February 03, 2014

Magh 21, 1420 Rabius Saani 2, 1435 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 1 No 310

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

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9 | PROTESTS MAR THAI POLLS

AL and BNP neck and neck Poll puts AL at 41%, BNP 38% with balance of power held by undecided 14% n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla If an election was held today, 41.5% would vote for the Awami League and 37.6% for the BNP, a survey has revealed.

However, with a margin of error of 2.53% and a significant amount of 13.9% still undecided or refusing to reveal who they would vote for, the electoral environment remained competitive, the survey report concluded.

The survey was conducted by a US-based organisation Nielsen and endorsed by Democracy International Inc, which provided analytical and technical services to the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and other development partners.

The Democracy International conducted the survey across Bangladesh after the January 5 poll funded jointly by the US and the UK. The nationwide opinion poll, conducted from January 11-15, was based on

Do you think things in Bangladesh are headed in the right direction or are they headed in the wrong direction?

WRONG

DON’T KNOW

RIGHT

61%

9%

30%

face-to-face interviews of 1,500 Bangladeshi adults of various ages. The survey revealed that although it has not yet been a month that the Awami League had assumed power for the second time in a row, its popularity was already sliding.

When asked whether they would have voted for the Awami League had the January 5 election been fully participatory, 42.7% said they would have.

However, when asked whether they would vote for the Awami League if

there was an election right now, only 41.5% said they would – marking a slide of more than 1%.

About 37.6% of the respondents said they would vote for the BNP if an election was held right now. However, 35.1% of the respondents said they would have chosen BNP if the January 5 poll was fully participatory – marking a 2.5% rise in popularity for BNP. The survey marked a more than 8% rise in the number of voters who did not know or were yet to decide who to vote for.

Some 13.9% of the respondents said they were not sure who they would vote for if an election was held right now. About 5.1% of them said they were undecided during the election.

Demanding restoration of the caretaker government system for overseeing the national election, the BNP boycotted the poll, virtually giving its arch rival Awami  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

13 | PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

Seven out of ten want immediate dialogue n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla Irrespective of their political affiliations, most of the respondents of a survey have opined that the ruling Awami League and the BNP must immediately enter into a dialogue.

The Democracy International Inc. survey, conducted by research body Nielsen from January 11-15, interviewed 1,500 adult Bangladeshis of various ages from across the country.

P2 MORE STORIES “Seven out of 10 of both BNP and Awami League supporters want their party to compromise and immediately enter dialogue in order to end the political stalemate,” the survey report said.

In reply to the query on whether the “current government should engage in a dialogue with the BNP and come to an agreement on new elections arrangement,” 57% of the interviewees

Police, BCL attack students; 100 hurt, RU closed sine die n RU Correspondent The Rajshahi University authority yesterday at an emergency meeting decided to close the university sine die from today and asked its students to vacate the dormitories by 8am.

The decision came after at least 100 students were injured in yesterday’s clash between students, police and activists of Chhatra League.

Of the injured, around 20 were bullet- and rubber bullet-hit.

The bullet-hit injured are Parag, Rabiul, Mousum, Ashiq, Abdur Rashid, Abdul Latif, Saju (marketing department third year), Ashiqur Rahman, (statistics second year), Zahir Raihan, (management second year), Sohel Rana (MBA), Abu Sufian, Rubel, Parvez, (mass communication MSS final year), Anwar (Botany third year), Touhid (po-

litical science third year), Ragib (mass communication second year), Nazrul (applied chemistry first year), Hamidul, Rana and Rakhi.

They were all admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.

The Chhatra League activists opened fire on the agitating students while police tear shells and rubber bullets.

Moreover, at least 10 journalists, including our RU correspondent, were injured when the newsmen were trying to cover the incident.

The incident took place around 12 noon while the agitating students were holding a sit-in in front of the university’s administrative building.

From the early morning, the students marched on the campus from different halls and private messes and took position in front of all academic  PAGE 2 COLUMN 3

INSIDE Business

B1 Finance Minister AMA Muhith yesterday underscored the need of strong coordination among the concerned countries for a successful South-South cooperation.

Nation

6 Vegetables growers are down as they are not getting fair prices of their agriproduces this year for lack of customers.

Ahead of the upazila elections, Awami League MPs across the country are defying strict orders from the party chief to pressurise the grassroots leadership into picking candidates of their choice.

Awami League in Chhatak upazila, Sunamganj took the decision to back Abru Miah as chairman candidate but

2 Bangladeshis killed, 5 injured in UAE n Rabiul Islam

The first phase of upazila parishad elections will be held on February 19.

According to the Election Commission’s schedule, today is the last day of withdrawal of nomination papers for the first phase.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina warned her party lawmakers not to interfere in upazila elections on January 28  PAGE 2 COLUMN 3

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Awami League MPs defy Hasina local MP Muhibur Rahman Manik is pressurising the grassroots leadership to back his favourite, one Fajlur Rahman.

Similarly, although Shariatpur district Awami League has finalised Mubarok Ali Sikder as their Jajira upazila parishad candidate, local lawmaker BM Mojammel has already declared Tanay Molla as the party-backed candidate.

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Two Bangladeshi migrant workers were stabbed to death and five were injured when they squabbled with fellow workers over a pair of shoes in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Friday.

The deceased were identified as Azad Rahman, 25 and Dulal, 26 while the injured were Abdus Salam, Mohammad Saddam Hossain and Nazmul Haque who are receiving treatment at the Kuwaiti Hospital in Sarjhah in a critical condition.

The two other victims were now in police custody for investigation, therefore their identities could not be confirmed, Mizanur Rahman, first secretary (labour) of Bangladesh consulate in Dubai told the Dhaka Tribune over phone yesterday All the victims are construction workers hailing from Comilla, he said.

On Friday night, the workers quarreled over possession of a pair of shoes at their labour camp in the Sharjah industrial area. At one stage, the attackers stabbed the victims with kitchen knives, leaving two dead and three severely injured.

Mizanur Rahman said: “At a time when a possibility for resuming the market was growing, such a violent incident has set us back.”

A Chhatra League activist open fire on general students and teachers, who were demonstrating against tuition fee hike and introducing evening masters courses, on Rajshahi University campus yesterday. More photos on Page 3 DHAKA TRIBUNE

n Emran Hossain Shaikh

responded in the positive, while 24% said the opposite.

Before the January 5 election this year, the Awami League and the then main opposition BNP held at least three rounds of talks under the mediation of UN envoy Oscar Fernandez-Taranco.

However, just like the secretary general level talks back in 2006, these latest rounds also failed to produce any meaningful outcome.

The respondents were asked a number of questions about what should be the next course of action of the two parties. One of the questions was whether the BNP should “give in to the Awami League’s proposal” and seat for a dialogue; 74% of the respondents said BNP should give in.

Another question was whether the Awami League should “give into the BNP’s proposal” and seat for a dialogue; 83% of the respondents said “yes.”

The survey report did not specify

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Monday, February 3, 2014

Majority thinks government not credible n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla A majority of the respondents of a survey are of the opinion that the new government, formed through the 10th general election, is not credible and there should be re-elections in less than five years from now.

44% believe that the 153 uncontested parliamentary seats was a proof that the election was 'farcical'

Of the 1,500 adult Bangladeshi respondents interviewed by Nielsen on behalf of Democracy International Inc. for the survey, 59% think that there should be another election before five years. 41% of the respondents believe that the current will be in power for less than a year.

About 38% believe that the government will be able to carry on for 4-5 years.

From the areas where voting was held in the January 5 election, 49% of the respondents said the election was credible. 38% of the respondents from

49% not bothered about BNP’s ties with Jamaat n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla Around half of the people said it did not matter to them who BNP’s political allies were, according to an opinion poll carried out by Democracy International.

On the other hand, 32% people said BNP must cut its alliance with Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami while 19% people were undecided, said the survey report.

The nationwide opinion poll based on face to face interviews of 1,500 respondents of different ages starting from 18 years also says 52% of Awami League supporters were of the view that the BNP should cut ties with Jamaat while 17% BNP supporters also had the same view.

The survey was conducted by Nielsen. The fieldwork of the survey was held from January 11 to 15, a few days after the 10th general elections which the BNP boycotted. l

the areas where candidates were elected uncontested said the election was not credible.

While nearly all BNP supporters, who responded to the survey questionnaire, said there should be a re-election, 27% of the interviewed Awami League supporters also felt the same need.

According to the survey report, 55% of the respondents think that the January 5 election was a “farce,” while 41% say the election was “necessary/credible” because it was conducted in line with the country’s constitution.

Of the one and a half thousand respondents, who were interviewed faceto-face from January 11-15, 44% believe that the 153 uncontested parliamentary seats was a proof that the election was “farcical.” 36% of the interviewees said there was no competition in those seats because the then opposition voluntarily pulled out of it.

The survey report also stated that according to 48% of the people interviewed, the current situation was different from 1996 when the Awami League boycotted the national election held unilaterally by the BNP government. l

UAE, one of the prospective overseas labour markets for Bangladesh, stopped issuing visas since August 20, 2012.

Officials in Dhaka said the market was shut down because of criminal activities of Bangladeshi migrant workers.

Stresses effective steps to inquire into wealth of lawmakers

n

Tribune Report

The Transparency International Bangladesh yesterday expressed concern over laying foundation of a bridge in Lakshmipur by the Anti-Corruption Commission Chief M Bodiuzzaman and also called upon the ACC high-ups to avoid such practice to keep the image of the commission untainted.

“Inauguration of bridges and participation in political programmes by the anti-graft body chief can create conflict of interest of ACC and be a bar to smooth functioning of the anti-graft activities from an independent and impartial view,” TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said.

In a written statement, he said the anti-graft body should be aware that it was an organisation established by the

According to the Bangladesh mission in UAE, around 8,00,000 to 9,00,000 Bangladeshi workers are currently residing in the oil rich country.

Around 23,00,000 Bangladeshis have left for UAE for work since 1976, according to the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training. l

Seven out of ten want immediate dialogue  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

what “BNP’s proposal” and “Awami League’s proposal” meant.

The BNP has been demanding that the government reinstalled the caretaker system in the constitution before entering any dialogue, while the Awami League wants BNP to cut ties with Jamaat-e-Islami before talks.

The survey report also said: “52% of the respondents think BNP should immediately enter a dialogue with the government and cease agitation.”

When asked whether they agreed “to hold election under elected members of all-party government headed by Sheikh Hasina,” 51% of the respondents replied in the negative. l

AL and BNP neck and neck  PAGE 1 COLUMN 4

League a walkover to form the 10th parliament with absolute majority. 153 out of the 300 parliamentary seats saw representatives elected uncontested.

Apart from the face-to-face interviews, the survey also constituted telephone interviews.

That section of the opinion poll also showed that the Awami League, with 37% responding in its favour, was slightly more popular than the BNP, who clinched favourable opinions from 31% of the respondents, if votes were held right now.

Out of the 1,044 surveyed over phone, 23% said they were not sure who to vote for in case there was an election right now.

Of those surveyed face-to-face, 69% felt that the country was heading in the wrong direction because of political conflicts, too many hartals and price

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina receives a letter from Iranian Ambassador to Bangladesh Hossein Aminian Tousi on behalf of Iranian President Hasan Rouhani, at her office yesterday PMO

Students of Dhaka University yesterday protested the attacks conducted by police and Chhatra League activists on Rajshahi University students, who were demonstrating against the extended tuition fees.

Anti-Imperialist Students Union and Progressive Student Union brought out separate processions yesterday afternoon at the campus and organised rallies condemning the attack.

The two associations demanded immediate resignation of Rajshahi University vice-chancellor and announced programmes for today in this regard.

PSU organiser and DU Bangladesh Chhatra Union President Maruf Billa slammed Chhatra League and police for attacking general students who were demonstrating for a valid demand.

DU Bangladesh Chhatra Federation chief Samia Rahman said: “We are also moving against the extended tuition fees at Dhaka University and express solidarity with the movement at Rajshahi University.”

AISU convener and Bangladesh Chhatra Federation chief Samiul Alam said the movement was part of a bigger move against the commercialisation of education throughout the country.

He said the attacks proved the rule of fascism and partisanship of the administration under it and called students all over the country to join the movement. l

TIB expresses concern over laying Survey supports EC foundation of bridge by ACC chief claim about 40% votes

Two Bangladeshis killed, five injured in UAE  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

DU students protest RU attacks n Tribune Report

hike. In a survey conducted in November last year, about 62% thought the same way.

According to the opinion poll report, 72% of the people identified political instability as the biggest problem for the country.

When asked about immediate dialogues, 70% of the respondents said the two parties, namely Awami League and BNP, should engage in immediate talks to resolve the prevailing political stalement.

Some 57% of the respondents said the current Awami League government was not credible.

The Democracy International Inc. survey also reconfirmed that 40% votes were cast in the 10th parliamentary election as was claimed by the Election Commission despite boycott by the BNP. According to the survey report, 40.7% of the respondents said they had practiced their voting rights. l

government, but it was not a government one.

The ACC had to keep away from all sorts of party influences, added he.

'Inauguration of bridges and participation in political programmes by the ACC chief can create conflict of interest...'

If the ACC chief failed to stay away from conventional behavior of such traditions, which were usually made by the lawmakers or government employees, it would curb its professionalism and mar its image, he said.

Iftekharuzzaman also expressed concern over the ACC’s role in lingering the probe into wealth of former and

current lawmakers.

“If the ACC can initiate inquiry against a suspected one, it can also initiate inquiry against others, following the same procedure,” TIB said.

It also called upon the ACC to initiate inquiry into the wealth of all candidates of 10th parliamentary election with professionalism.

The ACC Chief M Bodiuzzaman on February 1 laid foundation stones of two bridges in Lakshmipur district.

He also participated in a dinner organised by Lakshmipur Municipality mayor.

The ACC representatives should avoid such programmes, TIB observed, adding that the anti-graft officials should only attend programmes related to inquiry into graft allegations and anti-graft campaigns. l

n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla A survey of the Democracy International Inc. has reconfirmed the Election Commission’s claim that around 40% votes were cast in last month’s 10th general election amid boycott from the BNP. “Of those interviewed in the areas where there was voting, 40.7% said they had cast their votes.

This corresponds with the official numbers released by the BEC [Bangladesh Election Commission],” the survey report said.

As lawmakers were elected uncontested in a total of 153 seats, voters in only 146 constituencies got chance to exercise their franchise. The BNP alleged that less than 5% votes were cast in the January 5 election.

The nationwide opinion poll, based on face-to-face interviews with 1,500 Bangladeshi adults, also said 77% of

the respondents did not cast their votes in the election.

Democracy International Inc. released the results of the opinion survey conducted by famous research organisation Nielsen from January 11-15.

The survey also said 10% of the interviewed BNP supporters cast their votes in the election although the party had boycotted and threatened to resist it. None of the surveyed supporters of Jamaat-e-Islami cast their votes.

About BNP’s boycott, 52% said it was not successful. 42% thought that the new government did not have any moral or constitutional ground to rule the country.

The survey report also said 45% people thought that the Election Commission did not act neutrally in the elections. 48% said the election was not held freely and fairly and there was fraud everywhere. l

Police, BCL attack RU students; 100 injured, 20 bullet-hit  PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

buildings, padlocking their gates to observe strike enforced for the third consecutive day.

Later, over 5,000 students joined the sit-in in front of the university’s administrative building at 11am.

Around 12noon, Chhatra League activists drew a procession led by its RU unit President Mizanur Rahman Rana and General Secretary Touhid-al-Hossain Tuhin.

The party activists allegedly entered the students’ demonstration and launched an attack on them.

During the attack, BCL activists allegedly fired bullet at random at the students. Police also started firing rubber bullets and tear shells to disperse the agitating students.

After dispersion, the general stu-

dents took position at different points on the campus and kept chanting slogans.

The Chhatra League activists later chased after the students while allegedly opening fire at them at the same time to oust them from the campus.

Around 2pm, a large number of agitating students assembled in front of the university’s central library.

The protesters declared that they would continue movement till their three-point demand were met.

They also added two more demand that includes exemplary punishment to the BCL attackers and bearing of all medical expenses of the injured by the university authorities.

The general students had been continuing their movement from January 16 this year under the banner of

Awami League MPs defy Hasina  PAGE 1 COLUMN 5

at an Awami League Parliamentary Party meeting at the Sangsad Bhaban.

“A single candidate will be chosen through discussion with the party’s grassroots level, including ward, union and upazila unit. All MPs will coordinate it but no interference will be allowed,” Hasina, the party president, warned the MPs. But violating these stern instructions, many lawmakers are meddling and pressurising the local committees to pick their preferred candidates. Some are pressurising local leaders to choose their relatives as chairmen candidates.

The president and secretary of Sunamganj district unit Awami League claimed local MP Manik was putting pressure on local leaders to select his preferred candidate.

“We have finalised one candidate everywhere except Chhatak, because of local MP Muhibur Rahman Manik,” Secretary Nurul Huda Mukut told the Dhaka Tribune.

In Shairatpur, the local committee took the decision to back Mubarok Ali

Sikder as chairman candidate of Jajira upazila pasrishad, but local Awami League MP BM Mojammel Hossain declared Tanay Molla as the party’s candidate.

“We finalised that we would be supporting Mubarok Sikder at a joint meeting, as instructed by party President Sheikh Hasina. He is our candidate for the election. But if the local MP wants to support another person what can we do?” Abdur Rab Munshi, the president of Shariatpur district unit, said.

“There is a huge support for Awami League in Jajira upazila. But why does the MP want a terrorist like Tanay Molla?” he said.

BM Mojammel Haq MP of Shariatpur 1 constituency said the party grassroots would back Tanay Molla as chairman candidate for Jajira.

“In a meeting of the party upazila unit meeting on January 23, they finalised Tanay Molla as chairman candidate,” Mojammel, the central organising secretary of Awami League, said.

“On January 23 I was in Jessore for official tour and I did not join the meet-

“Teachers-Students against increased fees and evening courses” to push for their three-point demand.

The three were withdrawal of the recently taken decision to introduce evening master’s courses under the Social Science Faculty, putting a stop to the ongoing evening master’s courses at the BBA and Law Faculty and decrease in the recently hiked fees.

The RU students also abstained from joining classes and examinations from Thursday. Asked about the police role, the deputy commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (East) said the lawmen fired rubber bullets and tear shells as the students went on the rampage.

Proctor Tarikul Hasan told the newsmen that the situation was under control.

Chhatra League President Mizanur

Rahman Rana gave the version that they went into action as the students were trying to make the situation of the university unstable.

A five-member probe team has been formed to investigate the yesterday’s incident on the campus.

Prof Khalequzzaman of Zoology Department heads the investigation team.

RU Vice-Chancellor Prof Mizanuddin on Saturday at a press briefing postponed the decision to hike fees following a continuous strike and demonstration by the students on the campus while two others demand of the students were yet to be settled.

The agitated students, however, declared that they would continue their campaign till all their demand were met. l

ing where Tanay Molla was chosen as the party-backed candidate,” he added.

Rezaul Islam Reza and Tozammel Haque, brothers of Bogra 5 MP Md. Habibur Rahman, have filed nomination papers as upazila parishad chairman candidates in the district.

Reza, who filed nomination for Dhunat, told the Dhaka Tribune: “We two brothers have submitted nomination papers, but being the brother of the local MP, I was criticised by many quarters. So I have decided to withdraw my nomination.”

He claimed that the president and secretary of the district unit had picked a candidate ignoring the grassroots opinion.

Md. Momjat Uddin, the president of Bogra district unit, said the party grassroots had finalised the unit’s General Secretary Mujibur Rahman Majnu as chairman candidate for Sherpur upazila. “Many people have tried to influence this decision,” he alleged.

Tozammel Haque, who filed nomination for Sherpur upazila, said he would contest the upazila election.

“Filing his nomination as an independent candidate in the last national election, Mujibur Rahman Majnu lost his membership of the party. So how did he become the party-backed candidate?” Tojammel said.

He said, “I have filed my nomination and I will contest the election.”

MP Habibur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune that as the local MP he had joined the meeting where the candidate was picked, but did not play any role as per the instructions of the party chief.

“I went there like a volunteer observer,” he said.

Kazi Jafrullah, a presidium member of Awami League, told the Dhaka Tribune that he had no information of any interference from party lawmakers in the selection of upazila polls candidates.

As a local party leader, lawmakers could play a role in picking candidates by helping organise.

“We hope the candidates will be chosen in the way party President Sheikh Hasina has instructed. If anyone interferes with the process, necessary measures will be taken,” he said. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

3

Monday, February 3, 2014

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Chhatra League activists bring out a procession, led by its President Mizanur Rahman Rana and General Secretary Touhid-al-Hossain Tuhin (on motorcycle), on RU campus before the attack l Protesters run for safety after Chhatra League activists attacked them in front of the administration building. Police also fired tear shells and rubber bullets l Students rush an injured female to the hospital l Chhatra League activists pelting brickbats on protesters l Students escort an injured to the hospital l A man carries a student hit by rubber bullets to the hospital DHAKA TRIBUNE

Hasina-Manmohan meet likely in March n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman The third Bimstec summit will be held on March 4 in Myanmar’s capital Naypyidaw to boost regional cooperation, it was confirmed on Thursday.

Heads of governments and states will attend the meeting of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec).

It is expected that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Indian Premier Manmohan Singh would have a meeting on the sidelines of the summit. “In all previous multilateral programmes including the UN General Assembly where Hasina and Manmohan attended, they had a sideline meeting and we expect that there will be no exceptions this time,” said a diplomat.

Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand are the member countries of Bimstec and currently Naypyidaw is the chair. Bimstec was formed in Bangkok in 1997 and had its first summit in 2004 in Bangkok and the second one in New Delhi in 2008. It has 14 sectors and Bangladesh is the lead country in trade, investment and climate change issues.

AT the summit, the countries are likely to sign a deal to set up the Bimstec Secretariat in Dhaka and also a weather and climate centre in New Delhi, said another diplomat. An agreement on cultural industries commission to be set up in Thimpu is also in the pipeline, he said.

“All countries agreed to set up the secretariat in Bangladesh but the formalities are yet to be completed and we hope to conclude them in the summit,” he said.

The government has already allocated a building in Gulshan as an interim headquarter for the secretariat. Renovation of the building is expected to complete in next three or four months.

Sri Lankan diplomat Sumith Nakandala would be the first secretary general of Bimstec. He would visit Dhaka after the completion of the headquarters. “A declaration will be also adopted in the summit,” he said. l

‘Qaisar Bahini’ chief indicted for 1971 crimes Trial against the former Jatiya Party state minister begins on March 4 n Udisa Islam The International Crimes Tribunal yesterday indicted Syed Mohammad Qaisar, a former state minister for agriculture during HM Ershad’s tenure, on 16 charges of crimes against that include genocide, torture, murder and rape during the 1971 Liberation War. The charges are based on 16 separate incidents of crimes against humanity, in which more than 150 unarmed people were killed and two women raped.

After framing of the charges against Qaisar, the tribunal set March 4 for beginning the trial with the opening statement of the prosecution.

In its order, the tribunal directed the

defence side to submit a list of witnesses along with the documents it intended to rely upon on or before the date.

Qaisar, now 73, formed a group named “Qaisar Bahini” with 500 to 700 men, who committed crimes against humanity in Habiganj and Brahmanbaria during the War of Independence, according to prosecution.

Tribunal Chairman Justice Obaidul Hassan read out the charges without any introduction. Justice Mozibur Rahman Miah and Md Shahinur Islam are the other members of the three-member tribunal.

On charge 16, the tribunal said Qaisar was charged for participating, abetting, facilitating and substantially contribut-

Bangladesh would seek help from the US to resolve the Rohingya issue with Myanmar.

The issue will be discussed with Senior Adviser for Burma at the State Department Judith Beth Cefkin while interaction with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahariar Alam and Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque. Cefkin arrived in Dhaka yesterday and is scheduled to fly to Myanmar today.

“Washington would like to develop relationship with Naypyidaw for strategic reasons and Bangladesh wants to take the leverage by request-

ther’s part. The army men thus committed successive rape upon Mazeda.

She managed to return home somehow and received necessary medical treatment. Few days later, she felt her pregnancy that resulted from the forcible sexual invasion caused to her at the army camp.

After the charges were read out, the tribunal chairman asked Qaisar whether he pleaded guilty or not.

At that stage, the accused, now on bail, stood up from his wheelchair and folding his hands said he had not been involved in any crimes and not guilty.

Then the tribunal announced the date of beginning trial.

Qaisar had fled to London after

Bangladesh gained independence in 1971 and returned in 1975. In 1979, he took part in the national election as an independent candidate and was elected as a lawmaker. He then joined the BNP under the leadership of Ziaur Rahman.

During the regime of military dictator HM Ershad, Qaisar joined the Jatiya Party and became the state minister for agriculture.

The prosecution submitted the formal charges on November 10 last year.

He was arrested on May 16 last year, just a day after the tribunal had ordered his arrest, and was admitted to a private hospital in the capital. The tribunal later granted him conditional bail considering his age. l

Witness: Mir Kashem ordered to kill people in Chittagong

Poba: Ban chemical factories in residential areas

n Udisa Islam

n Tribune Report

A witness in the war crimes case against Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mir Kashem Ali alias Bangla Khan said yesterday that the accused had ordered his followers in al-Badr force to abduct, torture and subsequently kill innocent civilians for supporting the Liberation War. Mir Kashem, now Executive Committee member and key financier of the party, with the other collaborators had helped the Pakistani occupation forces to commit atrocities in Chittagong during the war, said the third witness, freedom fighter Nasir Uddin Chowdhury.

The witness also works as a journalist. He said he had fought the war as a member of Bangladesh Liberation

Force (BLF) which is also known as Mujib Bahini.

After his deposition, defence counsel Mizanul Islam asked him four questions and pleaded for an adjournment.

The International Crimes Tribunal 2, headed by Justice Obaidul Hasan, then adjourned the proceedings until today.

“One night in the month of November, I was captured by the alBadr men and taken to Daleem Hotel in the city where al-Badr members had confined and tortured the proliberation people.

“There they tortured me severely and asked me repeatedly about my arms and ammunition and whereabouts of my fellow freedom fighters.

At one stage, Mir Kashem came and as he came to know that I did not give any

Bangladesh to seek US help to address Rohingya issue n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman

ing in the actual commission of killing of 108 unarmed civilians belonging to Hindu community constituting the offence of “genocide,” or in the alternative, for participating abetting, facilitating and substantially contributing the actual commission of offence of extermination as crime against humanity.

In charge 12, the tribunal said at noon of any day in mid-August, Qaisar, his companions in “Qaisar Bahini” and members of razakar force had brought Mazeda Begum, her father Atab Mia and uncle Ayub Mia to the army camp set up at Jagadishpur High School at Madhabpur, on capture from their house.

Qaisar had handed Mazeda over to the army, despite protest on her fa-

ing US to solve the problems,” said a senior diplomat, seeking anonymity.

“We would like to convey our message to the senior adviser andexpect that she would pass it on to Myanmar,” he said.

Bangladesh’s stance is clear. Rohingya issue was not generated in this country and Bangladesh wanted Myanmar to resolve this issue, the diplomat said.

Bangladesh is doing more than it should have done for last 30 years to help the Rohingyas, who were pushed inside the boundary but now it is overburdened with manifold problems, he said.

Officially around 30,000 Rohingya

refugees reside in two camps in Cox’s Bazar while about half a million undocumented Myanmar nationals are estimated to reside in Bangladesh.

Dhaka wants to provide assistance on humanitarian grounds to the refugees but one must understand that it has limitations, the diplomat said.

Rohingyas, the Myanmar nationals, started to come to Bangladesh since there was first influx in late 1970s following sectarian violence and ethnic cleansing began in the Rakhine state close to Bangladesh border by the Myanmar government.

Last year in December, in a testimony given to the Senate, Judith said: “The US government coordinates closely with the international community to send unified messages to the government of Burma on Rakhine State.”

She said after tensions spiraled into violence in June and October 2012, nearly 200 people were killed and approximately 140,000 people, mainly Muslims, displaced and up to 60,000 Rohingyas fled Rakhine State by boat, the highest number in over 20 years. l

information, he asked them to torture me more,” Nasir said adding that he had been beaten up every day.

“My fellow fighters told me that Mir Kashem was the main organiser of alBadr in Chittagong. Members of this auxiliary force of the Pakistani army abducted, tortured and killed unarmed civilians on his order,” he added.

The witness further added that on December 6 of 1971, there was a bombing at the Chittagong airport and Mir Kashem had been injured at that time.

After that, they became more vicious and started to torture the confined pro-liberation people more.

The formal trial against Mir Kashem began On November 18 last year. He is facing 14 charges of crimes against humanity. l

Anwar, Miah get bail, Moudud, Mahbub denied Sakib and n Nazmus Md Sanaul Islam Tipu BNP leaders MK Anwar and Rafiqul Islam Miah can be released from jail as they obtained bail in all cases against them while Moudud Ahmed and Khandker Mahbub Hossain have to remain in prison as they were denied bail in two separate cases.

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court yesterday upheld the bails of four BNP leaders in two cases – Moudud, Anwar, Miah and Shimul Biswas – by dismissing the appeal of the state against the High Court order of January 21.

The five-member bench headed by Chief Justice Md Muzammel Hossain passed the order yesterday morning.

Meanwhile, the High Court bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Mohammad Ullah yesterday afternoon granted a three-month bail to Moudud, Miah and Anwar in an explosives case lodged with Motijheel police station, Ehsanur Rahman, a lawyer of the BNP leaders, said.

Ehasanur said, as Anwar and Miah were granted bail in all five cases against them, they were no legal bars to releasing them. Shimul was released from jail on January 28 .

However, Moudud would have to remain in prison as Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court yesterday refused to grant him bail in a corruption case. l

Environmentalist group Poribesh Bachao Andolan (Poba) yesterday demanded that the government ban chemical factories, store houses and shops of chemical products in residential areas for the sake of public safety.

“We saw the tragic Nimtali Tragedy at Nabab Katra of Old Dhaka in 2010 which caused from a chemical factory. However, the situation did not improve as last Saturday, Pali Plastic and Soap Factory at in Old Dhaka’s Kosaituli of Bangshal faced the same incident,” Poba said in a statement.

Alongside the demand for ban, the group placed three other demands which include shifting of the chemical factories, godowns and shops to a par-

ticular place.

Poba also demanded formulation of a policy and its implementation in this regard.

The fire 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.

The Nimtali fire that broke out on June 3, 2010 in the densely populated older part of Dhaka claimed 117 lives and injured hundreds.

Following the incident, the authorities formed task forces, mobile courts and probe committees to prevent recurrence of such incidents. However, after three years, the chemical factories and warehouses are still being built in Old Dhaka’s residential areas. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Monday, February 3, 2014

Government bats for coal, Rampal power plant n Aminur Rahman Rasel The Rampal coal-based plant is a challenge for the government but it would be implemented fast, said Towfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, power and energy adviser to the prime minister, yesterday.

He claimed that the locals around the plant site in Bagerhat disrict were happy about establishment of the Maitree Super Thermal Power Project, which is popularly known as Rampal Power plant.

The ambient atmosphere of the Sundarbans will not be affected because of using supercritical technology at the plant The adviser was speaking at a seminar titled “Coal Power Generation in Bangladesh: World’s Best Practices” at Bidyut Bhaban in the capital. The Power Cell under the energy, power an dmineral resources ministry arranged the event.

Towfiq said the chimney of the plant would be 275 miters high. So, the smoke to be emitted from burning coal would not harm the Sundarbans, one the world’s largest mangrove forests. Besides this, the ambient atmosphere would not be affected because of using supercritical technology at the plant.

On January 29, 2012, the government struck a deal with India for installing the 1,320MW coal-based power plant on the bank of Poshur River of the Sundarbans.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the construction work in October last year.

The Indian state-owned power company is implementing the project where

Former Rajshahi University students form a human chain in front of Raju Bhashkarja pleding support for the ongoing protets at Rajshahi University over higher tuition fees and evening masters courses, on Dhaka University campus yesterday RAJIB DHAR

Mashiur: BNP violated constitution n Abu Bakar Siddique

BNP-Jamaat violated the constitution, as their programmes were harmful for democracy, secularism, equal citizenship right and equality of women.

Mashiur Rahman, adviser to the prime minister, made the comment while addressing a discussion titled Rethinking Political Development in the International Political Science (IPSA) Conference.

The two-day long programme was jointly organised by IPSA, Policy Research Institute and Bangladesh Enterprise Institute at PRI office in the capital.

The BNP failed to make any credible offer for making the country’s politics peaceful as the party is yet to decide whether it will cut the ties with Jamaat, Mashiur said.

Terming the BNP-Jamaat initiatives unrealistic, he also said the BNP-Jamaat alliance had not taken any realistic initiatives to ensure the country’s development. There is no indication of BNP’s policies for socio-economic development and it has also failed to sever ties with Jamaat-e-Islam.

Replying to the questions from journalists about imposing ban on Jamaat’s politics, he said that the issue was in

the hands of the court, though the EC cancelled the party’s registration.

The discussion was arranged to review the ongoing political turmoil in the region where the researchers and experts from different countries joined.

Regarding women’s empowerment, Maneeza Hossain, senior fellow of Hudson Institute said that Bangladesh was a bit ahead than many other Muslim majority countries in the region due to the huge presence of women workforce in the readymade garments factory.

Terming the present situation unfortunate, she also said incidents of

Government to send probe team to Malaysia

12-year-old boy rescued, 2 held n Kailash Sarkar

n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman

A 12-year-old boy who had been reportedly kidnapped by a gang of criminals on January 31 was rescued and two of the alleged abductors were arrested from the capital’s Green Road yesterday.

According to RAB 2 officials, the two were arrested when they tried to collect Tk19 lakh as ransom against their demand of Tk30 lakh. The arrestees were Md Sujon, 19, and Russell Sarkar, 18.

Yiasir Arafat, son of Kamrul Islam, was kidnapped from in front of Bashundhara Shopping Mall around 6pm.

After an hour of the incident, one of the abductors called the boy’s mother and demanded Tk30 lakh as ransom.

Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police Raihan Uddin Khan, also the operation officer of Rab 2, said four more youths were also involved with the abduction. l

WEATHER

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

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

Mild cold wave is sweeping over Rajshahi, Pabna, Jessore, Kustia and Srimangal and it may continue.

The sun sets in the capital at 5:46pm today and rises at 6:38am tomorrow.

Country’s highest temperature 30.2 degrees Celsius was recorded yesterday in Sylhet and lowest 8.8 degrees in Srimangal and Ishwardi. Highest and lowest temperature recorded in some major cities yesterday were: City

High

Low

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

27.5 26.4 23.0 19.5 26.2 26.4 30.2 28.4

13.3 16.4 9.5 11.0 12.2 12.4 13.0 18.0

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

they will use imported coal to generate electricity. The government has plans to construct another coal plant of similar capacity at the same site and several others across the country, mainly in the coastal areas.

An India-Bangladesh joint venture, the Rampal plant has been facing strong criticism from conservationists as it falls within the vicinity of the Sundarbans, a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Power Division Secretary Monowar Islam said the government had targeted producing around 20,000MW of electricity by 2030 from coal.

The country would require to produce 24,000MW electricity by 2021 and 40,000MW by 2030, as per the power sector roadmap.

Anjuman Islam, an environmental engineer, and Kazi Ahmad Pervez, faculty member of Eastern University, jointly presented the keynote paper at the seminar.

They said coal was a key fuel used for generating electricity worldwide. In 2012, coal was used to generate 41% of the world’s total electricity.

Bangladesh should diversify its electricity generation scheme by establishing more coal-fried mega power plants to solve the country’s electricity demand in the future, they said.

They said clean coal technology with highly-efficient supercritical boiler was a proven technology used worldwide in generating power with minimal disruption of ambient air and water quality.

With proper monitoring of the effluent parameters and maintenance of the power plant, there was no other major environmental concern.

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid, Power Cell Director General Mohammad Hossain and Prof Ijaz Hossain of Buet also spoke on the occasion. l

5:21am 6:38am 12:12am 4:10pm 5:46pm 7:04pm

Source: IslamicFinder.org

The government is planning to send a probe team to Kuala Lumpur to investigate a case where over 500 passports had gone missing from the Bangladesh High Commission in Malaysia.

“We have learnt about the incident and it is the usual practice to send a probe team whenever an issue arises at the high commission. The team would be sent soon,” said a senior diplomat, seeking anonymity.

The high commission had formed a committee to investigate the issue

Hindu couple tortured for ransom n

Our Correspondent, Jhenaidah

Identified criminals have tortured a Hindu couple at Dakatia village under Jhenaidah sadar when they failed to realise ransom from the house owner.

The injured were admitted to Jhenaidah sadar hospital for treatment, said locals. Victim Phanibhushan Roy, who is a small businessman, said the gang were creating pressure on him for a long time. Recently they demanded Tk50,000.

On Saturday afternoon, failing to realise the money, some eight criminals swooped on the inmates of the house.

They started beating up Phanibhushan and his wife Madhuri Roy, he told the Dhaka Tribune at the hospital.

The criminals also looted gold ornaments and cash worth at least Tk2.1 lakh from their house, said the couple.

Phanibhushan filed a case with Jhenaidah sadar police station. l

which is expected to submit a report by next week, Bangladesh High Commissioner to Malaysia AKM Atiqur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune on Friday.

After getting the report, the mission would inform the foreign ministry and take action in line with the report, he said.

The mission in early December received some passports which belonged to a series that should still be in the stock.

The missing came to light at that time.

“After getting the news, we started the investigation,” he said.

When asked if the mission authorities suspected Suchona Rani Halder, the cus-

todian of the passports, the high commissioner refused to comment before getting the report.

However, the high commission through a mail asked Suchona, a former Chhatra League leader, to report to the mission. The Dhaka Tribune obtained a copy of the email.

Suchona, posted to the mission last October, went on leave for 10 days and was supposed to report to the mission

by December 15. But she is yet to return.

When contacted, she told the Dhaka Tribune that she had been sick and she would go back after completing her

medical treatment.

Regarding the missing passports, she said a racket of officers and staff was responsible for the incident, adding that passports go missing frequently.

However, she denied naming anyone involved in the racket. She said she wanted to be posted in the Australian mission but she did not get it and later she was posted to Malaysia.

“I do not want to stay there [Malaysia] and I want posting in Kolkata or Delhi and I will meet HT Imam [political adviser to the prime minister] about the matter,” she said. l

Sylhet hawkers, traders fight for space n Our Correspondent, Sylhet Hawkers and businessmen in the city were locked in a battle yesterday centering an eviction drive to keep the footpath hawker-free.

The hawkers brought out a procession protesting the eviction programme taken by the authorities of Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) recently.

Eye-witnesses said police had dispersed the procession while hundreds of hawkers brought out demonstration in the city demanding rehabilitation.

On the other hand, businessmen were locked in a clash with the hawkers and called upon the locals to make the city clean and beautiful.

Zidan Al Musa, additional deputy commissioner of Sylhet metropolitan police, said: “Everyone wants to build a clean city. But, the two groups are in conflicting positions. We are trying to solve the matter through mutual understanding.” In reply to a question, he said: “The police did not stop hawkers from holding processions. We advised

them to submit a memorandum to the police commissioner.”

The businessmen on behalf of Sylhet Mohanagar Hawker Sangram Parishad submitted a memorandum to the police commissioner. It mentioned that there are about 20,000 hawkers in the city.

But they were evicted to enhance the beauty of the city after SCC Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury took the office.

On the other hand, the hawkers re-

quested the authorities to give them the opportunity to sell items from 12pm12am from Saturday to Thursday and from 4pm-12am during the other four days before rehabilitation.

They also requested the police commissioner to allow them to sit in Jalalabad Park, owned by the City Corporation.

On Saturday night, the hawkers at a meeting said they were always ready to make the footpath free. l

3,000 sued for attack on Nadvi Rana Plaza owner denied bail n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong Police yesterday arrested 54 more Jamaat-Shibir activists in connection with the assault of ruling party’s Abu Reza Mohammad Nezamuddin Nadvi MP in Lohagara of Chittagong on Friday.

They were arrested from different areas of Lohagara after an overnight drive, Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Shahjahan of Lohagara police station said.

After a case was filed on Saturday night, the police arrested 22 Jamaate-Islami activists and its student body Islami Chhatra Shibir. SI Abdul Awal of Lohagara police lodged the case accusing 3,000 Jamaat-Shibir men, naming

125 people including ANM Shamsul Islam, ameer of Jamaat’s city unit.

At a press briefing at Chittagong Press Club yesterday morning, Nadvi claimed that the Jamaat-Shibir men had attempted to kill him that night.

Nadvi and other local Awami League lawmakers said the Jamaat-Shibir men had been conducting attacks in Satkania and Lohagara upazilas since last year, affecting the local people especially those from the minority communities.

Protesting the attack, the local AL unit will hold a protest rally in Chunati area in Lohagara today. A long-march from the port city to Satkania will also be organised by district AL on February 8. l

n Nazmus Sakib The High Court yesterday declined to give bail to Sohel Rana, the key accused in a case filed under the Building Construction Act and Building Code in connection with the Rana Plaza collapse that killed more than 1,130 people on April 24 last year.

The bench of Justice Nizamul Huq and Justice Jahangir Hossain passed the order rejecting the bail petition of Rana, a Jubo League leader in Savar, his lawyer Najmul Huda told the Dhaka Tribune.

The High Court earlier granted bail to Abdul Khalek, father of the building owner, the lawyer said.

Rana’s counsel told the court that his client was entitled to bail considering the offence. In the hearing, Deputy Attorney General Amit Talukdar said Rana could not be granted bail as the collapse of the building had killed many people, and for which, the USA suspended GSP facilities for Bangladesh.

The collapse of nine-storey Rana Plaza claimed the lives of at least 1,134 people – mostly workers of the five garment factories housed in the building and left around 2,500 others injured.

Police filed four criminal cases while the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha lodged one for constructing the building in violation of the related laws. l

violence against women had taken place in spite of the country being led by women in the last two decades.

Professor Rehman Sobhan, chairman of Centre for Policy Dialogue, expressed the need for a dialogue to fix the procedure of 11th national parliament election as early as possible.

Regarding the rivalry between the country’s two major political parties Awami League and BNP, former ambassador Humayun Kabir said both the parties should come to a common understanding about the country’s development by overcoming their individual interest. l

Buet students stage demo n Ashif Islam Shaon

Students of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology took to the streets after a fellow student sustained injuries in a road mishap in Palashi intersection of the capital yesterday.

They also vandalised and torched a microbus, and burnt tires on the road, bringing the traffic in Palashi intersection to a halt for more than four hours.

Anika Farzana, a third year student of Architecture Department of the university, was injured when the microbus hit a rickshaw that was carrying her around 9am, said Sirajul Islam, officerin-charge of Shahbagh police station.

Her fellow students later took her to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

As soon as the news spread, over 300 angry students took to the street in front of the university, the OC said.

The students demonstrated demanding limited public transport movement on the campus and constructing a roundabout to stop haphazard movement of vehicles at the intersection.

Later, SM Nazrul Islam, vice-chancellor of Buet, visited the spot and assured the students of restricting entry of public vehicles to the campus.

In the face of the demonstration, a makeshift roundabout was being built at Palashi intersection by Buet authorities to control the vehicular movement there. l

7 doctors suspended for absence at work

n Tribune Report

The government has suspended seven physicians because of their unauthorised absence at workplaces.

The suspended doctors are Dr Md Rajib Mahmud, medical officer of Shibpur upazila health complex of Narsingdi; Dr Mohammad Mahamudul Kabir Bashar, assistant surgeon of Jessore sub-health centre of the same upazila; Dr Pobina Afroz Parvin, junior consultant at Palash upazila health complex in Narsingdi; Dr Nahida Begum, medical officer of Gojaria sub-health centre; Dr Md Sharif Ahmed, assistant surgeon of the same health sub-centre; and Dr Nurun Nahar, assistant surgeon of Danga sub-health centre, according to a press release.

During a sudden visit on Thursday, Basu Dev Ganguly, joint secretary of the health ministry, and Dr Shah Newaz, director (administration) of the Directorate General of Health Services, found them absent at their work stations. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

5

Monday, February 3, 2014

Urban planners see no hope of jam-free city Lack of coordination between government agencies holding back progress n Abu Hayat Mahmud Traffic congestion in the capital has become unbearable as different government agencies have failed to implement different projects in an integrated way to tackle problem.

Urban planners said city congestion would not checked if urbanisation, including development of transportation and traffic system, is not done with coordination among Rajdhani Unnayan Kartipakskha (Rajuk), City Corporation, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and respective ministries.

Although the government has implemented a few mega projects, including Gulistan-Jatrabari flyover and Kuril flyover in the city, townspeople are still struggling with traffic congestion every day.

During a visit to different routes of the city this correspondent found that none of city roads was jam-free. The congestion not only hits roads, but also flyovers.

Prof Nazrul Islam, chairman of Centre for Urban Studies, said, “Since urbanisation and traffic mismanagement in Dhaka city is completely unplanned, there is no abatement of congestion. It may intensify in future if the government does not take fitting steps for decentralisation.”

Nazrul said Dhaka city was reeling under the heavy pressure of populace and traffics as most of government and private offices’ headquarters, different

The recently taken photo shows a huge traffic snarl on MIrpur-Airport route namely late president Zillur Rahman flyover despite different measures taken by the government MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU industries, educational institutions and offices of different sectors are situated in the capital. He said Dhaka itself had the highest rate of urbanisation at

90%. He blamed illegal parking, running of rickshaws on thoroughfares, auto-rickshaw, private cars for traffic jam.

“The government should establish separate lanes for buses, as most townsfolk use buses,” he suggested.

After winning the ninth general

polls, the ruling party Awami League had taken different steps – different special bus services, CCTV aided surveillance system, banning old vehicles, setting up new timing for school and office, implementation of automated traffic signals- to reduce traffic jam and public harassment in the capital.

The government has also taken steps to construct link roads, flyover, bus-rapid-transit system, elevated expressway, and metro rail transit in the city, and launched water bus service in the rivers surrounding the city.

Since the early 1990s, several studies have been taken up by the government and other funding agencies to evaluate the transport improvements.

The Strategic Transport Plan for Dhaka (STP 2006) is the most recent and comprehensive one. The STP, which has a planning horizon of 20 years (2004 to 2024), recommends an improved public transportation system coupled with improved roadway system.

Professor Dr Sarwar Jahan, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Buet, reiterated what Professor Nazrul Islam had earlier said: “The capital has become unfit for living because of enormous rates of migration to the capital. About 1.5 crore people are living in and around the city.”

If the government does not take strict measures for decentralisation, none of the traffic developments - overpass, underpass, elevated expressway, metro rai- will be fruitful for reducing traffic congestion,” he added. l

Five including three devotees killed Court orders release of in bus, train accidents across city Inquilab materials n Kailash Sarkar At least five people including three Ijtema devotees were killed in separate road and train accidents in the capital yesterday. A speeding bus ran over three devotees at Turag while they were going to attend the Ijtema on a rickshaw.

The deceased were identified as Md Giaus Uddin, 37, his son Md Yiasin, 17, and Md Ripon, 15, of Ashulia.

Quoting the witnesses, police said a bus hit the rickshaw from behind at

Rustompur in Turag around 10:30am.

Being hit by the bus, the devotees skidded off the rickshaw and fell under the wheels of the bus, they added.

Locals caught the bus but the driver managed to flee, police said.

Locals rushed them to Pongu Hospital in the capital where they succumbed to their injuries around 4pm.

Sheikh Farid, officer-in-charge of Turag police station, said the bus lost control and hit the rickshaw.

In another incident, the helper of a

bus was crushed under the same bus in the capital’s Malibagh in the afternoon.

Md Yiasin, 30, was killed on the spot after he fell down under the wheels of a Turag Paribahan bus while he was getting into the bus.

Kripa Sindhu Bala, officer-in-charge of Rampura police station, said they had arrested the bus driver and seized the bus.

Besides, an elderly man, 55, was killed after he skidded off the roof of a Tongi bound train at Khilkhet around 1:30pm. l

n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu A Dhaka court yesterday ordered police to release the seized materials of the Bengali daily Inqilab to its authority.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Shamsul Arefin passed the order after hearing a petition filed by Defence Counsel Abdullah-Al-Monsoor on behalf of Senior Reporter of the newspaper Afzal Bari.

In the petition, Afzal sought custody of the seized items.

During the hearing, the defence counsel said the seized items were needed to continue publication of the daily newspaper.

On January 16, the Detective Branch of police picked up three Inqilab journalists, sealed off the press, plate-making and server rooms, and seized three

computers on charges of publishing a fabricated news item.

On the other hand, the DB police on Saturday 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 over the presence of Indian army in Bangladesh’s territory.

On January 29, Diplomatic Correspondent Ahmmed Atique gave his confessional statement before the chief metropolitan magistrate court under 164 of criminal procedure code and apologised for producing the report.

On January 20, a Dhaka court granted two days remand for questioning Ahmmed Atique, and News Editor Rabiulla Ulla Robi and Deputy Chief Reporter Rafiq Mohammad and sent them to jail. l

Private medical college admissions extended to February 15 n Moniruzzaman Uzzal Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has again extended the deadline of admission at private medical colleges yesterday.

Motiur Rahman, joint secretary (medical education) of health ministry, said the deadline had been extended up to February 15, and added that top officials of the ministry had made the decision.

Sources said this is for the sixth time that the health ministry had extended the admission deadline for the private medical colleges.

Seeking anonymity, several officials of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) told the Dhaka Tribune that usually the DGHS makes such decisions.

They also said this year the health ministry had been making decisions in this regard, adding that they [DGHS officials] did not know about the decision beforehand.

Meanwhile, health ministry sources said most of the private medical colleges could not fill up their seats yet because of political unrest.

According to Bangladesh Private Medical College Association sources around 20%-25% seats were yet to be filled up. l

Human chain demands punishment for Moni’s killers n Our Correspondent, Gazipur Schoolmates, teachers and guardians of Moni formed a human chain in Gazipur town yesterday, demanding arrested and exemplary punishment of her killers.

The human chain was formed at the school field of Beraiderchala Abed Ali Girls’ School of Sreepur municipality.

Mamun Mia, paternal cousin of Masuma Akter Moni, said she had gone missing on January 22 after she left for school in the morning.

After six days she was found dead in the adjacent pond of her home on January 28, he added.

Headmaster of the school Motiur Rahman said: “Moni was a gentle and brilliant student of our school. I along with the students demand exemplary punishment of the killers.”

Following the human chain, the participants prayed for the salvation of the departed soul. l

Tk8 lakh snatched by gunmen n Kailash Sarkar

Agitated students of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology run amok at the capital’s Palashi intersection after a female fellow student was injured after being hit by a microbus at the area yesterday. Story on page 4 SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

A gang of armed criminals snatched Tk8 lakh by shooting two employees of a private firm at a place in between the High Court and Jatiya Press Club on Saturday night.

Bullet-injured Mohammad Sohag Khan, 21, and Dowlat Gazi, 35, of private firm Siddiq Enterprise, a mobile banking centre, were admitted to the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital.

Of them, Sohah sustained a bullet on his left leg and Dowlat sustained two shots on his thigh and leg.

The muggers snatched the money

National Poetry Festival ends

3 held for releasing obscene video n Arif Ahmed n Our Correspondent, Narsingdi With the theme “Kobita Shohey Na Police arrested three people yesterday on allegations of releasing an offensive video of a school girl on the internet in Monohordi upazila of the district.

The arrested were Roman Mia, 19, son of Khoka Mia and a tenth grade student of Monohordi Pilot High School, Shohag Mia, 20 owner of Khidirpur SR Digital Studio and Sujon, a computer operator.

The victim’s mother had filed a case against the three with Monohordi police station as a complainant under the Pornography Act. Police arrested Roman with the help of locals and the victim’s family. Shohag and Sujon were arrested after interrogating him.

During police interrogation, Roman claimed that he had been involved in a relationship with the girl for the last two years but recently, the video of their intimate moments was leaked on the internet.

He claimed he had kept the video in Sohag’s computer so that he could use it against the victim’s family if they refused his marriage proposal. “But the video was leaked on the internet without his knowledge,” he added. l

Danob Jatona”, a two-day long 28th Jatiya Kabita Utshab, inaugurated on Saturday at the premises of Central Library of Dhaka University, ended yesterday.

According to sources, earlier on Sunday morning, the festival started with second part of the seminar ‘Kabita Sahena Danab Jatana’, presided over by Borhan Uddin Khan Jahangir.

The third part of the seminar ‘Kabita O Manobotar Mukti Sangram’ was held where noted authors and scholars addressed the programme.

Poetry recitation programme was participated by several poets from home and abroad.

The 9th part of the recitation was for the Europeans poets presided over by Nirmelendu Goon.

A programme titled ‘Kobitar Gan’ was held presided over by Kamal Lohan along with prize announcement ceremony, where prominent poet Mohammad Rakiq had been awarded.

Poet Habibullah Shirazi, president of the festival, presided over the programme.

Among others, Rafiq Azad, Rabiul Husain, Belal Chowdhury, Aslam Sani, Mohammad Nurul Huda, Asim Saha, Mohammad Samad, Tarik Sujat, Kazi Rosy, Abed Khan, Rafiqullah Khan, Nuh-ul-Alam Lenin, Shahriar Kabir and Kajal Bandopaddhay attended the function.

The festival is now a major annual event not only in Bangladesh but also in South-Asia and is recognised as a unique reunion of poets from home and abroad This year, a large number of poets recited their poems at the festival from home and abroad.

Ashish Sanyal, Uttam Das, Shyamal Kanti Das, Shankar Chakrabarty, Dilip Das, Akbar

Ahmed, Anubhab Tulsi and Samir Tati were from India.

Swedish poet Kristian Carlsson, Norwegian poet John Y. Jones; Austrian poet Dorothea Muller-Ott; and Swidish poets Anre Ruth, Haideh Daragahi, among others participated in the festival.

On 1 February, 1987, Jatio Kabita Parishad was founded to organise the Jatio Kabita Utsab (National Poetry Festival) during the military regime of 1980s with the slogan “Poetry for Breaking Chains” under the leadership of eminent poets including Sufia Kamal, Shamsur Rahman and Faiz Ahmed and the vigorous initiatives of young poets of Bangladesh.

Since the debut in 1987, Jatio Kabita Parishad has been organising National Poetry Festival on 1st and 2nd February every year with slogans and themes focused on the contemporary culture and socio-political situation of the country.

The festival is now a major annual event not only in Bangladesh but also in South-Asia and is recognised as a unique reunion of poets from home and abroad. l

when Sohag and Dawlat were going Arambagh from the High Court by a rickshaw around 7:15pm.

The victims said they had come under the attacks near Kadom fountain just a few minutes after they had started for Arambagh.

“When the rickshaw carrying us reached the fountain, a white-coloured car hit us from the behind and two criminals came out of the car with firearms,” said Sohag.

He said the criminals first had tried to snatch the bag containing the money and fired gunshots when they had tried to resist the muggers.

“As we did not want to give them the bag, they fired at me and Dowlat. At that point, we let go of the bag and the criminals sped away with it in their car.”

Sirajul Islam, officer-in-charge of Shahbagh police station, said local people and pedestrians took the bullet hit people to the DMCH. “After we got information, forces have been engaged to find out the criminals and we are trying to recover the money”, said the OC. Md Siddiq Ulla, managing director of Siddiq Enterprise, said the bullet hit persons were returning Arambagh with more than Tk8 lakh. l

Bangladesh Water Development Board

Telephone No : 0751-62462 (Off) 0751-62465 (Res) Fax : 0751-62463 E-mail: xen_bre10@yahoo.com

Memo No. T-4/936

Office of the Executive Engineer BRE (Specialized) O&M Division BWDB, Sirajganj

Date: 29/01/2014

Invitation for e-Tender

Invitation reference no.

Tender ID (from e-GP Portal) Name of work

Memo No. T-4/936; Date: 29/01/2014.

6049 Repair & Maintenance of Tugboat (Replacement of Propeller, Bush, Gear box etc. and Repair & making of Raddar), Supply Barge and Work barge at Sirajganj during the FY: 2013-2014.

This is an online tender where only e-tenders will be accepted in e-GP portal and no offline and hard copy will be accepted. To submit e-tender please register on e-GP system. For more details, please contact support Desk contact number (01762625528-31).

Note: e-Tender publication date in in e-GP portal: 04/02/2014.

Special Condition: a. Work order will be issued on the basis of sanctioned estimate and work authorization for which no claim will be entertained. b. Payment will be made after availability of fund from authority for which no claim will be entertained. But the work must be continued and completed within schedule time and proportionate progress must be achieved. If the work completion time is reduced to the span as decided by the authority, this shall be binding upon the contractors. c. The work may be totally dropped, decreased or increased. No claim or extra rate will be entertained for cancellation of the tender or issuance of work order with decreased quantity of work.

PANI-477/13-14 DG – 11/14 (5x3)

Md. Rafiqul Alam Executive Engineer BRE (Sp1.) O&M Division BWDB, Sirajganj.

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Long Form

Monday, February 3, 2014

7

The third force

There are many ways in which a sizable third party could provide a break in the oppressive atmosphere

I

n Yusuf Choudhry

n the heart of old Dhaka surrounded by pencil high-rise apartments is a house with crumbling yellow plaster that says a lot about its inhabitant whose age can be anybody’s guess.

His mind is still sharp, reminiscing the days of the past and the country in its wholesome days.

In our time, he muses, we voted for political stars, not a bunch of silly nick names like Montu or Jhontu. Names mattered because they told us where they came from and where they could take us. Sadly, all that is in the past and today we only have brands like Awami League, BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, etc.

People vote for symbols rather than character, symbols that have long lost the meanings of their origin.

What have we become as a nation?

Mere sleepwalkers in a world of vain promises and futile hopes? Why are we asked to vote for nationalism where none exists and for service to the people which comes as periodic killings and street terror?

What happened here can perhaps be understood by a recap of how we lost touch with the very democratic spirit we were trying to create at the birth of the country. In our euphoria of liberation from an oppressive partner we became so indebted to the liberators who had released us from bondage that we overlooked the fact that bondage could reappear in other forms too. The flames of devotion were so bright that we forgot altogether that descent needs to be sustained to preserve the essence of democracy.

We let it die slowly.

The country’s infrastructure at that time was far from shambles, not the typical post-conflict situation. All that was needed was good governance to get the machineries running again.

What did we do instead? We got lost in political adulation and looked away from many things that just didn’t look right.

In other words we did not help create the effective opposition that could keep the party in power to the straight and narrow. The outcome was not very pleasant. Every government that came to power subsequently had to wrestle it from the incumbent with threat or bloodshed or both.

Every time there was a switch of government the oppressor became the oppressed, hell bent upon putting its nemesis out of business from day one.

The same spirit persists today. The political fall-out of this is that a substantial part of the energy of any government is now deployed to keep the opposition at bay instead of attending to the needs of the nation. Bi-partisanship has become a dirty word, the parliament does not function, and street thugs determine the economic future of the country. The play goes on and on with extraordinary predictability while the bewildered polity watches passively from the sidelines.

So where is the salvation? How long will this game between the two political adversaries go on? Can the presence of a strong third party break this vicious cycle? I mean a forceful third party with real teeth whose leader does not have to check into a hospital every time he sees a crisis coming.

There are many ways in which a sizable third party could provide a break in the oppressive atmosphere.

It can help the opposition deny the governing party votes that they need in the parliament to pass ill-conceived

We need a cause that fires voters’ enthusiasm and some charismatic leadership. Only then can we break out of the two-party domination legislations. It could force the opposition to compromise when it is needed.

Of course it has its downsides too, but the overall positives it could deliver in the context of this politically volatile nation should lead us to judgment.

Third parties exist in many countries and their effectiveness has differed from country to country depending upon the system of government. If we look briefly at how they have fared in some of the more developed democracies and some less developed ones we could get a better understanding of its value for us.

tiple seat constituencies where other provisions of the system may kick in including alternate vote, bloc vote, etc. The country, however, has not always felt at ease with this arrangement and time and again voices of dissent have arisen for a more egalitarian proportional representation (PR) system.

The main reason for this is that FPTP often provides a win for a party in the parliamentary elections with less than 50% of the popular votes, thereby diminishing its moral position for majority rule. Even when sizeable

Votes wasted, or not counted lead to indifference towards voting and even produce resentment that could translate to unpleasant actions

First case in point is the United States with a presidential form of government. Even though the American constitution allows for third parties, the Electoral College system (i.e. winner takes all) makes it difficult for third parties to be consequential except maybe take some votes away from the majors.

This deficiency, however, is made up to a large extent by the constitutional division of power between the executive and the legislative branches and the electorates usually make sure that both don’t simultaneously reside with one party. Once in a while, however, when the Americans are caught in a political morass, they start having second thoughts about their duo-party system, as we saw in the 1992 election (the Ross Perot revolt) and the 2012 election (the dysfunctional government crusade).

High level of dissatisfaction with both parties rekindles debate for third party prominence. Some states have even tried to correct the representation imbalance by dividing the total Electoral College votes rather than giving it outright to the winner. Although these efforts have not amounted to much (except in two states) they have kept the debate alive. The states’ own independent policies that have more profound impact on people’s lives have kept the idea in the back burner.

The second case in point is the United Kingdom, a parliamentary democracy. It also has a two party system with the majoritarian principle (first-past-the-post principle) where a candidate from any party receiving the highest votes in a single seat constituency wins.

Some exceptions take place in mul-

national support is amassed by the smaller parties in an election it comes to nought and in effect is wasted as the recipients do not qualify for any seat in the parliament. Smaller parties do not fare well under the FPTP system.

The advantage of the PR system is that it allows ranked voting. One particular form of PR that has gained popularity is the single transferable vote (STV) system where a voter could indicate his ranked preference for all candidates in a ballot. A candidate requires only a set number of votes to win (pre-determined by a formula).

Votes cast in his favour in excess of this number are automatically transferred to the next candidate according to the voters’ choice list and so on.

This not only gets rid of the “wasted vote” problem but also allows voters to pitch for candidates of their choice rather than a slate of party hacks.

Proportional representation encourages coalition or minority government which can be less confrontational and able to force all sides to make compromises towards a middle ground.

The idea, however, lost traction in the UK following the national referendum pushed by the Liberal Democrats after the 2010 election. The present two party system continues without much problem though perhaps because both the Labor and the Conservatives have refrained from extreme party politics.

The third case in point, Australia, presents an interesting blend of the FPTP and the PR models. It uses instant run-off voting (IRV) to elect members to its lower House of Representatives and single transferable vote (STV) for the upper Senate. They

bear many similarities and in fact STV applied to a single electorate system resembles the IRV. Voters rank order their choice of candidates and the one with over 50% of the votes cast wins. However, if no one gets over 50% then the candidate getting the lowest number of votes is eliminated and his second preference votes are distributed to others in the list.

The process is repeated until someone emerges with the required 50% of the votes. The biggest advantage of IRV is that it prevents split votes and it does provide more opportunities for third parties to win seats in the parliament.

This in fact has enabled medium-sized parties like the National Party to build coalition with others like the Liberal Party without fear of losing due to vote splitting. Third parties also do better in the Australian Senate which follows the STV model.

The fourth case in point, India, has a multi-party system with a number of national and regional parties. Many believe that this system suits developing countries better because it allows shifting coalitions to develop and no single party can get the upper hand.

Others believe that this could be a bane to the political process because continuously shifting alliances can create frequent upheavals and disruptions. Some of India’s past history bears this out. The life span of the Janata Dal-led National Front and the Left Front coalition in 1989 was only two years. Between 1996 and 1998 several short run alliances came and went. But then again coalitions with the right partnership could be more lasting.

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

ties. India is a Federation where the States play powerful roles in shaping the character of political parties.

Strong state parties (or even regional parties) are sometimes the result of build-up around particular ideology of interest groups or charismatic individuals. They have extreme capacities to influence the national politics.

Alliance partnerships are thus better positioned for co-existence.

Yet, even within the perceived safe armours of the two major coalitions led by Congress and the BJP, serious chinks now seem to be appearing.

The stormy win of the Aam Aadmi Party (Arvind Kejriwal) in the 2013 Delhi election has sparked hopes in many that new parties can also win if they present a solid platform and run with the sentiments of the people. If nothing else, it seems to be making the majors rethink the way they have done business in the past.

The fifth and last case in point is Pakistan. It is a federal republic with four provinces and two federally administered territories. It has a multi-party electoral system with two houses in the centre, the Senate and the National Assembly and four independent provincial assemblies.

With intermittent break from army rule, civilian administration in Pakistan generally has been on the basis of quite fragile coalitions. No party can really claim to be a national party and each of them derive their strength from regional power bases.

Three major parties that had previously dominated the political space were the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League (N), and Pakistan Muslim League (Q).

But in the May 2013 election the PTI

The country really has two choices, to break the two-party domination or to reform the electoral system in a manner that makes it difficult for any party to exploit public sentiments for long

The 1998 National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition led by BJP did last for 5 years. Also, the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) lasted the full 5 years from 2004 to 2009 and again from 2009 to 2014. In fact the two major party alliances, the UPA and the NDA have almost changed the character of the Indian political system to a two-party system.

The durability of the Indian alliances is partly explained by the compatibility of the alliance partners as well as the relative strengths of member par-

party (a previous lightweight led by Imran Khan) rose quite unexpectedly through an anticorruption crusade and became the third major party very close behind the PPP winning 23 out of 264 seats in the Parliament and 57 seats in the provincial assemblies.

It also became the second highest vote getter in the home constituency of PPP, the city of Karachi. PTI’s strategy in Karachi was primarily taken out of Obama’s playbook – tapping into the youth votes through internet and social media. Additionally, Karachi,

which is the business hub of Pakistan, responded to the continued violence and corruption that hurt its industries and businesses badly.

On top of these was the charisma of Imran Khan, somewhat of a national cricket hero there. It is quite likely that this newcomer’s inroad, just like the AAP in India may start a trend towards major changes in the defunct politics of Pakistan.

So what can we learn from all this?

For one, we see that representative democracy works best when people actually see the fruits of their votes.

Votes wasted, or not counted lead to indifference towards voting and even produce resentment that could translate to unpleasant actions.

Secondly, majoritarian systems work only when other avenues are available to check the excesses of majority rule. Thirdly, long periods of bad governance make the voters look for alternatives and create opportunities for third parties. Finally, charismatic leadership attracts followers even to minor parties (Kejriwal, Imran Khan).

When we examine Bangladesh through these lenses the following picture emerges. Theoretically, Bangladesh is a multi-party democracy but it has devolved into a two-party hegemony. Sure there are political alliances but they are weak and ineffective for the following reasons.

Individual alliance partners do not command significant public support, they don’t have significant presence in regional politics, they don’t have a cause célèbre or a unifying ideology, and they are simply happy to follow their dominant partners.

The country has also lacked good governance for very long. Institutions that could demand accountability (public accounts committee, anticorruption bureau, ombudsman) have practically disappeared. Finally, sycophancy has stunted the growth of alternate charismatic leadership.

The country really has two choices then, to break the two-party domination or to reform the electoral system in a manner that makes it difficult for any party, major or minor, to exploit public sentiments for long. The first is perhaps easier to achieve.

The recent Indian and Pakistani phenomenon can provide the incentive. That means mass support of a third party which can force the present majors towards more rational behaviour.

What is needed to achieve this? A cause that fires voters’ enthusiasm and some charismatic leadership. We have plenty of the former and maybe a little of the later. The result of the recent municipal elections in the country could be an indicator. Can we pick up the gauntlet? l Dr Yusuf Choudhury is a Professor at the American University, Washington DC.

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

International

Monday, February 3, 2014

Al-Qaeda fighters kill Syrian rebel leaders n Agencies

Jabhat al-Nusra claims deadly Lebanon bombing

Fighters linked to al-Qaeda have killed two rebel leaders in bombings in Syria, in an apparent shift of tactics to target the command structures of their rivals.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Adnan Bakour, the leader of Liwa al-Tawhid, was among 26 people killed in a double suicide bombing late on Saturday in Aleppo.

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, which has links with al-Qaeda, said it carried out the attack on Tawhid, a brigade aligned to the Islamic Front coalition, a group fighting the ISIL in Aleppo and beyond.

In another attack late on Saturday in Hama, the leader of the powerful Suqour al-Sham group, Abu Hussein alDik, was killed by the ISIL, according to sources spoken to by Al Jazeera.

Charles Lister, of the Brookings Doha Centre, told Al Jazeera that the ISIL was clearly targeting key headquarters, “strategic checkpoints and senior influential commanders” of their rival rebel groups.

The attacks are the latest in weeks of rebel infighting that has pitted a loose alliance of Syrian fighters against al-Qaida linked groups such as the ISIL. The Observatory also reported that more than 100 people, including 65 civilians, 10 of whom were children, were killed on Saturday when explosive packed barrels were used in an regime air raid in the northern city of Aleppo.

The attack also killed members of Jabhat al-Nusra, al-Qaeda’s official affiliate in Syria. The observatory said the Nusra fighters were in their headquarters when it was hit.

Aleppo city has been divided since rebels launched a huge offensive in mid2012, and heavy fighting between the two sides has left swathes of the city in ruins.

The aerial assault came the day after peace talks in Geneva between the Syrian government and the opposition ended without achieving concrete results. l

Jabhat al-Nusra in Lebanon, a group named after al-Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate, has said it carried out a suicide car bombing in a stronghold of the Lebanese Shia group Hezbollah that has killed at least four people.

The armed Sunni group said Saturday’s attack, which targeted a petrol station in Hermel in eastern Lebanon, was in response to Hezbollah’s involvement in Syria.

“At least four people were killed and more than 15 wounded, two or three of them in critical condition,” Marwan Charbel, Lebanon’s interior minister, told Hezbollah’s Al-Manar television station.

The petrol station is part of a charitable network set up by Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, a leading Shia leader and Hezbollah spiritual guide who died in 2010.

It was the seventh attack to target Hezbollah in Lebanon since mid-2013,

n Agencies

The Houthi rebels have been at odds with the Yemeni government for over a decade

Washington denied claims by Syria’s foreign minister on Saturday that American diplomats had sought to negotiate directly with their Syrian counterparts at last week’s ‘Geneva 2’ peace conference in Switzerland.

State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the United States had offered to connect with Syrian officials “on a staff level” through the United Nations and Joint Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi.

“At no point did the United States offer to negotiate directly with the Syrian regime,” she said, adding that the United States had made similar offers

AFP

Shias overrun rival strongholds in Greek riot police clash with anti-fascists north Yemen; 40 dead n Reuters, Sanaa Shia rebels have overrun strongholds of a rival Sunni tribal group in fighting that has killed at least 40 people in northern Yemen in the last two days, tribal sources said on Sunday.

The fighting compounds the challenges faced by US-allied Yemen, which is struggling to stabilize a country that is home to one of al Qaeda’s most active branches.

One of the poorest countries in the Arab world, it has been in turmoil since mass protests in 2011 forced long-serving President Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down.

Tribal sources said Houthi fighters and their allies from the Hashed tribal federation seized control of al-Khamri, the al-Ahmar family tribal region in Omran province. An al-Ahmar family

home was burned.

The Ansarullah website, run by the Houthi group, said its fighters and allies from Hashed were “pounding the fortifications of the militias of the al-Ahmar sons” in al-Khamri and Zu Anash areas in Omran province.

“The al-Ahmar militias and the religious hardliners are fleeing from the two areas, along with military hardware and equipment,” it said.

Tribal sources said that at least 30 Houthi rebels and 10 fighters from the Hashed tribe died in the fighting.

There was no independent confirmation of the figures.

The latest fighting was the most intense since clashes erupted in October.

Shia Houthi rebels, who control much of the northern Saada province on the border with Saudi Arabia, moved

US denies it sought direct negotiations with Syria in Geneva n Reuters, Washington/Beirut

throughout the conflict.

Psaki was responding to a query from Reuters after Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem said the Americans had requested direct negotiations in Montreux, the Swiss city where talks began on January 22 before moving to Geneva. “We refused to do so before Secretary of State John Kerry apologizes for what he said at the conference,” Moualem told reporters aboard the Syrian government delegation’s flight back to Damascus.

In the comments published by Syria’s national news agency SANA, Moualem did not specify what Kerry had said that required an apology.

But Psaki said such a gesture would not happen.

“At no point will Secretary Kerry ever apologize for speaking the truth about the brutality the Assad regime has inflicted on the people of Syria,” she said.

A contentious week-long first round of talks began with uncompromising speeches, by Kerry and Moualem among others, and repeatedly seemed on the verge of collapse before the two sides even entered the same room.

The conference adjourned on Friday with no progress towards ending the civil war and the government unable to say whether it will return for the next round of negotiations beginning on February 10. l

then against Sunni Salafis allied to the al-Ahmar clan in Dammaj town. The Houthis accuse the Salafis of recruiting foreign fighters to attack them.

Since October 30, the fighting has claimed nearly 300 lives, including 210 who died in more than two months of clashes in Dammaj.

The Dammaj fighting ended earlier this month with a government-brokered ceasefire under which the Salafis, who adhere to an austere brand of Sunni Islam, agreed to relocate.

On Thursday and Friday, 20 people were killed in an offensive by Sunni tribal fighters to recapture land seized earlier by the Houthis, tribal sources said on Friday.

Yemen is also struggling to contain security threats which include a secessionist movement in the south. l

n Agencies Riot police and anti-fascist protesters in Greece have clashed in central Athens, leaving at least two people injured.

Police said more than 3,000 supporters of the extreme-right Golden Dawn party held a rally on Saturday to commemorate a 1996 dispute over an uninhabited Aegean Sea island that brought Greece and Turkey to the brink of war.

Saturday’s rally was largely peaceful, but violent clashes were triggered by the counter-demonstration, staged by leftist groups protesting against the Golden Dawn rally. Last November, the government began a crackdown on Golden Dawn following the fatal stabbing of an anti-fascist musician in Athens.

The fate of the party is being closely watched ahead of the May vote - where

The foreign ministers of the United States and Iran held rare private talks in Germany on Sunday to discuss the next stage in efforts to reach a definitive agreement to end a decade-old dispute over Iran’s nuclear program.

US Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference to talk about nuclear negotiations between six world powers and Iran that will resume in Vienna on February 18.

The talks will aim to settle the nuclear dispute after Iran agreed, under a landmark preliminary deal last November, to halt its most sensitive nuclear operations in return for winning some relief from sanctions.

In his talks with Zarif, Kerry stressed the importance of both sides negotiating in good faith and Iran abiding by its commitments under the November interim accord, a US State Department official said.

The United States and European Union suspended some sanctions on Iran under the interim deal, but Kerry made clear to Zarif that the United States will continue to enforce other sanctions.

There was no immediate comment from Iran on the talks.

Kerry and Zarif have met several times since Iranian President Hassan

Rouhani, a relative moderate, was elected last June, leading to a thaw in ties with the West after years of confrontation and hostile rhetoric.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who coordinates the nuclear talks with Iran on behalf of the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany, welcomed the meeting between Kerry and Zarif.

“It is incredibly important that as the international community now looks to build towards the comprehensive talks, that the dialogue is taking place and that we’re working out how to develop a comprehensive approach to this,” she told reporters in Munich.

But Republican US Senator John McCain sounded a cautious note, saying Iran had a long record of deception, and accusing Iran of cheating.

“Rouhani bragged to one of his media outlets how he had deceived the Americans and negotiators when he was a negotiator,” he told the Munich conference.

“Construction continues around Arak (heavy water reactor), the centrifuges, 19,000 of them continue to spin, and most importantly implicit in this agreement is the right to enrich.

“There are three components to nuclear weapons - warhead, delivery system and the material itself. They are continuing and cheating on the first two without any constraint whatsoev-

Clashes after police storm Kenya mosque

n Reuters, Kiev

At least one person has been killed and two security officers seriously injured following clashes in the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa after police stormed a mosque after an al-Shabab flag was raised.

Police raided the Musa mosque on Sunday in the Majengo district after worshippers, believed to be sympathisers of the Somalia-based armed group, defied a police warning not to meet. The police fired teargas and live rounds over the heads of taunting crowds, who hurled stones back, Reuters news agency reported.

One policeman was found sprawled in a pool of blood in a bathroom inside the mosque.“We found him locked up in a bathroom after we heard him groaning.

It appears like they slaughtered him,” said one armed policeman. l

Western governments pressed Ukraine’s president to compromise with protesters camped on the streets, prompting a war of words with Russia on Saturday and offering treatment to an opposition activist who says he was tortured.

At an annual security conference in Munich, founded at the height of the Cold War, Ukrainian opposition leaders met US Secretary of State John Kerry and European officials and the Russian foreign minister accused Western powers of fomenting protests against President Viktor Yanukovich.

Sergei Lavrov said the West had “imposed” on Ukraine to cooperate with its NATO defence alliance, while Kerry said

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif er,” he said.

Zarif said in an interview on Saturday that Iran was not prepared to give up research on centrifuges used to pu-

it is expected to perform strongly due to a wave of anger against government cuts - amid speculation of new efforts to rein in the group, which denies it is neo-Nazi.

Despite the crackdown, the party has said it will find a way to contest local and European elections in May, a senior Golden Dawn MP told a defiant crowd of a few thousand supporters in central Athens.

“We will participate in the elections, one way or another,” Ilias Kasidiaris told about 3,000 supporters rallying in Athens. Kasidiaris is the most prominent public face of the party since the arrest of its leader, Nikolaos Mihaloliakos.

Golden Dawn remains Greece’s third-most popular party. Two polls published last week showed the party would get 8.9% to 10.3% of the vote if elections were held now. l

West presses Ukraine, offers to treat injured activist

n Agencies

the Ukrainian protesters believed “their futures do not have to lie with one country alone - and certainly not coerced.”

Opposition leaders said they felt “huge support” after European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said closer ties to the EU were still on offer to Kiev and Kerry assured them that Washington and the EU “stand with the people of Ukraine” in “the fight for a democratic, European future.”

The resignation in the past week of the prime minister and withdrawal of new laws curbing rights to protest have failed to appease demonstrators occupying public buildings and streets in Kiev and other cities who want Yanukovich out after he spurned a trade deal with the EU in November and sought Russian aid. l

US and Iran meet to discuss final nuclear accord n Reuters, Munich

when the armed group sent men to Syria to fight alongside President Bashar al-Assad’s troops against mainly Sunni rebel groups.

Jabhat al-Nusra in Lebanon said on Twitter that the bombing was a “second martyrdom operation against the Party of Iran [Hezbollah] stronghold in Hermel ... because of the continuation of the Party of Iran’s crimes against our oppressed people in our beloved Sham [Syria], and its insistence on sending more of its mercenaries to kill the Syrian people.

“Faced with the massacres it is carrying out, we can only repay the favour in its heartland, to push it to reconsider its calculations.”

The Hermel explosion occurred at around 16:00 GMT after dusk on Saturday near a school run by a charity group for impoverished children, some of them orphans.

An official speaking on Al-Manar said no children were injured. l

rify uranium as part of a final nuclear deal.

Asked how long he thought it would take to reach a final agreement, Zarif

Eyeing sanctions thaw, Western delegates race to Iran n AFP, Tehran

AFP

said: “It’s just the beginning of the negotiations for a final agreement. It is the first step of the final step and I expect it to take some time.” l

Six months after the inauguration of Iran’s moderate President Hassan Rouhani, Western diplomats and businessmen are racing to Tehran hoping that a diplomatic thaw will reopen lucrative markets.

A landmark agreement reached with world powers on Iran’s controversial nuclear programme in November has raised hopes that Western sanctions could be lifted on the oil-rich country with a population of 76 million.

A delegation of 110 members of MEDEF– France’s largest employers’ union– is due in Tehran on Monday to resume talks after an absence of several years. No contracts will be signed due to the strict international sanctions still in place, but the visit is seen as a key step towards regaining a foothold in the country.

Iran’s auto market was once dominated by French giants including Peugeot, which halted operations in 2012, and Renault, which sharply scaled back its presence due to US sanctions on spare parts deliveries in June 2013.

The French firms hope to regain their share against Asian rivals, particularly Chinese firms, which are not bound by the Western sanctions. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

International

9

Monday, February 3, 2014

India’s Modi fires ‘poison’ barbs at rival Congress n AFP, New Delhi India’s opposition leader Narendra Modi, favourite to win this year’s election, accused the ruling Congress party of “spewing poison” as he hit back Sunday against a string of attacks from its leaders.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul have all targeted Modi in recent weeks for overseeing savage communal riots a decade ago as chief minister of western Gujarat state.

Rahul, who is masterminding the Congress election campaign, said in a rare interview last week that Modi’s government was guilty of “abetting” the 2002 riots which left up to 2,000 Hundreds of people from northeast protested in Delhi over the death of the student

people, mostly Muslims, dead.

But speaking at a rally in the giant state of Uttar Pradesh, which has itself been the scene of recent deadly communal violence, Modi accused Congress of spreading division.

“Who has been in power for most of the last 60 years?” said Modi, leader of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

“Who is spewing this poison? Who is harvesting the poison? They (Congress) are the ones who sow the seeds of poison.”

The BJP has a big lead in the opinion polls over Congress but Modi – while much more popular than Rahul Gandhi – is a polarising figure whose reputation continues to be

dogged by the 2002 riots.

In a press conference last month, Singh accused Modi of “presiding over the massacre of innocent citizens” while Sonia Gandhi accused the BJP in a speech on Saturday of fomenting hatred with its nationalist policies.

While Rahul Gandhi insisted in his television interview that Congress could still win the election, which is due in May, opinion polls show it heading for a humiliating defeat.

The BJP is expected to win most seats in the 552 seats but fall short of an overall majority, meaning Modi will have to form a coalition with some of the plethora of regional parties in the world’s largest democracy. l

Outcry in India after ‘hate crime’ Afghan campaign stirs violence and hope incident

India set to ease visa restrictions: report n AFP, New Delhi

n Agencies

Tourists travelling to India from up to 180 countries will no longer have to queue up at their local consulates to obtain visas under reforms expected to be approved this week, local media reported Sunday.

Most foreigners currently have to wait several weeks before learning whether they will be allowed to enter the country after submitting their applications at visa processing centres, a major deterrent for potential visitors.

But India’s intelligence agencies have now given their backing to proposals that would allow tourists to apply online and then wait only three days before receiving the green light, the Indian Express reported.

They would then be able to pick up their visas on arrival at any airport. l

The beating and subsequent death in New Delhi of a university student from northeast India has sparked an outcry against the incident, and the police have been criticised for inaction.

Officials said on Saturday that 20-year-old Nido Tania from Arunachal Pradesh state was on holiday from his studies in Jalandhar, Punjab, when he was beaten by shopkeepers who had ridiculed his appearance.

Police detained the two shopkeepers and launched a murder investigation on Friday night, after being criticised for doing little following Wednesday’s attack in the capital’s Lajpat Nagar market.

“We are questioning several people

in the case,” said Delhi police spokesman Rajan Bhagat.

About 2,000 people took to the streets of New Delhi on Saturday to protest against the suspected racist attack.

Several hundred people protested outside a New Delhi police station on Saturday, demanding justice for what they called a hate crime. The Indian capital’s newly elected chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal, asked that a magistrate, as well as the police, investigate the incident.

Tania died in bed on Thursday morning and an autopsy is being conducted to determine the cause of the death.

Hundreds of students held demonstrations in front of a police station and

AFP

near the shop where Tania was beaten in the south Delhi neighbourhood of Lajpat Nagar. They carried placards with slogans including “Hang the culprits,” and “Why are we treated like outsiders?”

Many indigenous people from India’s northeast, some ethnically closer to people in Myanmar and China, often say they encounter racism and discrimination in the rest of India.

“This was a racist hate crime,” said Albina Subba, from the northeast Himalayan town of Darjeeling. “Our community is often targeted like this ... we look different, so it’s easy for people to see we’re not from Delhi.”

“We have little faith in the Delhi police, but this time we want them to take action,” she said. l

n Reuters, Kabul

Presidential candidates in Afghanistan begin two months of campaigning on Sunday for an election that Western allies hope will consolidate fragile stability as their forces prepare to leave after nearly 13 years of inconclusive war.

The Taliban have rejected the April 5 election and have already stepped up attacks to sabotage it. The militants will also be looking to capitalise if the vote is marred by rigging and feuding between rivals seeking to replace President Hamid Karzai, who can not run for a third term under Afghan law.

Whoever replaces him will inherit a country beset by deepening anxiety about security as most foreign troops prepare to pull out by the end of the year, leaving Afghan forces largely on

Thailand protesters disrupt general election

NATO chief doesn’t see Karzai signing security pact

n Agencies Anti-government protesters made their presence felt in Thailand’s national elections, blockading polling stations and forcing about one in 10 across the country to close.

Voting ended at 08:00 GMT on Sunday but no results will be announced.

Further voting is already scheduled for February 23 after problems with advance polling last Sunday, while the ballot in some southern areas may not happen for weeks.

The vast majority of voting stations were open and polling proceeded relatively peacefully, but the risk of violence remained high a day after gun battles in north Bangkok left seven people wounded.

Supachai Somcharoen, the chairman of the country’s election commission, told Al Jazeera that about 89% of polling stations were able to operate normally throughout the country.

The protests were organised by opponents of the government of Yingluck Shinawatra, who decided to go ahead with the polls despite official advice not to do so in the face of widespread opposition. Protesters want her out of power, claiming she is a puppet of her billionaire brother Thaksin, who was deposed in a coup in 2006.

The national focus on Sunday was on the capital, where the main protests

their own to battle the insurgency.

Monthly attacks in the capital, Kabul, where candidates are expect to focus their efforts to win over women and young people, are at the highest since 2008, one embassy said in a recent confidential security report. “This increase can be attributed to efforts towards the presidential elections,” the embassy said. Many Afghans say they are taking precautions.

“I have already advised my family to cut down unnecessary travel and never attend any big meetings,” said Fawad Saleh, a barber in the Shar-e Naw area of Kabul. “The Taliban will reach any campaign and they will react violently.”

While Afghanistan has no majority community, ethnic Pashtuns are considered the largest community and ethnicity will play a big role in deciding the next president. l

n Reuters, Munich

Thai people who can’t go cast their votes in their district show their national identification card and shout slogans were being held. Several skirmishes broke out between protesters and frustrated would-be voters.

In some cases, protesters formed blockades to prevent voters from entering the polling stations. Elsewhere,

protesters blocked the delivery of ballots and other election materials, preventing voting stations from opening.

The Election Commission said that hundreds of polling stations in the south, an opposition stronghold, faced

AFP

similar problems.

An election official and three soldiers were killed in a bomb attack in Pattani province on Sunday as they tried to set up a polling station, according to local officials. l

President Hamid Karzai is unlikely to sign a pact for US and NATO forces to stay in Afghanistan after 2014 and will probably leave the choice for his successor, NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on Saturday.

Kabul and Washington spent months negotiating a legal framework for some US troops to stay on after the end of 2014, when NATO-led forces are due to end combat operations, leaving behind a much smaller training and advisory mission.

But Karzai has said he will not sign the agreement unless certain conditions are met.

The delay has frustrated the United States and its allies, who want to plan the post-2014 training and advisory mission.

Both the United States and NATO have said they may be forced to pull their forces out of Afghanistan entirely at the end of this year unless the agreement is signed soon.

Rasmussen acknowledged for the first time on Saturday that he did not expect Karzai to sign the US pact and a similar pact that must be negotiated with other NATO forces.

Instead, he believed Karzai would leave the issue for the president elected in April 5 election.

Karzai has served two terms and cannot run again.

“I think, realistically speaking, a new president will be the one to sign,” Rasmussen told reporters during the annual Munich Security Conference.

He said however he was confident that Afghanistan would sign the agreement “at the end of the day” and NATO would still have time to plan its post2014 mission, even if it was not signed until Karzai’s successor was in office.

“Most probably, it will be for a new president to sign a security agreement and in that case we are prepared to stay after 2014,” Rasmussen said.

“If we don’t get a signature even from a new president, then we will also be prepared to withdraw everything by the end of 2014, because in that case we don’t have a legal basis for a continued presence,” he said.

The NATO-led force currently has around 57,000 soldiers in Afghanistan, two-thirds of them from the United States. Troop numbers are expected to fall to 8,000-12,000 after 2014.

Rasmussen has said a complete foreign military withdrawal from Afghanistan could also jeopardise foreign military aid needed to finance the 350,000-strong Afghan security forces as well as development aid.

The foreign aid totals about $8 billion a year. l

Volcanic eruptions claim lives in Indonesia

China says Japan’s ‘hype’ on air defence zone spreads tension

n Agencies

n Reuters, Beijing

An Indonesian volcano that has been rumbling for months has witnessed a major eruption, killing at least 16 people, officials say.

Among the dead on Mount Sinabung were a local television journalist and four high-school students and their teacher who were visiting the mountain to see the eruptions up close, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman, said.

Saturday’s eruption happened just a day after authorities allowed thousands of villagers who had been evacuated to return to Sinabung’s slopes, saying that activity was decreasing.

Three other bodies were recovered from the village later in the afternoon and were taken to hospital for identification, Nugroho said.

“We suspect there are more victims but we cannot recover them because the victims are in the path of the hot [ash] clouds,” he said.

Television footage showed villages, farms and trees around the volcano in Sumatra province covered in thick grey ash.

Sinabung is still spitting clouds of gas and lava as high as 2,000 metres, and the number of dead could rise as the rescue efforts were being hampered by the darkness.

Following the eruption, all those who had been allowed to return home on Friday were ordered back into evacuation centres.

Three other people, a father and his son as well as another man, suffered from burn injuries, Johnson Tarigan, a Karo district official, said, adding that the three were in an intensive care unit of a local hospital.

Sinabung had shown a reduction of activity since mid-January. However, several eruptions on Saturday sent lava and pyroclastic flows down the southern slopes up to 4.5km away. Authorities have evacuated more than 30,000 people, housing them in cramped tents, schools and public buildings.

Many have been desperate to return to check on homes and farms, presenting a dilemma for the government.

Authorities on Friday allowed nearly 14,000 villagers to return home after they fled following previous eruptions.

The latest eruptions came just a week after President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono visited displaced villagers in Sinabung and pledged to relocate them away from the mountain.

Sinabung is among about 130 active volcanoes in Indonesia and has sporadically erupted since September. l

China does not feel threatened by countries in Southeast Asia and is optimistic about the situation in the disputed South China Sea, the Foreign Ministry said, warning Japan not to “spread rumours” it plans a new air defence identification zone.

China alarmed Japan, South Korea and the United States last year when it announced an air defence identification zone for the East China Sea, covering a group of uninhabited islands at the centre of a bitter ownership spat between China and Japan.

Last week, Japanese newspaper the Asahi Shimbun said China was considering setting up a similar zone - where foreign aircraft are supposed to report their movements to China - in the South China Sea, prompting the US State Department

to warn against such a move.

In a statement released late on Saturday, China’s Foreign Ministry implied there was no need for such a zone in the South China Sea, where China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and Taiwan all have competing claims.

“Generally speaking, China does not feel there is an air security threat from ASEAN countries,” the ministry said, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. “China feels optimistic about relations with countries surrounding the South China Sea and the general situation in the South China Sea,” the ministry said, adding it believed prospects for ties with ASEAN were “bright.”

While the ministry said China had a right to set up air defence identification zones which nobody should criticize, it criticized Japan for attempting to distract attention from

Japan’s own military plans.

“Right wing forces in Japan have again been hyping up so-called plans that China will shortly set up an air defence identification zone in the South China Sea, which is purely to try and distract international attention, to cover up their conspiracy to ... expand their military,” the ministry said.

“We warn these forces not to delude people with rumours for their own selfish interests and play up tensions, and hope the relevant party talks and acts cautiously,” it added.

Ties have been strained by a recent visit by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to a controversial shrine for war dead, China’s East China Sea air defence zone and the long-running dispute over a string of islets both countries claim, known as the Diaoyu in Chinese and the Senkaku in Japanese. l

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Monday, February 3, 2014

Letters to

www.dhakatribune.com

Serious questions for the BNP

the Editor

LETTER OF THE DAY

Ensuring minorities’ security

T

he recent verdict that was handed down against two ministers of the last BNP-led 4-party alliance government as well as the intelligence chief at the time should be an occasion for some serious soul-searching on the part of the BNP and its supporters.

Even if we accept the proposition that these three were rogue operators who were acting without the knowledge and approval of their colleagues in government, the fact that such unlawful plots could be hatched and carried out at such high levels of government is a shocking indictment of the entire BNP-led administration and something that the then-government in its entirety must be accountable for.

Secondly, it is incontrovertible, that the then-government not only did little to pursue the case, they were actually guilty of what amounts to a cover up.

The guilty were shielded from punishment, and innocent men were implicated.

Even if we absolve the BNP government from the sins of three of its most senior members, there is no getting away from the fact that the government’s response to the uncovering of the arms smuggling plot was a disgrace.

The entire episode has revealed an alarming face of the last BNP-led government, that they need to account for, and that its supporters need to consider when assessing the party’s credibility and fitness to govern in future.

There must be assurances that rogue elements within their ranks (and that is the charitable interpretation) will be reined in, and that the Bangladeshi public need not fear such machinations, either in opposition, or if they ever return to power, if the BNP wishes to be taken seriously as a democratic entity.

The arms smuggling plot was unlawful, reckless, and totally contrary to the national interest. The BNP must bear its share of the blame for this criminality and it must credibly be able to assure the nation that such an assault against the law can never happen on its watch again.

There must be assurances that rogue elements within their ranks will be reined in, if the BNP wishes to be taken seriously as a democratic entity

January 31 The Honorable High Court has very rightly and decisively directed the government to ensure security of minorities. All those who had spread a hateful, divisive and criminal attitude toward minorities, no matter what party they were affiliated with, and committed ugly and violent acts the past couple of months cannot avoid justice. The recent rape case against women of the Dalit community is a shameful example that no civilised society can be proud of The government must stop all who were complicit in such acts, and punish the culprits, so that communal violence can never rear its ugly head in Bangladesh. To ensure this, strict laws and rules need to enforced, and the culprits severely punished, and, if needed, their property confiscated by the state to drill the point home. If necessary, amendments may have to be incorporated into the constitution to ensure the security of minorities. This matter should be of the topmost priority for our lawmakers.

Disgusted Bangladeshi

January 28

I

t is encouraging to see the month-long Amar Ekushey book fair extend from its customary Bangla Academy grounds into more of Suhrawardy Uddyan.

The event is a huge part of our cultural calendar and we hope that its expansion this year will inspire many new authors and readers as well as further developing the area’s cultural hub.

Our annual book fair is not only a place for authors, publishers, and readers to build links with one another. It offers a special opportunity to glance into how far we have been able to develop our language and literature.

This should include increasing the reach and extent of our culture around the world. The prime minister was right at the inauguration of the fair, to have called for more effort to be put into translating the finest creations of Bangla literature into other languages.

Translating more Bangla literature into other languages would familiarise more of the world with our extraordinary collection of literary masterpieces.

Potentially this proposal could help establish more writers in the global arena. We hope the Bangla Academy can work with the government, translators and publishers to carry forward this idea in practice.

That way, in addition to pleasing the large crowds who are drawn to the book fair every year, this year’s Ekushey can give our authors the opportunity of reaching out to a much larger audience.

Javed Arun Zaman The river belongs to both. Must be along the border.

Shahbag’s Swadeshi stance January 27

WaliulHaqueKhondker The columnist raises a very important issue which has hitherto been neglected by both the press and public.

Why must the police adopt an aggressive role against peaceful protests? The police should rather encourage protesters to be peaceful by cooperating with them.

In the case referred, police could place a barricade near the Pakistan High Commission and requested the protesters not to go beyond that. I’m sure the Ganajagoron Mancha boys and girls would have lived up to their avowed mission of peaceful protest.

The unprovoked lathi charge and hurling filthy abuses at the peaceful protesters by some unruly and ill-trained police personnel are truly condemnable. The government ought to identify the defaulting police personnel and take them to task and/or retrain them on their conduct against peaceful protests.

Ronnie I’m also strongly against belligerent police action on any peaceful protest. It’s unwarranted and unacceptable. I don’t at all justify police aggression against the Ganajagoron crowd. There appears to be a blatant culture of impunity among police personnel, many of whom are clearly poorly educated and poorly trained (and badly paid and motivated, to boot).

Accustomed to arbitrary acts of aggression against

Be Heard

Spread spirit of Ekushey around the world

Dawki River in Jaflong to be declared ecologically critical

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

civilians (including opposition activists), the police force has been emboldened in this behaviour – both with and without the blessings of the government of the day.

Rowdy protests outside foreign missions, anywhere, admittedly present very fraught law and order enforcement challenges to the police force tasked with the job. A far better trained and directed police force than the one we have shouldn’t find it too difficult to manage such situations with firmness and discretion.

The needless assault on the Ganajagoron contingent is deplorable. That said, I have sensed a particularly impudent and provocative attitude in certain Ganajagoron rhetoric and behaviour. They seem to presume a sense of righteous entitlement in everything they say and do. They take an issue and run with it, heedless of consequences or the need for sensible dialogue – not just indignant speeches and issuing demands and edicts. Their outlandish ultimatum to the government to immediately snap diplomatic ties with Pakistan would be merely risible, were it not also utterly irresponsible. Ditto the photo-op trek by Mr Imran Sarkar urging businessmen to shun Pakistani products.

Handy populism indeed, but utterly naive politics.

One has to wonder who are the real patrons pay-rolling the Ganajagoron crowd.

BD mulls trying Pakistani war criminals January 27

Bangladesh under the Simla agreement is not allowed to try atrocities committed, if any, by Pakistan’s forces, who served in East Pakistan during the war. dmfarooq

Rakibul Hasan Javed Arun Zaman: This place is in India.

Jenny Zerin Rakibul Hasan: The Dawki River is in between India and Bangladesh. To go to Shilong, India, by road, you have to go via Jaflong over the Dawki bridge.

The river starts from the Jaflong area and ends in India. This whole river is to be declared ecologically critical, not just part of the river. So, doesn’t matter if part of the river is within BD or India. I hope you are clear now.

Rakibul Hasan Is ECA an international watchdog? Why has the ECA gone to the Supreme Court instead of the International Court? Does ECA have the power to go over India and declare its own zone, which no one gives a care for anyway??

More importantly, this picture is taken in Indian territory, which has no relevance to the core article.

Jenny Zerin Rakibul Hasan: ECA means ecologically critical area; it’s not an organisation. I hope you know how shared rivers affect Bangladesh.

In my opinion, it should be Bangladesh’s headache to save the area with the help of India for the betterment of both countries.

And more importantly, it’s not a political issue. It’s an issue of saving the environment.

So both countries should look into the matter hand in hand. No matter from where the photo is taken.

And maybe the photo was posted to show how beautiful the river, which is going to be declared an ecologically critical area, is.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

Translating more Bangla literature into other languages would familiarise the world with our extraordinary collection of literary masterpieces

PEANUTS

CROSSWORD

SUDOKU ACROSS 1 Self-satisfied (4) 4 Heavenly body (5) 9 Make brown (3) 11 Bellow (4) 12 Constellation (5) 13 Snout (4) 14 Region (4) 15 Build (5) 19 Zodiac sign (5) 21 Fasting period (4) 25 Leave out (4) 26 Banishment (5) 28 Money drawer (4) 29 Today (3) 30 Precipitous (5) 31 Tidings (4)

DOWN 1 Halt (4) 2 Spoil (3) 3 Combine (5) 5 Much ornamented (6) 6 Make fast a vessel (4) 7 Comfort (4) 8 Thing affording pleasure (5) 10 Imply (5) 16 Disconcert (6) 17 Drink (5) 18 Schemes (5) 20 Backbone (5) 22 Send out (4) 23 African river (4) 24 Church seating (4) 27 Depressed (3)

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS Crossword

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

Code-Cracker

DHAKA TRIBUNE

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Op-Ed T

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Monday, February 3, 2014

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Velvet nostalgia

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n Towheed Feroze hanks loads to all those who read the piece on Dhaka; it seems winter is the perfect time not only for cosy late afternoon siestas, but also for hours of nostalgic indulgence. The past is fascinating simply because moments of pleasure of the bygone days, which at that time appeared normal, become extraordinary so many years later.

Thinking about the 80s, one cannot but write a separate piece on the overall music canvas which can rightly be termed the foundation stone of the modern thriving rock and pop music scenario.

People could not be music fans/musicians if they were not regulars at the ‘Elephant Road Coffee House er goli’

With the band culture of the 80s, the names of recording studios such as Rainbow, Soor Bichitra, Rhythm, and Classics automatically surface. But let’s come to the recording stores later.

In the early 80s, the hippie music culture of the 70s exploded into a mass phenomenon. In those days, opportunities to meet members of the opposite sex and getting noticed by them were limited, so if someone picked up the microphone or the guitar, fame, plus the chance to go and befriend a lady, became easier.

I remember distinctly that when a few of my pals, Aldrin and Marvin, took the school stage in 1984 with the songs “Ai neel monihar” and “Shonar okkhore lekha muche jaoa naam,” they became instant stars.

Even the teachers did not admonish them when the school “Doptori” (caretaker) informed them that he had seen the rock-stars carrying “Wills Kings” cigarette packets.

Aldrin’s long hair was overlooked since he had established himself as a musician, and was among the few who could park his Vespa scooter by the headmaster’s motorcycle.

Marvin got a Wing Sung fountain pen for his guitar skills and someone secretly tucked a beli flower garland in his physics book, accompanied by the lyrics of “Owner of a lonely heart” – a hit number by YES. The band culture swept all of Dhaka city as small bands formed in each area.

These were mainly cover bands, rendering hit songs of top western groups. The list to be played in shows was almost similar for all bands: I just died in your arms tonight, Broken wings, Paranoid, Buffalo soldier, Billy jean, Caribbean queen, Wild boys, Suzanna, Fresh, Eye of the tiger, Abracadabra, Empty rooms, and Last Christmas.

Along with the English numbers were the common Bangla hits, including chart-busting Azam Khan pieces like “Obhimani,” “Monalisa,” and “Ore Saleka Maleka.”

Interestingly, people could not be music fans/musicians if they were not regulars at the “Elephant Road Coffee House er goli” (Coffee House alley) where Rainbow, Soor Bichitra, and Rhythm music recording shops were located.

Rainbow’s Kabir Bhai was the undisputed rock guru to many, leading a Bohemian life dominated by a crazed passion for hard rock. Many musicians who became top names later on took their first lessons on metal music from Kabir Bhai, who initiated local listeners to Black Sabbath, Uriah Heep, and Deep Purple. So much was his hold on youngsters that one day this writer saw a group of parents engaged in serious conversation with Kabir Bhai.

The reason was simple – their sons were so besotted with their music guru that they spent more time at Rainbow than anywhere else.

Being a solicitous and sensitive person, Kabir Bhai, at the earnest request of flustered parents, took up the role of academic counsellor, chalking out study schedules for teenagers.

Rainbow also played a pivotal role in reviving the Doors and Jim Morrison ardour in the late 80s, bringing out a special Morrison magazine.

That was the era of vinyl records, and listeners had to wait at least a few months before an album came to the local market. So Duran Duran’s “Seven and a ragged tiger” was the number one hit album of Dhaka in mid-1984, though it had already become six months old in London.

This band, with the good looking Simon Le Bon and others, soon became

WIKIMEDIA

fashion idols in Dhaka, triggering the “baggy trousers-long hair” revolution.

When a sharply dressed dude came to pick up the prettiest girl in our evening batch tuition, driving a Mazda Familia with speakers blaring “The reflex,” we felt a sharp tinge of jealousy.

My mathematics teacher, a BUET student and a guy from a district town, came rushing one monsoon day asking if I had a Duran Duran tape. Surprised, I asked why he wanted it since he never listened to western music. He said that unless he educated himself on the band, he stood no chance with a girl he was wooing. I gave him the tape and the math teacher disappeared in the rain, a happy man.

As the walk-man came to the scene, music came out of the room. For a birthday present, a TDK D90 or a Sony CHF blank cassette tape were the best gifts.

Believe me, it was also stylish to have a recording slip of Soor Bichitra or Rhythm tucked inside the wallet. If one knew Wasim Bhai or Tipu Bhai of these stores, that person’s social status

Turn it down n Sabrina Fatma Ahmad

T

he day begins with construction noises, carrying over from the midnight brick deliveries onto the more persistent sounds of hammering, steel rod resizing, and marble cutting. Out on the streets, the swelling traffic from the morning rush onwards fills the air with the mingled noises of engines and horns and bicycle bells.

Seeking refuge indoors is futile in most places. One is never sufficiently insulated against the assault of street vendors screaming their wares all day, the roar of generators when the power gives out, planes flying overhead, and in some areas, enterprising beggars who have graduated from lung-power to pre-recorded appeals that they broadcast via loudspeaker.

Evening brings a spike in the noise with homebound traffic, and, during the party season, the latest Bollywood hits blaring through the gigantic sound systems at every holud event. Dhaka is certainly a very loud city.

While that much is evident for anyone who’s spent even a day here, just how loud it is may surprise and alarm you. According to a report published last month by pro-environment group Poribesh Bachao Andolan (Poba), sound levels have reached alarming

went a grade higher!

Concerts were regular events, and brawls between groups almost inevitable. Back then, the “mastan” culture of Dhaka had more to do with area-wise prestige and less with the dark practices of extortion and intimidation.

Coffee House, chilling out.

Once in this territory, an outsider had to respect the local guys. That was the main demand, a sort of turf-pride.

Another craze was to bring out rock magazines. Tushar and the lot of us got together to bring out Rock Connec-

While the band revolution has evolved into a structured musical industry today, the fervour of those days is missing

From Elephant Road, the most famous group was led by a friend called Apollo, and none of the guys ever dreamt of taking toll from shops or deal in drugs.

The boys – Tushar, Sahrif, Zia, Nazrul, Imti, Poppy, Rana Raj, this writer, and others – were always found at the

tion magazine, with David Coverdale featured on the cover.

While the band revolution has evolved into a structured musical industry today, the fervour of those days is missing; Soor Bichitra and Rhythm closed their businesses long ago, music lovers hardly think of making a

list and then going to a recording store (no one has the time), baggy trousers are worn by clowns only, Duran Duran members are almost senior citizens, and one does not have to form a band to become noticeable.

Yet, for those who love slices of the past – Rainbow is still operating in Elephant Road under the deft hands of Mukul and overseen by Murad Bhai, where a handful of 40-somethings still find time within their busy schedules to walk in to have songs recorded, and talk about their rising blood pressures or borderline sugar levels.

Wait, there is more. Every other year, Kabir Bhai comes to Bangladesh from Australia for a re-union of the 80s music fans.

Who knows, he may be sitting in Coffee House (it’s still there), handing out advice to the old boys on how to live in the present while clinging on to rainbows of velvet nostalgia. l Towheed Feroze is a journalist currently working in the development sector.

Why the dialogue? spikes in the capital city, with sound generation in some areas being two to three times higher than tolerable limits.

The study, conducted throughout Dhaka during November last year revealed that even locations designated as “silent areas,” such as Shahbagh, with two important hospitals located in the vicinity, or the area in front of the prime minister’s office registered sound generation at least 50% higher than acceptable limits.

While one can’t wish away the traffic, would it be too hard to refrain from excessively honking the horns?

Many residential areas, like Tejkunipara and Dhanmondi, for example, suffer noise levels as much as three times higher than the safe limit.

Why are these noise levels a concern for Poba, and indeed, most residents of the capital? Medical experts have reported a higher incidence of

FOCUS BANGLA

hearing loss, insomnia, loss of concentration, irritation, high blood pressure, migraines, and retarded fetal growth, all of which can be linked to lengthy exposure to loud sound. In other words, the noise pollution is literally a headache for the city’s residents.

The culprits are many – from the growth of traffic plying the streets, excessive honking of horns, to the use of heavy machinery in construction sites, to loud music being played in restaurants and shopping malls, and so on. Almost equally culpable are the concerned authorities, who are apparently not that concerned after all.

Late last year, the Department of Environment (DoE) admitted that it has not been measuring sound levels in the noisy capital for over a year.

What few measures that have been proposed, such as public awareness programs, mobile courts, and the imposition of fines on offenders, have not been implemented properly due to manpower and fund shortages.

Blaming the authorities or the lack of infrastructural support is easy enough, but the truth is, we are a noisy people. While one can’t wish away the traffic on the roads, would it be too hard to refrain from excessively honking the horns?

Sure, restaurants could turn down the loud music they play, but what about their patrons who insist on sharing their conversation with the entire room by talking in loud voices?

Is it absolutely necessary to drag young children to coffee joints late at night, or letting them run around shrieking in fast food places? Would it be impossible to have wedding events without straining the sound system to its limits, sometimes right till the wee hours of the night? Didn’t think so.

As with any other environmental issue, the problem of noise pollution is a logistical nightmare. A little civic sense, and a few smart lifestyle choices, however could make the madness much more manageable. l Sabrina Fatma Ahmad is Editor, TMAG and Treehouse at the Dhaka Tribune.

n Khawaza Main Uddin

E

ven in the current hostile situation, we see a bipartisan consensus – the relevance of dialogue.

Never successful in recent history, the talks of dialogue turned into a “disagree-to-agree” style rigidity in the ruling and the opposition camps.

If the dialogue is meant to reach an understanding, the understanding to make way for an agreement is just missing. So, foreseeing no possibility of a deal, our leaders preferred living with the constant political crisis.

The president’s call for dialogue in his address at the 10th parliament’s first session offers a ray of, not hope, but confused optimism. “Please help democracy flourish through dialogue with the government,” President Abdul Hamid said, making an appeal to the opposition that boycotted the January 5 polls. However, no follow-up step has been visible till date. This is simply because, as I understand, the incumbents who prepared the draft of the president’s speech knew the purpose well, and so did the opposition.

The objective of the Awami League government’s overture was reflected in the president’s urging of the opposition to “contribute towards establishing a tolerant democratic system by removing hatred, violence, and confrontation from politics.” In an ostensible winning mode, the government wants to keep BNP, now in a defensive mode, waiting for a dialogue for no less than another five years.

While drumming up support for a non-participatory ballot, the ruling party-oriented intellectuals have made consistent deviations in their statements. They initially termed the election without the opposition a constitutional obligation, then a sheer formality to hold another inclusive election within six months or so, and once election day was over and a new cabinet formed, they started describing the Sheikh Hasina-led new cabinet as representing the so-called pro-liberation forces.

This process, inclusive of the Goe-

bbelsian propaganda, reminds us of a European diplomat’s description of her recent efforts as “coup by installments.”

Why do they talk about dialogue if this government is for five years? Talk of such dialogue is not good for the health of the administration. The AL’s well-wishers and sycophants may feel panicked in case of a consensus on holding general elections in one year or two. The AL camp does not need to reach an understanding on the pollstime government if it wants keep the BNP-led alliance out of electoral politics once again after five years.

The dialogue “offer” is aimed at alluring the BNP camp to power politics so that it does not go for desperate campaigns. Such tactics can help all the prime minister’s men to escape the wrath of the people who neither chose this government nor found any opportunity to vote against it.

The AL leaders have exposed their phobia of fair elections in which they assumed they would lose. Why would they hold a dialogue with the opposition only to be defeated in the electoral battle?

all parties and stakeholders is a must, I reckon, if we want peace, stability, rule of law, and social justice.

The BNP leadership has thoroughly focussed mainly on the non-party government for acceptable elections, not other agendas, for holding the dialogue. The AL side has favoured a status quo, only to stay in power, fearing a repercussion to loss of power.

In that sense, however, a dialogue is more beneficial to the AL leaders, workers, and supporters.

The ruling camp has failed to realise the usefulness of dialogue for subsiding opposition anger and the ultimate consequence of failure to stick to power by means of coercion.

Today or tomorrow, the present set of leaders will have to leave office, and the people’s power must be respected.

That can happen through a peaceful process, or eventually through popular upheaval.

Khaleda Zia’s proposal for dialogue will be meaningless unless her camp can create the atmosphere by pressuring the AL leadership to come to the table. The AL camp has, at the moment, the luxury of pooh-poohing the

A national dialogue involving all parties and stakeholders is a must if we want peace, stability, rule of law, and social justice

A dialogue is relevant to those who possess the democratic spirit and who believe in participatory elections for choosing the right people to govern the country. It would be useful for bringing back investors’ confidence, creating jobs for youths, and brightening Bangladesh’s image as a country of immense potential.

A fruitful dialogue could be helpful for addressing the ongoing political conflicts and reconciling the divided society. A national dialogue involving

BNP’surge, but only to add more insult to the minds of many even outside of the BNP platform.

If the AL camp was really smart, it would enter the dialogue soon with the BNP and other parties, bargain hard on a number of critical issues, and strike a deal keeping everyone’s heads high. Otherwise, it can exhaust the last option – clinging to power until a disgraceful exit someday. l Khawaza Main Uddin is a journalist.

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Monday, February 3, 2014

Mir Sabbir’s new drama series starts today n Afrose Jahan Chaity

Koibollo by theatre Opera was staged at the inaugural ceremony

SADIA MARIUM

National Street Theatre Fest begins with Koibollo n Shadma Malik A week long National Street Theatre Festival was inaugurated on February 1 at the Central Shaheed Minar. The event organised by Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation (BFTF) will showcase six plays everyday. Shunagoriker Shondhaney, Shadhinota Shongramme, Jonom Dukhi Maa, Jege Utho, Shadhinota Tumi Fire Ele and Jononi Jonmobhumi are today’s plays.

On the opening day, the programme began with a patriotic song by indigenous musician Promesh Tonchondra and his group. The song was followed by a dance performance of theatre troupe Mohakaal Natya Shomproday, to the nationalistic song Jaago. The dance recital showcased the unity and revolution of Bangladesh. Naila Tabassum’s recital of a paragraph from Syed

Shamsul Haq’s Payer Awaj Paoa Jay followed the performance.

A street play titled Koibollo by theatre Opera was presented at the event.

Written by Sanjiban Sikder and directed

by Kazi Toufiqul Islam Imon, the story opens with the dark side of excessive greed showcased through the depiction of a group of land diggers. The leader of the group encourages them to keep on digging as he predicted that the soil contains precious elements. But alas! they found nothing. Yet again they were urged by the leader to go on. At one point, their shovels hit something and the noise cause a stir of excitement through the group. Their high hopes were once again shattered as they discovered human skulls instead of any treasure. At last, after long hours of labour, they find a chest. The leader of the group leaves them in the hope that this chest may

in her Facebook page: “I have just recorded a song for a film named Under Construction by Rubaiyat Hossain, to be released in July 2014.

Music has been done by Arnob.

Actors Rahul Bose and Shahana Goswami have played the lead roles.”

Although the couple divorced, they are quite civil to each other and always acknowledge one another with courtesy in public. Arnob and Sahana have produced some popular songs that are still loved by their fans, therefore, this new song definitely holds a great deal of appeal for the audience. l

n Entertainment Desk

The writers of Her and Captain Phillips were given top honours by their peers on Saturday at the annual Writers Guild Awards, a strong predictor of success in the screenplay categories at the Oscars in a month’s time.

Spike Jonze won the best original screenplay award for Her, a tale set in the near future about a man in a romantic relationship with a lifelike computer operating system.

“It’s a high honour coming from writers,” Jonze, 44, who also directed the film, said while accepting the prize.

Captain Phillips, inspired by the events of a cargo ship hijacked by Somali pirates, earned writer Billy Ray the prize for best adapted screenplay. The film was based on Richard Phillips’ 2010 memoir A Captain’s Duty about the ordeal.

“I also owe quite a debt to Captain Richard Phillips, who survived something that I know would’ve killed me,” Ray said accepting the award. “It’s really Captain Phillips who wrote this story, I just wrote it down.”

It was the first Writers Guild Awards for Jonze and Ray. Winners of the awards handed out by the Writers Guild of America for original screenplay and adapted screenplay have gone on to win the corresponding Oscar awards for eight of the past 10 years. l

Why have you chosen such a story for a serial?

I previously directed a single-episode play titled Barisal Bonam Noakhali in 2008. The play was hugely appreciated and since then it was my plan to go for something bigger than this.

What are the other features of the series?

Though it’s a comedy, many serious issues have been represented through humour and a number of symbolic elements are used, that shows our value and social norms . It also features a rural storyline and the colloquial language of Barisal and Noakhali.

Are you playing any character in the serial?

Yes, I am playing a character of a florist, who is from the Barisal family.

What are the challenges of being a director and actor at the same time?

It’s all depends on planning. If someone plans it perfectly and has a brilliant team supporting his endeavors, it’s not that difficult.

What else are you working on currently?

I have acted in several drama series which are now being aired on different channels which includes Mago Tomar Jonyo directed by Mahfuz Ahmed, Boshotbati directed by Chandan Chowdhury on ATN Bangla, Jogajog Golojog directed by Ezaz Munna on NTV and many others.

Recently, I am done with the shooting of Shazzad Hossain’s Hollabaji, Salauddin Lavlu’s Circus, Wahid Anam’s Kotha Over and Golam Shohrab Dodul’s Ekusher Krishnochura. l

9:30pmStar Movies

n Entertainment Desk

Night At The Museum

Sahana lends voice to Arnob’s music

Barisal, but the two families are from the two districts respectively. The commonly known rivalry between the people of the two region is the main theme of the story.

7:05pmHBO Julie & Julia

Her, Captain Phillips win Writers Guild

The title is a combination of Noakhali and Barisal. It’s a story of two families residing in a village named Mohonpur, which is neither in Noakhali nor in

A scene from Nowasal

Bollywood’s Gunday inspired by Bangladesh’s Liberation War

MOVIE

Divorced celebrity musicians Arnob and Sahana have recently worked together in a song for the movie Underconstruction, directed by Rubaiyat Hossain. The song directed

by Arnob was recorded with Sahana in the UK. At present, Sahana is married to Richard Herrett and resides in the UK. Arnob is single and lives in Bangladesh. Recently, his band represented Bangladesh in a programme titled Sufi Sutra in Kolkata.

About the song, Sahana wrote

Tell us about the concept and story of Nowasal.

bring peace in the disputed group.

However, the members become more violent in their greed and starts to kill one another to acquire the supposed treasure for themselves. When they finally got to opening the box, they discover a different kind of treasure. The chest was full of festoons that tells the history of Bangladesh and its liberation. The motto behind the story is that, knowing the history of Bangladesh will bring the people together.

The drama captivated the audience by Lathi Khela, which brought rural elements to the stage.

The inauguration of the programme was attended by Minister of Information, Hasanul Haq Inu, Syed Shamsul Haq, veteran theatre activists Lucky Enam, thespian Mamunur Rashid, BGTF Secretary General Jhuna Chowdhury and many other noted personalities. l

ON TV

n Entertainment Desk

Popular TV actor and director Mir Sabbir is all set to entertain the audience of small screen with his new comedy series. Directed by Mir Sabbir and written by Kamrul Hassan, the drama series Nowasal will begin airing today on RTV at 9:05pm.

The drama features a rural storyline and the cast includes ATM Shamsuzzaman, Khairul Alam Sabuj, Chitralekha Guha, Dolly Jahur, Aliraz, Mir Sabbir, Rawnak Hasan, Naznin Hasan Chumky, Nisha and many more.

Recently Dhaka Tribune caught up with the popular actor Mir Sabbir who debuted as a director with the drama series Makbul.

DRAMA 9: 00pm Star Jalsha

Bojhena Shey Bojhena

11:00pm Sony TV

Bade Achhe Lagte Hain

Filmmaker Ali Abbas Zafar, director of the upcoming film Gunday got inspiration from his father’s stories, which he recreated for the film. Not many know that Ali’s father was in Bangladesh throughout the 1971 Liberation War. In an interview, he said: “My father, who was present during the war use to narrate me all his first-hand experiences of that time, which have always stayed with me.”

Ali decided to recreate similar scenes and situations which actually prevailed during the war of

Bangladesh for Gunday. The movie tells the story of two refugees played by actors Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor and is set in the backdrop of 1970’s. The film also features Priyanka Chopra and Irrfan Khan.

The film is about Bikram and Bala, who live their lives on the wrong side of the law, becoming gun carriers and coal bandits. It is set to release on February 14, 2014.

It will also be released in Bangla, with a full Bangla song composed by Bappi Lahiri. This will be the first Indian film to have its trailer premier at the Dubai International Film Festival. l

COMEDY 1:30pm Comedy Central House Of Lies

9:00pm ZCafe The Middle

MISC 10:30am Fox Traveller Food Safari

8:30pm AXN

The Amazing Race

Durjoy Rahman’s exhibition extended n Entertainment Desk The exhibition featuring the private collections of art collector Dorjoy Rahman Joy has been extended for another week, the artist told the Dhaka Tribune.

Ways of Seeing that is on at the Bengal Art Lounge in Gulshan was supposed to end today.

“Since the exhibition got huge response, the gallery asked me to extend the exhibition,” he said. The collection focuses on the artworks of many eminent painters from Bangladesh and is dedicated to the memory of late artist Aminul Islam, sever-

al of whose early works are on display at the exhibition.

Many artworks done by prominent painters are being displayed publicly for the first time.

Talking with the Dhaka Tribune, Durjoy Rahman Joy said that his personal collection also includes the artworks of Indian great masters and Western contemporary artists.

“I have over 800 works of art in my private gallery in Baridhara. Here, 42 of those are being displayed.”He added: “I have personally spent a lot of time with the artists and saw them creating the paintings.” l

Durjoy Rahman Joy’s art collection displayed at Bengal Art Lounge

Shahid scared of dating Bollywood beauties

n

Entertainment Desk

Bollywood superstar Shahid Kapoor says he is done dating actresses and is now scared thinking about it.

Shahid was seen in an upcoming episode of celebrity chat show Koffee With Karan, where he was asked by Karan who would he like to date and Shahid promptly replied “not an actress…. I am so done with that. I am a little scared of dating an actress for sure,” the actor said.

To a query by Karan on what he has learnt from dating actresses, Shahid says, “Do not date them.”

In the past, Shahid was in a relationship with Kareena Kapoor. Later, he was reportedly dating Vidya Balan and Priyanka Chopra.

His name was also linked with actresses Nargis Fakhri, Bipasha Basu, Anushka Sharma and Huma Qureshi. l

Did you know?

Liverpool have kept only one clean sheet in their last 11 Premier League away games

Sport

Monday, February 3, 2014

0 4 1

14 England’s tour

DAYS TO GO

finally ends with a T20 whimper

DHAKA TRIBUNE

13

15 Giles likely to

succeed Flower: England boss

Shakib looks to improve fielding

Bangladesh national coach Shane Jurgensen instructs his team durring a practice session at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium yesterday

Practice makes perfect Mushfiqur Rahim seemed pretty determined to forget his misery behind the stumps in the last match and looked focus on his job as the Bangladesh captain was seen doing some extra glove work after their practice session at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong yesterday.

One of the hard working members of the Tigers squad, the wicketkeeper spent a terrible time in the first Test as he dropped three catches and missed a stumping chance. To add salt to Mushfiq’s wound, among the four misses three alone were of the Sri Lankan opener Kaushal Silva who eventually landed his maiden Test hundred in the only innings they batted. But yesterday he trained extra with the gloves on, usually a routine of his, with the Tigers fielding coach Corey Richards.

After the first Test in Dhaka Shakib al Hasan told the media that Mushfiq

is a mature cricketer and knows his job very well, he knows how to comeback.

Mushfiq’s approach in the practice yesterday certainly indicated that he is heading in the right direction but the question is if the job getting difficult for the 25-year old.

He has been one of the most consistent players in the Bangladesh line-up in all three formats and the right-handed batsman’s contribution to the side has only improved over the last year.

However, being a wicketkeeper and also bat at number four along with the pressure of captaincy might have taken its toll over Mushfiq in the previous Test and the result was pretty ugly.

However it is too early to tell but Mushfiq, the only Bangladeshi to score a Test double hundred, should at some point take advice from his Sri Lankan opponent Kumar Sangakkara and consider giving up the job behind the wicket in Tests and concentrate more on batting. l

Abahani-Usha high voltage tie today In the first high voltage match of the Green Delta Insurance Premier Division Hockey League, Abahani Ltd and Usha Krira Chakra will lock horns at the Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium at 3:00pm today.

Both sides have their first five matches in the seven team league and the outcome of today’s game will play a big part in the final standings ahead of the Super Four phase.

For the key match, both sides have flown four Pakistani players in. Defender Kashif Ali, midfielder Aamin Shahzad, attacking midfielder Mohammad Tauseeq and striker Hashim Khan will be wearing the sky-blue jersey while Usha has brought Shafqat Rasool, Imran Butt, Syed Kashif and Newaz Ashfaq to boost their squad. l

Jamal downed by Kolkata Mohammedan Dhaka giants Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club went down 1-2 to Kolkata Mohammedan in the 118th IFA Shield at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Salt Lake yesterday.

Jamal took the lead in the first half through their Haitian forward Sony Norde but two second half goals by Ashim Biswas and Brazilian forward Joshimar saw Mohammedan romp victory.

Jamal had a good start with mid-

fielder Sohel Rana hitting the side-post in the 14th minute. The Dhaka outfit however was rocked by their Nigerian attacker Emeka Darlington and skipper Mamunul Islam receiving yellow cards in the 25th and 28th minutes respectively. Nonetheless, Jamal took the lead in the 41st minute when Sony Norde scored with a long range effort.

Three minutes into the resumption, Mohammedan earned a penalty but Josimar’s spot kick was knocked away

for a corner by Jamal goalie Ziaur Rahman. It was from another corner that Mohammedan were able to equalize in the 58th minute, through Asim Biswas’ bicycle kick.

Joshimar made up for his missed penalty in the 85th minute when he lobbed the ball over Zia and into the net in a one-on-one situation.

Jamal plays Kolkata giants Sikim United in their second match on Wednesday. l

MUMIT M

Shakib al Hasan admitted that Bangladesh needed to improve in all areas in the second Test against Sri Lanka, especially fielding, after the Tigers were crushed in the first match by an innings and 248 runs in a match where several chances were grassed, at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium yesterday.

“We need to improve everywhere, the fielding is very important. Such a bad time can come, one match can possibly go bad. But we have been playing good cricket for one to one and a half years and sometime it happens. Coming back is important. We have come back from a situation like this before so we have that experience. Hopefully it won’t be a problem,” said the star allrounder, adding that though the team was disappointed about he first Test, they were now focused on putting out their best in the second.

Bangladesh, who are usually sharp on the field, were particularly poor in the first Test with skipper Mushfiqur Rahim being the main culprit as he dropped four catches behind the wicket and also missed a stumping. Shakib, however, stood by his captain.

“Actually, everyone is professional,

yes sometimes players need to be encouraged, but I don’t think in Mushfiqur’s case, he needed it. For the last 1-2 years Bangladesh has been doing well, Mushfiqur’s keeping has also improved a lot more than before. He had a bad game, that can happen. A batsman can be out for a duck, or a bowler can give away a 100 runs, so that day is over, hopefully it won’t happen again.

“If you see the batsmen who scored big runs, Mahela, everyone was given a chance, either a stumping or a dropped catch. So if that could have happened, leave Mahela’s 200, the other batsmen got four to five lives, so even if they would have scored 500, that would have made a big difference from 700.

With 700, we had no option but to bat for two days, which was difficult. If it had been 400, we knew that okay if we bat well, they will at least bat again,” said Shakib.

Noting that Sri Lanka’s strategy of peppering the batsmen with short balls had been effective in Dhaka, Shakib said Bangladesh were prepared for it this time, “Maybe we weren’t ready for this or we didn’t think that they would bowl short deliveries like this or that would be there plan. Now that we know that they might plan like this, we will hopefully, at least from this aspect be prepared for it - we will be prepared for it.” l

Negre confirms new turf Leandro Negre, the president of International Hockey Federation, confirmed at the Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium yesterday that a new, blue turf would be installed.

In addition, Bangladesh will be receive another stretch of 40X40 meter turf at no cost and that the hockey federation will set at a school ground and the hub of local hockey is also in line to have floodlights put in.

The turf will be provided by world famous artificial turf producer Sports Technology International (STI), whose managing director, Steven Niven, was present at the press briefing at the BOA House yesterday.

Negre, the chief of the 128 country organization, acknowledged the potential in Bangladesh hocke. “I arrived here last year and I was approached for a turf. After almost one year I can say that Bangladesh is going to have a new turf. The MOU will be signed next September and the installation process will begin soon after. The MOU will be signed after Tayeb Ekram, the development officer of AHF arrives here and finalises the draft,” he said.

The new turf seemed to excite the FIH president and he suggested Dhaka host a number of international events.

“I can say that round one of the World Hockey League can played at Dhaka. I have also been thinking about a match between India and Pakistan on the new turf - the Indian board is ready but now the Pakistani federation will

go through their election, so they can’t confirm it. Hopefully, both the parties will agree to play here.

“The blue surface has brought new life in media transmissions. I did not receive any criticism over the new style of penalty shootout. It’s well accepted in the media,” said the president.

Nonetheless, Negre stressed that Bangladesh still had work to do. “At the moment, Bangladesh is one step behind. They have to perform a little better and work hard to attain the target.

I hope they will work toward attaining a place at the Olympics 2020,” he said.

Stephen Niven shared Negre’s opinion of Bangladesh’s potential. “Leandro Negre called me one morning to meet him and the meeting took place in India last year. He said I have to help him re-

garding a new turf. Then for six months there was no communications, just before Christmas he rang me and told me that I have to go with him to Bangladesh. I think Bangladesh has enough potential to go ahead,” said Niven.

Regarding floodlights, Negre said the matter was being considered. “I think 300 lux would be enough but installing posts outside the stadium is an expensive option. We would prefer a system that can light the field from inside the venue, we are working on it,” he explained.

Khawja Rahmatullah, the general secretary of the federation, said OCA and the FIH will bear the 75% of the costs and the remaining 25% would be provided by the government. The cost of the turf is USD400,000. l

A jovial FIH president Leandro Negre, flanked by STI MD Stephen Niven (R) and BHF general secretary Khawaja Rahmtaullah (L) explains a point during a press conference at the BOA House yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sangakkara looking to change tactics

Sri Lanka batsman Kumar Sangakkara bats in the nets Jurgensen at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium yesterday MUMIT M

While the strategy of bombarding the Bangladeshi batsmen with short pitched balls was highly successful in the first Test in Dhaka, Kumar Sangakkara said that the visitors would be looking for a different strategy on the grassless wicket in Chittagong, adding that the short ball could still be useful, yesterday after the first practice session at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong.

“Hard to use the same strategy, because the wicket looks quite different from there to now, but even on this track, a short ball can be useful. We don’t really know what we we’ll plan for the batsmen, but our job is to do the basics well – put the ball in the right areas. If we have a specific strategy, to make sure the bowlers bowl to that field and that strategy,” said Sangakkara.

The 36-year old veteran praised his teammates’ showing in the first Test, signaling out Kithuruwan Vithanage, who scored his maiden hundred after replacing Prasanna Jayawardene in the playing 11 at the last minute.

“It was very good to see that we stuck to our disciplines and our basics really well – especially Mahela, Kaushal Silva and Kithuruwan. I thought they were excellent. Kithuruwan especially, coming in almost on the morning of the game for Prasanna, and to be able to do what he did shows a special talent,” he said. He went on to stress that there was no complacency in the team and they were fully focused on the next match.

Sangakkara said that the first Test had been easier than Sri Lanka had expected but noted that the Tigers had put on a tough fight last year in Sri Lanka, “We’re pretty much used to Bangladesh putting up a pretty good

fight usually. They pushed us in the Test series over there, and we walked away with a 1-all in the one-day series.

More often than not they are more competitive in the one-day version of the game, so in the shorter formats of the game, we know we’re in for the fight. We won’t expect anything less than that from them here. So the earlier game was easier than we thought it would be, but we expect it to be different here.”

Speaking of Mahela Jayawardena equaling Sangakkara’s Sri Lankan record of 33 Test centuries in Dhaka, the left-hander expressed the feeling that healthy competition within the team was a good thing. Sangakkara himself made 75 in Dhaka and is looking to make a big score in the upcoming match.

A former wicket-keeper himself, Sangakkara spoke about Bangladesh’s captain/wicket-keeper/batsman Mushfiqur Rahim, who had a poor match in Dhaka,

dropping four chances. “I don’t know.

We bat in different positions. He bats at no. 6, and I’ve always batted at no.3.

I used to keep and bat no. 3, so after you’ve kept for a long time and you walk in at no. 3 – especially if an opener gets out pretty early – that was one of the reasons I was asked to give up keeping.

That’s a question for the Bangladeshi selectors and Mushfiqur to answer for himself. It really depends on what you enjoy and how you do it,” he said.

Asked about the ICC draft proposal, which has been the subject of much speculation recently, Sangakkara said, “I haven’t seen the new draft paper. I don’t know exactly what’s in it. I think there was an earlier draft paper that’s been changed and modified and presented again. I don’t think I can make a comment without understanding what the issues are and what the draft paper really says. I won’t be able to make an informed comment on it, unless I really see it.” l

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Monday, February 3, 2014

Diouf eager to extend Hanover stay

Jones has head scan after injury

Cavani out for three weeks

Senegal striker Mame Diouf has said he is eager to extend his Hanover 96 contract, despite interest from Premier League side Cardiff City, after scoring twice on Saturday. Diouf, 26, is out of contract with his Bundesliga side in June and netted twice in the last 10 minutes in their 3-1 home win over Borussia Moenchengladbach. Cardiff City manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is reported to have tried to lure his former Manchester United team-mate back to the Premier League in last month’s transfer window.

–AFP

Manchester United manager David Moyes revealed England defender Phil Jones needed a head scan after suffering a concussion in his side’s 2-1 defeat against Stoke on Saturday. Jones accidently slammed his head into Stoke City forward Jonathan Walters during a challenge late in the first half and suffered another blow to the head as he landed awkwardly after the collision. The 21-year-old lay unconscious and needed several minutes’ treatment on the Britannia Stadium pitch before being stretchered off.

–AFP

Paris St Germain striker Edinson Cavani has been ruled out for three weeks because of a thigh injury and is set to miss this month’s Champions League tie at Bayer Leverkusen, a spokesman for the French club said on Sunday.

Cavani had to be replaced in the 75th minute of PSG’s 2-0 home victory over Girondins Bordeaux in Ligue 1 on Friday and underwent further examination the following day. The Uruguay striker would be out of action for at least three weeks.

–Reuters

England’s tour finally ends with a T20 whimper n AFP, Sydney

Australian players celebrates with their trophy after winning T20I and the series against England in Sydney, Australia yesterday

AP

England’s sorry tour of Australia finally ended with a whimper Sunday – a crushing 84-run defeat to give the hosts a clean sweep of the three-game Twenty20 series.

The Australians, with man-of-thematch George Bailey smashing an unbeaten 49 off 20 balls, scored 195 for six after winning the toss in Sydney.

The home side then dismissed the psychologically-scarred tourists for 111 in the 18th over to sweep the series.

It marked the end of a disastrous 103-day tour for England, who lost the Ashes Tests 5-0 and the one-day international series 4-1, meaning Australia won 12-1 across the three formats.

In between the losses, the international careers of spinner Graeme Swann and coach Andy Flower have been ended.

The future is also uncertain for Kevin Pietersen, Matt Prior and Jonathan Trott while Alastair Cook’s Test captaincy is far from certain.

“It’s been good fun throughout the tour. We’ve been hugely disappointing, not at the races for three months, but

you have to give credit to Australia,” said England T20 skipper Stuart Broad.

“We’ve got a two-week break at home and then go to the Caribbean but we know we’re a decent T20 side.

“We’ve got a dangerous side. We’ve got to go to Bangladesh (for the world T20) with confidence and hopefully we can get some momentum in the Caribbean.”

England, perhaps with their minds on the team’s departure home in the hours after the Sydney match, surrendered limply to the Australian bowlers.

Eoin Morgan was the best of a bad lot with 34 off 20 balls as the Australian bowlers shared in the wickets.

Nathan Coulter-Nile and spinners Glenn Maxwell and James Muirhead each claimed two wickets.

Skipper Bailey earlier clubbed 26 runs off the last over to steer Australia to their insurmountable total after winning the toss at Sydney’s Olympic stadium.

The Aussie skipper smacked 4-6-6-44-2 off Jade Dernbach’s last over of the innings. In all Australia hit 13 sixes in their innings. l

SCORECARD Australia C. White c Buttler b Jordan A. Finch c Broad b Bresnan G. Maxwell c Hales b Broad B. Cutting c & b Root G. Bailey not out B. Hodge c Dernbach b Broad D. Christian b Broad M. Wade not out Extras (lb2, w4) Total (6 wickets; 20 overs)

Bowling Broad 4-0-30-3, Jordan 4-0-23-1 (1w), Bresnan 4-0-42-1, Stokes 3-0-36-0 (1w), Dernbach 4-0-49-0 (2w), Root 1-0-13-1.

England L. Wright c Cutting b Starc A. Hales c Muirhead b Coulter-Nile B. Stokes c Cutting b Maxwell J. Root c Cutting b Maxwell E. Morgan c Starc b Cutting J. Buttler c Maxwell b Christian R. Bopara b Coulter-Nile T. Bresnan st Wade b Muirhead C. Jordan not out S. Broad b Muirhead J. Dernbach run out (Bailey/Wade) Extras (b2, lb4, w2) Total (all out; 17.2 overs)

Chelsea out to derail City juggernaut

n AFP, Paris

Manchester City’s status as Premier League title favourites will pass beneath an unforgiving microscope on Monday when Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea travel north for a seismic clash at the Etihad Stadium.

City moved to the top of the table after crushing Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 on Wednesday and having already plundered 115 goals in all competitions this season, they are widely seen as the country’s outstanding team.

With a run of five consecutive league victories, Chelsea had been keeping pace, but a frustrating 0-0 draw at home to West Ham United in mid-week saw them fall three points behind their rivals.

Mourinho has lauded City as clear title favourites in recent weeks, but with Monday’s match drawing closer, he has started to fire off some characteristically pernicious barbs.

The Chelsea manager dismissed Tot-

Monaco saw their championship chances dented on Saturday as they were forced to come back twice before snatching a 2-2 draw at Lorient to fall five points behind Paris Saint-Germain.

It took an 88th minute equaliser from Layvin Kurzawa to save pride for Claudio Ranieri’s men as the visitors were staring down the barrel of defeat with time running out.

Lorient, who came into the match in 10th spot and within touching distance of the European places, took a shock lead on 13 minutes when Monaco failed to clear a corner kick.

Later, Saint-Etienne moved to within one point of third spot with a 3-0 defeat of Valenciennes at home.

Nantes failed to put pressure on the leading pack as they fell 1-0 at secondfrom-bottom Sochaux - a win would have

Martino baffled by bipolar Barcelona n AFP, Madrid Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino was lost for words after his side suffered their first league defeat at home in nearly two years as Valencia came from behind to win 3-2 at the Camp Nou on Saturday.

The Catalans had appeared to be coasting to a routine victory as Alexis Sanchez put them in front after just seven minutes, whilst they also missed a host of other chances in a slick performance during the opening half an hour.

And Barca’s miserable day was summed up when Jordi Alba was sent-off against his old club 13 minutes from time.

“I was anxious to consolidate our early advantage because the game is not over until the referee blows the final whistle and it felt like we stopped after half an hour,” he said.

“This week I said that at this stage of the season you pay a heavy price for any errors and today we committed a lot of errors. Probably Valencia’s first goal caused us to lose a bit of confidence. In the second-half that made us a bit more desperate, which in turn made us commit more errors. We seemed like one team in the first-half and another in the second.”

Defeat means that a victory for Atletico Madrid or Real Madrid against Real Sociedad and Athletic Bilbao respectively on Sunday will knock Barca off top spot for the first time in a record 60 league games. l

lifted them to fifth ahead of the Sunday slate. Reims meanwhile lost 4-2 at home to Montpellier, Evian and Ajaccio’s key relegation battle ended all square at 1-1, and Guingamp lost 3-2 at Bastia. l

RESULTS Lorient

2-2

Bastia

3-2

Evian

1-1

Reims

2-4

Saint-Etienne

3-0

Valenciennes

Sochaux

1-0

Nantes

Aboubakar 12, Aliadiere 73 Ba 52, Squillaci 81, Boudebouz 88-P Rubén 85 Ayité 58, El Kaoutari 65-og

Cohade 45+1, Corgnet 56, Mollo 87 Sunzu 45

Monaco

Germain 41, Kurzawa 87

Guingamp

Alioui 50, 55

Ajaccio

Tallo 89

Montpellier

J. Marveaux 29, Cabella 46, 55, Niang 69

tenham manager Tim Sherwood’s claim that City were the best team on the planet and went on to allege that Manuel Pellegrini’s side were benefiting from favourable officiating.

Spurs, Newcastle United and Liverpool have all had goals disallowed for offside in recent losses to City and Mourinho said: “They are lucky. The reality is they have many crucial decisions in their favour.

“Against Liverpool, the (Raheem) Sterling ‘goal’. The penalty on (Luis) Suarez (that was not given). Against Newcastle the (Cheick Tiote) goal that is a clear goal.

“Against Tottenham, (Michael) Dawson’s goal, the penalty, the (Danny Rose) red card. They are having everything. I repeat, because I don’t want to be misinterpreted -- (it is) just pure coincidence.

“The referees, they try to do their best and sometimes they make mistakes and normally during the season the mistakes are split between teams. In their (City’s) case, they have everything in their favour.”

While Mourinho has repeatedly drawn a distinction between his supposedly embryonic team and Pellegrini’s “finished product”, Chelsea beat City 2-1 when they met at Stamford Bridge in October.

City are a vastly different prospect on home turf, however, having won all 11 of their league matches at the Etihad, where they score goals at a rate of close to four per game.

Manchester United, Everton, Tottenham, Arsenal and Liverpool are among the teams to have been ruthlessly dispatched in front of City’s fans, for an aggregate winning margin of 21-6.

While Mourinho’s tactics tend to be more cautious, Pellegrini refuses to criticise the approach taken by the man who succeeded him as manager of Real Madrid in 2010.

“I don’t know which way Chelsea will play on Monday,” said the Chilean.

“They have a style of play. Maybe it’s not the same style that I like, but everyone can play the way they want.

“I never criticise what other teams

France, Swiss, Germany into Davis Cup quarter-finals n AFP, Paris

France, Switzerland and Germany all advanced to the Davis Cup World Group quarter-finals on Saturday as Spain and Serbia crashed out of the 114-year-old competition.

France took an unassailable 3-0 lead over Australia, with Germany seeing off Spain, minus world number one Rafael Nadal, and Switzerland beat 2010 winners and last year’s finalists Serbia by the same scoreline.

On clay in Mouilleron-le-Captif, Richard Gasquet and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga clinched the vital rubber for France with a 5-7, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2, 7-5 success over Chris Guccione and Lleyton Hewitt.

France were sitting pretty overnight after Gasquet beat Aussie teenager Nick Kyrgios 7-6 (7/3), 6-2, 6-2, before Tsonga ousted Hewitt 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (7/2).

Tommy Haas and Philipp Kohlschreiber needed nearly three and a half hours to seal a 7-6(7/5), 6-7(9/11), 7-6(9/7), 6-3 over Spain’s Fernando Verdasco and David Marrero. Kohlschreiber and Florian Mayer had given the hosts a 2-0 overnight lead.

Switzerland’s all important point was delivered by the pairing of Marco Chiudinelli and Michael Lanmer, who saw off Nenad Zimonjic and Filip Krajinovic 6-6 (7/3), 3-6, 6-6 (7/2), 6-2.

Federer, a last-minute addition to

the Swiss team, won through 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 against 268th-ranked Ilija Bozoljac on the hard court surface in Novi Sad. Serbia were weakened by the absence of star turns Novak Djokovic and Janko Tipsarevic.

Tired from his exploits in the heat of Melbourne Wawrinka nevertheless stepped up to battle past 102nd ranked Dusan Lajovic 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (9/7).

The Swiss will meet either Kazakhstan or Belgium who are playing in Astana with the hosts leading 2-1.

On the hardcourt of the CEZ Arena in the eastern city of Ostrava, Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek handed the defending champions the Czech Republic a 2-1 lead after winning the doubles rubber.

The Czechs however needed three hours and 57 minutes to beat Robin Haase and Jean-Julien Rojer 7-5, 1-6, 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/4).

The Bryan brothers beat Colin Fleming and Dominic Inglot 6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 to pull the Americans within 1-2.

Italy took a 2-1 lead in their tie in Mar del Plata after Fabio Fognini and Simone Bolelli beat Eduardo Schwank and Horacio Zeballos 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (10/8), 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 in a four-hour marathon.

Japan lead last year’s semi-finalists Canada 2-1 in Tokyo after a fired-up Kei Nishikori propelled the hosts to a doubles win as they bid for a quarter-final place for the first time since the 16-nation elite group format was introduced in 1981. l

do. I think it is very important for every team to resolve the problem that they have every match.”

Chelsea’s chances of victory appear to have been enhanced by the news that City’s top scorer, Sergio Aguero, will miss the game after sustaining a hamstring problem during the victory at Spurs.

However, Alvaro Negredo is fit again after a shoulder injury, while fellow striker Edin Dzeko has scored seven goals in his last six appearances.

Pellegrini can also now call upon Montenegro international Stevan Jovetic, who claimed his first Premier League goal at Spurs after an injury-plagued start to his time in England.

Aguero joins midfielders Samir Nasri and Javi Garcia on the sidelines, but James Milner could feature after overcoming a groin problem.

Chelsea, meanwhile, could hand a debut to 21-year-old Egyptian winger Mohamed Salah, who completed an £11 million ($18 million, 13.2 million euros) move from Swiss side Basel last weekend. l

RESULTS Schalke 04

2-1

VfL Wolfsburg

Leverkusen

2-1

VfB Stuttgart

Hoffenheim

3-0

Hamburg

Mainz

2-0

Freiburg

Augsburg

3-1

Hanover 96

3-1

Santana 9, Boateng 81

Kiessling 26, Derdiyok 84

Roberto Firmino 4, Suele 44, Beck 60 Park 24, Koo 86 Werner 11, Halil Altintop 49, Hahn 55

Leverkusen's striker Stefan Kiessling (L) and Stuttgart's goalkeeper Sven Ulreich (R) vie for the ball during their German Bundesliga match in Leverkusen on Saturday AFP

8 6 5 11 34 8 4 14 10 2 1 8 111

Bowling Starc 2.2-0-8-1 (1w), Coulter-Nile 4-0-21-2, Maxwell 4-0-31-2, Cutting 3-0-18-1 (1w), Christian 2-0-14-1, Muirhead 2-0-13-2 Australia won by 84 runs Australia won series 3-0

Late equaliser salvages point for Monaco in Brittany

n AFP, Manchester

41 30 14 29 49 7 0 19 6 195

Rudnevs 57, M. Diouf 82, 90

Arnold 65

Leitner 12

Werder Bremen

Callsen-Bracker 3-og

Mgladbach

Mlapa 84

Leverkusen end losing streak n AFP, Berlin

Second-placed Bayer Leverkusen broke their three-match losing streak with a 2-1 win at home to VfB Stuttgart in the Bundesliga on Saturday.

Swiss striker Eren Derdiyok headed home Leverkusen’s winner six minutes from time.

Stuttgart’s Moritz Leitner had given the visitors an early lead before Bayer striker Stefan Kiessling equalised in the first half.

The result sees Leverkusen close the gap behind league leaders Bayern Munich to ten points with the European

champions hosting Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday.

Schalke 04 moved up to fourth with a 2-1 victory at home to ten-man VfL Wolfsburg with Ghana midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng firing home the winner nine minutes from time.

The Royal Blues, who have lost just once in nine games, had taken an early lead after a scrappy goal was credited to Brazilian centre-back Felipe Santana as both he and Boateng lunged for the ball.

Wolfsburg drew level despite being down to 10 men, after Daniel Caligiuri was sent off for insulting the referee five minutes into the secondhalf, when teenager Maximilian Arnold fired home on 65 minutes.

There was a strong South Korean influence in Mainz’s 2-0 win at home to Freiburg as Park Joo-Ho gave them a first-half lead.

Compatriot Koo Ja-Cheol added the second as the three points lifted Mainz to seventh.

Werder Bremen’s poor form continues as they suffered a 3-1 defeat at Augsburg with the visitors finishing up with ten men.

The result left Bremen 12th in the league while Augsburg stay ninth.

Hamburg’s slump continues as they were drubbed 3-0 at Hoffenheim, leaving Bert van Marwijk’s side third from bottom as they suffered their fifth straight defeat. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

15

Monday, February 3, 2014

Denis double sinks blundering Napoli

QUICK BYTES

First joy as Libya crowned CHAN champions Libya won their first continental tournament Saturday after beating Ghana in the African Nations Championship 4-3 on penalties when their final ended 0-0 after extra time. Excellent goalkeeping by the Mediterranean Knights’ Muhammad Nashnoush and a poorly-aimed attempt that went wide from Ghana’s Joshua Tijane clinched the victory following a lacklustre game.

A fast-paced start raised expectations of an energetic clash, but play slowed after the first 15 minutes and failed to recover. The match ended goalless after extra time, mirroring the result from both semi-finals. The best goal opportunities appeared in extra time, when play picked up as both teams frantically tried to score in the quarter-full 64,000-seater Cape Town stadium. Having come on the pitch late in the second half, Libya’s star scorer Abdelsalam Omar failed to add to his two earlier goals in the tournament.

– AFP

Gutsy Gallacher grabs Dubai double Stephen Gallacher birdied two of the last three holes on Sunday to become the first player to successfully defend the Dubai Desert Classic. Starting the day two strokes clear of the field, the 39-year-old Scot was reeled in by the time he walked off the second green after twice straying off the tee. But instead of going under, after four bogeys in nine holes, he battled back and, on a day of high drama, emerged in front again on the back nine and held his nerve over the last three holes. The target of 15 under was set by Argentinian upstart Emiliano Grillo, who sunk a 40-footer for eagle at the par-five last after his over-cooked second outrageously rebounded back onto the green off an hospitality tent. Wearing black, the same as he did on the final day last year, Gallacher drew level with a birdie at 16 and then a sublime chip from the greenside rough for birdie at the next eased him back ahead.

– AFP

Wondolowski scores two as US beat South Korea in friendly

Chris Wondolowski scored twice as the United States kick-started their preparations for the World Cup finals later this year with a 2-0 win over South Korea in an international friendly in Carson, California on Saturday. Wondolowski scored a goal in each half to complete a lengthy training period for the U.S., who spent part of the nearly month-long camp in Brazil to acclimatise for the World Cup. The U.S. opened the scoring in the fourth minute when Houston Dynamo’s Brad Davis’ shot was parried away by goalkeeper Jung Sung-Ryong only for Wondolowski to head the ball into the net. The San Jose Earthquake’s striker doubled his tally in the 60th minute when he buried the ball in the back of the goal after he was set up by a clever Landon Donovan back heel. “It was great. We put in so much work for this so it’s great to cap off the camp with a win, tonight was very special,” Wondolowski said.

– Reuters

Brazil debt crackdown hits clubs hard A debts crackdown by Brazil’s central bank is set to hit several leading football clubs hard, including double World Club Cup winners Corinthians, media reports said Saturday. The bank is looking to net some 40 billion reais ($16 billion) in the way of fines from a range of companies, including leading football clubs such as Corinthians, Internacional, Santos and Copa Libertadores champions Atletico Mineiro. Other firms targeted include import and export companies as the bank indicated it was drawing up “efficient strategies” to face down the issue. Corinthians face a fine of 2.2 million reais (some $800,000) while Atletico Mineiro are set to have to cough up 6.6 million. A 2012 report by a Brazilian bank put club debts at $1.9 billion and several sides have fallen behind on salary payments as they battle a cash flow squeeze.

– AFP

West Bromwich Albion's Uruguayan defender Diego Lugano (R) vies with Liverpool's Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez (L) during their English Premier League match at The Hawthorns in West Bromwich, central England yesterday AFP

Ox sends Gunners top, Reds held n AFP, London

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored twice as Arsenal recorded a 2-0 home win over Crystal Palace on Sunday that took them back to the top of the Premier League table.

Making his first league start since the season’s opening day, OxladeChamberlain scored both goals in the second half to send Arsenal two points above Manchester City, who host thirdplace Chelsea on Monday.

The result got Arsene Wenger’s side back to winning ways after the 2-2 draw at Southampton that cost them top spot, while Palace were left one place

above the relegation zone after a first defeat in three league games.

With Oxlade-Chamberlain in central midfield alongside Mikel Arteta, Arsenal quickly assumed control at the Emirates Stadium, but they struggled to make inroads against Tony Pulis’s well-drilled Palace.

The visitors had new goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey on the bench, but their current number one, Julian Speroni, seemed determined to stake a claim to the jersey.

He produced two excellent saves to thwart first Nacho Monreal and then Laurent Koscielny, before bravely diving at Bacary Sagna’s feet shortly before half-time.

It had been a disciplined and hard-

RESULTS Arsenal Chamberlain 47, 73 West Brom Anichebe 67

2-0 1-1

Crystal Palace Liverpool Sturridge 24

Former Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh allowed Oxlade-Chamberlain to run into the box behind him and when the scheming Santi Cazorla picked out the England man with a dinked pass, he coolly lifted the ball over Speroni.

Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny was quickly called into action at the other end, saving a header from

'Giles likely to succeed Flower' Limited-overs supremo Ashley Giles is a strong candidate to succeed Andy Flower as England’s coach in all formats, cricket board chief Giles Clarke said on Saturday.

Zimbabwean Flower, who had been in charge since 2009, stepped down on Friday following England’s 5-0 Ashes surrender in Australia and will take up a new role with the national academy.

With no test scheduled until the home series against Sri Lanka in June, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is in no hurry to announce a coach for all formats but former leftarm spinner Giles appears to be one of the favourites for the job.

“We would agree he is a strong candidate,” Clarke told reporters. “He’s a

valued employee of the ECB, a man of great integrity and ability.”

Former captain Michael Vaughan believes South African Gary Kirsten could be the right man to succeed Flower while Nottinghamshire director of cricket Mick Newell has thrown his hat in the ring. ECB managing director Paul Downton will oversee the recruitment process, Clarke said.

“We don’t play any test cricket un-

Umar Akmal bailed Pakistan cricket star Umar Akmal was released on bail Sunday, a day after his arrest for violating traffic rules and scuffling with a policeman.

The 23-year-old was charged with interfering with government work and “scuffling” with the policeman after he failed to stop at a traffic signal and refused to show documents on Saturday.

Traffic policeman Mohammad Zeeshan accused Akmal of tearing his uniform and assaulting him, charges

the batsman denied. Akmal’s lawyer said the court allowed bail in the sum of 100,000 rupees.

“Akmal’s bail has been confirmed,” lawyer Wasim Mumtaz told reporters outside the court. “We will register our protest as Akmal was kept under unlawful detention.”

A visibly upset Akmal later told reporters he had tried his best to comply with the law.

“It was a case of police showing their strength and I tried my level best to resolve the matter,” said Akmal. l

til June so we have quite a break during which time we are focusing on the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh (next month),” he added.

“Ashley is in charge of all that anyway, is in charge of the side in the West Indies and will take charge of the side continuously so that process is pretty clear.”

The ECB boss paid tribute to Flower who guided England to three Ashes successes, 2010 World Twenty20 victory and briefly to number one in the ICC test rankings. “These triumphs identify him as the most successful coach in English cricket history,” Clarke said.

“On behalf of all of us in cricket in England and Wales, and certainly on behalf of the ECB, I would like to thank him for his tireless efforts across the country and I look forward to working with him in his new role at the ECB.” l

Paris joy for Pavlyuchenkova n AFP, Paris Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia won her sixth WTA title, beating Italy’s Sara Errani 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 to claim the Paris Open on Sunday.

The 22-year-old had secured her place in the final by upsetting compatriot and top seed Maria Sharapova in Saturday’s semis.

For Errani this was a second successive defeat in the final at the French capital’s Coubertin stadium as she lost out to Germany’s Mona Barthel in 2013. l

Pandey makes impact for India n AFP, Wellington

DAY’S WATCH Star Sports 4 1:45AM English Premier League Man City v Chelsea Star Sports HD1 La Liga 3:00AM Villarreal v Osasuna

working display from Palace, but two minutes into the second half they fell behind.

David Beckham attends the launch of his new Bodywear range at the H&M Super Bowl Event at H&M Times Square in New York City on Saturday AFP

Uncapped Ishwar Pandey made an immediate impact for India on the first day of a two-day Test warm-up match against a New Zealand XI in Whangarei Sunday.

The tall fast-medium-fast bowler, aged 24, took three for 42 as the makeshift New Zealand side, comprising domestic players and members of the New Zealand under-19 squad, failed to cash in on a bold start.

After the New Zealand XI reached 149-2, Under-19 captain Robbie O’Donnell was removed by Ishant Sharma for 80 and wickets fell regularly from then on. l

Cameron Jerome at point-blank range, but Oxlade-Chamberlain’s second goal in the 73rd minute settled the game.

The powerful 20-year-old, nicknamed ‘The Ox’, played a slick one-two with Olivier Giroud before cutting into the Palace box from the left and letting fly with a low drive that Speroni could not keep out.

Earlier, an embarrassing mistake by Kolo Toure prevented Liverpool from strengthening their grip on fourth place as they drew 1-1 at West Bromwich Albion. Liverpool were seeking to move four points clear of fifth-place Everton and they took the lead through Daniel Sturridge at The Hawthorns, only for Toure to gift West Brom a 67th-minute equaliser by passing the ball straight to Victor Anichebe. l

Atalanta forward German Denis took advantage of shocking defending

by Napoli to score twice in a 3-0 win over Rafael Benitez’s exasperatingly inconsistent team on Sunday.

His fellow Argentine Maxi Moralez completed the scoring after another slip-up by third-placed Napoli, who continued their habit of dropping points against mid-table opposition.

Second-placed AS Roma’s match at home to Parma was called off after only eight minutes when incessant heavy rain left the pitch waterlogged, giving Juventus a chance to extend their sixpoint lead at the top.

Lazio won 2-0 at Chievo in their first match without Brazilian midfielder Hernanes, who joined Inter in the transfer window, and bottom club Catania came from behind three times to hold Livorno 3-3 after a six-goal second half.

Sassuolo, also in the drop zone, gave new coach Alberto Malesani a losing start going down 2-1 at home to Hellas Verona. Benitez surprisingly started with forwards Gonzalo Higuain and Marek Hamsik on the bench but it backfired in a dismal first half in Bergamo. l

RESULTS Atalanta

3-0

Catania

3-3

Chievo

0-2

Sassuolo

1-2

Denis 47, 64, Moralez 70 Bergessio 61, Barrientos 75, Almiron 88

Floro Flores 90+2

Napoli

Livorno

Emeghara 50, 77, Paulinho 72-P

Lazio

Candreva 6, Keita 70

Verona

Manfredini 50-og, Toni 86

On Saturday Bologna

0-2

Cagliari

1-0

AC Milan

1-1

Pinilla 39-P Rami 49

Udinese

Di Natale 15-P, Lopez 90+2

Fiorentina Torino

Immobile 17

BRIEF SCORES Dhaka Metro v Ctg

Rangpur v Dhaka Div

Khulna v Barisal

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) 188 all out in 57.2 overs (Nafees 68, Faisal 49*, Shohid 4/46) Dhaka Metro won by won by 127 runs

Dhaka (1st innings) 616/7 dec in 133.2 overs Rangpur (1st innings) 315 all out in 84.1 overs Rangpur (2nd innings) 309 all out in 65.1 overs (Ariful 98, Tanvir 95*, Sharif 4/76) Dhaka (2nd innings) 9/0 in 0.4 overs, (Majid 5*) Dhaka Division won by 10 wickets

Khulna (1st innings) 357 all out in 122 overs Barisal (1st innings) 252 all out in 84.1 overs Khulna (2nd innings) 114 all out in 51.1 overs (Taposh 41, Kamrul 4/39, Monir 3/19) Barisal (2nd innings) 122/5 in 46 overs (Iftekhar 39, Dollar 2/13, Rajibul 2/21) Match Drawn

NATIONAL CRICKET LEAGUE

Dhaka and Metro land wins, Barisal, Khulna play draw Medium pacer Saikat Ali’s five-wicket haul allowed Dhaka Metropolis win their opening National Cricket League match against Chittagong by 127 runs while backed by the massive first innings total Dhaka Division also handed a comprehensive 10 wicket defeat to Rangpur yesterday. The only drawn game in the first round of the longerversion tournament was between Khulna and Barisal.

Earlier Rajshahi won their respective game against Sylhet inside three days.

Chittagong v Dhaka Metro

The port city side resumed the last day on 63 for two needing 252 to win with eight wickets to spare but the target proved to big in front of some discipline seam bowling from Saikat and Mohammad Shohid.

The Metro duo of Saikat and Shohid shared nine wickets to bowl Chittagong out for 188 runs in their second innings at Bogra’s Shaheed Chandu Stadium.

Chittagong opener Nafees Iqbal scored 68 while Faisal Hossain made an unbeaten 49.

Dhaka division v Rangpur

Rangpur’s Ariful Haque and Tanvir Haider’s valiant effort was not enough to take their side to a comfortable position as they could only throw a target of nine runs to win for Dhaka. Ariful made 98 and Tanvir was unbeaten on 95 as Rangpur, who resumed the day on 190 for seven, posted 309 in their second innings

after they were put to follow-on.

It took Dhaka just four balls to land the win at Rajshahi’s Shahid Kamruzzaman Stadium. Dhaka skipper Sharif earned the man of the match award for picking eight wickets and scoring 78 runs in the match.

Khulna v Barisal

After an entertaining last day the match eventually ended as a draw but it could have gone either way. At Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium hosts Khulna started the day on 23 for two and faced some fierce fast bowling from Kamrul Islam Rabbi and Golam Kibria as they were reduced to 86 for 6 by lunch time.

Left-arm spinner Monir Hossain cleaned up the tail by taking three wickets as Khulna were bowled out for 114 runs. The first innings lead gave Khulna the edge as the eventual target for Barisal was 220 runs.

With three hours of play left in the day Barisal surely fancied their chances but they were immediately pushed to back foot by Dollar Mahmud.

The quickie returned both openers, Shahriar Nafees and Fazle Rabbi, for first ball ducks to set a thrilling finish to the game.

However, Salman Hossain and Iftekhar Nayeem added 80 runs to get back their momentum before they lost three quick wickets towards the end of the day. Barisal held on and made 122 for six before the match was called off as a draw.

Kamrul of Barisal bagged the man of the match award for the six wickets in the match and his valuable 63 runs in the first innings. l

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

MPs lobbying for bigger, better flats n Kamran Reza Chowdhury The lawmakers of 10th parliament have started lobbying with Chief Whip ASM Feroz as the House is set to form at least two parliamentary bodies tomorrow.

One of those is a 12-member House Committee, headed by the chief whip, which would allocate accommodation facilities to the newly-elected MPs, Feroz told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

“The MPs ask for the apartments they like. We very often face problems in allocating the flats as the sizes vary,” said Feroz. The Parliament Secretariat-owned apartments are of 1,200 sq-ft and 1,800 sq-ft. “The flat sizes should be standardised,” he observed.

On Sunday, former environment minister Hasan Mahmud contacted the chief whip for an apartment which is in good condition.

Officials say formation of the 12-member House Committee is an urgent need as the Parliament Secretariat cannot take decision on vacating the apartments used by the ninth parliament MPs. At least 120 MPs of the previous parliament are yet to leave the fully-furnished apartments situated on the Manik Mia Avenue and Nakhalpara.

Quickest activities

The House on its second working

day tomorrow would also form the 15-member Business Advisory Committee that determines tenures of the parliament sessions, Feroz said.

The speaker is ex officio chief of the Business Advisory Committee, considered as the strongest among all the bodies in parliament, as it comprises the prime minister, the opposition leader, the deputy speaker, the chief whip and senior members from both the treasury and the opposition parties.

The committee can take any decision on functioning of the Assembly.

Standing committees on each of the ministries that work as watchdogs are likely to be constituted next week to speed up work, Feroz said. “Hopefully, the rest of the committees will be formed gradually by next week.”

If formed, the 10th parliament would be the quickest in constituting the parliamentary committees.

The previous ninth parliament went into session on January 25, 2009 while the parliamentary committees were formed on February 17.

In the BNP-led eighth parliament, the watchdogs were formed on May 12, 2003 – around 18 months after the House went into session. The 10th parliament had its inaugural session on January 29. The session will resume at 4:30pm tomorrow. l

Back Page

Monday, February 3, 2014

THE HOLY BRIGADE

Devotees crowd an intercity train as they return home after the final prayer of the second phase of the Biswa Ijtema, which ended yesterday on the bank of Turag river in Tongi. The picture was taken from the capital’s Kuril Biswa Road area MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Second phase of Ijtema ends; nine die Jamil Khan, n Mohammad from Tongi The second phase of Biswa Ijtema ended yesterday with a final prayer seeking the blessings and mercy of Almighty Allah, on the bank of the Turag River in Tongi.

The final prayer, also known as the Akheri Munajat, was coordinated by Maulana Juberul Hassan of India at 10am at the venue. Thousands of devotees were seen thronging the Ijtema ground since morning to attend the final prayers. The gathering was also seen spreading to adjacent roads and areas around the venue.

Many people were seen joining the prayers from rooftops of nearby buildings, vehicles and boats near the Ijtema ground. However, many devotees expressed their disappointment as many

could not attend the final prayers as it was held an hour earlier than scheduled.

Devotees said the Ijtema organisers earlier announced the Akheri Munajat will be held between 11pm to noon.

However, the final prayers were concluded at 10:11am without any notice.

“I started my journey towards the Ijtema ground as it was earlier announced that the final prayers would be held at 11am. However, when I reached the venue, I learned that the prayer was already over,” said Nurul Islam, 55, from Gazipur, while talking to Dhaka Tribune.

Meanwhile, most devotees also faced difficulties in getting transport after returning back home from the Ijtema ground.

“I came to the capital to attend in the final prayer. But after attending the prayers, I am unable to find a bus

to take me back home. I heard that no buses will be allowed to leave the area till evening as per police directives,” said Siddik Ali, a resident of Monirampur in Jessore, who was seen waiting for a transport at Abdullahpur area.

The final prayers were concluded at 10:11am without any notice At least nine devotees died during the second phase of the Ijtema that began on Thursday.

The deceased are Abdul Goni, 65, from Darial of Tangail; Nur Mohammad, 70, from Sonaimuri of Noakhali; Mujibur Rahman, 55, from Mirpur 2; Abdur Rahman, 60, from Tongi; Shafikul Islam, 40, from Gopalpur of Munshiganj; Tozam Sarder, 80, from Haz-

10-TRUCK ARMS HAUL 3-day remand for Sonali Bank burglar n Our Correspondent, Kishoreganj Tushar Hayat, Chittagong and ammunitions while being loaded n onto trucks from two fishing trawlers A judicial court in Kishoreganj yester-

rahati of Magura; Abdul Latif, 75, from Debidar of Comilla; Nure Alam, 65, from Begamganj of Noakhali; and Abdur Rab, 70, from Fakirhat of Gopalganj.

“The nine devotees died from old age, cardiac and cold-related diseases,” Mahbubur Rahman Chowdhury, residential surgeon of Tongi government hospital, told the Dhaka Tribune.

Meanwhile, Tabligh Jamaat has announced the schedule for next year’s Biswa Ijtema. Gias Uddin, a member of Tabligh Jamaat, told the Dhaka Tribune that the next Biswa Ijtema would commence from Jaunary 9 to 11 and the second phase from January 16 to 18.

Tabligh Jamaat has been organising the Biswa Ijtema every year since 1967.

Since 2011, the Ijtema is being held in two phases, where devotees from 32 districts attend the first phase and the rest join the second phase. l

CUFL jetty workers in hardship

day granted three-day remand to Abu Bakar Siddik, a member of lower subordinate staff (MLSS) at a branch of Sonali Bank in the district, in the case surrounding the Tk16 crore heist. Senior Magistrate Hamidul Islam granted the remand.

Earlier, police sent Siddik to court praying for a seven-day remand. He was arrested the same day.

On January 28, RAB arrested Yusuf Munshi and his brother Idris Munshi with Tk16.19 crore from a flat in the capital’s Shyampur. Uncle-in-law Motahar Hossain was also arrested from a nearby building named Pronoy Villa.

Some 45 people were held for interrogation in connection with the burglary. l

Around 300 labourers, who used to earn their livelihood from the Chittagong Urea Fertiliser Limited (CUFL) jetty, are passing their days in immense hardship as work for them became scarce following the recovery of a huge cache of arms and ammunitions from the dock some 10 years ago.

Locals said work for loading and unloading goods was abundant when the jetty used to be a safe haven for smugglers, but things changed after authorities beefed up security following the arms recovery. After the incident, local boats have been barred to dock at the jetty to avert such incidents in future.

On April 2, 2004, police seized a huge cache of sophisticated military arms

at the CUFL jetty. Two cases were filed in connection to the sensational arms recovery. The cases are commonly termed as the 10-truck arms haul cases.

In the cases, 17 local residents, mostly porters and labourers, were shown accused. However, 16 of them have been acquitted by the court in the verdict delivered on Thursday.

“Most of the residents used to earn well through the odd jobs that was offered by the jetty. But everything changed drastically after jetty authorities encircled the compound with barbed wires and steel plates following the incident,” said Majibur Rahman, who was recently acquitted by the court in the cases.

Most of these residents earned their livelihood by off-loading, transporting or selling smuggled goods, which came into the country through the jetty.

“The earning of the locals fell drastically after the jetty restricted itself following the arms recovery,” said Mariam Begum, a local union parishad member, adding that almost all residents of the area were once below the poverty line, but many of them managed to build semi-pucca houses by earning through activities and businesses centring the jetty.

Meanwhile, Abu Jamal Sarkar, managing director of CUFL, said the jetty was open for the local boats before the arms recovery; however, they had encircled it with barbed wire and steel plates after the incident. l

More inspections at private medical colleges n Moniruzzaman Uzzal The government is going to conduct an extensive inspection drive at all 78 private medical and dental colleges across the country very soon. A total of 22 high-power teams consisting of 112 members have already been formed for these inspections.

Each committee consists of five to seven members including senior health ministry (MoHFW) officials and officials from Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), medical universities, Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC) and the law ministry.

Of these teams, four have been charged with inspecting the 14 new medical colleges given primary and administrative approval in the last academic year (2013-2014). Allegations are that these colleges were approved illegally by former health minister AFM Ruhal Hoque just before the end of his tenure.

New Health Minister Mohammed Nasim has suspended the approval of these 14 medical colleges until further inspection. The other 18 teams will inspect the 64 older private medical and dental colleges.

The first private medical college in the country, Bangladesh Medical College, was established in 1985 in Dhanmondi. From 1985 to 2005, only 26 medical colleges were given permission. Another 56 private medical colleges were approved since 2005.

Aiyubur Rahman, additional secretary (medical education and manpower development) of MoHFW, told the Dhaka Tribune on Sunday that all the committees had been advised to complete their inspection within a month and to submit a report.

Motiur Rahaman, joint secretary of MoHFW (medical education and manpower development) said a uniform in-

spection form had made by ministry with the advice of medical education experts.

The health ministry, medical universities and Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC) are involved in supervising medical colleges. So far they had inspected medical colleges individually and there was a lack of coordination.

The 14 newly approved medical and dental colleges are – Kasiruddin Memorial Medical College, Rangpur, US Dental College, Uttara, Abdul Hamid Medical College, Kishoreganj, Addin-Akij Medical College and Khulna City Medical College in Khulna, Shah Makdum Medical College, Rajshahi, US Bangla Medical College, Rupgonj, United Medical College, Dhaka, Care Medical College, Mohammadpur, Universal Medical College, Brahmanbaria Medical College, Marine City Medicla College and IIMCH medical College in Chittagong and Parkview Medical College, Sylhet.

The committees were advised to inspect the medical colleges to check whether they were administering their medical colleges in accordance with the Private Medical College Establishment and Administration Policy 2011 and Private Medical College Establishment and Administration Policy 2009.

Seeking anonymity, senior officials of the health ministry told the Dhaka Tribune that the inspection form created for this new round of inspections was completely different from any the forms used before.

The teams would verify several information, including infrastructural facilities at the medical college, floor space, ratio of students and patients in emergency departments, waste disposal chains, academic approval of BMDC, approval of universities, organogram of medical college and hospital, whether the teacher- student ratio is 1:10, accommodation facilities, among others. l

Ekushey Book Fair yet to gain momentum n Ahmed Zayeef

A young girl picks her choice at a children’s book stall on the second day of the Amar Ekushey Book Fair in the capital yesterday RAJIB DHAR

Amar Ekushey Book Fair is yet to get the usual festive look as number of visitors has been low AMAR EKUSHEY B O O K FA I R 2 0 1 4 and many publishers are yet to complete the decoration of their stalls.

On the other hand, visitors who came to the fair were also puzzled as there was no proper direction about the new venue of the fair. This year, the fair has been extended to the Suhrawardy Udyan beside the Bangla Academy premises.

Visiting the fair yesterday, this reporter found that there was no spectacular gate in front of Suhrawardy Udyan, indicating the new venue of the fair.

Moreover, the entire venue was completely dusty, a very uncomfortable place for the visitors to roam around.

Publishers said the Bangla Academy delayed to allot the stalls among them.

As a result, they did not get enough time to complete the decorations.

While talking to the Dhaka Tribune, noted writer Anisul Haque expressed his frustration over the mismanagement of the fair, saying: “It would be very difficult for common people to find out the new venue as there is no proper indication. Besides, the fair also lacked adequate decorations.”

Sara Monami Hossain, one of the visitors, said: “I did not know about the new venue. Like previous year, I came to the Bangla Academy where I came to know that the authorities had expanded the area.”

Saeed Bari, publisher of Sucheepatra Prokashoni, told the Dhaka Tribune that the delay in allotting the stalls had put them in a very uncomfortable situation and they could not even display the books in the stall on the second day of the fair.

Ahmed Mahmudul Haque, publish-

er of Mawla Brothers, said the authorities concerned were yet to set up public toilets in the fair premises and the fair also lacked drinking water facilities.

Osman Gani, president of Bangladesh Gayan O Srijonshil Samity, gave a different opinion. He said: “As Suhrawardy Udyan reflects our historic liberation war and Bangla Academy resembles language movement, the book fair now resembles both the glorious movements of our history.”

Murshid Uddin Ahmed, deputy director of department of co-ordination and public relation, admitted the mismanagement of the fair. He said: “Although there are some anomalies, we are hopeful to sort all the problems out by tonight.” He also said the construction of a gate for the new venue was on.

Meanwhile, a discussion on Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin titled “Jonmoshotobarshikir Alochhayae Zainul Abedin” was held at the main stage of fair where critique Abul Hasnat presented the key note paper. l

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Business

B3 Financial flows put rich

countries at risk from emerging market turmoil

B4 Australia eyes business opportunities in Bangladesh

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014 www.dhakatribune.com/business

SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION

Muhith for strong coordination to make it successful n Tribune Business Desk Finance Minister AMA Muhith yesterday underscored the need of strong coordination among the concerned countries for a successful South-South cooperation.

“The real problem of South-South cooperation is, of course, lack of coordination,” he said.

The minister was inaugurating National Consultation Workshop on Effective South-South Triangular Cooperation and Knowledge Sharing at the NEC Conference room in Dhaka as chief guest, reports BSS. “I think that is where we should look forward for further cooperation and effective management,” Muhith said.

Muhith said the South-South cooperation today is an accepted phenomenon as there is no hesitation from the development partners in this regard.

Finance Minister said South-South cooperation made a big progress to work out plans for any particular sector while the multilateral banks had contributed quite substantially in triangular cooperation.

Emphasising the need for forging partnership, Muhith said it is now universally accepted that to achieve successes, involvement of every parties including private sector and civil society is required.

“Political will for advancement of the development policy is very much needed as without it, none could move anywhere.”

State Minister for Finance MA Mannan and UNDP country director Pauline Tamesis also spoke on the occasion as special guests with Economic Relations Division (ERD) Secretary Mohammad Mejbahuddin in the chair.

MA Mannan said Bangladesh’s cooperation with the countries in the south and development partners in the north is vital, as it plans to become a middle-income nation by 2021.

“We believe in South-South cooperation for better synergies and we need

to increase the effectiveness of both aid and trade in delivering the goals of development in the south.”

Citing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s determination to become a developed country by 2041, the state minister said gaining the target is possible if political stability and realistic foreign policy exist.

The South-South and Triangular Cooperation and Knowledge Sharing is one of the five themes to be discussed in the upcoming high level meeting on global partnership to be held in Mexico in this April.

In this context, the workshop was organised to diagnose the current practices of South-South and Triangular Cooperation and Knowledge Sharing in Bangladesh.

It also aims to analyse how southsouth cooperation can be done more effectively and how to increase its impact on development.

At the same time, it also sought to identify good examples and practices which could be emulated.

Recommendations coming from this workshop are expected to provide input for the aforementioned upcoming high level meeting in Mexico as well as for the foreign assistance policy of Bangladesh that is now under formulation.

There were number of working sessions in the workshop dealing with the current state of South-South and Triangular Cooperation and Knowledge Sharing in Bangladesh, scope of trade as well as skills development and overseas employment opportunities for Bangladesh with its southern partner countries and also for analysing the comparative Advantages of the Southern assistance comparing to northern ones.

Ambassadors and representatives from various embassies in Dhaka and high commissions like India, China, Republic of Korea and Denmark, representatives from bilateral and multilateral agencies, business bodies and trade associations and government officials attended the workshop. l

Farmers use modern method to plant paddy seedlings, which costs Tk2,000 per bigha of land. The photo was taken from a village, south of Bogra town yesterday

Application deadline for stock refinance loan extended again n Tribune report The application deadline for loans from the Tk900 crore stock refinance scheme has been extended by two months from January 31 to March 31.

A persistently tepid response from the stock investors affected in the market crash in late 2010 prompted the credit distribution committee to defer the schedule once again for the fourth time.

The committee comprising representatives from the regulator and stakeholders took the decision at a meeting in Dhaka yesterday.

Earlier, the deadline extended twice after its expiry first in November 30 and second in December 15 last year.

So far, more than 1% of the total around 10 lakh affected investors applied for the loan, sources in the Investment Corporation of Bangladesh (ICB) said.

Around 40 institutions, including merchant banks and brokerage houses, applied for the credit on behalf of the affected investors as of January.

Most investors and institutions showed hardly any interest on availing the credit due to complex procedure and tough conditions.

“The extension is due to poor response,” said a member of the distribution committee. He said the investors are now making profits as the market is now on rallies, which also makes them away to take benefit of the scheme.

As per the guideline, state-run ICB will lend to merchant banks and stockbrokers at 7% rate.

ICB already received Tk300 crore from the central bank as a first instalment at 5% interest rate from the central bank.

The merchant banks and stockbrokers will then disburse the fund to the

n Tribune Report

n Our Correspondent, Sylhet

Both tax and zakat are the same thing and tax is also compulsory as like as zakat The newly appointed NBR member (information management and Service) Chowdhury Amir Hossain was present as special guest.

Addressing the function, NBR chairman said, “Both tax and zakat are the same thing and tax is also compulsory as like as zakat.”

Urging all to pay their due taxes willingly, Golam Hossain said, “The revenue target for the current fiscal has been set at Tk480 crore and the rate of revenue collection in Sylhet division has been increasing.”

Speakers said the center has been established at the ground floor of Shafiqunnesa Noor Complex located at 23/a Kazitula to provide information relating to income taxes, and to create awareness among the local people. l

retail investors at 9% rate.

Later, the borrowers will have to repay the loans in three-month instalments to ICB which will subsequently deposit the received amount to the refinance fund.

The affected retail investors, who had investment up to Tk10 lakh from January 2009 to November 2011, are eligible to receive loan from the specialised fund.

Earlier, merchant bankers had demanded relaxing the conditions under the capital market refinance scheme to facilitate disbursements.

One of the conditions is directors of merchant banks need to issue personal guarantee to avail the loans, making the procedure harder, said the letter.

The condition was a new one tagged after the agreement among the regulator, merchant banks and brokerage firms. l

Travellers local currency quota raised n Tribune Business Desk Travellers to and from Bangladesh have been allowed to carry local currency of up to Tk5,000 from existing Tk2,000 per person as Bangladesh Bank relaxed the rules yesterday.

They will not have to declare before departure or on arrival if they carry no more than the amount, said a circular. l

Two more SEZs on cards

NBR Chairman: Owners of posh houses don’t pay taxes Around 136,000 landlords, who are possessing gorgeous houses across the country, do not pay taxes to the government, alleged National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Golam Hossain here on Sunday.

He was speaking as chief guest while inaugurating the Tax Information and Service Center in Noyasorok area of the city.

Presided over by Sylhet tax commissioner Modhab Chandra Dash, the inaugural ceremony was also addressed, among others, by Syed Md Aminul Karim, income tax policy member of NBR.

FOCUS BANGLA

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Biman in shambles over Dhaka-NY flights n Muhammad Zahidul Islam Resumption of Dhaka-New York flights of Biman Bangladesh Airlines on June 4 this year has become uncertain due to “technical problems.”

Biman has already failed to begin tickets sale on January 30, as was scheduled before, for the flights.

Kevin Steele, managing director of Biman, says the tickets sale could take at least one more month to start.

“I can’t give any firm date for sales as yet, I am afraid, (it could take) at least another month,” said Steele in reply to an email on Saturday.

As Biman is a category-2 carrier according to SUA Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), it brought two Boeing aircrafts from category-1 Egypt Airlines on a lease for the route.

No category-2 aircrafts are allowed to land on a New York airport by the FAA. But the lease agreement with Egypt aircrafts was a dry one which only provides aircrafts but doesn’t take the responsibility of management.

But the US authority has set for

Biman a condition of wet lease agreement under which the lessor also takes the responsibility of management of the aircrafts supplied.

Biman sources said this problem has been delaying the re-start of Dhaka-NY flights.

Biman’s MD announced last month that the national flag carrier was planning to resume Dhaka-NY flights on June 4 after an eight-year break. The flights were grounded in 2006.

But the board meeting held on this 28 January didn’t approve the flight resumption as the directors wanted more discussion on the matter.

Biman Chairman Air Marshal Jamal Uddin Ahmed presided over the meeting, the first one after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had reshuffled the board of directors.

Steele, in the email, said the board had simply asked for some more information on the leases.

“So, they have neither approved nor rejected [the plan].”

On December 2, 1997, FAA listed Biman Bangladesh Airlines as a catego-

ry-2 carrier.

The dry leasing arrangement is where the supplier provides an aircraft without insurance, crew, ground staff, supporting equipment, maintenance etc.

On the other, the wet leasing is where the lessor provides aircraft, complete crew, maintenance, and insurance to the airline, with payments on hour basis.

According to initial planning, the first aircraft of Egypt Airlines will arrive in February and the other in March.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon however assured that Dhaka-NY flights would resume soon as it is top priority of the ministry.

“Don’t worry, Biman will fly on this route soon again. But we have to maintain some formalities before,” he said replying to a question of the Dhaka Tribune.

Biman which has been making losses for long recently requested the government to allow it a commercial borrowing of $200m to help overcome the financial crisis. l

The government is working on setting up two more special economic zones (SEZs) in addition to the existing ones, Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu said in Dhaka yesterday. The government was looking for the possible sites.

He said the zones are to establish the country as an industrial economy – a plan the government is already working on.

The minister was addressing a meeting with a delegation of newly elected board of directors of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) at his secretariat office.

A SEZ is a location that is designed to export goods and provide employment. SEZs are generally exempted from restrictive laws in order to make the goods manufactured in the area at a globally competitive price.

Several EPZs have been established across Bangladesh since the 1980s and the government in mid-2012 decided to establish five SEZs in next two years.

Amu said the BSCIC industrial areas will be expanded based on the demand for industrial plots.

He said whatever plans the government was working with, it would still have discussions with the businessmen and entrepreneurs for industrialisation and boosting trade, while taking necessary measures to reduce depen-

dence on others for industrial products for the sake of national interest.

He urged the entrepreneurs to enhance use of jute goods in the local industrial units and assured the businessmen of continued policy supports for the expansion of potential industrial sectors, including tourism.

DCCI President Mohammad Shahjahan Khan, who led the delegation, urged the government to provide gas, electricity and other utility connections to industries on priority basis as the entrepreneurs have already set up many manufacturing units, but could not commission them for lack of the utilities.

If the shortage of the utility services continues, industrialisation and employment generation will be hampered, he added.

He stressed the need for formulation of the proposed ship-breaking policy as well as completing the establishment of the proposed pharmaceutical city.

The DCCI president stressed on establishing more economic zones in different parts of the country, SME development, ship building, ship breaking, modernisation of BSTI. Meanwhile, the leaders of Bangladesh Embroidery Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BEMEA) called on the minister and requested him to take necessary steps to help the sector become self-reliant. l

EXCHANGE RATES Average selling rates to public in BDT Banks Rupali Bank Currencies BUY SELL USD 77.4 78.4

Sonali Bank BUY SELL 78

79.5

EURO

103.87

107.08

101.7

105.7

INR

1.16

1.32

1.16

1.26

SAR

20.54

21.01

20

21

B2

Stocks make modest rally n Tribune Report

Out of 292 issues traded, 157 closed higher, 115 declined and 20 remained unchanged IDLC Investment said sector and scrip wise swings appeared dominant over earning declarations.

Following price movements, activities also centered on earning declarations as six of top ten active scrips declared earnings on the day.

Banks turnover made up 13%, textile 12% and energy 11% of total turnover.

United Airways was the most traded stocks with a turnover of Tk29 crore, followed by Meghna Petroleum, Appollo Ispat, Square Pharmaceuticals, Unique Hotel and Resorts, Aamra Technologies, Tallu Spinning and AB Bank. l

(+) 0.73%

▲

979.28190

(+) 0.51%

▲

DSE - 30 Index :

1660.24355

(-) 0.01%

▼

CSE All Share Index:

14853.0334

(+) 0.45%

CSE - 30 Index :

12391.3400 9407.0215

CSE Selected Index : DSE LOSERS

Meghna Con. Milk -Z S. Alam CR Steel -A Fine Foods A Eastern Lubricants -A Alltex Industries -Z Appollo Ispat CL -N Central Pharm-A UNITED AIR-A Zahintex Ind.-N Familytex (BD) Ltd.-N

Closing (% change) -9.30 -7.58 -7.21 -6.51 -5.88 -5.72 -5.22 -5.14 -5.04 -4.62

CSE LOSERS Company S. Alam CR Steel -A Eastern Cables-Z Appollo Ispat CL -N Central Pharm-A Zahintex Ind.-N EXIM Bank 1 MF-A Imam Button -Z UNITED AIR-A Fine Foods A Midas Financing-Z

Closing (% change) -7.34 -5.94 -5.71 -5.40 -5.36 -5.33 -5.21 -5.11 -4.93 -4.91

Average (% change) -4.33 -6.89 -5.29 -6.29 -5.37 -5.03 -3.33 -3.49 -5.02 -2.87 Average (% change) -6.01 -5.78 -4.83 -2.90 -5.00 -5.33 -5.11 -3.76 -5.14 -6.06

ANALYST

180,010,225 154,140

Traded Issues

292

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

135

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

153

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

4

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,284.08

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

27.69

Turnover (Million Taka)

672.62

Turnover (Volume)

Closing average

20,862,549

12.14 44.34 21.12 326.10 8.10 34.96 48.21 16.85 26.49 60.58

Closing average 44.43 93.50 35.09 48.51 26.60 7.10 9.10 16.91 21.23 31.00

25,137

Traded Issues

229

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

96

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

129 3

▲

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

(+) 0.77%

▲

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,177.10

(+) 0.43%

▲

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

26.39

Closing

Daily high

11.70 43.90 20.60 326.10 8.00 34.60 47.20 16.60 26.40 59.90

Closing

13.20 45.50 22.50 326.10 8.60 36.00 51.00 19.20 27.50 63.40

Daily high

44.20 95.00 34.70 47.30 26.50 7.10 9.10 16.70 21.20 31.00

Turnover in million

Daily low 11.70 42.00 20.00 326.10 8.00 34.60 45.00 15.80 25.10 59.30

Turnover in million

Daily low

46.00 95.00 36.70 52.00 27.00 7.10 9.10 17.80 22.40 31.00

0.674 76.530 6.285 0.016 2.784 161.882 67.731 290.069 17.834 27.503

43.60 92.00 34.60 47.20 26.00 7.10 9.10 15.90 20.90 31.00

6.514 0.019 51.114 3.255 4.391 0.004 0.014 57.302 1.785 0.016

Al-Haj Textile -A Rahim Textile -A Padma Islami Life*-N PragatiLife Insu. -A Bay Leasing.-A Ambee Pharma -A Eastern InsurA Libra Infusions-A Stylecraft -A Phoenix Insur -A

Latest EPS -4.58 1.16 -0.98 6.02 -1.08 1.52 1.74 0.98 0.76 8.29

Latest EPS 1.16 1.40 1.52 1.74 0.76 0.70 -2.58 0.98 -0.98 -5.96

Latest PE -ve 38.2 -ve 54.2 -ve 23.0 27.7 17.2 34.9 7.3

CSE GAINERS Company Pioneer Insur -A Padma Islami Life*-N Sun Life Insurance-N Ambee Pharma -A B I F C -A Sandhani Life -A Bata Shoe Ltd. -A Bay Leasing.-A Sinobangla Indu.-A Apex Tannery -A

Bank NBFI Investment Engineering Food & Allied Fuel & Power Jute Textile Pharma & Chemical Paper & Packaging Service Leather Ceramic Cement Information Technology General Insurance Life Insurance Telecom Travel & Leisure Miscellaneous Debenture

DSE Million Taka 928.47 645.68 157.56 665.63 331.33 741.57 1.01 870.63 609.00 1.26 53.63 67.26 58.76 257.50 181.16 338.72 416.45 114.14 420.30 116.07 0.64

% change 13.31 9.25 2.26 9.54 4.75 10.63 0.01 12.48 8.73 0.02 0.77 0.96 0.84 3.69 2.60 4.86 5.97 1.64 6.02 1.66 0.01

Million Taka 92.90 65.73 6.09 101.41 25.30 42.93 90.07 47.43 0.68 4.92 5.91 7.60 18.92 20.65 13.24 24.61 11.25 70.61 23.57 0.11

CSE

% change 13.78 9.75 0.90 15.05 3.75 6.37 0.00 13.36 7.04 0.10 0.73 0.88 1.13 2.81 3.06 1.96 3.65 1.67 10.48 3.50 0.02

Million Taka 1021.37 711.41 163.65 767.05 356.63 784.51 1.01 960.69 656.43 1.94 58.54 73.17 66.35 276.42 201.82 351.97 441.06 125.39 490.91 139.64 0.76

10.00 9.15 8.24 8.23 7.65 6.52 6.07 5.93 5.76 5.56

Average (% change) 10.00 5.74 3.92 6.86 4.53 3.13 6.06 4.60 5.45 4.41

Closing average 76.85 328.50 88.44 235.88 40.87 288.64 46.59 515.00 1,125.00 55.45

Closing average 73.70 89.19 75.86 292.02 20.52 94.97 755.00 40.67 34.81 161.88

Closing 78.10 328.70 90.90 239.60 41.60 295.20 48.30 514.90 1,125.30 57.10

Closing 73.70 90.70 78.80 297.30 21.10 96.40 755.00 41.10 34.90 165.10

Daily high 78.40 328.70 91.60 241.90 42.20 299.00 49.40 521.60 1,125.50 58.90

Daily high 73.70 91.40 79.20 298.70 21.40 97.00 755.00 41.90 35.30 167.50

Daily low 70.00 298.00 78.00 220.10 37.90 278.00 42.50 500.00 1,125.00 52.00

Daily low 73.70 85.00 73.00 282.00 19.50 92.40 755.00 39.80 33.90 156.70

Turnover in million 41.303 6.473 56.067 60.739 41.656 9.049 8.602 2.060 0.675 31.384

Turnover in million 0.037 3.111 3.217 1.110 1.996 0.624 0.076 4.832 6.857 2.598

Latest EPS 2.06 11.56 1.10 2.38 1.56 5.01 2.60 3.04 47.83 3.81

Latest EPS 5.75 1.10 0.00 5.01 0.13 2.39 52.75 1.56 0.64 4.86

Latest PE 37.3 28.4 80.4 99.1 26.2 57.6 17.9 169.4 23.5 14.6

Latest PE 12.8 81.1 58.3 157.8 39.7 14.3 26.1 54.4 33.3

DAFODILCOM: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 14.89 million with EPS of Tk. 0.30 as against Tk. 26.46 million and Tk. 0.53 respectively**.

CENTRALPHL: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 61.71 million with EPS of Tk. 0.87 as against Tk. 21.90 million and Tk. 0.38 (restated) respectively**.

FUWANGCER: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 24.02 million with EPS of Tk. 0.28 as against Tk. 28.09 million and Tk. 0.33 respectively**.

ZAHINTEX: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 21.79 million with EPS of Tk. 0.38 as against Tk. 59.83 million and Tk. 1.05 respectively**.

KOHINOOR: (H/Y): NPAT=Tk. 32.05 million with EPS of Tk. 3.94 as against Tk. 25.19 million and Tk. 3.10 (restated) respectively**.

AGNISYSL: (H/Y): NPAT=Tk. 28.68 million with EPS of Tk. 0.55 as against Tk. 22.39 million and Tk. 0.43 respectively**.

ORIONINFU: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 17.99 million with EPS of Tk. 0.89 as against Tk. 24.03 million and Tk. 1.18 respectively**.

DESCO: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 191.94 million with EPS of Tk. 0.56 as against Tk. 719.82 million and Tk. 2.09 respectively**.

PHARMAID: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 6.63 million with EPS of Tk. 2.13 as against Tk. 4.99 million and Tk. 1.60 respectively**.

HAKKANIPUL: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 2.66 million with EPS of Tk. 0.14 as against Tk. 4.74

million and Tk. 0.25 respectively**.

IMAMBUTTON: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. (9.96) million with EPS of Tk. (1.29) as against Tk. (12.83) million and Tk. (1.67) respectively**.

RAHIMAFOOD: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. (10.04) million with EPS of Tk. (0.50) as against Tk. 7.16 million and Tk. 0.36 respectively**.

SAMATALETH: NPAT= Tk. (0.19) million with EPS of Tk. (0.02) as against Tk. (0.36) million and Tk. (0.03) respectively**.

UNITEDAIR: (H/Y): NPAT=Tk. 277.59 million with EPS of Tk. 0.49 as against Tk. 700.58 million and Tk. 1.23 (restated) respectively**.

FINEFOODS: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. (6.38) million with EPS of Tk. (0.49) as against Tk. 2.71 million and Tk. 0.21 (restated) respectively**.

MHSML: (H/Y): NPAT=Tk. 41.78 million with EPS of Tk. 1.08 as against Tk. 25.34 million and Tk. 0.72 respectively**.

ALLTEX: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. (26.12) million with EPS of Tk. (0.54) as against Tk. 2.99 million and Tk. 0.06 respectively**.

BDAUTOCA: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 0.06 million with EPS of Tk. 0.02 as against Tk. 0.21 million and Tk. 0.06 respectively**.

OLYMPIC: (H/Y): NPAT=Tk. 405.79 million with EPS of Tk. 3.45 as against Tk. 286.15 million and Tk. 2.43 respectively**.

38.3 66.8 23.1 27.9 35.0 10.1 -ve 17.3 -ve -ve

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company UNITED AIR-A Meghna Petroleum -A Appollo Ispat CL -N Square Pharma -A Olympic Ind. -A Unique Hotel RL - A

Total

Closing (% change)

SALAMCRST: The Board of Directors has recommended 13% cash dividend for the year ended on September 30, 2013. Date of AGM: 29.03.2014, Time: 11:00 AM, Venue: Safa Arcade, 94, Nawab Sirajuddowla Road, Chandanpura, Chittagong. Record date: 11.02.2014. The Company has also reported consolidated net profit after tax of Tk. 196.09 million, consolidated EPS of Tk. 1.94, consolidated NAV per share of Tk. 20.44 and consolidated NOCFPS of Tk. 0.82 for the year ended on September 30, 2013 as against Tk. 335.14 million, Tk. 3.31, Tk. 20.00 and Tk. 6.63 respectively for the year ended on September 30, 2012.

MPETROLEUM: The Company has informed that it has credited the bonus shares for the year ended on June 30, 2013 to the respective shareholders' BO Accounts on January 30, 2014.

SAIHAMTEX: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 113.65 million with EPS of Tk. 1.52 as against Tk. 112.66 million and Tk. 1.50 respectively**.

PRIMETEX: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 21.43 million with EPS of Tk. 0.56 as against Tk. 19.09 million and Tk. 0.50 respectively**.

MALEKSPIN: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 213.89 million with consolidated EPS of Tk. 1.10 as against Tk. 171.88 million and Tk. 0.89 respectively**.

aamra technologies-A

Sector

9.54 8.73 8.34 7.59 6.67 6.65 6.39 6.34 6.23 6.13

Average (% change) 6.80 9.85 4.84 6.95 5.23 4.27 3.97 6.37 6.22 3.24

Latest PE

Investors poured fresh fund in equity market and index edged up to a new high after rolling out previous week’s corrections

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY

Closing (% change)

News from trade server

CSE key features February 2, 2014

Number of Contract

4787.66194

DSE Shariah Index :

6,976.78

Number of Contract

Daily capital market highlights DSE Broad Index :

Company

Turnover (Million Taka) Turnover (Volume)

Monday, February 3, 2014

DSE GAINERS

DSE key features February 2, 2014

ket turnover stood at nearly Tk700 crore, it said.

Banks and pharmaceuticals were market movers for the day, which gained 1.28% and 1.42% respectively following a strong net profit declaration.

Non-banking financial institutions went up marginally by 0.8%.

Power, telecommunications, and food and allied declined marginally on profit bookings.

Stocks earned modest gains yesterday with the help of heavyweight banks and pharmaceuticals.

The benchmark DSEX index rose 34 points or 0.8% to end at 4,787, the highest ever since the launch of the index in January last year.

It continued to gain for a third consecutive session.

Shariah-based DSES index edged 5 points or 0.5% higher to 979. The blue-chip comprising DS30 index, however, saw fractional losses of 0.2 points to 1,660.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange Selective Category Index, CSCX, also soared 40 points to close at 9,407.

The total turnover at the DSE was Tk700 crore, which was 18.6% down from the previous session.

Out of 292 issues traded, 157 closed higher, 115 declined and 20 remained unchanged.

LankaBangla Securities in its market analysis said market opened with uptrend as happened in two previous sessions riding on rally in large cap stocks.

“Investors poured fresh fund in equity market and index edged up to a new high after rolling out previous week’s corrections.”

Amid renewed optimism about the capital market and deferment of Jamaat-e-Islami’s hartal, mar-

Company

Stock

DHAKA TRIBUNE

% change 13.35 9.30 2.14 10.03 4.66 10.25 0.01 12.56 8.58 0.03 0.77 0.96 0.87 3.61 2.64 4.60 5.76 1.64 6.42 1.83 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

Tallu Spinning -A AB Bank - A Mercantile Bank -A

BD Building Systems -A S Purbanchol Power-N Gen. Next Fashions-A UCBL - A GSP Finance-A Active Fine Chem.-A CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company UNITED AIR-A

Appollo Ispat CL -N BD Building Systems -A Mozaffar H.Spinning-N aamra technologies-A Unique Hotel RL - A AB Bank - A Maksons Spinning-A Gen. Next Fashions-A UCBL - A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A Keya Cosmetics -A LafargeS Cement-Z Mercantile Bank -A Southeast Bank-A

Volume shares 17,211,227 794,606 4,630,200 616,235 717,200 1,457,060 2,633,190 2,639,461 3,306,789 5,412,727

1,446,425 1,380,800 2,723,160 3,153,637 2,665,849 919,272

Volume shares

3,388,025 1,456,600 260,450 440,500 344,235 148,915 398,936 632,389 312,500 376,220 302,283 378,840 262,000 529,978 429,757

Value in million 290.07 208.26 161.88 145.34 130.63 130.23 108.10 106.97 106.62 105.78

104.08 103.55 100.96 97.63 95.39 91.32

Value in million

57.30 51.11 18.93 18.07 14.14 13.30 12.90 12.52 11.66 11.64 11.00 10.93 10.84 10.38 9.71

% of total turnover 4.16 2.99 2.32 2.08 1.87 1.87 1.55 1.53 1.53 1.52

1.49 1.48 1.45 1.40 1.37 1.31

% of total turnover

8.52 7.60 2.82 2.69 2.10 1.98 1.92 1.86 1.73 1.73 1.64 1.63 1.61 1.54 1.44

Daily closing 16.60 262.10 34.60 237.20 181.70 90.70 40.50 40.20 32.50 19.80

70.70 74.40 36.70 30.90 35.90 98.60

Daily closing

16.70 34.70 71.30 41.10 40.70 90.40 32.60 19.90 36.90 30.90 36.30 28.50 42.10 19.80 22.80

Price change -5.14 -1.47 -5.72 3.85 0.61 4.73 -1.22 0.00 3.17 3.66

Daily opening 17.50 266.00 36.70 228.40 180.60 86.60 41.00 40.20 31.50 19.10

Daily high 19.20 272.00 36.00 240.00 184.50 91.20 42.00 41.20 33.00 20.00

Daily low 15.80 243.00 34.60 222.00 172.00 79.00 36.90 37.00 28.40 17.20

Daily average 16.85 262.09 34.96 235.86 182.14 89.38 41.05 40.53 32.24 19.54

Price change

Daily opening

Daily high

Daily low

Daily average

-0.42 -2.23 -1.87 -0.32 0.84 -2.18

-5.11 -5.71 -0.28 2.75 -0.73 4.39 4.15 2.58 -1.60 -0.64 0.28 -1.38 5.51 3.13 3.64

71.00 76.10 37.40 31.00 35.60 100.80

17.60 36.80 71.50 40.00 41.00 86.60 31.30 19.40 37.50 31.10 36.20 28.90 39.90 19.20 22.00

74.90 77.00 38.20 31.50 37.00 101.00

17.80 36.70 77.50 41.90 42.00 90.90 33.00 20.10 38.10 34.00 36.90 29.30 42.40 19.90 22.90

65.00 70.00 34.00 28.00 32.10 91.00

15.90 34.60 70.10 39.10 40.00 86.60 31.00 19.30 36.70 28.00 36.00 28.30 40.00 19.10 22.00

71.95 74.99 37.07 30.96 35.78 99.34

16.91 35.09 72.69 41.02 41.08 89.33 32.33 19.80 37.30 30.94 36.39 28.85 41.37 19.59 22.60

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

For companies, a rocky road ahead in emerging markets n Reuters International companies are taking steps to mitigate the effects of the turmoil in emerging markets, including hedging foreign currency exposure more aggressively, reducing some investment plans, cutting costs, and raising prices frequently.

While executives are not hitting the panic button just yet, and many say the risks they face are hardly unique, they are still aggressively tackling costs and making sure that revenue keeps up with inflationary pressures. And many warn that if China suffers a credit crisis as some fear, then things could get a whole lot worse.

'We are taking a wait-and-see attitude in terms of decisive action' From Africa to Asia to Latin America, policymakers are scrambling to prop up their currencies and prevent a sudden exodus of foreign capital by jacking up interest rates and taking other steps - all this just as many emerging economies were already starting to slow sharply after a decade-long boom.

The sudden onslaught of market volatility in Turkey, Argentina, South Africa and Brazil, along with worries about an abrupt slowdown in China, means companies are now bracing for deeper reversals in demand for their products in emerging economies. And this is happening at a time when their U.S. dollar or euro revenues from many of these countries are also taking a hit because of plunging emerging market currencies.

Automakers Ford Motor Co and Fiat SpA , home appliance manufacturer Whirlpool Corp and liquor giant Diageo all cited weakness and a more sober outlook in once-roaring emerging markets in earnings reports this week.

Still, for many executives, especially those with decades of experience in the developing world, wild currency swings and economic ups and downs

are a fact of life that they must deftly navigate.

“We have had quite a bit of currency changes, particularly in the very weak emerging markets. But let’s put it in context,” Jeff Fettig, Whirlpool’s chairman and chief executive said. “We’ve been in the Brazilian market for over 60 years and we’ve managed hyper inflationary periods, busts, booms, and we’ve never had a loss-making year in Brazil.”

Fettig said the appliance maker was not overly concerned that the downturn in emerging markets would significantly affect the company financially, since the most troubled economies account for less than 3 percent of overall revenue. The company has taken steps in countries where currency devaluations had occurred to recoup dollarbased raw materials costs.

Economists at Bank of America Merrill Lynch described the turmoil of the past week as “a perfect storm of idiosyncratic risks” within emerging markets - citing credit risks in China, political crises in Turkey, Ukraine and Thailand, and the currency devaluation in Argentina.

While all these events have further dimmed an already bearish outlook for many emerging economies, a fullfledged crisis does not look likely.

“We do not view the current wobble as the start of an EM-wide crisis,” Alberto Ades, co-head of Global Economics Research at BofA Merrill Lynch wrote in a note on Thursday.

Companies with operations in emerging economies are nonetheless dusting off contingency plans, with strategies varying country by country.

“We are taking a wait-and-see attitude in terms of decisive action,” said the treasurer of a multi-billion dollar advertising company that books about half its revenue outside the United States.

The executive, who asked for anonymity because the company has not yet disclosed fourth-quarter results, said his traders are not actively hedging now for currency volatility but could begin doing so at any minute.

For others, like Swedish apparel retailer Hennes & Mauritz, hedging is a permanent strategy in emerging markets. l

Financial flows put rich countries at risk from emerging market turmoil n Reuters, London Any spill-over damage to the developed world from a sell-off in emerging markets is likely to come through violent swings in financial flows rather than via lost trade, with Japan seen as most vulnerable.

Tokyo stocks, which rely heavily on fickle flows from foreigners, have seen the third worst start to a year in the past half century, partly as investors sought to make up for losses in emerging markets by pulling out of Japan.

The impact of the emerging market rout is also evident in the United States, where foreign central banks are cashing in Treasuries to spend at home. Further selling and related upward pressure on yields may prompt the Federal Reserve to maintain its monetary stimulus for longer.

In the euro zone, sharp falls in emerging currencies may aggravate disinflationary pressures by lowering import prices for goods manufactured in developing economies.

Emerging assets have come under pressure as concerns about a slowing China and the Federal Reserve’s stimulus wind-down triggered an exodus of foreign capital.

A spike in global risk aversion and the corresponding surge in the safehaven yen hit Tokyo stocks, which lost over 8% this month.

While Japan has a large savings base, domestic investors tend to hold more government bonds and their equity allocation tends to be buy-andhold. According to the Tokyo Stock Exchange, 70% of the daily liquidity in its main section is driven by foreign investors.

This leaves Japan vulnerable to ebbs and flows of foreign capital, regardless of better economic fundamentals and the “Abenomics” reforms introduced

by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. “Japan will be a hostage to issues that are affecting emerging markets.

When there’s risk aversion, Japan gets sold,” said Jonathan Schiessl, investment manager at Ashburton.

“People flooded back into Japan with Abenomics but there’s a risk of foreign capital withdrawal.”

Trade channels are less likely to pose a threat to the developed economy. Gross exports to emerging econo-

Oil prices dip after rallying on US growth data n AFP, Hong Kong Oil prices retreated in thin Asian holiday trade on Friday after hitting their highest levels of the year in response to data showing the US economy grew more than expected in the fourth quarter.

West Texas Intermediate for March delivery eased seven cents to $98.16 a barrel while the European benchmark

Woori Bank Bangladesh gets its new country manager

Sun Kyu Kim has joined Woori Bank in Bangladesh as the new general manager and country manager.

Prior to joining as the chief of Woori Bank in Bangladesh, Kim was the chief of audit and management inspection department of Woori Bank’s head quarter in Seoul, Korea. He has started his Banking career with Woori Bank in the year 1990. l

contract, Brent for March delivery, fell 10 cents to $107.85.

Trade was light with most Asian markets closed for the Lunar New Year holiday.

Prices jumped on Thursday after the US Commerce Department said the world’s number one economy - and biggest crude consumer - expanded 3.2% in October-December, much better than the 3% projected by analysts.

Adding to the upbeat data was a 3.3% rise in consumer spending, which is a crucial driver of growth in the United States, suggesting demand for crude could pick up.

Akio Shibata, president of Japan’s National Resource Research Institute, said oil prices “will likely remain at relatively high levels for some time to come as demand will grow on the backdrop of a strong US economy”. l

Dhaka Mercantile Co-operative Bank Ltd reallocated its branch at Fakirapool on Saturday.

Group Captain (retd) Shamsul Alam, Bir Uttam was present at the opening ceremony as chief guest

PILIL distributes blankets Prime Islami Life Insurance Limited (PILIL) of Bangladesh recently held a program to distribute blankets among the cold-hit people where Kazi Md Mortuza Ali, the company’s managing director distributed the blankets at its head office.

Habibur Rahman, deputy-managing director, Azra Parvin Sayed, claims incharge, Muhammad Sibbir Hossen, FCA, audit incharge, Mirza Walliullah shariah and training incharge, among others were present on the occasion. l

B3

Monday, February 3, 2014

Major (retd) Dr Md Rezaul Haque, Social Islami Bank Limited’s (SIBL) chairperson of the board of Directors is seen checking eyes of a distressed patient at an eye treatment camp held at Baghata Noor Aftaf Adorsha Bidhapith of Norshingdhi District recently

mies are less than 5% of economic output in the United States, according to Goldman Sachs.

US, Europe

Developed market financial conditions could tighten, as a result of feedback via portfolio adjustments driven by the emerging turmoil.

In the case of the United States, foreign central banks may be forced to liquidate their Treasury holdings further to defend their currencies.

Friday’s data showed overall foreign holdings of US debt such as Treasuries, mortgage-backed securities and agency debt which are stored mainly by foreign central banks at the Fed fell to $3.325tn in the week ended Wednesday, the largest weekly decline since June.

The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield has fallen to a 2-1/2 month low of 2.67% as investors sought safe-haven Treasuries but a sustained sell-off from foreign central banks may push up the yield.

Dollar steady in Asia after US growth data n AFP, Tokyo The dollar was steady in Asia Friday following better-than-forecast US growth figures, which also eased concerns about emerging markets after a heavy sell-off this week.

The greenback bought 102.52 yen, down from 102.71 yen late in New York but better than the 102.30 yen earlier Thursday in Asia.

The euro weakened to $1.3547 against $1.3554, while it declined to 138.80 yen from 139.21 yen.

On Thursday the US Commerce Department said the world’s number one economy expanded 3.2% in OctoberDecember, well above the 3% projected by analysts. There was also some cheer from figures showing a 3.3% rise in consumer spending, which is a crucial driver of growth in the United States.

Investors welcomed the news, which came a day after the Federal Reserve reduced its stimulus programme by another $10bn a month to $65bn, following a similar cut in December.

While the US central bank cited a firming US economy for the winddown, the announcement rattled emerging markets such as India, South Africa and Russia on fears of a capital flight, which in turn sent their currencies diving.

But Thursday’s growth figures soothed some tensions, with Russia’s ruble, the South African rand, Turkey’s lira, Brazil’s real and the Indian rupee all either flat or stronger, even as the dollar itself surged against major currencies.

Japan’s economy minister Akira Amari called for markets to “cool down” to avoid mass capital repatriation by foreign investors.

“I want the market to cool down because what tapering is all about is not decreasing money, but the pace of money they provide,” he said when asked his views on recent market volatility.

Osao Iizuka, head of FX trading at Sumitomo Mitsui Trust and Banking, told Dow Jones Newswires that he “remains sceptical” about markets settling down. l

The related financial tightening may be enough to persuade the Fed to push back the timing of the first interest rate hike, or even slow the pace of its stimulus wind-down.

“Financial markets could transmit shocks directly, tightening DM financial conditions in the process...

Investors use DM markets as hedging tools during times of stress or because pressures to reduce risk more generally force selling of more liquid assets,” Goldman said in a client note.

“An undesirable tightening in financial conditions would probably ultimately be met by central bank responses.”

Falling emerging currencies and weak demand in emerging economies as a result of financial shocks would be a disinflationary combination for developed economies, especially in Europe where inflation is on an alarming downward trend.

Friday’s data showed euro zone

consumer price inflation fell in January to 0.7%, reinforcing warnings from the IMF that deflation was a potential risk.

The ECB is expected to stay put until mid-2015 after cutting its key interest rate to a record low of 0.25% in November, but deflation risks could change the plan.

Europe is also at a higher risk from an emerging economic slowdown, given the exposure of its corporates to the developing world.

European companies derive more than 23% of revenues from emerging markets, compared with around 14% for Japanese and US firms, according to MSCI. “The euro area periphery could find itself under scrutiny again. Those who compete directly with countries whose currencies are falling sharply may also struggle more, with parts of the euro area periphery and commodity producers again the most likely to suffer here,” Goldman said. l

NEWS IN BRIEF Indian state bars foreign supermarkets in latest blow for chains The Indian state of Rajasthan has barred foreign direct investment in supermarkets, an ominous sign for global retailers who covet India’s vast but fragmented retail sector if the country’s main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) comes to power nationally in upcoming elections. The BJP is considered to be more investor-friendly than India’s ruling Congress party but opposes foreign direct investment in supermarkets because of its impact on small shopkeepers. It unseated Congress in Rajasthan’s state elections in December. The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India criticized Rajasthan’s policy reversal, made on Friday, saying it would “dent and shake” global investor confidence. – Reuters

Sony, Lenovo in talks on possible PC business alliance: report Japan’s Sony Corp and Chinese technology company Lenovo Group are in talks about a possible joint venture to take over Sony’s loss-making Vaio PC business overseas, Japanese broadcaster NHK reported on Saturday. The Japanese electronics and media giant called the report inaccurate while acknowledging that it was looking at various possibilities for the unit. “Sony continues to address various options for the PC business, but the press report on a possible PC business alliance between Sony and Lenovo is inaccurate,” the company said in a statement.

– Reuters

UK says close to placing order for F-35 jets Britain is close to placing its first order for Lockheed Martin-built F-35 super-stealth jets, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said on Saturday. Reuters cited sources last week as saying that Britain was likely to announce an order soon for 14 of the advanced jets, marking Britain’s first firm F-35 purchase since it committed to buying 48 planes in 2012. “We are moving towards that point,” Hammond said when asked if he could confirm the imminent order. – Reuters

Etihad in final due diligence stage for Alitalia stake buy Etihad Airways and Alitalia are in the final phase of a due diligence process that may

result in an investment by the Abu Dhabi carrier in the troubled Italian airline, both companies said in a joint statement on Sunday. Alitalia and Etihad have been in talks for weeks on a possible investment by the Gulf carrier, which sources close to the matter say could involve Etihad buying a 40% stake in Alitalia for as much as 300m euros ($404.6m). The two companies and their advisors will determine a common strategy that meets the objectives of both parties in the next 30 days, the statement said. – Reuters

India set to ease visa restrictions: report Tourists travelling to India from up to 180 countries will no longer have to queue up at their local consulates to obtain visas under reforms expected to be approved this week, local media reported yesterday.

Most foreigners currently have to wait several weeks before learning whether they will be allowed to enter the country after submitting their applications at visa processing centres, a major deterrent for potential visitors. But India’s intelligence agencies have now given their backing to proposals that would allow tourists to apply online and then wait only three days before receiving the green light, the Indian Express reported. – AFP

China’s January official PMI slips to six-month low China’s factory growth eased to an expected six-month low in January, hurt by weaker local and foreign demand, a survey showed, a soft start for the year that heightens worries of an economic slowdown. The official Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) edged down to 50.5 in January from December’s 51, the National Bureau of Statistics said on Saturday, in line with market expectations. The change reinforces concerns that China’s economy is stuttering and could drag on financial markets on Monday as global investors, already nervous about capital flight in emerging markets, find another reason to sell riskier assets. Emerging market stocks and currencies were sold off in the past week as investors cut financial bets in developing nations, in anticipation that the United States will continue to move to less easy monetary policy. Super-easy US policy had spurred a flow of cash into emerging markets in recent years. – Reuters

B4

Back Page

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Monday, February 3, 2014

Australia eyes business opportunities in Bangladesh Nicola Watkinson (NW), a senior trade and investment commissioner, South Asia, Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) visited Bangladesh last week on the occasion of showcasing of Australian foods n Kayes Sohel

be used in urban areas. Australian company FCubed is working in Bangladesh with this technology.

Please take us through Australia–Bangladesh trade and business relationships.

Trade between the two countries are growing, mainly on ready-made garments. Large Australian retail chains are now outsourcing readymade garments from Bangladesh and these chains include Cotton-on, Kmart, Target, Just Jeans, Woolworths, etc.

Bilateral trade between Australia and Bangladesh has reached to a record high A$991m in the year 2012-2013 and is expected to reach the target of A$1b in the current financial year.

Australian exports to Bangladesh are valued at A$ 573m in the year 2012 - 2013, up from A$238m in the year 2007-08. Bangladesh has already become the second largest trading partner for Australia in South Asia.

Bangladesh’s exports to Australia are valued at A$419m in 2012–2013, with clothing, textiles, readymade garments accounting for A$391m.

Notably, Bangladeshi products are enjoying duty free access to Australian market since 2003.

Australia is a significant overseas education destination for students from Bangladesh.

What makes an Australian education different?

Nicola Watkinson: Well, Australia is increasingly recognised as the preferred international education destination for Bangladeshi students. The highest enrolments for doctoral programmes in Australia from South Asia originate from Bangladesh. At present, over 30,000 thousands Bangladeshi are living in Australia.

Australia is the 3rd most popular international student destination in the world, with 7 of the top 100 Universities in the world.

Australia has 39 universities, a number of specialist tertiary institutions, and more than a hundred education centres to deliver specific courses. Engineering IT, medicine, environmental science, accounting and financial management are the most sought after education programs.

Some areas, we are exploring in joint venture vocational training here in Bangladesh to create skilled and efficient manpower, as many people fail to go to study in Australia.

Please take us through some successful Australian ventures in Bangladesh.

Australia-based Gloria Jean’s Coffees is a good success story in Bangladesh, which started its franchise in 2012 with a local operation owned

by Navana group and planning to open up more stores in near future.

Apart from that, Wesfarmers Energy had a successful investment in a LPG plant in Mongla, which has recently been sold to another multinational LPG company. Santos, which has invested in Sangu gas field, is now pursuing for a new off-shore gas blocks in the Bay of Bengal.

We know, Australia is amongst the world leaders in food and beverage, please take us through the current levels of engagement of Australian food and beverage sector in Bangladesh.

Nicola Watkinson seen present at a business briefing on Australian infrastructure opportunities in India

Australian food products are known to be best in class for its quality and taste and it is very encouraging to see the presence and availability of the major Australian brands in Bangladeshi supermarkets.

Australian fresh fruits have strong presence in the market, especially grape and citrus. Fivestar hotels in Bangladesh are using Australian meat, lamb, salmon, cheese, butter and many other products to cater their guests and meeting the high standard of food.

Many more five-star hotels are in the offing. So, you need skilled and efficient staff and management to make the projects successful.

What prospects do you see for engagement of Australian companies in the agro-business sector of Bangladesh?

What are the areas of collaboration between Australia and Bangladesh in the education sector?

We see a potential to work in partnership with Bangladeshi farmers and also with agro-business to support greater local production.

There has always been a prospect for working in the agriculture research in Bangladesh by Australian institutes and the Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute and other private and public research institutes.

There are also prospect to support the development of the local dairy industry with Australian dairy cattle, which has been a great success in Pakistan and Sri Lanka. At present Australian breeding bull Friesian and Jersey varieties are being imported by Bangladesh Milk Vita dairy project.

Australian cattle are the five times higher productivity. So, undertaking a joint breeding programme might be more effective to increase the income of the local people.

Australian cotton export is expected to be further accelerated in the coming years to sup-

port Bangladesh textile and garments sector, which is now a leading global supply source. In near future, Australian wool would also be exported to Bangladesh for the high-end sweater industries.

As Bangladesh is facing challenges in its energy and infrastructure sectors, how can Australia and Australian companies support the development of Bangladesh’s energy and infrastructure sectors?

Australia is a major source for Coal and LNG. We understand that the government of Bangladesh is in the process of building a new coal-based power plants in Rampal and an LNG terminal in Chittagong.

Australia has a strong capability in infrastructure development and Australia can support Bangladesh in its Public Private Partnership development. Australia can provide support in design and construction of infra-

structure projects; project consulting & project management; supply of equipment’s, etc.

SMEC, which is the largest Australian company, has engaged in supporting the infrastructure development projects in Bangladesh for over 40 years.

Australia is a very innovative nation, with a track record of world leading discoveries and inventions. What is the cleverest technology that you have seen from Australia here in Bangladesh?

NWatkinson: Australia has long history of innovation. As it was an isolated country hundreds of years ago, it has to be innovative to survive.

We have a smart Australian water purification technology operational in Bangladesh. An Australian solar-based water purification and desalination uses a smart technology to provide safe drinking water in remote and coastal areas in Bangladesh. This technology can also

Facebook battles to stay young and cool n AFP, San Francisco Sixteen-year-old Owen Fairchild doesn’t hang out at Facebook as much as he did when he was just a kid.

It is not that he and his friends are abandoning the social network. They are spreading their love to rival networks like Twitter, Pinterest, SnapChat, Instagram and blogging platform Tumblr.

“I’ve moved on,” the teenager said.

“I go to Tumblr a lot more; there is a lot of funny stuff. SnapChat is super-fun because you can send really unattractive pictures of yourself and they will delete after a few seconds.”

Contrary to what grownups might think, teens sometimes prefer to catch up on life face-to-face in the real world, he added.

“I think Facebook is still very popular even though some people might be losing interest,” said the 11th-grade student at Alameda Community Learning Center, a charter school in Alameda across the bay from San Francisco.

“There is no talk among my friends saying Facebook is for old people.”

Facebook, born on a college campus a decade ago, has grown to 1.23 billion active users worldwide.

But as it prepares to celebrate its 10th anniversary, Facebook is now facing challenges in keeping its original base of young users as new social networks vie to be the coolest on the Internet.

A social networking trend set in motion by Facebook has been accelerated by soaring popularity of smartphones that let people share images, videos, thoughts or observations at any moment.

Hot young services such as Pinterest, Twitter and SnapChat have sparked concerns that Facebook is losing teens and may follow predecessor MySpace into social networking obscurity.

Facebook’s demographics appear to be shifting as adults, even seniors, use the network to catch up with long-lost friends and stay connected to family and colleagues.

Princeton University student Su-

sannah Sharpless said she and friends have stopped letting Facebook consume their lives.

“Everyone in my friend group went through this stage where we hated Facebook and deleted it,” Sharpless told AFP.

about two years ago in a billion-dollar deal.

“Facebook isn’t done,” Sharpless said. “I think it is just changing in the way people use it.”

Social media network analytics company Socialbakers on Thursday

“We are working on great products that all our users, including teens, will take seriously,” said Facebook chief financial officer David Ebersman.

Forrester Research analyst Nate Elliott dismissed Facebook gloom-anddoom talk as “silly.” He argued that,

Facebook set to mark tenth anniversary February 2004 Founded by Mark Zuckerberg Chris Hughes, Eduardo Saverin and Dustin Moskovitz September 2004 Creation of “The Wall”

1.23 billion active users Profit: 1.5 billion dollars Advertising revenue up by 76% on back of smartphones

December 2004 One million users February 2008 $65 million settlement with the Winklevoss twins over their claim that Zuckerberg stole their Facebook idea

Social “newspaper” launched

August 2008 100 million users February 2009 Creation of “Like”

October 2012 Total users passes the 1 billion mark Aug. 2012 Buys Instagram

July 2010 Lady Gaga, 1st to break 10-million “friends” barrier April 2011 Visit

by Obama to Palo Alto

January 2013 Launch of a search engine to find posts on the network

May 2012 IPO, giving the company a market value of $104 billion

September 2011 “Timeline” launched

Mark Zuckerberg

“I was one of the first people to get it back. Slowly, everyone did.”

Breaking from Facebook served as a detox period during which she and friends got a better handle on what was a daily habit, the college junior said.

“I realized how to live without the mindless Facebook stalking that I used to do,” Sharpless said.

“I check my Twitter feed all the time; there is nothing that I definitely need to know on Facebook.”

She also finds more interesting fare on Instagram, which Facebook bought

posted findings indicating that “the sky is not falling” when it comes to Facebook’s appeal to the younger set.

Interactions at Facebook by people ages 13 to 24 grew about 29% last year, according to Socialbakers.

“Teens are definitely not leaving en masse as some reports would have you believe,” Socialbakers data specialist Ben Harper said in a blog post.

During an earnings call this week, top Facebook executives sidestepped a question about whether the social network was losing teens.

unlike the defunct MySpace, Facebook innovates relentlessly and copies winning features from competitors.

For example, Facebook has woven Twitter-style real-time status updates into the service and introduced a new mobile app aimed at becoming a social newspaper of sorts.

Young people might change how they use Facebook, but they aren’t leaving, according to the Forrester analyst.

“It is not a zero-sum game,” Elliott said. “You don’t stop using one network because you start using another.” l

Nicola Watkinson: The Australian Trade Commission is going to expand linkages between Australian and Bangladeshi education institutions for student and faculty exchange programs; articulation arrangements; curriculum development, joint research programs, etc.

We see a potential for Australian educational institutions to explore the delivery of Australian qualifications and training in Bangladesh in disciplines such as hospitality, construction, oil & gas, etc, in partnership with Bangladesh based education institutions.

Australian vocational programs will provide skilled & trained personnel with internationally recognised certifications that meet the requirements of businesses in Bangladesh and especially in the Middle East, where a sizeable community of Bangladeshi workers are working in various construction and energy projects in the Middle East.

Do you see any potential cooperation in area of sports, like cricket?

Nicola Watkinson: Sport might be another potential area of mutual cooperation for developing sports like cricket.

Sport management training programme might be an area to look at.

Australia is ready to work with great passion for developing Bangladeshi cricket, as well. l

Ads out to know us in mobile Internet Age n AFP, San Francisco Ads are evolving from blaring TV spots to nudges from smartphones that know where we are, what we like and what we might be in the mood for.

The transformation promises to pick up speed thanks to Internet-linked eyewear or watches and technology that lets gadgets whisper in ears like personal assistants eager to please.

'I am imagining a world where the software can know me as a person and offer things that feel like advice and help rather than aggravation and clutter' Internet search colossus Google and leading social network Facebook this week reported earnings that soared on the wings of revenue from ads delivered on smartphones or tablets.

The bounce was particularly telling at Facebook, shares of which were hammered after they hit the market in 2012 on fears the Silicon Valley company would not be able to make money from surging ranks of members connecting via mobile devices.

As Internet Age lifestyles shift to being online while on the move, the pressure is on Google, Facebook, Microsoft and others to creatively cash in on people with much less screen space and time than they had on desktop machines.

“Advertising today is in the interest of the seller trying to get me to buy,” Forrester analyst Frank Gillett told AFP. “I am imagining a world where the software can know me as a person and offer things that feel like advice and help rather than aggravation and clutter.”

For example, an app could glean musical taste from a smartphone song library and then let alert a person that a band they like is coming to town.

The software could then link to an online ticket vendor. Using location sensing technology, smartphones could even tip users off to shows in places they are visiting.

Similar scenarios can play out with restaurants, films, sports and more, according to analysts.

Tie in calendar information and a smartphone could not only remind someone of an anniversary but find suitable nearby restaurants and make dinner reservations.

Digital wallets in smartphones make online buys simple and can store digital copies of tickets, coupons or loyalty cards.

“These devices are so capable, especially with ads and marketing, that instead of forcing their way into a conversation they are being pulled into it,” said Gartner analyst Michael McGuire.

Many marketers found out the hard way that they couldn’t simply take tactics used on desktop computers, such as data-rich streamed video ads, and aim them at mobile devices where time, screen space and data allowances are precious, according to McGuire.

In what could be a threat to Google’s core revenue source, search ads, smartphone use typically centres on “apps” instead of Web-based queries.

Google, Facebook and rivals are countering with free mobile apps.

Facebook co-founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said that the company’s strategy includes spinning features of the social network into dedicated mobile applications for sharing things like video, games or music.

Facebook said that it was looking to artificial intelligence technology to enable its platform to understand the meaning of pictures, posts and more so it can better predict what people will find interesting. l