31 January 2014

Magh 18, 1420 Rabiul Awal 29, 1435 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 1 No 307

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Plotters to die for smuggling arms The accused unmasked each other

The 14 death row convicts also get life in arms case; other accused acquitted; former home boss Babar terms verdict ‘injustice,’ curses judge kar Ali Manik, Tushar Hayat n Julfi and Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong A Chittagong court yesterday handed down death sentences to 14 people including former ministers Motiur Rahman Nizami and Lutfozzaman Babar, and four ex-defence personnel in intelligence agencies for masterminding the country’s largest ever smuggling of weaponries in 2004 that raised concerns about national security.

They have been convicted and awarded the highest punishment in both arms and smuggling cases filed in connection with the sensational seizure of 10-truckloads of illicit arms and

‘I did not find any reason to take the accused in a lenient view. I have decided to award them highest punishment in these cases’ ammunition on April 2, 2004 from the jetty of Chittagong Urea Fertiliser Limited (CUFL), under Karnaphuli police station.

Apart from giving death sentence in the smuggling case, SM Mojibur Rahman, judge of the Chittagong Metropolitan Special Tribunal 1, awarded them life-term imprisonment in the arms case.

“We usually award 15 years, 20 years, 25 years jail to accused in cases for recovering one, two or three arms,” said the judge in an overcrowded courtroom adding: “It will not be correct to consider these cases case with the nature of those ordinary [arms and smuggling] cases.”

About the size of the seized arms, which were brought from abroad for the Indian separatist group United Liberation Front of Assam (Ulfa), the judge said: “A mini cantonment can be set up with these arms.

“So, I did not find any reason to take the accused in a lenient view,” Judge Mojibur said. “I have decided to award highest punishment in these cases.”

There were 50 accused in the arms case and 52 in the other. Except for the 14 convicts, Judge Mojibur acquitted rest of the total accused from the charges.

Apart from BNP’s former state minister for home affairs Babar and Jamaat-e-Islami chief Nizami, the 12 other convicts are Ulfa leader Paresh Barua; former director general of National Security Intelligence (NSI) Brig Gen (retd) Abdur Rahim; then director of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) Maj Gen (retd) Rezzaqul Haider Chowdhury who was later appointed as the DG of NSI; former NSI director wing commander (retd) Shahab Uddin; former deputy director of NSI Maj (retd) Liakat Hossain; former NSI field officer Akbar Hossain Khan; former additional secretary of the industries ministry Nurul Amin, ex-CUFL managing director Mohsin Talukder, former CUFL general manager (admin) KM Enamul Hoque, smuggler Hafizur Rahman Hafiz, Deen Mohammad, and fishing trawler owner Hazi Abdus Sobhan.

They have also been given seven years’ imprisonment under another section of the Arms Act related to the ammunition issue. The judge also fined them Tk5 lakh each in the smuggling case in which they have been sentenced to death.

Among the 14 convicts, Babar was running the home ministry as the state minister during the haul while Nizami was the boss of industries ministry which controls the CUFL. Public prosecutor of the cases Kamaluddin Ahmed confirmed all the decisions of the court to the Dhaka Tribune as it was hard to listen to the judge in the noisy courtroom as the judge was pronouncing the verdict without any microphone.

Among the convicts, except for  PAGE 2 COLUMN 3

kar Ali Manik and n Julfi Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong Mohsin Talukder

Abdur Rahim

Liakat Hossain

Rezzaqul Haider Chy

Shahab Uddin

Deen Mohammad

Hafizur Rahman Hafiz

Hazi Abdus Sobhan

Paresh Barua

Nurul Amin

All the 14 were convicted in the two cases related to the arms haul and were sentenced to death KM Enamul Hoque

They knew it, they denied it n Tushar Hayat, Chittagong Fourteen convicts including ministers and top intelligence officials were implicated in two 10-truck arms haul cases either for their involvement with the country’s largest ever smuggling attempt of weaponries or for their dubious role after the seizure on April 2, 2004 in Chittagong.

Their part in the incident has been revealed by the statements of some witnesses and also accused in the cases filed in connection with the smuggling of sophisticated military weapons brought for India’s separatist group Ulfa using the land of Bangladesh.

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Motiur Rahman Nizami, who was then industries minister, was reluctant to help in probing the incident even though the jetty of Chittagong Urea Fertiliser Limited

P2 & P3 REACTION STORIES under the same ministry, told the court that he had suggested Nizami to form a probe committee since the incident had taken place at the CUFL jetty.

“The minister refrained from making any comment in this regard and I assumed that he was avoiding the matter,” he said.

Another prosecution witness Shoeb Ahmed, the former industries secretary, in his statement said he had met

B4 In recent days we have observed some concerns on vault security.

Vaults of some banks are successfully attacked by bank robbers. This created a scope to discuss certain things about vault security.

Says security analyst Abdur Rashid

n Tribune Report

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

(CUFL) was used to unload the arms from trawlers, said a prosecution witness.

The state-owned CUFL jetty operates under the ministry of industries.

Witness Maj Gen (retd) Imamuzzaman, former chairman of Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation

Business

News

5 The authorities of Kutubbagh Darbar Sharif illegally erected arches at Farmgate for Urs, causing untold suffering to people.

A platoon of BGB keeps a watchful eye outside the Chittagong court during the 10-truck DHAKA TRIBUNE arms haul case verdict yesterday

Convicts mostly calm Among those convicted in the sensational 10-truck arms case, AKM Enamul Hoque was probably the person with the weakest nerves in the dock as the verdict was delivered by a Chittagong court yesterday.

Enamul was the general manager (admin) of Chittagong Urea Fertiliser Limited (CUFL) at the time when the 10 truckloads of smuggled arms and ammunition were seized at the CUFL jetty.

He along with 11 other accused was present in the dock of the court during the pronouncement of the verdict.

Enamul fell on the floor due to a nervous breakdown as his death penalty was handed out. His son, from outside the dock, tried to wake him up

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 3

Akbar Hossain Khan

INSIDE

kar Ali Manik and Tarek n Julfi Mahmud, from Chittagong

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 3

Motiur Rahman Nizami

Country took risk of being backer of Indian secessionists

Bangladesh ran the risk of being a patroniser of secessionist movement in northeastern India after 10 truck-loads of weapons bound for fighters in Assam were unearthed in 2004, said security analyst Major Gen (Retd) Abdur Rashid yesterday.

The verdict on 10 trucks of arms haul case yesterday proved that several high officials of the government were aware about the issue which clearly indicates the then government’s support to the smuggling, he said.

The incident stoked the existing hostile relation between India and Pakistan.

On April 02, 2004, the police captured 10 trucks full of modern sophisticated arms and ammunition in

Nizami after being informed of the seizure of the arms.

“I have heard about the incident before you. However, we have nothing to do in this regard. The highest authorities are aware of it,” Shoeb quoted Nizami as saying when he wanted to know their course of action regarding the issue.

Shoeb also said the minister had rebuked him as he proposed to launch an investigation. “Do you think that I am talking to you without consulting the higher authorities? The home ministry has been investigating the matter. The prime minister is also aware of it. So why do we have to investigate it separately?” Nizami told Shoeb.

Omar Faroque, former home secretary who headed the probe committee, in his deposition told the court that

Not only the witnesses, but many of the accused in the two cases filed in connection with the 10 truckloads arms haul exposed each other’s roles in the smuggling.

This was one of the observations of SM Mojibur Rahman, judge of the Chittagong Metropolitan Special Tribunal 1 who delivered the verdict in the arms and smuggling cases handing down death penalty to 14 accused including some the then political and military bigwigs.

Before delivering the verdict, the judge briefed the overcrowded courtroom about his observations. He said there was no chance that the cases could be considered ordinary arms and smuggling cases.

The judge repeatedly said some of the accused had been holding important positions in some of the key agencies of the government. Some of their high ranked colleagues from the then administration gave depositions against them.

“This kind of witness deposition is important. And their statements were not like those given by common witnesses,” said the judge.

“There were both accused and witnesses from the same force,” he said.

“After examining all the depositions, confessional statements and cross examinations, the court found out that some officials of the two important government agencies – the National Security Intelligence [NSI] and the Directorate of General Forces Intelligence [DGFI] – who were accused in the cases, gave confessional statements against each other. “... [They said] the accused had connection with the Ulfa and its leaders Anup Chetiya and Paresh Barua.”

The judge said: “The [then] director general of NSI, the most important office of the country, along with his wife, travelled to Dubai with an Ulfa leader.

One of the [NSI] directors said that before the court.

“They had dealings with Paresh Barua and Anup Chetiya.

Lutfozzaman Babar

saying nothing would happen to him and that they would appeal with higher courts against the verdict.

Major (retd) Liakat, who was also sentenced to death, was standing in the dock quietly ever since they were brought there.

Liakat came forward with a bottle of water to help Enamul. He poured some water on Enamul’s head to make him feel better.

Former state minster for home Lutfozzaman Babar was busy talking with journalists. He angrily cursed the judge and his children saying Allah would try them.

Jamaat leader Motiur Rahman Nizami was quiet as well. When journalists asked for his reaction he said it was an unfair trial.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Nation

6 Two people, including a local BNP leader, were killed in separate incidents of “gunfights” with the law enforcing agencies’ men in Noakhali and Sirajganj in the early hours of yesterday.

Entertainment

12 Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Chhayanaut, a leading cultural organisation in the country, a two-day programme is starting today.

Sports

13 By two o’clock on the fourth day of the first Test against Bangladesh, the Sri Lankan players were playing football after wrapping up the Tigers’ second innings for 250 and walking away with an innings and 248 run victory

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Friday, January 31, 2014

BNP mum, Jamaat decries verdict

Two suspects in bank burglary remanded

Al-Masum Molla n Mohammad and Manik Miazee

A Kishoreganj court yesterday placed two suspects on a seven-day remand in the case filed in connection with a Tk16.40 crore robbery at a Sonali Bank branch in the district.

Senior Judicial Magistrate Hamidul Islam, of Judicial Court 1 of Kishoreganj, granted the remand after the investigating officer in the case, sadar police station Officer-in-Charge Abdul Malek, sought a 10-day remand for the two accused.

Police identified the two suspects as brothers Yusuf Munshi and Idris Munshi, who had previously used the fake names of Habibur Rahman, alias Sohe,l and Idris Mia respectively.

Yusuf, the mastermind of the bank roberry, and Idris were arrested with

The BNP kept mum over the verdict on the 10 truck arms haul case even though the incident took place when the BNPled four-party alliance was in power.

The party did not issue any press release nor briefed the media about their stance over the verdict although a minister of the then four-party government and a BNP leader was sentenced to death in connection with the case.

A Chittagong special court sentenced 14, including two ministers – Matiur Rahman Nizami and Lutfozzaman Babar – of the then BNP-led 4-party alliance government, to death in arms smuggling case of the 10-truck arms haul on Thursday afternoon.

Nizami was the industries minister while Babar the state minister for home of the then BNP-led alliance government.

Though the BNP did not give its reaction organisationally a number of its senior leaders gave their individual opinions.

“Everything is politically motivated and there is no rule of law in the country. So question has already been raised in the minds of people over the credi-

n Our Correspondent, Kishoreganj

bility of the judgment,” Amir Khoshru Mahmud Chowdhury, adviser to the BNP chairperson, said.

Abdullah Al Noman, vice chairman of the party, alleged that many innocent people were implicated and convicted in the case and the government had used the case to gain its political benefit.

Mahbubur Rahman, a standing committee member of the party and also a former army chief, declined to make any comment saying the party spokesperson might talk on the issue. “I do not want to comment on it.”

Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami in an immediate reaction condemned the death sentence handed down to its chief Matiur Rahman Nizami in the arms smuggling case, saying the “political motivated verdict” was a bid to make the party leaderless.

The party acting chief (Ameer) Mokbul Ahmed in a statement said: “We are left speechless, surprised and shocked by this judgement. We are countering this government conspiracy both politically and legally.”

“From the beginning, we have been deprived of right judgement. Now our doubts have become true. Nizami did not get fair judgement,” he added. l

NHRC: State is rich-friendly n Muktasree Chakma Sathi

48-hr hartal in Netrokona from today

HC order for not harassing Fakhrul stayed

The local unit of BNP called a 48-hour hartal in Madan upazila of Netrakona, the constituency of Lutfozzaman Babar, protesting his death penalty in the 10-truck arms haul case.

The shutdown will be enforced in the area from 6am today, upazila BNP President MA Hares told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday afternoon.

Babar, the former state minister for affairs, was awarded death sentence along with 13 others in the smugging case. He was also given life-term imprisonment in the arms case. l

The Appellate Division yesterday stayed the High Court order that directed law enforcers not to harass BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir or show him arrested without following due process of law, in three cases.

A five-member bench headed by Chief Justice Md Muzammel Hossain passed the order after granting leave to appeal of the state against the High Court order of January 16. It also fixed February 18 for the appeal’s hearing.

Earlier, the High Court bench of Jus-

n Our Correspondent, Mymensingh n Nazmus Sakib

Convicts mostly calm  PAGE 1 COLUMN 3

Initially Babar and Nizami sat on the bench of the courtroom, enjoying some privileges as former ministers. Their lawyers were taking their pictures on their mobile phones and iPads. Some journalists took the opportunity to speak to them.

Suddenly a group of policemen came into the courtroom and grabbed the iPad from a young lawyer who was filming NIzami and Babar. Quickly the other defense lawyers hid their devices. Police asked around repeatedly for others who were taking pictures, but no one replied.

Shortly afterwards police took Babar and Nizami inside the dock.

Just after the verdict some relatives and lawyers of the convicts came to the dock to talk to their family members.

Akbar Hossain Khan told his lawyers to console his wife who was waiting outside the courtroom.

The death sentence came as a shock to Hazi Abdus Sobhan, owner of the fishing trawler which brought the arms and ammunition to the jetty. He was on bail.

The verdict was shocking for his family as well. He went to the court to appear. The judge after sitting on the bench wanted to be sure whether Sobhan was present.

When Sobhan confirmed his presence police took him into the dock as per the judge’s direction.

After his verdict Sobhan’s son Os-

man and his daughter broke into tears.

The daughter lost later consciousness and fell to the ground at the second floor of the court building.

Sobhan has seven daughters and two sons. Osman said his father was not guilty as he had only rented out the trawler and was not involved with the smuggling.

When police was taking the convicts out of the courtroom to the prison van, policemen stood in two rows to ensure security.

When Liakat was coming out from the courtroom he secretly told something to a policeman who was standing in a row.

“My husband was innocent. He just discharged his duty. We will go to the High Court,” said the wife and daughter of Wing Commander Shahabuddin, former director of NSI. Wasiur Rahman, brother of smuggler Hafizur Rahman, was seen stoic while no other member of the convict was found. He said they would take a decision after consulting with the convict’s family.

“My husband fought for the country in 1971 and he was a government officer. He was not involved with the incident. Government brought the arms and the government is responsible for this,” said Selima Sultana, wife of convict Akbar Hossain Khan, former field officer of NSI. Miwara, the wife of Deen Mohammad, said her husband was a jetty worker; so it was not possible for him to be involved with the incident. l

Country took risk  PAGE 1 COLUMN 1

Karnaphuli River near Chittagong port which was supposed to be delivered to the United Liberation Front of Assam (Ulfa), an insurgent group in neighbouring India.

Abdur Rashid thinks that such arms smuggling by using the country’s land is a clear violation of the its foreign policy.

“Absolute secrecy was maintained by the then government about the arms smuggling,” he added.

The retired army official said the punishment to the persons involved in the weapons smuggling was a must as it will give a good lesson to the authorities concerned to refrain themselves from such secret foreign policy.

Veteran journalist and researcher at the Brac Afsan Chowdhury said the country had engaged itself in the rivalry between Pakistan and India by giving space to use its land for delivering arms to Ulfa.

The politics in South Asia is gradually heading towards violence centring the hostile relation between India and

Pakistan, Afsan said.

“The small countries like Bangladesh and Nepal have already got involved in their fights to establish supremacy in the region. These countries should come out of the vicious cycle of India-Pakistan rivalry.”

A Chittagong special court has sentenced 14, including two ministers – Motiur Rahman Nizami and Lutfozzaman Babar – of the then BNP-led four-party alliance government to death in arms smuggling case of the 10 truck arms haul yesterday afternoon.

Nizami was the industries minister while Babar was the state minister for home of the then BNP-led alliance government. The same court awarded life term imprisonment to 12 others in the arms case.

Chittagong Metropolitan Sessions Judge and Special Tribunal 1 judge SM Mojibur Rahman delivered the verdict in presence of 11 accused, including Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Motiur Rahman Nizami and BNP leader Lutfozzaman Babar. l

the stolen money in the capital’s Shyampur Balurmath area on Tuesday. Another relative of Yusuf, Motahar Hossain, was also arrested from a nearby building.

Later on Wednesday afternoon, they were handed over to Kishoreganj police.

Earlier on Sunday, the authorities of the Rathkhola branch of Sonali Bank in Kishoreganj district sadar noticed that Tk16.4 crore had been looted from its vault via an underground tunnel.

On the same day, eight police personnel – who were stationed in a barracks located in the basement of the branch – were suspended following the incident.

On Monday, some 45 people, including 12 Sonali Bank officials, were held in Kishoreganj for interrogation in connection with the burglary. l

tice Borhanuddin and Justice KM Kamrul Kader told lawyer of the BNP leader that police could arrest Fakhrul any time after the submission of the charge sheet against him.

Calling for scrapping the HC order, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam said the HC bench that earlier had passed the “not to harass-arrest order,” had no jurisdiction to pass such an order as it did not have the authority to deal with writ petition-related matters.

SC lawyer Zainul Abedin represented Fakhrul. All three cases against Fakhrul were related to killing people by torching buses.

Meanwhile, a Dhaka court yesterday rejected the bail petitions of five BNP top brass in three cases filed with Motijheel police station and two with Ramna police station.

Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Zohirul Hoque passed the order in the afternoon after hearing the bail plea of defense lawyers Md Sanaullah Miah and Masud Ahmed Talukder. He said their bail prayers were rejected as investigations under the cases were on.

The five leaders are Moudud Ahmed, MK Anwar and barrister Rafiqul Islam Miah, Fazlul Haq Milon and party leader Maj (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed. l

Plotters to die for smuggling arms  PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

Ulfa leader Paresh Barua and former additional secretary Nurul Amin, the rest 12 were present in the dock.

Abdus Sobhan was freed on bail, but as he confirmed his appearance before the court in the beginning of the proceedings yesterday, the police put him in the dock.

Shortly after the verdict, Babar expressed anger from the dock: “It is injustice. Allah will ensure justice for this injustice. The judge will be tried, his children will be tried, and Allah will ensure the final justice.”

He continued saying: “It has been a stage-managed verdict, delivered to make someone happy.” When a reporter asked Babar to clarify about “someone” and who had brought the arms, Babar stopped talking.

The other convicts in the dock expressed disappointment similarly and said they all would appeal against the verdict.

Among the accused the dock, only Enamul Haque fell on the floor, as suddenly he was not feeling well.

Meanwhile, the prosecution naturally expressed satisfaction over the

National Human Rights Commission Chairman Mizanur Rahman said yesterday that the state had become a rich-friendly institution, and was not looking after the underprivileged citizens of the country.

Prof Mizan also said it was now time to raise the question of whether or not the state wanted welfare for the poor sections of society.

“This state has become too prowealth. Does this country actually want to bring change to the lives of the underprivileged, oppressed and poor citizens of the country? Does this state really want empowerment of the citizens who have long been deprived?” he asked.

The NHRC chief also opined that most of the laws in the country were pro-rich rather than inclusive of the needs of all quarters.

“Law is not a tool which teaches people to love. But it is obviously a tool which bars citizens from expressing hatred towards one another,” he said while giving a speech at a seminar.

The seminar, entitled “Convention

on the Elimination of all forms of Discriminations Against Women and Dalit women: Bangladesh Context (Cedaw)” was held at Cirdap in the city. Jahangirnagar University teacher Farzana Islam presented the keynote paper.

Pointing out Bangladesh’s opt-outs in the Cedaw, Mizanur said discrimination in the country would not end if such opt-outs were not withdrawn immediately. “It is a mockery, particularly when we ratified the Cedaw to put optouts in its core articles.”

Bangladesh ratified the convention in 1984 but opted out of article 2, which says the state will condemn discrimination against women in all its forms and will pursue by all appropriate means introduce a policy to eliminate discrimination against women, and article 16, which says the state will take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in all matters relating to marriage and family relations.

The NHRC chairman said the empowerment of Dalit women was related to the empowerment of women in general. l

verdict. Shortly after the proceedings, the pro-BNP-Jamaat lawyers brought out a procession and held rally on the court premises. They chanted slogans terming the verdict “illegal.”

The judge in his very brief speech before pronouncing the verdict told the lawyers that any of the two parties in the cases would win while the other lose.

Considering sensitivity of the case, special security measures were taken on and around the court premises as well as the port city.

The judge sat on the bench at

12:20pm and gave some observations about the case. He then pronounced short order of the verdict that ended at 1:40pm.

Judge Mojibur in his introductory speech said the verdict had been prepared based on the depositions of the witnesses and confessional statements of the accused.

The convicts of the cases will have the scope to appeal with the higher court, which will decide on the judgement delivered yesterday. Death penalties have to be executed upon the approval of the High Court. l

The accused unmasked each other  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

“Maj Liakat [convicted accused] used to maintain contact with the leaders of the separatist group [Ulfa]. This fact was cited in the statements and depositions of their colleagues,” said the judge.

Maj Liakat also gave shelter to the criminals in the country and maintained relations with the foreign terrorists during the Operation Clean Heart. He also used to regularly inform the higher authorities about his liaison, the court observed.

Those involved in the smuggling discouraged police officials as they challenged the unloading of smuggled arms at the Chittagong Urea Fertiliser Limited (CUFL) jetty on April 2, 2004.

One of them told the police officials that they had the government’s

permission (for unloading illegal arms in the jetty). He said the policemen would lose their jobs if they prevented the unloading.

The judge said these observations came out from the statements given by the witnesses and the accused.

The judge also said when DGFI chief Maj Gen Sadik Hasan Rumi informed then prime minister Khaleda Zia about the matter, she did not show much reaction.

Later, the then state minister for home formed a probe committee comprising five members. One of the members of the committee was DGFI director Maj Gen (retd) Rezzaqul Haider Chowdhury, later made accused in the cases after further investigation.

They knew it, they denied it  PAGE 1 COLUMN 5

former state minister for home affairs Lutfozzaman Babar had asked him for not mentioning in his report the involvement of a number of National Security Intelligence (NSI) officials.

Farroque Ahmed, another member of the probe body, said he had directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the investigating agency of the cases, to send a requisition letter for quizzing NSI official Akbar Hossain and informed Babar about the matter.

“He [Babar] told me that national interest was connected with many issues, so we will have to proceed considering this aspect,” Farroque added.

Law enforcers had seized 4,930 types of sophisticated firearms; 27,020 grenades; 840 rocket launchers; 300 rockets; 2,000 grenade launching tubes; 6,392 magazines; and 11,40,520 bullets.

Former NSI director wing commander (retd) Shahab Uddin Ahmed, in his confessional statement, said its for-

mer chief Brig Gen (retd) Abdur Rahim had informed him about the matter and directed to cooperate in offloading the consignment.

According to the case document, the names of Rahim and Maj Gen (retd) Rezzaqul Haider Chowdhury, the director of DGFI, first came in the statement of Shahab Uddin.

Shahab Uddin said he had been admitted at Combined Military Hospital for physical illness on March 30, 2004.

The next day Rezzaqul, accompanied

by Ulfa leader Paresh Barua, visited him at the hospital.

“He left the hospital along with Paresh Barua after informing me that the date of arrival of the arms and ammunition has been deferred,” Shahab Uddin added in his statement.

Sergeants Helal Uddin and Alauddin, who reached the spot of unloading the weaponries first, said in their confessional statement that former NSI director Maj (retd) Liakat Hossain had monitored the offloading of consign-

“It is a trial court. I did not make any decision on my own. I am delivering a verdict that was finalised after examining the confessional statements of the accused, depositions and crossexaminations of the witnesses,” the court said.

Shoeb Ahmed, the then secretary of the industries ministry, and Maj Gen (retd) Imamuzzaman, then chairman of BCIC, both gave statements against the then industries minister Moitur Rahman Nizami.

The CUFL jetty of the Chittagong Port is under the industries ministry and the minister is responsible for the organisation.

Then state minister for home Babar ordered police to release the five Ulfa men, who were held on the spot on the

night of the arms haul.

Later, he visited Chittagong to see the arms and ammunition. He also prohibited the then Chittagong Metropolitan Police commissioner from telling much to the media about the cases. The court also considered these facts.

Babar and Nizami claimed that they had been sued from political intentions; but the court did not find any witness, who was an activist of any political party.

The arms and ammunition seizure was not only the biggest ever in Bangladesh, it was also unprecedented in the world, the judge said.

“A mini cantonment can be operated with the seized weapons,” the court said. l

ment identifying himself as one Abul Hossain.

Sabbir Ali, former commissioner of Chittagong Metropolitan Police, said Liakat had been detained from the spot during the recovery. However, they set him free following directives from the state minister for home affairs.

Akbar Hossain, former field officer of NSI who hired trucks for carrying the arms and ammunitions, said in his confessional statement that he had hired the trucks after being directed by Shahab Uddin.

Akbar was first among the detained intelligence officials. He was held based on the confession of prime accused Hafizur Rahman Hafiz, an arms smuggler in Chittagong.

Prosecution witness Mobin Hossain Khan, former assistant security officer of the CUFL, told the court that former additional secretary of industries ministry Nurul Amin came to Chittagong on the date of incident and he was taken to the CUFL guest house at night.

Mobin said he had informed former managing director Mohshin Talukdar about the recovery around 2am. “The MD directed me to intensify security of CUFL,” he said.

He also said none of the MD or former general manager Enamul Hoque had visited the spot on the date of the incident or even the following day.

“Their attitude suggested that they were informed about the incident beforehand,” he added.

Prime Accused Hafiz in his confessional statement said after being assigned by Ulfa leader Paresh Barua, he along with Deen Mohammed, another smuggler, had gone to the deep sea near the Saint Martin’s Island and completed offloading of the consignment on two trawlers from a mother vessel.

He said Deen Mohammed had also supplied labourers for unloading the weaponries. Of the two trawlers, one was owned by Hafiz himself while one Abdus Sobhan hired another. l

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Friday, January 31, 2014

H A U L C A S E

Death verdict: Assam silent on Paresh Barua n Tribune Report

The government of Assam declined to give a formal reaction to the death sentence of Ulfa commander-in-chief Paresh Barua in the 10-truck arms smuggling case.

Assam’s Home Secretary GD Tripathy said he was aware of the verdict, Mizoram-based MizoNews reported yesterday after the verdict.

“However, we are yet to receive official communication in this regard,” Tripathy said. “I can comment only after I receive formal communication.”

Paresh Barua, leader of a faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa), is currently on the run and is one of India’s most wanted militants.

He along with 13 others, including Bangladesh’s former junior home minister Lutfozzaman Babar and Jamaat-e-Islami leader Motiur Rahman Nizami, were sentenced to death in one of the 10-trucks arms haul cases. l

Jamaat leader Motiur Rahman Nizami, left, sits inside a prison van while BNP leader Lutfozzaman Babar, right, wears a blank look inside another van in front of the Chittagong Metropolitan Special Tribunal 1 after receiving capital punishment in the 10-truck arms haul case yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

Heroes punished, villains rewarded n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong Two people were punished, tortured and harassed because they did the right thing, and someone else, who did the exact opposite, was awarded with a presidential medal.

On the night of April 1, 2004, it was Sergeant Alauddin and Sergeant Helal Uddin Bhuiyan, who discovered that 10 truckloads of arms and ammunition were being smuggled through the Chittagong port.

They risked their lives to challenge the people offloading the ammo onto trucks from two trawlers at the Chittagong Uria Ferliser Limited jetty.

They were told that the authorities were aware of the “goods” being offloaded and threatened with dire consequenc-

es. They were also told that the arms and ammunitions were being transported for the separatist Indian group United Liberation Front of Assam (Ulfa).

However, Alauddin and Helal braved the threats and called in security reinforcements to round up the smugglers and the arms stash.

However, instead of being rewarded for bravery, these two sergeants were framed in fake arms cases, fired from the force and brutally tortured in custody – during the tenure of the BNP-Jamaat-led four-party alliance government.

In 2005, two other men, nabbed with AK-47 rifles in Feni and Noakhali, told law enforcers that they got the weapons from Alauddin and Helal.

“Then, we were suspended and made accused for supplying those two with

the rifles. We were tortured in custody as part of an attempt to twist the sensational cases [filed in connection with the 10-truck arms haul],” Alauddin recounted.

The torture in custody was so brutal that they had never been the same person again – neither physically nor mentally, Alauddin said. “One of Helal’s legs was broken.”

However, the two policemen were later proved innocent and got back their jobs in 2011 – during the tenure of the Awami League-led government.

At present, Alauddin is serving as an inspector of the Special Protection Battalion (SBPn) at Ganabhaban – the prime minister’s official residence – and Helal as a traffic sergeant with Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP).

WHO SAID WHAT: 10-TRUCK ARMS HAUL Nizami

Babar

Rezzaqul Haider

“I [Nizami] have heard about the incident before you.

We have nothing to do in this regard. The highest authorities are aware of it”

“He [Babar] told me that national interest was connected with many issues, so we will have to proceed considering this aspect”

“He [Rezzaqul Haider] left the hospital along with Paresh Barua after informing me that the date of arrival of the arms cache has

Shoeb Ahmed, former industries secretary, quoted former industries minister Motiur Rahman Nizami as saying when he wanted to know their course of action regarding the issue. Shoeb also told the court that the minister had rebuked him as he proposed to launch an investigation.

“Do you think that I am talking to you without consulting the higher authorities? The home ministry has been investigating the matter. The prime minister is also aware of it. So why do we have to investigate it separately?”

Akbar Hossain “[I] hired the trucks after being directed

by Shahab Uddin.”

Akbar Hossain, former NSI field officer, said in his confessional statement. He was first among the detained intelligence officials.

Farroque Ahmed, member of home ministry probe body

Liakat Hossain Former NSI director Maj (retd) Liakat Hossain monitored the offloading of the consignment identifying himself as Abul Hossain.

Sergeants Helal Uddin and Alauddin, who reached the spot first, said in their confessional statements

Liakat was detained from the spot during the recovery of arms and ammunition. However, he was freed following directives from Babar.

Sabbir Ali, former commissioner of Chittagong Metropolitan Police

been deferred”

Shahabuddin Ahmed, former NSI director, who was then admitted at Combined Military Hospital

Hafizur Rahman “Assigned by Ulfa leader Paresh Barua, [I] along with Deen Mohammed went to the deep sea near the Saint Martin’s Island and completed unloading of the consignment on two trawlers from a mother vessel.

“Deen Mohammed also supplied labourers for offloading the consignment of the weaponries.

“Abdus Sobhan hired one trawler while another trawler used for the task was mine.”

Prime Accused Hafizur Rahman Hafiz said in his confessional statement

The law enforcement agencies are now better equipped than ever to prevent incidents like the Chittagong 10-truck arms haul, officials have said.

In the wake of the pronouncement of the verdicts in the two cases filed in connection with the 2004 haul, officials said they had taken a series of steps immediately after the incident to prevent repetition of such scams.

n Mohosinul Karim

ministration to inspire the terrorism and the terrorists, said the minister.

“After the verdict, now the criminals will have to think twice before committing such crime again. The court has given the verdict considering the evidence and statements of the accused,” Anisul Huque added.

Asked whether the large amount of arms haul was a threat to the country’s sovereignty, the minister said: “A mini-cantonment could have been set up with the arms which were hauled.

It was also disclosed who brought the arms and for whom.”

“It could disrupt the relations between Bangladesh and the country

for which the arms were brought,” he claimed.

He added that the-then government had a plan to cover the incident and let go of those involved in the arms smuggling. They would have been inspired to commit the crime again if the government set them free.

A Chittagong special court has sentenced 14 accused including Matiur Rahman Nizami and Lutfozzaman Babar of the then BNP government to death in the 10-truck arms haul case yesterday.

The same 14 convicts were awarded life term imprisonment in the arms case. l

On May 10, 1985, he and other members of his group carried out a bank robbery by shooting to death the manager and robbed Rs27, 549 and fled the

He stayed in Bangladesh for a few years from 1990 under the pseudonym “Kamruj Zaman Khan” but after a brief stay he left in April 2004 after being charged for arms smuggling in the 10 truck-loads of arms and ammunition haul in Chittagong.

He reportedly runs big businesses in Bangladesh, including a tannery, a chain of departmental stores, garment factories, travel agencies, shrimp trawlers and transport and investment companies besides a star hotel.

In September 2011, the Myanmarese Army was able to trace Barua along with some Ulfa members in the forest of north-west Myanmar.

Barua received injuries in a fight with them but he survived the onslaught.

Barua on April 30, 2013, who adheres uncompromisingly to the demand of the sovereignty of Assam renamed the organisation as the Ulfa (Independent). l

Law minister: The verdict upholds the rule of law

The government pledge to establish the rule of law has been fulfilled through the verdict on the sensational 10-truck arms haul case, Law Minister Anisul Huque has said.

The minister made the statement in his instant reaction regarding the verdict yesterday He said the verdict on the sensational 10-truck arms haul case was positive.

He claimed that it was found in the investigation that the high-ups of the then government were involved in the incident.

It was an initiative of the then ad-

Paresh Barua – The Ulfa man n Tribune Report

at that time. We had strained relationship and also we had clashes,” he said.

It was very difficult to contain but somehow the diplomats after working very hard managed to do so, he said.

Former ambassador Mahmood Hasan, who also served in Bangladesh mission in India, said had the destination of the arms been India, it would have an impact on the relations between the two countries.

People who did this were apprehended and put on trial and it was the right thing to do, he said. l

Shahidul Islam, regional commander of the Coast Guard, said security had been beefed up at the outer anchorage of the Chittagong port and the coastal areas after the biggest ever arms and ammunition recovery.

“The Coast Guard was heavily undermanned during the incident,” he said.

However, detection capacity must be continuously upgraded so that sophisticated and state-of-the-art vessels

and weapons could be traced, Shahidul added.

The policymakers immediately realised the dire needs for modernising the Coast Guard after the recovery ten years ago, he said, adding that they were yet to attain the capacity to keep vigilance over the entire coastal belt.

“It is hard for us to monitor each and every trawler during offloading. But, we keep our informants active round the clock to gather information for pre-

venting such incidents.”

Mohibul Hoque, secretary of the Chittagong Port Authority, said there was not a chance anymore that such a huge consignment could reach the port undetected.

He also said the Chittagong port was the heart of the country’s economy and that they had been putting in all-out efforts to avert such incidents, thus upholding the images of the port and the country. l

A wake-up call for security agencies n Tushar Hayat, Chittagong

although he was guilty of hiding facts and letting suspects go. He did those following the then government’s orders,” Alauddin continued.

If the five Ulfa men were not released, the investigation would not have taken such a long time, said ASP Moniruzzaman, investigation officer of the arms haul cases.

Abdullah Hel Baki is currently an additional deputy inspector general of police and Mahmudur a superintendent of police in the Sylhet range. Both have been made officers on special duty (OSD).

A special Chittagong court yesterday sentenced 14, including two cabinet members – Matiur Rahman Nizami and Lutfozzaman Babar – of the then BNP-led 4-party alliance government, to death in connection with the arms haul. l

tubes, 6,392 magazines and 11,40,520 bullets when they were being loaded on to 10 trucks from two engine boats at the jetty of the CUFL. A Chittagong special court yesterday sentenced 14 accused, including Matiur Rahman Nizami and Lutfozzaman Babar of the then BNP-led four-party alliance government, to death in arms smuggling case.

Another diplomat who also served in the Bangladesh Mission in India said that time the relationship was bad.

“Everybody knows what happened

‘Arms haul strained BangladeshIndia relations’ The 10-truck arms haul case had an impact on Bangladesh-India relations, said former Bangladesh high commissioner to India Tofail K Haider.

“Now the verdict has been declared and the other party should be happy about it,” said Haider, who was the high commissioner in India during 2004.

On April 1, 2004, police seized 4,930 types of sophisticated firearms, 27,020 grenades, 840 rocket launchers, 300 rockets, 2,000 grenade launching

tempts to hide the involvement of Ulfa and the higher authorities of Bangladesh with the smuggling.

Abdullah, who played an obedient role to the then government by releasing the Ulfa men and hiding facts, was awarded with the President Police Medal in 2005 – the same year Alauddin and Helal were framed with false arms cases, fired from the force and tortured in custody.

Sources from the police said not just the medal, DC Abdullah and his assistant Mahmudur got a number of promotions and recognitions during the BNP-Jamaatled government’s tenure.

“We seized the biggest ever arms haul in the country’s history; yet we were made victims. Someone else took all the credits and also got all the recognitions,

Paresh Barua, the commander-in-chief of the military wing of the United Liberation Front of Assam (Ulfa) which is seeking sovereignty for Assam from the Indian state, uses several other aliases namely Kamruj Zaman Khan, Nuruz-Zaman and Zaman Bhai.

Born in 1957 at Jeraichakali Bhariagaon, Assam, was a soccer player in his young life. He studied at Dibrugarh University.

He worked for the railway from 1978 to 1982 before he joined the Oil India Limited at Duliajan for some time.

He is married to Boby Bhuyan Barua and have two children named Tahshim Khan and Akash Khan.

Another source says that his elder son is named Tahsan Ankur Khan Sunlee.

Barua became a member of the United Liberation Front of Assam (Ulfa) in 1979.

SLH/DT INFOGRAPHIC

n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman

According to Alauddin, on the night of the arms haul, they, along with other policemen, picked up five suspected Ulfa men from the jetty area.

He and Helal later came to learn that the five men they had rounded up were later released from the custody of Abdullah Hel Baki, the then DC (port) of CMP. “We mentioned the names of those five in our first information report. But, they were freed. Later, we were forced to tear up some of the pages of the FIR. There were some indirect pressures for concealing Ulfa’s connection with the haul,” Alauddin described.

Additional Superintendent of Police Md Moniruzzaman, investigation officer of the 10-truck arms haul cases, said the release of those five men and the framing of the two sergeants were part of at-

In September 2011, the Myanmarese Army was able to trace Barua along with some Ulfa members in the forest of north-west Myanmar scene in a vehicle taken from someone they had kidnapped.

In 1989 he came in contact with Nagaland Rebels and Kachin rebels based in Myanmar who provided strategic training to his group. In 1990, his group became engaged in extortion.

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Friday, January 31, 2014

Bangladesh-India target broader connectivity n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman Bangladesh and India have their eyes set on a whole new level of connectivity beyond the traditional idea of transit, said officials of the countries.

Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka Pankaj Saran, after a meeting with Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed yesterday, said they were working on a “whole concept of connectivity.”

“The whole concept of connectivity was discussed in the meeting. The concept of connectivity is now becoming broader, growing beyond the oldfashioned concept of transit.”

Expanding the sphere of connectivity to such fields as power, telecom, water and others would be “mutually beneficial” for both the countries, he said.

“These are areas we are working on now and we are hopeful some real progress can be achieved.”

About the BCIM economic corridor, he said the matter had become official after a meeting in Kunming last December. “This is another interesting area of cooperation for us in the future.”

Pointing to the fact that Bangladesh’s exports to India reached $560

Writ on political party registration rejected n Nazmus Sakib The High Court yesterday rejected a writ petition that questioned the legality of a provision of the Representation of the People Order (RPO) 1972, relating to some conditions for the registration of a political party with the Election Commission.

The joint bench headed by Justice Farah Mahbub delivered the verdict after hearing the matter.

The writ challenged section 90B of the RPO, which sets several conditions for the political parties including securing at least one seat with its electoral symbol during the past parliamentary polls, securing 5% of total votes cast in the constituencies in which its candidates took part in, and establishing a functional central office, district offices in at least in one-third administrative districts, and offices in at least one hundred upazilas or metropolitan thanas with each having at least 200 voters as members. l

WEATHER

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

Moderate to thick fog may occur over Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions and the river basins and light to moderate fog elsewhere over the country during midnight till morning, Met Office said.

Mild cold wave is sweeping over the regions of Sitakunda, Srimangal and Kushtia and it may continue.

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

The sun sets in the capital at 5:44pm today and rises at 6:40am tomorrow.

Country’s highest temperature 30.5 degrees Celsius was recorded yesterday in Cox’s Bazar and lowest 8.8 degrees in Srimangal.

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

High

Low

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

27.4 27.5 25.2 25.3 26.4 26.8 30.0 30.5

13.5 14.2 10.8 11.5 12.2 11.4 13.5 16.5

million last year, he said it was not enough and more Indian private investments should come to Bangladesh to reduce bilateral trade deficits.

“More Indian private investments will mean more jobs and it will also help increase Bangladesh’s exports to its neighbouring countries including India.”

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said Bangladesh would benefit from a functional BCIM economic corridor.

“Bangladesh will benefit more through the BCIM corridor rather than the Saarc.”

He also said he had proposed transshipment with India in 1998 but it was not materialised.

“We will have broader connectivity when we have improved infrastructure.

We want to have connectivity with all countries. We have now exports to the seven-sister states and with a broader connectivity we can export more.”

About the trade problems with India, he said Bangladeshi businessmen were facing tariff and non-tariff barriers.

“When I went to India, I discussed the matter with the Indian prime minister, commerce minister, national security adviser and the business leaders.” l

Dhaka South City Corporation authorities in an eviction drive pulls down an illegal structure on the capital’s Topkhana Road yesterday

ACC sues Tarique’s mother-in-law 8 get life for killing two n

Syed Samiul Basher Anik

The Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday filed a case against Syeda Iqbal Mand Banu, the mother-in-law of BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman, for not submitting her wealth statement.

ACC Deputy Director RK Majumder filed the case with Ramna police station since she had not submitted her wealth statement on time as asked by the commission, an ACC public relations officer confirmed the Dhaka Tribune.

The anti-graft body served a notice upon Iqbal Mand Banu on January 25, 2012, asking her to submit her wealth statement. Zakir Hossain, the caretaker of her house, received the notice on her behalf.

However, she acquired a stay order from the High Court on the request.

Later the commission obtained an order from the Supreme Court on September 26 on stalling the High Court stay order.

Following the Supreme Court or-

der, the ACC was free to collect Banu’s wealth statement, particularly to investigate the wealth of BNP Senior ViceChairman Tarique Rahman. However she has not complied with the ACC notice till date, said an official.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Syeda Iqbal Mand Banu appealed to the antigraft body to initiate a fresh inquiry into her wealth through her lawyer Nasiruddin Asim. The lawyer told reporters that his client would comply with the commission’s instructions if it launched a reinvestigation.

However, the ACC said it would move ahead with its plan to file a case against her for not submitting her wealth statement as instructed.

“If they have any objection in this regard, they should clear their position before the court,” ACC Commissioner M Shahabuddin said.

The ACC on Tuesday took the decision to file the case against Syeda Iqbal Mand Banu.

EC to send six AL lawmakers’ affidavits to ACC n Mohammad Zakaria The Election Commission has asked the concerned returning officers to send two certified copies of affidavits of the six Awami League lawmakers, whose wealth statements suggest a rather unusual increase in their wealth over the last five years, to the commission

by February 5, Deputy Secretary of EC Mihir Sarwar Morshed said yesterday.

He said the commission had directed them to send the copies via special messengers.

The EC would send one copy of the affidavit of each MP to the Anti-Corruption Commission next week while the other copy would be preserved at the commis-

sion’s office, the senior official said.

Earlier, ACC issued a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner requesting him to provide copies of affidavits of the six - former Health Minister AFM Ruhal Haq, former State Minister for Housing and Public Works Abdul Mannan Khan, former State Minister for Water Resources Mahbubur Rahman, and three lawmakers-Abdur Rahman Badi from Cox’s Bazar, Aslamul Haque from Dhaka and Abdul Jabbar from Satkhira.

Although ACC is investigating into the exorbitant rise of wealth of Awami League lawmaker Enamul Haque from Rajshahi, it did not request EC for his affidavit. l

The commission, earlier on May 29, 2007, served a notice upon Tarique Rahman, asking him to submit his wealth statement. Later, analysing his statement, the commission found that Tarique had accumulated wealth worth Tk4.82 crore through illegal means and concealed information of his properties valued at Tk4.23 crore.

Following the findings, the ACC on September 26, 2007 filed a case with Kafrul police station against Tarique, his wife Zubaida Rahman and motherin-law on charge of concealing wealth information. Sources said of the Tk4.82 crore, the commission had found Fixed Deposit Receipts for Tk35 lakh in Zubaida’s name. But Tarique claimed that Zubaida had received the money from her mother.

The ACC, however, did not find any evidence supporting the claim. It rather got proof that Zubaida and her mother had aided Tarique in his attempt to show illegal income as legal. l

5:22am 6:39am 12:12am 4:08pm 5:44pm 7:02pm

Source: IslamicFinder.org

n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu

The Speedy Trial Tribunal 4 yesterday sentenced eight individuals to life imprisonment while eight others to ten years of “rigorous imprisonment” in connection with the murder of two siblings in Gazipur in 2000.

It also fined the former group Tk20,000 each, a failure to pay which will result in an additional year in prison. The fine from those getting ten years is Tk5,000 each and a failure to pay the amount will result in additional six months in prison.

The verdict was pronounced by the tribunal’s judge ABM Nizamul Haque in the afternoon. Those receiving life sentences are Abdul Ali (now at large), Nurul Islam, Nazrul Islam, Fozlul Haque, Md Rahmat Ali Sikdar, Hasen Ali, Hazrat Ali and Zakir Hossain.

On the other hand, those who got ten years are Bahadur Ali, Sujan Ali, Chan Ali, Shahidul Islam, Buzrat Ali, Akbar Ali, Amzad Ali and Azizul Haque.

However, five others accused in the double murder case were acquitted on all charges. They are Abdur Rahman Khan, Najar Ali, Md. Aminul Islam, Rahima Khatun and Sabera Khatun.

The case was filed after brothers Makbul Dewan and Kolimuddin Dewan were killed over a land dispute in the Golachipa area of Kaliakoir upazila on December 6, 2000.

A total of 21 individuals were accused in the case filed by the deceased’s elder brother Md Shakhawat Hossain, of whom Abdul Ali has been absconding since the incident.

The investigation officer of the case Md Tofazzal Hossain submitted a charge sheet to the court on July 15, 2003. A total of 31 witnesses out of 47 were examined after the court framed charges against the accused.

However, in his immediate reaction to the judgment, the complainant expressed his discontent and said he would appeal against it in the High Court. l

Jamaat to launch overseas campaign against killings of party men n Manik Miazee The Jamaat-e-Islami is planning to launch an international campaign to highlight the torture and deaths of its leaders and activists at the hands of the country’s law enforcement agencies, said party sources.

Jamaat has also reportedly decided not to go for any stern anti-government movement in the next two month; instead focusing on an international campaign based on a list of party activists who have been killed since the International Crimes Tribunal handed death sentence to its leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee on February 28 last year.

The party, along with its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir, has prepared a list of 184 activists who have been allegedly been murdered between February 28, 2013 and January 5, 2014; as well as making several documentaries on police action against its activists.

Party insiders said Jamaat has planned to arrange processions and human chains in front of Bangladeshi embassies abroad, and showing documentaries to foreign nationals and diplomats in a bid to present the government’s “autocratic” activities.

Sources also said the party assistant secretary general, Barrister Abdur Razzak, was currently abroad with the list

and the documentaries.

Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, working committee member of Jamaat’s central committee, said Jamaat always conducted its politics in a democratic process. The party always keeps a list of its leaders who are killed, he added.

The list of victims – who allegedly died during demonstrations to free Jamaat leaders from war crimes charges – reportedly contains the names of 31 deceased from Rangpur, 57 from Rajshahi, nine from Dhaka, two from Faridpur, one from Barisal, three from Sylhet, 21 from Comilla, 33 from Khulna and 27 from Chittagong. l

Loan defaulters to be barred from upazila Parishad election n Tribune Report

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Jumma Asr Magrib Esha

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Surer Dhara congratulates Prof Anisuzzaman on his achieving the ‘Padma Bhusan’ award, the India's third highest civilian honour, in Dhanmondi’s Bengal Gallery yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

The Finance Ministry has asked all banks and other financial institutions to provide information on loan defaulters to disqualify them from contesting in the Upazila Parishad poll slated for February 19.

The Bank and Financial Institution Division of the ministry directed the banks and financial institutions to provide the information to the respective returning officers, by issuing a circular yesterday.

As per the Upazila Parishad Act 1998, loan defaulters are not eligible to contest in the poll.

Any candidate found to have failed to pay a loan instalment on time, would be disqualified regardless of their post, be it the upazila parisad chairman, vice-chairman or a member, said the circular.

It also said the loan defaulters’ information must be submitted within the last date for screening the nomination papers.

The circular says candidates can submit nomination papers for the elections to be held in 102 upazila parisads until January 25 and withdraw until February 3.

Branch managers or authorised officers of respective banks and financial institutions will be responsible for providing any incorrect information and will be penalised, said the circular.

All officers concerned of the banks and financial institutions have been asked to be present at office on government holidays and after regular office hours until the completion of scrutiny of the nominations papers in order to provide the information to the returning officers as per requirement. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

5

Friday, January 31, 2014

Kutub Bagh Urs causes suffering for visitors Public Works Department allegedly permits to arrange the function the illegal structures, we will file a case n Abu Hayat Mahmud against them,” he said.

National Poetry Festival 2014 begins tomorrow n Arif Ahmed A two-day long poetry festival is set to begin tomorrow on the premises of Dhaka University’s Central Library where hundreds of poets will join and recite their poems.

Organisers of the programme said along with the Bangladeshi poets, 30 other poets from India, Nepal, Bhutan, Italy, Syria, Australia and America will join the country’s largest poetry festival.

Jatiya Kabita Parishad is organising the National Poetry Festival 2014.

Convener of the festival Prof Muhammad Samad, at a press conference at the Dhaka Reporters Unity in city said the festival would feature elaborate programs, including recitation of poems, songs on language movement, seminar and photo exhibition on poets and poetry.

He added that a colourful procession will be brought out from the venue of the programme where renowned poets and litterateurs from both Bangladesh and India will participate.

Among others, Jatiya Kabita Parishad’s President Habibullah Siraji, and General Secretary Aslam Sani were present at the press conference. The country has been observing the festival since 1987. l

The authorities of Kutubbagh Darbar Sharif illegally erected arches in the capital’s Farmgate Park for Urs, a giant gathering, with the permission of the Public Works Department (PWD), causing untold suffering to the visitors and inhabitants.

The PWD officials said they had given the permission to arrange the function in the park at the request of influential ruling party members.

The authorities of the Darbar Sharif also said they had arranged the programme with the permission of the authorities concerned.

Md Kabir Ahmed Bhuiyan, chief engineer of PWD told the Dhaka Tribune; “We have permitted the function for two days on the recommendation of an influential person.”

“We do not know about the longterm programme of Kutub Bagh Darbar,” Kabir said.

“The month-long programme will damage the beauty of the park. If the Kutubbagh Darbar does not remove

Residents of the adjoining areas – Indara Road, Rajabazar Green Road and Jahanara Garden – opposed the Urs as it will hamper their normal lives.

Altaf Hossain, 58, an inhabitant of East Rajabazar told the Dhaka Tribune: “Every evening I go to the peark for refreshments and a walk. But the Urs authority has started to block the refreshment area.”

Students of Tejgaon College also echoed the sentiment. Students of the college Saidur Rahman, Raju Das and Afroza Sultana said because of the Urs they would not be able move freely about the park.

When asked, seeking anonymity, a person of the Darbar Sharif said; “We have made tin-shed houses to store foods such as rice, pulses, cattle and other sacrificial animals, which will be given by the pir’s murids (followers).”

Md Motaleb, a murid of Kutubbaghi, told the Dhaka Tribune: “We got permission from the authorities to use the park for Urs.” l

Fire at Dada Match Factory in Khulna n Our Correspondent, Khulna

2nd phase of Biswa Ijtema begins today with multi-layer security

KU at standstill following resignation of teachers

n Mohammad Jamil Khan, from Tongi

Administrative activities at Khulna University have been hampered as 30 teachers of the university resigned en masse from 33 administrative posts, including a head of department and a hall provost, protesting against a perceived insult to one of their female fellows.

The teachers submitted their resignation letters to the office of the university’s registrar on 23 January, university sources said.

The sources said the teachers resigned from administrative posts because Prof Dr Afroza Parveen, acting director of the Fine Arts Institute, was insulted by Professor Mostafa Sarwar at the academic council meeting held on January 18. The meeting was presided over by Vice-Chancellor Dr Fayequzzaman.

During the meeting, acting head of Development Studies Discipline Prof Dr Mostafa Sarwar raised question about the validity of Dr Afroza’s continuation

A fire broke out at the Dada Match Factory, at Rupsha in Khulna, during the early hours of Wednesday, burning valuables and equipment.

Reject match sticks and some vital factory equipment were destroyed, said Senior Station Officer of Khulna Fire Service Md Masud Sarder.

He said the fire might have been started by an electric short circuit.

But, General Secretary of Factory Workers’ Union HM Shahadat said the fire was started by discarded cigarette-ends left by drug addicts. He also demanded an inquiry into the incident.

After being alerted, four units of fire fighters rushed to the scene and brought the situation under control.

The match factory has remained closed since August 18, 2010 because of the financial crisis, rendering thousands of workers jobless.

Workers at the factory often stage demonstrations in front of it. They demand the re-opening of the factory, which under the management of Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation. l

The 160-acre land on the bank of the Turag river, the outskirts of the capital, is already full with thousands of devotees as the second phase of Biswa Ijtema begins today.

Police, Rapid Action Battalion and members of intelligence agencies, in uniform and plainclothes, have set up a multi-layer security system to avoid any untoward incident during the Ijtema, which is the second largest congregation of Muslims after the Hajj.

This is the fourth year that the Ijtema is being held in two phases on the banks of Turag, around 20km from the capital, to enable smooth management and security checks. The second phase will conclude on Sunday with final supplication – Akheri Munajat. The first phase of the Ijtema was held from January 24 to 26.

At least fifteen Chhatra League activists of Dhaka University, including its Salimullah Muslim Hall unit president, were injured when a clash took place at Peacock Bar & Restaurant at the capital’s Shahbag area yesterday night.

Witnesses said, the clash took place at midnight after the bar staff prevented Mehdi Hasan, president of Bangladesh Chhatra League’s Dhaka University Salimullah Muslim Hall unit, from entering the restaurant as it was already closed for the day.

Following the denial, Mehdi had a heated debate with the bar staff. At one stage, the bar staff reportedly confined Mehdi and gave him a good beating.

Hearing the incident, BCL Salimullah Muslim Hall unit general secre-

RECRUITMENT OF FOOD INSPECTORS

HC rules illegal food directorate’s decision to increase viva marks n Nazmus Sakib The High Court has declared illegal a decision by a government food department to increase by 10 percent the viva marks for a recruitment exam for food inspectors last year.

A joint HC bench led by Justice Farah Mahbub made the ruling yesterday after hearing a writ petition filed by lawyer ZI Khan Panna.

Shahdin Malik, who represented the petitioner, claimed that increasing the viva marks from 20% to 30% was made with mala fide intention.

“Through the verdict, the HC for the first time gave a ruling on this type of cases involving (government) appointments,” Malik said.

The HC ruling also restored the originally allotted 20% marks for the viva,

The devotees who reached the Ijtema ground on Thursday morning did not get any space under the main tent.

They had set up arrangements of their own.

The security system will be maintained as usual like the first phase In the second phase, devotees will join the Ijtema from 33 districts of the country, especially from the southern region.

Abdul Baten, police super of Gazipur, told the Dhaka Tribune that no foreigner will join the second phase of the Ijtema, but some foreigners were still staying there and they would leave the area shortly.

DU BCL leader, activists beaten at Peacock bar

College principal sues BCL president n Our Correspondent, Sylhet n Arif Ahmed A Sylhet-based college principal sued the institution’s Chhatra League president for extortion and vandalising his room.

Modon Mohon College Principal Prof Abul Fateh Fattah had filed the case against Arun Debonath Sagor Wednesday night. The principal said Sagor including 10-15 of his supporters have been accused in the case.

According to the case, on Sunday, the Chhatra League president came to the college and phoned the principal, asking to meet him. At one point of the meeting, the president asked for money for Saraswati Puja. When the principal denied, Sagor and his men vandalised the principal’s room. Teachers have been observing an indefinite strike from Monday, protesting the incident. l

Bamboo structures are being built at Farmgate Park in the capital yesterday by Kutubbagh Darbar Sharif authorities on the occasion of Urs SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

scrapping the food department’s decision.

The petition, made in public interest, stated that on September 21, 2010, the Directorate General of Food under the food ministry had issued a job circular for appointing 328 food inspectors, 175 deputy inspectors and 403 assistant inspectors.

The circular declared that a written examination would be held for 80% of marks, followed by a viva for 20%.

However, after the written exam last year, an order was issued in June increasing the viva marks to 30%, leaving 70% for the written test.

Earlier on October 3, the High Court had issued a rule on the food directorate asking why the decision to increase the viva marks should not be declared illegal. l

tary Nizamul Islam Didar and several other activists rushed to the spot and snooped upon the bar staff. Later, Shahbag police intervened and took control of the situation.

After the clash, seven BCL men, including Mehdi, have been admitted to the Dhaka Medical College in critical condition.

Meanwhile, when contacted, DU Acting Proctor Amzad Ali told the Dhaka Tribune that an investigation committee has been formed to probe into the matter and necessary measures will be taken after the investigation has been done.

Shahbag police station Officer in Charge Shirajul Islam said: “We were successful in stopping the clash. No one has been detained and no case has been filed in this regard.” l

The security system will be maintained as usual like the first phase.

Abul Kalam Azad, an organiser, said Maulana Abdul Wahab of Pakistan had started giving sermons after Maghrib prayers.

A mobile court realised Tk5,000 as fines from a hotel for selling unhygienic foods, said Ismail Hossain, officer-in-charge of Tongi police station.

The first phase was participated by devotees from 32 districts of the country along with around 25,000 foreigners from 120 countries including, Pakistan, India, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Indonesia and Palestine.

Tabligh Jamaat has been organising the annual congregation. The Ijtema features delivery of sermons on fundamental matters of Tabligh, prayers for spiritual adulation, exaltation and welfare of the Muslim Ummah, and recitation from the holy Quran and Hadith. l

n Our Correspondent, Khulna

as the acting director of the institute, given a senior professor joined the institute two months ago.

He then said as per the rules, the senior professor should be made director of the Fine Arts Institute, and that Dr Afroza had no right to attend the academic council meeting as acting director.

Following the remark, Dr Afroza tendered her resignation letter to the vice-chancellor on January 22.

Meanwhile, syndicate members of the university have appealed to the teachers to restart administrative work, for greater interest of the university, and carry on with the educational activities and examinations. “The deadlock will never end until Mostafa Sarwar apologies to Professor Parvin for insulting her,” said a teacher on condition of anonymity.

The vice-chancellor said he would sit with the teachers at any point, and requested them to restart work and resolve the crisis in the interests of the students. l

Students demand cut in extra tuition fees at DU n Arif Ahmed Students from leftist organisations and the Progressive Student Alliance of Dhaka University yesterday demanded the immediate withdrawal of additional tuition fees, which had been imposed on students enrolling on the newly introduced four-year bachelor’s degree course at the university’s Television and Film Studies department.

They raised their demands at a press briefing at the university’s Madur Canteen in the afternoon.

Terming the additional fees part of “a scheme to privatise the public institution,” they demanded the cancelation of all other such fees imposed by all departments.

“The authorities should have ascertained what support they were able to

give the new departments, rather than depending on what the students are able to pay,” said Liton Nandi, general secretary of Bangladesh Students’ Union (BSU) DU unit.

Samajtantrik Chhatra Front’s DU unit President Rashed Shahriar said: “Many aspiring students were shocked to see the unusually high fees, estimated at around Tk 1.37 lakh.”

On Wednesday, protesters besieged the department office, pressing home their demand. They barricaded the department office and halted admissions.

Later, AJM Shafiul Alam Bhuyian, chairman of the Television and Film Studies department, rushed to the scene and held a meeting with the protesters.

The department head reportedly assured student leaders that he would discuss the matter with the university’s au-

thorities, in line with their demands.

The protesters then took out a protest rally inside the campus and held a demonstration in front of Arts Faculty Bhaban.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Shafiul Alam said: “We are compelled to introduce high fees as it is quite impossible for us to provide all the necessary facilities to the students from the university’s funds.

I will discuss that matter with the authorities, and if they agree to provide us with sufficient funds, we will reduce the admission fees.”

According to the department, each student has to pay at least 1.30 lakh to complete their undergraduate course, which is quite rare when compared to any other public university. The department officials said 18 out of 30 students have already been admitted to the course. l

RU students protest fee hikes and evening courses n RU Correspondent Several thousand students of Rajshahi University gathered on the campus yesterday to demonstrate against increased fees and the introduction of new evening masters’ courses.

They gathered in front of various academic buildings, marched throughout the campus, locked all entryways for hours, and abstained from attending classes and examinations.

After a daylong protest, spurred on by the explosion of three handmade bombs earlier in the day, students declared a continuation of their demonstrations.

According to sources, over three thousand students gathered in front of the central library around 11am and began their march around the campus, ending with a meeting in front of the administrative building.

They also held several rallies and kept the administrative building locked between 11:30am and 2pm.

Later, a group of student represen-

Students of Rajshahi University put the main gate of administrative building under lock and key, protesting fees hike and evening course DHAKA TRIBUNE tatives met with Vice-chancellor Prof Mizanuddin to discuss their points but the meeting ended in failure.

The protesters, vowing to continue their protests until the demands are met, alleged that the explosions were

orchestrated by university authorities.

The bombs were exploded around 9:30am, in front the VC residence, the first science building, and the Rabindra Arts building.

Proctor Tarikul Hasan denied the protesters’ allegation.

The students started their protests on January 16, after being angered by a decision to increase all fees by up to five times, and the introduction of new evening courses in seven departments of the social science faculty – in addition to the existing ones under the BBA and law faculties.

However, in a press release signed by the Public Relations Administrator Prof Eliyas Hossain, the authorities claimed that the increased fees were “logical” and “proportionate” to the increasing prices of commodities.

It also said that the decision to introduce evening master’s courses was taken to provide opportunities of higher studies to a greater number of students. l

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

Friday, January 31, 2014

BNP leader among two killed in ‘gunfights’ with RAB n Tribune Report Two people, including a local BNP leader, were killed in separate incidents of “gunfights” with the law enforcing agencies’ men in Noakhali and Sirajganj in the early hours of yesterday.

Police said Touhidul Islam Touhid, a former joint convener of BNP’s Sonaimuri upazila unit in Noakhali, was killed in gun battle with police while, Mohammad Bablu, 32, a member of a robbery gang, was killed during a gunfight with Rapid Action Battalion members in Sirajganj, said RAB officials.

Our correspondent, quoting Kamal, brother of Touhid, said he had been arrested near the National Press Club in Dhaka on Tuesday. Later, Paltan police station handed him over to Noakhali police station from where he was taken

to local police lines. “We were unable to trace him thereafter,” he said.

On the other hand, Anisur Rahman, superintendent of police in Noakhali, told Dhaka Tribune that based on information gleaned from Touhid, police along with the him conducted a raid at his Bhadragaon residence around 4am and recovered a rifle and five bullets.

“When we were returning to the police station, some cohorts of Touhid opened fire on us at Modi village, prompting us to retaliate with shots of more than 40 bullets, leaving Touhid bullet-injured as he went in line of fire to escape during the gunfight,” he said.

Later, doctors at Noakhali Medical College and Hospital declared him dead.

He claimed Touhid, son of Master Nurul Islam, was accused in four cases

filed with Sonaimuri police station.

In Sirajganj, Bablu, son of Abdul Wahab of Baoitara village under sadar upazila, was killed as his cohorts allegedly engaged in a gun fight with the team of RAB 12 personnel.

Bablu was the second accused in the Awami League youth and sports secretary Sirajganj sadar upazila unit Saiful Islam killing case.

Ashok Pal, commander of RAB 12, said a team of them conducted a raid at Kato Adda in China project area on information that a gang of robbers were holding a secret meeting. The gang members opened fire as soon as RAB team reached there.

“Bablu was caught in the line of fire during the 20-minute “gunfight” and died on the spot,” he said.

After the gun fight, the gang mem-

Third phase upazila polls on March 15 n Mohammad Zakaria

bers fled and the Rab team recovered one Light Gun (LG), one revolver, four cocktails and some sharp weapons from the spot, he said.

Meanwhile, from Ullapara and Belkuchi of the district police arrested Shahdat Hossain Lavlu, 31, convener of upazila unit Chhatra Dal and joint convener of the district unit Rizon Ahmed yesterday. Police said they are accused in three cases.

On the other hand, police arrested a Jamaat leader Sariful Islam Mukul from Kotchandpur of Jhenaidah, who was accused in four cases filed in connection of polls time violence.

In Lakshmipur, police arrested two Shibir men Nasir Uddin and Shafique for their alleged involvement with torching of a Hindu family at Udmara village under the upazila. l

The Election Commission is going to announce the third phase polls schedule for 74 upazila parishads in the first week of February, and will hold the polls on March 15.

The commission will hold meetings with all deputy commissioners, police supers, district election officers and returning officers on February 6, to discuss the law and order situation during upazila parishad polls, a senior EC official told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

The official said the commission was planning to announce the schedule of the third phase in the evening after the meeting on February 6. The commission has already sent letters about the meeting to concerned officials.

The EC has finalised the list of 51,587 polling centres which will hold the third phase of the upazila polls. The total number of voters in these upazilas

is 19,852,097.

Earlier, the EC announced schedules for the first two phases of the elections in 215 upazilas, which will be held on February 19 and 27.

The commission has decided to deploy the army for five days and also the necessary number of law enforcement personnel including Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Rab, police, Ansar, Coast Guard, VDP, EC officials said.

Intelligence agencies have told the EC that there will be no possibility of violence during the upazila polls, as all political parties are contesting them, officials also said.

They also said army was deployed for five days in third upazila parishad polls held on January 22, 2009. The commission will deploy 14 law enforcement people at ordinary polling centres and 15 at vulnerable centres, and 17 will be deployed in centres in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and Haor areas. l

50 cows die from nitric poisoning n Our Correspondent, Lakshmipur At least 50 cattle have died from nitric poisoning at a dairy farm in Dorbeshpur union of Ramganj upazila, Lakshmipur, last week.

Md Anwar Hossain Bacchu, owner of Amy Dairy Farm, said; “I have to endure losses of around Tk one crore because of the 50 cattle that died from disease.”

He said he had acquired a loan of Tk5 crore and invested the money in the dairy. Chief scientific officer (PSO) of Feni, Dr Nurul Amin, said; “The amount of the poison has increased in the grass beside the farm.”

Chief scientific officers of Chittagong’s divisional, local animal disease investigation laboratory and veterinary specialists of Feni visited the farm on Saturday. They collected sam-

ples through the autopsy of the cattle.

During the visit, he advised farmers of the villages how they could take care of the cattle to fave them from the poisioning According to sources, the disease had spread through the fodder.

UNO Kazi Mokbubul Alam said; “A five member committee was formed by appointing the upazila livestock official as convener.”

“We may submit a report to the ministry concerned to provide compensation to the farm owner,” the UNO said.

District Livestock Officer Abu Al Mansur, Sadar Upazila Livestock Officer Dr Md Mostafa Ashraf, Raipur Upazila Livestock Officer Abdul Motaleb, Ramganj Upazila Livestock Officer Md Zakir Hossain and Upazila Milk Vita Manager Dr Ashraful Islam paid a visit to the farm on Thursday. l

Members of Mahanagar Hawkers’ Union hold a protest rally after a mobile court evicted hawkers from different footpaths of Rajshahi city yesterday

Cold wave paralyses life in northern districts n Tribune Desk

The bone chilling cold wave, coupled with dense fog and mists over the northern districts, factually paralyzed the normal life of commoners for the last 24 hours.

According to sources, the severity of biting cold forced the commoners to stay indoors affecting normal activities as the sun hid behind dense fogs, mists and clouds amid windy weather almost throughout the day.

According to the Meteorological Office sources, the minimum temperatures marked both rise and fall while maximum temperatures registered little rise at most monitoring points in the districts.

The Met Office recorded the minimum temperature of 12.2 degrees Celsius at 6am and maximum of 18

degrees at 4 pm in Rangpur.

BSS reports-the minimum temperatures recorded were 10.8 degrees Celsius at Syedpur, 11.6 degrees in Bogra, 11 degrees in Dinajpur and the lowest temperature of 8.2 degrees Celsius in the country was recorded at Iswardi.

Due to the prevailing minimum gap between the maximum and minimum temperatures during the past couple of days, intensity of biting cold continues causing untold miseries to the common people almost everywhere.

“We have further intensified distribution of warm clothes among the cold-hit people to mitigate their sufferings in Rangpur like in the other northern districts,” District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer of Rangpur Abdus Salam said.

The district and upazila admin-

istrations, NGOs, voluntary, sociocultural, charitable and professional organisations have also been distributing warm clothes among the coldhit people to mitigate their sufferings.

The number of coldrelated patients has increased in the northern districts making the elderly people, children and babies as the worst sufferers Reports reaching from the remote and sandy char areas of Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha, Rangpur, Nilphamari, Bogra and Sirajganj districts on the Brahmaputra

basin said sufferings of thousands of people living there remained unchanged.

The number of cold- related patients has increased in the northern districts making the elderly people, children and babies as the worst sufferers, doctors in the hospitals and health complexes said.

Civil Surgeon of Rangpur Dr Reajul Islam said steps had been taken in the hospitals and health complexes to provide proper treatment to the cold- related patients and no incident of cold- related death was reported so far.

Horticulture Socialist of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Khandker Md Mesbahul Islam said the situation had deteriorated during the past two days due to climate change impacts causing sufferings to the people. l

Migratory birds coming in flocks in Netrakona n Tribune Report

A health camp was held at Baliadanga Palli in Chapainawabganj yesterday. The camp provided cost-free healthcare services to 1,000 poor people DHAKA TRIBUNE

College teacher, two others killed in road accidents n Our Correspondents A college teacher was killed in a road accident on the Rajshahi-Naogan Highway at Mohanpur in Rajshahi yesterday.

The deceased, Shomsher Ali, 42, lecturer of Mohanpur Degree College, was residing at Saipara village.

Police said when Shomsher Ali was going to the betel leaf field riding a human haulier, a speedy truck hit the vehicles, leaving six passengers injured.

He died on the way to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. Two people

have been killed and two others have been injured as a bus rammed a CNGrun auto rickshaw in Koiyarpur area on Chandpur-Comilla highway yesterday afternoon. The deceased could not be identified immediately.

Habiganj police station Office-inCharge Shah Alam said: “A Chandpurbound bus rammed a Habiganj-bound auto rickshaw in Koiyarpur area around 12:30pm, killing two on the spot and injuring the others.”

The injured were admitted to a local hospital in critical condition. l

The migratory birds which popularly known as guests of winter have started arriving from different countries to the down-stream areas under Khaliajury upazila of the district for the last few days.

But, the numbers of the migratory birds have reduced to onethird of the previous number, the reports reaching here from the areas said.

According to local bird lovers and weather experts, the migratory birds in flocks of hundreds or thousands used to fly to various parts of the country during the winter every year coming from countries like Siberia, Mongolia, China and Nepal to escape the intolerable icy weather condition.

Local bird lovers including chairman of Khaliajury Sadar union parishad Abu Ishak told the BSS that different places around the haors, marshlands and swamp areas including Moragang beel, Kataljan beel, Kithonkhula haor, Bowali haor, Bora beel and Pangasia haor of Khaliajury upazila under the district have already turned into the “heavenly

abodes” of the guest birds.

The migratory birds locally known as Dighari, Khaligori, Sarails, Balihas and Pankouri were seen glittering or hovering like small air-crafts on the blue sky over the water-bodies, some were wading across the banks of the open water-bodies and eating small fishes and many of them were seen chattering or sauntering on the shoals.

When asked to comment on the causes of reducing the number of the migratory birds, many local people including the bird- lovers and weather experts informed that the number of migratory birds has reduced to onethird of the previous number due to scarcity of the small fishes in the natural open water- bodies and impact of climate changing atmosphere.

Many local people complained that the guest-birds are being sold every day in the local hats and bazaar ncluding Lapshia, Jagannathpur and Bowali bazaar in Khaliajury upazila and Gaglajur, Borantor and Chesrakhali bazaars under the Mohanganj upazila in the district. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Invitation for Tenders GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF BANGLADESH Ministry/Division Ministry of Railways.

Agency Bangladesh Railway.

Procuring Entity Name Chief Signal & Telecommunication Engineer/West, Bangladesh Railway Rajshahi.

4 Procuring Entity Code Not used at present.

5 Procuring Entity District Western Zone.

6 Invitation for Design, Supply, laying, Installation, testing & Commissioning of cable and signalling equipment for introduction of Non-interlocked colour light Signalling System at Kalukhali Railway Station in western zone of Bangladesh Railway.

7 Invitation Ref. No 54.01.8100.157.02.066.13 8 Date 29.01.2014 KEY INFORMATION 9 Procurement Method Open Tendering Method (NCT) FUNDING INFORMATION 10 Budget and Source of Fund Govt. of Bangladesh 11 Development Partners (if applicable) Not applicable PARTICULAR INFORMATION 12 Project/Programme Code (if applicable) Not applicable 13 Project/Programme Name (if applicable) Design, Supply, laying, Installation, testing & Commissioning of cable and signalling equipment for introduction of Non-interlocked colour light Signalling System at Kalukhali Railway Station in western zone of Bangladesh Railway.

14 Tender Package No. WR-07 15 Tender Package Name Design, Supply, laying, Installation, testing & Commissioning of cable and signalling equipment for introduction of Non-interlocked colour light Signalling System at Kalukhali Railway Station in western zone of Bangladesh Railway.

Date Time 16 Tender Publication Date 17 Tender Last Selling Date 23.02.2014 During office hours.

18 Tender Closing Date and Time 24.02.2014 12.00 PM. 19 Tender Opening Date and Time 24.02.2014 12.30 PM. 20 Name & Address of the office (s) Address - Selling Tender Document (Principal) Chief Signal & Telecommunication Engineer/West, Bangladesh Railway, Rajshahi.

- Selling Tender Document (Others) Divisional Signal & Telecommunication Engineer, Bangladesh Railway, Paksey, Lalmonirhat & Dhaka - Receiving Tender Document Chief Signal & Telecommunication Engineer/West, Bangladesh Railway, Rajshahi.

- Openimg Tender Document Chief Signal & Telecommunication Engineer/West, Bangladesh Railway, Rajshahi.

21 Place/Date/Time of Tender opening Chief Signal & Telecommunication Engineer/West, Bangladesh Railway, Rajshahi.

24.02.2014 12.30 PM. 22 Pre-Tender Meeting (Optional) Date Time N/A N/A 1 2 3

INFORMATION FOR TENDERER 23 Eligibility of Tenderer 24 Brief Description of Related Services

As stated in the TDS of Tender document.

Design, Supply, laying, Installation, testing & Commisioning of cable and signalling equipment for introduction of Non-interlocked colour light Signalling System at Kalukhali Railway Station in wster zone of Bangladesh Railway.

Comple25 Pack- Identification of Lot Location Price of Tender Tender tion Time in age No Doument (Tk) Security Amount (Tk) Weeks/months 1,00,000/- 2 (Two months) WR-07 Design, Supply, laying, Installation, testing & 2000/Kalukhali Commissioning of cable and signalling equip(One Lac (Two Thousand Railway ment for introduction of Non-interlocked colour only) only) Station light Signalling System at Kalukhali Railway Station in western zone of Bangladesh Railway.

PROCURING ENTITY DETAILS 26 27 28 29 30

Name of Official Inviting Tender MD. Abul Kalam Designation of Official Inviting Tender Chief Signal & Telecommunication Engineer/West, Bangladesh Railway, Rajshahi.

Address of Official Inviting Tender Chief Signal & Telecommunication Engineer/West, Bangladesh Railway, Rajshahi.

Contact details of Official Inviting Tender 0721-761014.

The procuring entry reserves the right to accept or reject all tenders.

RPRD No-3716, Date: 29/01/2014 GC-04/14 (10”x3c)

(Benu Ranjan Sarker) Addl: Chief Signal & Telecommunication Engineer/West For-Chief Signal & Telecommunication Engineer/West, Bangladesh Railway.

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Long Form

7

Friday, January 31, 2013

Where is the sportsmanship?

Bangladesh Cricket would hit a wall if the ‘big three’ have their way

MUMIT M

F

n Yousuf Rahman

or the upstarts who are running the affairs of Bangladesh cricket now, it is time for a history lesson: During the pre-1971 days, when East Pakistan played at the highest level of Pakistan cricket, our team that consisted of a majority of players born and raised between the southern tip of Chittagong to the northern tip of Dinajpur, competed and beat some of the best West Pakistan had to offer.

In 1969, it was our team that played the Pakistan Under-19 final against a Lahore team that consisted of at least seven players who eventually played Test cricket for Pakistan, including the likes of Imran Khan, Wasim Raja, and Majid Usman. The winner was decided on the basis of a first innings lead that we were unlucky to concede.

Cricket lost out when Bangladesh emerged as an independent nation.

There were people, within the political system at that time, who opposed the game, and created un-imaginable barriers preventing the game from flourishing.

For BCCI to have the gall to propose the two-tier Test system is unethical, predatory and certainly not cricket

Even then, there were many who loved the sport so dearly that they spent time and money to keep it going. When we played in the 70s and 80s, our sole objective was to keep the game alive, and we most certainly kept it alive for the future generations to pick it up and continue on the path of progress.

The path to Test Match cricket has not been an easy one; however, not many know that in the early 70s, when Bangladesh was not among the elite cricketing fraternity, Pakistan cricket chief Mr Abdul Hafeez Kardar, a former captain of Pakistan, along with his friend and counterpart, the Indian cricket chief, had made a somewhat bizarre proposal to the ICC: Bangladesh be considered a full test playing nation by virtue of the country being a former part of Pakistan, and that Dhaka was already a Test match venue of international stature.

We know what happened to that proposal, but it did lay the seed for Bangladesh’s entry into the world of cricket. A dramatic move by Mr Kardar, and even though the Pakistan Board befuddled many, it placed Bangladesh on the map of International cricket even before Bangladesh had

a well constituted Cricket Board. On Mr Kardar’s initiative, Roquibul Hasan was sent to Pakistan to represent an invitational World XI against Pakistan to play in a series of one day matches in 1975.

From 1977, when we got into the ICC as an associate member, until 1999, when we beat Pakistan in the World Cup, Bangladesh has strived against all odds to continue on its path of progress. In 2000, when we were granted Test Match status, and thrown into the big league, I along with many others, had openly expressed the opinion that we were not ready, mentally or physically, to cope with the qualitative demand of Test Match cricket.

Test Match status was gifted to us through some political manoeuvring orchestrated by India, and ably supported by Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Bangladesh suddenly became an invaluable player in the cricketing world, simply because we held a vote that carried a lot of punch.

As we all know, the nature of control in the cricket world changed dramatically within the following decade. Who else but India has gained the most out of Bangladesh’s Test match status! Soon enough, they had enough clout to tell the ICC what to do.

They launched a private T20-league under the banner of IPL and ensured that the ICC gives it due recognition even though it is a domestic private tournament organised and managed by a bunch of business entities, and its primary objective is making money and promoting their own players above and beyond all others. In my opinion, many Indian players getting decent pay from the IPL probably would not fit into the BPL. For BCCI to have the gall to propose the two-tier Test system is unethical, predatory, and certainly not cricket.

To top it all, for ECB and Cricket Australia to support this proposal, shows the level of cowardice in their thought process. You know the old saying, “If you cannot lick them, join them.”

ECB and CA, the two giants that ruled world cricket not too long ago, figured that they are unable to take the BCCI head on. Hence, a deal has been made.

“Let us form the big three, and the rest can take a hike.”

My question is, what makes them the big three? The Indian team that contained Tendulkar, Dravid, Laxman, and Sehwag were treated like schoolboys during their last two tours of Australia and England.

South Africa beat both Australia and England on Australian and English soil, and is the number 1 team in Test Match cricket today. Need the “Big three” be reminded of this fact? Is it finance that makes them the “Big Three?” If such is the case, then the world of cricket needs to unite against this evil force. Boycotting the IPL would be a perfect start. Follow

BCB needs to strengthen their spine, and stand up for Bangladesh cricket, its hard-working cricketers, and more importantly, the fans

the Gandhi principle, and give the Indians a taste of their own medicine!

Furthermore, the ICC should (if it hasn’t already already) regulate and limit the number of sponsorships that can come from one country for all international cricketing events.

Bangladesh has come a long way, and over the years has shown significant signs of improvement. When we first started in 2000, the team could barely last three days in a Test Match.

Questions were being asked all across the globe. Come 2009, Bangladesh surprised the West Indies in the Caribbean when we won the series, winning both Tests as well the ODI series.

Yes, it was a depleted West Indian squad, but to beat them at their game on West Indian soil required courage and skill, both aspects that our players amply displayed.

Since then, Bangladesh has been competing with dignity against most sides at this level, the most recent being the drawn series against New Zealand in the autumn of 2013. Needless to mention, we also beat them 4-0 in the ODI series. Oh yes, lest we forget – The Kiwis have given the Indians a hammering in the current ODI series, and have won the series convincingly.

Another dent for the “Big Three” self styled fiefdom!

So, is it not the moral obligation of the ICC to ensure that the quality of cricket in a nation improves with a certain level of continuity? Here I wish to challenge the moral integrity of the ICC. For Bangladesh to continue on this path of progress, our players need to compete regularly at the highest level.

Sri Lanka became a Full Member in the early 80s only because they played regularly against the Pakistani and Indian Test teams.

The same opportunity almost became a reality for us when Pakistan offered to develop our cricket by sending their best team to Bangladesh in 1980, only to painfully see the tour get disrupted by a group that had a vested interest in its disruption. It is Bangladeshi cricket that lost out. The dark and evil face of politics led the way that destroyed the momentum of Bangladesh cricket’s unquestionable growth.

The better opposition you have, the better you become. This is a simple fact of life. So, for the BCB to even consider aligning with the Indian proposal is mind-boggling. I can understand individuals with no

That famous 1999 World Cup win against Pakistan

cricketing knowledge or background voting in the affirmative, but for those individuals that represented the country to agree with the idea, is not only perplexing, but also is against all moral standards that the game of cricket stands for.

I fail to understand how Bangladesh’s cricket will progress if they are continually made to play against the Associate Member teams. It will hurt us qualitatively and financially. After all, who will sponsor a series between Bangladesh and the Netherlands, or for that matter Ireland or Scotland?

There go the sponsors, the TV rights etc.

Should this proposal become a reality, it will be the beginning of a journey into a black hole for Bangladeshi cricket. We must not allow this to happen, and it is time for the international fraternity to stand up and fight this nonsense. BCB needs to strengthen their spine, and stand up for Bangladesh cricket, its hard-working cricketers, and more importantly, the fans that follow the game with more passion than anywhere else in the world.

I would like to end this with a quote from Sir Ian Botham after Bangladesh beat Ireland in the World Cup in Dhaka: “There are 25,000 screaming fans inside the stadium and another 200,000 outside; and that too after a win against Ireland. This speaks volumes for this cricket crazy nation. There is no way you can stop their progress.”

It seems there are forces within us that want to prove Mr Botham wrong.

Yousuf Rahman is a former cricketer of the Bangladesh National Cricket Team.

AFP

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

International

Friday, January 31, 2014

Christian militias hunt down Muslims in CAR capital n AFP, Bangui

Rudimentary weapons taken from Christian extremist militias by French troops in the capital of the Central African Republic were piled up on the ground, near the body of a young man whose ears were ripped off.

“He was a Muslim from here, named Abaka. They killed him in the courtyard of his house,” a Christian neighbour, Benjamin, told AFP. “They” referred to “anti-balaka” (anti-machete) vigilantes who fiercely target Muslims in Bangui on the pretext of hunting down ex-rebels from the Seleka coalition. Sporadic shots could be heard Thursday around the PK-5 business hub of the capital, where numerous Muslim-owned shops attract looters and anti-balaka forces, who are kept at bay by armed Muslims and remaining Seleka forces. But night and day, residents from the Muslim minority, like Abaka, are cut down by anti-balaka forces armed with machetes, hammers, slings and spades.

“We need to cover the body,” said a soldier of France’s Operation Sangaris, consisting of 1,600 troops who work

Russia to wait before implementing rescue: Putin

French soldiers of the Sangaris operation run during a patrol in Bangui

South Sudan frees seven detainees

n Reuters, Moscow/Kiev

n Reuters, Nairobi

President Vladimir Putin raised the pressure on Ukraine on Wednesday, saying Russia would wait until it forms a new government before fully implementing a $15 billion bailout deal that Kiev urgently needs.

Putin repeated a promise to honour the lifeline agreement with Ukraine in full, but left open the timing of the next aid instalment as Kiev struggles to calm more than two months of turmoil since President Victor Yanukovich walked away from a treaty with the European Union. A day after Prime Minister Mykola Azarov resigned on Tuesday, hoping to appease the opposition and street protesters l

South Sudan freed seven senior political figures on Wednesday who had been arrested on suspicion of plotting a coup, partially meeting a rebel demand at peace talks focused on ending weeks of fighting. It handed them over to neighbouring Kenya and said four remaining detainees could be released after unspecified “legal clarifications” - raising hopes it was preparing to remove a major sticking point in troubled negotiations. President Salva Kiir accused his former vice president Riek Machar of starting fighting between rival groups of soldiers in the capital Juba in mid December in a bid to seize power - a charge denied my Machar.

Ukraine leader takes sick leave n AFP, Kiev Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych on Thursday unexpectedly took sick leave from work, stepping aside from a crisis that still has no end in sight after lawmakers failed to find consensus on an amnesty law.

Yanukovych’s falling sick with an acute respiratory infection is the latest twist in a crisis that has already seen him accept the resignation of the prime minister in a bid to placate protesters.

The sudden announcement in Kiev came after the pro-EU opposition vowed further protests in the ex-Soviet country’s worst political crisis since its 1991 independence.

The outcome of the crisis remained unclear, with thousands of demonstrators still occupying Kiev’s Independence Square, key streets and municipal buildings in the centre of Kiev.

International concern has grown, with Russian President Vladimir Putin urging the European Union not to meddle in the crisis but Western states un-

der pressure from protesters to consider sanctions against Ukrainian officials.

The protests started in November as a push for EU integration after Yanukovych under Russian pressure ditched a deal for closer integration with the bloc, but have now become an all-out drive to unseat the president who until now has defiantly refused to budge.

“The president is on sick leave,” Yanukovych’s office said in a statement, without saying how long the leave would be for.

Citing deputy head of the State Directorate for Medical Affairs, Olexander Orda, the statement said Yanukovych had gone down with an “acute respiratory infection accompanied by an elevated temperature.”

While many Kievans have fallen sick in recent days amid frigid temperatures that have plunged to minus 20 degrees Celsius (-4 degrees Fahrenheit), the sick leave with allow Yanukovych a break from increasingly frenzied negotiations to end the crisis. Opposition fails to support amnesty bill. l

Angry Birds website hacked after NSA-GCHQ leaks n UNB, Dhaka Video game developer Rovio has confirmed that hackers defaced its Angry Birds site with an image entitled Spying Birds, featuring an NSA logo. The attack followed the publication of leaks that indicated the US spy agency and its British counterpart GCHQ had obtained data released by at least one of the Finnish firm’s games. The company said it did not “collaborate or collude” with any government spy agency. It added it had quickly fixed its site. “The defacement was caught in minutes and corrected immediately,” said marketing manager Saara Bergstrom. “The end user data was in no risk at any point. Due to how the internet name resolution works, for most areas it was not visible at all, but some areas take time for the correct information to be updated, reports the BBC. “This attack looks to be similar to the New York Times attacks from last year.”

The Syrian Electronic Army (SEA) – a group

supporting Syrian president Bashar al-Assad – said it carried out an attack on the New York Times last August. After Tuesday’s attack, a Twitter account associated with the group posted a link to a saved copy of the spoof Angry Birds image and the message: “A friend hacked and defaced @Angrybirds website after reports confirms its spying on people. The attack was by ‘Anti-NSA’ Hacker, He sent an email to our official email with the link of the hacked website.” On Monday, the New York Times, ProPublica and the Guardian all posted copies of documents obtained from whistle-blower Edward Snowden that suggested the NSA and Britain’s GCHQ had worked together since 2007 to develop ways to gain access to information from applications for mobile phones and tablets. They said that a GCHQ report, dated 2012, had specifically referred to their ability to snatch details about a user if they had installed Angry Birds on to an Android device. l

Authorities detained the 11 men, including former justice minister John Luk Jok, on suspicion of being involved, as clashes between government troops and now rebel fighters loyal to Machar quickly spread, killing thousands. Washington, the United Nations, regional and Western powers fearing the eruption of a full civil war in an unstable region - pushed both sides to start talks in Ethiopia and urged the government to respond to Machar’s demand to free detainees.

“We don’t feel bitter, we don’t feel the president is our enemy,” former justice minister Jok told reporters in Kenya’s capital Nairobi after his release.

Former finance minister Kosti Manibe was also among the seven freed. l

AFP

alongside an African Union peacekeeping force currently 5,500 strong. About 20 French soldiers sought to prevent scores of people from looting the property of the murdered Muslim.

“Don’t come close, stay where you are and back off,” a soldier yelled at a youth, but when the soldier stepped just three metres (yards) away, the looter came past, carrying a wooden door, while another followed with a hosepipe. Though few in number, the soldiers were holding dozens of youths at bay, half-hidden by tall grass behind the dead Muslim’s property. It was impossible to tell whether they were anti-balaka forces, would-be looters or hooligans. “This isn’t normal,” Benjamin protested. “Sangaris wants to stop us from looting!”

By the roadside, the owner of a shop named “L’Arche de Noe” (“Noah’s Ark”) took advantage of a few moments’ peace to shut up his premises with a padlock, but the curious kept gathering in their hundreds.

“We won’t tell you ten times,” a soldier warned the new arrivals. “Get over to the other side of the road.”

Coming from the airport zone,

where the French troops and the AU’s MISCA force are based, an African military ambulance sped by with a wailing siren. Warning shots rang out as French soldiers fired over the heads of the crowd. A score of French troops backed up by two armoured vehicles on Thursday threatened looters in the Yangato district near the airport with the use of force unless they departed.

“Disperse or we will use force against you,” the platoon commander announced by megaphone to a crowd seeking to pillage Muslim property.

“Any man who commits extortion is an enemy of the peace.”

The threat was affective, though determined looters lingered, waiting for the French troops to leave. Inter-religious violence has claimed thousands of lives and displaced a million people in the population of 4.6 million, yet such clashes are unprecedented in the poor, landlocked country. They erupted when former strongman Michel Djotodia, brought to power by Seleka forces in March last year, proved incapable of reining in his fighters, whose atrocities against Christians prompted the emergence of the anti-balaka and a spiral of violence and hatred. l

CAR and S Sudan wars bog African summit n Agencies Conflict in Central African Republic (CAR) and South Sudan have weighed heavy on African leaders during African Union (AU) talks, while the official theme is food security and agriculture.

State leaders gathered for a two-day summit of the continental bloc that started in Ethiopia on Thursday.

“The fact that these humanitarian tragedies are unfolding in the two countries at a time when we are talking about ‘African renaissance’ must be painful to all of us,” Ethiopian Foreign Minister Tedros Adhanom said, speaking at a ministerial-level meeting on Monday.

But the 54-member bloc seems to be bogged down yet again trying to resolve conflict in member states.

“Unless we find (an) urgent solution, the situation in these two countries will

have serious implications for peace and security in the region, and indeed the whole continent,” he added.

The unfolding humanitarian disaster in CAR, where a 5,300-strong AU force is deployed alongside 1,600 French soldiers, will be a key talking point. CAR descended into chaos ten months ago after rebels overthrew the government, sparking sectarian violence that has uprooted a million people out of a population of 4.6 million.

On Saturday, after the official summit closes, African leaders and Western diplomats will also hold a pledging conference to raise cash for the African Union-led peacekeeping mission in the CAR, or MISCA. “What we hope is strong support for MISCA, to enable it to implement its mandate more effectively,” the director of the AU peace and security council, El-Ghassim Wane, told AFP.

The warring parties in neighbouring South Sudan signed a fragile ceasefire last week, but clashes between government and rebels continue, with thousands killed and over 800,000 forced from their homes in bloodshed that has now lasted for six weeks.

Peace talks led by the regional East African bloc IGAD adjourned after last week’s ceasefire deal, with mediators calling for the AU to play a greater role in the peace process.

Heads of state will gather at the gleaming Chinese-built AU headquarters, which comes eight months after the bloc marked its 50th anniversary in May. Peter J. Pham, director of the Africa Centre at the Atlantic Council, said the AU’s slow response to the crisis in CAR points to a deeper institutional weakness when it comes to rapidly evolving conflicts. l

Ukraine amnesty bill gives protesters 15-day deadline n AFP, Kiev A bill passed by Ukraine’s parliament to amnesty arrested activists gives protesters a 15-day deadline to leave occupied streets and administrative buildings otherwise it will not be implemented, according to the text published Thursday.

The passing of the amnesty bill was a crucial moment in Ukraine’s crisis and is expected to form the basis of negotiations and disputes between the authorities and the opposition in the days to come.

The clock will start ticking on the 15day deadline once the bill adopted at a raucous session by the Verkhovna Rada late Wednesday is signed by President Viktor Yanukovych and is published in state media to become law.

However, in a new twist in an increasingly blurry situation, the president has taken indefinite sick leave and he should only be able to sign the law when he is officially at work.

The opposition is furious with the bill as it makes the amnesty of dozens of activists arrested in bitter clashes with police conditional on protesters leaving key streets and buildings they

Riot police stand opposite Pro-European Union barricades in Kiev have occupied in Kiev.

The votes of the majority ruling Regions Party were enough to push the legislation through the Verkhovna Rada but the opposition deputies refused to cast their votes.

The text of the bill was finally published Thursday after reports said that the draft had been so narrowly circu-

lated that some Regions Party MPs did not know what they were voting for.

It says that all administrative buildings in Kiev and the regions, as well as other streets, seized by protesters will need to be freed for the amnesty to come into force.

This appears to include the Kiev city hall that has been occupied for two

Iran rejects Obama boast that sanctions forced nuclear deal n AFP, Tehran

UN: No substantive results in Syria talks

Iran on Thursday dismissed as “unrealistic and unconstructive” comments

by US President Barack Obama that international sanctions linked to its nuclear programme had forced Tehran to the negotiating table. “The delusion of sanctions having an effect on Iran’s motivation for nuclear negotiations is based on a false narration of history,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham was quoted as saying by state broadcaster IRIB. Obama, in his State of the Union address on Tuesday, said US and international pressure had led to the interim deal struck in November between Iran and six global powers, under which Tehran agreed to scale back uranium enrichment in return for sanctions relief.

“American diplomacy, backed by pressure, has halted the progress of Iran’s nuclear programme and rolled parts of that programme back,” Obama said. l

Syria’s peace talks are moving forward with greater ease but United Nations mediator Lakhdar Brahimi has warned against expecting substantive results during this round.

Brahimi said on Wednesday that the “ice is breaking,” calling the presence of both the government and the opposition at the negotiating table a step in the right direction.

“These people have not sat together for three years. They do not expect that there’ll be a magic wand,” Brahimi said, insisting he was “not disappointed.”

Delegations from President Bashar al-Assad’s regime and the opposition National Coalition are set to determine on Friday when they will return to Geneva for the next round of talks, Brahimi said.

“I hope that the second session will be more structured and hopeful-

n Agencies

AFP

ly more productive than the first session,” he added.

Opposition delegation spokesman Louay Safi told reporters that future talks needed to show “substantial progress.”

“We’re not going to stay here month after month just talking without progress,” he said.

After days of deadlock, both sides voiced optimism on Wednesday, calling the talks “positive.”

“Today we had a positive step forward because for the first time now we are talking about the transitional governing body,” Safi said.

The opposition said it sees a transitional government as the first step towards a political solution and insisted that Assad leave power.

They claim that the Geneva I communique, a never-implemented roadmap developed during 2012 talks, calls for a transitional government. l

months by protesters but not the trade union house that is their headquarters.

Protesters will have to vacate the flashpoint Grushevsky Street in Kiev, where three activists were shot dead during bitter clashes with security forces. They also have to leave streets and squares they have been occupying “except those where peaceful protest actions are taking place.”

This opens the possibility that protesters could keep their hub of Independence Square in Kiev but the vaguely-worded text does not specify further.

“Such actions must be finished no later than 15 days after the law comes into force,” said the text of the bill.

‘Never heard so much swearing before’ The text was passed at a chaotic late-night session of the Verkhovna Rada dismissed as a travesty by the opposition because the Volodymyr Rybak speaker allowed no debate on the text.

He closed the session immediately after the vote was taken and the opposition’s cries of “Shame!” were drowned out by the playing of the Ukrainian national anthem at full volume. l

Turkey removes more police officers n AFP, Ankara The Turkish government on Thursday fired or reassigned some 800 police officers as it pressed on with a purge of the country’s police force in response to a high-level graft probe, local media said.

Senior officers were among those removed from their posts in the latest wave of sackings in the capital Ankara and the western port of Izmir, the Hurriyet and Milliyet newspapers said on their websites. More than 500 police officers were removed in Ankara and another 274 in Izmir, they said. The Turkish media estimate that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Islamic-leaning government has now sanctioned some 6,000 police nationwide, including top officers, in apparent retaliation for a corruption investigation that has struck at the heart of the political elite. Since the graft scandal erupted in mid-December, dozens of prosecutors, including senior lawyers involved in the investigations into alleged money laundering, gold smuggling and bribery, have also been sacked. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

International

Friday, January 31, 2014

9

Thai army to deploy more troops amid Philippine troops kill 37 rebels in offensive warning of poll violence n

Reuters, Bangkok

Thailand’s army will increase the number of troops in the capital ahead of Sunday’s election, it said on Thursday, as the government warned it might not be able to contain violence if anti-government protesters try to stop people voting.

The protesters, members of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), had said they would disrupt the ballot as part of their campaign to overthrow Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, but their leader appeared to backtrack.

The government’s decision to press ahead with the election has inflamed tension in the capital, Bangkok, where the protesters have blockaded main intersections and forced many ministries to close their doors this month.

“In addition to the 5,000 soldiers we have already deployed in and around Bangkok to help monitor security, we will be increasing troops around protest sites as there are people trying to instigate violence,” army spokesman Winthai Suvaree told Reuters.

About 10,000 police would be responsible for Bangkok security on Sunday and the troops would be on standby.

Labour Minister Chalerm Yoombamrung, in charge of a state of emergency imposed last week, urged the protesters not to disrupt the vote.

“If the PDRC do that, people will beat each other to a pulp and nobody can control a situation like that,” he told reporters. “The police and soldiers don’t have enough manpower to take care of

Anti-government protesters take part in a rally in central Bangkok (security) at every polling station.”

Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban said people should not waste time voting but appeared to drop earlier plans to try to obstruct polling.

“Those who want to vote should go and vote,” he told supporters as the sun set. “We won’t block you from voting otherwise you’ll turn around and say we violated your rights.”

Demonstrators took to the streets in November in the latest round of an eight-year conflict that pits Bangkok’s middle class, southern Thais and the royalist establishment against the mostly poor, rural supporters of Yingluck and her brother, former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 coup.

REUTERS

The protesters accuse Yingluck of being a puppet of former telecoms tycoon Thaksin, a man they say is a corrupt crony capitalist who disrespected the monarchy and bought elections over the past decade with costly populist giveaways.

Thaksin, who denies that, went into self-exile in 2008, shortly before he was sentenced to jail on graft charges he says were politically motivated.

Ten people have died and at least 577 have been wounded in politically related violence since November 30 according to the Erawan Medical Centre, which monitors Bangkok hospitals.

A protest leader was killed and about a dozen people were injured in a clash near a polling station during ad-

vance voting on Sunday. The protesters prevented early voting in many parts of the capital and the south.

The violence is the worst since 2010 when Suthep, at the time a deputy prime minister, sent in troops to end demonstrations by pro-Thaksin activists.

Suthep faces murder charges related to his role in that crackdown, when more than 90 people were killed, and for insurrection in leading the latest protests which are also taking their toll on Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy. Consumer confidence fell for the ninth month in December, hitting a two-year low and the central bank said last week the economy may grow only 3% this year rather than the 4% it had forecast.

Tourist arrivals have been hit in the peak season and huge infrastructure projects have been put on hold.

Toyota Motor Corp, one of Thailand’s biggest foreign investors, said it hoped for a quick solution to the political crisis.

“The region is like the Detroit of Asia and many makers are exporting from there too,” Toyota President Akio Toyoda told reporters. “We hope that the situation will be resolved as soon as possible so that the global impact will be limited.”

Thailand is the region’s biggest car-making hub.

Suthep led a march in the capital under a blazing tropical sun on Thursday, the start of a three-day push to demonstrate opposition to the vote and rustle up support for its cause. l

n AP

Philippine troops have killed at least 37 Islamic fighters and captured a rebel stronghold with a bomb-producing facility.

Military officials said on Thursday that troops seized a key rebel stronghold that spans two villages in Maguindanao province and confiscated materials used for making explosive devises, following a two-day offensive.

One soldier was killed and 12 others were wounded by bombs hidden around a mosque during the fighting, according to Colonel Dickson Hermoso, regional military spokesman.

“It’s like a bomb factory,” Hermoso said. “We don’t negotiate with groups like this who threaten innocent civilians. We run after them to enforce the law.”

President Benigno Aquino III said the military launched the assault to protect villages after Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement fighters staged attacks in the province.

Abu Misry, a rebel spokesman, admitted part of the group’s stronghold had been taken by government forces, but denied statements that any fighters had been killed or captured, adding that seven fighters had been wounded by army shelling and rocket fire. l

Hong Kong imposes sanctions on Philippines n AFP Hong Kong announced it was imposing sanctions on the Philippines because of its “unacceptable” failure to apologise for a deadly hostage crisis more than three years ago.

The current visa-free arrangement for visiting Philippine diplomats and officials will be suspended from February 5, Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying told a press conference.

Currently they are able to stay 14 days without a visa. Leung described the move as the “first phase of sanc-

tions” and said the government may take more action if it thinks it could be “effective” in securing an apology over the 2010 hostage-taking.

He added that every year, 700 to 800 diplomats or officials visit Hong Kong from the Philippines on the existing visa-free arrangement. Hong Kong has been demanding an apology for the incident in which eight Hong Kongers were killed and seven wounded. They were shot after negotiations broke down between Philippine authorities and a former Philippine police officer who hijacked a Manila tour bus in protest at his sacking. l

Pakistani cultural festival threatens ancient ruins n AFP, Karachi A festival to commemorate Pakistan’s cultural heritage spearheaded by the scion of the Bhutto family could put the ruins of one of the world’s ancient civilizations at risk, experts warned Thursday.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the heir to slain former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, has launched a campaign to conserve the heritage of his home province of Sindh with a two-week festival due to begin on February 1.

Zardari’s Pakistan People’s Party suffered a heavy defeat in the 2013 general election and observers say the event, which has seen weeks of national television spots, is partly aimed at raising the 25-year-old’s political profile.

But experts told AFP that the festival’s inaugural ceremony which is to be held on the ruins of the Moenjodaro settlement could endanger the UNESCO World Heritage site built around 2600 BCE. Large wooden and steel scaffolds

are being erected over and around the ruins, while heavy spotlights and lasers have been installed for a light show.

Farzand Masih, head of the Department of Archaeology at Punjab University, said such activity was banned under the Antiquity Act. “You cannot even hammer a nail at an archaeological site,” he said.

“The laser and spotlights, secondly, will cause rapid decay at the site which is already exposed to many negative factors,” Masih added. “I was invited for the ceremony by Mr Bilawal Bhutto Zardari but I don’t approve of such kind of activity.”

The ruins, discovered in 1922 by British archaeologist Sir John Marshall, are 425 kilometres (265 miles) north of the port city of Karachi and are one of the largest settlements of the Indus Valley Civilisation.

“This is really a matter of great concern that we treat our precious heritage so recklessly,” said Nauman Ahmed, a professor of architecture and urban planning.

“And when we need technical or financial assistance for conservation we have to face embarrassment from the donors for such acts,” he added.

Qasim Ali Qasim, head of the Sindh Archaeology Department that is responsible for the ruins, denied any damage was being done.

“I dont think that the structure or lights would harm the site,” he said.

“I am personally overseeing the work and it is all in accordance with the SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures).”

Responding to the criticism, Zardari tweeted: “inspected MD site with Director Archaeology (30yrs experience).

Explained how every precaution has been taken. Remains are safe.

The Moenjodaro ruins are one of Pakistan’s six UNESCO World Heritage sites that are deemed places of special cultural significance.

But many of the country’s historical sites are endangered by vandalism and urban encroachment, as well as a booming trade in illegally excavated treasures. l

Ruins of Moenjodaro

COURTESY: BILAL AKBAR

Pakistan PM pushes for Andhra Pradesh assembly rejects talks with Taliban Telangana Bill n Agencies, Islamabad Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan’s prime minister, has reiterated his government’s commitment to an abortive dialogue process with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), while stressing that “dialogue and terrorism cannot go together.” Addressing the country’s parliament in Islamabad on Wednesday, Sharif announced the formation of a four-member committee to initiate dialogue with the armed group, which has carried out increasingly sophisticated

attacks against the state since 2007 and operates from Pakistan’s largely ungoverned tribal areas.

Sharif’s comments came minutes after a series of co-ordinated attacks, claimed by the TTP, killed at least three people in the southern port city of Karachi. The new committee comprises of Irfan Siddiqui and Rahimullah Yousafzai, two senior journalists; retired Major Muhammad Amir, a former intelligence operative; and Rustum Shah Mohmand, a former Pakistani ambassador to Afghanistan. l

Pro-Taliban cleric shot dead in Pakistan n AFP, Quetta An influential cleric who supported the Afghan Taliban in their war against US-led forces has been shot dead in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta, officials said on Thursday.

“Two unknown gunmen on a motorcycle shot dead Maulana Abdullah Zakiri” as he was on his way to a mosque on Wednesday night, senior police official Abdul Razzaq told AFP. Razzaq said Zakiri had been living in Quetta for a long time and had no

known disputes with anyone, though his family have accused Afghan intelligence of his murder.

Provincial home secretary Asad Gilani confirmed the killing. Quetta is the capital of Baluchistan province, which borders Iran and Afghanistan and is rife with separatist and Islamist militants and plagued by sectarian bloodshed.

According to an Afghan Taliban source, Zakiri, 80, was a teacher and a close aide to Taliban spiritual leader Mullah Omar. The source also blamed Afghan intelligence for the murder. l

n Agencies, New Delhi The Andhra Pradesh assembly, by a voice vote Thursday, rejected the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill 2013 on creating a separate Telangana state.

Amid protests by legislators from Telangana, Speaker N Manohar announced that a resolution moved by Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy for rejecting the bill was carried and adjourned the house sine-die.

The chief minister, in his resolution, has urged President Pranab Mukherjee not to refer the bill to parliament.

The Andhra assembly has been adjourned sine die.

Telangana Rashtra Samithi leader KT Ramarao appealed the people of Telangana not to panic, saying that the assembly decision was a mere formality. He also added that the Bihar assembly had rejected the Jharkhand bill but a new state was created.

Congress leader Renuka Chowdhary said that the centre won’t bulldoze its decision on Telangana but the bill will have to go back to the President.

CNN-IBN quoted Renuka Chowdhary saying: ‘This is not a matter of victory or defeat. The Bill has been rejected with the best of intention and not to create problems for Seemandhra or Telangana regions of Andhra Pradesh.’

On Thursday, chief minister Kiran

Andhra Pradesh

Kumar Reddy dared the central government to table the bill in the same form in parliament.

Kiran Kumar Reddy said he would quit politics if parliament admitted the bill in the same form as it was sent to the state legislature.

Kiran Reddy alleged that the central

government deceived the president by sending an incomprehensive bill to him.

“The bill in its present form will not even be admitted in parliament,” said Kiran Reddy, who is strongly opposed to formation of a separate Telangana state. l

India gives residents more cheap cooking gas before election n AFP, New Delhi The Indian government on Thursday raised the subsidy on cooking gas, a populist move just months before national elections but one that will further strain the public purse.

The cabinet agreed to raise the number of subsidised gas cylinders per home from nine to 12 a year after Rahul Gandhi, number two in the ruling Congress party, demanded the increase earlier this month to meet consumer needs.

“Today the cabinet has taken a decision to increase it to 12 ... and it will be effective from 1 February,” said Oil Minister Veerappa Moily at a press conference.

Asked whether cabinet’s decision was influenced by Gandhi’s request, Information Minister Manish Tewari said: “Rahul Gandhi is an elected representative and if he says anything, it is considered very seriously.”

Tewari denied the move was aimed at winning over voters before the general election due by May, which the Congress party is almost certain to lose after a decade in power.

The move, set to cover 99% of Indian consumers, will cost the government 50 billion rupees ($797 million) in additional subsidies at a time of slowing economic growth, weak tax returns and high public spending. l

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Friday, January 31, 2014

Letters to

www.dhakatribune.com

Improvements should be more than skin-deep

D

haka is about to undergo a substantial makeover, to the tune of Tk7,735 crore, as preparation for Bangladesh hosting the ICC T20 Cricket World Cup. It is of course important for the country put its best face forward as hosts of a major international sporting event, and the planned improvements to 23km of major roads, streetlights and signage around the city’s cricket stadiums are certainly welcome.

Questions arise however about the mostly cosmetic nature of these improvements.

There could for instance be more lasting effect on improving life in the city, if more money was spent on clean, new buses and transport facilities.

While hosting the world cup will do much to raise the spirits of the nation, the government should keep in mind that the use of public funds should always be kept proportional to the long-term benefit for ordinary citizens.

This principle is of particular relevance, given that many planned Rajuk projects that can have much more of a real impact on improving the lives of Dhaka inhabitants, are currently languishing due to lack of funds, negligence and delays in construction.

The Purbachal Link road and New Town and residential developments at Jhilmil, and Keranigonj are just some of the much needed projects which have not been completed on time.

City authorities and government must pay more attention to ensure progress on projects that bring long-term benefit for Dhaka’s residents.

The use of public funds should always be kept proportional to the long-term benefit for ordinary citizens

Partnership with China should be welcomed

W

e welcome China’s interest in forming a separate economic zone comprising of Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar. This is a great step towards economic development and cooperation between these nations in general, and will give a boost to Bangladesh in having China as an economic partner in particular.

The statement came from the Chinese Ambassador to Dhaka, who said this new economic zone, the BCIM (BangladeshChina-India-Myanmar), was a necessity of the times.

In addition to an economic partnership, this relationship may help Bangladesh fight terrorism and militancy locally, as China has expressed an interest in helping curb unrest for economic reasons.

Our exports to China have been rising at a furious pace. While the export volume in 2008 was under $100m, by 2013 it rose to a whopping $438m. The growth was enabled by the zero-tariff access to the Chinese market, which was extended in 2010.

Apart from being the world’s largest export economy, China is also the second-largest investor to Bangladesh out of all nations, contributing two-thirds of the cost of the fertiliser factory in Sylhet.

This continuing and improving relationship with China, then, can be one of great mutual benefit. We should welcome the strengthening of our economic ties for the betterment of both of these booming nations.

the Editor

LETTER OF THE DAY

Holding receptions with students queued up by the roads

January 28 A report titled on this published in a daily has drawn my attention. Many many thanks to the media for having put this piece out. During the last few days ministers and MPs have been visiting different areas, and students are being told to queue up on the roadsides to greet them for great lengths of time. This is an inhuman way to hold a reception, and also a violation of the directives of the ministry of education.

It is also not very uncommon to see students taking classes in unsafe dilapidated buildings, where their lives are being put at risk. In fact, a schoolboy from Charsripur Government Primary School in Sherpur was killed when a wall collapsed.

The PM’s and the education minister’s voice in these regard are not being heard.

Khaleed Ahsan

Labourers engaged in renovating Sirajganj flood control embankment January 23

What are the kids learning?

January 22

laila ali You gave a long list of things for the children of this country, but who is going to enforce such plans?

The government? Or rather the education ministry?

Very unlikely. What we need is child advocates in every corner of the country who will work tirelessly to ensure the birth of any such program.

For starters, education starts early at home. You seem to be making excuses for overworked and stressed parents. No one will do their job. If they are not going to start nurturing their children at home from an early age, thinking it is the job of teachers or the government, then those parents have no business bringing children into the world. Of course there are options to watching bad cartoons. Parents can fetch their young children drawing papers and coloured pencils and encourage them to draw. For those kids who have the gift of writing, their parents should get them journals in which to write.

One has to re-channel all their energy into doing something positive that nourishes each child within their capacity. So don’t give the parents an easy pass to avoid their responsibilities onto others. I understand that during political turmoil, and due to lack of open fields and playgrounds, children cannot go outside to play. But families with children can always buy books and board games for them to enjoy when there is not much to do. So, there are lots of alternatives to bad cartons. Children

Biman’s DC-10 to operate last passenger flight on February 20 January 24 That’s good news! Time to get these dinosaurs out of the air!!

Mustafa Habib Chowdhury

are adaptable and when they are challenged with fun alternatives they usually enjoy trying out new things. They do not have to be couch potatoes if they have educated parents with imagination. mehrin laila ali: Thank you for reading the article but if you read it again, nowhere is it slightly mentioned that the parents need to leave the responsibility of looking after their children on everyone but themselves.

I agree with you that education begins at home.

This is the basic frontier. Children don’t directly go to school after being born! That’s common sense!

But to add to the lessons at home they must be emphasised outside as well, like in schools.

Secondly any parent with even a modicum of intelligence will not encourage their children to watch horrible meaningless cartoons, but if you are a parent, you would definitely know that no child wants to read books all the time, or do arts and crafts.

They need to play, to run, to burn energy. I don’t know which country or even city you live in, but the children of Dhaka do not easily get the privilege of a safe playing venue. As a result, they either play arcades on the computer or watch horrible cartoons which are regularly aired on television. Regardless, I agree that child advocates need to be there, but that too has to be a government initiative in order to make it widespread.

Mother kills two-year old daughter

January 23 Post-partum stress disorder is never talked about in Bangladesh. Why has not the media brought it up? pleb

Anwarul Haque This photo tells me that we Bengalis can turn our situation around any time, defeating all the shackles put upon us.

Hanka Bořilová The Bangladeshi people are undoubtedly industrious.

Students forced to queue up to welcome state minister January 24

Mohammad Tanvir Khalid Once I had to do it, queue up. Spent hours under the sun. Funny part was many of us liked it because there was almost no class that day.

Nazmul Khair It should be banned. Since my childhood I have been seeing such receptions. They are a joke. A lot of changes are taking place these days, and we are becoming smarter day by day, but these “receptions” continue to take place.

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YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS Crossword

Sudoku

Op-Ed

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Friday, January 31, 2014

11

Hurting development n Mohammed Norul Alam Raju

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Gaining support with a false promise?

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BIGSTOCK

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Bait and switch

W n Zafar Sobhan

ell, here we are. The January 5 elections happened and the 10th parliament has been convened. The world didn’t end and the sky didn’t fall. Closer to home, the anarchy/ civil war that some were fearing and others were secretly hoping for did not transpire, and with the belated abandonment (at least for now) of the BNP hartal/blockade program, an uneasy calm reigns and things seem to be inching back to normal.

I say uneasy, but, for the most part, people far prefer this lull to what preceded it. The emotion which seems to predominate, more than anger or anxiety or rejoicing or relief, is one of resignation. More than anything else, people are weary.

They are tired of the violence and the danger. They are tired of the blockades and the school closings. They are tired of not being able to simply get on with their lives. They are tired of the political squabbling (machinations seems to be too dignified a term) between the two sides.

Few people believe that the elections were any such thing. They are a little shocked that the PM and the AL have apparently been able to get away with holding their one-sided election, but no one really knows what can be done about it, and such is the battered state of the national psyche that fewer

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even seem to care.

None of this is to justify the actions of the AL. Not only were the elections one-sided and uncontested, but the AL campaigned for them on the explicit promise that they saw them as merely a constitutional necessity and that they acknowledged and recognised that the result would not give them a mandate to rule for five years.

I don’t buy the line of argument that is doing the rounds among smug AL-ers and what passes for the sophisticated commentariat: That the BNP brought this upon itself and they have no one to blame but themselves for boycotting an election that they very well might have won.

It is true that the BNP did rather improbably snatch defeat from the jaws

To now attempt to move away from the preelection understanding shows shockingly bad faith

It would not be far-fetched to suggest that much of the support for the January 5 elections was premised precisely on this promise, and to now attempt to move away from the pre-election understanding shows shockingly bad faith on the part of the AL. But minister after minister is on record saying that they have a mandate to govern for five years, and both members of parliament and the cabinet are certainly comporting themselves as though they are in it for the long haul. In short, the AL has pulled a good old-fashioned bait and switch on the good people of Bangladesh, and there doesn’t appear to be much that anyone can do about it.

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of victory and that they did everything wrong. But that shouldn’t blind us to the truth that they did exactly what the AL would have done, indeed did do, when the shoe was on the other foot, but whereas the AL was bailed out by the international community and the army in 2007, in 2014 the BNP was left high and dry.

In short, the only difference between the AL in 2007 and the BNP in 2014 was 1/11, and had 1/11 never happened, and had the BNP been able to go ahead with their one-sided election on January 22, 2007, with the AL sitting on the sidelines, we would have heard exactly the same arguments that we are hearing now, but in reverse.

I wonder whether the PM ever

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thinks, as she contemplates her hapless rival scheming and plotting her downfall from her lair in Gulshan, how that so easily could have been her seven years ago. Something tells me that the thought never crosses her mind or that of her supporters.

So where do we go from here? It could be that the quiet we are enjoying is the calm before the storm, and that the BNP is merely catching its breath in between rounds. But I do not see them being able to force a new election, one to their liking, any time soon.

They are in a Catch-22 situation.

The only thing likely to precipitate new elections is another round of crippling hartals and blockades, but it is precisely these tactics that are the most unacceptable and that damage their support the most.

Which leaves us with the AL. The only thing the need fear right now is over-reach. If they are restrained and cautious in their approach, then they could be in power a long time. On the other hand, if they start to believe their own propaganda and mistake the public’s resignation for deep wellsprings of support and enthusiasm, then they could very quickly return the upper hand to the BNP. Of course, everything I have written only holds good for this month. Next month anything could happen that would utterly change the face of politics. This is Bangladesh, after all. l Zafar Sobhan is the Editor, Dhaka Tribune.

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45-year-old rickshaw-puller, Habibur Rahman, lost his only earning source during a blockade last December. The rickshaw was set on fire by demonstrators in Chittagong while two other people were nabbed for arson, including Habibur.

Six months back, Habibur received a rickshaw from an NGO, working in Chittagong as part of their regular Income Generating Activities (IGA) while he was supposed to reimburse the actual cost of the rickshaw in the next two years with a small installment.

Many poor people across the country have also lost their lives, shelter, and assets, and been nabbed for arson and injured in strikes and blockades in the last three months.

Due to political unrest over the election, the whole economy was adversely affected while the implementation of development programs has gone down, foreign aid spending has slowed, and aid effectiveness has lost its balance across the nation, mostly at the field level.

The progress of the implementation of the Annual Development Program (ADP) in this financial year is likely to suffer a major setback due to the ongoing political unrest and violence.

The implementation progress for the donor-driven projects in the first four months of the current fiscal year stood at 15% compared to 20% during the same of the preceding fiscal.

After his oath, the finance minister declared that the government planned to revise down the GDP growth outlook by around one percentage point, as he thought the previous target of 7.2% was too ambitious amid political volatility, while the World Bank estimates it will be less than 6%.

According to data from the Economic Relations Divisions (ERD) of Bangladesh, foreign disbursement increased only by 2% in the first five months of this fiscal year due to slow project implementation brought about by political turmoil.

Between July and November 2013, some $987 million in foreign aid was disbursed, which is only 29% of the target. Meanwhile, with the aim of speeding up implementation, the prime minister recently formed the fast track project monitoring committee to monitor the implementation of high value projects of national importance. All these statistics show some national level outlook, but what about the development projects?

Donors fear this instability could harm development programs

Apart from the national level scenario, the country suffers from severe problems in the implementation of the project at the local level due to political instability which undermines the country’s development progress, and affects the lives of the marginalised segment of the communities directly.

Political unrest is viewed with

grave concern by donors, who fear this instability could render development programs ineffective and are slowly reducing funds. The data reveals a significant drop in foreign aid commitment already, an almost 28% slip from $1.6 billion to $1.2 billion in 2014 (World Bank).

It is evident that the implementation of development projects are greatly hampered by the current political turmoil, which mostly focus on mass awareness raising, capacity-building of different level of stakeholders, advocacy, and lobbying.

A solution will emerge, and communities will regain confidence

Development organisations are frequently forced to postpone their scheduled programs, particularly capacity-building training, as the situation does not permit them to gather people in a certain place. The political turmoil had completely broken the communications between and among the development workers and the representatives of Local Government Institutions (LGIs).

Representatives of local government institutions are not interested in organising and participating in regular meetings as they feel it is not secure.

It happens mostly in areas where representatives are in place from the opposition parties, mostly in the city corporation areas except Dhaka, as most of the mayor and the councillors are being elected from the oppositions.

The observations from other Community Based Organisations (CBOs) and the Volunteer Groups are similar.

The development staff are in an immovable position due to this abnormal situation. Their movement to the field level has been stopped for the continuous strike and the blockade. They are using alternative ways, and make trips by rickshaws, autos, and vans, which are time consuming, costly, and hazardous.

They are facing difficulties to ensure the engagement of government officials, representatives, and CBO leaders in the upazila and district level events at different places, which create barriers to meet the objectives of the projects.

The current political unrest affects budget utilisation of the programs, as activities could not be implemented as per plan. Most projects have not achieved their targets while field teams have been forced to reorganise their plans on holidays, weekends, even strikes and blockades, which triggered their vulnerabilities in the workplace.

It is expected that a permanent solution will emerge, while government officials, local government representatives, and communities as a whole will regain the confidence to participate in the development process. l Mohammed Norul Alam Raju is Program Officer, Urban DRR, Oxfam in Bangladesh.

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Sense and sensitivity n Ekram Kabir

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minister smoking in a public place perhaps didn’t come as a surprise to us. This is something that almost all Bangladeshi smokers do very often, no matter how tough the existing anti-smoking law is in this country.

But what came as a surprise was that he was smoking on the stage, and in front of a large number school-children. That’s what raised quite a lot of hue and cry in the media. However, the good part was that he said sorry, and promised that such an action would never be repeated in the future.

We must thank our minister for realising that his action was insensitive towards society. But he isn’t the only one who showed an insensitive attitude. Day in and day out, almost all of us commit many types of insensitive and inappropriate deeds, which we almost never think twice about before doing them, that may harm the people around us, transmit a negative message in society, and obstruct the process of nation-building.

Take our actions on the roads, for example. It’s hard to recall a day when I myself didn’t violate at least one traffic law while driving a car, or

riding a bike or motorbike, or riding on a rickshaw, or even walking on the pavement and crossing a road. The reason for which we break these laws without thinking about the negative impacts they might have on society at large is that no one ever taught us how to be sensible on the roads.

We never learnt the traffic norms in our schools, nor were any traffic department educational PR materials made available to us. We learnt by watching our elders.

those who ride motorbikes, aren’t taking the wrong lane.

Their attitude says it is their birth right to violate the traffic order. And if someone is a government official with a flag fluttering on his or her car, their chauffer thinks it is his duty to violate traffic regulations, causing problems to others.

This is an interesting aspect in our character: We cause problems for others by our actions, knowingly and unknowingly. In contrast to this,

What the leaders do or practice has a ripple effect on the society. They trickle down and creep into everyone’s character

We also learnt to be insensitive from our national leaders (business, political, social – all kinds) and people’s representatives. If our memory serves us right, we’ve watched our prime ministers’ and MPs’ convoys taking the wrong lane. You won’t miss a day when the traffic personnel, especially

in every enlightened society, every citizen tries to remain alert so that his or her actions do not cause any problems to the people around them.

Being sensitive to others’ peace is the basic trait in those societies. Then they become habits.

We, on the contrary, seem to be

perpetually oblivious about how our actions might destabilise others’ peace. Otherwise, why would we keep spitting while we walk on the pavements? Don’t we have the sense to think that that might fall on somebody who is passing by?

I’ve seen many public personalities spit on the floors, on the stairs.

I’ve seen many educated persons approaching from all four sides of an intersection and create a point-of-noreturn traffic jam.

The worst examples of our insensitivity are perhaps the remarks of the politicians about each other. Civility, respect, as well as forethought are quite hard-to-find elements in this country’s political arena. Our leaders demonstrate a constant insensitivity by pouring out personal attacks against each other.

It seems they use these personal hits as political tools to demonise each other in the eyes of the voters. However, it beats our wits as to how a flurry of slurry dictions could be of political use. Rather, these reveal their insensitive characters, which ultimately lead to self-demonisation.

The people, on the other hand, when they see their leaders using these dictions on a regular basis, think it is okay

for them to use in their own lives also.

What the leaders do or practice has a ripple effect on the society. They trickle down and creep into everyone’s character. And that is how the whole nation becomes prone to being insensitive.

Take our actions on the roads, for example. It’s hard to recall a day when I myself didn’t violate at least one traffic law

It is our hope that our leaders would rise up to the occasion and do something about the nation’s sense and sensitivity. It is they who would teach us manners, behaviour, and prudence.

We, the people, would love to follow them as our leaders, as our representatives. Leadership isn’t a trivial matter. It is a great responsibility which requires huge sense and sensitivity. l Ekram Kabir is Executive Editor of Natunbarta.com.

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

50 years of cultural legacy Chhayanaut’s celebration starts today n Mir Naqibul Islam Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Chhayanaut, a leading cultural organisation in the country, a two-day programme is starting today. The programme will not only celebrate the legacy of this historical institution, but also give an opportunity to the former students to get together and reminisce their time at Chhayanaut.

The celebration will open with a colourful procession to be carried out by past and present students of the institute from the premises of Chhayanaut at 5pm today. After the procession, the group will convene in the auditorium for the second part of the program. Distinguished guests will give speeches highlighting the contributions of the late artists and paying homage to them. This will be followed by a musical event consisting of performances from past and present students and teachers of Chhayanaut. On Saturday, a musical event will be held again from 6pm.

In 1961, a handful of visionary people started an endeavour that they envisioned will not only preserve the

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Shara Desher shongbad

Popy: I have a rebellious role in Notebook n Afrose Jahan Chaity

Chhayanaut’s teachers and students rehearse for the event heritage of Bangla music, but also contribute in its evolution and that was the genesis of Chhayanaut Shangeet Bidyatan. However, the scope of Chhayanaut is not just limited to music. When asked how he would define Chhayanaut, Khairul Anam Shakil, general secretary of the organisation said: “Chhayanaut is not just a music school, it is rather a movement to spread the true Bangla culture and heritage as a whole.”

His words could not to be truer.

Chhayanaut was initially launched as

a cultural organisation which started a music school in 1963 named “Chhayanaut Shangeet Bidyatan” that specifically garnered towards nurturing young talents and support the torchbearers of Bangla music. During this half century, it has trained over 50 thousand students in different disciples. Currently it boasts a student body of 4000, enrolled in the different curriculums under Bangla songs (Nazrul, Tagore and Folk), classical vocal, classical instrumental and classical dance. l

Friday, January 31, 2014

Dhallywood megastar Popy will be seen as the protagonist in a telefilm titled Notebook, which will air on ATN Bangla tonight at 11pm.

While talking to the Dhaka Tribune about her occasional appearance on small screen, Popy said: “I am an actor, so I want to work. It really does not matter whether I am working on small screen or the silver screen.”

About the telefilm the Dhallywood diva said: “I have a rebellious role in Notebook directed

by Rezanur Rahman. It is one of my best works on the small

screen. The whole story revolves around the protagonist who plays the character of a married woman.”

The play revolves around a woman who goes through a lengthy period of bad luck and struggle, due to her husband’s extra marital affair. At one point of their marriage, they shared a relationship of mutual love and respect. But, her husband changes drastically and to rid himself of her, he plots on having her murdered. The situation takes dire turns when Popy is followed to Syedpur by a hired hit-man, who introduces himself to Popy under false pretence. l

Theatre fest honouring Syed Shamsul Haq begins today n Entertainment Desk A celebration is being organised by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy and Shilpo Shahittho Sanskritir Shamoyiki Shamanno Kicchu honouring the occasion of the 79th birth year of renowned poet Syed Shamsul Haq. The event will take place today on 5:30pm at the National Theatre Hall, BSA. The programme will open with a welcome speech from Tokon Thakur and be presided by BSA director general Liaquat Ali Lucky. The prominent poet will be presented with flowers and Uttoriyo, followed by a special choreography. A drama of Syed Shamsul Haq will be showcased, along with poetry recitation. An issue of Shamanno Kichhu, which has been dedicated to the distinguished poet will also be published today. The event will also feature speeches by noted personalities like painter Qayyum Chowdhury, author Selina Hossain, director Ataur Rahman, poet and novelist Mohammad Nurul Huda. The celebration will conclude with a recitation by Syed Haq himself.

Syed Shamsul Haq was born in Kurigram on December 27, 1935. He is one of the most influential Bangladeshi poets and writers. Haq writes poetry, fiction, plays, mostly in verse and essays.

His literary works have been included in the curricula of primary, secondary, higher secondary and graduation levels of education in Bangladesh. His

George Clooney: I have had some great memories with my flop films n Entertainment Desk The Gravity actor said he has not enjoyed working on some of his most successful projects, in a recent interview.

“Some of the best films have been the least fun experiences and some of the worst, I’ve made lifelong friends out of it. It’s the kind of thing where the memory of the film is very different than how it was reviewed, because it’s months out of your life and you end up making close friends or having great experience on films that don’t necessarily work. And, that’s a tricky thing to come to terms with,” he said.

When asked about his best working partner, he said: “Let me think about this in the best possible way, that does not get me murdered by all other actors I’ve worked with. I don’t know.”

Then he added: “I’ve done six films with (Matt) Damon now, so I guess I do enjoy working with him. Though, you wouldn’t know it.

I’ve been really lucky to work with people who enjoy what they do. I’ve worked with a couple of turkeys, but I’ve mostly been really lucky.” l

A scene from Notebook

Priyanka Gope performs today at IGCC n Entertainment Desk Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre is organising a musical evening by eminent Bangladeshi classical artiste Priyanka Gope this evening at 6:30pm.

Priyanka is a leading exponent of classical vocal music who has been trained under maestros such as Ananda Chakrabarty, Dr Asit Roy, Wahidul Haque, Professor Subir Nandy and few more.

Priyanka completed her MA from the Department of Music, Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata. She is presently receiving training from Pandit Arun Bhaduri and Pandit Urmi Dasgupta. The gifted artiste has won several national and international awards such as Gold Medal in Nazrul Sangeet in the National Education Week, 2001.

Priyanka is an enlisted “A Grade” artist of Bangladesh Betar in the categories of Rabindra Sangeet, Nazrul Sangeet and classical music. She has released a solo album “Sur-e Sur-e Dekha Hobey” comprising classical based modern songs under the banner of Bengal Foundation. She has also released 7 other albums on different genres of music with other artists. l

TODAY IN DHAKA Film

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, Thor: The Dark World, Pacific Rim in 3D, The Conjuring, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Escape Plan Time: 10am – 10pm Star Cineplex, Level 8 Bashundhara City

Exhibition prominent works are Ekoda Ek Rajye, Boishakhe Rochito Ponktimala, Birotihin Utsob, Protidhonigon, Opor Purush and Kobita Samagra.

Syed Haq also authored some popular novels such as Ek Mahilar Chhobi, Anupam Din, Seemana Chhariye, Neel Dangshon, Smritimedh, Mrigoya Kalkshep, Stabdhotar Anubad, Ek Juboker Chhayapath, Swapna Sankranta and Brishti O Bidrohigon.

In recognition of his versatile contribution to Bengali literature, Syed Shamsul Haq was honoured with the Bangla Academy award, Adamjee Literary award, Alakta Gold Medal, Alaol Literary award, Ekushey Padak, Jebunnessa-Mahbubullah Gold Medal and Padabali Kabita award. l

Gravity-Free World

By Artist A Rahman Time: 12pm – 8pm Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts House 42, Road 16 (New) / 27 (old) Dhanmondi Life and Struggle of Padma

By Sumon Yusuf Time: 3pm – 9pm La Galerie, Alliance Francaise de Dhaka Dhanmond Talk The Art of Collecting

By Durjoy Rahman Joy and Khaled Mahmud Time: 5pm Bengal Art Lounge Road No 132, Gulshan Avenue, Circle 1

Ittadi features Murapara Jamindar Bari n Entertainment Desk One of the most attractive aspects of the popular TV show Ittadi are the diverse locations of its staging, not to mention the spicy and humorous way of Hanif Sanket’s hosting skills that is just adored by the audience. Today’s episode of this much loved TV programme will feature a historical heritage of Bangladesh, Murapara Jamindar Bari, located in Narayanganj.

Like always, prominent and popular artistes will perform in this episode.

A fun-filled segment of short dramas

based on the predictions of astrologers is bound to amuse the audience.

On the other hand, a documentary based on “Birendranath’s love for motherhood” will be showcased, followed by Andrew Kishore’s performance on a special song written by Mohammad Rafiquzzaman. Nazmul Huda Bachchu, Ataur Rahman, Abdul Aziz, Kislu and many more will also appear in various segments of the programme.

The celebrated programme will air on BTV today, after the 8pm Bangla news. l

Did you know?

Mahela Jayawardene of Sri Lanka joins his teammate Kumar Sangakkara and Sachin Tendulkar of India to hit five hundreds each against Bangladesh in Tests – the most by a batsman

Sport

Friday, January 31, 2014

0 4 4 DAYS TO GO

Bangladesh 1st innings: 232 Shakib Al Hasan 55, Mushfiqur Rahim 61, Sohag Gazi 42, S. Eranga 4-49, S. Lakmal 3-66 Sri Lanka 1st innings: 730-6 declared D. Karunaratne 53, K. Silva 139, K. Sangakkara 75, M. Jayawardene 203 not out, A. Mathews 86, K. Vithanage 103 not out, Shakib Al Hasan 3-159

Total (all out, 51.5 overs)

11 9 18 50 25 14 29 23 1 17 32 21 250

Fall of wickets 1-15 (Tamim), 2-35 (Shamsur), 3-50 (Ayub), 4-102 (Shakib), 5-133 (Mominul), 6-150 (Rahim), 7-183 (Gazi), 8-197 (Robiul), 9-197 (Nasir), 10-250 (Rubel).

Bowling Lakmal 14-4-39-3 (nb2), Eranga 6-126-1, Herath 9-3-47-1, D. Perera 19.5-0109-5, Mathews 3-0-10-0 Sri Lanka won by an innings and 248 runs

Spurs again to go top

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15 Rakibul, Shuvagata

strike hundreds for Dhaka

Mushfiq blames batting and catching for loss

SCORECARD, 1ST DAY 4

Bangladesh 2nd innings (overnight 35-1) Tamim Iqbal c Perera b Herath Shamsur c Chandimal b Eranga Marshall Ayub c Silva b Lakmal Mominul Haque lbw b Perera Shakib Al Hasan lbw b Perera Mushfiqur Rahim b Perera Nasir Hossain c Herath b Perera Sohag Gazi lbw b Lakmal Robiul Islam lbw b Lakmal Rubel Hossain c Silva b Perera Al-Amin Hossain not out Extras: (b9, lb10, nb2)

14 Man City crush

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Bangladesh skipper Mushfiqur Rahim gets bowled in their second innings against Sri Lanka in the first Test at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday MUMIT M

Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim was understandably downcast after his side went down by an innings and 248 runs to Sri Lanka in the first Test at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS) yesterday – the largest of the 15 losses the Tigers have suffered to the islanders and the first innings defeat they have endured since losing to Pakistan in Chittagong in December, 2011.

The captain attributed the loss to careless batting and poor catching, further noting that the expectations of a good outing built on solid performances over the last year had been dashed.

“It is disappointing to lose a game in this way after having performed consistently over the last year. Our batsmen failed to be responsible while the fielding was also not up to the mark for the dropped catches,” said Mushfiq at the post match media conference at SBNS yesterday.

Mushfiq himself dropped four catches, “It felt really bad when Kaushal (Silva) scored the hundred after I dropped his catch. It felt as if I had let our side down. The other drops were

Sri Lanka crush Bangladesh

maybe due to the pressure I took for dropping the first catch,” he explained.

Regarding the batting debacle, “Our batting was really disappointing. A batman will of course get out but there is a manner for that – we should correct that. It was hard for a batsman to lose his wicket on this pitch until you do a mistake. Our batsmen have got the ability to play long innings and they have done so before. We should be cautious and learn from our mistakes and also from the opponent as they (Sri Lanka) played very well.

“Our batsmen need to learn to adapt to the situation. It cannot be done by just telling them, they will need to learn themselves. This defeat should be a wakeup call for us,” said Mushfiq.

Asked about the wild shot that Tamim Iqbal got out playing the day before, Mushfiq said, “Everyone will play their natural game but there are times when you need to play according to the situation. We had nine overs to play in the last session yesterday (Wednesday). We might have come down to bat today (yesterday) with ten wickets if he hadn’t played such a shot and got out. He will be able rectify this things if he starts thinking a little more about the team.” l

Hosts fail to put up any fight as the match ended inside four days By two o’clock on the fourth day of the first Test against Bangladesh, the Sri Lankan players were playing football after wrapping up the Tigers’ second innings for 250 and walking away with an innings and 248 run victory – their biggest win ever over Bangladesh - at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday.

The result had been on the cards even before the match started, with Bangladesh electing to field three pace

bowlers. By the end of the first day, in which Bangladesh were bundled out for 232, a Sri Lankan win seemed even more likely. As stumps were drawn on day two, the direction of the match was visible to all with Sri Lanka already well ahead and threatening to go still further and the next day, the visitors had amassed 730 before mercifully declaring with a 498 run lead.

Having endured three days of wayward bowling, poor catching, sloppy ground fielding and irresponsible batting, the home fans were at least hopeful that the Tigers could at last put up a fight in their second innings to prolong

the match, if nothing else, but it was not to be.

Resuming at 35/1, the Bangladesh batting line up went down like a house of cards yesterday, mainly due to Dilruwan Perera’s five wicket haul, but not unaided by the batsmen themselves.

The first to fall was debutant Shamsur Rahman, who got a good ball from Shaminda Eranga that lifted sharply to take the edge on its way through to the keeper.

After that, none of the batsmen seemed willing to even try to dig in and they played their shots as if it were a limited overs match. The other over-

night batsman, Marshal Ayub, could only fend a short ball from Suranga Lakmal to short leg for 18, leaving Bangladesh 50/3.

Shakib al Hasan and Mominul Haque added 52 for the fourth wicket before Perera won a marginal LBW decision – which might have been sliding down the leg-side - over Shakib for 25.

Mominul went on to top score with an even 50 before Perera had him leg-before as well. On a role, the offspinner added the scalps of Mushfiqur Rahim for 29 and Nasir Hossain for 23.

The other thorn in Bangladesh’s side

was Lakmal, who added two wickets – Sohag Gazi and Robiul – to that of Marshal Ayub, to finish with his second three wicket haul of the match.

Last man Al-Amin, who was the pick of the Bangladesh pace bowlers throughout the match, provided some entertainment at the death as he lashed out to strike four sixes in a 27ball 32 not out before Perera claimed his fifth to end the match.

Bangladesh have now lost 15 out of 16 Test matches against Sri Lanka, the only draw coming in Sri Lanka last year. The loss is Bangladesh’s fourth biggest ever. l

New proposal beneficial, says Nazmul Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hasan categorically wiped Bangladesh out of any possible danger regarding the proposed overhauls in the International Cricket Council’s administrative and financial infrastructures after his return from Dubai yesterday.

A ‘much ado about nothing’ atmosphere prevailed at the Hazrat Shah Jalal International Airport premises as few hundred people, carrying banners congratulating Nazmul for his achievement, chanted slogans and waited with drums. The president was also showered with flower pulps and was presented with garlands which were received by a visibly gloomy Nazmul.

Though BCB asked the press people to be present at the airport in the morning for a press conference, the president said he would talk to the press at the Mirpur stadium four hours later as he needed to talk with his executive committee members and take a decision over some issues.

Nazmul cleared BCB’s stance and said, “We were not in any alliance. I said that in the meeting. If my trouble doesn’t go away, I am not with anyone.

If the trouble goes away, I am with everyone. This was my strategy. We have also asked for time, like the other three.

We have opposed on a specific point.”

He also said that Bangladesh’s position will rise with the new proposals.

“We will be in a better position than others. We haven’t been to India in 14 years. We will go there to play Tests, they will come here. We will go to England and Australia will also visit us.

“FTP didn’t have a legal basis. Now, there will be Members Participation Agreement, which is enforceable by law. FTP is still in existence. The ICC

has prepared an FTP. What they are trying to say is that, for example, if a team wants to play just two Tests when they were supposed to play five. Then the TV broadcasters will take me to court for not playing three Tests. The MPA will come into force now to stop this,” the BCB president explained.

However he also said the media reports those suggested Bangladesh supported the Big 3, made his life difficult in Dubai. “We decided to talk to individual boards, to discuss, negotiate and understand their stance. We needed to find out where our issues had to dealt with, and get support from other member boards. We didn’t want to pick sides. I wanted to go in neutral.

“It was written the next day, that we had approved it with a majority of 20 to 3. It hurt me that the Bangladesh media can give such news, after we have officially given them a brief. Three countries immediately cancelled their appointments, I couldn’t talk with them,” said the BCB chief.

Nazmul said he opposed the proposals with a letter before the meeting, CSA, PCB, SLC sought time from ICC, and the atmosphere during the meeting was totally different than the assumptions.

There was no voting, no talks about the changes as the drafts were changed.

“There were two major changes. The chairman would be between the BCCI, CA and ECB. It will be theirs for the first two years and then it is open for all. The ExCo will have two more members, making it five. They also said that the three teams wouldn’t be demoted. Now that’s open for all too. Anyone can be demoted. We saw these changes, and others, when we had gone there,” said Nazmul before adding that they haven’t signed anything yet but hopes to in the meeting on February 8. l

ICC vice-president AHM Mostafa Kamal (L) and BCB president Nazmul Hassan (C) arrive at the Hazrat Shah Jalal International Airport yesterday MUMIT M

Negre to open school hockey President of International Hockey Federation Leandro Negre, who is scheduled to inaugurate the National School Hockey, arrives in Dhaka today.

Negre, who made his first visit to the country in February 2013, will open the national school hockey tomorrow. A total of 102 schools from across the country will participate in the meet that will be played at 10 venues. First Security Islami Bank are the sponsors.

Bangladesh Hockey Federation has handed over the 16 composite hockey sticks and nine balls to each of the schools so that the youngsters can prepare themselves for the upcoming challenge. A total of 29 teams from will qualify for the final round that will begin in the capital on 24 February.

The inaugural ceremony will take place at the Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium with 560 school girls displaying Bangladesh’s heritage.

The prize money for the tournament is Tk30,000 but the hockey federation has asked the sponsors to increase the amount. The chairman of the organising committee Dr. Mahfuzur Rahman, in a bid to inspire the youngsters, has declared a monetary award of Tk100,000, 50,000 and 30,000 for the top three goal scorers. BHF will pick out 65 players for intensive training and groom them for the future.

Details of the event were given to the press by by federation general secretary Khwaja Rahmatullah. l

Russell draw with BJMC, Maruf gives up hope Defending champions Sheikh Russell came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw with Team BJMC in the Bangladesh Premier League at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

An early second-half screamer by Nigerian midfielder Samson Iliasu put BJMC ahead before substitute, former national forward Md Robin equalized for Russell in the 72nd minute.

The champions’ misery in the league continued and they have drawn two and lost once in their last three matches to leave them in third posi-

tion with 11 points – five behind leaders Abahani Limited, who have played one game less. Russell coach Maruful Haque admitted his side would not be able to defend their title and would now target finishing second or third.

On the other hand, BJMC moved to fifth place with seven points – the same as Mohammedan and Brothers Union – but BJMC lie ahead on goal difference.

BJMC kept the Russell defence under pressure from the very beginning of the game. Veteran custodian Biplob Vattacharjee produced a superb save to deny BJMC’s first effort on goal in the 10th minute, when Aminur Rahman Shojib broke into the penalty area after receiving a through ball from Ismael

Bangoura. Biplob was forced to dive to his right to deny Aminur’s angled shot.

In the 33rd minute, Hemel easily saved a weak shot from Moroccan forward Youness Roux after Jamaican midfielder Ricardo Cousins set him up from the halfway line.

Roux failed to score in a one-on-one situation with Hemel at the top left corner of the box. The Moroccan also missed a sitter three minutes into the second half following a cross from Shakil.

Samson Iliasu broke the deadlock just four minutes after the resumption with a powerful strike from outside the box. Iliasu snatched the ball from Russell defender Rezaul Reza and unleashed a fantastic strike from 20 yards

out to hit the back of the net.

Rajoni Kanto Barmon saved Russell from conceding another goal in the 62nd minute. The former national centre back cleared Ismael Bangoura’s lob from the six yard box.

Md Robin came off the bench to restore the parity for Russell in the 72nd minute. The substitute forward beat an off-side trap and entered the penalty area before slotting the ball home under onrushing goalie Hemel.

Khan Md Tara tried his luck from 35 yards out with a powerful strike but saw his shot saved comfortably by Biplob.

The Russell skipper made another superb save in the 87th minute when Bangoura headed a cross from Abdullah Parvez. l

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Friday, January 31, 2014

Klopp coy over signing Holtby on loan

Keita joins, three others exit Valencia

Coach Jurgen Klopp refused to confirm reports on Wednesday that Borussia Dortmund are poised to sign German international midfielder Lewis Holtby on loan from English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.

With Holtby out of favour at White Hart Lane, Spurs head coach Tim Sherwood has indicated the Germany midfielder would be allowed to leave with Dortmund poised to take him on loan, but Klopp refused to divulge whether he would take it any further.

“I have heard the name a few times,” said Klopp in a press conference with the transfer window to close at midnight on Friday. I know exactly what we will do, given the situation it would be imprudent not to look, but that doesn’t mean we will do anything.” Holtby’s agent Marcus Noack denied reports Holtby was already in Germany’s Ruhr Valley.

–AFP

Former Barcelona midfielder Seydou Keita, 34, has joined La Liga side Valencia until the end of the season, the club confirmed on Thursday.

The Malian, who won 14 trophies in four seasons with Barca between 2008 and 2012, joins on a free transfer from Chinese side Dalian Aerbin.

“Upon completion of a medical, Seydou Keita will sign with Valencia until June 30, with the option for another season,” said a statement on the club’s website. Valencia also announced on Thursday that Dorlan Pabon, Helder Postiga and Andres Guardado were leaving the club on loan.

Colombian Pabon will return to South America to join Sao Paulo, whilst former Spurs striker Postiga is bound for Serie A side Lazio. Meanwhile, Mexican international Guardado is headed for Bayer Leverkusen in a bid to improve his chances of a starting place at this year’s World Cup. –AFP

Sassuolo appoint Malesani after Inzaghi says no Relegation-threatened Sassuolo on Wednesday appointed Alberto Malesani as their new coach after former AC Milan striker Filippo Inzaghi turned down the job.

The Serie A newcomers, who sit third from bottom of the table, fired coach Eusebio Di Francesco on Tuesday.

Inzaghi, who currently coaches Milan’s youth squad, was offered the post but said Wednesday: “I’m flattered and honored that Sassuolo, an ambitious club with clear and innovative ideas, considered me for the position. But I have to satisfy and respect Milan’s wishes for me to remain with the club as their youth coach.”

Malesani, a former coach of Parma and Fiorentina, took his first training session on Wednesday afternoon and is set to be unveiled by the Emilia-Romagna based club on Thursday. No details of the length of Malesani’s contract were released.

–AFP

Pellegrini warns City not to rest on laurels

Mourinho fumes at ‘19th-century’ West Ham

Manuel Pellegrini has warned Manchester City’s stars not to be distracted by dreams of Premier League glory after they swept to the top of the table with a 5-1 demolition of 10-man Tottenham.

Pellegrini’s side moved one point clear of second placed Arsenal thanks to the latest in a growing list of vibrant attacking displays.

But Pellegrini knows there is still a long way to go before the destination of the title is decided and the Chilean is determined to keep his players’ feet on the ground.

“We are not thinking about the title,” Pellegrini said. “It’s always very important to be top but we have to play 15 more games.

“It depends what we do in every match, we have to fight for 45 more points. We don’t have such a big advantage that we can think the Premier League is finished.

“Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool also have chances of fighting for the title.” l

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho angrily accused West Ham United of playing “football from the nineteenth century” after they secured a hard-fought 0-0 draw against his side.

Chelsea dominated a one-sided game at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, but were unable to find a way through the obdurate defence of Sam Allarydce’s West Ham. That meant they missed out on the chance to move second in the Premier League table, leaving them three points behind new leaders Manchester City, who they face next at the Etihad Stadium on Monday.

“It’s very difficult to play a football match where only one team wants to play,” said Mourinho. “Very difficult. A match is about two teams playing. This match was only one team playing, and another team not.

“This is not Premier League. This is not the best league in the world. This is football from the nineteenth century.

Too bad.” l

n AFP, London

n AFP, London

Manchester City's Yaya Toure scores a penalty against Tottenham Hotspur during their English Premier League match at White Hart Lane in London on Wednesday

City crush Spurs again to go top n Reuters, London Manchester City scorched to the top of the Premier League with a ruthless 5-1 win at Tottenham Hotspur as Chelsea’s title ambitions were hit by a 0-0 home draw with West Ham United on Wednesday.

Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure, Edin Dzeko, Stevan Jovetic and Vincent Kompany were on target as City followed their 6-0 thrashing of Spurs in the reverse fixture this season with another thrilling exhibition of attacking football.

They were helped on their way by a controversial decision to send off Tottenham defender Danny Rose for a foul on Dzeko, for which City were awarded the penalty which Toure converted for the second goal.

Yet they ruthlessly exploited the ex-

tra man to move to 53 points, one clear of Arsenal and three ahead of Chelsea, who were frustrated by a fiercely resilient West Ham side at Stamford Bridge.

Aston Villa emerged with the spoils from the night’s most entertaining fixture, edging a seven-goal thriller 4-3 against midlands rivals West Bromwich Albion having fallen 2-0 down after nine minutes.

Sunderland eased their worries by moving out of the relegation zone with a 1-0 win over Stoke City.

Manchester City’s mauling of Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium in November was the trigger for an unbeaten run that now stands at 20 games in all competitions. Aguero scored his 50th Premier League goal and ensured he became the fifth fastest to reach the milestone behind Andy Cole, Alan Shearer, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Fernando Torres.

Jovetic, Aguero’s replacement, scored his first Premier League goal

when he cut inside and curled the ball past Lloris and Kompany showed quick reflexes to add a fifth when a Dzeko shot cannoned off Nabil Bentaleb.

RESULTS Aston Villa

4-3

Chelsea

0-0 1-0

West Ham

Sunderland Tottenham

1-5

Man City

Weimann 12, Bacuna 24, Delph 37, Benteke 64-P

Johnson 17 Capoue 59

West Brom

Brunt 4, Delph 9-og, Mulumbu 43

Stoke City

Aguero 15, Toure 51-P, Dzeko 53, Jovetic 78, Kompany 89

Prior to Wednesday, West Ham had lost five of their previous six and conceded 19 but they found some previously undiscovered steel to hold Chelsea at bay.

Oscar had a shot that crashed

against the bar while West Ham keeper Adrian did well to repel efforts from John Terry and Samuel Eto’o, much to the frustration of Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who was scathing of West Ham’s lack of ambition.

There was no shortage of goals at Villa Park, where West Brom took the game by the scruff of the neck thanks to Chris Brunt’s fourth-minute opener and a Fabian Delph own goal.

But Villa were ahead after 37 minutes thanks to goals from Andreas Weimann and Leandro Bacuna, while Delph found the net at the right end.

Youssouf Mulumbu equalised but Christian Benteke netted from the penalty spot to win it for Villa.

Sunderland have now lost only one of their last eight league games after Adam Johnson tapped home from close range against Stoke, who had Steven N’Zonzi sent off eight minutes into the second half. l

REUTERS

Atletico, Barca into semis n AFP, Madrid Holders Atletico Madrid set up a mouthwatering Copa del Rey semi-final with city rivals Real Madrid after beating Athletic Bilbao 2-1 on Wednesday to win 3-1 on aggregate.

Barcelona also assured their place in the last four with a 5-1 victory over Levante at the Camp Nou to seal a 9-2 rout on aggregate.

In Bilbao, Aritz Aduriz had powered the hosts into a deserved lead four minutes before half-time..

However, Atletico regrouped at the break and levelled 10 minutes after the restart when Raul Garcia smashed home Emiliano Insua’s cross.

Atletico will travel to the Santiago Bernabeu, where they beat Real 2-1 in last year’s final, for the first leg of the semi-final next week with the return to come at the Vicente Calderon the fol-

Higuain flicks Napoli into Cup semi-finals n Reuters, Rome

Bayern Munich's Spanish midfielder Thiago (2ndL) scores the winning goal against VfB Stuttgart during their German Bundesliga match in Stuttgart, southwestern Germany, on Wednesday AFP

Bayern preserve unbeaten record n AFP, Berlin

Two late goals preserved champions Bayern Munich’s record unbeaten league run on Wednesday as they came from behind to beat Stuttgart 2-1 and extend the streak to 43 matches.

Thiago Alcantara’s winner, which also marked his first goal for Bayern, was a superb volley in the third minute of time added on to give the champions their 16th win in 18 matches.

“We tried everything right up until the end, so the victory is deserved,” said Spain star Alcantara.

“Yes, it was a beautiful goal from me, but the success of the team is far

more important.”

Bayern were 14 minutes from seeing their record run - dating back to October 2012 - come to an end before Claudio Pizarro’s headed equaliser cancelled out Vedad Ibisevic’s first-half goal.

This was a re-arranged fixture from December when Bayern were in Morocco winning the Club World Cup, but the Bavarians did not have things their own way for a change.

Bayern are on a host of league records - this was their 28th away match without defeat.

And with 50 points from 18 games, coach Pep Guardiola has made the best start of any coach in Bundesliga history.

Bayern fell behind when 17-yearold left winger Timo Werner drove in a shot, which fell to the feet of Stuttgart’s

Mohammed Abdellaoue.

The Norway international, looked to have been offside and replays showed he was, but the flag stayed down and Ibisevic slotted home his pass on 29 minutes.

In response to falling behind, Bayern raised the tempo.

Only a fine save from Stuttgart goalkeeper Sven Ulreich five minutes before the break denied Alcantara, who unleashed a ferocious strike from well outside the area.

Veteran Pizarro came off the bench and Guardiola’s choice paid dividends as he headed past Ulreich.

Alcantara capped a fine display when he volleyed home Rafinha’s superb floated cross for a stunning goal to deny valiant Stuttgart even a point. l

Napoli booked a clash with AS Roma in the Italian Cup semi-finals after a late instinctive Gonzalo Higuain backheel lifted Rafael Benitez’s side to a 1-0 win over Lazio on Wednesday.

Argentine striker Higuain brilliantly flicked home Jose Callejon’s mishit shot with eight minutes left to squeeze past a well-organised Lazio side and set up a potentially fiery clash with Roma, who are six points ahead of thirdplaced Napoli in the Serie A table.

The goal came after a second half in which Napoli turned the screw on the away side, who still looked to hit the

Marseille earn morale-boosting win

n AFP, Marseille Marseille gave their faltering bid for Champions League qualification from Ligue 1 a shot in the arm with a 2-1 home victory against struggling Valenciennes on Wednesday.

Andre-Pierre Gignac’s first-half opener was cancelled out by Arthur Masuaku, but Florian Thauvin got what proved to be the clinching goal after the hour mark.

The win lifts Olympic Marseille back up to fifth place in the table, two points behind Saint-Etienne in fourth and six points behind Lille in the third and final Champions League spot. l

hosts on the counter, even if their attacks offered little genuine threat.

One black mark on a good night for Benitez was the negative reaction from the home fans to Lorenzo Insigne when he was substituted for Dries Mertens with 20 minutes left.

Insigne, who was born and raised in Naples, has shown inconsistent form recently after a bright start to the season and put in another poor display on Wednesday that drew boos and whistles from supporters.

The two-legged semi-final will take place on Feb. 5 and 12, with the Rome derby clash in Serie A scheduled for Feb. 9. l

lowing week.

Barcelona’s passage into the semi-finals was far smoother as they thrashed Levante at a sodden and sparsely populated Camp Nou. Sergi Roberto’s early own goal had given the visitors some hope of an improbable comeback from last week’s 4-1 defeat. Two goals in quick succession after the break from close range by Alexis Sanchez extended the hosts lead.

Cesc Fabregas rounded off the scoring as his low effort beat Javi Jimenez at his near post 21 minutes from time. l

RESULTS Athletic Bilbao

1-2

Atletico Madrid

Barcelona

5-1

Levante

Aduriz 41

Raul Garcia 55, Diego Costa 86 Atletico Madrid win 3-1 on aggregate

Adriano 28, Puyol 44, Sergi Roberto 9-og Sanchez 50, 52, Fabregas 69 Barcelona win 9-2 on aggregate

Manchester City cut losses but risk Uefa action n Reuters, London England’s Manchester City halved their annual loss to 51.6 million pounds ($85.6 million) last season but appear at risk of breaching new Uefa rules regulating soccer club finances.

Although City’s finances are heading in the right direction, UEFA’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules cap headline losses at 45 million euros ($61.5 million) in the two seasons between 2011 and 2013. Clubs who do not comply could be excluded from the Champions League. Releasing their annual report for 2012-13, City made no direct reference to whether they would be able to meet the FFP rules. l

Cabaye ready to be thrown into PSG side n AFP, Paris New signing Yohan Cabaye says he is prepared to be thrown straight into

Cabaye poses with his new team jersey at the Parc des Princes stadium REUTERS

the Paris Saint-Germain side when the Ligue 1 leaders host Bordeaux at the Parc des Princes on Friday evening.

The 28-year-old France midfielder completed his transfer from Newcastle United on Wednesday, penning a threeand-a-half-year deal in the capital for a fee which is reported to be worth 23 million euros (£19m, $31.4m) including bonuses.

Cabaye, who made his name with Lille and played under PSG coach Laurent Blanc in the French national side, faces fierce competition for places in the Paris line-up, with Blaise Matuidi, Marco Verratti and Thiago Motta considered the first-choice trio in a 4-3-3 system. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

15

Friday, January 31, 2014

Sk Jamal off to Kolkata

QUICK BYTES

Condolence

n Shishir Hoque

Mohammad Abdur Rahman Sardar, the father of the Italian expatriate sports journalist Zakaria Hossain passed away at the age of 81 at his Gopalganj residence yesterday. He is survived by a son, 10 daughters and his wife. He was buried at the new local graveyard after the namaj-e-janaza at the eidgah.

Bangladesh Sports Press Association expressed deep shock over the death Rahman and prayed for the salvation of the departed soul.

–Tribune Desk

Zia wins second round game Bangladesh Grandmaster Ziaur Rahman defeated Weichelt Jens of Germany in the second round of the Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival-2014 on Wednesday which is being held in British Island Gibraltar in UK. With one win and one draw, Zia has 1.5 points at the end of the second round. A total of 254 players, including 68 grandmasters from 49 countries, are participating at the Masters event.

–Tribune Desk

Shadharan Bima beat Wanderers Shadharan Bima came from behind to defeat Dhaka Wonderers Club 4-1 in the Green Delta Insurance Premier Division Hockey League at the Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium yesterday. Md Afsar netted twice for Sadharon Bima in the 46th and 64th minutes of the game after Mamun put Wonderers ahead in the 21st minute.

Md Mostak and Md Rocky each scored one goal for Bima, in the 24th and 60th minutes respectively. It was Sadharon Bima’s third victory in the league and puts them in third place with nine points from five matches. Top placed Usha Krira Chakra take on Sonali Bank at the same venue at 3pm today.

–Tribune Desk

Hodge earns T20 recall Veteran batsman Brad Hodge was Thursday recalled to Australia’s Twenty20 squad, boosting his chances of playing in the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh in March-April. The 39-year-old, who has been in outstanding form for the Melbourne Stars in the domestic Big Bash League, was called up to replace all-rounder Moises Henriques, who is heading to South Africa to join up with the Test team, Cricket Australia said. He will join the squad for the final two Twenty20s against England, in Melbourne on Friday and Sydney on Sunday. Australia won the opening match in Hobart on Wednesday by 13 runs.

–AFP

Sri Lanka cricket team leaves the field after securing an emphatic win against Bangladesh in the first Test at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday

There were no demons in the wicket: Mathews n Mazhar Uddin

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews credited the bowlers for their emphatic win by an innings and 248 runs against hosts Bangladesh yesterday.

The island nation displayed some superb bowling and batting in the first Test match that ended inside four days at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

“I thought we played some pretty good cricket to get there. The bowlers got us there in the first innings, when Bangladesh was all out for 232. Once we got 700 there was no way back for Bangladesh, so it was a pretty good performance by the batters and the bowlers in the first innings,” said Mathews.

The all-rounder also praised his fast bowlers who came hard on the Bangladeshis and supported the experienced left-arm spinner Rangana Herath to help earn their side the easy win.

“In the past we had Murali running through sides and in the recent past we had Rangana Herath running through sides. I haven’t been in a team where we had all four bowlers equally good.

I’m very happy with the fast bowlers at the moment. They are delivering with the new ball and with the old ball. Dilruwan also, I’m very pleased with the way he performed today. We needed

that extra spinner who supports Rangana, and he did the job today,” he said.

Bangladesh played the match with three seamers that raised quite a few eyebrows. The decision turned out to be horribly wrong as the visitors posted over 700 while the Bangladesh quickies managed just a wicket out the six Sri Lanka lost. On the other hand, the Lankan fast bowlers had both bounce and swing. “There’s nothing wrong with the wicket. The wicket was pretty good at the end of the third day as well as the past two sessions as well,” Mathews said. “There were no demons in the wicket. But I thought we handled those pressure situations well, whereas they (Bangladesh) didn’t,” he added.

The 26-year old began his journey as a captain, the youngest among Sri Lankans, last year against Bangladesh and with two former captains Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara in the side Mathews said his job becomes easy when the seniors advice him in critical situations.

“It’s definitely easier. It’s not only the older guys, we’ve got Dilshan joining us in the one-dayers as well. Working with the three seniors plus we’ve got Rangana Herath in the bowling department. They all throw their thoughts. We all get together and have chats and pick the best option. It makes it easier for me to have those seniors around,” he added. l

Juninho retires Juninho, the Brazilian midfielder who won seven consecutive French league titles with Lyon, has retired from football on Thursday, his 39th birthday.

Roberto Dinamite, president of Vasco da Gama, told local media: “I want to confirm Juninho Pernambucano’s decision.” said Dinamite. Juninho, who has not played since injuring his right thigh in November, was a noted set-piece specialist, scoring 100 goals for Lyon, whom he captained. He was part of the Brazil team that made it through to the quarter-finals of the 2006 World Cup. Juninho left Lyon, French champions between 2001 and 2008, for a two year spell in Qatar, a brief period with MLS side Red Bulls New York before returning to Brazil to Vasco da Gama, the club where his career began.

–AFP

DAY’S WATCH Sony Six 7:00AM New Zealand v India 5th ODI Star Sports HD1 2:40PM Australia v England Second T20 8:30PM Hockey India League Ten HD 11:00PM WTA Open GDF Suez Paris 2014 1:30AM French Ligue 1 Paris Saint-Germain v Bordeaux Ten Golf 3:30PM Omega Dubai Classic Day 2 Star Sports 4 2:00AM La Liga Granada v Celta Vigo

MUMIT M

Rakibul, Shuvagata strike hundreds for Dhaka n Minhaz Uddin Khan Dhaka division’s Rakibul Hasan and Shuvagata Hom slammed centuries on the first day of the first round matches in the 15th National Cricket League yesterday. The capital side was in total control in their match against Rangpur.

Eight fifties were registered while the bowlers claimed 33 wickets over the four games of the first round played across different venues in the country.

Alam (61) and Imtiaz Hossain (23) will resume the second day with their side trailing by 112 runs.

Earlier, Junaed Siddique’s 63 was the highlight for Rajshahi as none others contributed to the scorecard at Fatullah’s Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium. Sylhet pacer Abu Zayed bagged five wickets while veteran

Dhaka v Rangpur

Riding on unbeaten tons from Rakibul and Shuvagata Dhaka posted 357 runs at stumps on day one at Rajshahi’s Shahid Kamruzzaman Stadium.

Dhaka lost early wickets before bouncing back with a 102-run third wicket partnership between Rakibul and Rony Talukder (73). Rakibul took Shuvagata to add unbeaten 204 runs for the fifth wicket to steer Dhaka to a strong position. In the process Rakibul scored 154 while Shuvagata made 101.

Rajshahi v Sylhet

Sylhet bowled out Rajshahi for 217 runs in the first innings before they ended the day on 95 for no loss. Sayem

n AFP, Wellington

Doctors started bringing Schumi out of coma n AFP, Grenoble French doctors have started trying to bring Formula One legend Michael Schumacher out of his month-long induced coma, his spokeswoman said yesterday. The drugs used to keep Schumacher, 45, unconscious have begun to be reduced, though it may be some time yet before he comes to, the spokeswoman, Sabine Kehm, said in a statement.

“Michael’s sedation is being reduced in order to allow the start of the waking up process which may take long time,” the statement said.

“For the protection of the family, it was originally agreed by the interested parties to communicate this information only once this process was consolidated. Please note that no further updates will be given.”

The spokeswoman asked the media to respect the privacy of Schumacher’s family and to not disturb the doctors treating him. l

Cricketing minnows the United Arab Emirates and Scotland secured berths at the 2015 World Cup yesterday after taking the top two spots at a qualification tournament in New Zealand.

Both teams finished the round robin phase of the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup Qualifier on eight points after posting four wins and one loss, with the UAE’s superior run rate giving them the edge over Scotland.

The results mean they will play in next year’s World Cup alongside superpowers

left-arm spinner of the side, Enamul Haque Jr claimed four.

Khulna v Barisal

Riding on three half centuries hosts Khulna scored 252 for six at stumps against Barisal at Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium. The Barisal side lacked the threat in the bowling department as Tushar Imran, Anamul Haque, Robiul Islam Robi scored 61, 55 and 51 runs respectively. Ziaur Rahman was unbeaten on 18 along with Nahidul Islam on 5. Fazle Rabbi picked three wickets for Barisal.

Dhaka Metro v Chittagong

Dhaka centurions Rakibul Hasan (L) and Shuvagata Hom pose for a photograph after ending the first day unbeaten against Rangpur at SKS DHAKA TRIBUNE

UAE, Scotland qualify for 2015 World Cup

BOA secretary general Syed Shahed Reza presents a crest to the Lanny Avi, the head of the NOC Relations and Services, 2016 Brazil Olympic Committee at the BOA House yesterday

Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club flew to Kolkata yesterday night to take part in the 121-year-old Club Cup competition IFA Shield. The new Bangladesh Premier League giants, who aimed to return home as the champions of one of the oldest club competitions in world football, will play their first game against Kolkata side Mohammedan SC at the Barasat Stadium, West Bengal on February 2 before facing United Sikkim FC on February 4.

Earlier the club was not sure of participating in the competition as their foreign players did not receive their visas.

The Dhaka powerhouse was scheduled to play their opening game against Mohun Bagan yesterday, but the game was postponed as Jamal denied to travel without their foreign recruits. The game has been rescheduled on February 6.

Sheikh Jamal were pitted in the Group B of the 118th IFA Shield, which got underway on January 29, with Mohun Bagan, Mohammedan SC, Kolkata and United Sikkim. However, Sheikh Jamal manager Anwarul Karim Helal did not travel with the team for unavoidable problems regarding his passport. l

of the game such as India and Australia.

Scotland have featured in the World Cup twice before, in 1999 and 2007, while the UAE appeared in the tournament’s 1996 edition.

The Scots qualified after beating Kenya by three wickets in their final match with just three balls to spare, while the UAE downed Namibia by 36 runs.

Hong Kong entered the final day of the round robin with hopes of earning a debut World Cup appearance but results did not go their way, even though they posted a three-wicket win over Papua New Guinea. l

Dhaka Metro and Chittagong are fighting neck to neck at Bogra’s Shaheed Chandu Stadium.

Metro were restricted to 221 runs with Saikat Ali making the highest 53.

Monirul Islam was the most successful among the Chittagong bowlers picking four wickets while Yasin Arafat and Aftab Ahmed bagged two wickets each.

However, Chittagong were trailing by 143 runs at the end of the day as they were reeling at 84 for three.

Nafees Iqbal was unbeaten on 60 with Aftab on two. Shohid picked two wickets for Dhaka Metro while off-spinner Sharifullah took one. l

Hughes replaces injured Marsh in Australia squad n Reuters Australia replaced injured batsman Shaun Marsh with Phillip Hughes yesterday while clearing fit-again paceman Jackson Bird to join the team in South Africa for the three-test series starting on Feb. 12.

Though named in the 15-man squad, both Marsh and Bird stayed put in Australia battling fitness issues. Bird was cleared by the medical team after the 27-year-old paceman underwent bowling sessions at Hobart under Lehmann’s observation. l

Wawrinka leads Swiss, Czechs seek third Davis Cup title n AFP, Paris

Stanislas Wawrinka, hotfoot from his Australian Open triumph, turns his mind to affairs of national importance

FIXTURES

At Ostrava - hard (indoors) Czech Republic v Netherlands At Tokyo - hard (indoors) Japan v Canada At Frankfurt - hard (indoors) Germany v Spain At La Roche sur Yon - clay (indoors) France v Australia At San Diego - clay (outdoor) USA v Great Britain At Mar del Plato - clay (outdoor) Argentina v Italy At Astana - hard (indoor) At Kazakhstan v Belgium At Novi Sad - hard (indoor) Serbia v Switzerland

this weekend as he leads Switzerland into battle against last season’s beaten finalists Serbia in the Davis Cup World Group first round.

Nadal, the world number one, is one of a clutch of stars missing from this weekend’s opening salvoes of the venerable 114-year-old competition.

While Nadal and world number five David Ferrer skip Spain’s tie with Germany in Frankfurt, Serbia must face Wawrinka’s Switzerland without Novak Djokovic. The Swiss in contrast are looking strong as along with the in-form Wawrinka they boast Roger Federer, who confirmed his presence on Wednesday.

Argentina meanwhile face Italy without their top player, Juan Martin Del Potro, knocked out in the second round at Melbourne.

In Ostrava, world number seven Tomas Berdych, a semi-final victim of Wawrinka’s last week, leads the Czechs into battle against the Dutch, returning to the Davis Cup fast lane for the first time since 2009. l

Fomer Australian Cricket World Cup players Dean Jones, Brett Lee, Michael Hussey, Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden, Damien Fleming and Adam Gilchrist pose with the the ICC Cricket World Cup trophy during the Ricky Ponting Tribute Match at Aurora Stadium

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Friday, January 31, 2014

HC declares an ACC provision unconstitutional n Nazmus Sakib The High Court yesterday declared section 32A of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004 unconstitutional which stipulates that the government approval is a must before prosecuting judges, magistrates and public servants in graft charges.

The bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice ABM Altaf Hossain delivered the verdict on a writ petition filed on November 24 by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh.

The court observed that the recently included provision of obtaining approval of the government was contrary to the constitution as well as fundamental rights of people and it was incorporated with a malafide intention.

“Though in our constitutional scheme all citizens are equal before the law, still the provision grants some forms of immunity to certain public employees, creating discrimination among the citizens,” it observed.

The amendment was passed on November 11 last year in parliament and a gazette notification was issued on November 20 on the amendment.

Manzill Murshid, the lawyer of the petitioner, told before the court that

‘Bring back Taslima’ n Tribune Report Speakers at a programme demanded that exiled writer Taslima Nasrin should be brought back to Bangladesh immediately.

“It was the constitutional, fundamental and birth right of writer Taslima Nasrin to be with the soil and people of Bangladesh. She was sent to exile in fear of attack on her from Islamist militants.”

Initiatives should be taken immediately to bring her back in the country, Osman Gani, publisher of the Agami Prokashani, said.

Addressing a book launching programme of Taslima Nasrin titled ‘Nishidho’ (banned) at the National Press Club, Gani in his written statement alleged that militants and anti-feminist forces had always been engaged in propaganda against Taslima.

Lawyer Jotirmoy Barua in the discussion said there was no legal bar to Taslima’s coming back to Bangladesh.

“Even we have not had any information about her losing citizenship.

The government has not also made any statement as to why she should not be allowed to come back,” the lawyer said. l

the prior approval provision was not in existence in the original bill.

The new provision that took away the power from the anti-graft body in prosecuting public servants without government’s permission drew flak from many quarters including the ACC. In an immediate reaction, ACC Chairman M Bodiuzzaman said the ruling will help them act strongly against all kinds of corruption. “From the beginning of the amendment, we pressed for annulling the provision of taking approval from the government in case of proceeding against public servants and judges,” he added.

M Shahabuddin Chuppu said the judgement will safeguard the independence of the anti-graft body.

Deputy Attorney General Biswojit Roy told the Dhaka Tribune that they would lodge an appeal against the HC verdict with the Appellate Division if the government instructed so.

On November 25, the High Court asked the government to explain in four weeks why the provision should not be declared unconstitutional.

The speaker, secretaries of cabinet division, president secretariat, prime minister’s secretariat and law ministry were asked to reply to the rule. l

Absolute chaos at the Farmgate intersection as vehicles run at every direction just in front of a traffic police box and people cross roads haphazardly although there is a foot over-bridge a few metres away. The photo was taken yesterday SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Lalmonirhat Hindu family denied justice, security n Our Correspondent, Lalmonirhat

Two adolescent girls of a poor Hindu family in a Muslim-dominated village under Lalmonirhat sadar upazila have stopped going to school in fear of security as an alleged rapist managed to walk free after a forceful understanding mediated by ruling Awami League leaders at the local police station.

The four-member family, one of the two Hindu homesteads in Dhairkhata village of Kulaghat union, now plans to shift to another area selling their six-decimal land in fear of further persecution as they have been denied support both by the law enforcers and the local people.

Their two children, aged 11 and 13, are students of class VI and VII at Bhartibari High School.

Their mother lodged a case with Sadar police station on January 12 against neighbour Shamsul Haque, 45, member of local railway Sramik League’s executive committee, who allegedly attempted to rape her elder daughter at their shanty on January 8.

The night before, Shamsul and two

of his accomplices allegedly threatened the housewife with dire consequences to agree on handing over the girl to him the next day.

The matter spread in the area on January 10, but none dared to stand against the accused. Shamsul in his area is also known as a donor of BNP’s political activities.

He had earlier tried to violate the same girl at her place twice in the last three months, the family alleged.

Harassment on the two poor Hindu families, who live from hand to mouth, has not been new in the locality.

Shamsul’s younger brother was sued three years ago for raping a housewife of the other Hindu house in the village.

But he too escaped legal measures after a so-called village arbitration had freed him from the charge.

“I had to sign the papers. The police and two Awami League leaders threatened me with arrest if I did not do so,” the housewife told the Dhaka Tribune.

“As I failed to get legal support from the police over the attacks [on January 7 and 8], we will leave the village as soon as possible to avoid further attack.”

Police say they mediated the understanding, took place at the sadar police station on January 20, as the victim’s family wanted to withdraw the case.

However, the housewife denies that she agreed to compromise the case.

Provisional Sub-Inspector PSI Nazrul Islam said both the sides agreed to reach a mutual understanding before he had started to investigate the allegation.

He said the officer-in-charge of the police station had confirmed him about the mediation. “The OC is all in all at the police station.”

OC Jamir Uddin said the case had been dismissed as there had been mutual understanding between the two quarters.

He said the issue had been dealt by nearby Gokunda union unit Awami League’s General Secretary Khorshed Alam Maznu and local Swechchhasebak League leader Shafiqul Islam at the police station.

The official said he had helped them preparing only the documents of mutual understanding.

The victim said: “Though we are

poor, we never appealed for any help from the accused. But he always offered us educational accessories, clothes and other things. We refused him right away.”

She and her younger sister had been harassed regularly on their way to and from school.

“We have stopped going to school after the January 7 incident as Shamsul Haque and his men threatened our family that they will kidnap us in the way to school,” she said.

When contacted, both Khorshed Alam and Shafiqul denied taking any money from the accused or threatening the victim’s family. They claimed that the matter had been handled with the help of police as the affected Hindu family wanted it.

Accused Shamsul claimed that he had given Tk33,000 to the Awami League leaders to manage the victim’s family and the police withdrawing the case.

He, however, did not respond when the Dhaka Tribune asked him why he had to spend money to dismiss a false allegation. l

Tribunal enquires Yusuf about Malik Cabinet

A NARROW ESCAPE

n Udisa Islam

A man tries to scramble to his feet after falling on the street in front of a running bus on Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue in the capital yesterday, escaping a fatal accident. The man was trying to get on the bus ahead.

He was lucky as the bus behind was able to brake in time SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

The war crimes tribunal yesterday grilled Jamaat-e-Islami Senior Nayebe-Ameer AKM Yusuf about Abdul Motaleb Malik-led cabinet where the accused had served as revenue minister during the 1971 Liberation War. The tribunal called Yusuf from the accused dock to the witness box (next to the judges’ seat) after cross-examination of the prosecution’s last witness.

As the International Crimes Tribunal 2 Chairman Justice Obaidul Hassan asked him about the size of the Malik Cabinet, the accused in a feeble voice said he could not remember.

The tribunal chairman clarified him saying: “Not for the purpose of the case, but for the sake of knowledge we are asking you some questions as you are the lone surviving member of that cabinet.”

Justice Obaidul asked him why all the cabinet members had resigned on December 14, only two days before the country’s independence. Yusuf replied that they had decided to resign observing the country’s situation.

The tribunal also enquired about his health. Yusuf, 84, said he had been better than earlier.

Later it set February 4 to begin deposition of defence witnesses. The tribunal has allowed the defence to produce three witnesses. In the beginning of the trial, the defence team had submitted a list of 56 witnesses.

According to the Bangabhaban website, then president and CMLA Gen Yahya Khan appointed AM Malik as

governor of erstwhile East Pakistan on August 31, 1971. He took oath of office on September 3.

An ophthalmic surgeon by profession, Malik had retired from diplomatic post in 1967. In August 1969, he was inducted as Pakistan’s Minister for Health, Labour, Works and Social Welfare and continued to hold office until February 1971. In July 1971, he was appointed as special assistant for displaced persons.

Malik along with his cabinet resigned on December 14 and sought refuge in Hotel Intercontinental [now Ruposhi Bangla], seeking the protection of the Red Cross flag.

Earlier in the day, defence counsel Mizanul Islam cross-examined Investigation Officer Md Helal Uddin. He was the 27th and last prosecution witness in the war crimes case against Yusuf.

Mizanul suggested that the IO was using state power and had produced false witnesses. Helal said it was not true.

Yusuf, the alleged founder of razakar force – an auxiliary force of the Pakistani occupation army – and Peace Committee in Khulna region, was indicted on August 1, 2012 on 13 charges of crimes against humanity. He was the second man in Jamaat chain of command during the war. The IO in his deposition said Yusuf had established peace committees in every upazila and union.

Meanwhile, yesterday was fixed for passing order on the indictment of war crimes accused and former Jatiya Party state minister Syed Md Qaisar. The tribunal set Sunday for passing order on the matter. l

Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2014 begins tomorrow n Muktasree Chakma Sathi The month-long Amar Ekushey Book Fair, the largest book fair in the country, is set to begin tomorrow on the Bangla Academy premises and at Suhrawardy Udyan in a new form this year.

One can see hundreds of decorated stalls made by bamboo, wood, plywood that are coloured with different vibrant colours at the academy compound or at the Udyan.

Publishers taking their last minute’s preparation to decorate their stalls; busy people — workers who are making the stalls, owners and their associates who are giving finishing touches on decor of their stalls— are in rush to complete their shops before the opening ceremony of the fair tomorrow afternoon.

Officials of the Bangla Academy said they are hoping to hold the largest ever gathering of book lovers this year since the venue has been extended to Suhrawardy Udyan, for the very first time.

Publishers appreciated the book fair extended to a more open space like Suhrawardy Udyan as the space will offer relaxed movement for the visitors.

However, a few publishers said the space could have been organised in a more systematic way.

Robin Ahsan, publisher of Srabon Prokashoni, said: “We are happy with the fact that the fair comes to comparatively in an open place but it was not done in an organised manner.”

Robin is also hoping that, in the future, the fair authority will look into this matter.

Wishing to be anonymous, an official of Bangla Academy said the final list of allocations of stalls is yet to be done.

“We have a draft list, now,” he added.

However, Deputy Director of Bangla Academy Murshed Anwar said all kinds of preparations— in terms of stalls, security measures and budget— for the fair are done.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to inaugurate the fair on February 1, Murshed said.

According to the available list, 262 stalls have been allotted for the publishers in three categories — 131 single units, 83 double units, 48 triple units and 11 quadruple units.

The government institutions and organisations were allotted to set up their stalls on the Bangla Academy premises and the extended Suhrawardy Udyan was allotted for the publishers.

Rony, a carpenter who has been working to build the stalls since the last few days, said a number of 700 stalls have been set up.

Of them “430 only in Suhrawardy Udyan and rest of the stalls are on Bangla Academy premises.” 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

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2014 www.dhakatribune.com/business

RMG losses spill over into backward linkage Political unrest claimed to have cost accessories and packaging industry Tk2,000 crore n Ibrahim Hossain Ovi The backward linkage industry of readymade garment sector is estimated to have incurred a loss worth around Tk2,000 crore in last few months due to political unrest ahead of the national election held on January 5.

An internal survey conducted by Bangladesh Garment Accessories and Packaging Manufactures and Exporters Association (BGAPMEA) estimated the losses.

“Scarcity of new orders from apparel makers badly affected the accessories and packaging industry,” BGAPMEA President Rafez Alam Chowdhury told the Dhaka Tribune, claiming the loss estimate.

“Received orders could not also be supplied timely due to the political turmoil, increasing the losses.”

According to the BGAPMEA, the deemed export of packaging and accessories items in the last fiscal year would be around US$4bn, which is around 20% of the country’s total apparel exports.

The association leader said export of the accessories witnessed a sharp fall as shipments could not be made timely.

He said the overall production was badly hampered due to short supply of raw materials.

The packaging sector has also suffered huge losses like the others sectors such as pharmaceuticals, ceramics and leather, he noted.

Volatility and uncertainties, which was prevailing in the RMG sector, virtually led the linkage industry to fur-

ther crises as it is directly involved with the apparel sector.

Around 50% of the orders, both from home and abroad, have been dropped as the RMG sector suffered order crises from their global buyers in last few months due to political unrest, said Syed Ziaul Haque, general manager of Uniglory Accessories Limited.

To get rid of the dull market, the RMG sector needs more orders as production of backward linkage industry depends on the vibrancy of apparel sector, he added.

He urged the government to ensure security of foreign buyers and bring stability into the business, so the buyers could visit Bangladesh and place orders.

“Currently, we don’t have sufficient orders and it would be difficult for us to meet the monthly regular expenses to maintain operation,” said Haque.

Meanwhile, the government and apparel makers as well as exporters are trying to restore confidence among the global retailers by assuring them of the political stability and sufficient security for them.

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) is going to hold a meeting with the global retailers on February 3 in an effort to restore confidence that eroded due to the recent political turmoil and labour unrests.

“We want to inform the global buyers that Bangladesh has rightly come back to its own track as the overall political situation has already been improved,” said Shahidullah Azim, Vice President of BGMEA. l

A worker carries a carton of garment products ready for export at a factory warehouse in Tongi near the capital Dhaka

Ministries not following guidelines in procurement proposals n Asif Showkat Kallol Most of the purchase proposals of the ministries do no follow the existing procurement guidelines and rules also, which causes problems for cabinet committee to take decisions and begets corruption, said a high official.

Additional Secretary of Cabinet Division Nurul Karim recently sent a letter to the ministries and divisions in this regard.

The letter said the purchase proposals were not made as per the Rules of Business 1996, the Public Procurement Act 2006 and the Public Procurement Rules 2008.

“We had no choice, but to send back the proposals to the respective ministries and divisions for rewriting,” said Nurul Karim. Development partners also insist on following procurement guidelines, he added.

Recently, a shipping ministry proposal on appointing five berth opera-

tors for Chittagong Port was sent back as it was not made as per procurement guidelines.

We had no choice, but to send back the proposals to the respective ministries and divisions for rewriting According to the Cabinet Division, the shipping ministry in its proposal didn’t publish tender in newspaper, skipped mentioning of the price increase of the quoted price and the quoted prices of all five operators were mentioned unusually of the same amount without any explanation.

The letter observed that many proposal summaries are made hurriedly and with little care just to place on the table for approval.

The Cabinet Committee and the Cabinet Division cannot judge the proposals properly due to lack of compliance, it said, urging the officials of the ministries and divisions to follow the existing procurement rules and guidelines while preparing purchase proposals.

The ministry officials were also asked to mention the procurement price in both number and words in the proposals.

They would also have to attach tender evaluation committee’s reports with the proposals.

Legally-fixed duration of tenders will also need to be mentioned in the procurement proposals, the letter said.

In 2012, an independent evaluation group of the World Bank visited Dhaka and found the loopholes in the country’s existing public procurement rules.

The group advised the government to rearrange the rules to ensure corruption-free implementation of infrastructure projects. l

26 DSE cos report half-yearly profit n Tahmidur Rahman

Twenty six out of 29 companies listed in the Dhaka Stock Exchange yesterday reported half-yearly profit.

During the July-December period of last year, 18 of them did better than the same period of 2012, according to the reports based on unaudited financial statements.

The remaining 8 companies showed profits during the period, but poor than the same period of previous year.

Imam Button, Dulamia Cotton and Jute Spinners reported losses.

Several mutual funds also announced their respective half-yearly results yesterday.

Three-fourths of the companies those reported profits belong to “A” category.

Small investors welcomed the better performance by the listed companies, despite the adverse impact on the economy due to the political unrest.

Brokers said the disclosures helped the market register highest trade value of the week yesterday.

The companies made up 165.3 crore or over 19% of the total value traded at Dhaka Stock Exchange on the last trading session of the week. “Preference to sector-wise and scrip-wise move-

SNAPSHOT OF DISCLOSER ON CORPORATE PROFITABILITY Companies Desh Garments - B Central Pharma - N Bangladesh Building - A Tallu Spinning - A Rahim Textile - A Quasem Drycells - A Keya Cosmetics - A Meghna Petroleum -A Bangas - A Pharma Aids - A Agni System - A Kohinoor Chemical - A Malek Spinning - A Imam Button - Z BEDL - A Prime Textile - A Delta Spinners - A Saiham Textile - A Standard Ceramic - A Power Grid - A Fuwang Ceramic - A Golden Harvest - N Orion Infusion - A Daffodil Computers - Z Hakkani Pulp - B Zahintex - A DESCO - A Dulamia Cotton - Z Jute Spinners - Z

H2 2012 (in crore)

H2 2013 (in crore)

% change

0.05 2.2 3.8 5.31 0.66 2.08 12.36 78.5 0.75 0.5 2.24 2.5 17.2 -1.28 10.1 1.91 2.64 11.3 0.34 74 2.8 8.1 2.4 2.65 0.47 5.9 71.9 -0.8 -1.16

0.19 6.2 10.7 14.6 1.59 3.81 19.5 109.9 1.04 0.66 2.87 3.2 21.4 -0.99 11.5 2.14 2.91 11.4 0.34 72.9 2.4 6.6 1.8 1.5 0.26 2.2 19.2 -1.5 -3.74

280% 182% 182% 175% 141% 83% 58% 40% 39% 32% 28% 28% 24% 23% 14% 12% 10% 1% 0% -1% -14% -19% -25% -43% -45% -63% -73% -88% -222%

ment backed by earnings disclosures and expectations led rebalancing their

Yesterday's change in stock price 6.34% 2.89% 9.91% 0.25% 8.70% -0.65% 6.25% -1.08% -5.79% 1.27% -0.42% 5.76% 0.00% 0.00% -2.99% 1.93% -0.74% 0.30% -2.23% -2.92% 1.00% -7.49% -0.47% 0.72% -1.80% 1.46% 0.97% -3.26% 0.81%

Volume traded (in lakh) 96.4 1228 1231 2406 126 549 1839 4104 1418 28.3 80.8 36.6 277.3 1.1 613.7 33.4 271 350 7.1 344 91.3 892.7 110 16.6 17.8 160 196 1.2 2

portfolio. As a result, DSEX ended flat,” said IDLC Investment. l

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Six to contest DSE polls

Insurance regulator goes without n Tribune Report guardian Six candidates will contest for four directorship posts in the election of Kayes Sohel n demutualised Dhaka Stock Exchange

Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority (IDRA) has now turned into a guardian-less entity as four key positions, out of its top-five, have fallen vacant since Wednesday.

As a result, the regulator of the insurance companies has already started facing a setback not only in performing its routine jobs, but also failing to make any policy decisions, according to sources.

Meanwhile, the government, issued a circular on Wednesday with an order for bestowing the charges of the chairman to Md. Fazlul Karim, the lone existing member of IDRA. But, the regulator requires at least three members, including chairman, to hold a commission meeting, according to IDRA Act. The post of IDRA chairman remained vacant since January 26, the day when a three-year contractual appointment of M Shefaque Ahmed expired. Contractual appointment of Naba Gopal Banik, a member of the IDRA, also expired on Wednesday last.

Nurul Islam Molla, another member, went on retirement on health grounds in December last and contractual appointment of Syed Ahmed, another member, expired on April 2013.

Consequently, all the vital policy-related work initiated by the regulator in 2011 to bring the disorganised and unregulated insurance sector into a regulated one, is also poised to be hampered largely.

The government had earlier established the IDRA in January 2011, replacing the department of insurance to develop the insurance industry through enacting an act in the parliament. Since then, a good numbers of rules and regulations were amended and framed to protect the rights of policyholders.

IDRA now provides registration certificates to insurance companies and offers policyholders the right to voice their complaints against insurers or insurance companies.

It specifies the requisite qualifications for managing directors and sets code of conduct for insurance firms, agents and others concerned. It fines, levies fees and other charges to carry out the purposes of the insurance Act of 2010.

“Policy-related jobs as well as daily activities have badly suffered as it is difficult for us to make any policy decisions without holding a meeting of the commission, which is now also facing quorum crisis,’’ Fazlul Karim, acting chairman of IDRA, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday. l

(DSE).

They are Shakil Rizvi of Shakil Rizvi Stock, Ghulam Rasul of Khwaja Equity Services, Mohammad Shahjahan of Jahan Securities, Sharif Anownar Hossain of Sahidullah Securities, Ahmad Rashid of Rashid Investment Services and Lailun Nahar Ekram of AENZ Securities.

Two out of eight stakeholders withdrew their nomination papers yesterday – the final day of nomination withdrawal.

The two candidates are Kazi Firoz Rashid of Kazi Firoz Rashid Securities and Mohammad Shamim Afzal of Desa Securities.

The election is scheduled for February 12 to form its first board after the

demutualisation.

The election is being held under the regulation of DSE shareholder director election regulation – 2014.

Chairman of the DSE will be elected at the annual general meeting (AGM) scheduled for February 13. Its 250 members turned into shareholders after the demutualisation.

The new board will be comprised of 13 member – four from its existing shareholders, seven from independent directors, DSE chief executive officer and one from strategic investor, according to the Demutualisation Act 2013.

Prior to holding the AGM, the DSE would have to send a list of independent directors to the BSEC for regulatory approval. The tenure of each director and the chief executive officer will be for three years.

The bourse has already prepared a list of 21 independent directors mostly from academicians. l

STOCKS DSEX

4753.17

0.10%

▲

DSES

1660.35

-0.16%

▼

DS30

9366.97

0.37%

▲

EXCHANGE RATES Average selling rates to public in BDT Banks Rupali Bank Currencies SELL BUY USD 77.4 78.4

Sonali Bank SELL BUY 78

79.5

EURO

105.16

108.37

103.05

107.05

INR

1.16

1.31

1.16

1.26

SAR

20.53

21.01

20

21

B2

n Tribune Report

ing session, it said.

IDLC Investment said upbeat vive couldn’t sustain at the end of session as investors tried profit booking.

Among the major sectors, food and allied continued to post the highest gain of over 3%, led by heavyweight BATBC that rose 4.5%. It was followed by textile that surged 1.7% and non-life insurance 1%.

Stocks ended flat yesterday, as late profit taking cut early gains.

After rising more than 40 points in the morning, the benchmark DSEX index rose slightly 4 points or 0.09% to end at 4,753.

Shariah-based DSES index dropped fractionally 0.9 points or 0.09% higher to 974.The bluechip comprising DS30 index shed 2 points or 0.2% to 1,660.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange Selective Category Index, CSCX, was up by 43 points to close at 9,376.

Trading at DSE remained buoyant as the total turnover stood at Tk856 crore, an increase of more than 36% over the previous session and its second highest this year.

Out of 295 issues traded, 174 closed higher, 89 declined and 32 remained unchanged.

Lanka Bangla Securities in its market analysis said profit bagging inclination eroded most of the intraday gain, closing the indices marginally higher.

The government approved $106m foreign credit to 13 sectors including cement, textile, telecom and other manufacturing sectors to boost up manufacturing output growth was a positive factor.

The quarterly declarations spurred sector specific rally, working as market trigger to hold 4,750-level on the month-end trad-

Out of 295 issues traded, 174 closed higher, 89 declined and 32 remained unchanged

Energy, pharmaceuticals, cement and life insurance were in red on profit booking.

Meghna Petroleum was the most traded stocks with a turnover of Tk41 crore, followed by Padma Oil, Generation Next, Tallu Spinning, Aamra Technologies, Olympic Industries, Confidence Cement, Keya Cosmetics and Grameenphone. l

(+) 0.10%

▲

974.27286

(-) 0.10%

▼

DSE - 30 Index :

1660.35554

(-) 0.16%

▼

CSE All Share Index:

14786.2979

(+) 0.35%

CSE - 30 Index :

12296.5788 9366.9767

CSE Selected Index : DSE LOSERS

Golden Harvest Agro-N Bangas -A Padma Oil Co. -A Aziz PipesZ Brac B.C. Bond-A Anwar Galvanizing-B Progressive Life-A Dulamia CottonZ Pubali Bank - A Prime Islami Life -A

Closing (% change) -7.49 -5.79 -4.28 -3.83 -3.82 -3.32 -3.32 -3.26 -3.05 -3.04

CSE LOSERS Company Rangpur Foundry -A Golden Harvest Agro-N Bangas -A Padma Oil Co. -A Rahima Food -Z Barakatullah E. D.-A Padma Islami Life*-N National Housing Fin.-B Anwar Galvanizing-B Republic Insu.-A

Closing (% change) -9.17 -6.40 -5.93 -4.06 -3.67 -3.52 -3.37 -3.30 -3.29 -3.21

Average (% change) -5.15 -5.57 -3.80 -4.04 -3.38 -3.47 -0.01 -1.75 -0.46 0.70 Average (% change) -9.17 -4.99 -6.76 -3.68 -0.49 -1.85 -0.47 -1.00 -2.93 -1.94

ANALYST

187,622,912 160,255

Traded Issues

295

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

197

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

94

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

4

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,273.77

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

27.56

Turnover (Million Taka)

711.24

Turnover (Volume)

Closing average

19,470,942

43.09 508.42 332.24 22.57 1000.00 29.20 147.94 8.97 38.82 127.48

Closing average 98.10 42.99 502.82 332.07 68.80 36.00 84.35 35.80 29.49 48.48

23,528

Traded Issues

233

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

158

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

74 -

▲

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

(-) 0.15%

▼

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,171.68

(+) 0.37%

▲

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

26.32

Closing 42.00 507.20 328.60 22.60 995.50 29.10 145.40 8.90 38.10 124.20

Closing

Daily high 45.70 545.00 350.00 22.90 1000.00 29.70 151.90 9.50 41.20 132.00

Daily high

98.10 42.40 506.00 328.80 68.20 35.60 83.10 35.20 29.40 48.30

Turnover in million

Daily low 40.90 498.10 320.00 22.10 991.00 28.80 142.00 8.50 36.00 123.20

Turnover in million

Daily low

98.10 46.00 540.00 341.00 70.00 37.00 87.00 36.00 31.20 49.00

89.427 141.913 248.540 0.079 0.010 6.059 5.030 0.122 21.073 9.395

98.10 42.00 497.60 327.20 67.60 35.20 82.60 35.20 29.10 48.30

0.049 9.371 4.173 19.550 0.791 4.171 2.095 0.072 0.900 0.121

BD Building Systems -A Eastern InsurA Rahim Textile -A Libra Infusions-A Kay & Que (BD) -Z Familytex (BD) Ltd.-N Desh Garments -B Keya Cosmetics -A Apex Tannery -A Kohinoor Chem -A

Latest EPS 1.62 5.70 20.68 0.59 0.00 0.02 2.30 -4.02 2.11 4.95

Latest EPS 3.03 1.62 5.70 20.68 -0.64 1.74 1.10 1.39 0.02 3.03

Latest PE 26.6 89.2 16.1 38.3 1460.0 64.3 -ve 18.4 25.8

CSE GAINERS Company Reliance Insur -A BD Building Systems -A Kay & Que (BD) -Z Prime Insur -A Keya Cosmetics -A Eastern InsurA CVO PetroChem RL-Z Eastern Cables-Z BD Submarine Cable-A Generation Next-A

Bank NBFI Investment Engineering Food & Allied Fuel & Power Jute Textile Pharma & Chemical Paper & Packaging Service Leather Ceramic Cement Information Technology General Insurance Life Insurance Telecom Travel & Leisure Miscellaneous Debenture

DSE Million Taka 930.96 555.93 208.20 728.05 758.28 1385.24 2.55 1175.42 836.78 1.78 53.30 63.77 41.36 368.37 263.62 302.57 285.95 285.14 181.75 140.62 0.23

% change 10.86 6.49 2.43 8.50 8.85 16.16 0.03 13.72 9.76 0.02 0.62 0.74 0.48 4.30 3.08 3.53 3.34 3.33 2.12 1.64 0.00

Million Taka 94.00 52.65 11.51 75.94 38.08 82.96 110.42 64.56 0.23 7.29 6.38 6.26 20.64 37.55 12.82 13.43 27.73 25.44 23.42 0.01

CSE

% change 13.22 7.40 1.62 10.68 5.35 11.66 0.00 15.52 9.08 0.03 1.03 0.90 0.88 2.90 5.28 1.80 1.89 3.90 3.58 3.29 0.00

Million Taka 1024.96 608.57 219.71 803.99 796.36 1468.20 2.55 1285.84 901.34 2.00 60.60 70.15 47.62 389.01 301.17 315.39 299.38 312.87 207.19 164.04 0.24

10.00 10.00 6.73 6.57 5.86 5.66 5.37 5.21 5.20 5.04

Average (% change) 10.00 8.49 7.15 6.43 4.50 4.88 4.98 3.38 4.70 4.38

Closing average 70.02 44.81 299.05 484.17 21.60 62.37 71.54 28.57 155.49 385.68

Closing average 77.00 70.38 22.18 37.25 28.56 44.52 791.58 99.24 169.09 36.97

Closing 71.00 45.40 302.30 484.20 21.60 62.80 70.40 28.90 156.50 385.70

Closing 77.00 71.50 22.20 37.30 28.90 44.80 794.50 101.00 170.00 37.50

Daily high 71.00 45.60 302.40 485.90 22.00 63.80 72.80 29.90 158.50 389.00

Daily high 77.00 71.50 22.50 37.30 29.00 45.50 799.00 98.10 173.00 37.60

Daily low 64.00 40.00 280.00 480.00 20.00 60.00 66.70 24.90 152.00 375.00

Daily low 77.00 59.60 21.80 37.20 27.80 42.00 780.00 100.00 163.90 35.90

Turnover in million 123.284 24.461 12.597 0.581 0.489 17.183 9.643 184.158 10.449 3.664

Turnover in million 0.039 22.080 0.044 0.019 26.381 0.317 0.396 0.050 16.697 23.946

Latest EPS 2.92 2.60 11.56 4.88 -0.89 8.29 1.18 2.18 4.86 9.80

Latest EPS 4.59 2.92 -0.89 2.36 2.18 2.60 -4.06 1.40 3.28 2.25

Latest PE 24.0 17.2 25.9 99.2 -ve 7.5 60.6 13.1 32.0 39.4

Latest PE 16.8 24.1 -ve 15.8 13.1 17.1 -ve 70.9 51.6 16.4

ICB1STNRB: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 23.65 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 2.37 as against Tk. 16.70 million and Tk. 1.67 respectively**.

ICB2NDNRB: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 73.36 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 0.73 as against Tk. 61.77 million and Tk. 0.62 respectively**.

ICBISLAMIC: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 12.77 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 1.28 as against Tk. 6.63 million and Tk. 0.66 respectively**.

1JANATAMF: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 59.84 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 0.30 as against Tk. 38.31 million and Tk. 0.19 respectively**.

EBLNRBMF: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 36.39 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 0.22 as against Tk. 38.62 million and Tk. 0.24 respectively**.

ABB1STMF: (H/Y): NPAT=Tk. 43.00 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 0.26 as against Tk. 46.00 million and Tk. 0.28 respectively**.

FBFIF: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 150.97 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 0.27 as against Tk. 207.97 million and Tk. 0.38 respectively**.

PHPMF1: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 40.97 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 0.20 as against Tk. 38.66 million and Tk. 0.19 respectively**.

POPULAR1MF: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 63.63 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 0.31

as against Tk. 49.48 million and Tk. 0.24 respectively**.

EXIM1STMF: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 35.24 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 0.35.

EBL1STMF: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 20.24 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 0.19 as against Tk. 31.94 million and Tk. 0.29 respectively**.

IFIC1STMF: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 27.76 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 0.21 as against Tk. 37.58 million and Tk. 0.29 respectively**.

TRUSTB1MF: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 45.45 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 0.21 as against Tk. 49.33 million and Tk. 0.23 respectively**.

PRIME1ICBA: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 31.00 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 0.31 as against Tk. 10.48 million and Tk. 0.10 respectively**.

ICBSONALI1: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 79.67 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 0.80.

IFILISLMF1: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 43.93 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 0.44 as against Tk. 6.61 million and Tk. 0.07 respectively** PF1STMF: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 18.24 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 0.30 as against Tk. 6.75 million and Tk. 0.11 respectively**.

ICB3RDNRB: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 21.09 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 0.21 as against Tk. 11.39 million and Tk. 0.11 respectively**.

32.4 26.5 88.2 16.1 -ve 20.7 76.7 25.8 1474.5 16.0

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Meghna Petroleum -A BATBCL -A Padma Oil Co. -A Generation Next-A Tallu Spinning -A aamra technologies-A

Total

Closing (% change)

1STPRIMFMF: The Trustee Committee of the fund has approved 10% cash dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2013.

Record date: 11.02.2014.

HRTEX: The Board of Directors has recommended 15% cash dividend for the year ended on September 30, 2013. Date of AGM: 09.06.2014, Time: 10:00 AM, Venue: Trust Milonayaton, 545 Old Airport Road, Dhaka Cantonment, Dhaka-1206. Record date: 20.02.2014. The Company has also reported EPS of Tk. 2.30, NAV per share of Tk. 15.72 and NOCFPS of Tk. 7.10 for the year ended on September 30, 2013.

APEXFOODS: Credit Rating Agency of Bangladesh Limited (CRAB) has announced the entity rating (surveillance) of the Company as "A2" based on audited financial statements up to June 30, 2013; unaudited three months management prepared financial statements, bank liability position as on December 31, 2013 and other relevant quantitative as well as qualitative information up to the date of rating declaration.

ICBEPMF1S1: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 19.45 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 0.26 as against Tk. 9.02 million and Tk. 0.12 respectively**.

ICBAMCL2ND: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 21.89 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 0.44 as against Tk. 7.88 million and Tk. 0.16 respectively**.

Olympic Ind. -A

Sector

9.91 9.40 8.70 7.96 7.46 6.62 6.34 6.25 6.10 5.76

Average (% change) 8.31 7.92 7.92 7.89 7.20 4.60 6.95 4.58 3.82 5.74

Latest PE

Profit bagging inclination eroded most of the intraday gain, closing the indices marginally higher

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY

Closing (% change)

News from trade server

CSE key features January 30, 2014

Number of Contract

4753.17024

DSE Shariah Index :

8,569.84

Number of Contract

Daily capital market highlights DSE Broad Index :

Company

Turnover (Million Taka) Turnover (Volume)

Friday, January 31, 2014

DSE GAINERS

DSE key features January 30, 2014

Stocks end flat with higher turnover

Company

Stock

DHAKA TRIBUNE

% change 11.04 6.56 2.37 8.66 8.58 15.82 0.03 13.85 9.71 0.02 0.65 0.76 0.51 4.19 3.24 3.40 3.23 3.37 2.23 1.77 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

ConfidenceCement A Keya Cosmetics -A Grameenphone-A

Square Pharma -A S Purbanchol Power-N Bangas -A UCBL - A LankaBangla Fin. -A BD Building Systems -A CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company aamra technologies-A

Keya Cosmetics -A Generation Next-A BD Building Systems -A Padma Oil Co. -A Appollo Ispat CL -N Meghna Petroleum -A UNITED AIR-A UCBL - A Tallu Spinning -A BD Submarine Cable-A Paramount Textile Ltd.-A Mercantile Bank -A Central Pharm-A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A

Volume shares 1,537,317 131,230 748,070 6,627,460 5,854,369 4,972,017 1,055,222 1,259,403 6,446,104 832,298

753,732 2,152,200 279,127 4,465,601 1,652,403 1,760,725

Volume shares

828,290 923,812 647,760 313,725 58,874 502,800 68,940 1,043,091 563,566 413,500 98,742 276,950 630,803 229,450 316,740

Value in million 410.95 254.03 248.54 245.06 240.67 202.27 191.16 189.27 184.16 177.91

173.06 165.48 141.91 138.30 131.51 123.28

Value in million

33.62 26.38 23.95 22.08 19.55 18.54 18.42 18.33 17.47 17.01 16.70 14.48 11.99 11.46 11.44

% of total turnover 4.80 2.96 2.90 2.86 2.81 2.36 2.23 2.21 2.15 2.08

2.02 1.93 1.66 1.61 1.53 1.44

% of total turnover

4.73 3.71 3.37 3.10 2.75 2.61 2.59 2.58 2.46 2.39 2.35 2.04 1.69 1.61 1.61

Daily closing 266.00 1929.00 328.60 37.40 40.20 41.00 180.60 149.80 28.90 212.30

228.40 76.10 507.20 31.00 78.90 71.00

Daily closing

41.00 28.90 37.50 71.50 328.80 36.80 265.20 17.60 31.10 40.30 170.00 52.30 19.20 50.00 36.20

Price change -1.08 4.44 -4.28 4.76 0.25 4.33 1.92 2.39 6.25 0.38

Daily opening 268.90 1847.00 343.30 35.70 40.10 39.30 177.20 146.30 27.20 211.50

Price change

Daily opening

-1.30 -0.52 -5.79 2.31 -2.11 9.91

4.06 5.86 5.04 10.00 -4.06 0.55 -1.19 1.15 2.64 -0.25 5.20 1.95 3.23 3.31 2.26

231.40 76.50 538.40 30.30 80.60 64.60

39.40 27.30 35.70 65.00 342.70 36.60 268.40 17.40 30.30 40.40 161.60 51.30 18.60 48.40 35.40

Daily high 270.80 1946.90 350.00 37.70 44.00 41.90 184.90 152.10 29.90 215.50

Daily low 246.00 1820.00 320.00 33.70 36.30 35.40 160.00 140.00 24.90 200.00

Daily average 267.31 1935.79 332.24 36.98 41.11 40.68 181.16 150.29 28.57 213.76

Daily high

Daily low

Daily average

236.00 78.80 545.00 32.80 81.30 71.00

41.80 29.00 37.60 71.50 341.00 37.30 270.00 17.80 31.30 42.10 173.00 52.90 19.30 50.60 36.50

215.10 68.90 498.10 27.80 73.00 64.00

39.30 27.80 35.90 59.60 327.20 36.60 263.00 17.30 30.50 40.10 163.90 51.70 18.70 48.20 35.40

229.61 76.89 508.42 30.97 79.58 70.02

40.59 28.56 36.97 70.38 332.07 36.87 267.21 17.57 30.99 41.15 169.09 52.30 19.01 49.96 36.13

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

Facebook unveils social n ‘newspaper’

India raises annual limit on subsidised LPG to 12 cylinders

n AFP, Washington Facebook on unveiled its new app called “Paper,” which serves as an online newspaper for viewing and sharing articles and other content from a smartphone.

“Paper makes storytelling more beautiful with an immersive design and fullscreen, distraction-free layouts, “ Facebook said in a blog post announcing the new service.

“We’ve also made it easier to craft and share beautiful stories of your own.”

The app, the first product from Facebook Creative Labs, will be available February 3 for iPhone users, Facebook said.

Paper presents stories and themed sections to allow people to follow topics ranging from news headlines to food to sports to science.

It has a tiled designed that allows users to customize the display alongside a personal Facebook feed.

“Each section includes a rich mix of content from emerging voices and well-known publications,” the blog post said.

'We’ve also made it easier to craft and share beautiful stories of your own' The partners in Paper were not named, but a video released by Facebook showed a user scrolling articles and content from The New York Times, Time magazine, USA Today, the Huffington Post and others.

“Storytelling and sharing have been

reimagined in Paper to show stories at their best,” Facebook said.

“Everything responds to your touch so you can pick up or thumb through stories with simple, natural movements. You can tilt your phone to explore high-resolution panoramic photos from corner to corner, and see faces and other important details up close.”

The app will allow for full-screen viewing of videos and will “make it easy to spot articles from trusted publishers and decide what to read or watch,” it said.

“When you’re ready to tell your own story, you know exactly what your post or photo will look like because you see a live preview before you share it,” the blog said.

Reports in recent weeks said Facebook was hiring editors or “curators” to complement its algorithmic method of delivering content to its users. l

Reuters

The government yesterday increased the subsidy on cooking gas, acceding to popular demand as it gears up for a tough national election due by May. The decision to increase the cap on annual sales of subsidised cooking gas cylinders to 12 from 9 per household was made days after Rahul Gandhi, vice president of the Congress, demanded a raise in the ceiling.

The move, which will cost the exchequer 50bn rupees, comes at a time when government finances are under pressure in the face of weak tax receipts in a slowing economy and high public spending.

It also flies in the face of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s commitment to trim spending on fuel subsidies, which is at the heart of his struggle to balance the budget.

But Manish Tewari, information and broadcasting minister in Singh’s cabinet, said the government would not shy away from taking consum-

er-friendly decisions. “Let there be no ambiguity that the UPA (coalition) government will not put any consumer to any hardship at all,” he said.

The Congress is racing against time to win back voters, disenchanted by a slew of corruption scandals and a dramatic decline the country’s economic fortunes on its watch.

The ruling coalition is trailing in opinion polls and many analysts believe it is unlikey to win a third term in power.

Under the subsidies, households will be entitled to buy the cylinders at less than half the market price. It is a highly popular, and sometimes vital, scheme in this country of 1.2 billion people.

The ruling party is also seeking to protect its turf from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is threatening to draw support away from the poor, Congress’ main voters.

The AAP government in the national capital has slashed power and water prices, sparking demands by lawmakers in other states for similar reductions. l

Only time will define Bernanke’s crisis-era legacy at Fed n Reuters Ben Bernanke did not hesitate when asked whether he was confident that his signature response to the Great Recession would work.

“Well, the problem with QE is that it works in practice but it doesn’t work in theory,” the head of the US Federal Reserve quipped earlier this month during his last public appearance.

He was referring to his decision during the darkest days of the financial crisis to launch an unprecedented program of massive bond purchases, a policy known as quantitative easing, or QE. The aim was to push long-term interest rates lower given that overnight rates, the Fed’s main economic lever, were already near zero.

The purchases Bernanke kicked off in late 2008 have continued, off and on, to this day. They have already led to a quadrupling of the Fed’s balance sheet to $4tn.

On Wednesday, Bernanke, 60, quietly adjourned his final policy-setting meeting after an unusually tumultuous eight-year stint atop the world’s most influential central bank.

When he steps down on Friday, the Fed’s bloated balance sheet will hang over his legacy. Critics have warned it contains seeds that could lead to inflation or asset price bubbles.

Early assessments have been mostly positive. The former Princeton professor has been praised as the steady hand who helped steer the United States and world economies clear of a far more painful recession.

He flooded financial markets with liquidity from an alphabet soup of programs set up on the fly; he printed trillions of dollars through three rounds of QE; and he made bold promises to keep

how to smoothly shrink the Fed’s balance sheet to a more comfortable size of around $1n without knocking the economy off the rails.

To Allan Meltzer, a leading Fed historian, no outcome looks good for Bernanke. “If they go too fast, we’re going to get a recession. If they go too slowly, we are going to get serious inflation. If they do neither, we could get both,” he said.

The first round of quantitative easing in 2008 and 2009 was heroic, Meltzer said. But the second and third rounds were “just a mistake, a serious mistake, that will have problems.”

“History will judge his response to the 2009 crisis very well,” he said of Bernanke. “They will judge the aftermath as being much too strong and unnecessary.”

‘Do what it takes’

Outgoing US Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke participates in a discussion at the Brookings Institution in Washington REUTERS

stimulus in place for years to come, tying low interest rates to particular economic outcomes in an approach emulated by other central banks.

As a leading scholar of the Great Depression, Bernanke had a deep theoretical understanding of what to do in the face of a fast-moving banking panic. He put that knowledge into practice when the financial crisis struck.

“Bernanke was willing to do creative and aggressive things,” said Lau-

rence Meyer, a former Fed governor who co-founded the forecasting firm Macroeconomic Advisers. “He put a lot of balls in the air and likely thought that not all of them will work - but some of them will. That was the kind of spirit and leadership and willingness to take risks.”

But like his predecessor, Alan Greenspan - who was showered with accolades when he stepped down in 2006 only to later be labeled a main

architect of the subsequent crisis - Bernanke’s legacy will only become clear over time.

$4Tn and counting

B3

Friday, January 31, 2014

A good part of that legacy will be written

by Fed Vice Chair Janet Yellen, who takes the central bank’s reins on Saturday.

She inherits the job of dialing down the bond-buying and deciding when to raise rates.

Yellen will also need to figure out

While Bernanke has defended the aggressive steps the Fed has taken since 2008, he has been one of his own biggest critics for missing the signs of brewing crisis in the US subprime mortgage market and over leveraged Wall Street banks.

But far from punishing Bernanke, who served a prior stint on the Fed board from 2002-2005, for taking too long to recognize the cracks in the financial system, legislators intent on reforming Wall Street expanded the Fed’s supervisory authority.

By the time former President George W. Bush appointed Bernanke chair in 2006, the subprime housing bubble was already massive. When it burst in 2007, the Fed chief was slow to realize just how quickly those problems could cascade around the world, infecting lightly regulated banks and sparking investor panic. l

Oil prices mixed after Fed taper decision n AFP, Singapore Oil prices were mixed in Asian trade yesterday as global markets reeled from the Federal Reserve’s decision to cut its massive stimulus package.

New York’s main contract West Texas Intermediate for March delivery gained 10 cents to $97.46 in afternoon trade while Brent North Sea crude for March was down six cents at $107.79.

The mixed performance of oil prices came as Asian stock markets slumped, extending a global rout on renewed fears about emerging economies after the US central bank reduced its easing measures for the world’s largest economy.

The Fed said on Wednesday said it would reduce its massive bond-buying programme by $10bn a month to $65bn, citing a pick-up in the US economy.

David Lennox, a resources analyst at Fat Prophets in Sydney, said, however, that the taper was a “reflection of the US economy which according to the Fed is growing at a better than expected rate at the moment”.

While the taper creates a downward pressure on prices in the short term, it bodes well in the long term for oil demand in the world’s top crude-consuming nation, analysts have said.

The stimulus cut, which followed a similar announcement in December, stoked fears of huge capital flows from emerging markets that have benefited from the Fed’s cheap money policies, as dealers look for safer investments back home. l

Gold falls from two-month high n Reuters Gold futures fell more than 0.5% yesterday, retreating from two-month highs hit earlier in the week, weighed down by weak global markets, though a weaker rupee limited the downside.

At 1215 GMT, the most-active gold contract for February delivery on the Multi Commodity Exchange was 0.75% lower at 28,838 rupees per 10 grams, falling from a high of 29,849 rupees hit earlier in the week, a level last seen on November 20, 2013.

Silver contract for March delivery was 1.38% lower at 44,596 rupees per kg on the MCX. The rupee, which traded weaker yesterday, plays an important role in determining the landed cost of the dollar-quoted yellow metal. However, premiums stayed steady at $80 an ounce on London prices, amid steady demand.

“There is not heavy demand as of now ... Gold is still available at a premium due to import restrictions,” said Haresh Acharya, head of bullion desk, Parker Bullion.

Gold imports may have fallen 70% in the final quarter of 2013 from 255 tonnes in the year-ago period and are expected to be half the usual levels at 500-550 tonnes in 2014 if new import rules are maintained, a top trade body official said. l

In Bernanke’s final act, Fed cuts stimulus despite market turmoil n Reuters The Federal Reserve on Wednesday decided to trim its bond purchases by another $10bn as it stuck to a plan to wind down its extraordinary economic stimulus despite recent turmoil in emerging markets.

The action was widely expected, although some investors had speculated that the US central bank might put its plans on hold given the jitters overseas.

Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, who hands the Fed’s reins to Vice Chair Janet Yellen on Friday, managed to adjourn his last policy-setting meeting without any dissents from his colleagues. It was the first meeting without a dissent since June 2011 - a sign of how tumultuous Bernanke’s tenure has been.

In addition to proceeding with plans to scale back its bond buying, the Fed made no changes to its other main policy plank: its pledge to keep interest rates low for some time to come.

The decision suggests that it would take a serious threat to the US economy before the Fed backs down from a resolve to shelve the asset-purchase program later this year.

Indeed, it offered a somewhat rosier assessment of the US economy’s prospects than it did last month, saying “economic activity picked up in recent quarters.” It also largely shook off surprisingly soft jobs growth in December. “Labour market indicators were mixed but on balance showed further improvement,” it said.

“They really want to move to the sidelines here and get out of the (bond buying) business,” said Jack Ablin, chief investment officer at BMO Private Bank in Chicago.

All 17 top Wall Street economists polled by Reuters on Wednesday expect the Fed to wind the program down by year’s end, and nearly all believe the Fed won’t raise rates until at least the third quarter of 2015.

Major US stock indexes closed down more than 1%, while yields on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note hit the lowest level since late October. The dollar rose against the euro but was little changed against a broad basket of currencies.

Ending the purchases

Importantly, the Fed stuck to its promise to keep rates near zero until well after the US unemployment rate, now at 6.7%, falls below 6.5%, especially if inflation remains below a 2% target.

Some analysts had speculated it might alter this guidance, given how close the jobless rate now is to the rate-hike threshold.

In fact, the central bank’s statement largely mirrored the one it issued after its December 17-18 meeting, when it announced an initial $10bn cut to its monthly bond purchases.

At the time, Bernanke told reporters the Fed would likely continue to taper the purchases in “measured” steps through the year until it was fully wound down, as long as the economy

continued to heal. He did not speak to the media on Wednesday.

In its statement on Wednesday, the Fed said it would buy $65bn in bonds per month starting in February, down from $75bn now. It shaved its purchases of US Treasuries and mortgage bonds equally.

“The Fed’s action today represents a continuation of its resolute determination to end (bond purchases) during 2014,” said Daniel Alpert, managing partner at Westwood Capital in New York.

“The policy has hit its ‘sell by’ date.”

Focused on home

In announcing its decision, the Fed made no reference to the sell-off in emerging markets that has depressed US stocks in recent days.

Markets in countries with large current account deficits, such as Turkey and Argentina, have suffered steep losses in part because of the prospect of less US monetary stimulus.

These currencies and stocks slumped again after the Fed’s announcement, offsetting aggressive interest rate hikes by Turkey and South Africa.

Meanwhile, economic signals in the United States - from consumer spending to industrial production and trade have suggested the US recovery closed out last year on solid ground, reinforcing expectations the Fed would continue trimming the stimulus. The weak December jobs report has been viewed as an outlier. l

BRAC Bank Limited has recently signed an agreement with Navana Toyota 3S Centre.

Under the deal, premium and supreme banking customers of BRAC Bank will enjoy discounts on vehicle servicing and other facilities at Navana Toyota 3S Centre. Firoz Ahmed Khan, head of retail banking division of BRAC Bank, and ABS Bhuiyan, senior general manager, Navana Toyota 3S Centre, have signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations

UCB gets new chair for its executive committee n Tribune Business Desk

Pubali Bank Ltd has recently given blankets to Anjuman Mufidul Islam for distributing among the poor and helpless cold stricken people. Hafiz Ahmed Mazumder, chairperson of the bank's board handed over 1000 pieces of blanket to Al-hajj Abdus Salam, chairperson of relief committee, Anjuman Mufidul Islam and executive director of Anjuman Mufidul Islam, Kazi Abul Kashem

Anisuzzaman Chowdhury Ronny has been unanimously elected as chairperson of executive committee of United Commercial Bank (UCB) Limited in its board meeting on Jan 26, according to a press release.

Eminent business entrepreneur and director of UCB Anisuzzaman Chowdhury Ronny is also a director of Ronny Chemical Industries Ltd. He is a graduate from Palm Beach Atlantic College of USA on business administration.

He has been contributing at UCB to reach its vision through providing best banking services in the country, said the press release. l

B4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

Friday, January 31, 2014

OPINION

No vault can provide you absolute protection n Major (retd) Nurul M Choudhury In recent days we have observed some concerns on vault security. Vaults of some banks are successfully attacked by bank robbers. This created a scope to discuss certain things about vault security which many of us are ignorant.

First thing we need to understand that no vault can provide you absolute protection. It can sustain attacks for a specific period of time as per their rating. Therefore a vault needs to provide protection from fire or attacks of bank robbers for desired period of time within which a spate mechanism must be activated to detect the attack and response appropriately. In western country there are organizations which test vault and provide rating. For example there is a testing company named ‘Underwriters Laboratory” (UL) who basically rates various types of safe and vault and label them accordingly.

Typically vaults are situated at or below ground level so they do not add to the stresses of the structure housing them. If a vault must be built on the upper stories of a building, additional care must be taken to avoid building collapse which should be designed by proper architect. Doors of such vaults are normally 6 inch thick, and they may be as much as 24 inches thick where for better protection. Because these doors present a formidable obstacle to any criminal, an attack will usually be directed at the walls, ceiling, or floor, which must for that reason match the strength of the door. As a rule, these surfaces should be twice as thick as the door and never less than 12 inches thick.

If possible a vault should be surrounded by narrow corridorsthat will permit inspection of the exterior wall of the vault but the corridor will be sufficiently narrow to discourage the use of heavy drilling or cutting equipment by attackers. It is important that there are no power outlets anywhere in the

India to stay 'vigilant' to ensure financial stability n AFP, New Delhi India said yesterday it would take whatever steps necessary to ensure stability in its financial markets after the US Federal Reserve again cut its monetary stimulus.

The finance ministry said the government and the Reserve Bank of India were remaining vigilant to the possible impact on the markets of the US Federal Reserve's decision to further taper its stimulus programme.

The ministry said India's economy was prepared for the taper, pointing to India's boosted foreign exchange reserves which stand at $295 billion and robust foreign investment inflows, among other factors.

"However, both the Government and the Reserve Bank of India will continue to remain vigilant and will take whatever steps are necessary to ensure that there is stability in the financial markets," the ministry said in a statement.

"This decision was expected and should not in any way surprise or affect the Indian markets," it said.

The US Federal Reserve stayed the course on tapering its stimulus for the US economy on Wednesday, reducing asset purchases by $10bn for the second month in a row.

The Fed said the US economy was growing firmly enough to further trim the stimulus, which will fall to $65bn a month from February, spelling a steady tightening of global financial conditions.

Asian markets slumped yesterday, extending a global rout on renewed fears of a capital flight from emerging economies - including from India - as dealers look for safer investments back home.

Shares on the Bombay Stock Exchange were down 1.08% to 20,424.65 points on Thursday on the news.

Indian shares have already seen a bit of a roil in the past few sessions on worries that US Fed tightening its money tap could hit growth in emerging market economies amid a slowdown in China.

"This (fall) is a knee jerk reaction.

We need to wait for a week or two to see how much we (Indian financial markets) have digested the Fed tapering," said Arun Singh, senior economist at the research firm Dun and Bradstreet.

The currency fell to as low as 62.90 rupees to the dollar in early trade yesterday before recovering to 62.75 rupees, from Monday's more than twomonth low of 63.32. l

close vicinity of the vault; such outlet may help the attacker to use their tools against the vault.

In a vault room there are practices to keep safes which are generally of two types; Record safes and money safes. Record safes are designed as fire resistant while money safes are burglar resistant. A record safe with an underwriter laboratory (UL) rating of 350-4 can withstand exterior temperature building to 2000*F for 4 hours without permitting the interior temperature to rise above 350*F. Burglar resistant safes are nothing more than very heavy metal boxes without wheels, which offer varying degrees of protection against many forms of attack. A safe having weight of 750 pound with a UL rating of TL 15 means, it can withstand attack by hand tool for only 15 minutes. Likewise there are different types of rating like TRTL 30 means the safe can withstand attacks by torch and tool for 30 minutes.

A safe less than 750 pounds of weight must be chained with the floor wall.

As per underwriter laboratory rating vaults are classified as UL 1, UL 2 , UL 3. UL 1 generally provide protection for 30 minutes while UL 2 provides 1 hour and UL 3 provides 2 hours of protection from a dedicated attackers who are using torch, tools, explosives and modern cutting materials.

One must understand that a vault its cannot provide protection from dedicated and determined attackers for a prolonged period of time. Therefore a security counter measure deign, target hardening, crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED), proper alarm system, proper CCTV system, proper security policy and procedures and proper response mechanism need to be integrated to keep a vault safe from a dedicated attackers. l The writer, a lead consultant and CEO at ThirdEye Risk Consulting Bangladesh, is a certified protection professional from ASIS International USA.

Looted money from the Sonali Bank branch at Kishoreganj

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Emerging market currencies buckle UN sounds alarm on worsening global after Fed cuts stimulus income disparities n AFP, London

Emerging markets faced intense pressure yesterday after the US Federal Reserve cut its stimulus further, with currencies sliding in India, South Africa and Turkey despite interest rate rises.

Asian shares fell heavily and European stocks also retreated, extending a global rout driven by worries about emerging markets.

Concerns were stoked when the US central bank further reduced its quantitative easing (QE) stimulus overnight.

Wall Street sank on Wednesday after the Fed said it would reduce its bond-buying programme by $10bn to $65bn per month, citing a pick-up in the US economy.

That followed a similar announcement in December.

Investors took flight as the news fed fears of capital flows from emerging markets that have benefited from the Fed's cheap money policy, hitting nations with large current account deficits, as dealers look for safer investments back home.

The Turkish lira fell against the dollar and the euro, as the Fed news overshadowed a big interest rate rise.

Turkey, where political upheaval is fuelling market fears, doubled its interest rate to 10.0 percent late on Tuesday giving short-lived support to the currency.

South Africa's Rand currency languished close to a five-year dollar low, one day after the central bank announced a half-percentage-point rate rise.

"Rate hikes in Turkey and South Africa have failed to lift their beleaguered currencies as investors fret about the adverse impact on growth in both

countries, adding to nervousness in emerging markets," said Nick Stamenkovic at RIA Capital Markets in London.

"Emerging market countries suffering from sizeable current account deficits are heavily dependent on capital inflows which are being undermined by the Fed's tapering of QE. "Emerging market volatility looks set to continue amid ongoing uncertainty about the impact of continued moderate Fed tapering and slowing Chinese growth."

‘No doubt there could be more turmoil in emerging markets ahead' A country's current balance of payments measures all regular payments into and out of the economy and the currency, and is a key factor in longterm confidence.

The ruble meanwhile plunged to historic lows against the euro on mounting speculation that Russia's central bank may delay a planned 2015 free-float of the currency because of its rapid decline.

The Indian government vowed on Thursday it would take whatever steps necessary to ensure stability in its financial markets. India has lifted rates a modest quarter-point to slow inflation, but the move has had only a brief impact on the rupee.

The dollar and euro sank against

the yen as dealers sought safer investments, while sentiment took a further blow from data confirming Chinese manufacturing contracted in January.

Tokyo stocks dived 2.45% and Sydney shed 0.78%. Hong Kong lost 0.48% in half-day trading before the Chinese New Year holiday. In New York on Wednesday, the Dow dived 1.15%, the S&P 500 1.01% and the Nasdaq 1.14%.

No quick resolution in sight, analysts warn

Trader Markus Huber, at brokerage Peregrine & Black, cautioned that the turmoil could persist for some time.

"No doubt there could be more turmoil in emerging markets ahead," Huber told AFP. "However it needs to be seen how major central banks, world politicians and major institutions like the IMF and World Bank will react to the situation should things worsen dramatically.

"Also, it needs to be seen if central banks in countries like Turkey change course and try to fight the decline of the currency via different means, mainly through reforms which are much more likely to bring back investor confidence."

Economist Neil MacKinnon at Russian firm VTB Capital, described the outlook as "poor" for emerging nations, adding that rate increases were "unsustainable" and hurt growth.

"Market volatility is less a function of Fed tapering and now more of a concern about some EM economies that have high current account deficits and thin levels of foreign exchange reserves," he told AFP, referring to the 'Fragile Five' - Brazil, India, Indonesia, Turkey and South Africa. l

n Reuters The UN Development Program warned in a report on Wednesday that income disparities in countries around the world have been worsening, posing new risks for global economic and political stability.

The UNDP warning echoes remarks from US President Barack Obama in his annual State of the Union address on Tuesday, in which he said there was a widening gap between rich and poor in the world's biggest economy and that while the stock market has soared, average US wages have barely budged.

The UNDP report said income inequality increased by 11% in developing countries over the two decades between 1990 and 2010. The majority of households in developing countries — more than 75% of those nations' populations — are living today in societies where income is more unequally distributed than it was in the 1990s, the report said.

The UNDP says this is a global trend that, if left unchecked, could have dire consequences since it "can undermine the very foundations of development and social and domestic peace."

The widening income gap comes as some major developing countries - such as China and India - have seen strong economic growth and an overall increase in national wealth. But that wealth has not been evenly distributed, which has contributed to greater inequality in those societies.

"The sharpest increases in income inequality have occurred in those developing countries that were especially successful in pursuing vigorous growth

and managed, as a result, to graduate into higher income brackets," the UNDP report said.

"Economic progress in these countries has not alleviated disparities, but rather exacerbated them," it said.

In an interview with Reuters, UNDP chief Helen Clark made clear that this negative trend is reversible and that one of the key components is creating quality employment opportunities.

"The key thing is the focus on jobs jobs, jobs, jobs," Clark said, adding that it was important for governments to pay attention to ways of improving the skills of its labour force. She also touched on the subject of the widening income disparities in countries like China and India, which have seen significant levels of economic growth in recent decades.

"It's the nature of the growth," she said. "If it's uneven growth ... it does create tensions within society because people can see that others are doing much better than them."

"The China example shows that you get fast growth and poverty reduction, but you also get the growing inequalities," Clark said. "And this is of concern to China's leadership." The report said there was evidence that increases in inequality over the last two decades were mainly due to trade and financial globalization processes that weakened the bargaining position of labor.

Clark said one of the problems with globalization is that it "has proceeded in a very deregulated world." She advocates more regulation of international trade and financial flows but without eliminating risk and the ability of companies to generate profits. l

NEWS IN BRIEF Mobile ad revenue lifts Facebook past Wall Street targets Facebook Inc's fourth-quarter revenue jumped 63%, beating Wall Street targets, as the Internet company's mobile ad sales continued to accelerate. Shares of Facebook surged 10% to $58.90 in after-hours trading on Wednesday. – Reuters

Euro zone morale climbs as recovery strengthens Optimism in the euro zone about its economic prospects continued to improve in January with a jump in morale in the

bloc's two largest economies, Germany and France. Economic sentiment in the 18 countries using the euro strengthened by 0.5 points to 100.9 in the ninth straight month of gains, data from the European Commission showed yesterday. – Reuters

Lenovo to buy Google's Motorola in China's largest tech deal Lenovo Group said on Wednesday it agreed to buy Google Inc's Motorola handset division for $2.91bn, in what is China's largest-ever tech deal as Lenovo buys its way into a heavily competitive US handset

market dominated by Apple Inc. – Reuters

Asia shares set to suffer, bonds benefit from risk aversion Asian shares seemed fated for a punishing session yesterday after strains in emerging markets returned with a vengeance and the Federal Reserve further scaled back its stimulus, sending investors scurrying to safety in bonds and the yen. Japanese shares looked set for a big fall with Nikkei futures down a sharp 430 points, suggesting it could surrender all of the previous session’s gains. Most Asian

markets had rallied on Wednesday on hopes that aggressive rate hikes by Turkey would shore up its currency and ease the risk of capital flight. – Reuters

jets into the world's second-most populous nation. – Reuters

Lufthansa to begin Airbus A380 flights to India in 2014

India has overtaken Japan as the world’s third-biggest crude oil importer in 2013, data showed yesterday. India imported 3.86 million barrels-per-day of crude oil last year, tanker arrival data compiled by Reuters from trade sources showed yesterday. India’s imports were nearly 6% higher than Japan’s customs-cleared imports of 3,648,372 bpd (211,716,710 kilolitres). – Reuters

The head of Lufthansa said the German airline plans to begin flying Airbus A380 superjumbo jets on routes to India later this year. On Monday, India lifted a ban on landing the aircraft in the country, enabling carriers such as Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa and Emirates airline to fly the

India overtakes Japan as world’s No 3 crude importer