20 March 2014

Chaitra 6, 1420 Jamadiul Awal 18, 1435 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 1 No 356

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Khaleda, Tarique, Harris indicted in graft cases

Tigers look to wrap-up round one with win n Reazur Rahman Rohan

The home side will be looking to put another dominating performance on display and seal their ICC World Twenty20 second round berth today.

With two dominating wins already in their bag Bangladesh takes on another ICC Associate nation and the weakest team in Group A Hong Kong in their last match in first round at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.

Defence lawyers create pandemonium; JCD announces protest rally for today n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu A Dhaka court yesterday framed charges against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, her elder son and party’s Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman and seven others in two graft cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission.

Six people including Khaleda and Tarique were indicted in the Zia Orphanage Trust case for embezzling

Defence’s derogatory remarks and chaos forced judge to leave courtroom twice over Tk2.1 crore by forming the “fake” trust in 1991. In the other case involving Zia Charitable Trust, the ACC accused four people including the BNP chief of raising funds by abusing power of the PMO during 2001-06.

Newly-appointed Judge Basudev Roy of the Dhaka’s Special Judge’s Court 3 passed the indictment order rejecting the defence’s time petitions. It

also fixed April 21 for starting the trials with testimonies of the complainants in the cases.

The indictment came after an eventful day marked by judge’s leaving the courtroom twice following the defence lawyers’ derogatory remarks and their expressing no-confidence on him.

Khaleda came to the court around 1pm. Now on permanent bail in both cases, the former premier remained silent during the charge framing. She stayed at the courtroom for three hours.

Because of her absence and submission of time petitions, the charge framing was deferred 41 times in the orphanage trust case and 11 times in the other.

Meanwhile, several thousand proBNP lawyers and party supporters demonstrated in and outside the court with banners and festoons amid the presence of huge security measures by the law enforcers.

Because of their putting blockade on the street, vehicular movement was halted for around four hours from 12noon creating huge tailback on  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

the files for any signs of unusual flight paths that could help explain where the missing plane went.

The military in the Maldives confirmed that reports of a sighting of the plane by villagers there were “not true,” the Malaysian minister said.

Investigators probing the disappearance of the jetliner believe it most likely flew into the southern Indian Ocean, a source close to the investigation said on Wednesday.

For Bangladesh the ask is simple – win and go to the second round with confidence, while for Hong Kong it will be a match to claim appreciation from their performance. The sides have met just once earlier that also in a one-day international in the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka back in 2004 which was won by Bangladesh by 116 runs.

Bangladesh has since then grown in to a strong unit compared to Honk Kong and the differences of experience and temperament should be enough to secure an easy win for the hosts. However, the Tigers should also not be too relaxed as they have a reputation of going down to weaker teams.

The turnaround after going through a miserable first quarter in 2014 has been very impressive for Bangladesh, though their last four T20 wins came

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BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at court to attend the charge-framing hearing on the Zia trust graft case yesterday MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Jet most likely flew into Indian Ocean n Reuters Investigators are trying to restore files deleted last month from the home flight simulator of the pilot aboard the missing Malaysian plane to see if they shed any light on the disappearance, Malaysia’s acting transport minister said on Wednesday.

Hishammuddin Hussein told a news conference that the pilot, Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah, is considered innocent until proven guilty of any wrong-

doing, and that members of his family are cooperating in the investigation.

Files containing records of simulations carried out on the programme were deleted on February 3, Malaysian police chief Khalid Abu said.

P3 SEARCH IN BANGLADESH Deleting files would not necessarily represent anything unusual, especially if it were to free up memory space, but investigators would want to check

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News

Thursday, March 20, 2014

MPs decry TIB’s statement on parliament n Emran Hossain Shaikh Lawmakers from both the treasury bench and the opposition yesterday condemned a recent statement by Transparency International Bangladesh that criticised Jatiya Party’s role in the House and commented on the possible duration of the ongoing parliament.

Taking the floor of the parliament in an unscheduled discussion, treasury bench lawmaker Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim questioned the Berlin-based watchdog’s authority in making such a statement.

On Tuesday, TIB said Jatiya Party was unable to play the role of the opposition in the parliament, adding that

it expected the 10th parliament to not run its full term.

Demanding a ruling from the Speaker, Selim said TIB had crossed a limit in making such statements, as it was not their task to look into such matters.

“TIB cannot make such statements about the parliament and the government, as it is a non-government organisation,” he said, adding that the organisation had come up with a statement similar to the ones made by BNP chief Khaleda Zia after failing to foil the national poll.

“If they [TIB] want to make such statement, they can form a political party to join the 19-party alliance,” the

lawmaker said.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who was the opposition leader in the 9th parliament, had also termed the current parliament as a “House without the opposition.”

Selim, also a presidium member of ruling Awami League, further questioned TIB’s demand for a fresh election, asking whom the organisation wanted to please with the statement.

The ruling party MP also said the incumbent government had assumed office for five years and it would not step down before completion of its full tenure.

He also requested the finance min-

ister to look into the luxurious lifestyle of civil society members and place a report before the House in this regard.

Meanwhile, taking the floor, Jatiya Party lawmaker Anisul Islam Mahmud told the House that TIB might want violence in the country.

“It [TIB] did not make any statement on the BNP’s poor presence in the House as opposition. The organisation did not issue statements when people were killed in the name of their movement,” said Anisul, also the water resources minister.

Claiming that the opposition was a part of the government, he said: “Now scope has been created to protest in the

cabinet.”

Drawing the attention of the speaker, the minister said: “The organisation has been engaged with constructive activities in other countries, but its activities in this country are questionable.”

Another lawmaker of Jatiya Party, Shawkat Chowdhury, also criticised TIB for its statement.

“The whole nation has been aware about the activities of the TIB. Wearing tin-made glasses over their eyes, they want the country to be destroyed,” he said.

Deputy Speaker Fazle Rabbi Miah, who was chairing the session, also said the statement by TIB was regrettable. l

Benetton denies compensation to RMG victims n Tribune Report Benetton Group, a global apparel retailer based in Italy, is said to be violating terms of an accord it signed to compensate victims of Rana Plaza disaster.

Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC), one of the largest alliances of labour unions and non-government organisations in the world, made the claim in a press release.

Benetton signed the accord in May 2013 under pressure from a worldwide campaign which generated over a million signatures, the report said on Wednesday.

However, Benetton is now said to be denying compensation to workers injured in the Rana Plaza disaster that killed 1,138 people.

Benetton was called on to pay $5m in compensation to the Rana Plaza victims, however did not do so, the CCC said on the basis of an investigation report.

The CCC is said to have found proof that Benetton did not disclose at least two of their suppliers to the list of factories that would be inspected, a violation of the accord.

This is not the first time Benetton has failed to fulfill its obligations or public commitments in relation to the disaster, the press release said.

They initially denied sourcing from one of the Rana Plaza factories. l

Communications Minister Obaidul Quader inaugurates a formalin-free kitchen market at New Market in the capital yesterday

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48 female MPs declared elected unopposed n UNB, Dhaka

The Election Commission yesterday announced the names of 48 women who have been elected unopposed as members of parliament from reserved seats.

Returning Officer Jesmin Tuli issued a notification declaring them as elected unofficially.

The returning officer, meanwhile, rejected the nominations of two other candidates for non-payment of telephone bills. The EC also rejected their appeals against the decision.

Of the 48 new women MPs, 38

were nominated by the ruling Awami League, five by HM Ershad-led Jatiya Party, three by a coalition of 16 independent MPs and one each by Workers Party and Jasad.

The AL-nominated lawmakers are Selina Jahan Lita, Safura Begum, Hosne Ara Lutfa Dalia, Umme Kulsum Smriti, Akhter Jahan, Selina Begum, Selina Akhter Banu, Laila Arjuman Banu, Shirin Nayeem, Kamrul Laila Jolly, Happy Boral, Rifat Amin, Nasima Ferdousi, Lutfun Nesa, Momtaz Begum, Tarana Halim, Monwara Begum, Mahjabin Khaled, Fatema Zohra Rani, Dilara Be-

gum, Fatematuz Zohura, Fazilatunnesa Indira, Pinu Khan, Sanjida Khanam, Nilufar Jafar Ullah, Rokhsana Yasmin Chhuti, Navana Akhter, Asmatul Kibria Keya Chowdhury, Shamsun Nahar Begum, Fazilaunnesa Bappy, Wasika Ayesha Khan, Jahanara Begum Surma, Firoza Begum Chinu, Amina Ahmed, Sabina Akhter Tuhin, Rahima Akhter, Hosne Ara Bably and Kamrun Nahar Chowdhury Lovely.

The MPs from Jatiya Party are Nure-Hasna Lily Chowdhury, Mahzabin Morshed, Merina Rahman, Rawshan Ara Mannan and Shahanara Begum.

Lutfa Taher, wife of late Col Taher, is from Jasad, while Hazera Khatun from the Workers Party.

Three others _ Kazi Rosy, Nurjahan Begum and Umme Razia Kajol _ are from the alliance of independent candidates.

The candidatures of Sabiha Nahar and Khorshed Ara Haque were rejected on the grounds that they owed Tk 11,835 and Tk223, 488 respectively in outstanding bills to BTCL, the staterun telephone company. Earlier, the EC fixed April 3 for voting in the 50 reserved seats for women. l

Khaleda, Tarique, Harris indicted in graft cases  PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

Sadarghat-Gulistan and Sadarghat-Jatrabari roads. They chanted slogans against the government criticising the court decisions.

Protesting the indictment order, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, students’ wing of the BNP, announced countrywide protest rallies for today, according to a press release.

The court that began around 1:15pm plunged into a pandemonium as lawyers from both the defence and the prosecution started shouting at each other and chanting slogans over the comments.

Criticising the rejection of time petitions, the defence counsels started making derogatory comments about the court prompting the judge to leave the courtroom around 1:40pm.

Later around 2pm, the defence counsels went to the judge’s chamber and submitted four separate petitions – two for each case seeking permission of going to the High Court for reviewing the rejection orders and noconfidence on the court that framed the charges.

The judge again went to the courtroom at 3:15pm to hear the petitions

but he left the room for the second time when the defence said they had no confidence on him.

Later the judge passed the indictment order through the court’s bench officer (Peshkar) Ariful Islam. On behalf of the judge, around 3:30pm he mentioned that the court framed charges against the accused and set April 21 to begin the trials.

The court also recorded the four petitions and mentioned that those were under the jurisdiction of the High Court.

The accused

Other accused in the orphanage trust case are BNP founder Gen Ziaur Rahman’s nephew Mominur Rahman, Khaleda’s former principal secretary Dr Kamal Uddin Siddique and former BNP lawmakers Kazi Salimul Haque and Sharfuddin Ahmed.

The three accused in the charitable trust case are Khaleda’s former political secretary Harris Chowdhury, his assistant personal secretary Ziaul Islam Munna and mayor of undivided Dhaka City Corporation Sadeque Hossain Khoka’ former personal secretary Manirul Islam Khan.

Of the seven accused, Harris, Mominur, Kamaluddin and Sharfuddin are on the run. The court said Sharfuddin who is now staying in the UK would be shown fugitive in the case. Tarique has been staying in the UK since 2008.

The three others, who are now on bail, appeared before the court yesterday.

According to the court order, charges were framed against the accused under sections 409/109 of the panel code and section 5 (2) of Anti-Corruption Act, 1947 in Zia Orphanage Trust case while it framed charges under section 109 of the panel code and section 5 (2) of Anti-Corruption Act, 1947 against the accused in Zia Charitable trust graft case.

Deferrals end

After appearing at the court, Khaleda submitted two adjournment petitions before the court through her counsels.

But the judge rejected the pleas after hearing both defence and prosecution for 25 minutes.

Earlier Khaleda remained absent at the court on several dates showing different reasons related to security, illness and the parliament being in session.

She secured permanent bail in the

cases on January 15 last year and again on February 16 until yesterday.

Khaleda and Tarique are also accused in Gatco, Niko and Barapukuria graft cases, proceedings of which have been stayed by the High Court upon petitions.

Zia Orphanage Trust case

The ACC filed the graft case on July 3, 2008 with Ramna police station accusing Khaleda, her son Tarique and four others for embezzling over Tk2.1 crore by forming the “fake” trust in 1991. The money came as grants from a foreign bank for the orphans.

On August 5, 2010, ACC Deputy Director Harunur Rashid submitted the charge sheet and named 37 witnesses in the case.

According to the case statement, the accused embezzled the money by establishing Zia Orphanage Trust that “exists only on paper.”

ACC official Harunur, also investigation officer of the case, pressed the charges on January 16, 2012. He showed 37 people as prosecution witnesses in the case.

According to the charge sheet, money for setting up the trust was collected from different sources, using the influence of the Prime Minister’s Office during the 2001-06 tenure of the BNP-led government.

Indictment illegal

On August 8, 2011, the ACC filed the case with Tejgaon police station accusing four of abusing power in raising funds for the trust from unknown sources.

Mahbub Uddin Khokon MP, who stood for the accused, said the court framed the charges “illegally.”

He said they submitted the time petitions as the Appellate Division was yet to give any decision against the High Court order that rejected an appeal of the accused which says the two cases cannot run together.

ACC counsel Mosharraf Hossain Kajal refuted the allegation of the defence.

“The defence lawyers deferred the charge framing hearing several times by filing time petitions. But finally the court framed the charges against Khaleda and other accused as per the law,” he said. l

Hishammuddin said such checks have been received for all the foreigners except those from Ukraine and Russia - which account for three passengers. “So far, no information of significance on any passengers has been found,” Hishammuddin said.

The 53-year-old pilot joined Malaysia Airlines in 1981 and had more than 18,000 hours of flight experience. People who knew Zaharie from his involvement in opposition political circles in Malaysia and other areas of his life have described him as sociable, humble, caring and dedicated to his job.

The crisis has exposed the lack of a failsafe way of tracking modern passenger planes on which data transmission systems and transponders — which make them visible to civilian radar — have been severed. At enormous cost, 26 countries are helping Malaysia look for the plane.

Aircraft from Australia, the US and New Zealand on Wednesday scoured a search area stretching across 305,000

square km of the Indian Ocean, about 2,600 km southwest of Perth, on Australia’s west coast. Merchant ships were also asked to look for any trace of the plane.

Nothing has been found, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority said.

China has said it was reviewing radar data and deployed 21 satellites to search the northern corridor, although it is considered less likely that the plane could have taken that route without being detected by military radar systems of the countries in that region.

Those searches so far have turned up no trace of the plane, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said.

Indonesian defence minister PurnomoYusgiantoro said Indonesia military radar didn’t pick up any signs of Flight 370 on the day the plane went missing.

He said Malaysia had asked Indonesia to intensify the search in its assigned zone in the Indian Ocean west of Sumatra, but said his air force was strained in the task. l

Zia Charitable Trust case

Jet most likely flew into Indian Ocean  PAGE 1 COLUMN 5

“The working assumption is that it went south, and furthermore that it went to the southern end of that corridor,” said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The view is based on the lack of any evidence from countries along the northern corridor that the plane entered their airspace, and the failure to find any trace of wreckage in searches in the upper part of the southern corridor.

Some sources involved in the investigation have voiced fears it could be drifting towards deadlock due to the reluctance of countries in the region to share militarily sensitive radar data or allow full access to their territory.

“These are basically spy planes, that’s what they were designed for,” said one source close to the investigation, explaining the hesitance of some nations to allow maritime surveillance aircraft into their waters.

Last week, a source familiar with

official US assessments said it was thought most likely the plane flew south, where it presumably would have run out of fuel and crashed into the sea.

If it did indeed end up in the southern Indian Ocean, one of the remotest places on Earth and also one of the deepest seas, it increases the chance it may never be found – and investigators may never know for sure what happened on board.

Hishammuddin said the difficulty of searching such a huge expanse of ocean made the operation in the southern corridor “much more challenging”.

Officials believe that someone with detailed knowledge of both the Boeing 777 and commercial aviation navigation switched off two vital datalinks: the ACARS system, which relays maintenance data back to the ground, and the transponder, which enables the plane to be seen by civilian radar.

Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 with 239 people aboard disappeared March 8 on

a night flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. Malaysian authorities have not ruled out any possible explanations, but have said the evidence so far suggests the flight was deliberately turned back across Malaysia to the Strait of Malacca, with its communications systems disabled. They are unsure what happened next and why.

Investigators have identified two giant arcs of territory spanning the possible positions of the plane about sevenand-a-half hours after takeoff, based on its last faint signal to a satellite — an hourly “handshake” signal that continues even when communications are switched off. The arcs stretch up as far as Kazakhstan in central Asia and down deep into the southern Indian Ocean.

Police are considering the possibility of hijacking, sabotage, terrorism or issues related to the mental health of the pilots or anyone else on board, and have asked for background checks from abroad on all foreign passengers.

HC: Science examinees need not pass separately n Nazmus Sakib The High Court has held that the condition of passing separately in each of the three parts – creative, objective and practical – of Physics, Chemistry and Biology in HSC is illegal.

The bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice ABM Altaf Hossain delivered the judgement in response to a writ petition filed by an HSC examinee Farah Tasnim Raisa of Dhaka City College.

Shah Mohammad Ahsanur Rahman, lawyer of the petitioner, told the Dhaka Tribune that on March 18 he got the certified copy of the full text of the judgement of January 29.

Raisa in her plea said in 2013 HSC exams, she obtained A+ in three subjects and A in two, but she did not pass in Chemistry as the new system provisioned for passing separately in each of the three parts – objective having 35 marks, creative 40 marks and practical 25 marks.

The Dhaka Board also denied her application of re-evaluation of the Chemistry answer script.

The High Court in its judgement directed the board to re-evaluate her Chemistry answer script and observed that the board had not any authority to destroy the career of any students.

Though the ruling was passed following an individual writ plea, the authorities concerned would not be able to continue with such exam system in HSC in future as it was introduced in violation of the Intermediate and Secondary Education Board Ordinance, 1961, Ahsanur Rahman said.

He said other students would reap the benefit of the judgment if they came to the court regarding other subjects in which the conditions were same as no gazette notification was issued on the matter.

Earlier on October 7, 2013, the HC issued a rule, asking why dividing the science papers – Physics, Chemistry and Biology – into the three parts in the HSC examination 2013, and imposing undeclared condition on passing separately in each of the three parts in violation of the said law should not be held illegal.

In the rule, the court also wanted to know why the respondents concerned should not be directed to re-examine the petitioner’s answer scripts and accordingly publish the re-evaluated result of the petitioner. l

Tigers look to wrap-up round one with win  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

against Associate nations Ireland, UAE, Nepal and Afghanistan. Today’s match will be the fifth consecutive T20 Bangladesh plays against a non Test playing nation and nothing but a win should satisfy them.

Dew will be a major factor in the night game and both teams know that very well. So winning the toss the captain should not hesitate to have a bowl in the track that also keeps low apart from assisting the fast bowlers.

Bangladesh players wore a very confident and joyful look in their practice yesterday where they enjoyed a small football session between the seniors and juniors after a brief team meeting.

Though it is unlikely that Mushfiqur Rahim will break the winning combination, but Rubel Hossain might come in to replace Mashrafe bin Mortaza who is carrying a minor niggle on his elbow.

Mashrafe put in a diving effort to save a boundary in the first match against Afghanistan where his elbow hit the ground, though coach Shane Jurgensen said it was “nothing to worry about.”

To win matches, especially in this format, it is important for the top order to perform and so far they have clicked in style as Bangladesh have won the first two matches by 9 and 8 wickets respectively. Tamim Iqbal and the hyper active Anamul Haque should concentrate on building from Bangladesh’s highest T20 opening partnership of 63 in the last match, which will also allow Sabbir Rahman and Shakib al Hasan to come in with a license to kill.

Mark Chapman, Jamie Atkinson and Waqas Barkat have so far impressed with the bat for Hong Kong, but it will be a big test for the top three against a quality home side bowling attack.

Meanwhile, if they bowl first it will be interesting to see how their fast bowlers go against the pounding mode of the Bangladesh batting unit.

Apart from the heavy dew at night, the weather has been very hot and humid in the past few days in Chittagong and though it drizzled for around 30 minutes yesterday evening, it is unlikely to have any effect on the game today. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

3

Thursday, March 20, 2014

1989 ATTEMPT ON HASINA’S LIFE

Bomber Murad brought back from US n Mohammad Jamil Khan With the help of Interpol, a bomber who allegedly tried to kill Sheikh Hasina in 1989 was brought to Bangladesh from the US yesterday.

“Syed Nazmul Maksud alias Murad was brought back to Bangladesh by the Criminal Investigation Department on a special flight with the help of Interpol,” Humayun, assistant superintendent of police of the CID’s legal and media wing, told the Dhaka Tribune.

A Freedom Party leader, Murad would soon be produced before a court in the case. Son of late Tofazzal Hossain, the accused hails from North Shahjahanpur of the capital. Murad is also wanted in two other cases, including one for murder, the CID told the media at a briefing at its Malibagh office yesterday evening.

Seven to eight miscreants on an auto-rickshaw had come in front of Sheikh Hasina’s Dhanmondi Road 32 house around midnight on August 11, 1989 and exploded bombs and opened fires targeting the house, Special Superintendent Abdul Kahar Akand said.

As on-duty security guard Havilder Md Jahirul Haque retaliated, the criminals fled the spot chanting “Farooq-Rashid Zindabad.” According to the investigators, Murad himself chanted the slogan.

The security guard filed a case the same day under Explosives Substances Act against unknown people with Dhanmondi police station. SP Kahar said Murad had been mentioned as the 13th accused in the charge sheet submitted later by the CID following further investigation.

Murad fled the country on October 3, 1995 and went to the US. Identifying himself as a Freedom Party leader, he started working there. Interpol issued

a red alert against him in 2011. The Homeland Security arrested Murad from Atlanta on February 2, 2012 and he had since been in a US jail.

“On information, we have since been trying to bring him back, and finally the Homeland Security handed him over to us,” Kahar said.

Murad is also accused in two cases filed with Motijheel police station – one for murder, filed on October 15, 1995; and another for snatching, filed on September 13 that year. Trials of both the cases are underway.

In the attack on Hasina case, police had submitted the final report in 1996, during the first tenure of the Awami League government. Later, the CID was given the charge of the case.

On February 20, 1997, CID Assistant Superintendent Md Khalequzzaman, who investigated the case, pressed charges against 16 people, including Freedom Party chief Lt Col (retd) Farooq Rahman, Maj Bazlul Huda and Murad.

The court framed charges against the accused on July 16, 1997. Of the accused, Sohel alias “Freedom” Sohel, Md Golam Sarwar alias Mamun, and Joj Miah are now in jail, while Humayun Kabir, Mizanur Rahman, Khondoker Amirul Islam and Md Shajahan alias Balu are on bail.

Four more accused have been absconding since the beginning; they are Lt Col (retd) Khondoker Rashid, Jafor Ahmed alias Manik, Gazi Imam Hossain and Md Humayun Kabir. The main accused of the case, Lt Col Syed Farooq Rahman and Maj Bazlul Huda, were hanged in Bangabandhu murder case on January 28, 2010.

Two other accused – Gazi Liakat Hossain and Rezaul Islam Khan – died.

Humayun, Rezaul and Liakat made confessional statements on September 23, 1996, before the court. l

CID officials arrest Nazmul Maksud Murad after Interpol handed him over yesterday. Interpol arrested him in the US. Nazmul is accused of attempting to murder Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina around 12 years back DHAKA TRIBUNE

Victim’s relative describes Mir Kashem’s brutality n Udisa Islam The cousin of a victim who had been brutally tortured to death at the alBadr camp of alleged war criminal Mir Kashem Ali during the 1971 Liberation War testified yesterday.

Hasina Khatun, 72, the 17th prosecution witness, told the International Crimes Tribunal 2 that her cousin Jasim had been tortured by al-Badr cadres led

n Tribune Report

A Navy officer at the Navy Headquarters presents the report on their search for the missing Malaysian plane in the Bay of Bengal yesterday SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

‘No sign of missing Malaysian aircraft in Bangladesh territory’ n Tribune Report The Bangladesh Navy has not found any sign of the missing Malaysian Airlines jetliner MH 370 during its search operation in the Bay of Bengal and its adjoining areas for the last five days.

Director Naval Operation Commodore SM Hakim said this while briefing reporters over their search operation yesterday.

Commodore SM Hakim, however, said the search operation in the maritime boundary of Bangladesh will continue until further notice from the government, reports the UNB. Bangladesh Navy conducted their search operation in about 87,000sqkm areas of the maritime boundary in the last five days but did not find any sign or any wreckage of the missing plane till Wednesday, Hakim said.

Two frigates and two maritime patrol aircrafts of Bangladesh Navy started the search operation for the missing plane in the Bay on March 14 midnight.

Replying to a question, he said if the Malaysian plane had crashed into the sea then oil and wreckage of the plane

would have been found in it. “But we didn’t find any kind of wreckage during the search operation.”

Director Naval Intelligence Commodore M Rashed Ali also replied to the queries of the reporters at the press briefing.

At least 20 Naval vessels that have been under regular peacetime operations were also asked to watch over the bay, the officials said.

The Navy officials have been consistently exchanging information with their Malaysian counterparts about the search over the Bay, they added.

Assistant Naval Chief Rear Admiral AMMM Aurangzeb Chowdhury was, among others, present at the briefing.

The Malaysian aircraft with 239 people on board vanished from the air traffic control screens at 1:30am on March 8, less than an hour into a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

It is one of the most baffling mysteries in the history of modern aviation as there has been no trace of the plane since nor any sign of wreckage despite a search by navies and military aircraft from over a dozen countries across Southeast Asia. l

500 crude bombs recovered n Our Correspondent, Feni

Police yesterday night recovered 500 handmade bombs from an abandoned house in Hasanpur village under Fulgazi upazila in Feni.

“Based on information, we conducted a raid in the village and recovered the bombs from the house around 08:30am. We took those to police station,” Mohammad Shah Alam, sub-inspector of Fulgazi Police Station told

abducted and tortured at Daleem Hotel, told me that the al-Badr cadres led

by Mir Kashem brought Jasim in bloodied and bruised condition and threw his body in the room they were locked up.”

Hasina said on Shafiul’s information she had met one Saifuddin to know about the body of Jasim. But he said there was no hope as the al-Badr members had thrown all dead bodies in Kar-

naphuli River.

After her deposition, defence lawyer Abu Bakar Siddique asked her a question.

The tribunal framed 14 charges against Mir Kashem, the Jamaat Executive Council member and also treasurer. Of the charges, two are related to killings and the rest are for abetting and facilitation of abduction, confinement and torture. l

BNP fears result manipulation in fourth phase of upazila polls

Nizami’s defence must finish closing arguments today n Udisa Islam The defence of top war crimes suspect Motiur Rahman Nizami, also the incumbent Jamaat-e-Islami chief, will have to complete their closing arguments by today, as per a previous order of the tribunal.

So far the defence ended submission on four charges the alleged al-Badr chief is facing. Nizami was indicted on May 28, 2012 on 16 counts of crimes against humanity including murder, rape, arson and incitement.

Defence counsel Mizanul Islam on the second day’s arguments yesterday pointed out some contradictions in the formal charges, and deposition of the prosecution witnesses including the investigation officer of the case.

After the whole day session, the tribunal adjourned the hearing until today.

Earlier, the International Crimes Tribunal 1 ordered that the defence would have to complete the arguments by today.

Nizami’s lawyers started the arguments on March 13. The prosecution ended their arguments on March 12, on the third day of their submission.

It is the second time both the parties are placing the closing arguments since the former chairman went on retirement before giving judgement in the case. The tribunal was reconstituted on February 23 and its chairman decided to hear the closing arguments afresh.

Meanwhile, the tribunal 2 yesterday adjourned hearing in the trial of war crimes accused Syed Md Qaisar until today. Before that, the defence ended cross-examination of prosecution’s first witness Kazi Kabiruddin, 72.

The witness gave a lengthy description of the crimes committed by the accused during the 1971 Liberation War. He said Manju Mia, uncle of the accused, had formed an anti-liberation group and made Qaisar its chief which was widely known as “Qaisar Bahini.” l

by Mir Kashem. She heard about the incident from another detainee at Daleem Hotel, the torture camp in Chittagong City.

The tribunal adjourned the proceedings until Sunday keeping her cross-examination unfinished.

She had met Jasim one day before the war began. After the war, “I started enquiring people for his whereabouts.

NAP leader Shafiul Alam, who was also

the Dhaka Tribune.

Shah Alam said a person named Golam Mostofa, who is a district judge, owns the house but does not live there.

“We are suspecting that some miscreants stored the bombs inside the house for using in acts of violence ahead of the upazila polls slated for March 23.”

Earlier on March 12, Awami League leader Ekramul Haque Ekram and BNP leader Minar Chowdhury got into a clash in the area which left around

30 people injured. Two separate cases were registered in this connection.

“Considering the previous clash, the bombs might have been brought by any member of the two groups led by Ekramul and Minar,” Shah Alam said.

Contacted, Feni Police Super Poritosh Pal said he had learned about the incident and an investigation into it was underway. He, however, refused to comment further, saying investigation would reveal more information. l

BNP ground level aspirants fear that Awami League men with political clout will influence local administrations to manipulate results of the fourth phase of upazila parishad elections scheduled to be held on March 23.

In Jhenaidha, the BNP district unit in a press conference alleged the ruling party men were intimidating BNP supporters into taking part in the campaign for Awami League candidate in upazila polls in Harinakundu upazila.

The written allegation was read out yesterday afternoon where former lawmaker and the party’s Central Committee Organising Secretary Mashiur Rahman, among l leaders in the briefing alleged that the ruling party men snatched and damaged their microphones during a rally.

The ruling party men attacked and injured Harinakundu Upazila Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal Vice-President Safiddin and Sariful Islam of Bhabitpur. They also vandalised the business establishments of Dr Fazlur Rahman.

The speakers said they could not stay

in their houses as police without any specific case were after them.

In Pirojpur, BNP-backed chairman candidate Aliza Zaman alleged that the ruling party men attacked her motorcade while she was campaigning in her constituency.

Aliza accused Mojibur Rahman, the Awami League-backed candidate, of the attack. When contacted, Mojibur Rahman said it might have been a third party that launched the attack to tarnish his image.

In Hobiganj, independent candidate and incumbent Chairman Ahmudul Haque feared that the ruling party would take control of the polling centres on the polls day.

Addressing a press conference at press club, he said law enforcers were acting like activists of a particular party.

“The ruling party men are threatening my supporters not to work as polling agents on the poll day.

Meanwhile, as many as three hundred people of Rolva and Mahmudpur villages of Baraigram Upazila in Natore formed a human chain and held a rally early yesterday demanding restoration

of the election sub-centre there.

The speakers said as the sub-centre was withdrawn they have to go three kilometres on foot to cast their votes at Bharatpur government Primary School centre. They urged the government to reinstall the centre soon taking into consideration their problems. They also submitted a memorandum to the assistant returning officer on Tuesday.

When contacted, Assistant Returning Officer Irtiza Hossein said he had already brought the matter into the notice of the returning officer.

Meantime, police arrested two Jamat leaders for their alleged involvement in setting fire to an AL election camp in Madhupur upazila under Tangail district yesterday. The arrestees were identified as Abdul Zabbar and Anisur Rahman – president and joint secretary of Aushnara Union unite of the Jammat respectively.

However, election to Sreepur Upazila of Gazipur was rescheduled to be held March 31. Election in Sreepur was suspended on March 11 in a clash between the Awami league-backed candidate and a rebel aspirant leaving one person dead. l

Constitutional hitch stalls MPs’ wage n Kamran Reza Chowdhury

The lawmakers of the immediate past ninth and the current 10th parliaments are yet to get their salaries and allowances owing to the constitutional complications the authorities have been facing, officials say.

The parliament authorities are in dilemma over taking the decision as to whether the current legislature started functioning on January 9 or January 25.

As per Article 123 of the constitution, MPs of the 10th parliament “must not assume office” before the expiry of the previous ninth legislature that was supposed to end on January 24, 2014.

But, Article 148 stipulates that MPs will be deemed to have assumed office as soon as they take oath.

The MPs elected in the January 5 general polls took oath on January 9 with the 9th parliament dissolving before its fiveyear term that would end on January 24 and functioning of the 10th Jatiya Sangsad.

In such case, the parliament authorities or the election commission are likely to face the charge of violation of Article 123 that opposes swearing-in of the MPs of the 10th legislature until the expiry of the previous JS. Again, if the MPs of the ninth parlia-

ment are given salaries up to January 24, the two parliaments would exist at the same time — another violation of the constitution.

“We cannot pay salaries and allowances to the honourable MPs due to some probable constitutional complexities,” Deputy Speaker Fazle Rabbi Miah, now in charge of the speaker, told the Dhaka Tribune.

He said the question was raised at the beginning of the current parliament and dissolution of the previous parliament.

Rabbi said there was no scope to provide salaries to the two sets of MPs at the same time. “I have recommended that the speaker give the 10th parliament MPs

salaries from January 25,” he said.

On the question of charter violation, the deputy speaker said, “You have to compromise at one point.”

ASM Feroz, the chief whip, said the issue would be settled after Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury returns home from Geneva on March 22.

“We sent the proposal to the speaker in January for approval to pay the salaries and allowances to the MPs of the ninth and 10th parliaments. But, she (the speaker) is yet to take decision in this regard,” Ashraful Maqbul, the parliament secretary, said adding that many MPs were visiting his office, demanding salaries and allowances. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Experts say 'no' to solar panel n Aminur Rahman Rasel Energy experts and stakeholders yesterday suggested withdrawing the condition that the solar panel should be installed on the rooftops of residential buildings in urban areas to get new power connection.

They put forward the recommendation at a roundtable on “Rationality of imposing condition for installing solar system to get power connection” in Dhaka.

A fortnightly magazine – Energy & Power – hosted the programme.

“The government imposed condition for installing solar home system to get new electricity connection. It eventually raised some serious concerns about the feasibility of such usage owing to some observed inefficiencies,” Prof Shahidul Islam Khan, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) said at the roundtable.

“Complementary power generation by installing solar system has caused a huge financial loss for those who opted for such installations to get electricity connections,” he said.

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said: “Now, we are trying to come up to a decision and thinking something new about the installation of solar panel system.”

He added that if the real estate developers tried to build green building with solar system facility, steps would be taken to give them tax benefit, which would act as a motivation for them to install solar system.

According to the Power Division, those eager to get new domestic power connections and will consume

up to two kilowatts of electricity do not need to install solar panels, but if the demand exceeds two kilowatts, installation of solar panels will be required for 3% of total electricity consumption.

A survey by the Power Cell under the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources found that around 25,000 consumers installed solar panels which had been producing 11 megawatt of electricity across the country,” Mohammad Hossain, director general of the Power Cell said.

Prof Ijaz Hossain of Department of Chemical Engineering of BUET while delivering his keynote address said it was necessary to build up favourable attitude towards renewable energy with proposed framework.

Md Jakir Hossain, managing director of Luminous Builders Limited, said: “We would not get a single benefit from installation of solar system.”

He urged the government to withdraw the mandatory installation of solar panel.

Md Helal Uddin, vice-president, Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries, alleged that a group of people of business sector had made the installation of solar system mandatory to make some easy money.

Moderated by Energy & Power Editor Mollah Amzad Hossain, the roundtable was, among others, addressed by Additional Secretary of Power Division Tapas Kumar Roy, its Joint Secretary Siddque Zobair, Managing Director of Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited Brig Gen (retd) Md Nazrul Hasan, its Vice-President Liakot Ali Bhuain, Dhaka University’s Institute of Renewable Energy Department Professor Saiful Haque. l

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid attends the inaugural ceremony of an online book reading programme titled ‘Alor Pathshala’ at the Bishwa Sahitya Kendra yesterday

Alor Pathshala starts journey n Tribune Report

The Bishwa Sahitya Kendra (BSK) and the Grameephone, the largest mobile operator in the country, introduced an online book reading portal “Alor Pathshala” (school for Enlightenment) yesterday with a view to enhancing reading habits of people.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid has launched the website (www. alorpathshala.org) a function held at the Bishwa Sahitya Kendra auditorium in the city.

With Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed, founder of the BSK, in the chair the inaugural function was addressed

by Additional Secretary of Education Ministry AS Mahmud, information and technology expert Mustafa Zabbar and

Head of Corporate Communication Department of the Grameenphone Tahmid Azizul Huq. From now on, interested readers could download books for free after registering their names in the BSK. Before downloading books, each reader has to face a short online evaluation test to ensure that he/she would actually read the book.

For reading every four books, the reader would get one book as prize which would be sent to them by mail/ courier in every three-month.

Organisers said the programme would be expanded in future. The Bishwa Sahitya Kendra has a plan to gradually build a rich e-book library.

Through “Alor Pathshala” people from different walks of life would get

NZ PM’s special envoy to visit for UNSC vote n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman

Government to probe irregularities in medical equipment purchase

Jim Bolger, special envoy to New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, will undertake a visit to Bangladesh on March 22 to seek vote for the membership (non-permanent) of UN Security Council, which is due to be held in October.

“He [Jim Bolger] will pray support from Bangladesh as New Zealand is vying for the post for the 2015-16 period,” Honorary Consul of New Zealand to Bangladesh Neaz Ahmed said.

Bolger is expected to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali and Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque to discuss bilateral trades between the countries, the consul added.l

The health ministry has taken an initiative to investigate the overall procedure of purchasing medical equipment, instruments, medicine and accessories at all public hospitals and health institutes across the country.

On March 11, a one-member committee consisting Additional Health Secretary (medical education and development) Aiyubur Rahman was formed to probe the health sector purchases. The committee was directed to submit an interim recommendation report within 30 working days and a final report with complete recommendations within 60 working days.

Sources inside the ministry said evidence of massive irregularities have been found in healthcarerelated purchases at different public

WEATHER

n Moniruzzaman Uzzal

health facilities including medical college hospitals, specialised hospitals, and district and upazila health complexes.

The committee will reportedly focus its inquiry on seven points, including budget allocation and purchase list, user-end demand for equipment, userend demand for medicine and medical accessories, purchase without demand letter, list of unused and unpacked equipment, list of excess medical equipment, and repair and preservation of the equipments.

Aiyubur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that he had received a letter regarding the formation of committee, adding that he would try to complete the probe within time. However, he denied commenting on allegations of irregularity before completion of the inquiry.

The health ministry has reportedly collected the list of 21 categories of medical equipment belonging to all public hospitals through the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), seeking details of the machineries including stock number, date of receiving, active or inactive status of the machines (repairable or non-repairable) etc.

Seeking anonymity, a senior health ministry official told the Dhaka Tribune that it was “unbelievable” how expensive medical equipments were left unused for years.

A recent World Bank study, conducted on the Health and Nutrition Population Sector Programme (2006-2011) of the health ministry, found that over 50% major medical equipments remained unused in the different public hospitals. l

City

High

Low

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

34.0 30.2 36.0 33.4 33.2 34.0 34.7 31.0

24.2 23.0 19.0 19.8 23.6 23.4 20.9 21.5

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

4:47am 6:02am 12:06pm 4:28pm 6:09pm 7:25pm

Source: IslamicFinder.org

ASI, two others summoned n Nazmus Sakib The High Court yesterday ordered three people, including Pirojpur’s Nazirpur police station ASI Abdur Rahman, to appear before it to explain their controversial roles in the incident of torturing, raping and forcing an adolescent girl to marriage on March 12.

An HC vacation bench of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Mahmudul Hoque passed the order upon a petition filed by Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), a Legal Aid and Human Rights Organisation.

The rest two are Mujahidul Islam Miah Zafar and Ashim Mistri, teachers of a local madrasa where the girl studies. l

1,320MW coal-based power plant to be set up in Patuakhali n Aminur Rahman Rasel The state-owned North-West Power Generation Company Limited and Chinese Power Company CMC signed a Memorandum of Understanding yesterday to set up a large coal-based power plant project with the capacity to generate 1320MW of electricity in Kalapara upazila of Patuakhali.

The North-West Power Generation Company’s Managing Director AM Khurshedul Alam and CMC President Wamgs Shelg signed the MoU from their respective sides.

Prime Minister’s Power and Energy Adviser Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid, Ag-

riculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, Power Secretary Monowar Islam, Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh and senior officials attended the signing ceremony.

Nasrul Hamid said the government had a plan to set up a series of coal-fired power projects to generate 20,000MW of electricity by the year 2030.

“To meet the prevailing demand of electricity, the company has no alternative but to take up joint venture imitative for power generation,” AM Khurshedul Alam of the state-owned power generation company told the Dhaka Tribune.

The Rabnabad river bank near Paira Bandar has been chosen as the project site while the estimated cost of the project is $2 billion. l

ACC questions Khulna Jamaat chief Parwar

Dry weather likely n UNB Rain or thundershowers accompanied temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at one or two places over Rajshahi, Dhaka, Barisal and Sylhet divisions and the regions of Comilla and Noakhali until 6pm today.

Weather might remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country, Met Office said. Day and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country.

The sun sets in the capital at 6:10pm today and rises at 6:02am tomorrow.

Country’s highest temperature 36.5 degree Celsius was recorded in Ishwardi and lowest 19.0 degrees in Srimangal, Feni, Rajshahi and Dinajpur yesterday.

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

the opportunity to read a number of Bangla and international books. This programme has started with 72 titles published of the BSK. They said they were engaged in creating enlightened, efficient and committed visionary individuals who posses’ high moral values, and organise themselves as a national force to enrich the heart and soul of all the people of the nation.

Keeping this objective in mind the BSK has taken and executed numerous enhancement programmes in the past 35 years, the biggest of which is Nationwide Enhancement Programme.

Currently, about 10 lakh students of 8,500 educational institutions across the country are enrolled in this programme. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

n Tribune Report The Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday questioned Khulna Jamaat-eIslami chief and the party’s Assistant Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar at Khulna Jail Gate, on charges of amassing illegal wealth.

The ACC questioned the detained Jamaat leader from 10am to 11:30am, ACC Deputy Director Farid Uddin Patwary, who is the investigation officer of the case, told the Dhaka Tribune.

Earlier, ACC officials conducted drives in Khulna city, collected neces-

Hundreds of vehicles get stuck at Doulatdiya Ferry Ghat as ferry service remained suspended because of dense fog in the area yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

7 secretaries promoted n Mohosinul Karim

Seven secretaries of the government have been promoted as senior secretaries, a gazette notification by the public administration ministry said yesterday.

The newly-promoted bureaucrats are Commerce Secretary Mahbub Ahmed, Land Secretary Shafiul Alam, Planning Commission member Hedayet Ullah Al Mamun, Power Secretary Mozammel Haque Khan, Secretary to the Prime Minister’s Office Abul Kalam Azad, Local Government Secretary Monjur Hossain and Public

Administration Secretary Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury. They will continue to work in their respective offices.

With the latest promotions, the number of senior secretaries in the civil administration now stands at 12.

Commerce Secretary Mahbub Ahmed, an economic cadre BCS officer, was previously secretary to the youth and sports ministry, while Land Secretary Shafiul Alam was chairman of the Land Reform Commission and secretary to the President’s Office.

Planning Commission member

Hedayet Ullah Al Mamun served as information secretary, Power Secretary Mozammel Haque Khan was secretary to the Roads Division and IMED, PMO Secretary Abul Kalam Azad was Power Division and ERD secretary, Local Government Secretary Monzur Hossain was secretary to home and agriculture ministries and the President’s Office, while Public Administration Secretary Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury was secretary to the information and education ministries. They are all admin cadre officers of BCS 1982 batch. l

sary documents and questioned many individuals in connection with the allegations against the Jamaat leader.

Sources at the ACC said the investigation officer had almost completed his inquiry report in the case and needed the statement of the Jamaat leader before submitting the report to the commission.

In August last year, the Detective Branch of Police arrested Professor Mia Golam Parwar in the Khulna Jail Gate area immediately after he was released from prison. Parwar was earlier sent to jail on charges of vandalism and obstructing police work. l

Zillur’s first death anniversary today n UNB President Zillur Rahman’s first death anniversary is today. Marking the day, ruling AL and different socio-political organisations have chalked out various programmes, including placing wreaths at his grave, holding milad mahfils and discussions.

Meanwhile yesterday, Zillur Rahman Smirti Sangsad arranged a memorial meeting on the occasion of the anniversary at the Jatiya Press Club in the capital.

The country’s 19th President Zillur Rahman had assumed office on Feb-

ruary 12, 2009 and died at Singapore’s Mount Elizabeth Hospital on March 20 at the age of 84, who was the third President of Bangladesh after Bangabandhu and Ziaur Rahman to have died while in office.

Zillur Rahman was born on March 9, 1929 and he had been an active player in the watersheds in the nation’s political history -- the 1952 Language Movement the 1962 anti-military rule movement, the 1966 Six-Point Movement, the 1969 Civil Uprising and the 1971 War of Independence and the 1990 Anti-Autocracy Movement. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

5

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Students display innovative projects in science fair n Mushfique Wadud

JnU hall recovery demo enters day 37 n Mohammad Jamil Khan As part of an ongoing demonstration demanding recovery of the grabbed halls, students of Jagannath University (JnU) brought out procession and held a protest rally yesterday on the campus.

Witnesses said students boycotted classes and exams, and brought out a procession in front of Shahhed Rafiq Academic Building around 10am.

Later, the students held a protest rally around 11:30am. Addressing the rally, the students said they had been demonstrating for around one and a half months, but the government or the authorities concerned did not take any positive steps yet. Moreover, a third party had created a misunderstanding between the students and teachers over the tender of Chemistry Department, they alleged.

The students urged that such misunderstanding be solved soon and steps be taken to recover their halls. l

From Left, several hundred students attend the inaugural ceremony of the Annual Science Fair 2014 at St Joseph Higher Secondary School in the capital yesterday, Two students display their projects in Human Resource Development and Economic Prosperity.” The three-day long fair is scheduled to end tomorrow.

Students, especially from Class III and IV, were seen enthusiastically participating and presenting their projects.

A good number of projects were seen on city management, hanging bridges

and waste management.

Class three student Nafees Abrar Islam presented a waste power plant in which waste will be used to produce power. Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, he said a project in Discovery Channel inspired him to come up with this in the fair.

Artijwa Prothian Abdel presented a solar copter, where solar power would be used to run a helicopter. He said he wanted to be a scientist. Another class III student Safwan Uddin presented a model for a windmill.

Addressing the inaugural programme, Director of Bangladesh Acade-

my of Sciences MA Mazed urged the students to acquire knowledge in the field of science and use them for the betterment of the country. He said he believed the young scientists would help the country to reach its ultimate goals.

University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh Pro Vice-Chancellor HM Jahirul Haque

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

said: “Though we live in a technology driven society, the number of students who pursue science and engineering for higher studies is substantially decreasing.”

He also said platforms were needed which would help nourish and stimulate scientific minds. l

BTCL big fish dropped from charge PM: Large power plants to make quick rentals obsolete sheet in VoIP graft case n

Tribune Report

The Anti-Corruption Commission will soon file two charge sheets against eight people, including the officials of Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited, on charge of embezzling Tk585 crore through illegal Voice Over Internet Protocol calls.

The charges, however, did not have any names of high-ups against whom the cases were filed earlier.

With the charges which were approved yesterday the anti-graft body dropped the names of current and former three managing directors of Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL) saying that the investigation did not find their involvement.

The ACC in August last year filed four cases against 23 BTCL officials,

including BTCL acting managing director Kalim Ullah, his predecessor Azizul Islam, former MDs SM Khairuzzaman, Afsarul Alam and M Abu Sayed Khan.

Of the four cases, charge sheets in the two were approved.

Involvement of BTCL former assistant divisional engineer Abu Hena Mostafa Salam was found during the probe.

Meanwhile, the ACC exempted BTCL acting managing director SOM Kalim Ullah, its former managing directors M Abu Sayeed Khan and Azizul Islam, former member (maintenance and operation) Mohammad Towfiq, former general manager Anwarul Mamun, former assistant divisional engineer M Moktar Ahmed from charges saying that their involvement were not found during the investigation.

It has also exempted Ericsson Ban-

gladesh Ltd’s Contract Manager Asif Jahid, Relations Manager Nazrul Islam and engineer Masrurul Hakim.

The ACC officials said two of the accused – BTCL’s former divisional engineer Habibur Rahman Pramanik and former divisional engineer Ronel Chakma flew to Malaysia and Canada respectively.

On August 25, 2013, the ACC filed four cases after a commission inquiry revealed that over around Tk600 crore had been swindled through illegal VoIP businesses and erasing information from call detail records in the preceding four years.

The probe report said telecommunication officials in connection with Ericsson Bangladesh Ltd had erased incoming international call minutes from the call detail record of ITX-5 and ITX-7.l

JU teacher suspended Jatka preservation week begins n JU Correspondent

n Our Correspondent, Barisal

Jahangirnagar University authorities on Tuesday suspended botany department teacher and former chairman of the department Prof Ali Aknd Mamun from the university for violating code of conduct.

The decision came out at a regular meeting of the syndicate of the university held at the council room of the administrative building presided over by Vice Chancellor Prof Farzana Islam.

JU sources said that Mamun had been accused of involving himself in the admission test committee of the department illegally and creating anarchy keeping the teachers confined in the department. Recently he had confined the department’s teachers twice over trivial matters, source said.

Later, five teachers and five students along with three officials of the department submitted a written complain to the university authorities against him regarding the matter. The investigation committee scrutinised the matter and found Professor Ali guilty. Following the probe report, the syndicate members had suspended him from the university.

“The probe committee has been told to submit the final report within next month while proper step will be taken following the report,” a syndicate member said. l

Jatka preservation week began yesterday at Bangabandhu Udyan with an expected good hilsa turnout this year.

Shelina Afroza, secretary of the fisheries and livestock ministry, presided over the programme, where Mohammad Sayedul Haque,

Call to increase women’s participation in parliament n Tazlina Zamila Khan

All women politicians, both from the ruling as well as from opposition parties, should come under a common platform and raise their voices to increase women’s participation in the parliament, speakers told a discussion yesterday.

The government should form a separate fund for women candidates so that they could equally compete with the other male competitors in the national elections which could be crucial in women’s empowerment, they said.

The speakers came up with the suggestion while addressing a roundtable titled “Women’s Leadership: Parliament and National Politics in Bangladesh” held at Gulshan in the city.

Former lawmakers Tarana Halim, Tasmima Hussain and economist Salma Khatun, among others, addressed the discussion organised by Centre for Gender and Social Transformation (CGST) and Brac Institute of Governance and Development.

Tarana Halim said it was more difficult for women candidates to spend huge money like their male rivals during elections. Usually, central committee, dominated by the male politicians, of a political party selects candidates for reserved seats and nominates candidates for direct election, she said.

Tasmima Hussain said, “I saw many female Awami League leaders crying when they did not get nomination from the party this time.”

Marufa Akter, programme officer, CGST said, only 27 women out of 540 candidates contested from different political parties, except 19-party alliance, in the 10th parliamentary elections while only 18 won the elections. l

fisheries and livestock minister was chief guest.

Sayedul Haque said regular surveys and extending socio-economic assistances would be provided to improve the conditions of the fishermen.

He called on fishermen and other people to stop netting, selling and buying jatka and preserve this national resource. l

n Emran Hossain Shaikh

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told the parliament yesterday that quick rental power plants would not be necessary in the country once large power plants started functioning.

“Why is there so much talk over rental power plants? If you want, I can stop those plants today. But if I do it, what situation will be created?” the premier said while answering to a supplementary question by Awami League Lawmaker AFM Bahauddin Nasim.

Sheikh Hasina, also the leader of the House, said: “If the large power plants start functioning, quick rental power plants will not be required.”

The premier said there had been no alternative to setting up quick rental plants, as the BNP-Jamaat-led government had ruined the power sector.

“The country was overwhelmed with power crisis during the BNP-Jamaat rule. People had to spend between Tk30 and Tk35 for every unit of electricity from generators. We have improved the power situation and reduced load shedding,” Hasina said.

She also slammed a section of her critics for scrutinising the government while sitting in air-conditioned rooms.

Claiming that electricity facilities reached around 62%-64% citizens, Hasina said: “We want to raise the percentage to 100.”

Responding to a different query, the premier said the law enforcement agencies would increase their vigilance for the next phases of the upazila parishad elections.

Hasina also urged people to boycott the candidates linked with militancy and violencel

Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh Office of the Divisional Engineer-1 Bangladesh Railway, Paksey.

INVITATION FOR TENDER 1 2 3 4 5 6

Ministry/Division Agency Procuring Entity Name Procuring Entity Code Procuring Entity District Invitation for

Ministry of Railways.

Bangladesh Railway Divisional Engineer-1/Paksey Not used at present Pabna Tender for works in 5 (Five) groups specified in Para (18)

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Invitation for Tender No. Invitation Ref. No. Procuring Method Budget & source of fund Project/ Programme Name Tender Last selling date Tender closing date & time Tender opening date & time

DEN-1/2013-14/05, Dated: 16/03/2014 54.01.0000.303.08.007.14 Dated: 16/03/2014 Open Tendering Method Revenue (GOB) Nil 06/04/2014 Up to 12.00 Hrs. 07/04/2014 Up to 12.00 Hrs. 07/04/2014 at 12.30 Hrs. (Tenderers or their representative (s) are allowed to attend opening)

15

Name & address of the office (s) a) Selling Tender Documents (Principle) Divisional Engineer-1/ Paksey. b) Selling Tender Documents (Others) Divisional Engineer-1/ Lalmanirhat Assistant Executive Engineer/Rajshahi Assistant Executive Engineer/IC/Saidpur c) Receiving Tender Documents Divisional Engineer-1/Paksey Office d) Opening Tender Documents Divisional Engineer-1/Paksey Office Place/date/time of Pre-Tender Not Applicable meeting Eligibility A, B & C Class contractors of Bangladesh Railway for Group B, C, D & E and B & C class contractors of Bangladesh Railway for Group A and Enlisted 1st class or special class Contractors under any Government, Semi-government & autonomous agency may submit tenders provided that they are otherwise qualified as specified in the Tender Document(s). Contractors of other departments shall have to show original enlistment document during purchase of the tender documents.

Brief Description of WorksTime of Tender Description of works Location Price Completion Security Tender Amount Documents Thorough repairs to Shingia station Shingia Tk. 600/Tk. 27,000/90 days building, waiting hall & waiting room.

Repairs to SSAE/Works/JS’s office and Jessore Tk. 500/Tk. 19,000/90 days godown.

Tk. 500/Tk. 18000/90 days At KLN:- Repairs to Qtr. No. RBC/2 (2 Khulna units), RBC/6 (4 units), E/238 (1 unit), Total = 7 units.

Tk. 500/Tk. 14,000/90 days At. KLN:- Repairs to AOM/KLN’s chamber Khulna including TTE’s (Accounts Base) office with partition wall of booking office At RB:- Construction of Boundary wall at Rajbari Tk. 500/Tk. 19000/90 days south & east side of Bunglow No. E/30.

Tender security shall have to be submitted in the form of bank draft/pay order (MICR instrument) form any schedule bank in favour of FA & CAO/West, Bangladesh Railway, Rajshahi.

The Procuring entity reserves the right to reject all Tenders or part thereof.

16 17

18 Group

Class three student Hanjala does not like this city. As he comes from his house to school from Paikpara to Mohammadpur, two things disturb him a lot: traffic jam and bad waste management.

“The city is dirty,” he said, adding mismanagement as a leading cause to the city’s pollution.

As he goes to school every day, Hanjala plans to make a modern city where almost everything was properly managed. He shared this idea with his friend Steve Probal Shanjal and found that Steve also felt the same.

Both of them made a model of a modern city and presented it in the Annual Science Fair 2014 at St. Joseph Higher Secondary School, which was inaugurated yesterday.

In their project, the roads are wide, footpaths are not occupied and vehicles are running in an organised way.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Hanjala said: “I want to be an urban planner in future and I want to solve the problems of this city.”

Around 460 other projects were presented in the fair, along with a total of 750 scrap books. Students of 50 schools took part in the fair. This year, the theme of the fair was “Role of Science

A B C D E 19 20

RPRD No. 3746, Date: 19/03/2014 GC-33/14 (9"×3)

(A.F.M. Masudur Rahman) Divisional Engineer-1 Bangladesh Railway, Paksey

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

Companiganj upazila health complex in poor health n Tribune Report Companiganj health complex in Noakhali is miserably failing to provide proper medical services to the patients because of acute shortage of doctors and lack of other logistic supports.

Local sources said although there were posts of nine doctors in the health complex only five doctors are struggling to provide treatment to a large number of patients in the upazila where about 1.5 lakh people live.

Not only that, the hospital is running without resident medical officer for long.

The X-ray machine of the hospital has been lying out of order for long, forcing the patients to go to the district town or private clinics to do the test.

A large number of patients most of them women and children, daily come to the hospital as out-patients with different problems but do not get treatment facilities due to shortage of doctors.

Moreover, the ambulance of the health complex has been lying out of order for the last five years, causing sufferings to the patients.

The patients are being compelled to

go to sadar hospital or private clinics.

During a recent visit to the hospital this correspondent found that Nur Nahar, 26, of Chhanbaria Bazar village, who came to the hospital with severe gynecological problem, left it immediately for non-availability of doctors.

Two other patients-Rina, 35 and Samiran, 45, alleged that they were not getting proper treatment at the hospital.

Medical officer Dr AKM Rezwanul Islam admitted that it has become difficult for them to attend a large number of patients’ every day amid acute shortage of doctors. l

Students of Bogra City Girls’ High School observe a sit-in in front of the school yesterday, protesting attack on headmaster by local goons FOCUS BANGLA

Police submit ‘false’ report before Feni court n Our Correspondent, Feni Feni police has allegedly submitted a “false” report before the District and Sessions’ Judge Court one year after the killing of a housewife at Phulgazi upazila in the district.

Family members of the victim said police had submitted the “fabricated” report in a bid to hide actual reason behind the killing.

Sadar Uddin, husband of the deceased, said “Lecturer of forensic department under Chittagong Medical Collage said that my wife was killed because she received a critical head

Teenage girl killed after rape n Our Correspondent, Narail A teenage girl was killed after rape in Matiadanga village under Lohagora upazila in the district on Tuesday night.

The deceased was identified as Lutfa Khatun,16, daughter of Dulu Mollah.

Police and victim’s brother Nurun Nabi said, Lutfa had gone out from her room at night and did not return.

Later, the body was found in a wheat field near the house.

Nurun Nabi claimed that his sisiter had been killed after rape.

Mohammad Alamgir Hossen, officer-in-charge of Lohagora police station, said on information, police recovered the body and sent it to Narail Adhunik Sadar Hospital morgue.

A case was filed in this connection. l

injury, and was also strangulated. But police had submitted a report before the court saying my wife had committed suicide.”

He alleged that the main accused in the case was Shamima’s aunt Delwar Begum. But police excluded her from the charge sheet.”

He also alleged the charge sheet might have been influence by real killers.

The investigative officer and Officer-in-charge of Phulgazi police station Manzur Alam said, “I submitted a report of suicide to the court after 10 months. I heard that the court has

asked for another investigation into the case.”

Source said Shamima Akter, daughter of Abdul Baki of Sharifpur village of the upazila, married her cousin Md Sodor Uddin. She was allegedly killed at the kitchen of her father’s house on March 15.

A murder case was filed in this regard with Phulgazi police station.

According to the case statement, Shamima was killed over land dispute with his uncle Alauddin.

Later, being police recovered the body and sent it Chittagong Medical Collage Hospital for autopsy. l

Muktijoddha Sangsad election on June 4 n Tribune Report The elections to the central, district and upazila command councils of the Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad will be held on June 4.

The election commission of the BMS has announced the elections schedule yesterday.

Liberation War Affairs Ministry’s Joint Secretary Akram Hossain, also the chief coordinator of the Muktijoddha Sangsad election, announced the election schedule on behalf of the commission.

According to the schedule, the last date of nomination papers submission is April 30.

The nomination papers would be scrutinised and reviewed on May 4. The

Listed criminal found dead n Our Correspondent, Jhenaidah Police recovered the body of an alleged criminal in Kakiladari village under Moheshpur upazila of the district yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Masum Billah, 28, son of Sajib Uddin of Kotchandpur Bus Stand in the town.

Masum’s wife Nasrin Begum said that he was sleeping at his grandfather’s house in Andulbaria village of Chuadanga district on Monday night. At 2.45am, some 10 to 12 armed men entered the house and introduced themselves as police personnel.

They had dragged Masum from the house and took away him forcibly.

Later his bullet hit body was found nearby a bridge in the village. The family members claimed that the police had shot Masum dead. When contacted, Shajahan Ali Khan, officer-in-charge (OC) of Kotchandpur police station denied the allegation.

He said: “The policemen did not pick up Masum.”

The OC also said: “Masum was an accused in a number of cases including snatching, rape, robbery and tree felling.”

The body was sent to Jhenaidah Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy.

A case was filed with Moheshpur police station. l

retuning officers will receive appeals from the aspirants on May 6 and dispose on May 7. The last date for the withdrawal of nomination papers is scheduled for May 11.

The final list of the candidates will be published on May 12 while the symbols for the candidates will be allocated on May 14.

Earlier, the liberation war affairs ministry had postponed the election of the BMS scheduled on October 21, because of political unrest and Eid festivals. The tenure of the last elected central command council was expired in June, 2013.

The government has appointed an administrator in the organisation failing to hold a free and fair election within its stipulated time. l

Thursday, March 20, 2014

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Juris

7

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Don’t mess with examinations

JURIS QUOTE

A sneak peek at the Public Examinations (Offences) Act, 1980

I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do.

Robert A Heinlein

American novelist (1907 –1988)

LAW CARTOON SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

W

n Abdullah Al Arif e often hear depressing news regarding public examinations nowadays. A range of offences takes place-ranging from question leak-out to making of false certificates and mark-sheets. People wonder if there is a law to check such offences.

Yes, we have Public Examinations (Offences) Act, 1980 to deal with felonies done in public examinations.

Public Examinations

According to the law, “public examination” means any examination that is conducted or organised by a university or a board. Some of the major public examinations we have are Primary School Certificate (PSC), Junior School Certificate (JSC), Secondary School Certificate (SSC), Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC). These examinations are conducted by several education boards under the ministry of education. Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examinations are also public examinations conducted by the Bangladesh Public Service Commission. Examinations conducted by colleges under National University and other public universities are also termed as public examinations.

Personation at public examination

According to section 3 of the Act, if any person, not being an examinee, enters the examination hall during a public examination by declaring himself as an examinee, or appears at a public examination in the name of any other person or in a fictitious name, that person commits an offence called personation.

This offence is punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years, and shall not be less than one year.

Leak-out of question papers before public examination

Disclosing, publishing, or distributing any paper containing any question set for such examination, or any paper containing any question falsely purporting to be set for such examination, or intending that the same by any means whatsoever before any public examination is held may be treated as identical with any question set for such examination is an offence under the law.

The offence is punishable with imprisonment for a term

which may extend to 10 years and shall not be less than three years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Tampering with any marks

Altering or tampering with any marks, mark sheet, tabulation sheet, certificate, diploma, or degree, in any manner and without any lawful authority, relating to any public examination is an offence.

This offence is punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to four years, or with fine, or with both.

Making of false mark sheet, certificate, diploma or degree

According to Section 6 of the law, if any person makes, prints, distributes, or uses, or keeps in his possession any mark sheet, certificate, diploma or degree relating to any public examination which he knows to be false or not issued by the university or board having authority to issue the same, that person commits an offence.

This offence is punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and shall not be less than three years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Possession of blank form of mark sheet, certificate, diploma or degree

Keeping any blank form of mark sheet, certificate, diploma or degree relating to any public examination, which has not been issued or delivered under the authority of the university or board, is an offence.

This offence is punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.

Helping examinees

Section 9 of the law says, if any person helps any examinee by supplying any written answer or any book or written paper or any page thereof or extract therefrom, or by dictating any answer orally or by any mechanical means, or by any other means, in the examination hall that person commits an offence.

The offence is punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years and shall not be less than two years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Examining answer scripts by unauthorised persons

If any person, not being appointed or authorised by a

university or board, conducts any public examination in an examination hall or examines any answer script relating to a public examination, or whoever conducts any public examination in an examination hall or examines any answer script relating to a public examination in the name of any other person or in a fictitious name, that person is guilty of an offence.

This offence is punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.

Obstructions in public examinations

The following acts, if done in any manner intentionally, are offences under the law: l Obstructing any person in the discharge of his duties in connection with a public examination l Obstructing the holding of a public examination l Creating disturbances in any examination hall These offences are punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine, or with both.

Offences committed by employees of university or board

If any employee of a university or a board or being entrusted with any duty or responsibility in connection with any public examination, commits an offence under this Act, he/she shall be given imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years, or with fine, or with both.

RIO SHUVO

Attempt to commit offences under this Act

If any person abets or attempts to commit any offence under this Act, he/she shall be punishable with the sentence provided for the offence.

Procedure to be followed in offences under the Act

Section 14 of the Act lays down the procedures to deal with the offences mentioned in this Act. It says: l Any offence under this Act shall be cognisable l No court other than that of a metropolitan magistrate or a magistrate of the first class shall try an offence under this Act l A court trying an offence under this Act shall try the offence summarily in accordance with the procedure laid down in the Code of Criminal Procedure l A court may pass any sentence under this Act in excess of its power under the Code of Criminal Procedure l

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Doing away with racial discrimination March 21 is the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

T n

Juris Desk

he International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed annually on March 21. On that day, in 1960, police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville, South Africa, against the apartheid “pass laws.” Proclaiming the Day in 1966, the General Assembly called on the international community to intensify its efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination.

In 1979, the UN General Assembly adopted a programme of activities to be undertaken during the second half of the decade for action to combat racism and racial discrimination.

On that occasion, the General Assembly decided that a week of solidarity with the people struggling against racism and racial discrimination, beginning on March 21 would be organised annually in all states.

Since then, the apartheid system in South Africa has been dismantled. Racist laws and practices have been abolished in many countries, and an international framework for fighting racism have been built guided by the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The Convention is now nearing universal ratification, yet still, in all regions, too many individuals, communities and societies suffer from the injustice and stigma that racism brings.

hindering progress for millions of people around the world.

Racism and intolerance can take various forms-from denying individuals the basic principles of equality to fuelling ethnic hatred that may lead to genocide-all of which can destroy lives and fracture communities. The struggle against racism is a matter of priority for the international community.

International law regarding racial discrimination

Article 2 of the Universal declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), 1948 has stipulated that, “Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political, or other opinion, national, or social origin, property, birth, or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-

governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.”

The United Nations has been concerned with this issue since its foundation and the prohibition of racial discrimination is enshrined in all core international human rights instruments. It places obligations on States and tasks them with eradicating discrimination in the public and private spheres. The principle of equality also requires states to adopt special measures to eliminate conditions that cause or help to perpetuate racial discrimination.

Laws against racial discrimination in Bangladesh

Article 28 of the constitution of Bangladesh provides protection against racial discrimination. It says that the state shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth. It also says that no citizen shall, on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth be subjected to any disability, liability, restriction, or condition

Racial discrimination

According to the Convention on Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination, the term “racial discrimination” means any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment, or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life.

Racial and ethnic discriminations occur on a daily basis,

BIGSTOCK

with regard to access to any place of public entertainment or resort, or admission to any educational institution.

Although there is a constitutional prohibition of racial discrimination, but racial discrimination as such is not explicitly and adequately prohibited and penalised in criminal law. However, the Penal Code of Bangladesh in sections 295, 295 A, 296, 297 and 298 makes any discrimination based on religion punishable under the law.

Bangladesh became a party to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination by accession on June 11, 1979 and is pledge bound to give full effect to the provisions of the convention through domestic legislations.

The committee on the elimination of racial discrimination, after reviewing the eleventh periodic report submitted by the government of Bangladesh in 2000 recommends that the state party consider giving full effect to the provisions of Article 4 of the convention in its domestic legal order, ensure penalisation of acts of racial discrimination, and ensure access to effective protection and remedies under Article 6 of the convention through competent national tribunals and state institutions besides the High Court Division of the Supreme Court, in respect of acts of racial discrimination.

Moreover, Bangladesh has also acceded to all major international human rights instruments that prevent and prohibit discrimination, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid in 1995, the Slavery Convention of 1926 and Protocols thereto, the Genocide Convention of 1948, the Convention against Torture, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, etc.

So, this is high time for the Bangladesh government to enact a domestic legislation criminalising all forms of racial discriminationl

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Iran, six powers lock horns over nuclear reactor in Vienna n Reuters, Vienna Iran and world powers locked horns yesterday over the future of a planned Iranian nuclear reactor that could yield plutonium for bombs but Europe’s top diplomat described the talks as “substantive and useful” and the sides will reconvene in April.

The meeting in Vienna was the second in a series that the six nations - the United States, China, Russia, Germany, France, Britain - hope will produce a verifiable settlement on the scope of Iran’s nuclear program, ensuring it is oriented to peaceful ends only, and put to rest the risk of a new Middle East war.

This week the two sides attempted to iron out their positions on two of the most thorny issues: the level of uranium enrichment conducted in Iran, and its Arak heavy-water reactor that the West sees as a possible source of plutonium for bombs.

They appeared to reach no agreements and said only that they would meet again on April 7-9, also in the Austrian capital. However, Tehran’s foreign minister voiced optimism that their July 20 deadline for a final agreement was within reach.

The broad goal is to transcend ingrained mutual mistrust and give the West confidence that Iran will not be able to produce atomic bombs and Tehran - in return - full relief from economic sanctions that have crippled the OPEC state’s economy.

Iran denies that its declared civilian atomic energy program is a front for developing the means to make nuclear weapons, but its restrictions on U.N. inspections and Western intelligence about bomb-relevant research have raised concerns.

“We had substantive and useful

UK for discussion on Russia’s ‘permanent’ expulsion from G8

n AFP, London

British Prime Minister David Cameron said yesterday that G7 nations meeting next week must discuss the permanent expulsion of Russia from the wider G8 if it takes further action to destabilise Ukraine.

US President Barack Obama has called for a G7 summit – minus current G8 chairman Russia – on the sidelines of a nuclear security summit in The Hague on Monday and Tuesday to discuss the escalating showdown over Russia’s annexation of Crimea.

“I think it’s important we move together with our allies and partners, and I think we should be discussing whether or not to expel Russia permanently from the G8 if further steps are taken,” Cameron told parliament. “That’s the meeting we’ll have on Monday and I think that’s the right way to proceed.”

Cameron was responding to questions from opposition Labour leader Ed Miliband, in a rare mention of foreign policy during the weekly prime minister’s questions session in Britain’s lower house of parliament. The premier said any move by Russia beyond Crimea into eastern Ukraine should also result in the “toughest possible” economic and diplomatic sanctions. l

discussions, covering a set of issues, including enrichment, the Arak reactor, civil nuclear cooperation and sanctions,” European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton told reporters after the two-day session.

The United States has called on Iran to scrap or radically alter the as yet-uncompleted reactor, but Tehran has so far rejected that idea while hinting it could modify the plant.

Iran has already suspended its most sensitive, higher-grade enrichment under the November accord and won modest respite from sanctions A Western diplomat cautioned that the purpose of the current round of negotiations was not to nail down a final agreement.

“The goal of these sessions is not to solve any topics at this point (but) to be talking through the gaps and working on how to narrow them,” the diplomat, speaking on condition he was not further identified, told Reuters.

Western nations want to ensure that the Arak reactor is modified sufficiently to ensure it poses no bomb proliferation threat. Iran insists that the desert complex be free to operate under any accord as it would be designed solely to produce radio-isotopes for medical treatments.

“The Arak reactor is part of Iran’s nuclear program and will not be closed down, (like) our research and development activities,” Foreign Minister Javad Zarif told reporters.

A Swedish man long considered Scandinavia’s most notorious serial killer was released yesterday from more than 20 years of psychiatric detention, eight months after being cleared of all charges.

“The court rules that the forensic psychiatric care of Sture Bergwall shall continue and change from closed to open care,” the administrative court in Falun said in a statement.

Sture Bergwall, 64 – previously known as Thomas Quick – confessed to dozens of murders in the early 1990s and was convicted to life imprisonment for eight of them and held at a psychiatric ward in Saeter in northern Sweden since 1991.

He was later cleared of all the murders due to lack of evidence, amid revelations that he had been heavily medicated at the time of the confessions.

The court ruling which ordered his release added that he still suffers from a “personality disorder” but not to the extent that he should be held in custody.

Several conditions were placed on his release, including that he avoid alcohol and drugs, undergoes regular treatment and accepts help from local

Wary steps

The sides are conscious that it may be hard to reach gradual deals without having the overall picture in sight and are insisting that “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.”

Much of the progress so far has been achieved since last year’s election of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, a relative moderate who launched a policy of “constructive engagement” to end Iran’s international isolation.

“Our ultimate goal is to maintain our peaceful nuclear programs in line with international rules, and at the same time remove all concerns of the international community,” the semi-official Fars news agency quoted Rouhani as saying.

Since Rouhani’s rise, day-to-day relations between Iranian and six-power negotiators have greatly improved.

Some senior officials now address each other by their first names and use English in talks, rather than going through onerous translation.

But gaps between expectations on both sides, and their own internal divisions, could still scupper diplomacy.

Iran has already suspended its most sensitive, higher-grade enrichment - a potential path towards bomb fuel - under the November accord and won modest respite from sanctions. l

Israeli soldiers sit on their Merkava tanks after being deployed on the border with Syria near the Druze village of Majdal Shams in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights. Israel launched air raids against Syrian army positions and issued a stark warning to Damascus just hours after a bomb on the occupied Golan Heights wounded four of its soldiers AFP

Israel bombs Syria army targets n AFP, Jerusalem

Israel launched air raids against Syrian army positions early yesterday and issued a stark warning to Damascus just hours after a bomb on the occupied Golan wounded four Israeli soldiers.

The air strikes marked the most serious escalation along the ceasefire line with Syria since the 1973 Middle East War, with Israel’s defence minister warning that Damascus would pay a “high price” for helping militants bent on harming the Jewish state.

Fighters from Hezbollah, Lebanon’s powerful Shiite movement which fought a bloody war with Israel in 2006, have joined forces with regime

troops in Syria’s civil war and are credited with a string of recent battlefield successes against the rebels.

Ahead of the air strikes, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had warned Israel would act “forcefully” to defend itself following the Golan attack.

“The IDF targeted several Syrian army positions which aided and abetted the attack against IDF personnel yesterday,” a military statement said, with a spokeswoman confirming the air strikes had hit targets on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights plateau.

The raids targeted a Syrian army training facility, a military headquarters and artillery batteries, the statement said.

The bombardment took place 12

South Africa: Zuma faces ‘fire pool’ graft ruling

Egypt general, colonel killed in clash with militants

n Reuters Pretoria

n AFP, Cairo

A South African anti-corruption watchdog unveils a report yesterday on a $21 million state-funded “security upgrade” to President Jacob Zuma’s private home that a newspaper says included a swimming pool and cattle enclosure.

If Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s long-awaited findings concur with leaked excerpts in the Mail and Guardian daily, they could damage the scandal-plagued Zuma and the ruling African National Congress (ANC) in an election only six weeks away.

Madonsela, a fearless advocate who has become one of the biggest thorns in the ANC’s side, condemned the November leak of her provisional report into Zuma’s homestead at Nkandla in rural KwaZulu-Natal province and denied it came from her office.

Zuma’s spokesman declined to comment, but the ANC immediately threw its weight behind its leader, saying it believed he had done nothing wrong.

As the report’s formal release day has approached, several senior party officials have appeared in the media questioning the integrity and independence of Madonsela, whose office is enshrined in South Africa’s post-apart-

‘Serial killer’ Swede’s sentence overturned n AFP, Stockholm

Possible face-saving options that could allow Iran to keep the reactor while satisfying the West that it would not be put to military purposes include reducing its megawatt capacity and changing the way it would be fuelled.

Iran and the powers aim to wrap up a permanent accord by late July, when their trailblazing interim deal from November 24 expires and would need to be extended, complicating diplomacy.

authorities in his new home.

Bergwall has blogged and tweeted regularly in recent years and has said he planned to move further north to live in the mountains and devote himself to writing about his experience.

“Those acquittals show there was a legal scandal... it was not my mental health that formed the basis of my detention, it was the judges’ and the clinic’s reputations,” he wrote yesterday.

“I have a lot to tell and that is what I will spend my time on now... I look to the future with great confidence.”

The convictions against Bergwall have been dubbed Sweden’s greatest miscarriage of justice in recent times because of the swiftness with which he was found guilty of the eight murders, which occurred between 1976 and 1988.

During psychological counselling, following an armed robbery conviction, he confessed to all eight murders as well as more than 20 others in Sweden, Norway and Finland for which he was not tried.

He often described how he butchered his victims and how in at least one case he ate body parts. l

heid constitution.

The newspaper said Madonsela’s draft report, entitled “Opulence on a Grand Scale,” found Zuma had derived “substantial” personal gain from the home improvements paid for by the state and recommended he should repay some of the money.

The improvements included a visitors’ lounge, amphitheatre, cattle enclosure and swimming pool, referred to in official documents as a “fire pool” on the pretext it could double up as a water reservoir for fire-fighters, the paper said.

The leaked report provoked derisive cartoons of Zuma sipping cocktails and relaxing in his “fire pool,” and reinforced the perception of runaway corruption in Africa’s biggest economy during Zuma’s first term in office.

Despite voter concerns about graft and shoddy public services, the ANC is almost certain to win the May 7 election, handing the 71-year-old Zuma another five years at the helm.

Before the leak, the government had gone to court to try to prevent Madonsela releasing her findings on the grounds that they might jeopardise Zuma’s security. The challenge was dropped after Madonsela made clear there was no threat. l

An Egyptian army brigadier general and a colonel were killed in a raid yesterday on a jihadist hideout, as security forces close their pincers on militants in the Nile Delta.

The Islamist militants have increasingly shifted their campaign from the restless Sinai Peninsula to the capital and other Nile Delta areas, with bombing and shooting attacks on security forces.

In the early morning raid north of Cairo, five jihadists with the Al-Qaeda-inspired Ansar Beit al-Maqdis group were also killed in the hours-long shootout, the interior ministry said.

The group has claimed responsibility for some of the deadliest attacks in a low-level insurgency that has killed more than 200 policemen and soldiers since the army overthrew Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July.

The cell targeted was suspected of involvement in a Saturday attack on a military checkpoint that killed six soldiers, and the assassination in January of a deputy interior minister in Cairo.

They were hiding out near the Nile Delta town Al-Qanatir Al-Khayriya, roughly 30 kilometres (19 miles) north of Cairo.

The officers killed in the raid were bomb disposal experts who participated in the operation alongside police, the military said.

It said “a large quantity of explosives” was found in the hideout, with the interior ministry saying militants had used explosive belts during the confrontation.

Most of the attacks following Morsi’s overthrow have taken place in the lawless Sinai Peninsula, where jihadist leaders are believed to be based.

Ansar Beit al-Maqdis (Partisans of Jerusalem), has spearheaded the attacks, claiming responsibility for bombing Cairo police headquarters in January and downing a military helicopter in the Sinai with a heat-seeking missile.

The group said last week that its founder, Tawfiq Mohamed Fareej, was killed recently when a car accident set off a bomb he was carrying.

Fareej was the “field commander” of an August 18, 2011 cross-border raid into Israel that killed eight Israelis, the group said. He was involved in the failed assassination of the interior minister in September. The group also acknowledged the death of one of its militants in a shootout with police in Cairo earlier in the month. l

THE LARGEST TREE ON EARTH

A tourist posing for a photo next to the General Sherman Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) at Sequoia National Park in California. With an estimated volume of 1,487 cubic metres (52,513 cu ft), General Sherman sequoia is the largest tree on earth. The tree’s height is 83.8 metres (275 ft), its diameter - 7.7 metres (25 ft) and its estimated age - 2,300ñ2,700 years AFP

hours after four soldiers who were patrolling the Israeli side of the ceasefire line were wounded by a roadside bomb, one of them severely.

It was the third such incident in two weeks along Israel’s northern frontier, with Israeli military officials blaming the Syrian army for complicity in the attack. Two previous attempts to strike soldiers along Israel’s northern borders on March 5 and March 14 were blamed on Hezbollah.

Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon said Israel held Syria’s regime accountable for the attack. “We see the Assad regime as responsible for what is happening under its authority, and if it continues to cooperate with terror elements... we will make it pay a high price.” l

Sarkozy hit by ‘bastard’ judges revelations n AFP, Paris Nicolas Sarkozy appeared to sink deeper into trouble yesterday after fresh evidence emerged of an alleged attempt to influence judges involved in one of a string of corruption cases the former French president is embroiled in.

Investigative news website Mediapart published what it said were extracts from tapped phone conversations between Sarkozy and his lawyer, who at one point refers to two top judges as “bastards.”

If genuine, they would appear to confirm previous reports that Sarkozy benefited from insider information from a friendly judge about the progress of a case related to an election-financing scandal.

They also reveal that Sarkozy appeared to have a well-placed mole in a senior position feeding him information about a separate probe into alleged financing of his 2007 election campaign by former Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi.

Mediapart’s report was described as “mind-boggling” by a spokesman for the ruling Socialist Party. But Sarkozy’s allies slammed what they described as blatant violation of the principles of judicial secrecy and the presumption of innocence.

The report comes four days ahead of nationwide municipal elections in which both Sarkozy’s UMP party and the Socialists are tipped to suffer heavy losses.

Mediapart said it got hold of the summaries of seven phone conversations tapped by judges, which apart from confirming revelations Sarkozy allegedly perverted the course of justice also suggest he received a tip-off from a mole that judges were planning to raid his offices in connection with the Libya allegations.

His lawyer Thierry Herzog is allegedly heard describing judges as “bastards” and, at one point, voices certainty that a key court decision will go their way, “unless justice prevails.”

According to sources, judges started tapping Sarkozy’s phones last year after opening a formal investigation into allegations that he accepted up to 50m euros ($70m) in cash from Kadhafi for his 2007 election campaign.

They unwittingly stumbled upon a conversation between Sarkozy and Herzog that prompted them to open another, completely separate probe over suspicions he tried to get inside information about top secret proceedings before one of France’s highest courts.

These proceedings at the Cour de Cassation centered on the seizure of Sarkozy’s diaries by judges probing the alleged illegal financing of his UMP party by France’s richest woman Liliane Bettencourt. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

9

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Malaysia missig jet mystery obsesses aero industry n Reuters, San Diego The global aviation industry is reverberating with shock as well as a range of theories over the fate of the missing Malaysia Airlines jet, but most in the business think the unsolved mystery is more of a tragic red herring than a wake-up call for drastic changes.

Despite the lack of new information, flight MH370 was at the top of the agenda on the street, at the pubs and in private meetings this week at the International Society of Transport Air Trading in San Diego, the annual gathering of 1,600 airplane makers, buyers and lessors.

“The people that I deal with are looking at this with great concern - it appears considerable efforts may have gone into cloaking the aircraft,” said Robert Agnew, chief executive of aviation consultant Morten Beyer & Agnew, referring to reports that the plane’s primary means of communicating with air traffic control were intentionally disabled.

“We are speculating on what was actually done in the cockpit. If this is a planned terrorist activity, could others know the process and copy it?,” he asked.

Investigators are convinced that someone with deep knowledge of the Boeing Co 777-200ER aircraft and commercial navigation diverted the jet early last Saturday, carrying 12 crew and 227 passengers, perhaps thousands of miles off course.

But no physical evidence of the aircraft has been found and authorities have failed to pinpoint any passengers with a known political or criminal motive to crash or hijack the plane.

“The disappearance of MH370 has been a topic of private conversation here,” said Philip Baggaley, an analyst at Standard & Poor’s, attending the key annual gathering for the $110bn a year aircraft leasing business, which has helped fuel massive recent growth in aircraft purchases, especially in Asia.

Baggaley said the consensus is that someone in the crew or among the passengers with close knowledge of how

to disable communications systems took the plane over.

“They mostly guess that it crashed in the Indian Ocean, rather than landed safely at a new destination, because the plane probably would have been picked up by military or other radars if it flew over land,” he said.

There are some holdouts. One aviation consultant, who asked not to be named, was adamant that Asian militaries know more about the missing plane than they have acknowledged.

“I find it hard to believe the military intelligence in the region doesn’t know where that plane is,” the consultant said.

Those countries all spy on each other.”

The theory that the plane may be safe on some remote island and possibly being repurposed for some kind of attack, was generally not given much weight.

But given the lack of hard information or evidence to study, some said it was too early to know if the Malaysia mystery will spark a revamp in industry safety or communications technology.

“Potentially yes,” said Steven Udvar-Hazy, CEO of Air Lease Corp and the man who is credited with effectively inventing the modern aircraft leasing business. “Let’s wait to see how this tragedy unfolds.”

There have already been calls for airlines to introduce permanently switchedon Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS), the equipment that automatically transmits data from a plane to the ground via radio or satellite, to ensure that an aircraft’s location is always known.

But that idea was rejected by a top executive of a large aircraft leasing firm due to basic safety concerns with electronics, which may have to be shut down in an emergency. “What do you do when it starts smoking?,” he asked.

John Plueger, who works with Udvar-Hazy as chief operating officer of Air Lease Corp, did not expect a major re-evaluation of industry practices. “If someone has an intent to do something, they will find a way to do it.” l

Students stand next to a giant mural featuring missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 displayed on the grounds of their school in Manila’s financial district of Makati on March 18, 2014, created as part of solidarity action by concerned artists for the passengers and crew of the missing plane. Threem people around the world have joined an effort led by a satellite operator to locate the missing Malaysia Airlines plane, in what may be the largest crowdsourcing project of its kind AFP

Chaos as Chinese relatives protest over missing jet n AFP, Kuala Lumpur Angry Chinese relatives of passengers on a missing Malaysia Airlines plane burst into a media centre near Kuala Lumpur yesterday, unfurling a banner protesting Malaysia’s handling of the crisis until they were bundled out by security.

Amid chaotic scenes, the relatives were besieged by camera-wielding reporters awaiting the start of a daily press briefing by Malaysian officials on the search for the missing aircraft.

Shouting and crying, they unfurled

a banner that accused the Malaysian authorities of withholding information and not doing enough to find the plane.

“Give us back our families,” the banner said.

“They give different messages every day. Where’s the flight now? We can’t stand it anymore,” one woman wailed.

Twelve days after the disappearance of Flight MH370, frustrations among anguished relatives have grown as multinational efforts have failed to find any trace of the plane and the 239 people aboard, including 153 Chinese.

Security intervened to stop the up-

Indian farmers take their lives after freak hailstorms

CONDEMNED TO POVERTY

n AFP, Mumbai

Children look on at a brick factory on the outskirts of Yangon. Myanmar was once known as the ‘rice bowl of Asia’ because of its agricultural riches, but economic mismanagement during nearly 50 years of military rule left it deeply impoverished AFP

Vietnam jails second blogger in a fortnight n

AFP, Hanoi

Vietnam jailed a prominent blogger for 15 months yesterday on a charge of anti-state activity, the second such sentencing in a fortnight in a nation where perceived dissent is severely punished.

Pham Viet Dao, 61, a Communist Party member and a former official at the Ministry of Culture, was charged with “abusing democratic freedoms to infringe on the interests of the State” after a half-day trial in Hanoi.

In addition to his own writing, Dao’s popular blog included dozens of links to other commentaries on politics and society. His blog attracted thousands of hits between February 2012 and May 2013.

The court ruled that the posts “defamed the party and state... blackening the honour and prestige of the (communist) party leader and the prime minister,” presiding judge Ngo Tu Hoc said.

“His online distortion and defaming of party and state leaders caused confusion over the party leadership and undermined people’s trust in the party,” Hoc added.

Dao, who appeared calm in court, apologised for “having posted some incorrect information,” but added that he did not think his posts had “badly influenced society.”

Ahead of the sentencing, New Yorkbased Human Rights Watch on Tuesday called on the Vietnamese government to drop all charges against Dao and free him “immediately and unconditionally.”

“The Vietnamese authorities are shaming themselves before domestic and international public opinion by staging yet another political trial of a peaceful critic,” said Brad Adams, HRW’s Asia director. International rights groups said lawyers, bloggers and activists in the country are regularly subject to arbitrary arrest and detention.

Two weeks ago, popular blogger and journalist Truong Duy Nhat was jailed for two years for the same charge, which prompted the US to say it was “deeply concerned” by the sentence.

According to Reporters Without Borders, Vietnam was second only to China in the number of bloggers it detained, with at least 34 currently behind bars. l

roar at the Kuala Lumpur briefing room – located in a hotel near Malaysia’s international airport.

The family members were bundled out of the room, with two of them having to be physically carried out, still protesting and shouting.

“I fully understand what they’re going through. Emotions are high,” Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein told the briefing that began shortly afterwards.

At a hotel in Beijing, tensions also boiled over at a daily meeting between company officials and family members.

A string of farmers have committed suicide in western India after freak hailstorms and rains destroyed winter crops worthms of dollars, activists and politicians said yesterday.

The unusual weather struck parts of western Maharashtra state, of which Mumbai is the capital, from late February and went on to badly damage crops.

A source from the Maharashtra chief minister’s office told AFP that seven suicides had been confirmed, with more killed by the storm itself, but the opposition and activists said the real figure was much higher.

“There have been 32 (farmer) suicides so far across Maharashtra after the hailstorms started... We are getting hourly updates from our people,” said Kishor Tiwari, president of farmers’ advocacy group Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti.

He said the figure was expected to

rise after more post-mortems were carried out.

India’s main opposition group, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said on Tuesday that the number of farmer suicides had gone up to 37, demanding that the natural disaster be declared a “national calamity,” the Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency reported.

“Since the hailstorm began on February 28, the entire rabi (winter-sown) crop on 1.6m hectares of land in 17 districts has been destroyed,” said senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde.

The region, which usually experiences the tropical rainy season from June to October, saw major damage to crops of fruits such as grape, mango, papaya, lime and watermelon, according to local reports.

Among those to commit suicide was debt-ridden Bapu Ramchandra Pawar, 62, who poisoned himself after his pomegranate farm was destroyed, police told PTI. l

Malaysia loses court battle over ‘48 killings n AFP, London Relatives of 24 Malaysian rubber plantation workers killed by British troops in 1948 lost yesterday the latest stage of their legal fight to win a public inquiry into the deaths.

England’s Court of Appeal dismissed an attempt by campaigners to overturn an earlier High Court ruling that upheld the British government’s decision not to hold a formal probe into the Batang Kali killings in then British-controlled Malaya.

In December 1948, British soldiers shot and killed 24 men at the Batang

Kali rubber plantation in Selangor state before setting the village on fire.

The incident, which has been referred to as “Britain’s My Lai” after the infamous Vietnam War massacre, happened during the so-called Malayan Emergency, when British troops conducted military operations against communist insurgents.

Families of those who died have challenged the official account that the men were killed as they tried to escape, and want a full public inquiry to establish what happened.

In a written ruling yesterday, three

Court of Appeal judges said that their analysis of the issues, including human rights and international law, led them to conclude that “these appeals fall to be dismissed.”

However, lawyers for the families said they would take their case to the highest court in England and Wales, the Supreme Court, and ultimately to the European Court of Human Rights.

Quek Ngee Meng, a spokesman for the families, said: “Despite the dismissal of the families’ appeal, our journey to seek redress and justice has not come to an end. l

Sri Lanka releases 2 rights activists n AP, Colombo Sri Lankan police said yesterday that they have released two prominent human rights activists whose arrests over the weekend drew international criticism.

Ruki Fernando of Colombo-based INFORM and the Rev. Praveen Mahesan, a Catholic priest, were released late Tuesday, said police spokesman Ajith Rohana.

Their arrests Sunday drew wide crit-

icism from international rights groups who said the detentions were arbitrary and an attempt to silence critics.

Rohana said police had not yet decided whether to charge the two activists, but were “ascertaining the collaborative evidence.” Earlier, police said Fernando and Mahesan were arrested and detained under the powerful Prevention of Terrorism Act for trying to create communal disharmony and disturbance.

The anti-terrorism act has been widely criticized in Sri Lanka and by United Nations bodies, which say it has resulted in arbitrary detentions, contravened the right to a fair trial and due process, and even led to torture and disappearances.

Sri Lanka faces criticism for cracking down on rights activists and has rejected calls for an international inquiry into the conduct of the final months of the country’s decades-long civil war. l

“We do not have any other way of dealing with this other than to be angry and to cry. Your way of dealing with it is either lying or playing a shameful role,” one relative shouted, waving his arms furiously at a representative from the airline.

The questioning from relatives was briefly interrupted as a noisy row erupted at one of the airline’s administration desks.

A woman marched to the front of the hall demanding to know why she had to present her marriage certificate to prove her husband was on the plane, in order to get a room at the hotel. l

EU, US denounce China’s arrests of activists n Reuters, Geneva The United States and European Union (EU) accused China of using arrests and harassment to silence human rights activists, also voicing consternation at the death in custody of a prominent dissident.

During the debate at the UN Human Rights Council, China’s delegation responded that Cao Shunli had died in hospital last week of tuberculosis and that the Chinese people enjoyed the right to freedom of expression.

It also tried unsuccessfully to stop a speech by Ti-Anna Wang, daughter of Wang Bingzhang, a physician serving a life sentence for his role in overseas Chinese democracy movements.

Criticism of China is rare at the Geneva forum. Western states and activists took advantage of a catch-all agenda item to complain of violations by China, which is among its 47 member states this year.

“China has increased arrests, forced disappearances, and extralegal detentions of those who peacefully challenge official policies and actions, including Xu Zhiyong and Ilham Tohti,” said Peter Mulrean, US charge d’affaires.

The Chinese government had increased Internet controls, media censorship, and continued to limit religious freedom, particularly in Tibetan and Uighur areas, he said.

“We note with profound sadness the recent death of Cao Shunli, an activist who urged independent civil society participation in China’s Universal Periodic Review process and was detained until recently,” Mulrean said.

China’s foreign ministry denied on Monday that Cao Shunli died because she was refused medical treatment while in detention.

Cao staged a two-month sit-in along with other activists outside the Foreign Ministry starting in June to press for the public to contribute to a national human rights report.

She went missing in mid-September after authorities stopped her from flying to Geneva for a human rights training programme ahead of an examination of China’s record known as the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). She was arrested in October on suspicion of “picking quarrels and provoking troubles.” l

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Letters to

www.dhakatribune.com

Government help for RMG relocations needed

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s the two brand–led stakeholder safety initiatives, the Accord on Fire and Building Safety In Bangladesh and the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety, progress with inspections of garment factories, it is inevitable that some factories will be found non-compliant and some workers risk losing their jobs.

In principle, if more factories are improved and raise their productivity, the industry overall will grow and, in the long run, more workers will have or be able to get secure jobs.

By its nature, this is a process which will require time, investment and co-operation between international buyers and other industry stakeholders.

Many factories are housed in multi-storied buildings, which have historically been poorly designed for safety.

It is important then to support moves in the meantime to alleviate hardships caused to factory owners and workers who are affected by safety improvements and renovations.

The best way for the government to do this is to help the industry with building new factories.

It should immediately start developing industrial parks on khas lands near Chittagong and Dhaka. Modern, purpose–built factories should be urgently built on these parks in the shortest possible time, for leasing to garments manufacturers.

Providing support for relocations to new, compliant buildings and backing loans to build new industrial parks needs to be the country’s top national priority.

The RMG sector employs 4 million people and provides 80% of our exports. The government must not stand idle while factories are closed down or renovated.

Providing support for relocations to new, compliant buildings and backing new industrial parks needs to be a priority

Sustainability is key to country’s energy future

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e welcome the opening of the new energy–efficient, Goalpara power substation in Khulna.

This type of investment in reducing waste and increasing efficient distribution of power is just as important to securing the country’s future energy needs as creating new power– generating capacity.

The substation was opened by the German ambassador as it has been upgraded with support from the German Development Cooperation (GDC).

In response to questions about the planned Rooppur nuclear power plant and the building of a coal–fired power station at Rampal adjacent to the Sundarbans, the ambassador acknowledged that these are national decisions, before expressing agreement with the widely–felt environmental concerns noted by many Bangladeshis.

We welcome the ambassador’s remark that the development of Bangladesh’s energy generating capacity needs to take environmental risks into account.

It is encouraging to note that he also welcomed recent reports indicating Bangladesh’s interest in working with Nepal and Bhutan to use the potential of water energy.

Hydropower from the Himalayas and offshore natural gas from the Bay of Bengal have huge potential to allow Bangladesh to secure most of its future power needs, while minimising the negative impact of energy generation on the country’s environment.

It is of vital importance that the most sustainable available options, such as increasing energy efficiency and collaborative regional hydropower projects, are explored fully, so the government can incorporate them into the country’s future energy mix.

Thursday, March 20, 2014

the Editor

LETTER OF THE DAY

A response to the Ambassador of the Russian Federation Sir, You published an op-ed piece yesterday by His Excellency the Ambassador of the Russian Federation.

This responded to an earlier op-ed from me on the situation in Crimea, which you had kindly published in your edition of March 15. Contrary to what His Excellency appears to believe, the opinions in my article expressed the views of Her Majesty’s Government. They are based on the extensive reporting and analysis of the situation in Ukraine available to the UK, the EU and our other allies.

As our Secretary of State, William Hague, reported to Parliament yesterday: “The House should be clear about the illegality not only of the referendum but also of all of Russia’s recent actions in Crimea. Russia has advanced several wholly spurious arguments to try to justify what it has done.” The March 15 UN Security Council vote also showed that Russia is isolated in the Council and in the international community.

I am also disappointed that His Excellency, in his article, should have tried to personalise the discussion.

This is contrary to the conventions expected of Diplomatic Missions in third countries. Such remarks will do nothing to assist engagement in a diplomatic framework with the legitimate Ukrainian government to deescalate this crisis. I am sorry if any of your readers were offended by this inappropriate use of your opinion pages.

Readers who would like to hear more objective opinions of this issue are welcome to follow me on Twitter, @HCRobertGibson, where I publish frequent updates of HMG’s statements and views on Ukraine.

Yours, Robert W Gibson, CMG High Commissioner British High Commission

Compulsory national anthems, no thanks March 12

Someone I’m completely with the author on this issue. I have absolutely no truck with this sort of overweening state coercion making the singing of the national anthem, hoisting the national flag etc, mandatory in all madrasas. In my view, it shouldn’t even be mandatory, but fully voluntary, in all other public schools. What’s next? Forced prayers? Hymns sung in praise of the PM at school assembly? This is a peremptory political stunt that I totally disapprove.

The government ought to finally make a proper commitment to innovative, meaningful reform in education itself, in this country. This kind of phony nationalism by decree (targeting madrasas) is a ridiculous distraction from other higher priorities in education. Intimidating all madrasas into compliance with this new decree does nothing to advance the cause of education, nor address the notorious and persistent deficiencies in the madrasa system. This is awfully disappointing. nds This is stretching the definition of freedom too far.

If freedom is given such an open-ended definition then the very existence of state and government may be considered to be detrimental to that freedom.

Besides, the author speaks of whose freedom? Is it the freedom of a madrasa, its students, teachers, the financing authority, the principal or the executive committee? Can there be 100% consensus among

all of them regarding the decision for singing the national anthem? If not, then how would the freedom of dissenters be protected? If individual freedom clashed with civil freedom, which one will prevail? Is it possible or viable to protect absolute freedom for all individually and severally?

Omar Shehab It looks like the author thinks that making the singing of national anthem in madrasas conflicts with developing better public schooling system in areas where parents have no option but to send their kids to madrasas. This line of thought is shortsighted.

Compulsory singing of the national anthem is just like compulsory studying of Bangladesh Studies, as mentioned in the latest national education policy, irrespective of any system of education which operates in our territory. None of them stops you from practicing free thinking.

Moreover, the rationale provided by the author is not rigorous. Letting the madrasa administrators (or any institutional administrators) decide everything is not free thinking in practice. They have a guideline to follow. That’s the national education policy 2010. It was drafted by a collection of people who were accountable to the people’s representative in the parliament during the process.

So, it implies that compulsory singing of the national anthem, being approved in the parliament, is the wish of the people of Bangladesh.

Investigators focus on foul play behind missing Malaysia plane March 15

Such a tragedy that so many have gone missing! :-( I hope they are found soon!

MD Easir Arafat Siddik

BNP to stage demo on Friday March 13 I’m much more inclined to attack not the hikes in power prices per se – I think they are necessary and justified – but instead the litany of failures of the ruling party’s repeated use of price hikes to effectively turn the embattled power sector in the country around, during the past five years. That’s the tack BNP ought to take – not the expedient populist stance.

This government needs to properly explain and justify the latest hike to the people.

Jargon-speak, confounding statistics, evasions, and hyperbolic claims just won’t cut it. Neither will a public and industry habitually resistant to some economic imperatives, and reluctant to ever pay the true price of electricity they ravenously consume.

Ronnie

Blind desperation, desperate blindness March 13

A big company like American Apparel demeaning our country is something that needs to be written about, not only because Bangladesh’s name is involved, but because it’s involved for all the wrong reasons. I’m sure American Apparel could’ve gone up against their competitors without exploiting Bangladesh, or actually done something that would have a positive effect.

Andriusha

Be Heard

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CALVIN AND HOBBES

Increasing energy efficiency and collaborative regional hydropower projects should be explored fully

PEANUTS

CROSSWORD

SUDOKU ACROSS 1 Mohammedanism (5) 5 Painful emotion (4) 8 Foreign-looking (6) 9 Wrath (5) 10 Book of the Bible (4) 11 French river (5) 12 Tree (3) 15 German river (4) 18 Tarnishes (5) 21 Flightless bird (3) 22 Building cover (4) 24 Defect (4) 25 Minute particles (5) 28 Language (6) 29 Water pitcher (4) 30 Build (5)

DOWN 1 Likenesses (6) 2 Limb (3) 3 Tools (4) 4 Additional (4) 5 Softly (mus) (5) 6 Give consent (6) 7 Fuel (3) 13 Behold! (2) 14 Optical illusion (6) 16 Printers’ measure (2) 17 Reddish brown (6) 19 Nether (5) 20 Accordingly (2) 23 Reputation (4) 24 Enemy (3) 26 Sailor (3) 27 United (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

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Should Jamaat be banned? n Syed Munazir Hussain

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Will redrawing the map free the Rakhine people?

AFP

A referendum in Rakhine state?

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n Zeeshan Khan full 42% of Myanmar’s Rakhine state, bordering Bangladesh, is ethnically South Asian and speaks a variant of Bangla. The districts of Sittwe and Muangdaw are nearly 95% so, and their persecution in a xenophobic and oppressive Myanmar is well known. They are not welcome there and are considered foreign. Many thousands have fled and have sought refuge in neighbouring countries. Others have been murdered or driven out of their homes.

The Rohingya, as they are called, are among the most vulnerable people in the world and are rapidly becoming a stateless population. Therefore, the recent precedence set by Crimea, of borders being redrawn by referendum, is an exceedingly attractive one and perhaps among the more elegant solutions to the problems caused by arbitrary national boundaries.

It’s incorrect, in fact, to say the precedence has been set by Crimea.

The use of referendums as a means to redraw borders is really nothing new, and it could be argued that every other means of map-making is inherently undemocratic and imperial.

In 1995, Quebec nearly separated from Canada following a referendum.

South Sudan split from Sudan after a referendum in 2011. Scottish people will vote later this year to decide if Scotland should become an independent country and leave the United Kingdom. Closer to home, in a referendum held on 6 July 1947, the district of Sylhet opted to separate from the state of Assam and

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join East Pakistan. So the precedence of sub-national entities as small as districts seceding already exists.

The Federation of Russia, instead of absorbing ethnically-Russian Crimeans, which is something they could have done as well, opted to support the secession of Crimea and its admission into the Russian federation, lending considerable weight to the belief that a people living on a territory belong to it, and it to them.

the region, and are, by some accounts, the ancestors of the Rohingya.

The king of Mrauk U also ceded some territory to Bengal and remained a vassal of the Sultanate until 1531.

After Arakan became fully independent of Bengali authority, parts of it fell prey to Mogh and Portuguese pirates so in 1665, Mughal subhedar Shaista Khan annexed the territory around Chittagong, originally an Arakan possession, releasing thousands of Bengali

A solution can be sought in a referendum to separate Sittwe and Muangdaw from Rakhine state and join them to Chittagong division

So a solution to the Rohingya issue and the consequential refugee problem that has become taxing for an already over-crowded Bangladesh, can be sought in a referendum to separate Sittwe and Muangdaw from Rakhine state and join them to Chittagong division.

Historical arguments, similar to the ones made by Russia regarding Crimea, can also be made for incorporating parts of Rakhine, once known as Arakan, into Bangladesh. In 1430, the autonomous kingdom of Mrauk U was created in what is now Rakhine state, with military assistance from the independent Sultanate of Bengal. Many Bengalis who fought for this new kingdom, formed their own settlements in

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peasants who had been held captive by the Arakanese.

Therefore, the ceding and incorporating of Rakhine territory into Bengal, especially when a population is being oppressed, is not a new phenomenon, and while annexation is presently out of the question, a free and democratic choice should not be.

The problem, of course, is that the Myanmar government has attempted to pre-empt anything of the sort by a) denying the Rohingya citizenship and democratic franchise, and b) by passing a law that makes it illegal for Muslims, only Muslims, in Rakhine state to have more than two children.

By attempting to alter demographic

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realities, the Myanmar government has proven sympathetic to the genocidal intentions of non-Rohingya Rakhines, in fact, it is virtually an accomplice in the ethnic-cleansing that is underway. The citizenship issue also pushes the Rohingya further into the margins; making theirs a voice no one in Myanmar, perhaps even the world, cares to hear.

The averting of a humanitarian crisis should not be held hostage to the prejudices of a national government, especially when there are international organisations and indeed international measures that can be used to apply pressure on it. It behoves the international community to attempt a solution to this crisis, and in the absence of a more conciliatory attitude in Rakhine, the only one might be a referendum.

But before one can be conducted the Rohingyas must be restored their full-citizen status, or in the very least be acknowledged as rightful inhabitants of the land they live on, and have done so for hundreds of years. This is a moral obligation and not generosity on the part of Myanmar.

Bangladesh, like Russia, should not be indifferent to the plight of a kindred people living across international boundaries, and while, like Crimeans, they should have the option of forming an independent country between Bangladesh and Myanmar, unfeasible as that might be, its incorporation into Bangladesh should not be taken off the table if such an opportunity ever presents itself. l Zeeshan Khan is a journalist at the Dhaka Tribune.

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fter the emergence of the Shahbagh movement, the issue of banning Jamaat-e-Islami as a political party has been debated around more strongly than ever before. The fact that it as a political party which wholeheartedly supported and assisted the Pakistani occupying forces by organising the genocide, rape, and targeted killing of intellectuals, freedom fighters, and religious minorities by forming armed forces such as al-Badr, al-Shams from volunteers of their party to kill pro-liberation forces maybe sufficient enough reason to call for banning them from participating form of politics.

Ghulam Azam, who became ameer of the East Pakistan Jamaat-e-Islami before the liberation war, had formed the “Purbo Pakistan Punruddhar Committee (East Pakistan Retrieval Committee)” after Bangladesh gained independence and campaigned against the recognition of Bangladesh from the Islamic nations, continued as ameer of Jamaat after General Zia re-instated Jamaat’s right to take part in politics. Anti-state activities such as this from its ameer could also be reason enough to ban it from politics in a country which it was so strongly against even after liberation.

The fact that no representative from the party has ever publicly repented for its criminal activities in 1971 and attempts to justify such heinous crimes is also another strong reason why it should be banned since no proper trial against the party will give others reason to follow its footsteps whenever such an opportunity may present itself in the future.

Jamaat was banned after the independence of Bangladesh just like the Nazi party was after the Second World War. With a meagre 1.8% popularity (according to the Dhaka Tribune National Opinion Survey, Jan-Feb 2014) it is still the largest Islamist political party of the country. It is often the catch phrase that has been used whenever news about war criminals come up in international media outlets such as Al Jazeera, which has been known to be pro-Muslim Brotherhood, a party that has been banned in Egypt and Saudi Arabia for terrorist activities.

With a meagre 1.8% popularity, it is still the largest Islamist political party of the country

Even with such limited public support, Islami Chhatra Shibir—the student front of Jamaat has always been used to terrorise and attack anyone opposed to its views. Its notoriety got recognised internationally when IHS Jane’s

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Global Terrorism & Insurgency Attack Index 2013 put Shibir as the third most active non-state armed group in the world after it had repeatedly attempted to create anarchy in the country by committing acts of violence to stop war crime trials.

Jamaat, if banned, can always take lessons from AKP and come out with a new name

The key benefactor of Jamaat, BNP has always expressed scepticism in the government’s willingness to ban the party saying that the Awami League will take Jamaat in its alliance if BNP severs ties with it. Its political leaders in talk shows have repeatedly challenged the government to ban it to end the matter.

The Prime Minister, on the other hand, after taking oath after the Jan 5 polls told the media that the issue is sub-judice and legal steps are being taken. She added that the decision can only come from the Supreme Court so that no other party can repel the decision once such an announcement has been made. There is little doubt that the votes that are casted for Jamaat will continue to stay with BNP if they are banned. It is also true that having an individual identity helps BNP from associating itself from acts of violence perpetrated by Jamaat whether the public eye accepts it or not.

It also must be noted that Jamaat, if banned, can always take lessons from AKP and come out with a new name which will help wipe itself from the legacy of war crimes only if the party decides to distance itself from the war criminals.

What happens if the Jamaat is not banned but still barred from participating in elections unless it changes itself from a religion-based communal party to one that allows females and even non-Muslims to head the party?

Will it concede?

Whether Jamaat will decide to change from a religion-based communal party and allow females or even non-Muslims to head the party in its party constitution to take part in national polls in the future still will remain a question since it will be against almost everything if not all they stand for.

However, if banned they can always learn from AKP of Turkey and continue to use its existing symbol. This will help the party to alienate itself from all the controversies and legacy that is so deeply intertwined with war crimes and ethnic cleansing. Whether they will choose to consciously do that will however remain a question until the time comes. l Syed Munazir Hussain is a journalist. He can be followed @Munazir43rd on Twitter.

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Taking care of business n Mamun Rashid

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angladesh’s private sector is growing, and so is the need for good managers. If you were to ask any private sector entrepreneur, he or she would immediately ask for good financial analysts, HR managers, marketing managers, or production supervisors. Higher salaries or maybe even joining bonuses are not much of an issue.

Public universities are not capable of attending to the increasing human resource demand from the private sector. We are therefore seeing an increasing number of private universities being set up. Looking at these private universities, one could easily say these are predominantly business schools or that the majority of their earnings come from offering business courses at undergraduate and post graduate levels.

The first business school of Bangladesh was the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) under University of Dhaka. Business education was subsequently initiated by both public and private universities due to the growing demand for BBA and MBA degrees among the youngsters, despite their parents’ initial uncertainties and traditional preference towards engineering

and medical professions.

Gradually, the emergence of the private sector in higher education was graciously welcomed by the business community. Corporate executives looked forward to meeting a new bunch of impressive interviewees during the recruitment process, parents were glad to have more alternatives, and students were excited to find flexible and dynamic course offerings which were a bit more aligned with the Western world or global markets. But how many of these expectations are being met in reality? I regret to say, not many.

The country’s economic landscape is changing. Domestic corporate houses are coming up at a faster pace than ever. Business schools have to strategically predict the future in order to prepare their intake for the business environment four years down the line, if not more. The challenges are multi-faceted.

First of all, the ratio of the core staff to the total number of students in private universities, more importantly, in business schools, is too small, which puts immense pressure on the core team to maintain business as usual. The dean or the director is often bogged down with administrative details due to the unavailability of

suitable people to delegate responsibilities. When is he supposed to do the strategic thinking, expand the reach towards target markets, and change the face of the organisation?

The shortage of quality teachers is a chronic problem that I see the business schools face day in and day out. The teacher sometimes has no hands-on experience in or about the corporate world, which in turn creates textbook-oriented and inward-looking faculty members. The archaic teacher sitting in a chair and dictating the same class notes for 10 years in the same monotonous voice cannot be the picture of a business school. However, this is a common scene even today.

Visiting faculties and top executives are invited to take one or two semesters. If the busy CEO does not have the passion for teaching and merely agrees not to upset his good friend in the university, it creates a lack of ownership among the teachers and disappointment among the students. The guest lecturer must not dissociate himself from the branding of the university he visits at least thrice a week.

The university should do its part to support busy executives by providing capable teaching assistants to free their time and let them focus on teach-

ing rather than house-keeping matters.

The inputs and outputs of business schools are the students. In order to reach a break-even point financially, some universities are forced to take in a minimum number of students every semester. When the focus shifts to quantity rather than quality, there is no worse signal for the education sector.

suggests that those who are also working or are professionals score the highest in exams and assignments as they are better able to relate the study with real-life scenarios. An MBA is recommended for professionals who have had a minimum degree of work experience. Get yourself engaged in some job, see a bit of the world and then join the MBA program. It is not

Good business schools are a must to support economic growth we all aspire to attain in the coming years

In the end, quality will speak for itself.

Alumni can play a role here by arranging grants and donations to minimise the gap. More importantly, large business houses can come forward in this regard. A few years back, I was very intrigued by a news item saying “after Mahindra’s $10 million, Tata donates $50 million to Harvard.”

My experience with teaching MBA/ EMBA students for several years

a degree to enrich your resume; it is a rigorous program to turn you into a hard worker.

An administrative cadre must be built to free up some quality time among the thinkers. Business schools should embed a transparent feedback process for evaluating teachers. This should be shared with the teacher concerned and his views must be taken into cognisance.

It is in the school’s interest to do their level best to keep the highestrated faculties on board. The alumni should have a strong association and work for the benefit of their alma mater.

Each university should have a rich library, modern computer centre with the fastest internet connection, and cutting edge research facilities as a bare minimum. Going forward, the differentiating ones must look at attracting distinguished teachers and researchers from abroad and encourage them to conduct research on Bangladesh’s corporate and global business issues.

These infrastructural aspects are important as their lack holds back students from excelling and bringing praise for the organisation. Good business schools are a must to support economic growth we all aspire to attain in the coming years. Good business schools with better private universities can, of course, do more with nation-building too. However, much would depend on how they bring about a synergy between good academic administration, teaching, and research. l Mamun Rashid is a business professor and financial sector entrepreneur.

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Boishommo to hit cinemas tomorrow

n Afrose Jahan Chaity Adam Dawla’s debut film Boishommo is finally ready for release. It will hit at least four cinemas of Dhaka including Jamuna Blockbluster on March 21 – before it travels the country.

The premier show was held at Star Cineplex. Boishommo is a 120 minutes movie that tells the story of a dispute between a rich father and his spoiled son. In order to make his son see sense, the angry father throws him out and challenges him to face the real world without the privileges of a rich upbringing. After a few days in the streets of the mega city, the boy not only suffers under harsh conditions but also learns about the living conditions and mindset of the common people of his city.

Fourteen-year-old Abir Hossain Ankon plays the lead role, supported by Sajjad Hossain Rony, Adam Dawla, Mita Chowdhury and others. The story and the screenplay are written by Adam Dawla, who also composed the music for the film. Produced by Kirtonkhola Productions and presented by One

Stone Films, Boishommo contains a cast of over 200 people.

About the film Adam Dawla said: “Youth films are uncommon in Bangladesh and I decided to risk making one. I feel that my film can be a learning experience for the young generation about human values and human dignity. Boishommo promises to be a film with a new proposal for the development of filmmaking in Bangladesh.

“While some people may consider it as an art film, it has all the ingredients of a high-quality commercial film – strong acting, good dialogues, two beautiful songs, rich music, a dance, two fight scenes, a murder, dynamism and speed. I am sure the viewers between the age of 14 to 25 will love it.

The cine-goers will be glued to their seats from the beginning to the end of the film,” added Adam.

International distribution is already being done by Ilona Grundmann Film production in Germany while Kirtonkhola Productions is handling the distribution in Bangladesh. l

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Upcoming film Shongram’s audio album unwraps n Hasan Mansoor Chatak

Bangladeshi-British filmmaker Munsur Ali’s debut work Shongram’s soundtrack album was released with Laser Vision label on March 18 at a restaurant in the capital.

Talented artistes including Kona, Razu, Armeen Musa, Nashid Kamal and Nolok gave voices in the film’s tracks which are composed by Armeen Musa who worked this kind of job for the first time while Emon Saha scored the background music for the film.

An excited Armeen, who is currently staying at US, expressed her though to Dhaka Tribune over email: “I am especially excited about the Nazrul Geeti fusion we did with cajon and nylon string guitars sung by Nashid Kamal and played by Adil Hadi. In the journey of this movie I got to explore various genres and discover my own abilities as a music director and I am really proud that my first film sound track was one about ‘71.”

While Emon Saha said: “ I took the job as a challenge as the film is on a significant event like the Liberation War and incorporates a romantic story.

I really worked hard, repeatedly watched the film footages and scored the director’s requirement and images’ theme.”

Ruhee in a scene from Shongram Fashion model and aspiring actor Dilruba Yasmeen Ruhee pairs up with talented Amaan Reza for the first time on the silver screen in the international cast movie which includes Bollywood’s Anupam Kher and Hollywood and European star Asia Argento alongside talented Bangladeshi artistes including Armaan Parvez Murad, Shubrotho and Ananta Hira.

The film is now set to release on March 28 in 50 cinemas at home, while the production plans to hold a world premiere in London in June 2014 followed by Europe and international release.

The newfangled ’71 film will be premiered at the Blockbuster Cinema screen in Jamuna Future Park on the March 27. l

Metal Maze launches self titled album n Entertainment Desk

Band Metal Maze will release their self titled album on March 29 at Incursion Music’s office. Fans and well-wishers will get to meet and greet with the band

members along with an autograph session.

Their self titled album consist three songs including Shobbhyota, Ronhunkaar and Sresthotto.

The tune and music arrangements have been done by the band members.

Metal Maze is influenced by rock and metal music, but the album offers listeners a new zest of metal music. About the self titled album, guitarist Faisal said: “It is always our enormous effort to give something new to our listeners. This album embraces a new taste in the metal arena of Bangladesh.”

Metal Maze is a musical band formed in October 1995. Their debut album Ojana Oddhay was released in 2003 and their second album Corporate Robot was released in 2009.

Apart from their albums, the band had their music in numerous mixed albums.

Currently, the lineup of the band consists of Kazi Faisal Ahmed (guitar), Shahriar Shabbir (vocal), Mark Don (bassist) and Samiul Wahid Shovon (drums). l

Popular singer Arnob will perform in today’s episode of Live Music Junction on Channel 9 at 12:00am

Radio Shadhin celebrates its first birthday

Pancho Nari Akhyan to be staged today at BSA n Entertainment Desk

Mostafa Prokash and Fariya Hossain in Akash Koto Dure

Akash Koto Dure goes to Geneva n Entertainment Desk Samia Zaman’s latest film Akash Koto Dure has been selected at the ninth International Oriental Film Festival of Geneva. The festival featuring 100 films across the globe will take place from April 4-13.

The story and screenplay of the film has been written by lyricist Zufiqer Russell. Produced by Impress Telefilm Ltd, the film features Rajjak, Sharmila Ahmed, Mostafa Prokash, Lux Channel i superstar Fariya Hossain, Misha Showdagar, An-

Dhaka Theatre’s 37th production named Pancho Nari Akhyan will be staged at 6:30pm today at the Bangladesh Shilapakala Academy. It is the 14th staging of the play directed by eminent actor Shahiduzzaman Selim and written by Harun Rashid. The monodrama features Rosy Siddiqui in five different characters.

Seasoned actor Rosy Siddiqui acted in different characters from varied social settings of our society. One of them is of a village belle, Julekha, who transforms her identity to a junior film actress in the city to escape the jibes of society after being cheated on by her husband. Other roles include that of a Hindu childless housewife Monoroma, who blames her husband for her misfortune and a rural character Mariam who rebels by going to a human rights

organisation when her husband remarries without her consent and leaves. Finally, Rosy gives an impressive performance of the Mughal empress Momtaz, who died during childbirth at a time when male doctors were not allowed to see and treat women. The last story addresses the negligence women faced inside the palaces during Mughal times.

The story of Julekha is of a village girl who has been cheated on by her spouse and is forced by society to escape to the city to survive the cruel reality. She carried on with her life by doing small roles in films.

The set of this diverse play is designed

by Afzal Hossain, while Shimul Yousuf and Chandan Chowdhury together worked on the background music. The costumes are designed by Nasrin Nahar and Wasim Ahmed is in charge of lights. l

TODAY IN DHAKA Film

Robocop, Gravity Captain Phillips, Elysium Time: 12:30pm – 9:30pm Blockbuster Cinemas Jamuna Future Park Ka- 244, Pragati Avenue, Kuril

George Michael embarrassed by his 80′s look Singer George Michael has revealed that he is embarrassed by the dyed hair and hoop earrings he used to wear when he was a member of Wham.

The “Faith” hitmaker, who shot to fame alongside Andrew Ridgeley as a member of Wham, said he finds his look weird when he looks back at old videos on Youtube, reporters Contactmusic.

“Where do I start? I know – the blonde hair from my Wham! days. That came about because I didn’t really want to be me, so the short, dark, curly hair had to go. And I could have done without those curtain rings in my ears as well,” he said.

The 50-year-old star also regrets trying out weird ways to alter his looks.

“I do remember another embarrassing moment from the old days, when Andrew and I went to a music awards ceremony early in our career. I was wearing a suit that made me look a bit like Colonel Sanders and I was practically orange from overdoing it on a sun bed,” he added. l

Radio Shadhin 92.4 FM is celebrating their first year anniversary at 3pm today on the Asiatic Centre premises. The station is the newest addition to the FM Radio industry of the Bangladeshi media circle.

The commercial launching of the station took place last year December. Radio Shadhin 92.4 FM can be heard at this moment by the population of approximately 1.5 crore that reside in and around Dhaka.

Enders Game Avatar 3D Aakash Koto Dure Thor: The Dark World 3D The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug in 3D , Frozen in 3D Agnee Time: 10am - 10pm Star Cineplex, Bashundhara City

kon and child artists from Tokai Natyodol.

Akash Koto Dure is about an orphan name Bichchhu. Till the age of ten, the boy resided in an orphanage.

Although the orphanage is an institution for care, Bichchhu was unfortunately tortured in the house. He can not resist anymore and makes an attempt to change his life by running away to Dhaka. Left to his own devises without any money, Bichchhu meets two other orphans Bullet and Jasim. He gets involved with a gang where children are involved in criminal activity. l

n Entertainment Desk

n Entertainment Desk

ON TV COMEDY

MISC

9:30am Comedy Central

11:30am TLC

10:30pm Star World

7:30pm Star Wprld

Just For Laughs The Crazy Ones

Ultimate Shopper Koffee With Karan

Exhibition:

Sculpture Exhibition

By Hamiduzzaman Khan Time: 10am – 8pm Athena Gallery of Fine Arts, Progoti Shoroni, Uttar Badda Soil and Spirit

By Samar Majumder Time: 3pm – 8pm Dhaka Art Center (DAC) House-60, Road-7A Dhanmondi R/A Color of Natural Disposition

By Bipad Bhanjan Sen Karmaker Time: 3pm – 9pm La Galerie, Alliance Francaise de Dhaka, Dhanmondi, I Bow My Head to You in Deep Obeisance

By Shahid Kabir Time: 12pm – 8pm Bengal Shilpalaya, House 42, Road 16 (New) / 27 (old), Dhanmondi

Did you know?

Ronaldo equal the great Ferenc Puskas’s tally of 242 goals in a Madrid shirt against Schalke

Sport

Thursday, March 20, 2014

14 Chelsea, Real

Madrid safely into last eight

14 We are ready to

face big guns, says Mourinho

DHAKA TRIBUNE

13

15 Zimbabwe alive

in World T20 with last-ball win

Jurgensen still out to improve Bangladesh head coach Shane Jurgensen believes it is doing the things right in the game that has got the hosts of the ICC World Twenty20 winning again. The home side came into the world event with a series of defeats and zero wins from the home series against Sri Lanka and the Asia Cup. The defeats had put immense pressure one Bangladesh and even their chances of moving to the Super 10 stage of the World Twenty20 was under doubt.

“Definitely, I think in 20-20 cricket anything can happen. Nine months ago or six months the ‘qualifying stage’ talk happened we were all worried about it.

Behind what I felt is that if we played to our potential at this stage, we have four pressurised games we can have an impact that we can take into the next stage,” said Shane to the media yesterday.

The two wins, against Afghanistan and Nepal, and the third being expected from the game today against Hong Kong, Bangladesh is in good shape for a berth in the second phase of the multi-nation tournament.

“I think we just felt as though that we had close losses and probably had games we should have won. I suppose we just continue to work hard and do the right things, eventually the results will come our way. As a squad we know how important this tournament is for Bangladesh, after the tough times we had. We tried to be as specific as we could for T20 cricket.

“We got a very young team. When

you have young players and obviously being a parent myself, we are going to make mistakes. We know we did those.

What I really like at moment is that the players have stepped up again. The young man sitting next to me [Anamul Haque] playing as well as he is, guys have been working hard that’s all I can ask,” he said.

The Australian coach believes the few days off between the Asia Cup and the ICC World Twenty20 allowed him and his boys to realize the mistakes they had made and regroup before the very important tournament.

“I think it gave players and even myself an opportunity. We have sort of been in a ‘can’ for the last three months. It was a good opportunity, for the guys to just take a break for two days. It gave me an opportunity to go to my apartment [home] and have a look at the whole programme for the T20 world cup and focus on that. The previous two months was quite hectic and we had a lot of injuries and that’s what helped as well. We have quite a settled line-up as well now,” informed the 37-year-old.

Shane also informed that he is happy but never satisfied. From his perspective, there is always an area to improve in and he cited fielding as an area his team were working on.

“But over all, I am extremely happy with our process. I think the process is much improved. Our batting is certainly sticking to our plan. Maybe with our bowling we always will need to keep our eye on a couple of areas such as the death bowling. What’s really important is our attitude and our approach. That we need to keep consistent,” said Shane. l

Bangladesh opener Anamul Haque and head coach Shane Jurgensen attend a press conference at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium yesterday RAJIB DHAR

Bangladesh cricketers’ warm-up ahead of their ICC World T20 match against Hong Kong at the ZACS yesterday

The Anamul way - work hard, attack Bangladesh opener Anamul Haque has so far provided his side the needed starts in the ICC World Twenty20 2014.

Bangladesh have already picked up two wins off the three first round matches and in both games, the side chased with authority, aided by Anamul’s stride from the top, scoring unbeaten 44 and 42 against Afghanistan and Nepal respectively.

Anamul’s performances in the Twenty20 format have given him the tag as a “specialist”, however the righthanded batsman informed that he enjoys the Test format the most and that he aims to be a “complete” cricketer.

“Normally, Test career is what I want to enhance. I enjoy Test cricket a lot.

Hopefully I continue performing in all the formats. I want to be a complete cricketer,” said Anamul to the media at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium yesterday.

The 21-year-old batsman had a flying start to international career, picking up a century in his second ODI

West Indies down Sri Lanka Finally the Sri Lankan side tasted their first defeat on their over two months stay in Bangladesh against the defending champion West Indies. Dwayne Bravo’s all round performance gave his side a 33 run victory in the warm up match of the World T20 Championship at the Sher-eBangla National Stadium yesterday.

Chasing the target of 173 runs after opting to field first, Sri Lanka struggled right from the start, losing two early wickets – opener Kusal Perera and star Mahela Jayawardene - who fell to leg spinner Samuel Badree and Ravi Rampaul respectively, to leave the Lankans at 18/2.

However Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara tried to rescue the side. Dilshan was dropped by Johnson Charles at long on when he was on 31 and Sangakkara was also given a life by Andre Russell.

Dwayne Bravo, however, followed up an explosive batting performance by dismissing both batsmen. Sangakkara was first to go for 24, bowled as he tried a scoop shot and Dilshan was clean bowled later for a 36-ball 43.

Sri Lanka were struggling on 73/4, needing 100 runs from the last nine overs and they surrendered helplessly as they kept on losing wickets at regular interval and were eventually bundled out for 139.

Sunil Narine claimed four wickets, giving away 24 runs from his four overs.

The mystery spinner took three Sri Lankan wickets in the 16th over of the innings, while Bravo, who had a wonderful match, took three wickets for the West Indies.

Earlier, the Lankan team rested their lethal weapon Lasith Malinga, making things easy for West Indies who managed to post a good total despite losing their explosive opener Chris Gayle, who was dismissed after smashing three fours in his 12.

However the opening pair of Dwayne Smith and Gayle added 47 runs when the frustrated big hitter was caught at long on when he tried to cut loose at a delivery from Rangana Herath in the sixth over.

Wasim Akram and Lasith Malinga, the pace stalwarts of past and present share a thought at the SBNCS yesterday MUMIT M

But his partner Smith was in a terrific touch as the right hander smashed three fours and a six of Ajantha Mendis in the fifth over, which cost 19 runs.

Dwayne Bravo later joined the opener after left arm spinner Herath claimed the wicket of Andre Fletcher and started to punish the Lankan bowlers. Smith reached his half century in style, smashing two back to back boundaries of Mendis.

Smith was soon dismissed after reaching his half century. He made 60 off just 45 balls, smashing eight four and two sixes. When he was trapped leg before by the wrist spinner Seekkuge Prasanna, West Indies were already past the 100 run mark with seven overs to go.

Bravo took charge and started to

against West Indies in 2012. However, a few shaky innings in between made Anamul lose his spot in the national dressing room which he said helped him make things right.

Anamul Haque scored 86 in the first two matches Hong Kong’s Haseeb Amjad took four wickets from two matches The only time two sides met was in Asia Cup in 2004 in Sri Lanka Abdur Razzak made his ODI debut against Hong Kong where he claimed 3-19 Mohammad Rafique is the only bowler in ODI history to bowl 1 illegal over past the limit of 10 against Hong Kong “During that time, I tried to improve my batting, taking care of the areas which were needed to mend and tried to play forward. I also worked on a few technical things to improve and hopefully, I will be able to get better in coming times,” said the Kushtia lad.

Anamul further shared his plans

BRIEF SCORE

West Indies 172-5 in 20 overs D Smith 60, D Bravo 43; Herath 2-20, S Prasanna 1-14

Sri Lanka 139 all out in 19.2 overs T Dilshan 43, Sangakkara 24; S Narine 4-24, D Bravo 3-29 West Indies won by 33 runs score quick runs and he was later joined by skipper Darren Sammy after Lendl Simmons departed for 10. Bravo was dismissed by Suranga Lakmal after scoring 43 off 31 balls with six boundaries.

The West Indian captain came to the act and the 30 year old smashed a quick fire thirty of just 14 balls, stroking two sixes and a four, and remained unbeaten. He also smashed 17 runs in the last over bowled by Nuwan Kulasekara, taking West Indies to 172/5. l

when he walks down to the middle to bat and said he never targets a particular member of the opponents.

“It becomes easy as a top order batsman to charge the pacers when the wicket is good and the ball doesn’t swing – doesn’t matter how hard they bowl it becomes easier. There is nothing much being told from the team.

Video analysis is done normally and then we do the plans individually. I create my own plan and then once I reach the field I understand which ball to play and which to not,” explained Anamul.

“I try not to take time to settle, let it be any format and also try to make sure that the middle order batters are off pressure,” he added.

Bangladesh was in the field when Hong Kong was battling Afghanistan at ZACS on Tuesday.

“We have seen their [Hong Kong] last game and the one before that. They play four to five pacers which I think is their strength. We do our homework on the opponents before every game and we will do the same before we take on Hong Kong tomorrow [today],” said Anamul. l

RAJIB DHAR

Last shot for Hong Kong ICC associate member Hong Kong are out of the ICC World Twenty20 after losing two games but the side looks forward to carry home a mark from their maiden major cricket event by defeating Bangladesh today.

“It is very frustrating to lose two games to be honest. We play our last game Bangladesh on Thursday (today) a game which is important for them to confirm a berth in the Super 10. For us, the game is the last opportunity to take home some good moments from the tournament,” said Hong Kong skipper Jamie Atkinson to the media on Tuesday.

“Being able to win against Bangladesh will be the biggest win in Hong Kong’s history and a stunning upset in the tournament. The dream of beating Bangladesh, a write history is inspiring us,” he added.

The game will be the fifth for Hong Kong against a Test playing nation, though they have never won such a match. l

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Green chooses US over Germany Bayern Munich winger Julian Green, who has represented both Germany and the United States at the youth level, has pledged his international allegiance to America, U.S. Soccer said on Tuesday. A dual citizen, Green was born in the United States and raised in Germany. His father is American and his mother German. Green represented Germany at the Under 16, Under 17 and Under 19 levels, and the United States at Under 18s but said he was applying to the world’s governing body FIFA for a one-time change of association so he can commit to the United States.

–Reuters

Sport

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Woods an injury doubt for Masters

Murray and coach Lendl split

Tiger Woods could miss next month’s Masters after pulling out of the PGA Tour Arnold Palmer Invitational because of recurring back problems. The 38-year-old American has been struggling for weeks with back spasms and pain and said Tuesday he will not defend his title at this week’s $6.2 million Arnold Palmer tournament. “It’s too early to know about the Masters and I will continue to be evaluated and work closely with my doctors,” Woods said on his website.

–AFP

Britain’s Andy Murray and coach Ivan Lendl have mutually agreed to end their two-year partnership, the Wimbledon champion announced Wednesday.

In a joint statement on Murray’s website, it appeared Czech-born Lendl, himself a multiple Grand Slam champion, had been the instigator of the split. “Working with Andy over the last two years has been a fantastic experience for me”, said Lendl. Murray, who under Lendl’s guidance won an Olympic gold medal, the 2012 US open and last year’s Wimbledon title.

–AFP

We are ready to face big guns, says Mourinho

Chelsea's John Terry (C) heads the ball clear during their Champions League match against Galatasaray at Stamford Bridge in Londonon Tuesday

Jese will be missed, admits Ancelotti

Chelsea, Real safely into last eight

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti lamented 21-year-old forward Jese Rodriguez’s luck after he suffered cruciate ligament damage in his right knee during his side’s 3-1 win over Schalke on Tuesday.

Victory ensured Real’s passage into the quarter-finals of the Champions League 9-2 on aggregate, however it came at a cost as Jese will undoubtedly miss the rest of the season and is expected to be sidelined for at least six months.

Ancelotti, though, believes his own experience of suffering a similar injury at the same age as a player can help lift the Spanish under-21 international.

“He has had bad luck and it is bad

luck for Real Madrid because we are going to lose a very important, young player who has done very well this season and surprised everyone.”

“Injuries are part of a footballer’s career and we are going to help raise him to comeback stronger next season.

“I had the same injury at a similar age and was still able to have a career. The instability is not good, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be all bad.

We need to think positively. He will return to being an important player for Real Madrid.”

Jese’s injury meant that Gareth Bale was worked more than expected just five days before Sunday’s crucial La Liga clash with Barcelona as he was introduced after just eight minutes. l

Arsenal’s Cazorla and Ramsey sign new deals

Spurs up against it in Lisbon, Italian derby poised

Arsenal midfielders Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey have signed new contracts, the Premier League club said on Tuesday.

The club gave no details about the length of the new deals but manager Arsene Wenger told the Arsenal website the pair, along with 17-year-old prospect Gedion Zelalem, had “committed their futures to the club”.

“Cazorla and Ramsey are absolutely key players for us, and this news is a boost to the whole club,” Wenger said.

“Gedion is very young of course, but he has shown already that he has fantastic promise, and we all look forward to his development with us.”

Spain international Cazorla, 29, has made himself an integral part of Arsenal’s midfield since joining from Malaga in August 2012 and was voted the club’s player of the season last year having featured more than any other player during the 2012/13 campaign.

Ramsey made a stunning start to the current season, scoring 13 goals in 27 appearances before suffering a thigh injury in December.

“I’ve been here for six years and I’m so happy,” the 23-year-old Wales international said. “I think we’ve shown so far this season what we’re all about and the direction that this club wants to go in. I want to be a part of that, and to be a part of something special at Arsenal.

We have a great team which we believe can achieve great things.” l

Tottenham Hotspur are right up against it as they travel to Portugal to face Benfica in the Europa League on Thursday, while Fiorentina will hope to get the better of Italian rivals Juventus.

Tim Sherwood’s Tottenham side must overturn a 3-1 first-leg deficit when they face Benfica at the Estadio da Luz if they are to keep English interest in the Europa League alive into the quarter-finals.

FIXTURES Anzhi (RUS) Benfica (POR) Valencia (ESP) Pilsen (CZE) Fiorentina (ITA) Napoli (ITA) Betis (ESP) Salzburg (AUT)

v v v v v v v v

AZ Alkmaar (NED) Tottenham (ENG) Razgrad (BUL) Lyon (FRA) Juventus (ITA) FC Porto (POR) Sevilla (ESP) FC Basel (SUI)

Spurs lost 3-1 on their last visit to play Benfica in the semi-finals of the European Cup in 1962. If the Portuguese giants are not currently at the level of that great side, led by Eusebio, they are still in great shape.

A 4-2 win against Nacional on Monday extended their unbeaten run to 25 matches. They have won their last 10 games and are seven points clear of rivals Sporting at the top of the domestic

REUTERS

Jose Mourinho insists Chelsea have no fears about facing one of Europe’s super-powers in the Champions League after his side strolled into the quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over Galatasaray.

Blues boss is confident his players can hold their own against anyone and he expects they would relish the chance to knock out one of the giants of the European scene.

“All the big teams are there, all the big candidates to win the competition. We welcome any of them,” Mourinho said.

“It will be very good for our evolution as a team if we can play one of the best.

We wait for the draw.”

While the likes of Eden Hazard, Oscar and Willian are enjoying their first serious assault on Europe’s elite club prize, few managers are more battle-hardened when it comes to the latter stages of the competition than Mourinho.

The Portuguese has already won the Champions League with Porto and Inter Milan.

“I never lost in the quarter-finals?

I never thought about it. I know that I have a lot of matches in the Champions League,” he said.

“It was a very good performance. We were solid and compact with no fears.

“We were very much in control. We had the best chances and maybe the result could have been bigger because we

were much better than Galatasaray.”

Chelsea’s progress to the last eight was tinged with sympathy for Galatasaray striker Didier Drogba, the Blues legend who cut a frustrated figure on his first return to the Bridge since his exit in 2012.

Drogba, who won the Champions League final against Bayern Munich with his last kick for Chelsea in 2012, was given a tremendous reception before the game and Blues fans chanted his name throughout the match.

But Galatasaray were so poor that the 36-year-old rarely had a chance to shatter his old club’s European dreams.

“I think the most difficult thing was the way his team played. When you are a striker and your team doesn’t produce attacking football you feel a lonely man,” Mourinho added.

“It can happen to any striker in the world. He didn’t do much but Gary (Cahill) and John (Terry) did a fantastic job against two very good strikers. Because of that we didn’t see Didier in many attacking positions.”

Galatasaray boss Roberto Mancini, an old rival of Mourinho’s, cut a downcast figure as he contemplated the latest Champions League flop of his long career.

Mancini, who failed to make any impact in the competition with Manchester City and Inter Milan, said: “It is difficult to say much about the game because we didn’t play well. Chelsea were much better than us. We didn’t have any chances.

I am very sorry for our supporters. l

Chelsea eased into the quarter-finals of the Champions League at the expense of Galatasaray on Tuesday, while Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Real Madrid completed a comprehensive win against Schalke 04.

First-half goals from Samuel Eto’o and Gary Cahill gave Chelsea a 2-0 victory as they saw off their Turkish opponents 3-1 on aggregate to succeed where fellow Premier League clubs Arsenal and Manchester City failed and make it into the last eight.

Meanwhile, Carlo Ancelotti’s Madrid defeated Schalke 3-1 at the San-

Super Liga, a competition which coach Jorge Jesus has admitted must be the priority this season.

Juventus moved closer to retaining their Serie A title at the weekend and reaching the Europa League final in their own stadium in Turin would cap their season.

However, they go to Italian rivals Fiorentina on Thursday with work to do after Mario Gomez’s late equaliser in the first leg gave La Viola a 1-1 draw and put them in control.

There is another derby in store in Spain, where La Liga’s bottom club Betis will hope to see through a 2-0 first-leg advantage when they entertain city rivals Sevilla at the Benito Villamarin.

Unai Emery’s Sevilla side bounced back from that loss to beat Valladolid 4-1 at the weekend, but they have now lost Uruguayan midfielder Sebastian Cristoforo to a knee injury and Vicente Iborra is suspended while Stephane Mbia is also struggling.

Betis have fitness concerns too, but the tie is in their hands. “We got a good result, but nothing has been done yet,” said coach Gabriel Calderon after the first leg.

Elsewhere, Valencia and Lyon defend three-goal leads against Ludogorets Razgrad and Viktoria Pilsen respectively, but AZ Alkmaar go to Russia with a fragile one-goal advantage against Anzhi Makhachkala and it is all to play for between Salzburg and Basel after a goalless first leg. l

tiago Bernabeu to advance 9-2 on aggregate and extend their long unbeaten run to 31 games.

Chelsea’s away-goal advantage from last month’s meeting in Istanbul meant they had no obligation to take the game to Roberto Mancini’s side, but they found themselves ahead on the night inside four minutes.

Oscar’s pass in behind the visiting defence found Eto’o, and the Cameroonian beat the offside trap before sending in a low shot that was too powerful for goalkeeper Fernando Muslera.

As Eto’o celebrated scoring the 30th Champions League goal of his career, Drogba and Galatasaray offered little by means of a response.

John Terry volleyed just over from a Frank Lampard free-kick before Jose

Mourinho’s side increased their lead three minutes prior to the interval, Gary Cahill ramming home the rebound after Muslera had blocked Terry’s header at a corner.

RESULTS

Real Madrid

3 1

Schlake 04

2 0

Galatasaray

Ronaldo 21, 74, Hoogland 31 Morata 75 Real Madrid go through 9-2 on aggregate

Chelsea

Eto’o 4, Cahill 42 Chelsea win 3-1 on aggregate

In Spain, Ancelotti resisted the temptation to rest Ronaldo despite Madrid leading 6-1 from the first leg in Germany and having a crucial league game against Barcelona to come

at the weekend.

Gareth Bale was left on the bench at kick-off, but the Welshman came on inside eight minutes to replace Jese Rodriguez, who came off with a serious knee injury.

Bale then set up Ronaldo to put the Spanish league leaders in front on the night midway through the first period, but Schalke gave their noisy travelling support something to celebrate by equalising on 31 minutes when Tim Hoogland’s speculative effort beat Iker Casillas with the aid of a huge deflection off Sergio Ramos.

Ronaldo fired home his second of the night and his 13th goal in seven Champions League matches this season, but he couldn’t complete his hat-trick. l

Rijkaard unlikely to return to coaching

Real Madrid forward Ronaldo (R) celebrates with teammate Gareth Bale after scoring against Schalke during their UCL match at Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesdsy REUTERS

Former Dutch national team and Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard says he is no longer interested in being a manager.

“As things stand now I won’t become a head coach again. I have no desire to make a comeback,” he told the Dutch magazine on Wednesday.

The 51-year-old has been without a position for the last 14 months after being fired from his last job with Saudi Arabia.

“I’m grateful for everything I have achieved in football but now I’d rather do other things, go and watch games and enjoy discussing them afterwards. I have no desire to be 60-year’s-old and standing on the side of the pitch,” he added. l

Maldini fears for Milan future Former AC Milan great Paolo Maldini fears the ailing Serie A giants’ woes could last long-term unless there is major restructuring and investment in the club.

Milan currently sit 12th in Serie A, 40 points behind leaders Juventus, and with 10 games remaining look out of contention for one of the two Europa League qualifying sports.

Maldini, who won five Champions League trophies and seven Serie A titles as captain of the Rossoneri, finds it hard to accept.

“I feel a mixture of anger and disappointment,” Maldini, who retired from Milan in 2009, told La Gazzetta dello

Sport on Tuesday.

“Not so much for the results, because we’ve finished 10th or 11th before, but more for the fact that everything we worked hard to build over 10 years is disappearing.”

“Some might think I’m biting the hands that fed me, but it’s not the case.

I’m part of the fabric of this club and I have two kids who play in the youth sector,” added Maldini.

“But Milan can no longer compete with the likes of Juventus, and are no longer among the top 10 in Europe.

“In 2007, when we won the Champions League, I told Galliani I don’t think we were the best side in Europe.

“I understood then that without ma-

jor investment we would start to slide.

That was the first step, but the sale of Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva was a blow.

“Galliani is a great leader, but he’s unable to understand the players. He runs things by himself, and that’s no longer possible.

Milan in January hired Clarence Seedorf to steer the club out of the mire after sacking Massimiliano Allegri.

But Maldini believes Seedorf, who spent 10 golden years at the club before being part of the 2012 summer exodus, has been handed a poisoned chalice.

“He (Seedorf) has great courage and character, but even a coach like (Pep) Guardiola (of Bayern Munich) would not have been enough.” l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

QUICK BYTES

Sheikh Russell fined The disciplinary committee of the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has fined Sheikh Russell Krira Chakra Tk100,000 for unsportsmanlike behavior towards match officials and breaking glasses in the dressing room of the Bangabandhu National Stadium. The incident took place on March 17 during and after the game between Sheikh Russell and Sheikh Jamal DC, which Jamal won 1-0. The disciplinary committee found Sheikh Russell manager Habibur Rahman Mannu and forward Anwar Hossain guilty of using abusive language towards the referee and assistant referee. Habibur Rahman was fined Tk10,000 while Anwar has been banned for one game.

–Tribune Desk

Serena Williams steps back into her comfort zone as the world number one begins her campaign to defend her title at the Miami Masters tennis tournament on Thursday. The 32-year-old last played while suffering back pains in a semi-final loss a month ago in Dubai, going down to Alize Cornet of France. After bypassing the Indian Wells tournament again because of a family feud with organizers which has lasted for 13 years, the 17-time Grand Slam winner said that she cannot wait to get back on court. “This is home, I don’t have to travel and I train her a lot at the courts,” Williams said.

“I’m used to the conditions, the wind and the heat. I’ve been waiting for this for quite awhile.” The American said her back is not currently a problem, adding that a treatment regime seems to have done its job.

–AFP

Robben extends Bayern deal until 2017 Dutch international Arjen Robben has exended his contract with European champions Bayern Munich until 2017, the Bundesliga leaders announced on Wednesday. The Bavarian giants, who lead the German table by a whopping 23 points can wrap up a 24th domestic title this weekend with victory at Mainz, a campaign in which Robben has again been key to their ambitions.

“I am delighted the contract is signed and I can continue the quest for the title with Bayern,” said the 30-yearold offensive midfielder who joined the club from Real Madrid in 2009.

“It’s been five years that I’ve been at the club and I’m going to continue for another three,” said Robben, who scored the winner in the Champions League final last season against Borussia Dortmund.

–AFP

Heat star James on fire in Cleveland return LeBron James was unstoppable in his return to his former home, putting on a first-quarter shooting display that set the tone for Miami as the Heat beat Cleveland 100-96 on Tuesday.

James stormed out of the gate in his sixth contest back in Cleveland, scoring 25 of his 43 points in the opening quarter for the Heat at Quicken Loans Arena. “I felt a good rhythm,” James said. “I shot the ball well in warm-ups and I was able to carry it over into the game.” The 29-year-old tallied 16 points before missing a shot and drained his first four shots from beyond the arc. He was 10-of-11 from the floor and knocked down five of his six tries from three-point range in the first quarter.

–AFP

DAY’S WATCH Sony Six NBA 2013-14 6:00AM New York v Indiana 8:30AM La Lakers v San Antonio BTV, Maasranga TV, GTV, Star Sports 1, HD1 ICC World T20 2014 3:30PM Afghanistan v Nepal 7:30PM Bangladesh v Hong Kong

Ireland closer to Super-10 berth after D/L win

South Africa beat Pakistan by eight wickets in an ICC World T20 warm-up match at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium, Fatullah yesterday.

Batting first Pakistan, were bundled out for a paltry 71 with Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Beuran Hendricks and Wayne Parnell all grabbing two wickets each, conceding 15, 3 and 2 runs respectively.

Ahmed Shahzad’s 12, Umar Akmal’s 17

BRIEF SCORES Netherlands v Zimbabwe Netherlands 140-5 in 20 overs T. Cooper 72 not out, P. Utseya 2-24 Zimbabwe 146-5 in 20 overs B. Taylor 49, H. Masakadza 43; P. Seelaar 2-9 Zimbabwe won by five wickets UAE v Ireland

Zimbabwe cricketer Vusi Sibanda (R) celebrates with teammate Timycen Maruma (L) after winning the ICC World Twenty20 cricket tournament's qualifying match against Netherlands at Sylhet International Stadium in Sylhet yesterday AFP

Kohli leads India to win against England in World T20 warm-up Virat Kohli’s brilliant knock of 74 guided India to a 20 run win over England in a World T20 Championship warm up match at the Sher-eBangla National Stadium yesterday.

Chasing 179, English openers Micheal Lumb and Alex Hales put on 43.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar broke the stand by bowling Hales for 16 and Lumb fell later for a 25-ball 36.

The required run rate climbed to over ten runs per over and English skipper Eoin Morgan and Moeen Ali tried to accelerate the chase but Morgan was caught at long on for 16 when he tried to hit Ravichandran Ashwin for six.

Moeen tried to score some quick runs and hammered a few rusty blows but the left hander was dismissed by Ravindra Jadeja after scoring 46 runs off 38 balls, caught on the mid-wicket boundary by Rahane.

After his departure, there was no realistic chance for England to chase down the target. Jos Buttler scoring 30 at the end but was not able to avoid the defeat as England ended up on 158/6.

Earlier, it was a shaky start from India as they lost both openers Rohit Sharma (5) and Shikhar Dhawan (14) with the score on 30 and when Yuvraj Singh fell soon afterwards, India were reeling at 39/3 after six overs.

But the run machine Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina held the ship for the batting side and started to dominate the English bowling attack and added 81

UAE 123-6 in 20 overs S Anwar 30, A Ali 20; P Stirling 2-12, K O’Brien 2-17 Ireland 103/3 in 14.2 overs E Joyce 43, W Porterfield 33; Asadullah 2-21 Ireland won by 21 runs in D/L method

Ireland were declared the winners by 21 runs using the Duckworth Lewis formula. It was Ireland’s second win on the trot.

Ireland lost their opener Paul Stirling, who hit a brilliant 60 in his team’s threewicket win over Zimbabwe Monday, for just eight but quickly rallied.

Ed Joyce topscored with 43 while skipper William Porterfield made 33 not out.

Ireland’s bowlers, led by spinner Paul Stirling (2-12) and paceman Kevin O’Brien (217) kept it tight, preventing any UAE batsmen from hitting a big innings despite a soild 35-run start in five overs.

Once opener Amjad Ali fell for 20, it all went wrong for the UAE who were competing in the World Twenty20 for the first time.

Shaiman Anwar topscored with a 28ball 30 which included two sixes.

In the first match of the day, Taylor hit a solid 39-ball 49 while Masakadza scored 43 off 45 balls to help Zimbabwe pass their 141-run target with a six off the last ball.

When Taylor was dismissed after hitting two fours and a six, 15 runs were needed off the last 11 balls. When the last over began, seven were still needed.

Sean Williams hit a lucky boundary and then ran himself out for 26 with the scores tied.

But Vusi Sibanda hit paceman Ahsan Malik for a huge six to give Zimbabwe victory. l

runs in the fourth wicket where the left hander struck two back to back fours and a six of Ravi Bopara to bring up his half century.

However Raina smashed another boundary of the next ball but his impressive knock of 54 runs from 31 balls with six fours and two sixes came to an end by a brilliant catch from Chris Jordan at deep midwicket from the next ball from Bopara.

BRIEF SCORE

India 178-4 in 20 overs V Kohli 74, S Raina 54; R Bopara 1-25, J Dernbach 1-27 England 158-6 in 20 overs M Ali 46, M Lumb 36; R Jadeja 2-23, R Ashwin 1-20 India won by 20 runs Kohli went on and smashed some glorious shots. He was later joined by skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who was also in an aggressive mood, and India soared. Kohli reached his half century and runs started to come from both ends.

The pair added 39 runs in the last three overs. Kohli smashed three fours and took 18 runs from the last over of the innings, which was bowled by Tim Bresnan, to take India to a challenging total of 178/4.

In all, Kohli scored 74 off 48 balls with eight boundaries, while his captain Dhoni struck 21 off 14 balls with one four and one six. The pair added 51 from the last 38 balls of the innings. l

Fatullah yesterday.

Australia had only one warm-up match before the World Twenty20, compared to the other teams’ two.

They asked ICC for permission to play a five over match and the game began at 2.30pm local time. Batting first, New Zealand could only manage to score 30 runs in five overs and Australia comfortably strolled to victory in 3.3 overs.

Meanwhile, the T20 warm-up match

Ten Action 12:00AM Benfica v Tottenham 2:00AM Napoli v Porto Ten HD

Warner plays a shot against New Zealand at Fatullah yesterday

and 15 off the bat of Sohaib Maqsood were the notable scorers of Pakistan.

Later it was a cakewalk for the Proteas who scored 72 for two in 14 overs. Hashim Amla scored 24 off 20 balls, Quinton de Kock added 15 off 17 ball while David Miller and AB de Villiers remained unbeaten on 12 and 20 respectively. Umar Gul and Shahid Afridi took the wickets.

Pakistani cricket team defeated New Zealand by six wickets, with one ball remaining in the first warm up match ahead of the World Twenty20 on Monday. With the match Pakistan completed their warm-ups before the final challenge. Pakistan open their ICC World T20 campaign with the crunch match against arch rivals India on Friday. l

Bangladesh faces Iran today Bangladesh will be looking forward to score goals in the last group B match of the Islami Bank Asian Games Hockey Qualifiers at the Maulana Bhshani National Hockey Stadium at 4:00pm today.

Till date, Bangladesh has faced Iran only twice and the first occasion was on 1985 when Bangladesh won 3-1.

The second occasion was in 2006 and Bangladesh won 5-3 with drag and flick specialist Mamunur Rahman Chayan slamming a hat-trick. Bangladesh tops the group with six points and is ensured a berth in the last four.

Bangladesh coach Naveed Alam talked with his forward line yesterday.

“I told them to concentrate more and play it cool, there is nothing to hurry.

The problem is Pushkor Khisha Mimo is not among the goals, I hope he opens his account against Iran,” said Naveed.

Meanwhile Oman emerged as the champions of group A, beating Qatar

3-1 yesterday. Oman took the lead in the 14th minute after Ali Nofli Younis Ghabish capitalized on a goal mouth melee and unleashed a fierce hit from the edge of the box that rocked the board.

However Qatar rallied back to score the equalizer in the 23rd minute as Ali Sheraz scored with an upward push.

Oman continued to dominate and forward Bait S.M. Ashoor scored a field goal in the 35th minute. The icing on the cake was done by Bait Awad M. Abdullah in the 70th minute.

Ali Sheraz was adjudged as the man of the match. Oman topped the group with maximum nine points, while Qatar have only one point from three matches. Sri Lanka finished runnersup of the group with four points, beating Chinese Taipei 3-2.

Chinese Taipei went ahead in the 18th minute with midfielder Chang Chia Ming placing the ball into the post after Hu Chun Che delivered a neat pass to him from the edge of the D-box.

AFP

However Lahiru Gihan Weerasooriya, the hardworking Sri Lankan forward, scored the equalizer in the 30th minute after making his way through the defence and completing the formalities with a soft push.

Sri Lanka took the lead in the 50th minute with a tricky goal. Taking the ball to the near post from a goal mouth melee Mohamed Mulafer sent the ball into the far post net with an upward push.

Lahiru put Sri Lanka on a two goal cushion in the 61st minute as he dived forward to place the ball past Taipei goalie Chen Shi Min. Hu Chun Che pulled a goal back for Taipei in the 63rd minute, finishing a combined move with a soft touch of the stick. Sri Lanka collected four points from the three matches while Taipei remained on the three points also from same number of matches.

Lahiru Gihan Weerasooriya was adjudged as the man of the match. l

Deputy minister for youth and sports Arif Khan Joy kicks a ball in the opening ceremony of the Pioneer League at the Paltan Ground yesterday COURTESY

Australia win twin warm-up matches Australia and New Zealand played a five-over practice match after the former obtained permission from the ICC for the encounter on the grounds of lacking warm-up games ahead of the ICC World Twenty20. The game was played an hour before Australia’s scheduled T20 warm-up match at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium,

BRIEF SCORE

Pakistan 71 all out in 17.3 overs Umar Akmal 17, Shoaib Maqsood 15; B Hendriks 2-3, W Parnell 2-2 South Africa 72-2 in 14 overs Amla 24, De Velliers 20; Umar Gul 1-8, Afridi 1-8 South Africa won by 8 wickets

ISLAMI BANK ASIAN GAMES HOCKEY QUALIFIERS

UEFA Europa League, R-16

12:00AM Plzen v Lyon 2:00AM Salzburg v Basel

Zimbabwe alive with last-ball win

South Africa thrash Pakistan in warm-up

Skipper Brendan Taylor and Hamilton Masakadza kept Zimbabwe’s hopes alive in the World Twenty20 with a hardfought five-wicket win over the Netherlands yesterday while Ireland sent debutants United Arab Emirates crashing out in Sylhet by D/L method.

The Irish, who opted to bowl after winning the toss, restricted their opponents to 123-6 in 20 overs before reaching 103-3 in 14.2 overs when two power failures and then rain stopped play.

Williams eager to defend Miami title

15

Thursday, March 20, 2014

was more thrilling as opening batsman David Warner’s blistering fifty helped Australia earn a hard-fought 3-run win.

Warner fired hammered 65 off just 26 deliveries and with Aaron Finch adding a rapid 47, Australia reached a massive 200/7 from their 20 overs. New Zealand however, chased bravely and with Martin Guptill leading the way with a half-century, the Kiwis fell just four runs short of the total.

Opting to bat first, Australia’s openers Warner and Finch raced to 113 in just eight overs. Both players eventually retired out to give the middle order time in the middle. Warner struck seven fours and five sixes and reached his fifty in 20 balls, while Finch struck nine fours and six in his 22 ball knock.

Shane Watson, Brad Hodge and George Bailey scored 27, 25 and 19 respectively to push the innings along.

For New Zealand, Kyle Mills bowled well to take 2/21 while Kane Williamson’s only over went for 24 runs.

Guptill and Brendon McCullum gave the Kiwis some hope while chasing the

big target. Guptill hit 62 off 34 deliveries with five fours and four sixes and McCullum blasted 37 off 18 balls with four fours and two sixes. James Muirhead dismissed both players but Corey Anderson (29) and Luke Ronchi (21) continued to score freely and keep the game alive.

BRIEF SCORE

Australia 200-7 in 20 overs Warner 65, Finch 47; K Mills 2-21, A Devchich 1-15 New Zealand 197-9 in 20 overs M Gutill 62, B McCullum 37; M Starc 2-21, B Hogg 2-36 Australia won by 3 runs New Zealand looked the favourites as they needed 13 runs off the last 10 balls but Mitchell Starc took two wickets in the 19th over to turn the tide as the Kiwis finished with 197/9. Starc, CoulterNile, Brad Hogg and Muirhead bagged each took two wickets for Australia. l

Pioneer League kicks off Tangail Football Academy beat Arambagh Football Academy by 2-0 goals in the opening match of the Dhaka City Corporation (North and South) Pioneer Football League at the Paltan Ground yesterday .

Deputy minister for youth and sports Arif Khan Joy inaugurated the 65 team meet as the chief guest. He was also accorded a reception for being nominated as a minister. It would be mentionable that the former national football captain is also a vice president of Bangladesh Football Federation.

A big rally comprising the players of the teams and a cultural program marked the occasion. BFF ex-co members Fazlur Rahman Babul, Iqbal Hossain, Iliyas Hossain, Satyajit Das Rupu and Anwarul Islam Sikdar and Md. Alamgir, the administrators of Dhaka City Corporations and Abu Naeem Shohag, the general secretary of BFF were also present on the occasion. l

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Russian forces storm Ukraine naval HQ

THE RHYTHM OF CRICKET

n Reuters, Sevastopol Russian troops and unarmed men stormed Ukraine’s naval headquarters in the Crimean port of Sevastopol on Wednesday and raised the Russian flag in a tense but peaceful takeover that signals Moscow’s intent to neutralize any armed opposition.

Russian soldiers, and so-called “selfdefense” units of mainly unarmed volunteers who are supporting them across the Black Sea peninsula, moved in early in the morning and quickly took control.

Shortly after the incident, Ukraine’s acting Defence Minister IhorTenyukh said in Kiev that the country’s forces would not withdraw from Crimea even though Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a treaty to make it part of Russia.

But an hour later, Ukrainian servicemen, unarmed and in civilian clothing, began walking out of the headquarters.

Interfax Ukraine news agency said the commander of the Ukrainian navy, Admiral SerhiyHaiduk, was among those who left and was driven away by officers of Russia’s FSB intelligence service. The report could not be independently confirmed.

A group of youths perform a flash mob at Manik Mia Avenue in the capital to mark the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh yesterday

Dhaka to oppose reforms to IMF debt limits policy n Asif Showkat Kallol Bangladesh will oppose the proposed reforms to debt limits policy formulated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for low-income countries.

The move came as the conditions set for Extended Credit Facility (ECF) programmes may change in the middle of the duration of loan instalments under the global lender’s proposed Debt Limits in Fund Programme (DLP) with low-income countries.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith in a letter to Finance Secretary Fazle Kabir said, “This must not be allowed. The Bangladesh Bank should get prepared to argue against this idea.”

After taking opinion from the central bank, the finance secretary has prepared a summary and cited eight points that include change in the conditions for the ongoing ECF programmes under the proposed DLP with low-income countries as unfair.

The finance division has opined that IMF’s ECF programmes will be completed as per the existing conditions.

Issues relating to proposed debt limits in fund programme with low-income countries will be discussed with the visiting IMF review mission who is now in Dhaka, an official of the finance division said.

The official said ECF programme will end on April 1, 2015 and the finance division will inform the visiting IMF mission of the concerns over the new DLP policy.

According to the finance division’s summary, the IMF provided four tranches of credits equivalent to 365.69 million SDR out of 639.96 million SDR of seven tranches under ECF programmes.

“It is not logical to set a limit on concessional and non-concessional loan the IMF gives to low-income countries like Bangladesh.” The finance division also said limit on non-concessional loan is better for Bangladesh.

Bangladesh will face difficulties in fulfilling the criteria set by IMF on concessional and non-concession loan, according to the summary of the finance division.

The finance division has opined that IMF’s ECF programmes will be completed as per the existing conditions Non-concessional credit of IMF which is debt sustainable will not put negative impact on the economy and the global lender will not scrutinise such loan.

There is no need for a separate policy discussion on macro-significance loan of IMF. The multilateral lender will monitor those projects if the loans are higher than 1-2% of gross domestic product (GDP) of any country. If the countries take out loans over $1 billion, the projects will come under the purview of the IMF.

IMF has claimed that DLP policy is more flexible, but the timeframe of its soft credit will reduce and several new conditions are imposed on aggregate loan and nominal loan of IMF. Non-concessional credit will offset concessional loan as the total credit limit will be mentioned in the credit flow under the IMF proposed DLP policy.

Under the new policy, the IMF will see whether the borrowers ensure debt sustainability over the medium term and any planned public investment is feasible in terms of implementation capacity, but Bangladesh has its limitations on increasing the debt management capacity which will be time-consuming, according to the new policy.

IMF should define low capacity of developing countries and should give technical support to the low-income countries. The finance division will give new opinion when IMF provides operation and full draft of DLP. Former adviser to the caretaker government Dr AB Mirza Azizul Islam said the government may bargain over new debt policy to favour credit support.

The government has already taken non-concessional loan from Russia and China and it will create problem for the government in the long run, he added.

If tough conditions are set by the IMF, the government should not take credit, he said. “During my tenure as the adviser to the caretaker government, I rejected the last instalment of PRGF loan for setting tough conditions.” l

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

The first group of servicemen was followed within a few minutes by a handful of troops in Ukrainian uniform, looking shell-shocked at the dramatic turn of events.

“This morning they stormed the compound. They cut the gates open, but I heard no shooting,” said OleksanderBalanyuk, a captain in the navy.

“This thing should have been solved politically. Now all I can do is stand here at the gate. There is nothing else I can do,” he told Reuters, appearing ashamed and downcast.

Russia’s Itar-Tass news agency reported that Alexander Vitko, commander of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet which is based in Sevastopol, had been involved in talks at the headquarters.

Viktor Melnikov, in charge of the “self-defence” unit, said talks were going on to negotiate a surrender.

“We’ve had difficult negotiations with the command here,” he told reporters. “Some Ukrainian servicemen are already leaving, without their uniforms, but there was no violence.”

A Reuters reporter saw three armed men, possibly Russian soldiers in unmarked uniforms, at the gate and at least a dozen more inside the compound. l

Swechchasebok League leader killed n Our correspondent, Lakshmipur The organising secretary of Korapara union Swechchhasebak League has been shot to death by unidentified criminals in Lakshmipur yesterday night.

The victim, Nur Hossain, was attacked by a gang of miscreants in front of his residence at Korapara village of Ramganj upazila at around 10:30pm.

Witnesses said the attack was carried out very quickly by the criminals.

Locals rushed the victim to Ramganj upazila health complex where doctor-on-duty Mostaque Ahmed declared him dead.

Meanwhile, Ramganj police station Officer-in-Charge Lokman Hossain confirmed the death and said police were trying to find the motive behind the killing and arrest the killers. l

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B4 Google takes consumers’ wrists to next frontier with Android watch

The first meeting of Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum Agreement (Ticfa) between Dhaka and Washington will be held on 27 and 28 April with the GSP issue to be getting special focus.

The first joint-council meet on Ticfa will evaluate progress towards implementation of action plan set by the United States to get back the facility of generalised system of preferences (GSP).

United States Trade Representatives (USTR) outlined 16 conditions in the Bangladesh Action Plan which deal with the improvement labour standards.

Earlier, the first Ticfa meet included the GSP action plan implementation issue in the agenda along other issues like women empowerment and their participation in the activities in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh claims it has fulfilled 13 out of 16 conditions and will present it in the meeting.

The first Ticfa meet was originally scheduled for April 7-8, but it was postponed as “officials were not ready.”

“The Ticfa meet will be held on April 28-29,” said Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed.

Earlier, a number of meetings were held between commerce, foreign, labour and women affairs ministries to finalise meeting agenda.

In the meetings, the ministries informed about their progress in different relevant sectors.

“Agenda for first Ticfa meet has been prepared already. All necessary data are also ready,” said Mahbub Ahmed, commerce secretary, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

He said the progress reports on the GSP action plan were also under process and would be sent to the USTR before the meeting.

Earlier, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed claimed that Bangladesh had made a lot of improvements in fire safety of factories.

“But the sector still has some problems,” he said.

The government claims it has already met 13 conditions, out of 16, outlined by the US administration for the reinstatement of the GSP. Further, it has decided to convert the existing Worker Welfare Association into trade union to address the readymade garment workers right in the export processing zones (EPZs).

Allowing trade unionism in the EPZs is one 16 conditions.

The country’s export to the United States has increased to $273m despite the suspension of the GSP. Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) data shows Bangladesh has exported products worth $3.3bn in the first seven months of the current fiscal year, which is 9.12% higher compared to $3.02bn for the same period one year ago.

Bangladesh currently exports goods worth $5.5bn to the USA annually, of which, $30m gets GSP facility. l

Price of Emerald Oil jumps 400% on the first day trading n Tahmidur Rahman In a recent phenomenon, stock investors run faster after the debutant companies at the stock markets what market analysts think would ultimately bring losses for them.

After surging on the first trading day and the following few days, the share prices of most companies, which came to the market recently, failed to sustain because of over enthusiasm of investors in the initial days.

Emerald Oil Industries Limited, edible oil producer from rice bran, is the latest of such trend as its stock prices on the first trading day jumped 400% to Tk50 on its offer value of Tk10 each, even beating investors’ expectation.

'The company’s debut prices hardly make any sense as there is no fundamental logic behind such price soaring' Volume of shares worth over Tk36 crore was traded, which is the biggest single-day trade by a company in the recent months and made up 10.7% of the DSE’s total trade.

Analysts say price surge in the company’s first trading day might have been resulted from investors’ confidence but not based on fundamentals if its net asset value taken into account.

The company’s restated net asset value is Tk12.25 in 2013. It has reported net profit of Tk1.98 crore for the last quarter ended on December 31, 2013 as against Tk2.42 crore for the same period a year earlier, according to its financial statement.

In the second half of last year (July

RECENTLY LISTED COS’ PRICE MOVEMENT SINCE DEBUT Last 4 listed companies

Debut day price hike yesterday: Emerald Oil 400%

AFC Agro Biotech 550%

Appollo Ispat 72.7%

(Debut Day Rise)

72

40

70

38

68 66 64

36 34 32

62

30 60

28

58

26

56 Feb

Dec

Mar

MHSML 353%

Jan

Honda moves slowly to capture local motorbike market n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman

Japanese Honda Motors Company has started assembling motorcycles in Bangladesh to supply their bikes at the local market at lower prices.

“Now we are selling CD-80 motorcycle at a price of Tk94,900 each, which was Tk101,000 a year back when Atlas Bangladesh imported and sold it,” marketing manager of Honda Bangladesh Limited Md Rakibul Hasan told the Dhaka Tribune.

The Japanese company entered into a contract with Bangladesh Steel and Engineering Corporation in 2012 to set up a plant in Gazipur to produce motorcycles.

It has invested over Tk610 million, employing around 80 people and the number would stand between 600 and 700 when the production facilities having annual production capacity of

80,000 units would become fully operational.

The plant is now going slowly to ensure quality and customer satisfaction.

The commercial operation of the plant started in January and it produced 1,200 units during the first two months.

Honda Bangladesh has so far appointed six distributors in Jamaplpur, Tangail, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Takurgaon and Pabna, and expecting to appoint distributors across the country by this year, Rakibul said.

“We do not sell any product with having even a very minor defect and our quality control section is being looked after by the Japanese officials,” he said.

The company has a plan to produce five models with a capacity of 80cc, 110cc, 125cc and 150cc, and it will procure parts from India and Pakistan.

The CD-80 motorcycle runs 70 to 80 kilometres with one litre of petrol.

Bangladesh has a market size of about 200,000 million units with annual turnover of Tk30 billion, Rakib said.

According to Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, some 101,588 motorcycles were registered in 2012 while it was 85,808 in 2013.

“The market was down in the last year due to unrest in the country. We hope the sales will pick up this year,” Rakib said.

Indian brand Hero Honda has already struck a contract with Nitol Motors to assemble motorcycle in Bangladesh while another Japanese brand Suzuki is expected to start assembling this year, he said.

Indian Bajaj, Chinese Runner and Indian TVS are three major brands in Bangladesh. l

Mar

(Debut Day Rise)

70

44

65

42 60

40 38 36

55

50

34 45

32

40

30 Jan

Feb

to December), the company’s profitability declined to Tk3.31 crore, which was Tk3.68 in the same period a year before.

“The company’s debut prices hardly make any sense as there is no fundamental logic behind such price soaring,” said Shahidul Islam, CEO of VIPB Asset Management Company Limited.

Another analyst said: “It is nothing but over enthusiasm.”

Insights on IPO prospectus

The company in its IPO prospectus showed increase in sales, which was partially offset through increased salaries and allowances that was surged three times from June 2013 to June 2012.

Reza Chowdhury and n Kamran Asif ShowkatKallol

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Feb

Paramount Textile 306%

(Debut Day Rise)

46

Mar

Nov

Dec

Edible oil producer also reported an increase of financial expenses of Tk1.67 crore to a total of Tk8.56 crore. The yearly amount of financial expense exceeds the profit after tax. For the very reason, the IPO proceeds are being used for repayment of term loan, IPO expenses and strengthening the capital base.

The company proposed to invest its IPO proceeds partly for implementation of (Balancing Modernisation Rehabilitation and Expansion) BMRE to increase production capacity.

It planned to go for BMRE to double its capacity so as to produce 60MT of crude oil and 240MT of De-Oiled Rice Bran per day, for which it had bought 2.2 acres of land adjacent to its existing

Palli Sanchay Bank bill goes to parliament this session

Motorbikes are put on display at a showroom in Dhaka as demand is on the rise

(Debut Day Rise)

42

74

Closing Price

n Asif Showkat Kallol

Investors’ swoop on debutants may burn fingers

Closing Price

GSP to come up at maiden Ticfa meeting

THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2014 www.dhakatribune.com/business

Closing Price

China’s smog driving top foreign talents away

Closing Price

B3 US business survey:

The government may place Palli Sanchay Bank bill in the current session of parliament which began yesterday.

“We are going to place the bill in the current session,” State Minister for Finance MA Mannan told the Dhaka Tribune.

The bank is expected to start operation in July 1 this year.

The government’s share in the rural savers’ bank has been increased to 51% from 50% while the remaining 49% share will be owned by member cooperative societies of the “One House One Farm” project.

Thebill says the bank’s default borrowers will be served a 15-day notice for the repayment.

Loans will be recovered under the Public Demands Recovery Act 1913.

The Grameen Bank-like lender will collect deposits from its members and provide small loans to them.

But unlike the Nobel prize-winner’s bank, Palli will run general banking like opening of letters of credit (LC), online banking and offering debit and credit cards.

According to the draft bill, the bank’s authorised capital will be Tk1,000crore while the paid-up capital Tk200 crore.

The fund of Tk1,342crore of “One House One Farm project” will be trans-

ferred to the new bank intended to help alleviate rural proverty.

The bank will have 10 crore shares at a value of Tk100 each.

The government can raise the paidup and authorised capitalsthrough gazette notification while the credit holders will transfer their shares to credit holders of same range.

Palli Sanchay Bank will be governed under the Banking Companies Act and controlled by the central bank.

Provision of 14 of the bank companieslaw will be applied.

Earlier, the bank was proposed to be kept out of the control of Banking Companies Law and the central bank.

The proposed bill has not included the previous provisions which exempt the bank from value-added and income taxes, same privilege enjoyed by Grameen Bank.

The bank’s board of directors will consist of 15 members.Seven directors will be selected from the shareholders with the government appointing the other eight.

Eight directors will include a member of Rural Development and Cooperatives Division, director general ofRural Development Board, register of Social Welfare Directorate, a representative from Finance Division and four experts on rural economy and macro-financing.  B3 COLUMN 1

Jan

Feb

Mar

factory and procured two sets of new machinery from India and China.

However, any new project carries some inherent risks and may not be successful or may take long time to secure desired profitability, said the prospectus.

No further detail on the company is available as the company did not upload its latest financial statements that should have been available in its website, the link to which should be provided at the DSE website.

Its initial public offering has been oversubscribed by more than 39 times, according to the Chittagong Stock Exchange. Investors ordered shares worth over Tk784 crore against the offer of Tk20 crore. l

DCCI wants tax exemption limit Tk3 lakh in FY15 n Tribune Report Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) yesterday recommended the tax authorities to increase the tax free income ceiling for individual taxpayers to Tk3,00,000 from the next fiscal year from existing Tk2,20,000.

It put forward a set of proposals consisting 59-point recommendations for the coming budget for the fiscal year 2014-15.

The trade body also recommended increasing the ceiling for female and senior citizens aged over 65 years from Tk2,50,000 to Tk3,50,000 and for the physically challenged taxpayers from Tk3,00,000 to Tk4,00,000.

It also recommended imposing 20% tax on income over Tk5 lakh or above.

The chamber submitted the pre-budget recommendations to National Board of Revenue Chairman Md. Ghulam Hussain at the NBR headquarters in Dhaka.

DCCI President Mohammad Shahjahan Khan handed over the recommendations when Vice President Kh. Shahidul Islam and director Haider Ahmed Khan were present.

The suggestions also included increasing VAT-free investment capital in plant and machineries equipment to Tk1 crore from the existing 80,00,000, not imposing tax on income of chamber or trade bodies, providing 15% cash incentives to export of plastic goods, reduction of corporate tax for listed companies from 27.5% to 20%, and continuation of special incentives for SMEs sector. l

Furniture show begins in Dhaka on Sunday

Exports grow by a robust 32% in July-February period of FY14 Association, Bangladesh Handicrafts first eight months of the current fiscal n Ibrahim Hossain Ovi Manufacturers and Exporters Associ- due to increased demands in the globA 3-day Bangladesh Furniture and Interior Decoration (BFID) Expo-2014 begins in Dhaka on Sunday next to showcase the variety and excellence of local furniture and home furnishing products and attract buyers from home and abroad.

The fair would be held at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC), which is scheduled to be inaugurated by Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed.

Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) of Bangladesh, Furniture Exporters

ation (Banglacraft), Bangladesh Jute Diversified Products Manufactures and Exporters Association and Bangladesh Furniture Industries Owners Association in collaboration with Jute Diversification Promotion Centre (JDPC) are jointly orgainsing the event.

A total of 51 orgainsations are expected to participate in the fair to display their state of art furniture products, organisers said yesterday.

Earnings from furniture export have seen a 32% rise to over $25m in the

al markets, according to EPB. It was $19.20 million in the same period last fiscal year when the total furniture export stood at $31.41 million.

The figure is 6% higher against its target of nearly $24 million set for the July-February period of 2013-14.

The government has set a furniture export target of about $38m with 20% growth for the current financial year while the total export target set at $30.5bn.  B3 COLUMN 5

B2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Stock

Stocks fall for 5th session on selloff

DSE key features March 19, 2014

n Tribune Report

Number of Contract

oversold position after declining for last five consecutive sessions over jittery attitude of investors,” said Lanka Bangla Securities in its market analysis.

It said market got spooked as investors became more concerned about the market over heavy selloff on major heavyweights sectors.

On the economic front, Bangladesh Bank has upgraded their estimation of the country’s economic growth by 0.01% in its latest second quarter report, reckoning the forecasted GDP range from 5.8% to 6.1%. “For now, investors are eyeing on a set of improved economic indicators to knock into the target,” said Lanka Bangla.

IDLC Investments said the bourse observed strong waves of sell pressure, as profit booking and panic dominated throughout the session. “With pessimism displaying persistence over last few sessions, market sentiment retracted further. Prolonged scrip-wise volatility spurred investors’ greater intention on re-balancing portfolio.”

Zenith Investment said stocks failed to regain any ground after continued decline for more than a month. “The ongoing correction may soon come to an end and the chances for the market to rebounce are very likely during next week or so as investors patience is running thin.” l

Stocks ended lower for the fifth consecutive session yesterday, as selloff picked up in heavyweight companies.

The market dipped at open losing over 50 points till mid-session, but some modest buying pressure at the wee hour has helped the market recover some points.

At the end of the day, the benchmark DSEX lost 36 points or 0.8% to close at 4,519 – its lowest since January 16. Shariah Index, DSES, was down 11 points or 1.2% to 983. The blue-chip comprising DS30 ended at 1,624, shedding 11 points or 0.8%.

Chittagong Stock Exchange Selective Category Index, CSCX, fell 68 points to close at 8,785.

Trading at DSE still remained sluggish with turnover standing at Tk338 crore, an increase of nearly 5% over the previous session.

Emerald Oil Industries, in its first trading day, gained 400% from its offer value of Tk10 to emerge as the top turnover leader and accounted for about 11% of the total turnover.

Except banks, all the major sectors closed red. Banking sector ended flat after a volatile movement.

Other major sectors like pharmaceuticals, tannery, textile, food and allied, power and telecommunications closed lower.

“Market has entered into an

Company

3,380.48 60,955,478 96,975

Traded Issues

298

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

40

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

250

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

8

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,247.71

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

27.24

CSE key features March 19, 2014 Turnover (Million Taka)

378.75

Turnover (Volume)

Daily capital market highlights DSE Broad Index :

DSE GAINERS

Turnover (Million Taka) Turnover (Volume)

7,457,954

Number of Contract

4519.02008

(-) 0.79%

15,931

▼

Traded Issues

225 25 194

DSE Shariah Index :

983.70110

(-) 1.14%

▼

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

DSE - 30 Index :

1624.3110

(-) 0.71%

▼

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

CSE All Share Index:

13968.7799

(-) 0.76%

▼

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

5

CSE - 30 Index :

11754.6042

(-) 0.73%

▼

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,141.17

8785.1291

(-) 0.77%

▼

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

25.95

CSE Selected Index : DSE LOSERS

United Leasing - A Sinobangla Indu.-A AMCL 2nd MF-A Apex SpinningA National Housing Fin.-B Rahima Food -Z Miracle Industries -B Samorita Hospital -A

-11.47 -9.90 -7.81 -7.29 -6.49 -5.56 -5.38 -5.07

Average (% change) -10.83 -10.25 -4.76 -3.48 -6.37 -5.98 -4.01 -5.39

Fine Foods A Libra Infusions-A

-4.88 -4.87

-5.31 -4.99

Company

Closing (% change)

CSE LOSERS

Sinobangla Indu.-A Rahima Food -Z Standard Ceramic -A AMCL 2nd MF-A ICB AMCL 2nd NRB -A ICB Sonali Bank 1 MF-A Samorita Hospital -A MutualTrust Bank-A

-9.90 -8.17 -8.00 -7.69 -7.34 -6.98 -5.69 -5.46

Average (% change) -8.34 -8.16 -8.00 -3.69 -6.91 -7.19 -7.41 -4.46

AramitCementA AIBL 1st Is. M. F.-A

-5.22 -5.06

-3.61 -5.06

Company

Closing (% change)

ANALYST

Closing average

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

Turnover in million

Daily low

Latest EPS

Latest PE

24.78 27.49 6.20 105.06 31.90 52.96 21.52 104.99

24.70 27.30 5.90 100.50 31.70 52.70 21.10 103.00

25.50 29.00 6.90 109.00 34.20 53.60 23.00 109.70

24.30 27.30 5.80 99.20 31.30 51.20 21.10 101.00

6.834 8.234 3.945 3.782 1.963 1.271 4.714 7.612

1.90 0.80 0.88 1.85 1.39 -1.00 0.22 2.74

13.0 34.4 7.0 56.8 22.9 -ve 97.8 38.3

19.78 450.71

19.50 451.00

20.50 470.00

19.00 438.00

2.189 0.631

-0.98 3.04

-ve 148.3

Closing average

Closing

Daily high

Turnover in million

Daily low

Latest EPS

27.30 52.80 46.00 6.00 10.10 8.00 102.80 17.30

30.10 53.50 46.00 6.80 10.10 8.00 102.80 17.30

27.30 52.50 46.00 5.90 10.10 8.00 102.80 17.10

1.516 0.264 0.023 0.513 0.025 0.004 0.154 0.043

0.80 -1.00 1.06 0.88 1.46 1.60 2.74 2.05

34.8 -ve 43.4 7.1 6.9 5.0 37.5 8.4

55.61 7.50

54.50 7.50

57.00 7.50

53.80 7.50

0.500 0.004

2.56 1.24

21.7 6.0

The ongoing correction may soon come to an end and the chances for the market to re-bounce are very likely during next week or so as investors patience is running thin

DSE Million Taka 260.83 116.76 59.37 286.84 553.60 365.55 4.89 250.36 475.54 0.74 19.80 53.13 12.71 194.41 22.97 58.55 117.73 181.00 46.62 298.14 0.97

Kohinoor Chem -A BSC-A 2nd ICB M F -A Renwick Jajneswar-A Central Insur -A UCBL - A 8th ICB M F-A Modern Dyeing -Z JMI Syringes MDL-A ICB Islamic Bank-Z

% change 7.72 3.45 1.76 8.49 16.38 10.81 0.14 7.41 14.07 0.02 0.59 1.57 0.38 5.75 0.68 1.73 3.48 5.35 1.38 8.82 0.03

Million Taka 26.01 8.76 4.23 24.16 125.68 124.66 124.07 34.02 206.92 1.32 208.36 0.98 15.34 2.23 1.40 10.06 21.93 6.01 53.29 0.02

% change 2.60 0.88 0.42 2.42 12.58 12.47 0.00 12.41 3.40 20.70 0.13 20.85 0.10 1.53 0.22 0.14 1.01 2.19 0.60 5.33 0.00

Million Taka 286.84 125.52 63.59 311.00 679.28 490.21 4.89 374.44 509.56 207.66 21.12 261.49 13.69 209.74 25.20 59.95 127.79 202.93 52.63 351.43 0.99

Total

5.87 4.25 3.43 3.32 3.14 3.00 2.56 2.50 2.47 1.85

CSE GAINERS Company ICB AMCL 1st NRB -A Northern G Insur-A Rupali Life Insur.-A Islami Ins.BD-A BSC-A UCBL - A Hakkani P& Paper -B R. N. Spinning-Z Apex Footwear-A Berger Paints-A

Closing (% change) 9.96 8.05 5.42 5.00 4.10 2.59 2.45 2.00 1.89 1.55

Average (% change) 3.93 2.71 3.97 2.03 3.24 2.10 3.03 2.50 (1.72) (0.54) Average (% change) 10.19 8.02 5.80 5.00 2.78 1.50 2.70 1.23 1.89 1.55

Closing average 397.02 655.64 288.00 280.00 29.62 23.78 68.00 82.00 189.47 5.49

Closing average 26.50 47.00 124.42 31.50 655.61 23.61 33.50 30.35 540.00 985.00

Closing 402.30 668.75 286.50 283.50 29.60 24.00 68.00 82.00 195.00 5.50

Closing 26.50 47.00 124.40 31.50 667.30 23.80 33.50 30.60 540.00 985.00

Daily high

Daily low

413.00 674.50 289.00 289.90 29.90 24.10 68.50 82.00 201.20 5.60

Daily high

360.00 642.00 277.00 273.20 28.90 21.00 67.40 82.00 185.40 5.40

Daily low

26.50 47.00 124.60 31.50 673.00 23.90 33.50 32.00 540.00 985.00

26.50 47.00 116.00 31.50 639.00 22.80 33.50 29.90 540.00 985.00

Turnover in million 0.692 244.985 0.072 15.554 0.462 70.050 0.272 0.008 9.947 0.247

Turnover in million 0.027 0.047 2.986 0.079 47.116 6.013 0.017 1.263 0.108 0.049

Latest EPS 7.88 24.00 35.42 5.32 2.49 3.66 8.32 1.54 1.97 -0.26

Latest EPS 4.74 3.04 5.33 1.60 24.00 3.66 0.28 6.11 28.27 37.13

Latest PE 50.4 27.3 8.1 52.6 11.9 6.5 8.2 53.2 96.2 -ve

Latest PE 5.6 15.5 23.3 19.7 27.3 6.5 119.6 5.0 19.1 26.5

News from trade servers PIONEERINS: The Board of Directors has recommended 10% cash dividend and 20% stock dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2013. Date of AGM: 18.05.2014, Time: 11:00 AM, Venue: Bashundhara Convention Centre-2, Bashundhara R/A, Dhaka-1229. Record Date: 31.03.2014. The Company has also reported EPS (after tax) of Tk. 5.02, EPS (after tax and reserve) of Tk. 3.02, NAV per share of Tk. 28.06 and NOCFPS of Tk. 9.30 for the year ended on December 31, 2013.

GLOBALINS: The Board of Directors has recommended 10% stock dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2013.

Date of AGM: 17.05.2014, Time: 11:00 AM, Venue: "Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh", IDEB Bhaban, 160/A, Kakrail, Dhaka-1000. Record Date: 07.04.2014. The Company has also reported EPS of Tk. 1.09, NAV per share of Tk. 13.10 and NOCFPS of Tk. 1.42 for the year ended on December 31, 2013.

ACI: The Company has informed that in line with the conditions of ACI 20% Convertible Zero Coupon Bonds, the shares of ACI Limited originated from the exercise of convertibility option of 4th series of ACI

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Emerald Oil Ind. -N Square Pharma -A BSC-A LafargeS Cement-Z Padma Oil Co. -A Olympic Ind. -A Meghna Petroleum -A

CSE

Closing (% change)

20% Convertible Zero Coupon Bonds by the bondholders, have already been credited to the respective bondholders' BO Accounts.

ACIZCBOND: ACI Limited, Sponsor of the Bond, has informed that in line with the conditions of ACI 20% Convertible Zero Coupon Bonds, the shares of ACI Limited originated from the exercise of convertibility option of 4th series of ACI 20% Convertible Zero Coupon Bonds by the bondholders, have already been credited to the respective bondholders' BO Accounts.

RENWICKJA: The Company has informed that as per the decision of the Board of Directors of the Company, a Lathe Machine was procured at a purchase value of Tk. 26,95,000.00. The expected production capacity after installation of the Lathe Machine will increase approximately 5MT of machining works. It will also help to increase the profit of Tk. 50,000.00 (approx.). The commercial production of the Lathe Machine will start very soon.

IFIC: As per Regulation 30 of DSE Listing Regulations, the Company has informed that a meeting of the Board of Directors will

be held on March 20, 2014 at 5:00 PM to consider, among others, audited financial statements of the Company for the year ended on December 31, 2013.

From BIASL Desk:

Impact after declaration: PIONEERINS price dropped by 2.32%, close at taka 71.40 with PE 23.64. GLOBALINS price dropped by 3.48%, close at taka 27.70 with PE 25.41.

Price Correction after Record Day: ULC price correction was 11.47% (taka 3.20) against 5% cash & 10% stock Dividend (taka 3.29 per share approx.). After record day restated EPS is taka 1.90 and NAV per share is taka 13.

RIGHT SHARE: ARAMITCEM: Subscription 23.03.2014 to 17.04.2014. Record date for entitlement of rights share: 09.01.2014. RUPALILIFESubscription 06.04.2014 to 05.05.2014.

Record date for entitlement of rights share: 16.01.2014. BRACBANK: Subscription 20.04.2014 to 15.05.2014. Record date for entitlement of rights share: 10.02.2014.

GENNEXT: Subscription 18.03.2014 to 09.04.2014, Record date: 25.02.2014.

Latest PE

27.82 52.81 46.00 6.26 10.10 8.00 102.80 17.14

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY Sector

Daily high

Thursday, March 20, 2014

% change 6.55 2.87 1.45 7.10 15.51 11.19 0.11 8.55 11.63 4.74 0.48 5.97 0.31 4.79 0.58 1.37 2.92 4.63 1.20 8.02 0.02

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

Grameenphone-A BD Submarine Cable-A UCBL - A

Jamuna Oil -A ConfidenceCement A Delta Life Insu. -A Square Textile -A National Tubes -A CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company BSC-A

Square Pharma -A BD Submarine Cable-A Emerald Oil Ind. -N LafargeS Cement-Z Padma Oil Co. -A Appollo Ispat CL -N Beach Hatchery -A UCBL - A Grameenphone-A Delta Life Insu. -A Southeast Bank-A Jamuna Oil -A Orion Pharma-N BEXIMCO Ltd. -A

Volume shares 6,879,000 1,038,586 373,660 2,154,500 301,443 461,000 347,526 436,200 423,574 2,946,048

289,719 393,532 210,650 449,762 322,852

Volume shares

71,865 63,770 76,169 52,000 221,000 27,226 324,200 186,714 254,692 28,200 23,600 267,510 16,899 65,420 120,902

Value in million 361.29 277.44 244.99 102.27 101.56 97.07 96.47 92.08 88.92 70.05

66.38 57.91 52.49 49.23 47.13

Value in million

47.12 17.04 15.99 10.96 10.43 9.16 8.70 6.02 6.01 5.94 5.87 4.92 3.87 3.84 3.75

% of total turnover 10.69 8.21 7.25 3.03 3.00 2.87 2.85 2.72 2.63 2.07

1.96 1.71 1.55 1.46 1.39

% of total turnover

17.11 6.19 5.81 3.98 3.79 3.33 3.16 2.19 2.18 2.16 2.13 1.79 1.40 1.39 1.36

Daily closing 50.00 268.20 668.75 47.90 339.80 210.90 277.30 211.30 208.70 24.00

229.10 147.90 247.40 109.60 147.50

Daily closing

667.30 268.20 208.80 49.80 47.90 339.10 26.70 32.30 23.80 210.30 247.90 18.30 228.70 58.40 30.90

Price change 0.00 -2.19 4.25 0.00 1.13 -1.31 -0.64 0.00 -1.88 3.00

Daily opening 0.00 274.20 641.50 47.90 336.00 213.70 279.10 211.30 212.70 23.30

Price change

Daily opening

-0.65 0.89 -2.02 -1.88 -0.41

4.10 -1.72 -1.93 0.00 -0.21 0.77 -3.61 -1.82 2.59 -0.14 -1.39 -1.08 -0.31 -1.85 -0.96

230.60 146.60 252.50 111.70 148.10

641.00 272.90 212.90 0.00 48.00 336.50 27.70 32.90 23.20 210.60 251.40 18.50 229.40 59.50 31.20

Daily high 60.00 275.00 674.50 48.10 345.00 216.90 280.00 212.00 213.40 24.10

Daily low 49.50 255.00 642.00 46.90 311.00 200.00 255.00 210.00 194.60 21.00

Daily average 52.52 267.13 655.64 47.47 336.90 210.56 277.59 211.11 209.93 23.78

Daily high

Daily low

Daily average

235.00 151.00 252.80 114.00 149.00

673.00 273.00 214.70 62.60 48.40 341.00 27.90 32.60 23.90 211.70 252.00 18.80 230.90 59.20 31.30

215.00 140.00 246.50 102.00 143.80

639.00 263.40 208.10 48.90 46.90 333.00 26.40 31.80 22.80 209.20 246.00 18.10 227.10 58.00 30.80

229.12 147.15 249.19 109.45 145.98

655.61 267.22 209.94 210.83 47.17 336.51 26.84 32.23 23.61 210.63 248.62 18.38 228.85 58.70 31.03

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

Grameenphone shares profit Cambodia’s garment exports still rising with employees n BSS

n Muhammad Zahidul Islam Grameenphone has shared 5% of its net profit made in 2013 under a labour law requirement and every employee received Tk1,92,091 this week, said officials.

Eighteen kinds of industry including the mobile phone companies are required by the labour law as amended last year to pay 5% of net profits to the employees.

The largest mobile phone operator, Grameenphone disbursed a total of Tk73.5 crore among the staff from Tk1,470 crore profit earning of 2013, the officials said.

Robi, another operator, said they would give away the profit share of 2013 to the employees this month. The operator shared the 2012 profit also.

Finance Ministry issued a circular in 2010 asking the companies of 18 kinds of industry to pay profit shares to their

Palli Sanchay Bank  B1 COLUMN 5

A director will serve a three year-term and can be appointed for maximum two consecutive terms.

The government will appoint chairman with prior approval of Bangladesh Bank. The board of directors will appoint managing director with approval from the central bank. MD can serve until he is 65 years old.

Audit will be conducted by two firms enlisted by Bangladesh Bank. The board will submit audit report to the central bank within three months after the end of a financial year.

A part of profit will be used for reserve fund and bad debts, another part will be distributed among shareholders and the remaining profit will be usedin different purposes of the bank.

If a borrower used false information to get loans from the bank, he would get one-year imprisonment or Tk50,000fine.

Besides, one will be punished with one-year jail or Tk1 lakh if he uses the bank’s name to serve in his firm’s prospectus.

Some already questioned the viability of the bank as such other specialised banks were yet to achieve their goals.

“It seems that the government will use the bank for their political interest. So, the bank has risks to ensure financial inclusion of rural people,” said a senior official of Finance Division, who wants not to be named. The cabinet last November approved a draft law for the bank.

“The bank will start its functions from first of July. The head office will be in the Palli Development Board in Dhaka,” MA Kader Sarkar, cooperatives secretary, toldthe Dhaka Tribune.

He however said the bank would seek land from the government in and around the Dhaka city to establish a permanent head office.

The draft of PalliSanchay Bank Act 2013 was prepared by the Rural Development and Cooperatives Division and forwarded to the finance ministry’s banking division. l

employees. Last year it was included in the labour law.

Grameenphone has decided to give employees the profit shares of the three years too from 2010, which will cost the company a total of Tk235 crore, the officials said.

Robi, another operator, said they would give away the profit share of 2013 to the employees this month The market leader made a profit of Tk1,751 crore in 2012, Tk1889 crore in 2011 and Tk1071 crore in 2010.

It will have to share Tk87.5 crore, Tk94.45 crore and Tk53.55 crore for the

three years respectively.

After issuance of the circular in 2010, Grameenphone authorities however challenged in the court that mobile phone companies could not be considered one of the 18 kinds of industry.

The employees of the company, under the name of Grameenphone People’s Council, took stance against the authorities’ claim in the court.

The company later declared to share profits with the employees.

Robi was the first of the mobile companies to have distributed 5% of the 2012 profit with its 1,800 employees.

The net profit was Tk91.1 crore in 2012. The profit increased to Tk365 crore in 2013.

“We shared profit last year and will soon do the same this year too. We are waiting for the settlement of final accounts (of 2013),” said Mahmudur Rahaman, executive vice president of Robi. l

Garment industry, the kingdom’ s largest foreign currency earner, reported a 6.5% rise in exports in the first two months of 2014 despite recent production suspension due to illegally violent strikes.

During the January-February period this year, the country exported garment and shoe products worth 991m US dollars, up 6.5% from 930m US dollars over the same period last year, the figures of the Ministry of Commerce showed today.

The products have been mostly sold to the United States and European countries, and some Asian countries, particularly Japan, China, and South Korea.

The sector, comprised some 900 factories with about 600,000 workers, accounts for about 80% of the country’s total exports.

The whole industry had been closed for two weeks in late December and early January due to illegal protests to

US business survey: China’s smog driving top foreign talents away

Slowing economy the big concern

Despite the concerns over pollution, China’s cooling economy, which government leaders project to grow this year at about 7.5%, posed the greatest risk to companies, according to those polled in the Beijing survey.

Firms increasingly reported a stagnation or contraction in operating margins compared with previous years, it said.

As a result, more foreign firms saw China “as just one of many investment possibilities”, the report said.

Nevertheless, a majority of com-

Selim RF Hussain, CEO and MD of IDLC Finance Limited and Hamidul Huq, MD of Credit Rating Agency of Bangladesh Ltd (CRAB) exchanging documents after signing an agreement on behalf of their respective organisations recently. Under the deal, CRAB will provide credit rating service to the SME clients of IDLC Finance Limited

Engr Farasath Ali, chairman of NRBCB handed over a cheque to the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in observance of “Lakho kanthey Sonar Bangla” to mark the 43rd Independence Day

US business survey: China’s smog driving top foreign talent away panies surveyed remained optimistic about the business outlook for the next two years.

“This optimism is driven by our membership’s confidence in their own ability to adjust and deal with the challenges,” said Mark Duval, China president of the American Chamber of Commerce.

'My judgement is that the biggest area that drives (this response) would be market access' Many members had high expectations that recently announced economic reforms might deliver, Duval added.

But two in five respondents to the Beijing survey said the business climate had become less welcoming for multinationals, with a similar number saying foreign firms were being singled out in a series of pricing and corruption

demand higher wages.

Ly Tek Heng, operations manager of the Garment Manufacturers Association of Cambodia, said the export growth was still low because of a production halt early this year caused by outlawed strikes.

“I believe that the sector will continue higher growth if the government takes strict actions against any illegal strikes in the future,” he said.

Eight opposition-aligned trade unions announced last week that they would jointly lead a stay-at-home garment strike from April 17 to April 22 to demand a 160 US dollars minimum wages for garment workers and the release of 21 detainees, who were arrested in early January during violent protests.

Pav Sina, president of the Collective Union of Movement of Workers, said the eight trade unions represented over 100,000 workers.

A minimum wage for garment workers is currently 100 US dollars. l

Dollar rises in Asia ahead of Fed meeting n AFP, Tokyo The dollar edged higher against the yen and euro in Asia yesterday as investors focus on the US Federal Reserve’s latest policy meeting, the first under new chair Janet Yellen.

There are hopes Yellen will provide some guidance on the bank’s plans for interest rates after the conclusion of the meeting later in the working day.

Analysts said the dollar and euro were buoyed by easing fears over the crisis in Crimea.

In Tokyo afternoon trade, the dollar bought 101.51 yen, up from 101.42 yen in New York Tuesday. The euro fetched $1.3919 and 141.28 yen compared with $1.3932 and 141.29 yen.

The yen hardly moved after official data showed Japan ran a trade deficit for the 20th consecutive month in February, although the shortfall was well below a record shortfall suffered in January. l

India allows more banks to import gold n Reuters

n Reuters, Beijing China’s smog is making it harder for foreign firms to convince top executives to work in the country, the American Chamber of Commerce in Beijing said on Wednesday, offering some of the strongest evidence yet on how pollution is hurting recruitment.

Some 48% of the 365 foreign companies that replied to the chamber’s annual survey, which covers businesses in China’s northern cities, said concerns over air quality were turning senior executives away.

Pollution is “a difficulty in recruiting and retaining senior executive talent”, said the report. The 2014 figure is a jump from the 19% of foreign firms that said smog was a problem for recruitment in 2010.

China’s slowing economy, however, remained the top risk for companies, the report added.

Foreign executives increasingly complain about pollution in China and the perceived impact it is having on the health of themselves and their families. Several high-profile executives have left China in recent years, citing pollution as the main reason for their decision to go.

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Thursday, March 20, 2014

REUTERS

investigations.

Those investigations have targeted various sectors, including pharmaceutical and milk powder multinationals, as well as American technology companies.

Most recently, China’s anti-monopoly regulator said Qualcomm Inc was suspected of overcharging and abusing its market position. The US chip giant has said it was cooperating with the investigation by the National Development and Reform Commission.

Respondents also chafed at perceived state enterprise favouritism, with 77% believing policies benefiting state-owned firms had negatively impacted their business.

“My judgement is that the biggest area that drives (this response) would be market access,” said Duval.

Protection of trade secrets and company name theft were among other issues worrying businesses. Half of all respondents said that protecting confidential company data was a concern.

Other difficulties were a lack of clarity and inconsistency in the application of laws and regulations, the survey said. l

The 12th annual general meeting of Bengal Poly and Paper Sack Limited was held on March 19 at a hotel in Dhaka. The company’s chairperson, Morshed Alam presided over the meeting

QAFM Serajul Islam, director of Mutual Trust Bank Ltd is seen handing over a cheque amounting to Tk1 crore to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, as donation for the “Lakho Konthey Sonar Bangla” fund, at a ceremony held at Gono Bhaban in Dhaka recently

India has allowed five domestic private sector banks to import gold, in what industry officials say could be a significant step towards easing of tough curbs on the metal imposed last year to cut the country’s trade deficit.

The move could boost gold supplies and bring down premiums for the metal in the world’s second-biggest consumer after China. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has allowed gold imports by HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, IndusInd Bank and Yes Bank, officials at the respective banks told Reuters.

Two industry sources confirmed the names of the banks. They and the bank officials did not want to be named as they are not authorised to speak to media.

India enforced the so-called 80/20 rule in July, making it mandatory to export a fifth of all gold imports. Under that rule, only six banks and three staterun trading agencies that had facilitated export of gold or jewellery in the past three years were allowed to import. The six banks were mostly state-run lenders. The RBI has now permitted gold imports within prescribed limits by the private banks even though they had not

facilitated any exports of metal or jewellery in the past three years.

“They have decided upon limits on quantities depending upon the number of (current) customers you have for exports,” said Shekhar Bhandari, executive vice-president of Kotak Mahindra Bank.

The RBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The move to allow more banks to import gold may raise shipments to about 40 tonnes per month from more than 20 in February, industry officials said. India used to ship in as much 70 tonnes per month, the biggest import after oil that had pushed the current account deficit (CAD) to a record high in the year ended March 2013.

“Supplies will be smooth from now and I think premiums will come down,” said Haresh Soni, chairman of the All India Gems and Jewellery Trade Federation. “This looks like just a beginning to the further easing of 80/20 rule.”

India used to be the No 1 buyer of gold before the levy of a record 10% import tax in stages and other restrictions led to a sharp cut. Premiums hit a record of $160 an ounce in December, triggering smuggling and forcing industry officials to call for a repeal of the curbs. l

Furniture show begins in Dhaka  B1 COLUMN 6

“Export earnings from the furniture sector has seen uptrend as the buyers are coming out from the recession,” Firoz Al Mamun, head of marketing and Sales of Hatil Furniture, told the Dhaka Tribune.

“Buyers are leaving China market due to higher production cost, which is another reason for upward rally in export value.”

In the recent months, global retail-

ers including Ikea and Walmart has visited the country and shown keen interest to import furniture from Bangladesh, Firoz said.

At present, the country exports office furniture, metal furniture, seats with metal frames, bedroom furniture, wooden furniture, and furniture of plastic, parts of furniture, mattress supports, sleeping bag and lamp and light fittings to various destinations of the world. l

Export Import Bank of Bangladesh Limited organised a traditional Mezban on March 17 at “The King of Chittagong” in honour to its clients, well-wishers and patrons in Chittagong region. Members at the bank’s board of directors were present the Mejban

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina seen receiving a cheque of Tk1 crore from Trust Bank Limited’s chairperson, Maj Gen Ashraf Abdullah Yussuf, rcds, afwc, psc for ICC T20 World Cup 2014

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

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Thursday, March 20, 2014

Google takes consumers’ wrists to next frontier with Android watch n Reuters, San Francisco Voice-controlled smartwatches that track heart rates and connect to phones and tablets will debut later this year as Google Inc partners with electronics, technology and fashion companies to take consumers to the next promised frontier in computing.

Google on Tuesday unveiled plans to help develop the watches and other wearable computers based on its Android mobile operating system, which already runs more than three out of four smartphones sold worldwide.

The Android Wear project is open to software makers to create apps for the watches, putting Google at the forefront of efforts to jumpstart the nascent wearable computing market.

The news comes as speculation swirls around iPhone-maker Apple Inc’s plans for wearable computers, including a smartwatch of its own. Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook has promised new “product categories” later this year.

A video posted on Google’s blog on Tuesday showed people speaking into their watches to check sports scores, control music, send replies to text messages and even open their home garages.

By aligning itself with a broad spectrum of partners to develop the smartwatches, Google is hoping to replicate the success that helped make its free

Android software the most popular smartphone operating system, analysts said.

LG Electronics said on Tuesday it would introduce its first Android watch, the G Watch, in the second quarter. Motorola said its Moto 360 Android watch would be available this summer.

Fossil Group Inc, which makes watches, handbags and other accessories, also announced that it was working with Google on Android devices.

Many believe wearable computers represent the next big shift in technology, just as smartphones evolved from personal computers, but efforts by various companies so far have had mixed results.

Samsung was among the first to sell a smartwatch for consumers, but its maiden effort, the Galaxy Gear, was widely panned by reviewers.

Google’s announcement “definitely gives wearables a status that it’s a market in its own right and it needs to be treated with the respect that a separate operating system branch gives it,” said Carolina Milanesi, an analyst with Kantar World Panel.

Fitness trackers

Android smartwatches will connect wirelessly to a mobile phone and can be outfitted with a variety of sensors, Google said.

That means that apps developed for Android watches will be able to moni-

A Moto 360 smartwatch is seen in this Motorola Mobility LLC. Google Inc said on Tuesday that smartwatches based on its Android mobile software will be available later this year, enlisting a variety of partners and signaling the Internet company's intent to play a leading role in what could be the next big computing market GOOGLE tor fitness and health information such as a wearer’s heart rate or distance jogged.

Google released an Android Wear Developer Preview on Tuesday, saying it would allow software makers to

India business sentiment weak in first quarter n Reuters, Seoul

Business sentiment among Asia’s top companies edged up in the first quarter, as solid improvement in the Philippines and South Korea outweighed weakness in China, India and Australia amid persistent concerns over the global economy, a ThomsonReuters/ INSEAD survey showed.

The ThomsonReuters/INSEAD Asia Business Sentiment Index snapped two consecutive quarterly declines and rose to 64 in the first quarter of this year from 62 in the fourth quarter of 2013. A reading above 50 indicates an overall positive outlook.

Uncertainty about the global economic outlook and rising costs remained the biggest risk factors for the region’s firms, according to the survey, which also found sentiment in the autos, retail and resource sectors improved, while confidence among companies in the building sector tumbled.

Solid gains in Japan, South Korea and regional trading hub Singapore supported the index, but weaker sentiment from China, Australia and India underscored fragile prospects for an improvement in global demand.

China’s exports unexpectedly dropped 18% in February, fueling investor concerns over cooling growth in the world’s second-biggest economy.

Chinese premier Li Keqiang said the economy faced “severe challenges” in 2014 and hinted Beijing would toler-

ate a slower expansion while it pushes through reforms aimed at providing more sustainable growth in the future.

“The sentiment (in China) is not great ... There isn’t a lot of transparency on what happens next,” said Stephen Green, head of China research at Standard Chartered.

The poll, conducted by ThomsonReuters in association with INSEAD, a global management and business school, was compiled between March 3-14.

The index surveyed more than 200 of Asia’s top companies in 11 economies across sectors including property, financials and tech. Companies participating in the survey included Hyundai Heavy Industries, Fast Retailing Co Ltd and International Container Terminal Services.

Of the 102 Asian companies that responded, 65% reported a neutral outlook, 31% were positive and 3.92% were negative in their prospects.

Philippines most bullish

Corporate sentiment in the Philippines rebounded the most in the first quarter of 2014, with all 12 respondents reporting positive sentiment that pushed the sentiment index to 100, even as the majority of them were concerned about the uncertain global economy.

Most companies in the country reported higher new orders and employment levels as massive rebuilding efforts, including the government’s $3.1bn spending plan after a devastat-

ing typhoon in early November, are set to help sustain strong economic growth this year.

Overall sentiment in Southeast Asia’s $15tn economy was mostly positive, with Thailand being the only country in negative territory due to the lingering political turmoil.

In export-reliant north Asia, Japan and South Korea showed a solid recovery as they reported increased orders.

Yet, 14 out of 17 respondents in Japan were neutral on business sentiment as they brace for a hike in consumption tax from April, which may ease a recent recovery in domestic consumption.

tre and suburbs has supported value growth of retailing in Singapore in 2014. High rental costs, particularly in Singapore and Hong Kong, also drove prices upwards as retailers pass increasing costs to end-consumers.”

Sentiment among Asian automakers also improved considerably, with all 11 respondents saying they were neutral on the outlook. The sector reported a reading of 50 in the first quarter compared to the 33 score it turned in the fourth quarter of 2013. l

million each year by 2018, compared with an estimated 87,000 in 2013, according to the research firm.

Must have or nice to have?

Google, whose projects range from self-driving cars to robots, likely sees smartwatches as part of the future evolution of computing, said Raymond James analyst Aaron Kessler. But he said it remained to be seen whether smartwatches will become an indispensable digital accessory or a “niceto-have” gadget.

“At this point I would still view it as a niche product,” he said.

Among the more than 10 companies that are partnering with Google on Android watches are Samsung Electronics Co, HTC Corp, Asustek Computer Inc, Intel Corp, Qualcomm Inc, Broadcom Corp and Mediatek Inc. Qualcomm and its manufacturing customers are working on “multiple” wearable devices based on its Snapdragon processors, spokesman Jon Carvill said. He declined to elaborate.

“We’ve barely scratched the surface of what’s possible with mobile technology,” Google said in a post on its official blog on Tuesday. “That’s why we’re so excited about wearables — they understand the context of the world around you, and you can interact with them simply and efficiently, with just a glance or a spoken word.” l

Microsoft shares flirt with dotcom-boom levels on iPad app n Reuters

Autos, retails, resources up, building down

By sector, the retail industry showed a big improvement, with half of the eight respondents neutral and the other half positive, taking the reading up 17 points to 75 from 58 in the fourth quarter of 2013.

In a sign of growing confidence in the sector, Asia’s top apparel retailer, Japan’s Fast Retailing Co is among global retailers expanding aggressively in Asia, with plans to boost sales in greater China by more than 30 percent this year.

“A recovering economy has contributed to the rosier performance of retailing in developed countries in Asia,” said Euromonitor International analyst Honey Lim. “In addition, the completion of new and revamped malls in the city cen-

begin creating specialized apps for the watches.

Google has also been developing Google Glass, a small stamp-sized screen attached to a pair of eyeglass frames.

Google Glass can record video, access email, provide turn-by-turn driving directions and retrieve info from the Web by connecting wirelessly to a user’s cell phone, but it has also raised concerns ranging from privacy intrusions to distracted driving.

Smartwatches have a better chance of catching on with the general public than Google Glass, said Ramon Llamas, an analyst with industry research firm IDC. “It’s a really cool idea, but there’s something that creeps people out about it,” Llamas said of Google Glass.

The success of smartwatches will depend on the device’s price, battery life and the appeal of the watches’ designs, he said.

Motorola said it would share more details about its forthcoming Moto 360 smartwatch when it holds a special online press conference on Wednesday.

Google recently announced plans to sell its Motorola business to Chinese PC-maker Lenovo Group Ltd. Juniper Research expects more than 130 million smart wearable devices will ship by 2018.

Moreover, global shipments of wearable “smart glasses” alone will reach 10

Microsoft Corp's shares scaled levels last seen in the dotcom boom following reports that the company plans to unveil an iPad version of its Office software suite, potentially generating billions of dollars in revenue.

Reuters reported late on Monday that new Microsoft Chief Executive Satya Nadella would unveil the iPad app at an event on March 27.

The event will be Nadella's first major public appearance since his appointment last month.

Microsoft shares rose as much as 5% to $39.90 on Tuesday, adding $15bn to the company's market value. At that price, the stock was up about 10% since the announcement of Nadella's appointment on February 4. The shares last touched $40 in July 2000.

Microsoft has had iPad and iPhone versions of Office primed for several months now, sources told Reuters, but the company has dallied on their release due to internal divisions, among other things.

Analysts said the lack of an Office version for the iPad may have robbed Microsoft of billions of dollars in revenue.

"We estimate that if 10% of the iPad install base were to subscribe to Office

then this could add 15 million subscribers and generate $1.1bn to $1.5bn in consumer Office subscription revenue per year," Bernstein Research analyst Mark Moerdler said in a note on Tuesday.

Investors have for years urged Microsoft to adapt Office, its most profitable product, for iPhones and iPads and devices using Google Inc's Android software rather than shackling it to Windows as PC sales decline.

Microsoft's productivity tools remain the industry standard in offices, but America's employees are increasingly using smartphone and tablets to supplement their work.

Tired of waiting for Office to be optimized for their touchscreen devices, a growing contingent of younger companies are turning to cheaper touchfriendly apps that can perform word processing and other tasks in the cloud.

Barclays analyst Raimo Lenschow said the plan to launch the iPad app would signal that Microsoft is moving towards a more serious cross-platform strategy.

Bernstein's Moerdler said he did not believe that the app would have any significant positive or negative impact on Microsoft's Windows franchise as most corporate customers use Windows. l

Xbox One to be lauched in 26 more countries n AFP, Washington Microsoft said Tuesday it would launch its new Xbox One gaming and entertainment console in 26 additional countries by September, ramping up its efforts against rival Sony.

“On the heels of the most successful Xbox launch in history, we continue to be blown away by the support and engagement of our fans,” Microsoft’s Yusuf Mehdi said in a blog post.

“Now it’s time to ensure even more fans around the world can enjoy Xbox One. So today we’re proud to share that it will be available in 26 additional markets in September this year.”

Microsoft’s Xbox One is waging an intense battle with Sony’s PlayStation

4 and Nintendo’s Wii U to be at the heart of digital home entertainment.

But the consoles market has come under pressure to prove their worth as people increasingly turn to smartphones or tablets for games and videos.

Microsoft is hoping that the action game “Titanfall,” exclusive to its platform, will boost sales of the Xbox One. Microsoft last year initially announced the Xbox One would launch in 21 countries, but scaled that back to 13.

Another 18 markets are on the list: Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, India, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. l

DILBERT

South Korean models pose with Samsung Electronics' new interchangeable-lens camera "NX mini" during its launch in Seoul

AFP