19 January 2014

Magh 6, 1420 Rabiul Awal 17, 1435 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 1 No 295

SUNDAY, JANUARY 19, 2014 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

4 | ‘STOP COMMUNAL VIOLENCE‘

6 | IMPOSSIBLE IS NOTHING

20 pages | Price: Tk10

9 | INDIAN MINISTER’S WIFE DEATH

12 | INTERESTING FACTS ON SUCHITRA

Petition against Jamaat likely next month Lack of proper punitive measures in law may not bring any result, many fear The petition will be filed next n Udisa Islam month, barrister Tureen Afroz, one of The government is likely to file a petition next month to try Jamaat-e-Islami for its crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War, but due to absence of punishment in the related law, the initiative may not yield any result, many said.

Investigations against Jamaat as a party began on August 18 last year for its involvement in crimes through several groups of collaborators formed under the party leadership. But the investigation officer and some legal professionals are concerned as there is no punishment meted out in the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act. The investigators and the prosecution are now dealing with some observations made by the two tribunals about Jamaat – a component of BNP-led 18-party alliance – to prove its crimes as a “criminal organisation” in 1971.

the prosecutors, told the Dhaka Tribune. She said they would pray for a ruling on Jamaat to apologise to the nation for its role in 1971.

But Investigation Officer Motiur Rahman is confused about the last part of the probe report where he has to pray for some punishment. He said: “The Act of 1973 does allow me to seek justice but not any specific punishment for any organisation.”

On February 17 last year parliament passed an amendment empowering the tribunals to hold trial of any organisation for committing crimes against humanity in 1971. The Act, however, does not have any provision of punishment.

When asked, legal professional Shahdin Malik said: “It is a problem to make an organisation subject to criminal law as it is not possible to

Pakistan not to comment on Bangladesh war crimes trials n UNB

Prime suspect in Noor attack case found dead in Nilphamari

Upazila polls to be held in three phases

n Tribune Report

n Mohammad Zakaria

Making its position clear, Pakistan has said it will not make any comment on the trial process of war criminals in Bangladesh in the future.

Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations Masood Khan conveyed Islamabad’s position to the Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the UN, AK Abdul Momen, in New York.

“Yes, it was confirmed through our permanent representative to the UN,” State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam told UNB over phone yesterday.

On December 16, the Pakistan National Assembly adopted a resolution expressing concern over the execution of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdul Quader Molla for “his loyalty to Pakistan” in 1971.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 6

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

The prime accused in the case filed in connection with last month’s attack on the convoy of Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor was found dead in Nilphamari yesterday.

Our Nilphamari correspondent reported that the local villagers of Palash Bari had first seen the body of Golam Rabbani, 35, of the neigbouring Dubachuri village, near a bamboo cluster in a local crematory at first around 6am.

They later informed police.

Police recovered the body around 8:30am, said Sub-Inspector Asad of the Sadar police station, adding that the body had several injury marks on the head, cheek and throat.

Rabbani was reportedly hiding at his uncle’s house in Durgam Bargasin village in Tentulia upazila of Panchagarh after he was accused in five cases in the attack, his family claimed.

The students of Rajshahi Simla Government Primary School do their classes under a makeshift tin-shed open structure. Despite its nationalisation last march, the five-storey school building construction has stopped due to interference of Rajshahi Development Authority DHAKA TRIBUNE

“Around 15 people, carrying arms and identifying themselves as members of the RAB, went to the uncle’s house and took Rabbani Awayon Wednesday,” said Shahana, wife of the deceased.

Family members suspect that AL activists were involved in the death of Rabbani Shahana came to know about it over mobile phone but the people in the uncle’s house were not sure whether the armed people were RAB personnel or not.

“The people who picked up Rabbani were in plain clothes. So, they might be Awami League criminals,” she claimed.

According to the local villagers of Nilphamari,local BNP leader Rabbani was also an extortionist. He joined Jamaat nearly three months ago.

Five people, including four local

Women MPs’ election uncertain before Jan 29 n Kamran Reza Chowdhury The government must amend a law to elect the 50 women MPs from the reserved seats before the 10th parliament’s inaugural session starting on January 29.

In case of its decision against amending the Jatiya Sangsad (reserved women MPs) Election Act-2004, the incumbent speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury

INSIDE Business

B1 The government plans to boost the country’s moribund bond market to meet the fund requirements for its fiscal deficit.

Sport

13 Bangladesh Cricket Board will sit in a meeting tomorrow with the representatives from all participating boards in ICC WT20 on security arrangement during the mega event.

will be in no position to be re-elected.

According to the parliament’s rules of procedure, the first job of Shirin Sharmin, who was not elected MP in the January 5 poll, on January 29 will be to elect a new speaker and hand over the charge immediately since there is no other way for her to be elected to a second term.

According to section 3 (1) of the elec-

tion act, the election commission must prepare the list of MPs elected from the general seats in 30 working days since the publication of results through gazette notification.

A sub-section (9) of the same section further says the commission will display the list on the next working day after the expiry of the deadline.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

Awami League men, were killed when activists of Jamaat-Shibir attacked Noor’s motorcade on December 14 last year.

Noor was returning to Nilphamari town after visiting Laxmichap, Shishatoli and Palash Bari villages where Jamaat men had torched shops and storehouses belonging to Hindus and Awami League activistson December 12.

Shibir man killed in Satkhira

In a separate incident, a Shibir man was killed in a shootout with joint forces in Satkhira yesterday.

Satkhira police said Abu Hanif Chhoton, 16, an activist of Islami Chhatra Shibir, was killed as the joint forces were locked in a gun battle in Sadar upazila before the Fazr prayers.

Choton was a resident of the Padmasakra area of the upazila, reported our Satkhira correspondent.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

The Election Commission has decided to hold the fourth upazila parishad elections in three phases, the schedules for the first of which will be announced today, officials have said.

The first phase of the polls will be held from February 18-22, the second from March 18-25 and the third in mid-May. The decision was made yesterday in an emergency meeting with the LGRD, education and the mass and primary education ministries. The education ministries were involved because the SSC and HSC examinations coincided with the planned election dates.

Today’s schedule announcement is likely to cover a total of 113 upazila parishads from 48 districts. The total number of upazilas in the country is 487.

However, an EC official said the exact number of upazilas to be covered in

the phase would be finalised in another meeting today.

The commission has reportedly sent letters to the regional and district election officers seeking lists of the polling centres by January 26. The letter stated that the centres used in the 10th parliamentary poll would be restored for the local body elections.

Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad yesterday said: “It [yesterday’s meeting] was a preparatory meeting. We talked about the upazila polls and the SSC and HSC examinations with the ministries concerned.

We are trying to hold the polls without disturbing the public examinations. We have to hold the polls because there are legal compulsions.”

The Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations are scheduled for February 9 to March 22.

An EC official, who was present in  PAGE 2 COLUMN 6

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Jica to focus on human resources, private sector n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman Japan will stress on developing human resources and creating congenial environment for private sector to woo foreign investment in Bangladesh.

“I would like to emphasise on enabling environment for the private sector,” the incoming chief representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) for Bangladesh, Mikio Hataeda, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

'The record of primary education has improved a lot and the government should now shift focus on secondary and higher education' Prior to his new positing, he was at the Jica headquarters as deputy director general and dealt with the Padma bridge project.

“The record of primary education has improved a lot and the government should now shift focus on secondary and higher education,” Hataeda said.

He thinks Bangladesh needs infrastructure and many institutional improvements to seek foreign investments.

The new Jica chief said development partnership between Dhaka and Tokyo would continue as Japan considers South Asia as a “very important strategic part of Asia.”

About the strategic location of Bangladesh – between India and the Southeast Asia and China, he said supply

chain could play a major role in developing the country.

On the ongoing projects, Hataeda said those would continue but for the new commitment, it would depend on the policy of the Japanese government.

He said Japan would be positive to increase aid for Bangladesh if it could show more absorptive capacity.

About the Padma bridge, Hataeda said he himself had gone to the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank to find out a way to move forward. “It is a pity that we had no choice but to cancel the loan agreement,” he added.

He said he could not make any comment whether Japan would provide any assistance for the project but he would closely watch its progress.

The outgoing Jica country chief, Takao Toda, about the Padma bridge project said Japan had tried its best to salvage the project.

Toda, who served Dhaka for about five years and now promoted to director general post in the headquarters, said Bangladesh needed to develop institutional capacity of the state’s organs – government, legislation and judiciary.

“There should be check of balance between administration, legislative and judiciary,” he said.

The outgoing chief said Bangladesh should focus more on positive potentials to get the maximum development.

“You have lots of difficulties but, on the other hand, you have lots of potentials,” he said. l

Bangladesh Christian Association forms a human chain in front of the National Press Club yesterday protesting attacks on minority communities

Shun terrorist acts, Hasina tells BNP-Jamaat n UNB

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday warned the BNP-Jamaat that they would have to shun militant and terrorist activities if they wanted to do politics in Bangladesh.

“You [BNP-Jamaat] will have to shun militant and terrorist activities if you want to do politics in Bangladesh, or else, people will reject them,” she said.

Hasina, also the president of rul-

ing Awami League, came up with the warning in her introductory speech at a meeting of the party’s Central Working Committee at Ganabhaban in the evening.

About the ongoing terrorist acts in various parts of the country, Hasina said the government was doing what necessary, and it would get even tougher, if necessary, it was the sacred duty of the government to save the lives and property of people.

“Militancy and terrorism will have

to be stopped at any cost and there will be no place for the militants and terrorists on Bangladesh soil,” she said.

Pointing finger at some “powerful quarters,” Hasina said no one could save these bad elements from their punishment, no matter how powerful they are. “They will not be able to save these [militant and terrorist] elements despite their tall talks,” she said without mentioning name of any country.

The AL chief asked the BNP-Jamaat alliance to come to the “path of dem-

ocratic process” for doing politics in Bangladesh, otherwise, she aded, the people of the country would not accept them.

The prime minister mentioned that the government had many things to do in the coming days and their first priority would be saving people from the militants and terrorists.

The three-time premier said: “What was the fault of these innocent people?

They just cast their votes in the election, nothing else.” l

India assures Bangladesh of approving LBA soon

NHRC chief blames Jamaat for communal attacks

n UNB

n Arif Ahmed

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday said his government would take necessary steps for the approval of much-talked-about Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) with Bangladesh.

Manmohan also said the LBA bill would be placed in the coming session of Rajya Sabha, the upper House, and the Lok Sabha, the lower House of India.

Singh made the assurance when visiting Bangladesh Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed met him at his official residence in New Delhi, according a

Inqilab says sorry n Tribune Report The authorities of Bengali daily Inqilab regretted for publishing a report on Indian forces participation in the joint forces’ operation in Satkhira.

In its online version on Saturday, the newspaper published a notice in this regard entitled “We are sorry”.

The newspaper regretted for publishing the report after detectives sealed off the press of the daily, arrested its three journalists and sent them to jail following a case over the matter.

'The newspaper should be more careful in publishing such types of sensitive news so that such kinds of repetition do not take place' “We are sorry for publishing the report titled ‘Indian forces cooperation in the joint forces’ operation in Satkhira’ published on the first page of the daily Inqilab on January 16 (Thursday) said the notice.

Quoting the editor of the daily, it adds: “The newspaper should be more careful in publishing such types of sensitive news so that such kinds of repetition do not take place.”

In the notice, the authorities also requested the readers not to make any statement which goes against religion, state and abstain from any kind of provocation as the newspaper is always respectful to the constitution and public opinion.

In a raid in the Inqilab office, detectives on Thursday arrested Ahmmed Atiq, chief reporter of Inqilab, Rabiulla Ulla Robi, a news editor and Rafiq Mohammad, its deputy chief reporter.

A case was filed against publisher, editor, chief news editor and a reporter under the Information and Communication Technology Act 2006 with Wari police station.

Reporter Atiq was arrested for the making of the news that claims the presence of Indian army personnel in Bangladesh territory while Robi and Rafiq for helping in the making, said police. l

message received from the commerce ministry here.

The deal was signed between then prime minister of Bangladesh, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and his Indian counterpart Indira Gandhi in 1974.

Meanwhile, Dhaka and New Delhi agreed to remove all the tariff and non-tariff barriers to enhance intra-trade in the Saarc countries.

Later, Tofail met his Indian counterpart Anand Sharma and discussed various bilateral issues. The two sides discussed ways of further improving trade relations between the two countries in the bilateral as well as the Saarc

framework.

In November 2011, India granted duty-, quota-free access to all but 25 tariff lines to Bangladesh.

Since then, Bangladesh’s exports to India have registered a 13.5% growth in the 2012-13 fiscal year. The total volume of bilateral trade stands at $5.34bn.

Earlier, a Bangladesh delegation, led

by Tofail, attended the fifth edition of the Saarc Business Leaders Conclave (SBLC) that began on Friday.

Additional Secretary Murtozaa Reza Chowdhury and business leaders accompanied the commerce minister.

During the visit, Tofail also called on Indian President Pranab Mukherjee. l

US urges Bangladesh leaders not to support violence n UNB The United States has strongly condemned violence in Bangladesh and urged its political leaders to refrain from supporting violence, especially against the minority communities. “…Bangladesh’s political leadership and those who aspire to lead must do everything in their power to ensure law and order, and refrain from supporting violence – especially against minority communities – inflaming rhetoric, and intimidation,” said Jen Paksi, spokesperson of the US Department of State, in a regular press briefing in Washington on Friday.

The response came when a reporter wanted to know about the US’ position on the allegations of violence against the minority Hindu community in Bangladesh.

Paksi said they were certainly disappointed by the recent incidents of violence.

“We condemn that in the strongest terms, the violence from all quarters that continues to mark the prevailing political impasse.”

Mentioning that violence was not an acceptable element of the political process, the spokesperson said the US called on all to stop committing further violence. l

Ziaur Rahman’s 78th birth anniversary today n Tribune Report The Bangladesh Nationalist Party is going to celebrate the 78th birth anniversary of its founder Ziaur Rahman today.

The party has chalked out a two-day programme for this year’s anniversary unlike last year when celebrations – packed with commemorative events such as discussion, art competition, blood donation, etc. – went on for five days.

As part of its programme, party chief Khaleda Zia along with leaders and activists will place wreathes at the late president’s grave in Sher-e-Banglanagar early today.

The national and party flags will be flown atop all BNP offices across the country. No discussion will be organ-

RAJIB DHAR

ised centrally today, although there will be a blood donation campaign later in the day.

The party, however, organised a discussion in commemoration of its founding chief yesterday at the National Press Club.

In a statement issued by Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, acting secretary general of BNP, all supporters were urged to stand firm against the “fascist, undemocratic and expansionist forces” with renewed zeal from this day forth.

According to sources, BNP had decided to hold a small-scale celebration this year considering the present political situation, with a number of leaders either in jail or on the run to avoid potential police harassment. l

National Human Rights Commission chief Mizanur Rahman yesterday said the Jamaat-e-Islami and its students wing Islami Chhatra Shibir conducted the terrible attacks on minority people in recent days across the country.

“The anti- liberation force, which assisted the Pakistanis in 1971, is now attacking on the minority people with a view to foil our countries progress,” said Mizanur.

The NHCR chief said this in a discussion program titled Dialogues on Peace, Security and Democracy at Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban in Dhaka University, organised

by Department of Peace and Conflict in collaboration with the Oxfam Bangladesh. He urged the government to take action against the miscreants and to support the affected people.

In his inaugural speech, DU Vice-Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique said: “If

the government fails to provide security of the minority people it is impossible for it to reinforce democracy.”

The VC urged the government to identify every miscreant and to ensure exemplary punishment for them. He also said the event would be helpful for the lawmakers of our country as it indicates for them what to do next.

Peace and Conflict Studies Chairman Prof Jahid Arefin presided over the programme. l

Women MPs’ election uncertain

Upazila polls

 PAGE 1 COLUMN 3

 PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

The election commission published the gazette notification of poll results on January 8, putting itself under the obligation to display the list of MPs, who will elect the women MPs in parliament if necessary, on February 23.

Meanwhile, two Awami League MPs – Suranjit Sengupta and Israfil Alam – have suggested promulgating an ordinance to change the law and allowing the election of women MPs ahead of the January 29 sitting.

But the suggestion drew a lukewarm

response from the prime minister on the ground that such a move might give the impression that the amendment was aimed at making Shirin Sharmin the speaker again, party insiders told the Dhaka Tribune.

However, Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury has reportedly also rejected the idea of amending the law, fearing controversy in the political circle.

“I do not hanker after posts,” she reportedly told one of her party MPs who suggested telling the prime minister to amend the act. l

Prime suspect in Noor attack  PAGE 1 COLUMN 4

Enamul Haque, OC of Sadar police station, said the joint forces personnel raided the area on information that Jamaat-Shibir men had been calling upon the people of Padmasakra village using loudspeakers of local mosques to organise and conduct subversive activities.

“When they were heading towards the village, the Jamaat-Shibir men attacked them at Purba Bhomra, nearly a kilometer away from Padmasakra,”the OC claimed.

The Jamaat-Shibir men hurled several crude bombs and fired 11 rounds of bullets, prompting the law enforcers to retaliate with around 25, he added.

After the gunfight that lasted for around 15 minutes, they found bullet-hit Chhoton lying on a pool of blood. He was rushed to the Satkhira Sadar Hospital where the on-duty doctors declared him dead, the OC said.

He claimed that Chhoton had been involved in a petrol bomb attack on a truck at Bhomra port which left the driver critically burnt. Our correspondent could not reach any of the local Jamaat leaders.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to hold a rally on January 20 in the violence-hit district and visit the families of the victims, who recently came under Jamaat-Shibir attacks. l

yesterday’s meeting, said the secretary of the education ministry had suggested the commission to hold the first phase of the upazila polls from February 18-22.

EC officials also said the tenures of 221 upazila parishads in 59 districts would expire in March; 36 upazila parishads of 26 districts would lose validity in April and 86 of 35 districts would expire in May. According to the laws, polls must be held within 180 days before the five-year tenures of these local bodies expire.

The validity period is determined by the date an upazila parishad holds its first meeting after election. On that count, an upazila parishad that held its first meeting in April, will expire in the same month five years later.

The first upazila parishad polls were held in 1985, the second in 1990 and the third on January 22, 2009. l

Pakistan not to  PAGE 1 COLUMN 1

The following day, Pakistan High Commissioner Afrasiab Mehdi Hashmi was summoned to the Foreign Ministry and Bangladesh strongly protested the resolution reminding them that the matter is absolutely Bangladesh’s internal affair.

The resolution sparked strong protests and widespread condemnations across Bangladesh. l

Govt likely to file petition against Jamaat  PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

sentence an organisation to death.

In this part of trial, we should have been specific. The punishment can be imposition of a ban on an organisation. If we can specify it in the Act, then it will be more appropriate.”

Tureen differs with these arguments. “We can amend the Act anytime. But it is not necessary now.”

She added that in 20(2) of the Act, the tribunal shall award sentence of death or other punishment proportionate to the gravity of the crime as appears to the tribunal to be just and proper. “So the tribunal can give any punishment that they want,” she said.

However, Investigator Motiur said: “By ‘any other punishment’ is not proper for

the organisation. So if possible, the government can change this part [of the Act].”

In August this year, the High Court has declared Jamaat’s registration with the Election Commission illegal since its party constitution was found to be contradictory with the country’s constitution and election rules.

In many verdicts, the tribunals included some observations about Jamaat. It even suggested that the government bar anti-liberation people from holding key positions in any government, non-government and socio-political organisations.

A tribunal in the verdict against Jamaat guru Ghulam Azam said: “In the interest of establishing a democratic as well as non-communal Bangladesh, we

observe that no such anti-liberation people should be allowed to sit at the helm of executives of the government, social or political parties, including government and non-government organisations.”

Meanwhile, sentencing al-Badr leaders Chowdhury Mueen Uddin and Ashrafuzzaman Khan to death for abducting and killing 18 intellectuals, the tribunal said: “It was Jamaat-e-Islami and its creations, fanatic groups like al-Badr, razakar, al-Shams, and the Peace Committee, who took a stance to ‘save Pakistan and Islam’ even if it required the obliteration of pro-liberation nation.”

The two tribunals made almost similar observations in the cases against other top Jamaat leaders Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed and Muhammad Kamaruzzaman. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

3

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Police want to up recruitment High-ups want 50,000 more personnel in next 5 years n Kailash Sarkar In the wake of volatile politics, police high-ups yesterday demanded that the number of police forces be increased to maintain law and order situation across the country.

They also suggested recruiting 50,000 more forces within the next five years, said sources in the police department.

The demand came at the first meeting of the newly appointed State Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal with the top-ranking police officials during his first visit to the Police Headquarters yesterday.

The police high-ups demanded to increase personnel to 2, 00,000 from its existing 1, 54,889.

They also urged the new home boss to hike the number up to 80 from 40 for each police station, said a source in the meeting.

It said the police officials stressed reinforcements considering the unstable political situation across the country.

The police officials also called upon the new state minister for home to implement the proposed “Police Division” and “Counter Terrorism Bureau” separately.

Besides, they demanded creation of more posts of additional inspector

FFs slate govt decision to cancel Tabani rights n Mohosinul Karim An organisation of freedom fighters has demanded that the government revoke its decision to give up the marketing rights of Coca-Cola products in Bangladesh for only Tk1.24bn.

The United Coordination Council of Freedom Fighters (UCCFF), in a press release yesterday, said the government’s decision to cancel a deal between Coca-Cola and state-owned Tabani Beverage, a concern of Muktijoddha Kalyan Trust, would affect disabled freedom fighters who benefitted from the arrangement.

The government on December 29 approved a proposal allowing US-based multinational beverage giant, the Coca-Cola Company, to invest directly in Bangladesh by terminating the agreement with Tabani as its marketing company.

“Although Tabani Bevarge invested around Tk12bn to build up a countrywide network to market Coca-Cola, the government gave its nod to cancel the agreement with the company on condition of getting only Tk1.24bn as compensation,” said the press release, signed by UCCFF coordinator Raza Miah.

The UCCFF claimed that the government cancelled the agreement after getting a proposal from Coca-Cola to invest only US$50m, which would be detrimental to the interests of freedom fighters.

“The freedom fighters and their families were getting support of Tk160m annually for treatment, education and marriages of their children from the profits of the (beverage) business. It was a completely profitable business for the trust until 2004. But it was shown as a losing concern from 2005,” Raza said in the release.

The government shut down Tabani Beverage in 2008 on the grounds that the company employing 235 people was incurring huge losses.

A proposal by the liberation war affairs ministry approved by the cabinet committee on economic affairs last month said Coca-Cola Company was ready to pay $16m to clear off all outstanding debts of Tabani Beverage Co Ltd. l

general of police from the existing nine and of the deputy inspector general.

Seeking anonymity, a police official at the meeting said the high-ranking police officers expressed their frustration over a small number of forces working for the Railway Police Department to keep its 2,800-kilometre rail line secure.

Accordingly, they also called for an increase in the number of forces for the Highway Police Unit.

At the meeting, Additional Deputy Inspector General of police Hasanul Haider described the history of the police department, its existing condition, and future planning.

Inspector General of police Hassan Mahmood Khandker, Additional IGP AKM Shahidul Hoque, Special Branch Chief Zaved Patwari, Rapid Action Battalion Director General Mokhlesur Rahman, among other high-ups of different units of police, spoke at the meeting.

At the meeting, they thanked the government for providing them with various facilities during its last tenure.

In his address, the state minister for home told the police officials he was not aware of everything related to the police department, but said he would discuss their demands with the prime minister and try to take necessary steps. l

Middle and low income groups line up in front of the TCB’s Truck Sale to buy rice at an affordable price due to its hike on the market

BLOGGER RAJIB MURDER CASE

Charge sheet against 8 to be submitted this week n Mohammad Jamil Khan Upon completion of the investigation in the much-talked-about murder case of blogger Ahmed Rajib Haider, the Detective Branch of Police have finalised the charge sheet against eight, including Jasim Uddin Rahmania, chief of militant organisation Ansarullah Bangla Team, as one of the prime suspects.

The charge sheet would be submitted to the court within this week, said Touhidul Islam, senior assistant commissioner of DB. Imam of Bashila Mosque in Dhaka, Jasim, has been accused for instigating the murder by delivering sermons to his followers against “atheist bloggers.”

Many students of public and private

universities used to gather at his Markajul Ulum Al Islamia madrasa in Mohammadpur. He used to tell the youths that the atheists should be killed to establish Shariah law (the body of Islamic law), according to Jasim’s statement recorded in September last year.

The seven other accused are Faisal Bin Nadim, 22, Maksudul Hasan Anik, 23, Ehsan Reza Rumman, 23, Nayem Sikder Irad, 19, Nafis Imtiaz, 22, Redowan Ahmed Rana, 28 and Sadman Yeasir Mahmood, all students of North South University.

A seven-member team was formed to kill Rajib. Of them, Rana directly conducted the murder. He has been absconding while seven others were in jail, said Saiful Islam, additional deputy commissioner of DB.

He said Rahmania used to label people from different walks of the society as “enemies of Islam.” Instigated by his speech, the seven youths had attacked and killed Rajib.

“We have learnt that Rana’s father is a retired police officer,” he added.

Rajib, 26, an organiser of the demonstrations at Shahbagh demanding death for all convicted war criminals, was hacked to death in Dhaka’s Pallabi area on February 15 last year.

He used to write with the pseudonym “Thaba Baba” on different blogs.

In his last Facebook status, he called for banning the institutions owned by the Jamaat-e-Islami, an ally of the BNP-led 18-party alliance in Bangladesh.

The investigators said they were almost done with the investigation by

September last year by gathering statements of 51 people related to the case, including two magistrates and two doctors.

They said they had primarily suspected that the hair and blood found from the murder scene belonged to the killer.

However, after running a DNA test, the forensic department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital confirmed on Tuesday that the samples belonged to Rajib.

Sources in the DB told the Dhaka Tribune that although the accused had confessed their involvement with the murder, the DNA test could not ascertain their involvement. For this reason, they might not be awarded death penalty in the case. l

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

I killed in AL factional clash n Our correspondent, Jhenaidah At least one Awami League activist was shot dead and another 15 sustained injuries when two factions of the ruling party locked in a fierce clash at village Tikari Bazer under Jhenaidah sadar upazila last night over domination in the area.

The dead was Arif Hossain, 22, son of Toyeb Ali of the village. The injured were sent to Jhenaidah and Magura sadar hospitals.

Police said the supporters of Abdul Malek had attacked the law enforcers who in retaliation fired gunshots leaving Arif dead on the spot.

Jhenaidah police station OC Iqbal Bahar Chowdhury admitted the death and said both the groups had exchanged shots. Further, the police men had tried to disperse the villagers by opening blank shots. l

BNP leaders insulted n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

Members of Rukhe Darao Bangladesh talks to the victims of communal attack during a visit to Karnai in Dinajpur yesterday

DHAKA TRIBUNE

‘Attacks on minorities caused by enemies of state’ n Tribune Report The people who recently launched attacks on minorities are enemies of the state, said DMP Commissioner Benazir Ahmed.

“The state has no use for those people who launched attacks on their fellow citizens and committed vandalism. They are enemies of the country,” he said while addressing a grand rally of community policing and citizens’ assembly at Rajarbagh police lines as chief guest yesterday.

“Because of these enemies of the state, the police force has lost 18 valuable lives in the last couple of months while 2,800 police personnel were

injured and 300 others lost limbs.”

Urging citizens to stand beside the law enforcers, Benazir said that if the police and general population work together, then they could bring the criminals to book.

He said the country was passing through a critical political movement and “We will only be able to get rid of this problem if the police and the people work jointly. We should remain aware so that such atmosphere does not happen in the country again.”

The DMP commissioner urged the youths of the city to work together with the community police to combat crimes. l

BNP leaders were subjected to cheap jibes from party activists as they took part in a discussion after about two months yesterday.

The discussion was organised on the occasion of the 78th birth anniversary of BNP founder late president Ziaur Rahman.

BNP activists present at the programme hurled abusive words at their leaders as they went into hiding leaving them on the streets during the countrywide hartal and blockades.

However, the discussion continued amid taunt and tease from the activists.

Addressing the discussion BNP standing committee member Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain alleged that democracy had been subverted at the hand of the Awami League trying to establish a one-party rule in the country.

Terming the January 5 poll “farcical”, BNP standing committee member Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain said the Awami League formed the parliament through the voterless election.

He also claimed that their movement to thwart the lopsided poll was successful as 95% people of the country did not go to polling centres.

“The Awami League has formed the government through the voterless polls and there is not any existence of the opposition party,” Mosharraf said.

Addressing the discussion at the National Press Club in the capital marking the 78th birth anniversary of BNP founder late president Ziaur Rahman, Mosharraf called upon its leaders and activists to resort to movement to free the country from the clutches of Awami League’s Baksal and to return to democracy.

After around two months, the BNP held the programme in the capital.

“None of them elected and sworn in as parliamentarians could say how many votes they got,” added Mosharraf.

He claimed that 95% people did not cast their ballot responding to the BNP’s call for boycott of the election.

“The Awami League took the Office by force as people rejected them. This election was not acceptable nationally and internationally. BNP’s movement was fully successful.”

The BNP leader, who was in hideout for more than a month, said many alleged that there were some mistakes in BNP’s movement, but that was not true.

“I want to say clearly that people did not go to polling centres responding to Khaleda Zia’s call for poll boycott.

The vote was cast less than 5%, and in many centres, there was not a single vote cast.”

Mosharraf said Bangladesh never witnessed such a “farcical” poll before, and this parliament was a “stigmatised parliament” in the history of Bangladesh. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Ken-Betwa river link project may be ‘dire’ for Bangladesh

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Mugda General Hospital starts limited inpatient admission

Experts warn of desertification, want project to be scrapped n Mohammad Atiqur Rahman He said the decision was taken by Public Interest Litigation. n Abu Bakar Siddique Later In 2012, Indian government The newly-opened Mugda General India unilaterally, without consulting, India’s Ken-Betwa river link project could bring dire consequences for Bangladesh by reducing flow of the river entering the country, observed environmentalists.

They expressed their concerns at a press briefing jointly organised by Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon and Bangladesh Environment Network at Dhaka Reporters Unity in the capital.

They demanded the project, along with 29 other river linking projects across India, to be scrapped, as most of them might turn Bangladesh into a desert by reducing the river flow from the upstream.

The Ken-Betwa link project envisages diversion of surplus waters of Ken basin to water deficit Betwa basin. The project aims to provide irrigation in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh in India.

The Padma, one of the major contributory rivers in Bangladesh, will face a shortage of flow if the project sees light. The project would withdraw water from upstream, thus making the land in this country barren, said Prof Khalequzzaman, a geologist of Lock Haven University in the USA.

Bangladesh which is a clear sign of violating the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty signed between the two countries.

According to the article 9 (A) of the treaty, neither of the countries can take an initiative that might harm their rivers.

The cabinet division of India approved the “ambitious” inter linking river projects, beginning with the process of connecting the Ken-Betwa rivers in Madhya Pradesh on January 2, said the speakers.

The government of India has taken the initiative to ensure availability of water in its drier areas by withdrawing water from the rivers. However, as per the National Perspective Plan of India, the project for excavating 30 canals between the rivers was undertaken during 1980s.

Of them, 14 canals from the Himalayan Rivers Zone including the Ganges and Brahmaputra, and 16 from Indian Peninsula region were to be excavated to ensure water flow in the dry season for irrigation and other purposes.

In 2002, the Indian High Court directed its government to finish the project by 2016 in a verdict given at a

took an initiative to implement the “Ken-Betwa” linking project after receiving a green light from the Supreme Court of India.

The HC directive has prompted the Indian government to hurry with the project despite strong protest from green groups both in Bangladesh and India, said the speakers.

Although the incumbent United Progressive Alliance government led

by Indian Congress decided to stop the work temporarily as a tactic to avoid controversy in their upcoming national election, the project work was underway, said Prof Khalequzzaman.

The government of Bangladesh should not be convinced by such temporary solution, said Prof M Shahidul Islam of the University of Dhaka.

He urged Bangladeshi government to take proper diplomatic actions so that the Indian government halts the project.

The participation of Bangladesh has to be ensured in any kind of water sharing agreement regarding the Ganges, Brahmaputra or the Meghna, as it is a major stakeholder of the river water, he added. l

Hospital at Mugdapara in the capital started admitting patients yesterday in four of its departments.

Four patients were admitted yesterday in paediatrics, while one was admitted to the medicine department.

The 500-bed hospital has specialists in eight departments, but it is now admitting patients only in medicine, child and autism, surgery and gynaecology.

The other departments are dermatology, cardiology, ophthalmology and ENT (eye, nose & throat).

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the 13-storey hospital in July last year. It is expected to start full operation by June this year.

Hospital director Dr Md Mustafizur Rahman Mian said the state-run facility would become a centre for healthcare for the residents of Kamalapur, Khilgaon, Bashabo, Mugdapara, Sayedabad and Demra.

“We will start indoor facilities in full swing by June this year, albeit indoor services are limited now,” Mustafizur said.

The hospital has been serving about 300 outpatients daily, from 9am to 12.30 pm, while more than 100 patients have been treated at the separate emergency

unit since the beginning of this month.

Akhi, who has been frequenting the outdoor facility with her ailing daughter, said: “I get medicine from here and sometimes, I need to buy medicines from outside, too.”

Dr Nadia Fatima, a medical officer at the outdoor unit, told the Dhaka Tribune: “We are trying our best to serve the patients with whatever we have now. If we cannot help them here, we tell them where else to go for treatment.”

As all the departments have not started operation yet, the hospital now refers patients to other government hospitals, such as the Dhaka Medical College Hospital or Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University.

The Mugda hospital was established on 3.85 hectares of land under a Tk1.1bn project of the health and family welfare ministry to offer health services to the people of the eastern part of the city. Then Prime Minister Khaleda Zia laid the hospital’s foundation stone in July 2006.

Meanwhile, the finance ministry has sanctioned 650 posts of doctors, nurses, technicians and other staff for the hospital. Some 195 nurses and 86 doctors have already been appointed, while the recruitment of 113 low-level staff in 32 categories is now underway. l

UP chairman killed in Natore A union parishad chairman was killed at Hazipara of Singra upazila in Natore yesterday. The deceased was Fazlar Rahman Fanu, UP chairman of Hazipara union and also a local AL leader.

Jahidul Islam Jahid, younger brother of the dead, was injured in the attack allegedly by the oppositions.

Jahid said Fanu and he was returning from a council riding on a motorcycle. The miscreants attacked on them with sharp weapons around 12noon in Hazipara area. Fanu tried to escape the scene and he tried to protect Fanu but the group consisting of 10-12 members hacked both of them. They also opened fire after being assured of Fanu’s death and fled the scene. Locals rushed them to Natore Adhunik Sadar Hospital where the attending doctor declared Fanu dead.

Fanu was an active figure on the January 5 national election of Singra.

Followers of the defeated chairman Ibrahim Khalil Fatik might killed Fanu, claimed the fellow politicians of the dead. They also urged to the law enforcers to arrest the killers soon and demanded their exemplary punishment.

Meanwhile, Ibrahim Khalil Fatik refused the allegation and said he did not know anything of the murder. l

Light rain or drizzle is likely to occur at one or two places over Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions and the regions of Jessore and Kushtia today.

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

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

The sun sets in the capital at 5:35pm today and rises at 6:43am tomorrow.

Country’s highest temperature 30.2 degree Celsius was recorded in Rangamati and lowest 09.7 degrees in Ishwaril yesterday.

Highest and lowest temperature recorded in some major cities and towns yesterday were: City

High

Low

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

27.8 26.4 26.4 26.5 27.2 26.4 30.1 28.2

13.0 14.4 12.0 13.0 11.2 10.2 14.6 16.8

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

5:24am 6:42am 12:09am 3:59pm 5:35pm 6:54pm

Source: IslamicFinder.org

Students of Rajshahi University yesterday demonstrated against an initiative of the authorities to introduce evening master’s courses.

About a hundred students under the banner of Progressive Students Alliance, formed by mainly left-wing student political parties, brought out a protest procession in the morning and demanded a revocation of the decision.

The university recently initiated a move to introduce evening master’s courses at seven departments under the social science faculty, in addition to courses now underway at the BBA and law faculties.

The students, however, alleged that the move was intended to increase the profit margins of teachers as well as the administration rather than to enhance the scope of education.

Introduction of such private courses at a public university is in contradiction to its guiding principles, they argued, saying students enrolling for those courses would have pay amounts unbefitting a government-sponsored seat of learning.

They also urged the authorities to stop the existing evening MBA and law courses and threatened “tougher movement” if their demands were not met.

The university first took the initiative to introduce evening courses in 2010 but backed off following strong opposition from the students. l

n Our Correspondent, Gaibandha

Ganajagaran Mancha brings out a procession in the capital’s Shahbagh yesterday to protest against communal violence in Bogra and bomb attack on its road march

Dry weather likely n UNB

n RU Correspondent

Ganajagaran Mancha urges to resist communal violence

n Tribune Report

WEATHER

RU students demonstrate against evening courses

RAJIB DHAR

The Ganajagaran Mancha has called upon people to resist the communal violence in a bid to build a non-communal Bangladesh in line with the spirit of the Liberation War. The call was made by the mancha spokesperson Imran H Sarker, at a street rally on the premises of local shahid minar in Palashbari upazila town on Saturday while his motorcade marching towards Thakurgaon.

Terming Bangladesh as a land of communal harmony, Sarker urged the people to be united against anti-liberation forces.

He said that the religious fanatics, fundamentalists and the anti-liberation forces had been indulging in violence for the last 43 years to ruin the country and turn it into a failed-state.

The mancha spokesman also demanded to take lawful actions against the Jamaat-Shibir men who were involved in attacking on the minorities following immediate past national elections.

The rally was also addressed, among others, by president of upazila AL Tofazzal Hossain and local Ganajagaran Mancha worker Farhad Hossain. l

Environmental fair draws nature lovers ‘Ducsu to be rejuvenated’ n Tribune Report With the slogan, “Beche Thak Sobuj Beche Thak” (long live green), a daylong nature fair was held in the capital yesterday with the participation of nature lovers from all walks of life.

The Channel i premises at Tejgaon turned into a hub of nature with displays of different flowers, trees, butterflies, environmental elements and cultural programmes for the Grameenphone-Channel i Prokriti Mela 2014.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony,

Environment and Forest Minister Anwar Hossain Manju said it was our duty to preserve nature since nature helps to keep people alive. Writer Syed Shamsul Haque said destroying nature was the same as killing a person.

Muqeed Majumder Babu, director of Impress Telefilm Ltd and chairman of Prokiti O Jibon Foundation, said there was no alternative to creating awareness among the people to preserve our nature.

“If we take off our shoes before entering a mosque, why can’t we educate the new generation about the impor-

tance of nature in our everyday lives?

The fair organisers awarded Father Hemanta Peus Rosario, principal of Notre Dame College, for his contributions to raising awareness on nature.

A special award was also given to ceramist Bishad Haripal, while Grameenphone received an honorary award.

The fair featured various types of programmes, including folk songs, jatra (folk theatre), dance, recitation, puppet shows and a drawing competition for children, to create environmental awareness among the people. l

n DU Correspondent Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, information adviser to the prime minister, yesterday said the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Ducsu), once the heart of the country’s student politics, would be rejuvenated.

“Many noted politicians of our country have emerged from Ducsu in the past. If it is reactivated, more intelligent politicians would come out,” he said.

He made the remark while addressing a cultural program at the Surjosen

Hall of the university last evening.

Ducsu last saw election in 1990. The central students’ body of the university which played crucial roles during the struggle for liberation and the antiErshad movement in the 1980s, has remained inactive for two decades.

Addressing the present students, DU Vice-Chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique, who was also present at the programme, said: “You have to go ahead with the spirit of the Liberation War and contribute to the overall development of the country.” l

Severe drinking water crisis in Garo localities n Our Correspondent, Sherpur Hundreds of people are suffering in Garo localities at Jhenaigati in Sherpur as severe shortage of drinking water has been going on from the beginning of the winter that remains a dry season.

In addition to that many of them— especially children— are becoming ill because of waterborne diseases as the community have to drink water from ponds, canals, ditchs and fountains as an alternative sources.

Inhabitants of nine villages— Tawakucha, Gurucharan Dudhnoi, Panbor, Bakakura, Gandhigao, Halchati, Noukuchi, Gajni and Choto Gajni— are the worst sufferer of the water crisis.

The villagers of Choto Gajni dug out a big hole that was being used as a wa-

ter reservoir beside a road in the village to meet the demand of the villagers.

Residents of the village said the water of the hole can be used for 15 days.

Officials at Upazila Public Health Engineering Directorate said it was not possible to set tube well in the indigenous populated hilly villages as there were a lot of stones underneath the soil of the areas.

They also added that though the government had set few tube wells in some places, but those too were dry as the water level went down 100 feet to 150 feet in this dry season.

Mohammad Mojammel Haq, upazila nirbahi officer, said they had inform the higher authorities about the situation here, while he was hoping that the authorities will take initiative to resolve the problem. l

The Construction Workers’ Union Bangladesh forms a human chain in front of the National Press Club yesterday to fulfil its 12-point demand including safe working environment and compensation for the injured and the dead workers RAJIB DHAR

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

5

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Rickshaws dominant on city streets again n Mohammad Jamil Khan Rickshaws and other non-motorised vans have become frequent again on the city’s important roads where movement of rickshaws had previously been restricted.

Rickshaws became the dominant choice of urban commuters in the capital in recent months, as several spells of opposition-sponsored blockades and hartal programmes made rickshaws a relatively safe mode of travel compared to other public transports that were often torched.

Although the blockades have now been lifted and the city streets regained its usual volume of traffic, the concerned authorities are yet to make any effective move to remove rickshaws from the VIP roads.

The authorities of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Traffic Control Department have reportedly shown little interest in addressing the issue, while field-level police officials have allegedly been using the lapse of rules to make some extra income.

The Dhaka Tribune recently found rickshaw-pullers operating between Shahbagh and Science Laboratory intersection, and between Bangabandhu International Conference Centre and Bijoy Sarani – areas that are usually restricted for rickshaw movement.

Selim, a rickshaw-puller, said unlike previous times, no one stopped the rickshaws on the street anymore.

Minor domestic help tortured

n Our Correspondent, Gopalganj Thirteen-year-old Sumona was beaten up badly, banged against wall and kept starving for days in capital’s Rayerbazar area where she used to work as a domestic help.

“My employer used to give me only two hours for washing dishes and bathrooms, boiling water, cleaning rooms and to place the food on the dining table.

If I failed to do so, they would beat me up indiscriminately while keeping me mum by pushing a sponge inside my mouth,” described Sumona, lying on the bed of Gopalganj Arai Bed General Hospital.

Sumona, daughter of a day labourer in Bongram village in Gopalganj, was sent to Dhaka a year ago to work as a domestic help. Her neighbour Sahana Begum, also mother of the alleged torturer Taposhi, sent her to work as a domestic help at Taposhi’a place.

Taposhi and her husband Jahir Ahmed, an employee of the Sub-Registrar’s office, live at a flat on the fourth floor of a five-storied building in the Rayerbazar area.

Taposhi started torturing Sumona as she started working and most of the time kept her starving over petty issues.

Sumona said as the level of torture increased she fell sick and was sent back to her village home on Tuesday by her employer. As her physical condition deteriorated her father admitted her to the hospital.

Sumona’s mother Monoara Begum said: “They ruined my daughter’s face by torturing brutally. They pulled off her hair.”

Residential Medical Officer of the hospital Dr Asit Mallik said: “Alongside beating they did not provide her with any food for days which has made her psychical condition extremely critical.

However, she might recover after going through long-term treatment.”

Refusing the allegation against her daughter, Sahana Begum said: “She was not physically abused. They only scolded Sumona when she failed to do a work.

But after that Sumona would willingly quit eating out of anger.” l

Violence-free campus demanded n CU Correspondent Progatishil Chhatra Jote, a combine of left-leaning student bodies, submitted a memorandum to the vice-chancellor of Chittagong University (CU) on Saturday demanding violence free campus.

Helal Uddin Ahmed, an assistant proctor of CU, said the students had submitted the memorandum to the VC at his office demanding the campus free from violence and fundamentalism.

Rasidul Samir, president of Bangladesh Chhatra Union, CU unit, said they had also urged the authorities to resume the classes and examinations and bring the attackers to book in the memorandum. l

Even if someone did stop the vehicles, access to the road was granted again for a toll of Tk10-15, he added.

With time, rickshaws have been growing as a traffic burden, with new rickshaws being added to the existing rickshaw fleet of the capital each year.

These new vehicles are allegedly provided with illegal licences by an organised syndicate in the name of different rickshaw-van owners and workers association.

According to sources in these associations, around eight lakh rickshaws and vans have been using fake number plates to operate on city streets. However, there are only 87,000 valid licences issued for non-motorised vehicles in the capital city. Of them, 79,554 for rickshaws and 8,000 for vans.

Sources in the Dhaka City Corporation said the last time licences were issued was in the year 1986, and for reasons unknown, no new licences had been issued over the last 27 years. The syndicate was cashing in on the traffic control authorities’ inaction, the sources said.

Meer Rejaul Alam, joint commissioner (traffic) of the DMP, told the Dhaka Tribune that they had contacted different rickshaw-van owners and workers associations to get the actual figure of rickshaws and vans, but to no avail.

He however claimed that rickshaws operated on VIP roads only during hartals, adding that actions have been taken to secure the restricted areas from rickshaw movement. l

A road-crosser jumps over the iron railings in the capital’s Newmarket area without using the footbridge nearby. The picture was taken yesterday

Three killed in accidents

SUCHITRA SEN RECALLED IN PABNA

Museum demanded in her ancestral home n Our Correspondent, Pabna Pabna mourned the death of her great daughter Suchitra Sen. Suchitra Sen Smrity Shangrkhan Parishad (SSSSP), organised a condolence meeting on Friday night at Pabna Press club auditorium recalling the memory of Suchitra Sen. The condolence meeting demanded the ancestral house of the legendary actress be freed from Jamaat’s grip.

Among others, the SSSSP Secretary Dr Ram Dulal Voumik, journalist Ronaish Maitra, Anwarul Haque, president of Pabna Press Club Shibojit Nag, Principal of Shahid Shadhn Music College Abdul Matin Khan, president of Pabna Drama Circle Sirajul Islam Hira, secretary of Ekushey Boimela Udzpan Parishad Zakir Hossain, headmaster of Pabna Government Girls High School Aliza

Khatun spoke on the occasion.

They demanded for establishing an archive or museum in the ancestral house of Suchitra.

According to the speakers, to save the house of Suchitra is not only a local demand but it turns into a national demand.

They urged the government to free the house immediately for storing the memory of the legendary actress.

The house was occupied by ‘Imam Gazzli School’, a pro-Jamaat institution, three decades ago and the governments did not take steps to recovery it from the grabbers.

People of the district staged demonstrations to free the house many times but the local administration is yet to free the house.

Suchitra was born on April 6 in 1931 at her maternal grandfather’s residence

FOCUS BANGLA

n Tribune Report

in Vangabari village under Belkuchi upazila in Greater Pabna. She passed her childhood and her younger life at her father’s residence in Gopalpur village before leaving the country in 1947.

Due to her lively performance the films of Suchitra till attract the people of this sub-continent. She is ever remembered to all.

She went to the film industry in the mid of 20th century. She performed in the Indian film ‘Shesh Kothai’ in 1952. Later she performed at least 63 films including 7 Hindi films.

Suchitra was famous for her skills in acting. Uttam-Suchitra couple was the most popular around the world. She had performed at least 32 films with Uttam Kumar.

She died in Kolkata’s Bell Vue nursing home on Friday. l

Three people were killed in separate incidents in Narail, Barisal and Narayanganj yesterday. Of the deceased, a woman was killed allegedly by her husband and police detained the killer, report our correspondents.

A Man was hacked to death at Kalinagar village of Kalia upazila of Narail yesterday. The deceased was Firoz Bhuyan, 55. Naragati police station Officer-in-Charge Amir Toymur Eli said Firoz was hacked with sharp weapon around 10am allegedly by his neighbour over land dispute.Police recovered the body and sent it to Narail Sadar Adhunik Hospital morgue for post-mortem examination. A murder case was filed with the police station in this connection.

In Barisal, strangled body of a person recovered from the room of his neighbour’s apartment at Natunbazaar area in the city yesterday. The victim was Rubel Shikdar, 38, owner of Riya Guinea House in Marokhola-Natunbazar and hailed from of Amanatganj Shikdar Para area in the city.

Sub-Inspector Sahabuddin, incharge of Natun Bazaar police post, said local people informed them about the killing. The body was recovered from the apartment of Robin, a friend of the deceased, on the 3rd- floor of the 5-storey house Halima Manzil, owned by an America expatriate.

Police recovered two sharp weapons and one iron-rod from the apart-

ment and residents of that apartment remained absconding, said Shakhawat Hossain, Kotwali police station in-charge. The victim was an accused of few cases filed with different police stations, he added.

Rubel was staying with his uncle Litu Shikdar’s place on Friday night at his rented apartment on the 2nd floor of Halima Manzil as his wife and children went to visit a relative.

Police detained Litu after recovery of the dead body of his nephew.

Litu said Rubel and Robin were close friends and he was not aware when Rubel went outside at night.

Police sent the body to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital morgue for post mortem examination, said the SI. In Narayanganj, a person killed his wife at Lashkardi village in Araihajar upazila yesterday. The deceased was Shamsunnahar, 65, and the killer was Sirajul Islam, 70.

Md Alamgir Hossain, officer-in-charge of Araihajar police station, said according to the children of the couple, Sirajul and Shamsunnahar had a conflict over family matters for last few days. Sirajul hit Shamsunnahar with a brick on her head and hacked her with an axe, leaving her dead on the spot.

Neighbours detained Sirajul and informed police. Police arrested Sirajul after the incident and Sirajul confessed to the killing. The body was sent to Narayanganj Sadar Hospital morgue for post mortem examination. l

News in Brief Police constable injured

The ‘little physicians’ check up on the students of Sherpur Government Model Primary School yesterday

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Children take part in health awareness programme n

Tribune Report

Children in a health related awareness building programme in Kurigram and Sherpur districts yesterday played the roles of doctors where patients— played by kids— went to the doctor’s chamber to find out their diseases.

In the play the doctors checked patient’s weights, eyesight, and heights, while they also urged people to take their kids to doctors for the regular

check-up of children’s health.

The core aim of the programme was to convey the message that the regular health check-up was a key to keep the children in a good health.

The programmes held on the playgrounds of Sherpur District Sadar Model Government Primary School in Sherpur and Khamar Government Primary School in Mogholbasha union in Kurigram.

Primary Education Board and

Health Department Kurigram Sadar took the initiative to choose 18 children among around 400,000 students of 2700 schools of the two districts and trained them up to perform in the play.

Narayan Chandra De, civil sergeant of Sherpur district, and Anwarul Haque, acting civil sergeant of Kurigram district, inaugurated the programme in their respective districts. l

A police constable was injured by his own shotgun during a drive in Harindia- Mamunshia area under Kotchandpur upazila, Jhenaidah yesterday. The injured was Constable Ripon, serving at Koctchandpur police station. Kotchanpur police station Officer-in-Charge Shahjahan Ali said Ripon took part in a drive with the joint forces against some miscreants who set fire on Harindia-Mamunshia primary school on the general elections day on January 5. Ripon was admitted to Jessore Medical College Hospital.– Our Correspondent, Jhenaidah

One held with firearms in Chapainawabganj

Members of Border Guard Bangladesh arrested a man along with fire arms from Bahalabari area in Shibganj upazila on Friday. The arrestee, Shamim, 27, was hailed from Rashia village of the upazila.

Commander Lt Col Manjurul Alam of BGB Battalion 9 said a team of BGB men had stopped an auto-rickshaw on the Chapainawabganj-Sonamasjid port highway around 4pm and recovered the two pistols, four magazines and 14 rounds of bullet searching the auto-rickshaw. Later, the BGB members arrested the auto-rickshaw passenger Shamim. A case was filed in this connection. – UNB

Minor killed in road crash in Magura

A minor boy was killed in a road accident in Gopinathpur area of Magura’s Mohammadpur upazila on Friday afternoon. The victim Liton, 10, was hailed from Zashpur village of the upazila. Officer-in-Charge Manirul Islam of Mohammadpur police station said a speeding truck ran over Liton around 4pm when he was returning from a relative’s house at Rajapur village riding a bicycle, leaving him critically injured.

He was rushed to Mohammadpur Upazila Health Complex where duty doctors declared him dead. The OC said the truck was seized but its driver managed to flee.

– UNB

Teenager found dead in Sirajganj

Police recovered the body of a teenage boy from a marsh at Radhanagar Chakpara in Sirajganj’s Salanga upazila on Friday afternoon. The dead was Zahidul Islam, 12. Locals saw the body of Zahidul floating in a marsh at the village around 4pm and informed police. Rashidul Islam Biswas, officer-in-charge of Salanga police station, said miscreants might have killed Zahidul at some time on Thursday night and dumped the body there. A case was filed in this connection. – UNB

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Feature

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Impossible is nothing How Bangladesh’s world record for the largest human flag almost didn’t happen

Y

n Rumana Habib

ou could not possibly have escaped hearing the news – not if you have watched TV, read the papers, or logged onto Facebook in the past month – that Bangladesh broke the record for the world’s largest human flag.

The “Officially Amazing” certificate arrived from Guinness on Thursday, signed and sealed.

But the most remarkable feat is that the whole grand affair was put together in just over a week – nine days of unceasing work and unflappable determination.

Organiser Robi Axiata, in partnership with the army, accomplished much more than just mustering 31,000 volunteers in the middle of a blockade, a feat in itself. They also unveiled an original patriotic song, the rousing “Raise One Flag” sung by Sabina Yasmin and Ayub Bacchu, along with a music video recorded a mere two days before. Immediately after the flag formation, they staged a music concert featuring 16 Bangladeshi superstars including Sabina and Ayub.

It was the most watched live event in Bangladeshi television history.

Many were moved by the event.

Some cynics brushed it off as a marketing ploy. Yet no one could deny it was an uplifting Victory Day moment, com-

ing as it did amid months of bloody hartals and divisive political strife.

Citizens were anxious about what the usually celebratory day would bring this year. The mood became somber still when the government cancelled the annual Victory Day parade.

But that also meant the coveted Army Parade Ground was available, and on the only day in December that the warring factions were certain to keep the peace.

The country needed a single cause to rally around, and Robi knew it.

It was officially recognised as a national event, but the organiser insisted on keeping it apolitical.

The event reflected their brand motto: “When we unite, Bangladesh shines.”

Robi’s almost superhuman efforts were doubtless driven by the knowledge that they might never again get such a golden opportunity to win hearts all over Bangladesh.

“After a successful campaign, people usually tell me: ‘Well done,” said Toffael Rashid, executive vice president of marketing for Robi, and the leading champion of the project.

“This time people said: ‘Thank you.’”

Near miss

Eleven days before the event, they had

all but decided to call it off.

Back in August, when Zahed Hossain proposed this idea, the company loved it and agreed to back it.

Zahed, Robi’s vice president of market operations buying, is that rare combination of financial wizard and creative marketing genius. At his previous job at Airtel, he was the brains behind several hugely successful campaigns, like when Manik Mia Avenue was painted with traditional alpana for Pohela Boishak.

He went searching for a world record that Bangladesh could break by using its greatest resource: its people.

When a Google search yielded the human flag record, held by none other than Pakistan, he knew he had struck gold. Everyone who heard his one-line pitch, inside and outside the company, immediately wanted to be involved.

But logistically, it was a no-go. They could not get a venue in December to accommodate the massive crowd.

More importantly, with the mounting violence on the streets, the potential risk to the safety of their volunteers, predominantly school children, left them queasy.

Everything changed ten days before the event, when they managed to get an audience with the army. Brigadier General Md Abedin was a believer as soon as he heard the idea.

Zahed related: “He listened to our concerns and simply said: ‘We’ll help you.’

Abedin agreed to partner with them right then and there. And, like a guardian angel, he swiftly solved their three main problems. Venue? Check. Security? Covered. Participants? He told them they could bring students from the local cantonment schools to stand alongside the children from civilian schools.

Zahed Hossain

COURTESY

Almost every national newspaper, both Bangla and English, carried the story on the front page the next day COURTESY

Beating the clock

Toffael Rashid

COURTESY

This is the official photograph of the completed flag, taken by Shahidul Alam, from a helicopter provided by the army. Organiser Toffael Rashid says: ‘It was a real thrill that an iconic photo of an iconic event would be taken by an iconic photographer’ COURTESY

Once the stars had aligned in their favor, the team had not a minute to lose.

“Delivering the event in nine days was a bigger achievement than breaking the world record, honestly. I doubt many other countries could do it,” said Toffael Rashid.

Why was Bangladesh able pull it off ?

Toffael replies without missing a beat: “Because of the resourcefulness and hardworking nature of our people, and their patriotism.”

Nowhere was that better reflected than Robi’s own team, who worked 20-hour days to make their ambitious plans a reality.

“People used every last contact, sweated their blackbooks to the last degree, and called in every favour they had,” Toffael said.

Why? I asked. He said: “I think they knew being a part of this was an experience they would never forget.”

Zahed insists that Toffael was the rock of the team. “He believed in this project. He believed in all of us. Without him, we never could have done it. It was a world-class team effort.”

“The event had a personal significance for everyone who participated,”

Toffael said. For him, it was a way of connecting with his late father, Md Abdur Rashid, a former diplomat who was with the Pakistan High Commission in London until 1970, then resigned to raise funds in support of the Liberation War. The formation of the flag took a few attempts, building suspense and anticipation in the crowd. When at last all 27,117 volunteers managed to hold their pieces steady for the full five minutes required by Guiness regulations, it was a dramatic moment.

“People were crying,” Zahed said.

“Our team. The kids holding up their pieces of the flag. I don’t know if it was the theme song, love for the motherland, or the inspiring speech the MC made, but it was emotional.” The reserved Zahed admits, when I press him: “Yes. I cried too.” Toffael considers this “easily the greatest achievement of my career.” That career has included orchestrating massive campaigns all over the world, and winning a Cannes Lion, known as the Oscar of advertising.

He believes this campaign has all the hallmarks of another Cannes Lion winner. This is an honour Bangladesh has never achieved before. So perhaps we have another record-setting accomplishment to look forward to this summer. l

The thundershin philosopher Enter the world of international record-breaking martial artist Grand Master Yuree Mak

n James Saville

W

ith his shoulder length hair and thick eyelashes, Yuree Mak looks like the lead singer of a metal band.

He is in fact a world famous Bangladeshi martial artist, and a bona fide world record holder to boot.

The first time I call Yuree’s PR to arrange an interview, I’m told: “Sadly you’ve just missed him. He’s gone to Savar. He’s training 1000 Ansar paramilitaries in unarmed combat.”

Fight club

Named after the Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, Dr Mak runs Rangers, a company that provides self-defence training to various government agencies.

In addition to the Bangladesh security forces, Rangers’ client list includes a number of well-known western intelligence agencies, the details of which are strictly hush hush.

Exciting as such work sounds to me,

Yuree concedes that it’s not really his passion: “I do security training as a proffession, but my real passion is martial arts. I’ve always wanted to be a Grand Master and to teach my own system.”

This helps explain why, despite attending Cadet College and wowing senior officers and teachers with his exceptional physical skills, Yuree could not be cajoled into joining the army.

“I remember the army recruitment officer delayed the selection board especially for me after I missed the application deadline … but I still didn’t want to join.

“I have huge respect for the military, but I just wouldn’t have liked being so restricted. I knew if I joined up I would spend my days trapped in the cantonment.”

Breaking bones, breaking records

A quick search on YouTube pulls up videos of Yuree demonstrating his famous shin kick.

In 2010, Yuree set a new world re-

cord when he broke two baseball bats in a single go at a martial arts convention in the UK. Dissatisfied, Yuree promptly broke his own world record in 2012, when he graduated to breaking three bats in one go.

After setting the world record at the UK’s National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, Yuree was the subject of a Discovery Channel programme and was featured in Ripley’s Believe it or Not. Despite being his claim to fame, Yuree considers the world record breaking a means to a more important end: Reviving the South Asian heritage of martial arts.

Yuree realised early on that if he was to become a Grand Master, with his own martial arts system that people would follow, he had to make a name for himself.

Some novelty value was needed for the Yuree Mak brand. “I realised that all the Grand Masters with followings had some special skill that had made them well known. There are people who can punch through concrete, lift up cars, take incredible weights on their necks – it’s all been done.”

He settled on the shins, thinking this was an area nobody had yet fully exploited.

“I already knew about this training technique that allows you to strengthen your bones. When you subject a

bone to a blunt force, you get microfractures. In response, as it heals, the body starts to lay down extra bone matter, eventually thickening and hardening the bone.

“I knew of some people doing this in Myanmar and Thailand, but they would do it intensively, building up the bone in a very short time. The problem is they mostly get arthritis by the time they’re 30.”

So Yuree adopted a slow and careful approach. “It was fifteen years before I tried to break a single baseball bat.”

Each attempt is fraught with danger. While micro-fractures are encouraged, a clean break would be career ending.

“Once the leg breaks properly it never heals completely, certainly not enough to break baseball bats ever again.”

The strategy paid off.

The noble art

Having firmly established himself as a world class act, Yuree is now most concerned with developing his own system, Butthan.

The system is “the noble art of enlightenment and stopping fights,” and it has its roots in the rich Southeast Asian tradition from Myanmar and India, the lost history of which is another passion of Yuree’s. Yuree even went to the Shaolin Monastery in China’s Henan

Yuree fires an Uzi 9mm sub-machinegun while undergoing military training by Latvian special forces COURTESY province in order to understand the influence of the Indian martial arts on the better preserved Chinese variants.

At Shaolin, Yuree found a giant statue of Bodhidharma, the Indian Buddhist monk, who is credited with imparting martial arts to his Chinese counterparts for the first time, sometime during the fifth or sixth century AD. If further proof of the South Asian roots of martial arts were required, the walls inside the temple at Shaolin are adorned with murals featuring ‘dark monks’ instructing the locals in grappling techniques.

Monks of the sub-continent A mural inside the Shaolin temple shows dark-skinned monks teaching martial arts

Despite this heritage of martial arts in the subcontinent, Yuree laments that

its history has not been preserved, and the fact that martial arts are often seen negatively, particularly here in Bangladesh.

“I often get criticism from people who think that Bhuttan is teaching violence to young people.

They do not understand that the martial arts are about discipline, personal development and self-control.”

The other thing that irritates him is the insinuation that Bangalis are weak, and unsuited to compete in physically arduous pursuits.

“Too many people in Bangladesh think doing extraordinary things is not for us. I want to teach them that they can do it. Young Bangladeshis can break world records.” l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Long Form

7

Sunday, January 19, 2014

BNP’s political suicide

Five years of continually losing ground, and passing on doors ajar

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

O

n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla ver the last five years, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), one of the two major political forces in Bangladesh, got a number of golden opportunities, which, if the party managed to count on properly, could have been enough to build a strong movement that might have led to the toppling of the government.

Apart from the inner strength of those issues, including the eviction of party Chief Khaleda Zia from her cantonment residence, share market scam, and the Padma Bridge graft allegations, the party had huge public support in favour of its cause as well.

After the massive defeat in the 2008 general election, the main challenge for BNP was to reorganise the grassroots, and gradually strengthen the anti-government movement in steps.

The party council, held right before the elections, got the reorganisation work half done.

Although the results of the election never reflected it, the party managed to sufficiently reorganise its grassroots ahead of the elections, despite the alleged “depoliticisation” efforts by the army-backed caretaker government that stayed in power from 2007-08.

After the ninth parliamentary election in 2008, BNP formed several nuclear committees to rejuvenate the grassroots. Many of its top leaders were assigned with visiting the 75 organisational districts of the party structure. However, in most districts, the senior leaders failed to resolve the prevailing disputes among party ranks and dorm any effective committee.

In the first year of the Awami League-led government’s tenure, apart from the eviction issue, the then opposition party did not have anything big that could be used to wage tough street protests.

That issue too backfired for the party as the government cleverly chose the last days of the month of Ramadan for evicting Khaleda Zia, and the hartals that BNP enforced immediately after, caused severe misery to people heading for their out-of-Dhaka homes for the Eid-ul-Fitr vacations.

RAJIB DHAR

RAJIB DHAR

Simultaneously, the BNP-led four-party alliance became the 18-party alliance, incorporating some political parties that existed only on papers.

The expansion of the alliance was largely seen as an attempt to gain a psychological upper hand because the previous four-party alliance sounded feeble compared to the ruling 14-party combine. Needless to mention though, the ruling combine too, consisted of a number of parties that existed only on papers.

In 2012, to rejuvenate the grassroots and mobilise public opinion, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia initiated programmes such as road-marches. Those programmes were quite successful because many identified themselves with the crisis that was created with the annulment of the caretaker system and the BNP ranks – starting from the grassroots to the top brass – participated in those programmes spontaneously.

Meanwhile, Khaleda Zia visited the United Kingdom and the United States of America to strengthen international ties. But her missions ultimately failed as she could not hold any high-profile

It was Khaleda herself, who closed the doors that she had earlier opened through her tour to India and the high-profile meetings, as she decided not to meet the Dhaka-touring Indian President

BNP eventually failed to build any massive momentum in favour of that movement against the eviction of Khaleda Zia from her cantonment residence. One reason could be that the party had to keep the movement on hold because of the Eid holidays.

That break in the middle of a movement surrounding an emotional issue, eventually cooled it down.

In 2010, when the government initiated a move to annul the caretaker system, instead of going to parliament or the other forums to raise their voice in favour of the system, the party waged programmes like hartals, and staged series of demonstrations and hunger strikes to resist the move.

meeting during the two-week long tour to the west.

Later, Khaleda also visited India, introducing a new chapter to BNP’s diplomacy by meeting top Indian politicians including its president, prime minister, and the opposition leader.

However, later it was Khaleda herself, who closed the doors that she had earlier opened as she decided not to meet the Dhaka-touring Indian President Pranab Mukherjee, citing security concerns during a hartal enforced by Jamaat-e-Islami, a key component of the opposition combine.

The BNP’s unforced silence over the war crimes trials – in which most of the top leaders of Jamaat were en-

closed – also worked against its favour, especially considering the huge wave of mass opinion for bringing the criminals of 1971 to justice.

Jamaat waged massive and violent movements around the country, protesting the verdicts against some of its top leaders on war crimes charges.

BNP remained silent, sometimes going as far as supporting these activities indirectly.

Extending support to the Hefazat-e-Islam was another decision that eventually backfired. Although Hefazat claimed that it was not a political organisation, the demands that it placed were mostly political. Moreover, there was quite a bit of public support too, especially because the highly sensitive issue of religion was projected.

Some pro-BNP intellectuals, mainly a former left-leaning individual, on the other hand, pursued Khaleda Zia to back the Hefazat, in an attempt to cash in on the public support and the Qawmi madrassa-based manpower that the Chittagong-based outfit amassed.

The violence centring Hefazat’s Motijheel rally reinforced the international community’s apprehensions about the BNP-Jamaat combine’s links to militancy. Although Khaleda called upon her party men and the residents of Dhaka to give all-out support to Hefazat, her calls remained largely unheeded.

Later on, whenever the BNP-led 18-party alliance waged streets protests, the central leaders rarely took to the street, especially those from the Dhaka city unit, giving rise to questions about the movement.

In the absence of the BNP leaders, Jamaat leaders and activists ran rampant – violently ravaging the streets, and inducing massive criticisms inside and outside the country as many were burnt alive, scores were injured, and the country’s economy was brought to a virtual standstill.

Refusing to take the blame for the loss of lives and properties in the street violence, many BNP men said, Jamaat men could not have gone haywire had the senior BNP leaders, too, taken too the street.

Following the arrest of a number of party stalwarts, many others decided to go underground, and call action programmes through video messages, prompting people to label BNP’s methods: “Taliban style.” The

Trying times: The deserted Moinul Road house where the Zia family used to live; marooned roads, devoid of BNP activists on the day of the march for democracy – a foiled BNP programme; senior BNP leaders, being arrested and taken to jail (clockwise)

continuous absence of senior leaders on the streets badly demoralised the grassroots in carrying on with the movement.

In addition, over dependence on foreign diplomats, and failures of the seasoned leaders in making the right decisions have not only organisationally weakened the BNP, but also led to a clear miscarriage of the much-hyped “March for Democracy” in late December last year, as a last resort to resist the January 5 national elections.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has repeatedly called upon the party leaders, activists and the residents of Dhaka to take to the streets for ousting an “illegal government,” resisting the “farcical polls,” and compelling the government to bring back the provision for a non-partisan polls-time government.

However, neither the Dhaka residents nor the party leaders and activists heeded the party chief’s call. Opposition leaders and activists claimed that they could not come out on the capital’s streets because of the hard-line measures taken the law enforcers, and the armed attacks on them by the ruling party men.

The fact that party leaders and activists did not even try to break the shackles was unfortunate because it was the very same BNP that ruled the country twice since the end of quasi-military rule, and the dawn of democracy in 1991.

Why then, the same BNP that has always enjoyed huge public support, projected through the triumphs in the five city corporation polls, failed to cash in on anti-government public sentiment? Various party ranks, including the grassroots, have been looking for an answer to that question off late.

Firstly, the party relied heavily on foreign diplomats for resolving the prevailing political crisis, and paid little attention to getting organisationally strong. The leaders, who regularly maintain contact with the diplomats, have been lacking in political foresight. Most of the seasoned leaders remained absent in the meetings with diplomats, and as a result, their opinions and suggestions were hardly ever even considered.

Secondly, BNP’s key ally Jamaat-e-lslami waged violent movements only when issues were directly linked to them, such as the trial of

some of their leaders for war crimes, came to the forefront. Jamaat, often blamed for committing war crimes as a party in 1971, hardly spent its energies for issues that cover the greater interest of the 18-party opposition alliance.

Although Jamaat was the proponent of the caretaker government system in the 1980s, this time around, the party hardly ever raised a strong voice regarding the caretaker government issue.

decision. They also believe that things would have been different had the experienced leaders been around her during that phone conversation.

Even before the January 5 election, the air inside the party was such that, if the top leaders came out on the streets, there were big chances that the election could be made to look even more controversial not only in the eyes of the countrymen, but also the international community.

Party leaders believe that Khaleda Zia’s refusal to the prime minister’s invitation for talks, was a suicidal decision

However, whenever the International Crimes Tribunal pronounced a verdict against any of its leaders, strong presence of Jamaat leaders and activists could be seen on the streets.

After the death verdict against Delawar Hossain Syedee, and the execution of Abdul Quader Molla, many people were burnt alive, and scores were injured in arson attacks. By and large, Jamaat have been blamed for most of these attacks and the subsequent deaths.

The fact that these attacks and deaths continued during the opposition’s blockades, has heavily tarnished BNP’s image, and led to international apprehension that a rise of militancy was imminent in Bangladesh if the BNPJamaat-led combine returned to power.

Thirdly, the dedicated and experienced leaders were mostly ignored in the party decision-making process. Some former bureaucrats and like-minded intellectuals put up a fence around party Chief Khaleda Zia, silencing the voices of the seasoned leaders, who have often expressed their reservations about giving too much importance to what these “non-political” people said. There had been many cases where career politicians like Tariqul Islam and Moudud Ahmed were side-lined.

Party leaders believe that Khaleda Zia’s refusal to the prime minister’s invitation for talks, was a suicidal

But the leaders failed to triumph over their fear of “arrest” amid a strong government crackdown and kept themselves in their self-imposed exiles, and the much hyped movement for “resisting the polls” ended up in thoughtless violence. The arson attacks on the educational institutions used as polling centres might have scared away the voters, but the textbooks charred and schools burnt to ashes eventually worked against the party’s favour.

Although some top leaders have tried to give explanations otherwise, the recent conflicting statements, issued by party Chief Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique Rahman regarding the dialogue issue with the government, have only added colour to the picture that coordination among the party’s top ranks was badly dwindling.

The “March for Democracy” was the last big chance for BNP, because the leaders and activists from the grassroots, all became charged up at the prospect of the wonders that such a major political showdown could have done. Unfortunately, the party let the opportunity go begging due to their over-reliance on diplomacy instead of taking to the streets and staging it succesfully. l Mohammad Al-Masum Molla is a political reporter at the Dhaka Tribune.

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

International

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Obama outlines changes to US spying Egypt constitutional referendum result

n Reuters President Barack Obama has said he has banned US eavesdropping on the leaders of allied countries but stopped short of saying spies would stop collecting data on the bulk collection of American citizens’ phone data.

Obama announced a series of reforms on Friday, which were triggered

by Edward Snowden’s revelations about the National Security Agency (NSA) in 2013.

In a speech, Obama took steps to reassure Americans and foreigners that the United States would take privacy concerns into account in the future.

Former US spy contractor Snowden made damaging revelations about the sweeping monitoring activities of the NSA, sparking national and international concerns over personal privacy.

“The reforms I’m proposing today should give the American people greater confidence that their rights are being protected, even as our intelligence and law enforcement agencies maintain the tools they need to keep us safe,” he said.

Obama promised that the US would not eavesdrop on the heads of state or government of close friends and allies to the US, which a senior administration official said would apply to dozens of leaders.

The step was designed to smooth frayed relations between, for example, the US and Germany after reports surfaced last year that the NSA had monitored the mobile phone of German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff postponed a state visit to Washington to protest against US surveillance tactics.

“The leaders of our close friends and

Fresh fighting reported in Central African Republic n AFP, Bangui Fresh fighting has broken out in the conflict-torn Central African Republic, witnesses said Saturday, as the deadline closed for candidates to register for a vote by the transitional parliament for a new interim president. At least three people were killed in Sibut, about 160 kilometres (100 miles) north of the capital Bangui, a resident told AFP by telephone.

“I’m putting out a cry of alarm,” he said on condition of anonymity. “The (ex-rebel) Seleka movement is reigning like warlords in the city and there is no foreign force to protect us.”

The fighting, which broke out Friday in the town’s bus station and market, has forced residents indoors or prompted them to flee into the bush, the source said. A Catholic Church source said the parish premises came under attack in Sibut. “We tried to contact (the African peacekeeping force) MISCA and (the French force) Sangaris for quick help, but so far there is no one,” he said. l

n AFP, Cairo

US President Barack Obamaspeaks about the NSA surveillance techniques in Washington DC allies deserve to know that if I want to learn what they think about an issue, I will pick up the phone and call them, rather than turning to surveillance,” Obama said.

He argued that the US is held to a higher standard than other nations. “No one expects China to have an open debate about their surveillance programmes, or Russia to take the privacy concerns of citizens into account,” he said.

However, he added that the US has a “special obligation” to re-examine its

intelligence capabilities because of the potential for trampling on civil liberties.

The steps Obama put in motion are aimed at adapting regulations to keep up with rapid changes in surveillance technology that permits the NSA to monitor private communications globally.

Among the list of reforms was a call on Congress to establish an outside panel of privacy advocates for the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance (FISA) Court that considers terrorism cases.

AFP

The former chief judge of the FISA court had opposed such a step.

While the speech was designed to address concerns that US surveillance has gone too far, Obama’s measures were seen to be relatively limited.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Sabrina Siddiqui, political reporter of the Huffington Post, said the changes that Obama announced is “a big vindication” of Snowden.

“The proposal would not have come about” without the Snowden expose, Siddiqui said. l

Officials are to announce Saturday the results of a constitutional referendum likely to set the stage for a presidential bid by the army chief who toppled Egypt’s first freely elected head of state.

Initial tallies suggest this week’s two-day referendum passed with an overwhelming majority, in what the military-installed government said was a strong stamp of approval for the overthrow of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.

Army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the general who ousted Morsi in July after massive protests, was monitoring the outcome for an indication of support for a possible presidential bid, military officials said.

He is expected to make up his mind after the results are announced at a news conference due to start at 1600 GMT, with his backers already calling for a rally on January 25 to emphasise their support.

Flagship state-owned newspaper Al-Ahram said Saturday the turnout was more than 40% of the country’s 53m registered voters, with the “overwhelming majority” voting yes.

Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood and its Islamist allies had boycotted the referendum, which is to be followed by presidential and parliamentary elections.

The new constitution will replace the one adopted under Morsi in a 2012 vote and passed with 33% voter turnout. It has done away with much of the

Kerry slams Syria ceasefire offer

UN team in Iran to oversee nuclear deal

n Agencies

n AFP, Tehran

US Secretary of State John Kerry has warned the Syrian regime it would fail to divert next week’s peace talks away from the aim of installing a new government.

Syria’s foreign minister said on Friday he has handed Russia plans for a ceasefire in Aleppo, and was ready to exchange lists with rebel forces on a possible prisoner swap.

Earlier on Friday, during a news conference in Moscow, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem said he had handed his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, details of the ceasefire, plus plans for a prisoner exchange and the opening of humanitarian corridors in Syria.

“Taking into the account the role of the Russian Federation in ending the bloodshed in Syria, as well as our trustworthy relations, I have handed Minister Lavrov today a plan of securi-

ty measures in Aleppo,” Muallem said.

“In that regard I asked Minister Lavrov to use his contacts to implement this plan and to establish a specific time when all military actions in this area should be ceased.”

But Kerry said the announcements were an attempt to divert Geneva II away from instilling the agreements laid down in Geneva I. “I’m not particularly, you know, surprised that he is trying to divert this.

He’s been doing this for months, trying to make himself the protector of Syria against extremists,” Kerry said of Assad.

Kerry slammed alleged comments from the Syrian regime that the Geneva II peace talks were to discuss ways to combat the rise of terrorist groups plaguing the country as “revisionism.”

Speaking on Friday, Kerry accused Syrian President Bashar al-Assad of funding and ceding territory to hardline fighters in order to increase fears surrounding rebel groups. l

Inspectors from the UN nuclear watchdog arrived in Tehran Saturday in readiness to oversee implementation of a landmark deal that puts temporary curbs on Iran’s nuclear programme, state media reported.

The team is led by the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Iran task force, Massimo Aparo, and will hold talks with Iranian nuclear officials, the official IRNA news agency said.

It is tasked with reporting back to the Vienna-based agency on steps Tehran has to take under the deal agreed in November and finalised last week between Iran and the P5+1 group of world powers.

Clinched after years of fruitless negotiations, the accord is to come into effect on January 20 and will last for six months during which Iran – among other obligations – must limit its enrichment of uranium to five%. It must also begin to neutralise its stockpile of ura-

nium purified to 20%, a few technical steps short of weapons-grade.

Both measures are to be monitored and verified by the IAEA inspectors.

Iran’s atomic energy chief Ali Akbar Salehi said the inspectors would visit the two enrichment facilities at Natanz and Fordo in central Iran, the state broadcaster reported on its website IRIBNews.ir.

“One of their responsibilities is to inspect the centrifuge machines” – used to spin uranium at supersonic speeds – “to ensure that suspension of 20% enrichment has taken place,” Salehi said.

In return, Iran will be granted modest relief from Western sanctions and access to nearly 4.2bn dollars of frozen assets in eight instalments.

During the six months of the deal, Iran will hold intensive talks with the P5+1 – Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States plus Germany – on a comprehensive agreement to allay Western concerns about its nuclear ambitions. l

Turkey purges corrupt public officials n Reuters Turkey has extended a purge of official bodies to the banking and telecoms regulators and state TV, firing dozens of executives in moves that appear to broaden Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s backlash against a corruption investigation.

The authorities have already sacked thousands of police officers, dozens of prosecutors and some state television officials in response to the corruption investigation, which has become the biggest challenge to Erdogan’s 11-year rule.

Investigators are believed to have been looking into allegations of corruption at a state-run bank and bribery

involving big real estate projects, although details of their charges have not been made public. The combative prime minister says the investigations, which began a month ago with arrests of high profile figures including the sons of three of his cabinet ministers, are part of an attempted “judicial coup.”

His opponents say they fear a purge of official bodies will destroy the independence of the judiciary, police and media.

Among dozens of officials dismissed in the latest sackings, Turkish media reported on Saturday that the deputy head of the banking watchdog BDDK and two department heads had been removed. l

A pro-European activist wearing the Ukrainian flag as a cape raises his symbolically-handcuffed hands during an opposition rally outside the president’s office in Kiev AFP

AFP, Kiev

In his last two years as pope, Benedict XVI defrocked nearly 400 priests for raping and molesting children - more than twice as many as the two years that preceded a 2010 explosion of sexabuse cases in Europe and beyond.

According to a document obtained on Friday by the Associated Press news agency and an analysis of Vatican statistics, Benedict removed 260 priests in 2011 and 124 in 2012, a total of 384 - a sharp increase over the 171 priests de-

frocked in 2008 and 2009.

It was the first compilation of the number of priests forcibly removed for sex abuse by the Vatican’s in-house procedures, and a canon lawyer said the real figure is likely far higher, since the numbers do not include sentences meted out by diocesan courts.

The surge started a year after the Vatican decided to double the statute of limitations on the crime, enabling victims who were in their late 30s to report abuse committed against them when they were children. l

Haiti ex-president’s men accused of murder n Agencies Several close associates of the former Haitian president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, have been accused of the murder of journalist Jean Dominique, one of the country’s most notorious political assassinations. Although the judge’s investigation, released on Friday, said Aristide ordered Dominque’s silence, the ex-president was not indicted.

The judge instead accused nine people of having a hand in the death of Dominique and a security guard in an attack at the offices of Radio Haiti Inter in Port-au-Prince in 2000.

A former senator, Mirlande Liberus from Aristide’s political party, was indicted as the organiser of the double murder, according to a summary of the judge’s report made public by an Appeals Court panel on Friday. Liberus was given the mission by Aristide to silence the popular journalist, the report said, citing witnesses who gave evidence before Judge Yvikel Dabresil. The judge did not indict Aristide as part of the conspiracy. l

S Sudan army battles rebels for key oil town n Agencies

Ex-pope ‘defrocked Ukraine opposition eyes new rally hundreds’ for sex abuse n n AP, Vatican City

Islamist-inspired wording of Morsi’s constitution.

Sisi is wildly popular among thems who took to the streets against Morsi, but the Islamist’s followers revile him for what they say was a “coup” against Egypt’s first freely elected and civilian president.

The Brotherhood, harried by a deadly crackdown since Morsi’s removal, dismissed the referendum as “farce” and called for further protests.

It has called rallies for January 25, the third anniversary of the 2011 uprising that overthrew veteran strongman Hosni Mubarak.

Interior minister Mohamed Ibrahim also called for demonstrations on the same day to counter an Islamist “plot to spark chaos,” an unusual appeal from the top police official tasked with enforcing a law restricting protests.

More than 1,000 people, mostly Islamists, have been killed and thousands imprisoned in a police crackdown on pro-Morsi protests.

On Friday, three men were killed in Cairo and another in clashes in Fayoum, southwest of the capital, the health ministry said, as police clamped down on the Islamist rallies.

The government hoped a large turnout in the referendum would bolster its democratic credentials and further marginalise the Islamists.

Many who took part in the referendum said their vote was also an endorsement of Sisi, seen as a strong man capable of restoring security after three years of turmoil following Mubarak’s overthrow. l

Pro-EU Ukrainians were reinforcing barricades in Kiev on Saturday ahead of a new mass rally, defying President Viktor Yanukovych after he approved strict curbs on protests that caused an outcry in the West.

In a fresh sign of mounting tensions, the president dismissed his chief of staff and will skip this week’s economic forum in Davos.

Yanukovych, who has been wrestling with nearly two months of opposition protests, signed off Friday on tough new laws introducing jail time and corrective labour for those occupying public buildings or disseminating

slander on the Internet.

But the tough curbs are expected reinvigorate the pro-EU opposition movement, which is pressing ahead with plans to hold a fresh rally Sunday, reinforcing their barricades in the centre of the capital with barbed wire.

Critics say Yanukovych has followed in the footsteps of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who pushed through similar legislation after returning to the Kremlin for a third term in 2012 following huge protests against his decade-long rule.

“There is only one question left after newly signed laws – quo vadis (where are you going) Mr President?”

EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan

Fule asked Yanukovych on Twitter.

The United States and European Union have called the laws anti-democratic, while the opposition accused the president of seeking to install a “dictatorship.”

At the height of the protests last month hundreds of thousands took to the streets after Yanukovych’s decision to ditch political and trade agreements with the EU under pressure from Russia.

The rallies have since dwindled, but the opposition movement -- led by three political leaders including former world boxing champion Vitali Klitschko -- maintains a protest camp on Kiev’s central Independence Square. l

South Sudanese troops are battling rebel forces for control of the key oil town of Malakal, the army said, though it admitted having trouble contacting its commanders on the ground.

“Communication is still difficult.

We will find out today how the fighting ended yesterday. We still feel we’re still sharing Malakal with the rebels, but by the end of the day [the army] must clear the rebels from Malakal,” the army’s spokesman, Philip Aguer, told the AFP news agency on Saturday.

Both rebels and the government claim to control the northeastern town, the capital of Upper Nile state and one of the main battlefields since fighting erupted last month between rival forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and his sacked deputy, Riek Machar.

The army said on Friday that it had lost contact with its forces in Malakal, which has already changed hands twice and where rebels launched a new offensive Monday. Aguer said fighting also continued on Saturday over two other strategic regional capitals, Bor in the eastern state of Jonglei and Bentiu in northern Unity state.

The United Nations on Friday said that child soldiers had joined the conflict, with atrocities including war crimes committed on both sides.

“The reports that we have come across involve mass killings, extrajudicial killings, widespread destruction and looting, and child soldier recruitment,” said Ivan Simonovic, the UN assistant secretary general for human rights. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

International

9

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Mumbai mourners killed in stampede n Agencies

Tharoor, a former UN diplomat, married Sunanda

REUTERS

Indian minister’s wife had ‘unnatural’ death n AFP An Indian junior minister’s wife, who was found dead in a luxury hotel after exposing her husband’s alleged infidelity, suffered an “unnatural, sudden death,” according to a preliminary report.

The body of Sunanda Pushkar was discovered by Shashi Tharoor, the federal human resources minister, after he returned to the Leela Palace hotel from a meeting on Friday.

Doctors said preliminary results from a post-mortem examination concluded that the 52-yerar-old’s death was “unnatural” but more tests would be needed to determine the cause.

One of the three examining doctors, Sudhir Gupta, also said that the results would not be known for two to three days.

Tharoor, 57, had earlier been reported to have been taken to hospital suffering chest pains, but was in a stable condition.

Pushkar’s death came after a series of messages appeared on the Twitter account of Tharoor, a former UN diplomat, novelist and government spokesman.

The messages showed intimate exchanges purportedly between Tharoor (@shashitharoor) and Mehr Tarar (@ mehrtarar), the Pakistani journalist, in which she professed her love for him and he said his wife had discovered their relationship.

Tharoor said his Twitter account had been “hacked.” However, Pushkar later said she had published the messages after reading conversations between her husband and Tarar.

Pushkar later retracted her statement and, seeking to draw a line under the scandal, Tharoor issued a joint statement on Thursday in which he blamed unauthorised tweets and distorted media reports for the “unseemly controversy.”

The statement said the couple, who married in August 2010, were “happily married and intend to remain that way.”

Pushkar’s body was later found in the hotel room the couple were sharing while their house was being renovated.

Tarar, whom Pushkar accused of “stalking” her husband, strongly denied having a relationship with Tharoor. l

A pre-dawn stampede killed 18 people as tens of thousands of people gathered to mourn the death of a Muslim spiritual leader in Mumbai.

At least 50 other people were injured in the stampede early on Saturday when mourners thronged the home of Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, the head of the Dawoodi Bohra Muslim community The crowd pressed against the gates of the house at the time, television channel CNN-IBN said, citing police.

Stampedes frequently happen at religious sites in India but they are not

common in big cities such as Mumbai where there is often a greater police presence to monitor the flow of people.

The city’s police commissioner, Satya Pal Singh, said the force did not expect so many mourners and his officers were badly outnumbered by the crowd.

“We didn’t think the crowd would be so great,” Singh said. “Also, it’s an emotional occasion when police cannot take harsh measures to push back the crowd.”

Some of those attending the event said there were no security arrangements outside the late leader’s residence.

“[The] only thing I would like to say is, there were lot of people pouring in and there was not much of attention given from the side of government or the police,” one witness told the Reuters news agency.

“They should have been here and they should have managed this.”

Burhanuddin died on Friday and his body had been placed in his Malabar Hill home for people to pay their respects.

Stampedes are common at large funerals in India. Last October, about 115 people were killed in a stampede at a Hindu temple in the central state of Madhya Pradesh. l

Indian Bohra Muslims take part in the funeral procession of their spiritual leader Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin in Mumbai

UN: Myanmar frees scores of child soldiers from armed forces

Detention of Uighur academic ‘malicious’

n AFP, Yangon

n AFP, Beijing

Myanmar’s army has freed 96 children and young people from its armed forces, the United Nations said Saturday, hailing a “historic step” towards ending the use of child soldiers in the formerly junta-run nation.

The move was the largest single release of child recruits since Myanmar’s new reformist government and its “tatmadaw” army signed a June 2012 pact with the UN on the issue.

A total of 272 children and young people have been released over the past 18 months as the military has slowed – but not yet completely halted – its use of children.

The release was “an historic step towards ending the recruitment and use of children by the Myanmar Armed Forces,” the United

Nations said in a statement.

Bertrand Bainvel, representative for the UN children’s agency UNICEF in the country, said the move was “a strong commitment by the Myanmar Government and the Tatmadaw to end a practice that steals the lives, hopes, and dreams of children.”

There are no verifiable figures on how many children are currently serving in Myanmar’s huge military, which has faced a slew of accusations over rights abuses, including the forced recruitment of children and other civilians to work as porters or even human mine detectors.

Ending rights violations is a key demand of the international community, which has embraced reforms in Myanmar since the end of outright junta rule in 2011.

A quasi-civilian regime led by for-

Philippines vows crackdown on online child sex abuse n AFP, Manila The Philippines on Saturday vowed to crack down on online child sex abuse, days after a global police operation dismantled a paedophile ring that streamed live sexual abuse of Filipino children over the Internet. Police in Britain, Australia and the Philippines Thursday said they had jointly cracked a paedophile ring which exploited children as young as six. In some cases the victims’ parents were involved.

“We will not countenance any syndicates that will (prey) on our minors and that they will be used... as sexual instruments. That is something that we will really pound the hammer on,” President Benigno Aquino’s spokesman Edwin Lacierda told reporters.

“Certainly, actions will be taken to address the situation. This is really a concern for us because we’ve always said that the youth is (the) future of the nation,” he added.

Lacierda conceded that the problem had been “under the radar” but said law-enforcement agencies were now placing greater emphasis on fighting the crime.

He also said that an anti-cybercrime

law – passed in September 2012 but later blocked by the Supreme Court – could have helped the Philippines in its efforts to tackle the crime.

The court is still hearing a legal challenge over the law’s provisions on online libel and giving the state the power to shut down websites and monitor online activities.

Lacierda said the law’s provisions were “a ticklish issue” but expressed hope that telecommunications companies and officials could reach an agreement over how to proceed.

The head of the national police anti-cybercrime unit said Friday that the Philippines had become a key hub of thebn-dollar global child cybersex industry, with operators aided by widespread poverty and legal loopholes that allow them to remain anonymous.

The unit’s head, Senior Superintendent Gilbert Sosa, said the crime had spread through the help of wireless technology where users cannot be effectively tracked by law enforcers.

Sosa said most people who pay to view the activity are from the United States and Europe, taking advantage of widespread poverty in the Philippines. l

mer general Thein Sein has won praise and steered the country out of decades of isolation. Reforms include the release of political prisoners and welcoming the opposition party of Aung San Suu Kyi into parliament.

Myanmar released 42 children in September 2012, 24 in February last year, 42 in July and a further 68 in August. All of those freed were recruited as children, but some have since become adults.

The UN also voiced concern that seven armed ethnic rebel groups in the country continue to recruit children into their ranks and called for an end to the practice.

“It will not be possible to build a new Myanmar without ending the use and recruitment of children by the Tatmadaw and non-state armed groups once and for all,” Bainvel said. l

China must punish the “brains” behind terrorists and fight against those who preach with “malicious intent,” a state-run newspaper said Saturday in an editorial justifying the arrest of a prominent Uighur academic.

Ilham Tohti is an outspoken critic of government policy towards the mostly Muslim Uighur minority, who are concentrated in the far western region of Xinjiang which is regularly hit by unrest.

He was arrested Wednesday in Beijing and taken to an unknown place, his wife told AFP. “Being a Uighur has made Tohti special, and he and the West seem to be taking advantage of this,” the Global Times newspaper said, accusing the economist who teaches at the Central University for Nationalities of

Pakistani Taliban kills TV station staff n Agencies

AFP

giving “aggressive” lectures.

“Freedom of speech and thought is encouraged on campus. But freedom has boundaries. Teachers with malicious intent should not be allowed to freely preach to students,” said the editorial.

“The authorities must resolutely crack down on the terrorists, as well as the ‘brains’ behind them,” it said, noting the “particularly close link between Tohti and the West” illustrated by the US State Department’s “concern” over the fate of the academic.

Tohti, 44, was suspected of “committing crimes and violating the law,” a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said Thursday.

Supported by many academics and activists, he founded Uighurbiz.net, an information site on Xinjiang in Chinese and Uighur. l

Indonesian floods kill 23, displace thousands

Cars are seen on top of each after being hit by flood waters in Manado

n AFP, Jakarta The death toll in days of floods and landslides in Indonesia has climbed to 23, an official said Saturday, as torrential rain pounded the capital.

Families in Jakarta neighbourhoods waded through murky chest-high flood waters, clutching their belongings, while others were ferried to safety in rubber dinghies, local TV stations showed.

“Five people have died in Jakarta so far from drowning or electrocution in

the floods,” National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nurgoho told AFP. More than 4,300 people in the capital have been displaced by the floods, which also worsened the city’s notorious traffic jams.

Meanwhile the death toll rose to 18 late Friday in the northern part of Indonesia’s Sulawesi island, which has suffered flash floods and landslides.

Two people there are still missing, Nugroho said.

AFP

The Sulawesi deluge, which ripped more than 100 homes from their foundations, is receding as the downpour there eases, Nugroho said, adding that three-quarters of the 40,000 people initially displaced there have returned to their homes. Indonesia is regularly hit with deadly floods and landslides during its wet season, which lasts for around six months.

Environmentalists blame logging and a failure to reforest denuded land for exacerbating the floods. l

The Pakistani Taliban has claimed responsibility for the killing of three employees of a local private television network in Karachi. The claim was made after motorcycle-borne assailants shot a technician, guard and driver working for Express TV on Friday, according to the TV station.

A spokesman for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), in a statement on Friday, accused Express TV and other media outlets of supporting the government in what it called a war against the group. Sajjad Mohmand, in a phone call to Reuters news agency, said: “We will continue to target the media if they do not stop propaganda against Islam and the Taliban.”

Mohammad Akhtar, a senior police officer, said the Express TV workers were targeted by assailants while sitting in their vehicle on Friday.

“The van was parked near Board Office signal. The staffers were sitting inside van for their work. Four men came on two motorcycles; they extended their hands inside the window and opened fire,” he said. “Shooters riding on motorcycles came and opened fire on them. They [the shooters] used a 32bore gun with silencer in the attack.”

Ehsanullah Ehsan, a former TTP spokesman, told Express TV it had been attacked because the group considered its coverage biased and that it would continue to attack journalists they disagreed with. “Channels should give coverage to our ideology. Otherwise we will continue attacking the media,” Express TV quoted him as saying.

The TV station was attacked twice last year, with the TTP claiming responsibility for one of the incidents.

In a separate incident in Karachi, also on Friday, unknown assailants killed the provincial chief of a Sunni party along with his driver and guard.

Mufti Usman Yar Khan, Sindh chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Samiul Haq (JUI-S), was passing through Karachi’s Shara-e-Faisal road when the attackers fired and killed him, his guard and the driver. l

Thai protesters defiant after grenade attack n Reuters, Bangkok Anti-government protesters marched defiantly through Thailand’s capital on Saturday, with one group entering a police compound, undeterred by a grenade explosion the day before that wounded 35 demonstrators and killed one.

Friday’s blast sent tension rippling through Bangkok after several days of relative calm that had suggested the movement to close down the government and force the resignation of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was running out of steam.

It was not clear who was behind the attack on the protesters. Their firebrand leader, Suthep Thaugsuban, blamed the government and said the incident would not dent the morale of thousands who this week stepped up a two-month agitation, blockading key arteries of the city and occupying ministries.

The incident, which comes just two weeks before a general election, heightens the risk of a move by the country’s army to end an impasse that is starting to damage the economy.

Boonyakiat Karavekphan, a political scientist at Ramkamhaeng University in Bangkok, said the attack had raised the chances of “a significant clash between the protesters and groups they perceive to be their enemies, the police or forces loyal to the government, in order to provoke some sort of military reaction and speed up chances of a military intervention”.

The army has staged or attempted 18 coups in 81 years of on-off democracy, but it has tried to remain neutral this time, and many believe it will stay in its barracks.

“Isolated incidents of violence could provoke retaliatory actions over the weekend, but these are less likely to prompt military intervention than street clashes that lead to a large number of fatalities,” the Eurasia political risk group said.

Military chief Prayuth Chan-ocha was expected to make a speech later on Saturday to mark Army Day. The turmoil is the latest episode in an eight-year conflict pitting Bangkok’s middle class and royalist establishment against poorer, mainly rural supporters of Yingluck and her brother, the self-exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

The protesters accuse the pair of corruption, and want Yingluck to step down to make way for an unelected “people’s council” to push through broad political reforms. l

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Letters to

www.dhakatribune.com

Freedom of expression matters

W

e are highly concerned about the arrest and detention of three journalists from the Inquilab newspaper under the Information and Communications Technology

Act. Taken together with the bringing of a case against the publisher and the closure of the paper, this amounts to a direct assault on freedom of speech.

Like the recent indictment against Odihakar, the case was filed following an allegation that the paper published a ‘false and fabricated report.’

It has always been clear that the ICT law enacted first by BNP in 2006 and amended by AL in 2013, contains draconian provisions and the bringing of this case adds weight to such criticisms.

As far as can be seen, the case arises because Inquilab reported on unproven internet claims that Indian army personnel have been present on Bangladeshi territory. Its reports circulated information about these rumors, which have been freely available online.

The truth or otherwise of these reports is not the fundamental principle at stake here. Their veracity is a matter of evidence, that can and should be debated in free media.

However the ICT act’s provisions permit charges to be brought against any newspaper or other media which publishes reports that can potentially be described as false. This self evidently undermines freedom of speech and is neither appropriate in a democracy, nor practical in an age when unsubstantiated rumours can easily be circulated.

The government should debate the facts and veracity of the disputed reports within free media. It must not punish newspapers for disseminating information or points of view with which they disagree.

The government should not punish newspapers for disseminating information or points of view with which they disagree

Look into the Rishipara cover-up

W

e are appalled by the reports that police in Rishipara, Jessore have allegedly tried to cover up the gangrapes of five women from minority communities.

Investigations into this case reveal that three of the women were encouraged by officers to retract their statements in order to make it appear that there were only two victims, an account which directly contradicts the FIR and witness statements.

To make matters worse, local police delayed getting medical tests, thus muddying the evidence and reducing the chance of getting accurate results.

Furthermore, while two people have been arrested, they are not the suspects which were recognised as the attackers, so it appears the actual culprits are still at-large.

With so many loose threads, and alleged interference, a new and proper investigation into this attack must be carried out as a matter of priority, to ensure the culprits are held to account for their contemptible actions.

It is incumbent upon law enforcement officers to carry out their duties responsibly and act to ensure that victims and their families get justice, irrespective of who they are or what they believe. An investigation into the cover-up must be conducted. Any and all officers found to have acted beneath the standard required by the law and expected by citizens, must be held publicly accountable.

No one should be above the law, and anyone who breaks any law must be brought to justice.

the Editor

LETTER OF THE DAY

Where are the textbooks to be distributed?

January 9 “BD sets record in free textbook distribution” said Nurul Isam Nahid, yet the situation reflects otherwise.

I have been working for the development of primary and secondary education for about 20 years. I have yet to receive English textbooks needed for classes in rural schools; rather, students have brought their own guides and notebooks. And many town schools face a similar situation. Students as well as teachers depend on the guides and notebooks for other subjects as well.

Mawduda Hasnin

Bangladeshi transgender model wants to be Miss World January 10

R4F1 This is the level of mental/social corruption that Bangladesh has been increasingly experiencing.

The fact that a BD news site is promoting this story only further highlights that fact. However, at least this time it acknowledges this “thing” as being “transgendered.” May be now finally most Bangladeshis can understand that a man doesn’t magically “turn” into a woman overnight, or over a period of time, nor are “Hijras” some sort of “thirdsex.”

Adnan Khan He got it spot on.

Nusrat Jahan Eva Arguing about whether “swearing-in is unconstitutional” is legal or illegal is foolish, because this government is also illegal, both here as well as all across the world.

The AL cannot claim that this is real government, not without the mandate of the 16 crore people. Also, Bangladesh is a country of around 9 crore voters, most of whom did not vote in this election. Hence, the AL can try to hold on to power by enforcing it, but in the process, Bangladesh will lose many things. This is the reality that AL should face and believe.

January 10

country backwards. For the record, our Constitution ensures equality for all its citizens, whether they be Muslim, Hindu, hijra, gay, lesbian or transgendered.

R4F1 Breadbitten: Because there’s millions of so-called “transgendered” people in this world. What makes this person so noteworthy that a news site would have to publish his/her story?

Petrichor You go girl!!

Guest R4F1: It’s mentality such as yours that pulls our

Ash That’s the spirit! Go make us proud! Equality for ALL!

January 10 Mr Adam, I want to remind you, with respect of course, that those opposition leaders were detained for their “alleged” involvement in post-polls violence, a fact that corresponds with this statement you made: “Attacks on Hindu communities, allegedly by supporters of the BNP and the Jamaat-e-Islami!”

Another thing I would like to point at that is you are advocating for those who are taken but still alive. Unfortunately, you forgot to talk about those who were killed!!

Jakaria Bulbul

January 10

Khaleda to lose state facilities after 23 years

Breadbitten R4F1: It’s curious how you highlight the fact that it’s a “BD news site” that’s reporting such news.

HRW for mounting int’l pressure on BD

Fakhrul: Swearing-in unconstitutional

Samwise Gamgee She looks gorgeous!

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

Lulan Reang So nice to hear this sort of news.

Lunik In a democracy, the role of the opposition is to hold the government to account. This can only be done effectively through parliamentary debates.

According to this article, Khaleda attended only 10 of the 418 sittings of the last parliament. Based on this performance alone, we can say that she is not a fit and proper person to be in democratic politics. The author did not say anything about Hasina’s attendance record when she was the leader of the opposition.

The selection game January 9

A good op-ed article published to-day. I can reassure the author that everything will fall in place gradually. Primarily because political leaders on both sides of the divide are mostly business people. It will soon hurt their pockets and they will come to a consensus. GDP projection, although a mere 5% now, will ultimately get back to its original pace and start rising. Insha’Allah we will end the next year with +6% GDP growth.

WaliulHaqueKhondker

CALVIN AND HOBBES

A new and proper investigation into this attack must be carried out as a matter of priority

CROSSWORD

PEANUTS

CODE-CRACKER ACROSS 1 Tribal symbol (5) 5 Planet (4) 8 Astounded (6) 9 Ancient tongue (5) 10 Solitary (4) 11 Singer (5) 12 Incite (3) 15 Nidus (4) 18 Bake (5) 21 Female deer (3) 22 Machine for weaving (4) 24 Satellite (4) 25 Shun (5) 28 Climbing palm (6) 29 Jetty (4) 30 Beer tankard (5)

DOWN 1 Bank employee (6) 2 Make lace (3) 3 Send out (4) 4 Neck hair (4) 5 Gourd (5) 6 Worshipped (6) 7 Prosecute (3) 13 Depart (2) 14 In abundance (6) 16 Accordingly (2) 17 Sinew (6) 19 Echo sounder (5) 20 In the direction of (2) 23 Floor coverings (4) 24 Cleaning implement (3) 26 Fermentation vessel (3) 27 United (3)

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS Crossword

Sudoku

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

11

Sunday, January 19, 2014

An innings defeat? n Muhammad Eusha

O

The ballot that beat all parties

A

n Khawaza Main Uddin rguments are now being made, carefully as well as callously, as to how and why the Awami League’s formation of the new government has been possible through an election that was boycotted by the BNP-led opposition. The BNP has been sidelined, at least for the time being, from the process of parliamentary politics. A naïve person may conclude that there are obvious winners and losers between the two sides, even though they did not face electoral competition on January 5.

Almost all eminent citizens, except pro-AL intellectuals, advocated that the general elections should be suspended to pave the way for the participation of the opposition parties.

Such a position essentially favoured the BNP camp, which, however, announced demonstration programs to resist what has eventually turned into a somewhat farcical election. The majority of Bangladeshis had not been party to the elections, let alone this fake victory.

So what? Protagonists of the one-sided elections may argue that AL chief Sheikh Hasina has been re-elected as prime minister, keeping her control over the bureaucracy and law enforcement agencies. Of course, the will of the people can be ignored, if it is the choice of a regime, and it works until a revolutionary change takes place.

BNP chief Khaleda Zia’s followers could not overpower the administration and the police to stop the holding of elections despite enforcing hartals and blockades. Showing strength of what a former diplomat called “wild imagination,” Sheikh Hasina’s team managed to secure victory without any contest in 153 constituencies, and with the presence of (apparently) 40% of voters on a troubled election day.

cotted the ballot, but simultaneously refrained from joining the opposition movement.

They were not beneficiaries of either the AL or the BNP regime, nor were they party to these political games in any way. The citizens Hasina is supposed to govern have not given her the mandate to do so. The people Khaleda could have banked on as a support base have not found

What happened to the masses who broadly remained spectators during the electoral process?

What went wrong for the rival parties?

Who cares if others believe the turnout was hardly 10% or less? After all, what matters most in politics is power, and the ends of all acts justify their means.

Yet, I still wonder who won and who lost. What happened to the masses who broadly remained spectators during the electoral process? What went wrong for the rival parties? From the controversial elections, Khaleda gained the stigmatisation of the AL, but Hasina consolidated all-important power. However, the former lost tactically, and the latter morally.

Commonly, they failed to win the hearts of the people, especially the rising middle class who clearly boy-

much appeal in the modes of demonstration that were seen, despite the need for a non-party government for holding free, fair, credible, and inclusive polls.

How will we then explain the loss of 22 lives in polls-related violence alone?

I see three causes of deaths – readiness among some opposition elements to end lives, the use of force by the government, and sabotage by unidentified quarters.

Whatever the reasons, many embraced for loss of life as a consequence. Nobody in the rival camps is being sympathetic towards the victims and their families, showing a cruel

indifference.

So the people other than the ones involved with the AL and the BNP have preferred deliberate isolation from the current political process. The AL and the BNP count on their core support coming mainly from their beneficiaries to pursue their respective political goals. Fortunately or unfortunately, most people who have voted for the two parties since 1991 are not ready to take risks for the leaders.

If the number of beneficiaries of the two parties in the past two decades stands, let us suppose, at 3 million, the number of those who have tried to change their fates by their own enterprising efforts would be several times higher.

This silent majority, as Hasina is presumably assured, has not at least sided with the BNP. Hasina, as prime minister, is not accountable to them either. Khaleda’s success in seeing the majority’s absence in the January 5 election is yet to be transformed into a popular demonstration.

The enlightened and conscientious segments of society have been watching the situation evolving every day.

Cynics may term this isolation as an opportunistic stance.

A meek civil society voice would allow bad governance from a regime suffering from a legitimacy crisis. How can we expect democracy to return from exile unless there is social activism for upholding civil rights? l

If this were a game of cricket, the magnitude of the BNP’s loss could be considered an innings defeat

The AL can be given a perfect score in assessment of their handling of these affairs. The party was able to thwart all efforts of subversion and instigations of anarchy. Not only was the belligerence of the BNP countered shrewdly, the ruling party was able to foil the Hefazat movement as well.

The proposed Dhaka March was nipped in the bud with unprecedented tactical prowess. The elections took place as forecasted by the government, and the BNP could not do much to stop it. In a nutshell, no strategy the BNP applied produced desired effects, and the AL was able to hold fast on to its course.

If this were a game of cricket, the magnitude of the BNP’s loss could be considered the equivalent of an innings defeat. It seems the only option for the BNP now is to retreat. It has lost the battle, and should now spend time in introspection. It is silly to ask whether the more righteous of the two belligerents have achieved victory or not.

The answer to that question is known to all who have even the faintest light in their hearts to recognise the truth and reject falsehood. Clearly, the party with superior intellect, strength, and tactical ability emerged as the victorious. l Muhammad Eusha is an HVAC specialist and a DT columnist.

AFP

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

ne feels that we have arrived at a phase of the political boxing match between the AL and the BNP where the latter has been vanquished thoroughly by the former. The defeat has been comprehensive, as the defeated party failed to achieve even a bit of what they probably dreamt of.

The passive disapprobation of the US and the EU countries of the bizarre polls held not long ago does not effectively pose a significant threat to the present government, as notwithstanding a little disquietude, things remain much the same.

Russia, China, and some other countries have expressed their feelings toward the AL-led government, but it would be reasonable to infer that this approval is little influenced by their sincere approbation of the tenacity shown by the ruling party, but that these nations share a clear antagonistic sentiment towards the US, and would like to say “A” if the latter says “B” without exception, just for the sake of creating tension by dissension.

All the things the BNP bombarded their enemies with, missed the AL and hit the public instead. Weeks of street terrorism earned Khaleda Zia nothing but the discontent of people who had practically reached the end of their patience by the time the ineffectual protest was abandoned, at least temporarily.

Why did the BNP fail? There are many interweaved reasons behind their unsuccessful movement. The first is that they were not able to create the amount of unrest they were hoping for. Indeed, the former opposition party leader wanted to resort to the method of creating anarchy, and thus make the ruling party unable to take effective action.

The reality turned out to be quite different and more difficult. The law enforcers stayed loyal to the government, and the BNP was not able to make the situation difficult enough for the AL. All government institutions and ministries were respectful to the authorities, and a remarkable level of obedience was shown by all.

The AL had reasonable control over the media as well. The BNP was expecting the common people to help in ousting the government. That did not happen. People refused to take an active part in this situation, and

preferred the option of the safety of their homes.

They were waiting, like a maiden in medieval times, to be won over by two knights dueling for her. So the BNP was basically waging a war against a formidably stronger and more resilient force, which it failed to defeat in the end. The result caused much chagrin to those who were rooting for the battered political party.

Khawaza Main Uddin is a journalist.

Good governance is key n Kazi SM Khasrul Alam Quddusi

H

ow the election turned out is now a matter of the past. There might be debates regarding its nature. However, it is of little use to cry over spilt milk or stay aloof from reality. The result has been that Sheikh Hasina has again taken up the helm of the country.

The opposition, led by the BNP and misled by Jamaat, miserably failed to motivate the common people to rally behind them. Hence, the hope of the BNP-led alliance to regain power was, it seems, burnt down along with those in the burn units of hospitals. Not only did some hapless people become victims of the violence, the BNP has turned out to be the biggest victim.

Whether or not pro-BNP people were behind all the atrocities such as petrol bomb attacks, and acts of arson, it is they who will have to take the responsibility. Unfortunately for the pro-violence theorists, the pro-violence doctrine has not only fallen flat, but has also gone down the drain along with the theories.

However, the BNP’s decision to call off the blockades was a very good and

sensible decision. The more they endear themselves to the people rather than frighten them away, the more will they be able to revive their politics.

Yes, Hasina again has so many parliament members under her belt that no vested quarter in her party will be able to stand in the way if she wants to deliver on the promises she has made to the nation.

Good governance is the ultimate goal. If a government can deliver that, the question of its legitimacy is bound to take the back seat She again commands such an overwhelming majority, that no quarter in her party will dare sabotage her good intentions in the fear of being politically destroyed for good. She has retained the right to impose draconian rule in

her party so that no one from her party can do wrong in her name.

The common people expected a cabinet from Hasina which would comprise of people of good image and clean track records, and this has nearly been the case this time around. However, if control is exercised in good faith, there will always remain room for rectifications.

She is again in a position to send down instant orders if any of her cabinet ministers are found inadequate.

She does not have to worry about direct information. She can easily draw on the reports of the objective media for this very purpose.

If she cannot manage the time to glance over the newspapers, she can employ some dedicated people to do that for her, and update her from time to time. Based on mere media information followed by a thorough yet quick validation, she would always be able to ditch any minister or incumbent without a giving second thought to possible repercussions.

As long as the interests of the people and the country are upheld, the countrymen will mind little for her enlightened despotism against corrup-

tion and budding criminals.

Sheikh Hasina has now become a true statesman. Years of changes and a wealth of experience in politics and governance are behind her. In addition, the presence of some enlightened and competent people around her make her even more assured.

Absolute caution, however, should be in place so that so-called well-wishers in the garb of close relatives and party stalwarts cannot divert her focus and devotion even for a little while.

To many, this resumption of power is a big challenge for the AL. Thus, there are more warning bells than applause, and rightly so. To my mind, however, it is more of an opportunity than a challenge.

There is reason to be optimistic that the new government, led by the daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Sheikh Hasina, is wise enough to make the most of this grand opportunity.

Yes, there are big questions regarding the election that put Hasina in power for the third time. However, her acumen in putting the highest importance on good governance places before us a very interesting and differ-

ent scenario.

Good governance is indeed the ultimate goal of any government. If a government can deliver that to the people, the question of its legitimacy is bound to take the back seat.

To many, this resumption of power is a big challenge for the AL. Thus, there are more warning bells than applause, and rightly so

We want to believe that the prime minister really means what she says.

And if she and her cabinet can stick to the golden rule of good governance, this government will go down in history for its grandness, not for notoriety. l Kazi SM Khasrul Alam Quddusi is Associate Professor and ex-Chair, Department of Public Administration, Chittagong University.

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Again no Best Film Award in this year’s Dhaka Int’l Film Festival Iran dominates chart, wins 6 awards including Best Director n Hasan Mansoor Chatak As in the previous edition of Dhaka International Film Festival, no Best Film Award was announced on the concluding ceremony of the 13th DIFF held yesterday at the auditorium of National Museum Auditorium. The juries of Competition, Australasian Film Section, explained that no film from the competition stood out as Best Film this year. Moreover, no Bangladeshi films have been awarded at this year’s DIFF which featured 20 awards in different categories.

As a solitary participant country in the festival, Iran dominated the award chart by winning a total of six awards: Best Director, Best Actor, Badal Rahman Award for the Best Children Film, Audience Award (film) and two Special Mention awards in Short and Independent films category.

As chief guest at the closing ceremony, information minister Hasanul Haque Inu said: “Filmmakers can mark their efforts to change society and contribute to our ongoing fight against religious fundamental groups, communal aggression, poverty and illiteracy.’’ Graceful presence of a number of local and international film makers, film enthusiastic and academics made the closing ceremony a colourful one. Among them Rasoul Sadrameli, a veteran Iranian filmmaker, Mofidul Haque, trustee of Liberation War Museum and Kim Ji-Seok, executive programmer of Busan Internation Film Festival were present.

However, most of the awardees were absent at the programme and the crests and certificates were received by others on behalf of them.

The official jury of competition section announced The Best Director as Parviz Shahbazi for his film Trapped. The Best Actor went to Levon Hafevan for his brilliant performance in Iranian film Parviz and the Best Actress

Suchitra was a true beauty, recalls Syeda Khanam

special include in the festival, Best Fiction Award went to Swedish film Eat Sleep Die

by Gabriela Pilchler and Best Documentary Award to Afghan Women behind the Wheel

by Afghan female film director Sahraa Karimi.

Turkish film Patika and South Korean film The Korean Dream were honoured with the Best Fiction Award and Best Documentary respectively in Short and Independent section.

With the slogan “Better Film, Better Audience, Better Society,” the 13th Dhaka International Film Festival began on January 10 and ran at four venues in Dhaka. Organised

by Rainbow Film Society, which is dedicated to the promotion of a healthy cine culture in Bangladesh, and also celebrates global cinema, the festival featured screening of around 150 films from almost 50 countries. l

She used to live two houses away from Suchitra Sen’s house in Pabna. Photojournalist Syeda Khanam talked about Suchitra Sen in a lively session with Dhaka Tribune.

Suchitra Sen lived in a joint family. She was a beauty from her childhood. “When she stepped in her adolescence, she became majestic and enigmatic. It was in 1940’s when she was going to Pabna Girls’ High school. Suchitra’s ethereal beauty amazed everyone. When she stepped in her 10th grade, she was harassed by local boys in the neighbourhood. For this reason, her parents sent her to Shanti Niketon in Kolkata.

“After two or three years, she came back in Pabna. I was enchanted by her young beauty. During the partition, I remember, Suchitra and her family were leaving for Kolkata.

They visited our place in Pabna. I saw Suchitra gloomy and distressed for leaving her birthplace. During my job at a daily, I went to Kolkata on an assignment. I made a visit to her place in Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata.

“At that time, Suchitra performed in four to five films already and was a known face in the onscreen. With my 120mm camera, I took some of her images when she was buying clothes from a vendor at her house. That was the last time I saw the legendary actor.”

Syeda Khanam said: “In an interview with Uttam Kumar, which was published in the newspaper Chitrali, I asked the famous actor, a co-worker of Suchitra, how they both complement each other on the screen, he replied: ‘We have a better understanding onscreen, also we compete with one another to give our best take.’”

Syeda Khanam was a journalist and a press photographer in Begum newspaper. Born in 1937 in Pabna, she obtained her masters in Bangla literature and library science from Dhaka University. Syeda had an opportunity to take pictures of Queen Elizabeth, Mother Teresa, astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin Aldrin, Michael Collins. She exhibited solo photography exhibition of Satyajit Ray. l

The many faces of Bahram n Nader Rahman Popular band Chirkutt performs on the premises of Rabindra Sarobar as part of the ongoing exhibition Rivers of the World SADIA MARIUM

Johnny Depp’s engagement rumours n Entertainment Desk Johnny Depp and girlfriend Amber Heard are supposedly engaged, according to several reports.

The Rum Diary costars sparked engagement rumors this week when The Playboy Club alum was photographed leaving Hollywood’s Ago restaurant attempting to conceal what looked like a sparkly engagement ring on her ring finger, E! Online reported.

On Friday, sources close to the fiercely private couple confirmed the nuptial news to Us Weekly. The news was first reported by Celebuzz on Thursday. However, there is no official word from the actors’ reps, who declined to comment when asked about the engagement by Gossip Cop. Depp, 50, and Heard, 27, met in 2011 on the set of the gonzo flick The Rum Diaries. Depp officially announced his split with longtime girlfriend Vanessa Paradis in June 2012 after 14 years and two children together: Lily-Rose, 14, and Jack, 11. He and Heard had been linked since the beginning of 2012, after Heard’s ending a four-year relationship with ex-girlfriend Tasya van Ree, a photographer.

Since then, the pair has been photographed together jet-setting all over the world.

“The proposal happened a while ago,” a source revealed to Us Weekly. “She just didn’t wear the ring.”

According to Celebuzz, the Pirates of the Caribbean star reportedly proposed on Christmas Eve, but Heard didn’t say yes right away.

“Amber really took her time to make up her mind,” a source close to the family told the site. “She turned him down earlier, before she said yes. So she waited and was thinking about it for a long time.”

The pair is filming Matthew Cullen’s crime thriller London Fields together. The flick, due in theaters this year, also stars Billy Bob Thornton, Jim Sturgess, Jaimie Alexander and Theo James. l

At the age of 63, Syed Quomer Hossain Sheerajy better known as Bahram finally dipped his toes into Bangladesh’s art scene. That’s actually not correct. For over 50 years he has painted in the public domain, from baby-taxis to cinema banners and everything in between. It’s highly likely that if you have ever been stuck in traffic, the baby-taxi in front of you or the rickshaw that scraped the side of your vehicle at one point in time was painted by Bahram. With ubiquity comes anonymity.

Bahram’s mask was finally pulled back when a fortuitous encounter with the artist Nisar Hossain, who piled coal onto his artistic fire. No more moving canvases with generic animals and oversaturated faces. This time around he decided to walk straight past a fork in the road dividing the absurd and the surreal.

He ended up with his first solo exhibition, curated by Mustafa Zaman at The Dhaka Art Center aptly titled DeReal. The canvases are dominated by animal human hybrids midwifed by his commercial artistic ethos, which for a few paintings no matter how much he tries, it is difficult to extricate his so called “previous” artistic oeuvre from his current one.

Throughout the exhibition, Bahram seems intent on deconstructing the human face into animal instincts and traits. Thus turning the face into a window on the mind, where our collective identity is on display. By placing the identity squarely on his faces, he turns the very core of our mind inside out.

In Eyes of the Hunter, the hunted deer not only creates the eyes of hunter but shows the hunter his prey. By both creating the gaze and being the object of it, the deer is both the self and the other. The head is placed on unknown shoulders not

SUCHITRA SEN

An artwork by Bahram connected by the neck but by a set of feet, thus implying that the head/face is a separate entity from the rest of the body.

Others pieces such as Animal Likeness Big, Lost Youth of the Lady Reveler and One that Flew Away along with a host of others use animal forms to create human faces in a style that is at times relatable to his street art roots while also veering wildly into the avant-garde as well.

The content of a Rorschach test falls into four categories, animal, abstract, nature and human and one could say so does Bahram’s work. His exhibition is a Rorschach test of sorts, ambiguous images that provide a look into the human mind. l

MOVIE 6:00pmFox Movies Premium

The 20th Screen Actors Guild Awards

11:00pmZee Studio

Saw 3D: The Final Chapter

COMEDY 11:30am Comedy Central The Exes

10:00pm Z Cafe

The Big Bang Theory

NEWS 12:00pm Rtv

Moddhanner Bulletin 20

4:00pm ATN News News Now

MISC 10:30am Discovery Dual Survival

8:30pm AXN

The feisty diva Suchitra Sen’s pairing with Uttam Kumar was the most hit match of the Bangla film industry and the actor reportedly told the producers that her name should appear before Uttam Kumar’s in film posters Initially, Sen was more interested in singing than in acting. In 1951, she auditioned as a playback singer, but was instead offered a role by director Sukumar Dasgupta.

Dasgupta’s assistant director Nitish Roy named her Suchitra by which name she went on to achieve celebrity status Suchitra Sen was the only celebrity to refuse the Dadasaheb Phalke Award just to avoid travelling to New Delhi Suchitra Sen declined the offer to work with well known director Satyajit Ray because he wanted her to act exclusively in his film and Suchitra being a professional chose not to hurt the directors responsible for her career. Because of that, the Oscar winning director never made the film!

She refused to work with the famous actor Raj Kapoor. What irked Suchitra was the “filmi” style in which Kapoor approached her. It is said that Kapoor knelt down on the floor with a bouquet in his hand and offered the film. “Why should a man bow down before a woman like this?” Sen had reportedly told her close associates after politely refusing the offer

ON TV

Top Gear

Interesting facts about

n Shadma Malik

Vilma Santos wins Best Actress Award and Levon Hafevan wins Best Actor Award went to Vilma Santos for her fabulous acting in Philippino film Ekstra. The Best Screenplay Award was grabbed by Japanese film Miss Zombie and The Best Cinematography Award

by Australian film Satellite Boy. Best Children Film Badal Rahman Award, a special include in the festival, was achieved

by The Rooster Trademark Paper while the Audience Award went to the film Plastic. Sri Lankan film Siri Perakum by famous director Somaratne Dissanayake and Nepalese film Chokhaunee by Kamal Bhatta received Special Audience Mention awards.

In Spiritual section, Best Fiction Award went to an Indian film Adomya and Special Mention to Swedish film Between Two Worlds.

In Women Filmmakers section, another

Sunday, January 19, 2014

A screen from the drama series

Nij Grihe Porobashi will air tonight n Entertainment Desk Star studded drama series Nij Grihe Porobashi will air tonight at 8:15pm on Banglavision. The drama is about the twist and turn that is part of almost every household in Bangladesh. It portrays the life of a woman when she marries into a family and ties new relationship with all the members of the household. It shows the love, bitterness and almost every other experience that is associated with marriage, living with the in-laws and trying to settle down in the new life. It is a common notion that a woman will face many hardship and discrimination when she is married off and is bound to live in her husband’s home with his family. The drama shows these phases in a woman’s life. l

She was a trendsetter in many respects - one instance being her entry into films five years after her marriage to Dibanath Sen in 1947, something unimaginable in those days. The marriage, was, however, said to be rocky Dharmendra was pet named as “D” by the legend when they worked together in the movie Mamta The diva was the first to portray the character of Paro in Bollywood. Her role in the 1955 film Devdas was inimitable and many heroines after her have tried to copy it, none succeeding Directed by lyricist Gulzar, Sen’s film Aandhi was released in 1975.

Several promotional posters ahead of the release of the movie had carried texts such as “Watch the real life of your Prime Minister”.

It was believed that the movie was based on Indira Gandhi’s life. However, the movie was not allowed a full release initially when Indira Gandhi was in power in 1975.

The film was banned for 20 weeks in 1975’s emergency. According to sources, the then PM had asked Prime Minister Office (PMO) officials to watch out the movie in order to take the decision of lifting the ban imposed on it Suchitra Sen played a double role of the courtesan Pannabai and her daughter Suparna, a lawyer, in Uttar Falguni Chief Minister Mamta Banarjee had visited Belle Vue Clinic during Sen’s hospitalisation but respecting her privacy went away without meeting her on the first day. Learning about her visit, Sen had expressed the desire to meet Banerjee after which she rushed to the hospital and met her personally

Did you know?

The record number of goal assists (20) in a single Premier League season is held

by Thierry Henry in 2002-03

Sport

Sunday, January 19, 2014

0 5 6

14 Shehzad hits

DAYS TO GO

ton but Pakistan toil for runs

DHAKA TRIBUNE

13

15 Strong start

for big guns in premier hockey

Security meeting on WT20 tomorrow n Minhaz Uddin Khan

Islami Bank East Zone batsman Mominul Haque steers a ball through leg side while BCB North Zone’s Mushfiqur Rahim and Jahurul Islam look on during the first day of their BCL match at BKSP-2 yesterday

Spinners dominate day one n Reazur Rahman Rohan Rising spinner Taijul Islam made the headlines on the first day of the second round of Bangladesh Cricket League as the BCB North Zone’s left-arm orthodox claimed seven wickets against Islami Bank East Zone at BKSP-2 yesterday. However, Mominul Haque was also seen in fine touch as his valiant 94 on the “mystery” pitch made sure East Zone finished the day on a good note.

The bowlers came up with a perfect reply to the batsmen, who dominated the first round of the league, as a total of 25 wickets fell on the day over the two grounds at BKSP. The placid batting tracks no longer existed and gave away vicious turn to the spinners who cashed in to make the most of it.

The Iqbal brothers, Nafees and Tamim, opened the innings for East Zone only to be shocked with the variation of bounce in the first three deliveries. Off Farhad Reza’s over, the first ball skidded low while the next two bounced over the head of Tamim as the on-field umpires

immediately stopped the play which resumed after two and a half hours.

“I spoke to the umpire after the first two deliveries and he asked to see what happens in the next ball,” said Nafees, who was at the non-striking end, before adding that the umpires stopped the play once the third ball also produced abnormal bounce.

However, the match resumed at 12:10pm and this time the wicket showed a different colour as the balls

BRIEF SCORES, DAY 1 Walton Central V Prime Bank South Central Zone (1st innings) 165 all out in 39.4 overs (Mahmudullah 36, Gazi 4/67, Razzak 3/44) South Zone (1st innings) 196/7 in 48 overs (Mithun 88, Taiabur 31, Mahmudullah 5/72) Prime Bank South Zone lead by 31 Runs

Islami Bank East V BCB North East Zone (1st innings) 261/8 in 81 overs (Mominul 94, Kapali 52*, Taijul 7/67)

Foes eye win to keep momentum n Raihan Mahmood In the first traditional derby of the Bangladesh Premier League 2013-14 Sky Blues Abahani Ltd and Black and Whites Mohammedan SC take on each other today to stable their position in the points table.

Till date the two big names faced each other 12 times in the BPL with Abahani leading the count 4-2 while the other six duels ended as draw.

However, their meeting at the Bangabandhu National Stadium today carries a different theme as none of the two are at the top of the table. In the past it was a custom that either Abahani or Mohammedan were at the top of the table and were close in the title race, but in the recent days both struggled to see themselves as the true title contenders. Abahani have seven points from three matches while Mohammedan have five in their account.

Abahani in their last three matches beat Brothers Union 1-0, drew with Soccer Club Feni 0-0 and beat Muktijoddha 3-1. Mohammedan on the other hand drew their first two matches against Muktijoddha (1-1) and Uttar Baridhara (0-0), but won their last match against

BJMC (2-0). So it’s clear that both the teams will be high on confidence and they will be putting their best to continue their winning spree.

Abahani will look forward to Awudu Ibrahim while Mohammedan counts on Zahid Hossain. Awudu scored two goals in the 3-1 demolition of Muktijodhha while Zahid scored one and assisted the other against Team BJMC. Ali Akbar Parmoslemi, the Iranian coach of Abahani said “Mohammedan are a strong opponent to beat. It would not be easy to beat them as they have a number of quality players. But I’m more interested to think about my team.

“I need a win and I am taking the match in that light. I need good understanding between midfield and forwards. Mohammedan are playing under a foreign coach, I believe they have had positive changes,” said Parmoslemi.

Rui Hose Capela Batista, the Portuguese coach of Mohammedan was serious ahead of the crucial tie and said “As it is a battle of pride, I want my team fully prepared. I have watched two matches of Abahani. I have tried to organise the team in the time I had. If the players follow the instructions on the pitch properly then I hope we will win it but I have to admit Abahani is a strong team,” he said. l

spun viciously. Mominul and Rajin Saleh (38) showed excellent skills to add 93 for the third wicket before Alok Kapali also batted cautiously to notch a fifty. Mominul on 94 became one of Taijul’s victims as the latter finished the day with seven for 67. At stumps East Zone were 261 for eight.

Meanwhile in the other match, Sohag Gazi and Abdur Razzak shared seven wickets between them to bowl out Walton Central Zone for 165 before Prime Bank South Zone themselves struggled to reach 196-7 at the end of the day at BKSP-3.

Asked to bat, Central Zone were pushed to back foot after they found themselves reeling at 67-5 in the first hour. However, Mahmudullah (38) and Nurul Hasan (30) staged a fight back by putting on 57 under pressure before they were eventually bowled out for 165.

Mahmudullah also led with the ball for Central as his five-for kept South Zone on the edge, but Mithun Ali’s quick-fire 88 off 89 secured the first innings lead for the South’s. Mithun struck six fours and seven sixes during his 98run fourth wicket stand with Taibur Parvez (31). l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Second tribunal hearing today n Minhaz Uddin Khan

Taijul Islam

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) will sit in a meeting tomorrow with the representatives from all the participating boards in the ICC World Twenty20 regarding the security arrangement during the mega event.

“An ICC meeting on the security arrangement is scheduled to take place day after tomorrow (January 20). Many others from different boards will also attend the meeting alongside the representative from Pakistan,” informed the BCB acting CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury to the media yesterday.

“We will share the security arrangements with them though we have already shared it in the last ICC meeting in Dubai,” he added.

Pakistan Cricket Board sent Colonel Azam for the meeting who reached Dhaka yesterday and he is likely to meet the BCB high ups today. Azam besides attending the meeting will also play a role in PCB’s decision of sending a team for the Asia Cup. Though Pakistan’s participation in the tournament has been partially confirmed after the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) revealed the fixture of the tournament three days ago, PCB is yet to confirm their participation. The defending champions are scheduled to take on Sri Lanka in the tournament opener on February 25 at Fatullah stadium. l

The three-member anti-corruption tribunal will hold the second hearing of the match-fixing allegations in the second Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) today.

The tribunal headed by Justice Khademul Islam Chowdhury, a former judge of the Supreme Court, along with Azmal ul Hossain and former cricketer Shakil Kashem is in charge of looking into the allegations and statements made by Acsu (Anti-Corruption and Security Unit) and the accused.

Members of the ICC head of Conduct & Ethics and company lawyer of ICC Iain Higgins, ICC legal officer Shili Clark and Jonathan Taylor, ICC prosecutor, are also expected to be present during today’s hearing at Navana Tower.

Acsu placed allegations against nine cricketers and officials, which included three foreign nationals, from Dhaka Gladiators, champions of both the editions of the tournament, after a lengthy probe.

In the first hearing held on November 23 last year, except former national cricketer Mohammad Rafique, lawyers of the other eight faced the tribunal.

It was learnt that Rafique’s status remains unchanged from what it was in the first hearing.

The former national cricketer, since the charges, cut-off all strings with the game and moves aside. It was reported in the media that the 43year old intends not to keep further relation with cricket and thus is not bothered with the charges made by the ICC. Meanwhile the other accused individuals are likely to appear in front of the panel today. Dhaka Gladiators allrounder Darren Stevens, who reached Dhaka on Saturday, will face the panel to save his career.

The 37-year old faces two charges against him – one for failing to report a corrupt approach and the other charging him of match fixing – and if proved guilty he may be banned up to 10 years. l

Rana, Antoni secure win for Brothers n Shishir Hoque Brothers Union registered their second successive victory in the Bangladesh Premier League beating Chittagong Abahani 2-1 at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

A blunder from Chittagong Abahani goalkeeper Piaruzzaman allowed Brothers forward Jewel Rana to put his side ahead in the first-half before Victori An-

toni doubled the lead in the second-half.

Substitute forward Safautur Rahman, in his first premier league appearance, netted the consolation for the visitors three minutes before the stipulated time.

After losing their opening two matches against Abahani Limited and Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, Brothers returned to winnings ways with the win over defending champions Sheikh Russell in their previous game. With two consecutive wins Brothers leapfrogged Muktijoddha and Mohammed-

an to move to fourth place in the points table with six points. With one point Chittagong Abahani are still sharing the bottom place with Soccer Club Feni.

However, it was the visitors who initiated the first real attack in the 25th minute but Brothers goalkeeper Sabuj Das Rogu produced a stunning save to deny Masuk Mia Jony’s header.

Brothers forward Jewel Rana broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute following Piaruzzaman’s silly blunder.

Rana’s fragile shot from outside the

box slipped the hands of the stopper and rolled inside the net.

The game was taken when Nigerian forward Victori Antoni sealed the result in the 83rd minute following the solo effort from Rubel Miah. Rubel dodged two markers before he curled a shot from the top of the box. Piaruzzaman made a diving save, but the rebound fell to Antoni who calmly placed the ball home.

Just three minutes after coming on the pitch, Safautur reduced the margin for the port city side with a header. l

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS Brothers Union

2-1

Ctg Abahani

goalkeeper Sabuj Das 25”Brothers Rogu produces a superb save

to deny Masuk Mia Jony’s header from going in GOAL! A silly blunder from Piaruzzaman saw Jewel Rana’s fragile shot roll inside the goal Jewel Rana’s side header hits the second bar Rogu makes a decent save parrying away Faisal’s close range shot GOAL! Rubel Miah runs toward the goal skipping past two defenders and takes a curling shot.

Piaruzzaman makes the save but Victori Antoni scores from the rebound

32”

35” 41”

83”

Brothers Union’s Nigerian forward Victori Antoni scores past Chittagong Abahani goalkeeper Piaruzzaman during their Bangladesh Premier League match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday MUMIT M

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Neymar ankle injury less serious than feared

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Shehzad hits hundred but Pakistan toil for runs

n Reuters, Madrid

Barcelona’s Brazil forward Neymar should have recovered in time to feature in the Spanish club’s Champions League last 16, first leg at Manchester City on Feb. 18 after an ankle injury proved less serious than feared.

A scan on Friday confirmed Neymar had damaged tendons in his right ankle in Thursday’s 2-0 King’s Cup last 16, second-leg win at Getafe, which sent Barca through to the quarter-finals 6-0 on aggregate, and club medical staff estimated he would be sidelined for three to four weeks.

n AFP, Sharjah Opener Ahmed Shehzad scored a maiden century but Pakistan toiled for runs in their bid for a series-levelling win against Sri Lanka in the third and final Test in Sharjah on Saturday.

The 22-year-old right-hander made 147 in only his second Test as Pakistan scored 291-6 at close on the third day, still trailing by 137 runs over Sri Lanka’s first innings total of 428-9 declared.

Pakistan lost Sarfraz Ahmed for five, caught behind off spinner Rangana Herath in the last over of the day. Misbah-ul Haq was unbeaten on 36.

With two days remaining and Pakistan lagging well behind they will be hard pressed to enforce a result, with Sri Lanka happy for a no-result affair.

While Pakistan struggled for runs, it was a memorable day for young Shehzad.

Shehzad added a quick 56 for the fourth wicket with Misbah but Pakistan’s slow and cautious batting amidst some tight bowling blunted their efforts to get closer to Sri Lanka’s total.

Pakistan, trailing 1-0 in the three-match series after losing the second Test in Dubai by nine wickets, managed 150 runs in the

I thought it could have been a serious injury, I thought about my plans for 2014 “What a scare!” Neymar wrote on his Instagram account. “When I fell I thought of a lot of bad things.

“I thought it could have been a serious injury, I thought about my plans for 2014.

“But Jesus, once again, was with me and it was just a scare. I wanted to thank all those that prayed for me. And don’t worry. I will do everything right and will be back in no time.”

The injury was the latest setback for the 21-year-old, who had not started a match since Christmas due to a lack of fitness and a stomach bug.

He will miss Sunday’s La Liga game at Levante as well as this month’s twolegged Cup quarter-final, also against the Valencia-based side.

Before they play City in Europe’s elite club competition, Barca have La Liga matches against Malaga, Valencia, Sevilla and Rayo Vallecano and the club said he would definitely miss the Malaga and Valencia games. l

United in search of old fire at Chelsea n AFP, London Manchester United’s trip to Chelsea on Sunday represents another opportunity for the woebegone English champions to prove that they still deserve to be considered among the Premier League’s leading lights.

With six defeats to their name already this season and leaders Arsenal 11 points above them, United’s title defence seems all but over and they face a battle just to secure Champions League qualification.

David Moyes’s men trailed fourthplace Liverpool by five points ahead of the weekend and another setback at Stamford Bridge would further compromise their chances of fulfilling the minimum requirement of a top-four finish.

Their form against supposed title

rivals does not augur well, as they have amassed only five points from a possible 21 in the seven games that they have played against the six teams above them in the table.

Injuries to strike pair Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie have only compounded matters, but for all United’s misfortune, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho believes it is still too soon to write them off.

“We don’t play a team that is 11 points behind the leaders. We play the champions, we play against Manchester United,” Mourinho said.

“This is the way I feel. I’ve been too long in the game, I’ve played dozens and dozens of derbies and classic matches. This is what experience says.

“On many occasions the team that looks to be in the most difficult situation is the team that appears stronger in that match. That’s why I view this game as especially dangerous. I’ve not

PSG look to maintain lead n AFP, Paris

FIXTURES Paris Saint-Germain will look to underline their superiority over the rest of Ligue 1 with a win when they play host to Nantes at the Parc des Princes on

Sunday night.

Laurent Blanc’s side come into the weekend five points clear of Monaco at the summit and with confidence high after a clinical 3-1 win away to Bordeaux in the quarter-finals of the League Cup in midweek.

The capital outfit have been beaten just once - a 2-0 reverse at Evian last month - in domestic competition all season, and remain on course to win a

Reims v Lyon Toulouse v Monaco PSG v Nantes domestic treble.

Tuesday’s win against Bordeaux set up a League Cup semi-final away to Nantes at the Stade de le Beaujoire in early February, but it is at the Parc des Princes where the teams meet this weekend.

Les Canaris are enjoying a fine campaign themselves and lie in sixth place coming into the weekend but PSG are unbeaten in front of their own fans since November 2012, so anything other than a home win would be a huge surprise. l

n AFP, Milan

Multiple Champions League winner Clarence Seedorf begins his second career at AC Milan, this time as a fledgling coach, with the world of football watching when the Rossoneri host high-flying Verona on Sunday.

Seedorf, regarded as the most successful player in the Champions League era -- having won the trophy four times with three different clubs -- signed a two-and-a-half year contract as Milan coach on Thursday.

His arrival from Brazil on Tuesday was widely welcomed by the red and

FIXTURES Udinese Atalanta Bologna Catania Chievo Genoa Sassuolo Milan

v v v v v v v v

Lazio Cagliari Napoli Fiorentina Parma Inter Torino Verona

SCORECARD, DAY 3 SRI LANKA 1ST INNINGS 428-9 DEC

D. Perera 95, A. Mathews 91, K. Sangakkara 52; Junaid Khan 3-81, Mohammad Talha 3-99 PAKISTAN 1ST INNINGS

(overnight 19-0) Khurram c Prasanna b Eranga Ahmed Shehzad b Herath Azhar Ali c Mathews b Perera Younis Khan c Prasanna b Herath Misbah-ul Haq not out Asad Shafiq lbw b Eranga Sarfraz Ahmed c Prasanna b Herath Extras: (b1, lb6, nb1) Total: (for six wkts; 95.3 overs)

Messi ready to showcase best form: Martino

and will be bidding for a fifth consecutive victory on Sunday.

The teams played out a terse 0-0 at Old Trafford when they last met in August, but Moyes says it is hard to draw conclusions from that encounter.

“That was a difficult game for both of us that probably came a bit too early in the season,” said the United manager.

De Bruyne joins Wolfsburg

Title contenders fire

FIXTURES Swansea City v Tottenham Chelsea v Man United

n AFP, Berlin Belgian winger Kevin de Bruyne has completed a move from Chelsea to German side Wolfsburg, the two clubs announced on Saturday.

De Bruyne, 22, has signed a fiveand-a-half-year contract with the Volkswagen-backed club, keeping him in Lower Saxony until June 2019.

Neither club confirmed the transfer fee, although German media have suggested that it is in the region of 22 million euros ($29.8m, £18.1m).

If true, the deal would constitute a record for Wolfsburg, beating the previous mark of up to 20 million euros paid to Bayern Munich for Brazilian midfielder Luiz Gustavo last summer. l

est Champions League qualifying spot, Seedorf has a fight on his hands -- and his lack of top level experience has raised eyebrows.

The 37-year-old, who ended his playing career with Botafogo when the Milan offer came up, has already admitted: “There’s a lot to do to hoist Milan back to the top.”

And fellow Dutchmen and former Rossoneri Marco Van Basten and Ruud Gullit both seemed sceptical about the appointment.

“It’s a risk. We have to wait and see how Seedorf adapts,” said Van Basten.

Gullit said: “I wasn’t expecting it.

Clarence has no coaching experience and has to prove himself.” l

52 147 8 17 36 18 5 8 291

Fall of wickets 1-114 (Manzoor), 2-149 (Azhar), 3-189 (Younis), 4-245 (Shehzad), 5-274 (Shafiq), 6-291 (Sarfraz) Bowling Herath 31.3-8-88-3, Lakmal 21-4-57-0, Perera 17-1-71-1, Eranga 19-5-53-2 (1nb), Mathews 7-3-15-0 Match Situation Pakistan trail by 137 runs with four wickets remaining in the 1st innings.

Victory for United would certainly have a transformative effect on perceptions of Moyes’s side – Mourinho has never lost a home league game with Chelsea and Moyes has never come out on top against the Portuguese.

In the continued absence of Rooney and Van Persie, United will once again turn to Danny Welbeck, who has scored six goals in his last six games, to lead the line.

Chelsea hope that Frank Lampard will recover from a calf injury in time for Sunday’s game but right-back Branislav Ivanovic only returned to training on Friday following a knee problem and is unlikely to feature.

Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic could make his second Chelsea debut, having returned to the club from Benfica this week, but Mourinho has already confirmed that he will not start the game. l

written United off.”

United can at least draw solace from a run of five wins in six league games, but Chelsea’s recent form has been even more impressive.

They have climbed to third place in the table, nine points above United, by winning eight of their last 10 matches

Coach Seedorf set for San Siro test black half of the city and Rossoneri fans are hoping the success Seedorf enjoyed during a golden 10-year spell with the club can be replicated at coaching level.

Yet with Milan 30 points behind leaders Juventus and 20 off the clos-

first two sessions after resuming at 19-0, losing opener Khurram Manzoor (52) and Azhar Ali (eight). Sri Lanka mostly employed a six-man leg-side field as their bowlers made runs hard to come by, with Pakistan adding only 23 in the first hour’s play.

But Shehzad, who made 55 in the drawn first Test in Abu Dhabi, paced up the innings in the last session, helping Pakistan to 122 runs in the two hours but Pakistan lost four wickets.

Shehzad reached his hundred with a couple towards cover off spinner Dilruwan Perera, taking 230 balls to reach the threefigure mark studded with seven fours. His second fifty came off 80 balls.

He was finally bowled off a reverse sweep against Herath. Shehzad batted for 339 minutes, hit 12 fours and a six.

In a slow but steady start he put on 114 for the opening wicket with Manzoor.

Manzoor fell soon after lunch as he tried to glance a leg-side delivery from paceman Shaminda Eranga but only managed to snick it to wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene.

He hit four boundaries during his 125-ball innings. Ali, dropped for the first two Tests, battled for 27 deliveries and departed after edging off-spinner Dilruwan Perera to slip for his first Test wicket. l

n AFP, Madrid Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino believes Lionel Messi has fully recovered from a hamstring injury that kept him out for two months and will soon be back to his best.

Messi is expected to start as Barca travel to Levante in La Liga on Sunday after scoring twice in his first start of 2014 as Barca sealed their place in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals with a 2-0 win away to Getafe in midweek.

The four-time World Player of the Year’s second goal in particular was spectacular as he dashed past three Getafe defenders before rounding the goalkeeper and finishing from a narrow angle.

Martino had been cautious not to rush his compatriot’s return and he

even left him on the bench for last weekend’s top of the table clash away to Atletico Madrid.

However, he believes Messi did while he was out injured should prepare him well for the second half of the season.

FIXTURES Getafe Villarreal Levante Atletico Madrid

v v v v

Real Sociedad Almeria Barcelona Sevilla

“From the point of his unfortunate injury, he has done different work from the rest of the squad. What the rest were doing in July and August, he is doing now,” he said.

“A footballer like him, with such talent and who is mentally strong, is ready to show us his best form.” l

n AFP, Melbourne

Rafael Nadal put on an awesome performance to reach the Australian Open last 16 on Saturday and Roger Federer and Andy Murray also hit top gear as the title race began to narrow.

With Victoria Azarenka a class apart in her third-round win, Nadal stormed past France’s Gael Monfils 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 to underline his challenge to Novak Djokovic’s three-year Melbourne reign.

Federer was typically fluent in his 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 win against Teymuraz Gabashvili and Murray, continuing his strong recovery from back surgery, was a convincing winner over Feliciano Lopez.

With sharply cooling temperatures bringing an abrupt end to four days of 40 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), there was a businesslike feel as the men’s and women’s contenders set about reaching week two.

Federer said his Grand Slam struggles last year, when he fell early at Wimbledon and the US Open, were past him as he dismantled Russia’s Gabashvili, the world number 79.

“It was a tough year last year and it took some time to figure out what I needed to do to feel better and to get my confidence back, because that’s what I thought it was mostly,” said Federer, seeded six.

“For the last four to five months I feel that I’m back to normal again and at least I feel I’ve done the work to catch up and haven’t had any setbacks, so it’s very positive.”

Murray gave a brief scare when he clutched his back in the first set but he moved unhindered thereafter to win

Rafael Nadal reacts after winning against Gael Monfils at the Australian Open in Melbourne yesterday REUTERS 7-6 (7/2), 6-4, 6-2 and move into the round of 16 without dropping a set.

“Today was a big step up for me. Feliciano is a top-30 player. He’s a tricky opponent to play,” Murray said.

In the evening session, Nadal was superior in all departments to the entertaining but inconsistent Monfils, winning in just over two hours.

Nadal will next face Japanese number one Kei Nishikori, who reeled off the last 10 games against Donald Young to end American interest in the men’s competition.

Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov weathered Milos Raonic’s powerful serve to

reach his first Grand Slam last 16, where he will face Roberto Bautista Agut, the Spanish surprise package who ousted Benoit Paire.

Meanwhile in the women’s draw, Azarenka destroyed hapless Austrian Yvonne Meusburger for the loss of just one game, winning 6-1, 6-0 to set up a rematch of last year’s semi-final with Sloane Stephens.

Stephens beat Elina Svitolina to progress and she said last year’s controversy, when Azarenka was accused of using a medical timeout to calm her nerves at a critical moment, would have no bearing. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Dzeko brings up Man City’s 100th goal

QUICK BYTES

BSJA annual picnic held

n AFP, Manchester

The annual picnic of Bangladesh Sports Journalists Association (BSJA) was held at the Sultana Kamal Women’s Sports Complex yesterday. The state minister for youth and sports Biren Sikder, deputy minister for youth and sports Arif Khan Joy, ruling party lawmaker and former BCB president Saber Hossain Chowdhury, BCB directors Jalal Yunus, Ismail Haider Mallik, sports organisers Harunur Rashid, DSA Tutul, Khandokar Jamiluddin, Quamarunnahar Dana and many others were present on the occasion.

National flag carriers Bangladesh Biman provided two return tickets to Myanmar as the first prize for a raffle draw.

–RM

Manchester City scored their 100th goal of the season on Saturday when Edin Dzeko opened the scoring in their Premier League game at home to Cardiff City.

Dzeko struck in the 14th minute at the Etihad Stadium, meeting David Silva’s cut-back with a low shot that bobbled over the line despite Kevin McNaughton’s attempted last-ditch clearance.

City are on track to surpass the Premier League goal-scoring record set by Carlo Ancelotti’s Chelsea, who scored 103 goals en route to the title in 2009-10

Siddikur leaps to 20th Bangladesh golfer Siddikur Rahman posted a one-under-par 71 on the third day to share the 20th spot at the King’s Cup Golf in Hua Hin yesterday. Korea’s Mo Joong-kyung took his place atop the leader board with two-under-par 70 at the $1m showpiece event. Siddikur, starting the day on 35th, carded six brilliant birdies under tough scoring conditions but three bogeys and a woeful doublebogey forced him to finish the day for a total of one-under-par 215 in Thailand.

–Tribune Desk

Women’s prelim WT20 squad The Bangladesh Cricket Board yesterday announced the 30-member women’s preliminary squad for ICC World Twenty20. Alongside the men’s competition, Bangladesh will also host the women’s tournament from March 23 to April 6. The newly built Sylhet Divisional Stadium will host all first-round fixtures of the Women’s World T20 while the semifinals and the final will be played at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

Squad: Rumana Ahmed, Shaila Sharmin, Lata Mondol, Khadiza Tul Kubra, Sultana Yesmin Boishakhi, Fargana Hoque, Salma Khatun, Panna Ghosh, Lily Rani Biswas, Ritu Moni, Nuzhat Tasnia, Jahanara Alam, Ayasha Rahman, Sathira Jakir, Fahima Khatun, Tazia Akter, Tithy Rani Sarkar, Sanjida Islam, Sharmin Akter, Ayesha Akter, Shohaly Akther, Shahnaz Parvin, Shamima Sultana, Nadia Afrin, Yamin Rupa, Tomalika Sumona, Nigar Sultana, Suborna Islam, Sabikun Nahar, Jannatul Ferdousi –Tribune Desk

DAY’S WATCH Sony Six 7:00AM India’s Tour of New Zealand 1st ODI 12:00PM Pakistan v Sri Lanka 3rd Test, Day 4 12:00AM NBA 2013-14 Toronto v LA Lakers Star Sports 1 9:30AM Australia v England 3rd ODI Star Sports HD1 Italian Serie A 5:30PM Udinese v Lazio 8:00PM Genoa v Inter Milan 1:45AM AC Milan v Hellas Verona La Liga 10:00PM Villerreal v Almeria Star Sports 4 11:30AM Australian Open English Premier League 7:30AM Swansea v Tottenham 10:00PM Chelsea v Man United La Liga 12:00AM Levante v Barcelona 2:00AM Atletico Madrid v Sevilla Ten HD 4:00PM Ram Slam T20 Challenge Dolphins v Cobras Ten Golf 10:00AM Asian Tour 2014 Kings Cup, Day 4 3:00PM European Tour 2014 Abu Dhabi Championship, Day 4 Ten Action French Ligue 1 2013/14 7:00PM Stade de Reims v Olympique Lyon 10:00PM Toulouse v Monaco 2:00AM PSG v FC Nantes

15

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Arsenal's Spanish midfielder Santi Cazorla (C) celebrates scoring against Fulham with teammate Olivier Giroud (L) during their English Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium in London yesterday AFP

Manuel Pellegrini’s side have been in free-scoring form this season, putting six goals past Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, outclassing Manchester United 4-1, and crushing Norwich City 7-0.

With 59 goals from 21 games, prior to kick-off, City are on track to surpass the Premier League goal-scoring record set by Carlo Ancelotti’s Chelsea, who scored 103 goals en route to the title in 2009-10. l

Arsenal stay top, technology aids City surge n AFP, London Arsenal preserved their lead in the Premier League by beating Fulham 2-0 on Saturday, while goalline technology was used for the first time as Manchester City overcame Cardiff City.

Arsenal knew that anything less than victory might allow City to gazump them, but it was not until Santi Cazorla claimed a quick-fire brace midway through the second half that they put paid to Fulham at the Emirates Stadium.

Fulham goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg had frustrated Arsenal in the first half, but he was beaten in

the 57th minute when Cazorla slid a shot past him after a neat interchange involving Olivier Giroud and Jack Wilshere.

The Spanish midfielder added a second five minutes later, collecting the ball on the edge of the box after Nacho Monreal’s cross was partially cleared and drilling a low shot into the bottomright corner.

City stole above Chelsea into second place, a point behind Arsenal, after sinking Cardiff 4-2 on a day of milestones at the Etihad Stadium.

Edin Dzeko broke the deadlock in the 14th minute with a goal that was both City’s 100th of the season and the first goal to require the use of goal-line technology in the Premier League.

India’s top ranking on line in NZ showdown n AFP, Wellington India put their top spot in the world one-day international rankings on the line in a five-match series starting in Napier Sunday against a New Zealand side fired up by new-found self-belief.

Although New Zealand lie a lowly eighth on the world ladder, the way they cleaned up their series against the West Indies was a confidence booster for a team with a history of not being able to close out a winning situation.

“It was good to wrap it up and take a big step for this team,” captain Brendon McCullum said after New Zealand beat the West Indies 2-0 in the Twenty20s to go with their 2-0 win in the Tests and two-all drawn ODI series.

“We talked all week about wanting to close out a series and the way we did it was excellent.”

For India to retain their number one ranking they only have to win the series, but a New Zealand win could catapult Australia to the top depending on the outcome of their current series against England.

The difference in status between India and New Zealand was evident when they wrapped up practice.

As befitting the global rock stars of cricket, the Indian bags were placed on a trailer and taken to their bus while the lowly-ranked New Zealanders carried their own bags away from the nets.

But, despite the huge difference in rankings between the two sides, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni declares he is not taking New Zealand lightly.

“Especially at home, they’ll know the conditions better than us and for some who have not played here it will be a challenge.”

Although New Zealand have a clutch of quality bowlers, including key wicket takers Mitch McClenaghan and Nathan McCullum and rising speedster Adam Milne who tops 150 kilometres per hour (93 mph), India have a batting depth.

Virat Kohli, Dhoni and Shikhar Dhawan are ranked among the top 10 ODI batsmen and are quick-scoring, near faultless craftsmen.

The 25-year-old Kohli can be a match-winner on his own with an average of 51.54 from his 125 ODIs which include 17 centuries. Dhoni averages 52.88 and Dhawan a more modest 43.96. l

RESULTS

The Bosnian striker’s miscued effort from David Silva’s pass was hacked away from beneath the crossbar by Aron Gunnarsson, but Hawkeye replays shown on the stadium’s video screens confirmed that the ball had crossed the line.

Yaya Toure added a third goal in the 76th minute after a one-two with Sergio Aguero, who got on the score-sheet himself three minutes later to claim his first league goal since returning from a calf injury.

Southampton were denied a morale-boosting victory after Sunderland hit back from 2-0 down to record a 2-2 draw in an engaging encounter at the Stadium of Light.

Newcastle United bolstered their

challenge for European qualification with a 3-1 success at West Ham United, who slipped into the bottom three.

Yohan Cabaye scored twice for Newcastle, with Loic Remy also on target, while West Ham replied via an own goal by Mike Williamson.

Jason Puncheon atoned for a woeful penalty miss at Tottenham Hotspur last weekend by scoring the only goal for Crystal Palace in a 1-0 win over Stoke City that catapulted his side out of the relegation zone.

Elsewhere, Ryan Bennett scored in the 87th-minute to give relegationthreatened Norwich City a precious 1-0 win at home to Hull City, who had Tom Huddlestone sent off for two bookable offences. l

McIlroy into contention in Abu Dhabi

Ronaldo, Bale on target as Madrid move joint top

n AFP, Abu Dhabi

n AFP, Madrid

Rory McIlroy moved to within striking distance of back-to-back titles in fullfield events as he surged up the leaderboard at the halfway stage of the $2.7 million Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship Friday.

The world number seven finished with consecutive birdies to come home in 31. A round of five-under par 67, which included a double bogey on the front nine, took his two-day tally to seven-under par 137, and in tied fourth place.

The Northern Ireland star was two shots behind leaders Craig Lee of Scotland and Spaniard Rafael Cabrera-Bello.

Lee added a 67 to his 68 on Thursday, while Cabrera-Bello shot a 68 on Friday. England’s Danny Willett made the biggest move of the day.The 27-year-old carded a brilliant rund of nine-under par 63 to move to third place at eight-under par 136.

World number three Henrik Stenson could not make a move in the right direction and a round of even par 72 meant he missed his first cut since the Quail Hollow Championship on the PGA Tour in May last year. l

Real Madrid moved level on points with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid at the top of La Liga with a 5-0 hammering of bottom-placed Real Betis on Saturday.

Cristiano Ronaldo continued his fantastic week after lifting the Ballon d’Or on Monday with a thumping long-range drive to open the scoring before Gareth Bale silenced his recent critics with a trademark free-kick to make it 2-0.

Karim Benzema then notched his 100th goal for Madrid in first-half stoppage time as he blasted home after classy play from Luka Modric.

Angel di Maria made it four just after the hour mark with another stunning effort from distance and Alvaro Morata rounded off the scoring in stoppage time.

All three leading clubs are now tied on 50 points, but Barca and Atletico can move back in front when then face Levante and Sevilla respectively on Sunday.

Bale had struggled since his return from a calf injury at the beginning of the year with coach Carlo Ancelotti even admitting on Friday that the Welshman could do better.

Arsenal 2-0 Cazorla 57, 62 Crystal Palace 1-0 Puncheon 51 Man City 4-2 Dzeko 14, Navas 33, Toure 76, Aguero 79 Norwich 1-0 Bennett 87 Sunderland 2-2 Borini 32, Johnson 71 West Ham 1-3 Williamson 45-og

Fulham Stoke Cardiff Noone 29, Campbell 90 Hull Southampton Rodriguez 4, Lovren 31 Newcastle Cabaye 16, 90, Remy 33

The former Spurs man started brightly on the right side of the Madrid attack, but it was once again Ronaldo who stole the show as he opened the scoring 10 minutes in with a thunderous drive from 25 yards out that flew into the top left-hand corner of Stephan Andersen’s net.

Ronaldo nearly had another memorable goal to add to his collection 10 minutes later as he skipped past two Betis defenders before firing across the face of

RESULT Real Betis

0-5

Real Madrid Ronaldo 10, Bale 25, Benzema 45+1, Di Maria 61, Morata 90

the goal. The visitors didn’t have to wait long to double their advantage, though, as Bale did make his mark with a dipping free-kick on 25 minutes that beat the stationary Andersen, although the Danish keeper should have done better.

Ruben Castro missed a wonderful opportunity to pull a goal back for the hosts when he failed to connect with Leo Baptistao’s fine low cross six minutes before half-time. l

Strong start for big guns in premier hockey n Raihan Mahmood

Australia look to open England’s ‘scars’ wider: Haddin

Title contenders Abahani and Usha opened their Green Delta Insurance Premier Division Hockey League campaign with expected victories over Azad Sporting and Wanderers respectively at the Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium yesterday.

Abahani beat Azad 5-1 while Usha mauled Wanderers 9-1 in the opening day fixtures.

All five goals for Abahani resulted from penalty corners. Ashraful Islam scored twice while the other three were netted by Sheikh Nannu, Romman Sarker and Pushkor Khisha Mimo.

In the other match of the day, other than two own goals Usha’s drag and flick specialist Mamunur Rahman Chayan struck three goals while Rimon Kumar Ghosh, Krishna Kumar, Maksud Alam Habul and Moinul Islam Koushik scored one goal each. l

Australia will be looking to open England’s “scars” and close out the oneday series on Sunday, keeper Brad Haddin said after his team’s thrilling one-wicket victory over the luckless tourists in Brisbane.

Alastair Cook’s men have now lost the opening two one-day internationals which follow their demoralising 5-0 loss in the Ashes, despite coming desperately close at the Gabba on Friday.

Chasing 301 for victory, Australia looked finished at 244-9 with six overs remaining until all-rounder James Faulkner took to the crease and smashed 69 runs from just 47 balls to deliver the improbable win.

“That was an extraordinary finish last night; we were in no position to win that game until James hit the ball through cover on the last ball,” Haddin said. l

n AFP, Sydney

An action from the Green Delta Insurance Premier Division Hockey League match between Abahani Limited and Azad SC at the Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium yesterday MUMIT M

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Severe cold brings more patients to Dhaka Shishu Hospital n

Indian mobile network available on borders n Muhammad Zahidul Islam

Moniruzzaman Uzzal

It was around 10am on Saturday morning when Reshma, a young mother of a three-month-old baby named Redwan, was found waiting in a long queue outside the emergency room of Dhaka Shishu (Children) Hospital.

Redwan was breathing abnormally and continuously crying on his mother’s lap.

When asked what was wrong, Reshma burst into tears and said her baby had been suffering from fever for the past week and could not be cured by the medicine prescribed by a local doctor in Narsingdi’s Upochar Padma village.

Clueless about what treatment to follow next, Reshma brought Redwan to Dhaka Shishu Hospital for expert opinion.

Mistaking this reporter to be a doctor, she pleaded and asked whether her son faced any danger.

Hundreds of parents also waiting at the hospital with their children shared similar concerns as Reshma, as winter had caused many children to fall ill with cold-related diseases including virus fever, pneumonia, diarrhea, asthma and other diseases.

Dr Hossain Shahid Kamrul Alam, deputy director of Dhaka Shishu Hospital, told the Dhaka Tribune that the number of sick children had increased a lot at the hospital.

Around 700-800 patients had daily been visiting the outdoor and emergency department, compared to the usual figures of 400-500 a day.

Most of the children were coming with cold related diseases like pneumonia, diarrohea, bronchiolitis and asthma.

The Dhaka Shishu Hospital currently has 566 beds (55% free and 45% paying) and the admission of the patients depended on the availability of bed vacancy.

Dhaka Children’s Hospital witnesses a surge of too many child patients attacked with cold-related diseases going of its treatment capacity. The picture was taken yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE A record keeping official in the hospital said during January 9-16, more than 5,000 children visited the hospital’s outdoor and emergency department.

Only less than 800 could be admitted, as adequate beds were not available.

Among those admitted, 136 had pneumonia and 80 were diarrheal patients.

Shilpi, the aunt of a newborn, held the baby wrapped in a blanket as she waited to see a doctor at the emergency department. She said the baby had been facing difficulties breathing since he was born on Friday afternoon at home in Shingair of Manikganj district.

Ferdousi, a resident of Dhaka’s Jhigatola, had brought her two-and-halfyear-old daughter Samia, who had been suffering from diarrhea for the past few days. Treatment suggested at a local pharmacy had not been able to cure the girl properly, Ferdousi said.

Jainob, mother of a three-monthold baby named Rihan, had come from Siddirganj of Narayanganj to treat the fever that Rihan has been suffering since December 26. A local homeopathic doctor and a local pharmacist failed to cure the baby, prompting the mother to bring her child to Dhaka Shishu Hospital for a specialist’s advice.

Dr Mushtuq Husain, a principal scientific officer of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), said thousands of children were now facing the risk of cold-related diseases because of the severe cold across the country.

He said children were easily infected by fever, cold, pneumonia, diarrhea, asthma and others diseases, as their bodies were vulnerable to cold temperature.

Dr Mushtaque also advised to keep children in warm clothes, keep rooms warm at any cost and to visit doctors immediately. l

Govt will not interfere in upazila poll: PM

Lung and breast cancers most common in Bangladesh n Moniruzzaman Uzzal Lung and breast cancer are the most prevalent forms of cancers among male and female patients respectively in Bangladesh, with 28.39% male cancer patients fighting lung cancer and 26% female patients battling breast cancer.

The facts were revealed yesterday at the publication ceremony of Hospital Cancer Registry Report 2008-2010 (printed) and 2011-2013 (short draft) at the conference hall of National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital (NICRH).

Cancer specialists said information regarding the demographics of cancer patients could be collected through the cancer registry, in order to assess the burden of cancer.

As per the published report (20082010), from January 2008 to December 2010, 46,110 new cases attended the outpatient department of NICRH. Among them, 27,281 were confirmed as cancer cases. Out of these 27,281 patients, 56.1 % were male and 43.9% were female.

The top five organs affected in both sexes were: lung (18.1%), breast (11.7%), cervix of uterus (9.3%), oesophagus (4.9%) and stomach (4.1%).

In males, the five leading cancers were: lung (28.39%), oesophagus (6.14%), liver (3.98%), larynx (3.01%) and rectum (2.17%).

In females, the leading five cancers were: breast (26.0%), cervix of uterus (21.1%), lung (5%), ovary (3.3%) and oesophagus (3.3%).

In patients aged 10 years or more, about 78.4% male patients had been smokers during their lives and 63.9% were current smokers. Among female patients, these rates were 3.5% and 3.3% respectively.

Prof Dr Khondokar Md Sifayetullah, director general of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), was present at the occasion as the chief guest.

Dr Abul Kalam Azad, additional director of the DGHS, Prof Mahmudur Rahman, director of the IEDCR, and Dr M Mostafa Zaman, national professional officer of WHO country office, were also present as special guests. NICRH Director Prof Sheikh Golam Mostofa chaired the session. l

Residents of the country’s border areas have become regular users of mobile SIM cards from Indian mobile phone operators, as the network range of these companies allegedly reach up to eight kilometers within Bangladeshi territories.

Both local and Indian mobile phone connections are reportedly used by people living near Jaflong, Benapole, Akhaura and Hilli land ports and also in some border areas in the northwest.

Telecom insiders said the cross-border mobile network interception situation deteriorated when companies from both sides started setting up their network in the border areas. This also made smuggling products easier through the borders, they added.

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) acknowledged the problem and claimed that work was on to overcome the issue.

“We have written to the Indian counterparts about it several times and at the same time we sought assistance from our post and telecommunication ministry. Without the ministry’s assistance we cannot do anything about it,” said Colonel Md Zakir Hossain, director general of engineering and operations division of the BTRC. Sources said many Rajshahi city residents were frequently using mobile connections from India’s Vodafone and Reliance companies.

Shibly Noman, a local TV journalist, told the Dhaka Tribune that the network of Indian Airtel was available in Rajshahi, adding that people of 20 villages near the border used connections from Indian Airtel and Vodafone.

“You can find Indian operators’ SIM cards in every house with local connections,” said Jamil Mahmud, a resident of Rajshahi University area.

Sources said Indian phone connections make cross-border communication easier for villagers in Godagari upa-

zila who frequently visit India for work.

“We had a study nearly two years back across the border areas. We have submitted our report to the BTRC, also with a proposal for technical solutions.

We have no idea what happened after that,” AKM Morshed, chief technology officer of Robi told the Dhaka Tribune.

Mujibur Rahaman, managing director of state-owned mobile operator Teletalk said, “It is very tough to restrict the mobile networks in border areas.”

Following the recent setup of Teletalk network in the three-bigha corridor, it would not be unusual for any Indian to be using the Teletalk network as well, he also claimed.

Robi official Morshed however said color-coding of the dedicated network spectrums could be a solution to avoid cross-border interception.

Another senior executive from a different operator said: “Our marketing team frequently informed that they are losing the markets in border areas.”

Local mobile operators also claimed that the setting up of Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) by their Indian counterparts allowed people from both sides of the border to use their services.

With the availability of Indian mobile network near the border, calls from Bangladeshi connections are often counted as international (ISD) calls, resulting in unusually large bills.

About a year ago, local operators Grameenphone and Robi submitted a survey report to the telecom regulators and complained about the cross-border interference.

According to the report, Vodafone’s network was available 5.8km inside the country in Dinajpur. Network was also found to be available more than 4.5km inside Chuadanga district in Jibonnagar, while similar situation also prevailed in Kushtia and Naogaon.

Vodafone’s network was also found 3km inside Chapainawabganj, Satkhira and Panchagarh borders. l

n Emran Hossain Shaikh

The construction of Tejgaon-Moghbazar flyover goes on at a steady pace, leaving hardly enough room for people and vehicles to pass along its either side. The picture was taken from Moghbazar area yesterday FOCUS BANGLA

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the government had no intention to interfere in the upazila parishad election which must be held at due time as per the laws.

The Awami League president said this while addressing the party working committee meeting at the Gana Bhaban yesterday.

The party insiders said several leaders talked about the election and some of them suggested holding it as early as possible, but the party chief said the upazila parishad poll would be held in time.

Sources said the Awami League working committee vacated a post of Alauddin Nasim, a member of central committee, for his long-term absence in the meeting.

The meeting also took decision to co-opt one member for the vacant post while three

others, each for presidium member, secretary of forestry & environment and secretary of industry & commerce, will be co-opted.

Sheikh Hasina also said no independent candidates who won the January 5 election would be incorporated into the party even if they wanted to join the Awami League.

The meeting also decided to organise the tours of central leaders in the districts which were scheduled before the January 5 election.

Some central leaders told the meeting to rearrange the tour programmes to make them fruitful.

Following the proposal of the party leaders Sheikh Hasina entrusted the AL Presidium Member Obaidul Quader and General Secretary Ashraful Islam to tour responsibilities.

She also instructed the party central leaders to go to the grass roots and to listen to them. l

Campaign against Violence against women n Tribune Report A women in her 30s who has been going ineffable disgrace and peeve for years after years because of her sightlessness said a disable daughter is not a curse, rather she could be the blessing of a family if parents and society could lend her their hands of help and love.

31-year-old visually impaired Farazana Akhter, a bank official, was telling was describing her experiences at a program in the city where many women shared the stories how ordinary women are facing challenges in the society.

The programme named ‘Auddomo’ (The Indomitable) was arranged as part of the One Billion Rising (OBR) campaign’s global call to fight against violence against women.

Farzana had eyesight until her secondary school exams, but later she lost the eyesight following a consequence of a wrong treatment.

But she never gave up her fight. She completed her master’s degree, then got a job as a bank official.

Farzana is the first eye

sightless women who got such an appointment in the country’s history.

After losing her eyesight she learned brail, took admission to the Dhaka University and achieved a good grade. But started facing problems while she was looking for a job as no organisation was interested in recruiting a visually impaired person.

Finally she sat for exam and stood first. Now she is working at a branch outside Dhaka. She is doing the tasks what a normal official– who has the eyesight–does Several times she set on exams and passed the written tests for getting a job as a high school teacher but every time the viva board barred her.

Later, she tried to get a job as a banker.

But “when I contacted banks officials misbehaved with me, and said sightless people are not eligible for this job” said Farzana.

Then she contacted with the high officials of Bangladesh

Governor and complained that though the government said visually impaired people are eligible to get a bank job, bank officials are not following the rule.

But every time her crying went unheeded. Then a journalist published a report by describing her misery. After publishing the report the bank authorities decided to take an assessment. But that was not the end of her story.

“Many people teased me, acted rude with me and ignored me,” she added.

Finally she sat for exam and stood first. Now she is working at a branch outside Dhaka. She is doing the tasks what a normal official— who has the eyesight— does.

Farzana thinks her success story could be an inspiration for others, too. She thinks, dreams never be abandoned, never be dismissed.

There were so many female speakers who shared their success stories with others. Among them Cricketer Champa Chakma, Acid Survivor and Rights Activist Nurun Nahar, domestic violence survivor Farjana who works as a teacher, transgender activist Joya were also present at the programme. l

Editor: Zafar Sobhan, Published and Printed by Kazi Anis Ahmed on behalf of 2A Media Limited at Dainik Shakaler Khabar Publications Limited, 153/7, Tejgaon Industrial Area, Dhaka-1208. Editorial, News & Commercial Office: FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Shukrabad, Dhaka 1207.

Phone: 9132093-94, Advertising: 9132155, Circulation: 9132282, Fax: News-9132192, e-mail: news@dhakatribune.com, info@dhakatribune.com, Website: www.dhakatribune.com

Continue to the Business section...

Business

B3 Japan says its economy is ‘recovering’

B4 Career: Dissecting a pitch through starbursting

SUNDAY, JANUARY 19, 2014 www.dhakatribune.com/business

Government plans to boost bond market A major policy shift from traditional bank borrowing to finance deficit n Kayes Sohel The government plans to boost the country’s moribund bond market to meet the fund requirements for its fiscal deficit.

The move is seen as a major policy shift of the government from the traditional bank borrowing to the Treasury bond.

A bond is a debt instrument issued for a specific period of time for the purpose of raising capital and the bond market is a financial market where participants buy and sell debt securities, usually in the form of bonds.

“Recently enhanced liquidity position in the public sector due mainly to lower development expenditure has led the government to switch over to the long term financing for the fiscal deficit,” said an official of the finance ministry.

He said the measure will also cheer up the country’s bond market. “New products will be introduced to make both the primary and secondary bond markets popular.”

Since 2012, the government has largely been depending on short-term bank borrowing to meet the budget deficits, which caused “crowding-out effect” on the economy.

According to sources, the cash and debt management body of the finance ministry is working on the regulatory framework for increased borrowing through long-term treasury bonds, reflecting determination of the government in promoting the market.

As part of the plan, Bangladesh Bank, which mainly plays an important role in mobilising domestic debt on behalf of the government, has already launched vigorous campaign to attract

investors in the Treasury bond.

The bank has already prepared its January-June auction calendar by assuming an equal share of both bills and bonds in the government borrowing.

People are less interested in longterm bonds as other tools including saving certificates are much more attractive in the context of smaller denominations and easy availability.

“That’s why the government is also planning to launch bonds with smaller denominations to attract people,” said an official.

At present, the minimum denomination is Tk100,000 and only banks and financial institutions are the buyers of the government securities.

Duration of the government bond ranges from two to 20 years. Bills range from 91-days to 364 days.

Executive director of Policy Research Institute Ahsan H Mansur said, “It is a good move as it might bring dynamism in the bond market.”

“But the question is whether the government will be succeeded or not.

If it is market-based, the move might see success. If it is influenced by the government, it will definitely fail.”

The bond market has played a limited role in Bangladesh economy. It is rather shallow compared to the neighboring countries.

Bangladesh’s bond market represents the ‘smallest’ in South Asia, accounting for only 12% the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), said a World Bank report published in mid-2012.

At US$7.35b, the size of the country’s bond market is far smaller than the banking assets, estimated at nearly $32b – equivalent to more than 50% of GDP – says a WB report on “South Asian domestic debt market.” l

Retailers sell a variety of vegetables at a kitchen market in Kumira of Sitakund upzila, Chittagong. Production is abundant, but farmers allege that they are getting fair prices

DSE launches Telecom supervisor seeks allocation from social fund Shariah-based The money is dedicated to provide services to areas without telecom coverage index tomorrow n

Tribune Report

Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) will launch a new index titled “Islamic Shariah Index” tomorrow to increase investment by Islamic Shariah-based banks in the stock market.

This is an effort to boost investment by the Islamic banks to stabilise the stock market, DSE executives said. The Standard and Poor’s (S&P), a US -based financial services company, has developed the new index applying its methodology.

At present, 77 listed companies from banks, nonbank financial institutions, insurance companies and mutual funds are in operations based on Islamic Shariah At present, 77 listed companies from banks, non-bank financial institutions, insurance companies and mutual funds are in operations based on Islamic Shariah.

These companies are likely to be included with the index that might set out its journey with a base point of 1,000, said the executives.

Al-Arafah Islami Bank, First Security Islami Bank, ICB Islamic Bank, Shahjalal Islami Bank, Social Islami Bank and Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited are the six banks being operated on the basis of Islamic Shariah.

Islamic Finance and Investment Limited are only one financial institution governed by Shariah.

Fareast Islami Life Insurance, Islami Insurance Bangladesh Limited, Padma Islami Life Insurance, Prime Islami Life Insurance and Takaful Islami Life insurance are the five companies from insurance sector.

IBL Fareast Islamic Mutual Fund, ICB AMCL Islamic Mutual Fund and IFIL Islamic Mutual Fund are the three funds from the sector. l

n Muhammad Zahidul Islam

The state-run National Telecom Monitoring Cell (NTMC), administered by an intelligence agency, has sought an allocation from the Social Obligation Fund (SoF) “to maintain state discipline and social responsibility.”

But, according to law, the fund will be used only for expansion of telecommunication services to the deprived areas having no network.

NTMC wants Tk60 crore from the fund, contributed by four private mobile phone operators, for data interception with the fastest mobile data service (3G).

It also wished to be a part of the SoF management committee. It already has sent two different letters to the home ministry and the post and telecommunication ministry.

Both the ministries also sent their respective recommendations to Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).

Officials said the regulator has neither accepted nor rejected the proposals. The proposals were, however, placed at a commission meeting.

Meanwhile, Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (Amtob) sent another proposal to the telecommunication minister last week, protesting participation of non-contributors to the fund. Secretary general TIM Nurul Kabir signed the recommendations.

The SoF has been created to spring up telecommunication services to the area deprived of. The money will be spent only on it, not for other purposes

“Only the licensed operators which contribute to SoF should be eligible to participate in the SoF programmes or contracts, including special projects,” reads the Amtob letter.

According to the letter, telecom operators also expect the fund allocation

to the NTMC. NTMC requested incorporating a provision in the SoF rule to facilitate them getting the fund allocation in future.

“The SoF has been created to spring up telecommunication services to the area deprived of. The money will be spent only on it, not for other purposes,” a senior executive officer of a mobile phone operator told the Dhaka Tribune, requesting anonymity.

NTMC requested incorporating a member of the law enforcing agencies or the NTMC in the SoF management committee.

Four mobile phone operators – Grameenphone, Banglalink, Robi and Airtel – has been contributing its 1% of total revenue from November 2011.

The figure stood at Tk333 crore as of September last year.

Sources said the figure reached nearly Tk400 crore by the end of 2013.

Amtob proposed establishing a wholly state-run body to administer the fund. It also urged the government to find out deprived areas in the country, where the telecom penetration rate is low compared to the national rate.

Amtob suggested categorising the

deprived areas. The areas having up to 10% of population out of the telecom services will be identified as less deprived. In the same way, if the deprived population is 10%-20%, the areas will be seen as moderately deprived and for 20% above, it will be designated as severely deprived.

It also said funds allocation and project formulation should be on the basis of the ratio of deprived people.

The contributing companies want transparency in the management of the fund. “As we are contributing to it, we want to know how the fund will be managed,” said a senior executive officer of a contributing mobile phone operator.

As per Bangladesh Telecommunication (Amendment) Act 2010, the regulator can raise a fund under the SOF. The rate of the fund and system will be decided by the rule.

The government could not yet formulate any rule in this regard. But, BTRC has made it mandatory for the mobile operators to contribute 1% of their total revenues.

The operators have been contributing to the fund since November 2011. l

Bangladesh-Myanmar to boost bilateral trade to $500m n Tribune Report Bangladesh and Myanmar have set a target to increase annual bilateral trade soon to US$500m, five times higher than the present figure, through further enhancing the ties between the two countries.

The two next-door neighbours would find out possible ways and means to promote the bilateral trade as agreed at a two-day Joint Trade Commission (JTC) meeting in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar that concluded on Wednesday last, said a statement issued in Dhaka yesterday.

Currently, total annual trade between the two countries is around $100m.

To achieve the target, the meeting discussed issues like expansion of border trades, cooperation in agriculture, food, fisheries, power and mineral resources sectors, shipping arrangement, exchange of business delegation, participation in trade fairs, popularising business through letter of credit, exploring possibilities of reducing duty on certain products under a Preferential Trade Arrangement (PTA), and finalisation of bi-lateral investment agreement.

The JTC also decided to form two Joint Working Groups – one on cooperation in agriculture and the other on cooperation in the fisheries sector.

Commerce Secretary Mahbub Ahmed led the Bangladesh delegation comprised of officials from the ministries concern, which also included Bangladesh ambassador to Myanmar Anup Kumar Chakma and leaders of business Chambers including FBCCI President Kazi Akram Uddin.

Dr Pwint San, Deputy Minister for Commerce of Myanmar led a 43-member Myanmar delegation to the JTC meeting.

Addressing the meeting, Mahbub Ahmed underscored the need for improved connectivity between the two countries and expressed satisfaction over the completion of Air Services and introducing Dhaka-Yangon-Dhaka

direct flights.

He appreciated the finalisation of the draft of a shipping agreement between the two countries and emphasised on establishment of road connectivity.

He also drew attention to the fact that as the demand growth in the developed countries likely to remain weak for few more years, greater focus should be given on regional trade.

Members from both the delegations, particularly business leaders from both sides, got a unique opportunity to share their own views on issues of bilateral trades and investments at another program at Bangladesh Embassy in Myanmar. l

Tofail for improved connectivity to boost trade in SAARC region n Tribune Report Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed has underscored the need for establishing more connectivity among the SAARC countries for further expansion of the regional trade and commerce, according to a press statement of the commerce ministry.

“Although one-fifth of the global population lives in South Asia, the trade volume among the countries is still very poor,” he told the closing session of the fifth SAARC Business Leaders Conclave in India yesterday.

The minister stressed the need for further establishing rail, road and waterways connectivity to boost trade and commerce among the SAARC member countries.

Although one-fifth of the global population lives in South Asia, the trade volume among the countries is still very poor Terming India as the biggest market in the region, he urged the Indian authority to remove all the tariff and non-tariff barriers through consultations with the business communities, paving the smooth way for Bangladeshi products to the Indian market.

Apart from the conference, Tofail Ahmed made a courtesy call on Indian President Pranab Mukherjee and Indian Security adviser Sib Sanker Menon and discussed issues of bilateral interests.

Meanwhile, he held a discussion with the Indian Minister for Industry and Commerce Ananda Sharm to discuss about some bilateral issues. He urged his Indian counterpart to take some realistic steps for increasing trade volume between the two countries.

Tofail Ahmed urged the Indian minister to take steps for issuing one-year multiple entry visa for Bangladeshi businessmen. In reply, the Indian minister gave him a positive response. l

B2 Bull runs over stock market n Tribune Report

terials and financial companies will perform better than they did in 2013, it said. In 2013, cement industry was fully flat with no growth. As political clashes have to some extent stopped and many expect 2014 to be a stable year, the pent up demand of 2013 is expected to boost demand in 2014.

Market closed above an important psychological level of 4,500 and average daily turnover increased by 43% in the past week, indicating strength in market movement.

IDLC Investment said upcoming corporate declarations and monetary policy statement generated scrip and sector-specific trading motivations. “Resultant enthusiasm helped flourish activities worth more than Tk600-crore level.”

At the historical high level of DSEX, investors were quite naturally wondering about future movements. Reflection of the market turned out to be bullish in the past week, pulling DSEX over 4,500 points for the first time ever, it said.

Out of 298 issues traded in the past week, 216 advanced, 72 declined and 10 remained unchanged.

All the major sectors ended in green except telecommunications which lost 1.3% in the past week.

Non-banking financial institutions was the biggest winning sector that rallied almost 5%, followed by pharmaceuticals 3.7%, banks 3.3% and fuel & power 2.2%.

Appollo Ispat Complex was the week’s turnover leader with shares worth over Tk100 crore changing hands in the past week, followed

by Bengla Windsor Thermoplastics, Olympic Industries, Golden Son, Square Pharmaceuticals and Summit Purbanchal Power Company. l

Bull ran over the stock markets in the past week, spurred by a speculation of positive monetary policy statement to be announced soon by Bangladesh Bank coupled with subdued negative sentiment over the latest political development.

During the week ended Thursday, the benchmark DSEX surged 111 points or 2.6% to 4,519, which is highest level since launching of the broader index in January last year.

The blue chip index DS30 rose 37 points or 2.4% to 1,592.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index, CSCX, gained 224 points or 2.6% to close the week at 8,888.

Volume of trade increased significantly as the daily turnover averaged Tk651 crore, registering more than 42% rise over the previous week’s average of Tk457 crore.

“Market ran with relentless pace.

Every day was a long green day with higher turnover. Market participants seem to have welcomed the new state of economy without political clashes,” said Lanka Bangla Securities in its market analysis.

It said participants are probably expecting new government to take populist decisions to make the economy vibrant. Money market is very liquid with call money rate hovering around 7%.

“In the first sign of economic stability, money market liquidity seems to rush into the equity market. We have seen cement sector rallied 7% in the past week with 70% increase in turnover.”

If economy really stabilises, cyclical companies like construction ma-

Weekly capital market highlights DSE Broad Index : DSE - 30 Index : CSE All Share Index: CSE - 30 Index : CSE Selected Index : DSE LOSERS Company AramitCementA Stylecraft -A GlaxoSK (BD) -A Midas Financing-Z Argon Denims Limited-A Golden Son -A Delta SpinnersA Salvo Chemicals-B Rangpur Foundry -A Barakatullah E. D.-A

Closing (% change) -30.71 -6.25 -5.86 -5.22 -5.21 -4.84 -4.57 -4.25 -4.16 -3.91

CSE LOSERS Company AramitCementA Stylecraft -A GlaxoSK (BD) -A Midas Financing-Z Argon Denims Limited-A Golden Son -A Delta SpinnersA Salvo Chemicals-B Rangpur Foundry -A Barakatullah E. D.-A

Closing (% change) -30.71 -6.25 -5.86 -5.22 -5.21 -4.84 -4.57 -4.25 -4.16 -3.91

ANALYST

4519.35924

(+) 2.53%

1592.78426

(+) 2.39%

14022.0897

(+) 2.63%

11593.8409

(+) 2.73%

8887.7613

(+) 2.59%

Average (% change) -29.20 -6.25 -5.89 -5.79 -5.05 -4.11 -2.21 -2.64 -4.17 -3.13 Average (% change) -29.20 -6.25 -5.89 -5.79 -5.05 -4.11 -2.21 -2.64 -4.17 -3.13

Closing average 63.95 1009.90 965.10 32.55 76.10 65.12 42.42 25.12 101.38 34.66

Closing average 63.95 1009.90 965.10 32.55 76.10 65.12 42.42 25.12 101.38 34.66

Weekly closing 63.40 1009.90 965.10 32.70 76.40 64.90 41.80 24.80 101.30 34.40

Weekly closing 63.40 1009.90 965.10 32.70 76.40 64.90 41.80 24.80 101.30 34.40

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

▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ Weekly high 69.00 1009.90 1010.00 35.60 82.00 70.00 46.00 26.70 110.00 37.00

Weekly high 69.00 1009.90 1010.00 35.60 82.00 70.00 46.00 26.70 110.00 37.00

DSE key features January 12-16, 2014

DSE GAINERS

Turnover (Million Taka)

Kay & Que (BD) -Z Imam Button -Z PragatiLife Insu. -A Meghna Con. Milk -B Alltex Industries -Z Dulamia CottonZ Miracle Industries -B Rupali Life Insur.-A ISN Ltd. -A Shampur Sugar -Z

Company

26,067.60

Turnover (Volume)

568,641,095

Number of Contract

569,589

Traded Issues

298

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

217

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

81

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

–

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,174.29

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

26.36

CSE key features January 12-16, 2014 Turnover (Million Taka)

2,480.58

Turnover (Volume)

63,360,944

Number of Contract

92,530

Traded Issues

247

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

174

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

71

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

1

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,081.81

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

25.23

Weekly low

Turnover in million

58.50 1009.90 965.10 30.00 70.00 60.00 41.60 22.60 95.00 31.50

Weekly low

103.612 0.101 2.097 1.069 179.525 771.373 214.225 64.568 15.355 190.354

Turnover in million

58.50 1009.90 965.10 30.00 70.00 60.00 41.60 22.60 95.00 31.50

103.612 0.101 2.097 1.069 179.525 771.373 214.225 64.568 15.355 190.354

Latest EPS 1.16 20.50 46.69 -2.48 3.33 3.35 1.16 0.93 3.03 2.08

Latest EPS 1.16 20.50 46.69 -2.48 3.33 3.35 1.16 0.93 3.03 2.08

Latest PE 55.1 49.3 20.7 -ve 22.9 19.4 36.6 27.0 33.5 16.7

Latest PE

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Closing (% change) 34.09 33.33 28.67 24.03 22.08 21.43 19.50 15.36 14.81 14.29

CSE GAINERS Company PragatiLife Insu. -A Kay & Que (BD) -Z Imam Button -Z Alltex Industries -Z Miracle Industries -B ISN Ltd. -A Rupali Life Insur.-A Delta Brac HFCL-A ICB -A LafargeS Cement-Z

Closing (% change) 64.51 29.44 25.56 24.68 20.00 16.04 15.75 15.73 12.84 12.77

Average (% change) 29.69 30.53 27.60 25.50 20.36 22.62 19.92 13.62 13.85 14.82 Average (% change) 64.89 21.74 22.75 22.68 20.13 15.04 11.67 16.35 7.21 13.64

Closing average 23.02 11.16 196.90 16.19 9.40 10.19 24.20 133.49 21.46 9.76

Closing average 201.17 23.13 11.06 9.52 24.11 21.57 132.83 69.09 1608.10 37.40

Weekly closing 23.60 11.20 198.80 16.00 9.40 10.20 23.90 134.40 21.70 9.60

Weekly closing 200.70 23.30 11.30 9.60 24.00 21.70 135.20 69.90 1608.00 37.10

Weekly high 23.90 11.30 200.90 17.20 9.40 10.20 25.90 135.00 22.00 9.70

Weekly high 201.80 23.60 11.40 9.60 24.70 22.30 140.00 73.00 1608.50 39.00

Weekly low 17.00 8.60 140.00 12.50 7.80 8.30 19.50 105.00 18.80 8.40

Weekly low 158.20 19.40 8.60 7.70 20.90 18.50 111.00 61.40 1514.00 32.80

Turnover in million

Latest EPS

9.358 4.409 142.575 16.254 10.441 0.933 71.709 169.924 16.719 0.144

Turnover in million

-0.89 -2.20 2.38 -4.60 -1.56 -1.90 0.12 5.33 -0.36 -45.28

Latest EPS

12.688 1.176 0.497 4.019 12.706 3.729 3.985 14.319 0.705 23.662

2.38 -0.89 -2.20 -1.56 0.12 -0.36 5.33 4.72 48.16 1.63

Latest PE -ve -ve 82.7 -ve -ve -ve 201.7 25.0 -ve -ve

Latest PE 84.5 -ve -ve -ve 200.9 -ve 24.9 14.6 33.4 22.9

Weekly news from trade server Audited/unaudited Financial Reports:

AFTABAUTO: (Q1): As per un-audited quarterly accounts for the 1st quarter ended on 30th November 2013 (Sep'13 to Nov'13), the Company has reported consolidated net profit after tax (excluding non-controlling interests) of Tk. 77.84 million with consolidated EPS of Tk. 0.81 as against Tk. 100.29 million and Tk. 1.05 respectively for the same period of the previous year.

RELIANCE1: (H/Y): As per un-audited half yearly accounts as on 31.12.2013 (July'13 to Dec'13), the Fund has reported net profit of Tk. 56.42 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 0.93 as against Tk. 21.84 million and Tk. 0.36 (restated) respectively for the same period of the previous year.

GRAMEENS2: (H/Y): As per un-audited half yearly accounts as on 31.12.2013 (July'13 to Dec'13), the Fund has reported net profit of Tk. 116.74 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 0.85 as against Tk. 70.99 million and Tk. 0.52 respectively for the same period of the previous year.

GRAMEEN1: (H/Y): As per un-audited half yearly accounts as on 31.12.2013 (July'13 to Dec'13), the Fund has reported net profit of Tk. 43.24 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 1.70 as against Tk. 26.80 million and Tk. 1.05 respectively for the same period of the previous year.

AIMS1STMF: (H/Y): As per un-audited half yearly accounts as on 31.12.2013 (July'13 to Dec'13), the Fund has reported net profit

of Tk. 103.54 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 2.50 as against Tk. 93.51 million and Tk. 2.26 respectively for the same period of the previous year.

Fixed Assets/Right/Investment:

BRACBANK: Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) has approved the Rights offer of BRAC Bank Limited for 221,652,288 ordinary shares of Tk. 10.00 each issuing at Tk. 20.00 each, including a premium of Tk. 10.00 per share, totaling Tk. 4,433,045,760.00 at a ratio of 1R:2, i.e. one Rights share for two existing shares. The approval has been accorded subject to the condition that the Company shall comply with the requirements embodied in the Securities and Exchange Commission (Rights Issue) Rules, 2006 and other relevant laws and Regulatory Requirements, and shall also adhere to the conditions imposed by BSEC under Section-2CC of the Securities and Exchange Ordinance, 1969.

Credit Rating:

BENGALWTL: Credit Rating Agency of Bangladesh Limited (CRAB) has announced the entity rating (surveillance) of the Company as "AA3" based on audited financial statements up to June 30, 2013; bank liability position as on December 30, 2013 and other relevant quantitative as well as qualitative information up to the date of rating declaration.

UNITEDAIR: Credit Rating Agency of Bangladesh Limited (CRAB) has announced the entity rating (surveillance) of the Company as

"BBB1" based on audited financial statements up to June 30, 2013; bank liability position as on December 31, 2013 and other relevant quantitative as well as qualitative information up to the date of rating declaration.

Miscellaneous

Approval for Issuance of Prospectus of Hwa Well Textiles (BD) Limited: Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) has given consent for raising of capital through Initial Public Offer (IPO) and issuance of prospectus by Hwa Well Textiles (BD) Limited.

GHAIL: The Company has informed that the cash dividend for the year ended on June 30, 2013 has been credited to the respective shareholders' Bank Accounts on January 09, 2014 through Bangladesh Electronic Fund Transfer Network (BEFTN) system.

AFTABAUTO: The Company has informed that it has credited the bonus shares for the year ended on August 31, 2013 to the respective shareholders' BO Accounts on January 12, 2014.

FUWANGFOOD: Fu-Wang Foods Ltd. has informed that the Bonus shares of the Company for the year ended 30 June 2013 have already been credited to the respective shareholders' BO Accounts on 13 January 2014.

CVOPRL: CVO Petrochemical Refinery Ltd. has informed that the Bonus shares of the Company for the year ended 30 June 2013 have already been credited through CDBL to the respective shareholders' BO Accounts on 12 January 2014.

55.1 49.3 20.7 -ve 22.9 19.4 36.6 27.0 33.5 16.7

Market ran with relentless pace. Every day was a long green day with higher turnover. Market participants seem to have welcomed the new state of economy without political clashes

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY Sector

Stock

DHAKA TRIBUNE

DSE Million Taka 2366.27 1807.31 543.67 5374.00 948.90 2974.61 8.51 3305.64 2931.74 4.57 132.84 588.33 158.39 1281.70 260.84 486.29 1201.96 661.39 478.67 550.75 1.21

% change 9.08 6.93 2.09 20.62 3.64 11.41 0.03 12.68 11.25 0.02 0.51 2.26 0.61 4.92 1.00 1.87 4.61 2.54 1.84 2.11 0.00

Million Taka 232.29 178.55 39.82 635.00 119.92 227.13 0.00 301.80 216.52 1.16 11.24 52.16 22.08 82.96 51.29 16.67 66.23 54.23 68.00 105.35 0.22

CSE

% change 9.36 7.19 1.60 25.58 4.83 9.15 0.00 12.16 8.72 0.05 0.45 2.10 0.89 3.34 2.07 0.67 2.67 2.18 2.74 4.24 0.01

Million Taka 2598.56 1985.86 583.49 6009.00 1068.82 3201.75 8.51 3607.43 3148.26 5.73 144.08 640.49 180.46 1364.65 312.14 502.96 1268.19 715.62 546.67 656.10 1.43

Total

% change 9.10 6.96 2.04 21.05 3.74 11.21 0.03 12.64 11.03 0.02 0.50 2.24 0.63 4.78 1.09 1.76 4.44 2.51 1.91 2.30 0.00

Prepared exclusively for Dhaka Tribune by Business Information Automation Service Line (BIASL), on the basis of information collected from daily stock quotations and audited reports of the listed companies. High level of caution has been taken to collect and present the above information and data. The publisher will not take any responsibility if any body uses this information and data for his/her investment decision. For any query please email to biasl@bol-online.com or call 01552153562 or go to www.biasl.net

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Appollo Ispat CL -N Bengal Windsor-N Olympic Ind. -A Golden Son -A Square Pharma -A S Purbanchol Power-N LankaBangla Fin. -A UCBL - A Delta Life Insu. -A Active Fine Chem.-A CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Appollo Ispat CL -N Paramount Textile Ltd.-A UCBL - A Golden Son -A Bengal Windsor-N S Purbanchol Power-N BEXIMCO Ltd. -A LankaBangla Fin. -A Orion Pharma-N BD Building Systems -A

Volume shares 26,696,000 11,488,533 4,735,297 11,592,255 3,156,727 8,896,835 7,943,650 20,074,451 1,971,800 5,613,393

Volume shares 6,696,800 1,460,790 2,905,645 1,131,908 1,019,120 924,810 1,817,086 797,733 779,340 671,025

Value in million 1049.05 819.60 797.19 771.37 666.77 641.26 601.35 543.57 536.02 534.58

Value in million 262.55 80.74 78.77 75.45 72.94 66.70 65.66 60.63 50.37 50.03

% of total turnover 4.02 3.14 3.06 2.96 2.56 2.46 2.31 2.09 2.06 2.05

% of total turnover 10.59 3.26 3.18 3.04 2.94 2.69 2.65 2.44 2.03 2.02

Weekly closing 39.90 74.30 174.10 64.90 218.90 72.10 77.30 28.30 268.20 96.70

Weekly closing 39.90 54.60 28.40 65.10 74.20 72.00 35.20 77.50 64.00 72.70

Price change 9.02 13.09 8.61 -4.84 8.15 1.55 1.98 9.27 0.60 5.22

Weekly opening 36.60 65.70 160.30 68.20 202.40 71.00 75.80 25.90 266.60 91.90

Weekly high 41.40 75.50 180.00 70.00 234.00 75.00 78.50 29.00 279.50 98.00

Weekly low 36.70 60.00 150.00 60.00 190.00 64.00 66.30 23.40 267.30 85.00

Weekly average 40.12 73.19 171.68 65.12 217.22 71.20 76.45 28.01 268.78 95.76

Price change 9.02 -1.62 9.65 -4.41 11.92 1.55 -3.30 1.97 2.07 -1.49

Weekly opening 36.60 55.50 25.90 68.10 66.30 70.90 36.40 76.00 62.70 73.80

Weekly high 41.60 57.50 28.60 68.80 75.60 74.80 37.50 78.20 66.20 77.90

Weekly low 36.60 53.30 24.00 64.50 67.10 64.00 32.90 73.10 59.50 72.50

Weekly average 40.06 55.25 28.05 65.18 73.42 71.47 35.25 76.62 64.01 73.09

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

B3

Sunday, January 19, 2014

5 junk stocks gain over 20% at DSE

Japan says its economy is ‘recovering’

n Tribune Business Desk

n AFP, Tokyo

Five junk stocks registered more than 20% growth in their prices at Dhaka Stock Exchange last week.

They are Kay and Que, Imam Button, Meghna Condensed Milk, Alltex and Dulamia Cotton. Their prices increased by 34.1%, 33.3%, 24%, 22.1% and 21.4% respectively.

A Japanese government report Friday said the economy was “recovering”, its first use of the word since the 2008 global financial crisis, as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe works to revive years of tepid growth.

Tokyo’s monthly checkup on the world’s third-largest economy used some of its most upbeat language in years as it pointed to a pick-up in consumer and capital spending. “The Japanese economy is recovering at a moderate pace,” it said. “Concerning short-term prospects, the economy is expected to be on a recovery trend as household income and business investment increase, while exports move toward picking up,” it added.

The latest report is also the most rosy rating on the once-powerhouse economy since its January 2006 paper.

It comes about a month after Abe’s one-year anniversary as premier following landslide national elections which he won largely on a pledge to restore Japan’s economic glory.

Abe’s policy blitz, dubbed Abenomics, helped to sharply weaken the yen which is good news for exporters as it makes them more competitive overseas and inflates the value of repatriated profits.

The premier has vowed to conquer years of deflation which weighed on consumer spending and, in turn, hurt producers, holding back new investment by Japan Inc. Convincing firms to hike stagnant wages so consumers will spend more is a cornerstone of Abe’s blueprint to fix the economy.

During the last week, Meghna Condensed Milk and Dulamia Cotton instead responded to DSE queries that there was no undisclosed price sensitive information for the unusual price hike of the stocks Since beginning of the New Year, the prime bourse witnessed only junk stocks to top among the weekly gainers.

Brokers believe, speculators have been active lately in the market with the increase in trade volume. There were no positive disclosures by the companies in the recent times.

During the last week, Meghna Condensed Milk and Dulamia Cotton instead responded to DSE queries that there was no undisclosed price sensitive information for the unusual price hike of the stocks.

The junk stocks made up a cumulative market capital of Tk98.6 crore and a trade value of Tk4.1 crore last week. l

Its first use of the word in six years

Pakistan plans 3G licence auction by March n AFP, Karachi Pakistan is planning to hold its long-delayed auction of 3G telecommunications licences by March, hoping to raise $2bn with the sale, the government said Friday.

A statement said the decision was taken at a meeting of the Spectrum Auction License Committee held in Islamabad, chaired by finance minister Ishaq Dar. “Pakistan expects to earn an estimated US$2bn through the auction of three spectrum licenses,” Dar was quoted as saying.

In the current fiscal year, Pakistan had budgeted to raise $1.2bn through 3G licenses.

Earlier, the minister had informed a delegation from Norwegian telecom conglomerate Telenor that the government was planning to auction the next generation spectrum licenses by March.

Telenor, China Mobile and Pakistan-based Mobilink have already shown interest in bidding for the 3G licences.

Pakistan is battling to overcome macroeconomic problems through privatisation of state-run enterprises and a spate of fiscal-tightening measures.

The International Monetary Fund approved a $6.7bn loan package for Pakistan in September last year, subject to strict economic reforms, particularly in its troubled energy sector and tax system. l

File photo shows Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda pointing at a chart projecting his quantitative and qualitative monetary easing plans during a news conference after his first monetary policy meeting as BOJ governor in Tokyo last year REUTERS November data showed prices rising 1.2%, their fastest pace in five years and moving closer to the Bank of Japan’s ambitious 2% inflation target.

Analysts have cast doubt on the BoJ’s two-year timeline to meet that

Oil prices mixed in Asian trade n AFP, Singapore World oil prices were mixed in Asian trade Friday owing to supply concerns as non-OPEC members such as the United States ramp up production.

US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for delivery in February rose 14 cents to $94.10 a barrel in the afternoon after volatile morning trade.

European benchmark Brent crude for March was down 21 cents at $105.54. The February contract expired on Thursday.

Dealers fear “supplies may outstrip demand, fuelled by increased production from non-members of Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)”, Phillip Futures said in a market commentary. OPEC output in December fell to 29.44 million barrels per day, below the 30 million bpd ceiling set for the same month, it said.

However, Phillip Futures also noted that “US crude production climbed to a 25-year high of 8.16 million bpd last week, due to the shale oil and gas boom”.

The 12-member OPEC said in its monthly report that demand for its oil was expected to fall in 2014 as the supply from non-members increases by an estimated 1.27 million bpd over 2013 to an average of 55.38 billion bpd.

Non-OPEC supply growth was revised higher and mainly came from the United States and Canada. l

goal, as they warn that a sales tax hike in April - seen as crucial to shrinking Japan’s huge national debt - would derail a recovery.Tokyo’s report Friday cautioned over the rate hike to 8% from 5%, saying that “a last-minute

rise in (consumer) demand before a consumption tax increase and subsequent negative reaction are expected”.

It also warned that an unsteady recovery overseas was a “downside risk” for Japan’s economy.

Dollar drifts lower in Asia despite upbeat jobs data n AFP, Tokyo The dollar drifted lower in Asia on Friday as weak inflation figures and disappointing US corporate results dampened investor sentiment, while the euro was also under pressure on deflation fears.

The greenback bought 104.34 yen in afternoon Tokyo trade, down from 104.37 yen in New York Thursday, and after a Japanese government report described Asia’s number-two economy as “recovering” for the first time in six years.

The euro weakened to 142.08 yen from 142.11 yen while it fetched $1.3614 compared with $1.3615 in US trade.

“It seems that the market is still finding its feet after the turn of year despite data in general pointing to positive growth momentum,” Credit Agricole said.

“While we are of the view that market sentiment will remain healthy in the next months and quarters, evidently this is far from a one way bet,” it added.

On Thursday, the US Department of Labour said weekly unemployment claims fell 2,000 last week, indicating the jobs market is recovering slowly.

The department also said consumer

prices rose 0.3% in December from November, and core prices - stripping out volatile energy and food prices - were up just 0.1%.

The yearly rate was 1.5% and the core rate 1.7%, below the Federal Reserve’s 2% target.

Wall Street was spooked by poor earnings from a number of big firms.

Electronics retailer Best Buy plunged 28.6% after saying November-December same-store sales were lower than the previous year’s holiday season.

Citigroup also took a hit with below-forecast earnings while chip giant Intel sank in after-market trade as it said net profit last year fell 13%.

However, the dollar won a measure of support from a stronger-than-expected rise in the Philadelphia Fed’s index of manufacturing activity.

Investors will be eyeing a string of US data later in the day, including December housing starts, industrial production and consumer confidence.

Forex markets are keeping a close eye on US economic data for signs of a further pickup that could give the Fed ammunition to further cut its stimulus programme at a policy meeting this month.

In December, the bank said it would

Intel to reduce global workforce by 5% in 2014 n Reuters Intel Corp plans to reduce its global workforce of 107,000 by about 5% this year as the chipmaker, struggling with falling personal-computer sales, shifts focus to faster-growing areas, a company spokesman said on Friday.

The announcement, equivalent to over 5,000 positions, comes a day after Intel posted a fourth-quarter earnings report that did little to dispel concerns about a slowing PC industry.

“This is part of aligning our human resources to meet business needs,” spokesman Chris Kraeuter said.

The job reductions may include retirements, voluntary programs and other options, Kraeuter said, adding that Intel’s typical annual attrition worldwide is about 4 percent.

He declined to say whether details of the changes had been announced internally.

On a conference call with analysts on Thursday after the earnings release, Chief Financial Officer Stacy Smith alluded to a reduction in employment this year and said that Intel would increase investments in areas such as data center technology, low-power chips and tablets.

Intel dominates the PC chip industry, but it has been slow to adapt its processors for smartphones and tab-

lets, markets now dominated by rivals such as Qualcomm Inc and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd. “If they’ve got a bunch or resources in a market that may not be dead but is not growing a ton, it probably makes sense to reprioritize those investments in areas where there are fast-growing markets,” said Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon.

In its report on Thursday, Intel forecast March-quarter restructuring charges of $200 million, a portion of which could be earmarked for severance pay Intel has both added and shed significant numbers of jobs over the past decade. Struggling to fend off a challenge by smaller rival Advanced Micro Devices Inc in 2006, Intel announced it would reduce its workforce by over 10,000 positions, but its overall number of employees has grown since then.

The chipmaker is also not the only tech company to trim its workforce because of slowing demand for PCs since Apple’s iPad started to cut into demand for laptops in 2010.

Hewlett-Packard Co is in the midst of a years-long internal restructuring that would ultimately see it shed 34,000 jobs, or 11% of its workforce,

through fiscal 2014.

Dell succeeded last year in taking itself off public markets, allowing CEO and founder Michael Dell to restructure away from Wall Street’s scrutiny.

That overhaul is expected to encompass layoffs.

Earlier this week, Intel said a newly built factory in Chandler, Arizona, originally slated as a $5 billion project that in late 2013 would start producing Intel’s most advanced chips, would remain closed for the foreseeable future while other factories at the same site are upgraded.

In its report on Thursday, Intel forecast March-quarter restructuring charges of $200 million, a portion of which could be earmarked for severance pay.

Last September, Intel said it would close an old factory in Massachusetts, eliminating about 700 jobs.

Intel has said it plans to quadruple tablet chip volume this year to 40 million units and aggressively stake out market share ahead of future mobile chip launches. Essentially buying its way into tablets, Intel plans to subsidize its customers’ engineering and manufacturing expenses, effectively reducing its gross margins in 2014 by 1.5 percentage points.

Shares of Intel closed 2.6% lower at $25.85 on the Nasdaq on Friday. They earlier traded down as low as $25.25. l

Speculation has been rising that the BoJ, which holds a policy meeting next week, will launch further easing measures to counter any slowdown, after unleashing an unprecedented stimulus campaign last April. l

reduce its bond-buying by $10bn to $75bn in January. A reduction of the stimulus is a positive for the dollar as it means there is less cash in the financial system.

The euro weakened after figures Thursday showed eurozone inflation slipped to 0.8% in December from 0.9% in November, adding to concerns that falling prices could undermine growth prospects.

“Such a low (inflation) level is a matter of concern,” Credit Agricole said.

“We stick to the notion that the (European Central Bank) is likely to consider additional policy action should inflation continue to fall.”

The greenback was mixed against other Asia-Pacific currencies.

It weakened to Sg$1.2724 from Sg$1.2737 on Thursday, to 1,061.19 South Korean won from 1,063.70 won, to Tw$30.07 from Tw$30.09 and to 61.41 Indian rupees from 61.62 rupees.

It also declined to 32.74 Thai baht from 32.90 baht while it rose to 45.08 Philippine pesos from 45.06 pesos and to 12,124 Indonesian rupiah from 12,120 rupiah.

The Australian dollar rebounded to 88.18 US cents from 87.96 cents, a three-year low, while the Chinese yuan was at 17.23 yen against 17.28 yen. l

IBM to invest $1.2bn to expand ‘cloud’ n AFP, New York

People visit the Intel booth at the 2013 Computex exhibition at the TWTC Nangang exhibition hall in Taipei REUTERS

US computing giant IBM said Friday it would be investing $1.2bn to expand Internet “cloud” services, by opening up new data centers around the world.

“This investment includes a network of data centers designed to bring clients greater flexibility, transparency and control over how they manage their data, run their businesses and deploy their IT operations in the cloud,” IBM said in a statement.

Fifteen new data centers will be opened to bring the total IBM network to 40, the company said.

“With this announcement, IBM plans to have data centers in all major geographies and financial centers with plans to expand in the Middle East and Africa in 2015,” the company said, citing estimates that the global cloud market is set to grow to $200bn by 2020.

“IBM is continuing to invest in high growth areas,” said Erich Clementi, senior vice president of IBM global technology services.

IBM last year lost a big contract with the CIA for cloud computing to Amazon, a deal reportedly valued at up to $600 million over four years. l

B4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Career

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Ten sides of the same coin

Hone every aspect of your managerial skills to perform at the top of your game n Ahsan Sajid A manager in the duration of a workday fulfills ten different roles, according to management expert and professor, Henry Mintzberg. These ten primary roles or behaviours may be used to categorise a manager’s different functions.

You may be a manager at a multinational company, or at a university club, but as a manager, you are possibly in charge of leading your team, resolving conflict, negotiating new directions and representing your team all in the space of an hour.

A manager is constantly switching roles according to the changing circumstances around them. To be a good manager, you need to use an understanding of all these key roles to perform your day-to-day functions.

MINTZBERG'S 10 MANAGERIAL ROLES FOR EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT Figurehead: As a manager, you have social, official and legal responsibilities. You are expected to be a source of inspiration – others look up to you as a person with authority, and as a figurehead Interpersonal

Liaison – Managers must communicate with both internal and external stakeholders. You need to be able to network effectively on behalf of your organisation Monitor – As a manager, you regularly seek out information related to your organisation and industry, looking for relevant changes in the environment and adapting accordingly. You also monitor your team in terms of both their productivity and well-being Informational

Practical application

You can apply Mintzberg’s ten management roles model and better your skills as a manager by using it as a frame of reference. It pays to work on the roles that one fulfills most often as a priority, but you should also work to hone the roles you do not necessarily fulfill every day.

The most effective way to become a better manager using the ten roles is by listing them in order of priority according to your current job and future plans, and working on improving the abilities in each role one by one.

Figurehead: As a figurehead, you represent your team. The obvious areas to start working on in this role are your image and reputation at work. Practice becoming more modest and empathic

Disseminator – You must be on the lookout for and be able to communicate potentially useful information to your colleagues and your team Spokesperson – Managers represent and speak for their organisation. In this role you’re responsible for transmitting information about your organisation and its goals to the people outside it Entrepreneur – As a manager, you create and control change within the organisation. This means solving problems, generating new ideas, and implementing them

Mintzberg’s ten

Mintzberg published the ten different management roles in his 1990 book Mintzberg on Management: Inside our Strange World of Organizations, which are figurehead, leader, liaison, monitor, disseminator, spokesperson, entrepreneur, disturbance handler, resource allocator and negotiator. The ten roles are then subdivided into three categories: interpersonal, informational and decisional.

Leader: You provide leadership for your team, your department or perhaps your entire organisation; it is also where you manage the performance and responsibilities of everyone in the group

Decisional

Disturbance handler – When an organisation or team hits an unexpected roadblock, the manager must take charge. You also need to help mediate disputes within it through conflict resolution Resource allocator – As a manager you will constantly determine where organisational resources are best applied.

This involves allocating funding, as well as assigning staff and other organisational resources Negotiator – You may be needed to take part in and direct, important negotiations within your team, department, or organisation

to others, a role model everyone looks up to and setting an example for everyone by being the kind of worker you want others to be.

Leader: A leadership role is one that a manager plays for the greater part of the day. To be an effective leader, improve your emotional intelligence, be empathic and earn your team’s respect.

Liaison: To liaise effectively between internal and external stakeholders as all managers are wont to do, harness your professional networking skills.

Monitor: To be a good monitor, use fast and effective reading skills, keep up to date with not just industry news but current affairs, and learn to gather and organise information.

Disseminator: A good disseminator is one with good writing and communication skills, and one with the ability to tailor incoming information according to the need of the people it has to be disbursed among.

Spokesperson: Representing your team is challenging, be it in an internal meeting or in front of the media. Learn to represent your organisation effectively by honing your presentation and public speaking skills and learning better professional networking.

Entrepreneur: To improve your entrepreneurial skills, work on your techniques to manage changes in your team, perfect your ability to solve problems and sharpen your creativity skills.

Disturbance handler: As a disturbance

handler, you are in an internal role where you must manage the emotions of your team, resolve any conflicts and make sure the team is functioning smoothly.

Dissecting a pitch through starbursting n Career Desk Starbursting is a form of brainstorming that is used to generate questions instead of answers in a systematic manner. It is a useful tool for understanding new ideas or pitches by dissecting them with questions.

When a new big idea is pitched in a business meeting, the typical scenario is an assault of questions. Asking questions is an integral part of understanding a new idea and making sure that everyone is on the same page. Furthermore, questions also challenge the idea, which ensures that all relevant aspects of it are worked out before it goes further.

However, rather than a barrage of questions directed at the idea, it is more effective to use a comprehensive, systematic line of questioning to explore it. Starbursting is one of the methods of doing this.

Step 1

To start a starbursting exercise, draw a large six-pointed star on a sheet of paper and write your idea or challenge in the centre of it. Write the questions who, what, why, where, when and how at the point of each star.

Step 2

Brainstorm questions about the idea or product starting with each of these six words. The questions must radiate outward from the star. While devising the questions, be sure not to answer them in your head; at this point, your focus should only be on generating as many questions as possible for each word.

Step 3

Once all the questions have been generated, it is time to explore answers to all the initial questions. l

Resource allocator: This is a more technical role where you have to learn to manage a budget, always look for ways to cut costs and get used to constantly prioritising and trimming the fat. As a resource allocator, you have to stretch the resources available to you under trying circumstances.

Negotiator: Some people have bargaining skills regardless of the position they have at work, but a manager must learn to acquire, or polish their bargaining skills because it is mandatory to the role. Learn more about win-win negotiations, and practice role-playing to be on your edge. l

Become marketing speak savvy

Running a CATWOE check for thorough troubleshooting

n Career Desk

n Ahsan Sajid

After sales service - Service that continues after the sale of a product (maintenance, etc.)

B2B e-commerce BIZ - use of commercial VOCAB networks, online product catalogues and other online resources to obtain better prices and reach new customers.

B2C e-commerce - online sale of goods and services directly to consumers.

Benchmarking - Comparing one’s products to those of competitors in order to improve quality and performance.

Close - Finalise a sale or deal.

Convenience store - Small shop located near a residential area that opens long hours, seven days a week.

Direct investment - Entering a foreign market by setting up assembly or manufacturing facilities in that country.

E-marketing - Promotion of products and services over the internet.

Extranet - Network that connects a company with its suppliers and distributors Follow-up - Maintain contact after the sale to ensure customer satisfaction.

Guarantee - A promise that product will be repaired or replaced if faulty.

Intranet - A network that connects people to each other within a company.

Joint venture - A way of entering a foreign market by joining with a foreign company to manufacture or market a product or service.

Market leader - The company with the largest market share in an industry.

Mark up - Percentage of the price added to the cost to reach a selling price.

Opinion leader - Person with a reference, who, because of competence, knowledge, or other characteristics, exerts influence on others.

Packaging - Designing and producing the container or wrapper for a product.

Product line - A group of products that are closely related.

Prospect - A potential customer.

Representative - A person who represents and sells for a company.

Retail - To sell in small quantities, as in a shop, directly to customers.

Viral marketing - The internet version of word-of-mouth marketing - email messages that customers pass on to friends.

What do you do when you are facing a seemingly irreparable problem at work? Imagine this problem is such that you do not even know the cause – just that you have a problem in your hands. (Maybe your team is not meeting the mandatory sales quota despite their best effort, and you are trying to get to the root of the problem.)

The obvious first step is to brainstorm for possible causes and trying to apply lessons learnt from previous experiences to the situation. However, a sure way to being derailed is such directionless brainstorming. No matter how needlessly remedial and self-deprecating checklists seem they can be surprisingly useful when used appropriately to stimulate open thought.

In the 1960s, a systems engineering professor, Peter Checkland, had the novel idea of developing a problem solving method that would apply systems principles to business problems and other such “soft” problems. This Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) conceptualises the activities or business under scrutiny as a system, a part of which is the CATWOE checklist for problem solving.

What is CATWOE?

CATWOE is a simple checklist for thinking and one of the generic techniques

business analysts use to identify a business’ bottlenecks, problem areas and how potential solutions may affect the business and the people involved in it.

CATWOE has six elements: clients, actors, transformation, worldview, owner and environmental constraints.

When should one use it?

The CATWOE checklist may be used to identify a problem, to prompt thinking about what you are really trying to achieve and to implement the solution and help consider the impact of the business and people involved.

How best to use it?

Use the following elements of the CATWOE checklist to stimulate thinking about the problem and solution during your brainstorming.

Clients: The clients are the stakeholders who use the system, or rather the business. These are the people who will be directly affected by any change in the system and benefit or suffer from its outcome. The first step to a CATWOE checklist is to identify this group and understand how the system affects them.

For example – maybe your sales team is not meeting its quota because of an outdated processing system and you think introducing an automated system will expedite the process. A few

Example: A professionally manned system in a manufacturing company which, in the light of market forecasts and raw material availability, makes detailed production plans for a defined period.

Production people Professional planners Need for production

Need met

Rational planning of production is desirable and is a possibility; there is a degree of stability needed to make rational planning feasible The company Staff questions to ask yourself are: Who is on the receiving end? What problem do they have now? How will they react to your proposal?

In this case, your employees are on the receiving end and are thus the clients. They will be directly affected by this change. Their problem is slow processing time due to a manual system. Their reactions may be mixed, as the more tech-savvy will welcome the change but older employees in the company may resist such a big change.

Actors: The actors in a CATWOE checklist refers to the people involved in the implementation of the changes to the system, or business.

A few questions to ask yourself are: Who are the actors who will be carrying out the changes to the system? What will its impact be on them? How will they react to the change?

In the aforementioned example, this role would be of the automated system development team, the IT department, and to an extent the HR department.

Transformation: The transformation is the total number of changes that the system or business undergoes. Questions to ask yourself are: What are the inputs and where do they come from? What are the outputs and where do they go? What steps are in between the transformation?

In our example, the transformation would be the shift from a manual processing system to an automated one.

Worldview: The worldview is the big picture and the impact at large of the transformed system or business. The entire system is analysed in this step to come up with the positive and negative impact of the change. This is the most crucial step in CATWOE analysis as different stakeholders may have different approaches to the same issue.

The worldview defines why we want to implement the change to the system.

The primary differences in the overall analysis will lie in this particular step, if each individual “client” were asked to do a CATWOE. Questions to ask yourself about the different worldviews are: What is the real problem you are working on? What is the wide scale impact of any solution?

In our example, the impact at large to the system would be that the automation of the processing system increases the efficiency of the sales team, leading them to making more sales,

and reduce time spent manually processing all sales.

Owner: The owner or the decision maker is the one with authority to make and implement the changes to the system, stop the process or decide on whether to look at alternate solutions.

A few questions to ask yourself about the owner are: Who is the real owner of the system you are trying to change? Will they assist you or get in your way? How can you get their help?

In our example, the system owner would be the head of the sales team, while other key owners will also be involved, such as the HR and IT heads.

Environmental constraints: Environmental constraints are external limitations that affect the success of the solution. These can range from budgetary limitations, regulations, ethical constraints, limits set by owners etc.

A few questions to ask yourself about this step are: What are the broader constraints imposed on the situation? What are the more specific constraints and limitations? How can you get around them?

In our example, some environmental constraints may be the expense of running an automated system, maintenance of the system leading to a higher strain on the IT department, lack of integration with current aspects of the system etc.

The CATWOE model is used to identify and categorise all stakeholders of the system, or business, being analysed to come up with the root definition.

The root definition is a structured definition of the system – a clear statement of activities that take place in the system being studied. l