26 March 2014

Chaitra 12, 1420 Jamadiul Awal 22, 1435 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 1 No 362

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2014 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

28 pages plus 8-page Treehouse children’s supplement | Price: Tk10

War crimes catch up with Jamaat

Nation ready to set ‘Amar Sonar Bangla’ record n Tribune Report

Probe report on Jamaat’s ’71 role finalised, suggesting ban on the party, its wings, confiscating their assets n Udisa Islam Members of Jamaat-e-Islam’s Majlish-e-Sura in 1971 are likely to be summoned to defend the party’s role during Bangladesh’s Liberation War as the investigation agency of the International Crimes Tribunal recommends banning the “criminal organisation” and all its political wings.

A day before the nation’s 43rd anniversary of Independence, the agency

KEY RECOMMENDATIONS

Ban Jamaat and its wings Ban its mouthpiece daily Sangram Action against its financial institutes Compensation yesterday disclosed its findings on Jamaat’s anti-liberation role, saying it had evidence of the party’s direct involvement with crimes against humanity.

It also suggested banning the religion-based party’s mouthpiece the daily Sangram.

To clarify who to stand in the dock during trial, Chief Coordinator of the probe body Abdul Hannan Khan said: “If they want, the central leaders of the party can defend in the court. Other-

wise, the trial will begin in absentia.”

It would be the second international trial against an organisation for involvement in war crimes. German Nazi Party was tried in Nuremberg, Germany between 1945 and 1949 on charges of crimes against peace and crimes against humanity committed during World War II. Nazi chief Adolf Hitler had committed suicide before the trial began.

Hannan said: “The prosecution may urge the tribunal for confiscating the assets of Jamaat and its political wings that were in operation during the Liberation War including [then students’ body] Islami Chhatra Sangha [now Islami Chhatra Shibir].

“Policymakers, organisers, directors and all leaders and activists from all levels of these accused organisations are responsible for the said crimes.”

Most of the top leaders of Jamaat have already been convicted or indicted for their roles in 1971. One of them, Abdul Quader Molla, has been executed.

Investigation Officer Matiur Rahman disclosed the 373-page probe report before journalists at the agency’s Dhanmondi office in the capital. The agency is likely to submit the report to the prosecution next week. After a scrutiny, the prosecution will submit formal charges to the tribunal.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

Bangladesh will celebrate 43 years of independence today with a fresh vow to uphold the spirit of the Liberation War and materialise the dreams of the valiant freedom fighters and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The celebrations for the 43rd National Day will be highlighted by the

West Indies batsman Marlon Samuels survives from being run out as Bangladesh bowler Ziaur Rahman fails to dislodge the woodwork in the ICC World T20 at the SBNS yesterday MumitM

Windies batter ‘butter finger’ Tigers n Reazur Rahman Rohan It was another horrendous display of batting and fielding from the home side as defending champions West Indies crushed Bangladesh by 73 runs to register their first win in the World Twenty20 Super 10 yesterday.

Apart from the toss nothing really belonged to Mushfiqur Rahim and his team as the Caribbeans were helped by a 97-run opening partnership, between Dwayne Smith and Chris Gayle, and the Tigers’ “butter fingers” to put on a commanding 171 for seven wickets.

Minus the two stunning catches from Tamim Iqbal, Bangladesh exhibited an ordinary fielding effort which not only cost them at least 20 runs, but

also handed the momentum to West Indies half way through the match who otherwise would have looked shaky with something around 140-150 on the scorecard.

Bangladesh needed a crisp start that would lay the platform for a positive result, but a triple blow in six deliveries faded any chance the hosts had in the game. Anamul Haque started off in his usual brisk manner hammering two fours off Samuel Badree from the

mid-off region while Tamim also struck a blistering shot over point to show glimpse of a good start.

However, Badree had Tamim caught in the third over before left-arm pacer Krishmar Santokie baffled Anamul and Shakib al Hasan. Dinesh Ramdin did a fine job standing up as Anamul dragged his feet out after completely making a hash out of Santokie’s slower while the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium was stunned and speechless after Shakib was handed a golden duck on the day after his 27th birthday.

From 16 for three, Mushfiq and Mominul Haque added 35 in their rebuilding process and the flood gates opened once the partnership was broken by  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

Bangladesh celebrates 44th Independence Day today rendering of the national anthem by over three lakh people in an attempt to set a world record.

The cultural affairs ministry and the Armed Forces Division have jointly organised the mass singing of the national anthem, “Amar Sonar Bangla”, at the National Parade Grounds in the capital, according to state-run news agency BSS. The day will be heralded with a 31gun salute at dawn as a mark of respect to the heroic struggle of the nation, which suffered protracted subjugation  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

ATTENTION Wednesday, March 26, is a national and newspaper holiday on the occasion of the Independence Day. However, the Dhaka Tribune will be published on Thursday under special arrangement.

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Govt forms committee on Birangana issue n Nazmus Sakib

DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM IN BANGLADESH

Civil society questions stance of International community n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman Civil society has raised question if the international community has deviated from its position on the democratic system of Bangladesh after the January 5 general election.

“Many have questioned whether there is a deviation between pre- and post-election position of the international community,” distinguished fellow of the Centre for Policy Dialogue Debapriya Bhattacharya said after a meeting with the visiting European Union Parliament delegation yesterday.

“Before the election, it took a hard stand, but many expressed doubt after the election whether it continues to maintain the same position,” he said.

In reply the delegation informed that there was no change in the political position.

Led by Jean Lambert, chairperson of the delegation for relations with South Asia, the delegation undertook a mission to Bangladesh from March 24-25.

About the next election, the CPD fellow said, they discussed when, how and in what process it should be done.

“After the election, the EU on January 9 issued a statement where it mentioned a genuine dialogue and on that basis, it urged all to complete the process of holding an inclusive election,” he said.

Many of the participants gave their general views that dialogue is needed, but there is confusion as to whether both sides are equally interested to hold it.

“They are interested to know the civil society’s perspective on the

post-election situation in Bangladesh,” he said.

The EU on January 9 issued a statement where it mentioned a genuine dialogue and on that basis, it urged all to complete the process of holding an inclusive election They inquired about whether the civil society is under pressure, whether media is enjoying freedom and how the judiciary is functioning, issues of the judiciary and minorities and upazila elections.

Transparency International Bangladesh Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said they wanted to know about the challenges of democratic space.

Jean Lambert said they discussed human rights and current situation with the civil society.

They also discussed what sort of engagement they have with the new parliament and with the government, she said.

The European Union Parliament mission came ahead of the first anniversary of the catastrophic Rana Plaza building collapse.

The delegation met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. l

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the Swadhinata Puraskar awardees pose for a photo session following the award distribution ceremony yesterday PMO

PM urges unity against antiliberation forces n BSS Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday urged the people to reinforce the unity that they had shown against anti-liberation forces during the 10th parliamentary elections and save the nation from disaster.

“Like 1971, the nation resisted the terrorists and anti- liberation forces in the January 5 general elections, paving the ways for the country’s continuous development,” she said while distributing the “Swadhinata Puraskar” yesterday.

The premier said her government was striving to retrieve the spirit of the liberation war by building Bangladesh into a secular, democratic and peaceful country as well as attaining economic prosperity.

She said Bangladesh was ruled by anti- liberation forces and their agents

for a long time. They destroyed the valour, dignity and elation that the nation earned through the 1971 war.

This year nine eminent persons and one renowned organisation received the Swadhinata Puraskar, the highest state award in recognition for their outstanding contribution to different levels of the society.

In the category of “Independence and Liberation War” the award was given to Mohammad Abul Khayer (posthumously), Shahid Munsi Kabir Uddin Ahmed (posthumously), Shahid Qazi Azizul Islam (posthumously), Lt Col Abu Osman Chowdhury (retd), Dr Khrasuzzaman Chowdhury (posthumously), Shahid SBM Mizanur Rahman (posthumously), and Dr Mohammad Haris Ali (posthumously).

M Quamruzzaman was given the award (posthumously) for his contribution to education, while noted artist

Quiyum Chowdhury was awarded in the category of culture.

Meanwhile, the Swadhinata Award was conferred to Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute for its outstanding contribution to research and training.

Sheikh Hasina formally handed over the award to the recipients and their relatives at a function at Osmani Memorial Hall in the capital.

Congratulating the Swadhinata Puraskar recipients, the premier said a new generation would follow the awardees, adding that a nation that became independent through a war and enormous sacrifices, could make the country economically independent and could certainly stand on its own feet.

Cabinet Secretary M Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan read out the citation on the award recipients and conducted the function organised by the Cabinet Division. l

Although the government was yet to respond to rules of the High Court regarding the recognition of Biranganas, the female victims of torture and abuse during the country’s Liberation War in 1971, it has already formed a committee to list them and to award them with a recognition similar to that of freedom fighters.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune yesterday, Deputy Attorney General Mokleshur Rahman also informed it that the finance ministry has already been asked to allocate a fund for the committee.

He said as the issue was time consuming, the government would approach the HC for a time extension for replying to the rules after the ongoing vacation ends on March 31.

“Although responding to the rules was not mandatory, the government should take the Birangana issue seriously,” President of Bangladesh National Woman Lawyers Association (BNWLA) Fawzia Karim Firoze told the Dhaka Tribune.

“The hearing on the rules did not take place on March 13 as Justice Salma Masud Chowdhury was on leave and the vacation began the next day,” she added.

On January 27, the HC bench of Justice Salma Masud Chowdhury and Justice Md Habibul Gani issued a rule asking why the government should not be directed to take steps to recognise Biranganas by preparing a comprehensive list and publishing it through a gazette notification in this regard by, March 26, 2014.

Following a writ petition jointly filed

by BNWLA and an individual, the HC also wanted to know why the government’s inaction in recognising or providing privileges to the victims, as provided to freedom fighters, for more than 42 years should not be considered illegal.

It is estimated that the number of Biranganas range from 2 lakh to 4 lakh. l

Police among 7 sued for journo murder 'Amin Chairman set fire to grab land' BANSHKHALI CARNAGE CASE

n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu

Seven people, including an OC and two SIs, were accused in a petition case filed on charge of having connection with the murder of Shah Alam Mollah alias Shagar, a reporter of weekly magazine Oporadh Domon, this month.

The accused policemen are Uttara West police station OC Rafiqul Islam and its sub-inspectors Md Mamun and Md Harunur Rashid while the rest four

are Riaz Rahman, Sultan Mahmud, MAB Sujan and Marjina Begum.

The journalist’s elder brother Md Khalek Mollah filed the case with the court of Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mostafizur Rahman who fixed April 2 for taking cognizance of the case after scrutinising another case earlier filed by police in the incident.

According to the case statement, Shah Alam Shagar died after falling off

 PAGE 1 COLUMN 5

37.0o WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26

n UNB Rain or thundershowers accompanied by gusty or squally wind is likely to occur at a few places over Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna, Barisal, Chittagong and Sylhet divisions until 6pm today.

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

DHAKA SUN SETS 6:12PM SUN RISES 5:56PM TODAY TOMORROW TEMPERATURE (Nationwide)

18.0ºC Rangamati

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

High

Low

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

32.1 29.8 33.6 31.0 32.5 32.4 31.1 32.0

20.5 21.2 18.6 19.5 20.4 19.2 18.9 22.5

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

4:41am 5:56am 12:05am 4:25pm 6:12pm 7:28pm

Source: IslamicFinder.org

n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong

Two prosecution witnesses in the Banshkhali carnage case yesterday told a Chittagong court that Amin Chairman along with his men set fire to the house of Tejendra Shil at Shilpara in Banshkhali upazila to grab his land property.

Ahsanullah Chowdhury, former chairman of Sadhanpur union under Banshkhali upazila, and Shachindralal Shil, brother of Tejendralal Shil, gave

Windies batter ‘butter finger’ Tigers

WEATHER

33.7ºC Khepupara

the rooftop of the Uttara West police station building on March 4 and SI Harun filed a case accusing four people who are now behind bars.

The statement added that police called on Shagar at the police station to attend arbitration on the day, and his family members spotted several injury marks on his body.

However, Shagar’s wife claimed her husband had been killed in police torture which was denied by the police. l

world’s No 1 T20 bowler Sunil Narine.

Badree who returned to pick off Mushfiq, Sabbir Rahman and Mahmudullah (both for one) to leave the home side reeling at 59 for seven in 11 overs.

The threat of getting bowled out below their lowest T20 total of 78 was overcome by the lower order before the formalities were completed in the last over with Sohag Gazi cleaned up as Santokie’s third victim of the night and

Bangladesh were all out for 98.

Earlier, the bowling combination of Mashrafe bin Mortaza, Al Amin and Gazi did well to restrict the dangerous opening pair to 36 runs in the powerplay but all hell broke loose with manof-the match Smith firing on all cylinders.

Smith opened up and took his last 38 runs from just 13 balls hammering the spinners all over the park. He was eventually caught by Mahmudullah for

73 off just 43 balls while Gayle on the other end played another uncharacteristic innings of a run-a-ball 48.

There was no real contribution for the other Caribbeans as only Marlon Samuels (18) and Darren Sammy (14) reached double figures. Sammy however was dropped twice in two balls at long-off by Mahmudullah in the 19th over before Al Amin bagged three wickets in the penultimate over to put a stop to the leak. l

Nation ready to set ‘Amar Sonar Bangla’ record  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

under foreign rule from time to time until emerging as the independent country of Bangladesh in 1971.

The nation will pay tribute to the martyrs and veterans of the Liberation War on the occasion by laying wreaths at the National Memorial at Savar in the morning.

The president, prime minister, the chiefs of different political parties and the armed forces, foreign diplomats, the families of war martyrs and wounded freedom fighters, along with people from all walks of life will join in the homage.

The national flag will fly atop all government and private buildings, while

streets will be decorated with miniature flags and multi-coloured festoons. Important buildings and roads will also be illuminated with bright lights.

A children’s rally will be held at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in the morning, with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as the chief guest.

The day this year carries a special significance in national life as the younger generation, imbued with the spirit of the Liberation War, has been demanding a ban on anti-liberation forces like Jamaat-e-Islami and prompt execution of the verdicts of the war crimes tribunals.

On the eve of the day, President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh

War crimes catch up with Jamaat  PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

The probe follows a complaint lodged with the tribunal against Jamaat by the investigation agency on August 18 last year.

Asked if any other anti-liberation parties, including the Muslim League, would be tried for their roles during the war, Hannan said they would now focus only on Jamaat.

As per the party’s central decisions Jamaat members took part in atrocities along with the Pakistani army. “So, Jamaat cannot deny superior responsibility of these crimes,” Sanaul Huq, senior investigation officer, said.

The trial is now possible as on February 17 last year parliament amended the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act 1973 paving the way to try organisations for their crimes during the war.

The probe body has brought charges of seven kinds of crimes against Jamaat under section 3 (2) of the ICT Act, except for section 3 (2) (b) which is related to crimes against peace.

The offences are crimes against humanity, genocide and war crimes; violation of humanitarian rules of the Geneva Convention 1950; any other crime under international law; attempt, abetment or conspiracy to commit any such crimes; complicity in or failure to prevent commission of any such crimes.

An organisation can easily be punished for such offences in line with section 20 (2) of the ICT Act. If the allegations are proved, the provision states that the tribunal may give death penalty or any other punishment which may include ban or confiscation of property

Hasina issued separate messages calling upon the nation to uphold the spirit of the Liberation War and fulfill the dreams of the freedom fighters, who embraced martyrdom for the cause of the motherland.

Every year, March 26 brings tragic reminders of the “black night” of March 25, 1971, when thousands of unarmed Bangalees were massacred in Dhaka and other towns in erstwhile East Pakistan, by the Pakistani army.

That black episode led to the declaration of independence on March 26, triggering a bloody war that culminated in victory for Bangladesh nine months later on December 16 with the surrender of the Pakistani forces. l

of an organisation.

The probe body has recommended banning Jamaat and its wings; closing its mouthpiece the daily Sangram; taking action against its financial institutions, and seeking compensation.

Prosecutor Tureen Afroz, who was present at the briefing, said after the trial Jamaat could never be able to function as a political party again with the same ideology.

On August 1 last year, the High Court declared Jamaat’s registration with the Election Commission illegal as its party charter contradicted the country’s constitution and the EC-related laws.

The matter is now pending with the Appellate Division as the party filed an appeal against the judgement.

Investigator Sanaul said: “Our main strength is that we are using Jamaat’s

their depositions before the court of Third Additional District and Sessions Judge Hla Mong, court sources said.

The court was, however, adjourned till April 7.

“After the incident, I came to know that local BNP leader Aminur Rahman Chowdhury alias Amin Chairman and his men torched the house to occupy a pond and land property,” said Ahsanullah.

With the two, a total of five witnesses gave their statements in the case.

Miscreants set fire to the house on November 18, 2003, killing 11 members of the family. Bimal Shil, the lone survivor of the arson attack, filed a case against 3035 unnamed people the following day.

Investigation Officer Hla Ching Pru on January 9, 2011 submitted a supplementary charge sheet against 39 people, including Amin Chairman.

On September 12 the same year, the court framed charges against 38 people, including Amin Chairman. l

Myanmar upset at DT article n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman The Myanmar government expressed its concern over a Dhaka Tribune article on Rohingya and Rakhine states.

The country summoned Bangladesh Ambassador to Myanmar Anup Kumar Chakma and expressed its displeasure at the article.

“They summoned me yesterday and asked me about the article,” Anup told the Dhaka Tribune Tuesday.

The Dhaka Tribune published an article titled “A referendum in Rakhine state?” on March 20 on its Op-ed page where the writer says: “A solution can be sought in a referendum to separate Sittwe and Muangdaw from Rakhine state and join them to Chittagong division.”

“I told them the media in Bangladesh is free and the content of the article reflects individual’s view. It does not reflect the position of the government,” Anup said. The ambassador said the local media and others were very upset over the writing.

The Myanmar newspaper Irrawaddy reported that the Myanmar Journalists Association condemned the article say-

own documents and books and newspaper clippings of its mouthpiece to prove the allegations.”

Investigation officer Matiur submitted 3,761 pages of documents, including books, research papers and magazines. He said they had also included some tribunal verdicts in which Jamaat was termed a “criminal organisation” and directives were given to take action against it.

Sources said the probe body mentioned some 70 persons, including victims, war crimes researchers and historians, as witnesses. The investigators so far took statements of 43 people. Prof Anisuzzaman, Shahriar Kabir, Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddiqui, women rights activist Ayesha Khanam and Maleka Begum are on the witness list. l

ing it “intends to incite religious and racial hatred and conflicts in Myanmar, violates journalistic ethics, interferes in Myanmar’s domestic affairs and infringes on Myanmar’s sovereignty.”

Mya Aye, an 88 Student Generation leader and Muslim, said in a reaction on his Facebook page “the article is just incitement and inflames the current racial and religious conflicts in Burma”.

“I want to tell the writer that we, the Islam in Burma, have never betrayed our country and are not accepting any kind of violence or terror acts and strongly object to any outside interference,” he wrote.

Quoting the President’s Office Director Zaw Htay, The Irrawaddy said the conflict in Rakhine state was still in a sensitive condition and they did not want any public anxiety on the ground because of the article.

In Rakhine state, tensions remain high between Rohingya Muslims and Arakanese Buddhists, after recurrent outbursts of inter-communal violence since 2012 have displaced 140,000 people, mostly Muslims, and left almost 200 dead. l

Accused gives police the slip in Narayanganj

n UNB

A murder case accused, who was in remand, fled from the Fatullah model police station in Narayanganj yesterday.

The fugitive is Sunny, 21, son of Mahsin Mia of Kashipur Khil Market area in Fatullah.

On Friday, police recovered the body of a hosiery trader, Shoyeb, from Kashipur Hossaininagar area. They arrested six people in this connection.

Later, Sunny and Shaheen – two of the arrestees – were put on a two-day remand in the murder case.

Meanwhile, Sunny managed to flee from the police custody at around 7:30am yesteday. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Obaidul: Toll only for new roads, not existing ones n Mohosinul Karim Communication Minister Obaidul Quader has said people would need to pay toll only for the new road networks that would be constructed in the future, but not for using the existing highways or bridges across the country.

The minister made the statement yesterday in his secretariat office to clarify the

The bridges that are less than 200 meters length would remain free from tolls under the policy, but toll collection for one year would be applicable for the newly constructed roads confusion regarding the ratification of the Toll Policy 2014 draft which was approved by the cabinet on Monday.

Obaidul said: “People will pay tolls according to the existing system. The government will not impose any toll for the existing roads and highways or bridges across the country. Decision will be made on imposing fresh tolls for the new road networks that will be constructed in future.”

Earlier, after getting the cabinet’s approval, Cabinet Secretary M Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan had said the policy was formulated to collect toll from passengers of vehicles moving on regional, national and district highways.

The policy – formulated to collect toll ranging from Tk5 to Tk1,000 – would be applicable to road networks under the Roads and Highways Department (RHD), but not to those under the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), the cabinet secretary said, adding that the government, however, would determine which roads the tolls would be collected from.

The communication minister said clarification was needed as wrong reports in different newspapers had created confusion.

“The tolls of separate roads, highways and bridges are being collected following several orders or circulars. The authorities concerned have to face problems in this regard. So, the government has prepared a comprehensive and modern toll policy. It would eliminate all controversies in this regard,” Obaidul said.

The bridges that are less than 200 meters length would remain free from tolls under the policy, but toll collection for one year would be applicable for the newly constructed roads that were built replacing ferry ghats, he added. l

News

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Sandbar cropping method a godsend to farmers n Abu Bakar Siddique People living in river basins in the northern districts of the country could uplift their living standards and get a good harvest through sandbar cropping pattern.

Using the cultivation method, char people can produce different kinds of crops on barren land.

Sandbar cropping is a method in which farmers dig holes in sandy land and fill them with manure, compost and pumpkin seeds.

Around 6,000 people of different areas in the northern districts have witnessed profit of around Tk12.5 core by producing pumpkin in the sandbars from 2009 to 2012, according to sources at the Practical Action, a non-government organisation.

The Practical Action has been working to boost food production in the river basin areas through a project named Sandbar Cropping.

“We have planned to engage most of the rural poor people in such kinds of cultivation by providing them agri-

inputs and technical assistance so that they can meet their livelihood demands,’’ said AZM Nazmul Islam Chowdhury, head of Extreme Poverty Programme of the Practical Action.

Under the project, the extreme poor of Nilphamari, Rangpur, Lalmonirhat and Gaibandha have been using the method in pumpkin cultivation on char land.

Currently, growers of river basin areas are planning to cultivate squash and strawberry on sandy land, he said, adding that by using the method, a grower can harvest pumpkin within five months.

Apart from the Practical Action, many other non-government organisations are working to spread the agrimethod among farmers of some other districts.

If the government formulates a policy to promote such types of cultivation through Department of Agriculture Extension and local government officials on abandoned sand area, the extremely poor people could benefit from the farming system, he added. l

An indigenous woman quenches her thirst from a shallow tube well after working in her wheat field amid scorching heat in Godagari upazila in Rajshahi yesterday

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Mobile court fines doctor for negligence in duty n Our Correspondent, Dinajpur

Optimum, safer use of Development budget likely to be pesticides underscored slashed because of revenue deficit

A mobile court fined a gynaecologist for attending patients at a private clinic in Dinajpur when she was supposed to be in her office as a government employee.

Executive Magistrate Sheikh Mohammad Moniruzzaman Masud fined Tk5000 to Dr Tahera Begum, a medical officer of Birampur Health complex of Dinajpur district for providing service to Modern Private Clinic instead of attending her regular office. The court also fined Tk5000 to Samidul Islam who is the owner of the private clinic.

The court made the fine while it was in operation at the district’s Birampur area around 12pm. The magistrate said, ‘we fined the gynaecologist for being absent from her government office while attending patients at a private clinic. We also charged the same amount of fine to the owner of the private clinic for providing treatment in unhealthy environment,’ he added. l

Experts at a training workshop have underscored the need for optimum and safer use of chemical pesticides in crop fields to save the agro-products from poisonous contamination that causes harms to the public health.

They put special emphasis on educating the farmers and disseminating adequate knowledge among them to reduce use of pesticides to an optimum level in combating pests’ attacks and crop diseases for better production, reports BSS. Bangladesh Crop Protection Association (BCPA) organised the daylong training workshop on `Safer and Optimum use of Pesticides’ for 25 farmers and representatives of five pesticide companies at Sadar Upazila Parishad hall room here on Monday.

Sadar Upazila Agriculture Officer Afzal Hossain attended the workshop, arranged under assistance of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), as the chief guest with central leader of BCPA Debashish Roy in the chair.

Rangpur Regional Sales Manager of BPCA Zakir Hossain and its Member Rafikul Islam Shaja addressed the occasion as the special guests.

Juba Dal leader found dead in Feni n Our Correspondent, Lakshmipur Police recovered the beheaded body of a Juba Dal leader in Rampur area in Lemua union of Feni on Monday evening.

The deceased was identified as Abul Kamal, 30, general secretary of Lemua union Jubo League.

Assistant Sub-Inspector of Bogdadiya police outpost Md Shirajul Islam said being informed police recovered the body and sent it to Feni Sadar Hospital morgue.

Lemua union Juba Dal General Secretary Shakil Ahmed Chowdhury said: “Abul Kamal was an accused in Chhatra Dal President Jomir murder case. He has been absconding for a longtime.”

He said Abul recently got bail from the High Court in the case and came back the area. l

Affidavit

Father and mother’s name of PREETILATA BURMAN, my daughter has inaccurately printed in her Admit Card, Registration Card and Academic Transcript of JSC Exam. - 2011 and SSC Exam. - 2014 as Father’s Name: PRAMHARI BURMAN and Mother’s Name: PRAMHARI BURMAN which are corrected through Affidavit Regd.

No. 10, date 25-03-2014 from the Court of Honourable First Class Magistrate, Dhaka, Bangladesh and the Office of Notary Public, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Henceforth her Father and Mother’s Name to be read/written/ printed as PRAMHORI BURMAN and MANOSHE BURMAN respectively in all her present and future documents/Certificates.

Pramhori Burman

n Tribune Report

Representatives of different pesticide producing companies conducted different sessions of the daylong the workshop as the resource persons using multimedia projector.

The resource persons also demonstrated the process of wearing shoes, gloves and masks while spraying pesticides and promoting biological pest management systems to reduce dependence on chemical pesticides.

The experts said the farmers should have adequate knowledge on pesticide use and its handling as half of the farmers in Bangladesh still use more pesticides than the optimum to protect their crops, which is a threat to the public health.

They said indiscriminate use of chemical pesticides creates severe threat to public health and stressed for optimum use of pesticides in the fields to combat pests’ attacks and crop diseases for greater national interests.

The chief guest stressed for controlling the pesticide markets and providing necessary knowledge among the farmers for combating pests’ attacks and crop diseases ensuring safer and optimum use of the poisonous chemical pesticides to avoid health hazards. l

Five arrested in upazila parishad chairman Fanu murder case n Our Correspondent, Natore Rapid Action Battalion arrested five persons yesterday from Goalkandi area under Baghmara upazila of the district for their alleged involvement in killing union parishad chairman Fazle Rahman Fanu.

The arrested were identified as Mohammad Ibrahim, 54,Mohammad Haider Rashid Dipon, 31, Md Shah Alam Bepari, 22, Mohammad Shamsul, 47, who hails from Kalinagar area of Shingraupazila in Natore and Mohammad Abdul Karim, 36, of Nasia Kanda

of the upazila. On a tip-off, a team of the elite force conducted a sudden raid in the area and arrested them at Aaambagan of Goalkandhi under Baghmara upazila, said Khaleda Begum, operation officer of Rab. The team also recovered three foreign arms, one magazine, one knife and eight bullets from their possession.

Fazle Rahman Fanu, 60, executive committee member of the upazila unit of AL and chairman of Kalom union parishad, was stabbed to death by a gang in Shaoil area of Singra upazila in the district on January 18. l

UP chairman among 12 sued over VGD misappropriation n Our Correspondent, Barguna At least 12 persons, including a UP chairman were sent to jail by a court in Barguna district yesterday following a case of misappropriated VGD-rice.

The convicts were identified as Chairman Azizul Huq, Secretary Anawarul Islam, Rani Begum, Jahanara Begum, Bari Azad Swapan, Enamul Huq, Abu Hena Mustafa Zamal Milton, Ali Hossain Darji, Harunor Rashid, Afzal Hossain, Wazed Ali Khan, Obaidul Huq, members of Dhalua union parishad of Barguna Sadar upazila.

Nazrul Islam, judge of the district special court, passed the order.

According to sources, the accused UP men distributed 22/23kg rice under VGD programme for per distressed woman in the union where the government allotted 30 kg.

One of the stakeholder lodged a case in this connection with the court on August 28, 2012 against the accused.

The court asked Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the allegation . Ahsan Ali, deputy director of ACC, submitted final report on December 18, 2012 ,accusing them.

The accused filed Naraji (no-confidence) against the final report of the ACC. l

n Mohammad Zakaria The government might reduce the development budget to Tk54 thousand crore from the planned Tk65 thousand crore for the 2014-15 fiscal year, because of the deficit of tax and revenue in the ongoing fiscal, LGRD Secretary Manjur Hossain has said.

He made the comment yesterday at an advocacy seminar on allocating budget for local development and good governance, organised by the Municipal Association of Bangladesh (MAB) at the capital’s Cirdap auditorium.

“The development budget may reduce in this fiscal because of deficit of taxes and revenues. The government will fix the national urbanisation policy within a month or two,” Manjur said.

There was no chance of increasing budgetary allocation for municipalities for the next fiscal, because preparation for the budget had already started from January, he added.

In a keynote prepared by the MAB, the organisation urged the government to increase budget allocation for mu-

nicipalities to develop rural area and ensure proper service to people.

There was no chance of increasing budgetary allocation for municipalities for the next fiscal, because preparation for the budget had already started from January, he added The secretary emphasised the need for devolution of local government to reduce the pressures of the central government.

Speaking at the programme, mayors and councillors of different municipalities demanded 40% allocation from the development budget and implementation of the local government budget or district budget.

Local government specialist Tofael Ahmed said the allocated budget for municipality was used more by the local government ministry than by the municipalities.

Emphasising the need of separate budgets for national and local governments, Tofael criticised the municipal mayors and councillors for not taking action to decentralise the local government, as most of them were getting facilities from a party.

Secretary of Shushashoner Janney Nagorik (SHUJON) Badiul Alam Mujumder said the local government must be decentralised for the development of the rural areas. The problems of the rural areas must be solved locally, as it required more time when the central government attempted to solve any local issue, he added.

The keynote paper of the MAB also claimed that budget allocations did not reach the 319 municipalities of the country.

Among others, MAB President Abdul Baten and Secretary General Shamim Al Raji spoke on the occasion. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Long Form

7

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

The Doctor’s visit Stability, development and the way forward for Bangladesh

L

n Ifti Rashid

ast week, Bangladesh hosted an eminent doctor. Dr Mahathir Mohammad (also known as “Dr M”), former prime minister (PM) of Malaysia, visited Bangladesh on a private trip as the convocation speaker of a private university. During his trip, the visiting dignitary also attended a press conference and attended a dinner hosted by the Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina in his honour.

It would be no exaggeration to state that Dr M is something of a legend in Bangladesh. He is widely respected internationally as a visionary leader and a successful statesman who made Malaysia stand tall in the global arena, both figuratively and literally if you consider the Petronas Twin Towers – once the tallest building in the world – in Kuala Lumpur.

As the longest-serving PM of Malaysia (and the region), Dr M spearheaded an overriding development agenda that transformed his country from an agrarian to industrial and knowledge-based economy in less than two decades. He was a doctor who not only treated his patients but diagnosed and prescribed the “medicine” of development for the healthier future of his country too.

Lauding development successes This was Dr M’s second trip to Bangladesh since retiring as prime minister in 2003. In his courtesy call on PM Hasina this time, Dr M highly praised significant development achievements by Bangladesh in recent years.

“Bangladesh’s success in different fields, particularly in developing its infrastructure, is remarkable,” he was quoted as saying. In response, PM Hasina reiterated her commitment to both urban and rural development.

It is not surprising that Dr M lauded Bangladesh’s progress. Our new wave of growth and development is visible to any visitor to the country. On his way from the airport, Dr M must have seen the expansive network of flyovers that has changed the look of the city in the last five years. It is likely he took the picturesque Hatirjheel boulevard en route to the convocation and dinner that has not only beautified the city but also halved the transportation time downtown.

These are just few of the many development projects undertaken by the Awami League (AL) government, including an elevated express highway and metro rail system in the capital.

The new Bangladesh Dr M was visiting Bangladesh at a time when the country is hosting the ICC T20 World Cup, in fact just on the heels of the Asia Cup Cricket 2014 last month. Bangladesh also joined the international search efforts for the missing MH 370 flight offering its naval and air assets in the crisis situation, a sign of the country playing a role as a leading and responsible member of the international community.

These are all indications of a Bangladesh coming of age – a trajectory of growth, progress and development the country has not witnessed before.

Bangladesh received record foreign direct investment of $1.78bn in the last calendar year. The rural economy has been revitalised through innovative projects like the “one house, one farm” scheme. The poverty rate has declined from 37% to 26% in the last five years, while the government aims to reduce it to 13% by 2019.

As someone who has grown up in Kuala Lumpur, I can tell you today’s Bangladesh – the economic boom, infrastructure growth and rural development, amongst other successes – has a strong resemblance to the late 80s/early 90s Malaysia, the initial years of the country taking off in its journey forward. This is a new Bangladesh marching ahead.

Lessons from Malaysia: Stability for development Bangladesh has a lot to learn from Malaysia. Malaysia was able to achieve its extraordinary growth because of the visionary, progressive and strong-minded leadership of Dr M that did not compromise with the development priorities of his country. He gave utmost importance to stability for business and investor confidence, while taking a resolute stance against violence undermining law and order in the pretext of political activism.

This does not mean there was no room for democracy in Dr M’s Malay-

sia. To the contrary, the country had an active and vocal opposition. There was also vibrant internal competition within political parties. To be fair, Dr M was not Suharto. He considered himself as the “Chief Executive Officer” of “Malaysia, Inc” and put his nation first. He respected democracy, but opposed violence and destructive politics in its name impeding stability and development.

Dr M’s democracy: ‘Improve the life of people, not to subject them to mob rule’ Dr M has consistently made a distinction between the rights of the majority for development vs. the rights of the minority for violence. He laid out his philosophy of democracy in simple terms in a letter to a foreign leader written in 2001 that has been published recently: “I cannot accept that anarchy due to democracy must be acceptable and preferable to law and order, as well stability and food on the table. Democracy is supposed to improve the life of people, not to subject them to mob rule.”

In a public statement last year, Dr M emphasised on the need for responsibility in democracy: “Democracy works only when the people understand the limitations of democracy. When people think only of the freedoms of democracy and know nothing of the implied responsibilities, democracy will not bring the goodness that it promises. Instead it will result only instability and instability will not permit development to take place and people to enjoy the benefits of freedom and the right that democracy promises.”

The Bangladesh context Dr M’s foresight on stability and development is particularly relevant in the context of the widespread violence Bangladesh faced in the lead up to the January 2014 general election. Though political confrontation is nothing new to the country, this time the violence took the form of terrorism with random but premeditated bomb explosions, derailment of railway tracks and arson attacks by the opposition killing political rivals, security forces and general population alike. Last year alone, 504 people were killed and 22,507 people injured due to political violence and clashes.

It is only predictable that Dr M in his press conference would emphasise on the need for political and social stability to sustain our development successes. He pointed out emphatically how destructive street politics is neither beneficial to development nor democracy, instead calling upon political parties to wait for the election if they want to change the government.

Dr M has time and again lamented how political infighting has characterised democracy in many Muslim-majority countries and hindered development.

The new wave of growth is visible to any visitor Article 38 (ii) draws the line between political activism and “terrorist acts or militant activities against the State or the citizens.”

There is nothing stopping the opposition from a movement, but it cannot be tantamount to violence and terrorism. We do not want to see more people being killed and injured from bombs, clashes and arson that characterised the perversion of democracy last year. The country cannot afford colossal economic losses of Tk1.6bn ($200 million) or 0.2% of GDP daily because of the hartals (strikes) and barricades called by the opposition. Quite simply, the rights, aspirations and interests of the majority of the nation for peace, stability and development can no longer be compromised in the name of political protest.

Get Tough: Zero tolerance for ‘anarchy’ Unfortunately, our experience last year does not justify much confidence in a peaceful movement by the opposition. As we face the spectre of violence and terrorism yet once again, the onus is on the government to take an unmistakably tough policy against those impeding stability and development if there is a repetition of the past.

The government must adopt a zero tolerance policy against any attempts to undermine peace and stability in the country. In this respect, the

‘When people think only of the freedoms of democracy and know nothing of the implied responsibilities, democracy will not bring the goodness that it promises’ Rights vs protests It is highly unlikely that our political parties will pay heed to Dr M’s advice to wait for their turn until the next election. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led opposition coalition has already threatened another “strong agitation” in the next few months to overthrow the Awami League (AL)-led government and hold a new election under a caretaker administration.

The political climate has been further aggravated by anti-liberation forces who want to take advantage of the schism between the AL and BNP to thwart the War Crimes Trial.

The opposition has every right to call for protests and demonstrations in a democracy. This right is enshrined in Article 37, 38 and 39 of the Bangladesh Constitution assuring freedom of expression, association and assembly.

Having said that, let us not forget Article 31, 32, 36 and 42 in the same supreme body of law explicitly guarantees the right of freedom of movement and protection of life, property and personal liberty of all citizens. In fact,

government should rigorously enforce the Anti-Terrorism Act (2009) and Public Security Act (2000) to bring the perpetrators of violence to book.

The pre-meditated nature of political violence we have faced in the recent past aimed at creating fear amongst a wider segment of population leaves no doubt that it is indeed terrorism.

The government must allow democratic room and space for political activities by the opposition, but this requires both sides to act in a responsible and matured manner. We need to distinguish between healthy political activism as opposed to destructive “anarchy,” to use Dr M’s language, for democracy and development in the greater interest of the nation.

There is no doubt that the BNP is still the main opposition party despite its lack of representation in the parliament. The BNP has an important role to ensure political stability, but it remains to be seen whether the main opposition party can shun violence and rise to the occasion.

However, this may require the BNP to reconsider its coalition of convenience with anti-liberation and

radical religious forces, including the Jamaat-e-Islami and political parties linked to Hefazat-e-Islam.

In this respect, it is worth mentioning that Dr M took a decisive stance against religious extremists at the same time as championing the cause of Muslim-majority countries. There is a lot to learn from Malaysia’s experience in bringing the madrassa network under the regulatory framework, for instance.

In the meantime, the AL must keep the doors open for negotiations with the opposition for a fully-participatory general election in 2019 while maintaining the momentum in the development path over the next five years.

SYED LATIF HOSSAIN

Though we appreciate the support of our development partners and multilateral agencies, there is no reason for Bangladesh to follow their prescriptions and dictates blindly or accept a patron-client relationship

A section of the international community and civil society has been calling for a “fresh” general election ahead of 2019, failing to realise how this will serve no purpose but plunge the country into another cycle of violence, instability and retribution undermining development.

We must not forget that the disagreement over the election-time administration is not the problem itself but symptom of a much larger problem pertaining to our political culture and dysfunctional relationship between the two political parties.

There is no reason to believe our political and governance challenge would be magically resolved by holding another election immediately.

Though well-intentioned, such calls undermine political stability further and would benefit the country better by instead focusing on dialogue to build political consensus on major issues, including a mutually acceptable model of an all-party interim government as a permanent solution to administering the general election to avoid a political deadlock every five years. Similar consensus on other major issues would help the country much more than holding a premature general election and recreating a déjà vu situation.

Plan 2030.

Like Malaysia’s Vision 2020, the time has now come for the government to articulate Vision 2021 and Perspective 2041 cohesively as the overarching national program to develop the country. The public agencies, private sector, civil society and most importantly citizens irrespective of political affiliation must be inspired and motivated to calibrate all national activities in line with the targets of 2021 and 2041. It must capture the imagination of our nation and all national policies must be in sync with the branded national program of 2021-2041.

This will help not only harmonize public-private efforts but also enthuse the young generation to participate in nation-building activities to achieve our collective goals with development as the principal national agenda unifying the country. For this purpose, the government must take the first step to reach out to all political parties for their constructive contribution in implementing the development plan.

If the opposition declines the overture for political expediency, it will be at their own peril exposing their short-sightedness to the nation. Most importantly, the message must be clear to all political parties that their participation in the program is their prerogative but their activism cannot take the form of violence and terrorism, undermining the aspirations of the majority of the people for stability and development.

Marching ahead

Standing tall

If our political parties want us to believe their raison d’aitre is the welfare of citizens, development should be their first priority irrespective of who is in power. Dr M conceptualised Vision 2020 (“Wawasan 2020”) in 1990 as the overarching national strategy for Malaysia to become a developed country by 2021. Likewise, PM Hasina has declared Vision 2021 and Perspective 2041 outlining her government’s strategies and policies to make Bangladesh a middle-income and developed country by 2021 and 2041 respectively.

Dr M explained his rationale for Vision 2020: “There has to be longterm vision and planning: a goal to move towards to give people a sense of direction.” In the case of Bangladesh, it is to the government’s credit that they have formulated a number of forward-looking policies in the last five years, including Digital Bangladesh and the Power & Energy Sector Master

Another lesson from Dr M’s leadership is that Malaysia under his leadership did not kowtow to developed countries. Dr M engaged actively with the international community on economic and security cooperation, in fact embraced many of the liberalisation policies beneficial for Malaysia but at the same time rejected the imposition of “one-size-fits-all” formulae of developed countries and multilateral institutions that did not serve the interest of Malaysia.

In the aftermath of the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997, Dr M rejected the prescriptions offered by international organisations and was vindicated when Malaysia came out stronger than other countries with its own home grown solutions to the meltdown.

Malaysia maintained close ties with the United States, United Kingdom and other developed countries but on the basis of mutual respect.

Fresh election?

At present, the foreign aid contribution to GDP is less than 2% in Bangladesh. Though we appreciate the support of our development partners and multilateral agencies, there is no reason for Bangladesh to follow their prescriptions and dictates blindly or accept a patron-client relationship.

We have to find our own homegrown solutions best suited to our political, social and economic challenges.

As Bangladesh moves forward in its development path, we need strong relationships with the international community but on equal terms as a sovereign country.

In respect to foreign policy, Dr M was a maverick who believed in the courage of his convictions and innovative policies that would benefit his country and region. He pioneered the forward-looking Look East, SouthSouth and Prosper Thy Neighbour policies that can be adopted by Bangladesh.

Way forward In his press conference, Dr M mentioned that winning two-third majority in successive general elections and a supportive bureaucracy put him in a strong position to implement development policies. PM Hasina is in a similar position enjoying a twothirds majority and confidence of the bureaucracy.

This leads to a million dollar question: whether PM Hasina can be our Dr M and perhaps even more? Only time will say. She will need to be bold to push the development agenda, crack down on those impeding stability and undertake farsighted policies to reform our political and economic system. Like Dr M, PM Hasina will need to make Bangladeshis think big to achieve our development goals.

The government will have to deliver because at the end of the day its fate will depend on its performance.

“There is a need to accept that the system is not meant for us to win, its meant for the nation to win,” Dr M reminded us in Dhaka. I say let us put the nation first and give PM Hasina a chance to take the country forward over the next five years.

Godspeed, Vision 2021 and Perspective 4041! l Ifti Rashid is a political and security analyst, currently a PhD Candidate in the National Centre for South Asian Studies, Monash University. He is a columnist of the Dhaka Tribune.

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Egypt puts Muslim Brotherhood leader, 682 others on trial n Reuters, Minya The leader of Egypt’s outlawed Muslim Brotherhood and 682 others went on trial yesterday on charges including murder, their lawyer said, a day after more than 500 supporters of deposed Islamist president Mohamed Mursi were sentenced to death.

Brotherhood Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie, 70, and the others were being tried in the same court in Minya Province that condemned 529 members of the Islamist group to death, in what rights groups said was the biggest mass death sentence handed out in Egypt’s modern history.

Protests erupted after yesterday’s trial began, with police firing teargas to deter hundreds of demonstrators.

Justice Ministry official Abdel Atheem al-Ashari defended the death sentences, saying in a statement in response to the ruling that the separation between the state and the judiciary is one of the main principles of any democratic system.

There are no signs that Western powers will back their dismay with action to push for greater democracy in Egypt, which is of strategic importance because of its peace treaty with Israel and contains the Suez Canal, a global shipping lane.

Egypt has cracked down hard on the Brotherhood since army chief Field Marshal Abdel Fattah al-Sisi toppled Mursi, Egypt’s first freely elected president, in July, and installed a government.

In August, security forces killed hun-

dreds of Brotherhood supporters who staged a long sit-in to demand Mursi’s reinstatement. Thousands of others were arrested and top leaders, including Mursi himself, are also on trial.

Meanwhile, defence lawyers boycotted yesterday’s court session - attended by 60 of the defendants - after complaining of irregularities. Reporters were barred from the courtroom.

“We refrained from attending ... because the judge has violated criminal law procedures and did not allow the (lawyers) to present their defence,” Adel Ali, a member of the defence team, told Reuters.

Seventy-seven of the defendants were in custody while the rest had been released on bail or were on the run, he said. The verdicts are due on April 28. l

Egyptian relatives of death-row members of Muslim Brotherhoood cry sitting outside the courthouse in Minya

AFP

Rescuers scour Washington mudslide rubble, up to 176 still missing n Reuters, Arlington Rescue workers sifted through mucky rubble yesterday amid dwindling hopes of finding any more survivors from among scores of people still missing from a devastating weekend mudslide in Washington state that killed at least 14.

About a dozen workers searched overnight for as many as 176 people who have been reported missing since a rain-soaked hillside collapsed on Saturday morning, swallowing dozens of homes near Oso, Snohomish County Executive John Lovick said.

Compounding their sense of urgency was a fear of flooding as water levels rose behind a crude dam of mud and rubble that had been dumped into the North Forkof the Stillaguamish River by the slide in an area along State Route 530, about 55 miles (90 km) northeast of Seattle, in the Pacific Northwest state.

Authorities said they were hoping the number of people listed as missing would decline as they had perhaps been double-counted or had been slow to alert family and officials about their whereabouts. The rescuers had failed to locate any more peo-

ple in the rubble early yesterday.

John Pennington, Snohomish County’s director of emergency management, said that after three days, the operation is shifting from a rescue operation to a recovery mission.

Rescue workers searched overnight for as many as 176 people who have been reported missing since the mudslide on Saturday morning “I never lose faith and a lot of the people in this community will never lose faith, but there’s a realism element that’s entered in,” he told NBC’s “Today” show yesterday.

“We have responded as well as we can, and we will continue to do that, but ... we are turning that very delicate corner in the recovery operation,” Pen-

nington said.

Meanwhile, President Barack Obama, who was in Europe on Monday for a meeting with world leaders, signed an emergency declaration ordering US government assistance to supplement state and local relief efforts, the White House said.

More than 100 properties were hit by the mudslide. Eight people were injured.

A 22-week-old baby injured in the slide remained in critical condition at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle after being taken there by helicopter along with his mother who also was hurt, the hospital said early yesterday.

A report filed to the US Army Corps of Engineers in 1999 highlighting “the potential for a large catastrophic failure” was one of many warnings issued about the area where the disaster occurred, the Seattle Times newspaper reported.

The rescue effort after Saturday›s mudslide has been fraught with treacherous conditions and stalled efforts.

Quicksand-like conditions forced rescue workers to suspend their efforts at dusk on Sunday. Some workers, mired in mud up to their armpits, had to be dragged to safety. l

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

UN: Mass death sentences breach global rights law n AFP, Geneva

Stop bulk phone records collection: Obama proposal

Egypt’s mass sentencing to death of 529 alleged supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi is a breach of international human rights law, the United Nations said yesterday.

“The astounding number of people sentenced to death in this case is unprecedented in recent history. The mass imposition of the death penalty after a trial that was rife with procedural irregularities is in breach of international human rights law,” said Rupert Coville, spokesman for the UN high commissioner for human rights.

The sentences were handed down on Monday after a trial that lasted just two days, sparking an international outcry and sending a chill through opponents of Egypt’s military-installed regime, which has placed more than 2,000 alleged Islamists on mass trials since the army overthrew Morsi in July.

“A death sentence may only be imposed after proceedings that meet the highest level of respect for fair trial and due process standards. A mass trial of 529 people conducted over just two days cannot possibly have met even the most basic requirements for a fair trial,” Coville told reporters. “The exact charges against each defendant are unclear as they were not read out in court.”

Lawyers said they had insufficient access to the defendants and that the court did not consider relevant evidence presented by the defence, he said.

Sources at the trial spotlighted other procedural irregularities including the judge’s failure to call on each defendant by name or verify their legal representation, and not bringing some 50 of the defendants to court even though they were in custody. The defendants were convicted of various charges, including membership of an unlawful organisation, Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood movement, incitement to violence, vandalism, and the killing of one police officer. l

President Barack Obama plans to ask Congress to end the bulk collection and storage of phone records by the National Security Agency but allow the government to access the “metadata” when needed, a senior administration official said.

If Congress approves, the Obama administration would stop collecting the information, known as metadata, which listsms of phone calls made in the United States. The practice triggered a national debate over privacy rights when the extent of the surveillance program was exposed last year by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.

Instead, the government would have to get permission from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to review data about the time and duration of telephone calls that it believes may be connected to terror attacks, according to the New York Times, which first reported the plan.

Obama, who on Monday met with world leaders in The Hague, has been grappling with a backlash to US government surveillance programs since classified details about the extent of data-gathering were first leaked by Snowden.

Snowden is currently in Russia under temporary asylum.

Obama has defended use of the data to protect Americans from attacks. His plan seeks to hold on to “as many capabilities of the program as possible” while ending the government’s role in controlling the database, the official said on background.

“The president considered those options and in the coming days, after concluding ongoing consultations with Congress, including the Intelligence and Judiciary committees, will put forward a sound approach to ensuring the government no longer collects or holds this data,” the official said in a statement.

Ukraine sacks defence minister over Crimea n AFP, Kiev

Russia says G8 snub counterproductive

Ukraine’s parliament sacked the crisis-hit country’s besieged defence minister yesterday after his forces began a humiliating withdrawal from Crimea without firing a shot against Russian forces who claimed the Black Sea peninsula.

Crimea’s effective loss – though recognised by no Western power – has dealt a heavy psychological blow to many Ukrainians who have already spent the past years mired in corruption and economic malaise.

Ukraine’s ground commanders in Crimea had complained bitterly of indecision and confusion among the top brass in Kiev since Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision on March 1 to seek the right to use force against his neighbour in response to last month’s fall in Kiev of a pro-Kremlin regime.

Some 228 deputies in the 450-seat Verkhovna Rada parliament supported Igor Tenyukh’s dismissal after the acting defence minister tendered his resignation in an emotional address broadcast live across the nation of 46m people. l

n Reuters, Washington

n AFP, The Hague Russia said yesterday its suspension from the G8 was counterproductive as Ukraine pulled more troops out of Crimea, effectively acknowledging defeat following Moscow’s annexation of the Black Sea peninsula.

“When it comes to contacts with the G8 countries, we are ready for them, we have an interest in them,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the ITAR-TASS news agency.

“But the unwillingness of other countries to continue dialogue – we consider it counterproductive, both for us and for our partners themselves,” President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman said.

Russian troops and Kremlin-backed militias have seized control of almost all Ukrainian bases and ships in Crimea in a push ordered by Putin on March 1 in response to the fall in Kiev of a pro-Kremlin regime.

The crisis has sparked the most explosive East-West confrontation since the Cold War era and sparked fears among the fledgling pro-European leaders in Kiev that Putin now intends

Arab summit strives to Health expert warns funerals stave off ‘enormous’ peril spread Ebola in Guinea n Reuters, Kuwait

Warning of “enormous” dangers, Kuwait urged Arab leaders yesterday to resolve a lengthening list of disputes complicating crises such as Syria’s war and political strife in the biggest Arab state, Egypt.

The annual summit of the 22-member Arab League also heard an appeal from the UN peace mediator for Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, for an end the flow of arms to the combatants in the war, which has killed over 140,000 people and forcedms to flee.

Brahimi did not name the suppliers, but Saudi Arabia and Qatar are believed to be the main Arab funders of military assistance to rebels in Syria, while non-Arab Iran is the main regional power backing President Bashar al-Assad.

“The whole region is in danger,” of being dragged into the conflict, Brahimi said, calling for renewed efforts to find a political settlement to the crisis, now in its fourth year.

Kuwait’s emir, Sheikh Sabah alAhmed al-Sabah, urged Arab states to

solve rifts he said were blocking joint Arab action.

“The dangers around us are enormous and we will not move towards joint Arab action without our unity and without casting aside our difference,” Sheikh Sabah, the summit host, said.

He named no country. But he was apparently referring to worsening disputes among Arab states over the political role of Islamists in the region, and over what many Gulf states see as interference in their affairs by Shi’ite Muslim Iran, locked in a struggle for regional influence with Sunni power Saudi Arabia.

The summit follows an unusual row within the Gulf Cooperation Council alliance of Gulf Arab states over Qatari support for Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood, and a spat between Iraq and Saudi Arabia over violence in Iraq’s Anbar province.

Gulf states tend to keep their disputes private, making a move by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain this month to recall their ambassadors from Qatar highly sensitive. l

n AFP, Brussels French NGO Doctors without Borders (MSF) said it was doing everything it could to help stem a deadly Ebola virus outbreak in Guinea, but traditions were hampering the response.

MSF’s emergency coordinator, Marie-Christine Ferir, said in an interview late Monday her organisation was using a three-tiered approach to “halt as quickly as possible” west Africa’s first-ever haemorrhagic fever outbreak, which has already claimed 61 lives.

However, Ferir warned the spread of the disease to neighbouring Liberia was linked to local traditions in which people travel great distances to attend a funeral and mourners touch the deceased person’s body.

“It requires special precautions to be taken, while respecting local customs,” Ferir told AFP, adding that the Ebola cases in Liberia were a result of mourners with cross-border family ties attending funerals in Guinea before returning home with the virus.

MSF has sent 35 of its health workers to Gueckedou, in the country’s heavily forested south, close to the centre of the outbreak,

with the aim of treating those affected, identifying possible new cases and providing information to limit the spread of the disease.

“The priority is to identify people who have been in contact with confirmed or suspected cases, so that we can follow them and isolate them if they present symptoms,” Ferir said. “People must accept to go to our special units (when sick), because if someone suspected of carrying the disease remains in a community, that person can continue to infect others.”

To date, no treatment or vaccine is available for the Ebola pathogen, which kills between 25 and 90 percent of those who fall sick, depending on the strain of the virus,

according to the World Health Organisation.

Transmission of Ebola to humans can come from wild animals, or from direct contact from another human’s blood, faeces or sweat, or by sexual contact and the unprotected handling of contaminated corpses.

The MSF has established a treatment centre in Gueckedou to help rehydrate those who have contracted the disease, while also helping them manage the pain and the high fevers brought about by Ebola.

Ferir says MSF is also making psychologists available to affected communities, in an attempt to “demystify” the illness and prevent both patients and those treating them to be stigmatised by local communities. l

The Obama administration will renew the NSA’s telephone metadata program until Congress passes new authorizing legislation, the official said.

The New York Times said the administration will propose that telephone companies keep the data. But companies will not be required to hold on to the data any longer than they normally do, the Times said.

The administration had considered requiring the companies to hold on to data for longer than 18 months. The administration rejected that idea after concluding newer data is most important for investigations, the Times said.

The US government began collecting metadata shortly after the September 11, 2001, attacks on the US. A surveillance court had allowed the data collection based on a legal provision Two top lawmakers on the House of Representatives’ intelligence panel were slated yesterday to unveil a bipartisan measure on metadata use.

The bill, sponsored by Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Dutch Ruppersberger, would require the government to “serve a directive” on telecommunication companies for data, the Washington Post reported, citing congressional aides.

The US government began collecting metadata shortly after the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. A surveillance court allowed the data collection based on a legal provision known as Section 215 of the Patriot Act. l

to push his troops into the heavily Russified regions of southeast Ukraine.

Western leaders sought to ward off any such threat by forging a more forceful response in The Hague after two rounds of only targeted sanctions that hit only specific officials but left Russia’s broader economy untouched.

A summit of the Group of Seven most industrialised countries agreed on Monday to deepen Moscow’s isolation over the crisis and meet on their own – without Russia – in Brussels instead of gathering in Sochi in June.

The G7 leaders also issued a joint statement meant to demonstrate the scale of Russia’s diplomatic isolation at the height the worst East-West standoff since the Cold War. But Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov – who met with both his US and Ukrainian counterparts in The Hague – immediately shrugged off the decision as no “great tragedy.”

“If our Western partners think that this format (the G8) has outlived itself, then so be it,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters. l

35 nations sign up to tougher nuclear security standards n AFP, The Hague Thirty-five countries yesterday committed to bolstering nuclear security, backing a global drive spearheaded by US President Barack Obama to prevent dangerous materials falling into the hands of terrorists.

In a joint statement issued on the sidelines of the third biennial Nuclear Security Summit (NSS), the countries pledged to work closer together and submit to “peer reviews periodically” of their sensitive nuclear security regimes.

The nations – including Israel, Kazakhstan, Morocco and Turkey but not Russia – vowed to “realise or exceed” the standards set out in a series of guidelines laid down by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to safeguard nuclear materials.

These are the “closest things we have to international standards for nuclear security,” US Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz told reporters as he presented the pledge.

Obama has made improving nuclear safety one of the figurehead foreign policies of his presidency. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Afghan spy agency blames Pakistan for Kabul hotel attack n AFP, Kabul The Afghan spy agency on Tuesday accused its Pakistani intelligence counterparts of involvement in planning an attack on a Kabul hotel that killed nine people including an AFP journalist.

Four teenage gunmen with concealed pistols carried out a raid on the luxury Serena hotel on Thursday, just weeks before Afghanistan votes for a successor to President Hamid Karzai.

The Taliban claimed responsibility but the Afghan authorities have pointed the finger across the border to Pakistan, saying on Sunday the attack was planned “outside the country.”

Pakistan was the main supporter of the former Taliban regime in Afghanistan, and Afghan officials have long voiced suspicions about connections between the hardline movement and Islamabad’s powerful intelligence services.

Veiled accusations of Pakistani com-

A number of foreigners ‘related to intelligence services’ were seen in the Serena taking suspicious pictures ahead of the attack plicity in terror attacks in Afghanistan are common, but on Tuesday the National Directorate of Security (NDS) intelligence agency spelled out the accusation in unusually detailed terms.

The NDS said a number of foreigners “related to intelligence services” were seen in the Serena taking suspicious pictures ahead of Thursday’s attack.

“NDS investigations and findings after the tragic incident reveal that

Pakistani intelligence services were involved in planning this heinous attack,” the agency said in a statement.

Pakistani foreign ministry spokeswoman Tasneem Aslam on Monday rejected the earlier Afghan claim of involvement, calling it “highly disturbing.”

Seven senior employees of Shield Security, the company charged with guarding the Serena, have been detained over the incident, the Afghan interior ministry said.

The victims of Thursday’s attack included AFP journalist Sardar Ahmad, his wife and two of their three children, along with another Afghan and four foreigners – two Canadians, an American and a Paraguayan Ahmad’s youngest son Abuzar, who was hit in the head with a bullet fragment in the attack, remained in hospital on Tuesday but doctors said his condition was showing signs of improvement. l

Two police killed in Taliban attack on Kabul election office n AFP, Kabul Taliban militants staged a gun and suicide attack on an Afghan election commission office in Kabul yesterday, killing two police officers, with less than a fortnight to go before the presidential poll.

The insurgents have vowed a campaign of violence to disrupt the ballot on April 5, urging their fighters to attack polling staff, voters and security forces in the runup to election day.

Afghan security forces battled attackers at an office of the Independent Election Commission (IEC) in the western Darulaman area of the Afghan capital for more than four hours.

“At around 11:35 am (0705 GMT) a suicide bomber blew himself up at the gate of an IEC regional office in Darulaman, and then several other attackers entered the building,” Kabul police

spokesman Hashmat Estanakzai said.

Two police officers were killed in the fighting along with five attackers who entered the IEC building, interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said to TOLO television news.

Witness Ahmad Sharif, a government employee, said he heard two loud explosions followed by gunfire.

The attack was close to the home of Ashraf Ghani, who is seen as a frontrunner in the race to succeed President Hamid Karzai.

A member of Ghani’s campaign team said the former World Bank economist was out of Kabul at the time, campaigning in the eastern province of Paktia, and Ghani said on Twitter that his family, who were in the house, were safe.

Staff at the IEC office were able to reach special safety rooms, spokesman Noor Mohammad Noor said.

Rising violence

The Taliban, who have led the insurgency against Karzai’s government and its foreign backers since 2001, claimed the attack in a statement on their website.

On Thursday four Taliban gunmen stormed Kabul’s Serena hotel and shot dead nine civilians including Agence France-Presse journalist Sardar Ahmad, his wife and two of his three children.

The Serena attack came on the same day that seven Taliban suicide attackers invaded a police station in the eastern city of Jalalabad, killing 10 policemen.

And last Tuesday, a suicide bomber killed 16 people at a crowded market in the northern province of Faryab.

Previous Afghan elections have been badly marred by violence as the Islamist militants displayed their opposition to the US-backed polls. l

Pakistan, Taliban to discuss ceasefire extension n AFP, Islamabad Extending a Taliban ceasefire will be the top priority in the next round of talks between the militants and the Pakistani government, a negotiator said Tuesday.

The government opened negotiations with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) last month in a bid to end their bloody seven-year insurgency.

Meetings so far have been conducted between go-betweens for the two sides, but they are now due to progress to “direct” talks in the coming days.

The government last week formed a new four-member committee for the direct contact, and a venue has been agreed – though not disclosed publicly.

Sayed Yusuf Shah, a negotiator for Taliban, told AFP yesterday that next phase of talks would be held between the government committee and members of the Taliban political council.

“The top priority is to extend the ceasefire because things cannot move further until there exists a peaceful atmosphere,” he said.

A one-month ceasefire announced by the TTP to help the talks proceed is due to expire next week.

The Taliban have asked the government to release from jail 300 people, including women, children and men they say are non-combatants, as part of an ongoing peace process.

The fact that negotiations have so far been conducted through intermediaries has led some observers to question their effectiveness.

The peace talks were a key campaign pledge for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif before he was elected to office for a third time last year.

But analysts are sceptical about their chances for success, given the Taliban’s demands for nationwide sharia law and a withdrawal of troops from the lawless tribal zones.

Many regional deals between the military and the Taliban have failed in the past.

Moreover, attacks claimed by splinter factions have continued during talks and despite the Taliban ceasefire. l

Missing plane mystery ‘may never be solved’

Students hold candles during a vigil for the lost passengers in China

n AFP, Kuala Lumpur Even if searchers are able to miraculously pluck Malaysia Airlines flight 370›s “black box” from the depths of the vast Indian Ocean, experts say it may not solve one of aviation›s greatest mysteries.

Planes, ships and state-of-the-art tracking equipment are hunting for any trace of the passenger jet, which Malaysia said crashed in the forbidding waters after veering far from its intended course.

They face a huge challenge locating the Boeing 777’s “black box,” which holds vital clues to determining what caused the plane to vanish after it took off from Kuala Lumpur en route to Beijing on March 8.

But experts believe the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder may not yield answers on the riddle of how and why the plane diverted an hour into the flight, and embarked on a baffling journey to the southern reaches of the Indian Ocean.

The data recorder details the aircraft’s path and other mechanical information for the flight’s duration, and “should provide a wealth of information,” US-based aviation consultancy firm Leeham Co said in a commentary. But the cockpit voice recorder – which could reveal what decisions were made by those at the helm and why – retains only the last two hours of conversations before the plane’s demise.

Thai protesters pin hopes on Senate elections n Reuters, Bangkok

A Thai soldier (L) takes pictures as anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban (C lower) waves to supporters during a march in downtown Bangkok. Anti-government protesters yesterday resumed daily marches through Bangkok to build up support after a general election held last month was declared invalid in a ruling from the Constitutional Court on March 21 AFP

After eggs, ink thrown at Kejriwal in Varanasi n Agencies, Varanasi India’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal arrived in Varanasi yesterday to a hostile reception from apparent supporters of BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, who threw eggs and black ink at him.

Eggs were thrown at Kejriwal’s car outside the Kashi Vishwanath temple, with the protesters steadily raising anti-Kejriwal slogans and asking him to leave the Hindu holy city.

The supporters also threw black ink at the AAP chief during his roadshow in Varanasi.

Calling him a “traitor,” hundreds of slogan-shouting people blocked his cavalcade while raising slogans of “Modi, Modi.”

Security personnel had a tough time controlling the mob. The demonstrators said they wanted only Gu-

jarat chief minister Narendra Modi to contest the Lok Sabha election from Varanasi.

Kejriwal, in his reaction to the hostility shown to him, vowed to defeat Modi. “Let’s see what the people of Varanasi say; as of now, we are preparing to ask them and seek their approval for the contest,” he said.

“I don’t see Banaras as a losing battle. I will defeat Modi in the Lok Sabha election,” the former Delhi chief minister told a television channel.

“We want India to be corruption-free.

We hope that we have the blessings of God to do what needs to be done.”

The AAP leader, who shocked Congress by unseating it from power in Delhi after 17 years, has said he is willing to contest against Modi from Varanasi, but would file papers only after seeking opinion from the people of the region. l

Anti-government protesters marched in Bangkok yesterday to drum up support for a rally at the weekend, just before Thailand holds elections for the Senate, which will play a central role in their aim of removing Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

The demonstrators led by Suthep Thaugsuban disrupted a general election for the lower house in February, which was annulled by the Constitutional Court on Friday, but they have no problem with Sunday’s vote for the upper house.

“We will not block Sunday’s Senate election, because we need to reform the executive and legislative branches and the Senate is key to our reform plans,” Wittaya Kaewparadai, a protest leader, told Reuters.

Thailand has been in crisis since former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, Yingluck’s brother, was ousted in a 2006 coup. The conflict broadly pits the Bangkok-based middle class and royalist establishment against the mostly poorer, rural supporters of

the Shinawatras.

The turmoil entered a fresh phase in November, when anti-government protesters first took to the streets, with 23 people killed during the political violence over the following months.

Sunday’s vote is to elect 77 senators for the 150-seat Senate. The rest are appointed, and a government attempt to make it a fully elected body was one of the sparks that set off the latest unrest in November.

The non-elected Senators are picked by judges and senior officials from agencies such as the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), members of an establishment whom government supporters see as viscerally anti-Thaksin. The protesters appear confident that Sunday’s vote will deliver a Senate majority likely to impeach Yingluck after an investigation under way by the NACC. Yingluck has until the end of the month to answer a charge of dereliction of duty over a ruinous rice-buying scheme that has run up huge losses and left hundreds of thousands of farmers unpaid. l

WHO: Air pollution killed 7m in 2012 n Reuters, London

Air pollution killed about 7m people in 2012, making it the world’s single biggest environmental health risk, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said yesterday.

The toll, a doubling of previous estimates, means one in eight of all global deaths in 2012 was linked to polluted air and shows how reducing pollution inside and outside of people›s homes could savems of lives in future, the United Nations health agency said.

Air pollution deaths are most commonly from heart disease, strokes or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is also linked to deaths from lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.

“The evidence signals the need for concerted action to clean up the air we all breathe,” said Maria Neira, head of the WHO’s environmental and social public health department.

“The risks from air pollution are now far greater than previously thought or

9

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

understood, particularly for heart disease and strokes,” she said.

Poor and middle-income countries in southeast Asia and the Western Pacific region had the largest air pollution-related burden in 2012, with 3.3m deathslinked to indoor air pollution and 2.6m deaths to outdoor air pollution.

Indoor pollution is mostly caused by cooking over coal, wood and biomass stoves. The WHO estimates that around 2.9bn people worldwide live in homes using wood, coal or dung as their primary cooking fuel.

Flavia Bustreo, a WHO family health expert, said women and children - especially those living in poor countries - often bear the brunt of the risks from indoor pollution “since they spend more time at home breathing in smoke and soot from leaky coal and wood cooking stoves.”

Outdoors, air is mainly polluted by transport, power generation, industrial and agricultural emissions and residential heating and cooking.

Research suggests outdoor air pollution exposure levels have risen significantly in some parts of the world, particularly in countries with large populations going through rapid industrialisation, such as China and India.

The WHO’s cancer research agency IARC published a report last year warning that the air we breathe is laced with cancer-causing substances and should be officially classified as carcinogenic to humans.

Carlos Dora, a WHO public health expert, called on governments and health agencies to act on the evidence and devise policies to reduce air pollution, which in turn would improve health and reduce humans› impact on climate change “Excessive air pollution is often a by-product of unsustainable policies in sectors such as transport, energy, waste management and industry,” he said.

“In most cases, healthier strategies will also be more economical in the long term due to healthcare cost savings as well as climate gains.” l

AFP

That means potentially crucial exchanges surrounding the initial diversion, which took place halfway between Malaysia and Vietnam, will be lost.

“Clearly, it won’t reveal anything that happened over the Gulf of Thailand – this will have been overwritten by the end of MH370,” it said.

Leeham added that it also remains to be seen whether the cockpit recorder will contain anything pertinent about the plane’s final two hours, when it is believed to have either ditched or run out of fuel.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said Monday that Flight MH370 had gone down in the Indian Ocean with its 239 passengers and crew, citing new satellite data analysis.

But its exact location and the circumstances of its diversion remain a mystery.

No distress signal was ever received.

Three scenarios have gained particular traction: hijacking, pilot sabotage, or a sudden mid-air crisis that incapacitated flight crew and left the plane to fly on auto-pilot for several hours until it ran out of fuel.

Malaysia has said it believes the plane was deliberately diverted by someone on board.

But with the travelling public and aviation industry hanging on every twist in the drama, no firm evidence has emerged from a Malaysian investigation to support any of the theories circulating. l

Malaysia’s jet crash announcement draws criticism n AFP, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia drew criticism at home and abroad yesterday for announcing that a missing passenger jet with 239 people aboard had been lost at sea, even before any wreckage was found.

The country’s flag carrier also received ire for informing some relatives of the plane’s loss by text message, although it insisted this had been a “last resort.”

A sombre Prime Minister Najib Razak said Monday that Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, which vanished more than two weeks ago, had “ended in the southern Indian Ocean.”

He cited fresh analysis of satellite tracking data and said the information was being shared “out of a commitment to openness and respect for the families.”

Malaysian authorities have come in for repeated criticism for perceived secretiveness and contradictory information since the plane fell off air traffic control screens on March 8 on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. Najib’s announcement drew further criticism.

Scores of Chinese relatives marched on Malaysia’s embassy in Beijing yesterday, shouting slogans including “The Malaysian government are murderers.”

And China’s government demanded authorities in Kuala Lumpur hand over the new satellite data.

Malaysia Airlines insisted that it was doing best to handle relatives with care and dignity, and had tried to spread Najib’s message with tact before the prime minister spoke.

“Wherever humanly possible, we did so in person with the families or by telephone, using SMS only as an additional means of ensuring fully that the nearly 1,000 family members heard the news from us and not from the media,” said airline chief executive officer Ahmad Jauhari Yahya.

The carrier added that it had deployed more than 700 “dedicated caregivers” to support the next-of-kin, who have been given hotel accommodation as well as initial financial assistance of $5,000 per passenger with more on the way.

“Our sole motivation last night... was that the families heard the tragic news before the world did,” Ahmad Jauhari said at a news conference, which featured pointed questioning from Chinese journalists.

“There are no words which can ease that pain.” l

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Letters to

www.dhakatribune.com

A day to remember

A

s the country recalls the decisive day in 1971 when the nation decisively moved towards freedom, 300,000 people will gather today at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar to attempt a world record for the most number of people singing a national anthem together.

It will be a fitting collective act of unity for Bangladesh’s 43rd Independence Day. By far the greatest part of our population was born after 1971. It is an inspiring tribute to the generation that fought for independence that so many younger people will be singing in celebration of the land and freedom for which they gave so much inspiration and sacrifice.

The words of Amar Sonar Bangla are gentle and heartfelt in their love of the land and provide tremendous inspiration which transcends the generations.

We wish the participants well in their world record attempt. Their patriotic spirit is a reminder of the importance of Independence Day. Although the nation has moved forward in many ways and Bangladesh’s people have achieved many accomplishments in the years since independence, we must always remember those men and women who led the country to freedom and sacrificed so much for independence.

We owe it to them to work towards building a better, fairer and more prosperous Bangladesh which exceeds the dreams of those who struggled in 1971. A land which does not just stand tall as an independent country, but which can be proud of the opportunities and future it provides for its people.

It is inspiring tribute to the generation that fought for independence that so many younger people will be singing in celebration today

Future economy needs better cities

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vidence is mounting that the economy would benefit from better managed urbanisation and use of technology.

At a seminar on poverty reduction organised by Brac, speakers from the UN and the London School of Economics International Growth Centre, assessed that the country’s potential for growth is not being fully realised due to poorly managed cities and an over reliance on low cost labour.

Pointing to experience from other countries such as China, which have benefited from investment in urban infrastructure, experts agreed that the most effective way to combat poverty is to enable better employment opportunities by investing in improving the productivity and skills of the workforce.

The growth of cities in Bangladesh must be managed more effectively.

This requires better local governance as well as investment in physical infrastructure. Politicians, officials and tax systems need to become more accountable to the people they serve, to maximise the incentive for city authorities to provide services and bid for new productive investment.

Technology based industrialisation likewise is a prerequisite for the sustainable and rapid economic growth which the economy needs. With limited land area, the country needs efficient industrialisation and urbanisation to maximise economic output, while keeping an optimum amount of agricultural land intact.

Better opportunities need to be created to effectively unleash market forces to create better jobs for people presently trapped in low productivity occupations and workplaces.

Policy makers must show more vision to attract investment and make the best use of urbanisation to raise the country’s standard of living.

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

the Editor

LETTER OF THE DAY

Our politics today March 23

Our political scenario is subjective and, more often than not, lawlessness is simply let loose, with the looting, assault, burning, injuring and even killing of innocent ordinary people who happen to be nearby.

When hartals are enforced, none dare risk their lives and properties to lawless hooligans (so-called political activists)! Rather, we are at the whims and mercy of our politicians, while principled politicians become rare and simply non-existent!

Today our politics is fashioned by these so-called activists who are paid to enforce their cruel will as and when desired. The brand of democracy we practice is shameful and anti-people, to say the least! This is the reality of how “politics” functions here. So it seems, for honest people, “martial law” is better!

Fed-up Bangladeshi

The holiday of colours A passage to Pakistan March 19 Samiur Rahman As the author states: “As a Bengali, I can never stop insisting that Pakistan as a state needs to apologise for the genocide of ’71. But I also don’t want my sense of peace to be in the hands of another person, let alone a deeply troubled state.”

For the author, the visit served as a quest in finding peace for himself and in his heart; however, as he mentions he hasn’t stopped to insist wrong is wrong, and the genocide and atrocities committed by the Pakistani Army were outright wrong for which they should apologise.

Similarly, the author also states: “Some events are so great that you simply cannot move forward without an acceptable resolution.”

Say, for instance, this article were only published in Bangla, wouldn’t that limit the author’s audience? This article has the ability to reach out to a much broader audience around the world, including Pakistanis across the board – Pakistanis working in the military, government, and/or everyday Pakistani civilians who may appreciate the author’s point of view that many Bangladeshis still vividly recollect atrocities of 1971, and the Government of Pakistan (GOP) needs to apologise, and Bangladeshis will not overlook 1971.

FR Samiur Rahman: I got the same feeling about the author thinking in Bangla while writing in English.

It is fair to say that since he thinks in Bangla then he should write in Bangla. Otherwise, it reads like a translation. This is the problem with non English writers. They cannot really write well in English. It is also possible that the author studied in the Bangla medium while he was in school. No matter how much English education one gets later in life, one simply cannot lose the Banglaism (made up this word). It comes across in their writings that they are products of Bangla medium.

khan Interesting article.

There are always bad people, but some Pakistanis still can’t digest the narrative that millions of mothers and sisters were raped, and believe that three million deaths is also much exaggerated and this narrative was developed to justify the destruction of Pakistan.

Ronnie An interesting, evocative read. But I reckon the author would have enjoyed his trip to Pakistan a lot more had he not carried with him so much (albeit understandable) emotional baggage. I’m near the author’s age (I was born in late ‘74), and have been to a handful of Pakistani cities before. Lahore is probably my favourite.

It’s a beautiful country in myriad different ways, and I have had several Pakistani friends and acquaintances over the years. Still, and funnily enough, I think I love the country’s varied, alluring landscape, its severe winters, the fabulous food, and some of the outstanding music quite a bit more than the people themselves. If I could read Urdu, I reckon I’d have much to enjoy in their literature, too. Luckily, I have rarely felt any subliminal anxiety, anger or resentment in my interactions with Pakistanis. Clearly, we never let our nations’ shared grievous history get in the way and mar our present, personal relationships. I have occasionally had heart-felt, insightful discussions with some Pakistanis about our liberation war, and events prior and subsequent to ‘71. There was little rancour involved. It was more of a private acknowledgement (on their part) of the gratuitous sins of the past, and the need to foster a more empathetic, equitable relationship between the current generation of Bangladeshis and Pakistanis. The political elites in both countries have to mend many fences separating them, as well.

March 21 Bangladeshis face many difficult and painful situations daily, yet it makes me happy that that they continue to smile and laugh through their pain, and thereby survive.

Nazia Zaman

26m Bangladeshis deprived of ‘improved’ water March 22

We haven’t even settled the issue of clean water, don’t even care much about clear water, if at all, but we are spending a lot of money to promote our nation’s development?!

Arifur Rahman

War criminal Sayedee’s son wins in Zianagar March 24

If the people knew Sayedee was a war criminal, then why did they elect his son? Doesn’t sit right with me.

Hossain Sazzad

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CALVIN AND HOBBES

Policy makers must show more vision to attract investment

PEANUTS

CROSSWORD

SUDOKU ACROSS 1 Deeply engrossed (4) 5 Cicatrix (4) 10 Deep mud (4) 11 Kimono sash (3) 12 Pancake (5) 13 Horseplay (3) 14 Showy deed (5) 16 Sober (6) 18 One versed in law (6) 21 Advantage (5) 23 Mineral spring (3) 24 Make into a decree (5) 26 Doctrine (3) 27 Refuse of grain (4) 28 Require (4) 29 Hurried (4)

DOWN 2 Correct (5) 3 Fruit seed (3) 4 Table support (7) 6 Cereal (4) 7 Lessens (6) 8 Equip (3) 9 Performs (4) 15 Seesaws (7) 17 Slip by (6) 19 Silly (5) 20 Makes lace (4) 22 Identical (4) 23 Do wrong (3)

25 40 winks (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

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

A meaningful independence n Mohammad Ali Sattar

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Hope on display

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SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

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The age of self-determination

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n Ikhtisad Ahmed

eing childless and prone to debauchery and fast cars on broken streets are signs of a mid-life crisis, as are being directionless and clueless.

Celebrations on the day of birth can be even more raucous at such times. The eve of a birthday, however, allows time for reflection and quiet contemplation.

There is no end of problems in a country turning 43. Much of it is covered in every media outlet and at every dinner table on a daily basis for 363 days a year, 364 on each leap year.

Even International Language Day, the Bengali New Year, and the two Eids are not spared a few sneering, judgmental words, mostly lamenting the erosion of tradition.

Independence Day and Victory Day are the only exceptions, the biannual conventions of positive words painting scenic landscapes of a utopian future once the immense dormant potential of Bangladesh is fulfilled.

Finally. The observations have not changed much over the years, mirroring the lack of deviation in the news – corruption, crime, perverse politics, an eternal blame game, hypocrisy – from one average day to another. Golden Bengal, eternal hope, dreams of the forefathers, development statistics, and more will be paraded today.

For one day, all ills will be forgotten. It will sound like Bangladesh is the best country in the world. The belief with which the resilient people can truthfully say that is fading fast.

This loss of faith needs to be arrested.

Bangladesh is not the best country in the world, but it can be. It needs to succeed.

It is a nation that was birthed by a sacred tenet of international law that is regularly under threat. The right to self-determination was exercised successfully, although, in keeping with the trend to reject it, much of the world sought to deny it. The naysayers, for geopolitical reasons that always outweigh humanity, justice, and human rights, included the US during the Liberation War, and China for many years after.

and the Naga people, and the ongoing problems in Pakistan, including Baluchistan and Kashmir, show how this venerable and vulnerable doctrine is as relevant as ever.

The three countries Bangladesh is most often compared to or made to aspire to by its educated class – the USA, India, and Pakistan – had disparate journeys in their first 43 years.

The US, already in existence for nearly two centuries and a superpower by the time Bangladesh came into being, added 11 states to the original 13, enumerated freedoms by ratifying the Bill of Rights, and strengthened its sys-

Bangladesh is able to hold its head high as an independent country because of the will of its people

The former, the defenders of human rights and present-day imperialists, can never decide where it stands on the issue, despite mostly refusing it outside of Cold War politics, while the latter has allowed pleas from Tibet and Taiwan to fall on deaf ears.

The situation in Ukraine aside, Scotland’s upcoming referendum on independence, the loud dissenting Basque and Catalan voices, the state of Puerto Rico, the Falkland Islands and Quebec, the plight of the Kurds

tem of governance by passing twelve distinct constitutional amendments.

A democratic India implemented a functioning bicameral parliament, conducted its first nuclear test, and moved steadily towards becoming a superpower despite taking part in multiple wars, having a head of government assassinated and instituting dynastic politics.

Pakistan fared worse, affected by the same plights. There were only two general elections that saw the

formation of democratically elected governments and three different versions of the constitution, with states of emergency, declarations of martial law, and military dictators being the accepted political system.

The self-determination that led to the independence of those three countries, however, was the variety that was practised in the twilight of imperialism, when empires were forced to grant colonies their independence. The postcolonial broadening of the definition, with the principle being established as an undeniable right of “all peoples” to determine their own political, economic, social, and cultural statuses, has seen it extended to cases of a state oppressing its people, discriminating against them, and violating their human rights.

The precedent, asserted by Bangladesh, became that independence was legally possible under such circumstances. The sanctity of people’s rights, thus, demands that this country succeeds.

Above all else, Bangladesh is able to hold its head high as an independent country because of the will of its people. The introspection reveals that its success, and the championing of the fundamental right that saw it born, remain wholly reliant on the determination of its people – the entire population, not merely the self-appointed handful that seek to control it. l Ikhtisad Ahmed is a writer and an erstwhile lawyer. He can be contacted on Twitter via @ Ikhtisad.

ur liberation war was fought on high spirits. It was not just the language that mattered, it was more than that. People dreamed of a country and a society that was absent in their lives during the days of colonialism.

The dreams were of a selfregulating culture, freedom of speech and thought, economic emancipation, and wide-scale social development leading to an altruistic uplift of all classes – a thriving nation with the bounties that God had bestowed on this green land of ours.

It was not only about freeing the land from the grips of occupiers, or drawing up borders with neighbours.

It was a wish for a tranquil and flourishing social system, where people of all caste and creed would live in peace and harmony, sharing the wealth of the nation, to each according to his need.

We have a constitution, the parliament, the local government bodies, and other semi or autonomous institutes of the country.

We should take solace in the fact that we were able to build these to make good governance an established practice of the state. We made this machinery available to set up a pattern for an idyllic realm. It took us time to construct these schools for a democracy, but we did manage to have the structures built.

We have a legislature in a lavish edifice, we have a constitution that guides us on the path to democracy, and we hold regular polls. We boast of the local government system, the judiciary, the executive branch, and state organs to have a modern system running.

We also developed strong law enforcement agencies, our armed forces, brave border guards, and a conscious civil society.

In no time, we witnessed a magnificent growth in art and culture, our literature has blossomed like the buds in the spring, our young minds have impressed the world with their innovative brilliance.

Our religious minds also flourished.

We have seen amazing growth of mosques and other places of veneration – people turning to God for peace and progress of the country.

Commerce grew against all odds.

Although we lack in industrialisation, we still compete with global players in many sectors and manage to survive.

Our economy has received a great boost through their contribution.

The agriculture scene paints a tranquil picture as well. We have been witnessing bumper crops almost every year. Although farmers, in all cases, do not get the right share of their return, we do have surplus produce coming in because of the hard work of our toiling masses in the fields.

We have reached good heights in sport. Our cricketers carry our flags all over the world. Our boys win accolades. Although we need further shots in other sporting arenas, we still have the capability, but fall back only due to other bottlenecks, which can be

overcome.

Therefore we do not stand on a barren land. We stand straight among the fertile land of hope and achievement.

In spite of our progress, we have at times been pulled back to square one

Having said all that, we do have times of despair, pain, and frustration. In spite of our progress, made through rough waters, we have at times been either pulled back to square one, or our journey forward is made troublesome by our own people.

Only one area that did not expand or mature is the politics of the country.

We are, painfully, watching our political leaders deliberately hanging on to the principles of hatred and envy.

Political parties, instead of sponsoring peaceful means and upholding democratic practices, keep resorting to intolerance and vengeance. The growth of extremism in national and front organisations has made the political scene one of horror and awe. Both pro and antireligion schools have emerged as strong factors, inviting more precariousness.

For reasons unknown, leaders put up prejudices to such an extent that the atmosphere gets vitiated, which then gradually spreads throughout the vicinity.

In course of time, we have become victims of senseless violence and mindless bloodletting. With the slow growth of the economy and the hard work of common people, there grew the dangerous culture of intolerance and retribution.

We have gone through many phases of our constitutional and political history. We have had a testing time for democracy. We have witnessed how culprits can be brought to book, and again how the culture of impunity has flourished.

Corruption has reached such heights that it has pushed us to our lowest. It has crept inside our marrows.

Only the politicians are the ones who will have to bear the responsibility of the current situation. Either they will have to come clean and offer something that we can trust, or they will have to exit and make room for the next generation of politicians.

Our independence can be meaningful if, for once, we shun the politics of conspiracies, revenge, oppression, and greed.

We were able to bear the brunt for the last 40 years, we are ready to wait for another decade, but that has to change. And change it will. For we have no choice. l Mohammad Ali Sattar is a journalist and DT columnist.

Justice for all n Pauline Tamesis

B

angladesh has made great strides in development terms in the last decade. Falling child mortality and population growth rates combined with steady economic growth and the spread of micro-credit all point to steady progress.

particularly disadvantaged by the failings of the justice sector. Violence against women (VAW) here remains a persistent human rights issue, with research suggesting that between 40% and 76% of married women experience violence by their husband during their lifetime.

However, in spite of this alarming

The task of justice reform is enormous for any country, but it is achievable if there is a focus on specific goals

But while this is impressive, it has not been matched by improvements in the justice sector, which remains plagued by capacity and procedural issues. This matters because not only is access to justice a fundamental human right, the provision of affordable, accessible justice can help underpin political stability and economic growth.

Women in Bangladesh are

statistic, many VAW cases either go unreported or do not make it to court.

This is because women’s access to justice is hindered by numerous obstacles, with women facing discriminatory laws and a lack of gender sensitivity in the implementation of law enforcement.

They may also face practical difficulties in seeking legal redress such as a lack of family support, including

pressure to deal with problems within the home, or logistical barriers, such as geographical isolation from courts and financial barriers.

The passing of the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act in 2010 was a positive step, but the reality is that in spite of the existence of various legal provisions, many women who are subject to violence are still effectively unable to access a remedy.

The UN and other donors are supporting the government of Bangladesh with a range of interventions to improve justice delivery, as well as wider activity to empower women to overcome gender inequality. Examples of this are projects to increase gender sensitisation in police training and increase the recruitment of female police officers, to activate village courts to dispense quick, affordable justice and to bolster Legal Aid service provision.

Other work is being done to address the backlog of cases in the justice system and to encourage better co-ordination, co-operation, and communication between justice sector institutions. But the truth is that more needs to be done to reform the justice sector and make it more accessible

for the most vulnerable in society including women.

To this end, a conference was held on March 15 and 16 to examine the justice sector’s handling of VAW cases. It was attended by the honorable justice minister, the honorable chief justice, and a wide range of senior justice sector professionals.

The conference produced a raft of recommendations for improving the administration of justice and women’s access to it. These included producing better guidelines for frontline professionals dealing with VAW cases, establishing victim support cells in courts, introducing time limits for cases, and providing better protection for witnesses.

Many participants felt that greater awareness of VAW issues among the public was needed with national awareness campaigns, including at educational institutions, being proposed.

The conference provided a valuable forum for airing ideas and it is now incumbent on those who attended, and those they represent, to work in a consensual manner to take forward the recommendations. In particular, there may be low-cost and no-cost steps that can be taken immediately, which can have a quick and real impact.

The task of justice reform is enormous for any country, but it is achievable if there is a focus on specific goals. One of the most important for Bangladesh is to improve access to justice for its women. l Pauline Tamesis is Country Director, UNDP Bangladesh.

BIGSTOCK

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Bappa Mazumder sings in love of motherland

Prachyanat along with few more cultural activists in a parade titled Laljatra alternatively called Red Procession which marched from Chhobir Haat to the glass tower of the Independence Monument via Shikha Anirban in the capital yesterday. With acting, art performances and music, they remembered the horrific massacre by the Pakistani army on proliberation Bangalees on the black night of March 25 in 1971

n Afrose Jahan Chaity Celebrated musician Bappa Mazumder is all set with his new composition of a patriotic song Bangalir Joy written by Syed Shamsul Haque. It is the theme song of the programme titled Lakho Konthe Shonar Bangla.

Lakho Konthe Shonar Bangla is arranged for celebrating the country’s 44th Independence Day on March 26. The main aim of the programme is to set a new Guinness World Record where 3 lakh people will stand together to sing the National anthem at the Parade Ground.

Bappa Mazumder also composed Robi's theme song for ICC T20 World Cup. Recently Dhaka Tribune caught up with the musician in an interview:

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

You have composed Robi's theme song for ICC T20 World Cup and two patriotic songs. What is your take on patriotism?

In the song, I have worked with the spirit of patriotism and the song also relates to cricket. I want my listeners to be able to sing the song after listening to it. I have also worked on a new version of the timeless golden

Shuchona to be staged today n Shadma Malik

song of Dwijendralal Ray – Dhono Dhanne Pushpe Bhora – that has been prepared for airing on the occasion of the upcoming Independence Day. I must say that remaking the song in a new way is praiseworthy. All the singers sang this song with the spirit of patriotism. I have also composed a special patriotic song written by prolific writer Syed Shamsul Haque with lyrics: Bangalir Joy/Joy Banglar Dhonitey Ekattor/Shonitey Lekha Jonoker Naam Bangabandhu Mujibur, Joy Joy Bangla/Joy Joy Joy. While composing this song, I felt the power of people’s song.

During the work on these three songs, I felt the spirit of patriotism working within myself. I understood the duty towards my country and my feelings of patriotism.

To mark the Independence Day, a stage production Shuchona is organised by Stage One Dhaka that will showcase at 7pm today at the Natmondol auditorium, University of Dhaka.

Written by eminent actor Abul Hayat, the play is directed by Rahmat Ali, an eminent actor and a respected professor of the Natyokala Department of Dhaka University.

The design and choreography have been devised by Dominic Gnomes and the costumes are designed

by Wahida Mallick. Shucchona features Mita Chowdhury, Wahida Mallick, Chitralekha Guho and Naznin Hassan Chumki.

The play was first brought to the capital in March last year. Shucchona is the story of four middle aged friends from a small provincial town who went to the same school and college. Prior to the war, they went their separate ways. They are brought together for the first time since the war by one of the four

protagonists Sheuly for a casual party at her villa in the country. As the play unfolds, inconsequential objects and events act as triggers for each of the women to reminisce about their youth and their lives during and after the Liberation War. The play portrays the women sharing their experiences and moments of the war. In the end, when Sheuly talks about her experience, she states that there is a reason why she has invited all her friends. She reveals that she was brutally raped and tortured by the Pakistani Army and the Razakars. Sheuly also said that instead of receiving compassion, she was banished from home by her parents. She goes on to share that eventually she found shelter with a man who is a noted politician nowadays. She said that she was deceived into believing that he was a freedom fighter but she has discovered that in actuality he is a Razakar. Driven by hatred of Razakars, she decides to kill him. l

A scene from the play Juddhopuran which will be staged at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy today

BSA brings special programmes today n Entertainment Desk Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy has organsied a two-day programme marking the Independence Day which began on Tuesday evening at the National Theatre Hall of the academy.

Arakyan Natya Dal staged its Liberation War based play Target Platoon, directed by Mamunur Rashid, on Tuesday evening. Today’s programme organised by BSA will include poem recitation by Akramullah and Jharna Sarkar, and chorus presentation of patriotic songs by the artistes of Dhaka Sangskritik Dal. Besides, noted singer Shakila Zaf-

Independence Day specials on TV Shohid Mosammad Kulsum Begum

Shohid Mosammad Kulsum Begum will be aired on GTV at 8:40pm. Directed by Komol Chakma, the drama features Shoshi, Rawnak Hassan, Sazzad Reza, Jhuna Chowdhury and many others. The drama is based on a true story which revolves around a freedom fighter named Kulsum Begum who sacrifices her love for the freedom of the country. The man she was in love with eventually joins the traitors group. Kulsum’s father gets killed during the war and she then gets involved in helping the other freedom fighters.

How did you manage to complete the tasks back to back?

It was a huge pressure on me. I even suffered from high blood pressure while I was working on these songs. The love and dedication I feel for my country inspired me to keep going and finally I am done.

What is your reaction?

I am so excited. I am feeling so privileged and honoured. I am really very glad for the opportunity to compose music on the lyrics of Syed Shamsul Haque. This is one of my greatest achievements.

Chhoy Number Shakhi

Tell us about your recent projects?

Right now I am busy with these songs. I am giving final touch to them.

After this month, I will start working on my new album. l

Ontoraal

Drama Ontoraal will be aired tonight at 10pm on Channel 9. Written by Rumman Rashid and directed by Nuzhaat Alvi Ahmed, the drama features Raisul Islam Asad, Bindu and Shojol. The story opens with a man named Opu who musters up an image of a girl named Mukti. The story takes off in different layers revolving around the girl and at one point Opu becomes insane. He asks his father about Mukti and Opu’s father ends up confessing that he had raped Mukti during the Liberation War.

Marking the Independence Day, Liberation War based feature film Jibondhuli will be screened today at the Sawkat Osman Auditorium of the Central Public Library.

The film, directed by seasoned filmmaker Tanir Mokammel, was released last month and is running at different cinemas across the country

ar will perform solo at the programme, which will also feature folk song performance by Saidur Rahman Boyati and his group. Besides, artistes from ethnic minority communities will present their traditional dance at the show.

BSA ‘s Film and Theatre Department’s latest production, in association with Poribesh Theatre, titled Juddhopuran will be staged at the Experimental Theatre Hall in the evening.

The play about the incidents of mass execution at the Mirpur Jalladkhana during the Liberation War was premiered on March 19.

Anisul Haque Barun, is the the idea generator and director of the play. l

Daag

Daag will be aired on RTV at 9:05pm. Directed by Habib Masud, the drama features Tarik Anam Khan, Tisha, Iqbal Babu and many others. Story of the drama revolves around a rich business man named Jamshed who gets into an accident and is informed that in order to survive, he must agree to the amputation of both legs. Doctors find an old mark from a previous accident on his leg and asks him about that. Jamshed then realises that he suffers from amnesia.

Channel i will air a drama Chhoy Number Shakkhi at 7:50pm tonight.

Written by Masum Reza and directed by Touhid Mitul, the drama features Raisul Islam Asad and many others.

Alochhaya

Alochhaya will be aired on NTV at 9pm. Directed and written by Chayanika Chowdhury, the drama features Apurba, Richi Solaiman, Diti and many others. The drama revolves around a professor named Rashed Chowdhury. Rashed meets a woman in facebook named Aparajita whose mother is a Birangona (freedom fighter). After Liberation War, a Swedish family adapts her.

Later, Aparajita comes to Bangladesh to find her mother. After a long search and help from Rashed, she finally discovers her address.

By the time she reaches her destination, she discovers to her disappointment that her mother had died some time back. She is consoled by Rashed who then tells her that his mother is also a freedom fighter.

Upolobdhi

Upolobdhi will be aired on ATN Bangla at 11pm. Written by Jahanara Imam and directed by Shorab Dodul, the telefilm features, Abul Hayat, Rawnak Hassan, Richi Solaiman and many others. Story of the telefilm revolves around rich family residing in Birampur.

Head of the family is Syed Osman Ali whose son Ruhul is forced by the Pakistani Army to dig a trench for them. When Ruhul comes back from the Pakistani Army camp, his family rejects him and throws him out.

Did you know?

Cristiano Ronaldo is the first player to reach double figures for goals in three separate Champions League campaigns

Sport

14 Messi will be

world’s best paid: Barca president

DHAKA TRIBUNE

15 Do not take the

15 Mohammedan,

wickets home, please!

Players not able to play freely: Mushfiq

GROUP 2 Teams India West Indies Pakistan Australia Bangladesh

Mat Won Lost Pts RR 2 2 0 4 +0.363 2 1 1 2 +1.752 2 1 1 2 +0.077 1 0 1 0 -0.800 1 0 1 0 -3.650

Bangladesh cricketer Ziaur Rahman tries to take a catch during the ICC World Twenty20 match against West Indies at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka yesterday AFP

It was yet another sorry display from the Bangladesh team firstly in the field and then followed by the batting blunder that saw them bundled out before the 20 overs against West Indies. Tigers captain Mushfiqur Rahim blamed the poor fielding effort and said it had its effect on the batting at the Sher-e-Bangla National stadium.

“It’s really disappointing and nothing is going right for us, we are trying different combinations but nothing going right for us,” said a disheartened Mushfiq during the post match conference. “We thought we could have restricted them under 150 which we didn’t do that and I thought the bowling was ok but at the fielding we missed a couple of catches and also gave some cheap boundaries and I think we have given twenty runs extra. Which made us mentally down and reflected on the batting,” said Mushfiq.

Shakib al Hasan, who was seen bowling inside the powerplay earlier, was introduced in the 13th over and the left-arm spinner had an over left off his quota when Mushfiq replaced him with Ziaur Rahman in the 19th over. Mushfiq explained, “There’s only one reason that bringing a left arm spinner to a left hander is always risky and Gayle can be dangerous against the left armers and our plan was to bowl the away going balls to him which didn’t click.”

When he was asked what was the actual problem behind their dismal

Historic day for Bangladesh women After 14 years since its men’s team’s inaugural participation in the World Cup, Bangladesh women will write history today when they take the field to play their first ever match in an ICC global event. At what time Mushfiq-led Bangladesh were opening their World Twenty20 account against reigning champions West Indies in Dhaka yesterday, Salma Khatun and Co. were gathering energy and inspiration to face the Caribbean women on their debut scheduled to be held 270km away from the capital at the Sylhet International Stadium today at 3:30pm.

Despite all the hard training sessions in the last three days and the support that they will receive from a rowdy home crowd during the match, the inexperienced Bangladesh side still has

a long way to go to execute a positive outcome against an in-form West Indies who already started their campaign with a thrilling win over favourites England.

It’s a new beginning for Bangladesh in women’s cricket and the intent and determination that was apparent in their afternoon training session yesterday gives an intimation that they are ready to fight. “Everyone in the team is excited to give their best. They are enjoying everything including the practice session and can’t wait to prove it on the field,” said skipper Salma Khatun yesterday.

The most prolific female cricketer of the country is also well aware of the ability and power of their opponents and admitted is helplessly by saying, “We are nothing compared to them,” before immediately stimulating her words, “As it is T20 match, anything can happen.”

Bangladesh’s recent performance in the warm-up matches against Pakistan and South Africa following the 3-0 defeat to India in Cox’s Bazar indicates

Bangladesh national women cricketers go through a stretching session at the Sylhet stadium yesterday BANGLAR CHOKH

‘anything’ can happen. The home side’s major concern is in their batting department that has constantly failed to put up defendable totals and an interesting fact says that no Bangladesh batter has ever scored a half-century in T20Is. “We have the capability to score 140 plus but our main batsmen are not in their usual form. We have to make best use of power play to maximize run rate. If we can score 140 I think we will give a good fight to defend it with the bowling attacks we have,” said Salma.

“I always said we have a strong spin attacks but now I can add we have a good pace attack as well,” she added.

A win today will take West Indies closer to the semifinals and captain Merissa Aguilleira looks forward to carry the momentum in which they have been since landing in Bangladesh.

“From our first game we have a lot to look forward to and hopefully we can continue the momentum,” said Merissa.

“We are obviously not underestimating them (Bangladesh). They are playing on their home territory. So they will have the home advantage with crowd behind them. But it’s all about going out there and sticking to the basics, because at the end of the day we cannot get complacent,” she added.

West Indies could miss their star opener Stafanie Taylor, who scored fifty against England, due to a knee injury while her partner Kycia Knight is also doubtful.

However, Deandra Dottin would be a major headache for Bangladesh bowlers. The ace all-rounder who holds the record of hitting the only century in women’s T20Is failed to star with the bat, but picked up four wickets with the ball to play major role in their opening win. l

13

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

performance and if there are any mental barrier the skipper said, “We all try to give our two hundred percent but it’s not working at the moment with both bat and ball and also in the fielding which makes the players morally down. Personally I think players are not able to play freely and there are some pressures for their place in the team.”

The 25-year-old admitted that most of the players in the side are out of form which is affecting them where as previously five-six players contributed for the side which made things easier, but it is not happening now.

Lendl Simmons is the third player to be stumped in T20I without facing a ball. The other two Diamond Ducks belong to West Indies as well - Pollard and Deonarine Samuel Badree’s 4-15 is the best figures by a West Indies bowler in World T20 On the other hand, man of the match Dwayne Smith, who smashed 72 off just 43 balls with ten fours and three sixes, informed this win will give confidence to his side. “After losing the first game everyone kept their head up and was confident and winning the match will certainly give us more confidence going on to the tournament,” said Smith.

Gayle played one of the slowest T20 innings against India in their first match, said working in the nets for longer hours added with the advice from their batting coach Robin Singh helped him to improve his game and he is looking forward to deliver in the coming matches too. l

Muktijoddha sail to last eight

SCORECARD West Indies D. Smith c Al Amin b Mahmudullah C. Gayle c Tamim b Ziaur L. Simmons st Rahim b Shakib M. Samuels c Gazi b Al Amin D. Sammy not out A. Russell c Shakib b Al Amin D. Bravo c Tamim b Al Amin D. Ramdin run out Extras: (b10, lb1, w7, nb1) Total (for 7 wickets, 20 overs)

72 48 0 18 14 0 0 0 19 171

Fall of wickets 1-97, 2-98, 3-151, 4-167, 5-167, 6-168, 7-171 Bowling Mortaza 4-0-25-0, Al Amin 4-0-213, Gazi 4-0-38-0, Sabbir 1-0-12-0, Mahmudullah 3-0-27-1, Shakib 3-0-21-1, Ziaur 1-0-16-1

West Indies Tamim Iqbal c Bravo b Badree 5 Anamul Haque st Ramdin b Santokie 10 Mominul Haque c Santokie b Narine 16 Shakib Al Hasan b Santokie 0 Mushfiqur Rahim c Bravo b Badree 22 Sabbir Rahman c Sammy b Badree 1 Mahmudullah c Simmons b Badree 1 Ziaur Rahman b Russell 9 Sohag Gazi b Russell 11 Mashrafe Mortaza c Bravo b Santokie 19 Al Amin Hossain not out 0 Extras: (lb1, w3) 4 Total (all out, 19.1 overs) 98 Fall of wickets 1-14, 2-16, 3-16, 4-51, 5-57, 6-58, 7-59, 8-73, 9-97, 10-98 Bowling Badree 4-0-15-4, Santokie 4-0-17-3, Samuels 1-0-9-0, Sammy 1-0-6-0, Narine 4-0-17-1, Bravo 3-0-23-0, Russell 2.1-0-10-2.

West Indies won by 73 runs

Deandra ‘Chris Gayle’ Dottin land the magical figures. Chris Gayle scored the fastest century in men’s West Indian talismanic all rounder De- cricket in just 30 deliveries in IPL 2013 andra Dottin, the only woman to have a against Pune Warriors.

The 22-year-old from Barbados has T20I hundred beside her name, is considered as one of the most belligerent also the record of scoring the fastest hard-hitting striker in women’s cricket fifty (22 balls) which she scored against which also made the others compare Australia in 2009. Meanwhile, Merissa her with fellow countryman Chris Gayle. Aguilleira admitted how they maintain When West Indies captain Merissa a close relationship with the men’s Aguilleira was asked if they received team which help them in the developany tips from Gayle, she replied with ment of women’s cricket.

“We have a close relationship. The a smile, “I think Deandra did. We have guys and ladies they communicate our own Chris Gayle.”

Dottin’s international T20 hundred and share ideas. It’s all a Caribbean came during the 2010 World Twenty20 thing, a unity. As we always say unity is when she smashed an unbeaten 112 strength. So as long as we continue to against South Africa batting at No 6. work together, things will be possible.

“We actually had a get-together in She went in after 10 overs and reached her hundred in 38 balls. Her 50 came in Dhaka, both teams had dinner and en25 balls before she took just 13 balls to joyed together.” l

Ouch, it hurts!

A couple of stunning catches by Tamim Iqbal could not hide the awful blunders the Tigers made in the field against West Indies in their first Super 10 match yesterday.

The going was good until the 11th over when Sohag Gazi, just conceding four boundaries in an over, fumbled a straight forward long-barrier to convert it to a four before Anamul Haque did something similar at the long-off boundary.

Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim was also among the culprits as Shakib al Hasan back-to-back deliveries in the 17th over went straight through the gap of the

wicketkeeper’s pads resulting in eight bye runs.

Ziaur Rahma was introduced in the penultimate over and had his only success in the first ball after Tamim showed great presence of mind to hang on to a long hopper. Tamim was just about to step out of the rope when he took the catch, but threw the ball in the air before he stepped out and came back inside to re-grab the attempt and send Chris Gayle back.

However, Zia could have had another wicket had Mahmudullah not dropped two catches in consecutive balls. Mahmudullah misjudged West Indian skipper Darren Sammy’s skier at

long-off as the ball went over his head and landed inside the rope before going over, while the next one was hit hard and flat and all Mahmudullah could do was put his hand to it.

Tamim on the other end maintained his reputation on the day as he hung on to a screamer in the last over

by Al Amin. He flew to his right, parallel to the ground and took a one handed stunner at short thirdman to return the dangerous Andre Russell for a golden duck.

The clumsy effort in the field eventually cost them at least 20 runs which also allowed West Indies the cushion with 171 on the scorecard. l

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Former Croatia official jailed for bribes A former top local Croatian football official was sentenced to jail on Tuesday after a Zagreb court found him guilty of taking bribes to influence refereeing in first division matches. Zeljko Siric, a former referee and ex-vice-president of the Croatian football federation (HNS), was handed a four-year prison term for taking 30,000 euros ($41,000) in bribes, judge Gordana Mihela Grahovac ruled. The money was received in 2011 from a Hajduk Split official. Siric was also banned from Croatian football for an eight-year period.

–AFP

Sport

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Becks unveils proposal for stadium A group led by English soccer star David Beckham unveiled plans on Monday to build a 25,000-seat soccer stadium on Miami’s waterfront for the Major League Soccer team he will own, but the proposal is already facing some opposition. The open-air stadium would be built in an area known as PortMiami, which hosts the world’s busiest cruise ship terminal. Long-term plans for the island port have never included the possibility of being home to a sports arena, port officials have said.

–Reuters

NSW lifts Sheffield Shield New South Wales on Tuesday won their first Sheffield Shield crown since 2008 with Australian international Steve Smith hitting an unbeaten century as the match against Western Australia finished in stalemate. The Blues only needed a draw to seal the title in the five-day final. They were in command of the match after scoring 447 in their first innings before dismissing the Warriors for 180. NSW reached 197 for four in their second innings on the final day in Canberra, with Smith unbeaten on 103.

–AFP

Liverpool on right track for title, says Rodgers Liverpool are on track to win the Premier League title but are still a work in progress, manager Brendan Rodgers said as his in-form side seek to close the gap at the top to one point by beating Sunderland on Wednesday.

Six consecutive league wins, in which they have scored 24 goals, have put Liverpool in sight of a first English title since 1990 and Rodgers has been walking the line between managing expectations and talking up his side’s chances.

“We haven’t won it for a long time and it may or may not be this year but there is no doubt we are on the right road to winning a title here,” Rodgers said in the Liverpool Echo.

“We are far from being perfect and Saturday’s game at Cardiff showed that.

While we are learning and improving we will hopefully continue to pick up points and see where it takes us.

“We still have a hell of a way to go to be near where I want us to be but we are certainly making strides and are on the right path.”

Liverpool have scored 82 league

Guarin signs Inter extension Inter Milan on Monday ended speculation over Fredy Guarin’s future by tying the Colombian forward to a new contract which expires in 2017.

Guarin was the subject of a proposed swap deal involving Juventus striker Mirko Vucinic during the winter transfer window although the deal fell through at the 11th hour when Inter pulled out.

Guarin, who joined Inter on loan from FC Porto in January 2012, had signed a permanent deal with the Nerazzurri in the summer of 2012 that would have expired in 2016.

On Monday the Colombian international said he was delighted to have extended his deal by a year. l

goals this season, six more than Manchester City, who are in third place and have three games in hand on leaders Chelsea.

Defending has been Liverpool’s problem area this season and Rodgers admits finding the correct balance remains his biggest challenge, although he argues against the notion that his side concede too many sloppy goals.

“Even the best teams will concede goals,” he said.

“There’s been various items thrown at the team. When I first came in, we didn’t score enough goals, that’s now flipped to we concede too many goals.

“We just concentrate on our work.

My objective was to make us a more potent attacking force and the players have responded magnificently to the ideas we’ve been looking to implement.”

While the goals of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge have been grabbing the headlines, the form of skipper Steven Gerrard in midfield has been inspirational for the Reds.

Gerrard’s commitment to the cause has resulted in nine yellow cards this season and one more before the April amnesty would leave him facing a twomatch ban. l

Barcelona's Dani Alves (L), Neymar and Lionel Messi (R) take part in training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper yesterday ahead of their La Liga match against Celta de Vigo REUTERS

Ancelotti demands instant reaction Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti is determined that his side bounce back straight away from their dramatic 4-3 defeat to Barcelona when they travel to Sevilla on Wednesday.

Los Blancos were knocked off top spot in La Liga by Atletico Madrid after losing for the first time in 31 games in all competitions.

Atletico lead due to their better head-to-head record against Real, whilst Barca are now right back in the hunt to retain their title as they are just a point behind the two sides from the

capital with nine games to go.

On paper, Real face the toughest task in midweek with all three sides in action on Wednesday as Barca and Atletico host Celta Vigo and Granada respectively.

And with that in mind, Ancelotti believes Real’s reaction against a Sevilla side that have won their last five league games could hold the key to the title race.

“I have said to the players that in general they played well (against Barcelona). They played with intensity and fought until the end,” he said.

“Now we need to forget this game and think about Wednesday, which could be the key game of the season.

Real will be without the suspended Sergio Ramos and Angel di Maria, so Raphael Varane and Isco are expected to start.

FIXTURES Rayo Vallecano Barcelona Sevilla Atletico Madrid

v v v v

Osasuna Celta Vigo Real Madrid Granada

Atletico took advantage of Real’s defeat to move back to the top of the table with a comfortable 2-0 win over bottom-placed Real Betis earlier on Sunday.

Los Rojiblancos now have the des-

Messi will be world’s best paid: Barca president Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has insisted that Lionel Messi will become the world’s highest paid footballer once negotiations over his new contract are finalised.

The four-time World Player of the Year has a contract with the Catalan giants until 2018, but Bartomeu said talks were on-going with the player’s father and principal agent Jorge Horacio Messi over a deal that would surpass the five-year contract Cristiano Ronaldo signed with Real Madrid in September last year.

“We are in the midst of the season, so it is not the moment to be negotiating with him, but it is the moment to talk to the agents and with his father and that is what we are doing,” Bartomeu said in an exclusive interview with AFP sports.

“We will talk with them about how we see the player. He is our star and he has a contract until 2018 because we

want him to participate in our future, but there is the will within the club that he becomes the best paid player in the

FC Barcelona's president Josep Maria Bartomeu answers to journalists during an interview at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on Monday AFP

world.

“He is the number one and, as we have said various times, he also deserves to be the best paid player in the world.”

Messi had been plagued by muscular injuries early in the season, but has recently returned to top-form as he has scored a hat-trick in consecutive games, most recently, in Sunday’s thrilling 4-3 win away to Real Madrid.

After scoring the winner with his third goal of the night seven minutes from time at the Bernabeu, Messi kissed the Barca badge on his shirt several times in an uncharacteristic show of exuberance.

And contrary to some rumours linking him with a move to free-spending Paris Saint-Germain or Manchester City, Bartomeu is convinced that Messi is determined to remain at Barca for many years to come. l

tiny of the league title in their own hands, although they do face a potentially decisive trip to Barcelona on the final day of the season.

Atletico captain Gabi, though, believes his side can finish off an amazing campaign in style.

Left-back Filipe Luis will miss the visit of Granada as he saw his fifth booking of the season against Betis. Emiliano Insua will deputise for the Brazilian, whilst David Villa, Diego Ribas and Jose Sosa could also come into the side with a difficult looking game away to Athletic Bilbao to come on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Lionel Messi will be targeting a third consecutive hat-trick as Barca welcome Celta to the Camp Nou

German clubs vote against goal-line technology Germany’s top clubs on Monday announced they have emphatically voted to reject the introduction of goal-line technology, despite some controversial refereeing decisions here.

Only 12 of the 36 clubs in Germany’s top two divisions voted in favour of technology, well short of the two thirds needed to bring it into Bundesliga football, with cost being cited as the main reason.

Leverkusen’s Stefan Kiessling winning header went into the goal via a hole in the side netting, but referee Felix Brych allowed it to stand.

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, chairman of European champions Bayern Munich, said it was an opportunity

Villas-Boas off to Hosts Australia hope to avoid winning start with Zenit South Korea in Asian Cup draw Andre Villas-Boas marked his first game in charge of Zenit St Petersburg with a 2-1 home win against Samara in the Russian Premier League on Monday, Brazilian star Hulk scoring twice.

Hulk netted either side of half-time and goalkeeper Yury Lodygin saved two penalties as Zenit bounced back from their Champions League exit last midweek to stay within three points of leaders Lokomotiv Moscow in second place.

Beneath them, the Moscow trio of Spartak, Dinamo and CSKA are all four points further back, with CSKA winning 3-0 at bottom club Anzhi Makhachkala, also on Monday.

“We played really well in the early stages but after the break the team started to tire,” said the 36-year-old Villas-Boas, who replaced the sacked Italian Luciano Spalletti in the Zenit dugout.

“But we managed to win a second consecutive match and that’s the main thing about today’s encounter.”

Zenit may have been eliminated from the Champions League 5-4 on aggregate by Borussia Dortmund in the last 16 last week, but they did bow out with a 2-1 win in Germany under interim coach Sergei Semak.

And they took just five minutes to open the scoring on Villas-Boas’s debut as Hulk converted from the penalty spot after Alexander Kerzhakov was fouled in the area. l

Hosts Australia will be hoping to avoid twice former Asian Cup champions South Korea when the draw for the 2015 finals is made at Sydney Opera House on Wednesday.

The Socceroos were named top seeds for the draw and will definitely avoid defending champions Japan, Iran and Uzbekistan as the other top seeds, but the South Koreans loom as dangerous potential group stage rivals.

World Cup semi-finalists in 2002, perennial Asian powerhouse South Korea were pushed out of the top four by the decision to make Australia top seeds and are in the second rank with United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

Four groups of four will be drawn for the tournament, which takes place in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and Newcastle from Jan. 9-31 next year.

DRAW

Pot 1: Australia, Iran, Japan, Uzbekistan Pot 2: South Korea, UAE, Jordan, Saudi Arabia Pot 3: Oman, China, Qatar, Iraq Pot 4: Bahrain, Kuwait, North Korea, winners of 2014 AFC Challenge Cup (TBC)

Iraq, who won the 2007 Asian Cup, are in the third pot of teams along with Oman, China and Qatar, while the fourth rank is made up of Bahrain, Kuwait, North Ko-

looking to move top for at least a couple of hours as both Atletico and Real kick-off later on Wednesday.

Martino is expected to rotate his squad against Celta with Pedro Rodriguez and Alexis Sanchez in contention to start.

Elsewhere, Athletic Bilbao will look to consolidate their place in the fourth Champions League place when they travel to Elche.

And it is also an important round of fixtures at the bottom as Rayo Vallecano host Osasuna, whilst Getafe, Almeria and Valladolid face tough games against European hopefuls Villarreal, Valencia and Real Sociedad respectively. l

rea and the as-yet undecided winners of the Asian Challenge Cup. Australia, who joined the Asian Football Confederation in 2006, were Asian Cup quarter-finalists in 2007 and runners up at the 2011 tournament in Qatar.

They are hoping to become the first host nation to win the title since Japan won the first of their four Asian Cups on home soil in 1992.

Former Italy and Juventus great Alessandro del Piero, who has played for the last two seasons at Sydney FC, has been named a global ambassador for the tournament.

“I am very proud to be associated with the biggest football tournament ever held in Australia, the country that has become my home for the past two years,” Del Piero said in a news release. l

missed.

Herbert Fandel, chairman of the DFB’s referee commission, said Germany’s referees had wanted the technology to come in and hopes “one or two” clubs will now be less critical of future decisions.

Thomas Tuchel, coach of Mainz 05, was bewildered by the decision.

“For me, it is incomprehensible that it’s been rejected, I can’t understand it,” said the 40-year-old.

And Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp said Germany should have followed England’s example.

“If something is introduced, then it should be in all professional leagues,” he said.

“If it’s affordable and helps, then I am all for it.” l

Arsenal win appeals over wrong red card Arsenal won their appeal on Monday over Kieran Gibbs being wrongfully dismissed in the 6-0 hammering at Chelsea, with real culprit Alex OxladeChamberlain also let off a ban by the Football Association.

Oxlade-Chamberlain used his hand to divert a shot in Saturday’s Premier League match but referee Andre Marriner sent off left back Gibbs in a case of mistaken identity despite Oxlade-Chamberlain owning up to the foul.

The FA said in a statement that not only would Gibbs’ offence be transferred to Oxlade-Chamberlain but that the case was one of wrongful dismissal. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

QUICK BYTES

Cricketers to sing nat’l anthem Bangladesh national cricketers will unite at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium at 11:00 am today to be a part of the national anthem sung by millions program that will be held at the National Parade ground today.

BCB has specially arranged the program for the national cricketers.

Sharp at 11:00 pm when the main program will commence at the parade ground all the national cricketers will also sing the national anthem accordingly.

–RM

The stumps in a game of cricket had always been a special part for the winning side. It is a natural scenario where the winning team members rush in the middle and uproot a stump to keep it as a memory of the victory.

However, the middle stumps were left behind as it contains the stumpcamera.

The introduction of the Zing Wicket System, created by South Australian manufacturer Zing International, by the ICC (International Cricket Council), has however killed the tradition.

The cost of manufacturing one such technology filled stump does not allow it to be a part of a team’s celebration and from now none will end up in a cricketer’s living room as a souvenir of a victory as the technology is expensive.

The Independence Day Itna Group Open Bodybuilding starts at the National Sports Council auditorium today. A total of 200 bodybuilders across the country will fight in the five weight categories of 55, 60, 65, 70 and 70+ kgs. Dewan Ahmed Shakil, the managing director of Itna Group will distribute the prizes as the chief guest. Maj. Gen. (rtd) Subid Ali Bhuiyan, the president of bodybuilding federation will presiding over the ceremony.

–RM

The Philadelphia 76ers lost their 25th game in a row Monday, moving to within one game of equalling the National Basketball Association’s mark for futility in the league. Austin Daye came off the bench to score 22 points as San Antonio cruised to a 113-91 over the hapless 76ers, who can match the longest single season losing streak in history with a loss to Houston on Thursday. “It felt like they were running 100 miles per hour out there,” Philadelphia’s Thaddeus Young said of San Antonio. “They were moving and passing and cutting, but that is a sign of a team who has been together for a few years and has been a championship contending team each and every year.” The Sixers haven’t won since a buzzer-beating victory in Boston over the Celtics on January 29. Evan Turner scored the winning basket and he’s now with the Indiana Pacers.

–AFP

Tiger still unsure of Masters start in two weeks

World number one Tiger Woods said Monday he remains uncertain if he will be able to play in the Masters despite two weeks of rest and treatment for back spasms. Woods, a 14-time major champion chasing the all-time record 18 majors won by Jack Nicklaus, withdrew from last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, where he has won eight times including last year, due to nagging back pain. A year after he won five tournaments and appeared set for a solid run in the majors in 2014, his status for the Masters on April 10-13 remains in doubt even with a potential four weeks of rest for his aching back. “For Augusta, it’s actually still a little too soon,” Woods said.

“That’s the frustrating thing about this.

“I’ve had a couple of weeks off and getting treatment and working on trying to get it ready for Augusta. “As of right now, still too soon, which is very frustrating.” The 38-year-old American struggled to a 78 in the final round of the World Golf Championships event at Doral earlier this month, visably bothered by back pain over the final holes, and pulled out of the final round of the Honda Classic the week before.

–AFP

Dhaka Mohammedan and Muktijoddha powered their way to the quarterfinals of the Modhumoti Bank Independence Cup Football beating Arambagh and Uttar Baridhara by 4-1 and 6-1 goals respectively at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

In the first match of the day Mohammedan’s clinical display was too much for their second tier opponents while Muktijoddha were clearly boosted with the arrival of Nigerian forward Sunday Chizoba who scored a hat-trick in his very first appearance this season.

With the inclusion of Sunday, the three pronged Nigerian attack of Muktijoddha, comprising Sunday, Elita Kingsley and Nkowcha Kingsley is all set to disturb all the opposition defence.

Arambagh shocked Mohammedan in the 4th minute when defender Mintu Sheikh sent the ball into his own net

while trying to clear a low cross of Arambagh skipper Kanchan Mohammedan absorbed the shock and scored the equalizer in the 7th minute after Zahid Hossain’s corner landed in the middle of the box and Nigerian midfielder Damien Chigozie’s right footer gave Arambagh goalie Bishnu no chance to react.

Mohammedan skipper Zahid Hasan Emily put his tean ahead in the 41st minute with a neat finishing. Rightly anticipating a left flank cross of Zahid, Emily slotted his right footer into the middle of the net.

Touhidul Alam Sobuj, the Mohammedan forward who earlier missed a one to one chance with Bishnu inserted his name in the scorer’s list in the 57th minute when Arup Baidya cut a low cross from the right flank and Sobuj flicked the ball in to the post.

Emily scored his second in the 59th minute with a cool headed right footer past Bishnu in a one to one situation .

In the second match Uttar Barid-

7:00PM Laureus World Sports Award 2014 2:00AM English Premier League Liverpool v Sunderland Star Sports HD1 La Liga 1:00AM Barcelona v Celta Vigo 3:00AM Sevilla v Real Madrid Star Sports 1 3:00AM Atletico Madrid v Granada

sain clearly remembers of the moment when he dismantled the wicket of New Zealand’s Kyle Mills to secure Bangladesh a 4-0 victory. This was the first Bangladesh had white-washed a Test playing nation at home in an ODI series. Rubel informed of having a wicket from that game nailed to the wall inside the dressing room.

“That moment is one of my special.

I kept a wicket from that game and every time I see that, it reminds me of the glory,” said Rubel.

“With the LED wickets in, a cricketer won’t be able to keep a wicket. But it is acceptable as these new invention is giving a new dimension to the game and also that thing is entertaining in for those in the stands or in front of a television,” Rubel added.

The new Zing Wicket System literally lights up with bright red LEDs as soon as the wickets are broken. A sensor in the bails sends a radio signal within 1/1000 of a second even with the slightest impact. l

South Africa were fined for maintaining a slow over-rate during their hard fought win over New Zealand in Chittagong, the International Cricket Council said Tuesday.

The Proteas edged out New Zealand by two runs in a last-ball finish to their Super-10 World Twenty20 match but the ICC found they took more time than the stipulated period to bowl their 20 overs.

“The ICC match referee Javagal Srinath of India imposed the fines after Faf du Plessis’ side was ruled to be two overs short of its target when time allowances were taken into consideration,” said an ICC release.

Under ICC rules players are fined 10 percent of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, with the captain fined double that amount.

“As such, du Plessis was fined 40 percent of his match fee, while his players received 20 percent fines.”

“If du Plessis is found guilty of one more minor over-rate offence in T20 internationals over the next 12 months, he will receive a one-match suspension as per the provisions of the ICC code of conduct.”

South Africa next play the Netherlands in their next group one match in Chittagong on Thursday. l

hara took lead in the 8th minute of the match through their Lucky Divine. Taking a ball from midfield, the Nigerian forward entered into the box dodging past two opponent defender and beat Muktijoddha goalie Rusel Mahmud Liton with a left footer. Nigerian forward Sunday Chizoba restored the parity in the 13th minute. Muktijoddha Sangshad took the lead in the 15th minute when their forward Eleta Kingsley’s fierce left footer hit the back of the net.

Nkwocha Kingsley added the third in the 18th minute with a solo effort.

Sunday scored his second and fourth for Muktijoddha in the 59th minute from 20 yards out. Sunday completed his hat-trick with placing shot on a cut back of defender Mohiuddin Ibnul Siraji from the right five minutes later.

Nkwocha Kingsley scored the sixth for Muktijoddha and second for him with a header on a cross from Md. Enamul Haque. Both Bairidhara and Arambagh are eliminated from the tournament with two consecutive losses. l

Muktijoddha’s Nigerian forward Sunday Chizioba scores a goal against Uttar Baridhara at the BNS yesterday COURTESY

Nadal, Wawrinka advance NZ, Australia women post wins Top seed Rafael Nadal and reigning Aussie Open champ Stanislas Wawrinka posted straight-set victories in the third round at the WTA and ATP Miami Masters hardcourt tournament on Monday.

French Open champ Nadal needed just 59 minutes to rout Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan, 6-1, 6-0 while Wawrinka cruised into the fourth round with a 7-5, 6-4 dismantling of Edouard RogerVasselin of France at Crandon Park.

Nadal, who finished runner-up in this event three times, will next face 14th-seeded Fabio Fognini, who battled back to beat Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Swiss Wawrinka will square off against Alexandr Dolgopolov after the 22nd-seeded Ukrainian rallied for a 3-6, 6-0, 7-6 (7/5) win over Dusan Lajovic.

Wawrinka already owns two titles this year. He claimed his first grand slam win in Melbourne in January. His best previous finish in Miami was a straight set loss to Nadal in the round of 16 in 2009. l

Two half-centuries from openers Suzie Bates and Frances Mackay helped New Zealand women earn a comfortable 42run victory over Ireland in a group A match of Women’s World Twenty20 at Sylhet International Stadium yesterday.

Suzie smashed 68 runs from 51 deliveries featuring 10 boundaries while Mackay hit 51 off 49 as New Zealand scored a massive total of 171/3 thanks to Sara McGlashan’s stormy innings in the last five overs. The duo made a 116-run

Independence Day Kabaddi at Cox’s Bazar

Sony Six

Star Sports 4

According to the media reports, Zing’s Australian inventor Bronte Eckermann had informed of having $40,000 worth of patented technology on the field at each game.

“That is a lot of money. Each bail costs as much as an iPhone. We can’t afford to give them away to players at the end of a game,” said Bronte.

On Monday, South Africa had pulled an exciting win in the last over against New Zealand in Group 1 in the ICC World Twenty20 at Chittagong’s Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. The Black Caps needed seven runs off the last six balls, but was denied by a sensational Dale Steyn which kept the Proteas alive in the tournament.

Interestingly when South Africa skipper Faf du Plesis was asked for his thought on ‘not being able to take a wicket home’, the 30-year-old said he will try to get one if the teams wins the game in the semifinals of the ongoing World Twenty20.

Bangladesh spearhead Rubel Hos-

South Africa fined for slow over-rate

MSC, Muktijoddha sail to last eight

DAY’S WATCH NBA 2013-14 6:30AM Dallas v Oklahoma City 8:30AM La Lakers v New York 01:14 AM Scottish League 2014 Partick Thistle v Celtic

15

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Do not take the wickets home, please!

Independence Day Bodybuilding today

Struggling Sixers lose 25th game in a row

Sport

Former national captain and BCB director Khaled Mahmud and Walton Cricketers display the team shirt of the Chiang Mai six-a-side cricket yesterday COURTESY

Walton Cricketers eye Chiang Mai six-a-side hat-trick title Walton Cricketers are looking forward to retain the title of Chiang Mai International Six-a Side Cricket in order to set the record of hat-trick titles. The tournament starts from March 30 and finishes on April 5.

The six-a-side tournament, introduced in the biggest city of northern Thailand 27 years ago, has been participated by the teams from Australia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, India, New Zealand, South Africa regularly. However, Bangladesh is also not a new name in the list.

The representatives of Bangladesh have won the title four times in their eight appearances. Most interestingly Bangladesh has won the last two titles and now

eying to win the treble this time.

The team will be led by former national captain Naimur Rahman Durjoy with another national skipper Khaled Mahmud, national spinner Iliyas Sunny, Rubayet Haque, Mehrab Hossain Joshy, Ariful Hasan Sobuj, Mehedi Hasan Siddiky and Minhaz Ahmed.

In a press conference held at the Bangabandhu National Stadium conference room yesterday Khaled Mahmud said the team is balanced as it has capable allrounders and is firmly focused to retain the title to set the treble record.

Uday Hakim, the operative director of Walton Hi-Tec Industries said they are proud to sponsor a team that comprises Naimur Rahman and Khaled Mahmud. l

The Independence Day Kabaddi sponsored by the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs and Walton starts at the Laboni Point of Cox’s Bazar from Friday.

The two day long meet will be participated by defending champions Border Guards Bangladesh, Bangladesh Police, Bangladesh Navy, Bangladesh Air Force and Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence.

In a press conference held at the Bangabandhu National Stadium conference room yesterday the senior assistant secretary of the Liberation War Affairs Ministry Babul Miah said their ministry will be continuing the assistance and the fund will be enhanced. “Kabaddi is our national game and we are with it, this year we have provided Tk. 400000.00 for the meet that is the double of last year’s purse, we look forward to provide more next year” said Babul Miah.

A.F.M. Iqbai bin Anwar Dawn, the additional director of Walton said they will be providing LCD televisions and home appliances for the winners.

Nazrul Islam, the general secretary of the kabaddi federation said the meet will be the used as a selection process for the next month’s World Beach Kabaddi. l

partnership in the opening partnership in 15.1 overs before Sara McGlashan added an unbeaten 34 using only 13 balls with two 6s and 13 boundaries. Eimear Richardson took two for 32.

In reply, Ireland could only manage to score 129 for 5. Cecelia Joyce hit 39 off 28 while opener Clare Shillington and Isobel Joyce added 28 and 24 respectively. Morna Nielsen bagged two for 23.

In the other match, Australia beat South Africa by six wickets. Batting first Proteas posted 115 for nine while Australia scored 116 for four in 18.3 overs. l

BRIEF SCORES New Zealand 171/ 3 (20/20 ov) Bates 68, MacKay 51 Ireland 129/ 5(20/20 ov) Joyce 39*, Nielsen 2/23 New Zealand Women won by 42 runs South Africa 115/9 (20/20 ov) Chetty 30, Hunter 2/13 Australia 116/4 (18.4/20 ov) Perry 41, Cameron 27 Australia Women won by 6 wickets

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

FREEDOM FIGHTER CERTIFICATE

Never-ending wait at the ministry for hundreds n Ahmed Zayeef

Activists of the Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee hold a torch-lit vigil in front of the Central Shaheed Minar in the capital yesterday in respect to those killed by the Pakistani occupation forces on the black night of March 25, 1971 MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Martyr’s son tells of Rangpur genocide n Udisa Islam

es in the area had taken refuge in Jharuar Beel before the genocide unleashed.

On Monday, the tribunal expressed disappointment as the witness was not well-prepared and rebuked conducting prosecutor AKM Saiful Islam for his failure to guide the witness. Saiful yesterday followed the order.

“One Aminul from Dhappara told me that Azhar and his cohorts killed at least 15 including his aunt. They also burnt more than 100 houses there,” the witness described the mass killing in Dhappara. l

A new prosecution witness said he had seen war crimes accused ATM Azharul Islam and his cohorts along with the Pakistani troops actively take part in the killing of at least 400 people, mostly Hindus, in Jharuar Beel of Rangpur during the Liberation War. Abdur Rahman yesterday completed his deposition that began on Monday. His testimony corroborates the evidence of freedom fighter M Meser

Uddin who earlier described the massacre at the tribunal 1.

On November 12 last year, the tribunal indicted Azhar, the Jamaat-e-Islami acting secretary general and a commander of al-Badr, on six charges of crimes against humanity.

According to the charge, over 1,200 unarmed were killed during the incident in April 1971. Rahman said he had seen a part of the incident from a bush when some 400 people were killed with a short span of time. He said people of six villag-

107kg gold seized at Ctg Airport n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong

Maitree Express roundtrip tickets start May 16

Customs officials of Shah Amanat International Airport yesterday seized 923 gold bars weighing 107-kg from a flight and detained ten people in connection with the incident.

The detainees are Mohin Uddin, Piarul Islam, Shafiq Islam, Imtiaz Khan, M Yikub, Nahid Talukder, Monsur Islam, Rahim Sikder, Hasan Mahmud and M Faisal.

Acting on a tip-off, the officials searched one passenger of a Bangladesh Biman flight from Dubai and recovered some gold bars stuffed in a poly bag, said Masud Sadik, commissioner of Chittagong Customs House.

Later, they searched all of the passengers of the flight and found similar bags from six others. The total number of gold bars seized stood at 923, worth about Tk46.15cr, Masud added. Police suspected that the detainees might have been used as courier and a case was launched against them. l

n Kamran Reza Chowdhury Railway officials of Bangladesh and India signed an accord yesterday that would allow passengers of the Dhaka-Kolkata train service to buy roundtrip tickets from both city.

The new arrangement will come into effect from May 16, six years after the launch of the Maitree Express, the only direct train service between Bangladesh and India.

At present, passengers travelling on the Maitree Express must buy tickets for both outward and return journeys separately in respective cities.

Under the new agreement, passengers would be able to buy return tickets from Dhaka’s Kamalapur station and from Kolkata’s Fairly Palace station.

Sarder Shahadat Ali, joint director general (operation) of Bangladesh Rail-

Khandaker Abdur Rashid is retiring next month after serving the Government of Bangladesh for decades. He, however, may get a year’s extension if he can prove that he was a freedom fighter.

Rashid’s name was included in the list of freedom fighters that the government had published as a gazette notification in December 2005. He also got his freedom fighter certificate.

Despite all these, he still needs the liberation war affairs ministry to verify his certificate and confirm that he was a real freedom fighter. That will make him eligible for another year at office.

Rashid’s son Rakib told the Dhaka Tribune: “More than two years ago, we got clearance from our local deputy commissioner’s office. But for some unknown reason, the ministry did not accept that. My father then went there in person. For two years, those documents have been lying with the ministry.

“I have even offered [them] bribes.

They have been telling me for two years that they are working on it. I think they have lost the documents,” Rakib narrated.

None of the officials at room no 303 of the government’s Paribahan Pool Bhaban, where the office of the

ministry is situated, was ready to talk about this.

For getting a freedom fighter certificate, one needs to apply through either the National Freedom Fighters Council or the Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangshad, who verify if an applicant is really a freedom fighter. The ministry then publishes the names of the verified freedom fighters as gazette notifications. After that, the applicants can apply with the ministry for a certificate.

The heirs of freedom fighters are eligible for certain state benefits, for which they also need to prove their legal succession rights.

Freedom fighter Md Rokonuzzaman died in 2002. Since then, his wife Rebeka has been trying to get his certificate.

She even has an original certificate issued by General MAG Osmani, the commander in chief of the liberation force in 1971.

“The local commander of the Muktijoddha Sangshad and the social welfare officials took 12 years just to get the testimonials [from the fellow freedom fighters, who fought alongside my husband in 1971].This is the first time that I have come to Dhaka by myself,” Rebeka told this correspondent at the ministry office.

Rebeka said only God knew how long it would take to get the certificate.

Then again, the time that she would

have to waste by waiting at the ministry would not be a pleasant experience either. There is very little sitting arrangement for these gallant sons of the soil who risked their lives for freeing the country. Many freedom fighters could be seen sitting on the ground in the corridor of the ministry office, waiting for their turn.

The Dhaka Tribune has learnt that the freedom fighters looking for certificates also have to buy a book written by the secretary of the ministry for getting their cases forward.

The Tk200 book titled “Lokoshadhonar Sanskriti” (the culture of practicing folk traditions) is available at the office of the National Freedom Fighters Council in the capital’s Moghbazar. Everyone who applies for a certificate “must” buy that book and carry it with them when they go to the council as a proof that they had fulfilled the “criterion.”

When this correspondent asked for a copy of that book, he was told that it was out of stock.

Secretary Masud Siddique claimed that he did not know anything about the book sale.

“There must be something wrong with the documents of those freedom fighters, who are having problems in getting the certificates,” he told the Dhaka Tribune. l

way, and A Madhukumar Reddy, executive director (passenger marketing) of the Railway Board, New Delhi, inked the agreement.

“This will help the passengers very much. The hassle of collecting separate tickets from two stations will go,” Shahadat Ali told the Dhaka Tribune.

Meanwhile, to cancel a return ticket and get refund, passengers must inform the railway authorities 39 hours before the journey.

The Maitree Express, which runs four times a week, has 326 seats on the Bangladeshi train and 388 seats on the Indian train. The BR train starts from Dhaka Cantonment station at 8.10 am on Fridays and returns a day later. The IR train leaves Kolkata’s Chitpur station at 7.10 am local time on Tuesdays and goes back the next day. A one-way trip across the 396 km distance takes about 10 and a half hours. l

Menendez: GSP must wait till harassment of union organisers ends n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez has made it clear that he cannot support renewal of the GSP as long as harassment and intimidation of trade union organisers and members continue.

In a letter to BGMEA President Atiqul Islam, the senator urged Bangladeshi garment manufacturers to take immediate steps in this regard.

Washington suspended GSP facility for Bangladesh in June last year on grounds of poor labour conditions. The hearing on renewal of the facility is expected in May. Bangladesh is supposed

to place a report on the progress made in terms of labour condition by April 15.

Menendez said he had urged the United States Trade Representative last year to suspend the generalised system of preferences (GSP) benefits for Bangladesh because of poor workers’ rights and safety conditions.

“Just last month, four union organisers, including two women, were reportedly severely injured by two dozen attackers as they tried to organise workers at a large garment factory,” the letter said.

He also said incidents like these were unacceptable and the BGMEA was obligated to play a stronger role and Bangladesh’s GSP Action Plan required

“protection of unions and their members from anti-union discrimination and reprisal.”

On BGMEA’s written testimony detailing the work plan, he said: “You mentioned that BGMEA is forming a new department to deal with workers’ rights, recruiting a labor consultant, and preparing a plan to educate factory owners. I welcome these initial steps, but more can and should be done.”

When asked about Menendez’s letter, BGMEA Vice-President Shahidullah Azim told the Dhaka Tribune that they had not received any such letter.

He said he had come to that it had been posted on the senator’s website. l

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2014 www.dhakatribune.com/business

Muhith directs to speed up new pay scales of BB, state banks He wants off-loading shares of state-owned banks and enterprises in the current tenure

n Asif Showkat Kallol Finance Minister AMA Muhith directed the Bank and Financial Institutions Division (BFID) to speed up implementation process of new pay scales of Bangladesh Bank and four state-owned commercial banks so the employees got increased salaries soon.

The directive was made in a letter to Banking Division Secretary M Aslam Alam yesterday.

The sectary said the pay scales had been stuck in the finance division which administered the implementation department. He said without assistance of the implementation department the new pay scales was impossible to be implemented.

Last month the law ministry informed the implementation department of finance division that the separate pay scale for Bangladesh Bank employees could be executed under the existing legal framework and amendment would not be required.

Bangladesh Bank and the four stateowned banks have a total of 61,000 staff whose salaries will increase by 70% after implementation of the pay scales.

In the letter, the minister also directed the division to take steps to offload shares of state-owned banks and enterprises within the present tenure of the government.

According to the document, the division has been asked to start initial works immediately to off-load state banks’ shares.

Although such decision was made for several times before, no progress was seen. The letter said BFID would sit soon with Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) and Investment Corporation of Bangladesh (ICB) to make a specific timeframe to offload SoE shares.

Besides, in 2010, the finance ministry agreed to a proposal suggested by the World Bank to “divest” a certain portion of government shares of the currently 100% state-owned commercial banks to the stock market to shore up the capital-starved public banks and improve their fragile management.

As part of the process, ICB was made issue manager of the three stateowned banks. Assets and liabilities of the state-owned banks have already been calculated.

Earlier, the finance minister was disappointed at the poor performance of the state enterprises in divesting their shares as only seven SoEs out of 27 had so far offloaded their shares.

The state-run enterprises were supposed to offload their stakes up to 49% in the stock market by August 2011, a timeframe approved by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

However, only five SoEs - Jamuna Oil Company Ltd, Meghna Petroleum Company Ltd, Eastern Lubricants Ltd, National Tubes Ltd, Bangladesh Shipping Corporation, Rupali Bank Ltd and Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Ltd complied with the government’s instruction and off-loaded their shares. l

Finance Minister AMA Muhith

DHAKA TRIBUNE

NBR to extend eTIN registration deadline again n Syed Samiul Basher Anik National Board of Revenue has decided in principle to extend the deadline for registering with electronic Taxpayers Identification Number (eTIN) by another spell of three months due to poor responses from the taxpayers, officials said.

They said the deadline has earlier been extended for three months till March 31, but desired number of taxpayers did not turn up to be net-

ted under the eTIN. Only around 1.8 lakh taxpayers have been registered with the system as of yesterday since starting of the extension on January 1.

There are 17 lakh valid TIN holders in the country. Of them, over 11 lakh could be brought under the eTIN so far.

“NBR is now contemplating to extend the deadline again till June 30,” a senior official told Dhaka Tribune yesterday. The new deadline is expected to be announced on March 31 when the

Mobile financial transaction falls for the first time in Feb n Tribune Report

Financial transaction through mobile has dropped last month for the first time since launching mobile financial service (MFS) by the central bank in 2011.

Bankers attributed Bangladesh Bank’s tightening MFS guideline to the fall of mobile financial transaction.

In February, mobile financial transaction stood at Tk6,534 crore, down 8.6% from Tk7,149 crore in January and volume of transactions declined by 12.7% to 29,022,643 crore during the period, the BB data showed.

“Transaction through mobile took a hit due to imposing ceiling for daily and monthly transaction,” said a senior executive of a private bank.

He said people who have no account are not allowed to transact, leading to lower volume of transaction.

In September last year, Bangladesh Bank (BB) tightened MFS guideline, limiting the number of money transactions through mobile phone accounts and keeping a provision of cancelling licences to agency ship to check forgeries.

Restriction has also been imposed on mobile transaction for people who

have no mobile account and highest ceiling was set Tk10,000 for daily and Tk25,000 for monthly transaction from one mobile account to other.

According to BB, number of registered agents in February was 2,57,561, an increase of 23.35% from the previous month’s 2,08,806 and registered clients reached 1.5 crore, up by more than 7% from 1.4 crore during the period.

“Cash-in” transaction declined by 8.46% to Tk 2,753 crore and “cash-out’’ transaction fell by 9.67% to Tk2533 crore during the period.

Remittance sent using MFS has also dropped by 38.43% in February compared to the previous month.

Of 28 banks that got MFS approval, 19 are in operation.

The BB has introduced MFS in 2011 to bring poor and unbanked people under banking activities as well as to facilitate the Bangladeshi expatriates to safely send their remittances in the rural areas.

Mobile banking service gained popularity for easy and hassle free transaction as the number of mobile financial services customer crossed the milestone of one crore in November last year. l

existing deadline expires.

He said the NBR is planning to extend the deadline to brought remaining taxpayers.

Among the eTIN holders, some 8.79 lakh are old taxpayers who have re-registered with eTIN and the remaining are the new taxpayers.

The officials said the newly formed special cell, which was established only to deal with the eTIN related issues are now working on facilitating the taxpayers to be reregis-

tered with eTIN. The revenue authorities introduced the system on July 1 to boost revenue collection, reduce hassles and prevent issuance of fake TINs. With the new system, the existing 10-digit TIN will be replaced with 12-digit ones. According to the newly introduced system, computer generated TIN certificates will be issued as soon as the application procedure is completed online. l

12,000 farmers to come under crop insurance n Tribune Report The government is set to launch a $2m crop insurance programme to help at least 12,000 farmers across the country to mitigate inclement weather-related risks in cultivation.

Japan is providing the grant through the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction.

Asian Development Bank (ADB) will administer the fund and provide technical support for implementing the Weather Index-Based Crop Insurance Project.

The Government of Bangladesh is providing in-kind support of $420,000.

To this effect, ADB and Bangladesh signed a grant agreement to develop the new crop insurance products that will give smallholder farmers in Bangladesh income protection from increasingly severe storms and natural disasters, says an ADB press release yesterday.

Economic Relations Division (ERD) joint secretary Saifuddin Ahmed and officer-in-charge and deputy country director of ADB’s Bangladesh Resident Mission Oleg Tonkonojenkov signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations at ERD in Dhaka.

First secretary of Embassy of Japan in Dhaka Takayuki Kawakami, among others, also attended the ceremony.

The project will design and pilot crop insurance products over a threeyear period in selected districts, with the goal of providing coverage to at least 12,000 farm households.

“Small scale farmers with few resources are typically unable to insure their crops against extreme weather events and can lose their entire income every time a storm hits,” said Oleg Tonkonojenkov.

“Extreme weather events are on the rise and the goal of the project is to develop and pilot a new affordable type of insurance product which will allow and encourage more farmers to protect their livelihoods.”

Bangladesh is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world due to its geography, and there are estimates that agricultural gross domestic product from 2005 to 2050 will be 3.1% lower each year as a result of climate change.

Despite the increasing demand, no crop insurance has been available in Bangladesh recently due to huge financial losses incurred in the traditional

ICT villages and hi-tech parks planned under public private partnership Showkat Kallol and n Asif Muhammad Zahidul Islam The government has initiated steps to establish ICT villages and hi-tech parks in the country under public private partnership (PPP) initiative.

The proposals are being placed before the cabinet committee on economic affairs (CCEA) tomorrow, seeking approval.

The proposals include plans for initially establishing two ICT villages in the capital’s Mohakhali and in Rajshahi, and a hi-tech park in Sylhet.

The Information and Communication Technology Division in the Ministry of Post, Telecommunication and Information Technology last week sent the proposals to the cabinet committee.

“We have sent three different project proposals under an umbrella to develop the ICT sector of the country,” Kamal Uddin Ahmed, additional secretary of the ICT Division, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

He also said the ICT Division has decided to develop all the infrastructures

related to hi-tech parks under the PPP model, while the three proposed projects fell under that bracket.

Sources at the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority (BHTPA) said requests for proposal (RFP) for the ICT villages and hi-tech park have already been offloaded, although the government was yet to issue any formal approval.

confirmed Mir Nasir, managing director of the company.

“We have two different foreign partners and hope of getting the work order,” he said.

Additional Secretary Kamal Uddin Ahmed said although the RFP has already been offloaded, it will not create any problem for the CCEA’s approval.

'This will be a primary approval and we need to go to the CCEA again before getting final approval from the Cabinet Committee on Public Procurement (CCPP)' Three offers have reportedly been submitted for the Mohakhali ICT village, which will be built on 47 acres of land currently occupied by slum dwellers, the sources said.

Local company Mir Telecomm Ltd has applied to develop the project with a foreign partner, while the BHTPA has also received two more proposals from two different consortiums, the sources added.

Mir Telecomm has also submitted proposal for the Sylhet hi-tech park,

“This will be a primary approval and we need to go to the CCEA again before getting final approval from the Cabinet Committee on Public Procurement (CCPP).”

The government has acquired 162.83 acres of land in Sylhet’s Companiganj Upazila for its hi-tech park, as well as acquiring 34.5631 acres of land to establish “Varendra Silicon City” at Poba Upazila in Rajshahi.

Kamal said evaluations would be made on all the proposals, in which the

BSEC okays IPO, UFS Unit Fund and a bond n Tribune Report Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) yesterday approved an initial public offering (IPO), an open-end fund and a subordinated bond.

Far East Knitting and Dyeing Industries Ltd will raise Tk67.5 crore through IPO to finance its balancing, modernisation, rehabilitation and expansion (BMRE), repay

agricultural insurance.

Weather index-based crop insurance, which incorporates historical weather and crop production data, is considered to be more cost-effective and efficient than traditional agriculture insurance as it reduces farm-level monitoring and transaction costs.

Several countries in Asia, including India, Indonesia, Mongolia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, have begun piloting or providing these products, but this is the first time they are being trialed in Bangladesh.

High transaction costs and poor outreach networks can make it costly to distribute insurance in rural areas – up to 40% of premium costs in some cases.

This makes traditional crop insurance less affordable. This project will collaborate with different partners such as agricultural banks, multilateral financial institutions, and farmer cooperatives to develop and pilot new models of distribution that reduce transaction costs and make the business sustainable.

To improve the accuracy of weather data, the use of space technology through remote sensing will be explored in collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Agency.

The project will also upgrade at least 20 weather stations, and provide training and education on weather-indexed insurance to at least 400 staff from government and meteorological agencies, insurance companies, agricultural institutions, and civil society groups.

Along with reduced premiums and improved distribution, the planned insurance scheme will provide other benefits to farmers, such as income support during lean periods, access to credit, and a buffer against loan defaults.

Insurance literacy and climate risk awareness seminars will be provided to at least 6,000 small and marginal farmers. The project will also support the development of a regulatory and legal framework to accommodate the new “untraditional” insurance products.

The pilot project has been linked to the ADB-assisted Second Crop Diversification Project with the new products to be bundled with microcredit supplied by microfinance institutions to farmers shifting into higher value-added crops. l

term loan and meet IPO expenses, said a statement.

It will issue 2.5 crore ordinary shares with an offer value of Tk27, including premium of Tk17 each. The textile company’s weighted average earnings per share is Tk3.28 and net asset value Tk19.08, according to its financial statement ended on June 30, 2013.

The securities regulator gave consent on a draft trust deed and investment manage-

ment of UFS Unit Fund, an open-end fund.

The fund size is Tk10 crore and Universal Financial Solutions Ltd will act as the fund manager.

Mercantile Bank will issue a seven-year coupon-bearing subordinated bond worth Tk300 crore to implement Basel-II in line with the central bank order.

The bond’s face value is Tk10,00,000 and to be sold through private placement with inter-

est rate from minimum 12% to maximum 15%.

Except present shareholder of the bank, other bank, non-banking financial institutions, corporate organisations, insurers, asset management company, mutual funds, merchant banks and individual will be able to buy this bond with seven-year maturity.

In 2010, Bangladesh Bank directed all scheduled banks to implement Basel II requirements to guard financial risks. l

companies would need to explain how much money they planned on investing and their plans for facilities of the projects.

“We only offer them the lands and some basic infrastructures like boundary walls, fiber optic connections and a substation for power generation,” he added.

As per the government decision, the park would have provisions for attracting foreign companies to set up operations in the country, as well as developing indigenous technological capability for the development of the local industries.

The park would also try to create conducive atmosphere for establishing ICT, engineering, electronics, telecommunication, biotechnology and other related knowledge-based industry.

Administrative support to ensure different utility services would also be provided to the potential investors.

The government has also undertaken similar projects in Jessore, Natore and other districts. It also had plans to establish ICT parks in every district, ICT Division sources also said. l

B2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Stock

Stocks rebound on buying binge

DSE key features March 25, 2014

n Tribune Report

Number of Contract

Pharmaceuticals gained more than 2%, driven by Square Pharmaceuticals – the second largest cap stock in the market – rose over 4%.

Telecommunications, fuel and power, food and allied and textile sector ended in positive territory.

However, non-banking financial institutions closed in red.

ILDC Investments said with last session displaying larger shed-offs compared to previous few sessions, the bourse observed a bounce over some natural buy pressure, mostly from “bargain hunters.”

“Since investors did not have perfect confirmation of the reversal, fresh fund injections were not so much active, leading the turnover lower,” it said.

Zenith Investment said market took a recess from its ongoing correction phase and gracefully closed in the positive territory. “However, this type of short term recovery has always been observed, at least once in every week, which does not define any trend.”

Square Pharmaceuticals witnessed highest volume of trade with shares worth nearly almost Tk223 crore changing hands, making up 4.4% of the total DSE turnover.

It was followed by Bangladesh Shipping Corporation, Lafarge Surma Cement, Emeral Oil Industries, Grameenphone and Familytex and Padma Oil. l

Stocks rebounded yesterday on buying binge spurred by mainly government’s indication to cut tax on all non-RMG exportable goods.

The rally was led by particularly financials and manufacturing stocks that helped market pull back.

After two consecutive sessions of losses, the benchmark index DSEX gained 33 points or 0.8% to close at 4,498, recovering from its previous session’s 10-month low.

Shariah Index DSES rose 11 points or 1% to 979. The blue-chip comprising DS30 was up 17 points or 1% to end at 1,607. Chittagong Stock Exchange Selective Category Index, CSCX, closed at 8,766 with a rise of 67 points.

Lacklustre trading continued at the bourses despite slight increase in turnover to Tk300 crore at the Dhaka Stock Exchange. Lanka Bangla Securities in its daily market analysis said stocks rebounded as buyers came back to the trading floor.

“Only piece of news which might have impact on capital market is extension of tax waiver on export of apparel industry to all non-RMG goods as part of the incentive package for the industries made loss during the political unrest.”

Banks – the market bellwether - edged higher after dismal performance over the last few sessions.

Company

3,006.51 53,284,969 78,056

Traded Issues

288

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

159

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

122

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

7

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,234.26

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

27.08

CSE key features March 25, 2014 Turnover (Million Taka)

245.85

Turnover (Volume)

Daily capital market highlights DSE Broad Index :

DSE GAINERS

Turnover (Million Taka) Turnover (Volume)

5,401,407

Number of Contract

10,515

4498.77168

(+) 0.73%

▲

Traded Issues

218

979.33914

(+) 1.17%

▲

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

114

DSE - 30 Index :

1606.91144

(+) 1.10%

▲

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

94

CSE All Share Index:

13923.3507

(+) 0.70%

▲

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

9

CSE - 30 Index :

11744.1001

(+) 1.19%

▲

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,132.38

8765.7669

(+) 0.77%

▲

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

25.85

DSE Shariah Index :

CSE Selected Index : DSE LOSERS

Libra Infusions-A 2nd ICB M F -A Kohinoor Chem -A ICB AMCL IslamicMF-A Pragati Gen. I -A Meghna PET Ind. -Z Brac B.C. Bond-A Emerald Oil Ind. -N

-7.34 -5.72 -3.99 -3.33 -3.32 -3.13 -2.88 -2.82

Average (% change) -7.33 -6.22 -3.06 -3.48 -3.56 -4.04 -2.88 1.48

Bengal Windsor-A Apex Tannery -A

-2.70 -2.66

-1.17 -1.11

Company

Closing (% change)

CSE LOSERS

MutualTrust Bank-A Midas Financing-Z Northern G Insur-A Fareast Islami Life -A Kay & Que (BD) -Z Samata LeatheR -Z AIBL 1st Is. M. F.-A Marico BD Ltd-A

-12.14 -9.87 -9.81 -5.28 -4.74 -4.29 -3.75 -3.51

Average (% change) -11.32 -5.52 -8.84 -5.26 -4.74 -5.18 -4.38 -3.51

Janata Insur -A Islami Ins.BD-A

-3.27 -3.17

-3.71 -3.17

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

DSE Million Taka 224.73 93.42 36.26 378.45 306.63 220.16 4.14 406.54 374.57 1.80 26.92 92.43 19.98 216.02 18.22 49.66 97.43 200.39 30.85 207.42 0.49

Turnover in million

Daily low

Latest EPS

Latest PE

463.33 270.10 356.86 20.27 58.43 6.18 1010.00 56.36

463.10 270.10 356.20 20.30 58.20 6.20 1010.00 55.10

465.00 270.10 370.00 20.40 60.30 6.30 1010.00 58.00

462.70 270.10 356.20 20.20 58.10 6.20 1010.00 54.50

0.556 0.081 0.187 0.152 1.007 0.034 0.005 124.531

3.04 35.42 7.88 2.56 4.19 -1.30 0.00 1.40

152.4 7.6 45.3 7.9 13.9 -ve 40.3

54.99 175.13

54.10 171.80

56.30 180.00

52.00 165.00

20.226 44.265

2.50 4.86

22.0 36.0

Turnover in million

Latest EPS

Closing

15.20 27.40 43.20 107.74 18.10 33.50 7.65 1,045.00

15.20 27.40 43.20 107.70 18.10 33.50 7.70 1,045.00

15.20 27.40 43.20 110.00 18.10 34.50 7.70 1,045.00

15.20 27.40 43.20 107.00 18.10 32.50 7.60 1,045.00

0.015 0.096 0.043 0.167 0.009 0.034 0.015 0.052

1.86 -5.96 3.04 4.60 -0.89 -0.04 1.24 46.53

8.2 -ve 14.2 23.4 -ve -ve 6.2 22.5

23.59 30.50

23.70 30.50

23.80 31.00

22.70 30.30

0.033 0.122

0.76 1.60

31.0 19.1

Daily high

Daily low

Al-Haj Textile -A Shampur Sugar -Z Northern Jute -Z Eastern Lubricants -A Rahim Textile -A Zeal Bangla Sugar -Z Apex SpinningA Monno Ceramic -B Monno Stafllers -A Reckitt Benckiser -A

Since investors did not have perfect confirmation of the reversal, fresh fund injections were not so much active, leading the turnover lower

% change 7.47 3.11 1.21 12.59 10.20 7.32 0.14 13.52 12.46 0.06 0.90 3.07 0.66 7.19 0.61 1.65 3.24 6.67 1.03 6.90 0.02

Million Taka 18.82 7.10 2.40 20.29 41.01 43.93 62.62 23.09 55.24 3.32 59.81 1.20 9.17 4.06 1.78 3.00 24.95 5.25 24.09 0.01

% change 4.58 1.73 0.58 4.94 9.98 10.69 0.00 15.23 5.62 13.44 0.81 14.55 0.29 2.23 0.99 0.43 0.73 6.07 1.28 5.86 0.00

Million Taka 243.55 100.52 38.66 398.74 347.64 264.09 4.14 469.17 397.67 57.04 30.25 152.24 21.18 225.19 22.28 51.43 100.43 225.34 36.09 231.51 0.50

Total

9.62 9.59 9.55 8.73 8.73 7.87 7.62 7.23 6.40 6.36

CSE GAINERS Company Monno Ceramic -B Rahima Food -Z Familytex (BD) Ltd.-N ACI ZERO Bond-A Union Capital -A Sinobangla Indu.-A Uttara Bank - A Padma Islami Life*-N Paramount Textile Ltd.-A Eastern Housing -A

Closing (% change) 9.33 6.25 5.76 5.14 5.08 4.78 4.48 4.32 4.29 4.04

Average (% change) 8.53 8.40 8.80 7.06 5.13 9.62 6.09 6.72 5.72 6.38 Average (% change) 6.68 3.95 5.71 5.12 5.20 5.33 4.52 4.49 4.48 3.16

Closing average

Closing

130.53 8.00 82.50 445.74 312.28 9.69 101.51 36.51 325.88 1,000.00

134.40 8.00 82.60 452.00 317.50 9.60 104.50 37.10 327.70 1,000.00

Closing average

Closing

36.42 49.76 62.20 890.00 26.89 28.48 30.03 74.75 45.92 48.67

37.50 51.00 62.40 890.00 26.90 28.50 30.30 74.80 46.20 48.90

Daily high 134.80 8.00 82.90 452.00 317.50 9.70 105.70 37.40 331.00 1,000.00

Daily high 37.60 51.50 64.00 890.00 27.00 28.90 30.40 75.00 46.50 49.50

Daily low 119.50 8.00 82.00 420.00 298.00 9.60 96.30 34.50 308.00 1,000.00

Daily low 35.30 49.20 61.00 890.00 26.50 28.10 29.00 74.50 44.50 47.90

Turnover in million 61.897 0.043 0.066 14.442 3.560 0.313 5.644 10.301 0.831 0.050

Turnover in million 0.616 0.224 3.546 0.003 0.296 1.296 1.061 0.075 9.808 1.933

Latest EPS 2.06 -50.84 -10.24 6.02 11.56 -25.08 1.85 0.38 5.25 28.52

Latest EPS 0.38 -1.00 8.29 0.00 1.17 0.80 3.63 1.10 2.80 1.56

Latest PE 63.4 -ve -ve 74.0 27.0 -ve 54.9 96.1 62.1 35.1

Latest PE 95.8 -ve 7.5 23.0 35.6 8.3 68.0 16.4 31.2

News from tradeserver UTTARABANK: The Board of Directors has recommended 15% cash dividend and 10% stock dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2013. Date of AGM: 11.05.2014, Time: 11:00 AM, Venue: Rangamati Waterfront, Sinaboho Bazar, Shafipur, Gazipur.

Record date: 06.04.2014. The Company has also reported consolidated profit after provision and tax of Tk. 1,319.47 million, consolidated EPS of Tk. 3.63, consolidated NAV per share of Tk. 29.42 and consolidated NOCFPS of Tk. 11.61 for the year ended on December 31, 2013.

ICBIBANK: The Board of Directors did not recommend any dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2013. Date of AGM: 10.06.2014, Time: 10:00 AM, Venue: "Trust Milonayaton", Old Airport Road, Dhaka Cantonment. Record Date: 16.04.2014. The Company has also reported net profit/(loss) after tax of Tk. (680.75) million, EPS of Tk. (1.02), NAV per share of Tk. (14.06) and NOCFPS of Tk. 0.71 for the year ended on December 31, 2013.

Board of Directors’ Meeting: ONEBANKLTD on March 25, 2014 at 3:00 PM. HEIDELBCEM on April 02, 2014 at 4:30 PM. MER-

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Square Pharma -A BSC-A LafargeS Cement-Z Emerald Oil Ind. -N BD Submarine Cable-A Grameenphone-A Familytex (BD) Ltd.-N

CSE

Closing (% change)

CANBANK on March 30, 2014 at 3:00 PM. FAMILYTEX on March 31, 2014 at 3:30 PM. CVOPRL: In connection to their price sensitive news disseminated by DSE on dated March 18, 2014 the Company has further informed that the Board of the Directors of the Company has decided to hold the opening ceremony of the test run of their Refinery Plant on April 02, 2014.

Primary Status of IPO of FAR Chemical Industries Ltd.: All concerned are hereby informed that the primary status of the IPO of FAR Chemical Industries Ltd.: Total amount of subscription (excluding NRB)=Tk.8,447,345,000.

Total amount received from NRB Tk. 152,500,000 up to 24 March 2014.

From BIASL Desk: Impact after declaration: UTTARABANK price up by 2.04%, close at taka 30.0 with PE 8.26. ICBIBANK price dropped by 1.81%, close at taka 5.40 with PE negative.

RIGHT SHARE: ARAMITCEM: Subscription 23.03.2014 to 17.04.2014. RD for entitlement of rights share: 09.01.2014.

RUPALILIFE- Subscription 06.04.2014 to 05.05.2014. RD for entitlement of rights share: 16.01.2014. BRACBANK: Subscrip-

tion 20.04.2014 to 15.05.2014. RD for entitlement of rights share: 10.02.2014.

GENNEXT: Subscription 18.03.2014 to 09.04.2014, RD: 25.02.2014.

IPO Subscription: The Peninsula Chittagong Limited subscription date 30 March-03 April 2014, NRB upto 12 April 2014. @ taka 30, face value taka 10 and market lot 200. Shahjibazar Power Co. Limited subscription date 06-04 April 2014, NRB upto 19 April 2014. @ taka 25, face value taka 10 and market lot 200.

Dividend/AGM UNITEDINS: 10% cash, AGM: 30.04.2014, Record date: 06.04.2014.

BIFC: 5% stock, AGM: 24.04.2014, Record Date: 03.04.2014.

IFIC: 15% Stock, AGM: 01.06.2014, Record Date: 24.04.2014.

IBBLPBOND: Annual profit rate of 12.80%, Record Date: 03.04.2014.

ISLAMIBANK: 8% cash & 10% stock, AGM: 31.05.2014, Record date: 03.04.2014.

PIONEERINS: 10% cash & 20% stock, AGM: 18.05.2014, RD: 31.03.2014.

GLOBALINS: 10% stock, Date of AGM: 17.05.2014, RD: 07.04.2014.

Latest PE

Closing average

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY Sector

Daily high

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

% change 7.13 2.94 1.13 11.67 10.17 7.73 0.12 13.73 11.64 1.67 0.89 4.45 0.62 6.59 0.65 1.50 2.94 6.59 1.06 6.77 0.01

Prepared exclusively for Dhaka Tribune by Business Information Automation Service Line (BIASL), on the basis of information collected from daily stock quotations and audited reports of the listed companies. High level of caution has been taken to collect and present the above information and data. The publisher will not take any responsibility if any body uses this information and data for his/her investment decision. For any query please email to biasl@bol-online.com or call 01552153562 or go to www.biasl.net

Padma Oil Co. -A National Tubes -A Al-Haj Textile -A

Atlas BD-A Paramount Textile Ltd.-A Olympic Ind. -A Meghna Petroleum -A BD Building Systems -A CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company BD Submarine Cable-A

BSC-A Square Pharma -A Paramount Textile Ltd.-A LafargeS Cement-Z Mozaffar H.Spinning-N Padma Oil Co. -A Grameenphone-A Emerald Oil Ind. -N Appollo Ispat CL -N Familytex (BD) Ltd.-N UNITED AIR-A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A aamra technologies-A BD Building Systems -A

Volume shares 884,257 229,965 3,300,500 2,209,500 515,657 459,600 1,200,500 211,508 397,948 474,202

269,801 1,206,650 265,238 166,940 631,775

Volume shares

95,850 27,570 48,535 213,560 152,500 206,000 20,436 27,200 24,377 174,600 57,000 230,021 102,202 82,885 40,225

Value in million 229.73 154.80 154.64 124.53 103.27 97.12 74.51 71.08 68.67 61.90

56.00 55.50 55.23 45.87 45.21

Value in million

19.22 18.55 12.73 9.81 7.14 6.93 6.88 5.73 5.09 4.84 3.55 3.35 3.16 3.14 2.87

% of total turnover 7.64 5.15 5.14 4.14 3.44 3.23 2.48 2.36 2.28 2.06

1.86 1.85 1.84 1.53 1.50

% of total turnover

8.80 8.50 5.83 4.49 3.27 3.17 3.15 2.63 2.33 2.22 1.62 1.54 1.45 1.44 1.32

Daily closing 268.50 664.25 46.50 55.10 202.90 212.00 62.10 336.50 172.20 134.40

206.70 46.30 209.90 275.70 70.90

Daily closing

203.00 664.80 269.50 46.20 46.50 33.20 337.30 211.80 55.20 27.60 62.40 14.50 30.90 37.70 70.90

Price change 4.35 -2.03 -1.48 -2.82 0.79 1.92 4.37 1.54 -1.43 9.62

Daily opening 257.30 678.00 47.20 56.70 201.30 208.00 59.50 331.40 174.70 122.60

Daily high 270.00 684.75 47.40 58.00 205.00 212.30 63.00 340.00 177.50 134.80

Price change

Daily opening

Daily high

2.89 4.75 2.44 1.36 -1.94

0.69 -1.99 4.62 4.29 -1.69 2.47 1.54 1.78 -2.13 0.00 5.76 -0.68 0.32 -0.26 -2.21

200.90 44.20 204.90 272.00 72.30

201.60 678.30 257.60 44.30 47.30 32.40 332.20 208.10 56.40 27.60 59.00 14.60 30.80 37.80 72.50

211.90 46.60 211.00 277.00 72.90

205.50 683.80 270.90 46.50 47.80 34.10 339.00 212.20 58.00 28.00 64.00 16.00 31.50 38.30 72.50

Daily low 235.00 662.25 46.20 54.50 183.70 207.30 60.50 328.00 158.00 119.50

Daily average 259.80 673.13 46.85 56.36 200.27 211.31 62.07 336.05 172.56 130.53

Daily low

Daily average

190.00 40.00 200.10 249.00 67.00

196.20 662.50 252.10 44.50 46.30 32.50 332.00 207.10 54.50 27.50 61.00 13.20 27.80 34.30 65.70

207.55 46.00 208.22 274.76 71.57

200.50 672.71 262.34 45.92 46.83 33.62 336.68 210.69 208.85 27.69 62.20 14.57 30.91 37.86 71.43

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

B3

Hundreds rush to rural Chinese banks after solvency rumours n Reuters Hundreds of people rushed yesterday to withdraw money from branches of two small Chinese banks after rumours spread about solvency at one of them, reflecting growing anxiety among investors as regulators signal greater tolerance for credit defaults.

The case highlights the urgency of plans to put in place a deposit insurance system to protect investors against bank insolvency, as Chinese grow increasingly nervous about the impact of slowing economic growth on financial institutions.

Regulators have said they will roll out deposit insurance as soon as possible, without giving a firm deadline.

Domestic media reported, and a local official confirmed, that ordinary depositors swarmed a branch of Jiangsu Sheyang Rural Commercial Bank in Yancheng in economically troubled Jiangsu province on Monday.

The semi-official China News Service quoted the bank’s chairman, Zang Zhengzhi, as saying it would ensure payments to all the depositors. The report did not say how the rumour originated.

Chen Dequn, a resident in Yandong, just outside Yancheng, said she saw a crowd of about 70 to 80 people gathering in a branch of Sheyang Rural Commercial Bank in her town on Tuesday.

“At the moment there are about 70 or 80 people in there. Normally there’d only be about 10,” she told Reuters by

People gather in front of a branch of Jiangsu Sheyang Rural Commercial Bank, in Yancheng, Jiangsu province telephone.

Officials at another small bank, Rural Commercial Bank of Huanghai, said they had faced similar rushes by depositors, triggered by rumours of insolvency at Sheyang.

“We will be holding an emergency

Cisco joins cloud computing race with $1bn plan n Reuters Cisco Systems Inc plans to offer cloud computing services, pledging to spend $1bn over the next two years to enter a market currently led by the world’s biggest online retailer Amazon.com Inc. Cisco said it will spend the amount to build data centres to help run the new service called Cisco Cloud Services.

Cisco, which mainly deals in networking hardware, wants to take advantage of companies’ desire to rent computing services rather than buying and maintaining their own machines.

The company said it plans to deliver the service with and through partners including Australian telecom service provider Telstra, tech distributor Ingram Micro Inc, and Indian IT company Wipro Ltd. “Customers, providers and channel

partners ... want to rapidly deploy valuable enterprise-class cloud experiences for key customers - all while mitigating the risk of capital investment,” Rob Lloyd, Cisco’s president of development and sales, said in a statement.

Cisco’s plans were first reported by the Wall Street Journal.

Enterprise hardware spending is dwindling across the globe as companies cope with shrinking budgets, slowing or uncertain economies and a fundamental migration to cloud computing, which reduces demand for equipment by outsourcing data management and computing needs.

Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) last year said it was cutting prices for hosting and processing customers’ online data in an aggressive challenge to Amazon’s lead in the growing business of cloud computing. l

Investors both in China and globally have taken note of Beijing’s recent decision to allow China’s first domestic bond default. Chaori Solar Energy Science and Technology Co Ltd missed a bond coupon payment in March. Officials have indicated publicly that they believe other defaults are inevitable but do not believe such incidents will lead to systemic risk.

In the past, domestic bond issuers were routinely bailed out by local governments and banks, and the willingness of regulators to let Chaori miss interest payments negatively impacted rates in Chinese offshore credit markets.

More recently, media also reported a heavily indebted real estate developer in Zhejiang province was at risk of defaulting on 3.5bn yuan worth of loans - a situation that has yet to be resolved.

When contacted by Reuters by phone on Tuesday, an official at the Jiangsu Sheyang Rural Commercial Bank branch hung up, saying she was busy.

An official at the administrative office at Jiangsu Sheyang Rural Commercial Bank said the bank would publish a statement shortly. On its website, the bank says it is capitalised at 525m yuan and had total deposits of 12bn yuan as of end-February, Officials at the Jiangsu branch offices of the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC) declined to comment.

The Yancheng branch of CBRC and the propaganda offices in Yancheng city and Sheyang county did not answer calls seeking comment. l

meeting tonight,” an official at the bank’s administration office told Reuters, but declined to comment further.

Why Yancheng investors suddenly lost confidence in the security of their bank deposits is not clear, given that the Sheyang bank is subject to formal

reserve requirements, loan-to-deposit ratios and other rules to ensure it keeps sufficient cash on hand to meet demand.

Bank failures in China are virtually unknown, as Chinese banks are considered to operate under an implicit guar-

Oil prices ease in Asia

How Facebook avoided Google’s fate in talent poaching lawsuit

n AFP, Singapore

A visitor walks past a Cisco advertising panel as she looks at her mobile phone at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona REUTERS

REUTERS

antee from the government.

Finally, money market interest rates have eased since February, and traders say liquidity in the interbank market - where banks like Sheyang can tap short-term funds to meet depositor demand - remains relatively relaxed.

“It’s true that these rumours exist, but actually (the bank going bankrupt) is impossible. It’s a completely different situation from the problem with the cooperatives,” said Zhang Chaoyang, an official at the propaganda department of the Communist Party committee in Tinghu district, where the bank branch is located.

Zhang was referring to an incident that rattled depositors in Yancheng in January, when some rural cooperatives - which are not subject to the supervision of the bank regulator - ran out of cash and locked their doors.

Local officials say several co-op bosses fled after committing fraud.

China’s central bank governor said this month that deposit rates are likely to liberalised in one to two years - the most explicit timeframe to date for what would be the final step in freeing up banks to set their own interest rates.

It is widely expected to introduce a deposit insurance scheme before freeing up deposit rates, to protect savers in case a liberalised market puts major strains on smaller banks and alarms the public. Analysts also expect the controls on deposit rates to be lifted gradually. Is China’s debt nightmare a province called Jiangsu?

Crude prices fell in Asian trade yesterday after a key petroleum shipping channel in the United States was closed following a collision that resulted in an oil spill.

Investors were also waiting for the release Wednesday of weekly crude oil stockpiles in the United States to gauge demand in the world’s biggest oil consuming nation, analysts said.

New York’s main contract, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for May delivery eased two cents to $99.58 a barrel in afternoon trade, and Brent North Sea crude for May dipped 13 cents to $106.68.

Kenny Kan, an analyst at CMC Markets in Singapore, said the temporary closure of the Houston shipping route lifted WTI prices.

The Houston Ship Channel was shut down after a weekend collision between a barge and a ship resulted in the spill of about 168,000 gallons (636,000 litres) of fuel oil into the waterway.

The closure disrupted supplies to refineries in the US Gulf Coast.

Kan said in a market commentary that “although the temporary closure of the shipping channel may not have a tangible impact on this week’s crude inventories report, it has caused much volatility”.

Brent prices continued to face downward pressure following weak manufacturing data in China, the world’s second biggest economy.

British banking giant HSBC’s flash purchasing managers index (PMI) for March for China’s key manufacturing sector came in at 48.1, an eight-month low and down from 48.5 in February.

Any PMI reading below 50 indicates contraction while a figure above points to expansion. l

n Reuters, San Francisco Facebook Inc has emerged as one of the biggest Silicon Valley companies to have resisted rivals’ entreaties to stop poaching each other’s employees, according to emails between the No. 1 social network and Google Inc released in court filings.

Sheryl Sandberg had just been installed as Facebook’s chief operating officer when one of her former colleagues from Google emailed her, according to the filings unsealed late last week. Facebook’s aggressive recruitment of Google employees had heightened tensions between the two companies to “Defcon 2,” top Google executive Jonathan Rosenberg told Sandberg in August 2008.

“Fix this problem. Propose that you will substantially lower the rate at which you hire people from us,” Rosenberg told Sandberg in an email. “Then make sure that happens.”

But Sandberg deflected Rosenberg’s entreaties, saying she thought Google only had limited no-solicitation agreements with companies with which it shared board members, not blanket no-hire policies with other companies.

Plaintiffs say companies like Apple Inc, Google and Intel Corp drove down wages by agreeing to avoid soliciting employees from each other.

“I declined at that time to limit Facebook’s recruitment or hiring of Google employees,” Sandberg wrote in a sworn declaration submitted by the plaintiffs in court.

That response had made Facebook a witness, rather than a defendant, in a massive antitrust lawsuit brought by tech workers against the largest players

in Silicon Valley.

A Facebook representative declined to comment on Monday, while a Google spokesman could not immediately be reached.

In past statements, Google said it has always “actively and aggressively” recruited top talent.

Harry First, a professor at New York University School of Law who specializes in antitrust, said on Monday the exchange between Sandberg and Rosenberg at a minimum confirms how board relationships between the tech companies initially drove the agreements not to solicit from each other, which then expanded from there.

“That does not look good to the jury,” First said.

However, the defendants can also argue that the refusal of companies like Facebook to limit hiring shows that

any alleged conspiracy could not have impacted the broader job market and wages in general.

In 2010, Google, Apple, Adobe Systems Inc, Intel and others agreed to a settlement of a US Justice Department probe that barred them from agreeing not to poach each other’s employees.

The companies have since been fighting the civil antitrust lawsuit. They argue the plaintiffs cannot successfully prove an overarching conspiracy to impact wages.

Facebook is not the only Silicon Valley company which rejected a request to curtail its hiring efforts. In 2007, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs threatened to file a patent lawsuit against Palm if that company’s chief executive didn’t agree to refrain from poaching Apple employees, according to correspondence filed in court. l

IMF releases fresh funds for Pakistan n AFP, Washington

Dhaka Bank Training Institute recently organised a four-weeks long foundation training programme for its 29 bankers. Emranul Huq, the bank’s DMD addressed the valediction as chief guest

First Security Islami Bank Ltd recently shifted its Chittagong zonal office at plot 6 of block K on Port Connecting Road, Halishahar Housing Estate, Halishahar, Chittagong recently.

Syed Habib Hasnat, the bank’s DMD inaugurated the newly located branch

Muhammad Ayub, president of Narayangonj Cotton Association was elected as the governor of Rotary for the year 2016-17.

He was elected at conference of Rotary Int’l 3281 of Bangladesh held recently in Dhaka. He is associated with federation chamber, indenting agent’s association and Narayangonj Club.

Rupali Bank Limited opened its 531st branch at Muladi Bondor at Barisal recently. M Farid Uddin, the bank’s MD inaugurated the branch as chief guest

The International Monetary Fund approved Monday a fresh aid disbursement to Pakistan after the country passed the second review of its ongoing $6.8bn support program.

The IMF immediately freed $555.6m for the country, with the money helping the government bridge financing gaps while it undertakes fiscal reforms required under the program.

It was the third tranche of the threeyear program, approved in September

2013, which required the government to implement strict economic reforms, particularly in its troubled energy sector and tax system.

The review followed the resignation at the end of January of the governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, Yaseen Anwar, after what were widely reported as policy differences with the government.

In the last fiscal year, Pakistan’s economy grew at 3.6% and inflation fell to single digits. But the central bank has warned inflation could surge this year. l

United Airways to fly on Dhaka-Delhi, Dhaka-Doha routes by June n Tribune Business Desk United Airways (BD) Limited, the country’s largest private airline will start flying on Dhaka-Doha and Dhaka-Delhi routes by July this year from Bangladesh.

It has already obtained the permis-

sion from India and Qatar Civil Aviation Authority to operate the routes with our own aircraft and will fly to Doha and Delhi by July this year, said a press release.

United Airways has planned to operate 3 flights to Delhi and Doha each sector. l

B4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Cybercrime part of sophisticated online economy n AFP, Washington The dark world of cybercrime has evolved from one of rogue individuals to a functioning market-based economy with its ups and downs, code of conduct and “innovation.”

A study by Rand Corp. and commissioned by the security firm Juniper Networks found a well-organized, multibillion-dollar underground economy that has become “a playground of financially driven, highly organized and sophisticated groups.”

The evolution of cybercrime creates new challenges for security professionals trying to protect computer networks, says Nawaf Bitar, Juniper’s general manager for security.

“We have long suspected that cybercriminals were sophisticated and that they had an organizational structure, but no one had studied this,” Bitar told AFP. “The success of this market is driven by accelerated economics, and the way to address this is through economics.”

The report says the black markets “are growing in size and complexity” and that this activity “mirrors the normal evolution of a free market, with both innovation and growth.”

Juniper’s security vice president Michael Callahan said this cyber underground has all the characteristics of an economy, including its own currencies - chiefly cryptographic payment forms such as Bitcoin.

Callahan said the underground economy is characterized by specialization and “resilience,” so that if one market participant leaves, another steps up.

“We saw this when (the black market bazaar) Silk Road went down, and within a day other participants started filling that gap,” Callahan said.

“It’s one of those signs this is a mature economy.”

‘Honor among thieves’

The report notes that, just as in some organized crime groups, there is a code of conduct that helps reassure customers.

“You have honor among thieves,” Callahan said.

“They work to a level of conduct.

They know it is in all of their best interests to follow the rules. Like in other markets, these people know that your reputation is key.”

The report suggests that about 30% of the sellers of financial data are “rippers,” who fail to deliver promised goods or services.

These abuses generally occur in the “lower” levels of the black market that are easiest to access. But these rippers “tend to get reported and then often quickly removed,” the report said.

The study found these markets span the globe from China to Eastern Europe to Latin America, with many US-based players and “more cross-pollination between these cybercriminals than ever before.”

The cybercrime world features “storefronts” like other forms of ecommerce, with hacker tools and services bought and sold.

The tools available include those used in the attack on US retail giant Target, where upwards of 110 million customers may have had their personal data stolen.

For those who lack technical savvy, new services are offered. Rand found one can obtain a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack - in which hackers overwhelm a server to interrupt access - for as low as $50 for a 24-hour attack.

‘Active resistance’

Bitar said the cybersecurity community needs to shift its focus because of the new threat, because the traditional methods of using firewalls and other defensive measures are not enough.

“We need to use active resistance rather than passive resistance,” he said.

This could involve setting traps, using encryption and delivering bogus information that disrupts efforts by hackers and attacks.

But he said he strongly opposes the idea of “hacking back” at the attackers.

“I believe that is wrong. You can harm innocent bystanders,” he said. l

Participants compete behind their computers during the ethical hacking contest Insomni'hack 2014 in Geneva. Nearly 300 hackers from all Europe gathered to measure and improve their talent at the 7th edition of the Swiss security conference and ethical hacking contest Insomni'hack organized by SCRT a Swiss company specialized in computer security AFP

Euro dips in Asia as analysts warn on Russia n AFP, Tokyo

The euro weakened in Asia yesterday after rallying in New York as analysts warned of downside risks if Western leaders tighten economic sanctions on Russia over the Crimea crisis.

The eurozone has strong business links with Moscow and any disruption of crucial oil supplies from Russia could weigh on the single currency, analysts said.

In Tokyo afternoon trade, the euro bought $1.3828 and 141.39, against $1.3835 and 141.48 yen on Monday in New York, where it was boosted by an improvement in eurozone business activity.

The dollar bought 102.25 yen from 102.26 yen.

The Indian rupee hit a seven-month high of 60.47 to the dollar as it slowly recovers from a sell-off that had been

fuelled by the US Federal Reserve’s decision to start winding down its stimulus programme.

On Monday, US President Barack Obama and other members of the Group of Seven economic powers cancelled an upcoming summit in Russia, seeking to deepen Moscow’s isolation after it absorbed Crimea from Ukraine this month.

After emergency talks called by Obama, it was announced that the June gathering in Sochi would be replaced by a G7 meeting in Brussels, without Russian involvement.

Investors were gauging the possible wider impact of any fresh sanctions on Moscow.

“Anything along those lines may see the euro dip down, mainly because central Europe receives the majority of its oil supplies from Russia and the eurozone has very strong economic links

with Russia,” Stuart Ive, senior client advisor at OM Financial in Wellington, told Dow Jones Newswires.

“Any sanctions will weigh on the euro.”

Investors will be closely watching a Paris lecture by European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi on Wednesday to see if he gives any fresh policy hints.

Credit Agricole said: “Although risk aversion has declined from recently elevated levels there is still a high degree of caution from investors who are unwilling to take long term bets.

“The causes of market angst have remained unchanged over recent weeks namely Ukraine tensions, weaker growth in China and US data that has performed below expectations.”

India’s rupee continued to enjoy support as fears over the end to the Fed’s stimulus dissipate, while traders

are hopeful of a victory for the probusiness BJP opposition in upcoming general elections.

The unit was one of the worst hit among emerging market currencies last year by the Fed’s tapering move as foreigners withdrew their investments on the expectation that interest rates at home will rise.

The dollar was mixed against other Asia-Pacific currencies.

It slipped to 45.10 Philippine pesos from 45.18 pesos and to Sg$1.2689 from Sg$1.2718.

It rose to 32.58 Thai baht from 32.44 baht and to 1,079.50 South Korean won from 1,078.50 won, while unchanged at 11,380 Indonesian rupiah.

The Australian dollar rose to 91.26 US cents from 90.85 cents. The Chinese yuan fetched 16.49 yen against 16.46 yen. l

Indian rupee surges on hope of political stability n AFP, Mumbai

A man walks by a pipe discharging waste water into the Yangtze River from a paper mill in Anqing, Anhui province

REUTERS

Health costs of China’s polluted air ‘up to $300bn a year’ n AFP, Beijing Premature deaths and health problems from air pollution cost China as much as $300bn a year, an official report said yesterday, calling for a new urbanisation model for the world’s second-largest economy.

“As China prepares for the next wave of urbanisation, addressing environmental and resource constraints will become increasingly more urgent because much of China’s pollution is concentrated in its cities,” said the joint report by the World Bank and the Development Research Center of the State Council, China’s cabinet.

High mortality levels and other health problems from China’s notorious air pollution are estimated to cost the country from $100bn to more than

$300bn a year, said the report, which was 14 months in the making.

Writing in the Lancet in December, former Chinese health minister Chen Zhu cited studies showing air pollution caused up to 500,000 premature deaths a year in China.

Tuesday’s report said the long-term consequences could include birth defects and impaired cognitive functions because young children and infants are severely affected by poor air quality.

China’s rapid urbanisation over the last three decades - a key part of its economic boom - has avoided some common ills such as large-scale slums and unemployment, the report said.

“But strains have begun to emerge in the form of rising inequality, environmental degradation, and the quickening depletion of natural resources,”

it said.

Much of the new urban land was taken from farmers at prices often no more than 20% of market values, and the amount of available farmland is now close to the minimum level necessary to ensure food security, said the report.

If current trends continue, an additional 34,000 square kilometres (13,100 square miles) - an area about the size of the Netherlands - will be needed to accommodate the growth of cities in the next decade, it added.

China needs to reform the way it expands its cities and curb inefficient urban sprawl, which has sometimes produced ghost towns and wasteful property development, the report said.

On current trends China will spend $5.3tn on urbanisation over the next 15

years - but with more efficient, denser cities the country could save about $1.4tn, or 15% of its gross domestic product last year, World Bank managing director Sri Mulyani Indrawati told a conference in Beijing yesterday.

The report proposed six areas for reform including more efficient land management that better benefits farmers, and adjustments to the “hukou” residence registration system to give migrant workers equal access to basic public services.

It also called on Beijing to step up its law enforcement on pollution.

China’s Premier Li Keqiang vowed to “declare war” on pollution at the country’s annual legislative gathering this month, and announced new measures to add to a raft of others issued over the past year. l

India’s currency hit its strongest level in 2014 yesterday as hopes grew that a stable and business-friendly government would soon be elected, prompting foreign money to flow into markets.

The currency has gained more than two percent since the start of the year to reach 60.51 rupees against the dollar, a position last seen in mid-August last year.

The rupee later that month sank to a record low of 68.85 amid a fiscal deficit crisis and waning investor confidence as the government struggled to boost growth in the face of global economic turmoil.

But a flurry of steps from the government to curtail its expenses, initiate reforms and encourage investments, while clamping down on unproductive imports like gold, have helped restore confidence in India, analysts say.

India’s hardline opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Narendra Modi, which is considered the most business-friendly party, is expected to trounce the scandal-tainted Congress government in elections that begin next month.

“The India story is being bought into by investors. We are seeing a large chunk of outflows from other emerging markets reaching our shores on the expectation of political stability after the elections,” Ashtosh Raina, head of currency trading at HDFC Bank, told AFP. He said the rupee could strengthen to between 57.00 to 58.00 versus the dollar if election results fulfil expecta-

DILBERT

tions, while Barclays Bank predicts a pre-election rally in the rupee to push it towards the 59.00 level.

The Bombay Stock Exchange has also benefitted from the optimism of foreign investors with its benchmark index touching an all-time high on Monday.

'The slightest signs of political uncertainty or likelihood of a business unfriendly party taking charge could cause deep hurt in the market' Data shows that foreign investors have bought $8.51bn worth of Indian stocks and debt since the start of 2014, more than half of which was bought in March.

Modi, the chief minister of western Gujarat state, has portrayed himself as a pro-business reformer and a champion of economic development who can turn around India’s slumping economy.

But the good cheer in India’s financial markets could go into reverse swiftly if investors see signs of political instability emerge after the elections, market analysts warned.

“The slightest signs of political uncertainty or likelihood of a business unfriendly party taking charge could cause deep hurt in the market,” Raina warned. l