09 April 2014

Chaitra 26, 1420 Jamadius Sani 8, 1435 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 2, No 11

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2014 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

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Public servants may not get salary hike

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14 | BET ON ROONEY FOR BAYERN CLASH

BNP wants to overcome frustration first

WATERMELONS GALORE: FEELING THIRSTY?

n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla The BNP is planning to adopt a longterm strategy to strengthen the party and decide not to launch any strong movement for a few more months.

The plans came following several rounds of discussions and evaluation meetings at joint secretary general and organising secretary level.

The meetings summed up that the party would first reorganise itself to beat the frustration that had percolated through the organisation after the January 5 polls, said a senior leader.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will hold a series of workers meeting and public meetings in every division in the months ahead along with some issue-based programmes.

The party discussed all these plans and policies while joint secretaries and organising secretaries held a meeting at party Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan office on Monday.

Pay commission chairman says public servants may get improved nonfinancial benefits instead of a hike n Asif Showkat Kallol The national pay commission may drop the idea of hiking salaries of government employees from a point of view that it may lead to higher inflation.

Instead, the commission is contemplating improved non-financial benefits such as insurance facilities, tuition fee allowance and free textbooks for the children of the employees.

After the third meeting of the commission yesterday, Chairman Mohammad Farashuddin told reporters that the aim was to improve efficiency of government staffs without putting pressure on the consumer price index.

Just like the private sector, ‘talented’ people should also work in public sector According to a government circular, one of the tasks of the National Pay and Services Commission – formed last year –is to find a way to adjust the salaries of government employees with prevailing inflation rates.

The rate of inflation in the country for March 2014 is 7.48%, says Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. For the same month, inflation in the USA is 1.1%, and in the UK 1.7%. In India, inflation for February 2014 was 6.73%.

The commission has put up two sets of questionnaires on the finance ministry’s website seeking opinions and recommendations from the public servants about the next pay structure.

In those questionnaires, there are several questions where respondents are asked to give their opinions on whether the next pay structure should take into consideration the prevailing inflationary pressures.

Fakhrul released from Kashimpur jail n Our Correspondent, Gazipur BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was freed from Kashimpur jail yesterday, a day after he was granted six-month interim bail in a case.

Jahangir Kabir, senior jail superinetendent of Dhaka Central Jail 2 (Kashimpur), confirmed the news.

He said the BNP leader had earlier also secured bail in two other cases, filed with Shahbagh and Dhanmondi police stations, in connection with a petrol bomb attack on police car, vandalism and other charges.

On Monday, the High Court bench of Justice Borhan Uddin and Justice KM Kamrul Quader granted six months’ bail to Fakhrul in a case accusing him of instigating a bomb attack in Malibagh during pre-polls violence on November 30 last year that killed one person.

Fakhrul walked out of the jail as the necessary papers of the bail order were scrutinised after it arrived at Kashimpur in the afternoon.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 6

After yesterday’s meeting, Farashuddin said: “There were discussions on non-financial benefits such as providing for tuition fees of schools and colleges and giving free textbooks and study materials to the children of the employees...

We have also discussed short term insurance facilities for the employees alongside salaries. However, all these are still at the initial stage of consideration.”

Binayak Sen, research director of Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, told the meeting that raising salaries and benefits would not solve the problem of living standards; rather the government needed to make sure that efficient and skilled people were recruited, meeting sources said.

Then again, citing the example of Indian public servants and university professors many of whosemonthly salaries are as much as Rs80,000Rs85,000 in addition to other facilities, Sen stressed the need for good pay to attract efficient people into the government sector.

In Bangladesh, the pay scale for the senior most government employees is around Tk40,000 apart from other benefits.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith also reportedly agreed with the notion that just like the private sector, “talented” people should also work in the public sector.

One member of the committee pointed out that senior government staffs should enjoy better insurance policies than the younger ones.

Another member reportedly said the government employees should start contributing towards a housing fund from the beginning of their services so that they could own houses by the end of their job tenures.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 3

P3 UNFREEZE ACCOUNTS

Traders from across the country bring boats loaded with watermelons to the Badamtoli fruit market. The fruit gains popularity during the summer as people eat watermelons to get a respite from the scorching heat SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

The BNP policy making body, the standing committee, will decide upon all these plans and decisions in tonight’s meeting.

“We have discussed many things in the meeting and all the issues will be finalised in the standing committee meeting,” Mohammad Shahjahan, joint secretary general of the party, told the Dhaka Tribune.

A senior leader of the party seeking anonymity said they discussed upazila election, movement strategy and how to reorganise the party and on the basis of their observation and decisions they submitted a report to Khaleda Zia on Monday night.

According to the report, some central teams will be formed to visit thanas and upazilas to reorganise the grassroots.

The report also said the party would withdraw all the expulsion orders issued during the upazila parishad elections to strengthen the imminent anti-government campaign but as for the expelled leaders they have to apply for withdrawal of their expulsion orders with recommendation of the district and thana committees.

Another senior leader said Khaleda Zia would start holding meetings with  PAGE 2 COLUMN 6

Student bodies warn Gonojagoron’s Cern will train science Imran, ask him to realise ‘mistakes’ teachers in Bangladesh n DU Correspondent Five students’ organisations have slammed Gonojagoron Moncho spokesperson Imran H Sarker for his “undemocratic and authoritative” attitude in managing the famed Shahbagh movement.

In a press conference at the Madhur Canteen on the Dhaka University campus yesterday, the leaders of these organisations asked Imran to realise his “mistakes” as soon as possible, warning him that otherwise they would have to take steps against him.

They, however, did not specify whether taking steps meant dislodging Imran from the post of the Moncho spokesperson.

The warning comes only two days after Imran had hinted that the platform might float a political party if the people of the country wanted it to.

Two days before that, ruling Awami League’s student body Chhatra League

in a press conference at the same venue said it was no more with the Moncho.

In recent times, the Moncho activists have openly got into scuffles with Chhatra League activists centring various issues.

The five student bodies who organised yesterday’s press conference were Bangladesh Chhatra Moitree, JSD Chhatra League, Chhatra Andolon, Chhatra Oikya Forum and the Chhatra Samiti.

All these groups and the ruling party’s student wing had been closely associated with the activities of the Gonojagoron Moncho since it was launched in February last year to press home the demand for ensuring capital punishment for war criminal Abdul Quader Molla.

Of these groups, Moitree and JSD Chhatra League are the student fronts of Bangladesh Workers’ Party and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal respectively – both allies to the ruling Awami League.

Bappaditya Basu, president of Bangladesh Chhatra Moitree and one of the organisers of the Moncho, read out a written statement that said: “We [205 organisations] selected Dr Imran H Sarker as the convener of the Gonojagoron Moncho because he was not actively involved with any particular political organisation or any student body at that time. A few days later, when the movement was in full swing, Imran’s attitude began to change and he became autocratic. He began to ignore the others’ opinions inside the Gonojagoron Moncho and took vital decisions on his own. We tried to solve the problem internally, but failed.”

Regarding Imran’s hints about forming a political party, Bappa said: “We will never sacrifice the countrymen’s sentiment for any individual’s wishes. Rather we will take stern actions [against anyone who will do so] and do everything needed for protecting  PAGE 2 COLUMN 3

INSIDE Business

B1 The construction of luxury hotels will enjoy exemption from all taxes except for 5% customs duty on the import of building materials and equipment.

News

5 Migration from villages to cities contributes rapid urban growth in Bangladesh that poses serious threats to urban disaster since the cities are growing violating urban

development principles and standards, says a new study.

Nation

6 The smuggling of potatoes to India through Mogholhat border in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila is going strong because of negligence of Border Guard Bangladesh.

Op-Ed

11 It is election time for the largest de-

mocracy in the world. This time it happens to be the largest elections ever held in any country, with a record number of voters set to exercise their voting rights.

Entertainment

12 Shurer Dhara, one of the leading music schools of the country, is preparing to welcome Pahela Baishakh – the first day of the Bangla calendar – with thousand voices on April 14.

n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman Cern – the biggest and the most prestigious particle physics research institute in the world – is going into an umbrella agreement with the Bangladesh government to cooperate in the field of science and technology.

The matter was disclosed yesterday

by Rolf-Dieter Heuer, director general of the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (Cern) who came to Dhaka on Monday on a three-day trip.

He was talking to a small group of journalists at a city hotel yesterday.

Bangladesh and Cern signed an expression of interest instrument last year while a memorandum of understanding was likely to be signed in the middle of this year, he added.

The umbrella agreement would tell that Bangladesh and Cern wanted to work together and it would be supported by the government, he told journalists.

Under the agreement, there would be several arrangements such as providing training to high school teachers and students or experiment-sharing between Cern and a Bangladeshi university.

A Bangladeshi student would also be sent to the institute in the summer for two months for training, Heuer said.

“We will arrange a workshop for high school teachers and train them with modern knowledge,” he said.

Heuer observed that Bangladesh needed to have good teachers to grow interest among young students about

The main thing is to have agreement with the government science. He said he would not have become a physicist had his first teacher not been good.

He also said big projects such as the Apollo programme or the Higgs-Boson invention attracted young people to study science. When the first rocket was sent under the Apollo programme in the USA, many young students opted to study engineering.

Cern, which proved the existence of “god particle,” popularly known as the Higgs-Boson particle in 2012 and became a front page item, still attracts media attention.

“The world is still watching what we are doing,” Heuer said.

Cern has 21 member countries and two associate members and 10,00011,000 scientists from 98 countries work there.

Pakistan, Russia, Cyprus, Turkey, Brazil and Ukraine have applied for associate memberships and after signing the agreement, Bangladesh can also apply for it.

“The main thing is to have agreement with the government. It makes two things. One, it is more visible in  PAGE 2 COLUMN 6

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

36 fake freedom fighters' certificates cancelled n Mohosinul Karim The Liberation War Affairs Ministry cancelled freedom fighters certificates of 39 officials as they were proved false in the investigation.

A liberation war affair ministry gazette notification issued on April 6 said the temporary freedom fighters certificates that were issued to the officials were proved false in the investigation of the department of the national security intelligence.

It was also proved that those officials who have taken temporary certificates from the ministry are not real freedom fighters. As a result, the certificates issued to those officials were cancelled.

The certificates of former district judge Sadikur Rahman Talukder, Raipur Sub-Registrar Office’s assistant Golam Mostafa, Project Director of LGED Ataur Rahman Khan, Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank’s Deputy Manager Abul Kashem, Bangladesh Krishi Bank’s Principal Officer Sheikh Jan Mohammad, Director of Rural Electrification Board SM Saidur Rahman Chowdhury, senior outdoor assistants of Mongla Port Authority Shahabuddin Chowdhury and Sadek Ali, BIWTA’s Auto-gage Operator Ohiduzzaman Ahad and senior public servant AKM Mirza Alam were cancelled.

Certificates of Gazipur’s former district food controller Mojibar Rahman,

Kishoreganj Sadar’s Dr Altabur Rahman, auditor of Magura Md Moksed Ali, Assistant Commissioner of Chittagong Customs House Kazi Abdul Basit, KPCL’s former senior clerk Kohinur Miah, former public servant Sheikh Mohammad Rawshan Ali, fisheries officer Zoarder Anwarul Haque, office assistant of small irrigation project of Bhola Mosharef Hossain, employee of Bangabandhu Hall of Agriculture University of Mymensingh Mofizul Islam, office assistant of regional labour office of Chittagong Tazul Islam Khan, Public Works Department’s Work Assistant Nazrul Islam, Assistant Foreman Jainal Abedin and Administrative Officer of small irrigation project of Barishal Amir Hossain were also cancelled.

The authorities also cancelled the certificates of Faridpur Nagarkanda’s Assistant Teacher SM Iman Uddin, Bangladesh Railway’s Abdul Kaiyum Amin, Dinajpur Chirir Bandar’s headmaster Debendra Nath Roy, Netrokona Purbodhola’s headmaster Siraz Miah, Headmaster of Chandpur Faridganj Sirazul Islam, Police’s former sub-inspector Soaliman Ali, former sub-inspector Shamsur Rahman, Constable Amir Ali, Security Habilder of AFCCL KM Bablu, Khagrachari Ramgarh’s Shah Md Waliullah, Barguna Betagi’s Abdul Aziz, Khulna Kaira’s Abdul Malek and Jamalpur Dewanganj’s Abdul Aziz. l

Porters and day labourers sleep away in the daytime on the walkway of Sadarghat Launch Terminal in the capital as there are very few launches operating until the evening. The photo was taken yesterday SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Rab arrests 2 recruiting agency owners for fraud, human trafficking n

Kailash Sarkar

The Rapid Action Battalion yesterday arrested the owners of two recruiting agencies suspected of trafficking people to the Middle East and holding them hostage overseas for ransom.

The arrested suspects, identified as Abdul Zabbar Khan, 47, owner of “Samira Tours and Travels”, and SMA Mannan, 37, owner of “Zaber International”, were picked up from the capital’s Mohammadpur and Paltan areas respectively, RAB 2 officials told a press briefing at their Agargaon office yesterday evening.

The men are suspected to be members of a human trafficking gang, sending people abroad, mostly to Middle Eastern countries, with false jobs and forged visas and passports.

They are also accused of “selling” people as slaves in countries like Iraq,

or keeping them hostage by seizing their passports and then collecting ransom money from their families in Bangladesh.

The RAB officials said more than 300 people had fallen victims to their cheating and other inhuman activities.

“Due to the gang’s cheating and forgeries, a few hundred innocent Bangladeshis were arrested abroad and experienced untold sufferings in detention in foreign countries,” Additional Superintendent of Police Raihan Uddin Khan, operation officer of RAB 2, said.

The officer said the suspected gang members used to send people abroad through their recruiting agencies with fake visas and passports. They were also involved in sending women to Iraq and selling them as the slaves there, he added.

“Zabbar Khan was arrested in Iraq in 2011 for cheating and forgery. He had

gone to Iraq several times using three separate passports,” Raihan Uddin said, adding that Zabbar was blacklisted by the Iraqi authorities for his illegal activities.

“This gang sent 300 people to Iraq against visas for only 100 people in 2009. Fifty of the victims were arrested and sent back home when it was proven that they had fake visas, while 50 others had to suffer in jails there,” Raihan said.

Abdul Zabbar, from Faridpur district, lives in Shyamoli, while Mannan, of Kosba upazila in Brahmanbaria, resides at Naya Paltan in the city.

Meanwhile, earlier yesterday, Mohammad Barakat Ali, manager of “Samira Tours”, had claimed that Mannan was picked up in a white microbus outside his Motijheel office on Monday night by some people who identified themselves as RAB personnel. l

Moudud apologises for Goyeshwar’s comment

CHT Development Board Bill placed in JS

n Tribune Report

The government tabled the Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board Bill 2014 in parliament yesterday, mainly to replace the existing ordinance promulgated by Gen Ziaur Rahman in 1976.

When passed, the bill will establish the Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board in Rangamati. The government will then appoint the chairman and the vice-chairman of the six-member board.

State Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Bir Bahadur Ushwi Sing placed the bill to continue ongoing development projects in the region, which lags behind in almost all the development indicators. In keeping with procedure, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Chittagong Hill Tracts Ministry will further scrutinise the bill.

It has the authority to bring any changes it seems fit to the proposed law.

The standing committee will refer its report back to the House after finalising its the recommendations. l

BNP Standing Committee member Moudud Ahmed has apologised to the High Court for his fellow Goyeshwar Chandra Roy’s “contemptuous” comment about the court.

As Moudud went to the bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice ABM Altaf Hossain with a writ petition yesterday, the bench raised the issue of Goyeshwar who on Sunday said “all courts including the Supreme Court are in the pocket of Mujib Coat.”

Moudud then apologised for Goyeshwar’s remark, Deputy Attorney General Biswojit Roy told the Dhaka Tribune.

A junior colleague of Moudud also confirmed the incident but said it was “informal.”

Goyeshwar at a programme on Sunday said: “Judge Court, High Court and Supreme Court – all courts are now imprisoned in the pocket of Mujib Coat. If

it is not possible to tear this pocket, nobody will get justice. The judge’s conscience will not be revived.”

He alleged that the judges do not hear arguments, “rather they wait for a signal. When the signal comes, the judges have to pen down the judgement in line with the signal.”

The same bench on its own motion on Monday asked Goyeshwar to appear before it on April 20 to explain his remarks. It also summoned Doctors’ Association of Bangladesh Vice-President M Salam and Secretary General AZM Zahid Hossain as Goyeshwar had made the comment at a human chain organised by the pro-BNP doctors' platform.

The bench also issued a contempt rule against the three asking as to why they should not be punished for contempt of court. The three alleged contemnors have to reply to the rule in writing through affidavits within two weeks to explain their positions if they had any. l

Court accepts charge sheet against Oishee n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu A Dhaka court yesterday accepted the charge sheets pressed against Oishee Rahman and three others in a case regarding the murder of parents – Special Branch Inspector Mahfuzur Rahman and his wife Swapna Rahman in August last year.

After taking the charges into cognisance, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Maruf Hossain sent the case to Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court for trial.

Oishee, her boyfriend Mizanur Rahman Rony, Asaduzzaman Jony and housemaid Khadiza Khatun alias Sumi were present before the court.

n Kailash Sarkar

With the deployment of additional forces of police and RAB, police authorities have projected a special security plan for Pahela Baishakh, celebration of the Bangla New Year.

Topmost officials of police held a meeting at the Police Headquarters yesterday afternoon for the planning.

Chaired by Inspector General of Police Hassan Mahmood Khandker, the meeting was attended by AKM Shahidul Hoque, additional IGP (Administrations), Zaved Patwari, chief of Special Branch, Himayet Hossain, chief of Armed Police Battalion, Mokhlesur Rahman, director-general of RAB, and Benajir Ahmed, commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), among others.

Control rooms will be set up at the

Cern will train science teachers in Bangladesh  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

On March 9, DB Inspector Abu Al Khair Matubbar, also investigation officer of the case, submitted two separate charge sheets before the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court.

Of the charge sheets, one was filed against Oishee, Jony and Rony; Sumi was also charged but she will be tried in a juvenile court as she is still under 18.

On August 14 last year, the SB inspector and his wife were stabbed to death at their rented flat in Chamelibagh, Malibagh. Police recovered the bodies on August 16. Oishee and Sumi surrendered at the Paltan police station the following day. Later, Oishee gave a confessional statement. l

Special security for Pahela Baishakh celebrations Police Headquarters, police headquarters of all the metropolitans, all ranges and offices of the Superintendent of Police (SP) so that the celebration takes place without a hitch, as well as to coordinate the security measures in this regard.

Sources in the meeting said the inspector general had asked all the forces at the meeting to remain alert so that people would be able to celebrate the occasion. He also urged people to help the law enforcers in this regard.

The sources also said RAB helicopters would patrol from the sky on the day of, apart from the additional forces - both in uniform and plain cloth.

In addition, extra vigilance will be arranged for in the shopping malls, markets, bus and launch terminals and railway stations. l

n Tribune Report

the political arena and second, it is sort of moral obligation to continue for this not for one year but for long-term,” he said.

The Cern chief said the workshop for teachers was likely to be held at the end of this year. l

Fakhrul released  PAGE 1 COLUMN 1

Leaders of five student organisations hold a press conference at Madhu's Canteen on Dhaka University campus yesterday, raising various allegations against Gonojagoron Moncho spokesperson Imran H Sarker RAJIB DHAR

Student bodies warn Gonojagoron's Imran  PAGE 1 COLUMN 4

the prestige of the Gonojagoron Moncho. We will sit with all Moncho activists from around the country and the pro-Liberation War cultural, social and political organisations [for making a decision].”

He blamed Imran for being too lenient towards Chhatra League which gave the ruling party’s student front the courage to assault Moncho activists.

He also claimed that Abir and Shishir

– blamed for attacking Moncho activists – had never been associated with the Chhatra League and Jubo League; rather they were activists of the Moncho.

In immediate reaction to the press conference, Imran said: “I never decided anything for the Moncho on my own. People will always have different views, but it is not always possible to accept them. But that does not mean that we were autocratic.”

Terming the recent turmoil within

the Moncho unexpected, he said: “We have already planned to form a new committee comprising representatives from all the organisations so that we can make future decisions calmly.”

He also said: “I do not consider this a warning from the Gonojagoron Moncho. I was not selected [as the spokesperson] by those five organisations. There are hundreds more. But I accept the allegations as a view from my allies and hope to work jointly in future.” l

Public servants may not get salary hike  PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

According to meeting sources, the idea was that if civil servants could be sure that they would own houses at the end of their jobs, they would not resort to corruption.

After the meeting, former central bank governor Farashuddin told reporters that it would not be possible for the commission to submit the report by the June deadline. He said the commission had already applied for extension

and hoped to place the report by December 2015.

The 17-member pay commission was formed in November last year to come up with a new pay scale for 12 lakh government employees. l

Earlier on January 20, Fakhrul, along with BNP leaders Mirza Abbas and Abdus Salam, were granted eight-week bail by the High Court in a case over the murder of a policeman at Banglamotor and two more cases of arson in Malibagh and Poribagh.

Howver, the Appellate Division cancelled the bail orders of five BNP leaders including the three on March 9.

On March 16, the three leaders were produced before the court, where they sought bail from the appellate division.

However, the court rejected the bail plea and ordered them to be sent to jail. l

BNP wants  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

the district level leaders from April 10 and before that grassroots leaders will have to sit with joint secretary generals and organising secretaries.

The Nayapaltan central officials have already issued letters and phoned district leaders to let them know about their schedules of meetings with central leaders including the chairperson in Dhaka.

As per the report, the joint secretary generals and organising secretaries requested Khaleda Zia to go to Nayapaltan office once a week but Khaleda Zia refused to do so. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

3

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Study: Only 7 out of 126 RMG trade unions active n Tazlina Zamila Khan Only seven trade unions in the readymade garment industry out of 126 registered are actively working to promote the rights of workers, a new study says.

The key impediment for most trade unions not being functional is harassment and assaults by the factory management, finds the study titled “Organising Trade Unions in the RMG Sector 2010-14.”

It states that two trade unions received registrations in 2011 and 2012, while the number increased to 81 last year, but has come down to 43 this year.

At least 1,063 incidents of industrial unrest took place during the period between January 2010 and June 2013 The findings of the study – conducted

by Solidarity Centre – were revealed yesterday at a social dialogue programme styled “Industrial Relation and Sustainable Development of RMG Industry in Bangladesh: Role of National and International Stakeholders.”

Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS) and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) organised the event in the city’s Brac Inn. Alonzo Glenn Suson, executive director of Solidarity Centre, said around 20% of the workers engaged with the trade unions found it difficult to operate due to torture by the members of the factory officials.

Quoting recent studies of the BILS, speakers said at least 1,063 industrial unrests took place from January 2010 to June 2013. Most of these incidents could have been avoided had there been the practice of bipartite dialogue at the factory level and tripartite dialogue at national level.

One of the main reasons behind those outbursts was the absence of dispute settlement through discussions.

Michael Sommer, president of the International Trade Union Confeder-

ation (ITUC) and chairman of German Confederation of Trade Unions (DGB), said: “Unified trade unions are a must to ensure the workers’ rights. Employers and government need to provide more space for the unions to operate.”

He suggested having a regular social dialogue in every two months represented by the unions to address the problems.

Sommer stressed the need for ensuring safe work places, and equitable and economically sustainable wage growth, reliable cooperation and accountability structures between workers and employers. “So, Accord should be fully implemented.”

On February 20, the Accord, a platform of 150 European retailers, launched the first phase of inspection and inspected over 225 factories for fire and electrical safety and over 180 factories were inspected for structural safety. On the other hand, the Alliance for Workers Safety in Bangladesh had inspected 305 factories and found no faults.

Roy Ramesh Chandra, secretary general of IndustriAll Bangladesh Council, suggested formation of a separate trust fund for the RMG workers.

“The owners will pay Tk5 per worker and the workers will pay the same amount every month. The buyers will give 10 cents. This fund can be used for the betterment of the workers.”

The former Jatiya Sramik League leader said the workers could also sit with the buyers in order to ensure their rights.

Syed Sultan Uddin Ahammed, assistant executive director of BILS, said the owners ignored the basic needs of millions of workers’, especially their accommodation and medical facilities.

Mikail Shiper, secretary of Labour and Employment Ministry, said: “The National Crisis Management Committee headed by the labour minister was formed to address the workers’ rights issue.”

Srinivas Reddy, country director of the International Labour Organisation, said the RMG sector was vital for Bangladesh to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and reduce poverty. l

The Democratic Left Alliance begins road march towards Teesta Barrage from the National Press Club in the capital yesterday demanding proper water sharing

RAJIB DHAR

Witness: Azhar abducted Carmichael College teachers n Udisa Islam A new prosecution witness in the trial against alleged al-Badr commander of Rangpur ATM Azharul Islam yesterday said the accused had been involved directly in the abduction and killing of Carmichael College teachers during the 1971 Liberation War. Shobha Kar, sister of martyred Chityaranjan Roy, told the war crimes tribunal about the abductions of her brother and three other teachers. She could identify at the time of incident Azhar since they had been classmates, the witness said.

Now living in Kolkata of India, she submitted his deposition as the 19th prosecution witness in the case. Demanding justice for the killings, the witness said the man who had planned and killed the intellectuals of the country should be punished.

After her deposition, the defence counsel started questioning her and

the tribunal 1 adjourned the trial until tomorrow.

Shobha said she used to stay on the college premises with her brother who was a teacher of mathematics department.

“At midnight on April 30 of 1971, some Pakistani Army personnel came to our house and picked my brother up with two other colleagues – Sunil Baran Chakrabarty and Ram Krishna Adhikari. For some reason, Ram Krishna was at our house.

“When the abductors took them on a truck, we saw through the window that some Bangalees were helping them. I identified Azhar then because he was my classmate.”

The witness said the next day Ratan Das, the cook of Kala Chand who was a teacher of chemistry, told her that Azhar had also abducted his master. He also saw the abduction of Manjusree, wife of Kala Chand, and Sunil Baran.

Shobha said: “Later my brother’s

student Salauddin informed us that all of them had been killed near Damdam Bridge of Rangpur town when the lower halves of their bodies were kept under the ground and all of them were blind folded.”

Azhar, a senior Jamaat-e-Islami leader, was indicted on November 12 last year on six charges of crimes against humanity including genocide in 1971.

Meanwhile, the same tribunal yesterday deferred the proceedings of the case against war crimes accused Mobarak Hossain upon a defence plea until April 17.

The defence counsels earlier sought time several times. The tribunal yesterday said it was accepting the plea for the last time. If the defence failed to produce their last witness, the prosecution would begin their closing arguments in the case.

At the tribunal 2, the prosecution yesterday paced the 23rd witness, Anisur Rahman, in the case against war crimes accused Mir Kashem Ali, an

alleged al-Badr commander in Chittagong during the Liberation War who operated torture camps in the port city.

The witness works at the investigation agency as an inspector. He is in charge of the agency’s library from where the investigation officer seized some documents.

After his deposition and cross-examination, the tribunal set today for placing the investigation officer, also the prosecution’s last witness.

The same tribunal yesterday recorded cross-examination of the first prosecution witness in the case against war crimes accused Maulana Abdus Subhan. Witness ATM Shahiduzzaman Nasim on Monday described the killing of three members of his family in 1971 when the accused had been present at the scene with a sword in his hand.

The tribunal 2 set today for placing the second witness against the accused, a Jamaat nayeb-e-ameer. l

Feroz Rashid: JaPa not true opposition n Kamran Reza Chowdhury

A senior lawmaker of Ershad’s Jatiya Party yesterday resented the fact that his party was not the “true opposition.”

People’s perception of the JaPa is very bad as the electorate do not rate it as the true opposition in parliament, said Kazi Feroz Rashid in an unscheduled discussion that started minutes after the House started its business at 5:05pm.

Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury presided over the session.

He demanded that the JaPa be given the responsibilities of some heads of

Apparel workers vandalise a factory at Chittagong EPZ yesterday to press for their various demands

criticise the bad decisions.”

Rustom Ali Farazi, an independent MP and former JaPa lawmaker, then took the floor in another unscheduled slot. He also echoed the view of Firoz.

SM Abul Kalam Azad, the lone MP from Bangladesh Nationalist Front, objected to the government decision to give “power corridor” to India which refused Bangladesh the due share of the Teesta river.

“It is not acceptable that we are to meet the demands of India one after another but never get our due share of waters,” he said. l

HC allows two BNP: Unfreeze Khaleda’s more weeks to ensure widespread bank accounts freezing of her bank accounts.” use of Bangla n Mohammad Al-MasumMolla The government evicted Khaleda The BNP yesterday demanded that Zia from her cantonment residence n Tribune Report party Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s bank with a political vengeance, he said.

DHAKA TRIBUNE

‘Bangladesh to be a middle-income country soon’ n BSS

ACC: Mosharraf’s wife involved with money laundering

US Ambassador Dan Mozena said here today that Bangladesh would soon emerge as a middle- income country.

The envoy was on a tour of Joypurhat where he visited the country’s biggest sugar mill, Joypurhat Sugar Mills.

Explaining his optimism, he said that the people of Bangladesh have the merit and skill to make their country an economic tiger soon.

The local administration including Zilla Parishad administrator, S M Sulayman Ali, the mayor of the local municipality, president of the local chamber of commerce, the deputy commissioner and superintendent of police held a meeting with the Ambassador at the local Circuit House. l

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has found that Bilkis Akhter Hossain, wife of detained BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, was involved with laundering Tk9.54 crore to the United Kingdom.

ACC deputy director Ahsan Ali told reporters: “Mosharraf has concealed his income related information in the income tax statement filed in Bangladesh and we have found his wife’s involvement with irregularity.”

He made the disclosure after questioning Bilkis Akhter at the ACC headquarters at Segunbagicha.

However, Bilkis Ahter declined to comment further saying: “I have ap-

n Tribune Report

the parliamentary standing committee.

Kazi Feroz Rashid said the result of the recently-held upazila was a testimony to people’s perception of the government-JaPa relation.

“It is regrettable that the JaPa is not given any post of chiefs of the standing committee. We cannot show our face outside,” he said.

He lamented the fact that he was the ninth member of a standing committee while he was telecom minister 25 years ago.

He said the JaPa would extend all out support to the government on some basic issues. “We will praise all good actions of the government and

peared before the ACC following their notice and have replied to their queries.”

ACC director Nasim Anwar on February 6 filed a case against the BNP leader on charge of laundering around Tk9.54crore to the United Kingdom.

According to the case statement, Khandaker Mosharraf illegally amassed over £800,000 (Tk95,395,381) by abuse of power between 2001 and 2006 and concealing information.

The sum has been put into a joint fixed-term deposit account at Lloyds TSB Offshore Private Banking at Guernsey in the UK. The joint account belongs to him and his wife.

On March 12, police arrested Khandakar Mosharraf at Gulshan in the capital in connection with the case. l

The High Court yesterday gave two more weeks to the government to ensure the usage of Bengali in the names of mass media, number plates for vehicles and all sign boards.

It also asked the government to ensure use of Bangla in every sphere of life except the embassies and foreign institutions.

The bench comprising Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice ABM Altaf Hossain passed the order following a petition filed by the government.

On February 17, the High Court bench passed an order to ensure all-out use of Bangla upon a petition of Supreme Court lawyer Eunus Ali Akond.

The court also directed the government to comply with it within its allotted time.

As the order was not implemented, Akond lodged a contempt of court petition with the HC on April 6 against six secretaries of cabinet division, and law, home, cultural affairs, information, and education ministries. l

accounts be reopened immediately alleging that those were frozen unjustly.

“In 2007, the then caretaker government frozen bank accounts of both Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina. But Sheikh Hasina’s accounts were unfrozen in 2008 and she is operating her accounts.

Nazrul Islam Khan, standing committee member of the party, said this while addressing a press briefing at party’s Nayapaltan headquarters: “We strongly demand the immediate un-

Nazrul said Khaleda Zia has eight bank accounts and among those there is no money in six bank accounts.

The BNP leader alleged Khaledaa Zia’s bank accounts have remained frozen for long seven years.

“From the prime minister to ministers and ruling party leaders are making derogatory remarks on Khaleda Zia which is unfortunate. I have no word to condemn the ruling party leaders’ false and dirty comments on Khaleda Zia’s personal life.” l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Government lacks accurate data on migrant workers n Rabiul Islam The government has no accurate data on the migrant workers who are now working in different countries, including Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Singapore, Kuwait and Malaysia.

As a result, experts say, it is not possible to project the foreign currencies to be remitted by the migrant workers.

They have observed that it is also necessary to collect accurate data on the migrant workers with a view to making policy for migration sector.

For example, they said, statistics are a must if the government wants to provide the migrant workers with proper services.

Just on the basis of assumption, the expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment ministry claims that nearly one crore migrants are now working abroad.

According to Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) data, 8,813,070 migrant workers have gone abroad till March 2014 since 1976.

It means these workers got clearance from BMET. During the period, a total of 2,630,580 migrants have gone to KSA while 2,308,433 to UAE, 479,814 to Kuwait, 869,921 to Oman, 284,235 to Qatar, 278,623 to Bahrain, 100,545 to Lebanon, 118,896 to Libya, 706,954 to Malaysia and 498,623 migrants to Singapore. These are the major labour importing countries.

Officials concerned said migrant workers usually go abroad on a twoyear contract.

A large number of workers return home every year after the expiry of their contracts, they said, adding that the government does not collect data on returnees.

Apart from returnees, a good number of migrants who become illegal due to overstay are deported every year, but the government has no statistics.

According to BMET, 250,000 migrants were deported from different countries since 2009. Of the total, around 36,000 migrant workers were evacuated from Libya during civil war in 2011.

Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU) founding chair Tasneem Siddiqui said the government has no mechanism to keep information on returnees.

It is very important to keep accurate statistics for the migrants, she said, adding: “If we want to evacuate the migrants during any crisis situation like Libya, data is a must.”

“Now we cannot project the remittances to be remitted by the migrants as we don’t know how many workers are working abroad at the moment,” Tasneem told the Dhaka Tribune recently.

A senior official at the expatriates’ welfare ministry said data is necessary if the government wants to provide the returnees with proper service.

“Around 8,700,000 workers are now working abroad,” Expatriates’ Welfare Secretary Khondaker Showkat Hossain told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

When asked about a large number of returnees, he replied in the negative.

Talking to this correspondent at her office on Sunday, BMET Director General Begum Shamsun Nahar admitted that there is no accurate data on migrant workers.

“We are trying to keep data on returnees and we would get accurate data on our migrants.”

She also informed that out of BMET clearance, a large number of workers have gone abroad. l

In a recent photo, a farmer is seen using a locally made irrigation system to cultivate paddy on a piece of land where once used to be the Fokinni River in the Bagchha village in Rajshahi’s Bagmara upazila DHAKA TRIBUNE

Muggers shoot bKash agent, snatch Tk10 lakh n Kailash Sarkar

Pistol-wielding muggers on motorcycles opened fire on a sales agent of a mobile banking service and made off with Tk10 lakh in broad daylight in the capital’s Mirpur area yesterday, leaving him and a passer-by with bullet wounds.

The wounded victims, Abul Kalam Mollah, 28, a sales agent for “bKash”, and Kabir Hossain, 25, the driver of a private car, were admitted to the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital.

Abul Kalam was hit with two bullets in his chest and hand, while Kabir was shot in the shoulder, hospital sources said.

Witnesses and police said several

armed men, riding on two or three motorbikes, waylaid Abul’s motorcycle in front of Al Helal Hospital at Kazipara around 1pm while he was on his way to a Brac Bank branch from his office in Pallabi.

“The armed criminals first tried to take away the bag with the money from Abul. But when he tried to resist them, they started shooting, snatched the bag and sped away,” Sub-inspector Fazlur Rahman of DMCH police outpost said, adding: “Kabir, who was driving through the area at the time, was hit by a stray bullet.”

Bystanders and local residents first rushed the injured men to a nearby clinic. They were later moved to the

Hall-Mark bosses face another case n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu The Sonali Bank authorities yesterday filed a fresh case against Hall-Mark Group Chairman Jasmine Islam and Managing Director Tanvir Mahmud for realising Tk60.44 crore on behalf of Design Wear Limited and High Need Limited that swindled the hefty money from the bank through forgery.

In the case, the couple and the two entities of the group have been made defendants for defaulting the amount.

Abdus Salam, executive officer of the state-owned bank’s Ruposhi Bangla Hotel branch, lodged the case with Artha Rin Adalat 1 (money loan court) of Dhaka. Judge Md Rabiuzzaman took the case into cognisance and ordered the defendants to submit written statements before it by April 12 through counsels.

With this, the bank has filed 12 cases against Hall-Mark Group for realising more than Tk161.82 crore.

Hall-Mark alone took away Tk2,686 crore from the bank on forged documents between 2010 and 2012. The scam shook the entire country when it came to light in May 2012.

The Anti-Corruption Commission filed 11 cases against 27 persons tied to Hall-Mark and the bank on October 4, 2012. The ACC on October 7 last year pressed charges against 25 of the accused. Of them, seven persons, including Tanvir, are now in jail while Jasmine is on bail. Seventeen others are absconding. l

idence in a rickshaw.

The victim, Nazrul Islam, 38, posted at Chawk Bazar police station, was admitted to the DMCH with stab wounds in his hands, legs and face.

His wife, Israt Jahan Mitu, said Nazrul was stabbed as he resisted the muggers.

“When the rickshaw reached Goran, a gang of four to five muggers stopped us and snatched away my gold necklace and ring. As my husband tried to resist them, they stabbed him indiscriminately,” Israt Jahan said.

Inspector Sirajul Islam, officer in charge of Khilgaon police station, said they were trying to apprehend the criminals. l

Rajuk gets new chairman

Ship-breaking yard catches fire in Ctg n CU Correspondent A ship-breaking yard at Kumira in Chittagong’s Sitakunda upazila caught fire yesterday afternoon.

However, no causality was reported in the incident, according to the Fire Service and Civil Defence sources.

Abdul Harun Pasha, senior station officer at Kumira fire station, said a fire had broken out at BBC Ship-Breaking Yard at Ghatghar area around 6:30pm.

“On receiving information, fire fighters of Kumia fire station rushed to the spot and doused the blaze after one hour,” he said, adding that reason for the fire was yet to be known.

Kamal Hossain, assistant subinspector at Sitakunda police Station, said a team of police had inspected the site.

The extent of damages caused by the fire was yet to be determined. l

DMCH for better treatment.

Saiful Islam, a cousin of Abul Kalam, said the criminals probably followed Kalam from his office, “AID Distributors”, and carried out the attack at Kazipara.

“When the pedestrians and locals chased after the criminals, they fired indiscriminately,” said Saiful.

A subsidiary of Brac Bank, bKash Ltd provides mobile financial services, enabling people to transfer money over their mobile phones across the country.

In another incident in the city, a gang of muggers at Goranin Khilgaon stabbed a police constable and snatched gold jewellery from his wife around 6:30am yesterday as the couple was returning to their Chawkbazar res-

n Mohosinul Karim

BGB personnel pose with smuggled Indian sarees, worth around Tk1.37 crore, seized in Comilla yesterday

‘WiFi bus’ set to ply city streets n Muhammad Zahidul Islam The government is set to introduce special buses equipped with third generation wireless internet connectivity for commuters in the capital.

Under the Access to Information (a2i) program under the Prime Minister’s Office, around 20 buses of the state-owned Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) equipped with the facility will be introduced along the Motijheel-Uttara route.

Commuters with WiFi enabled devices, such as smartphones, laptops or tablet computers, will be able to use the service while travelling on the buses.

Commerce Minister Obaidul Quader and State Minister for ICT Zunaid

Ahmed Palak are expected to inaugurate the service tomorrow at the capital’s Farmgate area.

Source said, the a2i programme will be providing at least four 3G wireless routers of state-owned mobile phone operator Teletalk in each of the buses, which will enable around 40 passenger to use the service simultaneously.

“Even if the buses travel at 55 to 60 km per hour, there will be no disruption in the service,” Naimuzzaman Mukta, people’s perspective specialist of a2i programme, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

He added that currently at least 10% passengers used smartphones and would be able to use the internet services to spend their time more productively. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Oman to recruit 35 doctors and 50 nurses from Bangladesh n Rabiul Islam Oman will recruit a total of 35 doctors and 50 nurses from Bangladesh in the next one month for a health centre located at an industrial area near the capital, Muscat.

Bangladesh Overseas Employment Services Ltd (Boesl), a government sponsored recruiting agency, would handle the recruitment process.

“We would process the recruitment as interested doctors and nurses do not want to go through private recruiting agencies, which charge huge amounts of money for processing the visas,” Za-

SAMIUL MURDER

Key accused Bakku’s bail cancelled n Tribune Report The High Court (HC) yesterday cancelled the bail of Md Shamsuzzaman Arif alias Bakku, the prime accused in the case of murder of Samiul Azim Wafi, a six-year-old boy.

An HC bench comprising Justice Nizamul Huq and Justice Zahangir Hossain passed the order.

Deputy Attorney General Amit Talukder said the bench on February 16 grant-

ed bail to Bakku and issued a rule, asking the authorities concerned as to why Bakku should not be granted permanent bail. The court yesterday cancelled his bail after quashing the rule, he said.

According to the case statement, victim’s mother Humaira Akter Ayesha and her lover Bakku killed Samiul as he witnessed them being intimate. His body was recovered from near his house in the capital’s Adabar on June 24, 2010.

On February 1 in 2011, a Dhaka court

The government yesterday appointed a new chairman for Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) and reinstated the former chairman of Insurance Development & Regulatory Authority (IDRA) – both for three years.

Former chairman of National Housing Authority GM Jainal Abedin Bhuiyan has been made the new chairman of the city’s development regulator while former IDRA chairman M Shefaque Ahmed was reappointed, according to separate orders of the public administration ministry. The orders will be effective from their joining date. The officials will have to disconnect all relations with any other companies or organisations.

Former bureaucrat Jainal Abedin, who is now on post-retirement leave (PRL) as an additional secretary, will replace Nurul Huda.

The tenure of contractual appoint-

ment of Huda, a retired civil engineer who worked for the public works department, expires on April 20. Earlier, the government rejected Huda’s resignation several times and extended his contracts three times. He has been the Rajuk chairman for the last four years.

Meanwhile, the IDRA turned into a guardian-less entity after the end of three-year contract of Shefaque on January 26. Later, the government issued a circular bestowing the charges of the chairman to Md Fazlul Karim, the lone existing member of the authority.

The regulator requires at least three members out of its five posts, including the chairman, to hold a commission meeting, according to the IDRA Act. The government established the IDRA in January 2011, replacing the Department of Insurance, to develop the insurance industry, by enacting an act in the parliament. Shefaque was the founder chairmen of the regulator. l

framed charges against the duo and the trial started after seven days with the testimony of KR Azam, father of the minor boy. So far, nine prosecution witnesses have given depositions in the case.

Azam recently told the Dhaka Tribune that he received death threat from Bakku after he was released on bail from jail. The accused also threatened the victim’s father not to bring witnesses anymore to the court. l

hirul Islam, general manager of Boesl told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

The medical personnel would be employed at the Rusayl Health Centre, a multi-specialty hospital at Rusayl Industrial Estate, 45km from Muscat.

Interested doctors and nurses have to apply to the agency by April 15, and interviews will take place on April 20.

Each selected candidate would only have to pay Tk60,000 as service charges, and no other fees, Zahirul said.

There are 25 posts for MBBS doctors with monthly salaries of US$2,100 and other facilities, while 10 aviation med-

icine specialists for treating aircrews will be paid $2,600 each.

A total 25 male nurses and 25 female nurses would also be recruited for monthly salaries of $760 and $730 respectively.

“If we send the doctors and nurses successfully, we would get more requests,” Zahirul hoped.

Oman is one of the destinations for migrant workers from Bangladesh. In the first three months of this year, the Persian Gulf nation recruited 27,137 Bangladeshi workers, according to the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training. l

Engineer gunned down in capital n Ashif Islam Shaon

A young textile engineer was shot dead by unidentified criminals in the Kolabagan area of the capital early yesterday.

The victim, Sadbin Hossain, 25, had recently joined an apparel factory as a textile engineer in Savar after completing his studies.

Quoting the deceased’s relatives, police sources said Sadbin was returning to his Green Road home around 12:45am on a motorcycle, when some miscreants in a car intercepted his vehicle near Labaid Hospital and shot

him indiscriminately. Nearby pedestrians took Sadbin to the hospital where duty doctors declared him dead.

Police later sent his body to the Dhaka Medical College morgue for an autopsy. A case has been filed accusing a man named Jahangir Azim, who had allegedly been threatening to kill Sadbin as the textile engineer refused to pay extortion to Jahangir.

Kolabagan police station OC Md Iqbal said Azim might be involved in the murder and they were trying their best to arrest him along with the other criminals. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

5

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Cities not ready to manage migration, reveals an Oxfam study

RU BCL postpones indefinite strike

n Ahmed Zayeef

Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) Rajshahi University unit yesterday postponed its indefinite strike on the campus till April 29 demanding the immediate arrest of Rustom Ali Akond’s killers, a BCL leader who was allegedly killed by Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) operatives in his dormitory room last Friday.

BCL leaders also threatened tougher action if their demands were not met

by April 29, at a press conference held at the university central cafeteria at 2pm.

BCL RU unit President Mizanur Rahman Rana said they had postponed their indefinite strike for the sake of students after discussing it with the university authorities, police officials and the central BCL committee.

BCL yesterday observed its strike for the fourth consecutive day since Saturday, while no classes and examinations were held during the strike on the campus.

BCL RU unit General Secretary Touhid-al-Hossain Tuhin said if their six-point demands, including the arrest of ICS RU unit President Ashraful Alam Emon, were not met by April 29, they would declare tougher measures on campus.

Other demands by the BCL include financial assistance for Rustom Ali’s bereaved family, banning Shibir’s politics on campus, suspending all Shibir

Migration from villages to cities contributes rapid urban growth in Bangladesh that poses serious threats to urban disaster since the cities are growing violating urban development principles and standards, says a new study.

The study conducted by Oxfam states that while the rural people, affected by joblessness, migrate to the cities for better living, a large section of them have poorer living.

The cities are not prepared to better manage them.

The international NGO has revealed the study findings yesterday at a workshop on urban disaster risk reduction based on the disaster vulnerabilities of Dhaka, Rangpur, Khulna, Mymensingh, Sirajganj, Mongla Port, Kurigram and Durgapur.

The workshop took place at Spectra Convention Centre in the city.

According to the study, over 4.4 crore people which is 29.1% of the total population of now are now living in the urban areas.

It was only 15% in 1981 and 23% in 2001.

Within the next decade, the number could rise to 6.5 crore, as of the UN projection, says the study.

Analysing last 10 years’ poverty incidence gap between rural and urban areas, the study says: “The poverty in-

One held with stolen fabric in Chittagong n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong Detective Branch (DB) in Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) early yesterday arrested an employee of a covered van company with 752 pieces of fabric of shirts stolen from Chittagong city’s Boropol area.

Babul Akhter, additional deputy commissioner of DB in CMP, said a DB team had nabbed the employee, Mohammad Rahim, from the area with the stolen fabric around 5:00am after halting the covered van while it was coming from the capital city to the port city with the facrics.

He also said the covered van company, Taher Company, brought 312 cartons of fabric of shirt from a readymade garments factory of Beximco Group for exporting those to the USA. Rahim stole the pieces of fabric from the cartons and it would hurt the country’s goodwill, the additional deputy commissioner said.

The intelligence agency suspected that the covered van company might be behind the stealing of fabric worth Tk20 lakh while they are investigating the matter, added the additional commissioner.

The arrestee and recovered fabrics were handed over to Halishahar police station and a case was lodged with the police station in this connection. l

RAIN LIKELY WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9 DHAKA

TOMORROW SUN RISES 5:42AM

FORECAST FOR TODAY 35

Dhaka

25

Chittagong

32

25

Rajshahi

40

23

Rangpur

36

23

Khulna

36

24

Barisal

34

25

Sylhet

33

21

Cox’s Bazar

32

25

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

37.4ºC Rajshahi

21.2ºC Srimangal

Source: Accuweather/UNB

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

4:27am 5:41am 12:00am 3:28pm 6:17pm 7:33pm Source: IslamicFinder.org

now becoming more important.”

He assured of settling these issues in consultation with other ministries concerned.

Prof Mahbuba Nasreen, Prof AQM Mahbub and Prof Dr ASM Maksud Ka-

mal, Department of Disaster Management Director General Mohammed Abdul Wazed, European Commission representative Abdul Awal and Oxfam Country Director Snehal Soneji also spoke at the function. l

cadres involved in earlier attacks on BCL men including Faruk Hossain who was allegedly killed by Shibir activists on February 8, 2010; ensuring security of students on campus and holding an election for RU Central Students Union (RUCSU).

Rustom was a fourth year student of Political Science and acting general secretary of BCL Shaheed Shuhrawardy Hall unit. He was shot dead in his room last Friday. He was also a candidate for the post of president in the upcoming hall unit council, slated to be held on April 10.

Students of the Political Science department held a mourning ceremony and a discussion at the department in the morning and demanded justice for Rustom as soon as possible.

BCL also held a mass signature campaign in front of the central library in support of their demands yesterday morning.

Sharmin Akhter, a magistrate of Rajshahi Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court yesterday granted a one-day remand for two Shibir men detained last Sunday. Police had asked for seven days of remand, Ziaur Rahman, officer-in-charge of DB, said.

The detainees were ICS Dashmari unit Finance Secretary Sanaullah Jacky and Khurshed Alam, an ICS activist.

“There was no more arrest in connection with the murder and police were trying to arrest the masterminds of the Rustom murder,” he also said. l

TWOKI MURDER

Twoki Moncho: Highest government authorities interfering in probe n Tribune Report The highest tier of the government was intervening in the probe of Twoki’s murder because members of an influential family close to the government were found to be involved with the crime, claimed Santrash Nirmul Twoki Moncho, a platform to ensure justice for the murder of the Narayanganj teenager.

“Analysing the investigation and trial process, it is normal to think that the highest authority of the government was intervening into the investigation and trial process,” Twoki’s father Rafiur Rabbi alleged at a press briefing yesterday.

Two days after going missing, Tanvir Mohammad Twoki, 17, was found dead on March 8 last year on the bank of Shitalakkhya River. Twoki was allegedly murdered because of his father’s role as the member secretary of the election conducting committee of Salina Hayat

Ivy, who defeated rival Shamim Osman in the Narayanganj City Corporation election.

In yesterday’s press briefing, activists of Twoki Moncho also alleged that Narayanganj has become a den of murder, extortions and crimes after Shamim Osman and Nasim Osman became lawmakers.

“After they [Shamim Osman and Nasim Osman] became MPs in an unopposed election, on the one hand they are threatening the activists of Twoki Moncho and on the other hand they are intervening the investigation and trial process of Twoki killing,” Halim Azad, member secretary of the Moncho said in a written statement.

Speaking at the press briefing, noted cultural personality Kamal Lohani said despite assurance from the premier, the killers were yet to be brought to justice even though 13 months had passed since the killing.

He added that although the prime

Rafiur Rabbi, father of Twoki, addresses a press conference at the National Press Club in the city yesterday minister showed generosity in other issues, people were not satisfied with her role in addressing the Twoki murder issue.

“She [prime minister] had said she needed Shamim Osman for her party….

Can she not make some compromise for an innocent teenager like Twoki? Is

she not a mother?” Lohani asked.

He said that if the killers of Twoki were not punished, one day people would seek accountability from the government.

Manzurul Ahsan Khan, adviser to the Communist Party of Bangladesh,

RAJIB DHAR

said the failure to punish Twoki’s murderers was sending a message to other criminals that murderers did not have to face punishment.

He said the government must take strict action against all criminals irrespective of their partisan loyalty. l

Demonstration continues over Saad killing Youth held for uploading n Our Correspondent, Mymensingh

WEATHER

TODAY SUN SETS 6:18PM

cidences in disaster-affected or adjacent urban areas increased than rural areas, but in non-affected areas, the urban poverty has reduced in last 5 years.”

Citing the example of Khulna and Barisal divisions where urban poverty has increased rapidly after the cyclones in 2007 and 2009, the study states that such natural disasters are pushing people to the urban areas.

“Such trend will go up. So, if we do not handle rural-urban migration in a planned way, vulnerabilities in the cities will be serious threats,” AKM Mamunur Rashid, a disaster risk reduction specialist, said while presenting the study.

He said the existing urban land-use planning did not consider urban hazards in their planning and guidelines.

Only the recent Detailed Area Plan (DAP) of Dhaka city has considered flood and water-logging issues, while the building code is considered because of earthquake and fire hazard, he said.

“However, implementation of the DAP and the building code still remains a big challenge to implement for the city,” he added.

Disaster Management Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya said presently more than 90% of the ministry’s allocation was spent for humanitarian assistance, “but reducing risks is

n RU Correspondent

Hundreds of agitating students continued staging demonstrations for the 8th consecutive day yesterday, protesting the killing of Saad Ibne Momtaz, a student of Fisheries Faculty of Bangladesh Agricultural University.

The students also organised a cultural programme including recitation of poetry and verses written remembering Saad.

The agitating students held a rally at the altar of Bijoy’71 monument on the campus in the afternoon in favour of their demands, including arrest of Saad’s killers, and to make their names public, cancellation of their studentship and permanent expulsion of the accused from the university.

The programmes included protest

procession, ‘mass signature collection campaign’, and formation of human chain, candle lighting on Bijoy’71 premises and drawing paintings on the campus.

The students have been continuing different programmes protesting the death of Saad since April 1.

All academic activities remained suspended since the incident, the BAU sources said.

Saad, 21, a final year student of Fisheries Faculty of BAU and organising secretary of BCL Ashraful Haque Hall unit, was killed in an attack by friends who are also BCL men on April 1.

Meanwhile, police received postmortem report from Mymensingh Medical College and Hospital regarding the death of Saad yesterday. Quoting the report, officer-in-charge of Kotwali

Police Station Golam Sarwar said, Saad died of due to liver collapse and brain hemorrhage following merciless beating.

Earlier on Monday, teachers of Fisheries Science Faculty of BAU at a press conference expressed solidarity with the demands placed by the general students. The teachers also expressed no-confidence over the six-member probe committee formed to investigate the killing of Saad.

A six-member probe body formed headed by Prof Dr Mohsin Ali of Fisheries Faculty of BAU to investigate into the killing of Saad will submit its report at the meeting tonight, campus sources said.

Earlier, BAU authority served show cause notices on Sujoy and Rukon asking them to reply by April 7 but they replied the notices, informed the proctor. l

Chittagong DB detains drug peddlers, seizes illegal rickshaw chargers

Washing factory fined in Gazipur for pollution n Our correspondent, Gazipur

n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong

The Department of Environment (DoE) yesterday fined Tk 12 lakh to a washing plant in Gazipur for polluting the environment.

DoE Assistant Director Mohammad Hafijur Rahman said the owner of Five Ocean Washing Limited was fined after a magistrate court found out that he had shut down the factory’s effluent treatment plant (ETP) and had been dumping hazardous chemicals on a nearby canal. l

The Detective Branch of Chittagong Metropolitan Police yesterday evening nabbed five drug peddlers and five others with 165 battery-run rickshaw chargers from several shanties at Motijharna area of port city.

“Acting on a tip-off, a DB team conducted a drive at the area and nabbed five noted drug peddlers who were smuggling drugs into the port city for

a long time,” CMP Detective Branch Additional Deputy Commissioner Babul Akhter told the Dhaka Tribune.

Meanwhile, detectives also arrested five persons involved in charging battery-run rickshaws illegally, he added.

They also found 165 chargers from their possession.

The arrestees and the recovered items were handed over to Khulshi police station and two separate cases were lodged with the police station. l

photo showing beating female classmate n Ashif Islam Shaon Police have arrested a teenage boy who allegedly uploaded photos and a video on Facebook showing him beating his female classmate.

According to the police, one of the accused’s friends recorded the video and took the pictures during the incident.

The teenager was arrested from in front of Purbachal City on Sunday night and was produced before a Dhaka court on Monday.

Mashroof Hossain, assistant commissioner in the cantonment zone of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, told the Dhaka Tribune that a Facebook page titled “Moja losss?” posted the photos of the boy slapping the girl, aged around 16, in December last year and administrators of the page sought help from its followers to find out the boy.

A few days later, they published the video as well.

“The video showed that the teenage boy, who was wearing school uniform, slapped the girl on a road.

Someone was recording the video,” he said.

“During investigation, we came to know that the boy and his friends recorded the video and took snaps of the incident. The girl, who came from a poor family, was previously a good

friend of his and the boys planned to harrass her as she had been avoiding the boy. They spread the video on the Internet, and ‘Moja losss?’ picked it up,” he said.

“The video came to our notice a few days back and consulting with high officials, we decided to nab the boy. With the help of the Facebook page’s admin panel members, we traced him. We also spoke with a few locals who personally knew the boy,” he added.

During primary interrogation, the teen admitted to his involvement and said he was wrong.

He had slapped the girl on October 2 last year.

The incident came to the concern of their school teachers and the matter was settled in an arbitration by the school committee, he said.

The victim’s family filed a case under Section 10 of Women and Children Repression Prevention Act with Khilkhet police station on Monday in this connection.

When asked whether the offence of uploading objectionable photos and videos should go under the Information and Communication Technology Act, Mashroof said under the act an accused can be awarded up to seven-year imprisonment and Tk1 crore fine, which is huge for a teenager.

“The plaintiff considered his age,” he said. l

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Potatoes smuggled with help from border guards Hundreds of Lalmonirhat border families dependent on smuggling n Our Correspondent, Lalmonirhat The smuggling of potatoes to India through Mogholhat border in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila is going strong because of negligence of Border Guard Bangladesh.

According to sources, at least 1,000 sacks of potatoes (one sack contains 80 kg) are smuggled to India everyday where 200 local people are engaged in the business.

Border people alleged that the BGB men and other law enforcing agencies were involved in the smuggling.

In anonymity, boatman at Kashem Ali Boat Ghat at Nagortari char village said: “Potatoes are smuggled to India from Bangladesh dawn to dusk every day.”

“At least 200 people living at different bordering villages are involved carrying the smuggled goods to India by bicycle and they use boat for crossing the Dharla River,” he said.

Nurnabi Islam, a smuggler at Nagortari char village said he had got Tk40 for transporting one sack of potato from Mogholhat Bazar to Gidaldah Bazar in India.

“I transport two sacks in a trip and I can do four trips from dawn to dusk every day,” he said.

“At least 300 families in the area depend on smuggling to make a living,” said transporter Karim Miah of Soleman Tanti char village.

“We transport potatoes from Bangladesh to India with the vigilance of Indian Border Security Force.

They never obstruct us and they assist to load potatoes in the Indian truck,” said a transporter in the condition of name not to be published.

“Border Guard Bangladesh at Mogholhat company camp get Tk10 against each sack of potatoes,” he added.

Many people including Abdul Hanif, Hafizar Rahman, Taherul Islam in the border village alleged the price of potato had increased sharply in the local markets as the potatoes were smuggled.

Bangladesh could earn revenue if these potatoes were exported to India in legal way.

But unabated smuggling is depriving revenue to the government, they said.

A group of smugglers and BGB men were earning windfall profit in smuggling potatoes to India, they added.

Bordering sources said, a kg of potatoes was being sold at Tk 16 in India while smugglers purchase a sack for Tk

Bordering people carry potatoes to India through Mogholhat border in Lalmonirhat Sadar yesterday 9 in Bangladesh.

After bearing all expenditures, the smugglers make a profit a Tk 3 against each kg of potato.

The local farmers get fair prices but the consumers have to face a price hike.

Rural Magura finally gets OMS rice n Our Correspondent, Magura

People living in the rural areas of Magura are finally going to enjoy the benefits of open market sale (OMS) of rice.

This is the extention of the OMS programme for rice launched on February 2 by Magura district food office, which had been selling rice in the district’s municipal area only.

Following the constant demand for the facility by the rural population, the government body decided to stretch out the programme to the upazilas, starting yesterday.

Sources at the district food office said they had started selling rice under OMS in three upazilas: Shalikha, Mohammadpur and Sreepur. Under the OMS programme, everyone would be able to purchase 5kg rice every day at Tk24 a kg.

Abdul Kuddus, a day labourer from Durgapur village under Sreepur upazila, said: “I buy 5kg rice every day. Before, I had to spend Tk190 for that rice, but now I can get it at Tk120 because of OMS. We are very happy because of OMS rice.”

Golam Rabbani, a rickshaw van puller from Ghama village under Mohammadpur upazila, said: “We were de-

prived of the OMS rice as it was available only in the municipalities earlier. It was not possible for me to go all the way to Magura, which is 35km away from my home, to get OMS rice spending Tk80 as conveyance. Now, I can easily purchase the rice from the upazila headquarter, which is only 3km from my house.”

When contacted, Abdul Kadir, Magura district food controller (acting), said: “We have started selling rice under OMS in the upazila level.

We are getting good response in this regard as rural people are showing high interest here.” l

Smuggler Mazibar Rahman said local farmers get fair prices and hundreds of families earned their livelihood by smuggling as they do not have other option to main their livelihood.

Commander of Mogholhat BGB

DHAKA TRIBUNE

camp Nayek Subedar Shamsul Alam said: “BGB’s vigilance was lax on potato-smuggling to India for the interest of the farmers.”

The BGB did not enjoy benefit in this regard, he said. l

Man attempts suicide after killing wife, son n Our Correspondent, Khulna A man took poison after murdering his wife and son at Kazimosa village in Paikgachha upazila early yesterday.

Officer-in-Charge of Paikgacha police station Kazi Kamal Hossain said Dipak Das had chopped his wife Anima Das,35, and son Sajib Das,7, to death with a sharp weapon at one stage of a brawl around 3:30am, leaving them dead on the spot.

Later, he took poison in a bid to end

his life. Neighbours found him on his yard in the morning and informed police about the matter.

Police arrested Dipakand took him to upazila health complex under their custody. Police also recovered the bodies and sent those to Khulna Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy.

The OC quoting neighbouring people said Dipak had been frustrated for a long time because of economic hardship. The couple had often locked into heated quarrels over the issue. l

Upazila chairman sent to jail Mud-made school a danger to students n Our Correspondent, Barisal A Pirojpur court rejecting bail prayer yesterday ordered to send the newly elected BNP-backed chairman of Nazirpur upazila jail for violence during hartal.

Local sources said the BNP-backed candidate Nazrul Islam Khan contested in Nazirpur upazila on February 27 for chairman post when he was detained in jail.

Nazrul was elected chairman from jail by defeating AL-backed candidate Abdul Malek.

After released on bail, he took oath as Nazirpur upazila chairman at the of-

fice of Barisal divisional commissioner Barisal on March 25.

As per direction of the High Court he appeared before a court yesterday.

Satyabrata Shikdar, judicial magistrate of Pirojpur, however, rejecting the bail prayer ordered the newly elected chairman Nazrul Islam Khan to send jail.

Nazrul is one of the 88 accused in another case lodged with Nazirpur police station by Nazirpur upazila AL president Abdul Jabbar against political violence during the BNP-led opposition alliance enforced hartal on October 28, 2013. l

n Our Correspondent, Natore A school made of mud at Dahia village in Singra upazila here has been running for 42 years, posing a security risk to the lives of students during the rainy season.

The tin-shed school named Dahia PGD High School has over 300 boys and girls, which was established in 1973 with the initiative of locals and came under MPO (Monthly Pay Order) in 2002.

Sources at the school said the school has remained in this vulnerable situation

for long due to government fund crunch.

Arif, a class-VIII student, and class-X student Fahima said they were not able to sit in their classrooms during any kind of rain or stormy weather as water enters there through the walls.

The clay-made walls start trembling in storms and that is why they have to leave the school during such times, they claimed.

Fahima also termed their common room unfit to use specially during tiffin period, saying they did not find any solution even after repeated appeals to the headmaster and other teachers.

Highway patrol attacked by robbers, one shot n Our Correspondent, Dinajpur A robber was shot by Kotwali police in Basherhaat, Dinajpur when robbers attacked highway patrol police on the Dinajpur-Rangpur highway at 2am yesterday.

Police shot the robber, named Abdul Khalek, in the leg when the robbers tried to steal weapons and a motorcycle from the patrol police.

They also recovered eight sharp weapons and ropes used for robbery from the scene. Khalek was admitted to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital for treatment.

When they attacked the highway patrol, two police personnel received minor injuries Altaf Hossain, inspector at the Kotwali police station, said a group of 15-20 robbers had set up a barricade with ropes on the highway for robbery.

When they attacked the highway patrol, Sub-inspector Abdul Aziz PPM and Assistant Sub-inspector Shariful Alam received minor injuries after falling from a running bike.

Hailing from Dinajpur’s Boroil village, Khalek is the leader of an interdistrict robbery group. There are 10 cases filed with Kotwali police stations accusing him of murder, robberies and more, all under investigation.

He is currently being interrogated for information on his accomplices. l

The photo taken yesterday shows that some watermelon-laden trucks get stranded at Elisha ferry ghat on the BarisalBhola- Lakhsmipur route because of ferry shortage DHAKA TRIBUNE

300 trucks stranded at Ilisha ferry ghat n Our Correspondent, Bhola Over three hundred watermelonladen trucks have remained stranded at Ilisha ferry ghat on the BarisalBhola- Lakhsmipur route over the Meghna river in the district for the last few days due to ferry shortage.

The farmers carry goods to many parts of the country including the capital city through the ferry ghat .

According to sources, only two K-type smaller ferries are now on service on the route.

But they are plying slowly causing long tailback.

This has caused great sufferings to traders, truck drivers and employees who have to spend more than what they earn to manage their daily meals.

Perishable goods, including fruits and vegetables already started to rot, truck drivers said.

Because of this phenomenon, watermelon farmers are going to incur losses Tk 10 crore as their fruits ru-

ined due to tailback.

Many farmers were admitted to hospitals following heart attack as fear of incurring losses griped them.

When contacted, the ferry master Tajul Islam said the problem could not be solved only with the two small ferries.

He was not confirmed when the vehicles could reach their destination.

He demanded more ferries to solve the problem. l

Headmaster of the school Wazed Ali and assistant headmaster Bazlur Rahman blamed the higher authorities concerned for the problems despite frequent appeals to improve the condition of the school.

Khoyer Uddin, president of the managing committee of the school, confirmed the matter, saying he informed the problems to the local MP several times, but his effort was in vain.

Locals and guardians of the school urged the government to allot adequate money to turning the school into brick-made one. l

Sindurmoti fair held in Lalmonirhat n Our Correspondent, Lalmonirhat The entire Sindurmoti village under Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila wore a festive look yesterday as a daylong Sindurmoti fair was held with the participation of both Bangladeshi and Indian devotees.

During the fair, devotees prayed at a temple and took bath in Sindurmotipond as they believe that water of Sindurmoti pond would bring peace and purity to their life.

Tight security has been taken surrounding the fair venue to ensure safety for the pilgrims, said Aslam Khan, additional SP inLalmonirhat.

The convener of the Sindurmoti Fair Celebration Committee Atul ChandraRoy said the historical Sindurmoti fair had begun about 300 years back.

“People from both Hindu and Muslim communitiesof the villagehelp the district administration to celebrate the fair in peacefuland festive manner every year,” he said, adding that the historical Sindurmoti pond is going to turn into a tourism spot in Rangpur region.

Debendra Nath Roy, 59, who came from district town to have bath in the pond, said: “I have been attending the Sindurmoti fair for the last 32 yearsto get peace and purity in my life.”

“In my childhood I came to the fair with my parents. We really get mental satisfaction after taking bath in the pond,” said another devotee Asutosh Saha, 55.

The Deputy Commissioner of the district Habibur Rahman said Sindurmoti was heritage and religious site of Hindu community.

As a large number of Hindu devotees came from different places to join the fair, the district administration took tight security in and around the fair venue. l

33 illegal Malaysia goers held from Bay of Bengal n Our correspondent, Cox’s Bazar Members of Bangladesh Coast Guard in a drive arrested 33 people from the Bay of Bengal near Saint Martin in Teknaf upazila here yesterday while they were brought to Malaysia illegally.

However, details of the detainees could not be confirmed immediately.

Being tipped-off, a patrol team of coast guard conducted a drive in south-eastern area of the bay three nautical miles off Saint Martin Island around 4pm and arrested the 33 from a Malaysia-bound fishing boat, said Lieutenant colonel Harun-ur Rashid, station commander of Teknaf Coast Guard.

During the drive, five crew members were detained from the boat.

A case would be filed in this regard against the alleged brokers, crew and owner of the boat, the commander added. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Feature

7

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

If the house could speak The concluding part of the story on a house that holds a treasure trove of stories, history and anecdotes in its region

The mosque on the complex of the Moyez estate

I

n Chowdhury Abd-Allah Quaseed

n the years after the partition, in 1950, the house played host to the National Science and Industrial fair once again, and the chief guest of the event was the governor general of combined Pakistan, Khawja Nazimuddin, who was accompanied by many important cabinet members.

This would surely be an event that house would detail about, as it would about the 1951 All Pakistan Literary conference arranged by all three sons of Moyezuddin jointly, which brought together literary elites from all provinces of Pakistan, and was chaired by the illustrious Dr Muhammad Shahidullah.

The house could further tell of how the meetings deciding the nominations for the 1954 Jukto Front Elections were also held over the 42 person sitting capacity dining table of the home, as the 2nd son of Chowdhury Yusuf Ali Mohon Mia was heading the nomination committee, followed by narration of all the winners of that sweeping election of Jukto Front being invited for a celebratory feast with guests that had included Bongobondhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Suhrawardy as well. The house would also surely mention being used as the venue for the 1962 All Pakistan Social Welfare Conference.

The house could also talk about Poet Jasimuddin reading out his early manuscripts here before going for publication; of Abbasuddin (famous folk singer) performing live for a large audience; about Sufi Motahar (first Bangla sonnet writer) who composed several of his best sonnets seated in the dining hall of this very home. And surely the house would talk about the excitement when as recent as in the 1980s, the greatest writer of contemporary Bangla literature, Humayun Ahmed came with one of the grandchildren of Moyezuddin and stayed for a weekend.

The house could also depict how Moyezuddin had wedded Halima Begum, weighing her on a pan balance against 55kg of gold as her den mohor; about the wedding of Moyezuddin’s sons and daughters, where up to 10,000 guests were made to dine under canopies illuminated by giant gas lamps; of many other weddings that took place with members of other aristocratic families of the time, bringing in guests from Nawab families of Dhaka, Comilla, Boalmari, and from the families of the Zamindars of Dagonbhuiya, Talma, Gerda, and from the family of Haji Sharituallah of Bahadurpur, and many more.

The stories would not be complete without talking about the fireworks, musical performances, even circuses, taking place within the home-grounds.

The house would call out for help to stop the descendants of the great lord who made it, from selling away fragments of the open lands around the house, on which new purchasers have begun to construct horrifying multi storied monstrosities

The house, if it could speak, could tell of all the times that people such as Maulana Tomizuddin Khan (central cabinet minister of Pakistan and Speaker of Central Parliament), Humayun Kabir (a central cabinet minister of India from the days of Nehru), Bongobondhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Sher-e-Bangla Fazlul Hoque and Suhrawardy (both provincial chief ministers and or governors of Bengal/ East Pakistan at various times, and Prime Minister Mohammad Ali and eminent leader Maulana Bhashani would come as frequent guests to the house and discuss so many political strategies. Some of them also stayed at the house on a number of occasions.

Surely the house wouldn’t forget to mention the visit of President Ayub Khan who came soon after taking control of Pakistan as its chief martial law administrator.

The house could talk about the entourages that would accompany the Maharajas of Ullapara, Muktagacha, Bhawal, Dighapatia and Bordhoman, when they would come for meetings with Chowdhury Moyezuddin or to pay in their tributes to him for the estates that they held jointly with him.

Annals about the long lines of people entering through the high arched gateway to deposit the in kind items of the annual tributes coming in from far flung corners of Bengal across which Moyezuddin’s estates were scattered, would also gain the interest of listeners.

Gold, as strange as it may sound, was indeed so abundant, that once a discarded rusted iron safe had been found lying near the pond, inside one drawer of which several gold bars were discovered. The story of 7 pitchers of gold coins being buried underground

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in one of the family’s estate offices near the river being washed away in flood is a story that may sound incredible, and yet is true, and would surely not have been omitted. Yes, this was a strange home where fantasies merged with reality.

The house could also tell of when Moyezuddin would gather his army of 20,000, and people of the town in the grounds lying across the road from the house, which used to be open land back then, and infuse them with fiery motivational speeches for which he was renowned; and of the times when he would ride into battles and skirmishes with his troops.

The mosque standing in the grounds would tell how Moyezuddin would arrange to protect, on the way back, all those who came to pray and how he would give incentives to for having the courage to come and pray in a town where Muslims at the time were a marginalised, and often oppressed, minority. The mosque would tell of how it was the first mosque of the town and the place where the first Jumma was offered and the first azaan was recited.

Stories of how the Saints of Jaunpur and Enayetpur would come and preach the Sufi version of Islam from these very colonnaded verandas would be nice to hear as well. The house could narrate about the qul khawani Chowdhury Moyezuddin on December 26, 1923, when 200 oxen were sacrificed to feed the quarter of a million guests who had gathered to offer dua for the salvation of his soul. And how that led the way to starting of the practice of Eid-al-Azha in Faridpur town.

The house wouldn’t forget to state how the home was equally welcoming to all Hindus and people of other religions too, who formed the majority of Moyezuddin’s work force and management team as well, making the home, and all it stood for, an outstanding example of secularism.

The house could testify that it was not one of those typical zamindar palaces – all somber and grim as portrayed in the stereotypical stories and novels. It was a house which was full of life and where every day was like a festival. There would be numerous anecdotes to share about 27 of Moyezuddin’s grandchildren living and growing up here, with over a dozen more grandchildren through his daughter staying here half the time, making the house like a constant playground.

The house would sadly remember that it used to be called the house that never slept, for even at the oddest hours of the night, at least a few dozen of the family members or staff would be awake, swimming or boating in the pond, or enjoying an all night barbecue, not to mention the ever vigilant contingent of sentries, patrolling about, many of whom were former soldiers of the famous Gurkha regiment and some guards from faraway Abyssinia, feared by all for their formidable size and physique.

The house would recount the ceremonies held to mark the starting of schooling of the children, which in-

cluded the feeding of honey with gold dust, a combination called mokordhoch and the ceremonial coronation of sorts every 3 years, when the title of Motwali or chief administrator of the estate would be handed from one son of Moyezuddin to the other. The house would surely include in its narratives about the dozens of friends and the private tutors of all the grandchildren o Moyezuddin, thronging the premises all afternoon every day.

awestruck at the grandeur and splendor of the life style.

But the house would also share memories of tragedies, like of the times when Moyezuddin died, and his sons, and their wives, one by one over the years, each time plunging the house into woe and mourning by the hundreds of thousands of people gathering over a few days, to attend their funerals and burials.

It would talk of times of anguish,

Gold, as strange as it may sound, was indeed so abundant, that once a discarded rusted iron safe had been found lying near the pond, inside one drawer of which several gold bars were discovered

The house would talk of the enormous kitchen that rivaled the size of that of a hotel’s, where a team of cooks and assistants would make 4 or 5 meals a day, for over 200 people, and an additional feast for visitors, guests, way farers, and peasants. The house would speak of how life in it was noisy.

How in addition to all the activities, there would always be people listening to the gramophones and radios, and family members trying their skills on the piano in the drawing room.

It would tell how the kids would often organise elaborate fancy dress parties and dramas where they would garb themselves as legendary characters of history. And about how dexterous in sports most of the members of the family were, and of the tons of cups and trophies won by the sons and grandchildren of Moyezuddin for tennis, golf, hockey, badminton, cycling, cricket and athletics. Some family members, even played on the national team in the 1960s, managing to hold their position among the dominant line up of then West Pakistani players and many a times the national cricket or hockey teams came and stayed in Moyez Manzil accepting the hospitality of the family.

This house would talk about how it was the first house to have electricity in Faridpur in 1933, and how it was the venue for so many entertaining poet’s duels where they would argue and quarrel in rhymes, and of times when different groups of family members were going for picnics and hunts or river cruises in the family’s exclusive steamships and houseboats almost every other weekend. The house would share, that family members and guests would frequently challenge each other in shooting competitions using various kinds of rifles or even ancient muskets of which many shelves and cabinets were adorned.

The house would talk about the many times when British officers of the government of high importance had visited, and how they had become

such as of all the times that Lal Mia the eldest son of Moyezuddin, was taken away as a prisoner many a times, from the grounds of the house, by the British government for his anti colonial political activities. It would also tell you about the horrors of the time when the Pakistani government in one of its repressive endeavors attempted to seal the house and confiscate all its belongings, stripping the house bare. The house would tell you how the great leader Suhrawardy himself defended the family in court and after the victory, apparently everything was returned, but many things were damaged beyond repair, and many were returned only on paper.

The house would also share with you, the memories of anxious uncertainty during the war of independence of 1971, when everyone had to abandon the home, and trudge through knee deep mud to faraway places seeking refuge from the carnage. The house would share with us all the pain it suffered as it helplessly watched while so many of the beautiful antiques were so daftly taken away or

damaged. The house would also tell with pride, how as narrated by Foyez, the sub sector commander of Faridpur, of how the front lawn of the house was used as a venue by the liberation forces to call the enemy to surrender in the eve of 16th December, 1971.

Nevertheless, if indeed the house could share its emotions and speak, it would surely weep today seeing its present plight and contrasting it with its own glorious experiences of the past. It would recount with shame how some members of the family had so many of the carved designs on the walls chiseled off, how so many of the descendants of the great lord made extensions or renovations at some place or the other using garish modern designs that contrast with the traditional architecture. The house would lament how the descendants of Moyezuddin sold, or gave away so many of the furniture and artifacts or carried them off to their new homes in Dhaka, leaving the Moyez Manzil all denuded and bare.

It would not be able to contain within its brick and stone heart, the woe of seeing that almost no one lives at this home, except for some family members visiting weekly and some occasionally. The house would call out for help to stop the descendants of the great lord who made it, from selling away fragments of the open lands around the house, on which new purchasers have begun to construct horrifying multi storied monstrosities.

Indeed the house would weep and wish for help.

But sorrow, joys, pride and shame, all combined, if indeed the house could speak, it would tell the story of this land, and it would be a story that generations of those who love the history of the country and of Bengal, would love to hear recounted to them again and again. l Chowdhury Abd-Allah Quaseed is the founder of a non-partisan democracy promoting youth focused organisation called Force of Tomorrow, and the creator of a number of development oriented TV programmes, a columnist, and an HR professional in a leading local organisation.

An early 1940s photograph showing the original form of the mansion

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8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Ukraine clears protesters in eastern cities, standoff elsewhere n Reuters, Kiev/Donetsk Police detained 70 pro-Moscow protesters occupying a regional administration building in eastern Ukraine overnight, but others held out in a standoff in two further cities in what Kiev says is a Russian-led plan to dismember the country.

Ukraine says the seizure of public buildings in its mainly Russian-speaking industrial heartland on Sunday night is a replay of events in Crimea, the Black Seapeninsula Moscow annexed last month.

Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said protesters in the town of Kharkiv had been cleared in a lightning, 18 minute “anti-terrorist” operation, pinning responsibility for the building’s occupation on Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s ousted Moscow-backed president Viktor Yanukovich.

“All this (in Kharkiv) was inspired and financed by the Putin-Yanukovich group,” said Avakov.

NATO warned Moscow yesterday of “grave consequences” to its relationship with the West if it intervened further in Ukraine.

But Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov dismissed U.S. accusations that Moscow was destabilising Ukraine, saying the situation could improve only if the interests of Russian speakers were taken into account. {ID:nL6N0N01NW] The pro-Russian protesters have been demanding that referendums be held on whether to join Russia like the vote, dismissed by the Kiev and West as illegal, that endorsed Crimea’s return to rule by Moscow.

An aide to Avakov said police went

in when the Kharkiv protesters failed to give themselves up and surrender their arms. No shots were fired by the police, although some had been from the other side and a grenade was thrown, he said. One police officer was badly wounded and some others less seriously hurt.

The standoff however continued in the mining centre of Donetsk - Yanukovich’s home base - where a group of pro-Russian deputies inside the main regional authority building on Monday declared a separatist republic.

‘If Russia were to intervene further in Ukraine it would be a historic mistake’ Ukraine has been in turmoil since late last year when Yanukovich rejected closer relations with the European Union and tilted the former Soviet republic back towards Moscow. That provoked mass protests in which more than 100 people were killed by police and which drove Yanukovich from office in February, leading to Kiev’s loss of control in Crimea.

Police say that in a third protest in the city of Luhansk pro-Russia activists inside the main state security building have seized weapons.

There was no clear sign that further police operations were imminent in these two cities. “We hope the buildings occupied in Donetsk and Luhansk will soon be freed,” acting presi-

dent Oleksander Turchinov said.

Numbers of protesters involved appear to be small and Ukrainian nationalists, who believe the operations are being coordinated from Russia, say protesters occupying the buildings have been helped by the inaction of corrupt local police.

In Donetsk, steel-and-energy tycoon Rinat Akhmetov, Ukraine’s richest man, is mediating with the protesters, but he may have complicated the plans of the authorities by publicly urging authorities not to use force as a solution.

But authorities may anyway have decided not to tempt action by Moscow and hold back and wait for the protests to fizzle out.

The West has expressed concern about what it says has been a buildup of Russian forces along the border with Ukraine. Moscow has said the troops are merely taking part in exercises but NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen urged caution.

“If Russia were to intervene further in Ukraine it would be a historic mistake,” he told a news conference in Paris.

“It would have grave consequences for our relationship with Russia and would further isolate Russia internationally.”

Lavrov denied responsibility for the trouble in Russian-speaking areas of Ukraine. “One should not seek to put the blame on someone else,” he told a new conference in Moscow.

“We are deeply convinced ... that the situation cannot be calmed down and changed into national dialogue if the Ukrainian authorities go on ignoring the interests of the southeastern regions of the country.” l

Pro-Russian activists who seized the main administration building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk deploy a flag of the so-called Donetsk Republic and hold a Russian flag AFP

Russia wants Ukraine’s east represented in talks to resolve crisis n AFP, Moscow Moscow said yesterday it was ready to take part in talks with Brussels and Washington over the future of Ukraine but insisted the ex-Soviet country’s Russian-speaking east and south be represented in the negotiations.

“Indeed we are ready to consider a multi-party format in which the Europeans, the United States, Russia and the Ukrainian sides are represented,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters.

“We are in favour of Ukraine’s south and east being represented in such talks.”

Russia’s top diplomat suggested that

n AFP, Geneva

n AFP, Ramallah

A member of Iraq’s security forces stands guard during a religious gathering in the central Shiite shrine city of Najaf. Attacks in Iraq left 12 people dead yesterday while security forces said they killed 25 militants near Baghdad amid worries insurgents are encroaching on the capital weeks ahead of elections AFP

EU court rules against requirement to keep data of telecom users

Turkey PM renews pledge to crackdown on rivals n AFP, Ankara n Reuters, Brussels Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, emerging triumphant from last weekend’s local polls, renewed his pledge of war against rivals he blames for illegal wiretaps and graft claims targeting his allies.

“All the culprits will go before the law,” Erdogan said in his party’s first parliamentary meeting since last Sunday’s elections that gave the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) sweeping wins. “We will not forgive these kinds of vile acts, this treason. Our people have given us a mandate to fight them.”

His remarks came just after Turkish authorities yesterday raided several homes in the southern city of Adana and detained eight police officers over the wiretapping scandal that has rocked the country for weeks.

Erdogan has accused the associates of Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish cleric living in self-exile in the United States, of forming a “parallel state” within the Turkish establishment and instigating a graft probe that ensnared key government allies in mid-December.

The scandal has played out with a spate of wiretaps and social media leaks implicating Erdogan in graft and exposing high-level security talks weighing military action in Syria. l

The European Union’s highest court ruled on Tuesday that an EU directive requiring telecoms companies to store the communications data of EU citizens for up to two years was invalid.

“The Court of Justice declares the Data Retention Directive to be invalid,” the court said in a statement.

The data-retention directive was introduced in March 2006 after bombings

on public transport in Madrid and London. The aim was to give the authorities better tools to investigate and prosecute organised crime and terrorism.

It required telecoms service providers to keep traffic and location data as well as other information needed to identify the user, but not the content of the communication. The records were to be kept from six to 24 months.

Austrian and Irish courts asked the European Court of Justice to rule if the

law was in line with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU. The law also caused a public outcry in Germany.

“The Court takes the view that, by requiring the retention of those data and by allowing the competent national authorities to access those data, the directive interferes in a particularly serious manner with the fundamental rights to respect for private life and to the protection of personal data,” the court said. l

Germany outlaws ‘Hezbollah fundraising group’ n AFP, Berlin

German authorities banned a group yesterday accused of raising money for the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and staged raids across the country on homes and offices used by the organisation.

Around 150 police officers searched premises across six states and confiscated cash, computers and around 40 boxes of files.

Two bank accounts with a total of around 60,000 euros were frozen but

authorities to conduct constitutional reforms to give the Russian-speaking regions more independence through federalisation.

Lavrov lamented that the “constitutional reform was being prepared in secret” and said Russia wanted to see a draft of Ukraine’s new constitution before the crisis talks. He dismissed Western accusations of Moscow bankrolling the unrest in Ukraine’s east. “I will leave these statements on the conscience of our American partners.”

Russia has accused Washington of fomenting the pro-Western popular uprising that ousted Moscow-backed President Viktor Yanukovych in February. l

Israel, Palestinians still at odds as US reviews peace push

UN warns of drought VIOLENCE AGAIN crisis in Syria The UN’s food aid agency warned yesterday that Syria was facing a drought that could put millions of people’s lives at risk, compounding the impact of years of war.

“WFP is concerned about the impact of a looming drought hitting the northwest of the country – mainly Aleppo, Idlib, and Hama – with rainfall less than half of the long-term average and potentially major impacts on the next cereal harvest,” said World Food Programme spokeswoman Elisabeth Byrs.

“This could put the lives of millions at risk if the drought continues,” she told reporters.

Byrs said there were huge concerns about the drought’s impact on Syrian agriculture, given that irrigation systems and farm machines have already been hit by the war. In addition to fears for the cereal sector, there are also worries over the impact of water shortages on livestock farming.

“All this comes together to give a picture of a situation that isn’t going to get better,” Byrs said. l

some of the candidates set to run in May 25 snap presidential elections and representing Ukraine’s pro-Moscow east and south could take part in the talks.

On Monday, Washington said it wants within the next 10 days to see four-way talks between Washington, Russia, Ukraine and the European Union to find a way to calm tensions in the east of Ukraine.

Over the past few days, pro-Kremlin activists have seized government buildings in several cities in Ukraine’s east, declaring independence and vowing to vote on splitting from Ukraine.

Russia has argued that the only way to calm tensions would be for Kiev

no arrests were made, the German interior ministry said.

The ministry said it had outlawed the “Waisenkinderprojekt Libanon” (Orphan Children Project Lebanon) with immediate effect.

“The name of the group masks its actual purpose,” ministry state secretary Emily Haber said in a statement.

She said the organisation based in the western city of Essen had raised 3.3 million euros ($4.5 million) in donations between 2007 and 2013 for the Lebanese Shahid Foundation, an “inte-

gral” part of Hezbollah.

It said the funds were used to recruit fighters “to combat Israel, also with terrorist measures” and compensate the families of suicide bombers.

The European Union in July last year also listed Hezbollah’s military wing as a terrorist organisation.

Hezbollah, which brands itself a resistance movement against Israel, was formed in 1982 by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and was the principal actor in ending Israel’s occupation of southern Lebanon in 2000. l

Israeli and Palestinian negotiators remained at odds yesterday on how to salvage teetering peace talks as Washington prepared to review the scale of its involvement in the troubled process.

The two sides met US envoy Martin Indyk late on Monday and are to meet him again on Wednesday, a Palestinian source told AFP. But amid growing US frustration at the reluctance of either side to compromise, Secretary of State John Kerry was to discuss with President Barack Obama whether to continue investing the same amount of time and political capital in a peace effort being undermined by the actions of both sides.

“There are still differences between the Israeli and Palestinian positions, and the Americans are making great efforts to overcome the difficulties,” a Palestinian source close to the talks told AFP. A US official confirmed the latest meeting. “Gaps remain but both sides are committed to narrowing the

gaps,” he said.

Senior US officials have rejected the idea that Obama intends to pull the plug on the peace push, saying he deeply appreciates the intensive shuttle diplomacy Kerry has invested in it over the past 15 months.

Despite Kerry’s efforts, the talks have made no apparent headway since they resumed in July with the stated goal of agreeing a framework peace deal by April 30.

With recriminations and tit-for-tat moves multiplying on both sides, the prospects of their continuing beyond that date look increasingly unlikely.

At the end of March, Israel refused to release a final batch of Arab prisoners the Palestinians had been expecting to be freed under the terms of the talks resumption.

In response, the Palestinians reneged on their own undertaking to refrain from pursuing alternative avenues for recognition of their promised state, applying last week to adhere to 15 international treaties. l

Progress in electrical stimulus for paralysis n AFP, Paris

Scientists yesterday reported progress in a technique to stimulate the lower spinal cord in paraplegics to help them recover lost nerve function.

Cautiously tested on a single patient three years ago, the technique has been trialled on three other young men who had been paraplegic for at least two years after road accidents, they said.

After the patients were given an implant to stimulate nerve bundles in the lower spine, they were able to voluntarily flex their knees and shift their hips, ankles and toes, the team reported in a published study.

The four were not able to walk but could bear some weight independently -- a key phase towards this goal -- and experienced a “dramatic” improvement in wellbeing, they added.

Claudia Angeli of the University of Louisville’s Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center (KSCIRC) said two of the men had been diagnosed not only as paralysed in the legs, but also lacking lower-body sensation, with no chance of recovery.

“This is groundbreaking for the entire field and offers a new outlook that the spinal cord, even after a severe injury, has great potential for functional recovery,” Angeli said in a press release.

Paralysis comes from damage to the

spinal cord down which the brain sends electrical signals along nerve fibres to instruct limb movement.

Decades of experimental effort have been devoted to reconnecting severed fibres through surgery or regrowing them through drugs or stem cells.

The new research takes a different route, exploring the idea that there are ways paralysed people can move without reconnecting the nerve link between the brain and lower extremities.

It delivers tiny electrical signals to networks in the lumbosacral spinal cord that are relatively autonomous -- they can follow through the commands for weight-bearing and coordinated stepping without input from the brain.

“We have uncovered a fundamentally new intervention strategy that can dramatically affect recovery of voluntary movement in individuals with complete paralysis, even years after injury,” said Susan Harkema, a University of Louisville professor who was involved in the first study, in 2011.

“The belief that no recovery is possible and complete paralysis is permanent has been challenged.”

The implant went hand-in-hand with rehabilitative therapy, which aimed at getting the spinal network to learn and improve nerve functions with less stimulation over time. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Elusive ‘pings’ keep MH370 search in limbo n AFP, Perth Ships listening for undersea signals from Flight MH370 have failed to detect any more “pings” and will spend several more days trying to pinpoint a crash site before a mini-sub is launched to scour the seabed, searchers said yesterday.

Exactly one month since the Boeing 777 vanished with 239 people on board, optimism over the earlier signals in the Indian Ocean dimmed, with time running out to detect further signals as the batteries in beacons on the jet’s black box data recorders reach their expiry date.

“We need to continue (listening) for several days to the point at which there is absolutely no doubt that the pinger batteries will have expired,” said search chief Angus Houston.

A day earlier, Houston had labelled “very encouraging” the signals picked up by a specialised US Navy device towed deep underwater by the Australian vessel Ocean Shield.

If the transmissions can be recaptured and confirmed as emanating from the Malaysia Airlines plane’s data recorders, technicians are poised to deploy a submersible drone, the Bluefin-21, far off western Australia.

The US-made device uses sonar to scan the seafloor for possible crash debris. The plane mysteriously vanished March 8, diverting en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing for reasons unknown. The search is focused on a 600-kilometre (370-mile) arc of the remote southern Indian Ocean.

The Ocean Shield is criss-crossing an area where satellite data indicates the plane may have gone down, trying to home in on the signals.

Arvind Kejriwal slapped again n Agencies Arvind Kejriwal was slapped yesterday by a man during a roadshow in Sultanpuri area of north west Delhi in second such attack in four days. The AAP leader immediately held BJP responsible for it.

The man identified as Lali, an autorickshaw driver, first garlanded Kejriwal and then slapped him following which the attacker was thrashed by AAP supporters. AAP leader Manish Sisodia tweeted that Kejriwal was injured in his eye. Kejriwal’s spectacles fell on the ground following the attack.

The 38-year-old attacker, a resident of Aman Vihar in Outer Delhi, has accused Kejriwal of not fulfilling promises made to the auto-drivers. He was later detained by the police.

“I do not understand why some people resort to violence for becoming the Prime Minister. If you think we will keep quite after being attacked, you are wrong. We will fight this battle till the last breath,” Kejriwal said. Later in a tweet, Kejriwal said, “I am just thinking - why am i being repeatedly attacked? Who r the masterminds? What do they want? What do they achieve?”

The AAP leader headed for Rajghat after the attack which has been condemned by both BJP and Congress. l

Sonia declines to show US court her passport n Agencies Claiming that the government of India denied her permission to disclose her travel records contained in her passport, Congress President Sonia Gandhi has refused to provide a copy of her passport to the US court and has instead given up her plea contesting the personal jurisdiction of the court in a rights violation case filed against her in US. The Federal Court for the Eastern District of New York on 20 March ordered Sonia Gandhi to give a copy of her passport “to corroborate her otherwise-unsupported declaration stating that the defendant was not in the United States at the time of service of summons - September 2 to 9, 2013.”

Sonia said: “In matters of disclosure of my travels which are contained in the passport document, the Government of India has informed me that they would not permit such a disclosure.

Sonia Gandhi is facing a riots violation case filed by US based rights group Sikhs For Justice and two survivors of the massacre. l

Afghan election provokes more than 3,000 complaints n Reuters, Kabul

‘Many, many, many days’

“If we go down there now and do the visual search it will take many, many, many days because it’s very slow, very painstaking work to scour the ocean floor,” Houston said.

If the Bluefin-21 detects something, it can resurface and be sent back down with a video camera to seek visual evidence of a crash.

Families of MH370 passengers in Beijing marked the one-month anniversary with a tearful candlelit vigil Tuesday, still in agonising suspense as they await evidence of the fate of their loved ones.

“We’ve been waiting and holding on here for already 31 days,” said Steve Wang, one of the relatives.

About two-thirds of the 239 people on board were Chinese.

Selamat Omar, a Malaysian whose 29-year-old son Khairul was on board, held on to improbable hopes that he might still be alive.

“Until they can find the black box or the wreckage I will hold on to the belief that the passengers are safe,” he said.

Taking it to the limit

But a daunting task lies ahead, especially if the pings cannot be reacquired to narrow the search area.

The 4.5-kilometre (nearly three-mile) depth of the ocean floor is the absolute operating limit for a Bluefin-21, which is designed for deep-sea surveying.

Ocean Shield, which earlier picked up two series of pulses, one lasting two hours and 20 minutes and the other 13 minutes, is operating at the northern end of the defined search area. The Chinese ship Haixun 01 and Britain’s HMS Echo are working the southern end. l

9

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

A Chinese relative of passengers on the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 cries as she prays at the vigil in Beijing. Family members of the passengers held a tearful vigil in the early hours of Tuesday to mark one month since contact with the plane was lost AFP

MH370 hunt to be most expensive in aviation history n Reuters, Sydney

The hunt for missing Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 is on track to cost hundreds of millions of dollars, becoming the most expensive search in aviation history with 26 countries contributing planes, ships, submarines and satellites to the international effort.

A month into the search for the jet, estimates compiled by Reuters show that at least $44 million has already been spent on the deployment of military ships and aircraft in the Indian Ocean and South China Sea by Australia, China, the United States and Vietnam. The figure is based on defence force statistics

on available hourly costs of various assets, estimates by defence analysts and costs reported by the Pentagon.

The figure for the first month of the search is already about equal to the official 32 million euros spent in searches lasting several months spread over a twoyear time frame for Air France’s Flight AF447, which crashed into the Mid-Atlantic in 2009. Just as salvage experts said the actual costs for the Air France operation could have been three or four times higher than the official figure, the bill for the current search is expected to run into hundreds of millions of dollars.

The $44 million estimate for MH370 does not cover all the defence assets

being used by countries including Britain, France, New Zealand and South Korea, nor numerous other costs such as civilian aircraft, accommodation for hundreds of personnel and expenses for intelligence analysts worldwide.

Angus Houston, the retired Air Chief Marshal in charge of the Australian-led international search, said on Friday he would give an overall estimate of the cost at a later date. “It’s a lot of money.” Malaysian government source, who declined to be identified as he was not authorised to speak to the media, said the entire search and recovery for MH370 could be at least double the money spent to recover the black box from Air France’s AF447. l

Afghan authorities have received more than 3,000 reports of violations from last weekend’s presidential election, exceeding the tally following a 2009 vote that was marred by widespread fraud.

But just half the 3,103 complaints registered so far will be investigated, a complaints commission spokesman said, since the rest were reported by telephone and lacked the required supporting evidence.

The three frontrunners have all complained of fraud in the April 5 vote meant to usher in Afghanistan’s first democratic transfer of power, as incumbent Hamid Karzaiprepares to step down after more than 12 years as head of state.

Midnight on Monday was the deadline for reporting fraud and any irregularities, but the final figure is expected to rise as reports flow into Kabul along with ballot boxes from around the country.

A final tally could take days to become available, since observers, voters and other parties all had means to lodge complaints at polling stations.

“As soon as we get them, it is clear the final number is going to increase,” said Nader Mohseni, spokesman for the Independent Election Complaints Commission. “We cannot ignore the fact that during the elections, there were instances of fraud and electoral violations.”

More than 2,000 complaints were investigated during the 2009 elections, which were tarnished by fraud that led to more than a million votes being scrapped.

Complaints against election commission staff made up 772 of the 1,573 complaints backed by documents this time round, with another 573 aimed at provincial council candidates, while presidential hopefuls faced 228 complaints.

Afghanistan held provincial council elections the same day. l

Gloves off as BJP woos the Hindu vote in northern India n Reuters, India

India’s main opposition party, tipped to form the next government, appears to be returning to its Hindu nationalist roots at the start of a five-week general election, raking up divisive issues and using strong language in an area hit by religious riots.

Criss-crossing the country for months before the first phase of voting began on Monday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its candidate for prime minister, Narendra Modi, had mainly campaigned on a ticket of better governance, economic development and job creation.

But just hours after voting started, the election commission demanded an explanation from Modi’s chief aide Amit Shah, accusing him of incendiary

speeches in towns where dozens of people, mostly Muslims, were killed in Hindu-Muslim riots last year.

“It is not anyone’s hobby to riot.

When justice is not done to all the parties and the action is one-sided action, then the public is forced to come out in the streets,” Shah said in the town of Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh state last week, according to a transcript provided by the commission.

In a series of speeches in the area, Shah also said voters should reject parties that put up Muslim candidates.

He said Muslims in the area had raped, killed and humiliated Hindus.

Shah did not respond to requests for comment, but the BJP has said he was within his rights to ask people to express their anger through the ballot box.

India’s 1.2 billion people include 150 million Muslims, who form a sizeable minority in Uttar Pradesh, the country’s most populous state and a key electoral battleground.

The riots in Muzaffarnagar last year started with a minor scuffle, which were exacerbated by inflammatory speeches by several local politicians, news reports have said.

Although sectarian rioting is on the decline in India, it is still hit by spasms of Hindu-Muslim violence. Hundreds of thousands of people were killed when colonial India was divided in 1947 into Hindu-majority India and Pakistan, an Islamic state.

Elections in India are also times of heightened tensions because political parties often pitch for votes on the ba-

Beleaguered Thai PM pleads for justice, fair treatment n Reuters, Bangkok

With legal cases against her mounting, embattled Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra pleaded yesterday for fair and proper treatment from the national anti-corruption commission and Thailand’s Constitutional Court.

Thailand’s political crisis looks set to enter a new, potentially turbulent phase as Yingluck faces at least two legal cases that could see her removed from office in coming weeks, a move that is likely to jolt her supporters in to action and bring the country closer, some fear, to civil strife.

“I ask that the Constitutional Court and National Anti-Corruption Commision use fair treatment when they deliberate the cases against me. I ask for the same treatment that past political office holders have received,” Yingluck told reporters in Bangkok yesterday.

Her supporters have accused the Constitutional Court of bias in frequently ruling against the government.

They also question the speed with which the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has pursued her over a failed government rice subsidy scheme. The scheme has run up huge losses and left hundreds of thousands of farmers unpaid.

sis of religious identity.

On Monday, the BJP released its election manifesto, promising to build a temple on the site of a mosque torn down by Hindu zealots more than two decades ago, reopening one of the most divisive issues in the country. The party also said it remained committed to withdrawing the special autonomous status for Jammu and Kashmir, India’s only Muslim-majority state.

Darker side

Opinion polls have said Modi is favorite to form the next government after results are announced on May 16, thanks to a strong campaign highlighting his economic competence in running the western state of Gujarat for 13 years.

But critics say he has a darker side

and accuse him of failing to stop the killing of Muslims in riots in Gujarat in 2002. Modi has denied the accusations and the Supreme Court has said there is not enough evidence to prosecute him.

A survey released by respected pollsters CSDS last week showed the BJP and its allies winning the largest number of seats but falling short of a majority. The decision to play on religious sentiments may be a last-minute attempt to woo some blocs of Hindu voters, analysts said.

Shah is a controversial figure, who was charged in 2010 with the extra-judicial killing of Muslims accused of terrorism when he was the interior minister in Gujarat. But the BJP said the charges are trumped up at the behest of the Congress party. l

‘LOST KINGDOMS’

Yingluck has been charged with dereliction of duty in overseeing the cash-draining scheme that helped bring her to power in 2011 on a wave of support from rural voters.

Should the commission forward the case to the Senate for possible impeachment, Yingluck, who is nominally head of the National Rice Committee, would be suspended from official duties. Any decision could take weeks.

Last week the Constitutional Court accepted a new case against Yingluck over her removal of the national security chief three years ago.

She has been given 15 days to mount a defence. l

Pacifists rally against Japan’s plan to soften commitment to pacifism n AFP, Tokyo

Some 3,000 people rallied yesterday in a Tokyo park against government plans to soften Japan’s constitutional commitment to pacifism and give its military a more active role.

The protest came after a national opinion poll showed growing public opposition to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s push to bolster his nation’s military.

He has argued that Japan needs to reinterpret its post-war pacifist constitution to permit “collective defence” -coming to the aid of an ally under attack.

That is not allowed under current readings of Article 9 of the US-imposed document, which says Japan forever

renounces the use of force as a means of settling international disputes.

Previous governments have held that this means Japan’s military may only open fire if fired upon, even if that entails leaving US counterparts in danger on the same battlefield.

“By exercising the collective self-defence, Japan will directly participate in a war,” Nobel Literature laureate Kenzaburo Oe told the rally.

“I’m afraid that Japan’s spirit is approaching the most dangerous stage over the past 100 years,” Oe said before the demonstrators were due to march in central Tokyo.

The liberal Asahi Shimbun reported that a poll of more than 2,000 adults

nationwide showed 63 percent oppose the concept of collective defence.

That was up from 56 percent last year and more than double the 29 percent who support the idea.

The percentage of those against revising Article 9 rose to 64 percent from 52 percent, the paper said in the poll published Monday.

Abe’s drive to strengthen the military provokes disquiet in China and on the Korean peninsula, where memories linger of Tokyo’s brutal expansionism last century.

However, his position is welcomed in Washington, where there have long been calls for Japan to pull its own weight in a very one-sided security alliance. l

A fragment from a narrative relief depicting Rishis from Myanmar, part of the exhibit ‘Lost Kingdoms: Hindu-Buddhist Sculpture of Early Southeast Asia, 5th to 8th Century,’ is seen at a preview at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The exhibition will be presented at the Metropolitan Museum of Art from April 14 to July 27 AFP

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Letters to

www.dhakatribune.com

Take an objective approach to tariffs

A

s before any budget, there are conflicting interests for the government to balance.

For instance, domestic fridge manufacturers are calling for higher duties on imported fridges, while fridge retailers are calling for a reduction.

We believe it is essential for the government to take an objective approach towards tariff reforms, and for it to generally support reducing all tariffs, in line with the goal of reducing trade barriers and encouraging free trade.

The interests of consumers are best protected by the government facilitating a free and fair market for goods and services. As domestic manufacturers of fridges are already successfully managing to increase their production, while demand for imported fridges is currently decreasing, there isn’t a strong case to protect local refrigerator manufacturers by increasing import duties on fridges.

Indeed, there are many products on which reducing import duties could actually meaningfully help local manufacturers and consumers. The Bangladesh Electrical Merchandise Manufacturers Association’s request for lowering duty on raw materials for making switch and sockets would be a good example.

Similarly, the government’s promise in February to allow duty-free imports for fire and building safety equipment would clearly help to reduce costs for the RMG sector, as it undertakes the remediation and relocation of garment factories.

Lower duties on the import of raw materials for manufacturing and export industries should generally be encouraged. Tariff reforms should be kept in a downward direction and targeted to make sense for consumers and producers alike.

Consumers are best protected by the government facilitating a free and fair market

BRTA must uphold traffic laws for all

T

he Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) acknowledges that there are at least 88,000 unfit motor vehicles plying the roads of Dhaka city.

Besides, auto-rickshaws, cars, buses and trucks which require fitness certificates from the BRTA, there are also an unknown number of two-wheeler motorbikes which are yet to come under mandatory rules to have fitness certificates.

A culture of unregulated road traffic is taking an immeasurable toll on the environment, and adding to safety concerns in our already congested metropolis. Although, out of the 8 lakh vehicles legally registered in the capital, only around 10% is estimated to consist of unfit vehicles, safety risks for all drivers and pedestrians are worsened by lax enforcement of driving and safety regulations.

The BRTA is entrusted with the task of registering vehicles and providing and monitoring fitness certificates to motor vehicles. It must do more to stop unfit and uncertificated motor vehicles from causing damage and adding to congestion.

While the government was right to recently raise the issue of foreign missions, which have been violating rules on the use of vehicles procured under tax-free facilities this move only addressed a fraction of the vehicles on the road, which are currently violating the law.

Police and government should work better with the BRTA to enforce rules and standards consistently. Tightening up the conduct of the BRTA and freeing it from corruption or undue influence is vitally urgent. The police and BRTA need to be tougher in enforcing standards for everyone.

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

the Editor

LETTER OF THE DAY

Rural garment villages good for the nation April 7

The government is providing 500 acres of land at Baushia, Munshiganj to set up a garments village. In light of this news, I would like to ask the government to revive the decision of setting up garment and knit factories throughout rural areas in Bangladesh. A huge number of unskilled and unemployed men and women throughout the nation will then get to work in factories near their homes, without having to travel to Dhaka or rent a room there. The money they save could be put towards fulfilling other needs. The shortage of workers in the garment and knitting factories will be solved in this way.

The garment and knit industries are major foreign currency earners and have contributed to enhancing gross domestic product as well as per capita income. But the industry has tremendous potential to develop further and garments villages are the next obvious step.

Md Ashraf Hossain

Employment after graduation April 2 Mikey I agree with the fact the people of our country definitely need to change their mentality when it comes to judging a person by his/her employment status. The social pressure makes the fresh graduates unable to think out of the box. The young people need to have faith in their abilities to figure out their own unique career paths.

Zero-Agenda Mikey: Add to that the rigid social construct (at least for this country) of only certain jobs/employment being deemed “acceptable,” and you get your answers to why most graduates find themselves trapped in the box you speak of.

US irked by Bangladesh’s stance on Crimea

Zia’s presidency: Tarique’s claim surprises UK

April 2 If Mr Alam’s account is true, it only reveals the state minister’s shockingly amateurish conduct in his meeting with the “delegation” from the UK. As for the supposed “arrest warrant” against Tareque Rahman in the future, this is only proof of the unrelenting political victimisation of the Zia family.

Ronnie

Saad Hassan Hasib What did they mean by “they will not harass passengers” when they do it daily?

Unless they all stick to meter rates, none of this makes any difference. Especially as the communications minister did not comment on the issue.

Nazmul Khair Who cares about that so-called fare? Everybody has to pay as per the drivers’ demand.

The minimum fare is Tk100 for 2 km, which is ridiculous. Seems as if these CNGs can be used by only the well-off or those who have a healthy income with other benefits. For the rest of us, travelling by CNG auto rickshaw is a dream in general, and a nightmare during emergencies.

April 2

EC blames field level officers for failure in containing polls violence

April 2 Buck passing? What actions has the EC taken against those returning officials (ROs) thus far?

It was a 5-stage election and the EC had more than enough of its own officers to act as returning officers but at the AL leader’s instructions, they opted to recruit civil servants as ROs to facilitate rigging while its discredited chief fled.

Indigo

Obaidul: This poll was fairer than ever April 2 Well done your lordships! You are in harmony with popular sentiments.

WaliulHaqueKhondker

April 2

Who gained what?

April 1 It’s better for Bangladesh to remain “neutral.”

Mir Ahmed AB Siddiquee

SC stays Rana Plaza owner’s bail

Obaidul: Auto-rickshaw fare won’t be hiked

April 2 Fairer? I used to think this minister was reasonable, but his comment on the upazila polls has shattered that image. He is just like every other politician for whom party matters more than the country. deep purple blue

zia hashan Nice writing and analysis.

DB The AL, I believe, won fraudulently. It seems that democracy and democratic elections in our country are facing a bad loss. Who knows if this will ever change. Doesn’t seem like it.

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

CALVIN AND HOBBES

Unregulated road traffic is taking an immeasurable toll

PEANUTS

CROSSWORD

SUDOKU ACROSS 1 Flower (5) 5 Slow of understanding (4) 8 Dwellings (6) 9 Danger (5) 10 Dumb (4) 11 Singer (5) 12 Obscure (3) 15 Tidings (4) 18 Growl angrily (5) 21 Corded fabric (3) 22 Building cover (4) 24 Labour (4) 25 Stratum (5) 28 Nullify (6) 29 Prejudice (4) 30 Looks after (5)

DOWN 1 Two-footed animals (6) 2 Rowing implement (3) 3 Date of death (4) 4 Burrowing animal (4) 5 Wicked spirit (5) 6 Taker of excessive interest (6) 7 Strong alkaline solution (3) 13 At home (2) 14 Yachting station (6) 16 Us (2) 17 Glittering particles (6) 19 Acting parts (5) 20 Behold! (2) 23 Horizontally level (4) 24 Bath (3) 26 Consumed (3) 27 Japanese monetary unit (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, April 9, 2014

That’s all, folks n Simon Leitch

T

Whether communal or secular, we deserve better

AFP

Does it make a difference?

I

n Mohammad Ali Sattar

t is election time for the largest democracy in the world.

This time it happens to be the largest elections ever held in any country, with a record number of voters set to exercise their right to cast their ballots.

The mind-boggling arrangements, pre and post-polls situation, the ever changing colours of the parties in the fray, and the unpredictability of the political players make the scene rather interesting. Although the largest democracy is not necessarily a believer in a “practicing” democracy, it heats up the political atmosphere of the region and the world.

Since India has apparently been a rising power in the region, the party in power bears quite an importance in global forums.

But a democratic and secular India, so far an ideology painfully forwarded by the Congress party, is now tilting towards those who are strong believers of the communalism and dogmatism of Hindutva.

With the rise of regional parties over the last 60 years, India has witnessed a huge change in its political dynamics. The regional parties with strong local influence have been wielding influence over the centre.

The once powerful Congress (still the only recognised party with a national character by far) has been forced for some decades to form an alliance government in the centre.

So, the political agenda of the nation is no more under Congress’ dictation. It has gone into the hands

of small parties spread all over the country.

Moreover, Congress has been suffering from a leadership crisis since the death of Indira Gandhi in 1984. Rajiv could not pull off any major stunts and did not live long enough to further his plans. The biggest national party of the largest democracy had to turn to an Italian lady to help steer the party through the rough waters of Indian politics.

the eventual candidate, and is the only choice for the Indians. But interestingly, Modi doesn’t enjoy the backing of many of his own colleagues in the party. Advani, the veteran who dreamt of being the prime minister all his life, could not digest that Modi had been chosen as the candidate for the BJP. And many have to say that Modi doesn’t even belong in the BJP in the first place. They say BJP is the horse on which Modi is riding to reach Delhi.

It doesn’t really make any difference to Bangladesh if a secular or a communal party is in power in India

Don’t forget that Indian politics is dotted with veterans of all classes and strict traditionalists. They have secularists with stronger conviction than the hardcore Rama devotees.

Sadhus and gurus also make considerable influential groups. And there’s the minority Muslim population who also play a very dominant role in deciding the Muslim ballots.

So it’s not an easy ride in this scenario. People like Kejriwal, Anna Hazare, and Mahadev sometimes emerge as stunts. But they soon melt out and remain as sideliners.

With Congress waning, the BJP stands upright. Its buoyant leadership now believes that Narendra Modi is

From the recent pre-poll counts, BJP appears to be the front-runner and still the most likely to win the majority in the Lok Sabha elections. If that happens, Modi could be ready to be the next prime minister of India.

Asserting himself as a strong believer of Hindutva, and promising to fulfil pledges to Hindus in particular bear an uncomfortable tone. Anyone who has been directly involved in the Gujarat massacre of Muslims, and a supporter of the Babri Mosque demolition should be looked upon with concern.

His beliefs will be reflected in the party manifesto and the will spill into the national and international policy of India for the next five years if he

becomes the prime minister.

Modi had to fight his way up. From a small background to the threshold of power, he had to cross many hurdles.

Once ditched by the West, Modi now stands tall with hope and circumstances tilted in his favour.

With Modi at the centre, there will certainly be a huge change in Indian internal policies. There will be more political and social moves from the government than in the economic front. However, things won’t be as easy as they seem now. If Modi takes refuge in the smaller parties for a coalition government, then he might be a little restrained in taking unilateral decisions.

What do the neighbours stand to gain or lose in this transfer of power in India? Bangladesh never gained anything positive from the Congress-led government. We have been beset with problems from river water-sharing to border killings.

Maybe the Mujib-Indira days were looked upon as a symbol of friendship and sacrifice from both sides. But those times are long gone. Things have not improved; rather they have worsened the entire time that Congress was power. With a different party in the centre, we might expect some changes in their approach and we should look for better and more respectable treatment from India. It doesn’t really make any difference to Bangladesh if a secular or a communal party is in power in India, as long as we get a fair deal. l Mohammad Ali Sattar is a journalist and DT columnist.

he past few months have seen a slow-burn crisis of political legitimacy in Ukraine explode into protests, a coup, military occupation, territorial annexation, sanctions, war threats, and talk of a new Cold War. From Estonia to Transnistria, rumours now abound that more Russian takeovers are imminent and, given that the Western response to the crisis has been negligible, these fears are justifiable. But how likely is a new Russian annexation, and what could be done about it?

First, it would be best to reiterate a point that I have made elsewhere – Russia was confident its actions in seizing Crimea would not cause a war, and it executed its “Crimean maneuver” at the time it did because events were fluid and Ukraine and Europe were taken by surprise. Whilst Russia ran the risk of sanctions, it correctly judged that these would be minor because Europeans don’t care enough about Ukraine to pay more on their electricity bills, lose lucrative investments in Russia, or stop receiving Russian money through European finance hubs.

For a taste of Europe’s attitude to the “crisis” you only have to look at the actions of France – they are still going to sell Russia 1.37bn euros worth of warships alone over the next few years, and have an equally large market in military technology sales.

These are not the actions of a particularly concerned European power, and we can pull out similar examples of parochial interests across every major European state. We might also say that the USA will be just as half-hearted about sanctions and won’t bear the costs alone, whilst it should be obvious that no one is interested in a general war with Russia.

This European-American tolerance of Russian moves could be interpreted as a green light for more Russia annexations, but there are limits to European tolerance. Russia recognises this, which is why it went so far to deny it was even occupying Crimea and then put so much stock into the referendum.

If sanctions are expanded, it will cause trouble for Russia over the next few years

Putin’s Russia was treading as lightly as is possible for the metaphorical Russian bear. Simply put, Russia’s concern is this: If sanctions are expanded their impact might not worry Putin’s regime immediately but it will cause trouble for Russia over the next few years.

If Russia seizes more territory soon it must be in Eastern Ukraine, but unlike in Crimea it will not be easy for Russian forces to cross the border and

gain de facto control whilst denying its forces are on the ground. If they were to take Eastern Ukraine it might involve some shooting, which is something Russia would wish to avoid.

They gained Crimea because it was easy, because there wouldn’t be shooting, and because it contains Russia’s most important Black Sea base.

Whilst Russia ran the risk of sanctions, it correctly judged that these would be minor

Eastern Ukraine doesn’t stack up to such lofty criteria. Although some government reports in the USA and elsewhere indicate that Russian troops could snatch territory in Estonia or Transnistria this would be qualitatively different and Russia would be running a much higher risk of serious sanctions whilst it is hard to see what it would gain.

All this said, Russia could take more territory in the future if they wish to discount the costs of sanctions and believe that NATO would do nothing more than protest. If this is what happens, it will be the end of NATO’s eastern expansion and possibly result in a contraction. Conversely, if Russia pushes into more territory, and NATO begins even a limited military response, that forces Russia to relinquish at least some of its gains it will almost certainly result in the expansion of NATO. It will be interesting to see whether the Ukraine issue makes NATO and the West more or less pro-Ukrainian.

Clearly, NATO states don’t feel too strongly about Ukraine, but being humiliated by Russia might reinvigorate their interest. There is also one consequence of Russia’s seizure of Crimea that no one is talking about.

Now that there will be no more Crimean Russian voters influencing elections in Ukraine, there might be a more permanently anti-Russian flavor to the Ukrainian legislature. Likewise, if Russia takes over eastern Ukraine, the resulting rump state of Ukraine will have a decidedly different electoral character than it does today.

Right now, Russian interests and power are expressed through pro-Russians within Ukraine and they act as a democratic handbrake on anti-Russian policy. Paradoxically, should Russia seize more territory in Ukraine it might be risking a big part of its regional influence. If I were in Putin’s shoes right now I would be happy with things the way they are. Crimea in the pocket, NATO humiliated, and Ukraine politically divided – it’s a good week’s worth of work for the Kremlin. l Simon Leitch is the Editor in Chief, Foreign Policy and International Affairs, for Alochonaa. This article was previously published in Alochonaa.com.

Ticket to ride n Shams Quader

T

rends, styles, and flavours-ofthe-month come and go. When considering the internet savvy, globally connected, and multicultural youth of Bangladesh, trends, from fashionable to downright random, swoop in and fade away. Whether it’s a new themed café, flash mobs, gangnam style, smartphones, internet memes – one never knows which trends will stick and which ones won’t.

Every so often, there comes a trend which is practical, relevant, environment-friendly, and healthy. I am of course talking about the cycling movement which has gripped Dhaka city youth over the past year.

This is not news to anyone who dares to live in our beloved capital. Traffic jams in Dhaka city has been a major problem over the past decade. Even though the recent introduction of some flyovers and other infrastructural developments give testament to the government’s acknowledgment of this massive problem, the amount of planning, manpower, and funds needed to reduce traffic jams significantly in Dhaka city is no simple matter. With huge amounts of time and resources being wasted due to these traffic jams and associated issues of pollution, an alternative and less complicated solution did not seem likely in the near future.

Along came Mozammel Hoque, an

active life promoter and the founder of a cycling group called BDCyclists. As he shared in TEDxDhaka 2013, Mozammel was tired of spending about six hours daily on the road due to traffic congestion.

He could not afford to waste so much time during commutes, so he started cycling to his destinations.

Pretty soon, some of his friends and colleagues followed, and in 2011, he founded BDCyclists, a cycling community dedicated to promoting cycling in Dhaka city.

Cyclist community members’ enthusiasm may often be mistaken for cult-like behaviour

Their main objective was to help ease pollution and traffic congestion through cycling, and they aimed to convert 5% of the car-owning crowd of Dhaka city to cycle commuters. People first took notice of this community when they organised the Independence Day Group Ride in Dhaka, where more than a thousand cyclists took part.

This cycling trend really took off.

Cycling has been huge in many Eu-

ropean cities (such as Brussels, Paris, and Amsterdam) as well as in some crowded cities of Asia (like Seoul, Beijing, and Tokyo). Even though it became a trend more recently in Dhaka city, the movement caught on fast with more and more college and university students, along with young professionals, choosing to cycle instead of taking rickshaws, CNGs or cars. Specialised bicycle and accessory stores opened up all over the city, along with cafes for bikers, Facebook groups, and apps.

The trend caught on fast. Cyclist community members’ enthusiasm may often be mistaken for cult-like behaviour because of the way they try to influence their friends to buy a cycle and join them on their rides.

They do seem annoying when groups of cyclists ride through the middle of a main road, queuing up traffic behind them. But instead of scowling at them, this movement should be nurtured and supported.

There are no specific traffic rules for cyclists. Cyclists use their common sense and stick to the sides when riding on main roads. They often wear helmets, elbow pads, and knee pads and pimp their rides with back and front reflector lights and a front light.

But they do so more for their own safety rather than for following street laws and regulations. For the safety of the cyclists, and for everyone else on the roads, there should be some prop-

er guidelines or laws regarding cycling, especially on the main roads.

New cyclists should be mentored on the common rules of cycling and the necessary safety precautions. Since cyclists usually ride in groups, which is fun as well as safe given the many dangers that lurk in the streets of this city, the most experienced members of these groups should take the responsibility of mentoring newbies.

Bicycle parking stands should be introduced at multiple relevant areas of the city. If bus stands are covered with big company ads, why can’t cycle stands be established through the same model?

Cycling is good for health. The youth of Dhaka city do not usually get a lot of exercise with the lack of outdoor sports facilities, and many of them do not have the time or means to join gyms or dojos.

Therefore, cycling becomes a means for working out while commuting. The practice is also good for the environment, because cycling produces no pollution. Given the high pollution levels of this city, any effort to reduce it should be acknowledged and celebrated.

Cycling as an alternative way of transportation actively reduces traffic congestion on the roads.

As long as cyclists ride safely with common sense, they can easily and quickly commute to their workplace, classroom, or any destination in close proximity.

Cycling has been a common practice in the rural areas of Bangladesh, as well as in some of the other cities besides Dhaka. But this new trend, which arguably began with BDCyclists, is a movement where the youth of Dhaka city who would have normally travelled via rickshaws, CNGs, buses or cars, are taking up bicycling and are doing so in groups while networking with other like-minded citizens.

In a country where the youth are always in constant struggle to cope with various problems, this cycling movement is a sign of hope, proving once again that no matter what the country throws at them, the youth of Bangladesh will always persevere. l Shams Quader is an academic of media and cultural studies.

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Preparing to welcome Boishakh with a thousand voices n Afose Jahan Chaaity

Kailash Kher and Ali Azmat to perform in Dhaka n Entertainment Desk A tri-nation concert featuring ace singers from India, Bangladesh and Pakistan—Kailash Kher, Ayub Bachchu and Ali Azmat—is going to be held on April 11 at the Army Stadium in Dhaka.

Grameenphone has organised the concert. The first five thousand registered Star clients of the company from Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Jessore, Comilla, Rangpur, Bagura, Khulna, Barisal, Dinajpur and Mymensingh will get the chance to experience the concert.

Last year Grameenphone successfully organised a similar concert which featured James (Bangladesh), Sonu Nigam (India) and Shaqat Amant Ali (Pakistan). 

Shurer Dhara, one of the leading music schools of the country is preparing to welcome Pohela Boishakh – the first day of the Bangla calendar – with thousand voices at the open premises of Bangabandhu International Conference Center at the early morning on April 14. The programme titled Hajar-o Konthe Koti Bangali’r Borsho Boron will start at 5:30am and continue till 9am.

Noted Rabindra Sangeet exponent and principal of Shurer Dhara, Rezwana Chowdhury Bannya will preside the programme. Shurer Dhara gave an open circulation to recruit singers from all over the country. Singers from different organisations will perform in the programme, who were selected through a special selection process. The celebration programme will start with a Rabindra Sangeet titled Otho Otho Re which will be performed by Rezwana Chowdhury Bannya and a thousand singers.

They will also perform many other tracks including popular folk song Age Ki Shundor Din Kataitam.

Founding member of Shurer Dhara, Dipak Paul informed the Dhaka Tribune: “Rehearsals are in full swing

with a thousand singers including students and graduates of Shurer Dhara.

We are accepting celebrated singers, Subir Nandi, Shakila Zafar and Fahmida Nabi to perform at the celebration programme as well.”

Shurer Dhara is also preparing for their Chaitra Sangkranti’s (the last day of the Bengali calendar) celebration preparation. With the slogan of Dosher Kotha Desher Gaan, the programme will begin at 6pm on April 13 and continue till 12am.

The Chaitra Sangkranti celebration programme will feature the rich history of Bengal. Seven steps of the liberation of Bangladesh including the Language Movement of 1952, the Mass-upheaval of 1969, the Liberation War of 1971 and others will be presented through songs. Two hundred and fifty students from Shurer Dhara will perform at the Chaitra Sangkranti.

The programme will start with a chorus performance titled Sarthok Jonom Mago Jonmechhi Ei Deshe and will end with the performance of Ohe Doyamoy and Bertho Praner Aborjona Puriye. Rezwana Chowdhury Bannya will also preside the Chaitra Sangkranti celebration programme. 

Shawkat Osman remembered n Hasan Mansoor Chatak

Kothashilpi Shawkat Osman Smriti Parishad arranged a conference paying tribute to the eminent writer on April 8 at the Seminar Room of the Public Library in the capital.

The programme opened with the screening of a short film titled Ucche Srobar Ucchabilash directed by Nesar Osman, son of Shawkat Osman.

It focuses on the right of the day-labourers through the symbolic representation of a horse toiling a carriage. As Osman’s writings feature the downtrodden, particularly the disadvantaged community in our country, the film tries to portray the miseries, struggle and varied social dilemmas of the community of the country and beyond.

Later, distinguished personas including Masud Ahmed, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of Bangladesh, Ranjit Kumar Biswas, secretary to the Cultural Affairs Ministry,

Mousuf Ahmed, CEO of Cybernet, spoke on the occasion.

Tagore exponent and Language Movement veteran, Ahmed Rafiq, presided over the programme.

Masud Ahmed said: “Osman’s writings largely highlight messages against fundamentalism, communalism and ex-

Drama series Maago Tomar Jonyo directed by Mahfuz Ahmed will air tonight at 9:20pm on ATN Bangla. The drama is a sequel of Tomar Doyay Bhalo Achhi Maa which was an acclaimed and popular drama series.

Written by Prosun Rahman, the drama series features popular soap actors such as, Doli Johur, Tanvin Sweety, Runa Khan, Nova Firoz, Orsha, Mita Nur, Dihan, Tamalika Karmaker, Bhabna, Mir Sabbir, Fazlul Rahman Babu, Maznun Mizan and many others.

A group of youngsters are sent abroad by their parents, who sold almost all their belongings in order to finance their move. But, when the group reach their destination, they find that in reality, life abroad is tougher than what they assumed it to be. Their far-fetched dreams of earning a lot of money and becoming rich in a short time seem superficial and more out of reach as they start to

Prova stars in Ghomta tonight

tremism. The writer was noted for his political convictions and social perceptions of his works.”

Ranjit Kumar Biswas said: “Osman tried to break the chain of social and political discrimination through his writings. He also tried his best to keep the people of the country united in turbulent times.”

Ahmed Rafiq said: “Osman’s writings carry messages against fundamentalism and narrate stories of the oppressed. Bengali nationalism and individuality are also noticeable subjects in his writings.”

Shawkat Osman’s real name was Sheikh Azizur Rahman. He was one of the leading Bengali litterateurs of the last century.

He wrote many novels, short stories, poems, drama, stories and books for children. He received many awards and accolades including Adamji Sahitya Award in 1962, Bangla Academy Award in 1966, Ekushey Padak in 1983 and the Independence Day Award in 1997. 

Maago Tomar Jonyo portrays the struggle of expatriates n Entertainment Desk

work and earn a measly amount. But alas, they do not lose hope in the face of adversity and keep on with their optimistic thoughts. They hope to save their earnings for their family and also expects to earn more as time passes and return home to the awaiting arms of their mothers. The families also wait for the return of their children, but it seemed to be a long wait.

Little did this band of workers know the measly savings that they sent home contributed to the overall development of the country. The drama series will focus on the lives and stories of these hardworking expatriates. 

Chiwetel Ejiofor to play villain in next James Bond movie n Entertainment Desk After getting Oscar nomination for 12 Years a Slave, Chiwetel Ejiofor is now the frontrunner to play the villain opposite Daniel Craig in the next James Bond movie.

Sam Mendes is directing the as-yet-untitled Bond 24, which was written by Skyfall scribe John Logan. Craig will return to don the tuxedo, while Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris and Ben Whishaw are set to reprise their roles as his boss Mally Moneypenny and gadget guru Q, respectively.

While Ejiofor does not have an official offer yet and is not in formal talks, he is being eyed for the coveted role and is widely presumed to be the frontrunner amongst the other actors under consideration. Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson are producing the movie, which is expected to be in production from November through April 2015. The filmmakers will soon begin casting two key female roles, including a new Bond girl and a Scandinavian with a troubled past who will serve as a brief love interest for Bond.

Ejiofor recently wrapped Z for Zachariah and will soon begin filming John Hillcoat's star-studded thriller Triple Nine. 

The official poster of Ananta Jalil’s upcoming full-packed action flick Most Welcome 2 has been released recently

n

Entertainment Desk

A new drama series Ghomta will be aired tonight at 8:15pm on Banglavision. Written by Rizwan Khan and directed by Kaisar Ahmed, the drama features Chanchal Chowdhury, Prova, Dipa Khondokar, Anisur Rahman Milon, Runa Khan, Dolly Zohur, Wahida Mollik Joli among others.

Ghomta portrays the family relationships and stigmas that are an integral part of our societies. It shows how a girl is forced to conform to the norms of her in-laws home and what happens if she tries to hold her own ground. The story opens with Runa who gets married to Nasim, a man from a well-off family. She immediately starts to have problems with her mother-in-law, a conservative and controlling woman.

When she faces pressure about covering her head and living her life according to her mother-in-laws wish, she leaves her husband and goes back to live with her parents. Mehanwhile, Prova plays the role of Runa's sister-in-law in the drama and is pursued by Milon's family, who wants a girl with a rich family background for their son. 

SAARC artists’ camp begins n Entertainment Desk

The fourth SAARC artists’ camp 2014 titled Solidarity With Nature - A South Asian Perspective will be inaugurated today at the Nilachal, Bandarban. This is the first time the programme will take place in Bangladesh. The camp has been jointly organised by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy and supported by SAARC cultural centre.

In order to bring the people of South Asia closer and to project distinct cultural identity, this year, around forty eight well known artists from 8 countries will participate in the programme. Twelve artists from Bangladesh are to participate in the camp. Along with a number of high level officials, the camp will be graced by Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor.

On the concluding ceremony on April 11, an exhibition will be held displaying the outcome of the art camp at the National Art Gallery, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. Additionally, a 30 feet canvas will be displayed where artists from the SAARC countries has jointly painted. It will be inaugurated today and will be on display till April 12 at the National Art Gallery, BSA. The exposition will be inaugurated by eminent artist Samarjit Roy Chowdhury.

The creative expressions on canvass of the SAARC Artist Camp was first held in 2011 and then 2012 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The following year, the camp was held at the beautiful islands of Maldives. The camp caters to give young artists an opportunity to exhibit their paintings under the common bond they share as artists from the SAARC region. 

Anil Kapoor to launch entertainment company in Dubai n Entertainment Desk Sonam Kapoor’s dad is expanding his business Anil Kapoor will be launching his new entertainment company, called Antila Ventures, in Dubai. The Bollywood actor told in an interview that the new firm will contain different verticals, ranging from content creation, film making, stateof-art studio, talent management and acquisition to digital media as his gateway to international markets. While explaining his reason for choosing Dubai, the producer said today’s landscape is such that no company can be called a global one if it does not have its presence in Dubai. Dubai is a market for all kind of entertainment which attracts serious investors and only well-structured companies can survive in such an energetic market, he added. Looks like after taking Hollywood and telly land by storm Anil is ready to rock Dubai’s film circuits. 

John Abraham plays a killing machine in Rocky Handsome n Entertainment Desk John Abraham revealed some interesting information about his next home production, Rocky Handsome.

The actor who made a strong action image through the film Force, described Rocky Handsome as “Force to the power of 10.” He added: “This time Nishi (director Nishikant Kamath) wants a lean killing machine.”

The film is an official remake of South Korea’s highest grossing film of 2010 ,The Man From Nowhere.

The stylised action-thriller follows the journey of a lone crusader, played by Won Bin, who goes on a murderous rampage against the drug mafia when the only person he cares for, a seven-year-old girl, is taken from him, along with her mother.

While the original, one of the most critically acclaimed action films to come out of South Korea in the last decade, was a gritty piece of cinema, the Bollywood version will be more commercial and will have some song and dance thrown in.

Rocky Handsome rolls in May in Goa and the producers locked February 6, 2015, as the release date.

The film co-stars Shruti Haasan. l

Sport

Did you know?

Last season, Spurs set a new record of 72 points for a team finishing outside the top four, smashing the previous high of 67

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

14 United wait

on Rooney for Bayern clash

15 Sri Lanka party

marred by player dispute

Feni storm into first ever final Soccer Club Feni’s dream ride in the Modhumoti Bank Independence Cup continued as they stormed into the final for the first time in history after two late strikes steered them into a 2-0 victory over Brothers Union at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

After a goalless first half, Gambia national team captain Mathew Mendy put Feni Soccer Club ahead in the 81st minute before substitute defender Abdullah Al Mamun doubled the lead four minutes later to seal a historic final berth for the club. They will now face the winner of today’s semifinal between two traditional giants of Dhaka football - Abahani Limited and Mohammedan Sporting Club in the final on April 12.

This is the first time Feni Soccer Club have progressed as far as the final of a professional football tournament.

Their previous best achievement was in their debut season in 2009 when they made it to the Federation Cup semifinal but lost to Mohammedan.

Soccer Club adopted a ‘safety first’ strategy as they concentrated more on defending rather than scoring.

Deploying five defenders including two new Gambian signings Mathew Mendy and Landing Darboe in front of goalie Nehal clearly illustrate that they focus was on strengthening their defense.

However, the omnipresent threat of the Gambian duo from set pieces just outside Brothers’ D posed a constant worry for Brothers’ defenders.

It’d be fair to say that Brothers Union had a better first half and controlled the midfield most of the time but they lacked that all important killer instincts in front of the goal unfortunately which ultimately cost them a place in the final. Brothers made their first promising attack in the 11th minute when Jewel Rana fed Simon with a

short pass but the Nigerian midfielder failed to take full control and saw his tame effort easily blocked by Ramjan Ali Mollah. Jewel Rana was again the architect of another promising attack in the 30th minute when from his assist, Simon’s shot deflected off a Feni defender for a corner.

However, it was Feni Soccer Club who created the best chance of the first half six minutes later when Nigerian forward Chuka Charles met Ramjan Ali’s corner and the following ball found Feni’s Gambian defender Landing Darboe who reacted quickly with a goal-bound volley, only to be denied at the very last moment when Brothers defender Yousuf cleared off the line brilliantly to keep the score 0-0.

12 minutes into the second half, Feni keeper Md. Nehal produced a diving save to deny Simon’s effort from inside the box. Feni had another opportunity four minutes later when Gambian Mathew Mendy shot wide with an open net at his mercy after a cutback from Chuka Charles from the left flank found him unmarked.

Mendy, however, made amends for his previous mistake by putting Soccer Club ahead in the 81st minute.

The attack started from a Liton throw-in which was followed by Gambian forward Kabba Jobe’s side volley from the edge of the box. Mendy was unmarked at the second bar and he raced forward to head the ball into the net.

Soccer Club then rubbed salt into an already wounded Brothers side when they doubled the lead four minutes later to ensure the victory. Following a long cross, Abdullah Al Mamun outpaced his marker to head straight to the keeper Sabuj Das Rogu, who inexplicably failed to hold onto the ball and Mamun made no mistake to bury home the rebound.

We now will have to wait till the final whistle of the final is blown to know whether this merry Feni ride continues any further. l

BATTING

BEST

MOST RUNS 319 231 224 200 187

Virat Kohli Tom Cooper Stephan Myburgh Rohit Sharma JP Duminy

MOST SIXES 13 12 10 10 9

Stephan Myburgh Glenn Maxwell Virat Kohli Tom Cooper Shakib Al Hasan

HIGHEST SCORES 116* 111* 94 89 86*

Alex Hales Ahmed Shehzad Umar Akmal Mahela Jayawardene JP Duminy

BEST STRIKE RATES 210.00 174.57 163.29 162.35 158.09

Glenn Maxwell Dwayne Bravo AB de Villiers Ahmed Shehzad Alex Hales

HIGHEST AVERAGES 106.33 101.00 75.00 62.33 57.75

Virat Kohli Darren Sammy Elton Chigumbura JP Duminy Tom Cooper

MOST FOURS 26 24 22 22 21

Stephan Myburgh Virat Kohli Tom Cooper Anamul Haque Hashim Amla

S

DHAKA TRIBUNE

13

15 Don’t crucify

Yuvraj for T20 final flop: Sachin

Shakib leaves for IPL mission

Mathew Mendy and Abdullah Al Mamun, the two goal scorers of Soccer Club Feni rejoice their victory over Brothers Union at Bangabandhu National Stadium COURTESY

Joy unbound for Feni Soccer Players, officials and supporters of Soccer Club, Feni erupted in wild celebrations as their joy knew no bounds after the team cruised to the final of the Modhumoti Bank Independence Cup Football with a 2-0 victory over Brothers Union at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday afternoon.

They had their cause to celebrate as it was their first ever entry into the final of a major tournament. They had never advanced beyond the semifinals of any major tournament till date and the taste of reaching a final was something unprecedented to them.

Gambian coach Omar K. Sisse and club

BOWLING

MOST WICKETS Imran Tahir Ahsan Malik Ravichandran Ashwin Samuel Badree Amit Mishra

12 12 11 11 10

BEST FIGURES Rangana Herath Ahsan Malik Ravichandran Ashwin Samuel Badree Dale Steyn

5/3 5/19 4/11 4/15 4/17

LOWEST ECONOMY Mirwais Ashraf Sunil Narine Rangana Herath Ravi Bopara Sachithra Senanayake

3.50 4.60 4.60 4.66 4.88

BEST AVERAGES Sikandar Raza Rangana Herath Samuel Badree Jimmy Neesham Asadullah Shareef

7.50 8.83 10.27 10.33 10.50

BEST STRIKE RATES Imran Tahir Nadeem Ahmed Samuel Badree Andre Russell Rangana Herath

10.00 10.50 10.90 11.16 11.50

MOST DOT BALLS Ravichandran Ashwin Tim van der Gugten Al-Amin Hossain Shakib al Hasan Bhuvneshwar Kumar

74 74 67 65 64

National all-rounder Shakib al Hasan will depart for India today to join his Indian Premier League (IPL) side Kolkata Knight Riders. KKR retained the leading Bangladeshi cricketer, who played two seasons with the team and carried a crucial part in their title winning sixth season, for the seventh edition of the cash-rich Twenty20 tournament. He is also the only Bangladeshi cricketer to be bought by a team in the second edition of Caribbean Premier League (CPL) scheduled to start on July 5.

“I feel honored for being able to play in these leagues and represent my country. It would have been better if few other players from Bangladesh could also play in these tournaments,” said Shakib to a local online news portal yesterday. This will be third IPL season for Shakib and he informed of aiming to perform better than the previous season.

Shakib featured in the Australian Big Bash League in January before carrying out national duty with the home series against Sri Lanka, the Asia Cup and the World Twenty20. After completing the IPL mission Shakib will fly to the Caribbean islands in July to play for Barbados Tridents in CPL 2.

Shakib informed coping with different conditions and surroundings has never troubled him rather he enjoys the culture and makes new friends.

Shakib also reflected on the importance of the Bangladesh Premier League. Bangladesh’s version of the domestic Twenty20 league was highly criticized for irregularities and match/ spot fixing allegations. Since its second edition in February last year, the tournament is literally being overlooked by the Bangladesh Cricket Board.

“I think it is important for Bangladesh’s cricket to have BPL. Every team in the tournament has at least five to six international cricketers. This gives the local cricketers – who never played for the national team – a good boost and gain experience from the dressing room,” said Shakib. l

president Tabith Awal were lifted to the shoulders while players were busy to congratulate each other.

However, Omar tried to conceal his emotions during the post-match presser. “To be frank, I was really scared as Brothers made our life harder than we anticipated. They are a strong team as they defended well and also created some scoring chances but I told my players to keep cool. They did not stick to our plans in the first half. But in the second half, I think we played better,” said the Gambian.

Omar was delighted to see his young player Abdullah al Mamun register his name in the score-sheet. “I waited to substitute Bidyut for his experience

but I inserted Mamun who is my favorite and it worked. I feel happy,” said a jubilant Omar.

Mathew Mendy, the Gambian who broke the deadlock, said it was not easy in the middle. “We had to work hard and I believe only foreigners can’t win the match without the able support of the locals,” opined Mendy.

Brothers Union coach Syed Naeemuddin lamented his team’s poor display and admitted Feni Soccer Club were the worthy winner. “We played bad. Specially in the second half, we could not implement our plans accordingly. Rubel Miah, the mainstay of my attack was absent due to his H.S.C exam and I think my attackers did not rise to the occasion.” l

BFF official assaulted

Finally a Test in India?

Asaduzzaman Rony, an official of Bangladesh Football Federation was assaulted by an unruly Brothers Union supporter during the first semifinal of the Modhumoti Bank Independence Cup at the Bangbandhu National Stadium yesterday.

The incident occurred when a group of Brothers supporters declined to follow the sitting instructions from BFF authorities.

It was reported a supporter named Harun jumped over the fence and slapped Asad. The on-duty policemen held the miscreant but later an influential political person helped Harun to get free.

BFF general secretary Abu Naeem confirmed the incident. l

Bangladesh will finally play a Test match on the Indian soil this year, disclosed Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan to Mail Today, an Indian daily, on Monday.

It was reported on Mail Today that Bangladesh would play a Test this winter against India and the most likely venue is the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

The BCB boss further informed that an agreement with the BCCI (Board for Control of Cricket in India) to this effect could be signed during the ICC meeting.

“We’re trying to confirm a Test match in India this year. The dates will be given

once we go for the ICC meeting in Dubai,” Nazmul was quoted in Mail Today.

India and Bangladesh have played seven Tests since 2000 - all in Bangladesh.

The BCB president hinted that in the coming years the frequency of matches between the neighbours will also increase.

“What we are discussing is that we’ll go there [India] this year. And we’ll play a full series in 2015 and 2016, with India coming here one year and we going there the next. We’ve decided that, and most probably we’ll sign a contract after this ICC Board meeting,” he said.

He further stated Kolkata to be a fine venue for the lone Test as it will attract a lot of Bangladesh spectators. l

Abahani-MSC renew rivalry today Traditional crowd pullers Abahani and Mohammedan lock horns in the second semifinal of the Modhumoti Bank Independence Cup in different surroundings at the Bangabandhu National Stadium at 5:00pm today.

Gone are those days when a high volume of adrenaline rushed among the fans of the two arch rivals who packed the stands to extend full support to their favourite teams. The rivalry though has not lost its edge and the players wearing the club jerseys still put their best to come out as the winners, consequentially turning the encounters fiercely competitive. Today’s meeting between the perennial foes will be the fourth in the season and the Sky Blues hold the upper hand by winning two while the matched ended in a draw.

An extra significance will be out there as both the teams have never won the title of the tournament commemo-

rating the independence of the country and will be eager to make it to the final.

With holders Sheikh Russel KC, favourite Sheikh Jamal KC and former champions Muktijoddha Sangsad already out of the tournament it is a glorious opportunity for the giants to reach their first final of the season. The winners will meet Feni Soccer in the final. Abahani has not crossed the semifinals of any tournament after 2011 while Mohammedan has won the title of the Super Cup last year.

Abahani’s Iranian coach Ali Akbar Pourmoslemi is ready for the high voltage encounter and said, “Whenever Abahani and Mohammedan plays it draws the attention of football arena, I am hopeful of playing a good brand of football and win the match.

“In the previous matches Abahani had some problem with my finishing but with the arrival of the Portuguese forward Suares I think the problem is resolved, I am very happy to see Suares score two goals in his debut match. I am confident that Abahani will play the best football and go through the fi-

nal. There is no room for complacency as we have beaten Sheikh Jamal in the quarterfinal, this is a new match in a new day,” said Pourmoslemi.

Abahani’s regular custodian Shahidul Alam Sohel will resume his position after recovering from a viral fever while midfielder Abdul Baten Majumdar Komol is also fit to play.

Mohammedan’s Portuguese coach Jose Rui Capella Batista echoed his counterpart and showed equal confident. “We have included some new players and the team is in a better position, Abahani had been playing good football but I think it will be a competitive match.”

Midfielder Zongo Ousseni and tall defender Ubom Henry had added new life in Mohammedans attack as it is expected to be a battle between Abahani’s foreign trio forwards and Mohammedan defenders.

However, the Sky Blues’ backline remains vulnerable with a couple of unfit players and Ghanaian Samad Yussif is their only hope to thwart the Mohammedan attacks which might cost them poorly. l

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Messi to fight against Chagas disease

Worcestershire sign New Zealand duo

Barcelona’s four-time world player of the year Lionel Messi is a leading supporter of the fight against the spread of Chagas disease which currently infects six to eight million people. Messi featured in a video, which was released in conjunction with Monday’s World Health Day, which calls for more resources and drugs to combat Chagas disease, which is transmitted by a biting insect and is mainly found in the Americas. “To combat it we need more resources and more medications,” Messi said.

–AFP

Worcestershire have signed New Zealand pair Colin Munro and Mitchell McClenaghan for part of the 2014 season, the English county side announced on Tuesday. Batsman Munro will be Worcestershire’s second overseas player for this season’s domestic Twenty20 competition, alongside Pakistan spin bowler Saeed Ajmal. McClenaghan will replace Ajmal for a six-week period in July and August, when the spinner will be unavailable as he has agreed to play for the Antigua Hawksbills in the Caribbean Premier League.

–AFP

Durant scores 38 to pass Jordan Kevin Durant scored 38 points to pass Michael Jordan with his 41st straight game of 25-plus, but it wasn’t enough to help Oklahoma City beat Phoenix on Sunday. Goran Dragic led a half dozen Suns players in double figures with 26 points as the Phoenix rallied past the Thunder 122-115 to move into sole possession of eighth place in the Western Conference standings. Durant now has at least 25 points in 41 consecutive games to surpass the legendary Jordan, who had 40 back in the 198687 season. Durant’s streak is now the third longest in NBA history.

–AFP

United wait on Rooney for Bayern clash

Manchester United's English striker Wayne Rooney (C) takes part in a team training session at their Carrington training complex in Manchester, north-west England yesterday, on the eve of their Uefa Champions League second leg quarter-final match against Bayern Munich in Germany AFP

Spanish press trying to destabilise Neymar: Scolari The Spanish press are orchestrating a campaign to try and destabilise Barcelona’s Brazilian star Neymar ahead of this year’s World Cup finals Brazil coach Felipe Scolari claimed on Monday.

Scolari told a press conference in Lisbon that stories about 22-year-old Neymar’s diving to obtain penalties and controversy over his transfer last summer from Santos were all aimed at putting him off his game as Brazil prepared to host the global football showpiece in June.

“Neymar’s case is really simple, only those who close their eyes can’t see it

clearly for what it is,” said Scolari, who guided Brazil to the 2002 World Cup title.

“Neymar is often criticised by the Spanish press because it has a vested interest that he is not at his best at the World Cup. “We know that he is good, that he is a star. He was the decisive factor in Barcelona’s games against both Real Madrid and Espanyol.

Scolari said that he was on a mini tour of Europe to reassure some players – believed to include Chelsea’s David Luiz – about their place in the squad for the finals which he will announce on May 7. l

Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney faces a race against time to be fit for Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final, secondleg at Bayern Munich with the hosts winless in their last three matches.

European champions Bayern suffered their first Bundesliga defeat for 18 months when they were beaten 1-0 at Augsburg on Saturday following last Tuesday’s 1-1 first-leg draw with United at Old Trafford.

Centre-back Nemanja Vidic’s header put United ahead in the first-leg at Old Trafford only for Bayern’s Bastian Schweinsteiger equaliser before being sent off for a second yellow card on the stroke of 90 minutes.

Bayern coach Pep Guardiola has described Wednesday’s second-leg at the Allianz Arena as a matter of “life or death” for holders Munich, who have made no secret of their desire to

become the first team to defend the Champions League title.

United’s hopes hinge on Rooney, who missed Saturday’s 4-0 league win at Newcastle United with a badly bruised toe and the 28-year-old’s absence would be a big blow to United’s chances of progressing.

Along with Robin van Persie, who is out with a knee injury, he is the club’s joint-top scorer this season with 17 goals, two of which were in the Champions League.

“If he’s out, it would certainly be a big loss for United,” admitted Bayern centre-back Jerome Boateng, whose job would be to contain the England star.

“Wayne Rooney is the key man for United, he always makes himself available and he goes looking for the ball, he’s always good for a goal.”

United travel to Bavaria with the hosts needing a return to winning ways having struggled for form since securing the Bundesliga title two weeks ago with a record seven games to spare. l

Atletico’s Costa in fitness battle to face Barca Atletico Madrid hope to have talismanic striker Diego Costa back fit against Barcelona on Wednesday when the La Liga leaders bid to pull off another Spanish surprise by reaching the Champions League semifinals.

Spain’s Costa has hit 33 goals for Diego Simeone’s side in a remarkable season for Atletico, where they have come out of the shadows of their more affluent neighbours Real Madrid and La Liga champions Barca.

They picked up a 1-1 draw in a typi-

cally hard-fought battle at the Camp Nou in the Champions League first leg last week, where Costa limped off with a hamstring strain in the first half.

His replacement Diego hit a stunning shot from distance to give Atletico a valuable away goal before Neymar grabbed a draw.

Costa has been receiving intensive treatment with the aim of being ready for the home leg and is progressing well. However, with further crucial games ahead, Atletico’s medical staff are wary of him coming back too soon and aggravating the injury.

Arda Turan is also a doubt with a groin strain and if he does not recover then his place on the right wing would

likely go to Diego with Adrian Lopez possibly replacing Costa.

Adrian came on as a substitute and looked lively during an otherwise tired Atletico display in a 1-0 home win over Villarreal on Saturday that kept them a point clear of Barca at the top of the Spanish championship.

“I am prepared, we are all ready for when we have to play. Any opportunity in this team is important and you have to be ready to take it,” Adrian told reporters.

“It has been a great season so far and we are all pleased. We have done very well but we need to keep going game by game. Now we are up against Barcelona in the Champions League and we

will play it as though it were a final.

“The first leg was a good result but the tie is very open still. We know what Barcelona are capable of doing and we will have to have a great performance if we are going to qualify for the semi-finals.

We will have to fight from start to finish.”

Barcelona were also below their best but beat Real Betis 3-1 at the weekend with two more goals from Lionel Messi and remain on Atletico’s shoulders with the two sides also still to meet at the Camp Nou in La Liga.

Their main injury concerns are at the back where Gerard Pique is missing with a hip injury so Marc Bartra could again deputise with Carles Puyol out long term. l

Juventus restore eight-point lead A brace from Spanish striker Fernando Llorente gave Juventus a 2-0 win over Livorno to restore their eight-point lead over Roma and edge the champions closer to a third consecutive scudetto on Monday.

Juve have now amassed 84 points and, with six games remaining, remain on target to become the first team in Serie A to win the title with 100 points.

Livorno, meanwhile, remain third from bottom, two points adrift of the safety zone.

Following Roma’s win in Sardinia, Llorente had posted a defiant Twitter message which read: “We either have to win or win.”

But despite a high-octane start the

Bianconeri had to wait 32 minutes before finally breaching the Livorno defence, Llorente turning on to Tevez’s short pass from the left of the area to plant the ball in the roof of Bardi’s net.

Three minutes later Llorente met Pirlo’s corner from the right with a firm header which squirmed inside Bardi’s near post.

RESULTS

Juventus

Llorente 32, 35

Genoa Abbiati 73-og

2 0

Livorno

1 2

AC Milan

Taarabt 20, Honda 56

Juve countered after the resulting corner and Tevez was given time to send a 25-metre drive curl just wide of Bardi’s far post.

Milan, meanwhile, soaked up the pressure in a dramatic second half away

Spurs give under-fire Sherwood a boost Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood received a much-needed boost as Harry Kane’s first Premier League goal inspired a 5-1 rout of struggling Sunderland on Monday.

Sherwood had declined to comment on his future in the hours before kickoff at White Hart Lane after a report claimed he would be dismissed at the end of the season.

Holland coach Louis van Gaal, Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino and Ajax boss Frank de Boer have all been strongly linked with the

Tottenham job.

Even this convincing win is unlikely to save Sherwood, but he looks set to go out fighting and fittingly it was a goal from England Under-21 striker Kane that set the tone.

Lee Cattermole had given bottom of the table Sunderland a shock early lead.

But Emmanuel Adebayor equalised and Kane, one of the promising prodigies Sherwood championed during his time as the club’s director of youth development, marked his first top-flight start by putting the hosts ahead after the break before late goals from Christian Eriksen, Adebayor and Gylfi Sigurdsson sealed the demolition. l

to Genoa to prevail 2-1 for a third consecutive win which maintains their hopes of clinching a Europa League place.

Goals in either half from Adel Taarabt and Keisuke Honda, the Japanese star’s first in Serie A, gave the Rossoneri a 2-0 lead by the 56th minute.

But an own goal by goalkeeper Christian Abbiati, following Marco Motta’s 73rd minute strike, reduced the arrears as the hosts piled on the pressure.

Milan rode their luck when both Stefano Sturaro and Motta, whose follow-up was headed off the goalline

by Philippe Mexes, came close to levelling.

However Clarence Seedorf’s men held on and although still in 11th spot the Rossoneri are just five points adrift of fifth-placed city rivals Inter in the second and final Europa League qualifying spot. l

AC Milan's forward Keisuke Honda scores a goal during their Italian Serie A match against Genoa at the Luigi Ferraris stadium in AFP Genoa, Italy on Monday

Athletic maintain European charge Aritz Aduriz hit a firsthalf double as Athletic Bilbao kept their Champions League ambitions on track with a 2-1 victory at Levante, who only came to life after the break.

Athletic are fourth on 59 points in Spain’s final Champions League spot, six more than Sevilla who thumped Espanyol 4-1 over the weekend, and nine ahead of sixth-placed Real Sociedad, beaten 4-0 at home by Real Madrid on Saturday.

The Basque side responded well to their defeat by Atletico Madrid in their last match, starting the game at a high tempo and cutting the Levante defence open in the early stages.

A sloppy challenge from Juanfran on

Iker Muniain earned Athletic a penalty which Mikel San Jose sent wide but the visitors were soon ahead anyway.

A shot from Aduriz from the edge of the area deflected off Levante defender Simao Mate, wrong-footing Keylor Navas, and went into the corner.

RESULTS

Levante

Dominguez 66-og

Malaga

1 2 4 1

Camacho 14, 36, Amrabat 50, Juanmi 74

Elche Boakye 90+3

Sevilla

1 0 4 1

Mbia 18, Gameiro 44, 84, Rakitic 89

Valladolid

0 0

Athletic Bilbao Aduriz 15, 44

Granada El-Arabi 77

Getafe Espanyol Sergio Garcia 46-P

Valencia

It was a lacklustre display from midtable Levante and on the point of halftime Aduriz netted his 13th goal of the season as he headed home an Ander Herrera cross.

After the restart Levante had more impetus but could only pull one goal back with a Ruben Garcia cross hitting San Jose and looping over keeper Gorka Iraizoz and into the net.

“At the end they were pushing forward and we were sitting back more,” Athletic coach Ernesto Valverde told reporters.

The three-way battle at the top of La Liga remains fierce with Real three points adrift of leaders Atletico Madrid, who beat Villarreal 1-0 at home on Saturday and have 79 points. Barcelona are on 78 points following their 3-1 victory over bottom side Real Betis. l

WC dream over for injured Rodriguez Southampton striker Jay Rodriguez’s hopes of playing for England at this year’s World Cup finals were dashed Monday when it was announced he would be out for at least six months with a knee injury.

The 24-year-old forward was one of several Saints players in the running for a place in Roy Hodgson’s 23-man squad for Brazil after scoring 17 goals so far this term.

But Rodriguez, who made his England debut in a friendly against Chile in November, saw his season come to a shuddering halt when he landed awkwardly during Saturday’s 4-1 defeat by Manchester City and was carried off on a stretcher at Eastlands. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Siddikur fired up for Maybank Malaysian Open

QUICK BYTES

NCL resumes on Saturday The 15th National Cricket League will resume on April 12, confirmed the Bangladesh Cricket Board yesterday.

The first-class cricket tournament will recommence with the remaining four matches of round six. Khulna Division will face Dhaka Metropolis at Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium in Cox’s Bazar. Dhaka Division will lock horns with Barisal at Chittagong’s Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium while Rajshahi will take on Chittagong at BKSP. At Fatullah Outer Stadium, Sylhet will face Rangpur. After five rounds, Dhaka Division is leading the points table with three wins and 51 points.

Rajshahi is behind them with 65 points while Sylhet trails the latter by three points. The seventh round games will be played from April 19.

–MUK

Alonso has faith in Ferrari fightback Fernando Alonso believes Ferrari can still be title contenders despite the Italian glamour team’s disappointing start to the Formula One season. The Spaniard finished ninth in Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix, one place ahead of team mate Kimi Raikkonen, after fourth places in Australia and Malaysia. Ferrari are fifth in the constructors’ standings. Mercedes have meanwhile streaked into the distance with three pole positions and three wins, including two consecutive one-two finishes for Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. There are 16 races remaining, with China next up. “Although we did all we could, we can’t be happy with our level of performance and now our sole focus must be on working day and night,” Alonso, a double world champion with Renault, said after Sunday’s race.

“The season is in its early stages and I think we can stage a recovery. We have the resources and the potential to do it and it’s all down to us.”

–Reuters

Murray embarks on search for new coach Wimbledon champion Andy Murray revealed on Tuesday that he will soon begin his search for a new coach and hopes to have appointed one by the French Open in May. “I’ll definitely look at it over the next couple of weeks,” said the world number eight. “I don’t plan on playing much tennis for the next week because I haven’t had much time off this year.” The 26-year-old Scot ended a two-year collaboration with Ivan Lendl last month and is due to meet with members of his back-room team on Wednesday to discuss plans to appoint a successor. “I’ll definitely look into it and see which route I want to go down,” he said. “Once you make a decision on who it is you want to approach, they need to be up for doing it and the amount of time it requires.

–AFP

Hat-trick hero Destro hit with four-game ban Roma striker Mattia Destro was handed a four-game ban by league officials on Tuesday, ending a dream weekend in which the Italy World Cup hopeful scored a hat-trick for the Giallorossi.

Destro claimed all three goals in Roma’s 3-1 away to Cagliari on Sunday but fell victim to trial by television following a request by the disciplinary commission of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC).

As Destro tried to tackle Davide Astori from behind, his hand came up to catch the Cagliari defender in the face. Astori was booked for retaliating, but video evidence suggested Destro – who escaped a caution – was at fault. A statement by Serie A officials affirmed Destro had been “caught by television” carrying out “an act of violence not seen by the referee” and would be “banned for three games”.

–AFP

DAY’S WATCH UEFA Champions League: QF Leg 2 Ten Action 12:45AM Bayern Munich v Man United Ten Sports 12:45PM Atletico Madrid v Barcelona Star Sports 4 6:00PM AFC Cup 2014 Churchill Brothers v Persipura Jaya Star Sports HD1 1:00AM Masters Tournament 2014 Sony Six NBA 2013-14 6:00AM Miami v Brooklyn 8:30AM LA Lakers v Houston

15

Sri Lankan supporters wave as the country's T20 cricket team travel on an open-top bus during a procession after returning from Bangladesh to Colombo yesterday. Sri Lanka prepared to throw its biggest party since the end of the country's ethnic conflict after beating India in the final of cricket's World T20 tournament in Dhaka AFP

Sri Lanka party marred by player dispute Sri Lanka’s team flew home in triumph Tuesday to a huge street party after winning the world Twenty20 tournament, but celebrations were marred by controversy over the retirements of Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara.

Tens of thousands of fans lined the street from the main international airport to downtown Colombo, a distance of 35 kilometres (21 miles), causing traffic chaos across the capital as the heroes passed by in a motorcade.

Sangakkara and Jayawardene, both former skippers, told reporters at the airport there were serious disagreements about their retirement from T20 cricket.

Jayawardene said his remarks to a local newspaper, that the tournament may be his final T20 appearance, had

been taken as notice of his intention to retire, and based on that he had been criticised by a cricket board official.

“I am disappointed and hurt that an official went public criticising us without first asking us whether we actually made those remarks,” he told reporters shortly after landing.

“I agree with what he says,” Sangakkara added.

Both said they had been uncertain whether they would play in the World T20 tournament until a few hours before they were due to leave for Bangladesh.

Sources close to the players said they did not finalise their employment contracts with the cricket board until the eve of their departure, following disputes between players and the board over pay and conditions.

There was no immediate comment from the cricket board, but an official

Sooner the better, says McIlroy of Masters win Rory McIlroy cannot begin to contemplate a career where he will be ineligible to have breakfast in the Masters Champions Locker Room at Augusta National.

McIlroy singled out the likes of Greg Norman and Ernie Els,who have both been denied such an opportunity and then witnessed younger players who grew up idolizing them succeed at Augusta.

“It has to be tough because you can look at someone like Greg Norman seeing Adam win last year,” said McIlroy.

“Then there’s Ernie(Els) and he sees Trevor (Immelman) winning, he sees Charl (Schwartzel) win, and he sees all these young South Africans playing so

Farah faces marathon baptism of fire Britain’s double Olympic and world champion Mo Farah makes his eagerlyawaited marathon debut in London on Sunday, but has his work cut out with the jump-in distance and competition from top Kenyans and Ethiopians.

Kenya’s elite runners say they have little to fear from the newcomer to the distance, predicting a baptism of fire for Farah as he grapples with uncharted racing territory coupled with seasoned marathon veterans setting a punishing pace.

The 32-year-old 5,000 and 10,000m track star spent the better part of the winter training in Kenya’s high-altitude Rift Valley region in a bid to raise his game and compete against the world’s best.

Leading the elite field is Kenyan Wilson Kipsang, who holds the world record after clocking a spectacular 2:03.23 in Berlin last year and has won London in 2012. Observers of the sport see Farah as being capable of running a time of around 2:06. l

well, like Louis (Oosthuizen) going so close in a playoff against Bubba (Watson),” said McIlroy.

“It’s why I’m determined at 24 that I don’t want to get to that point when I’m 44.

“So that’s why it would great to win one Masters sooner rather than later. l

had earlier criticised both senior players for allegedly going public about their retirement plans without prior notice to the board.

On the eve of the finals with India, the board announced a million dollar bonus for the team if it could finally shed its reputation for “choking” in major tournaments.

Sangakkara was in celebratory mood despite grumbles with the board.

The met office had forecast thunder showers in Colombo, but the weather was holding up as the team was driven at a snail’s pace to meet President Mahinda Rajapakse.

Fans waved national flags and cheered as the team bus escorted by hundreds of motorcycles and cars passed by. It was the biggest street party since government forces crushed Tamil Tiger rebels in May 2009. l

Pakistan was offered ‘Big Four’ role: chairman Pakistan’s cricket chief Najam Sethi has said his predecessor spurned an offer by India to join the so-called “big three” during a major reorganisation of the game’s administration.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was initially one of three countries which opposed the revamp of the International Cricket Council (ICC) approved by members in February.

The move handed the majority of the powers and revenues to the “big three” of the game -- India, Australia and England.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka abstained from voting on the reforms, but since then Sri Lanka have hinted they will sign the draft.

Sethi, who will attend the ICC meeting in Dubai on April 9-10, said Pakistan were offered a seat at the table but declined.

“The big three of the ICC had invited

Pakistan to be part of a ‘big four’ plan but the administration under former PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf refused the offer, to the detriment of the country,” Sethi said as he was preparing to leave late Monday.

“In the cricketing scenario, currently there are eight countries at one side and Pakistan at the other. The ICC doesn’t need Pakistan after the rejection of such a rare offer.”

Sethi said his main aim now was to revive ties with India.

“A series against India would bring huge revenue to the PCB besides bringing peace and prosperity to the region as the cricketing ties have been suspended for many years,” said Sethi.

“Until and unless we play with India, we won’t make any money. Everyone is toeing India’s line because playing with India makes you money.”

India have not played a full bilateral series with Pakistan since the 2008 terror attacks on Mumbai. l

Petkovic win WTA Family Circle Cup Andrea Petkovic survived a set point before steamrolling her way to an emphatic 7-5 6-2 victory over Jana Cepelova in the final of the Family Circle Cup in South Carolina on Sunday.

Petkovic, on the comeback trail from a string of injuries, used her powerful forehand to collect her third WTA title in a match that lasted 79 minutes on the green clay in Charleston.

Petkovic’s career has been hampered by knee, back and ankle injuries, but she can compete with the best when healthy, as her world ranking of 10th at the end of 2011 proved.

But she did not have it all her own way against Slovakian Cepelova, who had a chance to win the first set but fired a forehand groundstroke into the net, a point that proved pivotal. l

Pakistani street children footballers arrive at the Sindh provincial assembly building to attend a reception in Karachi yesterday. Pakistan's street children footballers returned home to jubilant scenes after clinching the bronze medal in Brazil, with captain Sameer Ahmed hailing the "once in a lifetime" experience AFP

Don’t crucify Yuvraj for T20 final flop, says Tendulkar Batting great Sachin Tendulkar has come out strongly in support of the beleaguered Yuvraj Singh after the lefthander’s poor performance with the bat during India’s loss to Sri Lanka in the World Twenty20 final on Sunday.

Yuvraj has been made something of a scapegoat for India’s defeat after he used up 21 deliveries to score 11 runs, which robbed his side of momentum towards the end of their innings.

The 32-year-old, who hit England’s Stuart Broad for six sixes in an over in the 2007 World Twenty20 and was the architect of India’s 50-over World Cup win in 2011, looked a pale shadow of himself, even struggling to rotate the strike.

“It is the unpredictable nature of the game that makes cricket such an exciting sport,” Tendulkar, who retired from the game last November, said in a post on his Facebook page.

“As cricketers, we always enjoy the

Bangladesh star Siddikur Rahman will compete in the Maybank Malaysian Open next week with renewed self-belief that he can compete on a level playing field against the world’s best players.

Following his heroic performance at the recent EurAsia Cup where Team Asia gallantly fought back to earn a tie with Team Europe here, Siddikur, who contributed two points in the memorable 10-10 draw, is feeling confident ahead of the US$2.75 million showpiece at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club from April 17-20.

Siddikur formed a formidable foursome partnership with Anirban Lahiri when they earned a vital win to spark Team Asia’s comeback.

The popular Siddikur, who has not finished outside the top-five on the Asian Tour Order of Merit in the last two seasons, will seek to better his tied eighth finish at the 2011 Malaysian Open.

He was also a dominant figure in the EurAsia Cup after contributing two points for Team Asia which included an impressive 4 & 3 victory over Stephen Callacher in the singles. l

applause when we succeed but it is the support and encouragement from fans, during tough times, that we appreciate the most.”

Yuvraj was the focal point of all discussions in the cricket-crazy country after the Indian juggernaut in Bangla-

desh came to a screeching halt on Sunday with a six-wicket hammering by Sri Lanka at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

There were even reports in the local media that Yuvraj’s house in Chandigarh was pelted with stones by angry fans.

Tendulkar, the most prolific international run-scorer and one of the country’s greatest unifiers, reminded the fans of Yuvraj’s past contributions.

“All of us took pride in the heroics of Yuvi when we won the T20 World Cup in 2007 and his outstanding contribution in the ODI World Cup win in 2011 will always be cherished,” he wrote.

“Last evening (Sunday), Yuvi had a tough day and he can be criticised. But he should not be crucified nor should he be written off.”

Yuvraj, who has not been part of India’s test and 50-over sides in the recent past, made an emotional return to the game in 2012 after a lengthy fight with a rare germ cell cancer in his lungs. l

Stadlers to become first Masters father-son duo Craig and Kevin Stadler will become the first father and son to play in the same Masters this week, but relations remain complicated between the two following a divorce.

Craig Stadler, the 60-year-old winner of the 1982 Masters, divorced Sue, Kevin’s mother, in 2006.

And much of Kevin’s success has involved being known as the son of the PGA veteran known as “Walrus”, who is making his 38th and possibly final Masters start as his son is making his first.

“This is a very cool thing,” Craig Stadler said. “It’s emotional in a very good way. I was hoping it would happen some day. It’s going to be just a wonderful week. I hope he plays really well and I hope I don’t embarrass myself.”

The younger Stadler said he had no qualms about appearing side-by-side with his father despite past issues. l

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Dhaka land use pattern changes rapidly

Seven more Rana Plaza victims identified 21.81 % agricultural land and water bodies vanish, with residential area increasing by 32.67% in last 7 years n Moniruzzaman Uzzal Urban planners have alleged that and Dhamsonawas proposed as extenn Abu Hayat Mahmud Rajuk only formulates plans and pol- Almost a year after the Rana Plaza colsion to the RDP. Land use pattern in the capital and its outskirts has rapidly changed due to unplanned urbanisation coupled with filling up of agricultural land by several thousand real estate companies.

In a span of seven years (2006-2013), agricultural land and water bodies in and around Dhaka reduced by 21.81%, while residential areas increased by 32.67%, according to a study titled Regional Development Planning (RDP) conducted by the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk).

According to the Detailed Area Plan (DAP) Survey 2006, land allocation in and around the capital was: 54.8% agricultural land, 28.16% residential areas,9.57% waterbodies and 1.82% circulation networks. But, in 2013, the figures stood at 42.49% for agriculture, 7.84%water bodies, 2.44% circulation networks and 37.36% for residential areas, says the RDP study.

Rajukconducted the survey last year for updatingits databasefor the RDP to develop a planning policy framework to promote sustainable development for Dhaka city region. The RDP report will be completed this year.

The RDP covers an area of 1,528 square kilometres, which includes two Dhaka city corporations, Narayanganj and Gazipur city corporations, four municipalities, 72 union parishadsin Dhaka, Narayanganj and Gazipur.A 90 sq-km area of Gazipur City Corporation

According to the study, the expanding residential areas consist restricted areas, public facilities, roads and railways, commercial areas, recreational and other areas.

The study shows that about 4.92% of the agricultural land was sand-filled.

The report also saysthe intensity of development varies widely, withonly central and southern regions havinghigher share of structures.

The northern region hasthe most dispersed development, approximately 23% of total area housing only around 14% structures, whereas the central and southern region have experienced the slowest growth with respect to construction of new structures. Besides, northern and eastern regions have experienced the highest growth.

According to the 2006DAP Survey, there were 1,205,446 structures, and the RDP survey has identified 183,508additional structures in the area.

With financial assistance from the Asian Development Bank, Rajuk implemented the RDP joint venture with Korean companiesSaman Corporation and Han-A Urban Research Institute, and Bangladeshi companiesDevConsultants Ltd and Sheltech (Pvt) Ltd. Sheikh Abdul Mannan, member (planning) of Rajuk, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday: “The RDP survey is being conducted to formulate the new DAP. Hopefully, formulating the new DAP will

begin this May and end by 2015.”

Askedif the new DAP will consist strict laws for protecting agricultural land and water bodies in the RDP area, he said steps would be taken as per the new DAP after analysing the RDP data.

Meanwhile, encroachment of water bodies and agricultural land continues unabated asRajuk and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA)were yet to take proper steps to stop such illegal activities.

icies, but it could never implement them in reality.

“DAP was not fully successful because a large number of land developers continue to fill up flood flow zones and grab agricultural land and river embankments around Dhaka,” ProfessorJamilur Reza Choudhury, who headed the DAP experts team, told the Dhaka Tribune.

“The DAP remains far from being implemented due to negligence of authorities concerned and rampant violation of the plan by real estate developers,” he added.

ProfessorSarwarJahanof Buet’s urban and regional planningdepartment said:“Realtors filled up most designated wetlands and flood flow zones in and around Dhaka. If such practices continue, this will lead to waterlogging and destruction of ecology.”

Rajuk Chairman Nurul Huda said they planned to divide the DAP area into eight zones to implement the laws properly.

BIWTA Chairman MdSamsuddohaKhandakertold the Dhaka Tribune: “We are aware that encroachment is taking place around the river surrounding Dhaka. Such illegal practice continues as there was an error in the river demarcation.”

The RDP is part of the City Region Development Project, which will be used to formulate arevised Structure Plan to construct a policy framework for the next 20 years (2016-2035). l

lapse, the National DNA Profiling Laboratory at the Dhaka Medical College has confirmed the identities of seven more victims of the disaster, following the successful cross-matching of DNA samples provided by the victims’ relatives.

However, the genders of the newly identified victims could not be known immediately.

Professor Dr Sharif Akhteruzzaman, technical adviser for the DNA lab, confirmed the news yesterday and told the Dhaka Tribune that the lab had submitted a report on its third phase of DNA tests before the labour ministry on Monday.

In the first phase report last November, the lab identified 157 victims– 116 women and 41 men; while the second phase report in February this year identified 43 more victims – 33 women and 10 men.

Sources at the national DNA lab said 541 families had provided DNA samples for cross-matching with the 322 unidentified victims, whose bone and teeth were collected as DNA samples.

A high-tech combined DNA index system (codex) software, provided by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, was used to identify the victims.

The collapse of Rana Plaza on April 24 last year caused the deaths of at least 1,134 people and injured 2,515 more. l

7.5MW solar plant to supply power to grid Rahman Rasel, back n Aminur from Kaptai, Rangamati As part of the efforts to cut carbon emissions under a green energy initiative, the Power Development Board (PDB) has decided to set up a 7.5MW solar power plant at Rangamati’s Kaptai Hydro Power Station area, which would be the first of its kind to supply power to the national grid.

“We are going to install the plant as part of our renewable energy programme and we hope the power generated here would help the green energy initiative,” PDB Director (renewable energy and research and development) Md Shafique Uddin told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

A tender for the solar plant would be floated within a month, while construction was expected to be finished within seven to eight months once a company was selected for the work, he added.

“The plant would generate power uninterruptedly during day time on availability of sun,” the PDB director said, adding that the Asian Development Bank had already assured of providing financial support for the project.

The power produced from the solar plant will be added to the national grid via a substation of the Kaptai Hydro Power Station. The project – with an es-

timated cost of Tk192.59 crore – would be set up on 22 acres of PDB land.

The PDB has appointed German consultation firm Fichtner to prepare tender documents.

Meanwhile, the PDB has also decided to set up a separate 3MW solar power plant at Sarishabari in Jamalpur.

Shafique Uddin said the Sharishabari project – to be set up on ten acres of PDB land – would be run as an independent power producer (IPP).

He added that the constructing company would bear the costs under buildown-and-operate (BOO) basis and provide power to the local grid, while the PDB would pay the bill as the lone buyer.

The approximate cost of per unit power would be Tk20, he said.

“For this we have already selected an international company. A contract will be signed within two months,” he added.

On the other hand, the PDB also has plans to set up a 30MW solar park on the banks of Dhorola River in Kurigram as an IPP on BOO basis. Several companies have already submitted tender on March 25 for the project, which would be set up on 118 acres of PDB land.

The PDB is currently producing 2MW power from solar panels installed on rooftops of many of its buildings. l

A potter stacks up earthen toys for drying in the sun at Palpara of Kanchanpur, Brahmanbaria yesterday. Potters in the locality are passing busy days, making toys and other stuffs, ahead of a fair on the occasion of Pahela Baishakh DHAKA TRIBUNE

Substandard drugs threaten public health Three policemen sued for n embezzling gold bars Moniruzzaman Uzzal

With the country’s first ever drug testing control laboratory yet to be officially inaugurated, the market continues to be flooded with substandard and adulterated drugs which pose a serious threat to public health.

Following directives from the health ministry, recent drives by the Rapid Action Battalion and mobile courts of the drug administration recovered large amounts of unauthorised fake drugs, including saline and life-saving antibiotics, from different areas in the capital.

Earlier, the parliamentary standing committee on health ministry identified 62 drug companies as “substandard” and later revised the number to 29 companies and recommended banning their production.

Currently the country has more than 250 pharmaceuticals companies that manufacture around 24,000 brand drugs.

Several pharmaceutical industry specialists told the Dhaka Tribune that the remarkable success made by the country’s pharmaceutical companies was being damaged because of a handful of unscrupulous traders who manufactured and supplied fake, unregistered, substandard, adulterated

and smuggled drugs. Random drug samples should be collected from the market and then tested at the National Control Laboratory to ensure drug quality, they added.

Muktadir Chowdhury, secretary general of Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceuticals Industry, recently said Bangladesh had a bright future in the drug sector, but the country needed to ensure that not a single fake or adulterated drug made it to the market.

Although the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) began testing vaccines and drugs at the control lab on January 1 this year, the Tk25 crore drug testing facility was yet to be officially inaugurated. The lab was currently testing only 300-500 samples a month, although it had the capacity to test 10,000 drug samples a year.

Several officials of the DGDA, seeking anonymity, claimed that the National Control Laboratory did not have its own budget to administer the laboratory activities, while the day-to-day expenses were being provided by the Institute of Public Health (IPH).

Although the laboratory was fully-equipped with modern machines and other testing facilities, there was also a shortage of well-trained manpower, they added.

The health ministry had created

236 new posts for the control lab, but the ministries of establishment and finance were yet to give the final approval for recruiting the manpower.

However, the Dhaka Tribune has learned that in the absence of any individual budget allocation for the control lab, the DGDA authority was conducting its tests by receiving financial and other assistance, such as chemicals, reagents and manpower, from different private pharmaceutical companies.

Selim Barami, director (current charge) of the control lab and also a director of the DGDA, admitted that it was “partially true” that the lab received help from different pharmaceutical companies for running a few tests, especially for testing vaccines.

It was not possible to conduct the tests with the limited financial allocation from the IPH, as the price of vaccine’s chemicals and reagents were very expensive, he added.

Separate monthly allocation of at least Tk1 lakh was needed to run the control lab properly, Barami said, adding that the vacant posts of 236 employees should be recruited soon.

The DGDA director further claimed that drug test results at the control lab were similar to the standards of top pharmaceutical companies. l

n Ashif Islam Shaon Police yesterday filed a case against three policemen, including a sub-inspector, of Rampura police station for misappropriating gold bars seized at the Shahjalal International Airport.

The accused are SI Manjurul Islam and constables Akash Chowdhury and Wahedul Islam.

Before filing the case the Detective Branch of police sought written permission from the Anti-Corruption Commission, said Alamgir Hossain, officer-incharge of Rampura police station.

DB Inspector Fazlur Rahman filed the case, also accusing two informants named Rana and Sajib. Police arrested SI Manjurul, Wahid, Akash and Roni on March 31. Sajib is on the run.

The ACC will investigate the case.

On March 13, Rampura police seized a car with 235 gold bars, but the accused claimed they had recovered 70 bars and misappropriated the rest.

After the incident came to light, three policemen were arrested. OC Kripa Sindhu Bala was withdrawn from duty after the incident. The DB investigation found that police had links to the gold smugglers.

SI Manjurul and his patrol team, who were on duty at Banasree’s Balurmath area on March 13, chased a microbus on suspicion and later found the vehicle abandoned. They brought the vehicle to the police station and filed a GD. On March 16, two individuals named Samir Biswas and Jahid Hossain came to the police station to claim the vehicle but could not provide any documents to prove their right. Later, police detained them and found that they were gold smugglers and were transporting 235 gold bars in the microbus.

On March 18, another case was filed with Rampura police station and was handed over to the DB on March 20.

Upon further interrogation, the detainees confirmed that there were 235 gold bars in the vehicle. The detectives then interrogated SI Manjurul and his patrol team and they confessed to misappropriating the gold bars.

One of the arrestees confessed to a court that after the seizure some smugglers sat in meetings with a high official of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police for negotiation. But the “deal” failed.

As the secret deal failed the smugglers leaked out the information to another police high official. l

Now CID to probe rape of a minor girl n Nazmus Sakib The High Court yesterday shifted the charge of investigating the alleged torture and rape of a minor girl to the Criminal Investigation Department.

The CID has also been asked to submit its probe report to the court on May 20.

The High Court bench of Justice Mirza Hussain Haider and Justice Khurshid Alam Sarkar asked the Pirojpur police super to take the case seriously upon a writ petition filed by Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK).

ASK’s lawyer Abonti Nurul told the Dhaka Tribune that the court found inconsistency in the deposition of the girl in the lower court and her complaint to the police, so the High Court entrusted the responsibility for investigation to the CID. Suspected rapist Abdur Rahman, Assistant Sub-Inspector of Nazirpur police station Mujahidul Islam Miah Zafar who allegedly aided him in the rape, and Ashim Mistri, a teacher at a madrasa where the girl studied, appeared before the court yesterday.

Two of them, Rahman and Zafar, were sent back to jail.

Lawyer SM Rezaul Karim stood for Zafar while Deputy Attorney General Al-Amin Sarker moved for the state. l

Editor: Zafar Sobhan, Published and Printed by Kazi Anis Ahmed on behalf of 2A Media Limited at Dainik Shakaler Khabar Publications Limited, 153/7, Tejgaon Industrial Area, Dhaka-1208. Editorial, News & Commercial Office: FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Shukrabad, Dhaka 1207.

Phone: 9132093-94, Advertising: 9132155, Circulation: 9132282, Fax: News-9132192, e-mail: news@dhakatribune.com, info@dhakatribune.com, Website: www.dhakatribune.com

B3 Matin Spinning debut

B4 5 key challenges a Modi

upsets investors

government would face

BSEC chief and members to get another term n Asif Showkat Kallol The government is set to extend on contract the tenures of chairman and four members of Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) for another term.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recently approved the proposal forwarded by the Banking and Financial Institutions Division under Finance Ministry, official sources said.

The tenure of the officials will be extended up to four years from the date of expiry of their respective contracts in line with the BSEC’s new rules amended last year. Before the amendment, the tenure was for three years.

The tenure of the incumbent BSEC officials, who were appointed after share-market debacle in late 2010, will expire between May and July this year.

The government claimed performance of the BSEC officials is so far satisfactory as the market remained stable, but market players say otherwise.

At present, the market is still going through volatility with low volume of trade, reflecting that investor is yet to recover confidence lost in the market debacle, they said.  B 3 COLUMN 4

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2014 www.dhakatribune.com/business

Luxury hotel construction exempted from taxes Decision taken to promote tourism industry, say officials n Tribune Report The construction of luxury hotels will enjoy exemption from all taxes except for 5% customs duty on the import of building materials and equipment.

Following appeals for such facility from investors, the government made the positive response considering potentiality of Bangladesh’s tourism sector, said official sources.

The National Board of Revenue has already issued a statutory regulatory order in this regard this week.

It said the posh hotels of international standards will have to pay only 5% customs duty and no other taxes including value added tax (Vat) and supplementary duty for their constructions.

Officials said the exemption will be given only to the franchise of international chain hotels and local hotels of international standards certified by the tourism ministry.

Facility will be available only after

the companies concerned have quality certificates from the ministry.

The ministry will assess the standards before certifying, said the officials.

In next 2-3 years, 10 new five-star hotels in Dhaka and Chittagong will be built in Bangladesh to meet the increasing demand To get the tax benefit, the entrepreneurs will have to show agreement documents signed with international chain luxury hotel companies.

For local luxury hotels of international standards, they will have to submit Vat payment certificates and approvals from Board of Investment.

Tax benefit will remain effective only during construction works and until the launch of hotels commercially.

The hotel entrepreneurs will enjoy tax exemption facility in the import of materials like exterior-interior decorations, kitchen and cooking equipment, building security equipment, fire-safety tools, electricity substation machineries, lighting and health club materials for etc.

In next 2-3 years, 10 new five-star hotels in Dhaka and Chittagong will be built in Bangladesh to meet the increasing demand.

A number of international hotel chains and local conglomerates will jointly establish the hotels.

During the recent years, the visits of foreign businessmen and hosting of international sporting events like multi-national cricket tournaments have increased.

Taking these factors in consideration, the investors want to expand luxury hotel business in the country. l

BGMEA urges brands not to close orders n Tribune Report Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) urged the Accord buyers not to withdraw orders from factories housed in shared buildings if they are found structurally okay.

It also called for setting a parameter to decide on a factory’s structural status.

According to the BGMEA, around 40% of factories are housed in shared buildings which employ 1.5m workers, mostly women.

The apex body of apparel sector made the call at a meeting with steering committee of the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh yesterday.

Rob Wayss, executive director of Accord Bangladesh operation, Brad

Loewen, chief safety inspector of Accord, Aleix Buquets Gonzalez of Inditex, Philip Chamberlin of C&A, Jnney Faggerlin of H&M, Lisa Fairclough of Debenham, Jenny Holdcraft of IndustriAll and Christy Hoffman of UNI-Global, among others, were present at the meeting.

BGMEA President Atiqul Islam presided over the meeting held at the association’s office in Dhaka,

which was also attended by board of directors along with some former BGMEA presidents.

“There should be a parameter, on the basis of which, a factory would be directed to close or suspend production,” said Shahidullah Azim, vice president of BGMEA. He said if a factory lacks only 20% of standards, the situation is not so  B 3 COLUMN 4

Merchant bankers want loan assistance for affected investors n Tribune Report Merchant bankers have urged the government to allocate a refinancing scheme worth Tk10,000 crore in the upcoming budget for stock investors, who were badly affected by share market scheme in late 2010, at lower interest rate.

“It is now important to allocate the fund in the next budget to infuse confidence among the affected investors and to prop up the market as well,” said Akter H Sannamat, vice-president of Bangladesh Merchant Bankers’ Association (BMBA) at its general meeting held yesterday at a city hotel.

“The central bank can provide the proposed refinancing fund at 5% interest rate to the merchant bankers and then the merchant banks and stockbrokers will disburse the fund to the retail investors at 7% rate.”

Presently, an investor gets margin loan at the interest rate of more than 17%, which is very costly for the retail investors.

The BMBA’s came up with the proposal at a time when a Tk900 crore refinancing scheme got tepid response from the

affected stock investors due to tough conditions set by the regulator.

The state-run Investment Corporation of Bangladesh (ICB) received this fund in installment from the central bank at 5% interest rate. Under loan distribution guideline, it will lend to merchant banks and stockbrokers at 7% interest rate. The merchant banks and stockbrokers will then disburse the fund to the retail investors at 9% rate.

BMBA president Tanjil Chowdhury put emphasis on co-ordination among regulators concerned to make any decision that might have any significant impact on the stock market. He also sought permission for opening branches of the merchant banks to make the market vibrant.

About debate over IPO with higher premium, he said: Good companies that deserve premium should be given IPO permission.

The BMBA also put forward budget proposals, including reduction of corporate tax to 25.5% from existing 37.5% and tax exemption on margin loan provisioning. l

B2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Banks drag stocks down n Tribune Report

Company

Turnover (Million Taka)

6,266.52

Turnover (Volume)

93,350,324

Number of Contract

122,637

Traded Issues

290

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

65

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

220

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

5

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,343.65

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

28.41

Turnover (Million Taka)

503.20

Turnover (Volume)

9,280,579

Number of Contract

18,467

DSE Broad Index :

4586.91054

(-) 0.46%

▲

Traded Issues

224

DSE Shariah Index :

1021.85178

(+) 0.21%

▲

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

48

DSE - 30 Index :

1682.07570

(-) 0.01%

▲

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

170

CSE All Share Index:

14137.8028

(-) 0.52%

▲

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

5

CSE - 30 Index :

11882.6542

(-) 0.90%

▲

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,234.98

8872.6767

(-) 0.77%

▲

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

27.09

CSE Selected Index : DSE LOSERS

One Bank -A Eastland Insur -A Global Insurance -A Northern Jute -Z Rahima Food -Z Savar Refractories-Z Desh Garments -B GSP Finance-A

-16.17 -15.43 -13.57 -9.24 -8.92 -8.33 -7.34 -6.64

Average (% change) -15.83 -15.06 -12.73 -9.24 -8.32 -8.33 -5.65 -5.22

Mercantile Bank -A Kay & Que (BD) -Z

-6.35 -6.32

-0.73 -6.32

Company

Closing (% change)

CSE LOSERS Company One Bank -A Eastland Insur -A Northern G Insur-A Delta Brac HFCL-A Islami Ins.BD-A Rangpur Foundry -A National Housing Fin.-B Rahima Food -Z

National Life I -A Rupali InsurA

-16.17 -15.20 -9.88 -9.22 -9.18 -8.60 -8.59 -8.31

Average (% change) -15.49 -12.80 -9.88 -9.22 -9.18 -5.82 -7.97 -9.01

-7.65 -7.44

-7.65 -6.46

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 435.20 184.15 76.60 473.85 669.01 976.86 5.84 653.20 582.67 1.95 72.75 166.41 77.23 577.10 25.47 59.35 182.13 803.14 49.56 181.72 12.34

Turnover in million

Daily low

Latest EPS

Latest PE

14.14 39.10 24.27 109.00 40.90 55.00 110.12 21.61

14.00 38.90 24.20 109.00 39.80 55.00 107.30 21.10

16.00 40.70 27.00 109.00 43.50 55.00 117.00 23.00

13.80 38.20 23.30 109.00 39.50 55.00 106.00 20.70

32.587 9.782 0.364 0.022 4.928 0.006 7.433 4.946

2.44 3.71 1.09 -10.24 -1.00 0.60 1.18 1.34

5.8 10.5 22.3 -ve -ve 91.7 93.3 16.1

19.12 17.80

17.70 17.80

19.50 17.80

17.20 17.80

137.866 0.009

3.00 -0.89

6.4 -ve

Closing average

Closing

Daily high

Turnover in million

Daily low

Latest EPS

14.00 38.50 37.40 58.10 27.70 103.10 29.80 40.80

14.80 40.90 37.40 58.10 27.80 114.00 31.00 44.00

13.80 38.50 37.40 58.10 27.60 103.10 29.50 40.30

4.664 0.127 0.019 0.029 0.028 0.266 0.090 0.498

2.44 3.71 2.00 3.46 1.60 3.03 1.39 -1.00

5.8 10.7 18.7 16.8 17.3 35.1 21.6 -ve

302.00 28.97

302.00 28.60

302.00 29.10

302.00 28.50

0.076 0.345

12.46 1.98

24.2 14.6

Despite a bullish start, the session ended red as morning hype subsided at the later part

CSE GAINERS Company Reckitt Benckiser -A LafargeS Cement-Z Paramount Insur-A AB Bank 1st Mutual Fund-A Bata Shoe Ltd. -A Marico BD Ltd-A BATBCL -A Familytex (BD) Ltd.-N Titas Gas TDCLA Samorita Hospital -A

% change 6.94 2.94 1.22 7.56 10.68 15.59 0.09 10.42 9.30 0.03 1.16 2.66 1.23 9.21 0.41 0.95 2.91 12.82 0.79 2.90 0.20

Million Taka 35.08 13.52 2.85 38.78 36.89 74.58 108.64 39.27 29.61 2.55 35.60 14.48 34.27 5.65 1.89 10.93 78.74 4.82 22.69 0.00

% change 5.94 2.29 0.48 6.56 6.24 12.62 0.00 18.39 6.65 5.01 0.43 6.03 2.45 5.80 0.96 0.32 1.85 13.33 0.82 3.84 0.00

Million Taka 470.28 197.67 79.45 512.62 705.90 1051.44 5.84 761.84 621.94 31.56 75.31 202.01 91.70 611.36 31.12 61.24 193.05 881.88 54.37 204.41 12.35

Total

Closing (% change) 18.23 9.96 9.63 6.94 6.33 5.18 5.00 4.26 4.19 4.12

From TradeServers:

Average (% change) 18.23 7.41 9.89 6.80 6.78 5.11 7.92 3.21 3.22 5.62

FASFIN: The Board of Directors has recommended 5.20% cash dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2013. Date of AGM: 22.05.2014, Time: 9:30 AM, Venue: Hotel Abakash, Mohakhali C/A, Dhaka-1212.

Record Date: 22.04.2014. The Company has also reported consolidated EPS of Tk. 0.24, consolidated NAV per share of Tk. 13.84 and consolidated NOCFPS of Tk. (6.53) for the year ended on December 31, 2013.

RECKITTBEN: The Board of Directors has recommended final 400% cash dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2013.

Date of AGM: 06.05.2014, Time: 10:30 AM, Venue: Trust Milonayatan, Shaheed Jahangir Gate, 545 Old Airport Road, Dhaka Cantonment, Dhaka-1206. Record Date: 20.04.2014. The Company has also reported EPS of Tk. 27.42, NAV per share of Tk. 91.30 and NOCFPS of Tk. 32.98 for the year ended on December 31, 2013.

DHAKABANK: Emerging Credit Rating Limited (ECRL) has assigned the surveillance rating of the Company as "AA-" in the long term and ECRL-2 in the Short term along with a stable outlook to the Company based on financials of the Company up to

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Grameenphone-A Olympic Ind. -A Padma Oil Co. -A HeidelbergCement -A Meghna Petroleum -A LafargeS Cement-Z Square Pharma -A

CSE

26.33 9.98 7.73 6.87 6.55 6.06 6.01 4.32 4.04 3.96

Average (% change) 25.77 7.37 6.02 5.15 4.72 8.47 6.52 6.73 1.76 2.95

Closing average

Closing

1,399.51 57.22 22.01 247.49 58.36 1,033.41 1,308.29 1,048.01 65.90 141.43

1,406.90 57.30 22.30 250.40 58.60 1,038.10 1,310.80 1,038.80 67.00 141.60

Closing average

Closing

1388.00 57.28 23.90 7.70 1031.30 1303.00 2638.00 58.58 81.45 108.26

1388.00 57.40 23.90 7.70 1042.00 1303.80 2638.00 58.70 82.00 106.20

Daily high 2,000.00 57.30 22.60 254.60 60.40 1,041.30 1,313.70 1,058.30 67.30 143.50

Daily high 1388.00 57.40 23.90 7.70 1042.50 1317.00 2638.00 60.00 82.30 110.00

Daily low 1,351.10 55.00 20.70 215.00 56.50 950.00 1,271.00 950.00 62.00 136.00

Daily low 1388.00 55.00 23.90 7.70 1005.00 1270.00 2638.00 57.00 80.00 106.00

Turnover in million 40.236 218.283 3.565 27.764 152.717 73.988 27.932 74.015 19.426 26.533

Turnover in million 0.069 16.956 0.012 0.023 0.516 0.782 0.264 10.047 2.729 0.433

Latest EPS 41.12 2.19 2.56 17.00 7.26 52.75 46.53 48.55 1.12 6.45

Latest EPS 41.12 2.19 1.51 0.52 52.75 46.53 81.14 7.26 8.50 2.74

Latest PE 34.0 26.1 8.6 14.6 8.0 19.6 28.1 21.6 58.8 21.9

Latest PE 33.8 26.2 15.8 14.8 19.6 28.0 32.5 8.1 9.6 39.5

December 31, 2013 and other relevant qualitative information up to April 08, 2014.

NCCBLMF1: (Q1): As per un-audited quarterly accounts for the 1st quarter ended on 31st March 2014 (Jan'14 to March'14), the fund has reported net profit/(loss) of Tk. 40.81 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 0.38 as against Tk. (7.27) million and Tk. (0.07) respectively for the same period of the previous year.

GREENDELMF: (Q3): As per un-audited quarterly accounts for the 3rd quarter ended on 31st March 2014 (Jan'14 to March'14), the fund has reported net profit/(loss) of Tk. 59.06 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 0.39 as against Tk. (84.69) million and Tk. (0.56) respectively for the same period of the previous year. Whereas net profit/(loss) was Tk. 92.81 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 0.62 for the period of nine months (July'13 to March'14) ended on 31.03.2014 as against Tk. (40.63) million and Tk. (0.27) respectively for the same period of the previous year.

DBH1STMF: (Q3): As per un-audited quarterly accounts for the 3rd quarter ended on 31st March 2014 (Jan'14 to March'14), the fund has reported net profit/(loss) of Tk.

33.92 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 0.28 as against Tk. (77.45) million and Tk. (0.65) respectively for the same period of the previous year. Whereas net profit/(loss) was Tk. 72.93 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 0.61 for the period of nine months (July'13 to March'14) ended on 31.03.2014 as against Tk. (60.38) million and Tk. (0.50) respectively for the same period of the previous year.

RECKITTBEN: (Q1): As per un-audited quarterly accounts for the 1st quarter ended on 31st March 2014 (Jan'14 to March'14), the Company has reported profit after tax of Tk. 48.57 million with EPS of Tk. 10.28 as against Tk. 23.26 million and Tk. 4.92 respectively for the same period of the previous year.

ECABLES: The Company will be placed in "A" category from existing "Z" category with effect from April 08, 2014 as the Company reported disbursement of cash dividend @ 10% for the year ended on June 30, 2013.

From BIASL Desk:

Impact after declaration: FASFIN price dropped 0.67%, close at taka 14.70 with PE 10.49. RECKITTBEN price up by 26.32%, close at taka 1406.90 with PE 51.31.

Latest PE

14.13 39.59 37.40 58.10 27.70 106.24 30.02 41.52

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY Sector

Daily high

Reckitt Benckiser -A LafargeS Cement-Z ICB AMCL IslamicMF-A Popular Life Insu. -A Familytex (BD) Ltd.-N Bata Shoe Ltd. -A Marico BD Ltd-A Linde (BD) Ltd. -A DESCO Ltd. -A Meghna Life Ins. -A

Closing (% change)

News, analysis and recent disclosers

CSE key features April 8, 2014

Daily capital market highlights

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

DSE GAINERS

DSE key features April 8, 2014

ticularly mini-cap class, upbeat vibe could not sustain.

Trading of Lafarge Surma Cement and debutant Matin Spinning added to participation span. Thus, turnover increased by 24% and crossed Tk600 crore after 25 sessions.

Lanka Bangla Securities said the market moved doughtily as multinational manufacturing and telco stocks continued to see buying interest in noon trade with large volume accumulation.

However, heavy selloffs on banking and FMCG stocks capped the gain of the large-cap sector and, in last hour, it heavily came on benchmark index, pushing it down, it said.

On the economic front, finance ministry at a meeting expressed that budget deficit of the current fiscal year might go beyond the target of 4.6% of GDP, which might result in crowding out effect in banking system, it said.

On the capital market front, bank continued to lose market value, and it went down by 1.4%.

But other major sectors, including telecommunications, tannery, pharmaceuticals and cement, ended in the positive territory.

Zenith Investments said index slowed its pace, yet the high volume turnover indicates the market did not fully lose its strength to resume its bullish pattern for the future. l

Stocks fell yesterday as late selling pressure on banks and fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies cut early gains despite continued shining of multinational companies.

The market was in the positive territory almost the entire session but selloffs in the wee hour on bank, textile and, fuel and power stocks trimmed gains.

After rising over 25 points in the morning, the benchmark DSEX ended at 4,586 with a fall of more than 21 points or 0.7 %. However, the blue chips index DS30 was marginally up 2 points or 0.3% to close at 1,022.

The Shariah index DSES saw fractional losses of 0.2 points to 1,682.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange Selective Category Index, CSCX, dropped 69 points to 8,872.

Strong buying and selling pressure has pushed DSE turnover to Tk626 crore, a jump of almost 24% from the previous session.

IDLC Investments said despite a bullish start, the session ended red as morning hype subsided at the later part. Multinational firms continued shining, stimulated further by the corporate declaration of 400% cash dividend by Reckitt Benckiser. However, due to weak performance in other sectors, par-

Stock

% change 6.86 2.88 1.16 7.48 10.29 15.33 0.09 11.11 9.07 0.46 1.10 2.95 1.34 8.92 0.45 0.89 2.82 12.86 0.79 2.98 0.18

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

Matin Spinning-N Familytex (BD) Ltd.-N Mercantile Bank -A

BD Submarine Cable-A Jamuna Oil -A Renata Ltd. -A BSC-A Golden Son -A CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Matin Spinning-N

Grameenphone-A BD Submarine Cable-A Square Pharma -A Padma Oil Co. -A Meghna Petroleum -A LafargeS Cement-Z RAK Ceramics-A BSC-A Emerald Oil Ind. -N HeidelbergCement -A Familytex (BD) Ltd.-N Eastern Cables-Z Jamuna Oil -A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A

Volume shares 2,685,800 2,143,000 835,773 511,990 991,387 3,814,520 717,584 4,380,000 2,617,000 7,209,300

617,806 507,220 94,591 151,255 1,316,373

Volume shares

1,260,000 223,200 105,900 78,872 57,654 68,260 296,000 260,534 21,390 56,337 21,400 171,500 49,900 37,271 202,532

Value in million 668.08 487.86 308.00 290.42 289.74 218.28 203.39 193.52 152.72 137.87

135.06 119.40 101.29 95.85 75.55

Value in million

55.79 55.60 23.14 22.44 21.22 20.00 16.96 13.83 13.56 12.90 12.14 10.05 9.18 8.79 5.97

% of total turnover 10.66 7.79 4.92 4.63 4.62 3.48 3.25 3.09 2.44 2.20

2.16 1.91 1.62 1.53 1.21

% of total turnover

11.42 11.38 4.74 4.59 4.34 4.09 3.47 2.83 2.78 2.64 2.48 2.06 1.88 1.80 1.22

Daily closing 247.00 227.50 361.60 564.20 288.60 57.30 279.40 41.90 58.60 17.70

216.30 233.30 1051.70 636.00 58.20

Daily closing

41.90 247.60 216.80 279.40 361.60 291.00 57.40 51.70 636.00 45.80 563.30 58.70 173.40 233.90 29.30

Price change 2.62 0.84 -1.26 0.79 -0.48 9.98 -2.38 0.00 6.55 -6.35

Daily opening 240.70 225.60 366.20 559.80 290.00 52.10 286.20 0.00 55.00 18.90

Price change

Daily opening

0.05 -0.13 1.36 -0.24 3.93

0.00 2.87 0.23 -1.90 -1.31 0.38 9.96 -0.19 -0.20 -3.78 0.99 4.26 2.85 0.04 -2.01

216.20 233.60 1037.60 637.50 56.00

0.00 240.70 216.30 284.80 366.40 289.90 52.20 51.80 637.30 47.60 557.80 56.30 168.60 233.80 29.90

Daily high 254.20 232.10 377.00 580.00 295.20 57.30 290.00 50.00 60.40 19.50

221.00 240.00 1100.00 640.00 58.70

Daily low 241.30 206.00 350.00 550.00 265.00 55.00 265.00 41.60 56.50 17.20

197.40 220.00 1030.00 617.25 51.70

Daily average 248.74 227.65 368.52 567.23 292.26 57.22 283.43 44.18 58.36 19.12

Daily high

Daily low

Daily average

53.00 254.90 220.00 287.60 375.00 295.80 57.40 54.60 642.00 48.40 580.00 60.00 185.40 238.30 30.20

41.70 241.00 215.30 277.00 359.30 285.00 55.00 49.10 620.30 45.50 556.00 57.00 173.00 232.60 29.20

218.61 235.39 1070.84 633.69 57.39

44.28 249.12 218.49 284.48 368.13 293.03 57.28 53.07 634.04 228.94 567.24 58.58 184.02 235.94 29.50

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

Shefaq re-appointed IDRA Chairman

Matin Spinning debut upsets investors

n Tribune Report

n Tahmidur Rahman

M Shefaq Ahmed has been re-appointed as Chairman of Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority (IDRA).

“M Shefaq Ahmed has been appointed as Chairman for contractual three years,” said a statement issued yesterday by the Ministry of Public Administration.

Previously, he had served as the Chairman of IDRA from January 2011 to January 2014. l

Matin Spinning Mills Ltd stocks saw a price hike of 13% in its debut yesterday – an increase nowhere close to the debut prices of other companies recently listed on the stock exchanges.

The price against trend has frustrated the eager investors, analysts said.

The listed mill went against the trend as previously seen several other issues rising up to four times of their latest net asset price due to having excess demand for the stocks.

Investors ordered shares worth over Tk832 crore against the offer of Tk126 crore, according to the Chittagong Stock Exchange. The over-subscription, therefore, was more than six times the offered value.

“The stock did not deliver in accordance with the over-expectation in the market as we have seen in the recent times. This reaction to the market, however, seems rational,” said Md Moniruzzaman, managing director of

Yen rises in Asia n AFP, Tokyo

The yen rose in Asia Tuesday as the head of the Bank of Japan quashed hopes for an imminent expansion to its stimulus programme, and said the economy would not be severely hurt by a recent sales tax rise.

The dollar slipped to 102.56 yen in late Tokyo afternoon trade from 102.90 yen before the BoJ governor’s comments and 103.09 yen in New York Monday.

The euro also weakened to 141.22 yen from 141.65 yen in US trade., while it rose to $1.3769, from $1.3740.

The dollar has been under pressure after lacklustre US jobs data last week cut expectations of tighter monetary policy from the Federal Reserve.

On Tuesday, BoJ chief Haruhiko Kuroda said the world’s number-three economy was pushing ahead despite fears the tax rise introduced on April 1 will dampen consumer spending and derail a budding recovery.

The tax is seen as crucial to shrinking Japan’s mountainous debt burden but it has fuelled speculation the BoJ will have to add to its stimulus sooner than later.

The last time Japan introduced in a higher sales levy, in 1997, it was followed by years of deflation and tepid economic growth that defined the country’s protracted slump. l

IDLC Investments Ltd, the issue manager.

He said the newly listed company would be attracting investors once it starts making the best out of its plant expansion plans.

The stock closed at Tk41.9 with a traded value of Tk19.3 crore or 3% of

The government has approved construction of Ghorashal 365MW Combined Cycle Power Plant at a cost of Tk2,511 crore.

With this project, a total of four development projects worth Tk2,793 crore were approved at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) at NEC conference room yesterday. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina chaired the meeting.

Of the total cost for Ghorasal power plant project, the government will provide Tk745 crore, implementing organisation will lend Tk113 crore and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China

Tk1,653 crore.

Bangladesh Power Development Board is entrusted to implement the project by June, 2016.

“Of the total project cost, the government will provide Tk913.82 crore from the national exchequer and Tk1,766.3 crore would come as project assistance and an organisation concerned will contribute Tk113.30 crore,” Planning Commission Member Hedayetullah Al Mamun told reporters after the meeting.

The Ecnec also approved Establishment of Artistic Academy involving TK54 crore in Dhaka to bring the artistic children into the mainstream education system. Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education will implement

IMF sees rich nations propelling global growth, but risks linger n

Reuters

The International Monetary Fund yesterday predicted the global recovery would strengthen this year and next as output in richer nations picked up, but it warned of rising risks in emerging economies.

In its latest global economic snapshot, the Washington-based IMF nevertheless said better policies were needed in both advanced and emerging nations to avoid a prolonged period of sluggish growth.

Global output should expand 3.6% this year, slightly lower than forecast in January, and grow 3.9% next year, the IMF said in its flagship “World Economic Outlook.” That would make 2015 the strongest year of growth in four years.

But the numbers mask an increasing divergence among countries. While less fiscal austerity should help unshackle growth in the United States and Europe, emerging markets are likely to grow more slowly than thought just a few months ago, the IMF said.

the day’s total turnover at Dhaka Stock Exchange.

The offered value for the stocks was set at Tk37 each, including a premium of Tk27.

The IPO proceeds of Tk123 crore will be used to expand its existing plant (Melange Project) and rest of the

Ecnec okays 365MW power plant n Tribune Report

Geopolitical risks have also entered the picture because of the conflict between Russia and Western countries over Ukraine.

“The strengthening of the recovery from the Great Recession in the advanced economies is a welcome development,” the IMF said. “But growth is not evenly robust across the globe, and more policy efforts are needed to fully restore confidence, ensure robust growth, and lower downside risks.”

Despite weather-related weakness at the start of the year, the IMF said the United States should enjoy abovetrend growth of 2.8% this year thanks to less severe budget cutting, a recovering housing market and an easy monetary policy.

It said it did not expect the US Federal Reserve to raise interest rates until the third quarter of next year.

Economic activity in the euro zone should pick up slightly as countries slow the pace of fiscal austerity, even though the currency bloc continues to suffer from financial fragmentation

Managing Director Shareq Fahim Haque of Hyundai Motors Bangladesh Limited and Noor Mohammed Bhuiyan, managing director and CEO of Guardian Life Insurance Limited recently signed, on behalf of their companies, a contract for group life insurance coverage for the employees of Hyundai Motors Bangladesh Limited

A corporate agreement has been singed yesterday between Union Bank Ltd and Aysha Memorial Specialized Hospital at the bank’s head office. SEVP of Union Bank, SAM Salimullah and director of the hospital, Dr Asish Kumar Chakraborty have signed the agreement

and weak credit supply and demand, it said.

The IMF repeated warnings about the very low level of inflation in the euro zone and said it saw about a 20% chance of growth-sapping deflation in the region.

“Sustained low inflation would not likely be conducive to a suitable recovery of economic growth,” the IMF said, calling again on the European Central Bank to ease monetary policy.

“We hope they will implement (policies) as soon as they’re technically ready to do so. Sooner is better than later,” IMF chief economist Olivier Blanchard said at a news conference.

Deflation is less of an immediate threat to Japan than it has been in the past, the IMF said, largely because a planned increase in the consumption tax would raise prices.

But it said the tax hike would likely cut into Japan’s growth and warned of a one in five chance the world’s thirdlargest economy could slip into recession this year. l

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Wednesday, April 9, 2014

the project by December, 2016.

Another development project “Establishment of National Institute of Advanced Practice Nurses in Bangladesh” has also been approved by Ecnec involving Tk128 crore in a bid to enhance the skills of the nurses trainers as well as to groom skilled nurses to enrich the healthcare services considering the global growing demand of the nursing profession.

The Institute would be set up in city’s Mugda under the supervision of the Health and Family Welfare Ministry to be constructed by June 2018. Of the total project cost, Koica will provide Tk112.84 crore as grant while the rest of Tk15 crore will come from the national exchequer. l

Oil prices rise on Ukraine fears n AFP, Singapore Oil prices rose in Asian trade yesterday on renewed fears about Ukraine after pro-Russian protesters seized government buildings in the eastern city of Donetsk.

New York’s main contract West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for May delivery rose 51 cents to $100.95 a barrel in afternoon trade and Brent North Sea crude for May gained 26 cents to $106.08.

The pro-Kremlin militants on Monday declared independence and vowed to hold a vote on joining Russia, fuelling concerns that Ukraine will fragment after Crimea was absorbed into its giant neighbour last month following a controversial referendum. Since Russia took control of Crimea, several mainly Russian-speaking eastern regions in the ex-Soviet state have seen calls for similar votes by pro-Kremlin groups.

“The returning tensions in Ukraine are definitely providing some support to oil prices,” Desmond Chua, market analyst at CMC Markets in Singapore, told AFP. “Investors are watching closely for clues about Russia’s intentions regarding Ukraine,” he added. l

Diamond World yesterday inaugurated its 4th showroom at Ijab Islam Tower in Pallabi, Mirpur, Dhaka. The showroom inaugurate by Achal Agarwal, daughter of the managing director of Diamond World Ltd, Dilip Kumar Agarwal

The inauguration ceremony of Marcel’s exclusive showroom, Khaza Electronics was held recently at Tuker Bazar, Companigonj, Sylhet. Amin Khan, film actor inaugurated the showroom at the presence of the company’s executive director (PR and media), Mosharof Hossain Rajib

amount for meeting expenses of IPO process.

The yarn exporter has made a yearly profit of Tk25.2 crore in 2013 while Tk20.5 crore in 2012 and has sustained its profitability during the second half of the current fiscal despite economic turbulence.

From July to December last year, the company made profits of Tk12.86 crore, a slight increase from Tk12.8 crore a year earlier, according to its financial statements.

Nevertheless, the company has shown substantial drop in annual sales figure in 2013 against 2012 and compensated the gap with increase of other income such as foreign currency exchange gain that changed by Tk2.2 crore in 2013.

Matin Spinning Mills, an export-oriented cotton-spinning mill from DBL Group, started commercial operation in October 2006. It is the 34th listed company in the textile sector at the Dhaka Stock Exchange. l

FAR Chemical IPO oversubscribed by 73 times n Tribune Report The IPO (Initial public offering) of FAR Chemical Industries Ltd, a textile chemical manufacturer and a concern of FAR Group, has been oversubscribed by more than 73 times on offer.

Investors ordered shares worth over Tk878 crore against the offer of Tk12 crore, according to the Chittagong Stock Exchange.

The company issued 1.2 crore ordinary shares of Tk10 each. The IPO proceeds will be used to purchase capital machinery for increasing production capacity and meet the expenses of IPO process.

Located at Comilla EPZ, the company produces all types of textile chemicals needed the Group’s 100% exportoriented textile units. The earnings per share of the company was Tk5.01 and the net asset value per share of Tk15.55 at the end of June 2013, according to its audited financial statement. l

Fund constraint to delay 300MW power plant n Tribune Report Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) could not yet mobilise fund for the 300MW Shahzibazar combined cycle power project.

It might cause delays in implementation of the project. To facilitate mobilising the fund, the finance division on April

2 agreed to issue sovereign guarantee in response to a BPDB plea, officials said.

BPDB had signed the turn-key contract with Chinese joint venture Guandong Power Engineering Corporation and Guandong Electric Power Design Institute for the gas-fired power project on May 20 last year. The estimated cost of the contract is Tk334 crore. l

BSEC chief and members  B 1 COLUMN 1

Public Administration Ministry could issue an order regarding the extension of the officials any time this week, sources said.

As per the Prime Minister’s proposal, tenures of the BSEC chairman Prof M Khairul Hossain, commissioners M Helaluddin Nizami and Arif Khan will be extended for four years after expiry of their respective contracts.

Tenure of commissioners M A Salam Sikdar will be extended by two years and six months and Amjad Hossain by three years and 11 months after expiry of their respective contracts.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith commented: “The performance of BSEC Chairman Prof M Khairul Hossain and the four members was good as we saw the country’s two bourses remain more or less stable in their time.”

“I want to extend their tenure by another term as the chairman and members’ hard work and directives made the stock markets stable for a time,” said Finance Minister in the proposal to the PM. The whole BSEC management will be serving the extended period, he said. The government’s new administrative division would clear matters related to their salaries and allowances. l

BGMEA urges brands  PAGE 1 COLUMN 4

grave that it needs to be asked for suspension of production immediately.

“Off course, if the lacking is large in parameters, the factory should be marked as red.”

The association urged the Accord, a platform of Western brands, to keep trust on the manufactures.

According to the meeting sources, the garment owners wanted the Accord include apparel makers’ representative in the steering committee of Accord to reduce confusions and find easy solutions to problems arisen from ongoing inspections.

The garment manufacturers opposed making the inspection reports public as it “could damage their image.”

“Public disclosure of factory-specif-

ic inspection reports may cause damage to our business and reputation of the factories,” said an owner who was present at the meeting.

“That’s why we urged the Accord not to make inspection reports public.”

On February 20, the Accord, a platform of 150 European retailers, launched the first phase of inspection and inspected over 275 factories for fire and electrical safety and over 200 factories were inspected for structural safety.

Among the inspected factories, tree buildings were identified as flawed while production of 10 factories suspended on structural faults.

On the other hand, the Alliance for Workers Safety in Bangladesh had inspected 305 factories and found no faults. l

Annual Marketing and Sales Conference 2014 of ACI Pharma Business held on April 3 at Hotel Sea Palace in Cox’s Bazar. The company’s managing director, Dr Arif Dowla was present at the conference

Engr Farasath Ali (left) and Dr Toufique Rahman Chowdhury have been re-elected as the chairperson and vice chairperson of NRBCB at the bank’s 18th board meeting held last week

B4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

US warns China over currency depreciation n Reuters, Washington The United States warned Beijing on Monday that the recent depreciation of the Chinese currency could raise “serious concerns” if it signaled a policy shift away from allowing market-determined exchange rates.

Washington has been pressing China for years to allow its currency to trade at stronger values. Last month, US Treasury Secretary Jack Lew welcomed a decision by China to allow its currency to vary more against the dollar in daily trading.

We will continue to resolutely push forward reform of the renminbi exchange rate mechanism Monday’s comments by a senior official from the Treasury Department suggested the United States was not completely sold on China’s intention to reduce authorities’ interventions in exchange markets.

“If the recent currency weakness signals a change in China’s policy away from allowing adjustment and moving toward a market-determined exchange rate, that would raise serious concerns,” the official, who asked not to be named, told journalists in a phone call.

A weak yuan makes Chinese exports cheaper for US consumers at the expense of US producers. A weaker yuan also makes Chinese consumers less able to buy foreign goods.

In comments that outlined US positions before meetings later this week of the International Monetary Fund and between Group of 20 nations, the official noted the widening of China’s currency trading band came just after a

drop in the yuan’s value that coincided with reports of “considerable intervention” in exchange markets by Chinese authorities. That is exactly the sort of behaviour Washington wants Beijing to ditch.

China’s foreign ministry, which has no say in currency policy but is the only government department to regularly answer foreign reporters’ questions, said Beijing was committed to reform.

“We will continue to resolutely push forward reform of the renminbi exchange rate mechanism,” ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a daily news briefing in Beijing on Tuesday, using the currency’s formal name.

The United States also appears likely to pressure Europe at the meetings to act more decisively to fix its troubled banking sector.

The Treasury official said recent economic data from Europe showed the region was experiencing “chronic low inflation and weak demand.”

That appeared to be a nod to growing concerns that Europe’s economy is so weak it risks falling into deflation - a dangerous spiral of falling prices and wages.

“More needs to be done to support growth,” the Treasury official said.

The official had blunt words for other economic powers as well, saying that Japan should avoid engaging in too much fiscal austerity.

He said US sanctions on Russian officials were already having an impact on Russia’s economy. The official also chided emerging markets for going too slowly in adopting free-floating currencies.

“Resistance in many emerging markets to moving more quickly to market-determined exchange rate regimes is hindering the rebalancing needed to ensure a lasting, strong global recovery,” the official said. l

A robotic pianist called 'Teotronica' performs at the Hannover Messe industrial trade fair in Hanover, central Germany on April 7. The Netherlands is the partner country of this year's trade fair running from April 7 to 11 and presenting a cross section of key industrial technologies AFP

Brazil study forecasts Cup gains n AFP, Sao Paulo World Cup-related spending will give Brazil a major shot in the arm, tripling a $4.2bn contribution to the economy made at last year’s Confederations Cup, a study by the Institute for Economic Research Foundation (FIPE) revealed Monday.

The study for state tourist board Embratur estimated the June 12-July 13 tournament should more than triple last year’s $4.2bn gain which emanated from a total $9bn spending at the Confederations Cup, a World Cup dress rehearsal.

“The expectation is that the World Cup will generate three times this

value,” a Tourism Ministry statement said.

Brazil has invested more than $11bn in this year’s extravaganza on new stadiums and infrastructure as the giant Latin American nation of 200 million stages its first World Cup since 1950.

But many citizens are appalled at the price tag in a country whose public services and infrastructure are in urgent need of a major overhaul.

Last year, more than a million people took to the streets during the Confederations Cup to protest at spending on the tournament and World Cup. Monday’s study showed that just 58% of the cash generated by the Con-

5 key challenges a Modi government would face n Reuters, Mumbai From convincing sceptical bond investors that the fiscal deficit can be contained to concerns that El Nino will devastate agricultural crops, any new government in India will face urgent and critical challenges with no easy solutions.

Expectations the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its leader Narendra Modi will win elections that started this week with a new approach to India’s economic problems have helped send shares to record highs and the rupee to an eight-month peak.

To some investors that optimism is misplaced. Should Modi win the elections, his government will face its first credibility test with markets when he delivers a budget by June or July that will need to show the country can realistically contain its fiscal deficit.

That will be followed by key decisions on the current account deficit, on the relationship with a hawkish Reserve Bank of India, on how much funds to sink into troubled state lenders, and on how to get states to promote private investments.

The BJP promised fiscal discipline and banking reforms among other policy plans when it announced its election manifesto on Monday, but gave no details.

Below are five key challenges facing a new government, none of them easy to fix.

Delivering a budget that contains the fiscal deficit

Any new government will need to fix finances that are in dire straits, and about to get worse.

To achieve a revised fiscal deficit target of 4.6% of gross domestic product (GDP) for the year ended in March, the Congress-led government cut spending by $13bn and pushed about $16bn in subsidy costs into the new year.

That austerity could prove hard to sustain. Spending accounts for 11% of India’s GDP, offering a critical growth lever. Continuing to defer payments to state-run companies that would compensate them for selling fuel, fertiliser and food below market prices, can create havoc with their finances and make them rely on borrowings to fund operations.

Meanwhile, tax revenues are un-

likely to recover immediately in a weak economy. The government’s tax-toGDP ratio has slipped to 10.2% from a peak of 12.5% in 2007/08.

The interim budget from Finance Minister P Chidambaram in February was greeted with widespread scepticism.

It sought, for example, seek to contain the fiscal deficit at 4.1% of GDP in 2014/15, the lowest in seven years, while keeping spending growth at just 10.9% compared to a recent average of about 15%.

Finance ministers in the past six years have sold an ever-growing

amount of debt to bond investors, a solution unlikely to please markets as it pushes liabilities to the future.

A realistic and fiscally prudent budget is also critical given Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has a negative outlook on its “BBB-minus” rating for India, and has said the policy agenda from a new government will determine whether the country can avert a downgrade to “junk.

Narrowing the current account deficit

A sharp narrowing in the current account deficit, to an expected 2% of GDP from a record high 4.8% in the previous fiscal year, was helped by steps to curb gold imports.

Higher duties and other restrictions almost halved gold imports but the moves have been deeply unpopular with Indian households who invest in the yellow metal to protect their savings from inflation and to provide gifts

at weddings and on other special occasions.

Gold smuggling is also suspected to have surged after the measures, casting doubt on the reported data.

The BJP has promised to review gold import duties within three months of coming to power. Getting rid of them may please gold buyers, but not investors, as concerns about the current account deficit had sent the rupee to a record low in August.

Fixing the structural challenges that keep the current account deficit wide - such as weak manufacturing exports - could take years to reverse.

Dealing with rbi and el nino

A new government may face a factor beyond its control: the El Nino weather pattern typically associated with weak rains.

Analysts caution El Nino could batter Indian agricultural output. Citigroup estimates that below average rainfall in the June-September monsoon could shave 0.50-0.90 percentage points off its economic growth forecast and lead to a spike in consumer inflation.

A good monsoon last year was one spot of relief in an otherwise bleak economic picture with growth estimated at less that 5% in the fiscal year that ended on March 31, close to the slowest in a decade.

Surging inflation could also spark tension with a central bank that under Governor Raghuram Rajan has made containing inflation a priority.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

wants to bring down annual consumer price inflation to around 6% from the current 8.1% by January 2016, which would likely mean more interest rate increases. The RBI has raised rates three times since September.

Reviving the private investment cycle

Market hopes on Modi lie largely on perceptions of his track record as chief minister in Gujarat, where he is widely credited with attracting investment.

However, analysts say replicating that nationwide would be difficult given that states wield much of the power in approving projects. Credit Suisse estimates only one-fourth of pending projects depend on central government approval.

In its manifesto, the BJP promised to cut red tape and encourage foreign investment in sectors needed for job and asset creation. But it said it was opposed to foreign investment in multi-brand retail.

Capital investment contributes nearly 35% to India’s economy, but it barely grew in the fiscal year that ended in March as delays in clearances and funding issues grounded many infrastructure projects.

That is particularly the case with state electricity boards, which remain hobbled by losses caused in part by costly fuel and little pricing power.

Short of recapitalising state utilities, the central government has few choices in pushing for a restructuring. Coal supply is also a key constraint, in large part due to the financial difficulties at state power generators.

Recapitalising state-run banks

India needs to fix the piles of bad loans at the country’s state-run lenders, with stressed loans totalling $100bn, or about 10% of all loans.

The bulk of these bad loans are related to infrastructure projects, which have made banks circumspect in lending.

The interim budget set aside 112 billion rupees to help the sector meet minimal capital ratios mandated by Basel III norms, but more will be needed, according to analysts, creating tough fiscal choices for a new government The BJP has tended to lean towards privatisation, raising the prospect of stake sales, although the party has not addressed the issue in the run-up to the polls. l

federations Cup remained in the six host venues - the World Cup will have 12 - with the remainder being distributed countrywide.

“This result shows that the impact of the tournament is not restricted to match venues. The impact is for the whole of Brazil,” Tourism Minister Vinicius Lages said in the report.

Brazil’s economy, after a period of strong growth over the past decade, has faltered more recently and last month Standard & Poor’s lowered the country’s credit rating to BBB-, the lowest level for investment grade debt.

Moody’s rating agency signalled last week that the World Cup would have only a minor effect on the econ-

omy as a whole, although it forecast some sectors such as retail, food and beverages, accommodation and advertising sectors would benefit.

Brazil expects to welcome some 600,000 foreign visitors to the World Cup and some three million domestic tourists are expected to criss-cross the country.

The two-week Confederations event saw 303,000 jobs created and the World Cup will see some 48,000 jobs created in tourism alone, according to the National Confederation of Commerce.

The World Cup is expected to boost GDP by around 0.5%, analysts forecast. l

Investment in renewable energy

114.8

By region, in billions of US dollars

86.4

53.4 39.7 35.8

48.4 8.7 9.9 12.4 Europe

Americas*

Source: UNEP

2011 12 13

25.3 9.7 6.8

USA

3.1 3.2

Brazil

51.9

59.6

56.3

12.6

10.4 9.0

Mid East, Africa

*except US, Brazil

43.3 29.5

Asia**

China

7.2 6.1

India

**except China,India

UN: Global renewable energy investments slumped 14% in 2013 n AFP, Paris Global investments in renewable energy slumped 14% last year, with China pouring more money into the sector than Europe for the first time on record, the UN said Monday.

Investments in renewables apart from hydroelectricity dipped to $214.4bn in 2013, down $35.1bn from the previous year and 23% below the record set in 2011, according to a report from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

The fall was down to “political uncertainty in several markets,” meaning the lack of clarity over government support for the sector, and the falling cost of solar systems, said the report.

“While some may point to the fact that overall investment in renewables fell in 2013, the drop masks the many positive signals of a dynamic market that is fast evolving and maturing,” Achim Steiner, Executive Director of UNEP, said in a statement.

The figures come as a panel of UN climate change experts issued its starkest-ever warning about the perils of a ravaged climate system for future generations.

“The impacts of climate change will

DILBERT

leave no part of the world untouched and unaffected,” chairman of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Rajendra Pachauri said Monday.

In Europe, which has been a global leader in supporting the development of renewable energy, investment plunged 44% to $48bn (35bn euros) last year, UNEP said.

That compares to a 6% fall in China, to $56bn, and a reduction of a tenth in the United States, to $36bn.

After nine years of growth, last year was the first time investments in renewables fell in emerging economies, the report found.

Still, the news wasn’t all bad for the renewable energy sector.

Overall, its share of world electricity generation rose to 8.5%, up from 7.8% in 2012. Excluding hydroelectricity, renewables accounted for 43.6% of newly installed generating capacity in 2013.

Solar energy still has the strongest backing from investors, even though the average price of installing a solar panel has dropped by 60%.

Renewable energy companies also got more backing from private investors, with equity-raisings doubling to a record $11bn over the year, the UN said. l