10 March 2014

Falgun 24, 1420 Jamadiul Awal 7, 1435 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 1 No 345

SUNDAY, MARCH 9, 2014 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

Business | INSPECTION TEAM AT WORK

7 | READY-MADE: RMG INDUSTRY JOBS

Young doctors shy away from teaching

20 pages | Price: Tk10

8 | PALESTINIAN WOMEN JOINING POLICE

14 | FA CUP: ARSENAL SWEEP INTO SEMIS

CAUGHT IN THE ACT

Shortage of lecturers for basic subjects hits rural medical colleges n Moniruzzaman Uzzal The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has reportedly failed to generate adequate response among young doctors after offering jobs as lecturers for basic subjects of the MBBS course at different district-level medical colleges.

In a circular issued on February 3, the DGHS invited applications from doctors working in government organisations, for the post of lecturers of anatomy, physiology and biochem-

New doctors not interested in joining as teachers for the basic subjects, as there are not enough options to earn extra money through practice istry departments at the Sheikh Sayera Khatun Medical College in Gopalganj, Satkhira Medical College, Shahid Syed Nazrul Islam Medical College in Kishoreganj, Noakhali Medical College and Cox’s Bazar Medical College.

As an incentive for doctors to apply, the DGHS has also relaxed the mandatory requirement for fresh doctors of staying two years at a root-level health institute, as those interested in joining as lecturers would be allowed if they

INSIDE News

4 Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday called upon all to build an equality-based world and society for ensuring rights, honour and dignity of women.

Nation

6 Educational activities in six government high schools in Pirojpur district are being hampered due to shortage of teachers.

stayed only one year at root-level working stations.

However, the Dhaka Tribune has learned that despite the offer, only 11 doctors have applied for lectureship: four of them are seeking positions at Sheikh Syed Nazrul Islam Medical College, four at Cox’s Bazar Medical College and three at Noakhali Medical College.

Among the total applicants, eight have applied for physiology and three for biochemistry posts. No one has applied to join as a lecturer of anatomy.

DGHS sources said the five medical colleges had no regular post of lecturers, with the management conducting classes by appointing teachers from different public medical colleges on deputation.

However, no official at the DGHS could confirm how many lecturers were needed in total at the medical colleges.

Professor Dr ABM Abdul Hannan, director (medical education and manpower development) of the DGHS, told the Dhaka Tribune that there were not enough doctors who were interested to join as teachers at medical colleges outside Dhaka.

Several medical education specialists said the number of teachers for basic subjects in both public and private medical colleges has been gradually decreasing. The shortage of teachers for basic subjects of MBBS course – which includes anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, microbiology, forensic medicine, pharmacology and  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

Supporters of upazila chairman candidate Iqbal Hossain Shabuj shoot at the residence of Shreenagar MP Rahmat Ali in Gazipur yesterday. Story on Page 3

Newborn disappears from DMCH n Mohammad Jamil Khan

A two-day-old child was allegedly missing from the Intensive Care Unit of neonatal ward of Dhaka Medical College Hospital yesterday.

The grief-stricken 35-year-old mother was at a loss for words since her baby girl allegedly disappeared from the newborn unit which is always under strict security.

Shefali Akter, wife of Mohammad Khokon, a rickshaw puller, was still frantically searching for her child in front of the children’s ward at the time of writing this report.

Momotaz Begum, elder sister of

Shefali, said her sister married Khokon a couple of years ago, and had given birth to her only child in the early hour of last Thursday.

She added that the child was weak and doctors referred the her to the newborn ward for specialised treatment.

Shefali’s husband claimed that he admitted the baby to the neonatal ward and the doctors sent him out to buy some medicine.

“I had no money on me, so I went home to get some. When I returned to hospital with medicine and asked for my child, the physicians said my relatives have taken the baby with them,” said Khokon.

Unbeaten Sri Lanka lift Asia Cup n Raihan Mahmood

Sri Lankan opener Lahiru Thirimanne continued to haunt Pakistan hitting another century helping the islanders win the title of the Asia Cup with a five wicket win at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday.

The southpaw scored 101 for his third one-day hundred as Sri Lanka scored 261/ 5 in 46.2 overs . Pakistan who opted to bat first scored 260/5 in 50 overs.

Thirimanne, who also scored a hundred in the tournament’s opening match against Pakistan smashed 13 boundaries during his 108-ball knock and shared a 156-run third-wicket partnership with Mahela Jayawardene, who made 75.Pakistan rode on the unbeaten 114 by Fawad Alam and a timely 65 of skipper Misbah-ul Haq. Lasith Malinga, the Sri Lankan pace spearhead had a five wicket haul for 56 runs. It would be mentionable that he also grabbed the same number of wickets against Pakistan in the first match of the tournament. l

“I was stunned since none of my relatives were at the hospital with me,” explained the stunned father.

“My wife was admitted to 212 No ward of the hospital and her elder sister Momotaz was attending,” he added.

In reply to a query, Abdul Khaleq, commander of Ansar at DMCH, told the Dhaka Tribune Khokon brought the baby to the neonatal unit, but the doctors did not receive the baby girl.

“We found a letter with Khokon issued from Gynecology Department referring to admission, but Khokon did not admit the child to the ward,” Khaleq added.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 6

Businessman ‘tortured’ in police camp n Our Correspondent, Narayanganj A trader in Narayanganj has alleged that law enforcers had picked him up on Thursday and beat him up in custody at a police camp as he was one of the traders who protested toll collection by the police in the area.

Victim Md Ejaj, 32, was later shown arrest in a land dispute case and produced before a court. But he was released on bail as the plaintiff of the case told the court that he did not know him.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Malaysia Airlines flight goes missing n Reuters

The victorious Sri Lankan team with the trophy after beating Pakistan by 5 wickets in the final at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday.

MUMIT M

DHAKA TRIBUNE

A Malaysia Airlines flight carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew went missing off the Vietnamese coast yesterday and was presumed to have crashed.

There were no reports of bad weather and no sign why the Boeing 777200ER would have vanished from radar screens about an hour after it took off from Kuala Lumpur for Beijing. There were no signs of sabotage nor claims of a terrorist attack.

However, in Europe, news reports and officials said at least two people on board may have been carrying stolen passports.

The Italian foreign ministry said in Rome that an Italian was listed on the flight’s manifest although no national from the country was on board.

The passenger list provided by the

airline includes Luigi Maraldi, 37, an Italian citizen. Newspaper Corriere Della Sera reported that Maraldi’s passport was stolen in Thailand last August. The Italian Interior Ministry was unable to immediately comment on the report.

In Vienna, the Austrian foreign ministry said an Austrian listed among the passengers was safe and had reported his passport stolen two years ago while he was travelling in Thailand.

Asked for a possible explanation for the plane’s disappearance, Malaysia Airlines CEO Ahmad Jauhari Yahya told a news conference: “We are not ruling out any possibilities.”

By late night, there were no confirmed signs of the plane or any wreckage, over 20 hours after it went missing. Operations will continue through the night, officials said.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Int'l Women's Day observed n Tribune Report With the theme “equality for women is progress for all”, the International Women’s Day was observed yesterday across Bangladesh with a call for all to ensure women’s rights.

Various socio-cultural organisations arranged different events, including rallies and a boat race, highlighting women’s rights and the progress made by them in economic, social, political and other areas.

In the capital, many organisations held separate programmes at Shahbagh to mark the day.

The Centre for Men and Masculinities Studies, in collaboration with Dhaka University Model United Nations Association and United Nations Youth and Students Association of Bangladesh organised a rally and a procession on the DU campus.

Speaking to the occasion, National Human Rights Commission Chairman Mizanur Rahman said men have to play the most pivotal role in ensuring and protecting women’s dignity, rights and prestige in the 21st century.

Bikkhubdho Nari Samaj paraded through the city streets on trucks, calling for an end to violence against women and elimination of all kinds of discrimination. The women activists were

accompanied by male supporters.

Biplobi Nari Shanghati brought out a torch procession in the evening.

At Jahangirnagar University, a colourful grand rally was brought out by hundreds of students, teachers, university officials and staff.

Addressing the rally, JU Vice Chancellor Farzana Islam, the country’s first female VC, said: “Women are human beings first. And if we consider them as human beings, discriminations would be eliminated.”

In Barisal, women participated in a country boat race on the Poisarhut River at Kadambari in Agoiljhara upazila. Wearing colourful outfits, singing and playing musical instruments, the women rowers raced their boats with lots of enthusiasm.

Taranga, a non-government organisation, arranged the race with 14 teams, which were named after native flowers.

Local people, especially female spectators and some foreigner guests, enjoyed the race from both sides of the river and cheered on the contestants by clapping, playing music or chanting slogans.

In Chapainawabganj, the district administration awarded five women for outstanding performances in their work and social life.

A women’s fair was organised in Pirojpur, while various events were held in Barguna. l

News

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Three workers return home dead from Bahrain n Rabiul Islam

Six-year-old Akash would never be able to play with his father, Dulal, who was

supposed to return home soon.

“My son Akash used to say that he will play with his father when he returns from Bahrain. He also

Relatives of Mosharraf and Dulal, who were killed in a fire in Bahrain, burst in tears after their coffins reached Shahjalal International Airport in the capital yesterday RAJIB DHAR

HT Imam suggests separate divisions for police and home ministry n Kailash Sarkar Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s political adviser HT Imam last night unveiled the government plan to reorganise the home ministry.

He suggested that the government should not only form separate divisions for police but also for the home ministry, he said while addressing as the chief guest at the 34th annual meeting of the Bangladesh Police Service Association held at Rajarbagh Police Lines Auditorium.

He said: “But it should be clearly specified which division will work under which ministry.”

“We can use the relations between the Armed Forces Division and the defence ministry in this regard”, he said.

He said the Fire Service and Civil Defence should not be under the home ministry, rather it should go under the

disaster management ministry while the Para-military Border Guard Bangladesh also should not remain under the home ministry.

He said police is not a separate entity that is separated from the government. It is an organ of the government and for that reason police and defence should be given special priorities.

“The Navy should be given priorities for the preservation of our assets in the sea while the air forces for keeping our sky limit secured”, he said.

At his speech, the advisor said people could see the budget for police but they do not know about the defence budget. The defence budget should also be made public like many other countries.”

Citing about the mayhem before the national election centring the War Crime Trial, he said: “The Jamaat-Shibir and militants had announced a war

against the country. But police had tackled it.”

In response to the demands from the police for granting eight more posts of grade-1 in the police department, the advisor said the government has the will to meet the demand and there is proverb “Where there is a will there is a way.”

He also agreed with the necessities of residential facilities, vehicles and other logistics for the police.

Mashiur Rahman, the financial advisor to the PM, State Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan and Inspector General of Police Hasan Mahmood Khandker, among others, spoke at the function chaired by Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Benajir Ahmed.

Mashiur Rahman said the police department had shown its efficiency but in course of time the type of crimes are

changed.

The state minister for home also agreed with the demands of the police officials saying that all the demands of the police were logical.

“As militancy has spread its tentacles across the country the need for a National Bureau of Counter Terrorism is a demand of the time”, he said.

IGP Hasan Mahmood Khandker said additional manpower in the police is not a demand but a need of the time.

He also stresses the need for a National Bureau of Counter Terrorism to tackle militancy.

He claimed that since the Industrial police was launched the exports in the country was increased up to 43%.

The DMP commissioner said the police deserve at least 19 posts of Grade-1.

They should be granted at least 8 more Grade-1 posts in addition to the existing three posts. l

Businessman

Young doctors shy away from teaching

 PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

 PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

Ejaj at a press conference yesterday told reporters: “I have three shops at River View market which is situated between Narayanganj sadar model police station and the Marine Police camp. The trucks which carry goods for several thousand shops of the market conduct loading and unloading goods near of the camp.

“In the past, the Marine Police used to demand Tk20-50 from the trucks and the traders paid the money without saying anything. But recently after Sub-Inspector Nazrul came as the in-charge of the camp, he started demanding Tk300 from each truck.

“We protested the toll collection and decided not to give him a penny,” he said in a written statement.

As a result, two plainclothes policemen around 9:30pm on Thursday harassed two traders of the market in the name of searching in front of the camp and took away money from their wallets.

“I saw the incident and protested.

Hearing hue and cry in front of the camp, SI Nazrul came out of the camp and dragged me inside,” Ejaj said.

All of a sudden, Nazrul started beating him up and at one stage tied his hands with a chair and blindfolded him. Then the two plainclothes police men beat him up mercilessly.

As the other shop owners came forward hearing his screams, Nazrul behaved rudely with them. He also threatened to lock up the victim’s maternal uncle who came to save him.

“After the torture, SI Nazrul sent me to Sadar model police station that night.

The police men there decided to show me arrested in a land dispute case,” he claimed. But, the plaintiff of the case, Nasir, at the court told the judge that he had feud over land with his nephews, not Ejaj who was standing in the dock.

Contacted, SI Nazrul told the Dhaka Tribune that the OC of the Narayanganj model police station would comment on the issue. OC Manjur Kader said he would investigate the incident. “I regret personally if anything like this happened,” he said. l

pathology – has made it difficult for authorities concerned to conduct academic activities, they added.

Dr Khondokar Md Sifayetullah, former DGHS director general and a professor of anatomy, termed the trend as “unfortunate,” and told the Dhaka Tribune that most young doctors were uninterested to join as the basic subjects were non-practicing disciplines.

Most of the new doctors want to take post-graduation degree and run after money, he added.

The Dhaka Tribune has also acquired a copy of a letter from the principal of

Pabna Medical College, dated March 2, in which he asked the DGHS director (medical education) for recruiting 30 lecturers. The principal added in the letter that the appointments were needed on an emergency basis to conduct the academic activities of the 6th batch of MBBS course.

Health ministry sources also said the principal of Shahid Ziaur Rahman Medical College in Bogra submitted a letter on February 13 to the health secretary, mentioning a severe crisis of teachers for basic subjects and requesting him to appoint in the vacant posts.

The letter also said all three posts of

professor (one full professor, one associate and one assistant professor) at the anatomy department were vacant.

Other vacant posts at the college included one biochemistry professor, one assistant professor of physiology, one professor and one assistant professor of microbiology, one professor and one lecturer of forensic medicine, one associate and one assistant professor of pharmacology, one professor and one assistant professor of pathology and one associate professor and one lecturer of community medicine department.

Professor Dr Rashid-e-Mahbub, president of Health Rights Movement

Malaysia Airlines flight goes missing  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

Vietnam said its rescue planes had spotted two large oil slicks and a column of smoke off its coastline, but it was not clear if they were connected to the missing plane.

“We sent two maritime boats and some military boats there to clarify, each boat with about 20 people,” Pham Quy Tieu, vice minister of transportation, told Reuters by telephone yesterday evening. “The oil spills are about 15km long. Those boats will be there in about three to four hours.”

A crash, if confirmed, would likely mark the US-built airliner’s deadliest incident since entering service 19 years ago. And it would also mark the second fatal accident involving a Boeing 777 in less than a year. An Asiana Airlines Boeing 777-200ER crash-landed in San Francisco in July 2013, killing three passengers and injuring more than 180.

Boeing said it was monitoring the situation but had no further comment.

Massive search

A large number of planes and ships from several countries were scouring the area where the plane last made contact, about halfway between Malaysia and the southern tip of Vietnam.

“The search and rescue operations

hoped that his father will bring him many gifts,” Aklima Begum, 35, wife of Dulal told the Dhaka Tribune while receiving the body of her husband

will continue as long as necessary,” Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak told reporters in Kuala Lumpur. He said 15 air force aircraft, six navy ships and three coast guard vessels had been pressed into service by Malaysia.

Vietnam dispatched two navy boats from Phu Quoc Island and sent two jets and one helicopter from Ho Chi Minh City to search for the missing airliner.

It was readying a further seven planes and nine boats to join the search effort.

Other than Vietnamese and Malaysian search operations, China and the Philippines have also sent ships to the region to help. The United States, the Philippines, and Singapore also dispatched military planes.

China has also put other ships and aircraft on standby, said Transport Minister Yang Chuantang.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters in Beijing that China was “extremely worried” about the fate of the plane and those on board.

Search and rescue vessels from the Malaysian maritime enforcement agency reached the area where the plane last made contact at about 4:30pm local time (0830 GMT) but saw no sign of wreckage, a Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency told Reuters.

The 11-year-old Boeing, powered by

Rolls-Royce Trent engines, took off at 12:40am (1640 GMT Friday) from Kuala Lumpur International Airport and was apparently flying in good weather conditions when it went missing without a distress call.

Relatives angry

The disappearance of the plane is a chilling echo of an Air France flight that crashed into the South Atlantic on June 1, 2009, killing all 228 people on board.

It vanished for hours and wreckage was found only two days later.

Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 last had contact with air traffic controllers 120 nautical miles off the east coast of the Malaysian town of Kota Bharu, Malaysia Airlines chief executive Ahmad Jauhari Yahya said in a statement.

Earlier yesterday, the airline had said people from 14 nationalities were among the 227 passengers, including at least 152 Chinese, 38 Malaysians, seven Indonesians, six Australians, five Indians, four French and three Americans.

Flight tracking website flightaware. com showed the plane flew northeast over Malaysia after take-off and climbed to an altitude of 35,000 feet.

The flight vanished from the website’s tracking records a minute later while it was still climbing.

at Shahjalal International Airport yesterday.

Dulal had told his son few days ago that he would return home shortly.

“Akash told me that he will ride on his father and play,” she said.

On February 28, Mosharraf Hossain, Md Jalal and Dulal hailed from Comilla were killed in a fire in Bahrain. Their bodies reached the Dhaka airport by an Emirates Airlines flight.

The Wage Earners’ Welfare Board and the Bangladesh Embassy in Bahrain helped to bring the bodies to the country.

Aklima said her husband had gone to Bahrain in 2008 by spending Tk3.5 lakh, collected as loans.

“He used to send Tk8,000 every month for the family’s expenditure.

How will I pay the loan now?” she questioned and urged the government for helping the family.

Marzina, 28, wife of Mosharraf, said they had three sons – Ripon, 9, Rimu, 10, and Emon, 11.

“My husband went abroad at a cost of around Tk4 lakh. We are still in debt of Tk1.5 lakh. What can I do now?” she said.

Amena Akhter, 19, wife of Jalal, said her husband had gone to Bahrain after managing some Tk5 lakh from different people as loans.

Md Ziauddin, director of the welfare fund of Wage Earners’ Welfare Board, said they had given each family a cheque of Tk35,000 for cost of transport and burial.

The government would later give each family Tk3 lakh as financial help, he added. l

No Bangladeshi on board ‘crashed’ Malaysia airlines: Ministry n UNB No Bangladeshi citizen was on board the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777-200, which had reportedly crashed into the sea off the coast of Vietnam with 239 people, an official confirmed yesterday.

“Our High Commissioner in Kuala Lumpur confirmed that there was no Bangladeshi national on board of the respective Malaysian Airlines flight to Beijing,’ Shameem Ahsan, the director general (external publicity wing) at the Foreign Ministry told the news agency.

The aircraft, according to international media, came down near Vietnam’s Tho Chu Island. A search was underway.

The Flight MH370 lost contact just two hours after it took off from Kuala Lumpur for Beijing.

The Malaysian Airlines plane was carrying 227 passengers, including two

Bangladesh and ex-president of Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA), told the Dhaka Tribune that the failure to create regular position of lecturers at private medical colleges was one of the reasons why the DGHS could not attract doctors to join.

The new doctors are also uninterested in joining as teachers for the basic subjects, as there are not enough options to earn extra money through private practice, Mahbub said, adding that the health ministry should take a long-term plan and initiative to attract doctors to become teachers of basic subjects. l

Chinese relatives of passengers angrily accused the airline of keeping them in the dark, while state media criticised the carrier’s poor response.

“There’s no one from the company here, we can’t find a single person.

They’ve just shut us in this room and told us to wait,” said one middle-aged man at a hotel near Beijing airport where the relatives were taken.

“We want someone to show their face. They haven’t even given us the passenger list,” he said.

Another relative, trying to evade a throng of reporters, muttered: “They’re treating us worse than dogs.”

In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Airlines told passengers’ next of kin to come to the international airport with their passports to prepare to fly to the crash site, which has still not been identified.

About 20-30 families were being kept in a holding room at the airport, where they were being guarded by security officials and kept away from reporters.

Malaysia Airlines has one of the best safety records among full-service carriers in the Asia-Pacific region.

It identified the pilot of MH370 as Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah, a 53-year-old Malaysian who joined the carrier in 1981 and has 18,365 hours of flight experience. l

infants, and 12 crew members, the airline said.

It said there were 153 passengers from China, 38 from Malaysia, seven each from Indonesia and Australia, five from India, four from the U.S. and others from Indonesia, France, New Zealand, Canada, Ukraine, Russia, Italy, Taiwan, the Netherlands and Austria, reports AP. If confirmed, it would mark the second fatal accident involving a Boeing 777 in less than a year.

Malaysia Airlines Chief Executive Ahmad Jauhari Yahya told a press briefing that Flight MH370 lost contact with Malaysian air traffic control at 2:40 am, about two hours after it had taken off from Kuala Lumpur.

The plane, which carried passengers mostly from China but also from other Asian countries, North America and Europe, was expected to land in Beijing at 6:30 am today. l

Newborn disappears from DMCH  PAGE 1 COLUMN 5

The letter was found inside Khokon’s pocket. Dr Rafi, the on-duty doctor, issued the letter on March 6, asking the neonatal physicians to receive the child patient and give specialised treatment.

The letter read Shefali gave birth a baby girl who was very weak and did not cry immediately after birth. So the child required specialised treatment.

The Dhaka Tribune visited the neonatal unit at 5pm yesterday to check the registrar and find out whether the baby was received, but Dr Sadia Islam refused to show the registrar when she came to know about the identity of the correspondent.

The on-duty doctor flew into a rage and asked the correspondent to leave the ward immediately.

The neonatal unit appears to be secure, with two Answer members – one male and another female – on guard at the entrance.

One is allowed to enter the newborn unit after presenting proper identification.

In reply to how a child could go missing from such a secure place, Brig Gen Mostafizur Rahman, director of DMCH, gave his version that the neonatal doctors did not receive the baby, they just gave it first aid.

The baby was born in the hospital and the gynecology doctors referred it to the neonatal ward for a checkup, he added.

Asked about the allegation that the baby was missing from the newborn unit, he said: “We have formed a four-member probe body to investigate the matter with DMCH Assistant Director Dr Jahdul Islam as its convener.” l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

3

Sunday, March 9, 2014

UPAZILA POLLS

60 injured in factional clashes of AL n Tribune Report At least 60 people including six police personnel were injured yesterday in Awami League intra party clashes in different upazilas of Gazipur, Chandpur, Munshiganj and Comilla districts over the upcoming third phase upazila polls.

Our Gazipur correspondent reports: At least 50 people including five police personnel were injured in a clash between two AL chairman aspirants.

Witness said supporters of Gazipur Awami League backed candidate Iqbal Hossain stayed in front of the upazila AL office while the supporters of another candidate of AL-Abdul Jalil were campaigning in the area. When both groups were trying to take position in the upazila AL office, clashes started between them.

Amir Hossain, officer-in-charge of Shrepur police station, said supporters of Iqbal Hossain entered the town firing bullets and exploding cocktails. To bring the situation under control the police fired 41 bullets.

Member of municipal Chattra League Al Amin, son of Abul Hossain was critically injured during the clash.

All kinds shops were shutdown and the tense situation were prevailing in the area till filing the report.

Chandpur correspondent reports: At least 20 people including three police personnel and journalists were injured in clashes between two Awami League chairman candidates in two upazilas over holding a showdown.

Munshiganj correspondent reports:

Three arrested for attack with arms in school n Our Correspondent, Gazipur Locals and students have caught three youths with arms after they entered a school in Basan area of Gazipur yesterday morning and fired blank shots.

They are Azizul Huq Rocky, 17, Roni, 22, and Imran, 24.

According to locals and the police, the youths entered Toijuddin High School in the morning and Rocky beat up a school boy Khairul Islam Tonmoy.

After learning the matter, Tonmoy’s parents informed the matter to his teachers.

At this, Rocky along with his associates went to the school and opened fire. At one stage, the school students and some locals chased the youths and nabbed three of them. The rest of the culprits managed to escape.

On information, Joydevpur police went to the spot and recovered one foreign-made pistol and two rounds of bullets from their possession. During that time, the agitated mob hurled brick chips towards the police car.

Sub-Inspector of Bhogra police outpost Ekramul Haque said: “Rocky is an SSC examinee of the school while Rony and Imran are honours students.”

A case was filed with Joydevpur police in this regard. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

At least 10 people, including officer-incharge of Gazaria police station, were injured in clashes between AL supported candidates centering campaigns in Munshiganj upazila polls.

The one and half hour long clashes took place between the supporters of

AL backed candidate Amirul Islam and AL rebel candidate Refayet Ullah Khan.

OC Mamun-ur-Rashid was injured during the clash. Comilla correspondent reports: Several clashes took places among the candidates in Nangolkot, Burichnag and Brahmanpara upazilas

of the district.

In Burichang upazila, four candidates are contesting for the chairman post. Those are- BNP backed Mizanur Rahman, Awami League backed Akhlak Haider, rebel candidate of Awami League Sazzad Hossain and Jatiya Party

Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) yesterday demanded that the government to cut down the prices of electricity instead of hiking the rates further.

“If the power tariff goes up, it will have multiple effects as prices of all essential commodities will increase,” said CPB leader Ruhin Hossain Prince while addressing a rally in front of National Press Club in the capital.

The rally, organised by Segunbagicha unit of CPB, also demanded the cancellation of the existing “minimum billing” system.

The leaders at the rally also noted that the rise in power tariffs will result in hike in house rents as well.

Criticising the Power Ministry’s role, they said the move of hike power price has proved that the government is trying to protect the interest of the wealthy population.

They said the rural consumers are now paying the highest rate for electricity.

Noting that some 9 lakh rural people consume electricity worth of Tk 55 crore, but they pay Tk 98 crore, the leaders also added: “The government must decrease the power price for the rural people instead of raising it.”

The leaders severely criticised the government’s purchase of power from rental power plants saying that the rental power serves only the interests of the vested quarters. l

BARI giving ‘preferential treatment’ Towki remembered on to pesticide companies first death anniversary n Abu Bakar Siddique The Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) is allegedly giving preferential treatment to several pesticide companies by prescribing their products to Bt Brinjal farmers in its published booklet.

In a booklet titled “Variety Development and Developing Technology of Modern Bt Variety in Bangladesh,” the BARI reportedly promoted different products by prescribing several brand names of insecticides to be used against different types of insects and plant diseases.

The different products, which include fungicides and miticides, are made by foreign companies, while they are marketed and distributed by

local companies. The manufacturers are located in countries like Germany, Singapore and Italy.

“We have mentioned the brand names of the chemicals in the booklet as examples, so that the farmers will be aware about them,” said Rafiqul Islam Mondol, director general of the BARI. However, he admitted that mentioning the name of any brand to the farmers was unethical, as it promoted particular products.

Currently, about 3,000 registered chemicals are used as pesticides, herbicides and fungicides in Bangladesh, with the products being marketed by local companies under different brand names to fight pests and plant diseases.

Preferring to stay unnamed, an offi-

cial of a pesticide company that is promoted in the BARI booklet, said such promotion by government officials helps increase sales to some extent.

However, the BARI director general said the brand names were mentioned with good intention, and not for promoting any product.

Nazrul Islam, pesticide regulatory officer of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), also echoed the BARI DG on the issue.

Although there is a moral barrier against the promotion of any brand by the government, agriculture officers sometimes have to mention brand names to make farmers aware about the use of particular products to get good result against some pests and diseases, Nazrul said. l

One loses life to save sister’s wedding ornaments n Our Correspondent, Comilla A youth succumbed to his injuries in Comilla yesterday after being injured while trying to save some gold ornaments that he had purchased for her younger sister’s wedding from the hands of armed snatchers.

Victim Gopal Chandra Das, 25, hailed from Malakhala village of Daudkandi upazila.

Police and eye witnesses said Gopal after buying some gold ornaments from Gouripur Bazar on Friday had taken a shared CNG auto-rickshaw to go back home. He also had Tk42,000 cash with him. At that time, some snatchers got into the auto-rickshaw and tried to take away the ornaments and cash from him.

Gopal instantly jumped off the speeding vehicle and shouted for help.

Locals then caught three snatchers and handed them over to the police after a good beating.

The detainees are Mizan, 38, Mostafa, 40, and Mofazzal, 25.

Gopal was admitted to upazila health complex and later transferred to Dhaka for better treatment. He, however, succumbed to injuries early yesterday.

Sub-Inspector Asaduzzaman Asad, the in-charge of Gouripur police outpost, told the Dhaka Tribune that a murder case had been filed with Daudkandi model police station and the police were conducting raids at different places to arrest the other snatchers. l

(Ershad) backed Shafiqur Rahman Arun.

Supporters of Akhlak Haider and Sazzad Hossain locked in a clash centering tearing down posters of the candidates. The supporters of Sazzad set fire to the election office of Akhlak in Fokirbaza area. l

CPB: Power hike to hit the poor people hard n UNB

Family still awaits justice n Our Correspondent, Narayanganj The family of Tanvir Mohammad Towki, an A-level student from Narayanganj who was found dead two days after he had gone missing, is still waiting for justice after a year as the killers have not yet been arrested.

A rally styled ‘Mother and Children Rally’ was organised yesterday by Santrash Nirmul Towki Mancha in commemoration of the boy and was held at Chashara Shaheed Minar. Yesterday marked the first death anniversary of the boy.

It saddens people when they see parents struggling for justice for their son’s murder during the government’s tenure that claims to be a pro-liberation administration, said rights activist Sultana Kamal while addressing the rally.

“People now have to decide whether or not they will tolerate the culture of absence of justice,” Sultana Kamal, also a former adviser to caretaker government, said.

Since Towki’s death, his father Rafiur Rabbi, convener of Narayanganj Gonojagoron Mancha, has been accusing the family of controversial Awami League leader Shamim Osman of killing

his son. Towki secured an outstanding result in his A-level exams which was published a day after the boy had gone missing. Out of 300, he had scored 294 in chemistry and 297 in physics.

“Those who killed Towki must remember that they are the murderers.

Perhaps they aren’t being identified because of the ill politics but people of Narayanganj know who the killers are.

Truth cannot be kept hidden,” Sultana Kamal observed.

The right activist also slammed the authority because of failure to reveal names of the killers and arrest them.

She urged everyone to be conscious of justice for the 17-year-old boy.

Speaking at the rally, Towki’s mother Rownok Rehana said: “The state has failed to provide our children with security and safety. While assuming power, our Prime Minister vowed that the people would be safe. Now she has to stand before people as she has broken that commitment.”

Following the rally, a website on Towki was launched and a documentary was screened illustrating the movement people of Narayanganj initiated after the boy had been killed. l

B Chy hits back at Hasina n UNB

Cambridge International Examinations together with the British Council congratulate high achieving learners from Bangladesh, in the capital yesterday MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

AL picks Amina for Suchitra as reserved seat nominee n Tribune Report The ruling Awami League has changed one of its nominated candidates for the elections to reserve seat MPs for women in 10th parliament, to be held on April 3.

The AL offered nomination to Amina Ahmed, wife of National Awami Party (NAP) President Mozaffar Ahmed, and cancelled the nomination of Suchitra Tanchangya from Bandarban district, Presidium member Obaidul Quader confirmed to the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

Also a member of the party’s Parliamentary Board, Obaidul said Amina was a reserve seat lawmaker in ninth

parliament too.

Mozaffar’s NAP is an ally of the ALled ruling 14-party alliance.

When contacted, Suchitra told the Dhaka Tribune that she had not been informed about the cancelation of her nomination.

“Some local leaders are hatching conspiracy against me alleging that I do not belong to the Awami League family. But I have been involved with the Awami League and I hope that the party will not do injustice with me,” she said.

The party would submit the list of its nominees to the Election Commission today, Mrinal Kanti Das, AL’s deputy office secretary, told the Dhaka Tribune.

Meanwhile, many district-level leaders and activists including those from Kurigram have expressed aggravation for not getting any candidate from their districts.

Our correspondents report that the ruling party men from those districts fear that they would be deprived of development activities in their localities.

Obaidul said they had prioritised the candidates from districts which had no representation in parliament previously.

“The reserve seat MP nomination will not be any part of development activities. Our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is aware about the issue and she believes in balanced development all over the country,” he said. l

President of Bikalpadhara Bangladesh AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury yesterday strongly deplored the prime minister’s remarks over his meeting with BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. He said Hasina had exposed her bad taste by calling the former president “Badu Kaka.”

“It is a manifestation of bad taste of a person like the honourable prime minister by making fun of calling a former president Badu Kaka,” Badruddoza said in a statement.

He also said it was an unbecoming comment by a prime minister as well as a daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

One of the founding members of the BNP, Badruddoza later resigned as president of the BNP-Jamaat’s 2001-06

government.

On Thursday night, Badruddoza had a meeting with Khaleda at her Gulshan office where he had urged the BNP chief to send a proposal to the government for engaging in a dialogue aiming at holding a free, fair and inclusive fresh national election. The two parties also agreed to work together over the issue.

Pointing at the meeting, Hasina at a rally at Suhrawardy Udyan on Friday said the BNP chairperson was now looking for newer excuses to wage a fresh movement.

“Now she [Khaleda] is supplicating those whom she had driven away before. I have seen in a picture that she wearing a red saree is talking to Badu Kaka [Badruddoza]. I do not know whether Badu Kaka went there with a bunch of Rajanigandha [flower].” l

4

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News

Sunday, March 9, 2014

PM: Minus-two formula male-dominated society’s agenda n UNB Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday alleged that it was the male-dominated society that had tried to implement the much-talked-about “minus-two” formula, excluding Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia from politics during the last caretaker government The prime minister came up with the allegation while delivering her speech at a function marking the International Women’s Day at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.

Sheikh Hasina said now the number of female political leaders at the top has marked a rise as the ruling party chief is a woman and the leaders of the opposition is also a woman apart from the female leader of another political party.

“That demonstrates that the efforts of the male-dominated society have failed.

What will they call it now? Instead of two, we’re now three,” she wondered.

Hasina called upon all to vow afresh to establish an equality-based world where rights, honour equal and dignity of women would be enhanced.

Mentioning that the country’s more than half of the population are women the prime minister said achieving the desired socioeconomic progress is impossible pushing the women away from the development process.

In this connection, she called upon both men and women to work together for building poverty- and illiteracy-free Bangladesh through ensuring women empowerment, equal rights, equal opportunities and their involvement in the mainstream national development.

Hasina urged the country’s womenfolk to be well-educated and establish themselves as equally as their male counterparts are in society saying they will have to build their own fortune as no one will come forward to help change their fate.

She mentioned that Bangladesh has been acclaimed across the world as a model when it comes to women empowerment and development, and said the credit of such achievement should go to those women who established rights and dignity breaking the socioeconomic and political shackles.

Sheikh Hasina also recognised the role of men in this regard saying they worked alongside with their female counterparts as co-fighters rising above the patriarchy.

Expressing her sorrow over the illefforts of a section of society to keep the women confined to the four walls of home, the Prime Minister said they want to push the womenfolk out of rights of education and outside jobs by misinterpreting the religion.

“This section is doing these things when our mothers and sisters are playing a laudable role in their development and political empowerment,” she said.

Hasina urged people to create social awareness to stop falsehood in the name of religion to hold women hostage, and propaganda against women by reciting in the name of religion.

She explained that it is the religion Islam that has ensured the dignity of women and recognised their right to education as well as their right to property.

“Many female Sahabas, including Bibi Khadiza, had engaged in business.” l

Police intercept the rally brought out by the BNP female activists on the occasion of the International Women’s Day in front of the party’s head office in the capital’s Naya Paltan yesterday RAJIB DHAR

Bapa censures Sonai River grabbers Divisional office for n govt accommodation on cards Tribune Report

Prof Yusuf Ali dies Bangladesh Medical Studies and Research (BMSRI) founder member & Chairman Professor Mohammad Yusuf Ali, MRCP (Glasgow), FRCP (Edinburg) died at the age of 91 on Wednesday at Bangladesh Medical College Hospital.

Professor Ali’s janaja was held yesterday and he was laid to rest at Azimpur Graveyard, said a press release.

He left behind wife, two sons & three daughters. He was honouring the Post of Chairman of Bangladesh Medical College and Hospital, Uttara Modern Medical College Hospital and Bangladesh Dental College from the inception till his demise. l

WEATHER

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

Day and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country, Met Office said.

The sun sets in the capital at 6:05pm today and rises at 6:13am tomorrow.

Country’s highest temperature 32.0 degrees Celsius was recorded yesterday in Rangamati and Cox’s Bazar and lowest 11.0 degrees in Srimangal.

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

High

Low

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

29.4 30.8 29.7 29.2 30.5 30.1 31.0 32.0

16.0 17.6 13.4 13.5 16.3 15.0 15.5 18.8

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

4:59am 6:14am 12:09am 4:25pm 6:04pm 7:20pm

Source: IslamicFinder.org

Environmental activists have urged the government to save Sonai River in Habiganj by evicting all illegal establishments including under-construction Saiham Future Complex on the river in line with a decision made by the National River Taskforce.

“The government agencies concerned including water resources ministry, Bangladesh Water Development Board and Habiganj district administration should follow the instruction of the National River Taskforce immediately to evict the encroachers on Sonai

River,” Sharif Jamil, joint secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (Bapa), said at a press briefing yesterday.

Bapa organised the event at Dhaka Reporters Unity auditorium.

Sharif Jamil said the taskforce had directed the related agencies to evict the encroachers at its 22nd meeting held on July 30 last year. But it was ignored.

He alleged that construction work of the complex had started in 2003 by filling up the river area illegally with the help of different government agencies.

Saiham Group had also violated the Wetland Conservation Act, 2000 and the National Water Act which prohibits

construction by stopping natural water flow, said Abdul Matin, the Bapa general secretary.

He demanded exemplary punishment for those who had violated the laws and destroyed the river’s ecology for their own benefits.

Matin also urged the government to form a monitoring cell that would work to save the existing water bodies of the country from encroachment and pollution.

Sharif Jamil, also the Buriganga Riverkeeper, in his speech also demanded demarcation of all rivers in the country in a proper way to avoid illegal encroachment. l

OIC chief’s flight rescheduled, to arrive today n UNB Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Iyad Ameen Madani, scheduled to reach Dhaka yesterday evening on a four-day official visit, is now supposed to arrive early today.

As per his fresh flight schedule, the OIC secretary general – who will be leading a five-member delegation – is supposed to arrive at 3:50am on an Eti-

had Airways flight, said Shameem Ahsan, director general (external publicity wing) at the foreign ministry.

The official, however, did not elaborate the reasons behind the flight rescheduling.

This will be Madani’s first visit to Bangladesh after assuming office as the secretary general recently and the purpose of the visit is to strengthen the existing cooperation between the OIC

and Bangladesh, according to the foreign ministry.

He is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban at 6:30pm today, after holding meetings with Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali and Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque at the secretariat and foreign ministry respectively, according to a foreign ministry media release. l

Shaky Pirojpur buildings put employees at risk n Our Correspondent, Pirojpur Employees working at complaint centre and 33/11KV substation of Pirojpur Power Division have found themselves at risk as the buildings have been in dilapidated condition for years.

The authorities concerned have been informed of the situation, though no step has yet been taken in this regard.

The complaint centre is located beside Shahid Omar Faruk road in Pirojpur town. Linesman of the centre Shyamlal Boral said he and an assistant worked in shifts at the building measuring 15ft by 12 ft.

Speaking about the faulty building, Shyamlal said rods were now visible as those had come out of the roof.

“Plaster from the ceiling sometimes drop down and during rainy season, water falls on my body. This has been the condition for many years,” he said.

Switchboard attendant of the 33/11KV substation Anwar Hossain said two air conditioners were installed to keep the equipment cool. “One of those, however, went out of service and the other has almost stopped working as well.”

“Electricity is supplied to different areas of the district from here but the authorities have been ignoring the need to repair the building,” Anwar ob-

served, adding power supply would be severely disrupted if any accident occurred in the building.

The local counsellor (complaint centre and sub-centre/substation) said he was aware of the building’s condition but the higher authorities

had shown reluctance to carry out necessary repair work.

Contacted, deputy assistant engineer of West Zone Power Distribution Company’s (WZPDC) Pirojpur office Md Saidur Rahman said repair work had started. l

n Mohosinul Karim The housing and public works ministry is likely to set up new office for directorate of government accommodation in all divisional cities across the country for put an end to the sufferings of the public servants regarding accommodation.

A proposal of the ministry has been sent to the finance ministry for approval, after getting the nod of the public administration ministry.

Director of the Directorate of Government Accommodation Ashraful Islam told the Dhaka Tribune on Thursday “We have taken this initiative to eliminate the sufferings of division level officials in getting allocation of official residences.

“The public works ministry is waiting for finance ministry’s respond to start its work. The offices would be established immediate after getting the approval,” he added.

According to the officials, the alloca-

tion activities of government accommodations are being done by two divisional offices of the directorate, one in Dhaka and the other in Chittagong.

These two look after the arrangement of around 20,000 government accommodation in the two divisions. Of those, around 14,000 accommodations are in Dhaka.

Rest of the division head quarters and districts officials housing are being allocated by deputy commissioners and executive engineers of the district offices of Public Works Department.

Considering the sufferings of the officials, the initiative of establishing new offices for five divisional head quarters were taken. The offices will look after the accommodations for the division level officials.

Ashraf said: “We hope that the finance ministry’ approval will come soon. We will start its work immediate after the approval, as we have already received approval from the public administration ministry.” l

Seven injured in fire incidents in 3 districts n Tribune Report Three family members in Dhaka, one female worker in Chittagong and three people in Cox’s Bazar were injured in separate fire incidents yesterday.

In the capital’s Azimpur, a couple along with their daughter sustained burn injuries in a fire at their kitchen at the Government Staff Quarters.

Injured Salamat Hossain, 48, an office assistant at the foreign ministry, his wife Lovely Akhter, 40, and their daughter Lima Akhter, 17, were rushed to the Burn and Plastic Surgery unit at Dhaka Medical College Hospital by their neighbours.

Victim Salamat said his wife’s sharee caught a fire while she had been heating water on a burner around 7am and he and his daughter sustained injuries while trying to put the fire out.

According to the DMCH the condition of the couple was critical as Salamat sustained injuries in 30 percent of his body and his wife in 48 percent of her body while their daughter sustained minor injuries.

Police and the victims suspect that the fire might have been originated from the stagnant gas leaked from the pipeline.

In the meantime, a female worker of a poultry farm received burn injuries as the farm was gutted in a fire in Kalurghat area of Chittagong city in the morning.

The injured worker Kohinur Aktar, 35,

wife of Abdul Majid, was admitted into Burn and Plastic Surgery unit of Chittagong Medical College Hospital, said fire brigade and CMCH police sources.

Jasim Uddin, deputy assistant director of Chittagong Fire Service and Civil Defense, said a fire originated from an electric short circuit at Badiul Alam’s poultry farm under Uttar Mohora of Kalurghat area around 4:30am and engulfed the adjacent Nabila poultry farm.

On information, two fire fighting units from Agrabad and Kalurghat Fire Stations rushed to the spot and doused the blaze after two hours effort, the DAD added.

In a separate incident, a devastating fire burned down around six business organisations and four households in Ramu upazila of Cox’s Bazar.

The incident occurred in front of Ramu Girl’s High School in Choumuhoni Bus Station area around 12pm.

Three people received injuries and were admitted to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital. Locals claimed that the fire had caused a damage worth over Tk 50 crore.

Four houses owned by Ruhul Amin, Surut Alam, Md Shamsu and Ahammad Hossain were also gutted.

On information, fire fighters rushed to the spot and doused the blaze after two hours of frantic effort.

The library owner Md Akhtar said the fire originated from the gas stove of Ruhul Amin’s kitchen. Later, the fire raged through the whole area. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

5

Sunday, March 9, 2014

closes Rajuk, Palli Samity await HC order over Zinda Park Minister BRTC official

n Abu Hayat Mahmud

n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong

Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) and Ograpothik Palli Samity are waiting for High Court directives regarding lease of maintenance of the Zinda Park, a natural wonder, located at Rupganj upazila in Narayanganj.

On February 26, one of the initiators of Zinda Park, Ograpothik Palli Samity, filed a writ petition in the High Court to retain its maintenance power over the park, when Rajuk attempted to evacuate the locals from the park.

Earlier in 2008, the Rajuk canceled a housing project in the area after protest by environment activists and local people.

The park is currently located under a housing project ‘Purbachal Town’ by apex government-run city development authority Rajuk.

Following the writ, the High Court issued a show cause to Rajuk to explain why it should not direct Rajuk to grant lease to the petitioners as per the Town Improvement Act. On February 27, Rajuk sent a letter to Ograpothik Palli Samity announcing that it would conduct an eviction drive at the Zinda Park in sector 30 under Purbachal Town on March 3, however, Rajuk could not carry out the drive in the face of protests by Ograpothik Palli Samity members, green actvists and locals.

On Februaty 4 the Samity sent an application to the Prime Minister requesting to grant them lease of the park’s maintenance.

Md Tabarak Hossain Kumkum, founder of Ograpothik Palli Samity built the park in 1984 on 100 bighas of land in the village of Zinda. At that time the parks was named as Oikotan Eco Resort.

The park has trees, ponds, recreation facilities, educational institu-

Communications Minister Obaidul Quader yesterday ordered BRTC chairman to close an official due to negligence on duty in Chittagong.

Sources said during a sudden visit at the bus depot of BRTC in the district’s Natunpara, the minister had found that Mohammad Kamruzzaman, manager (operation) of the depot, had been absent in his office. The minister told the journalists: “I ordered the BRTC chairman to close the official as I found him insincere in his duty.”

He also ordered the depot authorities to repair all the damaged buses within a month and ply the buses on the road which were kept idle in the depot.

Later, the minister visited the expansion work of Chittagong-Rangamati Highway while he said about 31% work had been completed and the entire work would be completed within 2015.

“We are unlucky that we did not get enough budget for the project while the project work is being delayed for fund crisis and negligence of project officials,” he said.

The minister also said that the construction work of 50 kilometres out of 192 kilometres of the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway Four-Lane project had been completed.

The minister ordered to police and local administrations to look after the highways’ expanded portions. l

Tourists ride a paddle-boat at the Zinda Park at Rupganj upazila in Narayanganj tions and clubs. Abdullah Al Shahin, secretary of Ograpothik Palli Samity told the Dhaka Tribune: “Locals built the park three decades ago. The issue

is now pending with High Court. I hope the court will give order in favour of the villagers.”

“We will save the park at any cost

ABU HAYAT MAHMUD

from Rajuk’s disgraceful move,” he added.

Nurul Huda, chairman of Rajuk, said: “The owners of the park were

given price of the land when Rajuk acquired it. The Samity is trying to get hold off the park with muscle power to turn it into a source of profit making.” l

Tk17 lakh looted from Primary education week begins today senior secretary’s house n BSS

n Tribune Report A gang of robbers looted Tk17 lakh in cash and other valuables from the residence of a senior government official in the capital’s Mohammadpur area yesterday after holding his family hostage at gunpoint, police said.

The incident took place at the house of Abdul Halim, senior secretary to the public administration ministry, at Tajmahal Road early yesterday.

“The gang, comprising six to seven members, entered the house from the roof of the building and held all the family members hostage at gunpoint,” said Biplab Kumer Sarkar, deputy com-

missioner of Tejgaon police.

The police officer said the robbers also assaulted the family members when the secretary’s wife delayed in handing over the keys of the almirah.

The family members said the alleged criminals at one state snatched away the keys from her hand and made off with gold jewellery and Tk17 lakh in cash.

Mohammadpur police said the process was on for filing a case in this connection.

“We are trying to arrest the robbers and recover the looted ornaments and cash money,” said Biplab Sarkar. l

The National Primary Education Week 2014 will be observed from today in a befitting manner, under the auspices of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate a number of programmes of the week at a function at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the city.

Primary and Mass Education Minister Mostafizur Rahman will preside over the function, which will be attended teachers, students and educationists.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave separate messages marking the day.

In his message, the president stressed the need for building a skilled and knowledgeable workforce for implementing the “Vision-2021,” as declared by the government aimed at turning Bangladesh into a techsavvy country.

Hamid sought support from all to achieve the millennium development goals and Vision-2021, and wished the week’s programme a success.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in another message, said there was no alternative to building an educated and skilled workforce to expedite balanced development of the country, besides building an IT-dependent modern nation.

In doing so, she said, the government has given special emphasis on education for all.

The prime minister listed the government’s manifold development activities including development of school infrastructure, ensuring supply of safe drinking water, introduction of uniform education and stipends for disadvantaged children.

She added that the distribution of textbooks to primary school students on the first day of the year and introduction of e-book were among the development activities.

“I hope that the continuation of development in the education sector will help implement the ‘Vision-2021’, paving the way for building a poverty and hunger-free non-communal Bangladesh,” she said.

The premier also wished the week’s programme a success. l

BSF detains two BGB men n Our Correspondent, Rajshahi The Indian Border Security Force on Friday night arrested two on-duty members of the Border Guard Bangladesh at Bakchar frontier under Chapainawabganj sadar upazila.

They were handed over to the BGB authorities yesterday morning, after nearly 14 hours.

Local sources said the two BGB men had been caught by the BSF around 10pm on Friday while they were patrolling near the Bakchar outpost.

Hearing the news, the BGB authorities contacted their counterpart and a flag meeting was held at Khandua camp under Murshidabad district of India.

They reached a mutual understanding at the meeting and the BSF handed over the BGB men to the authorities concerned.

Rajshahi 37 BGB Commanding Officer Lt Col Nazim Khan told the Dhaka Tribune that the BSF had not arrested them. The BGB men lost their path while patrolling the area and the BSF men gave them shelter at their camp. l

‘Keep Gulshan Lake pollution free’ n BSS

A colourful procession was brought out in the capital yesterday for creating awareness among the people to keep the Gulshan Lake pollution-free and preserve its beauty.

Environment and Forest Secretary M Shafiqur Rahman Patwari led the procession that started from Banani Chairman Bari playground and ended through a rally at the western end of

Gulshan’s Road 34.

At the rally, the secretary stressed the need for participation of the civil society in activities aimed at saving the capital’s environment side by side with the government initiatives.

The capital’s Gulshan-Baridhara Lake was officially declared an Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) in 2001 to save the water body from becoming further polluted and protect it from encroachment.

Speakers at the rally sought to reclaim the lake from illegal occupation and preserve the water retention capacity of the lake as well as its beautification.

Former election commissioner M Sohul Hossain, former secretary Mohammad Ali, former NBR member Mahmubur Rahman and Dhaka University Teachers Association (DUTA) President Prof Farid Uddin, leaders of different socio-cultural organisations among others took part in the event. l

Prof Farid Uddin elected President, Prof Rashid GS of UTAB Women take part in a boat race on the Paisarhaat River marking the International Women’s Day yesterday

Goldsmith goes missing n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong A goldsmith in Hazari Lane under the city went missing on Friday. The victim was identified as Bappa Dhar, 23.

AKM Mohiudin Selim, officer-in-charge of Kotwali police station, said Bappa had told his family members at 10am on the day that he was going to Patiya upazila to deliver an order of jewellry.

Bappa’s cell phone was found switched off in the afternoon while the family members tried to contact him.

The OC said police were trying to track his cellphone as they were looking into the matter.

Badal Dhar, the father of the victim, lodged a general dairy in this connection.

It may be mentioned that some miscreants giving their identities as RAB and DB men picked up a gold trader, Mridul Chowdhury, from in front of his residence in the port city on February 11 while he was rescued alive in Comilla on February 18 as the abductors left him there. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Mohila Dal procession foiled n UNB The police yesterday foiled Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal’s bid to hold a procession in the city, to mark the International Women’s Day. Police sources said they intervened, as the women front of the BNP did not take any official permission for the programme.

Mohila Dal will hold nationwide black-flag processions tomorrow to protest the police action, its general secretary Shirin Sultana announced at a press conference at the BNP’s Nayapaltan central office.

Earlier in the day, police forces intercepted activists of the BNP’s women wing when they tried to bring out the procession from in front of its Nayapaltan central office around 10:20am.

At one stage, the Mohila Dal activists scuffled with law enforcers, forcing deployment of addition police force around the BNP office to foil the programme.

Additional Police Commissioner (Motijheel zone) Asaduzzaman told reporters that the Mohila Dal was not allowed to stage their programme as they had no permission from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).

Shirin, however, said they sought permission for the peaceful programme nearly a week ago, adding: “But the authorities did not inform us that we have been denied permission.”

She alleged that police did not allow women to hold a programme on the International Women’s Day, as the law enforcers have turned into a force of the ruling party.

BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, who was present at the press conference, strongly condemned the police action.

“It is very unfortunate that when the country’s prime minister, speaker and opposition leader are all women, the Mohila Dal was obstructed from holding their programme on the International Women’s Day,” Fakhrul said. l

n UNB Prof Farid Uddin Ahmed, dean of Social Science faculty of Dhaka University, and Prof Rashid Askari, teacher of English Department of Islamic University, were elected as president and general secretary respectively of University Teachers’ Association of Bangladesh (UTAB) yesterday.

Prof Farid Uddin , an economics

teacher, is also serving as the president of DU Teachers’ Association (DUTA) while Prof Rashid as the general secretary of IU Teachers Association.

Prof Parimal Bala, president of Jagannath University Teachers Association (JnUTA) was elected as treasurer of the UTAB executive committee formed at a meeting held at DU Teacher’s Club in the university campus.

Besides, Rajshahi University teacher

Prof Quamrul Hasan Majumder, Chittagong University teacher Prof Benu Kumar Dey, Jahangirnagar University teacher Farid Ahmed, president of Bangladesh Agricultural University Teachers Association (BAUTA) Prof Lutful Hassan and President of Bangladesh Open University Teachers’ Association (BOUTA) Prof Dr Mohsin Uddin were elected as vice-presidents. l

ACI awards eight eminent women personalities on the occasion of International Women’s day, in the capital yesterday

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Teacher shortage hits government schools in Pirojpur n Our Correspondent, Pirojpur Educational activities in six government high schools in Pirojpur district are being hampered due to shortage of teachers.

According to sources, the total posts in these schools are 161, of which 67 are lying vacant.

The academic works of the schools are run by acting headmaster. As a result, sometimes it is difficult to take decisions.

‘I am taking classes for Bangla and sometime also work as acting headmaster. It is difficult for me do the two things at a time as sometimes I have to attend meetings’ Bhandoria Bandar Government Girls’ High School was nationalised in 1986.

Around 400 students are studying in the school. Among a total of 13 posts including head master, seven posts have remained vacant for many days.

Shopna Roy, acting head master, said: “No teachers were recruited for accounting, English, physics, geography, Bangla and Social Science subjects.”

“Guest teachers are taking classes for those subjects. In return, we give them remuneration,” he said.

Senjuti Ray, a ninth grade student of the school said: “We are continuing study in huge crisis due to lack of teachers.”

Md Babar Talukder, acting head master of Kaukhali KG Union Govt High School said: “There are around 475 students in the school.”

The total posts of teachers includ-

ing head master are 16 while there are now 14 teachers. There are no teachers for Hindu religion and accounting subjects.

Babar said: “The works of head master are done by acting head master.”

Jahangir Hossain, acting head master of Kaukhali SB Government Girls’ High School said: “Many posts of 17 teachers have remained vacant for years. There are also 500 students in the school.”

Himagshu Kumar Ghorami, acting head master of Govt High School Nazipur Sirajul Haque said: “I am taking classes for Bangla and sometime also work as acting headmaster. It is difficult for me do the two things at a time as sometimes I have to attend meetings.”

Raihan Ahad and Sourav Halder, students of class X said their studies were being hampered due to lack of teachers.

Nazma Ara Khanom, acting head mistress of Pirojpur Government Girls’ High School said: “We have not had a geography teacher for more than 12 years.”

She added, 30 teachers were present among a total of 52. The number of students was 1523.

“The posts of two clerks have remained vacant since two years. We have only one fourth-class employee among a total of five,” the acting head mistress added.

Teacher Abu Bokkor said: “We do not have a headmaster for last 12 years and there is no acting headmaster either.”

Shampa Rani, acting head mistress of Pirojpur Govt High School said: “Around 1475 students are studying in the school. 18 posts of teachers among a total of 52 have remained vacant for many days. It is tough to run such a big institution with acting head master.”

The district education officer said the teachers had made complaints over lack of teachers in important posts including headmaster post in their institutions. l

An indigenous woman sorting turmeric from Jhum for drying and selling in local market of Khagrachhari, an area famous for cultivating it

FOCUS BANGLA

Dilapidated roads cause trouble in Pirojpur n Our Correspondent, Pirojpur

Around 20km roads among a total of 31km roads stretching from PirojpurNazirpur-Tungipara have remained in awfully dilapidated conditions for months, much to the sufferings of hundreds of passengers in that region.

The width of the road is 32 feet. Several big potholes developed in the middle of the highway. This is the straight road for the locals of Patharghata upzila in Barisal and Mathbaria upazila in Pirojpur to the Bangabandhu Mazhar in Tungipara upazila of Gopalganj.

Passengers have to ply through a time-consuming alternative route since they can’t use the highway due to its decrepit condition.

In a recent visit to the highway it

was noticed that the condition of the roads from Pirojpur town to Kodomtola Bazar and from northern part of Charkhola Bridge to Nazirpur Bridge are quite good. But passengers have to face tremendous troubles while plying the middle part of the road starting after Kodomtoli Bazar to Charkhola Bridge.

Delwar Hossain, a resident of Kodomtola area said: ‘’The area goes under knee-deep water during rainy season.’’

Zakir Hossain of Sriramkathi area of Nazirpur upazila said: “We go to Pirojpur through Durgapur area under Sriramkathu union of Nazirpur upazila.

We try to avoid the highway as it has a lot of cracks and dust in different parts.”

Headmaster of Panchpara Government Primary School Sonjoy Malongi

said: “Dust from the roads enter into the nose and eyes of the school children while crossing the highway due to its poor condition. As a result, they have been facing breathing problems.”

Bacchu Mia, a microbus driver said: “During summer season drivers don’t dare to cross the highway. Usually drivers avoid the road as bumpy rides damage our vehicles. Passengers have to pay extra fare while going through an alternative way. Sometimes, they don’t agree to pay higher fares.”

Alamgir Hossain, president of BusLabour Union of Pirojpur said: “Vehicles move slowly due to the run-down condition of the road.”

Nur-e-Alam Siddique, a Local of Matibhanga area said: “It is difficult to cross the road by walking.”

Riazul Islam, a bus driver informed that his vehicle got damaged earlier on February 17 while heading towards Pirojpur through the road. It cost him Tk1300 to repair it.

Atiqul Islam, deputy assistant engineer of Pirojpur Road Division said: “Two companies including BTSL and RBJB were awarded the contract of Tk10.31 lakh on October 19, 2010 for carpeting works on 7km road. Carpeting of 4km of the road has been completed and work of the rest 3km remained unfinished. We issued a letter to them to finish the work as soon as possible.”

“We made a project of Tk40 crore to repair the road and sent it to the higher officials. The work will be started after getting allocation,” he added. l

Extension of Dhaka Shishu Hospital Project Dhaka Shishu Hospital Sher-E-Bangla Nagar Dhaka-1207

Tender No.002/2013-14

Date:08/03/2014

INVITATION FOR TENDER

NEWS IN BRIEF Minor boy drowns in Rajshahi A minor boy drowned in a pond in Shah Makhdum Mazar area of the city on Friday. The dead Mim, 4, was son of Firoz, a resident of the area. SM Abdus Sobhan, officer-in-charge of Boalia Police Station, said Mim had gone missing on Thursday.

Later, his body was spotted afloat in a pond near Shah Makhdum Shrine in the afternoon. – UNB

Fire gutted houses in Magura Several houses were gutted when a fire broke out in Abdullapur village under Magura Sadar upazila of the district yesterday. Fire service sources said the fire originated from the kitchen of one Bakiar Rahman this morning and immediately engulfed the adjacent area. Fire Service units doused the flame after half an hour struggle. No casualties were reported. - BSS

Mental patient killed in Pabna A mental patient was killed by a fellow patient in Pabna Mental Hospital yesterday morning. The victim was Joynal Abedin, 45. He was admitted in the hospital on January, 12, this year. Police and the mental hospital sources said the victim was undergoing treatment in ward number 9 of the hospital. Another patient Ashraful Islam of the same ward killed him with piece of heavy metal in the toilet of the ward around 9am yesterday. – Our Correspondent

FOCUS BANGLA

5 killed, 30 injured in accidents n Tribune Report A total of three people were killed and 47 injured in separate road accidents yesterday in Patuakhali, Jhenaidah, Bhola and Natore.

In Patuakhali, 19 were injured after a Madaripur-bound picnic bus with around 45 Madaripur Government Nazimuddin College students fell into a roadside ditch on the Kuakata-Patuakhali road in the morning, reports our Barisal correspondent.

Officer-in-Charge Tarekuzzaman of Kalapara police station said the bus of Turan Paribahon had lost control near Rajopara of Kalapara upazila around 8am. He said the students were returning from Kuakata after their picnic.

The driver and the conductor of the bus fled the scene after the accident, he added.

Among the 19 injured, 16 were released after primary treatment at Kalapara Upazila Health Complex.

The other three were sent to Barisal Sher E Bangla Medical College Hospital.

In Jhenaidah, a man was killed and six injured after a bus and a local human haulier collided head-on near Kala-Lakkhipur area on the JhenaidahDhaka highway in the afternoon, reports our correspondent.

The dead was Sudeb Kundu, 60. The

injured were rushed to Magura Sadar Hospital.

In-charge of Hatgopalpur police outpost Abdul Momin said the dead was travelling on the human haulier. The Chuadanga-bound JR Paribahan bus from Dhaka managed to flee immediately.

In Bhola, a nine-year-old schoolboy was killed in a road accident on the Kabir Miah Brick Field Road in Joya village of the district’s Borhanuddin upazila, reports UNB. The dead M Yeamin was a class II student of a local primary school.

Witnesses said the accident took place around 9am when a goods-laden shallow engine-run vehicle ran over Yeamin while he was crossing the road on way to his school, leaving him dead on the spot.

In Natore, a man was killed and five others were injured when a microbus crashed into a roadside tree in Kachihata area of Gurudaspur upazila under Natore district, reports BSS. Fuad Ruhani, officer-in-charge of Bonparha Highway Police Outpost, said the deceased was identified as Shahidul Islam, 37, of Bagatiparha upazila of the district.

He said the accident took place around 7:30am when the vehicle’s driver lost control over the steering after crossing the Kachhikatha No 10 bridge on Bonpara- Hatikumrul highway. l

Project Name Agency

Extension of Dhaka Shishu Hospital Project Dhaka Shishu Hospital, Dhaka

03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Procuring Entity Name Invitation for Completion of Work Invitation Ref No Fiscal Year Procurement Method Budget and source of Funds Tender Last Selling Date Tender Closing Date & Time Tender Opening Date and Time Name & Address of the office

14

Selling Tender Document

15

Receiving Tender Document

Project Director, EDSHP, Dhaka Shishu Hospital, Dhaka-1207.

Medical Equipments & Others Instruments 45( forty five days) from the date of contract signing DSH Ex. Project/2013-14/104-105 2013-2014 OTM, National GOB 22.03.2014, 2.00PM 24.03.2014, 12.00PM 24.03.2014, 1.00PM Office of the Project Director, EDSHP, Dhaka Shishu Hospital, Dhaka-1207 1. Office of the Project Director, EDSHP, Dhaka Shishu Hospital, Dhaka-1207.

1. Office of the Project Director, EDSHP, Dhaka Shishu Hospital, Dhaka-1207.

2. Sher-E-Bangla Nagar Police Station, Dhaka.

16

Opening Tender Document

17

Price of Schedule Lot Short Description No 01 4 Nos Medical Equipments & Others Instruments 02 01 No Medical Equipment

Package No. G-02

The Turan Paribahan bus that fell into a roadside ditch injuring 19 college students

01 02

Office of the Project Director, EDSHP, Dhaka Shishu Hospital, Dhaka-1207.

Tk. 3,000 (Three thousand only) Tender Security Eligibility of Tenderer (Detail are in the Schedule) 2.5% tender security of the quoted Stated in Tender Data Sheet amount from any schedule Bank by Pay Order in favour of Extension of Dhaka Shishu Hospital Project.

18

Name of official Inviting Tender Prof. Dr. Md. Abdul Aziz

19

Designation of official Inviting Project Director Tender

20

Address Tender

21

Contract Details of Inviting Tender Special Instruction

22

of

official

Inviting Office of the Project Director, EDSHP, Dhaka Shishu Hospital, Dhaka-1207 Official 02-9104211-20 1. If the date of selling, receiving & opening of tender is disturbed under any unavoidable circumstances, the next working day will be applicable.

2. Tenderer will have to supply the requisite goods on priority and necessary basis of the procurement authority within schedule time after issuing work order upon availability of fund. And the Item/Quantity may be Increase/ Decrease as per allotment.

3. Authority reserves the right to accept or reject all the tenders.

This tender notice can be seen at www.dhakashishuhospital.org/tender

DG-44/14 (10"×4)

Project Director Extension of Dhaka Shishu Hospital Project Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka-1207

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Career

7

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Ready-made: Roles for engineering and business graduates in the garments industry n Nakibul Hoq and Naiian Yazdani As I entered into the state-of-the-art facility of HR Textile Mills Ltd, whose local brands include Pride Group and Urban Truth and whose global export revenue amounts to 50 million dollars, my preconceived notions about the industry that serves as the blood and health-line of the country’s economy were shattered.

Walking in, to my surprise, I was greeted with courtesy from around fifteen children of ages three to six, all of whose mothers worked in the cutting and sewing lines of the factory.

These kids were looked after by the attendants at the Daycare Center, which has been set up as a joint collaboration between the factory and Fulki, a local NGO working for the welfare of garment workers in the country. It was a sign of how much corporate social responsibility has progressed in Bangladesh.

Graduates need to remember the importance of foreign languages

This was a far cry from what I had imagined. I recalled the colourful sketch of the bloodstained garment with the “Made in Bangladesh” tagline that had been circulated en masse via social media in the aftermath of the Rana Plaza disaster. The first brand image that the term “Made in Bangladesh” connotes to is one of devastation of human lives, of cheap, high quality garments made at the expense of poor working conditions in a third-world country. The reality was quite different, with an organised assembly line of employees working away purposefully. Particularly interesting was the roles played by those with professional degrees.

The Ready-Made Garments (RMG) sector in Bangladesh has modernised

and has become the primary source of employment for those with professional degrees. With sophisticated engineering and business perspectives in place, the sector mainly employs energetic, ambitious young graduates with the inherent ability to bring order to chaos.

Efficiency is of paramount importance since costs have to be kept to a minimum, and thereby the industrial engineer’s role involves identifying synergies and methodologies to maximise the output from the manufacturing lines. This can take the form of capacity measurement, time and motion analysis and constant planning to ensure that the order is shipped prior to the deadline and with as few errors as humanly possible.

The industry, with its security and opportunity attracts some serious talent. “We have had 10,000 applications during last year’s recruitment season.

Out of them we selected only 12,” says Mr Mohammad A Momen, Professor at the Institute of Business Administration (University of Dhaka) and Director at HR Textile Mills Ltd. He adds: “Most of our hand-picked professionals come from the most rigorous of academic backgrounds. We have textile engineers from different renowned textile universities, industrial engineers from BUET, AUST and SUST, and business graduates from IBA.” The RMG “low cost and high output” business model brings with it regular challenges. While the glare falls on the assembly line, a significant amount of research and development is undertaken prior to production.

For example, product development utilises textile engineers who shut themselves up in laboratories for days to create a sample successfully and in accordance with the buyer’s specifications and international standards. The buyer is of the utmost importance and no amount of respite can be undertaken until the buyer is satisfied with the product.

This requires extreme dedication and diligence, and the ability to work with all sorts of equipment before producing the perfect sample in collaboration with your team.

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Engineers have to work with the most sophisticated equipment imaginable shipped in from various parts of the world. The industry is in a constant state of renewal, with new machineries and computer-aided designing programmes, so the interest levels remain high for curious minds. While engineers do have the opportunity to indulge their technical skills, at the end of the day the business needs to be profitable.

Enter business graduates, for whom there are enormous opportunities also.

A business graduate can be found in management, finance and corporate relations.

Budgets, costs and revenues whir around these places constantly and a quantitative slant is required. Buyers will push for the lowest possible prices, and it is essential that the optimum possible price for the products be attained.

It is a well-known fact that the costs of production give Bangladesh the ultimate competitive advantage in the global RMG market. However, the high level of competition both within Bangladesh and outside it means there is a thin line between profitability and overpricing.

It is also important for business graduates in this sector to understand the functionality of the machines they are purchasing and employing. Managing capital costs will be essential in the business, particularly for those seeking growth. Although they do not need the engineer’s insight, minimum technical competency is required to understand the structure they are working on. This balancing act is taken a step further when addressing the safety issues that have plagued Bangladesh.

Without doubt, decisions regarding expenditure can have an impact on

How to make the most of meetings sure time is utilised perfectly. For example, if the meeting is to troubleshoot a problem, participants should arrive with viable solutions already in mind instead of coming up with ideas during the meeting. It is important to figure out if there are required tasks that can be taken care of before the meeting begins and to attend to them.

When a meeting involves multiple talking points, it is essential to prioritise which ones must be covered before others. It is important to sequence them in a particular order, and to allocate sets of time for each point.

A common source of time loss is when individuals are invited to the meeting simply as figureheads, with little to contribute. The person calling the meeting should list necessary participants and leave out redundant names.

Apprising all participants

n Ahsan Sajid Meetings are a mainstay of working in groups. They can be held to arrive at a collective decision, generate ideas, receive status reports, planning, etc. Whatever the reason, the purpose of all meetings is at its core the same – to establish an objective and seeing it through.

Meetings that do not establish an objective are prone to getting derailed and turning into bad meetings. You know you have had a bad meeting when it seems to have gone on for ages, you don’t have a clearer idea of the objective at hand than when you went in and you wonder what purpose was served by having it. An effective meeting on the other hand should make you feel accomplished and motivate you to hit the ground running for whatever lies ahead.

Whatever the purpose of a meeting, an effective one hits three criteria – it reaches the objective the meeting has established, it does not waste anyone’s time, participants leave with a better

grasp of what’s at hand and what their tasks are going forward.

Unless you are the one convening the meeting, it is not easy to steer the meeting towards a valuable direction on your own if everyone else keeps being distractive. However, whether you are merely a participant or the moderator, following are a number of tips that may help ensure the aforementioned three criteria for running effective meetings are met.

Establishing objective

Establishing an objective for a meeting gives it a roadmap to follow, without which all participants would simply be making disorganised contributions with no direction. An effective meeting serves a purpose, meaning it aims to achieve a desired outcome. Establishing an objective is figuring out what this desirable outcome is.

To make sure a meeting is not being called to discuss things at random with no consideration of the ideal outcome, ask yourself the following questions.

Does the meeting require a decision to be made? Is it to generate ideas or for everybody to update one another? Is there

anything in specific that you have to communicate to the rest of the group? Is there going to be any planning involved?

For the meeting to be an effective one, participants need to be clear about what the objective of the meeting is.

The answers to the questions posed, among a number of other possibilities, are examples of a meeting objective.

Therefore, this step is necessary before calling a meeting or planning for it. Once you have the desired outcome clearly defined, it is easy to determine things like how long the meeting should be or who needs to be present and who can sit it out.

Making the most of time

Time is a finite resource, and ought to be treated like it. Every participant of a meeting owes it to the others to not waste time. If a meeting has ten attendants, each of whom wastes ten minutes, they have just cost the company an hour and a half in total.

In the previous step, the meeting’s objective has been established, and the rest of the meeting should be conducted accordingly to further this objective.

There are a number of ways to trim the fat around the edges and making

Meeting participants should come out of a meeting better informed than when they went in. To ensure this, a number of issues need to be taken into consideration. If you are moderating the meeting, make sure everyone is aware of the meeting’s agenda before the start of the meeting, so they can offer suggestions such as taking items off the list or adding to it. If you are a participant, try to understand what the objective of the meeting is and at the end ask yourself if you recognise what your steps are to be, going forward.

Meetings often get unbalanced by certain individuals dominating the discussion time, but an effective meeting provides time to all participants for their contribution. At the end of each topic, one participant should summarise the discussion and repeat what deliverables are expected of which individual. All participants should agree it is a fair summary.

One participant must be assigned to keep note of all tasks generated during the meeting, and who has been assigned which. This person should ideally compile a meeting summary, and provide a copy for all participants and any other member concerned. This is a crucial step to making a meeting effective, one that often gets overlooked.

The success of a meeting can be measured against the completion of the meeting objective originally established. l

the lives of the workers. For example, a decision to purchase a cheaper and lower standard of electrical arrangement, which subsequently fails, may be disastrous. The focus on governance means that management need to be accountable for all its decisions.

Graduates need to remember the importance of foreign languages, since buyers are sourced from all corners of the world. The ability to communicate effectively in different languages, and not just English, is a distinct advantage during recruitment. “Cultural awareness” – the term that business school professors use to describe the ability to understand different cultures and customs to act accordingly is crucial.

Perhaps the best part about working in the RMG sector for both engineers and business graduates is the contribution to the economy of the country.

The industry has helped Bangladesh to

earn foreign currency like never before, and is constantly creating jobs from the bottom up, a satisfaction that a comfortable banking or a multinational job cannot provide.

This is a challenging industry and requires those with the ability to work under pressure and of course, in light of recent events, with integrity. With those two attributes, one can establish a strong, secure career and contribute in an industry that provides the heartbeat of the Bangladeshi economy. l Nakibul Hoq is a Research Analyst at GradConnect, an international career information and advisory firm. You can email him at nakib@grad-connect.com.

Naiian Yazdani is the Director of Strategy at GradConnect. You can email him at naiian@ grad-connect.com and find more career information at www.grad-insights.com and www.grad-connect.com.

Workday idioms n Career Desk

BIZ VOCAB

Back-room boys - This term refers to people who do important work but have no contact with the public.

Busman’s holiday - A busman’s holiday is when you spend your spare time or your holidays doing the same sort of activity as you do in your job.

Dead wood - The term dead wood refers to people or things which are no longer considered useful or necessary.

On the dole - A person who receives financial assistance from the government when they are unemployed is on the dole.

Dream ticket - If you refer to two people as a dream ticket, you think they would work well together and be successful.

Golden handcuffs - The term golden handcuffs refers to a large sum of money or a generous financial arrangement granted to an executive as an incentive to stay in their job, or to ensure long-term cooperation after their departure.

Golden parachute - A golden parachute is a clause in an executive’s employment contract stating that the executive will receive certain large benefits if their employment is terminated.

Glass ceiling - This term refers to a discriminatory barrier perceived by women and minorities that prevents them from rising to positions of power or responsibility.

Number cruncher - This is a humorous way of referring to someone who is an accountant or who is very good at working with numbers and calculations.

Paid peanuts - If you are paid peanuts, you have a very low salary.

Play second fiddle - If you play second fiddle to another person, you accept to be second in importance to that person, or have a lower position.

Plum job - A desirable position which is well-paid and considered relatively easy is called a plum job.

Separate sheep from goats - If you separate the sheep from the goats, you examine a group of people and decide which are suitable and which are not.

Another string to your bow - If you have another string to your bow, you have another skill or possible course of action if everything else fails.

Waiting in the wings - If someone is waiting in the wings, they are waiting for an opportunity to take action, especially to replace someone else in their job or position.

WORDS OF WISDOM

Always be yourself, express yourself, have faith in yourself, do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it – Bruce Lee

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Suspected Russian Ukrainians feel the pinch as Crimea crisis simmers spyware targets EU, US n AFP, Kiev

n Reuters, London/Boston A sophisticated piece of spyware has been quietly infecting hundreds of government computers across Europe and the United States in one of the most complex cyber espionage programs uncovered to date.

Several security researchers and Western intelligence officers say they believe the malware, widely known as Turla, is the work of the Russian government and linked to the same software used to launch a massive breach on the US military uncovered in 2008.

It was also linked to a previously known, massive global cyber spying operation dubbed Red October targeting diplomatic, military and nuclear research networks.

Those assessments were based on analysis of tactics employed by hackers, along with technical indicators and the victims they targeted.

“It is sophisticated malware that’s linked to other Russian exploits, uses encryption and targets western governments. It has Russian paw prints all over it,” said Jim Lewis, a former US foreign service officer, now senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

However, security experts caution that while the case for saying Turla looks Russian may be strong, it is impossible to confirm those suspicions unless Moscow claims responsibility.

Developers often use techniques to cloud their identity.

The threat surfaced this week after

a little known German anti-virus firm, G Data, published a report on the virus, which it called Uroburos, the name text in the code that may be a reference to the Greek symbol of a serpent eating its own tail.

Experts in state-sponsored cyber attacks say that Russian government-backed hackers are known for being highly disciplined, adept at hiding their tracks, extremely effective at maintaining control of infected networks and more selective in choosing targets than their Chinese counterparts.

“They know that most people don’t have either the technical knowledge or the fortitude to win a battle with them.

When they recognize that someone is onto them, they just go dormant,” said one expert who helps victims of state-sponsored hacking.

A former Western intelligence official commented: “They can draw on some very high grade programmers and engineers, including the many who work for organized criminal groups, but also function as privateers.”

Russia’s Federal Security Bureau declined to omment as did Pentagon and US Department of Homeland Security officials.

On Friday, Britain’s BAE Systems Applied Intelligence - the cyber arm of Britain’s premier defence contractor published its own research on the spyware, which it called “snake.”

The sheer sophistication of the software, it said, went well beyond that previously encountered - although it did not attribute blame for the attack. l

As world powers and international institutions cobble together aid packages for a debt-laden Ukraine on the brink of default, regular Ukrainians feeling the pinch fear they will see none of the cash.

At an outdoor market north of Kiev’s city centre on Friday, stallholders sold everything from colourful stuffed toys to freshly baked pastries and bouquets of flowers for International Women’s Day. But buyers were few and far between. “People have started to buy much less, they’re being more economical,” said Sonya, 59, wrapped in a thick coat despite the spring weather and selling jars of honey and beeswax candles outside the Petrivka metro station.

Nikolay, a 23-year-old from Crimea, said: “I think everyone is trying to save their money because they’re getting ready in case the situation changes for the worse” on the tense Black Sea peninsula.

He, too, has seen a drop in customers at his tiny shop, where he sells sunglasses and US-style baseball caps.

Irina and Sergiy Lutay, a retired couple shopping for household appliances at a nearby chain store, said they had taken their savings out of the bank in January, before pro-Moscow president Viktor Yanukovych was ousted.

“We fear the situation will escalate so we want our money to be safe,” said Irina.

The escalation in Ukraine – which began with violent clashes that killed 100 people in three months and has now moved over to Crimea – has added one more headache to a country al-

A Ukrainian Catholic woman prays during a religious procession near the Dinamo stadium close to Independence square in central Kiev AFP ready struggling with massive debt and a huge fiscal deficit.

The European Commission and United States this week pledged billions of euros in aid to shore up the stricken economy after dramatic warnings the country could default within days.

A mission of the International Monetary Fund also arrived on Tuesday to assess the situation in view of further aid to Ukraine’s new government,

which has said it will need 25 billion euros ($35 billion) over two years.

But regular Ukrainians were distrustful of any deals, even as the national currency – the hryvnia – has tumbled and many have complained of higher prices.

‘Politicians will steal aid’

“The aid will not help Ukrainians,” said Lutay.

“The prospects are unclear because sooner or later Ukraine will have to

give the money back to the EU,” said his wife Iryna.

“Before this escalation of the situation, Ukraine had lots of debt. Now there will be more.”

Sunglasses salesman Nikolay agreed: “This money proposed by the EU and other institutions will not reach ordinary people.

“There are a lot of fears that politicians will steal this money,” he added, reflecting the widespread notion in Ukraine that most politicians are corrupt – even with a new government in place.

For small and medium-sized companies however, the only hope lay in international aid that would help revive the economy and force the government to carry out necessary reforms, said Oleksandra Selina, the executive director of a motor oil importing company.

“Ukraine needs help,” she told AFP. “Only if we have help from outside, the IMF, European countries and the United States, will we have some changes.... Without this help we will not survive.”

Russian energy giant Gazprom on Friday warned Ukraine it could cut off gas supplies if Kiev did not pay a bill for debt that now stands at $1.89 billion.

But after meeting with interim prime minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and his economic team, the IMF’s European Department Director Reza Moghadam sounded an upbeat note.

Moghadam said he was “positively impressed with the authorities’ determination, sense of responsibility and commitment to an agenda of economic reform and transparency.” l

Palestinian women join West Bank anti-riot police

Russia open to ‘equal’ dialogue with West on Ukraine: Lavrov

n AFP, Jericho

n AFP, Moscow

Instructors bark orders to a column of Palestinian women recruited to an anti-riot unit, part of an effort to tackle problems caused by conservative attitudes in the West Bank force.

Decked out with helmets, assault boots, batons and shields, the students at the Jericho police school weather a barrage from stone throwers, before rushing to arrest the “troublemakers.”

“There is no difference between the training for men and women for combat abilities and searching cars and houses,” said one of the instructors, Lieutenant Naama Shalalfat.

“Law enforcement is not reserved for men,” she told AFP. The recruits, who are taking classroom lessons to supplement the training exercises, belong to a new all-female anti-riot unit, which will be made up of 220 members and will be deployed across the West Bank when it is operational.

Colonel Ramadan Awad, deputy police chief for the West Bank, says the unit was formed in response to problems caused by old attitudes towards women in the territory.

“The idea behind training this unit goes back to 2009, when a women’s demonstration in the streets of Hebron (in the West Bank) degenerated into acts of vandalism, while the police couldn’t intervene because we live in a conservative society,” Awad said.

Lieutenant Osama Awda, 28, says he is “training police officers of both sexes in martial arts and self-defence before moving on to law enforcement.”

He says that with his three colleagues, two men and a woman, he trains 500 female recruits every year.

Rashida Brahma, a 22-year-old recruit at the Jericho school, says she wanted to be one of the first to work in a profession long seen as off-limits to women.

“My main reason for joining the police after school was to serve the homeland

and to get a job that only men had been able to do until then,” she says, just after practising how to disarm an attacker.

Only three% of the Palestinian police force’s 8,000 members are women, but other branches of the security forces are making tentative steps to boost women’s numbers in their ranks.

This week, a group of 23 women finished their training to join the presidential guard, which protects key figures and carries out special operations.

But despite signs of limited progress, the level of women’s participation in the Palestinian labour force remains low, at about 17.3% compared with 69.3% for men, according to figures from the Central Statistics Office published ahead of International Women’s Day on Saturday.

The ratio is a little more balanced in the public sector, where 40.6% of employees were women and 59.4% men in 2012, according to the same source. l

A Palestinian policewoman takes part in a training session that aims at preparing a special women’s unit to intervene during riots, in the West Bank city of Jericho AFP

Rebel Free Syrian army confirms new chief n AFP, Beirut The rebel Free Syrian Army has confirmed the appointment of its new chief, Brigadier General Abdel Ilah alBashir, after former head General Selim Idriss had initially refused to step down.

The FSA confirmed “the dismissal of Idriss and the appointment of... Bashir as head of the Supreme Military Council,” in a statement late on Friday.

Bashir, who defected from the government army to join rebels fighting in

southern Syria, had originally been appointed to head the FSA in mid-February.

But Idriss and several senior commanders in the field rejected his dismissal, with some branding it as an undemocratic “coup.”

The FSA’s Higher Military Council removed Idriss from his position in February, citing the “difficulties faced by the Syrian revolution” in its battle with the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

Idriss and his allies had blamed the opposition’s defence minister Assaad

Mustafa for his removal.

But earlier this week, opposition chief Ahmad Jarba had met with several top military leaders, including Idriss and Mustafa.

During the meeting it was agreed both Idriss and Mustafa would quit their positions and Idriss would be named military advisor to Jarba.

Considered the “moderate” rebel group, the Western-backed FSA was once the country’s strongest armed opposition force but is now increasingly marginalised by Islamists. l

Russia is open to having an “honest, equal” dialogue with foreign states on the crisis in Ukraine, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said yesterday.

“We are open to an honest, equal and objective dialogue with our foreign partners to find a way to help all of Ukraine come out of the crisis,” Lavrov said at a televised news conference in Moscow with his Tajik counterpart, in a clear reference to the West.

“We are ready to continue dialogue on the understanding that this dialogue should be honest and part-

ner-like, without attempts to portray us as one of the sides in the conflict.”

Lavrov added: “This crisis was not created by us (Russia). All the more, it was created in defiance of our repeated and longstanding warnings.”

Tensions between Moscow and the West have surged in recent days as pro-Moscow forces took over the Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which then announced plans to hold a referendum on becoming part of Russia.

Lavrov has held talks with Western officials including US Secretary of State John Kerry, but without reaching any breakthrough.

The Russian foreign minister launched a new attack on the Ukrainian government that took power after the overthrow of president Viktor Yanukovych and said terror and chaos were reigning in the country. “The so-called temporary government is not independent and depends very unfortunately on radical nationalists who carried out an armed seizure of power,” Lavrov said. “There is no kind of de facto state control for law and order.”

Lavrov said far-right radicals of the Pravy Sektor (Right Sector) group were “playing the tune” and accused them of using methods of “terror and intimidation.” l

Libya rebels start exporting oil

n Reuters

Armed protesters who have seized oil ports in eastern Libya said yesterday they had started exporting oil, bypassing the Tripoli government, with their first shipment going to a North Korean-flagged tanker.

Officials at state-run National Oil Corp (NOC) confirmed earlier on Saturday that the tanker was docked at the Es-Sider port, which is under the control of a rebel group demanding autonomy and a greater share of

Libya’s oil wealth.

“We started exporting oil. This is our first shipment,” said a spokesman for the protesters, who have seized Es-Sider and two other ports.

The tanker Morning Glory, which had been circling off the Libyan coast for days, was preparing to load crude at the port, said an oil official, asking not to be identified. Oil workers at the port confirmed the docking.

“We have informed the government and the defense ministry so they can take action,” the official said, adding

that the tanker’s crew “are trying to buy oil illegally.”

There was no immediate word from the government, but Prime Minister Ali Zeidan and the justice minister scheduled news conferences in the afternoon.

NOC has declared force majeure at the seized ports in the east.

Libya’s government has tried to end a wave of protests at oil ports and fields across the North African country that have slashed oil output, the country’s lifeline, to a trickle. l

Turkey frees five charged over 2007 murders of Christians n AFP, Ankara

US veteran to be honoured 70 years after World War II

A Turkish court has freed five men accused of torturing and murdering three Christian missionaries in 2007, after the suspects’ time in detention while on trial exceeded new legal limits, local media said Saturday. The men walked free from their high-security prison in the eastern city of Malatya on Friday, according to Dogan news agency.

German missionary Tilmann Geske and Turkish converts Necati Aydin and Ugur Yuksel had their throats slit in April 2007 after being tied up and interrogated about missionary activities.

The three victims were members of the tiny Protestant community in the conservative city. The trial of the five men accused of the attack is still going on seven years later. Under a new law passed by the Turkish parliament last month, the detention limit for suspects on trial who have not yet been convicted was lowered to five years, paving the way for the five accused to be released on bail.

The murders at the time fuelled fear among Turkey’s tiny Christian minorities and raised concern over rising nationalism and hostility towards non-Muslims in Turkey. l

An 89-year-old US World War Two veteran who was wounded when his plane crashed in occupied France in 1944 is due to be honoured yesterday with a medal he declined 70 years ago.

Richard Faulkner was 19 when the B-17 bomber in which he was flying collided with another allied aircraft, killing everyone except the staff sergeant, who found himself stranded behind enemy lines.

When he escaped Nazi-controlled territory Faulkner was offered the Purple Heart, but he declined it.

The Purple Heart is awarded to members of the US armed forces who are wounded in battle and posthumously if they are killed in action or die after being wounded in action. About a year ago Faulkner found himself regretting his decision because he wanted his grandchildren to have something by which they could remember his military service, said his daughter-in-law Mary Ellen Faulkner.

She said the veteran had felt awkward about receiving an award given the deaths of the other servicemen.

n Reuters

She reached out to her father-in-law’s congressman, Democrat Dan Maffei, whose office determined that the veteran was still eligible to receive the medal.

Maffei plans to visit Richard Faulkner’s Auburn, New York, home on Saturday to present the award, his office said in a statement.

Faulkner was in the gun turret under the belly of the lumbering B-17 when the accident occurred, slicing his plane in two.

He parachuted out.

“The next thing I knew I was in under my chute on a side hill,” Faulkner recalled in an online posting on Scribd.com.

German soldiers searched for him, but the wounded airman hid and was later sheltered in a hayloft by a farmer.

Faulkner connected with French resistance fighters, who helped him get to the coast, where downed Allied airmen were picked up by British ships.

When the torpedo boat that rescued Faulkner was attacked by German aircraft, he took up gunner duties to replace a man who was killed by enemy fire.

Faulkner made it to the safety of England on April 16, 1944 after 29 days behind enemy lines. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

China draws ‘red line’ on North Korea

World

Will Arvind Kejriwal’s Gujarat blitzkrieg earn AAP votes? n Agencies

Says it won’t allow war on peninsula

n Reuters China declared a “red line” on North Korea yesterday, saying that it will not permit chaos or war on the Korean peninsula, and that peace can only come through denuclearization.

China is North Korea’s most important diplomatic and economic supporter, though Beijing’s patience with Pyongyang has been severely tested following three nuclear tests and numerous bouts of saber rattling, including missile launches.

“The Korean peninsula is right on China’s doorstep. We have a red line, that is, we will not allow war or instability on the Korean peninsula,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters on the sidelines of China’s annual largely rubber-stamp parliament.

Wang called upon all parties to “exercise restraint,” adding that “genuine and lasting peace” on the peninsula was only possible with denuclearization.

US Secretary of State John Kerry visited China last month and said after talks in Beijing that China and the United States were discussing specific ways to press North Korea to give up its nuclear program.

Western countries and independent experts have accused China of failing to implement properly UN sanctions on North Korea, including punitive measures adopted after

Philippines ‘won’t rush defence accord’ for Obama visit

n AFP, Manila

The Philippines said yesterday it would not rush to complete a defence accord with the United States just so it can be sealed by the time President Barack Obama visits next month.

President Benigno Aquino’s spokesman Herminio Coloma said there was no timetable to complete the agreement which would allow more US troops and equipment access to the Philippines.

The agreement, which the two close allies have been discussing for several years, is seen as part of a Philippine effort to counter China’s aggressive moves to back its claims to most of the South China Sea. Asked by reporters if the accord would be completed before Obama’s visit, Coloma said, “the government’s priority is not with a timetable or with rushing something.”

“In our view, it is not deadlines but the quality and content of the agreement that is more worthy of attention,” he added.

The Philippines has been hoping for increased US assistance for its poorly-equipped military amid growing territorial tensions with China. l

Thousands rally for end to nuclear Taiwan n AFP, Taipei Tens of thousands marched in Taiwan Saturday to call for an end to nuclear energy on the island, ahead of the third anniversary of the Fukushima atomic disaster in Japan, organisers said.

In Taipei, protesters held placards and flags painted with slogans such as “No Nuke, No more Fukushima” and “No Nuke, Save Taiwan” as they marched the streets of the capital in the rainy cold weather.

Worries about Taiwan’s atomic facilities have grown since a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami struck Japan on March 11, 2011, crippling a nuclear power plant in Fukushima.

Protest organisers demanded the government immediately halt construction of a new nuclear power plant and remove nuclear waste from an offshore islet, while moving to stop using nuclear energy altogether, said Liu Huimin, a spokeswoman for the National Nuclear Abolition Action Platform.

“We urge the government to face anti-nuclear demands from the people instead of trying to stall the issues or suppress different opinions,” she said.

The Taipei event drew over 50,000 people, while three other rallies held simultaneously across the island had a combined turnout of more than 30,000, according to an initial estimate by organisers. Taiwan lies near the junction of two tectonic plates and is regularly hit by earthquakes, raising fears that its nuclear facilities could be vulnerable. l

Pyongyang’s third nuclear test in February last year.

North Korea has forged ahead with its nuclear development after declaring the so-called six-party talks dead in 2008, overturning its commitments made under a 2005 disarmament deal aimed at rewarding it with economic incentives.

Wang reiterated China’s calls for a resumption of the talks between North Korea, South Korea, the United States, Japan, Russia and host China.

“Confrontation can only bring tension, and war can only cause disaster,” Wang said. “Some dialogue is better than none, and better early than later.”

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay urged world powers last month to refer North Korea to the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court following a UN report documenting crimes against humanity comparable to Nazi-era atrocities.

China has rejected what it said was “unreasonable criticism” of Beijing in the UN report, but has not said directly whether it would veto any proceedings in the Security Council to bring Pyongyang to book.

The team also recommended targeted UN sanctions against civil officials and military commanders suspected of the worst crimes. North Korea is already subject to UN sanctions for refusing to give up its atomic bomb program. l

Arvind Kejriwal

AFP

Narendra Modi can be challenged in his own den. This is the message Arvind Kejriwal managed to put across by carrying out a four-day tour of Gujarat to verify Modi’s claims of exemplary development in the state, analysts say.

The Aam Aadmi Party chief went to meet Modi at his residence without an appointment, TV cameras in tow, and ask him 17 questions. The move has been interpreted variously here, but all agree the fledgling party would make a dent into Congress’ space in the long run.

“At Kanpur, Kejriwal had challenged Modi to contest against him in Varanasi. Now, he very effectively put across the challenge at Modi’s doorstep,” said Prakash Shah, an Ahmedabad based civil society activist and political analyst.

“It’s a psychological victory for Kejriwal,” he said.

According to Vidyut Joshi, former vice-chancellor Bhavnagar University, Kejriwal was successful in laying the foundation of “alternative politics,” which the Congress could not.

“Kejriwal tried to bring out the contradictions in the state. His Modi myth-busting may have been pre-determined, but it did lay the foundation of a non-BJP, non-Congress force here,” he said.

Both the major parties the BJP and Congress have been dominating the Lok Sabha elections in the state, which has 26 seats, in the past two elections. While in 2004, BJP won 14 seats and the Congress 12.

In 2009, BJP increased its tally to 15

China defiant on territory BJP announces 2nd list claims, demands respect of candidates for polls n AP, Beijing

China will never make concessions in territorial disputes with its neighbors, while good relations with the US depend on Washington respecting Beijing’s sovereignty claims, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Saturday.

Sounding a defiant note in his first national news conference since taking office a year ago, Wang touched on disputes with Japan, the Philippines and others that have sharpened tensions in the Asia Pacific.

China has used its coast guard to assert its claim to the entire South China Sea and its island groups and has regularly confronted Japanese patrol boats surrounding a string of uninhabited East China Sea islands controlled by Tokyo but claimed by Beijing.

“We will never bully smaller counties, yet we will never accept unreasonable demands from smaller countries,” Wang told reporters at a briefing on the sidelines of the weeklong session of the National People’s Congress, China’s ceremonial legislature.

“On issues of territory and sover-

eignty, China’s position is firm and clear: We will not take anything that is not ours, but we will defend every inch of territory that belongs to us,” Wang said.

Wang took a similar tough stance on Japan, although he conceded the current standoff that has sent relations to a new low was not in the interest of either party. He said that Japan, however, was solely responsible for the impasse, partly as a result of leading public figures there questioning apologies made over Tokyo’s World War II aggression.

“On the two issues of principle — history and territory — there is no room for compromise. If some people in Japan insist on overturning the verdict on its past aggression” that will not be condoned by China or the world, Wang said.

While relations with the US have generally been good by comparison, Wang indicated that Beijing still felt slighted by US criticism of its human rights record and unresponsive to its arguments over territorial claims.

“The China-US relationship is both very important and very complex,” Wang said. l

n Agencies The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) yesterday announced its second list of 52 candidates for the upcoming Indian general elections with former Karnataka chief ministers BS Yeddyurappa and DV Sadananda Gowda and Rajya Sabha MP Chandan Mitra among the prominent names.

BJP had earlier announced its first list of candidates in eight states With its second list on Saturday, the party has announced a total of 106 candidates for the Lok Sabha elections that will be held between April 7 and May 12. The third list of BJP’s LS candidates would be announced after an election meeting on March 13.

The BJP has decided to field Yeddyurappa from Shimoga in Karnataka and journalist-turned-politician Mitra

from Hooghly in West Bengal. Gowda will contest from Bangalore Central.

BJP MP Ananth Kumar will contest from his constituency, Bangalore South. The Congress is likely to field Aadhaar chairman Nandan Nilekani from the Bangalore South Lok Sabha seat.

The BJP announced the names of 20 LS nominees from Karnataka on Saturday. Candidates for the remaining eight seats in the state would be announced after the next poll meeting of the party.

The saffron party did not name its LS candidate from Bellary. BJP leader Sushma Swaraj on Thursday opposed any merger or tie-up with the BSR Congress, a party floated by an aide of the Reddy brothers of Bellary. “I am opposed to the BSR alliance or merger with BJP in Karnataka...,” she tweeted.

The BJP had earlier announced its first list of 54 candidates for Lok Sabha seats in eight states with former party president Nitin Gadkari, magician PC Sorcar, former Himachal Pradesh chief minister Shanta Kumar and youth wing chief Anurag Thakur among the big names. l

Protests mark Japan earthquake anniversary

Some 200 people stand hand-in-hand on a beach to face the Pacific Ocean as the sun rises above the horizon in Iwaki city in Fukushima prefecture on March 8, three days before the third anniversary of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, which killed more than 18,000 people AFP

n Agencies, Koriyama, Japan Marches have taken place in Japan to mark the third anniversary of the Fukushima earthquake and tsunami that left nearly 20,000 people dead or missing and devastated local infrastructure.

Although the anniversary of the

9

Sunday, March 9, 2014

event falls on Tuesday, several events and protests were planned in the region yesterday, when more people could attend them.

In snowy Koriyama, a committee of anti-nuclear groups – mostly unions coordinated the “No Nuclear Fukushima Citizen’s Rally” to commemorate

the disaster and to warn the community of what they said were the dangers of nuclear energy.

“I’m here because I want to hear the voices of the people who live here,” said Hiroyuki Inoue, a 34-year-old construction worker who had travelled from Tokyo for the event, which in-

cluded local vendors and entertainers.

The capital voted in a man many see as a pro-nuclear candidate , Yoichi Misuzoe, as its governor in February, a sign, some say, that political will to listen to the concerns in the affected communities is waning there.

“I don’t support Masuzoe – there are some people who have forgotten [the ongoing nuclear crisis] but many of us haven’t,” said Inoue.

Koriyama was a place to which many were evacuated from the 20km nuclear exclusion zone, only to find out that Koriyama itself, about 55km west of the damaged Daiichi plant, had higher levels of radiation.

“We’ve had a lot of problems since the nuclear accident, and of course, it could happen again,” said Junpei Sato, 31, who was attending the event with his 4-year-old daughter, Ririko.

According to sources, the Tokoku region in northeast Japan violently shook to the magnitude 9.0 earthquake, ushering in a tsunami with waves higher than 20m crashing several kilometers into coastline, crushing and washing away entire communities in its path.

An estimated 136,000 people in Fukushima Prefecture remain displaced from their homes.

In the three years since the earthquake, there have been reports of leaks and other issues at the still damaged plant, whose presence and instability have largely overshadowed the recovery effort in the region. In Fukushima City, a rally of over 1,000 people gathered in a hall, listening to speakers from different areas talk about what they’d lost over the course of the past three years. l

compared with Congress 11.

The saffron party won its highest number of seats in the state under former chief minister Keshubhai Patel in 1999, when it won 20 seats, reducing the Congress tally to six.

Modi has not been able to repeat the feat despite his claims of development and good governance. This election, however, the BJP’s PM nominee expects to better Patel’s record.

Will Kejriwal’s four-day blitzkrieg spoil BJP’s ambitions or dent Congress’ vote bank?

“It would be foolish to assume that AAP will make a debut here, Kejriwal’s stunt or no stunt,” Joshi said.

“Modi has mesmerised voters with his claims of development and they would vote en mass to his party this election. It would take time for Kejriwal to bust Modi’s myth. It would not happen immediately.”

Indu Kumar Jani, a social activist, differs with Joshi and believes the AAP could win five to six seats in Gujarat.

“Kejriwal in his visit has made an impression on the neutral and anti-BJP voters who could have voted for the Congress in the absence of an alternative. This section of voters will vote for AAP,” he said.

During his tour, which started on March 5, Kejriwal not only questioned Modi’s “vikashpurush” image, but also called the state’s development model flawed. He had visited primary health centres and schools and met farmers.

At Mundra, in Kutch district, he said only industrialists such as Ambani and Adani have developed at the cost of the common man.l

Sri Lanka mass grave over old burial site n AFP, Colombo Sri Lankan authorities halted excavations after recovering 81 skeletal remains from an unmarked mass grave atop an old burial ground in the island’s former war zone, an official said Saturday.

Judicial medical officer Dhananjaya Waidyaratne said digging at a depth of about two metres (6.7 feet) led to the old cemetery and the authorities did not want to go deeper and disturbed those who had been properly buried.

“We have gathered skeletal remains from upper layers and grouped them into 81 boxes,” Waidyaratne told AFP. “These remains were in a mass grave buried in a haphazard way compared to the properly laid out graves we found at a depth of two metres.”

He said forensic tests were being done in respect of the 81 groups of skeletal remains to establish the cause and time of death.

“It is quite possible that these people were buried over the old cemetery and we need further investigations,” Waidyaratne. “This process is going to take a lot of time in the laboratory.”

The mass grave is the first uncovered in the former northern war zone since troops defeated Tamil rebels nearly five years ago following a decades-long conflict for a separate homeland for ethnic minority Tamils.

Sri Lanka’s government, which is facing allegations of war crimes while crushing the rebels nearly five years ago, has sought to head off concerns that its soldiers could have been involved in the grave, saying the Mannar area had long been a Tamil rebel stronghold.

Colombo has also said that Indian troops deployed on an abortive peace-keeping mission in Sri Lanka between 1987 and 1990 also briefly had control over the coastal Mannar region.

Police have not yet been able to identify the remains.

But the Roman Catholic Bishop of Mannar, Rayappu Joseph, has said that the victims could be members of the local Tamil community.

Mannar has a large concentration of Tamils, and was the scene of many battles between troops and Tamil rebels during the island’s 37-yearold separatist war which ended in May 2009.

The UN estimates the war claimed at least 100,000 lives.

Last year, construction workers stumbled on another mass grave in central Sri Lanka, hundreds of kilometres (miles) from the conflict zone.

At least 154 people were found in that grave in Matale district, the scene of an anti-government uprising between 1987 and 1990 unrelated to the Tamil separatist conflict.

Remains from that grave have been sent to China for further tests. l

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Letters to

www.dhakatribune.com

Make helping business part of ministry’s reform

T

he government has announced plans to reorganise the home ministry.

It is welcome that the prime minister has spoken of her recognition that this move is needed to allow people to access services more easily.

We call on the government to pay special attention to the harm done to business by extortion, when looking at the police as part of the home ministry’s reorganisation.

Many business owners and entrepreneurs are subjected to chandbaji and intimidation by politically connected criminals. Small businesses and factory owners alike have to live with frequent demands and threats.

Police are often unable to arrest such criminals because they have or are perceived to have the protection of local political leaders.

This phenomenon is made worse by institutional factors which help local thugs to become protected. For instance, the fact that thanas are seen as being under control of local MPs rather than the home ministry or independent police, exacerbates problems if an MP is are beholden to local criminals for election purposes.

It is essential that the police are free and seen to be free to root out this type of activity.

Small businesses are the backbone of the economy and employ a large part of the population, so it is in the country’s interest to eliminate the costs to the economy and the harm done to rule of law by extortion.

Reforms to the Home ministry should be used to further empower the police to act against extortionists and give encouragement to entrepreneurs and investors.

Use home ministry changes to empower police to act against extortionists

Second submarine cable a good investment

B

angladesh has officially joined the SEA-ME-WE 5 consortium of 15 telecommunications companies, which is laying an undersea cable link between Europe , Singapore and East Asia.

Offering speeds of up to 100-gigabit-per-second, the new 20000km link will be a welcome addition to the country’s communications infrastructure.

Undersea cables are vital as a complement to satellite networks and terrestrial connections, and for helping to overcome bottlenecks that slow down the internet.

The country’s existing sole submarine cable link (SEA-ME-WE-4,) secured in 2006, has already demonstrated the value to the economy of linking into global networks in this way, with BSCCL currently being able to export surplus internet bandwidth to other countries.

It is welcome news that BSCCL has shown foresight by opting in early to this new consortium, because it is important to plan for a future when the economy will need much more access and secure connectivity than today. In the early 1990s, the country missed an earlier opportunity for a undersea link (SEA-MEWE-3,) so it is encouraging to note lessons have been learned from the past.

The second submarine cable will provide the country with an additional bandwidth of 1,400Gbps and ensure back up if the older connection goes down.

By offering faster speeds, it will help the whole economy and will be a boon for call centres, software firms and businesses working in global outsourcing. The government should also encourage further improvements to internet connectivity by continuing to enable private firms to invest in new terrestrial and satellite links.

Sunday, March 9, 2014

the Editor

LETTER OF THE DAY

Pay commission needs to start functioning March 7

The Bangladesh government formed a pay commission for government employees, headed by Dr Mohammad Farashuddin, the former governor of Bangladesh Bank, last November. Recently Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, in a projection event on national annual income stated the country’s per capita income had increased by $414 over the last five years, from $630 five years ago to $1,044 in the fiscal year 2012-2013.

Five years have passed since the last pay scale was introduced. The inflation in aggregate over these years has crossed 55%, and government employees are facing grave financial hardships. This means that though the national income has increased, the income of government, semi-government and autonomous body employees has reduced.

It is high time employee incomes were raised, considering the increase of per capital income as well as reduction in real income owing to inflation. Of course the government has allowed a 20% dearness allowance as interim relief to employees. However, no meeting of the pay commission has been held, though it was formed four months ago. It takes time to make recommendations, but if no meeting is held, how can recommendations be made? The pay commission should start functioning as soon as possible.

Md Ashraf Hossain

Ashraf hints at amending law for partisan local polls March 4

It makes perfect sense to have all local government elections on a party basis. In a democracy, political parties with the mandate of the people are supposed to rule at all levels though it is necessary, first, to have open, transparent and accountable political parties – parties that have lists of all their members, practice internal democracy at all levels of the party (all committees elected directly by the party members through secret ballots and local committees nominate candidates for elections), limit the term of the party leaders, differentiate between party and state/government, and allow members to determine party policies and strategies.

However, Ashraful’s second point about stopping the public disclosure of assets and liabilities of all candidates running in an election is not acceptable. The courts have already ruled that all candidates contesting elections make public disclosure of their assets and liabilities so this is not reversible – after all, it was on the basis of the judgment of our former chief justice Khairul that the caretaker government system was abolished

by Hasina, so the question of abolishing the provision of public disclosure of candidates assets and liabilities will be a contempt of court and illegal.

DB

New taxi cabs for Dhaka city soon March 2

We already have too many vehicles for the roads in Dhaka, and now they’re thinking of bringing in new taxicabs??

Rafsan Reza

Pay the proper price for power March 3

This is a concise and compelling argument for the urgent need to slash subsidies to the power sector and steer consumers toward finally paying the market-driven, economically imperative “proper price of power.” The deleterious impact of profligate subsidies is proven beyond doubt. This largesse is no longer economically defensible. Point is, can this government be trusted to honestly and competently manage this necessary transition without resorting to arbitrary policies and eventually fleecing the consumer?

Ronnie

Indoor smoke-induced diseases may kill 30m people by 2030 March 3

But tobacco businesses create employment for thousands in Bangladesh. Millions of people depend on this tobacco industry. So, my opinion is simple. The Almighty will balance everything out in the end. So why are some people thinking so much about it? What will be, will be.

Riyasat Azim Sunvy

Upazila polls: AL ignores allies’ proposal

Be Heard

March 3

The so-called 14 party alliance (I bet nobody can name the 14 parties!) seems to live in a make-believe world. They themselves could not win the seats of their leaders in the last farcical general elections without AL, so how would they contribute to the victory of AL candidates in the upazila polls? In fact, their leaders could not have won a upazila chairman of vice chairman seat in a fair election. It seems as if AL understands this very well, and thus kept these parties, and party individuals, out of the local government polls which make perfect political sense. deep purple blue

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

CALVIN AND HOBBES

BSCCL has shown foresight by opting in early to secure connectivity

PEANUTS

CROSSWORD

SUDOKU ACROSS 1 Separated (5) 4 Clenched hand (4) 7 Sophisticated (6) 8 Old aircraft (5) 10 Break suddenly (4) 11 Swindle (5) 12 Do wrong (3) 14 Halt (4) 17 Regrets (4) 19 Whichever it may be (3) 20 Unlucky contestant (5) 23 Electric insulator (4) 25 Dance (5) 26 Workshop machines (6) 27 Festivity (4) 28 Looks after (5)

DOWN 1 Bowman (6) 2 Book of the Bible (4) 3 Woody plant (4) 4 Abstains from food (5) 5 Tavern (3) 6 Time of the year (6) 9 Land measure (4) 13 Titanium dioxide (6) 15 Mountain lake (4) 16 Cable-carrying towers (6) 18 Review unsparingly (5) 21 To let stand! (4) 22 Comfort (4) 24 Domestic animal (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.

Sudoku

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

11

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Chasing dreams Tazreen and n Afsana Belem Vallina González

L

et us hear the story of Shumi Begum. She was born in a family of eight. Shumi would silently watch her brother go to school while she along with her five sisters spent the day helping their mother with household chores. Her father, a landless farmer was too poor and ignorant to send his daughters to school.

She grows up believing herself to be weak and does not dare to dream for the fear of failure

Deprived of a legal platform, parties like Jamaat could lash out with more violence

RAJIB DHAR

Confronting Jamaat the smart way

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n Esam Sohail

oth sets of my grandparents left their ancestral homes to come to the new country they had helped carve in 1947, a country whose birth was opposed tooth and nail by Jamaat-e-Islami, often through violent means.

Their children – my parents, uncles, aunts – all went on to get a university education irrespective of gender, and many moved into their professional lives. The fact that Jamaat and its likeminded types have opposed female higher education was not lost on my grandparents or their children and grandchildren. As they say in North American idiom, I came by my distaste for Jamaat honestly.

In adulthood, I have few illusions about how Jamaat and its type of fundamentalists will treat someone like me, whose religious beliefs will likely mark him as an apostate for starters.

Add to that the fact that I have raised money for Israeli children’s charities and count more than a few Jews as personal friends.

Top it off with the article I wrote twelve years ago in a major Middle Eastern daily arguing – long before it was fashionable to do so – that trials for the genocide of 1971 were a historical and moral necessity for Bangla-

D

desh. Now you get the picture of the tender mercies that will be shown to me were I to find myself at the receiving end of Jamaat-Shibir hospitality.

It is not despite this perspective, but rather precisely because of it, that I find it highly imprudent to consider the “banning” of that party. I know a thing or two about history and politics, having taught those subjects, written about them, and engaged in more than a few presidential campaigns including those of George Bush (both father and son).

and more violent when deprived of some legal operating space.

More important, proscribing these organisations not only does not eviscerate them but, rather, falsely embellishes them with a certain aura of romanticised martyrdom that only serves to attract those disaffected for one reason or another. In the real world outside of boisterous rallies at Suhrawardy Udyan, that is the messy situation that the best laid intentions create.

Does this mean we keep quiet as the

Meet Jamaat sponsored violence with targeted, focused, and lawful retribution on the perpetrators

In more ways than one, physics resembles politics: Compressing the volume for matter inwards increases its pressure outwards. As we have seen in place after place, from the communists at the turn of the century in Russia, to the Nazis in 1930s Germany, to the Muslim Brotherhood in the Nasser-Sadat era in Egypt, ideologically rigid parties only become more extreme

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Jamaat-Shibir types keep on hyping the nonsense that their version of holy scriptures is the only “real constitution?” Not at all. The trick is to opt for the smart approach instead of the emotionally satisfying one. The wisdom of Sun-Tzu should be the guiding principle herein: Keep friends close, but adversaries closer.

The higher judiciary’s directive is a

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good start in that it did not ban Jamaat but ruled that the party could not participate in elections without bringing its charter into sync with the republican nature of the constitution. Beyond that, expose the links of this organisation not just to what happened four decades ago, but what ails society today in terms of misogynistic parallel justice systems, hostility to education, and physical violence in areas where Jamaat holds sway.

Instead of enabling madrasa education, the objective should be to emulate Kemal Ataturk and absorb that sector in its entirety into the regular public education system over a period of a few years.

And last but not least, meet Jamaat sponsored violence with targeted, focused, and lawful retribution on the perpetrators instead of making speeches about how other opposition parties are surreptitiously involved in imagined conspiracies. Bottom line, give Jamaat space to operate, but put enough pressure through the law and social activism so that eventually the party has two choices: Become civilized or become marginalised.

Either choice is more palatable than the status quo. l Esam Sohail is an educational research analyst and college lecturer of social sciences. He writes from Kansas, USA.

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She watched her sisters being married off to men much older than them, as that would cost the family less money.

When Shumi’s turn came, she was only 13 years old, while her husband was 45.

The reason for the ridiculous age disparity was lower dowry. After a year, teenage Shumi gave birth to a premature stillborn daughter. Her uneducated and superstitious husband abandoned her as she had failed to give him “an heir.” Her own family was not too happy to have her back either.

To them, she was just another mouth to feed. Shumi’s story is not exclusive. Women like Shumi usually remain as the most neglected creatures in their own homes and soon start begging on the streets to survive. Sometimes they even rush into another bad marriage out of sheer desperation.

Yesterday was International Women’s Day, is widely celebrated all over the world. However, the sad part is that most women in Bangladesh are not even aware that such a day exists.

Women are still treated as second-class citizens, mostly in rural societies. The global Lancet study, 2011, identified that the female body mass index was the lowest in Bangladesh, which clearly indicates unequal distribution of food at the households of the patriarchal society of the country.

They seldom protest against the inequality as they have been systematically brainwashed over generations into believing that they are weak, powerless, and need a male figure to “protect” them.

From the day a girl is born in a Bangladeshi family, she is taught by her family that she is inferior to her brother. She neither defies nor questions the absurd notion as she never sees her mother questioning her father’s superiority. She grows up believing herself to be weak and does not dare to dream for the fear of failure. Thus she loses her own identity in the maze of the carefully crafted social web and accepts her place as a sec-

A

ond-grade citizen in her own country.

Her life’s sole purpose becomes finding a husband, raising his children, and spending the rest of her life in a futile attempt to please everyone.

However, even that is not easily achieved. She has to be “young and beautiful” in order to attract “suitable husbands.” Being below 18 years of age and having a lighter skin colour means that her parents have to pay less money to the husband’s family. So parents often hurriedly marry off their daughters while they are still in their teens and do not allow them to get educated.

Now let us back up a bit and go to Shumi’s story. What do you think happened to her? Do you think that she resigned to her fate like the others?

The answer is pleasantly surprising.

Shumi decided to make a turnaround and realised that no one will “take care” of her and that she needed to take matters in her own hands. She sold the only gold bangle she owned and with the help of a micro lending organisation she bought a handloom for weaving cotton saris five years ago.

Since then there was no looking back.

Today she owns five looms and has eight women working for her. She no longer has to depend on her family or a husband to support her financially.

This year’s theme of International Women’s Day was “Inspiring Change.”

It called for challenging the status quo for women’s equality and asked women to believe in their potential to make the changes that they would like to see in their lives and societies despite the many gendered barriers going against them. It was a reminder to all the women out there that they matter despite what their governments, society, or families tell them. The day was not only to pause and remember how far women have come since the first International Women’s Day 101 years ago, but it was also a reminder of how far they still have to go.

It was also a reminder of how far they still have to go

The fact that a woman from a remote village in Bangladesh managed to make a change in her life and to the lives of several other women, is very inspiring. However, one Shumi is not enough. When others will dare to pursue Shumi’s path and chase their dreams instead of being held back by lopsided societal norms and laws, International Women’s Day will be something to truly celebrate. l Afsana Tazreen is Research Associate, Centre for Enterprise and Society (CES), ULAB. Belem Vallina González is Director of Centre for Sustainable Development at ULAB.

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Miley’s purposeless revolution n Mohammad N Miraly

“W

e Can’t Stop” is a revolutionary anthem. It is a mutiny against an old morality that preaches restraint, to be replaced by a new consumerism that preaches rabid individualism.

Its pace is marked, a slow march on the palaces of power, a declaration of independence from authority. “It’s our party we can do what we want” – the victorious chant of the successful revolutionaries, ousting The Man from his corner office, taking the night in celebration, kissing who they want, like an American soldier in Times Square newly freed from the threat of anti-capitalist invasion.

The chorus appears mid-march: “We can’t stop. We won’t stop.” A fiery square full of youths paused in a unified cry, promising a never-ending struggle against the tyranny of dawns past. “Can’t you see it’s we who own the night,” they ask incredulously, suddenly aware of their own power, the power of the people, the “cracy” of the “demos.”

The video starts with Miley scissoring herself free from an ankle bracelet, unshackling herself from lawfulness.

Red Beats and EOS lip balms everywhere, the “young twerkers” are finally free to indulge wantonness that was previously restricted by out-dated morality that preached moderation

over gratification, prudence over extravagance, communitarianism over consumerism.

That is their victory – the supplanting of a moral order by an indifferent one. Their democratic impulse is piloted by a materialist machine, and fuelled by an unbridled pursuit of desire. But without moral purpose, we become hollow. We get tricked into believing that the need to fulfil desire fulfils the need to have purpose.

Her non-conformist revolutionaries look the same, talk the same, and act the same

The authority of consumerism gave these revolutionaries the freedom to indulge their most purposeless whims, to get lost in the abyss of individualism, to play with abandoning Narcissus’s pool. The authority of consumerism is devoid of purpose. Its acolytes float aimlessly through a life without calling, fooled into doing what the market demands, hoodwinked into thinking they have a choice.

The video is a celebration of what the revolutionaries have won – the freedom to buy what they’re told to buy, the freedom to be who they’re told to be.

In a surreptitious way, it’s in on the joke. It caricatures excess, the traditional preserve of the rich. In their revolution to usurp The Man, they’ve won his freedom of indulgence. It’s a revolution without a cause – a manufactured victory.

In an orgy of destruction that parodies pop consumerism, it pays homage to that Pyrrhic victory. Eating a hundred-dollar-bill-sandwich is a big middle finger not only to the rich, but also to the poor, who have neither sandwiches nor hundred dollar bills.

The destruction of a “freedom fry skull” is a wink again to the hungry masses, a stratum to whom these nouveau revolutionaries act as both role model and in an Orwellian twist, the new Man. You have the freedom to do what we do, they say; if you can afford it.

A purposeless revolution is characterised by its focus on aesthetics, lack of content, and desperate need to be contemporary. The most striking thing about a purposeless revolution is its obsession with image – the refuge of the superficial and the uniform of the hollow.

In a way, the video knows this. A telling scene is a toy sheep in front of a six paned mirror staring at equally

vapid reflections of itself. The punch line – they’re all wearing sunglasses.

Miley seems to be conscious of this critique of consumerist culture.

She carries her sheep under her arms, aware of the irony that in the fight for independence from conformism, we end up conforming to some other image anyway.

Her non-conformist revolutionaries look the same, talk the same, and act the same –they adopt the image fed to them by a powerful marketing machine that coerces them to want to buy what it wants to sell. She seems to be aware of the irony, and buys into it, ironically.

Buying into it means donning that sheep’s sunglasses, being confronted at every turn by a reflection of a superficial identity constructed by someone else, by the machine of consumerism – the new authority, the new morality, the new dictator of what’s-right-now.

We buy into its promise that happiness is in purposelessness, in the conspicuous consumption of every desire, and that emptiness will be filled by losing ourselves in frivolity and destruction.

We lose ourselves in the endless void of license.

We can do what we want, says the new order. But just because you can doesn’t mean you should – said the old. Freedom doesn’t come with moral license to abuse freedom. Their

AFP

revolution supplanted the old morality with a licentious consumerism in which we worship pretend versions of ourselves – like Miley making out with a plastic Barbie doll version of her fabricated Barbie doll self.

The song is a sad, slow commentary on the lies we’re sold. The song is about lies of freedom – freedom to be sold a false dream and to be coerced into buying it. It’s a commentary on the failed revolution to be in charge of our lives and of ourselves.

When we threw out the old authority, we didn’t replace its ethical base, its moral purpose. We only started

the revolution because we were sold #YOLO. But with the Happy Meal of freedom-to-do-what-you-want, we got the prize of an imprisoning cycle of consumerism that enslaves us to purposelessness, to false promises of happiness, and a dark truth of emptiness.

“This is our house,” she says. But it’s not mortgage-free, they reply. l Mohammad N Miraly is an educator and film producer. He holds a PhD from McGill University in religion, ethics, and public policy, and is the author of themiralyblog. wordpress.com.

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Arnob to give music direction in Tollywood

Apu Biswas signs for Raja Handsome Dhallywood heartthrob Apu Biswas signed for Bioscopewala Productions’ upcoming film Raja Handsome as the lead heroine opposite to Shakib Khan.

Apu and Shakib are one of the most successful duos in the history of Bangladeshi film industry.

They have given a huge number of hit films in the past: Jaan Amar Jaan, Koti Takar Kabin, Chacchu, Bhalobashlei Ghor Badha Jay Na, Mon Jekhane Hridoy Shekhane and King Khan to name a few.

They have recently finished shooting for Red directed by Shafi Uddin Shafi.

Raja handsome is set to hit the big screen around October of this year while the shooting is scheduled

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Shayan Chowdhury Arnob, one of the biggest names in the music industry of recent times, is working in Tollywood. He has signed as the music director for Mainak Bhaumik’s new film Kolkata Calling.

It is a fusion film where Tollywood’s star Parambrata Chatterjee will be seen in the lead role. Director Mainak Bhaumik said: “I love Arnob’s unique style of singing and composition. I know him from his school days and I am a big fan of his works. I believe he will communicate with my thoughts and interpret them accordingly.”

There will be five to six songs in the film including a Rabindra Sangeet

to begin in late March.

A fast-paced action thriller, the story of Raja Handsome revolves around a diamond necklace heist. Apu Biswas with her enthralling expression said, “As soon as I heard the story I loved it, it is a very different and unique story.”

For supporting roles Misha Shawdagar, Amit Hasan, Ahmed Sharif, Amir Shiraji and many others will also be playing important roles of the movie directed by Badiul Alam Khokon.

Several other high profile actors and actresses have been rumored to be joining the all-star cast, yet producers still remain hush about who else has signed on to the film so far. Fuad Al-Muqtadir is working as the music director. l

Crafts fair brings rural touch to the city dwellers

Prova and Shahed in Last Seven Days

The handicrafts of rural Bangladesh are popular to the city dwellers. To acknowledge the hard work of the craftsmen, a four-day fair featuring arts and crafts by craftsmen from across the country will end at the Bengal Shilpalaya today. Four participants of the fair were bestowed with the Master Craft Persons Award, which has been initiated from the late ‘90s. The award-giving ceremony took place on March 6, on the inaugural day of the fair.

Titled Master Craft Persons Award and Crafts Fair, the festival is organised jointly by the National Crafts Council of Bangladesh (NCCB) and Bengal Foundation.

Of the four winners, Joynal Abedin

from Narsingdi won for his home textile, Rafiqul Islam from Dhaka bagged the award for his colourful rickshaw painting, Shonkori Tudu from Rajshahi got selected for her rural home decoration and Parveen Akter from Noakhali was the last contender for her Comilla’s khadi. Each of them was honoured with Tk50,000.

The fair is a treat for the urbanites as it is a rare occasion where so many traditional handicrafts are available for purchase at a single venue. The small shops are packed with brilliant and original traditional crafts of the country such as Manipuri Saree, fancy goods with glass work, clay dolls, toys, flutes, handmade home decors, jewelries, rickshaw paintings, shonkho and many other dazzling goods.

Gathered crowd at the fair enjoys a

harmonious atmosphere in the midst of all the bustle and can take pleasure in songs of the mystic philosopher Lalon fakir and other folk songs while rummaging through the packed stalls.

Secretary of Cultural Affairs of the Government of Bangladesh, Ranjit Kumar Biswas was the chief guest who handed out the Master Craft Persons Award and inaugurated the crafts fair at the Bengal Shilpalaya premises. Creator of traditional hand-fans, eminent craftsperson and recipient of NCCB award, Suchitra Sutradhar was present on the occasion as a special guest.

Luva Nahid Chowdhury, director general of Bengal Foundation and vice president of the crafts programme, artist and designer Chandra Shekhar Saha spoke on the inaugural ceremony. l

Popular actor Prova paired up with actor-director of the small screen, Shahed, in a drama titled Last Seven Days. The drama is directed by Sokal Ahmed and the story of the drama is by Shafiqur Rahman Shantan. An exceptional story, where Prova will be seen acting with Shahed as a couple.

About working with Shahed, Prova said: “He is always a very smart actor.

He experiments with his acting skills and I always try to learn something new when I work with this brilliant personality.”

About his role in the drama Last Seven Days, Shahed said: “I am really very satisfied with everything about this drama. I think the audience will appreciate our performance.” The director of the drama, Sokal Ahmed said: “I can vouch that Last Seven Days will be one of the best drama of the year. So, I cordially request the audience to watch this wonderful play which has a beautiful story and brilliant characters.”

The drama will be aired on a satellite TV channel very soon. l

A Tale of Tangua Haor at Drik Gallery A photography exhibition titled A Tale of Tangua Haor organised

by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) at the Drik gallery will end this evening.

The exhibition is about of striking photographs of nature, animals and people of Tangua Haor taken by 24 photographers, nature-lovers and conservationists. The story of Tangua Haor is illustrated here through 70 mesmerising photographs.

Located at the Indo-Bangla border under Sunamganj district, the Tangua Haor is known for its rich bio-diversity including numerous species of plants, fish and birds.

As a globally important wetland the Haor has been termed Ramsar Area.

The exhibition and publication of the album caters to raise awareness about conservation of the unique natural resources and beauty of the Haor.

The photographs also represents the unique lifestyle of the people residing in the region.

A book titled Tangua Album was also launched at the inaugural ceremony of the exhibition on March 7. Quazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, Chairman, Palli KarmaShahayak Foundation (PKSF), Ishtiaq Uddin Ahmad, Country Representative, IUCN and curator of the exhibition Enam Ul Haque, contributing photographers and renowned conservationists were present at the inaugural ceremony. l

TODAY IN DHAKA Film

Enders Game Avatar 3D Aakash Koto Dure Thor: The Dark World 3D The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug in 3D Frozen in 3D Shunte Ki Pao Agnee Time: 10am - 10pm Star Cineplex, Bashundhara City Robocop, Gravity Captain Phillips, Elysium Time: 12:30pm – 9:30pm Blockbuster Cinemas Jamuna Future Park Ka- 244, Pragati Avenue Kuril

Exhibition

Fragments of the Unknown

By Najma Akhter Time: 12pm – 8pm Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts House 42, Road 16 (New) / 27 (old) Dhanmondi War and Colonies 1914-1918 Rare photographs of World War II Time: 3pm – 9pm Alliance Francaise de Dhaka Conspiratual

By Ra Kajol Shilpangan Gallery House 47, Road 13 Dhanmondi Crafts Fair Bengal Shilpalaya Dhanmondi

Isaiah Washington returns to Grey’s Anatomy Actor who played Dr Preston Burke was let go seven years ago in a controversial move. Seven years after his controversial exit, Isaiah Washington is heading back to Grey’s Anatomy.

Oh, but it will be a short visit to Seattle Grace. The actor, who played Dr Preston Burke on the medical drama, will reprise his role in one episode set to air in May, an ABC spokesperson confirmed. The specific date of the episode was not revealed.

It’s sure to be an interesting return. Washington was fired from the Shonda Rhimes series in the wake of growing tension on the set — headlines circulated that he directed gay slurs at then-closeted co-star TR Knight and was involved in on-set disputes with his co-stars.

titled Megh Bolechhe Jabo Jabo.

Aside from giving music direction in Kolkata Calling, Arnob will be lending his voice in two more Tollywood movies Parambrata Chatterjee’s Lorai and Kaushik Ganguly’s Khad. l

The reunion comes as one of its original cast members, Sandra Oh, is set to bid farewell to the series at the end of its current 10th season. Viewers will recall that Cristina Yang was involved with Burke (Washington) and had at one time been engaged.

“It’s important to me that Cristina’s journey unfolds exactly as it should,” Rhimes said in a statement.

“Burke is vital to that journey — he gives her story that full-circle moment we need to properly say goodbye to our beloved Cristina Yang.” l

Kareena to pair up with Fawad Khan After walking out of Karan Johar’s ambitious film Shuddhi, Kareena Kapoor Khan’s much-hyped film Bombay Samurai with Farhan Akhtar also took a back seat. It is sure Kareena isn’t worried as the B-town beauty has now bagged a plum project.

It is heard Saif Ali Khan’s wife has bagged Yash Raj Films next featuring Pakistani heartthrob Fawad Khan in the lead. Though there has been no official announcement regarding the same, a Pakistani newspaper recently confirmed the news about Kareena and Fawad coming together for an YRF film. Apparently, it’s an intense love story and will go on floors at the end of this year.

Fawad, who shot to fame with television soap Humsafar, will make his Bollywood debut with Khoobsurat opposite Sonam Kapoor. If the grapevine is indeed true then Fawad

is already making his presence felt in Bollywood.

Earlier rumours were rife that Parineeti Chopra was also being considered for the YRF film. But looks

like, KKK has walked away with the project. Good for her, considering a Yash Raj film can wonders to an actor’s career, no? Something Kareena desperately needs. l

Aamir criticises Bollywood’s portrayal of women Bollywood should be more careful with the way it portrays women as movies make a huge impact socially, feels Aamir Khan.

The 48-year-old star said over the years he has become very careful about how gender dynamics are presented in his films.

“I have become much more careful and sensitive. That process does not stop. It is a learning process. We have to really look how we are portraying women in our film

industry,” he told women journalists at IWPC on the eve of Women’s Day. “I don’t know where to start, maybe take a small set of people because we are affecting minds. We have to look at that carefully,” he said.

The actor joked that his activism often lands him in trouble with the people in Bollywood as he starts talking about social issues in showbiz parties.

Talking about the research on the first episode of Satyamev

Jayate, which centred around the topic of rape, he said they were shocked to find stories of apathy and inhumanity.

“We were faced with such inhumanity that it was difficult to absorb it. It was a ravaging period in the entire research,” he said, adding that the attempt has been to have a crisis centre for rape victims which will help them get swift justice.

The actor said he is prepared to hear negative stories about the show as certain people were bound to attack it. l

Did you know?

Fawad Alam scores 114* against Sri Lanka yesterday to become first left-hand middle-order batsman to hit a century for Pakistan in ODIs

Sport

Sunday, March 9, 2014

0 0 7 DAYS TO GO

Total: (for five wkts; 50 overs)

8 5 3 65 114 59 0 6

Fall of wickets 1-8, 2-17, 3-18, 4-140, 5-255 Bowling Malinga 10-0-56-5, Lakmal 10-2-41-0, Senanayake 9-0-54-0, Thisara 10-1-660, Mathews 7-1-23-0, de Silva 4-0-19-0 Sri Lanka 42 101 0 75 13 16 6 8

Total: (for five wkts; 46.2 overs)

261

Fall of wickets 1-56, 2-56, 3-212, 4-233, 5-247 Bowling Hafeez 9-0-42-0, Gul 6-0-44-0 , Khan 9-0-56-1, Ajmal 10-2-26-3, Talha 6.20-56-1, Afridi 6-0-35-0 Result Sri Lanka won by five wickets

Pakistan’s Umar Akmal (L) joins Fawad Alam to celebrate the latter’s century against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup final at SBNS yesterday MUMIT M

shock defeat

hibited excellent temperament under pressure and showed no mercy in dispatching the bad balls for runs. The partnership was eventually broken by Mohammad Talha in the 38th over when Mahela was caught on 75, but by then victory was well in sight of Sri Lanka.

Thirimanne lost another partner, Priyanjan, in the 42nd over before het put out an in swinging yorker off Junaed Khan to square leg in the next over to land his second ton in the tournament.

Thirimanne became Ajmal’s third victim with Sri Lanka on 247 for 5. The dismissal did not create any further drama as skipper Angelo Mathews hit the winning runs with three overs to spare.

Earlier, it was Malinga who gave the eventual winners the flying start in front of packed stands at SBNS. Malinga removed opener Sharjeel Khan in the opening over and the spearhead the in-form Ahmed Shahzad and Mohammed Hafeez in his following overs to reduce Pakistan to 18 for three.

Fawad Alam and Misbah-ul-Haq (65) repaired the damage by adding 122 runs which shifted the momentum and enabled Pakistan go for the late surge with wickets in hand. After Misbah’s dismissal Akmal played a quickfire 42ball 59 while Fawad remained unbeaten on 114 off 134 to guide Pakistan to a challenging 260 for five.

Meanwhile it was Malinga who took all the five wickets and create a unique world record of claiming all five wickets in an innings of an ODI match. l

Mathews glad to break the ‘final’ jinx

Women lose first T20I Javeria Khan’s quick half-century helped set up Pakistan Women’s 13run win against Bangladesh Women at the Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium.

Pakistan, batting first, made 126 for 4 on the back of Javeria’s 55-ball 58, and her 109-run association for the third wicket with Bismah Maroof who scored 39. No other batter reached double digits for the visitors, but Bangladesh were made to rue the 19 extras they conceded, including 11 wides.

Bangladesh began solidly, as the openers Shamina Sultana and Ayasha Rahman put up 30 by the sixth over, but three wickets in the space of eight deliveries hampered their progress.

15 Barcelona suffer

woeful Baggies

Lasith Malinga’s heroic with the ball followed by the third ODI hundred of Lahiru Thirimanne enabled Sri Lanka lift their fifth Asia Cup trophy by defeating defending champions Pakistan by five wickets at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday.

It was the third occasion for Sri Lanka yesterday who won a tournament chasing more than 250 runs a n d the credits were shared b y Malinga for his fivewicket haul and Thirimanne for his second hundred in the tournament – the first was also against Pakistan in the opening game at Fatullah.

Sri Lanka were off to a 56-run partnership in their chase of 260 before Saeed Ajmal struck twice in two balls to create a panic. Ajmal in his second over of the game first removed Kusal Perera, who went down the track only to see the bells removed by Umar Akmal, before trapping the big fish Kumar Sangakkara lbw for a golden duck.

The in-form Sangakkara’s departure was a huge boost for the Pakistanis, but a 156-run stand between Thirimanne and Mahela Jayawardene for the third-wicket saw the Lankans break out of trouble to set a sturdy sail towards the target.

Both Mahela and Thirimanne ex-

260

K Perera st Akmal b Ajmal L Thirimanne b Ajmal K Sangakkara lbw b Ajmal M Jayawardene c Sharjeel b Talha A Priyanjan c Akmal b Khan A Mathews not out C de Silva not out Extras: (b1, lb1, nb1, w5)

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5th Asia Cup glory for Sri Lanka

SCORECARD Pakistan Sharjeel Khan c Thisara b Malinga Shehzad c Sangakkara b Malinga Hafeez c Sangakkara b Malinga Misbah-ul Haq c Perera b Malinga Fawad Alam not out Umar Akmal c Priyanjan b Malinga Shahid Afridi not out Extras: (lb1, w5)

14 United sink

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Fargana Hoque (35) helped the team recover from 33 for 3 to 100 for 4 by the 18th over, but they were ultimately unable to maintain the required rate and were restricted to 113 for 6 from their 20 overs. Asmavia Iqbla snared two wickets for Pakistan, while Sania Khan, Sana Mir and Anam Amin chipped in with a scalp each. l

BRIEF SCORE Pakistan Women

126/ 4 in 20 overs (Javeria 58, Maroof 39) Bangladesh Women

113/ 6 in 20 overs (Fargana 35, Asmavia 2-22) Pakistan won by 13 runs

Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews was glad to break their final jinx as they had earlier lost in several finals to leave empty handed. The young captain helped his side lift their fifth Asia Cup trophy, first after 2008.

“We had to break the barrier and I am glad that we broke that barrier between Sri Lanka and the finals. The credit should go to the whole team.

We had a tremendous six weeks here and we remain unbeatable. We played some great cricket,” said Mathews at the post-match conference at SBNS yesterday.

The islanders exhibited tremendous fighting character during their six week

stay in Bnagladesh and Mathews said, “We have always been a team where we never give up. We keep fighting till the last ball is bowled. We actually showed that a few times. I am glad that the fighting spirit is there. The guys really wanted to do well today, a big game and big tournament, we haven’t won a major trophy in quite a while, so the boys were eager to go out there and perform.”

However, he admitted losing Sangakkara did make them panic but also praised Lahiru Thirimanne for his approach along with Mahela Jayawardene.

“He (Lahiru) has been amazing for us, he got injured in the last series, but he came back for us. He was very courageous to come up and play. You push him up the order, down the order,

wherever he gets the opportunity, he scores runs for us,” he said.

However, despite enjoying an unbeaten run so far in Bangladesh, the Lankan captain said the World T20

We have always been a team where we never give up.

We keep fighting till the last ball is bowled. We actually showed that a few times ahead is a completely new tournament and they will start fresh. “T20 is a funny game and a different format as well.

It’s a fresh tournament, it’s a World Cup and all the teams are quite even.

There will be a lot of competition. We just have one week to turn up and then play our first game. We will enjoy the win today and be back in a week’s time,” said Mathews.

Meanwhile, Misbah-ul-Haq blamed for not taking early wickets as it cost them in the end. “I think in matches like this, you need early wickets which we didn’t get. Saeed got good breakthroughs. We needed partnerships in bowling as well which it didn’t happen.

They bowled not according to the field that was set,” said Misbah.

However the Pakistani skipper praised his charges and said they played well throughout the tournament while he also hailed Fawad Alam for his century in the big game yesterday. l

Sri Lanka’s consistency pays off Injuries, lack of perfect application in crucial times and last over defeats are the story of Bangladesh team in the Asia Cup cricket that concluded yesterday. Lack of a cohesive middle order, absence o f MS Dhoni and dearth of death over bowling specialist haunted India while Afghanistan showed their worth of entering the elite cricket tournament of Asia. Sri Lanka and Pakistan were the consistent teams, who survived tough challenges to make it to the final where Sri Lanka handed the defending champions a fivewicket defeat to have the last laugh.

The strain was too much for Bangladesh as the Tigers went to play the Asia Cup when their mental and physical frame was not in a consistent position after a grueling series against Sri Lanka. Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim, opener Tamim Iqbal, pacer Mashrafe bin Mortaza and spinner Sohag Gazi fell prey of injuries while the absence of ill-mannered all-rounder Shakib al Hasan added more awes for the Tigers.

Bangladesh scored 280 against India and 326 against Pakistan in solid batting efforts. It was a bold statement from Mushfiq as the Bangladesh skipper made 117 runs in 113 balls, only to see his splendid effort fall short to his counterpart Virat Kohli’s ton as India romped to victory with his 136 off 122 balls. India won the match in the 49th over. Bangladesh’s highest score in the ODI was also

ruined as the bowlers were untidy in the last five overs and Pakistan cruised to victory with one ball to spare.

Bangladesh’s sigh of sorrow was never to end and losing to Afghanistan in the very first encounter also pointed out Bangladesh’s inadequate homework regarding the crucial match. Till landing in Bangladesh, Afghanistan made their intentions clear and said in media that they targeted one win and it is against

MOST RUNS Player Inns Runs Ave 100 Thirimanne (SL) 5 279 55.80 2 Akmal (Pak) 5 253 84.33 1 Sangakkara (SL) 5 248 49.60 1 Shehzad (Pak) 5 228 45.60 1 Anamul (Ban) 4 227 56.75 1

50 0 2 2 1 1

MOST WICKETS Player Malinga (SL) Ajmal (Pak) Mendis (SL) Ashwin (India) Shami (India)

Mat Runs Wkts BBI 4 189 11 5/52 5 202 11 3/26 3 126 9 4/60 4 167 9 3/31 4 230 9 4/50

Econ 5.42 4.12 4.84 4.21 6.16

Bangladesh as the home side is less authoritative in comparison to the other three teams. Restricting Afghanistan to 90/5 in 27 over put Bangladesh in a relaxing atmosphere that allowed the Afghans to stage a fight back and score 254/6. The shock of not being able to restrict the opponents took its toll as Bangladesh ultimately were all out on 222 for a landmark upset. Afghanistan said the victory would shape the next ten years of their cricket while Bangladesh

were left out on their toes to get ready for another Afghan challenge in the first match of the World T20.

It will be arguable whether India was in a light mood in the Asia Cup as stand in skipper Kohli felt the absence of the experienced names in the middle order.

The new look middle-order and integrity in dying overs resulted in an early departure for the Indians. India lost two matches to Sri Lanka and Pakistan and it was Kumar Sangakkara and Shahid Afridi who defied India respectively with their lusty blows in the dying stages.

Pakistan showed a lot of mental integrity after they arrived in Bangladesh under an uncomfortable situation regarding some political jaggedness. While Bangladesh terminating their tour to Pakistan and the ban on Pakistan cricketers in Dhaka Premier League were also reasons. However, the team was received warmly by the cricket fans of Bangladesh.

After almost five weeks in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka are still unbeaten and their win yesterday was only the example of their true class. Malinga fired when needed, he had two five-wicket hauls against Pakistan, Sangakkara and Mahela’s willow shone when it mattered while the young guns like Thirimanne, Kusal Perera and the efficient skipper Angelo Mathews proved how consistent they are as a team. Thirimanne, with a hundred yesterday, became the highest run scorer with 279 runs and Malinga emerged as the highest wicket taker with 11 scalps – just showing Sri Lanka’s authority and superiority in the Asia Cup. l

Mahela Jayawardene (L) and Lahiru Thirimanne cross over for a run during their 156-run partnership in the Asia Cup final against Pakistan at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday MUMIT M

Mahela levels scores after 14 years It took Mahela Jayawardene 14 years to set the scores right against Pakistan in an Asia Cup final in Bangladesh. The last time the two sides met at the final of the premier Asian tournament was in 2000 in Dhaka’s Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS) when Pakistan beat them by 39 runs to lift the trophy.

With time BNS has gone to host football from cricket and with time players from the 2000 final also retired.

However, the only remaining players from 2000 are Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi and Sri Lanka’s Jayawardene who met again in Bangladesh at a new venue. \Jayawardene was out on a duck in that final and he was run out by Afridi in his second ball, but with time the

veteran grew in to one of Sri Lanka’s best batsman and after four off-beat matches in this edition, where he scored 13, 9, 14 and 0, he made 75 in the final yesterday which helped his side lift the trophy after 2008. Sri Lanka, chasing 260, were pushed to the back foot when Saeed Ajmal struck twice in two balls to remove Kusal Perera and the in-form Kumar Sangakkara with the scorecard reading 56. The righthanded Jayawardene added 156 for the third wicket with Thirimanne as Sri Lanka eventually cruised to their target with five overs to spare. At the twilight of his career, it was certainly a very valuable contribution from Mahela who helped add another trophy for the cabinet.

Meanwhile, Afridi has remained to

be unpredictable with his performance but has also grown as Pakistan’s trump card in the format. Criticised for his careless batting approach, it was his match winning knocks against India and Bangladesh that helped Pakistan reach yesterday’s final.

The others from those squads of 2000 are either commentators or coaches in current time. Moin Khan is Pakistan’s head coach while Mohammad Akram is the bowling coach.

Meanwhile in the Sri Lankan camp, Chaminda Vaas is the bowling coach and Marvan Atapattu is their batting coach. Wasim Akram and Russell Arnold, who also played the final in 2000, were also present at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday but only as commentators. l

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Celtic to sign 13-year-old goalkeeper Scottish champions Celtic are set to sign 13-year-old goalkeeper Joshua Rae after beating Liverpool and Everton for his signature. Rae has yet to make his professional debut for Scottish second-tier side Hamilton Academical, but he is already regarded as one of the brightest goalkeeping prospects in Britain.

The teenager had previously been for trials with Liverpool, Everton, Celtic and Atletico Madrid and was due to return to Anfield for a second spell when the Glasgow giants stepped in to clinch a deal.

–AFP

Sport

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Djokovic looking for fresh start A stuttering start to 2014 doesn’t have world number two Novak Djokovic pushing the panic button just yet. The Serbian star admits his failure to win a fourth straight Australian Open crown in January gave his early 2014 campaign a different flavor. But the world’s second-ranked player insisted Friday he trusts he has the tools to turn things around. “It’s a different feel, definitely,” said Djokovic, who will launch his campaign at the Indian Wells ATP Masters this weekend against Romanian Victor Hanescu.

–AFP

Marseille suffer derby woe French giants Marseille’s hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League suffered a huge blow with a 1-0 defeat at home to struggling Nice in the Cote d’Azur derby on Friday. Marseille coach Jose Anigo had complained before the game about the quick turnaround just 48 hours after Wednesday’s international friendlies. And his fears proved justified as the former European champions produced a poor display and fell to Valentin Eysseric’s sumptuous 66th-minute free-kick.

–AFP

United sink woeful Baggies

Manchester United's Phil Jones (L) celebrates with team mates after scoring against West Bromwich Albion during their English Premier League match at The Hawthorns in West Bromwich, central England yesterday REUTERS

Juventus seeking revenge Juventus host Fiorentina for the first of three matches between the sides in the next fortnight with revenge firmly on their minds as the scudetto battle with Roma enters a crucial phase.

Juventus will host La Viola twice in five days, the sides’ first leg of a Europa League last-16 tie following Sunday’s Serie A clash, before travelling to Florence for the second leg on March 20.

Antonio Conte’s champions hold an 11-point lead on Roma, who have a game in hand, and boast the league’s best strike force in Carlos Tevez (15 goals) and Fernando Llorente (11), who have scored 26 times between them.

Despite the favourable statistics, Llorente said the Bianconeri will be looking to their only defeat this season so far -- a 4-2 reverse to Fiorentina in October -- as inspiration in the first of their trilogy of fixtures.

“We’re looking for revenge,” said Llorente. “Fiorentina are the only side that have beaten us this season so we

Messi vomiting not normal admits Barca boss Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino has voiced his concern for star player Lionel Messi after the Argentine was seen vomiting during his country’s goalless draw with Romania on Wednesday.

Messi was also sick on the pitch recently in Barca’s 3-1 defeat at Real Sociedad and Martino admitted the player has visited specialists to try and resolve the problem.

“It is not a normal situation, but there is no alarm. He has been to see specialists but as yet they haven’t found a solution.

“The important thing is that it doesn’t affect him from doing his job. It is something that he has had for a while now.”

Messi was just one of a number of Barca players away on international duty in midweek with Brazilian duo Neymar and Dani Alves only returning to training on Friday.

And Martino lamented having such little time to prepare for the Catalans visit to relegation threatened Valladolid on Saturday.

Barca currently trail leaders Real Madrid by a point, but can take top spot for 24 hours with a win as Madrid are not in action until Levante visit the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday. l

have to show that what happened there was a flash in the pan.”

Juventus have been unbeaten since then but will be without midfielder Andrea Pirlo due to suspension although Conte can count on a central midfield boasting Paul Pogba, Arturo Vidal and Claudio Marchisio.

Vidal suffered a scare in midweek when he came off early with a muscle

FIXTURES Juventus Bologna Chievo Inter Lazio Parma Sampdoria Napoli

v v v v v v v v

Fiorentina Sassuolo Geona Torino Atalanta Verona Livorno Roma

problem while playing for Chile against Germany, but he is expected to start.

Juve’s bid for a third consecutive scudetto, meanwhile, has been given a small boost by Napoli’s virtual abdication from the title race.

Napoli host Roma in Sunday’s late game but coach Rafael Benitez said

their challenge is virtually over: “I’m not going to lie, it’s gone.”

Roma midfielder Kevin Strootman gave coach Rudi Garcia a scare in midweek when he hobbled off the Netherlands’ friendly against France with a suspected knee injury.

However the Dutch international has been given the all clear and is set to start in Garcia’s preferred 4-3-3 alongside Miralem Pjanic and Radja Nainggolan.

Roma, however, will be without Daniele De Rossi for the first of a threematch suspension handed down for punching Mauro Icardi in a hotly-contested encounter with Inter last week.

Inter claimed a share of the spoils after their 1-1 draw and with Parma only one point off the pace in sixth with a game in hand, Walter Mazzarri’s men would welcome three points at home against Torino.

Defenders Walter Samuel and Juan Jesus are both serving suspensions meaning Hugo Campagnaro and Andrea Ranocchia step in.

Mazzarri is set to stick with the front pairing of Icardi and Rodrigo Palacio which has added punch to his attack of late. l

Manchester United kept their faltering push for a Champions League place alive with a breezy 3-0 victory at West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League on Saturday.

Goals from Phil Jones, Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck gave United back-to-back league wins for the first time since December, following their 2-0 success at Crystal Palace last month.

Victory took the defending champions to within nine points of fourth-place Manchester City, although they have played two more games, while Pepe Mel’s West Brom remain a point above the relegation zone in 17th place.

United’s last game at The Hawthorns had been Alex Ferguson’s last as manager and his successor, David Moyes, was looking for a reaction to his side’s shock 2-0 loss to Olympiakos in the Champions League.

After Marouane Fellaini had seen a header cleared off the line and West Brom goalkeeper Ben Foster had tipped a header from Rafael da Silva onto his

City won’t be distracted

by Barca clash Manuel Pellegrini insists his Manchester City side will not be distracted by their Champions League tie against Barcelona when they take on FA Cup holders Wigan on Sunday.

Pellegrini’s team trail Barcelona 2-0 ahead of Wednesday’s last-16 second leg, but before turning their attention to the Catalan giants, City must focus on an FA Cup quarter-final revenge mission against the Latics at Eastlands.

City suffered a shocking 1-0 loss against Wigan, who were then in the Premier League, in last season’s FA Cup final, a defeat which proved to be Roberto Mancini’s final match in charge.

Pellegrini’s men have struggled on occasions against second tier opposition in the cups this season.

They were taken to a replay by Blackburn in the FA Cup and trailed 2-0 to Watford in the early stages of their fourth round tie.

But Pellegrini, whose side won the first leg of a potential domestic treble with their League Cup final success

over Sunderland last weekend, is not concerned about City taking Uwe Rosler’s Championship side lightly.

“We are just thinking about the game against Wigan,” Pellegrini said.

“We know it is a tough game, it is not an easy game, they are playing very well, they win all their last matches so when we finish on Sunday the FA Cup we will just start thinking about Barcelona.

“I am looking to every competition with the same importance. On Sunday we have to play FA Cup, so we are thinking about FA Cup. “When we finish that we will try to make a good match against Barcelona to try and have our revenge and continue in the Champions League.

“Maybe it is not easy for us to play against different teams in the way we always want to do it but it is very important to try to continue the way we want to do it.”

Pellegrini acknowledges it will have an impact on the match and said: “I know he has an important link with this club also but now he is the manager of Wigan and he will want to win.” l

crossbar, United broke through in the 34th minute.

A free-kick wide on the right gave Robin van Persie an opportunity to whip a cross into the box and Jones stole in front of a clutch of defenders to beat Foster with a glancing near-post header.

In reply, Claudio Yacob and Victor Anichebe each went close for West Brom, but Foster was fortunate to escape censure after he miscalculated an attempt to control a lofted pass from Juan Mata outside his area and the ball struck him on the hand.

West Brom forced United onto the back foot early in the second half, with Zoltan Gera testing David De Gea at his near post and Mata hooking away a low cross from Anichebe.

However, United tightened their grip on proceedings in the 65th minute, with Rooney nodding in a cross from Rafael at the back post to claim his 11th league goal of the campaign.

Gera tested De Gea again as West Brom probed for a path back into the game, but Welbeck killed off the home fans’ hopes of a comeback in the 82nd minute when he ran onto Rooney’s through ball to curl a shot past Foster. l

Van Gaal hoping Champions League final disrupts Spain Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal is hoping as many Spain players as possible feature in the Champions League final on May 24 so the holders have less time to prepare for their June 13 World Cup Group B clash.

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque may have to wait until after the European club showpiece in Lisbon before he can begin preparations for the finals in Brazil with squad members from the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

In a worse case scenario, if Barca and Real meet in the Champions League final, 12 or more Spain players could be involved, including midfielders Xavi, Xabi Alonso, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets and Cesc Fabregas and first and second choice goalkeepers Iker Casillas and Victor Valdes.

Van Gaal may have to wait for Bayern’s Arjen Robben to join up with the squad but others like Robin van Persie of Manchester United or Paris St Germain’s Gregory van der Wiel are unlikely to play in Lisbon. l

Stylish Arsenal sweep into semi-finals Arsenal cruised into the FA Cup semi-finals as a late brace from substitute Olivier Giroud sealed a 4-1 win over Everton at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

Arsene Wenger’s side remain on course to finally end their nine-year trophy drought thanks to an enterprising quarter-final display in the spring sunshine in north London.

Mesut Ozil ended his three-month wait for a goal to give the hosts a perfect start before Lukaku’s equaliser.

Once Mikel Arteta had converted a penalty midway through the second half there was only ever going to be one winner and France forward Giroud’s late double ensured Arsenal can look forward to a last-four date at Wembley in April.

Everton looked in trouble from the moment midfielder Ozil slid home the seventh minute opener for Arsenal.

Cazorla made the most of a slip by James McCarthy and his perfectlyweighted pass ensured the out-of-form Ozil scored his first goal since December.

Ironically Ozil’s last goal came against Everton and you could see his confidence lifted as well as that of his

teammates.

Arsenal were looking to expose stand-in Robles at every opportunity, but they were caught by a quick counter-attack that ended in Everton’s 32nd minute equaliser.

For all Arsenal’s dominance at the start of the second half, Everton should have taken the lead in the 53rd minute through Barkley.

A Thomas Vermaelen mistake was seized upon by Lukaku and his pass gave Barkley a clear sight of goal, only for the England midfielder to curl his shot past Fabianski’s right-hand post.

In an increasingly tight game it appeared a mistake might prove the difference, and so it proved as Gareth Barry’s clumsy trip on Oxlade-Chamberlain left referee Mark Clattenburg with no choice but to point to the spot.

Arteta’s first penalty was converted and, after Clattenburg ordered a retake for encroachment, the Spaniard stepped up to once again beat Robles in the 68th minute.

Then Giroud’s two late goals finished it off as the Frenchman pocked home Sagna’s 83rd minute cross and a quickfire three-man attack was ended with Giroud tapping in two minutes later to send Arsenal to Wembley. l

Arsenal's Olivier Giroud scores the second goal against Everton during their FA Cup quarter final match at the Emirates stadium in London yesterday REUTERS

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

15

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Huntelaar hat-trick ends Schalke crisis, Bayern march on

QUICK BYTES

Gregory’s, Rahmatullah in rugby final today St.Gregory’s and Rahmatullah High School will lock horns in the final of the Health First Mini Rugby at the Paltan Ground at 4pm today. In the semifinals yesterday St. Gregory’s overpowered Ali Ahmad High School 31-0 while Rahmatullah High School outplayed Karatitola CMS Memorial High School 15-5. Zobera Rahman Linu, the Guinness record holder of the highest number of national titles holder in women’s table tennis, will be the chief guest on the occasion.

–Tribune Desk

Xavi dreams of being Barca’s head coach Playmaker Xavi, who has won 22 trophies in 16 glittering seasons with Barcelona, said on Saturday that he would love to take over as head coach one day. The 34-year-old has made more than 700 appearances for the Catalan club, winning three Champions Leagues and seven La Liga titles since making his debut in August 1998. Xavi’s contract at the Nou Camp expires in 2016 and the Spain midfielder wants to move into management once his playing days are over. Asked in an interview with Britain’s Daily Mail newspaper if he would like to coach Barcelona in the future, Xavi replied: “I’d love to, yes ... but that is for the future. Right now I love to play football.

–Reuters

Four share lead at windy WGC Former runner-up Dustin Johnson fired a two-over 74 to grab a share of the lead at a gusty WGC-Cadillac Championship on Friday, while Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy kept pace with a 74. Defending champion Tiger Woods carded a 73 in difficult conditions, and despite the over-par round jumped 28 places into a share of 25th at the $9 million PGA Tour event. Woods won this title for the seventh time last year.

“I played pretty well. A 74 is about as high as it was going to go. I think I played a lot better than that,” said Johnson, who finished second in this event in 2011. “It’s really tough.”

–AFP

Vidic to remain United skipper Manchester United manager David Moyes has confirmed that Nemanja Vidic will remain captain until the end of the season despite Inter Milan announcing the defender will join them in the summer. Vidic revealed he would be leaving Old Trafford after more than eight years earlier this year. Inter Milan have now confirmed that he has signed a pre-contract agreement with them and will move to Italy in the summer. There are also doubts about the long-term futures of fellow defenders Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra. Moyes insists that Vidic’s move will not affect the captaincy.

–AFP

DAY’S WATCH Sony Six NBA 2013-14 6:30AM Cleveland v New York 9:30AM LA Clippers v Atlanta 11:00PM Chicago v Miami 9:00PM Rugby Six Nation 2014 England v Wales: Round 4

Valladolid's midfielder Fausto Rossi (R) celebrates after scoring as Barcelona's goalkeeper Valdes (L) reacts during their La Liga match at the Jose Zorilla stadium in Valladolid yesterday

Barcelona suffer shock defeat Barcelona slumped to their third defeat in seven league games as they lost away to relegation-threatened Valladolid 1-0 on Saturday.

Italian Fausto Rossi scored the only goal of the game as he slammed home from close range after 17 minutes.

Valladolid goalkeeper Diego Marino was forced into four saves by Lionel Messi, but it was Neymar who had the best chance to level when he ballooned over just before the hour mark.

However, the Catalans couldn’t find a way through and could fall four points behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid should Los Blancos beat Levante at home on Sunday.

Victory for Valladolid also has significant consequences at the other end of the table as La Pucela move out of the relegation zone with just their fifth league win of the campaign.

Rossi opened the scoring with his first goal for Valladolid as he took advantage of a ricochet off two Barca defenders inside the area to fire past Victor Valdes.

Barca reacted as the first-half drew to a close and Marino had to be alive to deny Messi twice from range before Cesc Fabregas also tested the keeper with a drive from the edge of the box.

Marino made another good save just three minutes after the restart as the Argentine squeezed a shot towards goal with his weaker right foot from a narrow angle.

Neymar then had a great chance to equalise when he blasted over from close range after being brilliantly played in by Fabregas.

That pass was to be the former Arsenal captain’s last significant involvement as he was replaced by Alexis Sanchez with just under half an hour remaining.

Gerard Pique and Neymar were also withdrawn as Martino made a desperate last attempt to influence the game by introducing Sergi Roberto and Cristian Tello.

And the result could have been even worse for Barca had Oscar not wastefully spooned over Valdet Rama’s cutback moments later. l

RESULTS Schalke 04

4 0

Hoffenheim

1 2

FC Augsburg

Huntelaar 6, 28, 79, Chinedu Obasi Ogbuke 55

M'gladbach Rafael 5

VfB Stuttgart Maxim 30, Harnik 35

Hanover Rudnevs 33

VfL Wolfsburg Naldo 17

Hamburg Calhanoglu 72-P

Altintop 35, Werner 81

2 2

Braunschweig Hochscheidt 24, Bicakcic 82

1 1

Leverkusen

1 6

Bayern Munich

Castro 28

Shaqiri 26, Mueller 63, 78, Mandzukic 66, 80, Ribery 71

1 1

Frankfurt Madlung 29

South Africa, Australia prepare for World T20 SQUADS South Africa Faf du Plessis (captain), Kyle Abbott, Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock (wkt), AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Beuran Hendricks, Imran Tahir, David Miller, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Aaron Phangiso, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.

Australia George Bailey (captain), Dan Christian, Nathan Coulter-Nile, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin (wkt), Moises Henriques, Brad Hodge, Brad Hogg, Glenn Maxwell, James Muirhead, Mitchell Starc, David Warner, Shane Watson, Cameron White.

South Africa and Australia will be aiming to hone their Twenty20 international skills when they start a threematch series at St George’s Park on Sunday.

Coming after a high-intensity Test series, a succession of 20-overs games would not normally have much more than entertainment value, but for both teams it provides an opportunity to prepare for the World Twenty20, which starts in Bangladesh a week after the last match of the series.

Both squads show considerable

changes from the Test teams, with new captains and new players in key roles.

With fast bowling spearhead Mitchell Johnson withdrawn to enable him to rest ahead of the world event, Australia’s squad includes only three players who appeared in the Test series.

Nine of South Africa’s 16-man squad played in the Tests but Kyle Abbott, Quinton de Kock and Wayne Parnell only appeared in one Test each, while fast bowler Dale Steyn will miss at least the first two matches after suffering a hamstring strain during the third Test.

Abbott is not part of the World T20 squad but was called up as cover for Steyn.

There are injury concerns over two other fast bowlers, Parnell and newcomer Beuran Hendricks, who will both have fitness tests ahead of the first match after suffering recent injuries.

It is a particularly important period for South African T20 captain Faf du Plessis.

Following the retirement of Graeme Smith, Du Plessis and former schoolmate AB de Villiers, the one-day international captain, are the two leading candidates to take over the Test leadership.

The South African squad includes short-game specialists such as hardhitting left-handed batsman David Miller and all-rounder Albie Morkel, who returns to international action after a two-year absence.

Australia will be captained by batsman George Bailey, who was dropped from the Test team after playing in all five Ashes Tests against England earlier in the summer.

The tourists have a strong line-up of quick-scoring batsmen, including opener Aaron Finch, who hit a world T20 international record score of 156 against England in 2013. l

Shirin new queen of track, Mezbah retains 100m title Juvenile athlete Mezbah Ahmed of Bangladesh Navy retained his title as the fastest man of the country in 100m sprint while BKSP athlete Shirin Akter was crowned the new queen of the track after winning gold in the women’s 100m sprint in the 38th National Athletics Championship at the Army Stadium yesterday.

BJMC topped the medal chart to finish as champions winning 11 gold, 13 silver and nine bronze while Navy followed them in second place despite winning the same number of gold along with three silver and two bronze.

Army finished third with nine gold, 15 silver and 11 bronze.

Mezbah, the former athlete of BKSP who also clinched 100m title in the 8th Bangladesh Games, clocked the fastest time in recent years 10.52s and also broke his own personal record to clinch the first spot. Kazi Shah Imran of Navy and Rajat Kanti of BJMC won silver and bronze medals clocking 10.80s and 10.85s respectively.

The 18-year-old from Bagerhat, Mezbah also claimed 200m spring title on the opening day and for the first time he won both 100m and 200m title.

His previous record was 10.75s in the last Bangladesh Games.

In the absence of Nazmun Nahar Beauty, BKSP’s Shirin Akter bagged the women’s 100m title crossing the touchline in 11.84s, 0.51 seconds less

than silver winner Irin Akter of BKSP. BJMC’s Papia Rani Sarkar finished third clocking 12.69s. Shirin finished second in both 100m and 200m spring in the last Bangladesh Games.

In the day’s other events, Shafiqul Islam won gold in men’s hammer throw; Nazma Akter grabbed gold in women’s javelin throw; Arifuzzaman Raju finished first in men’s high jump; Sumi Khatun and Mehedi Hassan won gold in men’s and women’s 800m; Hazera Khatun won gold in women’s shot-put.

Shohagi Akter, Nasima Akter, Papia Rani Sarkar and Beauty won gold in women’s 4*400m relay while Ruhul Biswas, Sabbir Hossain, Alamgir Hossain and Swapon Ali claimed gold in men’s relay. l

Unseeded Davis upsets Azarenka

Star Sports 4 Italian Serie A 5:30PM Juventus v Fiorentina 8:00PM Inter Milan v Torino 10:00PM FA Cup Man City v Wigan Star Sports HD1 La Liga 12:00AM Real Madrid v Levante 2:00AM Valencia v Athletic Bilbao Star Sports 2 1:45AM Italian Serie A Napoli v Roma Ten Cricket 6:30PM South Africa v Australia 1st T20 Ten Action 10:00PM French Ligue 1 2013/14 Lorient v Saint- Etienne

AFP

Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored a hat-trick and had a penalty saved as Schalke 04 bounced back from last week’s heavy defeats to ease past Hoffenheim 4-0 on Saturday and tighten their hold on fourth spot.

Leaders Bayern Munich’s unstoppable march towards the Bundesliga title continued with Thomas Mueller and Mario Mandzukic grabbing two goals each as the reigning champions demolished hosts VfL Wolfsburg 6-1 for a league record 16th consecutive victory.

Bayern extended their lead at the top to a staggering 23 points from second-placed Borussia Dortmund. l

Victoria Azarenka (BLR) grimaces as she holds her left ankle during her match against Lauren Davis (not pictured) at the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden

Victoria Azarenka’s fighting spirit just wasn’t enough on Friday as the injured third seed was sent packing from Indian Wells by 66th-ranked American Lauren Davis.

With the world number four from Belarus hobbled by a painful left foot, the 20-year-old Davis triumphed 6-0, 7-6 (7/2).

“Basically all I had was my fighting spirit today,” said Azarenka, who was playing her first tournament since a quarter-final exit at the Australian Open.

She had returned to the practice court less than a week earlier, after three weeks in a protective boot.

“I wanted to give my best shot,” Azarenka said. “Obviously it was maybe a little bit too early. But I gave a fight. I’m pretty proud of whatever I did today.

“You also have to give her credit,” Azarenka said of Davis. “In this situation it’s not easy to close the match and she’s done it.”

Davis notched her first win against a top-10 player. She booked a third-round meeting with compatriot Varvara Lepchenko, who upset 29th-seeded Daniela Hantuchova, the 2002 and 2007 champion, 6-3, 6-2 in 84 minutes. l

Team Ispahani and Aces players concentrate over their next deals in the final of the National Team Bridge yesterday COURTESY

Ispahani clinch 30th National Team Bridge Team Ispahani clinched the coveted National Team Bridge competition.

They beat Team Aces with a score of 231 against 166 International Match Points (IMPS). The final, which took place on Friday and Saturday, was held with 96 boards of automated shuffled cards split over six rounds.

Team Ispahani was led by Mirza Sajid Ispahani while the other members of the squad were Shah Zia Ul Haq, AHM Kamruzzaman, Rashedul Hasan, Asifur Rahman Chowdhury and Moshiur Rahman.

Shah Zia Ul Haq of the winning team

expressed his content to the Dhaka Tribune and said, “We look forward to compete and be successful in the world arena. For doing that we must disseminate the game to universities and colleges.”

The tournament commenced on February 28 at Engineering Recreation Club with the participation of 12 teams.

Bridge is a highly popular card game around the world and it is regarded as the top among the mind games. Many international festivals and competitions are arranged throughout the world as the game sharpens the decision making and calculation skills of players which help them immensely to augment mental growth and cognitive abilities. l

Rested Wawrinka aims to build on Aussie Open triumph Now that the magnitude of his Australian Open triumph has sunk in, Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka is aiming to build on his first Grand Slam triumph.

The unassuming Swiss, playing his first tournament since he beat Rafael Nadal in the final at Melbourne in January, is the third seed in the ATP Masters tournament in the California desert.

He put a toe back in the water on Friday by teaming with compatriot Roger

Federer in a 6-2, 6-7 (4/7) 10-6 firstround doubles win over sixth seeds Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi, who lifted the doubles title in Dubai last week.

“I feel great,” said Wawrinka, who helped Switzerland into the Davis Cup quarter-finals shortly after his Australian Open triumph but then withdrew from the ATP tournament in Rotterdam saying his legs weren’t up to it.

“I was home after Davis Cup for threeand-a-half weeks, but since I’m here practising ... I’m really happy,” he said. l

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

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Sunday, March 9, 2014

Fresh confrontations in Crimea n Reuters

The mood darkened in Russian-occupied Crimea on Saturday after overnight confrontations between Russian troops and besieged Ukrainian soldiers raised tensions on the ground in the biggest East-West face-off since the Cold War.

‘The situation is changed. Tensions are much higher now. You have to go’ Pressure levels have increased markedly in the two days since the region’s pro-Moscow leadership declared that it is now part of Russia and announced a March 16 referendum to confirm it.

President Vladimir Putin declared a week ago that Russia has the right to invade Ukraine to protect Russian citizens, and his parliament has voted to change the law to make it easier to annex territory.

So far, Russia’s seizure of the Black Sea peninsula has remained bloodless, but its forces have become increasingly aggressive towards Ukrainian troops, who are trapped in bases and have offered no resistance.

Russian troops drove a truck into a

missile defence post in Sevastopol, the home of both their Black Sea Fleet and the Ukrainian navy, and took control of it overnight. A Reuters reporting team at the scene said no-one was hurt.

Ukraine’s border service said Russian troops had also seized a border guard outpost in the east of the peninsula overnight, kicking the Ukrainian officers and their families out of their apartments in the middle of the night.

“The situation is changed. Tensions are much higher now. You have to go.

You can’t film here,” said a Russian soldier carrying a heavy machine gun, his face covered except for his eyes, at a Ukrainian navy base in Novozernoye.

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said on Saturday Poland had evacuated its consulate in Sevastopol due to “continuing disturbances by Russian forces”.

About 100 armed Russians are keeping watch over the Ukrainians at the base, where a Russian ship has been scuttled at the entrance to keep the Ukrainians from sailing out.

“Things are difficult and the atmosphere has got worse. The Russians threaten us when we go and get food supplies and point their guns at us,” said Vadim Filipenko, the Ukrainian deputy commander at the base. l

Pro-Ukrainian supporters carry Ukrainian flags as they march during a rally in Simferopol yesterday

REUTERS

CAAB yet to meet International Civil Aviation Organisation’s conditions Airlines business in Bangladesh might be at risk if blacklisted n Tazlina Zamila Khan The Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh risks falling into ‘Significant Safety Concern’ list of International Civil Aviation Organisation again as it is yet to meet all conditions set by the international authority.

If blacklisted, the Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh (CAAB) would face a bar to registering for new international air route which would ultimately help foreign airlines to gain the upper hand in airline business, a CAAB official said, asking not to be named.

He said Bangladesh civil aviation was dropped from the safety concern list of ICAO ‘on condition’ in July 2012.

The US Federal Aviation Administration also ranked the CAAB category 2

BB Governor: Central Bank to encourage young savers n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Atiur Rahman yesterday said the central bank would issue a circular within few days so that street children can open bank account with Tk 10 to save their income.

He said this while addressing the School Banking Conference as chief guest, at Bangladesh Bank Colony High School playground in Agrabad at Chittagong.

“Although Habib Bank was the first to introduce school banking in the country in the sixties [1960s], but school banking was still very rare,” he said.

Atiur said he took initiatives for developing school banking after taking office. “We introduced a policy for school banking last year, where young people between 6-18 years can open account starting from Tk 100 and use the opportunity to save their money for education, stipend money and so on.”

From November 2, 2010 till December 31, 2013, some 2,86,000 school students have opened bank accounts under school banking procedures and Tk 304 crore have been deposited in these accounts.

“No government charge will be applied for this type of account,” he added.

BB Executive Director M Mahfuzur Rahman presided over the programme, where Mohammad Masud Kamal Bhuiyan, executive director of BB in Chittagong, was also present. l

because of failing to meet standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

Of the conditions imposed by the ICAO, one was to have full-time staff under a new structured organogram, the official said, adding that most officials of the CAAB had been working on temporary basis.

The same requirement was imposed on CAAB by the US authorities.

Top CAAB officials believed that the current organogram was not well-structured, with two of its eight categories remaining unfilled.

The posts of Grade 1 and Grade 8 have fallen vacant since the organogram came into being.

The officials proposed to upgrade the post of chairman to grade 1 from

grade 2 in order to fill the category, but no decision was made for grade 8.

The grades range from one to eight, including the first-class staff –chairman, director, chief engineers and others.

However, to achieve the category 1 status from the Federal Aviation Administration of USA, every country must meet the ICAO standard of all its eight audit areas.

The eight are primary aviation legislation, organisational structure and safety oversight functions, personnel licensing, flight operations, airworthiness, accident and incident investigation, air navigation services and aerodromes and ground aids.

The CAAB failed to meet seven of the eight audit areas, according to the International Civil Aviation Organisa-

tion safety audit report.

Around 11 civil aviation authorities of different countries like India, Bahamas, Barbados, Curacao, Indonesia, Nicaragua, Serbia, Sint Maarten, Uruguay and Bangladesh fall into FAA’s category 2.

Usually, the civil aviation authority of a country falls into category 2 for having a poor standard in at least one critical area of the eight in comparison with the global standard percentage.

The Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh has only met the standard of one category, which is flight operations. Here, the CAAB achieved 81.15% while global standard was 66.04%.

The CAAB got the lowest percentage in accident and incident investigation category which was 3.09% while the

international standard was 53.59%.

At the legislation category it obtained 33.33% while the global standard 63.03%.

At the organisational structure and safety oversight functions, personnel licensing, airworthiness, air navigation services and aerodromes and grounds aids, the CAAB obtained 53.85%, 65.82%, 72.97%, 34.67% and 54.68% respectively while the global standards were 63.64%, 71.62%, 73.03%, 54.65 and 57.75%.

In 1996, the Federal Aviation Administration banned Dhaka-New York flight of Biman due to its category 2 rating.

Besides, the US Department of Defence doesn’t permit its personnel to use air carriers from category 2 countries.

Contacted, Air Cdre M Shafiqul Alam, acting chairman and member (Operations and Planning) of CAAB, confirmed the matter.

He told the Dhaka Tribune, “I agree there are some ups and downs in the standards of audit areas, but we are working to raise our standard.”

He added that, “It is tough to meet all ICAO standards as we have lack of manpower. Once we were on the blacklist, but not now.”

The requirement of FAA was a new structured organogram, the acting chairman said, adding that after the Civil Aviation Ministry approved the organogram, the FAA team would be invited for re-assessment of the CAAB which might take place in June this year. l

Minors falling victim to trafficking n Tribune Report While being trafficked to India, three Bangladeshi children were rescued by a team of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) from Zakiganj border of Sylhet around 9am yesterday.

All of them are from different villages of Zakiganj upazila.

They are, Sharmin Akhter, 8, daughter of Aziz Uddin of Sharifganj village, Halima Akhter, 9, daughter of Abdul

Sabur of Pilakandi village and Mahbub Ahmed, 9, son of Mosadder Ali of Amonsid village.

Commanding Officer of BGB battalion 41 Lt Col Shah Alam said acting on a tip-off, a team of BGB led by Nayek Subedar Abdur Razzak conducted a drive at the Pilkandi border and arrested the trafficker identified as, Shahab Uddin Shaju, 22.

Shaju, who is an alleged in several cases of human trafficking, had kid-

Members of the Border Guards Bangladesh yesterday rescued three children from being trafficked out of the country at Jakiganj border area in Sylhet. A child trafficker has also been detained in this connection DHAKA TRIBUNE

napped the children while they were returning from a waz mahfil. A case had been filed against Shaju with Zakiganj police station, he said.

Officer-in-Charge of the police station Yunus Mia said: “We are investigating into the matter.”

Police yesterday arrested two from Char Moddhonagar area of Fotullah upazila of Narayanganj district in connection with trafficking of two teenage girls and forcing them into prostitution in Qatar, confirmed Fotullah model thana Officer-in-Charge Akter Hossain.

The detainees are Al-Amin, 30 and Afiz Uddin, 43. Sub-Inspector of Fotullah model thana Nazmul said: “Al-Amin and Afiz Uddin lured the girls with offer of a good job in Dubai and sold them at a brothel in Qatar.”

A case was filed in this connection in October, last year. A female SSC examinee was kidnapped from the same upazila yesterday.

The victim’s mother Selina Begum filed a case in this connection.

The examinee went to Pagla High School in the upazila to sit for an exam.

After coming out of the centre, a local, Kanchan Sheikh and his associates, Lutfur Sheikh and Zabed Sheikh, had kidnapped her, according to Selina Begum.

“We are trying to rescue the abducted,” said the officer-in-charge. l

Chlorine in water hampers IV fluids production n Moniruzzaman Uzzal The high-dosage of chlorine in the water supplied by Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) has reportedly been hampering the production process of intravenous (IV) fluid unit at the Institute of Public Health (IPH).

The only public IV fluid unit of the country produces around 8,000 to 9,000 bags of saline each day that are distributed to public hospitals across the country.

The local water pump of Dhaka Wasa reportedly provides the IV fluid unit daily with around 50,000 litres of water needed to continue normal production.

However, production at the IV fluid unit has faced a setback during the

last few weeks, as the Sayedabad water pump has allegedly been supplying water dosed with a large amount of chlorine in order to purify the polluted water.

Despite attempts by the IPH authority to sterilise the chlorine-mixed water, production had to be shut down for a few days at the IV fluid unit last month.

Frequent load-shedding and low gas pressure has also been causing trouble for normal production by the unit.

Dr Shubimol Singha Chowdhury, the director of IPH, told the Dhaka Tribune that it was near impossible to continue the normal production of saline, as Wasa had been supplying water mixed with strong doses of chlorine for the last few weeks.

Shubimol has already asked the sub-divisional engineer of Wasa for a

solution to the problem.

In a letter to Wasa authority, he mentioned that production would have to be suspended if the problem persisted, as well as requesting Wasa to supply water from deep tube-well instead of the Sayedabad water treatment plant.

Sources said two gas generators (1000kVA) – bought by the IPH to overcome the load-shedding crisis – could not be run, as it had no gas connection.

However, authorities have also reportedly asked Titas gas for providing a new connection.

The IV fluid unit produces different types of intravenous fluids including normal saline, cholera saline, baby saline, 3% sodium chloride and haemodialysis fluid.l

Robbers dug a tunnel leading to the bank’s vault from a nearby furniture shop by using gas cylinder DHAKA TRIBUNE

Tk32.5 lakh stolen from Bogra’s Sonali Bank n Hasibur Rahman Bilu, Bogra About Tk32.5 lakh was stolen from Sonali Bank’s Adamdighi branch in Bogra yesterday.

Burglars dug a tunnel from a nearby furniture shop to reach the vault of the bank.

In similar fashion robbers took away Tk16.40 crore from the Sonali Bank main branch of Kishoreganj on January 24 by digging a tunnel from an adjacent house.

Bank officials called police about 4:30pm after they found the vault broken.

Shamsuddin Sharif, manager of the branch, said the bank was closed on Friday but it was open yesterday on the occasion of election for women’s reserved seats in parliament.

He said around Tk32.52 lakh was in the vault on Thursday Azhar Ali, cashier of the branch, told the Dhaka Tribune that Tk32.51 lakh was missing from the vault.

The amount might increase.

Over yesterday’s incident, four people including a security guard of the branch were detained for their alleged involvement in the incident, Officer-in-Charge of Adamdighi police Md Nazrul Islam said.

The detainees are security guards Milon Hossain and Purno Devnath; Ashraful Islam, owner of an adjacent furniture shop, and Shahin, an employee of the shop.

Bogra Additional Superintendent of Police Abu Sayem said the robbers used gas flame to break the vault. l

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Business

B3 Privacy groups ask regulators to halt Facebook’s $19bn WhatsApp deal

B4 World's first car decorated with gold leaf

SUNDAY, MARCH 9, 2014 www.dhakatribune.com/business

7 ‘lucky’ districts Accord-Alliance inspection team cites concerns with workers safety may get separate three n budget next fiscal Ibrahim Hossain Ovi

n Asif Showkat Kallol Only seven lucky districts, out of 64, have been chosen for bringing under district budget in the upcoming financial year although the existing laws do not permit the local bodies to implement any financial budget.

The likely lucky seven districts are Bhola district of Barisal division, Rangamati of Chittagong division, Gopalganj of Dhaka division, Magura of Khulna division, Bogra of Rajshahi division, Panchagarh of Rangpur division, and Sunamganj of Sylhet.

Finance division has initially identified the seven districts to bring them under the district budget.

Without enacting the necessary laws to empower the local bodies to utilise the allocated monetary budget, the government had also allocated similar budget for Tangail district in the last fiscal year, which yielded no positive results so far.

Although the lucky-seven districts are yet to be named for the budget allocation of Tk.7 crore, the division are, however, named as Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Sylhet, and Barisal, according to officials.

Initially finance division has identified Bhola district of Barisal division , Rangamati district of Chittagong division, Gopalganj district of Dhaka division , Magura district of Khulna division , Bogra district of Rajshahi division, Panchagarh district of Rangpur division, and Sunamganj district of Sylhet Budget wing of the finance division will soon place a proposal to the finance minister for giving his consent in allocating the funds for the seven districts.

However, a number of officials at the finance ministry, however, declined to

make any comment on the newly-introduced zila budget as they think that the separate allocation is not at all meaningful without enacting any relevant laws.

The district administration will not be able to implement the budget if because of legal complexity. Tangail district could not implement one Tk. one crore annual budget in the current fiscal year. The finance division did not ask the district commissioner even over telephone to implement the district budget, said the officials.

The districts administration will not be able execute the allocated budget until and unless they were given the authority to implement their budgets.

The government always takes initiatives to empower local government but all the efforts go in vein as there have been no related-laws, Shujan Chairman Badiul Alam Majumdar told the Dhaka Tribune.

All the successive governments have so far failed to empower district level administration as the governments are not willing to undertake a national policy to really strengthen the local bodies, he also said.

Immediately after the 5 January general polls, the finance minister AMA Muhith had promised that the government would bring seven districts of the seven divisions under separate budget allocations from fiscal year 2014-15.

The districts will be simply brought under the district budget as part of the government policy to decentralize the annual budget, he added.

Tangail is the first district that was selected in the current financial year for implementing the zila budget by the finance ministry. Under the new concept, the budget allocation for Tangail in the annual budget was shown separately. l

Accord and Alliance have identified three concerns related with workers’ safety in the Bangladesh apparel factories.

They include exceeding the load-bearing of floors, flawed electrical wires and piling of finished goods in the stairs and floors.

Accord and Alliance, two groups of ready-made garment retailers, found it during their recent inspection of factories.

A press conference will be held on Tuesday in the city to present the inspection findings, a source concerned told the Dhaka Tribune.

“They (the factories) have too much weight (placed on floors), too much stock of machinery and too muck stock of finished goods on the floors and in the passages,” Rob Wayss, executive director (Bangladesh operations) of Accord, told the Dhaka Tribune.

The common fault with the power lines was the weakly placed wires on the walls and mess in switch boards, he said.

Piling of finished goods on the staircases and lack of fire exits were the common findings about fire safety.

“All factories must have fire doors so smokes and flames cannot come out to the stairs from the floors during fire incidents,” said Rob Wayss.

Accord has primarily suggested conducting maintenance of electrical wires, properly managing of loads on each floor and installing fire doors so that workers can see inside.

As of Friday, March 7, the Alliance has inspected over 240 factories while the Accord engineers inspected around 70 factories.

Following the findings of Accord inspection, a review panel asked two factories - Softex and Fame Sweater - to suspend production and retrofit them before.

The panel also directed Jeans Care,

Russian Ollo seeks spectrum merger of its two wings n Muhammad Zahidul Islam The two Russian telecom partners Bangladesh Internet Exchange Ltd (BIEL) and New Generation Graphics Limited (NGGL) - are now trying to merge their spectrum, which is not allowed under the law.

BIEL and NGGL operate under a common brand name “Ollo.”

They jointly wrote to the telecom regulator asking for a no objection certificate (NoC) for the merger.

The regulator immediately sent the proposal to the government for approval. It’s under the government’s scrutiny now.

“To become a strong competitor in the country’s wireless internet market and build a wider network making available the latest technology to people, we have sought merger of spectrum,” said a joint statement of the two ISP providers.

“BIEL-NGGL issue is very sensitive for us. That’s why we do not make any comment on their merger and have sent it to the government for approval,” a BTRC commissioner said requesting anonymity.

BTRC said according to its legal consultancy firm the merger could be done.

“Now the ball is in the government’s court. They have to decide about it.”

BIEL managing director Yulua Akstyutina is currently not in the country while none from the company wanted to make any comment.

According to the Telecom Act, a licence issued or the right of allotted frequency or of usage under the section4 of article 55 is not transferable.

In a meeting, BTRC cited the section and the proposal was sent to their legal firm Lex Council for opinion.

Lex Council recommended the proposal to be approved.

A senior official of the regulator said: “BTRC has taken a policy. When there will be a matter which could be against the law, the regulator straightly forward its legal firm and seek opinion.”

Barrister Aneek R Haque, a former legal consultant of BTRC, told the Dhaka Tribune that if BTRC allows a company to merge spectrum with another one, it would not be lawful and could be challenged in court.

“You can’t do everything with the power of your muscles,” he said.

Both of the Russian firms came to Bangladesh in early 2010 and bought two different internet service

providers (ISP) BIEL and NGGL with seven megahertz spectrum each on 3.5 band.

Soon after the purchase, the two entities BIEL and NGGL jointly launched Wi-Max service in the country under the brand name “Ollo” without taking licences.

It was challenged in the court.

BIEL recently took Wi-Max licence for Tk246.71 crore with 20 megahertz spectrum with FDD support, though the market price would be not less than Tk3,200 crore.

FDD-supported spectrum is the most valuable spectrum which can also deliver quality voice with data service.

Earlier in 2011, the NGGL also received 20 megahertz spectrum from 800 bands without any charge.

With the huge spectrum taken at different times, the two firms have become now what the market insiders say the “spectrum mughol” of the country.

Mobile phone operators bought the spectrum at Tk150 crore per megahertz in 2011.

The operators also received spectrum from 2,100 bands for 3G service at a cost of $21mper megahertz. l

Accord and Alliance will inspect a total of 2,100 RMG factories of the country a RMG factory located in the city’s Tejgaon, to take immediate steps to improve safety standards. Otherwise the production will be closed.

On the other, Alliance did not find any factory, which needed retrofitting.

“During inspection, we did not find any factory which needed to be relocated or retrofitted,” said M Rabin, managing director of Alliance.

He said the culture of piling up finished goods on the floors and in the passage of exits would need to be

changed.

Accord, a platform of 150 European retailers, launched on February 20 the first phase of inspection involving fire and structural integrity and inspected over 65 factories.

In the first phase, Accord has set a target of inspecting 200 apparel factories, from which its signatories source products.

The factories will be inspected in a four-week time from February 20.

The issue of fire and building safety

Government to ease Ethylene Oxide import n Asif Showkat Kallol The government is going the amend to the existing import policy order 2012-15 for easing the bulk-import of Ethylene Oxide to help flourish the local bottled gas industries in the country.

Admitting the fact, commerce secretary Mahbub Ahmed yesterday said, “The proposal will be placed at the next cabinet committee on economic affairs for getting the necessary approval.”

If the import policy order is relaxed, the local pharmaceuticals industries, producing anti-septic products, and garment industries will be benefited, he added.

As the local pharmaceutical companies are now facing production disruption due to the shortage of the Ethylene Oxide, bulk-import of Ethylene Oxide will solve the crisis.

The country would be able to save huge amount of foreign currency if the local manufactures could produce necessary bottled gas in the country, according to officials.

On December 5, 2013, the local joint-venture company JMI Industrial Gas Limited sent a proposal to the commerce ministry with a request to amend the existing import policy for easing the bulk import of Ethylene Ox-

ide as the existing import policy order does not allow any private firms to import Ethylene Oxide in a bulk amount.

The two paragraphs will be include in the provision of 26(26) of import policy order 2012-15 fiscal year to amend the existing policy order.

'The proposal will be placed at the next cabinet committee on economic affairs for getting the necessary approval' As per the commerce ministry proposal, the local bottled gas industries would be allowed to import bulk amount of Ethylene Oxide only with prior approval from the Board of Investment, Chief Inspector of Department of Explosive and the directorate concerned.

“The private firms will bottle Ethylene Oxide to sell it to the license holders of the Ethylene Oxide. The sales account will be maintained by the private firms that are accountable to the authority concerned, according to proposal. l

REUTERS

came under the spotlight last year, following the catastrophic incident at the Rana Plaza building collapse that killed over 1,100 workers.

After the factory disaster, the retailers’ platform made a commitment to provide financial and technical supports to improve fire and building safety standard of RMG factories, from which they source products.

Accord will inspect 1,500 factories and Alliance over 600 factories following a common set of standards. l

Chittagong International Trade Fair begins n Tushar Hayat, Chittagong The month-long Chittagong International Trade Fair began at Polo Ground in the port city yesterday.

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed attended the inaugural function as chief guest while Housing and Public Works Minister Engineer Mosharraf Hossain was also present.

Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) is organising the 22nd fair. CCCI president Mahabub Alam presided over the function.

More than 400 stalls including 12 premier gold pavilions, eight premier pavilions, 16 standard pavilions, two mini mega pavilions, 127 premier mega booths, 50 mega booths and 38 premier booths have been set up at the fair.

Companies from India, China, Iran and Pakistan are participating in the fair while Thailand is taking part as the partner country.

The function was also addressed, among others, by Member of Parliament MA Latif, president of Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed, CCCI senior vice president Nurun Newaj Salim and vice president Sayad Jamal Ahmed. l

85% people unaware about benefits of internet use Speakers tell dialogue as affordability, lack of education and adoption main challenges

n Tribune Report More than 85% people of the country do not know why they should use internet and how to use the technology for their personal development.

Experts and telecom operators in the country revealed the figure at a dialogue titled “Empowerment of Society and Internet for All” at a hotel in Dhaka yesterday.

Leading mobile phone operator Grameenphone and its parent company Telenor organized the dialogue as GP acknowledged their responsibility in educat-

ing the people.

“Users number is a challenge for us to flourish the internet-related business as 85% people have no idea about it,” GP chief executive officer Vivek Sood told the meeting.

“The overall ecosystem is not ready to flourish the business. It should be developed.”

Referring to global figures, Vivek said every two young people out of three prefer to connect with each other through social media, but in Bangladesh the number is very frustrating.

Munir Hasan, President of Wikimedia Bangladesh, said the internet price is the

main barrier to grow the market.

“Whenever I visited any University, I tell the students why you do not block the roads to put pressure on the government in reducing the internet price. If the students are aware of it, the government is bound to think this way,” he said.

Students also need to understand that every one lakh new internet users create 8 new jobs, he shared a study finding.

Raihan Shamsi, CEO of Accenture Bangladesh, a sister concern of Grameenphone, proposed providing incentive to the users for e-billing, m-banking.

Ahteram Uddin from browser ‘Opera’ pointed out three challenges to prospective internet boom – affordability, and lack of education and adoption.

MA Mobin Khan, CEO of EATL, said telecoms would spend cores of dollars for 3G. If they do not deploy internet in the rural areas, it will be meaningless. “The government should put pressure on the operators to go through rural areas to boost internet users.”

Mostafa Aminur Rashid, Chairman of handset provider Symphony, said currently three lakh smart phones are being imported annually as compared to only 50,000 to

60,000 just one year ago.

Shameem Ahsan, president of Basis, stressed the need for creating more local contents to help flourish the internet market. “People will use internet if they see benefits in terms of services like health, agriculture and banking. So we need to make available the services at affordable prices as early as possible.”

Hakon Bruaset Kjøl, senior vice president of Telenor Group, Sonia Bashir Kabir, CEO of DELL and Nesar Maksud Khan of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry also attended meeting.

Speakers said 50% of the people do not have a mobile connection and only 30% of the total subscriber base uses mobile internet.

Operators said they are investing billions to develop networks, but many of those who stand to gain the most are not aware of what they are missing.

They said getting Bangladesh’s budding entrepreneurs and vast rural population online, and enabling them to take advantage of education, healthcare, financial and e-government services, will be a shot in the arm for the economy and a life-changing endeavor for almost 80 million people. l

B2

Volatility rules stock market n Tribune Report

It said throughout the week, market hanged around 4,695-level closing at around 4,700 points. Fall in turnover demonstrated investors’ lack of intention to sell off at lower price, it said.

Some banks in the past week have declared robust earnings growth which might bring back the confidence of the participants towards the market and set the direction, said the stock broker.

“Money market was highly liquid during the week and weighted average call money rate has come down to 6.71%, which was almost 7% one week earlier.”

Losers took a strong lead over the gainers as out of 299 issues traded during the week, 219 declined, 65 advanced and 15 issues remained unchanged on the DSE. In the past week, micro cap and mid cap performed well. Besides, pharmaceuticals and, fuel and power had leading positions in turnover, capturing 13% and 12.6% respectively of the week’s total value.

Among the major sectors, pharmaceuticals posted the highest gain of 4.6% in the past week, driven by heavyweight Square Pharmaceuticals that rose over 5%. Food and allied lost the most 5%, followed by banks 3%, fuel and power 0.9% and non-banking financial institution 0.08%.

Square Pharmaceuticals dominated the past week’s top turnover chart with shares worth Tk14 crore changing hands. Other turnover leaders included Olympic Industries, Grameenphone, Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Ltd and Lafarge Surma Cement. l

High volatility ruled stocks in the past week, as investors remained edgy over the market direction.

Of the five trading sessions, the market gained marginally two sessions and closed lower in three sessions with lacklustre trading.

During the week that ended Thursday, the benchmark DSEX fell 50 points or 1% to close at 4,699, extending losses for the second consecutive week. The blue chips comprising DS30 was down 4 points or 0.3% to 1,690. However, Shariah Index DSES gained marginally 9 points or 1% to 1,011.

Chittagong Stock Exchange Selective Categories Index CSCX lost 79 points or 1% to 9,208.

The average daily turnover at DSE came down to Tk462 crore, registering a fall of 9% over the previous week. “Surge in market volatility kept investors much more cautious this week,” said IDLC Investments in its weekly analysis.

In addition, re-balancing of portfolio ahead of corporate declarations was prominent and kept market sentiment vibrant, it said.

Large cap scrips got investors’ special attention. Resultantly, participation hovered centering on heavy weighted scrips, the merchant bank added.

“The main bourse of the country has experienced a mini fall at the beginning session of the week followed by flat movement, showing participants’ indecision about the trend of the market,” said Lanka Bangla Securities.

Weekly capital market highlights DSE Broad Index : DSE - 30 Index : CSE All Share Index: CSE - 30 Index : CSE Selected Index : DSE LOSERS Company Reliance Insur -A Prime Finance-A Uttara Finance -A Rahima Food -Z Dutch Ban. Bnk- A Northern Jute -Z GeminiSeaFood-Z LankaBangla Fin. -A Meghna Con. Milk -B Phoenix Finance-A

Closing (% change) -16.60 -14.53 -12.35 -10.84 -10.80 -9.86 -9.64 -9.58 -9.35 -8.43

CSE LOSERS Company Aziz PipesZ Prime Finance-A Uttara Finance -A Prime Insur -A Dutch Ban. Bnk- A NCCBL Mutual Fund-1-A Samata LeatheR -Z LankaBangla Fin. -A National Housing Fin.-B First Lease- A

Closing (% change) -16.96 -13.85 -12.88 -11.00 -10.80 -10.00 -9.59 -8.89 -8.24 -7.94

4699.62837

(-) 1.06%

1690.12242

(-) 0.22%

14570.6825

(-) 0.70%

12322.0854

(-) 0.32%

9207.7533

(-) 0.85%

Average (% change) -16.55 -14.70 -13.02 -8.20 -10.27 -8.57 -11.11 -9.68 -8.40 -8.91 Average (% change) -16.78 -14.05 -13.57 -3.21 -8.09 -9.16 -9.06 -9.44 -9.41 -6.56

ANALYST

Closing average 64.93 25.47 79.61 59.86 104.62 64.00 160.00 65.07 9.81 31.70

Closing average 19.10 25.63 79.64 27.46 105.70 8.13 24.50 65.24 30.80 29.50

Weekly closing

Bank NBFI Investment Engineering Food & Allied Fuel & Power Jute Textile Pharma & Chemical Paper & Packaging Service Leather Ceramic Cement Information Technology General Insurance Life Insurance Telecom Travel & Leisure Miscellaneous Debenture

DSE Million Taka 2078.18 1396.22 435.77 2029.03 1605.31 2875.43 13.54 2037.40 2981.85 4.16 85.71 762.05 74.05 1977.15 236.67 337.00 1261.67 1877.23 231.80 799.69 2.82

▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ Weekly high

64.30 25.30 80.90 59.20 104.90 64.00 162.20 65.10 9.70 31.50

Weekly closing

79.80 29.50 94.90 67.50 118.60 64.00 179.10 68.70 11.50 35.00

Weekly high

19.10 25.50 81.20 27.50 105.70 8.10 24.50 65.60 31.20 29.00

21.00 28.80 95.60 29.50 115.30 8.40 24.50 67.60 34.90 31.60

DSE GAINERS

DSE key features March 02-06, 2014 Turnover (Million Taka)

Company

23,102.72

Turnover (Volume)

386,648,958

Number of Contract

492,376

Traded Issues

299

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

67

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

227 5

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,309.75

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

28.00

Turnover (Million Taka)

2,051.67

Turnover (Volume)

41,805,926

Number of Contract

73,129

Traded Issues

251

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

58

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

291

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

1

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,208.07

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

26.76

64.00 23.50 73.40 58.60 101.00 64.00 156.00 62.00 9.70 29.50

Weekly low

8.717 121.172 255.096 13.238 59.059 0.026 0.322 131.334 1.130 27.745

Turnover in million

18.60 25.20 77.20 27.00 105.50 7.90 24.50 64.70 28.00 28.80

0.065 17.813 13.038 0.149 1.313 0.122 0.086 11.912 0.660 2.999

23.02 22.43 20.69 16.44 11.25 11.22 8.51 8.10 7.03 6.98

Latest EPS 4.63 1.10 7.49 -1.00 10.00 -10.24 6.44 4.36 -4.58 2.60

Latest EPS 0.59 1.10 7.49 2.23 10.00 1.03 -0.04 4.36 1.39 2.07

Company Libra Infusions-A Standard Ceramic -A Rupali Life Insur.-A Marico BD Ltd-A Square Textile -A Meghna Life Ins. -A Bangladesh Lamps -A Nitol Insurance -A Berger Paints-A Phoenix Insur -A

Closing (% change) 30.90 29.83 23.34 22.77 9.61 8.87 8.24 7.43 7.09 6.82

Average (% change) 20.30 21.38 23.11 14.59 10.14 7.75 7.83 7.62 6.92 8.12 Average (% change) 30.90 24.23 20.38 23.17 10.18 4.30 5.67 7.43 6.65 7.50

Closing average 120.97 46.10 1,166.47 235.36 111.47 133.67 154.93 1,768.38 1,133.33 1,274.50

Closing average 510.50 44.97 121.25 1178.26 112.06 150.67 148.78 37.60 1014.90 47.00

Weekly closing 124.00 46.40 1,172.90 242.90 112.70 137.80 155.60 1,778.50 1,134.50 1,279.60

Weekly closing 510.50 47.00 124.70 1178.30 112.90 155.80 152.40 37.60 1019.10 47.00

Weekly high

Weekly low

124.60 46.80 1,200.00 243.40 113.40 138.60 160.00 1,865.00 1,180.00 1,301.00

100.70 35.50 1,020.00 208.00 95.00 108.00 140.00 1,610.00 1,100.00 1,175.00

Weekly high

Weekly low

521.00 47.00 124.70 1280.00 113.50 158.00 157.80 37.70 1030.00 47.00

500.00 38.00 103.00 1021.10 100.40 144.50 139.40 35.00 960.00 43.50

Turnover in million

Latest EPS

181.478 3.945 85.771 53.482 354.662 226.755 204.999 112.306 2.712 65.345

5.33 1.06 46.53 5.32 6.40 2.26 6.45 40.46 47.83 45.35

Turnover in million

Latest EPS

0.204 0.485 4.084 2.703 18.533 7.876 2.443 0.109 2.197 0.033

3.04 1.06 5.33 46.53 6.40 6.45 -0.77 2.75 41.85 3.81

Latest PE 22.7 43.5 25.1 44.2 17.4 59.1 24.0 43.7 23.7 28.1

Latest PE 167.9 42.4 22.7 25.3 17.5 23.4 -ve 13.7 24.3 12.3

Weekly news from trade server

CSE key features March 02-06, 2014

Turnover in million

Rupali Life Insur.-A Standard Ceramic -A Marico BD Ltd-A Renwick Jajneswar-A Square Textile -A National Tubes -A Meghna Life Ins. -A ICB -A Stylecraft -A GlaxoSK (BD) -A

Closing (% change)

CSE GAINERS

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

Weekly low

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Latest PE 14.0 23.2 10.6 -ve 10.5 -ve 24.8 14.9 -ve 12.2

Latest PE 32.4 23.3 10.6 12.3 10.6 7.9 -ve 15.0 22.2 14.3

EBL: The Board of Directors has recommended 20% cash dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2013. Date of AGM: 31.03.2014, Time: 10:30 AM, Venue: Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC), Agargaon, Dhaka. Record date: 11.03.2014. The Company has also reported consolidated EPS of Tk. 4.15, consolidated NAV per share of Tk. 30.37 and consolidated NOCFPS of Tk. 20.58 for the year ended on December 31, 2013.

PRIMEFIN: The Board of Directors has recommended 15% cash dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2013. Date of AGM: 30.03.2014, Time: 10:30 AM, Venue: Bashundhara Convention Centre, Block-C, Umme Kulsum Road, Bashundhara R.A., Baridhara, Dhaka. Record date: 11.03.2014.

The Company has also reported consolidated net profit after tax of Tk. 370.68 million, consolidated EPS of Tk. 1.10, consolidated NAV per share of Tk. 19.24 and consolidated NOCFPS of Tk. 0.81 for the year ended on December 31, 2013.

UCBL: The Board of Directors has recommended 20% cash dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2013. Date of AGM: 17.04.2014, Time and Venue: To be notified later on. Record date: 11.03.2014. The Company has also reported EPS of Tk. 3.66, NAV per share of Tk. 24.51 and NOCFPS of Tk. (2.90) for the year ended on December 31, 2013.

PUBALIBANK: The Board of Directors has recommended 10% stock dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2013. Date of AGM: 25.03.2014, Time: 10:30 AM, Venue: Bashundhara Convention Center, Baridhara, Dhaka. Record date: 10.03.2014. The Company has also reported consolidated EPS of

Tk. 2.90, consolidated NAV per share of Tk. 23.27 and consolidated NOCFPS of Tk. 1.71 for the year ended on December 31, 2013.

BRACBANK: The Board of Directors has recommended 10% cash dividend and 10% stock dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2013. Date of AGM: 10.04.2014, Time: 10:00 AM, Venue: BRAC-CDM, Savar, Dhaka. Record date: 11.03.2014. The Company has also reported Consolidated Profit after tax of Tk. 1,339.35 million, consolidated EPS of Tk. 3.20, consolidated NAV per share of Tk. 29.38 and consolidated NOCFPS of Tk. 11.42 for the year ended on December 31, 2013.

ALARABANK: The Board of Directors has recommended 13.50% stock dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2013. Date of AGM: 30.03.2014, Time: 10:00 AM, Venue: Ichamati Hall, Hotel Agrabad, Chittagong.

Record date: 13.03.2014. The Company has also reported consolidated EPS of Tk. 2.46, consolidated NAV per share of Tk. 19.29 and consolidated NOCFPS of Tk. 10.67 for the year ended on December 31, 2013.

MARICO: The Board of Directors of the Company has declared 500% interim cash dividend for the year ending on 31st March 2014 based on 9 months financials for the period ended 31st December 2013. Record date for entitlement of interim dividend: 12.03.2014.

UTTARAFIN: The Board of Directors has recommended 30% cash dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2013. Date of AGM: 30.04.2014, Time: 10:00 AM, Venue: Spectra Convention Centre, House #19, Road #7, Gulshan-1, Dhaka-1212. Record date: 12.03.2014. The Company has also

reported net profit after tax of Tk. 852.83 million, EPS of Tk. 7.49, NAV per Share of Tk. 49.03 and NOCFPS of Tk. 11.59 for the year ended on December 31, 2013 as against Tk. 814.98 million, Tk. 7.16 (restated), Tk. 47.70 and Tk. 6.19 respectively for the year ended on December 31, 2012.

SOUTHEASTB: The Board of Directors has recommended 16% cash dividend and 5% stock dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2013. Date of AGM: 31.03.2014, Time: 10:00 AM, Venue: Bashundhara Convention Centre-2, Block-C, Umme Kulsum Road, Bashundhara R/A, Baridhara, Dhaka-1229. Record date: 13.03.2014. The Company has also reported Consolidated EPS of Tk. 3.87, Consolidated NAV per share of Tk. 25.11 and Consolidated NOCFPS of Tk. 23.58 for the year ended on December 31, 2013.

DUTCHBANGL: The Board of Directors has recommended 40% cash dividend for the General Public Shareholders and Foreign Sponsors/Shareholders for the year ended on December 31, 2013. The Local Sponsors (holding total 122,634,240 shares of Tk. 10.00 each) of the Company will not receive any dividend. The total amount of Tk. 309,463,040.00 (40% cash dividend for 77,365,760 shares of Tk. 10.00 each) will be payable to the General Public Shareholders and Foreign Sponsors/Shareholders. Date of AGM: 30.03.2014, Time: 10:00 AM, Venue: 'Ballroom' of Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel, Dhaka. Record date: 13.03.2014. The Company has also reported EPS of Tk. 10.00, NAV per share of Tk. 63.21 and NOCFPS of Tk. 68.34 for the year ended on December 31, 2013.

Surge in market volatility kept investors much more cautious last week

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY Sector

Stock

DHAKA TRIBUNE

% change 9.00 6.04 1.89 8.78 6.95 12.45 0.06 8.82 12.91 0.02 0.37 3.30 0.32 8.56 1.02 1.46 5.46 8.13 1.00 3.46 0.01

Million Taka 246.29 92.58 31.81 186.34 121.94 165.09 0.00 168.71 218.76 9.49 8.28 40.86 6.16 168.55 26.45 8.78 55.02 321.23 43.88 155.84 0.25

CSE

% change 11.86 4.46 1.53 8.97 5.87 7.95 0.00 8.13 10.54 0.46 0.40 1.97 0.30 8.12 1.27 0.42 2.65 15.47 2.11 7.51 0.01

Million Taka 2324.47 1488.80 467.59 2215.37 1727.25 3040.52 13.54 2206.11 3200.61 13.65 93.99 802.91 80.21 2145.69 263.12 345.78 1316.69 2198.46 275.67 955.53 3.07

Total

% change 9.23 5.91 1.86 8.80 6.86 12.08 0.05 8.76 12.71 0.05 0.37 3.19 0.32 8.52 1.05 1.37 5.23 8.73 1.09 3.79 0.01

Prepared exclusively for Dhaka Tribune by Business Information Automation Service Line (BIASL), on the basis of information collected from daily stock quotations and audited reports of the listed companies. High level of caution has been taken to collect and present the above information and data. The publisher will not take any responsibility if any body uses this information and data for his/her investment decision. For any query please email to biasl@bol-online.com or call 01552153562 or go to www.biasl.net

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Square Pharma -A Olympic Ind. -A Grameenphone-A BD Submarine Cable-A LafargeS Cement-Z Meghna Petroleum -A Jamuna Oil -A HeidelbergCement -A Padma Oil Co. -A BSC-A CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company BD Submarine Cable-A Grameenphone-A BSC-A LafargeS Cement-Z Square Pharma -A UCBL - A Singer BD -A Padma Oil Co. -A Olympic Ind. -A Southeast Bank-A

Volume shares 5,167,356 4,380,978 4,331,579 4,107,129 19,009,000 2,565,354 2,691,307 1,255,090 1,688,096 884,870

Volume shares 901,193 533,000 184,300 2,411,000 331,818 2,768,650 227,198 152,125 217,875 2,143,484

Value in million 1419.96 982.78 943.68 933.55 781.30 736.84 631.17 579.94 566.57 554.74

Value in million 205.00 116.23 115.64 98.38 91.15 79.22 57.96 51.11 49.06 48.93

% of total turnover 6.15 4.25 4.08 4.04 3.38 3.19 2.73 2.51 2.45 2.40

% of total turnover 10.01 5.68 5.65 4.80 4.45 3.87 2.83 2.50 2.40 2.39

Weekly closing 279.80 224.00 214.70 228.00 43.00 283.90 231.20 458.60 329.50 624.00

Weekly closing 228.10 214.10 624.80 43.00 279.90 28.30 256.20 329.70 223.60 23.00

Price change 5.31 -0.22 0.33 3.97 6.17 -0.32 -0.52 2.50 0.70 -3.22

Weekly opening 265.70 224.50 214.00 219.30 40.50 284.80 232.40 447.40 327.20 644.75

Weekly high 285.00 235.00 224.00 238.50 43.90 294.70 240.00 473.00 349.00 650.75

Weekly low 243.00 206.00 200.00 201.80 38.10 259.00 214.00 410.00 300.00 615.00

Weekly average 279.48 224.67 214.87 228.90 42.90 284.10 231.39 458.66 330.35 622.25

Price change 4.59 0.23 -2.91 6.44 5.62 0.71 -1.31 0.73 -0.71 5.02

Weekly opening 218.10 213.60 643.50 40.40 265.00 28.10 259.60 327.30 225.20 21.90

Weekly high 238.00 224.00 648.00 43.60 281.00 29.80 262.30 344.90 235.00 24.80

Weekly low 218.40 211.00 612.00 36.10 265.50 26.00 248.30 327.10 216.50 20.90

Weekly average 228.96 214.53 623.11 42.72 279.79 28.47 256.05 330.13 224.46 23.07

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

China’s commerce minister warns against over-expansion n AFP, Beijing China’s commerce minister on Friday warned industries and companies not to over-expand, after the collapse last year of a key unit of the world’s biggest solar firm.

The country’s decades-long boom has turned it into the world’s secondlargest economy and a key driver of global growth, but at the same time major internal imbalances have developed.

China’s Suntech Power, once the world’s biggest maker of solar cells and panels, sought market share by driving down prices to levels some competitors claim were loss-making. However, its main Chinese unit, Wuxi Suntech, filed for bankruptcy last March with debts of hundreds of millions of dollars.

“What we should take into account is that some industries should not develop overly fast, particularly expand blindly,” Gao Hucheng told reporters.

“They should not either rely on the foreign market for the majority of their product sales,” he added.

Disputes over solar panels shook trade relations between China and the European Union and United States last

year, which accuse Beijing of unfairly subsidising the industry.

The sector is still hampered by fallout from overproduction combined with falling prices for cells and panels.

China’s first-ever default on a domestic corporate bond was anticipated Friday as Shanghai-based Chaori Solar Energy Science & Technology said Tuesday it was unable to make full bond interest payments due Friday.

China’s leadership is vowing to transform the country’s economic growth model away from an overreliance on often wasteful investment projects and instead make private demand the driver for the country’s future development.

Asked about the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a huge US-led free trade area currently under negotiation which so far excludes China, Gao said that

'China pays great attention to the progress of the TPP negotiations and is assessing the situations of the talks. We are also maintaining communications with the major negotiating parties' Gao’s comments came at a news conference on the sidelines of the annual session of the National People’s Congress, China’s Communist Party-led parliament.

On Wednesday, Premier Li Keqiang announced a growth target of “around 7.5%” for this year and reiterated the importance of fostering consumer demand.

Beijing has an open attitude to global trade and investment deals.

“We think the TPP is an important negotiation and an FTA of high standard,” Gao said.

“China pays great attention to the progress of the TPP negotiations and is assessing the situations of the talks. We are also maintaining communications with the major negotiating parties.” l

MasterCard, Visa form group to enhance payment security

Samsung jumps into crowded music market

n Reuters

Samsung on Friday unveiled a free music service for users of its Galaxy smartphones, entering a crowded market that includes Pandora, Spotify and Apple’s iTunes.

The service dubbed “Milk Music” will offer some 200 ad-free radio stations to US customers with Samsung Galaxy devices.

“Milk introduces a fresh approach to music that reflects our innovation leadership and our focus on creating best-in-class consumer experiences,” said Gregory Lee, president and chief executive of Samsung Telecommunications America.

“We’re offering consumers amazing, rich music experiences built around what matters most to them and their lifestyle.”

Milk is powered by the radio service Slacker. The company suggested it may take a page from Apple by offering “unique music programming from top selling and emerging artists” available exclusively through the platform.

The South Korean Electronics giant, which is the world’s biggest smartphone maker and is challenging Apple in the US market, said the service will be offered with no log-in required and no need to browse for a specific artist or song.

It will have 200 genre-based and curated stations and some 13 million songs, and like other service will allow six song skips per hour per station.

Apple last year introduced its ad-supported iTunes radio service, which also allows customers to make purchases from the iTunes catalog.l

Visa Inc and MasterCard Inc, the world’s two largest payment networks, have formed a new cross-industry group to improve payment system security following a number of high-profile data breaches.

The new group, which will include banks, credit unions, retailers and industry trade groups, will initially focus on the adoption of the safer ‘EMV’ chip technology in the United States, MasterCard and Visa said on Friday.

EMV chip technology, already used in Europe and Asia, stores information on computer chips rather than on traditional magnetic strips. EMV stands for Europay, MasterCard and Visa, the companies that launched the technology.

The move follows several data breaches at US retailers, including one at Target Corp late last year involving the theft of about 40 million credit and debit card records.

“We remain insistent that US retailers’ customers be given the same protections as consumers in more than 80 countries who have both a chip and a PIN securing their credit and debit cards,” National Retail Federation General Counsel Mallory Duncan said in a statement.

MasterCard and Visa had already set a deadline of October 2015 for US retailers to adopt the new payment technology.

But banks and retailers have been dragging their feet over the required upgrade, at odds over who should bear

the cost, which experts say could be as much as $10bn.

Target said last month it was accelerating a $100m programme to implement the use of chip-enabled smart cards to protect against cyber threat, with a goal to have the technology in place by early 2015.

EMV cards are harder to counterfeit and better protect sensitive data through encryption.

They can also require users to enter a personal identification number, or PIN, to make purchases, adding an extra layer of security.

“The recent high-profile breaches have served as a catalyst for much needed collaboration between the retail and financial services industry on the issue of payment security,” Visa President Ryan McInerney said in the statement. l

Sunday, March 9, 2014

US household wealth above $80tn n Reuters

US household net worth jumped to a new high at the end of last year, as the value of real estate and shareholdings rose and bank accounts swelled.

The Federal Reserve said on Thursday net worth increased $2.95tn to $80.66tn in the fourth quarter, eclipsing a previous record high.

The value of households’ property, consumer goods, bank deposits and stocks all increased in the quarter.

The Fed said household net worth rose 14% in the full year, driven by a $5.6tn rise in the value of shares and a $2.3tn increase in the value of real estate.

The US central bank has used ultraloose monetary policy to encourage a recovery in the nation’s housing market following a severe 2007-2009 recession, which has also helped drive US stocks to record highs.

Increases in housing wealth make it easier for families to borrow against the equity in their homes, while overall wealth gains make consumers feel generally more comfortable spending their money. Many economists think consumers spend a few cents of every dollar they gain in wealth. l

B3

Oil prices up on US jobs optimism, Ukraine n AFP, Singapore Oil prices rose in Asian trade Friday ahead of the release of a key monthly US jobs report while investors keep an eye on the crisis in Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula.

New York’s main contract, West Texas Intermediate for April delivery, rose 37 cents to $101.93 in afternoon Asian trade. Brent North Sea crude for April was up 37 cents at $108.47.

Investors are expecting the US non-farm payrolls report for February due out later Friday to mirror strong jobless claims figures released on Thursday.

First-time claims for unemployment benefits fell to a three-month low of 323,000 in the week ending March 1, from the prior week’s revised reading of 349,000, the Labour Department said.

Analysts had expected the claims to fall to 338,000.

“It’s all about payrolls today. It will be interesting to see if it will be another weather-restrained result, and more importantly, if the unemployment rate comes down towards the psychological 6.5% mark,” United Overseas Bank

said in a commentary.

Mounting tensions over Russia’s incursion into Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula continue to provide strong support to oil prices, analysts said.

The ex-Soviet state is in danger of breaking apart after Crimea’s parliament unanimously voted to join Russia, in a sharp escalation of the worst East-West security crisis since the Cold War. Both Kiev’s new Western-backed interim leaders and US President Barack Obama denounced the decision as illegal and illegitimate.

Washington has slapped visa bans on Russians and Ukrainians involved in the Crimean incursion, the latest series of moves by the US administration to punish Moscow, while the European Union has also imposed punitive measures including freezing visa and financial talks.

“The complications arising from Eastern Europe (are) likely to provide good support to crude oil due to fears over disruptions,” Tan Chee Tat, an investment analyst at Phillip Futures in Singapore, said in a note. l

n AFP, Washington

REUTERS

Privacy groups ask regulators to halt Facebook’s $19bn WhatsApp deal n Reuters, San Francisco Privacy advocates have asked US regulators to halt Facebook Inc’s $19bn acquisition of messaging service WhatsApp until there is a clearer understanding of how the company intends to use the personal data of WhatsApp’s 450 million users.

WhatsApp, a service that allows mobile phone users to send each other messages, has had a longstanding commitment to not collect user data for advertising purposes.

But there’s no guarantee that that commitment will hold true once the service becomes part of Facebook, according to the filing to the Federal Trade Commission by the Electronic Privacy Information Center and the Center for Digital Democracy, both non-profit groups.

The complaint asks regulators to

investigate the deal “specifically with regard to the ability of Facebook to access WhatsApp’s store of user mobile phone numbers and metadata.”

Facebook, the world’s No1 social network with 1.2 billion users, generates the majority of its revenue by showing ads that target users by age, gender and other traits.

“As we have said repeatedly, Whatsapp will operate as a separate company and will honor its commitments to privacy and security,” Facebook said in a statement in response to the filing.

The FTC declined to comment.

Facebook stunned the technology industry last month when it announced its intention to buy the fiveyear old WhatsApp for $19bn in cash and stock. WhatsApp does not show ads on its service, charging some of its users a $1 annual fee to use the service.

WhatsApp stores users’ mobile

phone numbers, but unlike many online services, it does not collect user names, emails, and other contact information.

Despite assurances by WhatsApp and Facebook that the privacy policies will not change, the groups that wrote the FTC filing note that Facebook has in the past amended an acquired-company’s privacy policies, such as the Instagram photo-sharing service that Facebook acquired in 2012.

Regulators must require that Facebook “insulate” WhatsApp user information from access by Facebook’s data collection practices, reads the complaint.

“WhatsApp users could not reasonably have anticipated that by selecting a pro-privacy messaging service, they would subject their data to Facebook’s data collection practices,” reads the filing. l

Etihad Airways resumes its Dollar stuck in tight range ahead of US jobs data n flight at Abu Dhabi hub AFP, Tokyo

n Tribune Business Desk

Several thousand Etihad Airways passengers affected by disruptions at Abu Dhabi International Airport have now been able to resume their journeys, while others continue to be assisted by hundreds of extra Etihad Airways staff at the Abu Dhabi hub and across the airline’s network.

A total of 6,600 passengers were impacted by delayed services on Thursday, all of whom have since travelled

out of Abu Dhabi International Airport.

Hotel accommodation has been provided in Abu Dhabi for more than a thousand guests who missed their onward connections and extra flights were operated on Friday to help clear the passenger backlog at the airport, said a press release. In addition, of the 3,100 passengers affected by cancelled services on Thursday, 2,800 are expected to be re-accommodated on Friday.

Flights have departed to a variety of destinations including Dhaka. l

Export Import Bank of Bangladesh Limited shifted its Boardbazar branch to a new location at Hazi Fazlul Haque Plaza in Boardbazar, National University,Gazipur Sadar, Gazipur yesterday with a view to provide better service. The bank’s MD and CEO Dr Mohammed Haider Ali Miah inaugurated the shifted branch

The dollar moved narrowly against the yen and euro in Asia on Friday as investors await US jobs data later in the day for clues about the state of the world’s largest economy.

The US currency fetched 103.00 yen in Tokyo afternoon trade, slightly down from 103.08 yen in New York Thursday afternoon, but higher than the 102.72 yen in Tokyo earlier Thursday.

The euro, which gained Thursday on the European Central Bank’s upbeat outlook on the eurozone economy, slipped to $1.3856 and 142.72 yen from $1.3861 and 142.88 yen.

The ECB on Thursday held its interest rates unchanged for the fourth month in a row, assessing that the nascent recovery in the bloc remains on track.

Most economic data released recently suggest that the spectre of deflation - the destructive spiral of falling prices in which consumers put off purchases, thus destroying salaries, jobs and investment - is being kept at bay.

But investors were watching to see if policymakers would pull the trigger on further easing measures.

“Forex markets were more interested in what the ECB did with its growth and inflation forecasts,” rather than

REUTERS

the Ukraine crisis, National Australia bank said in a note.

The United States and Russia are working to resolve the crisis in Eastern Europe, which flared when lawmakers agreed to sending troops into the mainly Russian-speaking Crimean peninsula after the ousting of Ukraine’s pro-Moscow government.

The dollar won support from data that showed jobless benefit claims fell last week to a three-month low, raising expectations for a strong monthly em-

ployment report later Friday.

“If non-farm payrolls are disappointing again, the pair will likely pull back to around 102.50 yen after the recent gains,” Osao Iizuka, head of FX trading at Sumitomo Mitsui Trust and Banking, told Dow Jones Newswires.

But sharp declines in the greenback were unlikely as the market has factored in a possibly weak figure due to harsh winter weather, he added.

The dollar was lower against other Asia-Pacific currencies.

It weakened to 11,415 Indonesian rupiah from 11,545 rupiah Thursday, to 61.02 Indian rupees from 61.75 rupees and to 44.46 Philippine pesos from 44.70 pesos.

The greenback also declined to 1,063.58 South Korean won from 1,066.45 won, to 32.28 Thai baht from 32.30 baht, and to Sg$1.2643 from Sg$1.2676.

The Australian dollar rose to 90.85 US cents from 90.18 cents, while the Chinese yuan bought 16.84 yen against 16.76 yen. l

B4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Online motorbike sales rise n Faisal Mahmud Motorbike enthusiasts have found online market as their desired place to score a deal.

It was found the sale of motorbikes has been increasing cumulatively in the online market as dealers across the country added a new dimension to marketing.

Now, the buyers do not need to go to different showrooms to compare the pricing and conditions of motorbikes – they can just go online and have all prices and models.

Country’s leading online market place, Bikroy.com, says the number of second hand motorbike advertisements in January has increased by 13% since November. In January more than 6,500 advertisements was uploaded on their site alone.

According to statistics from Bikroy. com, Bajaj Pulsar was the most popular second hand motorbike online. In January, a total of 870 advertisements of Bajaj Pulsar have been uploaded on Bikroy.com at an average price of Tk155,000 each.

The price depends on the model

Brand

Model

Average price Number of for uploaded ads uploaded ads in Jan in Jan

Bajaj

Pulsar

Tk155,000

870

TVS

Apache Tk160,000

260

Yamhaa FZ S

Tk180,000

245

Hero

Tk140,000

190

CBZ

year of motorbikes, condition and mileage. For example, there is a Bajaj Puslar 2012 model year available for Tk175,000. There is also a 2008 year model available online for Tk105,000.

A significant number of motorbike dealers are regularly posting advertisements online market places and selling their cars without any peril.

Kamal from Universe motors says that motorbike selling is up again after the political turmoil. Akbar from Halim Motors says that the prices of motorbikes are in an upward trend.

“The demand of motorbikes is growing more than the supply in Banlgadesh and that is the main reason for the increase in prices,” said Akbar. l

Sunday, March 9, 2014

WORLD'S FIRST CAR DECORATED WITH GOLD LEAF

A view of the inside of a Carlsson CS50 Versailles edition car model at the stand of the German car tuning company during the Geneva Motor Show yesterday, in Geneva. For extravagance, luxury and bling-bling lovers, the German manufacturer Carlsson presents the World's first car decorated with gold leaf. Around thousand gold leafs were used to cover the body of the tuned model car, a Mercedes S500 new generation, which is part of a special edition of 25 copies only AFP

Emerging markets face painful carry trade bay-back n Reuters, London Emerging economies may be on the cusp of a great unwinding of borrowlow invest-high carry trades, through which an estimated $2tn has flooded mainly into their debt markets in the past five years.

The latest cycle of carry trades is the third in little over two decades and its estimated size is roughly double that of its predecessor. A reversal poses a specific risk to debt markets, especially in China, where investors who facilitated a corporate lending binge face both currency and credit losses.

With investors demanding higher compensation for growing political and economic risks, even aggressive interest rate hikes by emerging market central banks defending their currencies may not be enough to keep the carry party swinging.

Since the Federal Reserve started offering cheap money under its quantitative easing policy in late 2008, emerging banks and corporates have issued

substantial volumes of foreign currency-denominated bonds and borrowed heavily from overseas banks.

According to Bank of America Merrill Lynch, external bond issuance from emerging markets more than doubled to $2tn in the five years to end-September 2013. Including bank loans, EM had attracted investment from abroad totalling $5tn by autumn 2013, nearly $2tn more than five years ago.

In return, investors enjoyed quick profits by borrowing in low-yielding currencies like the dollar and euro to invest in high-yielding emerging debt.

Some retail investors have begun unwinding these trades. EPFR-tracked bond funds have lost over $11bn this year, compared with outflows of $14bn for the whole of 2013.

But institutional investors - which make up the bulk of EM carry trades have yet to head to the exits.

"On a net basis it has not unwound, or in fact it may have increased further ... But as some people put it, carry is a rental profit. You have to give it back

LEADERSHIP SUMMIT 2014

Overcoming challenges

Major General Richard M Burr, Deputy Commanding General, US Army Asia Pacific

n Tribune Business Desk In the modern globalised, interdependent world, leadership challenges are increasingly complex. Despite our preferences for a simple, linear solution, the answers to these challenges often follow a convoluted path. How can leaders approach challenges across increasingly long distances, over ethnic, cultural, and linguistic barriers, while maintaining partnerships and building the strength of an enterprise?

Major General Richard Burr has lived these challenges all over the world. His insight as a military leader has applications for many aspects of human endeavour.

Major General Richard (Rick) Maxwell Burr, DSC AM MVO, born in 1964 is a senior officer in the Australian Army

DILBERT

and is currently serving as the Deputy Commanding General – Operations, United States Army Pacific.

Burr joined the Australian Army at the age of 17 as an officer cadet and attended the Royal Military College, Duntroon. After graduation from Duntroon, Burr served as a platoon commander in the 8th/9th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment.

In 2002, Burr commanded Australian troops in Afghanistan and Australian troops during Operation Falconer in 2003. In 2008, Burr commanded Special Forces operations in Afghanistan.

On 21 August 2012, United States Army Secretary John M McHugh announced that Burr would be seconded to the United States Army, to become Deputy Commander, United States Army Pacific (USARPAC). Burr will supervise training and USARPAC liaison with countries in Southeast Asia and Australasia. He will report to Lieutenant General Frank Wiercinski.

He has spent the majority of his military career with Australian Special Forces units. He is also the patron of the Defence Australian Rules Football Association. On 31 October 2012 he stood down as the Commander 1st Division and assumed the post as Deputy Commanding General – Operations of the United States Army Pacific on 17 January 2013. Burr is the first non-American to serve in this position.

At the Leadership Summit 2014, Major General Richard M Burr will share his insights and learning in leadership under the title: Building a Coalition Inspiring Teamwork amongst Diverse Partners. l

at some point," said Salman Ahmed, strategist at Lombard Odier Investment Managers.

"This time, carry trades are more concentrated in the high-duration corporate bond market. Money went into the 10-year and seven-year debt.

It's a much riskier situation because you have FX exposure and underlying credit and duration exposure."

Duration is a commonly used measure of risk that indicates how pricesensitive a bond is to changes in interest rates.

Average interest rates in emerging economies have bounced off postcrisis lows after aggressive monetary tightening by the likes of Turkey and Russia. But analysts said that was unlikely to kick off a new round of carry trades.

"EM carry is happening at a time when developed equities are doing well. There's competition between DM and EM," Ahmed said. "You are choosing 10% carry and political and FX risks, or a 15% gain without any risks.

Carry may have to go further higher to bring people back."

Emerging markets have seen carry trades fuel a boom-and-bust cycle before. The first, driven by foreign banks, funded East Asian economic expansion before ending in 1997 with the Asian financial crisis.

The second was the gigantic yen carry trade that built up in the early 2000s, during which an estimated $1tn poured into big emerging economies before a rapid unravelling in 2008.

Some cash from carry trades which have been unwound this time may be making its way into high-yielding corporate debt in developed markets, according to Yves Bonzon, chief investment officer at Pictet Wealth Management.

"You borrow/short and leverage DM corporate debt with five-to-seven year duration risk, or maybe the euro zone periphery," he said. "As long as you have global capital flows and local regulations you will have carry trades, it is inevitable."

China risks

China could be one of the biggest victims if yuan carry trades unwind. Years of stable appreciation in the yuan ended abruptly last week when the central bank let the currency make its biggest weekly decline since 1994.

BofA says Chinese banks and corporates issued $655bn in foreign currency bonds in the five years to September 2013, five times more than the prior five-year period to 2008.

The volume of outstanding external bonds grew by five times, to $239.7bn.

However, Chinese corporates have also borrowed in the shadow banking sector, which sold "trust" products to investors.

China's domestic bond market was worth 9.3tn yuan ($1.5tn) at the end of last year, but the real size of its private sector credit market is unknown.

Part of these funds were raised overseas. Net lending by Hong Kong-based banks - key participants in intermediating China carry trades - rose to 148% of Hong Kong's GDP in late 2013, from just

18% in 2007.

Yuan-denominated "dim sum" bonds designed to attract foreign investors have turned into a 600bn yuanplus market in a little over three years, mainly out of Hong Kong.

"The Trust sector in China could create rollover risks that reverse a gluttonous carry trade with China, but partly financed overseas," BofA Merrill said in a client note.

Credit risk is also rising. China recorded its first domestic bond default when loss-making solar equipment producer Chaori Solar missed an interest payment.

Any combination of higher US yields, tighter regulation on trust products, further yuan appreciation or volatile currency could trigger an unwind in China carry trades.

"There is speculation they are cleaning out speculators," said Jeff Kalinowski, EM bond portfolio specialist at T Rowe Price. "The general view is that liberalisation will bring greater volatility. It's less of a carry trade bet." l

Middle East drought a threat to global food prices n Reuters, Amman The Middle East's driest winter in several decades could pose a threat to global food prices, with local crops depleted and farmers' livelihoods blighted, UN experts and climatologists say.

Varying degrees of drought are hitting almost two thirds of the limited arable land across Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, the Palestinian territories and Iraq.

"Going back to the last 100 years, I don't think you can get a five-year span that's been as dry," said Mohammad Raafi Hossain, a UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) environmental economist.

The dry season has already hurt prospects for the cereal harvest in areas of Syria and to a lesser extent Iraq.

Several of the countries under pressure are already significant buyers of grain from international markets.

"When governments that are responsible for importing basic foodstuffs have shortages in production, they will go to outside markets, where the extra demand will no doubt push global food prices higher," said Nakd Khamis, seed expert and consultant to the FAO. The Standard Precipitation Index (SPI) shows the region has not had such low rainfall since at least 1970.

This was part of the initial findings of a joint technical study on Drought Risk Management undertaken by several U.N. agencies, including the FAO, UNDP and UNESCO, that would be formally published later this month, Hossain said.

Water and agriculture authorities, alongside specialist UN agencies, have begun preparing plans to officially declare a state of drought that spreads beyond the Eastern Middle East to Morocco and as far south as Yemen, climatologists and officials say.

Drought is becoming more severe in parts of the Eastern Mediterranean and Iraq, while Syria, having seen several droughts in recent decades, is again being hit hard, said Mohamad

Khawlie, a natural resources expert with Planinc, an international consultancy focused on geospatial studies in the Middle East and Africa (MENA) region.

In Jordan, among the 10 countries facing the worst water shortages globally, Hazem al-Nasser, minister of water and irrigation, told Reuters precipitation levels were the lowest since records began 60 years ago.

Even after an exceptionally heavy snow storm that hit the region in midDecember, the kingdom's dams are still only 42% full, down from 80% last year, officials say.

over 30% of households in Iraq, Syria and to a lesser extent the Palestinian territories and Jordan, are connected with agriculture.

"Crop production is going down because of drought, and so in these agro-pastoral economies you are looking at many, many lives that are now affected," Hossain said.

In Iraq, which once boasted the largest tracts of fertile arable land in the region, it is only three years since the last major cycle of drought ended, which covered more than 73% of the country.

Extracts from a soon-to-be released

When governments that are responsible for importing basic foodstuffs have shortages in production, they will go to outside markets, where the extra demand will no doubt push global food prices higher

In Lebanon, where climate change has stripped its mountain slopes of the snow needed to recharge groundwater basins, rain is "way below the average", said Beirut-based ecosystem and livelihoods consultant Fady Asmar, who works with UN agencies.

He said the stress on water resources from prodigal usage was exacerbated by the presence of nearly a million registered refugees since the Syrian civil war began in 2011.

Only Israel will not face acute problems, helped by its long-term investment in desalination plants and pioneering water management techniques.

In Iraq and Syria, where most of the country is too arid for agriculture, civil conflict and lack of water storage facilities will add to the hardship of rural communities dependent on crop cultivation and livestock.

UN-based field studies show that

UN-commissioned study says drought in Iraq will persist, increasing in severity from 2017 to 2026, increasing further the dependence on foreign food imports by one of the top grains importers in the world.

The UN study extracts say Turkey, where much of Iraq and Syria's water resources originate, has cut the volume of water flowing into the Euphrates and Tigris rivers by dam construction to meet their own growing domestic needs.

Syria

A poor rain season in Syria has already hit its 2014 wheat outlook in the main rain-fed areas in the north eastern parts of the country, which should be ready for harvest in June and July, Syrian agriculturalists say.

Experts say that even if late heavy rain comes in March, this will not save the rain-fed cereal harvest, which farmers are already resigned to rel-

egating to animal fodder.

"When there is delay in rains, then the cereals will eventually wilt. Annual growth has not been achieved for the rain to come and continue maturity of the stalks," Asmar said.

Crop production in the conflicttorn country that once boasted bumper wheat seasons is expected to decline further.

Syria's wheat production is now pinned on the irrigated sown areas that depend on the Euphrates and underground water, which before 2011 accounted for no more than 40% of total annual production.

The drought and war could slash Syria's total wheat output to less than a third of its pre-crisis harvest of around 3.5 million tonnes to just over a million tonnes in 2014. Agricultural experts say the most favourable estimates for last year's harvest did not exceed 2 million tonnes.

Drought that peaked in severity during 2008 and 2009 but persisted into 2010 was blamed by some experts in Syria for the soaring food prices that aggravated social tensions and in turn triggered the 2011 uprising against President Bashar al-Assad.

"Prior to the protests, food costs were soaring. In fact, because of these food costs, the protests were instigated, so this was brought on by drought and lack of planning," said FAO's Hossain.

Economic hardship was aggravated by faltering public subsidy schemes that once efficiently distributed subsidised fertilisers and seeds to millions of drought-hit farmers in both Syria and Iraq, agro-economists add.

Middle-Eastern experts predict more frequent drought cycles in coming years, accompanied by delayed winter rainy seasons that damage fruits by promoting premature flowering and prevent cereal crops growing to full maturity.

"The climate change cycles are now shorter, which means ... we will eventually have less rain and more frequent droughts," Fady Asmar said. l