February 02, 2014

Magh 20, 1420 Rabius Saani 1, 1435 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 1 No 309

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2014 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

6 | GRACE UNDER FIRE

7 | THE REAL RECORD: INFLATION

Aspirants bent on vying for poll

20 pages plus 8-page monthly Arts & Letters supplement | Price: Tk10

9 | DIPLOMAT’S CLAIM CHALLENGED

13 | SHAKIB CONFIDENT OF FUTURE

A ROAR TO SAVE THE SUNDARBANS!

‘It is not a partisan election. So I am not bound to obey party orders here’ The parties have identified that in order to make sure that their arch rivals do not get an upper-hand in the election, they must ensure that the grassroots leaders do not run against each other and their votes are not divided.

But the field reality has been different in many places.

No political party can directly nominate candidates for the upazila parishad elections. But they can give support

“BNP gave me backing and I will be in the race. Others will withdraw their candidature on February 3 [the last day for withdrawing nomination papers],” said Sahidul Islam Farhad, BNP-backed candidate in Ramgar Upazila of Khagrachari.

However, Belayet Hossain Bhuyan, another BNP leader from the upazila, said: “I filed nomination papers to contest the polls. In local elections, there is no option for partisan nomination. So, I will not withdraw my candidature.”

In Sathia upazila of Pabna, the Awami League has backed Abul Kasem in the upcoming polls, instead of the current upazila chairman, Nizamuddin Ahmed.

“It is not a partisan election. So I am not bound to obey party orders here.

People have elected me in the past and will elect me again. I will be with the people and people will also be with me,” Nizamuddin told the Dhaka Tribune.

The BNP, by boycotting the parliamentary election, has virtually given a walkover to the Awami League, which has already formed the 10th parliament by winning an election allegedly marked by vote rigging and manipulation. The ruling party is now focusing  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

Activists of Youth Coalition for Climate Justice hold a demonstration in front of the National Press Club yesterday, demanding immediate halt of the Rampal power plant construction to save the Sundarbans and its ecosystem. Story on page 4 MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

9th JS lawmakers yet to vacate flats n Kamran Reza Chowdhury Most of the MPs of immediate-past ninth parliament are yet to leave the apartments they have been using since 2009, albeit the authorities have asked them to leave those by January 30 to provide accommodation facilities to the newly-elected lawmakers of the current parliament.

They include MPs of the BNP, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh Jatiya Party and Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

Out of the 297 MPs in 10th parliament, 172 lawmakers have been reelected while 125 former legislators have either failed to get elected or stayed away from the January 5 poll.

The lawmakers reelected will be staying in the fully-furnished apart-

Jamaat defers hartal to Thursday n Manik Miazee Jamaat-e-Islami deferred its Monday’s hartal to Thursday considering Akheri Munajat of Bishwa Ijtema and Saraswati Puja. In a statement yesterday, Jamaat’s acting secretary general Shafiqur Rahman made the announcement.

Jamaat on Friday called a nationwide dawn-to-dusk hartal for Monday protesting the death penalty to Jamaat chief Motiur Rahman Nizami in 10-truck arms haul case.

A Chittagong court on Thursday pronounced the death penalty to 14 people including Nizami and former state minister for home affairs Lutfozzaman Babar for smuggling 10-truckloads of arms into the port city in 2004.

Jamaat had observed hartal on December 15 protesting execution of its leader Abdul Quader Molla in the war crimes trial. l

ments in front of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Manik Mia Avenue and in Nakhalpara. The Parliament Secretariat bears utility bills for the MPs. On January 14, the Parliament Secretariat issued letters to the MPs, failing to get reelected, for vacating the apartments by January 30.

Some of them have sought time from the authorities to pack up.

“Many of the former MPs have applied for extension of their stay for 15 more days. I have sent those applications to the honourable speaker for decision. We are yet to get any feedback,” Syed Ahmed, an additional secretary in charge of the apartments, told the Dhaka Tribune.

He said many of the new MPs had already looking for their accommodation facilities in Dhaka as a good number of

the legislators had no place to live in the capital.

“Unless the former MPs leave, how can we accommodate the new MPs?” The official said he had sent the file of applications to the speaker for decision as the parliament’s House committee, headed by the chief whip, was not formed.

“I have applied for time extension as my father died recently. I have no apartment in Dhaka. So, I need some time to vacate the apartment,” Mostaq Ahmed Ruhi, who did not contest the January 5 poll, told the Dhaka Tribune.

Nilufar Chowdhury Moni, a BNP lawmaker of ninth parliament, told the Dhaka Tribune that the authorities had not given enough time to vacate the apartments.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

Shibir-police ‘gunfight’ leaves four injured n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong At least three policemen received injuries and an Islami Chhatra Shibir activist was shot in a “gunfight” between a group of Shibir men and police at Satkania upazila in Chittagong district early yesterday.

Police arrested bullet-hit Shibir cadre Nasir alias Kolla Nasir along with one of his cohort Rimon from the spot with a light gun, a shotgun, eight cartridges, a machete and two knives from the spot, said police sources.

Injured policemen are Sub-Inspector Nazmul Hossain Fazlu and Assistant Sub-Inspector Ansarul who were admitted into a local hospital, added the sources.

Khaled Hossain, officer-in-charge of

Satkania Police Station, told the Dhaka Tribune that they nabbed Nasir from his residence at Alinagar area of the upazila at 12:30pm.

Getting information from Nasir after initial interrogation, police conducted a drive in Moddhyom Kanchhana area of the upazila around 4:00am to recover arms and Nasir’s aides, he said.

Sensing presence of the law enforcers, the cohorts of Nasir, who are Shibir activists, opened fire on police prompting the law enforcers to retaliate and fire 16 bullets, leaving Nasir shot in his leg while attempting to flee, he also said.

During gunfight, Nasir and three policemen were also injured. Police, later, arrested Nasir and Rimon from the spot, added the OC.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

INSIDE Business

B1 Road transport owners have urged the government to help get their bank loans rescheduled as they could not repay due to prolonged political unrest ahead of January 5 national election.

News

3 The authorities will conduct special operations soon to drive away beggars from the capital.

Prosecution may be rearranged soon n Udisa Islam

AL, BNP high commands desperate to ensure lone runners in upazila elections to certain candidates which eventually n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla shape the election outcomes.

Many local leaders of the two major parties are not identifying with the political equation that has changed after the January 5 national election, by reportedly disobeying party orders for ensuring lone candidates at every upazila.

Both the Awami League and BNP, who have their very own challenges to face, are desperate to consolidate organisationally by doing well in the upazila polls, on which heavily depends the near future of the country’s politics.

INT’L CIRMES TRIBUNAL

4 Boro cultivation acreage is likely to increa-se this year despite a hike in input costs

Entertainment

12 With a grand rendezvous of former and present students and teachers of Chhayanaut, the cultural organisation having a beaming history organised a two-day programme celebrating its 50th founding anniversary which began on Friday.

The prosecution of the International Crimes Tribunal, formed three years ago, is likely to be rearranged soon in a bid to drop some of the less active prosecutors, a source from the prosecution office has said.

Out of the 21-strong prosecution team of the two-part tribunal, only about eight of the prosecutors have been taking almost the entire workload since its formation.

Most of the remaining prosecutors have hardly done any work but been enjoying the state facilities that come with their statuses equivalent to attorney general, deputy and assistant attorney generals.

Sources said most of these “inactive” prosecutors were given appointments in the first place because they had been actively involved with the politics of the ruling Awami League.

Seeking anonymity, a prosecutor told the Dhaka Tribune: “These prosecutors are just using the position. They regularly practice at the lower courts.

They got the appointments as rewards for serving the party [Awami League].”

Sources also said despite several attempts in the past, these prosecutors could not be removed because of their strong political connections.

Some senior prosecutors of the tribunal have agreed that they had been suffering immensely because of their colleague’s inaction and insincerity.

One of them said the government  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Bank burglar Sohel’s wife held with Tk2.5 lakh n Our Correspondent, Kishoreganj Police yesterday arrested wife of Kishoreganj bank burglary mastermind Sohel from the capital’s Jatrabari area with Tk2.5 lakh.

Mahila Aktar, 27, wife of Sohel alias Yusuf Munshi was detained by a team of police led by Abdul Malek, investigation officer of the case and also the officer-in-charge of Kishoreganj police station, around 4:45pm.

OC Abdul Malek confirmed the news of the arrest.

Police recovered Tk2.5 lakh more from a house from the old part of the capital.

Abdul Malek, officer-in-charge of Kishoreganj police station and investigator of the case, said they picked up Mahila Akter for interrogation. The official said Mahila, second wife of Yusuf, stayed with him during the Tk16.40 crore heist.

He said they recovered the money from a house on the fifth floor of

Inqilab building opened n Kailash Sarkar

The Detective Branch of Police last night opened the main gate of Inqilab building, around two weeks after the office of the Bengali newspaper had been sealed off for publishing a controversial report on January 16. But the press of the daily was not opened.

Jahangir Hossain Matubbor, deputy commissioner of DB (east division), said: “We have opened the main gate of the building. The court will decide on the press and the seized materials.”

He said the court might deliver an order today in this regard. When asked, the DC said they opened the building as the newspaper had apologised.

The DB filed a case against the daily on January 16 and arrested its three journalists for publishing a report that said the Indian troops had taken part in the drives by joint forces in Satkhira. l

Freedom fighters to see allowance hike n Our Correspondent, Sylhet The government will increase the monthly allowance of freedom fighters from Tk2,000 to Tk5,000 from January onwards.

“I have discussed the issue with the finance minister and he has approved it,” Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque said while addressing a roundtable at Kabi Nazrul Auditorium in Sylhet city.

“The government will publish a gazette notification on a final list of freedom fighters soon which will cancel all previous gazettes in this regard.”

Saying that the government would soon form a committee to verify the genuine freedom fighters, he added that the war veterans would be provided with digital certificates. “A tribunal will also be formed where genuine freedom fighters will be able to appeal if they have been dropped from the new list.”

The minister also said punishment would be minimised if the fake freedom fighters surrendered willingly. l

Potato growers incur losses n Our Correspondent, Bogra Potato growers in the district are selling the vegetable at a cheap rate incurring heavy losses as the prices of varieties have fallen in the local markets.

According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), around 4.44 lakh hectares of land were brought under the cultivation with a production target of 86 lakh tonnes.

The farmers spent Tk4.95 to Tk6 on an average to product a kg potato. But they are selling it at Tk40 to Tk250 per 40kg in the wholesale markets. They have to incur losses Tk3 for per kg as production cost, said officials.

Farmer Shafiqul Islam of Perachala village in Shibgonj upazila said; “I got Tk600 selling 400kg potatoes in Mahasthangarh wholesale market few days ago, whereas I spent Tk270 as transport cost, Tk200 for agriculture labour and Tk100 for clearance.”

Mokarom Hossain of Shocnapara village in Shibgong upazila said that he had got Tk 200 selling 400 kg potatoes. l

a six-storey building in Kadamtoli around 4:15pm.

Yusuf, the 37-year-old man, digging a tunnel between his rented house and the main branch of Sonali Bank in the district, committed the robbery.

Earlier on January 28, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) personnel arrested Yusuf Munshi and his brother Idris Munshi with Tk16.19 crore from a flat that Yusuf rented in the capital’s Shyampur two days after the robbery.

Police identified Habibur Rahman alias Sohel as Yusuf Munshi and Idris Mia as Idris Munshi. Both are siblings.

The architect of the cinematic Kishoreganj bank burglary and his aide were arrested with the stolen money in the capital’s Shyampur Balurmath area on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Yusuf’s maternal father-in-law Motahar Hossain, was also arrested from a nearby building named Pronoy Villa.

On Wednesday afternoon, they were handed over to Kishoreganj police. l

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Motiur Rahman Nizami and former junior home minister Lutfozzaman Babar wave at supporters after they step out of Chittagong Jail for being transferred to Kashimpur Jail in the 10-truck arms haul case FOCUS BANGLA

Chhatra League men vandalise 10-TRUCK ARMS HAUL CASES MBSTU over Facebook status Babar, Nizami sent n to Kashimpur jail Our Correspondent, Tangail

Bangladesh Chhatra League activists of Tangail’s Maulana Bhashani Science and Technology University (MBSTU) locked the administrative building and all the classrooms yesterday, demanding the removal of a teacher of criminology and police science (CPS) department.

Md Rabiul Islam, security in-charge of the university, said the BCL activists, led by CPS students Suman Fakir, Soton and Zahir, locked the administrative building and the classrooms before vandalising the academic building and setting some classrooms on fire.

Assisted by outsiders, the BCL men then forced out all teachers and staffs from the campus, he added.

The agitated BCL members carried out the violence, reportedly protesting a Facebook post by CPS Assistant Professor Jahirul Islam who allegedly

spoke ill about the university.

When contacted, Jahirul said he had repeatedly voiced protests against a group of students and outsiders who dominated and collected extortions from the campus by identifying themselves as BCL men.

The agitated BCL members carried out the violence, reportedly protesting a Facebook post by Assistant Professor Jahirul Islam who allegedly spoke ill about the university “Finally I wrote on my Facebook that ‘the dream campus of the MBSTU was in the grasps of devils, thugs and hooligans,’” the teacher added.

9th JS lawmakers yet to vacate  PAGE 1 COLUMN 3

“I have left my apartment, but many of the MPs need more time as they have no place to stay in Dhaka. They [parliament authorities] have treated the MPs inhumanely,” she said.

Refuting the allegation, a top ranking official told the Dhaka Tribune that the MPs should have advanced preparation in this regard as they must leave the apartments at the soonest in case of their defeat or decision not to contest

the election.

The 15-member House committee of the 10th parliament is yet to be formed.

Lawmakers from all parties having representation in parliament are the members of the committee, which cannot be formed unless parliament goes into session.

The House Committee is the body to look after accommodation and other facilities for the MPs. The 10th parliament session began on January 29. l

Prosecution may be rearranged soon  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

had been closely watching the “inactive” prosecutors and would decide on their fates at the end of the surveillance.

Although the source from the prosecution office could not confirm all the names to be dropped, prosecutors Altaf Uddin, Mir Iqbal and Abdur Rahman Hawlader – all enjoying the protocol of additional attorney general – may be dropped.

The source added that there were some junior prosecutors in the radar as well. Most of them were appointed last year and had not done any mentionable work since being included in the roster.

At present, the two International Crimes Tribunals are conducting a total of six war crimes cases.

Of the 21 prosecutors, three are enjoying attorney general’s status and one is enjoying deputy attorney general’s status.

Sources from the prosecution office said some of the lawyers had not conducted a single case since the formation of the tribunal in 2010. Many of them were never involved with any of the cases as assistants or researchers either.

But they have all been drawing Tk76,000 monthly gross salaries, risk allowances and being provided with gunmen for security.

Nurzahan Begum Mukta, ranked deputy attorney general, has remained absent at the tribunal for nearly the entire duration since mid-2013. The only work she had done since being appointed a prosecutor was assisting Saiful Islam in the cases against death-

row Jamaat leader Kamaruzzaman.

Sources said Mukta had been trying to get nomination from the Awami League for the recently held parliament election and therefore been busy with party activities.

Altaf Uddin, Mir Iqbal and Abdur Rahman Hawlader have reportedly all been busy with the activities of the Bangabandhu Parishad, of which they are top leaders.

Senior lawyer Syed Rezaur Rahman, enjoying attorney general’s status, has never been present at the tribunal since 2011. Although he had not taken any allowance for the post, he has also been the chief prosecutor in the recently concluded BDR mutiny case.

Prosecutor Tureen Afroz told the Dhaka Tribune: “We cannot confirm the rearrangement. But it should happen. Some of us are working very hard, conducting virtually all the cases alone. But the others are only enjoying the state facilities without doing any work. I am sure the authority knows very well who work and who do not.”

Prosecutor Shahedur Rahman said: “We are not sure about this [the rearrangment].” He, however, admitted that some of the prosecutors had been abnormally inactive. “Maybe the newly-appointed officials will think about it. If the government thinks about reshuffling or trimming the team, we have nothing to do.”

Newly appointed Law Minister Anisul Haque said: “I am new to the ministry, I need some time to think about this. After observing them, I will definitely do what is needed.” l

Tangail Sadar Model police station Officer-in-Charge Nazrul Islam said the situation has been contained, while additional police personnel have been deployed on the campus to prevent further violence. No case has been lodged in this connection so far.

Sumon Fakir, Soton and Zahir could not be reached for comments.

Nazmul Huda, president of the BCL’s Tangail district unit, said no BCL activists had engaged in the violence, as there was no committee of the Chhatra League on the campus.

The university proctor, Khadimul Islam, said authorities were holding an emergency meeting over the matter.

Pro-VC of the university Prof Dr Muniruzzaman, however, said he was not concerned about the matter.

Earlier on July 2013, BCL activists led by Sumon Fakir allegedly attacked a human chain of MBSTU employees, injuring at least 10 people. l

n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong Four death row convicts including former state minister for home affairs Lutfozzaman Babar and Industry Minister and Jamaat-e-Islami leader Motiur Rahman Nizami in the 10-truck arms haul cases were sent to Dhaka yesterday.

Nizami and Babar were sent to Kashimpur Jail in Gazipur, while two other convicts Maj Gen (retd) Rezzaqul Haider Chowdhury and Brig Gen (retd) Mohammad Abdur Rahim were forwarded to Dhaka Central Jail, said Mohammad Sagir Miah, senior jail super in Chittagong Central Jail.

The transfer was undertaken considering the schedules of a hartal and Biswa Ijtema, he said, adding that they

Aspirants bent on vying for poll  PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

on giving an impression that it does not believe in “election manipulation.”

On January 28, Awami League President Sheikh Hasina told her party’s lawmakers that the upcoming upazila election would be a tough fight as the BNP-Jamaat-backed candidates were set to vie the polls.

The BNP, on the other hand, is taking the upazila poll as a chance to turn around, especially after the crash landing of the pro-caretaker movement and failing to resist the January 5 election which threw the party out of the House for the first time in more than two decades.

The upcoming upazila elections are significant for the BNP, especially considering the fact that it boycotted the last upazila elections in 2009.

“These [upazila] elections are posing two challenges for the Awami League.

If it fails to do well, then its legitimacy would be seriously questioned. The party will also have to take a blow even if it tries to win by manipulating,” said Pyas Karim, a Brac University teacher and who has interest in following political developments.

“On the other hand, there is no short-term option for BNP other than winning. The BNP’s politics would be plunged into grave troubles if it does not do well [in the upazila polls],” said Pyas.

A number of Awami League and BNP leaders have told the Dhaka Tri-

bune that whether the two parties have managed to select lone candidates for every upazila will be clear before tomorrow – the last date for withdrawing nominations.

As of yesterday, no candidate has made any announcement about quitting polls in accordance with party decisions.

The Dhaka Tribune has talked to the local leaders in at least 15 districts.

In most of those districts, neither the Awami League nor the BNP has yet managed to finalise lone candidates.

In order to finalise lone candidate at every seat, both the parties have started forming committees. In many upazilas, these committees have started working to convince the local leaders.

In four the upazilas of Sirajganj, nine from the Awami League, 10 from the BNP, three from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and one from the other parties are contesting the polls.

Recently, Health Minister Mohammad Nasim, also a presidium member of the Awami League, held a meeting with the Pabna district leaders to finalise one candidate in every seat and warned of tough actions if anyone violated party orders.

However, Abul Kalam Azad, a contender for the Kazipur upazila chairman’s post, alleged that three of his campaigners had been harassed by law enforcers because they had campaigned for him instead of Mozammel Haque Bakul, another Awami League

were being transported in their prison uniforms.

Meanwhile, Chittagong Central Jail sources said as the four convicts were accused in separate cases which were under trial in Dhaka, they were sent to the capital.

Nizami is accused in a case that is under trial in the International War Crimes Tribunal where the three others are also sued in the August 21 grenade attack case, sources said.

The 14 accused in the 10-truck arms haul case, including Babar and Nizami, were sentenced to death on January 30, around 10 years after the incident.

Amongst the convicted 14, Ulfa commander Paresh Barua and former additional secretary of industries ministry Nurul Amin are absconding. l

leader and the current chairman.

“They were detained on charges of misguiding the voters. However, after scrutiny, they were freed,” Abdul Jalil, acting OC of the Kazipur police station, told the Dhaka Tribune.

In the Sylhet division, the Awami League has formed a six-member committee headed by Presidium Member Obaidul Quader, also the communication minister. The BNP on the other hand has formed a three-member committee, headed by Vice-Chairman Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury.

The first phase of the upazila parishad elections in 12 the seats in the Sylhet division will be held on February 19.

Mesbahuddin Siraj, organising secretary of the Awami League, said the incumbent chairmen would get priority and the final list of lone candidates for each upazila would be reached through compromise between the aspirants.

“The final list will be made public on February 3 in the presence of the central election coordination team,” he told the Dhaka Tribune.

Dildar Hossain, senior vice-president of Sylhet district unit BNP, said they had been trying to pick single candidate for every upazila and had already talked with the aspirants and the local leaders in this regard.

“The final list will be made public soon and if anyone violates party orders, tough actions will be taken against them,” he said. l

Shibir-police ‘gunfight’  PAGE 1 COLUMN 3

The injured Shibir cadre, Nasir alias Kolla Nasir, who is accused in several cases lodged with Satkania Police Station earlier, was admitted into Chittagong Medical College Hospital.

A case was lodged with Satkania Police Station while police are conducting drives to nab the other cohorts of Nasir, the OC added.

In another drives, Satkania Police nabbed four Jamaat-Shibir men from different areas in the upazila who were involved in the sabotage on Chit-

tagong-Cox’s Bazar Highway during pre-election and post-election period.

Meanwhile, Lohagara police nabbed 22 Jamaat-Shibir men from different areas of the upazila in an overnight drive for humiliating Awami League Member of Parliament Abu Reza M Nezamuddin in the upazila on the previous night, said OC Mohammad Shahjahan of Lohagara Police Station.

On Friday night, MP Nezamuddin faced humiliation while attending a religious programme, Sirat Mahfil, a 19day long Muslim religious programme,

at Shah Shaheb Kebla under Chunati union at around 8:30pm.

Some Jamaat-Shibir activists threw shoes at Nadavi as soon as he arrived at the programmme.

Later, the MP, who was the chief guest of the programme, and his followers took shelter in the adjoining mosque.

The MP was later escorted off the premises by police and BGB men.

Nadavi claimed before Dhaka Tribune that the attacked on him by Jamat-Shibir men was pre-planned. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Sunday, February 2, 2014

3

Special drives to make Dhaka beggar-free soon n Mohosinul Karim The authorities will conduct special operations soon to drive away beggars from the capital.

Among them, those who are forcing or inspiring poor people in the profession to earn money will be arrested. All those detainees would be rehabilitated in their village homes so that they do not need to beg alms anymore, Social Welfare Minister Syed Mohsin Ali told the Dhaka Tribune on Thursday.

According to the ministry’s data, there are around 100,000 beggars in the Dhaka, a city of over 1.2 crore people. Most of them regardless their age are seen begging on different streets and public places. Many of them are physically disabled.

The Directorate of Social Welfare under the ministry carried out a survey on beggars in the capital in 2012. A total of 10,000 beggars were brought under the survey to find out the root cause of their problems and to offer them alternative livelihoods.

The government then enlisted 10 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to carry out the survey where the beggars were registered under different categories including seasonal or irregular, disabled, women and children.

The scheme to survey the beggar population in the capital was conducted amidst criticism from some human rights groups at that time. They argue that the survey was meant for discriminating against the beggars rather than rehabilitating them.

Despite the government’s efforts to abolish begging, the practice remains

widespread in the capital as well as in other parts of the country.

According to the ministry, 66 identified beggars were rehabilitated in Mymensingh and Jamalpur district during the previous government tenure. They were given a rickshaw van and TK5,000 each.

But, most of them returned to the profession again within only five to six months as they can earn more by begging every day, say ministry officials. A section of culprits are using these poor people as their earning sources.

“The culprits, who are bringing them into begging or using them as earning sources destroying the city, will also be detained hauled during the drive. They will be punished according to criminal laws. It is quite impossible to ensure a beggar-free Dhaka without rooting out the culprits,” the minister said.

He said the ordinary beggars would be detained too along with their bosses. “We will help those who want to go back to their villages and take alternative professions.

“We will give them vocational training. For some others, we are ready to give old-age pensions. For the rehabilitation programme, we needed precise information about the beggars. We have already got it. Steps will be taken shortly,” he added.

The minister said since begging is banned in the capital, there is a danger that “anyone who admits of being a beggar can be considered as an offender. But the government will not punish them who come forward to take part in the rehabilitation programme.”

Earlier in mid 2013, the government

DHAKA TRIBUNE

said it had decided to clear beggars from some locations in the capital including Shahjalal International Airport area, Bailey Road, the diplomatic zone and places surrounding the embassies,

PM: Present best translations of Bangla literary works n Tribune Report Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday urged the quarters concerned to translate the best creations of Bangla language and present them on the world arena.

“I request you to present the best creations of the Bangla language to the world through their translations,” she said, while inaugurating the monthlong Amar Ekushey Book Fair at the Bangla Academy premises and on parts of the Suhrawardy Udyan in the city.

The UNB quoted the premier as saying that the trials of war criminals and butchers of 1971 was the beginning of a new historic process of cleansing the society from stigma of the documented atrocities on a nation.

“There will be no space for evil forces in Bangladesh. Our nation will be a

pacifist one in South Asia,” Hasina said.

The BSS also reported that the prime minister termed the book fair as a source of inspiration for Bangalees, adding that the space of the book fair has been expanded across Suharawardy Uddyan this year with the goal of turning the historic venue as the nation’s cultural center.

Sheikh Hasina said her government was continuing its efforts to make Bangla as one of the official languages of the United Nations.

Hasina also recalled the contribution of language movement veteran Dhirendranath Dutta, who first placed the demand in the then Pakistan National Assembly in 1948, and the leadership of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman during the Language Movement in 1952.

The prime minister handed over

honourary fellowship of Bangla Academy to noted pantomime artiste Partha Pratim Majumder and Bangla Academy Literary Award to nine eminent poets, writers, researchers and academics for their contributions in various disciplines of literature.

Professor Emeritus Anisuzzaman, the chairman of Bangla Academy, presided over the function while Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor and Cultural Affairs Secretary Dr Ranjit Biswas also spoke on the occasion.

Director General of Bangla Academy Shamsuzzaman Khan gave the welcome address.

The speaker, deputy speaker, ministers, premier’s advisors, fellows and life members of Bangla Academy, academics, teachers, poets, litterateurs, writers, publishers, and artistes also attended the inauguration of the book fair. l

and the Sonargaon, Ruposhi Bangla and Radisson hotels.

After the Awami League-led government passed the Vagrant and Homeless Persons (rehabilitation) Act, 2011,

n Muktasree Chakma Sathi The lax security on the first day of Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2014 made the visitors happy as they had not to stand in a long queue for security check before entering the fair premises.

The security was cooperatively slack in the fair that witnessed only a handful of people’s presence in the vicinity yesterday afternoon.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the fair around 3pm yesterday, following which the fair was open for public.

The security was beefed up ahead of the premier’s arrival in the Bangla Academy, but later it had been lax.

But police said security would be tightened in line with the rise in number of visitors.

For the very first time, the Bangla Academy is holding the fair in the Suhrawardy Udyan besides its own premises.

There was no security check on the

n Tribune Report

BNP reschedules protest rally n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

The BNP yesterday night said it would stage the protest rally tomorrow instead of earlier scheduled for Sunday.

The rally was called protesting against the January 5 poll and DMP’s refusal to permit to carry out its black flag procession in the capital on January 29.

The BNP shifted its programme to Monday because of Bishwa Ijtema and inauguration of The Ekushey Book Fair.

At first, the party scheduled its rally in the capital’s Suhrawardy Udyan on Saturday which shifted to Monday.

“The protest rally will be held tomorrow instead of Sunday because of today’s Akheri Munajat,” Abdus Salam, member secretary of Dhaka city unit BNP, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

Earlier at a press briefing, BNP Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi claimed that the Awami League government was taking vengeance on the people of the country as they had rejected the January 5 “farcical poll”.

The BNP leader made the remarks while addressing a press briefing at the Party’s Nayapaltan office on Saturday.

Rivzi said: “The illegal government exposed its anarchic image in a new dimension to stay in power illegally.”

Claiming that the government is killing common people of the country through “crossfire,” he said: “The government is conducting killing operations against innocent people across the country in order to defend the farcical and shameful poll.”

Regarding the Saturday’s country-

wide protest programmes, he said: “We were barred from staging our protest programmes in different parts of the country. The members of the law enforcement agencies attacked our peaceful processions with the help of Awami League goons.”

He further said: “The law enforcers are killing our people [19-party members] in crossfire and arresting them in false charges in order to ruin the BNP.” On January 31, the BNP-led 19-party alliance announced to stage demonstration across the country on Saturday.

The opposition alliance announced the programme demanding the cancellation of the January 5 election and protesting the DMP’s denial to permit the party to hold its black-flag processions in the capital. l

people in jail as they are labelled as possible criminals.

The law also says the government will establish more shelters for the vagabonds. l

Slack security makes book fair visitors happy

Road accidents kill four

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina poses for a photograph with the recipients of Bangla Academy literature award and scholarship at the inaugural programme of Amar Ekushey Boi Mela in the capital yesterday BSS

NGOs namely Brac, Ain o Salish Kendra, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), ADD International and Nijera Kori protested the move terming the law a means for throwing homeless

Four people including a four-year-old were killed yesterday in separate road accidents in Dhaka and Chittagong.

The child, identified as Taslima Akhter, was ran over by a mini truck in Uttara sector 12 while she was playing in front of her shanty around 4:30pm.

Taslima was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in a critical condition where the doctors declared her dead around 6pm. She was the only daughter of truck labourer Saidur Hossain and sweeper of North Dhaka City Corporation Laizu Begum.

Sub-Inspector Hajarat Ali of Uttara (west) police station said the driver had fled the spot leaving the vehicle.

On Gausul Azam Avenue in Uttara sector 13, Abul Kashem, 46, was crushed under the wheels of a truck when he was returning home on a bicycle around 2am after finishing his duty.

A pedestrian admitted Kashem to Uttara Medical Hospital in a critical state where the doctors declared him dead.

Both the bodies were sent to DMC morgue for autopsy, said police.

Meanwhile, two people were killed in separate road accidents on Dhaka-Chittagong highway in Chittagong.

Sergeant Mehedi Hasan of Jaraganj highway police outpost said Kamal Hossain, 35, was hit by a truck after he fell down from a CNG-run auto-rickshaw at Thakur Dhigi in Chittagong around 1am. He died on the way to the local upazila health complex.

Abdullah Arman Faisal, 14, a class IX student of Ispahani Victoria High School in Akbar Shah area, died when a speeding lorry hit him in front of world Fashion Furniture at Badamtali of Uttar Kattali on DT Road while he was crossing the road around 11am, said ASI Ahiuddin of Akbarshah police station. l

first day of fair, said Munna Abir, a student of Dhaka University.

“I do not know how to react. Last year, I had to queue up for hours because of security check by the law enforcement agencies, but this time, it is an exception.”

Amar Ekushey Book Fair begins at Bangla Academy and Suhrawardy Udyan The visitor said he was happy with the fact that he did not have to wait for long in the queue, but was also worried about the security considering the current political situation in the country.

Shahid Chowdhury, patrol inspector of Shahbagh police station, also in charge of security at the fair, told the Dhaka Tribune: “We have sufficient number of lawmen deployed to ensure

the security at the fair. There is nothing to be worried.”

“As it is the first day, there is no security check, but it will start soon and the security will be beefed up.”

A few book lovers were seen roam around the bookstalls and look for their favourite author’s books.

A number of stalls particularly the magazine section on the Bangla Academy premises were almost empty of people.

The construction of some stalls are yet to be finished. Bangla Academy Deputy Director Murshed Anwar told the Dhaka Tribune he was hoping all stalls would be open by today.

“This is the first time we extended the fairground to Suhrawardy Udayn.

That is why things got a little messy, but I am sure, everything will be fine by tomorrow [today],” he added.

According to the Bangla Academy officials, a total of 299 publishing houses, government, non-government and sociocultural organisations are participating in this year’s event. l

Women MPs’ poll in March n Mohammad Zakaria The Election Commission is likely to hold an election for the 50 reserved women seats of the 10th parliament by the third week of March.

The date might be announced by the middle of this month, a senior assistant secretary of the EC told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

Earlier the EC sent letters to seven political parties and independent candidates, who had won seats in the January 5 poll, asking whether they would join any the alliance or a political party respectively to contest for the reserved seats.

After getting confirmation from the seven political parties and independent candidates by February 9, the commission would publish the voter list on February 10 or 11, he said.

“After publishing the voter list, the commission may announce the schedule for reserved women seats poll on February 13 or 16,” said the official.

EC officials said the commission would announce the polls schedule after settling any kind of demand or objection arising over the voter list.

According to the laws, reserved seats elections should be held within 90 days after publishing the gazette of parlia-

mentary election. The reserved seats are distributed among the parties or alliances in proportion to the total seats won by them in the general election. To contest, a candidate would have to be proposed by a lawmaker. On January 8 The Election Commission published the gazette for 10th parliamentary elections.

The commission did not publish the gazette of two constituencies- Jessore-1 and Jessore-2, because the Election Commission demanded a showcause from Awami League candidates in those seats for unethical conduct.

Meanwhile, Tangail-8 constituency has become vacant because of the death of Shahkat Momen Shahjahan, who was the elected MP from Awami League in the constituency.

The Election Commission would allocate 10 days for submitting nomination papers, two days for screening nomination papers and six days for withdrawal of nomination before the poll.

The commission is preparing the list of independent candidates that would be sent to the Sangsad secretariat, said the officials.

Until holding the election to reserved seats, no changes can be made in the list, however, the commission can amend it if any corrections necessary. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Boro acreage rises despite input cost hike n Tribune Report

Workers’ Party congress on April 24 n Manik Miazee The ninth congress of Workers’ Party of Bangladesh will be held on April 24.

The decision came from a two-day meeting of the WP central committee held at its central office with its president Rashed Khan Menon in the chair.

According to sources, the meeting took a decision that the party will observe the founder president Niormal Sen’s 100th birth anniversary with various programmes throughout the year from 19 July, 2014.

The meeting’s political proposal said that as part of longtime political conspiracy, BNP-Jamaat led by 18-party alliance did not participate in the 10th parliamentary election.

The meeting also took decision that upazila units of the WP will be completed between February 15 and March 10.

The five-day congress will conclude on April 28. l

Boro cultivation acreage is likely to increase this year despite a hike in input costs faced by farmers since the beginning of Boro paddy cultivation, field reports of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) have indicated.

Specialists said the losses incurred by the farmers in winter vegetables, as well as a comparatively better price of paddy in the last Aman season, have encouraged farmers to prefer Boro paddy cultivation in the ongoing season over the cultivation of other crops.

According to the Field Service Wing (FSW) of the DAE, about 50% of transplantation target of Boro paddy has been completed so far this season, against about 40% coverage of the target achieved during the same period of the season last year.

Earlier, the acreage target for Boro paddy cultivation this season was fixed at 48 lakh hectares, and the production target at 189 lakh tonnes. The country produced about 187.5 lakh tonnes of Boro paddy in the last season over the same extent of land.

DAE Director General Abu Hanif Miah told the UNB that a comparatively better price of Aman paddy during October-November last year had encouraged the farmers to go for Boro cultivation this year.

“Unless there is any severe unexpected climatic event, we are going to achieve the target production this season,” he said.

However, at the onset of the Boro cultivation, farmers faced a fresh hike of the cost of inputs, including seed, ir-

rigation, fertiliser and labour.

M Shahadat Hossain, a farmer from Durgapur village in Rangpur sadar upazila, said the prices of both the urea and the non-urea fertilisers have shot up because of uncertainties in supply over the last two months.

“Farmers cannot buy the fertiliser at the fair price. The actual price of urea is Tk16 per kg, while we are forced to pay about Tk20-22 per kg,” he said.

Shahadat added that the labour cost was extremely high.

The seeds are also costing higher this season, he said, adding that farmers had to spend at least Tk100 more than the actual price to buy every 10kg seeds from the market.

Bangladesh Krishak Samity President Morshed Ali said irrigation cost in some areas of the country would shoot up by 30-40% this season compared to that of the previous season, as the irrigation pump owners have already started to charge higher.

A Brac survey conducted in November last year showed that despite the hike in input cost, most of the farmers will increase the cultivation of food grains, including rice, wheat and maize, rather than going for the cultivation of vegetables that has already been considered risky given the recent political uncertainties, reports UNB. Brac Executive Director Mahbub Hossain said: “The study shows that the farmers shift a bit from the comparatively profitable cultivation of vegetables to the cultivation of rice; although rice farming over the years has not been able to ensure the farmers with a minimum 50% profit margin.” l

Gono Forum wants early elections n Manik Miazee

Civil society for RTI implementation in SDG

Thousands converge for final Ijtema prayer

Gono Forum demanded an early and inclusive national election with the participation of all political parties.

The president of the party and noted jurist Kamal Hossain, after the party’s central committee extended meeting at its central office in the capital yesterday, said the national elections held on January 5 was not acceptable and most of the voters rejected the polls. Kamal stated that dependency on a single person [chief of a political party] has become a curse for the nation.

“Do not depend on any single person. It is a major weakness in the South Asian region,” he told his party leaders.

Kamal called on all the left and progressive political parties to be united to wage movement in demand of an inclusive election.

Gono Forum will participate in the upcoming upazila parishad elections, Kamal added. l

n Tribune Report

The banks of river Turag in Tongi near Dhaka have once again become the place to be for hundreds of thousands of Muslims from around the country and also from abroad.

With the “Akheri Munajat” of the second phase of Bishwa Ijtema scheduled for today morning, devotees have braved the cold wave, traffic congestion, shortage of accommodation and mismanagements at the venue to attend the prayer, the biggest attraction of the congregation.

Many devotees, who seem to have learnt from last year’s mistakes, have thronged the venue as early as 24-hours before the prayer. They could be seen finding places for themselves on the roadsides, beside the main entrance, in front of shops and market buildings and even on boats on the Turag River.

Mohammad Jamal Uddin from Narayanganj have also learned from his mistake. “Last year, I started early on the day of the Akheri Munajat and reached Tongi after the munajat was over. So, this time, I have come a day before so that I do not have to miss the prayer again.”

Minhaz Uddin, 60, from Tangail has come to Tongi yesterday for attending today’s Akheri Munajat. He said he had

WEATHER

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

Moderate to thick fog might occur over the country during night till morning, Met Office said.

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

The sun sets in the capital at 5:45pm today and rises at 6:39am tomorrow.

Country’s highest temperature 31.0 degree Celsius was recorded in Sylhet and lowest 09.5 degrees in Ishwardi yesterday.

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

High

Low

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

25.0 25.0 24.5 24.2 24.8 24.7 31.0 28.2

13.8 17.0 10.3 12.0 13.0 10.3 13.3 17.5

Civil society leaders have demanded that the government include public’s access to information and government data in its proposal over the sustainable development goals (SDGs) They made the call at a discussion jointly organised by London-based human rights organisation ARTICLE 19, The Daily Star and EquityBD, a network of rights-based NGOs in Bangladesh.

“The freedom to voice out views and participate at the decision making level without fear and the need for access to information and independent media have been recognised as essential components of the SDGs,” said Tahmina Rahman, Country Director at ARTICLE 19.

The speakers mentioned that the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) would be replaced by Sustainable Development Goals by 2015. Initial recommendations made by the Bangladeshi government were discussed in the United Nations General Assembly held in September in 2013.

Foreign Ministry Director General Saida Muna Tasneem said: “The Bangladesh government has been invited to contribute in development of the

Even after three weeks into action, authorities are yet to complete the repair works of an underground gas line in the capital’s Adabar area. The works have been causing huge sufferings to residents and commuters RAJIB DHAR

Environmentalists: Switch energy source for Rampal power plant n Tribune Report Conservationists have urged the government to switch to solar power or other alternative energy sources instead of using coal at the Rampal power plant in Bagerhat to save the world’s largest mangrove forest Sundarbans from further degradation.

It will also reduce the risk of climate change, said Youth Coalition for Climate Justice (YCCJ) yesterday with a call to stop implementing the 1320MW coal power project.

They made the urge from a unique demonstration in the capital on the

new goals at top rank meetings of states because of its previous successes in implementing the MDGs. The government is open to strengthening articulations on access, governance and oversight.”

Cabinet Division Additional Secretary Nazrul Islam said the government had acknowledged that more work needed to be done to implement the RTI effectively.

Transparency International Bangladesh Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said the country had lost 13.6 % of budget and 2.4 % of GDP because of corruption, this percentage could be minimised had the government committed to sincere implementation of RTI. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury of EquityBD said: “Disclosure of information regarding public expenditure such as those on defense and development, are critical to discussions of equity and good governance”.

Information Commissioner Professor Sadeka Halim, Manusher Jonno Foundation Executive Director Saheen Anam, Action Aid Director Asgar Ali Sabri, Monisha Biswas of Oxfam, and former parliamentarian Dr Akram Hossain and Faruque Ahmed also participated in the discussion. l

eve of World Wetlands Day 2014. The activists covered their faces with tiger masks and pictorial placards.

The Indian state-owned power company is implementing the Rampal plant where the operator will use imported coal. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated construction work of the plant in October last year. The government has plans to construct another plant of similar capacity at the same site.

An impact study by Khulna University teacher Prof Dr Abdullah Harun Chowdhury on the Sundarbans and its surrounding areas revealed around 27

Jamil Khan, n Mohammad from Tongi

5:21am 6:38am 12:12am 4:09pm 5:45pm 7:03pm

Source: IslamicFinder.org

left Tangail around 8:30am yesterday and reached Tongi in the afternoon because of the heavy Ijtema-bound traffic on the highway.

“I gathered 50 people from my area and hired a truck. After coming here, we collected some mobile beds and took position at the Kamarpara road water tank area. There is no facility here. Bread is the only food that we have managed to arrange so far for our companions. Now we are trying to arrange something for dinner,” Minhaz said.

However, the organisers are planning to hold the final prayer of this phase a little earlier than when it was held during the first phase that ended last week.

The devotees should be given enough time to go back home after the prayer, said Gias Uddin, an organising committee member.

Gias said they were hoping to hold the Akheri Munajat between 11am and 12pm today instead of 1pm from the previous phase.

Maulana Abdul Wahub from Pakistan and Maulana Islam Gordar from India delivered “boyan,” religious speech, during yesterday’s Ijtema session. They were followed by local preachers Maulana Jubayerul Hassan and Maulana Ahmad lat.

Meanwhile, two more devotees died

Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) members seized tortoises weighing almost 200kg from a passenger bus on Satkhira-Khulna highway yesterday.

They suspected that the tortoises were being smuggled across border.

However, it could not be identified who were carrying the tortoises.

Lt Col Imam Ahsan, commander of 38 Battalion of BGB, said the value of the tortoises was about Tk200, 000.

He said the tortoises were set free in the municipality pond in the evening in the presence of the Satkhira municipality mayor. l

at the Ijtema venue on Friday night and Saturday afternoon. They were Nur Mohammad, 70, from Noakhali’s Snoaimuri, and Muzibur Rahman, 60, from Dhaka’s Mirpur. Another devotee named Abdur Rahman, 60, died at the Tongi Bazar area after being run over by a bus.

Islmail Hossain, OC of the Tongi police station, confirmed the deaths.

The traffic control department of Gazipur has decided to keep vehicular movement suspended in the Tongi area for seven hours starting 5am today for the final prayer.

Shakhawat Hossain, assistant police super of Gazipur traffic, told the Dhaka Tribune that only special buses carrying the devotees would ply between Bhogra bypass and Tongi. Movement of all other vehicles would be restricted in the area until the end of the final prayer.

More dowry-free wedding

On the second day of the second phase of Ijtema yesterday, the organisers arranged a total of 134 dowry-free weddings as part of a mass arrangement on the Turag bank.

Organiser Gias Uddin said the weddings were conducted upon consent from the brides, grooms and their families.

During the first phase of the congregation last week, 125 dowry-free weddings were conducted. l

4 killed across country n Tribune Report

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

bad impacts out a total of 34. Coal-fired plants emit a huge amount of carbon dioxide which will damage soil, water, air of the mangrove forest – also a Unesco World Heritage Site.

SM Shaikat, the YCCJ president, said: “The government must protect the bio-diversity of this forest considering the Unesco’s recognition.”

Citing a report of the Greenpeace International, the YCCJ said around 1,00,000 people were killed in India because of pollution from the coal-fired power plants in 2012. Most of the power produced in the neighbouring country comes from coal-based plants. l

200kg tortoises seized in Khulna n Our Correspondent, Satkhira

Devotees light oil lamps and offer prayers for Chandamoni Mahasthabir for his contribution in preaching Buddhism in Khagrachhari yesterday BANGLAR CHOKH

At least four people were killed in separate incidents in Pabna, Habiganj and Jessore on Friday.

Police recovered the body of a youth from a ditch in Halot area of Pabna on Friday after four days of his going missing. The victim Masud Rana, 22, is a resident of Bilkula village under Ataikula police station, reports UNB. Police said locals spotted the body of a youth afloat in a ditch beside the Pabna-Tebunia highway in the area around 5pm and informed police.

Later, family members identified the body at the police station.

Police suspected that miscreants might have killed strangled Masud and dumped the body into the ditch.

In Habiganj, a vegetable trader was chopped to death by his rivals over land dispute at Nowaoi village in Bahubal upazila on Friday night.

The deceased Ramij Miah, 45, was a resident of the same village, reports UNB. Quoting locals, police said there had a longstanding dispute between Ramij Miah and Fazal Miah of the village over ownership of a piece of land.

Fazal Miah and his men swooped

on Ramij and chopped him indiscriminately with sharp weapons when he was returning home from a local market around 9pm, leaving him dead on the spot.

The attackers also stabbed four villagers, including a woman, as they came forward to help Ramij. They were admitted to the upazila health complex. Police recovered the body and sent it to a local hospital morgue.

A case was filed in this connection.

Elsewhere in Jessore, at least two people were hacked to death in separate incidents. Abhaynagar police recovered the body one Selim Sheikh, 35, from a brick kiln at Chalishia village under Abhaynagar upazila yesterday.

Police and locals said unknown miscreants hacked Selim to death at night after calling him on mobile phone on Friday.

Khabir Uddin, officer in-charge of Abhaynagar police station, told reporters that police recovered the body after being informed by the locals, and added that the reason behind the killing could not be known immediately.

Meanwhile, Abdul Aziz Mollah, 55, a labourer of Jessore Jute Industries Limited was also hacked to death by his brothers over land dispute on Friday noon. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

5

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Fire guts city soap factory Over 200 houses of Horijon Palli in Khulna destroyed Service and Civil Defense (FSCD) – sev- Deputy Commissioner of Khulna Anis n Tribune Report en units of firefighters from the FSCD Mahamud visited the spot.

At least 252 houses including two factories were gutted in several fire incidents in Dhaka, Khulna and Bandarban districts in the last two days.

In Old Dhaka, a soap factory and a four-storey building were gutted at Kosaituli in Bongshal yesterday.

Inspector Abul Hasan, officer-in-charge (investigation) of Bongshal police station, said the fire had originated at the soap factory housed in a tin-shed building and later it caught a neighbouring hanger factory and then the four-storey residential building.

He said the entire area remained dark as the electric line had been disconnected immediate to avert massive accident from the fire. Firefighters, police, locals and workers doused the fire after three hours of hectic efforts.

Irin Parveen, duty officer of the FSCD, said on information, 11 units of the Fire

Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury’s 8th death anniversary today

n Our Correspondent, Chandpur People in Chandpur chalked out a twoday programme to mark the 8th death anniversary of veteran politician and former prime minister Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury.

He died on February 2 in 2006. He was born on October 19 in 1928.

Mizanur’s son Aman Ullah Mizan (Razu) Chowdhury said: “We have organised a Doa Mahfil at his birth place in Puranbazar Chowdhury Bari.” A Milad will be held at a house in the capital and a discussion meeting in remembrance of former prime minister at the National Press Club on February 8.

He started his political careers as a leader of Nikhil Bharat Muslim League in 1945. He was elected as a member of parliament for six times from Chandpur constituency.

He was the prime minister of Bangladesh during 1986-88. He was also the acting chairman of the Jatiya party. l

headquarters, two units from Sadarghat and two units from Palashi fire station – rushed to the spot and doused the fire.

Our Khulna correspondent reports: at least 230 houses were gutted in a devastating fire at Horijon Palli in Moilapota area under Sonadanga police station at 8:15 pm yesterday.

Mobilising Station Officer of Khulna Fire Service Rabiul Islam said the fire might have originated from an electric short circuit. But locals said that somebody masterminded the fire as some influential members of the KCC wanted to grab the land.

Local Ward Councillor and Panel Mayor 2 Sheikh Hafijur Rahaman denied the allegation. Seven units of firefighters from Tutpara, Boyra, Khalishpur and Khulna doused the fire.

Khulna 2 MP Mizanur Rahaman Mizan, former MP Nazrul Islam Monju,

Our Bandarban correspondent reports: around 20 houses were gutted in a devastating fire, damaging properties worth about Tk1 crore in Kachchaptali area of Royangchhari upazila under Bandarban Hill District on Friday.

Sources said the fire had originated around 9pm from a gas stove of a house and engulfed the adjacent area soon.

Fire fighters from Bandarban town and army personnel of Kachchaptali army camp went to the spot doused the fire after two hours of frantic effort.

Royangchhari police station OC Abdus Sattar said: “The fire caused a damage worth about Tk1 crore.”

State Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Bir Bahadur, Deputy Commissioner KM Tarikul Islam and other administrative officers visited the spot last night and distributed aid among the victims. l

A firefighter struggles to douse a blaze that erupted at a soap factory in Kasaituli area in Old Dhaka yesterday evening

Traffic problem to worsen in next few years n Tribune Report The spectre of traffic congestion in the capital is only expected to deteriorate further in the days ahead, compounding the daily suffering faced by commuters in one of the most densely populated megacities of the world.

“I have to spend about two hours every day travelling to and from my Paltan office,” said Jannatul Ferdous, a resident of Natunbazar, adding that the trip usually takes 30 minutes on a non-congested road.

A number of passengers and commuters also shared similar frustrations over the problems they have to face on a daily basis because of traffic jam.

Jannatul said she often had to wait for long periods on the road because of the lack of public transports on the city’s thoroughfares, adding that: “Even if I can catch any passenger vehicle luckily, there is almost no room left, even for standing.”

Calling for the number of public

transports to be increased in the city, she said: “If something is not done soon, commuting will become a worse experience in a few years.”

Echoing Jannatul, urban planner Prof Nazrul Islam said: “The traffic congestion problem will worsen in the city in a few years, because of its growing population.”

However, Communications Minister Obaidul Quader on Wednesday told reporters that his primary task would be to free the choking capital Dhaka from the grip of traffic jam.

As part of the first steps towards realizing this goal, the minister pledged stern steps to evict illegally occupied roadside establishments and to stop the plying of unauthorised vehicles in the city.

The minister also gave assurances for starting construction works of two mega projects – the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) – that can significantly reduce traffic congestion in the city.

Communications ministry officials, however, did not share their minister’s optimism over the timing of the two projects.

Two future projects, the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), can significantly reduce traffic congestion. But the MRT project is likely to end in 12 years while the BRT in 2016 Sources at the ministry said although consultants have been appointed for the MRT project, the tender process for work on the main structure have not even started.

DMCH BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT UNIT

Despite the hype surrounding the inauguration of the country’s first ever bone marrow transplant (BMT) unit, not a single patient had undergone the transplant procedure in three months since the unit officially opened its doors.

Seeking anonymity, several responsible officials of the BMT unit told the Dhaka Tribune that the unit was yet to secure an infection-free clearance that was mandatory before carrying out the procedure on patients. The clearance from international BMT experts was given after an assessment of infrastructure, equipment, machineries, reagent and other aspects.

Sources said Dr Vikram Mathews, professor of hematology and a BMT expert from Christian Medical College of Bengalooru in India, was now in Bangladesh to inspect the standard of the BMT unit at the DMCH. He was reportedly assigned by the Massachusetts General Hospital of the US to make the assessment visit and submit a report.

Several other BMT experts including Dr Bimolanshu Dey from Massachusetts General Hospital were also currently visiting the DMCH’s BMT unit.

Local and international BMT experts are also scheduled to meet with Health Minister Mohammed Nasim at the secretariat today for updating the minister on the latest status of the BMT unit.

Prof Dr MA Khan, head of the BMT unit, said a meeting was held with Dr Mathews on Saturday, where he empasised on an infection-free environment at the unit. The machines were currently being run on a test-basis and their accuracies were being examined, he added.

Sources however said the assessment by the visiting Bengalooru doctor was positive.

Former health minister Dr AFM Ruhal Hoque inaugurated the five-bed BMT unit and a hightech BMT laboratory – which cost Tk200m to be built – at the DMCH on October 20 last year. Although it was then announced that the first trans-

Three hurt in Munshiganj gun attack

plant procedure would take place on October 26, the deadline could not be reached.

Preferring to stay unnamed, a senior DMCH official said the announcement for the first bone marrow transplant on October 26 was just a “political stunt.”

The BMT laboratory was not up to the mark to do the operation at that time, the official claimed.

It has been learnt that the BMT unit initially lacked essential equipment like an irradiator, which has recently been set up to enable the unit to go for its first BMT procedure.

Dr Bayezid Khurshed Riaz, project director of the DMCH-2, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that the initial date for the procedure had to be rescheduled because the doctors wanted to carry out the transplant with full preparation, as any accident would have caused patients to lose confidence.

The first procedure is likely to be carried out in mid-March, Riaz said, adding that the initial transplant would be assisted by an expert team from the Massachusetts General Hospital. l

15 injured in a fierce clash

n Our Correspondent, Madaripur At least 15 people were injured in a bloody clash between two groups over establishing supremacy at a Kalkini village in Madaripur yesterday.

Law enforcers arrested 20 people after the clash that took place at Charalimabad village under Koyaria union at noon.

During the clash from 1pm to 2:30pm, the agitators fired over 100 bullets and expl oded hundreds of hand bombs.

The injured were admitted to Muladi, Gouranagar and Kalkini upazila health complexes.

Police recovered one pistol, one revolver, 22 hand bombs, four knives and five handmade lethal weapons from the spot, Kalkini police station Officer-in-Charge Nazmul Huda said.

Members of a group led by Habib Fakir had rivalry for a long time with the members of another group headed

by Mosharraf Fakir. Earlier, they engaged in clashes several times.

Yesterday, the clash ensued when the members of Habib group took control of the whole village by driving away the members of another group. Additional Police Superintendent Uttam Kumar Paul said: “There have been several cases against the members of both groups.” l

A tourist parasails along the Cox’s Bazar sea beach on the last day of the National Kite Festival yesterday

National poetry festival begins n Arif Ahmed

The 28th National Poetry Festival began on the Dhaka University campus on Saturday with the slogan “Kabita Sahena Danab Jatana.”

Poet Syed Shamsul Huq inaugurated the two-day programme in front of the DU central library, organised by the National Poetry Council.

Syed Shamsul Huq said: “The festival was first celebrated before 27 years protesting Ershad government’s autocracy, terrorism, communalism and war-criminals.”

Council President poet Habibullah Siraji presided over the function while among others, event Convener Muhammad Samad, Joint Convener Tarek Sujat and General Secretary Aslam Sani spoke on the occasion.

Later, poets both from home and abroad recited self-composed poems in four sessions.

The council has been holding the festival since 1987. l

NEWS IN BRIEF

Not a single procedure in 3 months n Moniruzzaman Uzzal

Besides, the construction of the Tk22,000 crore MRT, stretching from the capital’s Uttara to Motijheel, was a very long-term project, with 130 months (12 years) set aside for it.

The same sources also said consultants were yet to be appointed for the 20km BRT project, which will stretch from Shahjalal International Airport in the capital to Joydebpur in Gazipur.

The BRT project – estimated to be completed as early as 2016 – would provide Gazipur residents with a dedicated road to drive straight to the airport.

To solve the existing crisis, Dr Nazrul suggested swift implementation of the MRT and the BRT, reinforcement of traffic regulation system in the city, and protection of its walkways from occupation.

“In a word, there has to be an improvement in the overall management of the city’s communication sector,” he added. l

FOCUS BANGLA

DHAKA TRIBUNE

At least three people, including a couple, sustained bullet wounds in a gun attack by miscreants at Dighirpar village in Tongibari upazila of Munshiganj on Friday night. Iqbal Hossain, 35, his wife Rehana Begum, 23, and Habibur Rahman, 25, a rickshaw puller, were injured as a gang of miscreants opened fire on them while they were returning home from a wedding ceremony by a rickshaw, Shahidul Islam, officer-in-charge of Sadar police station, said. Hearing their screams, local people rescued them and sent them to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. A case was filed in this connection – UNB

Abducted easy bike driver yet to be rescued The police were yet to rescue an easy bike driver, who was allegedly abducted by three ethnic youths at Koibollopit area under Khagrachhari sadar on Friday night. The abducted driver Mohammad Abu Taher, 32, hailed from College Gate area under same upazila. Quoting locals, Additional Superintendent of Police Mohammad Joynal Abedin said a group of three men ethnic youth, who hired Taher for going to Zeromile area around 10:30pm allegedly abducted him.

“We have been conducting drives to rescue Taher and temporary check posts have been set up at different spots in the district,” Additional

SP Joynal said. No case had been filed in connection with the incident. – Our Correspondent, Khagrachhari

Labour buried under soil during construction work A labour was buried under soil while working at a rubber dam over Moharashi River in Jhenaigati upazila of Sherpur on Friday night. The deceased Afzal Hossain, 30, hailed from in Komorpur village of Noldanga upazila under Natore. Eyewitnesses said while releasing water of the dam, soil from a drain fell on him, leaving him dead on the spot. – Our Correspondent, Sherpur

Police arrested four youths in Naim murder Police arrested four youths for their alleged involvement in killing Naim Mia in Narsingdi yesterday. Detective Branch of Police conducted drives in different areas of the district early yesterday and made the arrests. The arrestees – Kawser Mia, 16, Saiful Islam, 15, Faysal Mia, 16 and Sirajul Khandakar, 17 – had confessed their involvement with the murder, saying that they killed Naim centring drugs. Police have recovered the body of Naim Mia, 15, from an under construction building Friday afternoon.

Family members of Naim said he had been missing since Wednesday. – Our Correspondent, Narsingdi

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Feature

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Grace under fire An interview with Rumana Monzur, as part of our weekly series on One Billion Rising Bangladesh, in support of justice for violence against women Rumana was attacked by her hus- and UNFPA suggests a staggering n Syeda Samira Sadeque band in June 2011, when he gouged out 90% of women face abuse by their

“I

never thought it would happen to me. And then it did,” Rumana Monzur, iconic survivor of severe domestic abuse, told the Dhaka Tribune in an exclusive interview earlier this week.

To survive is to have a story to tell, to have the chance to show others what

Rumana Monzur with daughter Anusheh in 2013 they didn’t see. Or ignored. Rumana, having enrolled in law school after completing her Masters degree, is doing just that: surviving gracefully, and telling her story.

her eyes and bit off parts of her nose.

Rumana, a former University of Dhaka Assistant Professor of International Relations, was visiting Dhaka on break from Vancouver, where she was a graduate student at that time.

The brutal act triggered protests both at home and in Canada.

Rumana survived to tell her story, and to completely turn her fate around.

After extensive medical treatment, she enrolled as a law student at University of British Columbia in Vancouver, where she lives with her parents and eight year old daughter Anusheh.

“I am studying law because it makes me legally empowered. I wonder now if I had had this education, if it would have been easier for me to fight my legal battles.”

Despite the obvious nature of the crime, her husband’s family has been trying to claim custody of her daughter, accusing her of faking her blindness, or saying that she will not be able to take care of Anusheh. She has to submit documents to prove that she is visually impaired.

husbands.

“Those being abused need to understand that showing patience to monsters and demons is wrong. They mistake our commitment to be our weakness. No one needs to go through this to save their marriage.”

Even after being married to her abusive husband Hasan Sayeed for ten years, Rumana used to be reluctant to reveal her secret.

“I used to think talking about it would be a matter of shame, so I kept quiet instead.”

“But we must realize it is not us who ought to be ashamed but them, those who inflict abuse on us who should be held accountable, who should be shamed.”

Rumana says society also has a role to play to create a safe haven for those living in a system of abuse. Instead of facing the judgement and stigma of society, Rumana braved the challenges inside her abusive home, as many still do.

“The society’s attitude must change.

If they were supportive of those trying to leave abusive systems, it would be a lot easier for girls to do so.”

Vicious cycle of abuse

Saving grace

Domestic abuse in Bangladesh is nothing new. A recent survey by BBS

After it happened in June 2011, the international media was quick to pick up

the story, largely due to the fact that Rumana had an international support system from her friends and colleagues in Canada.

In Bangladesh, what stood out about Rumana’s case was the fact that she was an educated, financially independent woman in the society.

This incident broke the previously held assumption that domestic abuse takes place primarily in lower income homes, to women who are illiterate and unaware of their rights.

“I never thought despite having a Masters degree, despite my financial independence, I would face this,” Rumana says.

After the incident, her husband justified his attack by accusing her of having an affair with an Iranian man. Some local media agencies also capitalised on the controversy, falsely reporting or validating rumours - mostly triggered by her husband’s family - that soon after the attack she had remarried or that she was faking her blindness.

But she was lucky that this time, society took the side of the woman.

“The support that poured out after my attack was overwhelming. It showed me that for the 10% of people who believe in these false rumours and thought [the incident] was ‘justified,’ there is the other 90% who supported me.”

Regaining equilibrium

Three years since the attack, Rumana is still trying to come to terms with what happened.

“I really don’t know why this happens. But I know that a relationship must be about mutual respect. I used to hear news of acid attacks, wives being burnt.

“But we never realize just how traumatising it is until it happens to us,” Rumana says.

But today she is coping.

“I’ve figured out alternative ways to communicate with my daughter,” she laughs adding that she plays with her, cooks for her among other things.

“She is the reason I am trying to go back to a normal life. I always try to stay positive because I know I have to bring her up. I know I have to live a meaningful life.”

A meaningful life indeed, for a victim who turned herself into a survivor. A survivor who, now that she has come out of the abuse system, says we must be careful about our society, and not overlook any derailments in the system.

“We mustn’t look at domestic abuse as news anymore: it’s not news, it’s a situation that any one of us can be in any day.”l

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN BANGLADESH

98 %

ABUSED BY CURRENT OR PAST HUSBANDS

33 %

RAPED BY HUSBANDS

50 %

NEEDED MEDICAL HELP

8 OUT OF EVERY 10 WOMEN IN BANGLADESH SUFFER FROM PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE, ACCORDING TO THE SURVEY

UBC student Rumana Monzur speaks to the media upon her return from India

A survey conducted in 2011, which was published on the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics website in 2013, has revealed that 9 out of 10 Bangladeshi women are subject to domestic violence. The survey, titled “Report on Violence Against Women (VAW) Survey 2011, was designed by BBS, the Institute for Statistical Research and Training at Dhaka University, and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Making time for the Dhaka Art Summit The countdown begins for the world’s largest South Asian art event, February 7-9 “Meanwhile Elsewhere” is part of temporary art and through Raqs Media all the billboards are seen collectively, n Tasnuva Amin Nova it is meant to reveal a combination of the Untimely series, one of Raqs Me- Collective. They have participated in

M

ystified about the clocks that have suddenly sprung up on billboards all over the capital?

They are part of a public art project titled “Meanwhile Elsewhere” by the Delhi-based Raqs Media Collective, commissioned by the Samdani Art Foundation for the 2014 Dhaka Art Summit.

“This is their largest public art project to date,” said Nadia Samdani, the Founder and Director of Dhaka Art Summit.

Competed yesterday, the project covered ten billboards and 150 roadside signs with the image of a clock – but contrary to traditional clocks, these show Bangla words instead of numbers, representing a subjective interpretation of time.

The billboards feature clocks whose minute-hands show one word and the hour-hand another. These words or phrases complement each other, hinting towards a deeper meaning. When

different states of mind and being during different times of the day, crafted into a poem.

The final piece is the “Crazy Clock” video installation, to be unveiled at the Dhaka Art Summit. The hands will spin around pause on a “crazy” message.

The Summit will be taking over the four floors of the Shilpakala Academy from February 7-9. Billed as the world’s largest South Asian art event, the Dhaka Art Summit will highlight the region’s contemporary art scene.

The concept behind the clocks is to examine the way we look at billboards, and “subjective experience of time and duration,” the artists said.

Research suggests that reading words on walls or commercial signposts can create a strong effect on the subconscious. It captures the readers’ moments between awareness and unawareness after reading certain words.

Despite being present in the situation, our minds can wander off somewhere else. Hence, the project title.

dia Collective’s experiments with time and the “metaphorical possibilities” of time.

Other installations of the series have been exhibited around the world.

In Birmingham, UK, in 2012, Raqs Media Collective did a similar installation of clocks billboards with English words, called: “Whenever the Heart Skips a Beat,” as part of the 48 Sheets project.

The first of such clocks by the Raqs were seen in Emoção Art.ficial Exhibition, Itaú Cultural Centre, Sao Paulo, Brazil in 2002.

The theme there has remained the same for this installation in Dhaka: to nudge our mental state of being or feeling with words, representing emotions we contemporaneously feel within: epiphany, panic, remorse, nostalgia, fear, ecstasy, awe, fatigue, guilt, indifference, anxiety.

Jeebesh Bagchi, Monica Narula and Shuddhabrata Sengupta, who designed the project, are practitioners of con-

Dhaka Art Summit Shilpakala Academy February 7-9

many major international shows, including The European Biennial of Contemporary Art in 2008.

Diana Campbell Betancourt, artistic director of Samdani Art Foundation, is curator of the initiative. l

One of the Meanwhile Elsewhere billboards – reading: fuzzy/logic, sharp/intense – outside Shilpakala Academy, the venue for Dhaka Art Summit MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU Jeebesh Bagchi, Monica Narula and Shuddhabrata Sengupta, designers of the project

Featuring South Asian artwork from 33 galleries, 14 installation art projects, 13 experimental films, 9 artist performances, and 5 talks and speakers panels.

To register for a VIP pass to Dhaka Art Summit, visit: dhakaartsummit.com/register

Raqs Media Collective, commissioned for 48Sheet in partnership with the Ikon Gallery, Birmingham

Raqs Media Collective’s installation Now Elsewhere (2009) at the Faurschou Foundation in Copenhagen

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Long Form

7

Sunday, February 2, 2014

The real record: Inflation

The economic and development records of the last 25 years. This is the third installment of the series

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

F

n Jyoti Rahman

or those coming in late, even though inflation has risen under the current government (Chart 1), real GDP per capita has grown by around 4.5% a year under successive governments over the past decade.

Over the last couple of weeks, I have had a bit of correspondence about inflation.

Chart 1: CPI inflation

Source: IMF

The first question posed is: why is inflation a problem if income has risen fast enough to compensate for it? Recall, real GDP per capita – that is, income after inflation is accounted for – has been growing by 4.5% a year. So, the question, what difference does it make if inflation is 5% or 10%?

A simple answer is, inflation is a problem because people think it’s a problem. That might sound like a flippant answer, but it’s not. Inflation matters because it affects people’s decisions about the future. If inflation was steady at some rate, say 7%, and people knew that it was going to be

Not only did the Bangladesh Bank’s acquiescence to the government’s faulty fiscal projections cause inflation, but the Bank’s own policies contributed to it also

it steady. That’s why economists counsel low and steady inflation. And while there are many issues where the economists’ prescriptions can seem at odds with popular perception, or even common sense, when it comes to inflation, economic theory and the common sense are on the same side.

There is another reason why high and unsteady inflation matters, even when real GDP growth remains steady.

Whileeconomic growth can come about for many reasons, some (many) of which not having anything to do with government policies or actions, persistently high and unsteady inflation is almost always because of failures in economic policy making. Persistently high and unsteady inflation also puts the economy at risk of economic crises, with all the human costs such crises entail. That’s why, when comparing economic records of various governments, inflation is perhaps a more appropriate metric than economic growth.

Note the qualifiers “persistently high and unsteady” and “almost always” – it’s possible that sometimes a spike in inflation is beyond the control of any government.

This leads to the second question I have been asked: how much of the recent inflation is because of global food prices?

As Chart 2 shows, global food prices rose sharply in 2007-08, declined a bit in 2009, and then rose again in 2010.

The 2007-08 global food price rises came as a surprise to most policymakers around the world, including Bangladesh. The causes of that rise were primarily global, as was the decline in 2009. That year’s fall in global food prices was a result of the Global Financial Crisis. As that crisis ended, it was predictable that food price would gradually return to pre-crisis levels.

And that’s what happened. Can the Bangladeshi policymakers be excused for not being prepared?

Chart 2: FAO food and cereal price indices

steady at 7%, that would not be a problem. Whether it’s a firm deciding on a new investment, or workers negotiating payrise, or families deciding how much to save for children’s education – if people knew that inflation would be 7% (or any other rate), they would make their decisions accordingly.

The problem is, the higher the inflation is, the harder it is to keep

The 2010 rise in global food prices should have been anticipated by the government. Global oil prices too showed the same pattern, which should have also been anticipated when the government set the plans for the rental power plants. Evidently, this is clearly not something the government did.

Let me quote MA Taslim, a Dhaka

University professor and one of the best commentators on Bangladesh economy: “Economic management is widely believed to be the weakest link of the government. However, the ineptness with which the electricity issue has been handled is simply mind-boggling. The government seemed to have embarked on the rental plant road without a clear idea about its finances, logistics and consequences. For example, the government now claims that the blowout in subsidy is due to unforeseen increases in the prices of petroleum products and not due to policy lapses.”

It seems absurd that the government could have planned (in 2009, say) on the basis of current prices, which were clearly very low in the aftermath of the most severe worldwide recession since the Great Depression (as the crude oil price chart shows).

Even a cursory glance at the graph of the monthly crude oil price would have revealed that except for an abnormal period of about 18 months in 2008 and 2009, there was a clear upward trend since the beginning of the millennium. Interestingly, if one drew a trend line with the price data

Chart 4: Growth in private sector credit and money supply

Source: CEIC Asia and with full “encouragement” of the industry and finance ministers, Bangladesh Bank pursued an expansionary monetary policy in the first half of this government’s term (Chart 4).

Credit to private sector grew sharply in 2010-11. The thinking was that Bangladesh needed more private sector investment if economic growth

World crude oil production and oil price

of 2002 to 2007 and then extended it up to 2012 to get the forecast value, he would have arrived at a number that is very close to the actual price. Hence, the future price increases should have been anticipated and hedged against.

The government’s electricity record is something I’ll leave for another time. For now, let’s accept that electricity is important, and put aside the question of whether subsidies are appropriate.

The relevant issue for us is, how the fiscal blowout caused by the mistaken fuel price assumption and the subsidies were paid for. In late 2011, when the full fiscal cost of the rental power plants was becoming apparent, the government resorted to borrowing, including from the Bangladesh Bank (Chart 3) – that is, printing money. This directly pushed inflation up, and put Bangladesh at risk of a crisis.

When a central bank ends up printing money to pay for ill-conceived government programmes, it means trouble. When Mr Atiur Rahman was appointed the Bangladesh Bank governor, I was one of the very few people who raised the risks of it through my blog. It’s a call I would like to have gotten wrong.

Under Mr Rahman’s stewardship,

was to rise to 8% (from 6% pace we have had for a decade now).

Right diagnosis. Wrong prescription.

Private investment has been held back by infrastructure bottlenecks and poor governance. Unless these issues are tackled, pumping credit and money into the economy would only push up prices of goods, as well as assets.

That means, not only did the Bangladesh Bank’s acquiescence to the government’s faulty fiscal projections

cause inflation, but the Bank’s own policies contributed to it also.

There is another way the Bank’s policy inactions contributed to inflation. As I’ve said many times before, the taka-rupee exchange rate is a key determinant of rice prices in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Bank and the government should have anticipated that as the Taka depreciated against the Rupee, rice prices would rebound in 2010. The policymakers proved to be oblivious about it.

As it happened, inflation has subsided in the past year and a half even as the economy has continued to grow at a robust pace. This answers another question I have been asked – does high inflation necessarily accompany fast growth? No, it doesn’t.

So, why has inflation subsided?

Because, under the conditionalities of the $1bn IMF loan, the government has reigned in expenditure, and the Bangladesh Bank has curbed credit and money supply growth. The IMF prescriptions have tamed inflation, at least to some extent.

One hears a lot about the spirit of independence these days. It seems to me that at least as far inflation under this government is concerned, our “pro-independence” policymakers proved to be pretty incompetent, and the IMF-dependent policies actually worked.

So much for independence then.

Jyoti Rahman is a political blogger.

The previous part of the series was published on November 27, 2013.

Chart 3: Growth in public sector credit

Source: CEIC Asia

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

International

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Talks over, little sign of progress towards Syria peace n AFP, BEIRUT Syrian government and opposition delegations leave 10 days of peace talks with few results and a follow-up meeting uncertain, but analysts and negotiators say the discussions are an important beginning.

The immediate post-mortem on the talks from Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem was blunt.

“I regret to tell you that we have not reached tangible results during this week,” he said as the talks wrapped up in Geneva on Friday.

Despite persistent pressure from UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, and cosponsors Russia and the United States, the two delegations failed to agree on a single point.

No ceasefire was inked, talks on a transitional government never began, and a mooted deal to allow aid into the besieged Old City of Homs went nowhere.

Opposition National Coalition chief Ahmad Jarba said the regime had failed to show “serious commitment” during the negotiations.

“The talks were obviously not a suc-

A total of 27 Palestinians were killed by the Israeli army in the West Bank in 2013

REUTERS

Hundreds protest against Israeli settlements n Agencies

Hundreds of Palestinians accompanied

by Israeli activists have occupied about a dozen abandoned houses near Jericho in the occupied West Bank.

The protest by nearly 300 people on Friday was aimed at denouncing the repeated refusal of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to dismantle settlements illegal under international law and agree to a pullout from the Jordan Valley.

Netanyahu on January 24 said that he “did not intend to uproot any Israeli citizen” from Jordan Valley as part of a peace deal, Haaretz newspaper reported.

The protesters arrived by bus and car and paraded a banner proclaiming “No peace with settlements,” signed by the Youth Against Settlements group.

They brought generators with them, indicating that they plan to at least stay overnight.

Israeli police and soldiers deployed in the area, but made no immediate move to disperse the protest.

In March last year, 200 Palestinian activists set up a protest camp on the site of an Israeli settlement that had been under construction, as US President Barack Obama visited Israel. Israeli police drove them out after several days of protest.

Meanwhile, the UN humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinian territories has criticised Israel’s demolition of 36 homes in the Jordan Valley and urged a halt to such actions in the occupied West Bank.

The demolitions in the Jordan Valley community of Ain el-Helwe on Thursday displaced 66 people, includ-

ing 36 children, James Rawley said in a statement.

“I am deeply concerned about the ongoing displacement and dispossession of Palestinians... along the Jordan Valley where the number of structures demolished more than doubled in the last year,” he said.

“This activity not only deprives Palestinians of access to shelter and basic services, it also runs counter to international law.”

His office said more than 1,000 people had been displaced last year in the West Bank and annexed East Jerusalem by demolitions on the grounds that homes had been built without Israeli permits, “which are virtually impossible to obtain.”

In a separate incident, Israeli soldiers shot and wounded 10 Palestinians near the West Bank town of Ra-

mallah during a protest over the killing of a teenager, Palestinian medics and security sources said.

In Gaza, meanwhile, medics said five more Palestinians were wounded

by Israeli army gunfire near the border fence with Israel.

The demonstration was called to protest at the Israeli army’s killing on Wednesday of Mohammed Mubarak, a 19-year-old from Jalazun working on a project funded by USAID and son of the camp’s locally elected leader.

The army said he was shot dead near a settlement outside Ramallah after opening fire on them, but witnesses insisted he was unarmed.

A total of 27 Palestinians were killed by the Israeli army in the West Bank in 2013, three times more than the previous year, figures from Israeli rights watchdog B’Tselem showed. l

Kashmir border bus service to resume next week n AFP, MUZAFFARABAD, The bus service across the de facto border in Kashmir will resume next week after being suspended for more than two weeks, a Pakistani official said Saturday.

All movement including travelling and trade along the Line of Control (LoC), which divides the disputed Himalayan region between Pakistan and India, had been suspended after Indian authorities detained a Pakistani truck driver for allegedly carrying 114 kilograms (250 pounds) of heroin.

Senior officials from the two sides met recently and decided to resume the bus service in the first phase from January 3,” Mohammad Ismail, chief of the Trade and Travel Authority (TTA)

Thousands rally Obama to visit Saudi Arabia amid tensions over Iran, Syria against shark cull in A White House spokeswoman de- as well as the recent US outreach with earlier this week that “moderate” Syrn Reuters ian rebel factions were receiving light Iran. clined to comment.

Australia The Sunni Muslim kingdom’s re- arms supplied by the United States.

The United States and Saudi Arabia President Barack Obama plans to travel The Arab Spring as well as a Noto Saudi Arabia in March on a mission have been allies since the kingdom was gional rivalry with Shi’ite Iran, an ally n AFP, Sydney to smooth tensions with Washington’s formed in 1932, giving Riyadh a power- of Syria, has amplified sectarian ten- vember agreement between Iran and Thousands of people rallied across Australia Saturday against a controversial shark culling policy designed to prevent attacks, saying killing the marine animals was the not the answer.

The controversial policy to catch and kill sharks off popular west coast beaches was given the green light last month after six fatal attacks in the past two years.

It is aimed at reducing the risks to water users and allows baited drum lines with hooks designed to capture large sharks to be set one kilometre (0.62 miles) offshore at busy Western Australian beaches for a trial period until April 30. l

main Arab ally over US policy on Iran’s nuclear program and the civil war in Syria, a newspaper reported.

Obama is preparing to meet with King Abdullah for a summit, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing unnamed Arab officials briefed on the meetings.

“This is about a deteriorating relationship” and declining trust, said a senior Arab official in discussing the need for the summit, which was pulled together in recent days, the newspaper reported.

Man washes up in Marshall Islands ‘after 16 months adrift’ n AFP, Majuro, Marshall Islands

n AFP

An emaciated man whose boat washed up on a remote Pacific atoll this week claims he survived 16 months adrift on the Pacific, floating more than 12,500 kilometres (8,000 miles) from Mexico.

The man, with long hair and beard, was discovered when his 24-foot fibreglass boat with propellerless engines floated onto the reef at Ebon Atoll and he was spotted by two locals.

“His condition isn’t good, but he’s getting better,” Ola Fjeldstad, a Norwegian anthropology student doing research on Ebon, the southern most outpost of the Marshalls, told AFP by telephone.

Fjeldstad said the man, dressed only in a pair of ragged underpants, claims he left Mexico for El Salvador in September 2012 with a companion who died at sea several months ago.

An emaciated man whose boat washed up on a remote Pacific atoll this week claims he survived 16 months adrift on the Pacific. Photo: AFP. Details of his survival are sketchy, Fjeldstad added, as the man only speaks Spanish, but he said his name was Jose Ivan. l

ful military protector and Washington secure oil supplies.

Washington’s relationship with the Saudis was crucial as the region faced changes and challenges from the transition in Egypt to civil war in Syria.

But relations have been tested on a number of fronts.

Members of Saudi Arabia’s ruling family threatened a rift with the United States to protest perceived American inaction over Syria’s civil war, which has killed more than 100,000 people,

sions across the Middle East.

King Abdullah is also to use the meeting to question Obama on why he decided against airstrikes in Syria, which Saudi and other Arab officials believe strengthened Assad, the newspaper reported.

“The meeting in many ways will get back to basics,” said a Saudi official briefed on the meetings, according the Wall Street Journal. “Why did Obama do it the way he did it?”

US and other security officials said

other world powers that curbs parts of Tehran’s nuclear program, has angered Saudi Arabia, along with other Arab states and Israel.

The relationship was also badly shaken by the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, since most of the hijackers were Saudi nationals, and by the subsequent American invasion of Iraq.

Obama’s visit comes after a mission to Riyadh by US Secretary of State John Kerry. l

Photos of child soldiers found at Philippine rebel camp Photographs of child soldiers were among the items left behind as the military overran a camp of hardline Muslim rebels in the southern Philippines, a military commander said on Saturday.

Colonel Edgardo Gonzales said that he found the photos when he inspected the 7.5-hectare camp of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) rebel group in the remote town of Shariff Saydona Mustapha on Saturday.

“There were pictures of children carrying rifles. Some looked like they were 12 years old,” Gonzales told AFP as he searched through the abandoned camp about 800 kilometres south of Manila.

“They were showing off their capability. There were four kids posing with guns. I believe it was not just for show.

I believe those rifles were issued to them,” he said.

The military launched an offensive against the BIFF on Monday, just two days after the government successfully concluded peace talks with the main Muslim rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

The week’s fighting left one soldier and at least 53 BIFF members dead, including three child soldiers recruited by the rebels, the military said.

Gonzales said the military would

cess,” said Salman Shaikh, director of the Brookings Doha Centre think-tank.

“The other disappointing thing was that there was hope that the momentum would come from some sort of a deal on humanitarian access. That hasn’t happened,” he added.

The failure to secure humanitarian access ranks among the larger disappointments of the talks, dashing hopes that the government might ease its blockade of besieged rebel-held enclaves as a show of good will.

In the end, the regime offered to allow women and children to leave the Old City of Homs, but aid convoys on standby to enter were left waiting.

Desperately needed food did get into the besieged Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmuk on Thursday and Friday, but the plight of civilians trapped in the south Damascus camp had not even been on the agenda of the Geneva discussions.

The talks have also done nothing to slow the pace of killing in Syria, where more than 130,000 people have died since the conflict erupted in March 2011. l

eventually release the pictures, which have not been seen by AFP. The colonel said he had not personally seen child soldiers but his men had reported encountering them in battles with the BIFF. “My men have said they have seen kids. Some of them have no guns. They just follow a comrade from the BIFF and when the comrade is shot, they pick up his gun and start fighting,” he said.

The BIFF is a small group of militants opposed to the peace effort with the MILF, which has carried out many deadly attacks in recent years in a bid

to derail the peace process.

On Saturday, the rebels set off two improvised explosive devices near the camp that wounded six soldiers and six civilians, including two crewmen of a major TV broadcaster.

President Benigno Aquino’s spokeswoman Abigail Valte said “the news that they used three child soldiers is shocking, beyond the fact that it violates so many laws, not just ours but international laws.”

She condemned the use of minors in combat and said government child support services would address the problem.

Philippine military 1st Mechanized Brigade commander Colonel Edgar F Gonzales visits an overran Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) camp in the village of Ganta AFP

She also called on parents not to allow their children to be recruited.

A spokesman for the BIFF, Abu Misry, told AFP his group did not use child soldiers, however, and charged that the military was planting or staging the evidence against them.

“Those kids who died were not used as soldiers. They were civilians, killed by (military) airstrikes or by their 105 mm howitzers,” he said angrily.

National military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala denied the claim, saying the three slain youths, aged 15-17, were uniformed BIFF fighters.

He also said there were previous videos and photographs of the BIFF conducting military-style training of children.

Zagala stressed that it was difficult to recognise child soldiers during combat.

“It is very hard to distinguish especially in the heat of battle when they are carrying firearms and shooting at you,” he said.

The military has already reported the incident to the government’s Commission on Human Rights and is awaiting further action, he added.

The website of the UN special representative on children and armed conflict said that it “continued to receive credible reports that the (BIFF) armed group was actively training and providing weapons to children.” l

in Pakistani Kashmir, told AFP. However, he said there has been an impasse over resumption of trade.

At least 49 Pakistani trucks and their drivers were being held on India’s side of the border following the incident, while Pakistan had retaliated by holding 27 trucks.

Meanwhile, traders and relatives of the detained truck drivers rallied in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, on Saturday and said they would not allow resumption of the bus service until all the drivers return to their homes in safety. “The government should not resume the bus service until India returns our drivers and their trucks.” Secretary general of Intra-Kashmir Trade Hamid Kashmiri said. l

Malaysians angry as Sweden holds parents for hitting child n AFP, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia’s prime minister on Saturday offered help to a Muslim couple detained in Sweden for hitting their son, in a case that has provoked an outcry in the Southeast Asian country.

Many in Muslim-majority Malaysia – where corporal punishment in schools is allowed – have questioned the parents’ six-week detention and their children reportedly being placed with a non-Muslim foster family.

Azizul Raheem Awaluddin, a Malaysian tourism board director, and his wife Shalwati Nurshal, a teacher, were held on December 18 after they allegedly scolded and hit their youngest son on the arm for not performing his prayers, Malaysian media reported.

The seven-year-old and his three older siblings arrived in Malaysia on Saturday after the country’s authorities lobbied for their return. The parents remain in custody in Sweden.

Prime Minister Najib Razak, flanked by the four yawning kids, said in a live televised press conference shortly after their arrival that the government would try its best to help the parents defend their case.

He said the government had appealed for the children to be allowed to return to Malaysia to stay with a relative “because we are concerned about their welfare.”

The eldest daughter, Aishah, 14, said she was “really really happy” to be back. Swedish authorities were reportedly alerted about the alleged abuse by the boy’s school. The case has generated much interest in Malaysia.

A Facebook page, titled “Bring Shal and Family Home” and lobbying for the parents’ release, has received more than 17,000 “likes,” or clicks of approval.

Columnist M. Veera Pandiyan wrote in The Star daily on Wednesday that the couple’s prolonged detention was “a travesty of universal justice.”

“If it was the case of Malaysian authorities holding a European couple without trial for a month, there would no doubt be a huge outcry,” he said. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Communal violence turns deadly in Nigeria n Agencies Eight people have been killed in religious violence in Nigeria, including a Christian family of seven, while a roadside bomb has killed seven others in an area known for Boko Haram activity.

The two incidents on Friday followed a deadly attack on a Catholic church last weekend, which killed more than 60 people and raised fresh questions about the government’s strategy to end the bloodshed and revamp the military. Boko Haram is an armed group fighting against Western influence in the predominantly Muslim north of Nigeria, where it wants to set up an Islamic state . In the first attack, unknown assailants in cars and on motorbikes burst into the family’s house in Unguwar Kajit, a village in the mainly Christian part of Kaduna state, and opened fire, locals said.

“Christian youth provoked by the attack, which they blamed on Fulani Muslims, mobilised and launched reprisal attacks, burning mosques and houses,” Emmanuel Zadiok, a youth leader, said.

Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, Kaduna governor, has ordered an investigation.

He condemned the attack and “prayed that God should expose the perpetrators,” Ahmed Maiyaki, Yero’s spokesman, said.

In the second incident, seven people were killed and three others seriously injured when their bus ran over a homemade bomb near Kuthra village in the Gwoza area of Borno state, police said.

Boko Haram has ratcheted up deadly attacks in the border area with Cameroon in recent months and Lawan Tanko, Borno state police commissioner, blamed the group for planting the device.

Earlier this month a car bomb targeted a busy market, killing 19 in Gwoza, located about 150km from the Borno’s capital Maiduguri, Boko Haram’s spiritual home.

Boko Haram also attacked military installations in December last year, forcing a city-wide shut-down and raising questions about Nigeria’s counterinsurgency strategy.

A state of emergency imposed on Borno and two neighbouring northeast states in May last year has pushed Boko Haram fighters into more remote, rural areas but attacks have continued. Last Sunday, at least 60 people were killed.

Al Jazeera’s Yvonne Ndege, who was the first journalist to travel to the village of Waga Chakawa in the northern Nigerian state of Adawama. l

International

9

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Bangkok tense on Thai election eve Egypt’s Morsi back in court n AFP, Bangkok

Tensions were high in Bangkok on the eve of controversial elections in politically-divided Thailand Saturday as opposition protesters sought to block ballot boxes being distributed in several parts of the country.

Thailand is gearing up to stage touchpaper polls on Sunday despite a boycott by the main opposition party and disruption from demonstrators bent on preventing the likely re-election of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Scores of protesters laid siege to a ballot box distribution centre in Bangkok, which has seen weeks of rallies by a loose coalition opposed to Yingluck and the enduring influence of her brother Thaksin Shinawatra – a former premier ousted by the military in 2006.

Police sought to separate the demonstrators from a group of some 200 government supporters, some armed with sticks and metal bars, as tensions rose in the capital which has seen several outbreaks of violence since the protests began.

“The government is corrupt. If we let the vote go on then they will come back, so we should not hold the election,” said opposition protester Sirames, who gave only one name, at the Lak Si district office in northern Bangkok – one of 50 in the capital.

He said the group planned to block roads around the building until voting ends on Sunday afternoon.

Protesters – mainly the Bangkok middle classes and southerners, backed by factions in the elite – are demanding Yingluck’s elected government step down to make way for an unelected “people’s council” that would oversee loosely defined reforms to tackle corruption and alleged vote-buying.

The unrest is the latest round of political instability to hit Thailand since royalist generals ousted Thaksin seven years ago, unleashing a cycle of occasionally violent rival street protests.

At least 10 people have been killed and hundreds injured in clashes, grenade attacks and drive-by shootings since mass opposition rallies against her government began three months ago.

Observers are predicting a chaotic election after advance voting was blocked in several parts of the capital last Sunday. Around 130,000 police are set to protect 93,000 polling stations across the country.

Authorities said protesters were also blocking ballot boxes being delivered to polling stations across southern Thailand.

“I can reassure all of you that going out to vote will be orderly and safe,” said Department of Special Investigation chief Tarit Pengdith in a televised address. The backdrop to the protests is a years-long political struggle pitting the kingdom’s royalist establishment – backed by the courts and the military – against Thaksin, a billionaire tycoon-turned-politician.Yingluck is likely to win Sunday’s poll, helped by strong support in Thaksin’s north and northeastern heartlands.

But uncertainty hangs over the results, with several constituencies without a candidate.

Some 440,000 people prevented from casting ballots last week are due to vote on February 23. l

as murder trial resumes n AFP, Cairo Deposed Egyptian leader Mohamed Morsi was back in court Saturday as his trial over the killing of protesters resumed, with the defence insisting he is still the legitimate president.

His trial is seen as a test for Egypt’s military-installed authorities, who have come under fire for a heavy-handed crackdown on his Islamist supporters after he was forced out by the army last July.

An Islamist coalition backing Morsi called for nationwide protests on Saturday to “support the legitimate elected president,” but there were no reports of any demonstrations. At Saturday’s hearing Morsi, dressed in a white prison uniform, was held in a glass cage separate from co-defendants, an AFP correspondent reported from the court.

Of the 14 co-defendants, seven were present, while the rest are being tried in absentia. Some of the co-defendants turned their backs on the proceedings and gave a four-fingered “Rabaa” sa-

lute, after welcoming Morsi when he entered his cage. The gesture refers to a massive pro-Morsi protest in Cairo’s Rabaa al-Adawiya Square that was violently dispersed in August, setting off clashes in which hundreds of people, mostly Islamists, were killed.

The third hearing of the trial – in which Morsi and his co-defendants are accused of inciting the killing of protesters in December 2012 outside the presidential palace – was being held at a heavily guarded police academy in Cairo.

“This court has no jurisdiction to look into the case because Morsi is still the president and no official decision was taken for his ouster,” said lawyer Salim al-Awa, a member of the defence team.

The judge declined a request by Morsi to speak at the proceedings. Prosecutors showed video footage at Saturday’s hearing of what they said were “supporters of defendants” chanting pro-Morsi slogans, carrying sticks and dismantling protest tents outside the presidential palace in December 2012. l

Indian diplomat’s claim of immunity Narendra Modi’s wife accepts being ignored challenged by US prosecutors n Reuters, New York

n AFP, New Delhi

The Indian diplomat whose December arrest led to a major international dispute holds no immunity from US prosecution and should continue to faces charges of visa fraud, Manhattan federal prosecutors said in court papers filed Friday.

Devyani Khobragade was arrested on December 12 on charges that she lied to US authorities about what she paid her housekeeper. She was strippedsearched while detained in Manhattan federal courthouse, which led to a diplomatic firestorm between India and the United States that continued for weeks.

Manhattan US Attorney Preet Bharara’s office argues in the court filings that Khobragade is a former diplomat and not immune from prosecution.

Khobragade “currently enjoys no diplomatic status, and at the time of her arrest, the defendant’s position as a consular official gave her immunity from prosecution for official acts only,” assistant US Attorneys Kristy Greenberg and Amanda Kramer wrote.

As Indian officials demanded her re-

The woman who calls herself the wife of fiery hardline Indian prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi said in a rare interview Saturday that she doesn’t “feel bad” he has cut her out of his life.

Modi, a 63-year-old opposition Hindu nationalist politician, has never commented on numerous reports that he wed Jashodaben, 62, in a traditional arranged marriage when she was 17.

The retired school teacher spoke to an Indian newspaper amid intense speculation about Modi’s personal life as he leaders the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) into general elections due by May. Jashodaben, who goes by one name, told The Indian Express daily that she remains a big fan of Modi, even though she says they split three years into their marriage and since he left “we have never been in touch.”

“I know he will become PM (prime minister) one day,” she said.

Jashodaben said she didn’t “feel bad” Modi has never acknowledged her as his wife, adding: “I know he is doing so due to destiny and bad times.”

Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade leaves with her father Uttam Khobragade (L) from the Maharashtra Sadan state guesthouse to meet India’s Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid in New Delhi REUTERS lease, Khobragade’s New York attorney argued that her status as a consular official granted her immunity.

Khobragade was accredited as a member of India’s mission to the Unit-

ed Nations earlier this month, one day before she was indicted and asked to leave the country.

The accreditation was part of a deal to allow her to leave the country. l

“In such situations, he has to say such things and also has to lie,” she said.

Modi kept the wedding secret because it meant he would not be able to climb the ladder of the puritan Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), a hardline Hindu group that frowns on key workers marrying, according to a recent Modi biography by Indian author Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay.

The author also claimed the couple’s marriage was unconsummated. In 2009, a magazine tracked Jashodaben to the school where she taught but she refused to give an interview, saying she was afraid of her “powerful” husband.

Modi, chief minister of Gujarat state, is favoured by corporate leaders for his business-friendly politics.

But he remains a polarising figure, accused by critics of turning a blind eye to anti-Muslim riots in Gujarat in 2002 in which as many as 2,000 died. He has denied any wrongdoing.

Jashodaben gets a monthly government teacher’s pension of 14,000 rupees ($223) and leads a reclusive life with a brother in a village in western Gujarat. l

United Nations seeks funds for African force in Central African Republic

Afghan police killed in roadside bomb

n Reuters, Addis Ababa

n AP

The United Nations is asking donors for more money to fund African Union peacekeepers trying to end inter-communal violence in the Central African Republic, a UN official said on Friday.

Almost a million people, a quarter of the population, have been displaced by fighting since the mostly Muslim Sele-

ka rebel group seized power last March in the majority Christian country. At least 2,000 people are estimated to have been killed.

“It is a critical situation. We have seen massive violations of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law,” UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson told Reuters, speaking on the sidelines of an African Union summit.

The United Nations has warned that the conflict in the landlocked former French colony risks spiralling into genocide.

One focus of the conflict on Friday was the town of Sibut, a gateway to the north of the country. Seleka fighters arrived there mid-week and there have been reports of killings, a senior international aid worker said.

“They (Seleka) have regrouped in Sibut. They are armed elements who have lost power and are trying to reconfigure,” said the aid worker, adding that the situation could lead to a de facto partition of the country.

In a possible sign of this, an unidentified group said it was forming a new body, the Independence Movement of northern Central African Republic. l

A roadside bomb has hit a police vehicle in southern Afghanistan, killing four policemen, Afghan officials said.

Zia Durrani, a police spokesman for the Kandahar province, said on Saturday that one policeman was also was wounded in the attack. The attack - which took place on Friday night - occurred in the

Spin Boldak district of Kandahar Province, near the border with Pakistan.

Bombs in vehicles, along roadsides and carried by suicide bombers are the Taliban’s weapons of choice. The violence coincided with the beginning of Afghanistan’s presidential election campaign on Sunday. An array of former warlords and veteran politicians have lined up to succeed President Hamid Karzai. l

Philippine blast injures civilians and troops n AFP

Fury over death of ‘race attack’ victim in India n AFP, New Delhi

Six civilians and soldiers have been injured when an improvised explosive device was detonated by Phillipines rebels fighting government forces, the military has said.

A reporter and cameraman at ABC-5, a major Philippine TV broadcaster, were among those hurt in the blast on Saturday in Mindanao’s Saudi Ampatuan town, said Colonel Edgardo Gonzales.

“This morning... as our soldiers were on a security patrol, they were hit by an IED. By coincidence the civilians and the TV crew were there,” Gonzales told AFP news agency.

The blast comes after days of fighting between government forces and members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), a breakaway Muslim rebel group opposed to peace talks with the main Muslim organisation.

The military has said that 52 rebels and one soldier had been killed since the government launched an offensive against the BIFF almost a week ago.

The military operation was launched after the government successfully concluded peace talks with the main Muslim rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in order to end decades of fighting that has claimed tens of thousands of lives. l

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of New Delhi Saturday after a 19-year-old student from India’s remote northeast was beaten to death in an apparent hate crime.

Nido Taniam was allegedly thrashed by a group of five men with rods and sticks at a busy shopping area in the capital on Wednesday when he objected to their remarks ridiculing his hair, which he had coloured blonde, local media reports said.

Taniam, the son of a state legislator, was found dead a day later, triggering fury among rights activists, students and migrants from the young student’s home state of Arunachal Pradesh.

People from the isolated northeastern state routinely complain of racial profiling and discrimination based on their facial features, which appear more Asiatic than Indian.

Angry protesters carrying placards and banners gathered at the same marketplace Saturday to demand a proper probe into Taniam’s death and highlight their “routine racial profiling.”

“We are not animals. Please respect our feelings. We respect yours,” Sabaduni, general secretary of Arunachal Pradesh student union, told reporters. l

Balloonist check their balloon before the 36th International Hot Air Balloon Week in Chateau-d’Oex February 1. Over 100 balloons from 15 countries were supposed to take part in the event that was finally cancelled due to high winds in altitude REUTERS

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Letters to

www.dhakatribune.com

Rule of law vindicated by arms case verdict

T

he guilty verdict returned against 14 defendants, including two former ministers of the BNP-led four-party alliance government and an intelligence chief, in the ULFA arms smuggling case, sends a strong and decisive message.

It makes clear that government officials and intelligence officers are not beyond the reach of justice, and should be seen as a success for the rule of law.

We congratulate our country’s legal and investigative machinery for openly investigating this case and bringing it before the courts.

Public servants and politicians, especially those of the ruling party, must not be permitted to compromise the country’s standing by supporting such activity. The 10-truck arms smuggling case was conducted with intentions that are clearly contrary to international laws and against the national interest.

Had the smuggling operation been able to proceed in delivering arms to ULFA secessionists, it would have worsened our relations with India, and put Bangladeshi lives in jeopardy.

The fallout, both in terms of the havoc that would have been caused across the border and to our relations with India, would have been unimaginably grim.

No government should condone or encourage subversive acts like the ones in this case, as they can only undermine Bangladesh’s image and could have damaged our national security.

The verdict passed is a damning indictment of the parties involved, and exposes them as enemies of the state.

No government should condone or encourage subversive acts like the ones in this case

Move to open source

A

ll types of users can benefit from open source software, which incorporates all the useful features of the most common IT applications supplied by branded proprietary products.

In the UK, the public sector is considering moving to open source, after spending over $300m on licenses for Microsoft Office alone in just three years. Open source programs also offer other benefits as they can be continually updated and checked for security holes on a far more cost effective basis than proprietary software.

Developers can provide greater security advantages and customisation for users at a fraction of the cost for the same service using proprietary software.

Open source also creates much-needed competition among IT suppliers, who in many places operate in tandem with the dominant proprietary software companies, to create a virtual oligopoly.

Bangladesh’s government needs to pay heed to moves to open source across the world. Not only can money be saved by cutting the cost of license fees, but local developers can benefit from the opportunity to create new and better applications as the use of open source software grows.

As the enforcement of intellectual property rights is expected to become more strict in future, more businesses and organisations in Bangladesh will have to start paying or incurring greater license fees for their IT services.

The government can help reduce future costs for all IT users in Bangladesh, by taking the lead to start encouraging and using open source, rather than proprietary products.

the Editor

LETTER OF THE DAY

Heads of state now and then January 30 In the past, our heads of state would try to discover who among the public was in distress, and try to solve their problems at the earliest possible, as they thought it to be their duty. Now, however, we see our heads of state trying to retain power by any means possible, even harmful ones.

This was proven when the people of Bangladesh were dead set against the farcical elections, in which there were no polls held in more than half of the constituencies and in the remainder, there were no main opposition candidates. Despite a low turnout, and the majority believing that fresh polls would be organised very soon, in which all parties would participate, the tables have been turned on us yet again.

Sheuly Haque

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

Rape survivor’s family offered bribe to withdraw January 28

The government is still taking time to arrest those hooligans? Wow! More investigations will be needed to identify, and pave the way for the rapists to attack again. More attacks, more politics.

Faith Hope

Drug rackets rising despite measures January 28

Ugh, drugs! Drugs can spoil a life, can spoil one’s dreams and hopes, can turn a human being into an animal. A person can do horrible things when addicted, can cause harm to oneself, one’s families, or anyone in society. To see a loved one addicted is painful for family, friends, and society, and sometimes, if the damage is serious, one will never be cured.

Recovery from drugs should be a major concern of the government, who should put a stop to its supply and availability. Parents and teachers should be more careful and raise awareness among teenagers. Social workers can do more by helping

to raise awareness among the public. And of course the media can do a lot to stop this. Finally, we should raise our children with Islamic ethics, and in an environment that tells them what is haram and halal, what is necessary, that it doesn’t matter which class people are in, whether upper, medium, or poor.

We should teach our children to make their own future, don’t give them luxurious life, but let them work hard to support themselves. Let them understand from the inside that life is hard and that they have to support themselves.

Amrin Afroz

Why not just stay in power?

January 24

Ronnie The references to Mahathir and Hun Sen are hardly far-fetched at all. Why not even Robert Mugabe, in terms of unseemly usurpation of power, the abhorrent abuses that ensue, and the dreadful fate that awaits a nation on that path? On another note, Sheikh Hasina is no Lee Kwan Yew either, and never will be. But the AL perhaps subliminally aspires to be, say, some variant of the Communist Party of China – delivering steady economic growth and sufficient prosperity, thereby keeping the public complacent and acquiescent, while entrenching themselves (ie ruling party) in absolute, unfettered, (divinely-ordained ?) power in near-perpetuity.

Alas, absolute power apart, if only the AL could even dream of conjuring the economic perfect storm that brought China to where it is today. There is, also, in the current government’s blatant power-grab, a burgeoning and pervasive hubris, and shocking levels of haughty intolerance of any and all dissenting opinion. This is greatly worrying. Enough to make anybody, outside AL’s circle of new and lifetime devotees, sick in the depths of his gut. It compels me to quote

one of my many intellectual idols: “Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.” ~Thomas Paine Nrb But at what price? If we had a true democracy and a competent, genuine system that worked, our growth rate could be 8+%, consistently lifting millions out of poverty while also generating 10-fold income (compounding effect). So will you settle for 5% growth and a mere 1 million out of poverty, or take the risk to demand a new system that can potentially deliver 10 times as much?

WaliulHaqueKhondker If the voter turnout is the only issue paining our hearts, an antidote has just been found. In the elections of the parliamentary seats held earlier, we noticed a voter turnout of about 58%. So, it can be deduced that, sans violence, the election on January would have registered a similar voter turnout. At 58%, this is an acceptable figure by global standards.

Hence, a low voter turnout on the fateful Election Day

is attributable to violence and not to the rejection of AL, as many would like to think.

Ronnie WaliulHaqueKhondker: The scandalously low turnout on Election Day, nationwide, is certainly partially down to the fear of violence. No question. But any educated, self-respecting, sensible Bangladeshi (AL partisans included) must acknowledge that it’s pretty obvious that a so-called “election” with 153 uncontested “winners” and 147 remaining kangaroo contests will have inspired zero motivation in the average voter to bother going to vote. Hence the near-universal apathy, even disgust, felt by voters on Jan 5. I mean, just imagine how even in Dhaka, a security-tight fortress failed to inspire city denizens to brave the cold and waste their time voting in this national mockery of an election. It was, in many respects, indeed a rejection of AL’s antics.

WaliulHaqueKhondker Ronnie: I thought you would explain the 58-60% voter turnout being registered in the by polls! What you said about the election on January 5, the PM herself said more than that.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

The government should take a lead in encouraging open source to reduce IT costs

CROSSWORD

PEANUTS

CODE-CRACKER ACROSS 1 Highland dagger (4) 3 Biblical king (5) 8 Utter wildly (4) 9 Male deer (4) 11 Sleeveless garments (5) 12 Rodents (4) 14 Writing fluid (3) 15 Lost colour (5) 18 Thong (5) 19 Mineral spring (3) 21 Poet’s Ireland (4) 24 Old sailors (5) 26 Deep sleep (4) 27 Level (4) 28 Irritable (5) 29 Joke (4)

DOWN 1 Morse element (4) 2 Wander (4) 4 Division of time (3) 5 Swift (5) 6 Baking chamber (4) 7 Furniture items (5) 10 Present (4) 11 Tree (5) 13 Worries (5) 16 Poem of heroism (4) 17 Useful thing (5) 18 Auctions (5) 20 Form walking surface (4) 22 Not any (4) 23 Stop (4) 25 High explosive (init) (3)

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS Crossword

Sudoku

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

11

Sunday, February 2, 2014

The other law n MH Bari

I

Used time and again by political parties

NASHIRUL ISLAM

Time to ban student politics?

T

n Mahdin Mahboob he debate about student politics in Bangladesh is not a new one. Every time something terrible happens because of it, much gets said about it in different media, and after a while, almost everyone forgets about it as a new crisis develops. The recent verdict of the Bishwajit murder case has again brought the issue of student politics into the limelight.

Bishwajit Das, a 24-year-old tailor, was hacked to death in broad daylight in December 2012 while he was on his way to work at Shakhari Bazar, Dhaka.

On that fateful day, there was a blockade called by the opposition BNP, and as two crude bombs exploded near him, Bishwajit started running.

A group of Chhatra League men wrongly identified him to be an opposition activist and beat him with sticks and rods. Then he was brutally hacked with machetes for over 20 minutes, which caused his death. This happened in front of hundreds of people including law enforcers, and got a lot of media coverage, and placed the ruling party in a tight spot.

One year later, in December 2013, the speedy trial tribunal sentenced eight of the accused to death and 13 others to lifetime imprisonment. There was a sigh of relief from most Bangla-

deshis who were sceptical before the verdict came out since legal decisions in this country hardly go against ruling party men.

I would like to appreciate the government letting the law follow its course in this case. However, as a concerned citizen of this country, I demand quick implementation of the verdicts, so that it serves as a strong warning message to future offenders.

autocracy, when students played a pivotal role in saving the country from going to complete disarray. Student politics, at one time, was the pride of the nation. That is no longer the case – it has caused too many deaths, both of people actively involved and not involved in politics. Too many injuries, too many hours of classes and academic days have been lost, and there has been too much financial and economic

Student politics, at one time, was the pride of the nation. That is no longer the case – it has caused too many deaths

This brings us to the state of student politics in Bangladesh. Since the inception of this country over 40 years back, students have been used time and again by almost all major political parties and their politicians for their own petty interests. And this has done more harm than good.

Gone are the days of the 1952 language movement, the 1971 War of Independence, or the 1990 fight against

loss. Those who still claim that student politics is something to be “proud of” because of its glorious past either live in delusion, or choose to do so because of their own petty interests.

The very same day that the Bishwajit murder verdict was given, students of the same political affiliation had beaten up a non-political student at Dhaka University, suspecting he was from the opposition. The accused of

the Bishwajit murder case, when interrogated, confessed to the police that they acted so brutally to impress the BCL “committee” of Jagannath University, with hopes of securing positions there. Such behaviour has become a benchmark of student politics leadership now. Do we really want this?

The Chhatra League alone is not to be blamed. We are no strangers to the Shibir’s (student wing of the Jamaat) acts of cutting the tendons of the hands and legs of their political opponents.

There are also plenty of instances of misdoings by members of the Chhatra Dal, the student wing of BNP. The list of atrocities by members of student wings of political parties is endless. These offenders are basically our own brothers and sisters, our own children. We want them to go to college and university to study, be enlightened, and become good human beings.

We don’t want them to become paid political goons who would harm the people of the country, and harm themselves in the end. I think it is high time that student politics was banned in all forms in Bangladesh. This would be beneficial for everyone in the country, and I cannot think of any reason why it should not be done. l Mahdin Mahboob teaches engineering at ULAB.

n January 2001, a bench of Bangladesh High Court Division had declared all kind of fatwas illegal.

People from some quarters have readily accepted this verdict without any proper understanding of it. The London-based Amnesty International also expressed their satisfaction over the verdict.

The High Court, in its judgment, had said fatwa meant the legal opinion of lawful persons or authority, and the legal system of Bangladesh empowers only the courts to decide. The High Court observation is correct, according to the law of the country. However, this verdict has been opposed by religious leaders and others. They have filed a writ petition challenging the High Court’s judgment.

Many articles and reviews have been written on “fatwa.” Everyone has tried their best to focus on the matter according to their own understanding.

Unfortunately, none of them were well-versed in Islamic jurisprudence.

The matter became a burning issue when the Awami League entered an MoU with Khelafat Andolon before the 2006 general election, that if voted to power, the AL would approve of the blasphemy law and allow fatwa by certified Ulamas (Islamic scholars).

Eminent citizens of the country expressed grave concern over the deal.

They thought the kind of people who had issued fatwas before would return with a renewed zeal, and drag the country into the dark ages.

It would introduce a parallel legal system. The AL cancelled the deal with Khelafat Andolon after widespread resentment and strong protests on the issue by party activists and outside supporters.

However, it can be observed that there remains a misconception about Islam and Sharia law, which need to be explained. Fatwa is a legal term, which is used in Islam only for Sharia related issues. So, it cannot be generalised within the existing legal frame of the non-Islamic government.

There remains a misconception about Sharia law, which needs to be explained

The laws regulating Islamic life are known as Sharia laws. Implementations of Sharia are made through the fatwa.

The ideal Muslim life is in complete observance of Sharia. The need for fatwa arises when one requires to know the rules of Islam on a particular subject. Islam is a complete code of life, ensuring ideal life in this world and thereafter.

The progress so far n Sonam Saha

I

n 2000, world leaders set forth a shared vision for development in the form of the Millennium Declaration, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly – the Millennium Development Goals – providing an inspirational vision and time-bound milestones for global and national development efforts, with an overall target date of 2015.

Since then, MDGs have been marked as a historic and effective method of global mobilisation to achieve a set of important social priorities worldwide. As described by Bill Gates, the MDGs have become a type of global report card for the fight against poverty for the 15 years from 2000 to 2015.

Bangladesh is one of the signatory countries of the Millennium Declaration.

It has adopted the vision and values of the MDG as an integral part of its development plans, policies, and actions.

Within the given time, Bangladesh has made some substantial progress toward the achievement of MDGs. The MDG report card of Bangladesh says that solid progress has been made, particularly on the poverty aspects of MDG1 (eradicate extreme poverty), MDG4 (reduce child mortality), MDG6 (combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other major diseases, and democratic governance).

Bangladesh has achieved remarkable progress: Increasing its real per-capita income by more than 130%, reducing its poverty rate by 60%, rice

production has more than tripled to 35 million metric tons, and the annual population growth rate has been brought down to 1.1%.

Gender parity and equity access has been achieved not only at the primary education level, but also at the secondary level. Moreover, girls are outnumbering boys even at the tertiary level.

On the demographic front, life expectancy at birth increased to 67.2 years in 2009, while maternal and infant mortality rates have fallen remarkably.

The MDG report card of Bangladesh says solid progress has been made, particularly in poverty Housing conditions have also undergone noticeable changes, with an increase in the proportion of solid constructed homes, declining household sizes, and improved sanitation and piped water. Improvement has also taken place in sanitation and access to drinking water.

However, major challenges remain, especially with regard to the nutrition aspects of MDG1 (eradicate extreme hunger), MDG5 (improve maternal health), and MDG7 (ensure environmental sustainability), which are fully off track and unlikely to be met, as

well as tackling growing geographical, gender- and group-based inequalities.

Gender equality in particular, which is addressed specifically in MDG3 but relates to all the MDGs, likewise, remains a core challenge in the country.

It is already 2014, the time limit to achieve the MDGs is about to finish.

It is high time to discuss the burning issue of what could be the post-2015 development agenda of Bangladesh.

For instance, obviously the achievements, lessons, and shortfalls of the MDG experience will be the base of setting forth the new development agenda, and at the same time, the new, reworked agenda must be expanded as the MDGs focus on a limited set of concrete human development goals and targets.

Retaining a sense of the MDGs’ realism and clarity, the post-2015 agenda must be balanced in light of major changes that have occurred worldwide, concentrating on the need to reduce inequalities, to ensure inclusive growth and employment creation, to tackle climate change and achieve sustainable development, to increase resilience to natural disasters, to improve the governance system, to respect human rights for all, to ensure peace and security, to deal with rapid urban growth, and to consolidate the sharing of knowledge.

Facing a myriad of development opportunities in the post-2015 period, Bangladesh requires a broader approach to development, based on social justice, structural transformation, and economic diversification

and growth. The values and principles affirmed in the Millennium Declaration and its key objectives will provide a solid foundation for the post-2015 development agenda.

The reduction of inequities in Bangladesh is essential to establish an inclusive, sustainable development pro forma. Adopting such approaches requires giving the highest priority to addressing the disconsolate situation of women, youth, children, and older people, as well as to reaching marginalised groups on the ground of ethnicity, religion, or other social classifications.

They also need to seek the potential for progress in setting access to services, decent jobs and entrepreneurship, land, and other productive resources by removing social, cultural, legal, administrative, and financial barriers against these groups.

The values of human rights will also need to underpin the post-2015 development agenda. Encompassing social and economic rights, as well as civil and political rights and the right to development, need to be addressed simultaneously. Meanwhile, sustainability, broadly defined, must serve as a fundamental principle for all aspects of development, acknowledging the strong inter-linkages between economic, social, and environmental dimensions, to ensure a future world fit for the generations to come.

At the same time, the four dimensions identified will require holistic approaches to national policies. Development will need to involve stable,

MDG3 – gender equality – remains a challenge equitable, and inclusive economic growth based on sustainable patterns of production and consumption.

To be inclusive will require a macroeconomic approach that is aligned with broader development policies, giving rise to adequate generation of productive employment and decent work, including development of a labour-intensive manufacturing sector, reduction of poverty, welfare protection, and green growth.

On the whole, a post-2015 agenda should reach at a consensus identifying the development needs of present and future generations in Bangladesh, and crystallise these priorities into clear development goals with a timeframe of 2030, with a continued overarching goal of reducing poverty. l Sonam Saha is a freelance contributor.

As such, in Islam, fatwa is indispensable, and as divine law, cannot be banned by the stroke of a pen.

In fact, the practice of fatwa is not done in Bangladesh in the truest sense from the Islamic point of view. Socalled village Mullahs are pronouncing fatwas for the interest of vested quarters in the name of Islam.

Lack of proper knowledge is the reason behind the misunderstanding of fatwa among common people.

People have picked up on the issue of fatwas pronounced by half-educated village Mullahs.

Standard qualifications for imams in the country need to be determined

The question that arises on the issue is complicated, delicate, and one that requires expert opinion. It cannot be allowed to go on without explanation.

It will be wise to ensure its proper use.

As a fatwa is a verdict concerning issues based on Sharia law, it would be appreciated if the government deems it fit to establish some special type of school for the study of Islamic jurisprudence. These schools will conduct necessary research on the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah, giving special emphasis on Islamic jurisprudence and law.

The following recommendations may be considered regarding this issue. The government should establish a Sharia board, appointing a panel of competent Muftis and other resourceful persons in the subject for dealing with the fatwa issue exclusively. Second, knowledge-based policy dialogues on Islam should be arranged immediately, with renowned Islamic scholars in the country, for defining the fatwa for modern times. Third, science-based religious education must be promoted, with comparative studies on other religions, for a proper understanding of the essence of Islam.

Religious institutions like madrasas need to be under strict discipline.

These institutions should ensure better education.

Also, standard qualifications for imams in the country need to be determined so that misinterpretation of Islam can be avoided.

We hope our religious scholars and eminent citizens will come forward to resolve this issue and make necessary recommendations for the government.

Our media can play a pivotal role in the matter. l MH Bari works in the global marketing of seafood from Bangladesh.

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Reminiscing legacy, commitment and success

Sunday, February 2, 2014

NEW FILMS HIT CINEMAS

Chhayanaut celebrates 50th anniversary with colour and fervour n Afrose Jahan Chaity With a grand rendezvous of former and present students and teachers of Chhayanaut, the cultural organisation having a beaming history organised a two-day programme celebrating its 50th founding anniversary which began on Friday.

The premises of Chhayanaut were glowing with dazzling decoration and colourful attires of the thousands of present and former activists of Chhayanaut.

The event opened with a big procession that marched different points of Dhanmondi area.

After the procession, the second part of the evening started at the auditorium of Chhayanaut with chorus of Buk Bendhe Tui Dara Dekhi and Songho Shoron tirthojatra Pothe.

Then Dr Sanjida Khatun, one of the founders of Chhayanaut and an eminent Tagore exponent, talked about how Chhayanut began its journey and the challenges it has faced along the way of its illustrious journey.

She shared in her speech: “Throughout the fifty years, we went through many hiccups. I am grateful to each and everyone who helped us to overcome the troubles and made our journey possible.” Sanjida, president of Chhayanaut, also remembered Waheedul Haq, Moti Mia, Bazlul Karim, Sohrab Hossain and others in her speech. She stressed on the revolutionary role of Chhayanaut’s activists during the Liberation War and how Chhayanaut set examples in expressing bold stands during different political and social movements. But the veteran cultural activist ended her speech with a surprise as she began to render a Rabindra Sangeet, Phul Bole Dhonyo Ami. It was after a very

long gap, the persona presented a song in public and the audience enjoyed it with pin-drop silence.

Noted cultural personality Kamal Lohani, one of the oldest activists of Chhayanaut, also presented a speech highlighting the contributions of the late artists at the programme.

The musical event was consisting of performances from past and present students and teachers of Chhayanaut. Eminent singer Iffat Ara Dewan who received her early training in music at Chhayanaut under noted Tagore exponents Waheedul Haque and Sanjida Khatun, paid homage to her teachers and talked about how Chhayanaut contributed to her illustrious career. She rendered two songs, Probhu Bolo Bolo Kobe Tomar and Noyon Mele Dekhi Amay Badhon Bendhechhe.

A group of Chhayanaut students performed two Rabindra Sangeets: Higshay Unmotto Prithibi and Jagoo Jagoo re Jagoo in chorus. Renowned Rabindra

Sangeet exponent Papia Sarwar shared her memories with Chhayanaut and enchanted the audience by rendering Tumi Kon Kanoner Phul Kon Gogoner Tara.

Sadya Afreen Mallick made an interactive speech with the audience.

Students of Chhayanaut performed two Nazrulgeeti in choruse: Sobuj Dheu Khele Jay and Durgom Giri Kantar Moru. Nazrul Sangeet exponent and former artiste of the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra Shahin Samad rendered a Nazrulgeeti titled Ajo Kande Kanone and a people’s song titled Ore Bishom Doriya.

Khairul Anam Shakil, general secretary of the organisation and Nazrul exponent rendered two songs, Uchatono Mon Ghore Roy Na and Padmar Dheu Re. Ahsan Murshed also expressed his memories with the historical institution.

The inaugural day’s programme was also enriched with classical performances. Vocalist Rezowan Ali performed on Raga Puria Dhaneshri with tabla accompanied by Swarup Hossain. Ebadul Haque Saikat’s Sitar recital and tabla accompaniment by Mir Naqibul Islam on Raga Vachaspati simply moved the audience. Goutam Sarker gave a solo tabla performance.

Then the students of Chhayanaut performed two People’s song in chorus, Phul Khelbar Din Noy and Himalay Theke. Laisa Ahmed Lisa rendered a Rabindra Sangeet Phire Esho Bodhu and Chandana Majumdar rendered a folk song Khomo Khomo Oporadh.

Celebrated dancer Belayet Hossain presented a brilliant Bharatnatyam performance at the event.

The first day of celebration ended with two chorus performances, Himaloy Theke Shunderban , Hotath Bangladesh and Phul Khelbar Din Noy Odyo. l

Two romantic films, Ki Darun Dekhte (top) and Moner Moddhe Lekha, hit the cinemas across the country on Friday. Mahmud Hossain Murad’s Moner Moddhe Lekha features new duo Sagor and Shampa while Ki Darun Dekhte, directed by Wajed Ali Sumon, is the third venture of popular duo Bappi and Mahi

ON TV MOVIE

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Almost Human The inaugural day programme of Chhayanaut’s two-day event celebrating its 50th founding anniversary

SADIA MARIUM

Vampire Diaries

Good Morning The Little Paris Kitchen

Tragic folk ballad Sonai Madhab staged n Hasan Mansoor Chatak Sonai Madhab, an adapted play from folk ballad Mymensingh Geetika, was staged by theatre troupe Loko Natyadal on January 31 at the Experimental Theatre Hall of Shilpakala Academy in the capital. The folk romantic tragedy is directed by Eugene Gomez while music for the play is conducted by Mostafa Anwar Swapan.

Padabali Kirtan is a very traditional way of play staging where actors-actresses carry the story of play to the end through singing and acting simultaneously while Jatra is an another popular style of narrating stories on stage. The play Sonai Madhab is a combination of Padabali Kirtan and Jatra— the two core styles of folk plays of the region. Dancing, a key feature of Jatra, is also used dominantly in the play.

The steadfastness of women’s love and boldness of the lead characters of Mymensigh Geetika make some critics believe that the ballads may have been influenced by some matriarchal society.

Male actors play female characters following the traditional styles of Padabali Kirtan and Jatra The Sonai Madhab’s story also reflects invincible forces in love, inviolable purity of women’s hearts and humiliating defeat of the oppressors, the men.

The story of the play revolves around the Sonai and Madhab, the

SADIA MARIUM

two central characters of the play who struggle for their love.

Sonai is a young rural girl of fourteen who lost her father at the age of ten. Her widowed mother could not maintain the costs of her family and handed the responsibility of Sonai to her bother Matulani. The childless Matulani takes care of Sonai as his own child and when she grows up to marriageable age, he hires a matchmaker to find a good alliance for her. But the proposals offered by the matchmaker seem dissatisfactory to Sonai. One day, on the way to the river, Sonai meets a young man of about eighteen and they both fell in love with each other at first sight. But Bhabna Dewan, a powerful village ruler wants to marry Sonai.

Then the love saga of Sonai and Madhab embedded with jealousy, treachery and intrigue on the parts of a group people with vested interests.

Here male actors play the female characters following the traditional styles of Padabali Kirtan and Jatra.

Eugene Gomez, director of the play who also adapted the play for stage, said ‘’Folk plays of our country are being ignored at the face of the advent of many modern sources of entertainment. We heartily try to reveal the magnificence of folk story and literature in form of theatre, so we love to Sonai Madhab repeatedly.’’ Sonai Madhab is one of the most popular productions by the theatre troupe which is staged one hundred and forty nine times till date.

Kamrun Noor Chaudhury, Aslam Shihir, Khairul Alam Tipu, Hafizur Rahman donned the important characters for the play. l

Skinny Puppy’s music ‘used as torture device in Guantanamo Bay’ n Entertainment Desk The US Army’s use of Metallica’s oeuvre as a tool in its interrogations in Iraq is well documented, but it opted for something a little more esoteric in Guantanamo Bay, according to one Canadian industrial metal band.

“We heard through a reliable grapevine that our music was being used in Guantanamo Bay prison camps to musically stun or torture people,” found-

er cEvin Key told the Phoenix New Times. “We heard that our music was used on at least four occasions.”

While Metallica politely asked the US military to stop using their music for the sleep deprivation of detainees, Skinny Puppy took it one step further.

“So we thought it would be a good idea to make an invoice to the US government for musical services,” Key added. “Thus the concept of the

[band’s new] record title, Weapons.”

Despite the band’s aggressive sound, they said they had never envisioned their music being used in such a way.

Asked how he felt about their songs allegedly being used in the detention camp, Key replied: “Not too good. We never supported those types of scenarios. Because we make unsettling music, we can see it being used in a weird way. But it doesn’t sit right with us.” l

Tisha, Tahsan and Urmila appear as the lead roles of Love Lane

NTV to air Love Lane tonight n Entertainment Desk A single episode dram Love Lane featuring a love tri angle will air tonight at 9pm on NTV. Written and directed

by Emraul Rafat , the drama presents Tahsan, Tisha and Urmila in the lead roles.

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

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 Ways of Seeing Time: 12pm – 8pm Bengal Art Lounge, 60 Gulshan Avenue, Gulshan 1

Theatre

National Street Theatre Fest Time: 4pm – 7pm Central Shaheed Minar

The story revolves around a young man named Arnob. Introvert in nature, Arnob is all prepared to pursue his doctoral degree in London. However, his mother is not very confident to send his beloved son alone in abroad. Marrying him off to a lady is the only solution she finds and then

he fixes his marriage to Tanisha.

When Arnob and Tanisha meet, Tanisha confesses that she is in love with another guy, but she requests him to keep it secret. But she assures Arnob that she can pretend as his fiancé for some while and make a secret plan with him. l

Aamir Khan endorses One Billion Rising n Entertainment Desk Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan believes that to combat violence against women, men will first have to change their attitude.

“Dhoom 3” star recently sent out a video message promoting the cause of the One Billion Rising campaign, a movement to end violence against women.

Aamir Khan further said in the video, “Raising our hand to strike a woman does not increase our masculinity.

Instead, it shows cowardice.”

“If we truly want to be real men, I feel, we will have to first learn to be sensitive,” the actor expressed.

The campaign was also proactive last year and promoted awareness of violence against women via several mediums.

Last year on February 14, about one billion people in 207 countries rose, sang and danced to this demand. It is global campaign to end to violence against women, rise for justice and promote gender equality.

Aamir Khan urged his fans, this

year, by saying, “ This year in Feburary, a billion voices will rise again to end violence against women I urge you to join in and become a part of this movement.” l

Did you know?

Aly Cissokho’s transfer to AC Milan collapsed in 2009 after the Italians claimed they had found a problem with his teeth during his medical

Sport

Sunday, February 2, 2014

0 4 2 DAYS TO GO

Tigers reach Chittagong The Bangladesh national team reached Chittagong yesterday with an unchanged squad from the first Test against Sri Lanka. The home side will take on the visitors in the second Test starting from February 4 at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium followed by the two-match Twenty20 series on February 12 and 14 respectively.

Bangladesh’s poor performance in the first Test, where they were thrashed by an innings and 248 runs in little more than three days, was a disappointment for the cricket crazy fans of the country and at the same time a

shocker for the side which was flying high for their consistent performance over the last one and half year.

The margin of loss, added with nonstop speculation on the proposed twotier Test system, has further made it an inconvenient defeat, particularly when all the talk is about the country’s future in Test cricket.

Picking three quickies in the playing eleven in the first Test was also highly criticized as the wicket at Mirpur is not known to be helpful to fast bowlers.

They seamers were economical but they failed to produce what was expected off them – breakthroughs.

However, lesson has been learnt

and at least two changes are expected in the final line up for the second Test.

The number three position since the days of Habibul Bashar, a current member of the national selection panel, has been on offer to several but none could seal the place. The latest being Marshal Ayub, but the right-hander who has been very impressive in the domestic arena at that position is yet to show his caliber in the big stage. 19 runs from two innings in Dhaka could see Marshal make way for Imrul Kayes, who returned to the Tigers fold after a fruitful Dhaka Premier League and Bangladesh Cricket League.

Kayes has earlier opened the innings in both international and domes-

14 Cabaye makes

tic matches but his recent achievement in the number three position in the domestic leagues earned him a place back in the Test squad. Despite a poor outing for new vice-captain Tamim Iqbal in the first Test, the Chittagong lad will be opening the innings along with Shamsur Rahman who made his Test debut in last match.

Veteran left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak is the other likely change as it was learnt that the selectors will shred one off the three seamers from the Dhaka Test and feed in an extra spinner.

Both the teams will start their Chittagong phase attending their first practice session today. l

debut as PSG beat Bordeaux

DHAKA TRIBUNE

13

15 A lot of pressure

was put on Bangladesh: Zaka

WT20 tickets go online from February 5 The second and last phase of ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh ticket selling process will be underway from February 5. The second phase however was supposed to start yesterday, but it wasn’t possible due to streamline technicalities in order to ensure more convenience and access to tickets for local and overseas fans.

However the tickets will only be available online at www.icc-cricket.com/ world-t20. The first phase that began on November 17 last year sold tickets both online and at different branches of the NCC Bank and 92 branches of Agrani Bank.

Tk50 is the minimum price of a ticket for the first round games while the maximum price is Tk2000.

For the semifinals, minimum price is Tk100 and maximum Tk3000. The minimum price of a final ticket is Tk200 and maximum Tk4000. l

Sk Jamal eye winning start Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club will kick off their IFA Shield campaign when they take on Kolkata’s Mohammedan Sporting Club at the Salt Lake Stadium at 7pm BST today.

The new Bangladesh Premier League giants are set to play six foreign players in their opening game while club captain Mamunul Islam is the only key player to remain unfit to start today and Nigerian midfielder Okemmiri is expected to take his place.

Haitian International striker Sony Norde will lead Jamal’s attacking lineup along with his compatriot Wedson Anselme and in-form Nigerian forward Emeka Darlington. Sohel Rana will partner Okemmiri in the midfield.

Femi Orunnimi may join Sohel and Okemmiri in the midfield while Nigerian Ali Abdullahi, Nasir Uddin Chowdhury, Md Linkon and Rayhan Hasan will maintain the back four.

Sheikh Jamal manager Anwarul Karim Helal is hopeful to make a winning start and aims to reach the final of the 121-year-old tournament, fourth oldest Club Cup competitions in the world.

“We have been preparing ourselves for months and we can say we are well prepared for the tournament. Hopefully we will win tomorrow (today) to get closer to our main objective of reaching the final,” said Helal to Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

“Our only injury problem is Mamunul who will miss tomorrow’s (today’s) game against Mohammedan.

Apart from this, every player is fit and ready to go. Six foreign players might start,” Helal added.

It will be Mohammedan’s second game in the tournament. Earlier they were held to a 1-1 draw against United Sikkim on Friday. Sheikh Jamal, the Bangladesh Federation Cup champions, will play their second game against United Sikkim FC on February 4. The postponed match against Mohun Bagan has not been rescheduled yet. l

(L) State minister for youth and sports Biren Shikadar shakes hand with a player while FIH president Leandro Negre smiles as the opening ceremony of the First Security Bank National School Hockey at the hockey stadium yesterday. (R) School girls perform dance during the occasion DHAKA TRIBUNE

Shakib confident of better show Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib al Hasan believes they will bounce back in the second Test in Chittagong after a humiliating start to the month long home series against Sri Lanka. The Tigers looked helpless in the first of the two-match Test series in both bowling and batting department as they went onto lose the game by an innings and 248 runs.

“Every team goes through a bad patch. We didn’t perform in such a bad way in last one and half year. This was a very bad experience for us and we want to forget it, the sooner the better,” said Shakib to the media during his contract signing ceremony with cellular company Banglalink yesterday.

“Hopefully we will bounce back in the second Test at Chittagong.

Every member of the team is working hard. We have good memories in Chit-

tagong and hope this will boost us to perform well,” said the former national captain.

Shakib besides picking up three wickets in the first Test scored 55 in the first innings. The left-arm allrounder also looks forward to perform

Every team goes through a bad patch. We didn’t perform in such a bad way in last one and half year better in the second Test starting from February 4.

Banglalink signed Shakib as the brand ambassador for a two-year deal amounting to Tk9m annually. “I am honored to become part of Banglalink. I hope we will be able to contribute to the country from our respective sectors,” said Shakib. l

Negre opens school hockey International Hockey Federation president Leandro Negre marked the opening ceremony of the First Security Islami Bank National School Hockey Championship as the chief guest. The school tournament got underway through a glittering ceremony at the Maulana Bhashani National Stadium yesterday.

The sponsors will provide a purse of Tk20m for the tournament that consist 102 schools and will be played across 10 venues in the country.

Negre acknowledged the initiative and said, “We always admired the possibilities of Bangladesh hockey and this tournament I believe will add the pace in the development process.

I can also say that the installation of a turf at Dhaka is almost a reality, we were happy with the performances of Bangladesh in the World Hockey League.”

The FIH president was welcomed

by 650 school girls displaying a note which said “Welcome and Long Live Leandro” with vibrant colours while the state minister for youth and sports Biren Shikder and the president of the hockey federation Air Marshal Enamul Bari also greeted him.

Biren assured that the government will take the required steps for the progress of the hockey and added that they “have granted a project of Tk15m for the development of hockey.”

Country’s popular musician SI Tutul rode on a horse cart and presented the theme song of the competition in front of the guests and the players of 21 participating schools of Dhaka before an exhibition match took place to mark the event.

Apart from attending the opening ceremony Negre also visited BKSP, the lone sports educational institution, yesterday morning and inspected the facilities there. Steven Liven, an official of the world famous Polytan and STI

Emily on target again as Mohammedan win

Ziad Shatara the CEO of Banglalink presents a bat to its Brand Ambassador Shakib al Hasan in the signing ceremony at a local hotel yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

Zahid Hasan Emily was on target again as Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited returned to winning ways with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Chittagong Abahani in the Bangladesh Premier League yesterday.

A first-half goal from midfielder Tawhidul Alam put the traditional Black and Whites ahead before national striker Emily doubled the lead early after the breather at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

The second victory in the league lifted Mohammedan to fifth place with 10 points leapfrogging Team BJMC and Brothers Union. They are just a point behind Sheikh Russell and Muktijoddha.

Mohammedan’s line-up was strengthened with the returns of national winger Jahid Hossain and Cameroonian defender Bayebeck who were serving suspensions. It was mainly the pace of Jahid that created problems for

the port city side from the flanks.

The Black and Whites controlled the midfield and continued to pile up pressure on their opponents before finally breaking the deadlock in the 38th minute. Jahid dodged past a defender to send a through to Tawhidul who dribbled past a one defender to enter the penalty area and score.

Emily doubled Mohammedan’s lead just two minutes into the secondhalf. Jahid was the architect of the goal again as his pin-pointed cross from the right flank found Emily inside the box who headed in from the near post.

Meanwhile in the day’s other matches, Soccer Club Feni was held to a 1-1 draw with Uttar Baridhara Club.

Baridhara captain Shohidul Islam Shopon grabbed the lead for his side in the 7th minute with an angular shot from the edge of the box before Gambian defender Mathew Mendy restored the parity for Feni at the half hour mark.

The draw took Baridhara’s tally to six points from seven matches while the Feni have only three points. l

brand turfs, also accompanied Negre and a meeting between the sports ministry and the FIH is scheduled to take place today.

Hockey federation general secretary Khwaja Rahmatullah said he expects some positive outcomes from the meeting and said, “Bangladesh hockey needs the assistance from the parties, the government and the FIH.” 29 schools will feature in the final round that starts at the capital from February 24.

The 21 schools from Dhaka will take the field from February 11 and among them seven will progress to the final round. The competitive fixture starts with matches of Madaripur from February 6.

AAM Zakaria, the managing director of First Security Islami Bank, Mahfuzur Rahman, the chairman of the school hockey organising committee and Mirza Farid Ahmed Milu, the tournament secretary were also present on the occasion. l

Shahed Reza named Butthan Fed president Syed Shahed Reza, the secretary general of Bangladesh Olympic Association was nominated as the president of Bangladesh Butthan Federation in an executive committee meeting held at the federation’s Mohakhali office premises yesterday.

Butthan federation started its journey back in 2000 and was affiliated to NSC in 2013 The 29-member executive committee was selected for five-year tenure and Dr MAK Yuree retained his post as the general secretary. BOA vice-president and the gymnastics federation president Sheikh Bashir Ahmed, additional police commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Sheikh Md Maruf Hasan and Barrister Tania Amir were also present on the occasion.

Butthan federation started its journey back in 2000 and was affiliated to the National Sports Council in 2013. l

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Dortmund earn first win in five games

Chelsea ‘not title candidates’!

Thohir heralds ‘new’ direction for Inter

Borussia Dortmund earned their first Bundesliga win in five games with a 2-1 victory at bottom side Eintracht Braunschweig on Friday with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scoring both their goals. Dortmund welcomed back Germany centre-back Mats Hummels after two months out with an ankle injury. The 25-year-old rescued Dortmund with a challenge on replacement Karim Bellarabi in the dying stages as Dortmund stayed third, 14 points behind leaders Bayern Munich. The night belonged to Aubameyang who, along with Poland striker Robert Lewandowski, finished the match with 11 league goals for the season – the same tally as the entire Braunschweig team.

–AFP

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has dismissed his side’s chances of winning the Premier League this season no matter what the outcome of their trip to leaders Manchester City on Monday. Chelsea will head to the Etihad Stadium three points adrift of City, who replaced Arsenal at the summit after crushing Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 at White Hart Lane on Wednesday. A victory against Manuel Pellegrini’s side will see Chelsea draw level on points with them, but Mourinho believes his team are not yet ready to be installed as genuine title contenders.

“We are not favourites to win any competition,” he said, before vowing that Chelsea will pose a greater threat next term.

–AFP

Inter Milan owner and president Erick Thohir indicated his hopes for an upturn in fortunes after the Serie A giants signed defender Danilo D’Ambrosio and midfielder Hernanes on Friday. D’Ambrosio joined the Nerazzurri early on Friday from Torino but by far the club’s biggest acquisition was Lazio’s highly-rated Brazilian international midfielder Hernanes. The 28-year-old Hernanes, who cried as he left Lazio’s training ground on Thursday, joined Inter on a four-and-ahalf year deal worth a reported 18m euros ($24.2million). Thohir has seen Inter struggle to live up to their potential in recent months with Walter Mazzarri’s side taking only eight points from a possible 27 in their last nine games. –AFP

Cabaye makes debut as PSG beat Bordeaux

Brazil grants DIS fund access to to Neymar sale details n AFP, Rio De Janeiro Brazilian judicial authorities have ruled that holders of a 40 percent stake in the image rights of Brazil star Neymar should be allowed to see full details of his controversial transfer to Barcelona.

A Sao Paulo civil court has called on judicial authorities in Spain to notify both Neymar, 21, and Barca they must hand the details to investment fund DIS, who launched a legal action in the lead-up to last year’s transfer, A Folha de Sao Paulo reported.

The DIS fund received 6.8 million euros of the 17.1 million which Barca paid to Neymar’s former club Santos -but the firm wants to ascertain if it may be entitled to a slice of the 69.1 million euros in associated transfer costs amid claims the player’s father and agent may have received up to 40 million euros.

Barca unveiled the breakdown of the transfer last week and Sandro Rosell stepped down as chairman of the Catalan club in the fallout while DIS says the firm was not kept abreast of developments. The company says it had a contractual agreement that Neymar should inform it within 48 hours if a transfer bid had been made for him. l

n AFP, Paris

PSG players celebrate after Brazilian defender Alex (3R) scored a goal during their French L1 match against Bordeaux (FCGB) at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on Friday

Flower steps down as England coach

Madrid plan £400m Bernabeu facelift n AFP, Madrid Real Madrid have announced plans for a 400 million-euro ($544 million) redevelopment of their Santiago Bernabeu stadium that will include a retractable roof and a new commercial centre encompassing shops, restaurants and a hotel.

German architecture firm GMP Architekten and Catalan company L35 Ribas have been selected for the project, which will transform the Bernabeu into the “best stadium in the world” according to Real president Florentino Perez.

The announcement comes less than two weeks after Madrid’s La Liga rivals

Santander banned from Cup n

Reuters, Madrid

Racing Santander have been banned from next season’s King’s Cup after their players, protesting over unpaid wages, refused to challenge for the ball in Thursday’s quarterfinal second leg at home to Real Sociedad.

The third-tier team, who were also slapped with a fine, announced as early as Monday they would boycott the game unless unpopular president Angel Lavin and the board, who are widely blamed for the club’s financial woes, resigned.

The players formed a line around the centre circle immediately the match kicked off and Sociedad played the ball around in their own half for about a minute before the referee brought the game to a halt. l

n AFP, London

Barcelona unveiled plans for a 600 million-euro redevelopment of their Camp Nou stadium.

Carlo Ancelotti’s men have won 10 games in a row in all competitions and

FIXTURES Elche Real Betis At Madrid At Bilbao

v v v v

Almeria Espanyol Real Sociedad Real Madrid

haven’t been beaten in 20 stretching back to mid-October. However, with Athletic already having inflicted Barcelona’s only league defeat of the season, the Italian is well aware what to expect in the Basque country. l

Andy Flower has quit as England’s head coach following the team’s whitewash Ashes loss in Australia, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced Friday.

Despite the former Zimbabwe international being in charge of England’s recent 5-0 Ashes series Test drubbing in Australia, the ECB said they wanted to retain his services, while Flower himself said he would remain a selector “for the time being”.

Flower, explaining his reasons for standing down, said in an ECB statement: “Following the recent very disappointing Ashes defeat it is clear to me that this is now time for England cricket, led by Cook, to rebuild. I do not feel like I am in a position to undertake that challenge.”

It may not be ‘top of the table’ but Inter Milan’s visit to champions and leaders Juventus is a clash neither side can really afford to lose on Sunday.

Only two weeks ago the pundits gave Juve’s scudetto rivals little chance of overcoming their respective deficits to the Bianconeri.

But Juve’s 1-1 draw away to Lazio last weekend, coupled with Roma’s 3-1 win away to Verona, has injected some life into a championship in which most teams seem to already be playing for their futures in Europe next season.

Juve host Inter without goalkeeper

In the same statement, ECB managing director Paul Downton said: “We are at advance stages of negotiating a role for Andy within the ECB structure which will best utilise his undoubted skills.”

In December 2012 Flower ceded coaching control of England’s one-day teams to former England spinner Ashley Giles, who has been tipped as his successor with the Test side.

But Flower said he’d come to the conclusion a man in his position needed to be “responsible across all formats”.

“This will ensure complete clarity and continuity across the squads and having stepped aside from the limited overs squads 14 months ago that is not something I am able to do,” he explained.

Flower, who said standing down as coach has been a “very difficult decision”, added: “I will remain in my posi-

tion as a selector for the time being and am currently exploring possible roles within the ECB.” Flower had been England’s head coach since 2009. He oversaw three Ashes series victories and guided England to the 2010 World Twenty20 title – the first time they had won a major international limited overs event. Under Flower, England also rose to the top of the world Test rankings in 2011.

“Andy has been the most successful coach in England’s history and we at the ECB are very disappointed to see him leave the role as Team Director,” added former England wicketkeeper Downton in a statement that said he’d met with Flower earlier this week.

“We respect his decision...but we are keen to keep Andy’s experience and outstanding knowledge within the ECB.” l

Spain Euro 2008-winning Wenger eyes Arsenal return to summit n coach Aragones dies AFP, London

n

AFP, Madrid

Luis Aragones, the coach of Spain’s 2008 European Championship-winning side, died on Saturday at the age of 75, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) announced.

“The RFEF is sorry to announce the death of Luis Aragones,” read a statement on their website.

“The RFEF wants to express its pain and consternation at the death of a man who was a player and coach at a number of Spanish clubs and around the world, and the Spanish national team coach at the beginning of its most glorious era of success at international level.”

He is most fondly remembered at Atletico Madrid, where he won three

league titles as a player and one as a coach in the 1976/77 season.

“Luis Aragones was a great player and coach, but more than that a great person and friend,” said the Atletico president Enrique Cerezo in a statement on the club’s website. l

Roma look on as Juve, Inter clash n AFP, Milan

AFP

Yohan Cabaye, signed from Newcastle 48 hours earlier, came on as a second half substitute and hit the bar with a header in Paris Saint Germain’s 2-0 defeat of Bordeaux on Friday.

PSG manager Laurent Blanc introduced Cabaye, who arrived from the Premier League on a reported 23 million euros deal, to the Parc des Princes in the 68th minute. The 28-year-old France international wasted no time in making his presence felt, in icy wet conditions, with an attempt flying off the crossbar of Bordeaux keeper Cedric Carrasso.

Blanc, reflecting on his new purchase, said: “We’d planned to introduce him for 20 or 30 minutes, it depended on how the match unfolded.

Ten minutes before Cabaye made his debut PSG took the lead through their star Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic who picked up a cross from Brazilian Lucas to fire home from close range his 18th goal of the season.

The win, the capital club’s 16th of the season, stretched their lead over Monaco, away to Lorient on Saturday, temporarily to six points. l

Gianluigi Buffon, handed a one-match ban for his exclusion last week, but with a six-point lead on Roma and Napoli a further six points adrift in third in the last Champions League qualifying spot.

Juve are unbeaten at home this season but with a rampant Roma expected to account for Parma at the Olympic Stadium

FIXTURES Genoa Atalanta Catania Chievo Roma Sassuolo Juventus

v v v v v v v

Sampdoria Napoli Livorno Lazio Parma Verona Inter

and Inter desperate for a win, Antonio Conte’s men can take nothing for granted.

Francesco Totti, who hit Roma’s third goal last week, warned: “I think we’ve fired a warning shot with regard to the championship fight.”

Inter would like to be just as ambitious but with just eight points from their last nine games they face a formidable task. Following their third consecutive win last week, Roma coach Rudi Garcia played down his side’s title challenge, saying: “We’re six points adrift, so our destiny is not in our hands.”

Parma, meanwhile, could be without French midfielder Jonathan Biabiany, who late on Thursday was rumoured to be on the verge of signing for Milan. l

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger wants his side to apply pressure on their Premier League title rivals by reclaiming top spot with victory over Crystal Palace on Sunday.

The Gunners lost their place at the summit of the table to Manchester City following their mid-week 2-2 draw at Southampton.

While Arsenal dropped points at St Mary’s last Tuesday, City were rampant in a 5-1 mauling of Tottenham Hotspur 24 hours later.

But Wenger hopes his men can get back to winning ways immediately at the Emirates Stadium against Tony Pulis’s resurgent outfit.

That will restore a two-point advantage for the Gunners over nearest rivals

PSG to appeal against Blanc ban n Reuters, Paris Paris St Germain coach Laurent Blanc has called his one-game ban in the Champions League “ridiculous” and said the club would appeal against the ruling ahead of the game at Bayer Leverkusen next month.

Blanc has been sanctioned by organisers UEFA for “inappropriate conduct” after his team came out late for the second half in three of their six group-stage matches. The coach had already been given two warnings before PSG transgressed again at Benfica last month.

PSG visit Leverkusen in a last 16 first-leg tie on Feb. 18 before hosting the return match on March 12. l

City, who host third-place Chelsea on Monday.

“That’s our target,” Wenger said.

“Can you win the next game if you give absolutely everything? Yes, so let’s do it.

“It is a great opportunity for us to win our game and respond to our draw at Southampton. At the moment they (City) are on fire. But I believe we have

FIXTURES Arsenal v Crystal Palace West Brom v Liverpool just to focus on our own run because if you look at the schedule, if we are consistent we have a good chance to do it.

Wenger reacted to Ramsey’s injury by bringing in Sweden international midfielder Kim Kallstrom from Spartak Moscow on a short-term loan deal.

Improving Palace have lost only

twice in their last six matches under new manager Pulis, who has seen his side climb to 14th place in the table.

Brendan Rodgers believes Liverpool’s trip to West Bromwich Albion on Sunday is a significant landmark in the club’s development since he took over at Anfield.

Rodgers’ side were beaten 3-0 at the Hawthorns on the opening day of last season in the Liverpool manager’s first league match in charge.

Seven of the 18-man squad that day are no longer at the club.

While Liverpool took until September 29 to register their first league win last season, they are much improved now and sit firmly in the thick of the race for a Champions League place.

Rodgers accepts that there is still plenty more progress to make but has been pleased with the changes he has implemented since August 2012. l

Who can break Bayern run? n AFP, Berlin They may have a 13-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga and be on a 43-match unbeaten run but Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola has warned his team to stay focused.

The Bavarian giants host Eintracht Frankfurt at Munich’s Allianz Arena on Sunday with wingers Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben both back in contention after leg injuries.

But despite their status as overwhelming favourites to retain the title this season, Guardiola says they cannot afford to take their eye off the ball, particularly following Wednesday’s last-

minute 2-1 victory at VfB Stuttgart.

The victory gave Bayern yet another league record as they went 28 away matches unbeaten, breaking Hamburg’s previous mark of 27 set in 1983.

FIXTURES Hertha Berlin v Nuremberg Bayern Munich v Frankfurt Last season they broke or equalled 25 Bundesliga records, winning the title with a record six games to spare, as they finished up with a 25-point margin.

Guardiola has not even had his entire squad available so far this season with Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger the main star currently sidelined with a knee injury. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

A lot of pressure was put on Bangladesh: Zaka

QUICK BYTES

Zia draws 4th round match

Bangladesh Grandmaster Ziaur Rahman was held to a draw by Israeli GM Sutovsky Emil in the 4th round in the Masters event of the Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival at British Island Gibraltar, UK, on Friday. The draw took Zia’s point tally to three and he now shares the 3rd place along with other 43 other players.

The second GM of Bangladesh played with white pieces with irregular opening and made the draw at 46th move with Sutovsky who is rated 2663.

–Tribune Desk

Swiss stroll, Czechs level in Davis Cup France, Switzerland and Britain enjoyed perfect starts to their Davis Cup World Group first round ties on Friday as Czech Republic made a stuttering start to their three-peat bid. Roger Federer and newly crowned Australian Open winner Stanislas Wawrinka put the Swiss 2-0 up in Serbia to leave last year’s beaten finalists on the brink of an early elimination. Australia too were heading for the Davis Cup exit after JoWilfried Tsonga and Richard Gasquet were on target for France. Wimbledon champion Andy Murray and James Ward won their opening singles matches in San Diego as Great Britain pushed the United States to the brink on the opening day. In Ostrava, the Czechs were left facing an uphill battle when the Netherlands’ Robin Haase saw off Radek Stepanek 3-6, 6-4, 6-7 (4/7), 6-2, 6-1. But Tomas Berdych cruised past Igor Sijsling 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 to draw the 2012 and 2013 champions back level ahead of Saturday’s doubles.

–AFP

Woods proud of fitness legacy Tiger Woods believes that a focus on fitness and a tough physical training regime will be one the most significant legacies he will leave on the world of golf. Speaking after firing a third round of 70 at the Dubai Desert Classic on Saturday, the 38-year-old American said his own family background convinced him of the need to be fit in order to win. A child prodigy in southern California, Woods was introduced to golf before the age of two by his athletic father Earl, a single-figure handicap amateur golfer who had been one of the earliest African-American college baseball players at Kansas State University. Woods’ arrival on the pro scene in 1996 brought him almost immediate success and his muscular frame was in stark contrast to many of the silhouettes of top golfers in those days as he recalled. “Most golfers have been fat and out of shape and they don’t treat it as a sport,” he said.

–AFP

DAY’S WATCH Star Sports 4 2:40PM Australia v England 3rd T20 English Premier League 7:30PM West Brom v Liverpool 10:00PM Arsenal v Crystal Palace La Liga 12:00AM Atletico Madrid v Real Sociedad 2:00AM Athletic Bilbao v Real Madrid Star Sports HD1 3:30PM & 8:30PM Hockey India League La Liga 1:00AM Getafe v Real Valladolid Sony Six NBA 2013-14 7:00AM Houston v Cleveland 9:30AM LA Clippers v Utah 12:00AM Boston v Orlando 6:15PM Scottish League 2014 Hearts v Inverness Ct 9:00PM Rugby Six Nation 2014 Ireland v Scotland Ten Golf 3:00PM Omega Dubai Classic Day 4 Ten Action French Ligue 1 2013/14 7:00PM OGC Nice v LOSC Lille 2:00AM Olympique Marseille v Toulouse

15

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Barcelona's Argentinian midfielder Javier Mascherano (L) vies with Valencia's Chilean forward Eduardo Vargas during their Spanish league match at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona yesterday AFP

Valencia stun Barcelona Valencia inflicted Barcelona’s first league defeat at the Camp Nou since April 2012 as they came from behind to win 3-2 on Saturday.

Alexis Sanchez had given the hosts a deserved early lead, but goals just before and after half-time from Dani Parejo and Pablo Piatti turned the game on its head.

Lionel Messi quickly levelled from the penalty spot, only for Paco Alcacer to strike the winner low past Victor Valdes five minutes later.

And Barca’s day was summed up 13 minutes form time when Jordi Alba was sent-off for a second bookable offence.

Both Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid now have the chance to end Barca’s record run of 59 league games at the top of the table when they face

Real Sociedad and Athletic Bilbao respectively on Sunday.

Valencia came into the game off the back of a busy couple of days in the transfer market as five players left and four arrived in the final 48 hours of the January window. None of Los Che’s new men were signed in time to make the starting lineup, though, and they suffered a terrible

RESULT Barcelona Sanchez 7, Messi 54-P

2-3

Valencia Parejo 44, Piatti 48, Alcacer 59

start as Sanchez’s shot looped up over the stranded Alves after just seven minutes.

Barca should have then built on their lead as Alves made a brilliant save to prevent Sanchez doubling his tally with a header from point-blank range, whilst Sergio Busquets, Messi and Dani Alves all came close. l

The International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Boards in question have been quiet, but the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, Zaka Ashraf, has confirmed at least three reports, written from here, which appeared in The Telegraph this week.

Filed between Tuesday and Thursday, the reports dealt with India, Australia and England garnering the required support of four other Testplaying nations, including Bangladesh, to push for massive changes; heated exchanges during Monday’s finance and commercial affairs committee meeting of the world body; India offering to play Pakistan on neutral territory.

The reports had also talked about ‘threats’ held out by the Big Three during the ICC meetings in Dubai, where the world body is headquartered.

Ironically, two of the Big Three — India and England — are currently having a terrible time on the field of play. Only Australia’s on a roll, having bounced back remarkably after last summer’s thrashing in England.

But it’s a very different ball game in the boardrooms and both India and England have the skill to make their presence felt there. Australia, well, is

Adam double sinks United Manchester United’s newlook line-up crashed to a 2-1 defeat at Stoke City on Saturday as they squandered another opportunity to make up ground on the Premier League’s top four.

United fielded Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie and record signing Juan Mata in their starting XI for the first time, but an eighth defeat of the campaign left the champions six points below the Champions League places.

Thrashed 4-0 by Liverpool in midweek, Everton fell 1-0 down at home to Aston Villa when Leandro Bacuna finished off a slick counter-attack.

Tottenham Hotspur were unable to follow Everton’s lead after being held to a 1-1 draw at Hull City that saw them slip to sixth.

Sunderland leapt up the table to 14th place after prevailing 3-0 against derby rivals Newcastle United at St James’ Park for the second season running.

West Ham United also recorded a potentially important victory, weathering the dismissal of striker Andy Carroll to overcome Swansea City 2-0 at Upton Park, although they remained in the bottom three.

Cardiff City’s new signings Wilfried Zaha and Kenwyne Jones made an instant impact as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side climbed off the foot of the table by coming from behind to win 2-1 at home to Norwich City.

Fulham slumped to last place after losing 3-0 at home to Southampton, who scored all their goals in the final half an hour through England internationals Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert and Jay Rodriguez. l

Taijul spins Rajshahi to win in NCL BRIEF SCORES

Defending champions Rajshahi Division emerged as the first side to register a win in the 15th National Cricket League yesterday as they bagged a 93run win inside three days against Sylhet at Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah.

Meanwhile Dhaka are also on the verge of a win against Rangpur, Barisal and Khulna are heading for a draw and Chittagong needs 252 runs to win on the last day today with eight wickets in hand.

Rajshahi v Sylhet

It was Sylhet who capitalised in the first innings with a 27-run lead, and with Rajshahi dismissed for 195, courtesy of a five-for from Enamul Haque Jr, in the second innings the match looked well in control of Sylhet until their opponent bowlers shattered their dreams.

Needing just 169 runs to win Sylhet were bundled out for a mere 75. After a valuable 43 with the bat in the second innings, left-arm spinner Taijul Islam grabbed six wickets to demolish Sylhet’s chances of winning the match.

Khulna v Barisal

At the end of day three Khulna lead by

Sylhet v Rajshahi

Dhaka Metro v Chittagong

Rangpur v Dhaka Div

Khulna v Barisal

Rajshahi 1st innings 217 all out in 65 overs Sylhet 1st innings 244 all out in 75.4 overs Rajshahi 2nd innings 195 all out in 70.4 overs Sylhet 2nd innings 75 all out in 29 overs Ezaj Ahmed 26, Taijul 6/33, Saqlain 2/7 Rajshahi Division won by won by 93 runs

Dhaka 1st innings 221 all out in 59 overs Chittagong 1st innings 195 all out in 67 overs Dhaka 2nd innings 289 all out in 90.5 overs Chittagong 2nd innings 63/2 in 19 overs Nafees 30*, Mahabubul 23, Shohid 2/20 Chittagong Division trail by 252 runs

Dhaka 1st innings 616/7 dec in 133.2 overs Rangpur 1st innings 315 all out in 84.1 overs Ariful 64, Sajedul 61*, Sharif 3/49, Sabbir 3/47 Rangpur 2nd innings 190/7 in 39 overs, Saymon 61, Tanvir 43*, Sharif 3/45 Rangpur Division trail by 111 runs

Khulna 1st innings 357 all out in 122 overs Barisal 1st innings 252 all out in 84.1 overs Kamrul 63, Rajibul 5/95, Mashrafe 2/35 Khulna 2nd innings 23/2 in nine overs Tushar 17*, Kamrul 2/18 Khulna Division lead by 128 runs

128 runs in the second innings at Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium. Resuming the day at 78 for three Barisal lost wickets in regular intervals and were reduced to 155-8 before a valiant effort from Kamrul Islam Rabbi saved Barisal from the blushes. Kamrul scored 63 with seven fours and four sixes and was ably supported by Nuruzzaman who made 51 to help their side post 252 in their first innings. Khulna’s Rajibul Islam picked five wickets while Mashrafe bin Mortaza claimed two.

Khulna lost openers Anamul Haque and Robiul Islam Robi on duck early in their second innings before ending the day on 23-2.

Dhaka v Rangpur

In reply to Dhaka’s massive 616 in the first innings, Rangpur are still 111 runs behind in their second innings at Rajshahi’s Shahid Kamruzzaman Stadium.

Resuming the penultimate day on 151-2 in the first innings, Rangpur were dismissed for 315 and slumped to 1907 in their second innings after being asked to follow-on. Former national quickie Sharif picked three wickets while Shahadat Hossain picked two for Dhaka in the second innings.

Dhaka Metro v Chittagong

Chittagong trailing by 252 runs had

Dhaka Metro in a comfortable zone at Bogra’sShaheed Chandu Stadium.

The day started with Metro on 77 for three in the second innings but they lost the way in the middle and were reduced to 198-9 before number nine batsman Shohid slogged his team out of touble.

Shohid made 64 before they were all out for 289 runs. Slow bowler Aftab Ahmed picked four wickets while Ali Akbar picked two for the port city side.

Chittagong ended the day on 63 for two. Nafees Iqbal on 30 and Nazim Uddin on five will resume the last day for Chittagong. l

IUB, Manarat in semis Independent University Bangladesh and Manarat International University completed the semi-final line up of the 7th ULAB Fair Play Cup T20 Cricket yesterday. In a nail biting match IUB beat State University of Bangladesh by 10 runs while Northern University Bangladesh were handed a four wicket defeat

by Manarat in the last match of Super Eight phase at the ULAB playground, Ramchandrapur, Mohammadpur.

It was a thrilling day for IUB as they defended their below par score of 100 runs to book a last four ticket. Janet of SUB took three wickets to restrict their opponents to the low total, but Kajol, man of the match, of IUB had a differ-

RESULTS Cardiff Bellamy 49, Jones 51 Everton Naismith 74, Mirallas 85 Fulham

Hull Long 12 Newcastle

Stoke Adam 38, 52 West Ham Nolan 26, 45

2-1

Norwich Snodgrass 5

2-1

Aston Villa Bacuna 34

0-3 Southampton Lallana 64, Lambert 70, Rodriguez 75 1-1 Tottenham Paulinho 61 0-3 Sunderland Borini 19-P, Johnson 23, Colback 80 2-1 Man United Van Persie 47 2-0 Swansea

Umar Akmal held over alleged assault Pakistan test batsman Umar Akmal has been detained by police for questioning after being accused of assaulting a police warden in his hometown of Lahore.

The case has been registered at the Gulberg police station in whose jurisdiction the alleged incident happened on Saturday.

“He violated a traffic signal and when he was stopped by the traffic warden he misbehaved with him, got abusive and also tore his shirt,” senior police official Tariq Aziz told reporters on Saturday.

Aziz said physically assaulting and tearing the shirt of a police officer was a serious violation.

“He is presently detained at the police station for questioning,” he added.

However, Umar, 23, denied the charges and told reporters that the traffic warden had slapped him and abused him over a minor issue.

“His behaviour was inappropriate to say the least. I came to the police station to register a complaint and instead they have detained me,” he added. l

Joy vows to reopen outer stadium

7TH ULAB FAIR PLAY CUP T20

ent plan as the bowler claimed three wickets for nine runs to end any hope SUB. IUB burst into wild celebrations after their opponents were all out for 90 runs.

MIU however had a relatively easy win over NUB. Opting to bat first NUB made 127/6 with Rimon scoring 41 runs off 29 balls. It took MIU 17.5 overs to reach 130/6 with Omar Faruque hammering an unbeaten 55 from 35 balls.

Omar was later adjudged as the man of the match.

University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) will face IUB in the first semi at 9:30am tomorrow followed by the second semi between defending champions North South University (NSU) and MIU at 1:30pm. l

scoring behind closed doors too.

Ashraf, who is under pressure to retain his position, confirmed the reports during the course of an interview with PakPassion.net.

“Cricket South Africa, Sri Lanka Cricket and ourselves have taken our stance and stuck to it. We were heavily pressurised, but unlike the Bangladesh Cricket Board, we never gave in.

I’m not quite sure what happened with Bangladesh, but a lot of pressure was put on them and, it seems, they caved in and secretly signed the agreement.

“Yes, the BCCI did offer to play Pakistan in a bilateral series at a neutral venue, which is a positive gesture.

However, I wanted assurances. We want to be sure that this proposed series will actually take place. There is no way we will fall for the lure of promises, unless we have it in writing. We’ve not received any written assurance.

The BCCI is saying we first need to sign up,’’ he said.

Pakistan’s stand on the proposals, which will recast the ICC completely, has to be finalised by February 8. That’s when the world body’s executive board meets again, this time in Singapore. Once formally approved, the proposals will come into effect from June, with the ICC then being controlled by the Big Three.l

The Pioneer League Clubs and the Pioneer League Committee accorded a reception to Arif Khan Joy, the deputy minister for youth and sports, at the BFF House yesterday

The Pioneer League Clubs and the Pioneer League Committee accorded a reception to Arif Khan Joy, the deputy minister for youth and sports, at the BFF House yesterday.

Joy, also the vice-president of Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) pledged to open the outer stadium for sporting activities. “I will try my best to open the outer stadium for sports especially for juvenile football, I believe it would be helpful for sports,” said Joy. It would be mentionable that all sporting activities have shut down in the outer stadium for the last four years.

Caption-Deputy minister for youth and sports Arif Khan Joy receives garlands from the Pioneer League Committee at the BFF House yesterday. l

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Queue up ‘only for president, PM,’ says minister

Back Page

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Ex-minister’s wife draws salary without attending office n Our Correspondent, Lalmonirhat

FULL STEAM AHEAD

After five years of drawing salaries, but allegedly ignoring her duties as the head teacher of Barakhata High School, Moslema Khatun, wife of a former state minister, has returned to regular duty at the school.

The alleged ill practice by Moslema, the wife of former state minister for primary and mass education Motahar Hossain, went unchallenged throughout the tenure of the past government, allegedly because of her husband’s political influence, who was also the president of the school’s managing committee.

Nahid says the government aims at introducing world-class education n Our Correspondent, Barisal Students of any level should not be lined up to greet any person except for the president and the prime minister as they are the head of state and government, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid said yesterday.

He added that it would be a matter of “good-luck” for the students to see the top two personalities of the country.

He claimed that there had been a clear instruction from the ministry to stop queuing up of students and it was followed in the last five years.

“But recently, some over-enthusiasts have started to violate the instructions of the government. It should be stopped and prevented in cooperation with all concerned,” the minister said at a programme in Barisal Shaheed Abdur Rob Serniabad Stadium yesterday morning.

“If any lawmaker, minister of distinguished guest goes to visit any place or institution, s/he will be greeted by the authorities concerned within the institution compound,” the minister said reiterating the warning given in a circular issued on January 27.

He said these while inaugurating the 43rd National Winter Sports and Athletics Competition 2014 arranged by Bangladesh National School and Madrasa Sports Association.

Prof Fahima Khatun, director general of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, presided over the inaugural session of the fiveday long competition where a total of 672 competitors from 231 educational institutions of the country participated in the final round of 35 events.

The primary and mass education ministry issued the circular asking the authorities concerned not to force primary school children to queue on the roads to welcome public representatives. Legal action would be taken against those repeating such practice in future. “This is in no way acceptable,”

said the circular.

However, the minister the same day said the educational institutions might arrange programmes to greet “honourable guests” on the school premises.

The circular was issued after newspapers reported on schoolchildren in different parts of the country being forced to queue under the sun to welcome the newly-elected public representatives and ministers. The issue triggered severe criticism from the masses.

Nahid yesterday said: “Only infrastructural development of the education sector is not the main aim of the government. Our principal objective is to introduce and develop a world-class education system for the young generation.”

Students of the school however claimed that they did not see their head teacher in her office during the last five years, and often had to wait to get signatures from her

Decision on ‘Doraemon’ to be reviewed

Replying to questions about resuming the screening of cartoon “Doraemon” on televisions, the education minister said he would talk about this with the information minister.

The government in February last year banned the Japanese manga cartoon from its TV screens over fears that youngsters who are hooked on the Hindi-dubbed version are struggling to learn Bengali, AFP reported. Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu told parliament that television channels which were screening Doraemon had been sent official notifications ordering them to take the series off air.

The move came after several newspapers called for a ban on the cartoon, worried that Doraemon addicts were speaking Hindi to each other instead of Bengali.

Created by manga artist Fujiko F Fujio, Doraemon revolves around a robotic cat who travels back in time from the 22nd century to aid a pre-teen boy, Nobita. Tokyo’s foreign ministry appointed Doraemon as its first “anime ambassador” in 2008 in an effort to deepen foreign interest in Japanese culture, adds the AFP. l

Passengers push a bus after it broke down on Maghbazar intersection in the capital yesterday. With plenty of unfit vehicles plying on the city roads, accidents and malfunction have become a daily nuisance SYED ZAKIR AHMED

Cabinet Division website restored n Mohosinul Karim

Government to launch ‘special benefit’ schemes for private coal power plants, stakeholders

The website of Cabinet Division was recovered immediately after it was hacked by an Indian hacker group yesterday.

On the homepage of the website, the hackers wrote “IHOS.” High officials of the division managed to recover the site few minutes after the incident came into their notice.

Cabinet Division’s Additional Secretary Mohammad Nazrul Islam said: “A group called Indian Hackers Online Squad hacked the website. We noticed the matter in the evening.

“We ordered the IT section of the division to fix it quickly. They restored the website immediately and made all information secure.” He claimed that the IT team visits the website every six hours to ensure its security. l

n Aminur Rahman Rasel The government is now planning to introduce special benefit schemes for both residents living near coal-based power plant sites and upcoming privately-owned power plants in the sector.

Under the scheme, public-owned coal based power plants will have to contribute a minimum amount for a social development fund, which will be used for the benefit of residents living near the plant sites.

“We are now preparing a guideline to form a ‘social development fund’ for the residents living near coal-based power projects. A draft proposal has been finalised and will be soon placed before cabinet division for scrutiny,”

said Power Secretary Monwar Islam while talking to the Dhaka Tribune.

Under the proposed draft, the new tariff for each unit of electricity will be set including an additional tariff of Tk0.03, which will donated to the social development fund. The additional tariff will be mentioned in the Power Purchase Agreement.

“Local people might be connected to the proposed power projects in many ways and their stake will be considered,” he added.

The fund will be used for various development activities, such as building roads, providing drinking water, electricity supply, establishing educational institution, awarding scholarship for students, medical facilities, and other cul-

tural and social welfare for the residents.

“It is necessary to take up development projects as Corporate Social Responsibility to reduce public sufferings and mitigate environmental risks in the areas near the power plants.” he claimed. A five-member management committee will be formed to administer the fund.

Similarly, the government also plans to introduce a 15-year tax holiday for privately-owned coal-based power plants after they start their commercial production.

The benefit schemes for the private companies will be applicable only for those who will sign an agreement with the government within June 30, 2020.

The scheme would also allow the

foreign employees of private power plants a tax holiday for the first three years. They will also be relieved from paying taxes on the interest of foreign loans.

In addition, the government also relaxed taxes on royalties, technical know-how and the technical assistance fees. With a target to generate around 20,000MW of electricity from coalbased power projects by 2030, the government pledged to set up 22 coal-fired power plants across the country under public, public-private partnership and independent power producer initiatives.

All of these power plants are expected to start production between March 2015 and 2020. l

Seeking anonymity, teachers and staffs of the school in Lalmonirhat’s Hatibandha upazila said Moslema went to Dhaka to live with her husband after he was made state minister in 2009. The head teacher, however, did not resign from her office and only made brief visits to the school every month to sign official documents, they added.

Moslema reportedly returned to her regular duties from the beginning of January this year.

School sources said Assistant Head Teacher Azizul Islam handled all official duties during Moslema’s absence, but did not have the authority to sign the school’s official documents – which could only be done by the head teacher.

Asked about the allegations, Azizul said: “Our head teacher Moslema Khatun is a very dutiful teacher and she never tries to evade her duties.

Sometimes she goes to the capital after taking leave in accordance with official procedures. We have not faced any problems during her absence, as she monitored the management well.”

“As assistant head teacher, I managed all official activities when our madam was on leave,” he added.

Students of the school however claimed that they did not see their head teacher in her office during the last five years, and often had to wait to get signatures from her.

Mozaharul Islam, manager of Sonali Bank’s Hatibandha upazila branch, said salaries were paid regularly through the bank to all teachers and staffs of the school including the head teacher.

When contacted, Moslema said she has been a diabetic patient for 21 years and has to periodically receive treatment in the capital. Denying allegations of evading her duties on purpose, the head teacher said she had returned to office after becoming physically fit.

The government-paid salaries were collected to pay for the medical treatments, she added.

Taiyeb Ali, upazila education officer of Hatibandha, said he had no knowledge of the allegations as he was posted at the upazila very recently. However, he added that the matter would be investigated if any written complaint were filed. l

RU FEE-HIKE NOW POSTPONED

Students to continue strike till all demands are met n RU Correspondent

Agitated students and teachers of Rajshahi University hold a mass rally inside the campus yesterday demanding end to all efforts of privatising the university, including charging higher tuition fees and evening courses DHAKA TRIBUNE

The Rajshahi University authorities yesterday cancelled its decision to increase fees following a continuous strike and demonstration by the general students on the campus. Two other demands are yet to be met.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Muhammad Mizanuddin at a press briefing at the Senate building said the authorities had decided to postpone the hike in fees to continue the traditional harmonious relations between students and teachers.

He also said the faculty authorities would decide whether the evening masters classes would be cancelled or not.

The students began their movement on January 16 under the banner of “Teachers-students against increased fees and evening courses” to push for their three-point demands.

The two other demands are cancellation of the recently taken decision to introduce evening masters courses under the social science faculty and

putting a stop to the ongoing evening masters courses at the faculties of BBA and law.

The agitated students, however, decided to continue their movements until their demands were met. They also alleged that the administration had postponed the increased fees to induce the students to stop the ongoing movement.

On the other hand, the social science faculty members in a press release said they would abstain from holding classes and exams if the students did not withdraw their strike unconditionally.

Around 9:30pm, police raided Shah Makhdum Hall with the help of the university proctor after two hand bombs were exploded in front of the dormitory. The law enforcers, however, did not detain anyone and found nothing suspicious.

Earlier in the day, students from different halls and private messes marched on the campus in large numbers and took position in front of all academic buildings. They kept every gate

of the buildings under lock and key to observe the strike.

Over 5,000 students divided in several groups went on a demonstration peacefully to push for their demand on the campus. They also abstained from joining classes and examinations.

Later, a rally was held at the Shabash Bangladesh Chattar between 1am and 2pm. At the rally, the students vowed to continue their movements until all of their demands were met.

Earlier, the RU authorities at a meeting took decision to increase all kinds of fees two to five times more than the earlier rates.

The university authorities also initiated a move to introduce evening masters courses at seven departments under the social science faculty in line with the courses now underway at the BBA and law faculties.

In 2010, the university first took the initiative to introduce evening courses, but backed off following strong opposition from students. 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.

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Transport owners Visitors crowding kitchenware stalls at DITF n want bank loan rescheduled Ibrahim Hossain Ovi

They claim bank instalments could not be paid as political unrest costs them Tk30,000 crore in one year crore during the political violence n Asif Showkat Kallol since October 2012.

Road transport owners have urged the government to help get their bank loans rescheduled as they could not repay due to prolonged political unrest ahead of January 5 national election.

They argued that they could not pay the loans back as the transports could not ply through the roads, hindering the regular cash inflow.

Banglash Sarak Paribahan Samity (Bangladesh Road Transport Association) sought intervention of the finance ministry to get the loans rescheduled with interest waiver, according to a letter to the ministry dated January 27.

We’ve started scrutinising all the sector-wise claims of losses. The total loss calculation will be finalised during the revised budget announcement in the middle of this year

The transport owners claimed to have failed repaying their bank loans as per their respective schedules, which, they fear, might result in suspension of their business.

The association claimed they had to suffer a loss worth over Tk30,000 crore due to the hartals and blockades for a period of over one year (October, 2012 to January 5, 2014).

“We’ve started scrutinising all the sector-wise claims of losses. The total loss calculation will be finalised during the revised budget announcement in the middle of this year,” a finance ministry official told the Dhaka Tribune.

The letter reveals that around 1,000 vehicles including busses, trucks, lorries, pickup vans and covered vans were torched and 3,500 more vandalised, resulting in a loss of around Tk130

“The total loss amounted to Tk30,000 crore because of the prolonged hartal and blockades enforced by the BNP and Jamaat during the last one year, adversely affecting over 2.5m families,” the letter reads.

It claimed the transport sector is a worst hit one during the destructive programs enforced by the opposition political parties. A total member of transports owned by the members of the association now stands at three lakh.

According to some stakeholders, the people would face acute transportation crisis in the days ahead as the frustrated investors in the sector will be no more interested to continue doing business until and unless the finance division gives directives to Bangladesh Bank for rescheduling their credits.

As a truck of Manuir Hossain was set on fire in Gazipur during political deadlock, he said: “I have no choice but to sit idle with the burned truck.”

He has not enough money to repair the truck while the interest on bank loans is rising sharply because he has failed to pay the bank installments.

According to Centre for Policy Dialogue, the national shutdowns and blockades in the last six months costs a combined Tk49,017 crore in transport, garments, agriculture and tourism sectors.

The estimate shows that due to the 55 days shutdowns and blockades from July to December 2013, land transport incurred the highest amount of loss, amounting to Tk16,688 crore, followed by agriculture and agro-based industries Tk15,829 crore, clothing and textiles sector Tk13,750 crore while tourism sector Tk2,750 crore sector.

“We are now facing severe financial crisis due to shortage of funds following a huge loss amounted to Tk.30,000 crore in the last one year for political violence on the streets and highways,” said Rustom Ali, general secretary, Truck-Covered Van Owners Association.

The country’s road transport sector’s contribution to the GDP reduced by 0.32 percentage point in the 2011-12 from that of 2006-07. The transport sector contribution stood 6.85% in 2011-12 fiscal. l

Kitchenware stalls at the Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) have seen an increased number of customers on Friday.

As it was a holiday, customers thronged the fair and bought different items of cooking utensil and crockery.

“We estimate the sale will reach around Tk6 lakh today,” said Md Motiar Rahman Haider, senior manager of Kiam Metal Industries Limited.

He hoped the sale will further increase as days go towards the end of the month-long fair which began on January 11.

Products – both local and foreign – are being displayed at the event by the respective companies and distributors.

The customers usually prefer buying necessary items from fair to get genuine products of different brands as the companies themselves represent setting up stalls and pavilions.

“I am here to buy some genuine crockeries,” Jamil Hossain, a visitor told the Dhaka Tribune at the fair venue on the day.

According to him, many fake products with labels of famous brands are sold in the shopping malls and stores, so “I choose to buy them from the DITF.” Stalls keep on display for sale a variety of kitchenware like fry pans, hotpots, dishes, pressure cookers, juicers etc.

“Customers have come in their large numbers today,” said a happy Yasin Gani Chowdhury, general manager of Delhi Aluminium.

Besides, response from the agents who generally establish link between

A woman shopper bargains at a crockery stall at the Dhaka International Trade Fair on Friday the manufacturers and foreign buyers was also good, he shared with the Dhaka Tribune. “Hope we will get bulk orders of exports from our foreign buyers this year.” Foreign products including of India, Iran and Turkey also attract the visitors in the fair.

“It’s my passion to buy products from the DITF as there are foreign products rich in designs are available,” said Novena Habib, a government employee.

GDP may grow at 5.65% n Tribune Business Desk Independent think-tank Unnayan Onneshan projected that the real economic growth in the current fiscal year may fall to 5.65%.

The research house made the projection at its current issue of the Bangladesh Economic Update on Monetary Policy Statement (MPS).

It said the dull private sector credit growth will continue to suppress investment demand, which will result in decline of gross domestic product.

According to the UO estimate, the GDP growth will go down below decade’s average of 6% in the FY201314, due to due to fiscal and monetary management trap, functioned by lack of policy farsightedness and political contestations.

It observed that reduction in investment and growth for the successive three years from those of the preceding ones, on the one hand, and the

n Tribune Report

positive response to earning expectations and investment outlook, it said, adding that fresh positioning and re-positioning in lucrative scrips, profit booking, natural correction and scrip wise movements were the common scenarios throughout the week.

The central bank announced the monetary policy for the second half of the current fiscal year on January 27, which apparently had no impact on the market in the past week.

Since two weeks before unveiling the MPS, market analysts were frequently saying that the market increased due to expectation on the upcoming monetary policy coupled with

which reflects in the day’s sales.”

However, allegations of fake products sales were also there. They alleges some kitchenware stalls were seen selling fake products with labels of good brands “I bought a hotpot last week from a stall, but it was not good,” said a visitor.

“The pot can only keep foods hot 3-4 hours although the salesman told me foods will be hot for 10 hours.” l

UNNAYAN ONNESHAN

increase in inflation on the other may cause pressure on the macroeconomic stability of the country.

“Recent declining trend in private sector credit growth, which has factually been causing the growth of the economy to decline in the last three years in a row, can be restrained through a harmonisation of fiscal and monetary policy.”

The UO called for a new policy approach. It also observed that the slow demand for investment has been reflected in the credit deposit ratio.

The overall credit-deposit ratio in the banking sector decreased to 70.80% in December 2013 from 71.91% in November 2013. The credit-deposit ratio was 76.59% in December 2012 and 80.33% in June 2012.

As regards the credit growth in real sector, the organisation stated that the disbursement of industrial term loan stood at Tk8880.79 crore in the first quarter of the current fiscal. l

Monetary policy exerts no influence on stocks as expected Stocks registered little gains in the past week, as profit booking on some stocks restricted bull-run over the weeks.

In the week ended Thursday, the benchmark DSEX gained 50 points or 1% to close at 4,753, extending the gaining streak for fifth consecutive weeks. Since January 12 to 26, it rose by around 300 points.

The DS30 index, the blue chip stocks, rallied marginally about 4 points or 0.3% to close at 1,660. Shariah based index lost 2 points or 0.3% to 974.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also closed positive, with its Selective Categories Index CSCX rose 133 points or 1.5% to 9,366.

Out of five trading sessions, market closed higher in three trading sessions and two sessions witnessed mild correction on profit taking.

The average daily turnover stood at Tk721 crore, registering a fall of 2.5% over the previous week’s average of Tk739 crore.

“Expectation based rollercoaster seemed to dominate the bourse over the week ahead of earning declarations,” said IDLC Investments in its weekly market analysis.

Sector wise in line with stock wise expectations made the market scenario vibrant, which eventually assisted DSEX to add 50 points more from that of the last week, it said.

Overall market observed investors’

Discount offers and availability of a good variety of products also bring her to the fair. Most of the kitchenware customers are women and housewives.

“We are trying to meet the demand and tastes of our customers who are mainly housewives and want both quality and new design products,” said Abdul Momin, a sales executive at the Irani Ponno Samahar’s stall. “On holidays, the fair sees a crowd of visitors,

RAJIB DHAR

apparently calm political situation.

The market, however, witnessed a moderate correction on the following day of announcing the MPS before rising again on the next day to stay the benchmark index little above last week’s level.

Although much awaited and pondered upon, the statement could exert no visible influence over the market due to lack of any significant change, said the IDLC. “As political activities cooled down and economic activities heated up, investors went into a buying mode, throughout the week.”

LankaBangla Securities said: “Market has posted around 10.5% return in

first three weeks of January. Investors seemed to be booking profit in this week.”

It said market primarily tends to remain bullish as money market is very highly liquid and loan demand from entrepreneurs is still very low.

In the past week, heavyweight banking sector rose 2.8% with 50% rise in volume. General insurance sector was up by 2.5% with 0.3% fall in volume.

“Banks and general insurance are the December closing sectors. Investors are probably interested in these sectors for upcoming corporate declarations,” said the LankaBangla.

It said stocks have registered modest gains and gracefully closed the week with decent turnover volume.

Out of 300 issues traded in the past the week, 140 advanced, 146 declined and 14 remained unchanged at the DSE. Food and allied which now comprised 7.4% of the total equity market cap following the inclusion of Olympic Industries. The sector posted an impressive gain of over 9%, led by BATBC which gained more than 13%.

Banks and telecommunications also went up by 2.9% and 0.4% respectively. Pharmaceuticals and non-banking financial institutions ended in red on profit booking.

Meghna Petroleum dominated the week’s top turnover chart with shares worth Tk133 crore changing hands, followed by Padma Oil, Square Pharma, UCBL and Olympic Industries. l

Bangla writing mobile app launched n Muhammad Zahidul Islam Bangladesh has launched a mobile application through which people can write Bangla letters just touching handsets’ screen.

The country’s leading apps developing company MCC Ltd introduced the app namely “Bangla Likhi” (Write Bangla) in Dhaka yesterday.

It will function using phonetics with a simple and attractive users interface.

The firm released another app “Police Station” where the users can easily have information about police stations across the country just at a press of a handset button.

MCC Ltd is a local company but a global brand having nearly 41 lakh subscribers across the world. The company earlier introduced several apps in Bangladesh.

The company said it will also bring another five new Bangla Likhi apps to the market in this month observed as International Mother Language Day remembering the martyrs of 1952 who died for their mother tongue Bangla.

SM Ashraf Abir, chief executive officer of MCC Ltd, shared it with the Dhaka Tribune.

Another company EATL also made an app “21 Amar” compiling the history of Bangla language movement.

“The six apps are being created using local resources but fully capable of competing in the international mar-

ket,” SM Ashraf Abir said.

“They are easy to navigate interface with an attractive user-friendly presentation.”

According to the MCC, Bangla Likhi is a “great app” for those who want to write in Bangla in their mobile phones.

“It allows the users to use the app offline and share Bangla status on Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites,” said Ashraf Abir.

“The app allows the user to copy Bangla text and paste it for use in other applications as well.”

Earlier, the company brought another app namely “The Constitution of Bangladesh.”

With the help of the app, the whole Constitution of Bangladesh can be found in a mobile handset.

Written in Bangla, the app will answer to any question a citizen may have about the Constitution.

To make the use easier, the Constitution has been organised by chapters.

MCC further introduced “Holidays of Bangladesh,” a list of the government holidays in Bangladesh for the year 2014.

MCC also released two other apps for birds and fruits to help children learn the names birds and fruits.

The company said all the apps could be downloaded from Google Play Store, Opera, Amazon, Symphony Fun Store and other local and international Android market places. 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

Stock

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Rahim Textile tops gainers’ list last week n Tribune Business Desk

DSE GAINERS

Turnover (Million Taka)

Rahim Textile -A Stylecraft -A Padma Islami Life*-N Phoenix Insur -A BATBCL -A Libra Infusions-A CVO PetroChem RL-Z Southeast Bank-A Central Pharm-A Eastern InsurA

Company

36,093.51

Turnover (Volume)

863,928,848

Number of Contract

profits was due to lower interest expense on long-term loan from bank that reduced in last couple of years.

According to the company’s latest annual report, the loan came down to Tk8.6 crore as on June 30 last year from Tk11.8 crore as on June 30, 2012.

The half-yearly report as of December last year shows the longterm loan has deceased to Tk6.3 crore, which in turn lowered its financial expense during the halfyearly period to Tk1.6 crore from Tk2.4 crore during the same period in 2012.

However, the half-yearly sales of the company have decreased from Tk27.2 crore in 2012 to Tk23.8 crore in 2013. l

Rahim Textile stocks registered a weekly price hike of 30.7% to emerge as the top gainer on Dhaka Stock Exchange last week, with a traded value of Tk2.72 crore.

The closing price ranged between Tk231.3 and Tk302.3 during the week.

On the last trading day of the week, the company announced its unaudited half yearly profit of Tk1.6 crore after tax during the second half of 2013 against a profit of Tk0.66 crore during the same period of 2012.

Brokers say better profitability drove the price substantially up.

The increase of 141% in half-yearly

DSE key features January 26-30, 2014

732,909

Traded Issues

300

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

159

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

137

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

4

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,273.77

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

27.56

CSE key features January 26-30, 2014 Turnover (Million Taka)

3,181.97

Turnover (Volume)

95,760,577

Number of Contract

Weekly capital market highlights DSE Broad Index : DSE - 30 Index : CSE All Share Index: CSE - 30 Index : CSE Selected Index : DSE LOSERS Company Bangas -A Apex Tannery -A Samata LeatheR -Z Bengal Windsor-A Shampur Sugar -Z Samorita Hospital -A Savar Refractories-Z PrimeFin. 1st MF-A Padma Oil Co. -A Golden Harvest Agro-N

Closing (% change) -11.48 -11.03 -10.79 -9.81 -9.30 -9.30 -8.68 -8.56 -7.46 -6.67

CSE LOSERS Company Samata LeatheR -Z Bangas -A Bengal Windsor-A Apex Tannery -A Samorita Hospital -A BD Fixed Income MF-A PrimeFin. 1st MF-A Rangpur Foundry -A Padma Oil Co. -A Dutch Ban. Bnk- A

Closing (% change) -14.71 -11.95 -10.43 -10.37 -9.09 -8.89 -8.17 -7.89 -7.51 -7.42

ANALYST

4753.17024

(+) 1.07%

1660.35554

(-) 0.23%

14786.2979

(+) 1.36%

12296.5788

(+) 0.88%

9366.9767

(+) 1.44%

Average (% change) -10.99 -12.03 -10.71 -10.02 -7.19 -6.78 -9.30 -7.15 -6.05 -4.50 Average (% change) -14.71 -12.02 -10.37 -12.77 -7.36 -8.89 -7.46 -7.89 -6.05 -7.63

Closing average 508.42 155.49 25.00 63.15 8.00 92.76 60.00 23.88 332.24 43.09

Closing average 23.20 502.82 63.12 155.05 94.00 8.20 23.94 98.10 332.07 115.77

Weekly closing

Bank NBFI Investment Engineering Food & Allied Fuel & Power Jute Textile Pharma & Chemical Paper & Packaging Service Leather Ceramic Cement Information Technology General Insurance Life Insurance Telecom Travel & Leisure Miscellaneous Debenture

Weekly high

507.20 156.50 24.80 62.50 7.80 92.60 61.00 23.50 328.60 42.00

Weekly closing

602.80 180.50 28.00 75.00 8.50 105.00 63.10 26.50 356.80 48.00

Weekly high

23.20 506.00 62.70 156.40 94.00 8.20 23.60 98.10 328.80 116.00

26.00 598.00 75.00 180.00 98.70 8.20 26.80 109.00 357.00 120.80

Traded Issues

248

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

137

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

109

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

1

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,171.68`

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

26.32

Weekly low

Turnover in million

498.10 144.50 23.90 55.00 7.70 86.00 60.20 22.70 315.00 39.80

Weekly low

244.786 132.996 0.730 453.312 0.045 25.000 0.150 113.683 1009.417 225.313

Turnover in million

23.20 497.60 60.50 146.10 93.20 8.20 22.70 98.10 327.20 112.40

0.102 6.826 52.780 13.541 1.001 0.004 6.632 0.313 67.435 2.329

Latest EPS

Latest PE

5.70 4.86 -0.08 2.50 -50.84 2.74 0.60 1.00 20.68 1.62

Latest EPS

89.2 32.0 -ve 25.3 -ve 33.9 100.0 23.9 16.1 26.6

Latest PE

-0.08 5.70 2.50 4.86 2.74 0.54 1.00 3.03 20.68 9.21

-ve 88.2 25.2 31.9 34.3 15.2 23.9 32.4 16.1 12.6

Closing (% change) 30.70 16.27 15.88 14.71 13.62 13.10 12.34 11.22 11.16 11.00

CSE GAINERS Company Padma Islami Life*-N Phoenix Insur -A Nitol Insurance -A CVO PetroChem RL-Z Southeast Bank-A Central Pharm-A Miracle Industries -B Central Insur -A AB Bank - A Reliance Insur -A

Closing (% change) 15.58 14.66 13.64 13.61 12.82 10.86 10.82 10.36 10.21 10.00

Average (% change) 29.51 16.13 14.95 14.76 13.88 12.93 15.60 12.49 9.94 8.32 Average (% change) 15.79 18.26 13.64 15.44 12.26 10.02 8.45 10.18 10.44 10.00

Closing average 299.05 1,059.09 84.36 53.71 1,935.79 484.17 772.67 21.80 49.87 44.81

Closing average 84.35 54.86 40.00 791.58 21.89 49.96 25.54 34.09 31.10 77.00

Weekly closing 302.30 1,059.30 83.90 53.80 1,929.00 484.20 773.00 21.80 49.80 45.40

Weekly closing 83.10 53.20 40.00 794.50 22.00 50.00 25.60 34.10 31.30 77.00

Weekly high 302.40 1,065.10 92.00 54.20 1,946.90 485.90 795.00 22.00 51.40 45.60

Weekly high 87.10 55.40 40.00 799.00 22.20 50.60 26.90 34.50 31.50 77.00

Weekly low 233.50 940.00 68.00 44.90 1,685.00 420.00 649.10 18.00 40.40 38.00

Weekly low 72.00 49.00 35.30 694.00 18.00 43.10 23.00 32.40 29.10 77.00

Turnover in million

Latest EPS

27.232 1.745 243.458 97.112 505.291 2.744 76.476 397.374 358.214 36.756

Turnover in million

11.56 47.83 1.10 3.81 76.51 4.88 -4.06 2.24 1.48 2.60

Latest EPS

13.946 1.913 0.370 2.115 35.200 33.100 10.051 0.269 32.167 0.039

1.10 3.81 2.75 -4.06 2.24 1.48 0.22 2.49 1.65 4.59

Latest PE 25.9 22.1 76.7 14.1 25.3 99.2 -ve 9.7 33.7 17.2

Latest PE 76.7 14.4 14.5 -ve 9.8 33.8 116.1 13.7 18.8 16.8

Weekly news from trade server Dividend/AGM

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.

Audited/unaudited Financial Reports: MICEMENT: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 335.59 million with EPS of Tk. 2.26 as against Tk. 288.12 million and Tk. 1.94 respectively**.

BENGALWTL: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 94.87 million with consolidated EPS of Tk. 1.25 as against Tk. 85.34 million and Tk. 1.13 respectively**.

CVOPRL: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. (40.17) m. with EPS of Tk. (2.03) as against Tk. 12.79 m. and Tk. 0.65 respectively**. Accumulated profit/(loss) of the Company was Tk. (26.11) m. as on 31.12.2013. In the footnote, the Company has reported that there was no turnover during the period due to closure of the factory (Pilot Plant) since May 2012 for installation of new refinery plant.

DESHBANDHU: (H/Y): NPAT=Tk. 11.43 million with EPS of Tk. 0.23 as against Tk. 26.95 million and Tk. 0.53 respectively**.

RENWICKJA: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 4.89 million with EPS of Tk. 2.44 as against Tk. 4.12

million and Tk. 2.06 respectively**.

JAMUNAOIL: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 848.17 million with basic EPS of Tk. 9.29 (8.45 diliuted) as against Tk. 736.88 million and Tk. 8.07 (7.34) respectively ** SEBL1STMF: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 43.66 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 0.44 as against Tk. 36.21 million and Tk. 0.36 (restated) respectively ** NLI1STMF: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 23.54 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 0.47 as against Tk. 25.44 million and Tk. 0.51 (restated) respectively ** 8THICB: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 20.80 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 4.16 as against Tk. 17.38 million and Tk. 3.48 respectively ** 7THICB: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 20.75 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 6.92 as against Tk. 19.87 million and Tk. 6.62 respectively ** 6THICB: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 16.33 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 3.27 as against Tk. 14.47 million and Tk. 2.89 respectively ** 5THICB: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 15.99 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 10.66 as against Tk. 16.00 million and Tk. 10.67 respectively ** 4THICB: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 12.98 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 12.98 as against Tk. 11.24 million and Tk. 11.24 respectively ** 3RDICB: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 11.87 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 11.87 as against Tk. 11.11 million and Tk. 11.11 respectively ** 2NDICB: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 8.86 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 17.71 as against Tk. 7.69 million and Tk. 15.38 respectively ** 1STICB: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 11.39 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 15.18 as against Tk.

8.41 million and Tk. 11.22 respectively ** USMANIAGL: (H/Y): NPAT=Tk. 27.59 million with basic EPS of Tk. 2.81 (2.55 restated) as against Tk. 12.79 million and Tk. 1.30 (1.18) respectively ** NPOLYMAR: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 10.36 million with EPS of Tk. 0.85 as against Tk. 9.87 million and Tk. 0.81 respectively ** ICB: (H/Y): NPAT = Tk. 853.46 million with consolidated EPS of Tk. 20.23 as against Tk. 848.87 million and Tk. 20.12 respectively**.

SAMORITA: (H/Y): NPAT=Tk. 14.22 million with basic EPS of Tk. 1.37 (1.05 restated) as against Tk. 12.41 million and Tk. 1.20 (0.92) respectively**.

MIRACLEIND: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 2.57 million with basic EPS of Tk. 0.11 (0.107 restated) as against Tk. (4.83) million and Tk. (0.21) (restated) respectively**.

MAKSONSPIN: 5% stock dividend, AGM: 13.03.2014, Record date: 16.02.2014. EPS =Tk. 0.72, NAV per share = Tk. 19.99 and NOCFPS of Tk. 1.95 for the year ended on September 30, 2013.

TITASGAS: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 4,202.97 million with EPS of Tk. 4.25 as against Tk. 4,128.92 million and Tk. 4.17 respectively**.

STYLECRAFT: (Q3): NPAT= Tk. 19.73 million with EPS of Tk. 35.87 for the period of nine months (Apr'13 to Dec'13) ended on 31.12.2013 as against Tk. 15.39 million and Tk. 27.98 respectively**.

ANLIMAYARN: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 7.13 million with EPS of Tk. 0.40 as against Tk. 10.50 million and Tk. 0.59 respectively**.

ATLASBANG: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 44.12 million with EPS of Tk. 1.86 as against Tk. 56.29 million and Tk. 2.37 respectively**.

Increasing turnover with long green candles are indicating that fresh money is flowing in the market

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY Sector

▲ ▼ ▲ ▲ ▲

115,913

Sunday, February 2, 2014

DSE Million Taka 5041.91 2733.29 1196.32 3558.11 1838.66 5850.17 9.77 4312.61 3416.72 8.28 210.56 413.13 186.45 1670.71 671.97 1357.51 1457.15 830.98 757.06 568.83 3.32

% change 13.97 7.57 3.31 9.86 5.09 16.21 0.03 11.95 9.47 0.02 0.58 1.14 0.52 4.63 1.86 3.76 4.04 2.30 2.10 1.58 0.01

Million Taka 596.93 259.62 67.07 356.17 123.28 353.69 0.00 450.25 245.66 1.00 33.81 42.70 23.00 99.36 106.91 44.97 86.35 84.27 110.77 97.58 0.10

CSE

% change 18.75 8.16 2.11 11.19 3.87 11.11 0.00 14.14 7.72 0.03 1.06 1.34 0.72 3.12 3.36 1.41 2.71 2.65 3.48 3.07 0.00

Million Taka 5638.85 2992.91 1263.39 3914.28 1961.95 6203.87 9.77 4762.86 3662.39 9.27 244.37 455.83 209.45 1770.07 778.89 1402.48 1543.50 915.26 867.82 666.41 3.41

Total

% change 14.36 7.62 3.22 9.97 5.00 15.80 0.02 12.13 9.32 0.02 0.62 1.16 0.53 4.51 1.98 3.57 3.93 2.33 2.21 1.70 0.01

Prepared exclusively for Dhaka Tribune by Business Information Automation Service Line (BIASL), on the basis of information collected from daily stock quotations and audited reports of the listed companies. High level of caution has been taken to collect and present the above information and data. The publisher will not take any responsibility if any body uses this information and data for his/her investment decision. For any query please email to biasl@bol-online.com or call 01552153562 or go to www.biasl.net

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Meghna Petroleum -A Square Pharma -A Padma Oil Co. -A UCBL - A Olympic Ind. -A LankaBangla Fin. -A Tallu Spinning -A S Purbanchol Power-N Summit Power -A Grameenphone-A CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company UCBL - A Appollo Ispat CL -N National Bank - B UNITED AIR-A aamra technologies-A Padma Oil Co. -A Mozaffar H.Spinning-N Tallu Spinning -A LankaBangla Fin. -A Grameenphone-A

Volume shares 5,092,711 4,740,245 2,976,898 25,164,603 4,257,157 9,199,207 14,783,588 7,801,550 12,536,339 2,724,019

Volume shares 3,556,679 2,804,400 6,725,136 5,226,339 2,129,940 199,232 1,542,000 1,467,489 716,925 260,800

Value in million 1332.82 1103.83 1009.42 784.76 756.51 730.95 591.96 591.44 583.91 583.18

Value in million 110.81 102.69 94.65 91.83 83.38 67.43 62.75 58.67 57.05 55.97

% of total turnover 3.69 3.06 2.80 2.17 2.10 2.03 1.64 1.64 1.62 1.62

% of total turnover 3.48 3.23 2.97 2.89 2.62 2.12 1.97 1.84 1.79 1.76

Weekly closing 266.00 228.40 328.60 31.00 180.60 78.90 40.20 76.10 47.20 212.30

Weekly closing 31.10 36.80 14.20 17.60 41.00 328.80 40.00 40.30 78.90 213.20

Price change 2.07 -3.18 -7.46 2.65 4.39 -2.47 4.96 0.26 7.52 0.09

Weekly opening 260.60 235.90 355.10 30.20 173.00 80.90 38.30 75.90 43.90 212.10

Weekly high 270.80 242.00 356.80 33.00 188.00 82.00 44.00 78.80 49.00 218.70

Weekly low 235.00 215.10 315.00 27.20 156.00 70.20 35.00 67.00 40.00 200.00

Weekly average 267.31 229.61 332.24 30.97 181.16 79.58 41.11 76.89 47.81 213.76

Price change 2.64 -0.27 9.23 0.57 8.18 -7.51 -3.15 5.22 -2.95 0.57

Weekly opening 30.30 36.90 13.00 17.50 37.90 355.50 41.30 38.30 81.30 212.00

Weekly high 32.20 37.30 15.80 18.00 41.80 357.00 43.70 42.10 82.50 219.90

Weekly low 30.20 36.10 12.90 16.00 35.00 327.20 39.00 38.00 77.90 210.00

Weekly average 30.99 36.87 14.23 17.57 40.59 332.07 40.09 41.15 79.79 213.88

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

B3

Sunday, February 2, 2014

US FEDERAL RESERVE’S CUTS

IMF warns over impact of global market turmoil n AFP, Washington The International Monetary Fund on Friday warned emerging economies to shore up their defenses amid challenging global turmoil that has sparked a broad-based sell-off in financial markets.

An IMF spokesperson said they could not find a single trigger for the

turmoil, but also appeared to warn central banks generally to be cautious about tightening monetary conditions.

“Many emerging economies, along with other asset classes, have come under renewed market pressure in recent days,” the spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

“While it is difficult to pinpoint a single trigger for the sell-off,

the turbulence underscores the challenging situation that many countries face as a result of tighter external financing conditions, slower growth, and softer commodity prices.”

The IMF noted that several countries had responded “forcefully”, not mentioning any by name but apparently referring to sharp interest rate hikes

by the central banks of South Africa and Turkey, aimed at stabilizing their sinking currencies and stemming capital flight.

However, the spokesman said, ‘the turbulence highlights the need for coherent macroeconomic and financial policies, good communication, and, in some cases, the need for urgent policy action to improve fundamentals and

policy credibility.”

Moreover, the spokesperson added, “The turbulence also underscores the need for vigilance among central banks over liquidity conditions in international capital markets.”

Many officials in emerging market economies have pointed a finger at the US Federal Reserve’s cuts to its stimulus program for sending US dollar inter-

est rates high and provoking a strong, sustained outflow from stocks and currencies in those countries.

Speaking on Bloomberg TV, on Thursday India’s central bank chief Raghuram Rajan assailed the Fed and central banks at other leading economies for not weighing the impact of monetary tightening on developing economies. l

RBI chief: US should be mindful of global policy impact Fed draws criticism from

abroad as emerging markets still reeling

n Reuters The United States should be more aware of how its policies affect the rest of the world, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) chief said on Friday, a day after complaining that global monetary policy coordination had broken down.

Raghuram Rajan, a former chief economist at the International Monetary Fund, took charge at the RBI last September during the country’s worst financial crisis since 1991.

India’s financial markets have boomed as US Federal Reserve efforts to bolster economic growth at home with cheap money encouraged investors to seek higher returns in emerging economies. As the Fed began to talk of unwinding its policy last year, the money began to flow back out.

“I have been saying that the US should worry about the effects of its policies on the rest of the world,” RBI Governor Rajan said at an event on Friday organised by The Times of India newspaper.

“We would like to live in a world where countries take into account the effect of their policies on other countries and do what is right, rather than what is just right given the circumstances of their own country,” he said.

Rajan’s comments were echoed by the IMF on Friday, which called for “vigilance” by central banks to ensure that a financial market rout in the developing world does not lead to an international funding crunch.

The turn in Fed policy, combined with signs the Chinese economy is slowing, has sent markets from Turkey to South Africa and Brazil reeling over the past week.

Turkey and South Africa responded

n Reuters

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Raghuram Rajan (centre) arrives to attend an event in a school in New Delhi by raising interest rates this week to help support their currencies. The Reserve Bank of India also tightened monetary policy, saying the action was aimed at pushing down high consumer inflation.

On Thursday, Rajan had called on developed countries to play their part in restoring international monetary cooperation during an interview with Bloomberg India TV. “International monetary cooperation has broken down,” Rajan told the TV channel.

“Industrial countries have to play a part in restoring that, and they cannot

at this point wash their hands off and say: ‘We will do what we need to, and you do the adjustment you need to.’”

The Fed on Wednesday trimmed its monthly bond purchases by another $10bn, despite the 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 emerging market rout.

The Fed began its super-easy monetary policy in response to the 2008 global financial crisis. Emerging market policy makers have long complained

REUTERS

about the risks their countries faced from the massive money printing.

Rajan’s policies since September, including currency swap concessions that helped banks raise $34bn from abroad, have been widely credited with ushering in a recovery in Indian markets.

Government efforts to slash the current account deficit, including through unpopular curbs on gold imports, have also helped foreign investor confidence and the Indian rupee has escaped the worst of the emerging market rout since last week. l

Tata Nano, other Indian cars fail crash tests: Safety body n AFP, New Delhi The Tata Nano, billed as the world’s cheapest car, and a host of other top-selling small models from India have failed their first independent crash tests, a global safety group said Friday.

The five entry-level vehicles - including the country’s best-selling small car the Suzuki-Maruti Alto 800, as well as the Ford Figo, the Hyundai i10 and the Volkswagen Polo - scored no stars out of five for protection.

The tests, carried out by the New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP), saw the basic models, all without airbags, driven at 64 kilometres an hour (40 miles) into a block simulating a headon collision.

The secretary general of Global NCAP called them “gratuitously dangerous” and blamed lax regulation which created an incentive to make cheap but structurally unsound vehicles for India’s accident-prone roads.

“The injury recordings on the dummy, on the head, chest, and upper legs,

Banglalink yesterday announced the appointment of cricket all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan as its new brand ambassador in a press conference at Westin Hotel in the capital

Tangail branch of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited (IBBL) recently winter clothes among cold stricken poor people of the locality. Engr. Mustafa Anwar, the bank’s vice chairperson was present at the function as chief guest

they’re in the red. The chances of surviving a crash are extremely low. It’s either death or very serious injury,” David Ward told AFP. He said trials in recent years in Latin America had shown similar problems but manufacturers there have begun to make progress thanks in part to adverse publicity.

China too has begun imposing higher safety standards.

NCAP also tested the Indian cars in a crash simulation according to United Nations standards - a frontal collision at

the slightly slower speed of 56 kilometres an hour - and none of them passed.

“It’s worrying to see levels of safety that are 20 years behind the five-star standards now common in Europe and North America,” said Global NCAP chairman Max Mosley, the former chief of international motorsport.

Small vehicles are the biggest segment of the price-sensitive Indian car market, which is coveted by global brands and domestic manufacturers as working-class consumers upgrade from two- to four-wheelers.l

The Federal Reserve’s decision to keep trimming its economic stimulus drew fire on Friday as India’s central bank chief said Americans should be more attuned to the global impact of their policies, and the IMF called for vigilance given strains in financial markets.

The push-back came on Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke’s last day on the job and two days after the US central bank reduced the pace of its huge asset purchase program. The Fed made the move on Wednesday despite a bruising selloff in emerging markets that was prompted in part by the prospect of less US monetary support.

With the turmoil in currencies and stocks spreading into more emerging markets on Friday, Fed officials, addressing the rout for the first time, offered no hint the sell-off would influence their policy stance unless the US economy were threatened.

But in Mumbai, Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan said the United States “should worry about the effects of its policies on the rest of the world.”

“We would like to live in a world where countries take into account the effect of their policies on other countries and do what is right, rather than what is just right given the circumstances of their own country,” he said at an event on organized by The Times of India newspaper.

Financial markets in India, Turkey, Argentina and elsewhere have boomed in recent years as the Fed’s measures to bolster economic growth at home - including asset purchases and ultra-low interest rates - encouraged investors to seek higher returns in emerging economies.

As the Fed began to talk of unwinding its policy last year, the money began to flow back out, a trend that ramped up again in the last two weeks on signs that China’s economy is slowing.

Rajan, a former chief economist at the International Monetary Fund, is well respected by central bankers globally as being among the few who spoke out about signs of trouble in markets

well before the 2007-09 financial crisis set off the Great Recession.

His comments were echoed by the IMF, which on Friday called on central banks to ensure that a financial market rout in the developing world does not lead to an international funding crunch.

“The turbulence also underscores the need for vigilance among central banks over liquidity conditions in international capital markets,” an IMF spokesman said.

'So far I don’t see anything that’s happened in the last month around markets as fundamentally shifting an improving outlook for the US economy and improving labor markets' Fed unmoved

The pressure, however, is unlikely to dissuade the Fed from ramping down its asset purchases by later this year unless the turbulence starts to derail recent momentum in the US economy. Fed policymakers did not mention emerging markets in a statement on Wednesday, when they unanimously decided to trim bond-buying by another $10bn per month.

Indeed, all 70 economists polled

by Reuters expect the central bank to keep paring the purchases at that rate at subsequent meetings, shuttering the program before year-end.

“So far I don’t see anything that’s happened in the last month around markets as fundamentally shifting an improving outlook for the US economy and improving labor markets,” San Francisco Fed President John Williams said Friday on Fox Business television.

Williams, a centrist, said fellow policymakers discussed emerging markets at their meeting this week, but added the Fed should not focus too much on “short-term developments. l

Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith handed over scholarship awarding letters to the DBBL scholarship recipients at a ceremony held yesterday at Shaheed Shohrawardi Indoor Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka while Gerben de Jong, the Ambassador of Kingdom of the Netherlands to Bangladesh was present as special guest. Dutch-Bangla Bank, under the program of its social cause and in continuation of the programme awarded scholarship to 2,518 students as the 8th phase who passed HSC/Equivalent Examination in 2013 and studying at graduation level in different universities/colleges in the country

Guardian Life Insurance Limited held its launching ceremony on Friday in Dhaka at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre as it revealed the company logo along with introducing its sponsors. Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith was the chief guest at the event while Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed and BRAC chairperson Sir Fazle Hasan Abed as special guests

Modhumoti Bank Limited on Thursday has launched its fourth branch at Gulshan in Dhaka.

Humayun Kabir, chairperson of the bank’s board inaugurated the branch, as chief guest while Shaikh Salahuddin, vice-chairperson on the board was present as special guest

Jamuna Bank Foundation recently opened a centre to provide Musulle with free medical service at Biswa Istema. Chair of Jamuna Bank Foundation, Al-Haj Nur Mohammed inaugurated the medical service centre as chief guest

B4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Career

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Succeeding at the banking sector Easy steps to flourish at the highly competitive field n Nakibul Hoq and Naiian Yazdani “2 States” might not necessarily be Chetan Bhagat’s best work so far, but one thing the writer strongly pinpoints to is the dull and boring nature of a bank job. While some may agree with the writer that bankers are a type of “overpaid clerks,” the term as used by Bhagat in his much-read novel, nothing could be further from the truth.

Banking has travelled a long way from being the ordinary desk job of the early 1900s. Today, the sector attracts the brightest and the most ambitious professionals of the world. These so called ‘clerks’ are coming from the best business schools of the world with top notch MBA degrees and undergraduate majors in finance, economics or even quantitative disciplines such as engineering and physics.

A banking job today spans a lot more than the ability to crunch numbers and solve the most complicated of equations. It involves soft-skills, commitment, and the passion to make things happen. With its prestige and remuneration, it attracts the best graduates from all over the world, which makes this arena hyper-competitive.

Here in Bangladesh, banking for everyday requirements for all individuals, or what is known as the retail sector has grown steadily throughout the last two decades. Many things are happening in this potentially high growth market, where a number of people are still without access to proper banking facilities.

Commercial banks are privately owned banks of the private sector where profit-maximisation and relentless growth are the ultimate objectives.

These banks in the last few years have aligned their corporate goals with the idea of “Banking with the Unbanked” – a term coined and pitched by the central bank, Bangladesh Bank, to the private bankers in an effort to bring the entire population under the banking hood.

There are banks like EBL, BRAC and DBBL which focus explicitly on the retail sector, with extensive marketing campaigns designed to attract the mass

audience. Their endeavors primarily involve working with people at all levels and handling their money and other precious items. Employees here have to be at their best when dealing with customers regardless of who it is, and it is especially important for managers to focus on the customer side of the equation.

In the investment sector when it comes to export related functions, Bangladesh is primarily run by the international banks such as HSBC and Standard Chartered. LCs (letters of credit, or in other words documents used by exporters and importers to exchange goods with foreign countries) are HSBC's most profitable sector, fuelled directly by the rapid growth of the country's garments sector. Standard Chartered, apart from its advantages as an international bank in an export-driven economy, has also implemented massive priority banking strategies for corporate clients and other consumers, which has in turn paid them well-earned profits.

Local investments, Islami Bank and

the four public banks, namely Sonali Bank, Agrani Bank, Janata Bank and Basic Bank have also emerged as major players in the local investment market.

The other commercial banks also have investment departments with strong emphasis on secured capital investment.

The arrival of international banks with their investment banking departments is in unison with the growth of the Bangladesh economy and the ever-increasing flow of remittances. Corporate and international banking has been the ultimate boon for the private banks, and ultimately the careers of the bankers as well.

Success in the banking sector is a lot more than just pressing numbers and making sense of money. If you are dealing directly with customers in the retail-banking department, the importance of interpersonal abilities comes to the fore.

Your role as a communicator, salesperson, negotiator, and facilitator is crucial here since you will be working with different people with different

needs. Behind the scenes, your ability to quantify and make sense of numbers is more important. You must keep yourself updated with the latest techniques and modes of working, and must be extremely quick and accurate when it comes to decision making.

If you perceive yourself as the ideal banker ready to handle a high voltage career in the field of banking, you must be prepared for anything. First and foremost, work hours can and generally will be long. Working in an ultra-competitive environment, you must be prepared to go that extra mile, and trust me when I say this: your bank account will be happier for it! High pressure, hard work is imperative but it all boils down to great rewards eventually. l Nakibul Hoq is a Research Analyst and Naiian Yazdani is the Director of Strategy at GradConnect, an international career information and advisory firm. You can email them at hello@grad-connect.com, and learn more about GradConnect on www.gradconnect.com

BIGSTOCK

How to get out of covering for lazy colleagues n Ahsan Sajid Friendliness and approachability at work are two major assets for anybody – employee or employer.

It helps you get along with your colleagues better, it makes you the go-to person, those subordinate to you or higher up in the command chain usually seek you out for any work-related issue and clients prefer dealing with you. However, for every nice person at work, there is someone, or a group of someones, waiting to take advantage of this amiability.

It is not always just the nice people being taken advantage of: the gullible,

shy and the new employees are also frequent victims. If you have a colleague repeatedly taking advantage of you by having you do his or her work, or covering for them in front of the boss, it may be time to take a stand.

How are you covering for your colleague?

Identify ways in which you are covering for your colleague. There is a difference between being supportive and enabling laziness. Are you finishing projects that are not your responsibility so the team does not look bad? Are you doing additional work because someone else’s performance impacts your job in the long run? Are you making excuses for others? Are you lying to your supervisor or boss on some-

Having the talk is easier than following through, for those who are too nice for their own good

BIGSTOCK

one else’s behalf?

How is this interfering with your work?

It is good to be good. However, constantly covering for someone else eventually takes its toll. You may be spending less time with family than you should, constantly feeling anxious given the extra stress, your own work may be suffering and even worse – your boss might notice your quality deteriorating.

Talk to your colleague frankly Next time your colleague brings in half-finished work and expects you to take it from there, or bails on an important meeting and expects you to take notes for them, take them away from the floor to have a frank and

private talk. Mention how their tardiness is affecting your work, and how you want to find common ground and avoid such problems in the future.

Do not be afraid to hurt feelings You are having a professional talk, so despite your close relationship, do not be afraid to get right to the point.

Explain how you feel personally and professionally impacted, and how you want to help them deal with their issues whatever they may be, but that you will not do their work for them. Be sure to state you are no longer going to cover for anybody’s inefficiency or ineptitude.

Stick to the decision Having the talk is easier than following through, for those who are too nice for their own good. The cycle will not stop till you actually make it stop.

A lot of people will continue to slack of even after your talk. Do not entertain such behaviours. If they come to you for help, make sure you remain steadfast with your original decision.

Accept failure There may be some general failures involved, which you will have to learn to accept. Allow your colleague to fail; you do not have to take the additional stress. Even if it is impacting your overall work, the higher ups will notice who is doing their job and who is not as long as you are not making excuses for others. The only way your bosses will find the weak link in the chain is by seeing it themselves.

Your job is not to make others happy If you find yourself in a situation where you are reverting to your old ways, remind yourself of where the road leads.

If you are helping someone write their emails today, you will end up making their PowerPoint presentations and progress reports tomorrow. The next time another colleague comes to you for help because of his or her own laziness, remind yourself where this kind of relationship will eventually head and make sure you tactfully refuse. This is not to say that you should become a difficult person to help with, become rude and refuse everyone’s request for help, but remember that you were not hired to make everyone happy. l

BIGSTOCK

Eight steps to prepare for unemployment n Ahsan Sajid Animals behaving strangely before impending doom is something we have all heard of – dogs go crazy barking before a big earthYOUR CUP quake; birds behave OF TEA strangely out of pattern before a big hurricane; earthworms dig out of the ground before big floods.

Similarly, human beings can also detect impending doom, albeit a different kind, such as the end of a relationship or an imminent sacking.

If you have been noticing warning signals and think you may be about to get laid off, it is prudent to prepare for it, whether it comes to pass or not. Preparing for unemployment is difficult enough as it is. If you have dependents, then you are heading for troubled waters. Consider the following suggestions on how to get ready for joblessness.

Start a rainy day fund: The most important step to preparing for unemployment is to have a negligible rainy day fund. Negligible in this instance means enough money to last you three to six months without a job. There is no such thing as unemployment benefits in Bangladesh, so unless you already have emergency money set aside, there is no time like right now to start saving.

You do not want to lose your job and find yourself without a safety net.

Live frugally: Being thrifty is not a process, it is a way of life, which makes it difficult to attain unless you are not used to living within your means. If you know you are heading towards joblessness, stop spending money on things unless you absolutely need them, and cut corners at every available opportunity.

Get overdue medical check-ups: Fringe benefits such as medical insurance or coverage are often the last things on one’s mind before losing a job. However, if you know your dismissal is imminent, now may be the time to schedule any medical or dental appointments you have been putting off all these

years. You do not want to be jobless and have to cover huge medical expenses.

Snap that credit card in half: Unless you absolutely need to, stop using your credit card now. If you lose your job today, it is just one more extra payment to deal with tomorrow. If you can tell that your job is in danger, stop charging anything on your credit cards.

Collect work samples: Once you get laid off, you will no longer have access to your workstation or work email; start collecting samples of your work (such as written pieces, proposal drafts, presentations) on a pen drive or email the files to your personal account. When you look for a new job, they will want to look at samples of your previous work, and you do not want to find yourself without access to them.

Reinvigorate your networking skills: Networking is not a one-off activity but a constant development. However, unless the job expressly requires it, it is common to fall out of the practice.

When you are heading towards unemployment, you need to scurry towards your closest acquaintances and be on the lookout for opportunities. Keep an eye open for potential opportunities at all times, whether you are at a work event or a friend’s child’s birthday party.

Study your contract: Go through your employment contract thoroughly and figure out if you have any unused leaves left. It may be a good time to use them up before it is too late. Also look through the sections regarding dismissal and how long a notice your employer will have to provide, so you know how best to prepare for it.

Have the talk: Unemployment is a difficult and emotionally stressful time, not just for you but everyone who cares about you. If you are looking at a looming removal, have a talk with anyone who will be impacted by the loss of your job, such as your spouse, parents, children etc. Make sure you are on the same page, and most importantly, can start prioritising and setting financial goals together. l

WORDS OF WISDOM

The biggest mistake that you can make is to believe that you are working for somebody else. Job security is gone. The driving force of a career must come from the individual. Remember: Jobs are owned by the company, you own your career!

– Earl Nightingale, American motivational speaker and author, known as the “Dean of Personal Development”

Know your abbreviations n Career Desk

BIZ VOCAB

COD - cash on delivery @ - at

Dept. - department

a/c - account

e.g. - exempli gratia (for example)

AGM - annual general meeting

EGM - extraordinary general meeting

a.m. - ante meridiem (before noon)

a/o - account of (on behalf of) AOB - any other business ASAP - as soon as possible ATM - automated teller machine (cash dispenser)

ETA - estimated time of arrival Etc - et caetera (and so on) GDP - gross domestic product GNP - gross national product GMT - Greenwich mean time (time in London) i.e. - id est (meaning : ‘that is’)

attn. - for the attention of

Inc - incorporated

approx. - approximately

IOU - I owe you

cc - copy to

IPO - initial public offer

CEO - chief executive officer

Jr - junior

c/o - care of (on letters: at the address of)

K - thousand

Co - company

Lb - pound (weight)