered the body of a youth who was burned to death in an arson attack on a truck on Dhaka-Bogra highway at Horgati in Salanga upazila during the hartal hours.

Police identified the Chittagong victim as Rashedul Alam Rasel, 25, of Panchbibi in Fatikchhari upazila. He succumbed to his injuries at Ma o Shishu Hospital in Agrabad around 4am.

Doctors kept him on life support for the last two days.

Rasel received the injuries as blockade supporters attacked the CNG-run auto-rickshaw he was riding on with bamboo sticks and others at Hathazari on January 4. He was first taken to a local hospital.

Meanwhile, police recovered the body of Lutfur Rahman Milon, 25, from Dhaka-Bogra highway at Sirajganj.

On Tuesday, pickets set fire to a Dhaka-bound potato-laden truck at Horgati, leaving potato trader Imran, 30, dead on the spot and three others burn injured. As the driver lost control over the steering after the attack, it overturned on the road. Milon’s body was found under the truck when it was removed yesterday morning.

Apart from the two, Shahina Akter, 42, succumbed to his injuries at the intensive care unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital around 1:45am and fruit trader Farid Miah, 60, at 9:50am.

The capital, however, saw a slack

hartal with no major incident of picketing. Long-route buses started operating since the evening with a low number of passengers while launch operation was normal as before. Officials said train schedules could not be maintained because of taking extra security and fogs.

Around 7:30pm, crude bomb attack by pickets left a woman and a rickshaw-puller injured at Segunbagicha area. Injured Runa Afroz, 32, and rickshaw-puller Naru Gopal, 40, were admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Runa told the Dhaka Tribune at the hospital that several youths threw three bombs targeting the rickshaw.

In Dilkusha, a group of unidentified criminals set a staff bus of Sonali Bank on fire around 9:15pm when it was parked on the backside of the bank’s head office, witnesses said.

Over 150 opposition men were arrested by the joint forces and the police in Bogra, Gaibandha, Feni, Gazipur, Pabna, Satkhira and Sirajganj districts in the last three days.

A train engine was derailed in Bajitpur upazila of Kishoreganj as pickets removed fishplates of rail tracks halting communication over seven hours.

Communication between Dhaka and Kishoreganj was restored yesterday afternoon after a rescue train reached Halimpur, where the wheels of the engine veered off, Station Master Jayanta Kumar Saha confirmed to the Dhaka Tribune.

In Chandpur, a clash between the supporters of ruling Awami League and the BNP left at least 10 injured at Ghosherhat around 11:30am. In a separate drive, police arrested eight opposition men while they were picketing at different points of the town, reports our correspondent quoting Superintendent of Police Amir Zafar.

In Satkhira, pickets vandalised a truck at Ramchandrapur intersection while unknown miscreants burnt down the house of an AL supporter, Jahir Uddin Chowkider, in Dhulihar Berbari area in the morning. l

Headmasters asked to file cases on torching 531 schools n Tribune Report

An army official stands guard in a bunker set up to prevent violence during blockade in the risky areas of Rajshahi. The photo was taken from Baneswar Bazar of Puthia upazila yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid has asked headmasters of 531 schools, which were damaged by anti-polls activists before and during the election, to file cases against suspected criminals.

The minister gave the directive at a meeting with officials from the primary and mass education ministry and education ministry yesterday.

Nahid also asked the authority concerned to suspend the headmaster of Sujabad Government Primary School for allegedly torching the valuables of the school. A divisional case will also be filed against the accused teacher.

He urged all teachers not to commit such offences, and asked school authorities to strengthen security of the school premises.

He also urged students, guardians and mass people to resist such incidents.

“Please come forward to resist those who are destroying educational institutions and communal harmony,” he said.

On Tuesday, Nahid informed the media that the anti-liberation forces have torched a total of 531 schools across the country before and after the 10th parliamentary polls in the name of resistance.

“This is the first time such a heinous activity has been carried out in the history of movements of this country,” the minister said.

“Of the damaged institutions, 419 are primary schools, while 82 are high schools, 21 are madrasas and nine are colleges,” he added.

Saying the ministry was working to assess the overall damage of schools, Nahid added that after investigation,

the ministry would soon take initiatives to repair the affected schools.

Meanwhile, eminent citizens and activists have strongly protested and expressed anger against incidents of torching schools. In a joint statement, 24 eminent citizens urged people to refrain from such violence.

Signed by Campaign for Popular Education Executive Director Rasheda K Choudhury, they demanded exemplary punishment to the perpetrators. They urged the government and the opposition to take initiatives so the use of educational institutions as polling centres could be avoided.

NGO Amar Odhikar Campaign demanded exemplary punishment to those involved in torching schools. It urged the authorities concerned to repair the schools as soon as possible. l

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Business

B3 US to Europe: Stronger banking union would help boost growth

B4 What makes her confined at home?

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2014 www.dhakatribune.com/business

Dull investment keeps inter-bank rates cheaper

It drops to 6-8% from the previous year’s double-digit figure Fixed deposit interest rate decreased n Jebun Nesa Alo to single-digit last year frommore than The inter-bank call money rate remained low throughout last year due to dull investment as banks were sitting with huge liquidity.

The rate hovered around 6-8% almost the whole year except January, compared to the double-digit rates during previous two consecutive years, according to Bangladesh Bank data.

In January, the call money rate was 10.29% while the spread was 5.13%.

After that, the rate began dropping as investment stagnated because of political turmoil.

It declined to the year’s lowest 7.03% in November with a spread of 4.95%.

Spread refers to the difference between weighted average interest rates on deposits and advances.

“The cheap call money rate is reflection of excess liquidity in banks,” said Ali Reza Iftekhar, managing director of Eastern Bank Ltd (EBL).

He said although this was a reflection of a sluggish investment situation, cheap rate could also be positive for the banking industry.

“Cheap rate suggests there is no crisis in deposits. It is also an indicative of poor investment,” said EBL’s MD, adding that investment is important for economic growth, and at the same time, cheap call money rate is also positive for banking sector.

“Interest rate against deposits also went down because of excess liquidity.

12%,” said Ali Reza Iftekhar, who has recently been elected chairman of Association of Bankers Bangladesh (ABB).

Bangladesh Bank data showed in 2012 the call money rate peaked at 19.66% while the lowest point was 9.81%.

Banks’ excess liquidity increased 50% to Tk90,000 crore in November from Tk60,000 in January, said the central bank. Last year just ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr festival, call money rate slightly increased to 8%. But such rates were as high as 20-22% during previous Eid festival.

The demand of money from the clients usually goes up before the largest Muslim festival Eid, which pushes up the rate. High remittance inflow and less imports have also contributed to the increased liquidity in banks.

“While investments remain dull, remittance continues to grow, and imports have fallen. All these factors have createdhuge idle money in the banks, keeping bank-to-bank lending rate stable instead of its seasonal upswing,” said a senior official of Bangladesh Bank.

He said the banks were also cautious in disbursing loans after revealing of credit scams.

Bangladesh Bank’s Chief Economist Hassan Zaman said the central bank intervenes in the call money market when it does not reflect the real situation of the banks. “But the current rates do project the real situation.” l

BTRC sues Telex Ltd to get Tk92cr due n Muhammad Zahidul Islam Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has filed a certificate case against an International Gateway (IGW) operator, Telex Ltd, to get Tk92.5 crore outstanding against revenue sharing plus annual licence fees.

The telecom regulator filed the case on Tuesday with the Dhaka Certificate Court, a commissioner of the BTRC told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday. “We have filed the case under Public Demands Recovery Act (PDRA). And it is the first case against any operator in Bangladesh from the BTRC side in its 11-year history,” he said on condition of anonymity.

The guideline says the IGWs can earn 3 US cents per minute against incoming international calls. The operators are required to pay 51.75% of revenue to the telecom regulator. Earlier,

BTRC had sent a recommendation to the government to cancel the licence of Telex Ltd along with Ratul Telecom Ltd, which owes Tk96.5 crore to BTRC. Ratul Telecom Ltd is owned by Syeda Amrin Rakhi, daughter of former state minister for LGRD Jahangir Kabir Nanak, having 50% stakes. Her mother Syeda Arzuman Banu has 20% shares.

In response, the government asked the regulator to file case against Telex Ltd to collect the public money. One the other hand, they gave a chance to the Ratul Telecom to pay the outstanding.

Former telecom minister advocate Shahara Khatun permitted the operator to pay dues in instalments although the minister had no such authority.

The deadline for the first and second instalments already expired, but BTRC not taken any initiative to cancel their licence or file any case. l

A covered van carrying parcels is set on fire after Wednesday midnight on the highway in Ishwardi during hartal called by the opposition

FOCUS BANGLA

Merchant bankers want relaxed condition for stock refinance scheme

New monetary policy soon

n Tribune Report

Bangladesh Bank is likely to announce a new monetary policy for the second half (January-June) of the current fiscal year late this month, leaving unchanged the credit growth target of 16.5% for June 2014.

The private sector credit grew by 11% in November, much short of the target for December at 15.5%.

The credit fell short of the target due to the political unrest and sluggish investment throughout the year, said a senior executive of Bangladesh Bank. “So, the central bank may not extend its target further in its new monetary policy.”

Moreover, a balanced monetary policy will be there with supportive growth target as did in the existing policy, he said. Bangladesh Bank already started formulating strategies of monetary policy and taking opinions from economists and experts.

“Credit disbursements would increase after returning political stability,” Bangladesh Bank Deputy Governor SK Sur Chowdhury told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday, explaining the reason for keeping the June target unchanged.

He stressed the need for expansion of private credit for the sake of overall economic growth.

The monetary policy for the first half of the current fiscal year had focused on economic growth and curbing inflationary pressure. It aimed at bringing average inflation down to 7% while ensuring that the credit growth is sufficient to stimulate inclusive economic growth. l

Merchant bankers have demanded to relax the credit conditions under the capital market refinance scheme for facilitating disbursement among the investors affected by the share market debacle in late 2010.

The Bangladesh Merchant Bankers Association (BMBA) recently wrote to Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission about the difficulties and complexities they are facing while applying on behalf of the investors.

One of the conditions is directors of merchant banks need to issue personal guarantee to avail the loans, making the procedure harder, said the letter.

The condition was a new one tagged after the agreement among the regulator, merchant banks and brokerage firms.

“The regulator should relax the conditions for the interest of the affected investors as well as for the market,” said Akter H Sannamat, BMBA vice president.

He said it is very difficult to meet the conditions as directors of the merchant banks, which are subsidiaries of commercial or foreign banks, even need not to submit their directors’ personal guarantee to the Bangladesh Bank for taking loan from any banks. Because most of the directors are nominated or independent.

He said more tough conditions particularly on instalment and cheque

dealing have made the procedure more complex.

Despite extending deadline twice, response from the affected stock investors for credit from the Tk900 crore refinance scheme was lukewarm. The deadline was extended till January 31 this year after its expiry first in November 30 and second in December 15 last.

'The regulator should relax the conditions for the interest of the affected investors as well as for the market'

So far 35 institutions, including merchant banks and brokerage houses, on behalf of the affected investors applied for the credit worth Tk346 crore.

Of which, applications of seven institutions on behalf of 2,131 investors for Tk66.4 crore has already been approved but it remained to be released due to the new condition.

So far only 1% of the total around 10 lakh investors affected sought credit, sources in the Investment Corporation of Bangladesh (ICB) said.

Most investors and institutions showed no interest to avail of the credit due to the complex procedure and tough conditions.

For sanctioning loan, the regulator set 18 conditions,

including clearance from credit information bureau for all sponsor-director of a merchant bank or a brokerage house.

“Affected investors were in doubt whether they will be benefitted after taking credit under the present situation,” said Sannamat.

As per the loan distribution guideline, the state-run Investment Corporation of Bangladesh will lend to merchant banks and stockbrokers at 7% rate.

ICB already received Tk300 crore from the central bank as first instalment of the Tk900 crore fund at 5% interest rate from the central bank. The merchant banks and stockbrokers will then disburse the fund to the retail investors at 9% rate.

Later, the borrowers will have to repay the loans in three-month instalments to ICB which will subsequently deposit the received amount to the refinance fund.

The affected retail investors, who had investment up to Tk10 lakh from January 2009 to November 2011, are eligible to receive loan from the specialised fund.

The BSEC identified 954,000 affected small investors to bring under the facility of refinance scheme.

As a step to heal the wounds of debacle, the government in March 2012 announced a compensation package that included an interest waiver on margin loans to the investors. l

n Tribune Report

Ailing Biman wants $200m as commercial loan BB removes bar to cash incentives against TT It seeks government’s sovereign guarantee to get the credit n

Asif Showkat Kallol

Biman Bangladesh Airlines has requested the government to allow it for a commercial borrowing of $200m to help overcome the financial crisis before the fleet is going to be landed.

Chief executive officer and managing director of the cash-strapped national flag carrier requested the senior officials of finance ministry for some sort of sovereign guarantee against the loan at a meeting recently.

Biman authorities expressed utter fear of becoming a bankrupt airliner soon as it apprehended relevant companies such as Boeing, general electric, leasing companies and fuel companies might put cash-hit Biman on “cash only” categories as the financial deficit of the company rose to over Tk1,500cr.

It would virtually force the company to cease its operations in the coming days, says a meeting source.

Kevin stressed on the need for injecting around $200m as soon as possible to face the ongoing financial crisis and sought government’s help

in arranging such a commercial loan in preferential term.

Total deficit of Biman now stands Tk1,502cr while the outstanding dues stands at Tk1,589cr and available funds stands at Tk87.31cr, according to a Biman statement as of December 15 last year.

Biman has incurred a loss of Tk200 crore in 2012-13 after a loss of Tk600 crore in 2011-12. However, Biman projected the loss would come down to Tk80 crore in the current fiscal with the inclusion of more new generation air craft in its fleet.

Under such a circumstance and financial conditions, state-owned Padma Oil Company has already threatened Biman to stop fuel supply while Boeing also threatened not to supply an engine-changing kit for boroscope checks.

Apart from that Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) is also unwilling to lease the offices or business class lounges in both Chittagong and Sylhet airport any further, according to a document revealed from Biman Bangladesh Airlines.

According to Biman officials, the aforesaid commercial bank loans will be used to pay back 50% dues to Padma Oil and also will be agreed on a repayment schedule for the remaining 50%.

Besides, national flag carrier will also pay all the outstanding non-aeronautical charges to CAAB, and other outstanding dues to the National Board of Revenue (NBR) Apart from that Biman will have to pay all upfront costs for the new B777-

300ER aircraft and leased aircrafts while it will pay the rest of the money for paying the dues which has already been increased in maintenance and engineering spares for all the new and leased aircrafts.

It is noted here Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation had earlier got $300m loan twice — first in 2003-2004 when the oil price soared to $56 per barrel from $23 in quick succession and same amount in 2008 when the fuel oil price surged to record $146 per barrel — on commercial interest rate from Standard Chartered Bank.

According to Biman officials, two new Boeing-737-300ER aircrafts are expected to join its fleet by March, next. Biman signed a contract with US aircraft manufacturer, the Boeing Company, to purchase eight aircraft at a cost of more than $1bn or Tk8,728 crore in 2008.

Two aircraft had already been added to the Biman’s fleet in October and November 2011. Apart from procuring the eight Boeings, Biman later ordered for another two Boeing-737-800 aircrafts. l

n Tribune Report

Bangladesh Bank has revived the facility of providing cash incentives to apparel exporters against advanced telegraphic transfer (TT) after finance minister’s assurance.

The central bank issued a circular in this regard yesterday.

According to the government’s decision, the cash incentive will be given to the exporters of garment products including woven, knitwear and terry towels against advanced TT. Such incentive will be allowed after ensuring compliance of the proposed conditions, said the central bank.

The cash incentives against TT was halted after the allegations of money laundering through the system.

At a meeting with finance minister last month, the apparel leaders urged the government to reopen this cash incentives for the apparel exporters.

Then, finance minister asked the central bank’s official at the meeting to resume the facility in one week.

BGMEA, BKMEA and BTMA leaders urged the finance minister to help sector recoup their losses during political unrest. They called for financial supports.

At the latest meeting held on Monday, the finance minister renewed his assurance. l

EXCHANGE RATES Average selling rates to public in BDT Banks Rupali Bank Currencies SELL BUY USD 77.4 78.4

Sonali Bank SELL BUY 77.4

78.4

EURO

104.9575

108.1578

104.884

107.3383

INR

1.1743

1.3306

1.17

1.27

SAR

20.5366

21.0049

20.5335

21.0095

B2

Stock

DHAKA TRIBUNE

DSEX hits 7-week high

DSE key features January 8, 2014

n Kayes Sohel

Number of Contract

tors particularly banks seemed to stir ahead of the upcoming monetary policy statement by Bangladesh Bank, reinforced by earnings expectations and lucrative prices, it said.

All the major sectors performed well with financial institutions registering the highest gain of 2.4%, followed by power 2.2% and pharmaceuticals 1.2%.

Lanka Bangla Securities said the market rocketed up in continuation of previous week, mostly buoyant by strong buy pressure throughout the trading session.

“Investors’ sentiment might have become bullish ahead of monetary policy stance expecting populist monetary policy for the first half of current fiscal year.”

Market makers are anticipating monetary easing to boost up economic activity.

Adding to this, institutional investors are pouring fresh fund into stocks contributing to consolidate the market with a positive attitude.

Engineering sector again topped the turnover chart and contributed 17% to the total market turnover.

Gainers took a marginal lead over the losers as out of 292 issues traded, 224 closed higher, 46 lower and 22 remained unchanged.

Lanka Bangla Finance was the most traded stocks, followed by Golden Son, Beximco Ltd, Appollo Ispat, Summit Purbanchal Power Company, Square Pharmaceuticals, Grameenphone and Summit Power. l

Stocks rallied for the second straight session yesterday with the benchmark index hitting almost seven-week high.

The expectation on easing monetary policy likely to be announced soon by the central bank to boost up economic activity battered by the restive politics has sent the market to positive territory, analysts said.

The benchmark DSEX gained 60 points or 1.4% to settle at 4,391 – highest since November 21 last year. The blue chip comprising index DS30 rose 27 points or 1.8% to 1,543.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange Selective Category Index, CSCX, closed at 8,616 with a rise of 121 points.

“There were a number of people who had a particularly negative outlook on the market amid current political unrest. But, some expected the central bank might take action to help the economy in its monetary policy.

As a result, it created buying pressure in the market,” said a market player.

Participation in trading increased as turnover at the DSE stood at Tk539 crore, which is 18% over the previous session.

“Improved expectations in political frontier seemed to give a push up to the stock prices during the session,” said IDLC Investment.

In the meantime, financial sec-

DSE LOSERS Company Kohinoor Chem -A EBL NRB M.F.-A Rahima Food -Z Argon Denims Limited-A BD Fixed Income MF-A National Polymer -A Eastern Cables-Z Rupali Life Insur.-A BD. Autocars -Z Delta SpinnersA

Closing (% change) -5.80 -4.76 -4.04 -4.03 -3.19 -2.68 -2.57 -2.55 -2.30 -2.10

CSE LOSERS Company Aramit -A Rahima Food -Z CVO PetroChem RL-Z National Life I -A LR Global BD MF1-A Argon Denims Limited-A National Polymer -A S. Alam CR Steel -A Bangladesh Lamps -A Mercantile Bank -A

Closing (% change) -8.74 -5.99 -5.87 -5.75 -4.11 -3.30 -2.71 -2.55 -2.27 -1.74

4391.27013

(+) 1.40%

1543.47009

(+) 1.78%

13588.78520

(+) 1.34%

11195.60800

(+) 1.88%

8615.93700

(+) 1.42%

Average (% change) -5.81 -5.63 -1.24 -1.52 -2.13 0.22 -0.71 -1.77 -1.71 0.90 Average (% change) -8.74 -1.77 -5.87 -6.09 -3.83 -1.51 -2.80 -0.55 -2.11 -0.93

ANALYST

Closing average 365.44 8.04 79.64 80.18 9.20 59.39 87.88 119.23 29.96 42.61

Closing average 355.93 78.24 736.10 301.68 7.03 79.59 57.67 50.65 129.00 17.12

Closing 365.50 8.00 78.30 78.60 9.10 58.10 87.30 118.50 29.80 42.00

Closing

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 406.55 582.67 89.96 915.57 196.57 732.16 2.08 664.81 481.93 0.52 26.08 158.57 47.89 284.50 33.45 79.87 121.28 205.29 120.70 246.29 0.30

Daily high

121,997

Traded Issues

292

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

235

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

52 2

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,120.95

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

25.71

Turnover (Million Taka)

533.13

Turnover (Volume)

14,593,303

Number of Contract

21,200

Traded Issues

226

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

190

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

35

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis) Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,030.51

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

24.61

Turnover in million

Daily low 358.00 7.90 76.00 75.00 8.50 55.00 87.00 114.00 29.20 41.00

0.739 0.623 6.411 40.586 0.023 8.292 0.290 22.168 0.343 56.328

Turnover in million

Daily low

356.00 82.00 750.00 345.00 7.10 80.80 60.00 52.80 129.00 17.30

1

355.90 75.00 728.10 301.00 7.00 78.80 57.10 49.10 129.00 16.90

0.481 0.626 0.221 3.047 0.193 1.344 0.479 4.569 0.032 2.341

Latest EPS 9.80 0.40 -0.64 3.33 0.52 2.24 0.68 5.33 -0.56 1.16

Latest EPS 11.53 -0.64 -6.76 12.46 1.52 3.33 2.24 3.55 -0.77 1.61

Latest PE 37.3 20.1 -ve 24.1 17.7 26.5 129.2 22.4 -ve 36.7

% change 7.53 10.80 1.67 16.96 3.64 13.57 0.04 12.32 8.93 0.01 0.48 2.94 0.89 5.27 0.62 1.48 2.25 3.80 2.24 4.56 0.01

Million Taka 42.44 46.66 7.07 95.04 31.22 55.84 67.37 41.21 0.17 4.19 5.60 9.22 16.54 6.54 3.11 7.25 16.12 22.81 54.70 0.01

CSE

10.00 9.41 9.38 .26 9.14 7.28 6.85 6.41 6.03 5.88

CSE GAINERS Closing (% change)

Company Sinobangla Indu.-A Beach Hatchery -A Rangpur Foundry -A Familytex (BD) Ltd.-N Imam Button -Z Central Insur -A Miracle Industries -B Prime Insur -A MBL 1st M. F.-A Sandhani Life -A

9.62 9.34 8.16 7.91 6.90 6.90 6.88 6.55 6.15 6.14

9.71 6.78 7.81 9.26 9.20 8.34 4.43 4.69 3.39 3.86

Average (% change) 7.45 7.09 8.43 5.71 6.41 6.79 9.27 6.55 6.93 5.93

8.81 30.87 30.93 11.80 20.05 86.67 58.50 8.26 24.06 35.54

Closing average 31.16 30.95 106.26 59.26 9.29 31.00 20.16 35.80 6.94 74.15

Closing

8.80 31.40 31.50 11.80 20.30 85.50 59.30 8.30 24.60 36.00

Closing 31.90 31.60 106.00 60.00 9.30 31.00 20.20 35.80 6.90 74.30

Daily high

8.80 31.50 31.60 11.80 20.40 85.70 59.80 8.50 24.80 36.20

Daily high 32.00 31.70 107.80 60.50 9.50 31.00 20.40 36.00 7.00 74.60

Daily low

8.70 27.00 29.10 11.80 17.90 85.40 56.60 8.10 21.00 31.00

Daily low 29.80 29.50 103.40 56.00 9.00 31.00 19.70 35.00 6.70 74.00

Turnover in million

0.546 25.242 14.632 0.962 13.077 0.013 57.712 0.057 10.438 159.356

Turnover in million 4.253 16.745 1.275 1.215 0.153 0.006 1.633 0.098 0.174 0.141

Latest EPS

Latest PE

-0.52 0.79 0.64 -4.60 0.12 1.44 8.29 -45.28 0.57 1.03

Latest EPS

-ve 39.1 48.3 -ve 167.1 60.2 7.1 -ve 42.2 34.5

Latest PE

0.64 0.79 3.03 8.29 -2.20 2.49 0.12 2.36 1.48 2.39

48.7 39.2 35.1 7.1 -ve 12.4 168.0 15.2 4.7 31.0

% change 7.96 8.75 1.33 17.83 5.86 10.47 0.00 12.64 7.73 0.03 0.79 1.05 1.73 3.10 1.23 0.58 1.36 3.02 4.28 10.26 0.00

Million Taka 448.99 629.33 97.03 1010.62 227.79 788.00 2.08 732.18 523.14 0.69 30.28 164.17 57.10 301.04 39.99 82.98 128.53 221.41 143.51 300.99 0.32

Total

News from trade server IPO NEWS: Foreign Currency Rate of Emerald Oil Industries Ltd.: All concerned are hereby informed that TT Clean rate of BD Tk. for IPO of Emerald Oil Industries Ltd. will be as follows: 1US$=77.4000, 1UK?=126.3484 & 1 EURO?=104.6222.

Therefore, foreign currency required for 500 shares of the said IPO will be: 64.60 US Dollar, 39.58 Pound & 47.80 Euro.

and Dividend warrant (Folio) has been dispatched through Register Post/Courier Service in time.

IPO NEWS: Conduction of IPO lottery of AFC Agro Biotech Ltd.: All concerned are hereby informed that the IPO lottery program of AFC Agro Biotech Ltd. will be conducted on 11 January 2014 at 10:30 am at Multipurpose Hall of the Institution of Engineers (IEB), Ramna, Dhaka.

SAIHAMTEX: The Company has informed that the cash dividend for the year ended on June 30, 2013 has been credited to the respective shareholders' BO Accounts through Bangladesh Electronics Fund Transfer Network (BEFTN) system

EASTRNLUB: The Company has further informed that due to unavoidable circumstances, the 45th AGM of the Company will now be held on January 25, 2014 at 3:00 PM instead of 10:30 AM. Other information of the AGM will remain unchanged.

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.

Dividend/AGM

ECABLES: 10% cash, AGM: 01.03.2014, RD: 29.12.2013.

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: 25.01.2014, Time: 10:00 AM. RD: 01.12.2013.

Latest PE 30.9 -ve -ve 24.2 4.6 23.9 25.7 14.3 -ve 10.6

Improved expectations in political frontier seemed to give a push up to the stock prices during the session

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY Sector

117,786,690

Meghna PET Ind. -Z

Beach Hatchery -A Sinobangla Indu.-A Meghna Con. Milk -B Miracle Industries -B Modern Dyeing -Z Familytex (BD) Ltd.-N Shampur Sugar -Z Bangladesh Welding -A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A

Closing average

CSE key features January 8, 2014

380.00 8.20 83.00 82.40 9.30 61.00 89.10 126.00 30.30 43.50

355.90 75.40 736.10 301.70 7.00 79.20 57.40 49.60 129.00 16.90

5,397.04

Average (% change)

Capital market highlights

▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲

Daily high

Closing (% change)

Company

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

Daily capital market highlights DSE Broad Index : DSE - 30 Index : CSE All Share Index: CSE - 30 Index : CSE Selected Index :

DSE GAINERS

Turnover (Million Taka) Turnover (Volume)

Thursday, January 9, 2014

% change 7.57 10.61 1.64 17.04 3.84 13.29 0.04 12.35 8.82 0.01 0.51 2.77 0.96 5.08 0.67 1.40 2.17 3.73 2.42 5.08 0.01

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

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company LankaBangla Fin. -A

Golden Son -A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A Appollo Ispat CL -N S Purbanchol Power-N Square Pharma -A Grameenphone-A Summit Power -A Generation Next-A HeidelbergCement -A ApexAdelchi Ftr -A UCBL - A Orion Pharma-N Titas Gas TDCLA Bengal Windsor-N CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company

BEXIMCO Ltd. -A Appollo Ispat CL -N S Purbanchol Power-N Paramount Textile Ltd.-N UCBL - A Beach Hatchery -A Golden Son -A Generation Next-A UNITED AIR-A LankaBangla Fin. -A Grameenphone-A Orion Pharma-N Bengal Windsor-N BSRM Steels-A

Volume shares

3,555,090 3,686,660 4,484,124 4,139,200 2,180,615 748,976 641,200 3,088,142 3,417,900 305,620 235,300 4,048,216 1,395,160 1,122,794 1,193,476

Volume shares

1,145,979 931,000 263,970 346,500 705,471 541,000 234,493 415,840 855,707 169,080 55,600 174,700 151,964 115,050

Value in million

265.07 251.99 159.36 151.96 151.13 149.26 134.45 132.19 127.94 126.90 119.07 103.97 88.76 86.01 77.04

Value in million

40.69 34.21 18.28 18.19 18.15 16.74 16.05 15.63 14.48 12.64 11.68 11.10 9.79 8.61

% of total turnover

4.91 4.67 2.95 2.82 2.80 2.77 2.49 2.45 2.37 2.35 2.21 1.93 1.64 1.59 1.43

% of total turnover

7.63 6.42 3.43 3.41 3.41 3.14 3.01 2.93 2.72 2.37 2.19 2.08 1.84 1.61

Daily closing

75.90 67.70 36.00 36.60 69.00 199.80 210.50 43.10 37.00 418.80 497.70 25.60 63.10 77.40 64.70

Daily closing

36.00 36.60 69.00 52.30 25.60 31.60 67.90 37.10 17.00 76.20 210.80 63.10 64.70 75.20

Price change

Daily opening

Price change

Daily opening

4.26 0.15 5.88 1.10 -0.86 1.52 1.35 2.38 -0.27 3.38 1.76 3.23 -0.16 3.48 3.35

5.26 0.83 -1.00 0.58 2.40 9.34 0.30 0.00 1.80 4.38 1.54 0.16 3.52 3.72

72.80 67.60 34.00 36.20 69.60 196.80 207.70 42.10 37.10 405.10 489.10 24.80 63.20 74.80 62.60

34.20 36.30 69.70 52.00 25.00 28.90 67.70 37.10 16.70 73.00 207.60 63.00 62.50 72.50

Daily high

76.30 69.20 36.20 37.30 70.50 200.20 211.50 44.00 38.00 423.90 517.00 27.00 64.40 77.90 67.00

Daily low

67.00 62.00 31.00 36.10 64.00 185.00 207.40 38.00 34.00 408.00 490.00 22.40 57.00 70.00 57.00

Daily average

Daily high

Daily low

Daily average

36.20 37.30 70.50 53.20 26.00 31.70 69.50 38.10 17.10 76.50 212.00 64.50 65.80 75.50

34.50 36.40 68.20 51.90 24.80 29.50 67.30 36.90 16.70 72.50 207.10 63.00 63.00 74.00

74.56 68.35 35.54 36.71 69.31 199.29 209.69 42.81 37.43 415.21 506.05 25.68 63.62 76.60 64.55

35.50 36.75 69.24 52.49 25.73 30.95 68.45 37.58 16.92 74.74 210.04 63.56 64.43 74.83

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Beach Hatchery biggest gainer at DSE n Tribune Business Desk Beach Hatchery Limited yesterday emerged as the top gainer among "A" category shares at the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) without any fundamental reason.

Its stock prices rose 9.41% to close at Tk31.4 each. The stock had previously rallied during the opening couple of weeks in December.

Earlier in response to a Chittagong Stock Exchange query, the company informed that there is no undisclosed price sensitive information for the recent unusual price hike.

The third quarter earnings as per un-audited report published on October 31 stood at Tk23.7 lakh as compared to Tk1.33 crore in the same period last year.

According to its unaudited financial reports, the sales turnover in the first nine months gradually scaled down from Tk14.1 crore in 2010 to Tk13.5 crore in 2011, Tk11.1 crore in 2012 and finally to Tk9.1 crore in 2013.

Decline in sales turnover hit its profit as it posted profit of Tk2 crore in 2013, Tk3.9 crore in 2012, Tk5.5 crore in 2011 and Tk5.5 crore in 2010.

There was hardly any information available on the public domain that might influence the recent price hike of the stock. The company’s stocks worth Tk2.5 crore were traded in the last trading session, which was around 0.5% of the total DSE trade.

Listed in 2002, Beach Hatchery falls in the food and allied segment of the stock market.

It has an unaudited EPS of Tk0.59 and a price to earnings ratio of 39.92 based on the third quarterly report of the current calendar year.

With having 45.49% of stake by the public and 35.01% by directors, the company has given stock dividends in the last five consecutive years. l

Oil prices edge higher ahead of US stockpiles report n AFP, Singapore Oil prices edged higher in Asia yesterday as dealers sat on the sidelines ahead of an upcoming US stockpiles report, while a record-breaking North American cold snap provided strong support.

New York’s main contract, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for February delivery, was up 29 cents at $93.96 in mid-morning trade while Brent North Sea crude for February rose eight cents at $107.43.

“The market has just pulled a bit at this stage after a few days of steep decline for WTI,” Ric Spooner, chief market analyst at CMC Markets in Sydney, told AFP. l

Business

Chinese investment in US doubled in 2013

Lanka Bangla most traded stocks at DSE

n AFP, Washington

Lanka Bangla Finance Limited was the most traded stock at the Dhaka Stock Exchange yesterday with its shares worth Tk26.4 crore changed hands.

The value represents 4.8% of the total volume traded at DSE. The non-banking financial institution stock prices closed at Tk75.9each, registering a rise of 4.26%.

According to its 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.

China’s investment in the United States doubled to $14bn last year despite sometimes rocky political ties, with private firms leading the way, said a study out Tuesday.

About half of the value consisted of Shuanghui International’s takeover of prominent pork producer Smithfield Foods, a $7.1bn deal that marked the largest ever Chinese acquisition of a US company.

But the report by the Rhodium Group, a New York-based firm that looks closely at Chinese investment, found that the total number of deals had also risen from 2012 to 82. It said that Chi-

nese companies accounted for 70,000 full-time jobs in the United States.

The total value of investment hit a record high of $14bn, with high-profile deals in real estate as well as Chinese investors took stakes in the General Motors Building and Chase Manhattan Plaza in New York.

Private firms and entrepreneurs dominated, accounting for 87% of transactions and 76 percent of the total value of Chinese investment, a contrast to the dominance of state firms until recently, the study said.

US lawmakers have raised concern about investments by several Chinese firms. Telecoms giant Huawei has largely dropped hopes of expansion in

the world’s largest economy after Congress warned that its equipment could be used for spying.

The United States has also raised intellectual property as a top concern with China, accusing hackers in the emerging economy of waging a vast theft campaign of American companies’ trade secrets.

But the Rhodium Group said that most deals that failed were not linked to politics. It predicted future growth in investment.

“With its large market, educated workforce and world-leading technology and brands, the United States has strong appeal to the next generation of Chinese outbound investors,” it said. l

n Tribune Business Desk

Despite a significant increase in provision, the company came out with higher profit due to Tk20.2 crore income gained from its investment in the third quarter in 2013.

Income from investment was only Tk3.5 crore in the third quarter of 2012.

Earlier, Credit Rating Agency of Bangladesh Limited (CRAB) rated the company “A2” in the long term and “ST-3” in the short term based on audited financial statements as of December 31, 2012.

The stock price of the company is the highest since December.

Net asset value of the company is Tk31.07, earnings per share of Tk2.06 and a price to earnings ratio of 27.63. l

US to Europe: Stronger banking union would help boost growth n Reuters The United States has a message for Europe: If you want to help your ailing economy, consider pledging taxpayer money from across the euro zone to help troubled banks.

Washington dispatched Treasury Secretary Jack Lew this week to Paris, Berlin and Lisbon in part to convey concerns about the euro zone’s need to revitalize banks crippled by a debt crisis.

The issue has jumped up the United States’ worry list, overshadowing a previous spat with Berlin about criticism of Germany’s export-driven economic model.

Speaking in Paris on Tuesday, Lew urged Europeans to go beyond the deal struck last month to create shared institutions for winding down failed banks.

Washington “would like to see more action taken” to create common backstops for banks and to insure they have enough capital to make enough loans to create jobs, he said.

“The more capital that there is in European banks, and the stronger the backstops are, the better it is for the European economy, the US economy and the world economy,” he said.

In private, US officials have been more direct on the banking union’s shortcomings. A shut-down fund would use bank levies to amass 55bn euros ($75bn) over the next decade, a tiny sum relative to size of bank balance sheets.

Also, European countries whose public finances have been devastated by a debt crisis might be hard-pressed to bail out troubled banks on their own.

Washington’s view is that pooling the resources of euro zone governments - anathema to Berlin which doesn’t want to foot the bill - could improve the credibility of the resolution fund and boost confidence in the banking system which would then be able to lend more.

“Ultimately, our view is that bank-

ing union requires a significant degree of risk and cost sharing between members,” a senior Treasury official told reporters in a briefing on Lew’s trip.

“An effective, credible banking union, in our minds, should include ... recapitalization authority and a credible deposit insurance,” he said.

While the euro zone shares a common currency, the bloc does not back the banks of member countries in the way America’s federal government guarantees deposits across US states.

Under the agreement reached in December, national EU governments will remain ultimately on the hook for the cost of a failing bank for several years at least, while plans floated in 2012 for a common deposit guarantee have long since bitten the dust.

Many European banks are trying to heal their balance sheets by reducing liabilities, but that means less lending - a worry to Washington because this drags on the economy.

Lending by euro zone banks to non-financial companies fell at a 3.9 percent annual rate in November, and declines have been growing more acute in recent months.

At odds with Germany

So far, the type of cost sharing favored

by Washington has been ruled out by Germany, which does not want to commit taxpayer money to bank bailouts in other countries.

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble is likely to reiterate that when he meets Lew later on Wednesday. Lew then flies to Lisbon for talks with Portuguese Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho.

Lew is seeking to build ties with like-minded officials in other corners of the continent in an attempt to build momentum for a deeper banking union and reorient the focus of policymakers toward boosting growth.

French Finance Minister Pierre

French President Francois Hollande (left) welcomes US Treasury Secretary Jack Lew (centre) and French Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici (right) at the Elysee Palace in Paris REUTERS Moscovici, following a meeting with Lew on Tuesday, said: “We have converging views and are hoping to get our voices heard.”

French President Francois Hollande, with whom Lew also met on Tuesday, is due to make a state visit to Washington in February.

Much has been made of America’s recent criticism of the German economic model, and whether that criticism creates tension between Lew and Schaeuble.

In October, the US Treasury said

in a report to Congress that Germany wasn’t doing enough to spur its domestic economy, and that its dependence on exports was putting downward pressure on wages and prices around the world.

German politicians were furious, saying Germany’s export success is a reflection of its competitiveness and highly-skilled workforce.

But any tension there is likely to be secondary to the banking union issue for a number of reasons.

For one, the United States has lit-

ONE Bank sings agreement with DPDC organisations.

DPDC Managing Director Brig Gen Md Nazrul Hasan (Retd), Director (Operation) A M Mizanur Rahman, Director (Finance) Md Ashaduzzaman, Director (Engineering) S M Manzoor-ul Ehsan and OBL Additional Deputy Managing Directors Rozina Aleya Ahmed, A B M Saif Sarwar, other high officials of both the organisations were also present in this ceremony. l

Social Islami Bank Limited (SIBL) Board of Directors Chairman Major (Retd) Dr Md Rezaul Haque handing over blankets to Young Power in Social Action (YPSA) Chief Executive Md Arifur Rahman for distribution among the distressed cold stricken indigenous Tipra tribune people living in Shitakund hills range. SIBL Managing Director Md Shafiqur Rahman, Deputy Managing Director AMM Farhad and senior executives were also present at the programme

Etihad Airways is celebrating a year of record-breaking success after achieving its highest ever passenger and cargo volumes in 2013.

Nearly 12m people flew with Etihad Airways last year, marking a significant increase of nearly 16% in comparison to 2012’s figure of 10.3m.

Etihad Airways carried 73% of the more than 16.4mn passengers who travelled through Abu Dhabi airport in 2013. With the addition of the airline’s equity alliance partners that operate flights into Abu Dhabi, the combined total rises to 79% of passenger traffic at Abu Dhabi airport. l

Jamuna Bank Training Academy (JBTA) arranged training programme on ‘Orientation on Banking Operations for Executive Officer’. Jamuna Bank Limited Deputy Managing Director Mirza Elias Uddin Ahmed inaugurated the training programme. Besides, JBTA Director General Md Motior Rahman, and SVP and Co-ordinator S M Altaf Hossain were present on the occasion

BCBL initiates winter aid Bangladesh Commerce Bank Limited (BCBL) has initiated winter aid programme for distressed victims of cold wave. BCBL Board of Directors Chairman Md Yousuf Ali Howlader has inaugurated the program as chief guest by distributing blankets to distressed poor victims at Mirpur, Dhaka rcently.

BCB LCEO and Managing Director Abu Sadek Md Sohel were present on the blanket distribution occasion. l

tle moral high ground with Germany on issues of macroeconomic policy.

Washington has engaged in harsh austerity in recent years and has had little success boosting real wages - both of which keep domestic demand low.

Also, boosting domestic demand in Germany could take some time, while the risks of a flawed banking union could be more pressing. The European Central Bank is due to finish a review of big banks’ balance sheets by year’s end, and might call on some to recapitalize. l

Dollar mixed in Asia ahead of Fed meeting minutes n AFP, Tokyo

Etihad Airways celebrates record breaking growth

ONE Bank Limited (OBL) has signed an agreement with Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited (DPDC) and at the Board Room of DPDC recently.

Under the agreement, all the subscriber of DPDC will be able to pay their bills through OBL Branch Network.

DPDC Company Secretary Maran Kumar Chakraborty of and OBL Managing Director M Fakhrul Alam signed the agreement on behalf of their respective

B3

Thursday, January 9, 2014

AAIBL initiates blanket distribution Al-Arafah Islami Bank Limited (AAIBL) will distribute blankets among the cold affected people throughout the country. AAIBL Managing Director Md Habibur Rahman inaugurated the blanket distribution programme at AIBL Khilkhet Branch recently.

Among others, Asian Group DMD Saiful Islam Bhuiyan, Mission Group Managing Director S M Alauddin, Manjil Group Managing Director Jahirul Alam Chowdhury, Noor Group Chairman Na-

jir Ahmed, Amirjan High School Head Master Tariqul Islam, Nafis Traders Proprietor Abdur Rauf, prominent Philanthropist Haji Malek Matabbor, AIBL Senior Vice President Md Nazmus Saadat, Senior Vice President & Dhaka North Zone Head Manir Ahmad and Assistant Vice President & Head of PR Jalal Ahmed were present on the occasion. The inauguration was organised by AIBL Assistant Vice President & Khilkhet Branch Manager Md Sharif Chowdhury. l

The dollar was mixed in Asia yesterday as investors await the release of minutes from the Federal Reserve’s most recent meeting to see if it plans to continue winding down its stimulus programme.

The greenback fetched 105.03 yen in late afternoon Tokyo trade, rising from 104.69 yen in New York on Tuesday.

The euro gained to $1.3620 from $1.3614 while it rose to 143.03 yen from 142.53 yen.

The Fed will later in the day release the minutes from its December meeting, when it said it would reduce its stimulus programme by $10bn a month to $75bn from January. Analysts will be looking to see if there are any clues about its plans for the scheme this year following a string of upbeat data on the economy. Traders were buoyed by news Tuesday that the US trade deficit had shrunk in November as exports surged.

On Friday the Labour Department will release closely watched non-farm payrolls figures, which will provide fresh insight into the state of the economy.

An upbeat jobs report “will boost confidence in a further taper from the Fed when they meet on January 29”, National Australia Bank said.

“Some added colour on FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) thinking on tapering may come from the December FOMC minutes to be released” later Wednesday, it added.

In the eurozone data showed inflation fell to 0.8% in December from 0.9% in November, stoking fears of deflation that could endanger growth prospects. l

B4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

Thursday, January 9, 2014

What makes her confined at home?

Domestic tourism reached on the verge of collapse as it already suffered a business loss of 90% while inbound tourism came down to zero level. Hotels, restaurants, tourism vessels and vehicles are facing setback as well n Ibrahim Hossain Ovi Arunima Das, a class six student of Holy Cross School, is very angry with her parents. She stopped talking to her father after the publication of PSC examination results. Das achieved A+ in the class five terminal examinations.

“My father had promised me to visit Fantasy Kingdom if I can secure A+.

But, he broke the promise and I am very angry with him,” she quipped.

“It is a great pain for me as I have to bear the annoying speeches of my only daughter because of my failure to make her a cheerful visit to Fantasy Kingdom,” said Arunima’s father Sunil Das, who is a banker, expressing abhorrence to the political parties for creating deadlock situation across the country.

Like Arunima Das, a number of students, city dwellers and countrymen have failed to make their year-end holidays due to political programmes including hartals and blockades, which shattered the business of amusement parks across the country.

Sohel Mahmud, a businessman of Mirpur, told the Dhaka Tribune he had to change several times the schedule for visiting Foy’s Lake in Chittagong due to blockades. He was supposed to enjoy the thirty first night there along with his family, but had to cancel due to the political programmes and the government restriction on the New Year celebration.

People from different parts of the country, including Chittagong city dwellers, visit Foy’s Lake on the holidays, especially in the winter. But a sense of insecurity kept them away this season, said Bishwajit Ghos, assistant manager (marketing) of Foy’s Lake at Chittagong.

During blockades visitor presence came down to 100-150 people per day as compared to 1,500 to 2,000 of previous years, he added.

“We had taken preparation to give

A view of Dhaka Shishu Park (children's amusement park). There has been remarkable drop in the number of visitors to amusement parks and other tourist spots across the country due to political unrest RAJIB DHAR the lake a decorated look for the New Year, but the investment for renovation only increased the amount of our

looses,” said Ghos.

“We, a group of 10 first year student of Dhaka International Universi-

ty, have planned to go on a three-day tour to Cox’s Bazaar on the first week of January, but had to put off the plan

as BNP enforced hartal,” said Munim Chowdhury, a member of the group.

“It has now become difficult for us

Alibaba to set up mobile gaming platform in China

Analysis - Emerging market investors face year mined with political risks

n Reuters

n Reuters

E-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd said on Wednesday it would set up a mobile gaming platform in China, venturing into a fast growing sector dominated by tech rival Tencent Holdings Ltd. Mobile gaming is hugely popular in China, home to the largest number of smartphone users in the world. In 2013, mobile gaming revenue accounted for 11.24bn yuan ($1.86bn), or 13.5% of the overall Chinese video gaming market, the world’s third largest.

Liu Chunning, a former Tencent executive who now heads Alibaba’s digital entertainment business, said in a statement the mobile gaming platform would be offered free to developers for the first year. He did not say, however, when it would be set up and the statement gave few other details.

Alibaba spokeswoman Florence Shih said the platform would be launched in the near future. “We’re not making mobile games, we’re the platform operator,” she added.

A person familiar with the matter said the platform may have its own dedicated app or could be integrated into existing Alibaba apps such as e-commerce app Mobile Taobao or Laiwang, a social messaging app.

Alibaba’s platform will have to compete with Tencent, which reported revenue of 338m yuan ($55.86m) from mobile gaming in the January-March quarter of last year.

Tencent’s social messaging app WeChat, which includes games, is used by more than half of all Chinese smartphone users. The number of monthly active WeChat users grew 124% yearon-year in the third quarter of 2013, and figures from domestic app stores showing Tencent’s mobile games are also hugely popular.

In October, Japanese tech and telecoms group SoftBank Corp, which has a 36.7% stake in Alibaba, agreed to pay $1.53bn for a 51% stake in Finnish mobile game maker Supercell, valuing the small firm which generated hit games like “Clash of Clans” and “Hay Day” at $3bn.

It was not immediately clear whether Alibaba would leverage that relationship to its advantage.

Alibaba is widely expected to launch an IPO this year. It has been conservatively estimated to be worth over $100bn. l

As the tidal wave of global central bank liquidity recedes in 2014, emerging market investors are growing more anxious about local political risks - and how to spot them early on.

Developing economies have had a rough ride since the US Federal Reserve first mooted a wind-down of its money printing last year. The looming withdrawal of easy cash worldwide pushed the dollar and Treasury yields up and drove Western investors home, jarring countries most dependent on foreign capital.

Emerging market bonds posted only their third year in the red since 1998 last year, while emerging equities ended 2013 in the red for the second year in three.

And as the global investment tide sweeps out, it may reveal a beach strewn with political detritus.

As competition for funds hots up while their economies rapidly lose steam, political risks have been amplified in the so-called ‘Fragile Five’ of Turkey, South Africa, India, Indonesia and Brazil, the emerging economies with the biggest overseas financing needs.

All five face elections this year, adding to brewing local concerns over a deepening corruption probe in Turkey or the waning popularity of South Africa’s and Brazil’s leaders.

South Africa and India hold parliamentary elections in 2014, while Brazil and Turkey have presidential elections. Indonesia has both. In fact, 12 of the major emerging markets go to the polls in some format this year.

“2014 will be a year in which the return impact from idiosyncratic political events in emerging markets could increase substantially,” asset manager M&G Investments told clients this week.

“The prospect of these elections could potentially reduce the net capital flows into these economies on a temporary basis,” it added, citing the threat of local capital flight, delayed foreign direct investment or portfolio flows as well as increased demand for currency and bond hedging.

Navigating the scheduled elections may be the easy bit, however. Some of the biggest political disruptions of the past four years were rather more sudden, such as the Arab Spring up-

heavals across the Middle East and North Africa or the more recent street protests in Ukraine. For funds seeking to assess political risk well in advance, some form of advance warning system or scorecard is critical.

‘Willingness to pay’

The world’s biggest asset manager Blackrock, for example, publishes a Sovereign Risk Index every quarter that now ranks 50 countries in terms of governments’ overall creditworthiness.

The index covers areas such as external finance needs, fiscal policies and banking stability, but also captures the essence of pure political risk under a heading ‘Willingness to Pay’.

The introduction of Ukraine and Nigeria to the list this week saw the two countries come in at 45th and 39th respectively on overall ratings.

Their scores for ‘Willingness to Pay’, however, are far below the average of their emerging market peers. Only Venezuela has a worse rating than Nigeria, for example.

What’s more, Blackrock highlighted the growing political element in its

risk ratings, citing the recent unrest in Thailand and Ukraine in particular, and it said it had added an additional source in compiling its ‘willingness to pay’ gauge to strengthen monitoring.

All of the ‘Fragile Five’ flashed red on this category when Blackrock last updated this index in October.

Portfolio investors, therefore, may have their radars up in order to exit quickly, but does this work for companies with bricks and mortar investment on the ground?

Political risks to so-called foreign direct investments go well beyond tax hikes or payment risks and extend to outright expropriation of assets, threats to staff or plant and inventory damage from conflict or social unrest.

Traditionally these risks to foreign direct investment have had to be judged by deep local knowledge, or assessed by government insurance bodies or bespoke political risk agencies.

But a study published by the USbased National Bureau of Economic Research this week showed that early-warning political risk gauges can be constructed from bond market prices and provide just as valuable a guide for

business overseas.

The paper, by four US economists from Columbia and Duke Universities and Universities of Washington and North Carolina, showed political risk gauges do provide a good warning of events defined both by claims recorded by the US government’s political risk insurance arm and major adverse news events.

What’s more, the authors - Geert Bekaert, Campbell Harvey, Christian Lundblad and Stephen Siegel - reckon they can construct a real-time accurate gauge using a subset of sovereign bond spreads stripping out non-political factors like market liquidity, economic trends or the global market climate.

By and large, they argue, sovereign spreads in emerging markets overstate pure political risks by 3.1 percentage points.

But - in a warning as much to national policymakers as investors - their striking conclusion is that a 1 percentage point rise in the political risk spread leads to a drop in FDI of almost 12%, or some $305m on average, for the 30 emerging countries in major debt indices. l

to run the park as visitors presence fell by around 90%,” said Enamul Hossain, assistant manager (sales) of Fantasy Kingdom.”We had to pay staffs though the income is at zero level.”

In the Fridays and holidays, generally 15,000 to 20,000 visitors come to enjoy their holidays, but due to political unrest, it came down to 400 to 500 per day, he added.

During December to January period of every year, the amusement park faces huge rush from corporate houses, schools and collages for picnic. But this year, they hosted no such groups as yet, said Enamul.

“Tourist spots are to enjoy. But no one could enjoy due to violence,” said Mizanur Rahman, general manager of Swapnopuri, an amusement park at Dinajpur. He said the political unrest hindered people from moving, affecting the amusement park business.

“We are not getting reservations for picnics by corporate or institutional clients as they are suffering from indecision due to political programmes being announced indiscriminately beyond prediction,” said Zubaid Al Hafiz, head of marketing at Nandan Park.

If the unrest continues, the whole sector will fall into deep crises as the business of the sector in the peak season is at stake, said Hafiz. “We have incurred a loss of over Tk1 crore in last two months.”

“Domestic tourism reached on the verge of collapse,” Taufiq Uddin Ahmed, president of Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB), spoke of the state of the sector that already suffered a business loss of 90%.

On the other hand, he said, inbound tourism came down to zero level as the operators have been forced to cancel scheduled visits by the foreign tourists.

As a result, the linkage business like hotel, restaurants, tourism vessel and vehicles are facing setback as they cannot bear the expenses, Ahmed said. l

NEWS IN BRIEF PM expects 5% economic growth in 2013/14 India’s economic growth in the current fiscal year will likely remain flat at 5%, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Wednesday. Singh’s forecast is more optimistic than those of several private economists, who are predicting growth in the year to March 2014 to slip below 5%. Pace of economic expansion in Asia’s third largest economy hit a decade-low of 5% in the last fiscal year. – Reuters

Global shares and dollar rise on further signs of economic recovery Global equity markets and the dollar rose on yesterday, with solid German export data pushing European shares to near their highest levels since mid-2008.

– Reuters

Apple seeks removal of courtappointed antitrust monitor Apple Inc is seeking the removal of a lawyer appointed by a court to monitor its antitrust compliance following a ruling last year that the company had conspired to fix e-book prices. – Reuters

Decades-long ties to Madoff cost JPMorgan $2.6bn JPMorgan Chase & Co agreed to pay $2.6bn to the US government and Bernard Madoff victims to settle allegations that the bank failed to tell authorities about its suspicions of fraud at Madoff ’s fund.

– Reuters

Chinese tycoon admits New York Times bid faces obstacles Chinese recycling tycoon Chen Guangbiao dialed back his ambitious plans to buy The New York Times Co just over a week after making his intentions public.

– Reuters

Fund managers in India to place bold bets on mid-caps in 2014: Reuters poll

Supporters of Arvind Kejriwal, leader of the newly formed Aam Aadmi (Common Man) Party, wave India's national flag during the first party workers' meeting after their party won 28 constituencies in the state assembly elections, in New Delhi REUTERS

Indian asset managers plan to increase their holdings of cheaper mid-cap shares in coming months, signalling increased confidence about the economy and the outlook for inflation despite looming general elections, according to a Reuters poll. – Reuters