10 April 2014

Chaitra 27, 1420 Jamadius Sani 9, 1435 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 2, No 12

THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2014 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

7 | PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND RIGHTS

9 | BOMB IN PAKISTAN FRUIT MARKET

Political turmoil eats up 1% of GDP World Bank forecasts 5.4% growth for FY14 n Kayes Sohel

growth rate of 5.6% as against 5.8% in its October forecast.

The World Bank in its South Asia Economic Focus said the economic activities recovered in the second half of FY14 in Bangladesh, driven by resilient exports and domestic demand, suffered in the first half due to political turmoil.

It said a recovery in export growth and an increase in public expenditure are likely to help achieve 5.4% GDP growth in FY14, lower than last year’s 6%.

The country’s economic growth story took a further hit as the World Bank yesterday forecast that the GDP for the current fiscal year would grow by 5.4%, the lowest among all the forecasts for the current financial year.

The development partner revised down by 0.3 percentage point from its projection of 5.7% in January.

The Asian Development Bank last week cut the growth for Bangladesh by 0.2 percentage point and projected the

WORLD BANK REVISES DOWN GDP GROWTH Q4 2013 LOSS $1.4BN

REVISED GROWTH

Service

5.4%

$1.2bn

Industry $0.154bn

Agriculture

July-2014

4%

5.

B W

AD

P

5.

6%

3 5% % 6.

m b Go erg 6. vt

Bl

oo

7% 5.

B W

F6

%

8%

July-2013

IM

5.

P

AD

Go vt

7.

2%

$0.042bn

July-2015

The growth projection is also lower than the government’s revised target of 6.5%, Bangladesh Bank’s revised projection of around 6% and International Monetary Fund’s below 6% and Bloomberg’s 6.3%.

“Costs of political turmoil, stagnating private investment and declining remittances have forced the bank to lower its growth forecast further for Bangladesh,” said Zahid Hussain, lead economist of the bank, while presenting Bangladesh Development Update April 2014.

The World Bank report said political turmoil in the last quarter of 2013 inflicted a value added loss of about $1.4bn, around 1% of the country’s GDP as estimated for the current fiscal year.

Of the losses, about 86% was in services, 11% in industry and the remaining 3% in agriculture.

Hussain said growth in Bangladesh, which is currently below potential, may rise to potential capacity within a couple of years if stability prevails.

“Deep and pervasive political unrest throughout the country took a heavy toll on the domestic activity, causing large and partially irreversible output, employment and asset losses.”

He said with frequent non-stop general strikes and blockades to cut off Dhaka from the rest of Bangladesh,  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

INSIDE Business

B1 Fiscal risks are rising in Bangladesh as a new report released yesterday raised the concern.

News

4 When he first joined public service in 2010 as an ad hoc assistant surgeon, Dr Abdus Salam was told that the PM had directed the health ministry to regularise thousands of ad hoc doctors for meeting the huge shortage of doctors.

Nation

6 Cracks have developed at a government-run tourist motel in Cox’s Bazar. According to sources, cracks have developed in large parts of the ceiling in Motel Shoibal, posing a security threat to tourists visiting the largest beach in the world.

Entertainment

12 Ananta Jalil and Barsha won the Best Actor and Best Actress awards respectively in the 14th CJFB Performance Award 2012.

11 | BANKING ON REFORM

20 pages | Price: Tk10

13 | AT LEAST A WIN ...

New guidelines to end two-finger rape test

‘Leak’ postpones today’s Dhaka HSC exam

n Udisa Islam

n Ahmed Zayeef

The Health Ministry has drafted a new guideline that, if implemented, will bind police to record a rape victim’s statement within three hours of being approached and hospitals to conduct medical examination without police reports.

The draft also quashes the “two-finger test,” traditionally used by doctors to find out whether someone is really raped or not. The guideline labels the test “unscientific” and “horrendous.”

As part of its directives for the law enforcement agencies, the draft specifies how a trial should be approached and the victim should be dealt with. It states that a victim needs not be present at the court during every hearing

session if a case is filed in connection with an alleged rape.

In October last year, following a writ petition filed by a number of rights bodies, the High Court issued a ruling for the government asking why the two-finger test should not be declared illegal as it violated constitutional rights.

While filing the writ, Sara Hossain, one of the petitioners, referred to Habibuzzaman Chowdhury, the then head of forensic medicine at the Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College, who was quoted in a Dhaka Tribune report as saying: “If the victim is married, middle-aged or has conceived multiple times, then how could this test [two-finger test] help find any evidence?”  PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

The English second paper examination of Higher Secondary Certificate under Dhaka board, set to be held today, has been postponed following allegation of question leak.

No new date has been fixed while schedule of other exams have remained unchanged.

The authorities did not admit the allegation, rather mentioned that the reason was “unavoidable.”

But several examinees told the Dhaka Tribune that they had seen the question paper through mobile messages yesterday evening which spread within a very short time.

Taslima Begum, chairman of the  PAGE 2 COLUMN 6

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Thursday, April 10, 2014

MPs influence district council offices, says TIB n Tazlina Zamila Khan Activities of district council offices are being influenced by local MPs while council funds are being exploited by local leaders, a TIB (Transparency International Bangladesh) study has found.

Findings of the study styled “District councils in local government system: Challenges and solutions for good governance” were revealed at a press briefing held in the capital’s New Eskaton Road yesterday.

The study found that local MPs assert their influence over many development projects and local leaders use council funds for personal expenditure. They spend around Tk150-200 from the fund daily just on tea, and illegally occupy council property like trees, land, markets, roads, ponds and so on.

Speaking at the briefing, TIB executive director Iftekharuzzaman said: “We need an elected body to ensure that administrator represents the people and not the political parties, which is why an indirect election is a must.

Incumbent and previous governments have failed to hold elections to district councils since 2000 when a law (District Council Act 2000) was passed containing the provision for indirect elections to the councils.”

An administrator recruited politically spends around Tk3,000,000 for personal usage from the fund, which otherwise could be used for development projects. An administrator receives Tk27,500 in monthly honorarium, Tk3,000 for facilitation and Tk19,000 for car fuel, though the cars are used by politicians.

“According to the District Council Act 2000, there will be a chairman, 15 members and five reserve-seat women members. The indirect election is supposed to be held by city corporation authorities, union parishad mayors, upazila parishads, municipalities and deputy commissioners,” Iftekharuzzaman said.

TIB researcher Nahid Sharmin said: “District councils take and implement projects according to the decision of the central government. The central government decides the role of admin-

istrators. For instance, the government has allocated Tk4,500,000 (annually) to the Natore district council office for development work, where the administrators were ordered to spend Tk1,100,000 (annually) on it, and the rest of the sum will be allocated for specific projects of the MPs.” Around seven permanent committees were supposed to be formed for helping the council but none had yet been formed, she added.

Speakers said the act comes with many limitations that poses a challenge when it comes to establishing good governance. They said the law contains no provision for disciplinary action in case of a lapse in duty.

The study found that local MPs assert their influence over many development projects and local leaders use council funds for personal expenditure.

They spend around Tk150-200 from the fund daily just on tea, and illegally occupy council property The local government has not specified the extent of power of the administrators, speakers observed.

Sharmin said the administrators have to depend on government aid for implementing any development project because of limited funds.

“On top of that, the lack of coordination between the chief executive officer and the administrators is a major reason for the inefficiency of the district councils,” she added.

TIB officials suggested an increase in council funds to lessen dependency on the government and fair distribution of work among administrators. They also recommended monthly meetings with local governments in order to form an active council. l

People risk their lives as they climb through iron bars on the central reservation in front of the capital’s New Market yesterday. Hundreds of people cross the road by jaywalking like this MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU every day, ignoring two footbridges on the road

Re-voting in 3 districts: AL rebel candidate wins in Gazaria

PM greets Ershad, Rawshan, Khaleda on Pahela Baishakh n Tribune Report

n Tribune Report

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sent greetings for Pahela Baishakh to Rawshan Ershad, leader of the opposition, H M Ershad, Jatiya Party chairperson and the PM’s special envoy, and Khaleda Zia, BNP chairperson yesterday.

Akter Hossain, the PM’s protocol officer, sent the greeting cards to the leaders on her behalf, Ashraful Alam Khokon, the PM’s deputy press secretary, told the Dhaka Tribune.

Shimul Biswas, special assistant of Khaleza Zia, received the card on her behalf, Khokon added. l

A ruling party rebel chairman candidate has unofficially won yesterday in the re-voting at postponed nine polling stations in Gazaria upazila of Munshiganj.

On the other hand, AL, BNP, Jamaat and JaPa-blessed vice chairman candidates were unofficially elected in the re-voting of the aforesaid upazila, Laxmipur sadar upazila and Barura upazila of Comilla.

Our Munshiganj correspondent says: The ruling party rebel chairman candidate, Refayetullah Khan Tota, was unofficially declared winner. Tota bagged 28,608 votes while his nearest candidate AL-backed candidate Amirul Islam got 16,101.

On the other hand, BNP rebel candidate Asaduzzaman was elected for vice chairman post securing 26,918 votes while independent candidate Farida

Iasmin for reserved vice chairman post.

On March 23, three people were killed and 50 others injured in polls-related clashes, because of which the voting had to postpone at the polling centres.

Prior to vote counting, Executive Magistrate and Sirajdikhan Assistant Commissioner (land) Khan Mohammad Nazmus Shoib forced out all journalists from the room of Gazaria Baluakandi Dr Abdul Gaffar High School polling centre.

Meanwhile, police arrested a youth named Babo, 28, from Kazipura Government Primary School polling station during casting fake vote.

Our Laxmipur correspondent adds: AL-blessed vice chairman candidate Md Hafiz Ullah was unofficially declared winner yesterday in the re-voting at four postponed polling centres in sadar upazila.

Hafiz bagged a total of 117,183 votes

while his nearest Jamaat-backed candidate Nasir Uddin.

On March 31, during the fifth round of upazila elections, voting at the polling stations was postponed due to clashes there.

However, voting for the posts of chairman and woman (reserved) vice-chairman was not held as the difference between the winner and nearest candidates crossed the number of the total voters of the postponed polling stations.

Our Comilla Correspondent reports: JaPa-backed vice chairman candidate journalist Kamal Hossain has unofficially won in the re-voting at two polling centres in Barura upazila here.

Kamal secured 37,875 votes while his nearest BNP-blessed candidate Sayed Jahirul Hoque Swapan bagged 37,752 votes.

On March 23, voting was postponed because of sporadic clashes. l

Leak postpones today’s Dhaka HSC exam  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

Bangladesh condemns killing of teen n Tribune Report The Foreign Ministry has officially conveyed its strong protest to Indian authorities against the killing of a Bangladeshi national in India's Meghalaya on Tuesday.

The Indian side was requested for immediately handing over the body, investigation into the incident and punishment of the person involved in the killing, said a press release issued yesterday.

The ministry also expressed deep concern at the successive incidents of killing of four Bangladesh nationals within a span of three days in the bordering areas.

The teenager, Delwar Hossain, from Gwainghat upazila of Sylhet, was shot near Bichankandi border. On Sunday, three Bangladeshis, suspected to be cattle thieves, were beaten and hacked to death by a mob in Tripura. l

Hefazat to hold ‘Islamic conference’ on April 11-12

Main accused of engineer murder arrested

The Hefazat-e-Islam is going to hold a two-day Shane Resalat Sommelan – a Muslim religious conference – in Chittagong city’s Laldighi ground on April 11-12 apparently to jolt its rank and file out of depression.

The two-day religious conference will put inspiration into the leaders and activists and help them to get united again, said Hefazat insiders.

According to sources in Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP), a total of 24 Hefazat leaders including its secretary general and scores of others are accused in 42 cases lodged with different police stations across the country including the capital following the mayhem in Dhaka on May 5-6 in 2013.

CMP Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam said that a total 200 policemen will

Police arrested a doctor yesterday for allegedly killing textiles engineer Sadbin Hossain in the capital's Kalabagan on Tuesday.

Soon after arresting Dr Jahangir Nazim, Kalabagan police produced him at the judge court and sought a seven-day remand for him, but the court approved three days for interrogation.

Police said in primary interrogation Nazim had confessed to having threatened Sadbin for not accepting his relationship with Sadbin’s cousin.

Sources said Sadbin’s cousin Dr Sadia Afrin had been a colleague of Nazim at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital in 2011. They developed a good friendship, but it broke after Nazim proposed her.

Nazim allegedly kept “disturbing” Sadia.

Sadia consulted her family about the

n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong

be deployed at the conference venue, which is located near the CMP headquarters, Chittagong Court Building and deputy commissioner’s office, for security reason and to evade any kind of untoward incidence.

Azizul Haq Islamabadi, organising secretary of the Hefazate Islam, said: “If the administration harasses us the government has to face a wave of movement.”

“We will hold peaceful programme but if we are obstructed we know how to answer that.”

A high official of the CMP seeking anonymity said it was risky to allow the Hefazat to hold rally near so many important points of the city.

Banaz Kumar Majumder, additional commissioner (crime and operation) of the CMP, said the CMP allowed the Hefazat to hold its programme on some conditions. l

n Mohammad Jamil Khan

matter, which made Nazim more desperate. He kept following her everywhere and calling her on her mobile phone.

The family filed three cases with Dhanmondi police station and several GDs with Kolabagan police station against Nazim. Meanwhile, Sadia got married, but Nazim would not stop.

On Monday, Nazim went to Sadia’s Dhanmondi residence with some associates and started hurling abuse. Nazim threatened with killing if Sadia had not accepted his proposal.

When police arrived at the scene along with Sadbin and a few relatives Nazim left. Sadbin, son of Dhaka district Awami League Publicity Secretary Kazi Shawkat Hossain, later went to have tea behind the LabAid Hospital.

Criminals shot him dead on his way back home from Sadia’s house around 12.45am on Tuesday. l

Dhaka Education Board, last night told the Dhaka tribune: “The English second paper examination of Dhaka board has been postponed for an unavoidable reason. The new schedule will be fixed later.”

The decision was made at an emergency meeting of the authorities last night. The HSC and equivalent examinations began across the country on April 3.

Some examinees and parents told the Dhaka Tribune that they had got question papers of all the three previous exams through mobile messages, a day before the scheduled dates. All the questions also matched with the main question papers.

Seeking not to be named, a candidate said: “I got all the three [Bangla first and second papers, and English first paper].

A friend of mine gave me those questions through SMS. I also sent the questions to my other close friends.”

Yesterday, the Dhaka Tribune also received an SMS. The questions were written in short form.

But Taslima Begum denied the allegation. She said: “We also heard about the leak during the previous examinations, but we did not find any proof.” l

Political turmoil eats up 1% of GDP

New guidelines to end ‘two-finger’ rape test

 PAGE 1 COLUMN 3

 PAGE 1 COLUMN 5

production and distribution chains suffered prolonged disruptions.

The report, however, said Bangladesh has a great potential to bounce back, but the key challenges for accelerating growth are maintaining stability and resolving the remaining political uncertainties while boosting investment in power and roads, managing well the transition in the readymade garment industry and stemming the decline in remittances.

The World Bank report also said the opposition parties enforced 85 days of nationwide general strikes and blockades since January 2013, of which 45 days were in July-January, FY14. Unlike in the past, this time the political agitations were not only limited to Dhaka and a few major cities.

“The disruptions lasted long enough to make it impossible for firms and workers to make up all the losses suffered. Although many businesses worked weekends and nights to make up the loss of working days, but there

were just too many days lost to be fully made up.”

Considering a huge damage to the economy due to political unrest, the World Bank estimated that the industrial sector’s growth is projected at 7.9% compared with last year’s 9%.

It said service sector that accounts for more than 54% of GDP suffered most due to the nationwide strikes and blockades with an enormous loss of income for a couple of months.

Against this backdrop, the sector which was expected to surpass last year’s performance by a significant margin is projected to grow at 5.3% in FY14, the report said.

Inflation The World Bank report said average headline inflation may rise to 7.5% this year.

“Cost push from supply disruptions and demand pull from expected wage increases are likely to have driven up the non-food prices,” said Hussain.

External balance About the external balances, the re-

port said the external balances have remained comfortable due to strong and weak imports which more than offset the decline in the level of workers’ remittances.

“But Bangladesh’s external balance may erode from the current comfortable level, but stability is likely to continue,” said the lead economist.

Remittances are expected to remain weak while imports are likely to pick up, leading to narrowing the current account surplus, these could lead to slower accumulation of foreign reserves during the rest of FY14, he said.

Fiscal deficit About fiscal deficit, the report said even if the government cuts the ADP

by Tk140-160bn, there still would be a need for some cuts in current outlays to keep the deficit within the original budget target.

“Absent such adjustments, the deficit could rise to 5.1% and domestic financing to 3.8% of GDP compared with the budget target of 4.6% and 2.9% respectively.” l

As part of the two-finger test, a doctor would insert the index and the middle fingers inside the vagina of an alleged rape victim to find out whether her hymen is intact or not.

The HC in that ruling also asked the government to prepare a comprehensive guideline within 90 days that would govern the way various parties treated a rape victim. The ministry however missed that deadline by about a month.

Rita Das Roy, a member of the committee formed to outline the guide, told the Dhaka Tribune: “It has been observed that rape victims are usually put under a horribly judgmental microscope from the moment they call up the cops. They are often subjected to judgmental attitudes by doctors and other staffs in the hospital. The new guidelines include that every hospital must ensure security for the victim until she is fit enough to filea case. It also makes it mandatory for hospitals to have designated rooms for ensuring privacy of the victim.”

The 10-member committee was formed soon after the HC ruling. It is headed by an additional secretary of the health ministry. Other members include senior officials from the ministries of health, home, law and women and children affairs, health officials and human rights activists.

The draft has already been placed before another health ministry committee, who are likely to approve it sometime soon.

According to the draft that the Dhaka Tribune has accessed, authorities must arrange training sessions for sensitising doctors and other medical staffs about the protocols, the new guideline and how to examine/report rape cases. No third person must be present inside the room when a doctor is carrying out the medical tests.

In the past, hospitals would examine victims only after getting first information reports (FIRs) from police. The new guideline nullifies that provision.

It also says that managing witnesses is not the duty of the victim anymore. If

a case is filed, trial should be conducted in a gender sensitive atmosphere.

It would also be mandatory for the forensic medical reports to state precisely the reasons for each conclusion drawn. Everything in the report should be explained in the manner and language that the patient can understand.

Under the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights 1966 and the UN Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power 1985, rape survivors are entitled to legal recourse that does not re-traumatise them or violate their physical or mental integrity and dignity.

In 1979, the United Kingdom had to give up its policy to use virginity testing on women who said they were immigrating to marry their fiancés, who were already living in the country.

Through a similar guideline, the Indian government last month prohibited the two-finger test and asked all hospitals to set up designated rooms for their forensic and medical examination. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

‘Government to bring back Tarique’ n Mohosinul Karim The government is likely to make a strong move to bring BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman, his brother Arafat Rahman Koko and fugitive killers of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman back to the country to put them on trial.

The government, however, rejected a proposal of Canadian authority to amend the law to wipe out the provision of capital punishment to get back Nur Chowdhury, one of the convicted fugitive killers of Bangabandhu.

The decisions were taken in a meeting of the taskforce formed to bring back all Bangladeshi criminals and accused living abroad on parole or absconding.

Themeeting was held yesterday in the law minister’s office.

Taskforce Chief and Law Minister Anisul Haque chaired the meeting while members of the high-powered taskforce State Ministers for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam and Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal were present.

Other members of the taskforce the Attorney General, senior secretary of the home ministry, foreign secretary, law and justice secretary, inspector general of police and directors general of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence(DGFI), National Security Intelligence (NSI) and several senior high officials also attended the meeting.

The meeting sources said, the taskforce had taken the decision to strengthen its activities and start strong moves to bring back BNP Chief Khaleda Zia’s two sons Tarique and Koko home.

They are now living abroad as fugitives after they went there on parole.

Expressing concern the minister and high officials attended the meeting saidthe decision was taken to prevent their anti-state activities and illogical statements on Bangabandhu and the history of the Liberation War of 1971.

According to a source, the taskforce has also taken decision of seeking assistance from the Interpol to this end.

But, Law Minister Anisul Haque denied talking anything about the decision in his short briefing after the meeting.

Terming the decisions confidential the minister said though the meeting had taken several important decisions these could not be disclosed publicly in

the interest of the country. But, it would be visible to the people shortly. We will sit again soon to analyse the progress.

When asked if the government is going to bring back Tarique and Koko, he said:“We have talked about bringing back all the convicts and fugitives living abroad. Tariqueis a fugitive of two under-trial cases. Koko is also a convicted fugitive. They are trying to avoid the trial.”

“The law and order authority and court will take decision about them whether they would be brought back or not. The government has nothing to do in this regard. We will help the authority to bring the fugitive criminals back home,” he added.

Regarding the proposal of Canadian authority to amend the law to scrape the provision of capital punishment to get back Nur Chowdhury, Anisul said: “The government has no such plan to amend the law to get them back. We will try to do so through diplomatic effort.”

‘Diagnose Tarique for brain defect’ Anisul Haque also slammed Tarique Rahman for his comments on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

“Such statements of Tarique Rahman should be ignored,” he saidadding: “His (Tarique) brain should be diagnosedto make sure if he has any defects.”

“Tarique’scomment was aimed at dentingthe image of Bangladesh. Now the questions have arisen if they want to turn Bangladesh into Pakistan by raising questions over some settled issuesrelated to the history of the Liberation War.” Earlier, in a video message on the internet Tarique Rahman claimed that Bangabandhu was an illegal prime minister of Bangladesh.

Training his gun on Tarique in response to the claim the minister said: “He has hurt the Awami League and all other pro-liberation forces. They have hurt in the heart of Bangladesh. It cannot go unchallenged.”

The minister urged the media and all other pro-liberation forces to be aware of the “controversy that Tariqueis trying to stir up” from abroad.

Earlier, Tarique Rahman drew flak from Awami League leaders for claiming that Ziaur Rahman was the first president of Bangladesh. l

3

Thursday, April 10, 2014

BNP plans long march towards Teesta Barrage n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

The BNP is likely to hold a long-march towards the Teesta Barrage this month to press home demand for proper share of water from neighbour India.

The decision was made in a meeting of the party standing committee at its chairperson’s Gulshan office late last night.

Meeting sources said BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who chaired yesterday’s meeting, had planned to visit some of the districts around the country.

Senior leaders meanwhile would hold a series of meetings – with the party activists and the public – in every division in the months ahead.

Members of local bus owners’ association in Rajshahi force passengers to disembark three-wheelers known as ‘bhotbhoti’ yesterday, claiming that ‘brake-less’ human hauliers were frequently causing road accidents on the Rajshahi-Chapainawabganj highway DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sayedee defence submitted fake case documents, says AG n Nazmus Sakib Attorney General Mahbubey Alam yesterday said the defence for death row convict Delawar Hossain Sayedee submitted a fake document to prove that Sayedee was not involved in the killing of Ibrahim Kutti.

The defence earlier entered a document what they claimed was a certified copy of the complaint made by Kutti’s wife, Momtaz Begum, where Sayedee’s name was not mentioned as an accused. The complaint later turned into a police case, as per the defence’s claim.

He told the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court that it was a fake as there is no such case lodged with Pirojpur police station.

In this regard, the attorney general said: “I went to the Pirojpur police station but found no such document. As the defence claimed that police submitted a charge sheet in the case, it would have been transferred to the special tribunal formed under the Collaborators Order. I went to Barisal Judge’s Court but did not find such case despite a

thorough search.”

“In addition, the defence could not submit a copy of the charge sheet.”

He said the copy of the complaint looked fresh though it is supposed to be 41 years old. “It is more proof that the document was forged and made for the purpose of saving Sayedee only.”

The attorney general argued that the defence had forged the documents to save Sayedee Mahbubey was assisted by Assistant Attorney General Bashir Ahmed during the hearing at the five-member Appellate Division bench headed by Chief Justice Md Muzammel Hossain.

Refuting Sayedee’s alibi plea, the attorney general said the notorious razakar had undoubtedly stayed at Parerhat, Pirojpur during the 1971 Liberation War, according to the prosecution witnesses.

Though the defence witnesses

claimed they had seen Sayedee at a Pir’s house in Jessore with his two sons, it was clear from Sayedee’s affidavit submitted to the Election Commission that the Jamaat leader had only one son before independence, he said.

Sayedee’s second son was born after the independence, as per the said affidavit. Mahbubey also said none of the Pir’s descendents gave a deposition at the tribunal, even though they are alive.

“So it was crystal clear that Sayedee was in Parerhat and aided the Pakistani Army to commit crimes against humanity,” the attorney general said.

Mahbubey later told the Dhaka Tribune that his argument was near its end.

Defence lawyer Tanvir Ahmed AlAmin told the Dhaka Tribune that they would start rebutting the government’s argument after the attorney general completes his part. The bench will resume the hearing today.

The International Crimes Tribunal 1, on February 28 last year, handed Sayedee a death sentence on two charges, one of which was killing Kutti. l

It was unlikely that Sadeque Hossain Khoka and Mirza Abbas would be at the helm of Dhaka city committee For the time being, the party has decided not to go for any tough movement; rather push forward and announce some issue-based programmes.

Seeking anonymity, a standing committee member told the Dhaka Tribune that the date for the long-march was yet to be finalised.

He also said senior leaders would visit the districts to rejuvenate the grassroots and Khaleda Zia would hold meetings in some districts. The schedules for those meetings were not finalised either.

Decision had been also made about announcing soon the Dhaka city unit committee of the party. It was unlikely that Convener Sadeque Hossain Khoka and Standing Committee Member Mirza Abbas would be at the helm of that committee, the senior leader said.

Another standing committee member, also seeking anonymity, said Moudud Ahmed and Goyeshwar Chandra Roy got engaged in an altercation centring Roy’s recent comment that “all the courts are confined in the Mujib coat.”

He said Moudud condemned Roy for making such a comment and also said such statements would hamper the process of getting bail for the detained leaders and activists of the party. l

Six members of blackmailing gang held in capital Sarkar and n Kailash Sanaul Islam Tipu

Detained con artists are paraded in front of the media after the Detective Branch of police arrest them in a drive at the capital’s Madhya Paikpara MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Detectives yesterday arrested six members of a gang, including two women, who used to blackmail people – top government officials, political leaders, industrialists, businessmen and expatriates – to extort money from them.

The gang used to impersonate policemen and journalists while a young girl named Dola Akhter, 20, would flirt with the target.

A team of Detective Branch of police led by Additional Deputy Commissioner Sanwar Hossain detained Dola, ring leader Abu Taleb, 68, Azahar Uddin Khan, 42, Mohammad Mostofa, 40, Shamim Sikder, 25, and Salma Begum, 45, from the capital’s Madhya Paikpara.

They also recovered a wireless set, a

Hall-Mark MD’s bail plea rejected n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu

Rape victim testifies in camera against Qaisar

A Dhaka court yesterday rejected a bail petition of Hall-Mark Group Managing Director Tanvir Mahmud in 13 cases filed for swindling Sonali Bank money.

Dhaka Senior Special Judge’s Court Judge Md Jahurul Haque passed the rejection order.

On October 4, 2012, the ACC filed 11 cases with Ramna police station against 27 bigwigs of Hall-Mark Group including Tanvir as well as some Sonali Bank officials for swindling money with forged documents and October 7 last year pressed charges in this regard.

On January 1 last year, the anti-graft watchdog filed two more cases against them on charges of money laundering.

Recently the state-run Sonali Bank authorities have filed 12 cases with Artha Rin Adalat 1 (money loan court) against Hall-Mark Group for realising more than Tk161 crore, reaching the number of cases to 25.

The little-known group took away a total of Tk2,686 crore from the bank on fake documents between 2010 and 2012. l

n

Udisa Islam

A prosecution witness testified at the International Crimes Tribunal 2 in camera yesterday in the case against war crimes accused Syed Md Qaisar, the chief of notorious “Qaisar Bahini” of Habiganj in 1971.

When the prosecution wanted to place her in camera, the tribunal told journalists and observers to leave the courtroom. After her deposition, the defence cross examined her and the tribunal adjourned the proceedings until April 16.

The woman, who had been violated during the war, gave her deposition as the fifth prosecution witness.

Journalists were not allowed to publish her name or any information of the statement.

Qaisar, a former Jatiya Party state minister, was in the dock.

During her testimony, prosecutors Rana Das Gupta and Tureen Afroz, and the defence counsels were present in the courtroom. Defence lawyer SM Shahjahan cross examined her.

Qaisar was indicted on 16 charges of crimes against humanity he had committed.

The tribunal indicted Qaisar on two rape charges – handing over a woman to a Pakistani Army camp set up at Jagadishpur High School under Madhabpur police

station on a day of mid August in 1971 and assisting in rape of another at Chanpur Tea Estate.

Meanwhile, the same tribunal yesterday adjourned the proceedings in the cases against Jamaat-e-Islami leaders Maulana Abdus Subhan and Mir Kashem Ali because of recording testimony of the witness against Qaisar.

The prosecution is set to place their last witness, the investigation officer, in the trial against Mir Kashem, who had been the alleged al-Badr commander in Chittagong in 1971.

The tribunal deferred the trial of Subhan until April 15. l

pair of handcuffs and a digital camera from their possession.

Metropolitan Magistrate Mahabubur Rahman later placed the six on eightday remand in connection with two cases filed with Mirpur police station.

DB Sub-Inspector Abul Bashar had produced them before the court, seeking 20 days for interrogating them.

Earlier, acting on a tip-off, a special team of DB raided a house at Paikpara under Mirpur police station at about 4:30pm and arrested the six gang members.

DB Additional Deputy Commissioner Sanwar Hossain said Dola would play as a girlfriend with influential people, thus trapping them and then blackmailing them.

He said: “She would secretly take pictures of herself in compromising situations with the target person and

also make love with them in a particular room where Taleb, Azahar and Mostofa would appear impersonating policemen.”

The DB official said the impersonators would frighten them with arrest and demand a large amount of money to keep quiet. Shamim would also emerge as a journalist and continue blackmailing the victim.

At a press briefing at the Dhaka Metropolitan Police media centre, the DB officials said the gang had taken Tk24 lakh from a Bangladeshi expatriate living in London on August 26 last year, Tk17 lakh from a high-ranking government official on February 20 this year and Tk5 lakh from a veteran politician this month.

The detectives expressed hope to arrest the other gang members shortly. l

Two JMB men jailed n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu A Dhaka court yesterday sentenced two Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) members to three-year imprisonment while it acquitted 26 others in a case filed under the Arms and Explosive Act. Judge Md Shahed Nuruddin of the Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 handed down the verdict.

The convicts are Moulana Abdur Rowf and Tofazzal Hossain. They were

also fined Tk10, 000 each, in default they have to suffer six months more in jail.

The convicted two accused are in jail. Of the acquitted JMB members, 20 are on bail, four are absconding, one in jail while the other died during the period of trial proceeding.

According to the case statement, on August 2, 2006, RAB in a drive arrested the accused from Jibantola Jamia Islamia Nurul Ulum Kawmi Madarasa under Bhaluka Upazila in Mymensingh. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Fate of ad hoc doctors uncertain

Authorities fail to regularise more than 4,000 doctors in over four years Dr Shahabuddin Khan, medical offin Moniruzzaman Uzzal cer of human resource unit of the DirecWhen he first joined public service in 2010 as an ad hoc assistant surgeon, Dr Abdus Salam (not his real name) was told that the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had directed the health ministry to appoint and regularise thousands of ad hoc doctors for meeting the huge shortage of doctors.

Although four years had passed since then, Dr Salam, who earned his under-graduation degree from Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College, continues to hold the status of an ad hoc doctor.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Dr Salam expressed his frustration at the uncertainty of his job, and said he was now planning to leave public service.

Salam is one of 4,133 doctors who were appointed on ad hoc basis in two phases; 3,551 were recruited in 2010 and 582 more in 2011.

Although many of these doctors were unsure about the fate of their jobs, around 1,000 of the ad hoc doctors had already become cadre doctors after passing the BCS exam, sources said.

Although the health ministry had recruited the ad hoc doctors, the Public Service Commission (PSC) was reportedly the legal authority to regularise them as cadre doctors.

torate General of Health Services, said they submitted necessary documents of 2,152 doctors to health ministry in 2013.

The ministry later forwarded 600 files to the PSC, who then recommended the regularisation of only 180-190 doctors.

Dr Shahabuddin said: “As far I know, the PSC does not have enough manpower to check the large number of documents quickly. Moreover it took more time as they scrutinised every detail of the documents.”

Several senior officials of the health ministry and directorate told the Dhaka Tribune that the sluggish pace of the PSC’s verification process meant that it would take years for all ad hoc doctors to be recommended for regularisation.

Dr Shah Newaz, director (administration) of the DGHS, told the Dhaka Tribune that the directorate could not do much to regularise the ad hoc doctors, as the final decision belonged to the PSC. “However, personally I think the ad hoc doctors should be regularised as soon as possible,” he added.

Most of the ad hoc doctors passed from private medical colleges and belonged to rich and influential families. The doctors always try to evade rural postings as they were used to staying in villages l

Minister orders action against 48 officials n Mohosinul Karim

ACC to quiz former minister’s APS

Departmental actions will be taken against 48 officials and employees of the Department of Youth Development for their absence from the office.

State Minister for Youth and Sports Biren Sikder yesterday ordered the director general of the department to take actions against those public servants.

The state minister gave the instruction during his surprise visit to the headquarters of the department yesterday.

Ministry’s Public Relation Officer Shafiqul Islam said the state minister did not find those officials and employees in the office during his whirlwind visit.

The numbers of absentees are 48 out of total 135 officials and employees of the department.

The minister immediately ordered the high officials to take steps against them.

Department of Youth Development’s Director General Asit Kumar Mukut Moni admitting the fact said around 48 officials and employees were absent from the office during the state minister’s visit.

“The high officials of the ministry have jotted down the names of those absentees. “We will take actions following the instruction of the ministry,” he said. l

n Tribune Report

The Anti-Corruption Commission will soon question ex-state minister for religious affairs M Shahjahan Miah’s assistant personal secretary Soumendra Lal Chandra Shoilen and his wife on charges of accumulation of illegal wealth and laundering money to India, an official concerned told reporters.

He said ACC Deputy Director Ahsan Ali yesterday served a notice to Soumendra Lal Chandra Shoilen and his wife Shanta Chandra asking them to appear before the commission headquarters at Segunbagicha on April 15.

Earlier, the commission questioned Soumendra on February 18 on the same allegation.

Officials said the commission had already collected several documents including the income tax statements and other related documents of Soumendra.

According to the allegation received by the ACC, Soumendra accumulated

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inspects different units of the Ahsania Mission Cancer and General Hospital following the facility’s inauguration yesterday

illegal wealth worth Tk50 crore by giving licenses to over 400 Hajj and Umrah Hajj agents in exchange for bribe.

While working as the APS of the ex-minister, the ministry has approved at least 400 licenses to many new companies, usually with bribes, and Soumendra worked as the key player in the irregularities, the allegation reads.

Soumendra, who also holds the post of office secretary at Patuakhali Awami League, has made huge money from the businesses and has built a five-storey building at Patuakhali, while his wife owns several flats in the capital, the allegation also reads.

There is another allegation that the former APS has laundered a huge amount of money through his mother and siblings to India.

Meanwhile, the anti-graft body has questioned six high officials of staterun Petrobangla and its subsidiary companies in connection with the inquiry against its Chairman Md Hossain

Monsur for acquiring illegal wealth through appointment of employees.

ACC Deputy Director Ahsan Ali has questioned Petrobangla General Manager (accounts) M Abdul Khalek, Sundarban Gas Company Limited General Manager M Khalekuzzaman, Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited Deputy General Manager (system operation) H.M Ali Ashraf, Manager (Operation) Sujat Ali, general managers M Nazrul Islam (Metro Dhaka Revenue Division) and M Nizam Rafikul Islam.

Ahsan was assigned on March 9 to investigate the allegations against Petrobangla chairman for accumulating illegal wealth through recruiting employees in 13 of its associated companies violating rules.

The allegations say the Petrobangla chairman in connivance with some of his associates had appointed a good number of employees violating the company rules. l

JCD leaders’ remand, bail pleas rejected n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu Two Dhaka courts yesterday sent president and general secretary of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, youth wing of BNP, to jail rejecting both the bail and remand pleas in several cases filed with Shahbagh and Sutrapur police stations.

The two leaders are JCD president Abdul Kader Bhuiyan Jewel and its general secretary Habibur Rashid Habib.

Separate courts of Metropolitan Magistrates Rezaul Karim and Maruf Hossain passed the order following the hearing of bail the petition and remand while the latter filed by the prosecution.

Police prayed a 24-day remand to the court for Jewel in four cases while 15 days for Habib in three cases. On the other hand, defence counsel Md Sanaullah Miah filed the bail petitions.

At last, the courts rejected both bail and remand petitions sent back them to jail.

The cases were filed against them for their alleged involvement in vandalising, torching vehicles and blasting crude bombs during BNP-led 18-party sponsored hartal and blockade programmes last year demanding to have held general polls under caretaker government.

On December 6 last year, DB police detained JCD president Jewel from the capital’s Uttra area while plain-clothed police held Habib from Shantinagar area on November 17. l

Participants at the two-day long Saarc artist camp pose for a picture in Bandarban’s Nilachal. The camp is being organised by the Cultural Affairs Ministry and Shilpakala Academy DHAKA TRIBUNE

Energy research council likely n Tribune report An energy research council would be established in the country for the sake of development of science and technology and overall improvement of the energy sector of the country, said Energy Advisor to the Prime Minister, Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury in a national seminar titled “Renewable energy policy implementation” held in the capital yesterday.

The advisor also said scientists should work hard in order to reduce the crisis of energy. That is why a solar energy stove is needed to be discovered soon.

The seminar was jointly organized by the Institute of Renewable Energy of Dhaka University and Bangladesh Solar Energy Committee. A three-day exhibition centring solar powers also started yesterday at the Mokarram Hossain Khandakar Science Building in Dhaka University.

Some 32 scientific books were presented at the seminar. The exhibition would continue till April 11 and remain open for all from 10am to 6pm.

Professor AAMS Arefin Siddique, vice chancellor of Dhaka University said: “Most of the time, the people of this country remain in the sunlight. If we can utilise it, the unmet demand of electricity of a greater community can be fulfilled.”

He added that coordination should be established between industrial organizations and the researchers of Dhaka University in order to spread the benefits of the research. He called for saving water and electricity and to make the renewable energy popular.

Among others, Director of the institute Professor Md Sekul Islam, President of the committee Professor Mohammad Ibrahim were present at the event. l

BSS

Awami League MP Hiron dies n Our Correspondent, Barisal Shawkat Hossain Hiron, Barisal city Awami League president, uncontested lawmaker of Barisal-5 constituency and former mayor of Barisal City Corporation, died yesterday morning at Apollo Hospitals in Dhaka. He was 58.

Hiron’s life support was removed at the consent of his family members and he breathed his last around 7:15am. Advocate Talukder Md Yunus, AL lawmaker and district secretary and Afzal Hossain, AL city secretary, confirmed the death.

His body was taken to his Gulshan residence from the hospital and his first funeral was held at National Assembly Plaza following Asr prayer. The

body will be flown to Barisal Bangabandhu Udyan this noon and people will be allowed to pay their homage there.

The AL leader’s last funeral will be held at Bangabandhu Udyan after the Jum’ah prayer tomorrow. He will be laid to rest in his mother’s grave at Barisal Muslim Gorosthan in the afternoon.

The House yesterday adopted a condolence motion over Hiron’s demise.

Expressing heartiest sympathy for the bereaved family members of Hiron, the premier prayed for eternal peace of his departed soul.

Born in 1956, the legislator is survived by his wife Jebunnesa Afroz, daughter Roshni Hossain Trina and son Sajid Hossain Rafsan. l

Move afoot to curb extremism in combat n Rabiul Islam

The government plans to carry out motivational programmes in educational institutions to combat religious extremism in the country.

“We will conduct mass awareness programmes at educational institutions and religious centres to combat extremism,” State Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan told reporters after a meeting of an anti-extremism committee at his ministry yesterday.

The state minister remarked that students of schools, madrasas, colleges and universities were easily influenced by extremist organisations.

Thus, the government has introduced programmes, mostly using audiovisual materials such as short films, at educational institutions to motivate students to shun extremism, Asaduzzaman said.

The mass media would also be used to highlight the negative sides of extremism, while intelligence agencies would remain alert to counter the scourge, he said.

A ministry official who attended the

meeting said steps would be taken to amend textbooks to remove any material that might incite extremism.

The meeting also decided to co-opt an official from the finance ministry’s banking division in the committee to trace the sources of funding of extremist groups, the official added.

The 17-member “extremism resistance and elimination committee”was formed in 2009.

The government already banned five organisations, including Jama’atul Mujahedeen Bangladesh (JMB), Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (Huji) and Hizb-ut-Tahrir.

Senior home secretary CQK Mustaq Ahmed, Inspector General of Police Hassan Mahmud Khandker and RAB Director General Mokhesur Rahman were also present at yesterday’s meeting, the first to be held during this government’s tenure.

Meanwhile, in replying a question, the state minister said law enforcers had identified the perpetrators behind the snatching of three convicted JMB militants from a prison van in Trishal, Mymensingh in February. l

JaPa leader Ruhul Amin Hawlader under ACC scanner n Tribune Report The Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday decided to investigate the wealth of Jatiya Party Secretary General ABM Ruhul Amin Hawlader as it received allegation against him that he amassed wealth inconsistent with his known sources of income.

Confirming the matter, ACC public relations officer Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya told reporters that the commission received allegations against Hawlader, also lawmaker from Patuakhali 1 constituency, on April 2 and after scrutiny, a regular meeting had decided to find out the reasons behind illegal wealth of the JaPa leader.

He said an investigation officer will be assigned within a couple of days to look into the JaPa leader’s wealth and

alleged land grabbing.

It was alleged that Hawlader concealed information in his wealth statement he submitted to the Election Commission ahead of the 10th parliamentary elections.

As per his wealth statement submitted to the Election Commission, he had Tk18 lakh in cash in 2008 which jumped to over Tk6.66 crore in 2013 ACC officials said he allegedly amassed wealth, including land property, in Patuakhali and Kuakata in the name of KR Fashion owned by him, but he did

not mention it in the wealth statement.

It was also alleged that KR Fashion owns a lot of land in Patuakhali and Kuakata and even though Hawlader is the owner of these land properties, a tract of land was grabbed by him.

Not only KR Fashion, the JaPa leader also had many business firms with which he had earned a fortune.

It also said even the lawmaker grabbed the lands owned by Water Development Board in Patuakhali.

According to his wealth statement submitted to the Election Commission, he had Tk18 lakh in cash in 2008 which jumped to over Tk6.66 crore in 2013.

In 2008, the JaPa leader earned Tk13.09 lakh from house and business establishment rents which stood at Tk1.63 crore in 2013. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

5

Thursday, April 10, 2014

A new look for this year’s Pahela Baishakh n Tazlina Zamila Khan The “mongol shova jatra”, one of the main attractions of Pahela Baishakh celebrations, would be presented with a new look this year to commemorate the 100th birth anniversary of artist Zainul Abedin.

Preparation for the traditional parade to welcome Bangla New Year 1421 are in full swing at Dhaka University’s Faculty of Fine Arts.

With the theme, “resist fear and rise to create a prosperous Bangladesh”, the 26th shova jatra will start at 9am on Monday from the DU campus at Shahbagh.

“We will create a likeness of Zainul Abedin sir to present in the rally. Besides, we decided to make eleven models this year, instead of the usual five or six,” Abdul Malek Saju, a Masters student of the painting department told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

Several students were busy making giant statues with natural materials, like straw, cane, cork and paper, under the watchful eyes of their teachers.

Depictions of a woman and child, a fawn, an owl, fish and ducks symbolising prosperity; a prawn in the mouth of a cat and peacocks representing folk culture; and a tiger and the legendary hunter, Gazi, embodying people’s power during bad times would be carried in the parade.

Besides, hundreds of paper masks have been made for parade participants.

Customs seize 16 gold bars in Ctg airport, 1 held n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong Chittagong Customs authorities at Shah Amanat International Airport seized 16 gold bars yesterday morning and detained a Dubai-returned passenger for illegal possession of these bars.

Moshiur Rahman Mandal, assistant commissioner (AC) of Chittagong Customs House in the airport, told the Dhaka Tribune that they seized the bars from Azizul Munir Mahfuz which were hidden in the passenger’s shoes; when they conducted the drive at a Bangladesh Biman flight after its landing at the airport around 10:30am in the morning.

The seized bars weighed around 1.866 kg and their value is estimated at Tk80 lakh, he said adding that the seized bars were handed over to the Bangladesh Bank.

The flight was returning from Dubai to Dhaka via Chittagong, said the customs official.

Existing law allows a person to carry highest 200 grams of gold from abroad paying necessary duties at the airport, said the AC. The customs sources said with this recovery around 1,700 gold bars worth about Tk84 crore were seized from the airport in more than 50 drives in the year 2014 while 686 gold bars worth Tk35.30 crore were seized from a total of 16 drives in 2013. l

WEATHER POSSIBLE THUNDERSHOWERS

THURSDAY, APRIL 10 DHAKA

TODAY SUN SETS 6:18PM

TOMORROW SUN RISES 5:42AM

FORECAST FOR TODAY Dhaka

36

25

Chittagong

33

24

Rajshahi

40

19

Rangpur

38

21

Khulna

37

23

Barisal

36

24

Sylhet

35

19

Cox’s Bazar

33

26

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

36.3ºC Rajshahi

18.6ºC 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

The students, meanwhile, have been collecting funds for the event by selling their own paintings, pottery, masks and trinkets.

“We do not have any sponsors.

So, we collect funds by selling our art work. Due to the recent political crisis, we could not sell as many painting as expected. But we have overcome the problem now, and the shova jatra would be held this year in a big way,” Saju said.

Many people were seen roaming around the faculty premises to purchase the art work.

Prices of paintings ranged from Tk400 to Tk3,000, while painted terracotta items started at Tk500.

“I am very excited this year. This is the first Pahela Baishakh rally where I am actively taking part. We have been working for the past 25 days,” said Nishat Jahan Hira, a first-year student who was selling terracotta pottery.

Syed Abul Barq Alvi, dean of the fine arts faculty and convener of the Pahela Baishakh celebration committee, said this year’s theme was set in regards to the country’s culture and present political climate.

“The students have been working hard for many days to make the rally a success. A new dimension will be added this year to mark Zainul Abedin’s 100th birth anniversary,” he said.

Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin, who died in May 1976, was the founding principal of the then art institute which opened in 1948. l

Students of Dhaka University’s Institute of Fine Arts display their decorative items, made to be sold at fairs celebrating Pahela Baishakh, on the institute premises yesterday SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Updated building code likely in May Man killed ‘by neighbours’ n Abu Hayat Mahmud

The updated Bangladesh National Building Code 2013 is likely to be published this May, five months behind its publication deadline.

Officials at the Housing and Building Research Institute (HBRI) said most of the chapters in the code have been modified as information on technology, product standard and procedures have been changed.

Md Abdus Salam, senior research engineer of the HBRI, told the Dhaka Tribune: “Although the building code was supposed to be published by De-

cember last year, it was not possible as we had to revise the 1,500-page long code.”

He also expressed hopes that the building code would be published in May after all necessary revisions are completed.

However, earlier in February, Salam had told the Dhaka Tribune that the building code would be published in March.

The HBRI had been entrusted with the task of providing secretarial service to a steering committee of the housing ministry and providing project assistance to the Bureau of Research, Test-

CMCH staff protest upgrade decision n

Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong

Employees of Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) yesterday demonstrated on its premises against the decision to upgrade the medical college to a university.

They held a protest rally, brought out procession and staged a token strike from 11am to 1pm. The activities were organised by CMCH Karmakarta-Karmachari Oikya Parishad.

Romena Akhter, president of the organisation, addressed the protest rally while Ratan Ali Mia, member secretary; Rukhma Chowdhury, joint secretary; and Ratan Kumar Nath, general secretary of Diploma Nurse Association, spoke among others.

Calling the decision to upgrade to a university self-destructive, Rome-

na said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina might have been influenced by bureaucrats to take such a decision.

“If CMCH is upgraded to a university, it will be run by an autonomous body. This could mean that nearly five crore people, from Teknaf to Comilla, who depend on the hospital for lowcost treatment, will be deprived of that facility as numerous fees will be hiked up,” protesters said.

They said CMCH would suffer the same fate as Dhaka’s PG Hospital if an autonomous body was allowed to run it.

“We also want a medical university but it has to be established elsewhere,” they observed.

The demonstrators said they would continue their protest, no matter what stands in their way, till their demands were met. l

ing and Consultation at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet).

HBRI sources said the updated building code has been divided into ten parts, with each part having different chapters and appendices.

In 1993, the Bangladesh National Building Code was formed to regulate the technical details and maintain the standard of building construction.

It came into force as a regulation under the Building Construction Act 1952, while it was first updated in 2006 and also later in 2008. l

over land in Rajshahi n UNB A man was chopped to death allegedly by his neighbours over a land-related dispute at Bhatapara Krishnapur village in Puthia upazila yesterday night.

The deceased was identified as Sadhan Kumar, 35, son of Bhobesh of the village. The victim’s wife Joytsna said there had been a longstanding dispute between her husband and their neighbour Nitai over the ownership of a piece of land.

Journalist S Ali Muhammad dies n Our Correspondent, Barisal

S Alam group fined Tk1.8 crore for pollution

S Ali Muhammad, a senior journalist, writer and cultural activists of Barisal, passed away at 3:00pm yesterday afternoon in his residence at Line Road area of the city.

He was 96. Ali left five daughters, two sons, number of relatives, admirers, followers to mourn his death. He was suffering from old age complications for long days, told his eldest son S Sunny Muhammad.

Sheikh Ali Muhammad, popularly known as ‘Ali-Bhai’ in the city, was born to Sheikh Jaban Ali and Dulaijan Bibi on January 10, 1918 at Meur village under Garuria union of Bakerganj upazila in Barisal.

S Ali Muhammad would be laid to rest at Barisal Muslim Gorosthan after paying mass tributes from different corners of the society and subsequent Namaj E Janaza, family sources said. l

n Tushar Hayat, Chittagong The Department of Environment yesterday fined five industries of business conglomerate S Alam Group with Tk1.8 crore for causing pollution through releasing untreated wastes into the River Karnaphuli.

During a visit on February 26, a team of the regulator found the five factories engaged in causing severe pollution.

Mostafizur Rahman Akand, deputy director at the DoE in Chittagong, said a sugar mill was fined for not having an Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) while the four others for keeping the ETPs nonoperational. The fines were slapped after a hearing.

S Alam Refined Sugar Mill has been fined Tk1.22 crore, S Alam Steel Mills and Chemon Ishpat Limited Tk33.7 lakh, S Alam Vegetable Tk1.04 lakh

and S Alam Cold Rolled Steels Limited Tk22.56 lakh.

A sugar mill was fined for not having an Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) while four others for keeping the ETPs nonoperational On April 6, the DoE slapped fine on SA Pulp and Paper Mills Limited and Samannaj Product, both owned by the business conglomerate, Tk25.5 lakh for operating without clearance certificate, not having Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP), and polluting the sea. l

Nasrul for preparing a roadmap

Photography competition on ethics launched n BSS Bangladesh Bioethics Society (BBS) is launching an art and photography competition on ethics aiming to create awareness among the people to develop ethical values.

“The theme of the competition is “Ethics and life”. Ethical aspect of any subject matter can be included in thiscompetition,” BBS general secretary Prof Shamia Parvin Lasker told BSS yesterday.

Undergraduate and postgraduate student of age between 18 to25 years can participate in this competition, she added.

All participants will be honored by certificate, she said adding crest, book and certificate will be given to top three winners in the completion.

The BBS sources said the competition will be on three categories: fine art, photography and cartoon. Interested participants have been invited to send their art and photography works with CVs through email: write2nupa@ yahoo.com l

On the fateful day, Sadhan had an altercation with Nitai over the issue around 10:00pm.

At one stage, Nitai along with his wife, daughter and son attacked Sadhan and chopped him with sharp weapons indiscriminately, leaving him dead on the spot.

Officer-in-charge of Puthia Police Station Abu Obaida said on information, police recovered the body and sent it to hospital morgue for an autopsy. l

n BSS

Flouting traffic rules, private cars are seen haphazardly parked in front of the city’s New Market yesterday. The indiscriminate parking practice causes the busy street to clog up, resulting in long tailbacks MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

State Minister for Power,Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid asked the officials concerned to prepare a roadmap for implementation of country’s renewable energy targets by 2020.

During a meeting with Climate Parliament network of MPs, the minister said that he would soon take a decision to ensure the implementation of Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA).

Sharing the concerns with Climate Parliament network of MPs about the delay in the implementation of SREDA, Hamid said that the ministry would take into consideration this roadmap to prepare the budget for SREDA and this should reflect in the national budget for fiscal 2014-15.

The new Steering Committee of the Climate Parliament network of MPs consists of Tanvir Shakeel Joy and Saber Chowdhury (Advisors), Junaid Ahmed Palak and Abdullah Al-Islam Jacob (Patrons), Nahim Razzaq (Convener), Mahjabeen Moshad (Co-convener), Razee Fakhrul, Pir Mezba, Golam Farooq Prince, AKM Arusunal Chowdhury Duke. l

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Cracks appear in state-run beach motel

KHDC staff assaulted

n Our Correspondent, Cox’s Bazar

n Our Correspondent, Khagrachhari

Cracks have developed at a government-run tourist motel in Cox’s Bazar.

According to sources, cracks have developed in large parts of the ceiling in Motel Shoibal, posing a security threat to tourists visiting the largest beach in the world.

The establishment was constructed in 1973 along the Cox’s Bazar beach under Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation, the government’s tourism body.

In 1983, Motel Shoibal and Probal, Upal and Laboni were constructed on 185 acres of land.

The government had to incur losses every year. So the motels had been handed over to the private sector.

In the past, repair works of these motels were limited to plastering and paints.

No basic structural repairs were made.

So, the Parjatan Corporation appointed an engineer to deal with the beautification and repairing of the motels.

Of the motels, Shoibal is especially attractive for its traditional etiquette.

The establishment was constructed in 1973 along the Cox’s Bazar beach under Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation The motel manager Nurul Islam said the cracks were not serious.

The pillars of the restaurant were in perfect condition, he said.

Deputy Commissioner and Beach Management Committee chief Mohammad Ruhul Amin said he was not informed of the cracks. The engineer Syed Ullah visited the spot. l

Cracks have developed in the ceiling in Motel Shoibal, posing a security threat to tourists DHAKA TRIBUNE

35th ICT Week and Digital Fair starts n Our correspondent, Munshiganj

State Minister for Science and Technology Architect Yeafes Osman inaugurated a two-day long 35th National Science and Technology Week Celebration Fair and Digital Fair 2014 at the premises of District Shilpakala Academy in Munshiganj yesterday.

A total of 45 stalls were set up in the fair. Students from different schools and colleges set up 20 stalls in the fair while district administration, upazila administration, some computer training centres and private institutions exhibited the rest of 25 stalls. The stalls

would remain open for visitors from 10am to 6pm today.

State minister went around the fair and talked to the students who participated in the fair. After inaugurating the fair, the minister said we fought our liberation war in the name of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman while his daughter, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has ensured smooth development through digitalizing the nation. The new generation has achieved much progress using digital methods and they will work as soldiers in building modern Bangladesh in future. The government is working to reach that

Website: www.bangladeshbank.org.bd

INVITATION FOR TENDERS THROUGH WEB Tender no: CSD2:5/EES/JACH/97/2014

Date: 07-04-2014

Tenders through electronic media (e-Tenders) are invited form the bonafide contractors/firms/authorized suppliers or their local agent/Distributor /reputed manufacturer’s Supply, installation, testing & commissioning of brand new Sound system for Jahangir Alam Conference Hall at 4th floor of Main building, Bangladesh Bank, Head Office, Dhaka. Necessary information are given below: 01

Procuring Entity

:

02

Source of Funds

:

Bangladesh Bank’s own fund.

03

Invitation for Tender No.

:

CSD2:5/EES/JACH/97/2014

Common Services Department-2, Bangladesh Bank, Head office, Dhaka.

04

Method of Procurement.

:

Open Tendering Method (OTM), National.

05

Eligibility of Tenderer

:

a) General Experience: The Tenderer (contractors/firms/ authorized Suppliers or their local agent/Distributor/reputed manufacturer’s) having minimum 05(Five) years in supply & installation of sound system business experience. b) Specific Experience: Having the experience in supply, installation, testing & commissioning of 01 (One) sound system consisting of at least 01 no. amplifier, 05nos. Wireless microphone with receiver and 15w speakers under a single contract in the last 03(three) years in any Govt./SemiGovt./Autonomous organization in Bangladesh. The Tenderer shall have to furnish certificate in this respect from the Offices not below the rank of Executive Engineer/managing Director or equivalent and shall meet all other criteria, terms & conditions as specified in Tender document. c) liquid Assets/Credit Facilities: Minimum liquid assets/credit facility shall be 8.0 lac. In case of credit facilities Bank ensures that the above mentioned credit limit will be given if the said work is awarded to the contractor.

06

Address of the Web Receiving Tender Document

:

Submit in Web: www.bangladeshbank.org.bd www.bangladesh-bank.org (e-Tender)

07

Name & Address of the Offices Receiving Tender Security & Other Documentary Evidence.

:

General Manager, Common Services Department-2 (6th floor of 30-storied Building), Bangladesh Bank, Head Office, Dhaka.

08

Last Date and Time for Submission of Tender Document through web.

09

Last Date and Time for receiving Original Tender security and Tender Submission Letter.

:

30-4-2014 up to 3:15 PM

10

Date, Time and Place for Tender Opening

:

All Tenders will be opened at Common Services Department-2 (6th floor of 30-stored Building), Bangladesh Bank, Head Office, Dhaka on 30-4-2014 at 3:15 PM (Intending Tenderers or their authorized representatives are allowed to attend the Tender Opening).

11

Brief Description of the goods and Services

:

Supply, installation, testing & commissioning of brand new Sound system for Jahangir Alam Conference Hall at 4th floor of Main building, Bangladesh Bank, Head Office, Dhaka to be completed on Package/Turn-Key job basis including 12(twelve)months full warranty obligations.

12

Time for completion of the work

:

45(Forty Five)days from the date of issue of Contract Award.

30-4-2014 up to 3:00 PM

13

Tender Security

:

TK 30,000.00(Taka thirty thousand) only.

14

Special Instruction

:

i) The Tenderer shall submit tender and scanned copy of documentary evidence with Pdf. format through Bangladesh Bank Web site (e-Tendering) & must have valid e-mail address for participation through e-Tendering. ii) Original PO/BD/Bank Guarantee as Tender Security along with original Tender Submission letter (G-1 form) must reach at General Manager, Common Services Department-2, within stipulated date and time of TDS. iii) Tenderer should provide documentary evidence etc. (attested or original whichever necessary) when requested, failing which the Tender may be considered as non-responsive. iv) G-1 form should be completed and signed by the Authorized Signatory on the Letter-Head Pad, attached by scanning during submitting tender and original should be sent to General Manager, CSD-2 within scheduled time as per TDS. v) Furnishing of any false, misleading documents may result in rejection of tender and may lead to action under Rules 127 of PPR 2008/ Reg 12 of BBPR 2004. vi) Bangladesh Bank authority reserves the right to accept in full/in part or to reject any or all tenders without assigning any reason whatsoever.

Lakshmipur

Border Guard Bangladesh yesterday arrested a local Chhatra League and a Juba League leader from in front of Fatema High School upazila poll centre in Mandari union of Sadar upazila yesterday.

The arrested were identified as Sourav Hossain Rubel, organizing secretary of the district unit BCL and Atikul Alam, a ward level Juba League leader.

Police sources said the BGB had arrested them with 3 LGs, 26 bullets and two motorcycles while they were moving suspiciously in the area. l

The members of Border Guard Bangladesh yesterday recovered huge quantity of Indian smuggled drugs, worth about Tk 2 crore, from Ismailpur field, a frontier area of the district.

According to sources, acting on a tip-off, a team of the BGB conducted a drive in the area and recovered the contraband. l

COMMON SERVICES DEPARTMENT-2 HEAD OFFICE MOTIJHEEL C/A, DHAKA, BANGLADESH.

Correspondent, n Our Kishoreganj

Two arrested with firearms n Our Correspondent,

Correspondent, n Our Dinajpur

BANGLADESH BANK

Slaughtered body recovered in Bhairab, two arrested Police recovered a man’s slaughtered body from Chondiber area in Bhairab upazila, Kishoreganj yesterday, arresting two in connection with the murder.

The deceased was identified as Humayun Mia, 22, from Mollapara village under Kishoreganj Sadar upazila.

According to police and local sources, Humayun worked at an iron factory in Chondiber and lived in a rented house in the same area with neighbours Anis, his wife Mukta and brotherin-law Litan. Mukta had run away with a man named Nayan, who also worked in the factory, a week before. But Anis suspected Humayun was the reason his wife had left him for. Furious, Anis slit Humayun’s throat in his sleep at early hours yesterday and fled the scene immediately.

Hearing noises from Humayun’s house, the locals rushed there and sent him to Bhairab upazila health complex in critical condition, where he succumbed to death around 6am.

Later, locals confined Litan and his wife Sanoara when they tried to flee from the house and handed them over to police.

Sharafat Ali, OC at Bhairab police station, said a case had been filed with the police in this regard and the arrestees were being interrogated. l

goal so that digitalization could reach the doorsteps of common people.

Before that, Architect Yeafesh Osman attended a discussion programme as a chief guest organised by the district administration at the auditorium of District Shilpakala Academy. The meeting was presided over by Deputy Commissioner Md Saiful Hassan Badal.

Chief Executive Officer of Zila Parishad Md Mostafizur Rahman, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education & ICT) Sagorika Nasrin, Assistant Police Super (Sadar Circle) Kutubuddin, Shahedul Kabir, principal of Govt.

Haraganga College. l

Smuggled drugs seized

DCP: 48/2014-1206, Date: 09-04-2014 DG-67/14(12″×4)

(Md. Mohoshin) General Manager Common Services Department-2

At least three staff members at Khagrachhari Hill District Council (KHDC) were allegedly physically assaulted by contractors yesterday afternoon.

The three were identified as Jibo Jyoti Chakma, office assistant, Mofizur Rahman Molla, his assistant, and Mintu Das, office peon.

According to KHDC sources, the scuffle was the result of a show-cause notice sent by the KHDC to Ashutosh Tripura, a contractor. Ashutosh was given a contract to supply food to Mohalchhari Residential School, run by the KHDC. The district council office sent him the notice as he was not following all the conditions in the contract. Angered, Ashutosh, along with his associates Swapan and Sultan Ahmed, went to the KHDC office around 11:30am demanding to know why he had been served with the notice.

“They physically assaulted us as we asked him to talk with the concerned officer,” said Mofiz, one of the victims.

When contacted, Ashutosh admitted to being involved in the incident and said they had punished the KHDC staff because they had demanded bribe in order to withdraw the show-cause notice.

Mohammad Mizanur Rahman, OC at Khagrachhari Sadar police station, said they knew about the incident and the victims had been taken to Khagrachhari Sadar Hospital for primary treatment.

Protesting the assault, the KHDC staff staged a strike starting from 12pm4pm on the same day, but they returned to work following the assurance of justice from KHDC Chairman Chai Tow Aung Marma, Mizanur added.

The filing of a case with the police station in this regard was in progress, the OC confirmed. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Juris

7

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Protecting the rights of persons with disabilities

JURIS QUOTE

Ensuring dignity and equal opportunity There is but one law for all, namely, that law which governs all law, the law of our Creator, the law of humanity, justice, equity - the law of nature and of nations.

Edmund Burke

Irish statesman, author, and philosopher (1729–179)

LAW CARTOON BIG STOCK

“P

n Abdullah Al Arif

rotection of the Rights of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2013” was passed with a view to ensuring the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities.

The newly enacted law will abolish the former “Bangladesh Persons with Disability Welfare Act, 2001.” The aim of the act is to guarantee the educational, physical and mental improvement of disabled persons and to support their participation in social and state activities by removing all sorts of discrimination. Bangladesh has enacted this legislation to comply with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Persons with Disabilities, of which Bangladesh is a party to.

Who is considered as disabled?

According to the law, any person suffering from the following forms of disorders are considered as disabled: autism or autism spectrum disorders, physical disability, mental illness leading to disability, visual infirmity, speech impairment, intellectual disability, hearing infirmity, deaf-blindness, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, multiple disability, and other disabilities.

The national coordination committee for the protection of the rights of the disabled persons

A national coordination committee shall be formulated, it will be headed by the minister of ministry of social welfare and comprised of secretaries of various ministries. The primary function of the committee is to coordinate the activities undertaken by the government, constitutional and national non-government entities with a view to protecting the rights of the persons with disabilities.

Rights accorded to the disabled persons

The law stipulated 21 rights for the disabled persons. The disabled persons must get the national identity cards, and be listed in the voters roll. Even, they will be able to contest in the polls. The new law will help make the people with disabilities capable of contributing to the country’s development and welfare. According to the newly enacted law, another 19-member national executive committee, headed by the social welfare secretary, will work for national implementation of the law, and ensures the following rights:

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To survive and grow in full Legal recognition in every sphere of life, and access to justice Right to inheritance Freedom of expression and opinion, and access to information To live in a society with parents, legitimate or legal guardian and children, and to have marital relations and to form families Accessibility To participate fully and effectively in social, economic and state activities according to the type of disability To attend every level of education and educational institutions – either special or integrated, subject to the receipt of appropriate benefits To be employed in government and private institutions If disability occurs while in service, to continue in service, or to get appropriate rehabilitation To get a safe and healthy environment and protection from persecution Subject to availability, the highest quality of health services To have congenial environment for the convenience and reasonable accommodation in all areas including education and work To get appropriate service and rehabilitation to attain physical, mental and technical capacity in order to fully integrate in all aspects of the society To obtain safe housing and rehabilitation, as far as possible, for individuals with disabilities who are dependent on the parents and subsequently isolated from parents To participate in culture, entertainment, tourism, leisure and sporting activities According to the desire of hearing-impaired and speech-impaired persons, as far as possible, Bengali sign language to be accepted as the first language To have confidentiality of personal information To form self- supporting organisations and welfare associations To receive national identity cards, inclusion in the list of voters, to give vote and to participate in elections Any other rights prescribed by the government by notification in the official gazette

Reservation of seats for persons with disabilities in public transport

According to the law, five percent of the total number of seats in any public transport shall have to be reserved for persons with disabilities within the period specified by the government by notification in the official gazette. If the owner or the authority of any public transport contravenes this provision, or if any driver, supervisor or conductor does not help a disabled person to take a seat in the reserved seats, the registration of that public transport shall be cancelled upon investigation and recommendation by the committee.

Admission of disabled person in educational institutions

No educational institution shall reject the application for admission of any person only because of the disability of such person despite having all other qualifications. If any educational institution breaches this provision and discriminates against any the disabled person, the agrieved may lodge a complaint to the concerned committee.

If any such complain is received by the committee, the committee may take necessary measures against the head of the institute or the concerned authority after giving the head or the authority an opportunity to be heard.

Ensuring accessibility for disabled persons in public structures

To ensure accessibility for disabled persons in all public structures, Building Construction Act, 1952 and rules made thereunder shall be followed. After the commencement of this Act, necessary facilities have to be installed in all public structures for the disabled people to ascend, move and to make those easily accessible as soon and as much as possible. Here, public buildings mean all public and private buildings, parks, stations, ports, terminals and roads.

Non-discrimination in employment due to disability

Despite being qualified for a position, which is suitable for a disabled person according to the type of disability, no disabled person shall be deprived of or discriminated against in getting such position.

If any question arises as to whether any position is suitable for any disabled person, the national coordination committee shall provide necessary instruction and the instruction provided by the national coordination committee shall be final.

RIO SHUVO

NOTICE BOARD Send us queries for

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Knowing our constitution: The smart way n Juris Desk Many people are using Smartphones nowadays and they want everything to be in the form of apps. Good news for them. A couple of Android apps on the constitution of Bangladesh are now available on Google app store. One can download and install any of these to have the constitution of Bangladesh at their fingertips.

Here are three Android apps that may come in handy.

Bangladesh Constitution-Bangla

This is a very useful app for those who are keen on knowing the provisions of the constitution in Bengali. This application is developed in light of the latest 15th amendment of the constitution, the supreme law of the land. Through this application, users will get a working knowledge of the constitution in an easily accessible and user-friendly style.

This app was developed by Mr Rayan Marzan and supported by the education, research and public interest (ERP) wing of Amir and Amir Law associates. Version 2.1.4 of the app is available now. The size of the application is 1.2MB and currently has a 4.4 star rating on Google Play.

Constitution of Bangladesh

This is another Android app on the Bangladesh constitution which has been developed with the aim to familiarise Bangladeshi citizens with the very document that treasures their rights and obligations. The app provides our future nation-builders with easy access to the nation’s constitution. Be it for academic purpose or just to browse through during a long commute, one may use this application to help them be more informed. Tech Volunteerism has developed this application which has a 4.4 star rating on Google Play. The size of the app is 629KB.

Bangladesh Constitution

The Bangladesh Constitution app in Bengali provides an easily searchable and readable format which contains all the essential parts of the constitution. It will enrich the people’s knowledge of their nation’s laws. It ensures that a majority of the country’s citizens know the constitution. With this knowledge, we can intelligently hold our leaders accountable for the violation of our constitutional rights. The Constitution provides the legal foundation for the existence of Bangladesh, sets out the rights and duties of its citizens, and defines the structure of the government, and many more. This app is developed by MCC Ltd and has a 4.3 star rating on Google Play. The size of the app is 2.1MB.

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Israel orders cutback in contacts with Palestinians n AP, Israel Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered his ministers yesterday to cut off contact with their Palestinian counterparts, an official said, the latest in a series of troubles plaguing floundering US-brokered peace talks.

The move is retaliation for a Palestinian bid to join United Nations agencies, which the official said was a violation of the Palestinians’ commitment in the peace talks. The Palestinians dismissed the Israeli move, saying both sides rarely meet now as it is.

Under the peace talks’ terms, Israel promised to release 104 long-held Palestinian prisoners in four groups.

At the same time, the Palestinians said they would suspend a campaign to sign up Palestine, recognized by the UN General Assembly as a non-member observer state, for as many as 63 UN agencies, treaties and conventions.

Abbas signed letters of accession for 15 international conventions after Israel last week failed to release the fourth group of prisoners and renewed a push

to build homes in an Israeli settlement in east Jerusalem — the area of the holy city sought by the Palestinians for their future capital. Israel then called off the final prisoner release.

Under Netanyahu’s order, Israeli Cabinet ministers and their ministry directors can no longer meet Palestinian counterparts, though lower-level contacts will continue, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity as he wasn’t authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

The official said Israel’s chief peace negotiator, Tzipi Livni, would be exempt from Netanyahu’s order, suggesting the actual impact of the order on the talks would be minimal.

High-level contacts between top Israeli and Palestinian officials are already rare, Palestinian government spokesman Ihab Bsaiso said.

“This won’t affect our daily life or government business,” Bsaiso said.

Bsaiso did express concern that Israeli tax transfers to the Palestinians could be disrupted. Under interim peace accords, Israel collects taxes on

Sudan expels UN agency chief for ‘interfering’ n AFP, Khartoum Sudan has expelled the head of a United Nations agency in the country and accused her of interfering in domestic affairs, the foreign ministry said yesterday.

Pamela DeLargy, an American who headed the UN’s Population Fund office in Sudan (UNFPA), “was asked to leave,” ministry spokesman Abubakr al-Siddiq told AFP. “Because she was not abiding by the country’s laws, and also because she was interfering in the country’s domestic affairs in a manner that is inconsistent with her status as a UN official,” he said.

“I would also like to confirm that this move has nothing to do with the UNFPA whose missions and programmes are very much appreciated by my government.”

UN officials in Sudan declined to comment.

The incident is the latest involving foreign aid workers in the country.

Khartoum suspended activities of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Sudan from February 1, accusing it of violating guidelines for working in the war-torn country.

Aid workers have also expressed concern about access to the 6.1 million people, more than half of them in the country’s Darfur region, who need humanitarian assistance.

Since late February about 280,000 people in Darfur have been displaced or otherwise affected by fighting in Darfur.

Siddiq said Sudan “will be more than happy” to receive a replacement for DeLargy, and “will extend to him or her all the necessary assistance and cooperation within the framework of our national laws and agreements that govern relations between the Sudan and UN agencies.”

In 2009 Sudan expelled several international aid groups from Darfur after the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued an arrest warrant for President Omar al-Bashir. l

behalf of the Palestinians and then transfers the funds each month. The exact sum of the money, roughly $100 million, is set in talks between senior finance officials.

Without this money, the Palestinian Authority would have a difficult time paying the salaries of its tens of thousands of employees. Israel’s Finance Ministry did not immediately reply to requests for comment.

Netanyahu’s order is the latest step by Israel to sanction the Palestinians for their UN bid. Israel also has prevented Palestinian mobile phone company Wataniya from transferring equipment to Gaza.

In the past week, the US has been trying to salvage the peace talks, brokering a series of meetings between the two sides.

US Secretary of State John Kerry, who has been leading the effort, appeared to single out Israel for the faltering talks Tuesday, saying Israel refused to release prisoners as promised and advanced plans to build new settlements. “And, poof, that was sort of the moment. We find ourselves where we are.” l

Doctors Without Borders blasts UN in South Sudan n AP, Juba The aid group Doctors Without Borders says the United Nations South Sudan mission is refusing to move 21,000 displaced people from a UN base to safer grounds before the rainy season.

Doctors Without Borders said Wednesday the decision by senior UN personnel is a “shocking display of indifference” to refugees who could be exposed to waterborne diseases and potential epidemics.

The aid group said it questions the UN’s commitment to meeting the needs of the country’s most vulnerable people.

The group said upcoming seasonal rains will endanger the refugees. It wants the refugees moved to higher grounds less affected by floods.

The UN spokeswoman in South Sudan, Arianne Quentier, said the UN is aware of the dangers at the camp and that people are being moved out. l

Iran, six powers face ‘significant gaps’ in nuclear talks n Reuters, Vienna Negotiators from Iran and six world powers struggled yesterday to narrow “significant gaps” in talks aimed at clearing the way for a long-term accord on curbing Tehran’s nuclear programme.

The negotiators from Iran and the so-called P5-plus-one - the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany - plan after their two days of talks inVienna to start drafting the agreement to meet a self-imposed July 20 deadline.

“The Iranians clearly have a sense of urgency to get a deal done, as does the P5+1,” a Western diplomat close to the talks told Reuters.

“We know that there are still some significant gaps that remain and know this process will not be easy. But we’re all committed to getting it (the draft) done

by July 20,” he said, in an assessment echoed by other Western diplomats.

The toughest areas to be tackled are Iran’s future uranium enrichment capacity, nuclear facilities that Western powers believe have little or no civilian value, and future nuclear research work, as well as a schedule of steps to remove the international sanctions that have crippled Iran’s economy.

Background tensions over Russia’s involvement in Ukraine and Western threats of further sanctions against Moscow and over the US denial of a

visa for Iran’s proposed new UN envoy in New York have so far not harmed the nuclear talks, diplomats say.

A senior Iranian official said Tehran was seeking to protect its “red lines” in what he said were “difficult” negotiations. “Iran wants a deal in which its rights have been considered,” the official said. “The talks have entered a very difficult stage. Making progress is difficult.”

The six powers’ goal is to extend the “breakout” period Iran would need to develop an atomic weapon as much as possible. US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Tuesday the current Western view of that period is two months.

UNWRAPPING MUMMIES’ ANCIENT MYSTERIES

The Mummy of Tamut, a temple singer around 900 BC, is shown during a press conference at the British Museum in London. Scientists at the museum have used CT scans and volume graphics software to go beneath the bandages, revealing the skin, bones, internal organs, and in one case a brain-scooping rod left inside a skull by embalmers. The results are going on display in an exhibition which sets eight of the museum’s mummies alongside detailed 3-D images of their insides AP

Pro-Russian activists stand near a barricade set in front of regional state administrative building in eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk.

Ukraine was threatened with disintegration on Tuesday as pro-Kremlin militants seized government buildings in the eastern city of Donetsk, declared independence and vowed to vote on joining Russia AFP

Ukraine issues 48-hour ultimatum to east’s pro-Russia activists n Agencies Ukraine’s interior minister warned pro-Russian activists who had taken over state buildings in eastern cities to enter talks to find a political solution or face “force.” Arsen Avakov said the situation would “be resolved in 48 hours” either way. Earlier, some of those who had been inside security service offices in Luhansk since Sunday left the building.

The EU, Russia, US and Ukraine are to meet next week in the first four-way meeting since the crisis erupted. The talks are aimed at breaking the impasse since Russia annexed the southern Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea in February. Russian troops are now massed along the borders of the two countries.

Tensions have been high since government buildings in the eastern cities of Luhansk, Donetsk and Kharkiv were taken over by pro-Russian activists on Sunday.

Avakov said an “anti-terrorist operation” was under way in the three regions and would be concluded within

the next two days.

“There are two options,” he told journalists, “political settlement through talks or the use of force. For those who want dialogue, we propose talks and a political solution. For the minority who want conflict they will get a forceful answer from the Ukrainian authorities.”

‘For the minority who want conflict they will get a forceful answer’ The leader of the armed activists inside the state security service building in Luhansk has appealed to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin for help.

Calling Luhansk the “last remaining hope for all Ukraine,” the man identified only as Vitaly said: “Mr Putin, have mercy on your fighters. If you lose us

then you will lose the last hope to create a good neighbour.”

Earlier, Ukraine’s security service said 56 people held inside its Luhansk offices had been allowed to leave following two rounds of negotiations with local politicians. On Tuesday, it said “radicals” were armed and holding 60 people against their will. It is not clear exactly how many people remain in the building.

During a rally outside the building overnight, speakers condemned the interim leadership in Kiev and repeated their call for a referendum on whether to seek greater regional autonomy, the Associated Press reports.

Ukraine’s authorities said on Tuesday they had retaken control of the government building in Kharkiv.

Meanwhile, Moscow has warned Ukraine that using force to end the protests could lead to civil war. Moscow has so far refused to recognise the new authorities in Kiev following the ousting of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych in February. l

New computer game targets Iran opposition figures n AFP, Tehran

Saudi mulls end to sports ban in girls’ state schools

A new computer game is available online in Iran that allows players to shoot opposition figures involved in the disputed 2009 presidential election, media reported yesterday.

The free flash-based game resembles a shoddy knock-off of Doom, a popular horror-themed game in the 90s that pioneered first-person genre, and was produced by a local media company run by “youths faithful to the Islamic revolution,” according to its website.

The company says the game allows the player to “confront symbols of sedition” – a term coined in the aftermath of the 2009 presidential election to describe pro-reform supporters who disputed the poll’s result.

The player must shoot the targets – the heads of Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, two opposition leaders who have been kept incommunicado under house arrests since February 2011 – and reformist ex-president Mohammad Khatami.

The game has drawn fire Iranian reformists and according to the media, the organisation tasked with issuing licences for video games produced in Iran is reporting it to the authorities.

“Its producers did not put forward any requests for a licence,” Hossein Moazami, an official at Iran’s computer and video games foundation, was quoted as saying by the Arman daily.

“Therefore, the relevant authorities at the culture ministry, police and the judiciary will be informed,” Moazami said without commenting on the game’s content.

The game is named “The Return of Mokhtar” and is to be found at: http://www.honarenab.ir/Hadaya/ Bazi/Bazgasht_Mokhtar.aspx Nearly five years after the disputed election that sparked unprecedented street protests and highlighted cracks within Iran’s ruling elite remains a bone of contention between hardliners and reformists. l

Saudi Arabia is considering ending its controversial ban on sports in girls’ state schools, after its consultative council recommended the ban be lifted over vociferous opposition from traditionalists.

Following a heated debate on Tuesday, the Shura Council recommended that the longstanding ban, already relaxed in private schools in May last year, be ended altogether, state media reported. The appointed body, whose 150 members are overwhelmingly male, can only pass on its recommendation to the education ministry and has no powers to impose

n AFP, Jeddah

it. All education in Saudi Arabia is strictly single-sex, but sports in girls schools remains a sensitive issue in the ultra-conservative Muslim kingdom where women have to cover from head to toe when in public.

Opponents argued that girls’ state schools lacked sports facilities and rejected supporters’ claims that sports provision would help combat rising childhood obesity, an aide to the Shura Council chairman said. But the council finally approved the recommendation after agreeing that it did not run counter to the strict version of Islamic sharia law imposed in the kingdom. l

Archie will be killed off in upcoming comic book! n Agencies American television channel CNN broke the news about the impending death of Archie Andrews, the happy-go-lucky redhead from Riverdale and star of “Archie” comics. But the truth of his demise is complicated.

Archie will meet his end in “Life With Archie,” a flash-forward series that depicts two possible futures for the character as an adult: one in which he marries Betty and one in which he is wedded to Veronica.

The cover of issue No. 36 of “Life with Archie” shows him in a pool of blood, cradled by the two most important women in his life, with his eyes closed and shirt soaked red. (The “real” Archie, who is eternally a teenager, and whose adventures continue in “Archie,” is unaffected by these grim events.)

Issue No. 36 will be available in July.

“Archie dies as he lived — honourably, and saving the life of a friend,” Jon Goldwater, the publisher and co-chief executive of Archie Comics, said in a statement. “It’s a fitting end to our flagship title, ‘Life with Archie,’ and truly showcases what Archie’s

meant to fans for over 70 years. He’s the best of us, and a hugely important part of pop culture. This is comic book history.”

Issue No. 37 of the series will flash forward another year and show how the gang, including Jughead and Reggie, are coping with his absence. The stories are written by Paul Kupperberg and illustrated by Pat and Tim Kennedy and Fernando Ruiz.

Archie Comic Publications, whose title character made his debut in issue No. 22 of Pep Comics in 1941, has been on a surge of renewed cultural relevance since 2009.

That year saw the publication of issue No. 600 of “Archie” and the events leading up to his proposing to Veronica Lodge. But a twist came in November, when readers also saw Archie propose to Betty Cooper. No bigamy here, though that might have been easier to follow. Instead, the comic showed possible futures for the character. Seeing Archie take the next step was popular with readers. Issue No. 600 sold around 54,000 copies. By contrast, previous issues sold around 2,500 copies. Interest in his married life led to the “Life With Archie” series. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Indonesia election poll shows rise in Islamic party support n Reuters, Jakarta Indonesians voted for a new parliament yesterday with initial counts showing the main opposition party ahead but less convincingly than expected, meaning it might have to make deals with other parties to nominate its candidate for president.

In another surprise, Islamic parties appeared to have won more support than predicted. Though Indonesia is home to the world’s largest Muslim population, many analysts thought Islamic parties were losing their appeal because of graft scandals and the greater popularity of more pluralist parties.

The main opposition Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle (PDI-P) had been expected to easily win enough votes to nominate popular Jakarta governor Joko Widodo, who is widely known as Jokowi, as its candidate in a July presidential election.

Opinion polls indicate Jokowi will easily win the presidential vote but early quick counts on Wednesday suggested his party might not win enough votes to let it nominate him without forming a coalition with one or more of the 11 other parties contesting the parliamentary vote.

“Parliament is likely to be very fragmented because many parties have gotten a relatively big share of votes, and their bargaining power will be pretty much the same,” said Philips Vermonte, political analyst at Jakarta-based think-tank CSIS. Party officials put on a brave face.

“Hopefully ... PDI-P will able to meet the target of above 20 percent, so we can nominate Joko Widodo as presidential candidate,” said Puan Maharani, daughter of party chief Megawati Sukarnoputri.

New ping signals spark confidence in MH370 search n Reuters, Sydney/Perth

The party needs 25% of the national vote, or 20% of seats in parliament, to nominate Jokowi on its own.

After 80% of vote results were compiled by CSIS from 2,000 polling booths across the world’s third largest democracy. PDI-P had 19% of the vote.

Islamic vote increases

The quick count also showed that the five Islamic parties had won 32% of the vote, up from 29% for eight such parties contesting the 2009 election.

Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s biggest economy, has about 500,000 polling stations and more than 186 million registered voters.

The resource-rich country’s embrace of democracy since the downfall of former authoritarian leader Suharto 16 years ago has seen four different presidents and repeated change of the leading party.

News of the weaker than expected performance by PDI-P put some pressure on the rupiah in the offshore market.

Predictions of a Jokowi presidency and strong showing by his party hade helped lift shares prices and the rupiah, Asia’s best performing currency this year, in the hope that it would bring a more decisive government.

Campaigning has been notable for its lack of policy initiatives to give the economy a boost. Growth is expected to be a little more than 5% this year, but has weakened partly on the fall in commodity prices.

Jokowi has offered little clue to his policies but his popularity rests heavily on his no-nonsense style in running the capital, demanding his bureaucrats perform their jobs properly and by focusing many policies on improving the lives of ordinary Jakartans. l

9

Pakistani volunteers collect the remains of the blast victims at the site of a bomb explosion in a fruit and vegetable market in Islamabad.

The explosion killed at least 22 people and wounded 50 others AFP

Bomb in Pakistan fruit market kills 22 n AFP, Islamabad A bomb tore through a bustling fruit and vegetable market in Islamabad yesterday, killing at least 22 people, police said, the latest violence to hit government peace talks with the Taliban.

The blast took place around 8:00 am (0300 GMT) at the wholesale market close to the Pakistani capital’s twin city Rawalpindi, as hundreds of grocers and sellers gathered to trade.

The bombing – the deadliest to hit Islamabad since a huge truck bomb at the Marriott Hotel in 2008 – left a 1.5-metre (five-foot) diameter crater and littered the site with body parts and guava fruits drenched in blood, an AFP reporter at the scene said.

The attack comes as the government

tries to negotiate an end to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan’s (TTP) campaign of violence.

Talks began between government and TTP intermediaries in February, but more than 160 people have been killed in attacks since the start of the process, leading many to question its worth.

Javaid Qazi, the vice-chancellor of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital, said 22 people had been killed and 96 wounded in the blast.

The TTP’s main spokesman Shahidullah Shahid said the group had nothing to do with the attack and urged the government to find those responsible.

Meanwhile, senior local administration official Nauman Yousuf told AFP “it was a planted bomb.”

A bomb disposal official told AFP on condition of anonymity that the device hidden in a fruit box weighed five to six kilograms (11 to 13 pounds) and was packed with nuts and bolts to cause maximum carnage.

Thousands have been killed in militant violence since the TTP rose up against the Pakistani state in 2007 but attacks on the capital, much of which is heavily guarded, have been rare in recent years.

Wednesday’s blast came a little over a month after a gun and suicide bomb attack on a court complex in Islamabad killed 11 people including a judge.

Fighting has erupted between rival TTP factions since Sunday and four more people were killed in South Waziristan tribal agency yesterday. l

Australian officials said yesterday two new “ping” signals had been detected in the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, boosting confidence after more than a month of fruitless searching for the missing jetliner.

The signals, which could be from the plane’s black box recorders, bring to four the number of overall “pings” detected in recent days within the search area by a US Navy “Towed Pinger Locator”(TPL).

Angus Houston, head of the Australian agency coordinating the search, struck an optimistic tone when announcing the information, but urged caution as the task of searching the remote Indian Ocean region remained enormous.

“I’m now optimistic that we will find the aircraft...in the not too distant future,” Houston told reporters.

The black boxes may provide answers about what happened to the plane, which was carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew when it vanished on March 8 and flew thousands of kilometers off its Kuala Lumpur-to-Beijing route.

But the batteries in the beacons have already reached the end of their 30-day expected life, making efforts to swiftly locate them all the more critical. However, officials said they can last for as long as two weeks beyond that time.

That meant the search was becoming even more of a race against time, said Houston. “I mean, we are looking at this stage for transmissions that are probably weaker than they would have been early on because the batteries of both devices are passed their use-by date and they will very shortly fail,” he said.

An autonomous underwater vehicle named Bluefin-21 is onboard the Australian navy vessel the Ocean Shield, which could be sent to look for wreckage on the sea floor once the search area is narrowed down. l

Maoist rebels kill three in India election attack

VOTE: THE ULTIMATE POWER STATEMENT

n AFP, New Delhi

for tribal groups, Vij said.

Meanwhile, security was tight in constituencies in the four small northeastern states close to the disputed border with China. They were part of the second wave of voting in the election, which has been staggered to allow security forces time to redeploy.

Voters flocked early to polling stations in Arunachal Pradesh state, an eastern stretch of the Himalayas that China claims as its own, despite pouring rain overnight, the Press Trust of India news agency reported.

Hundreds of extra security forces have been deployed in neighbouring and underdeveloped Nagaland state – where rebels have long waged a campaign for more rights – for polling day.

Six seats were up for grabs on Wednesday in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Manipur, often neglected states in a part of India wedged between China, Bangladesh and Myanmar.

A third phase of voting is scheduled for Thursday which will be by far the biggest to date, with constituencies in 14 states including the capital region heading to the ballot box.

As well as Vadodara, Modi is also set to stand for a second seat in the northern holy Hindu city of Varanasi on the river Ganges in the battleground state of Uttar Pradesh. l

An Indian cyclist rides past a voter-awareness billboard in New Delhi. The second phase of India’s national election, which began on April 7, got under way yesterday. The election is likely to sweep the Hindu nationalist opposition to power at a time of low growth, anger over corruption and warnings about religious unrest AFP

Maoist rebels killed three soldiers guarding polling officials in central India yesterday, highlighting security concerns in the world’s biggest elections as the second phase of voting got under way.

The rebels staged the attack in Chhattisgarh state in the country’s insurgency-racked centre one day before polling is held there, as voters in the restive northeast of the country cast their ballots.

In Chhattisgarh, police said rebels attacked a convoy of paramilitary commandos as they were returning from escorting election officials to a polling station, 415 kilometres (260 miles) south of the state capital Raipur.

“In a gunbattle with the Maoists, three commandos of the central paramilitary forces were killed in the Chintagufa area,” chief of the state’s anti-Maoist operations Rajinder Kumar Vij told AFP. Three soldiers were injured.

The deaths underscored the security challenges facing election organisers in India. Separatist and Maoist insurgencies afflict large parts of the northeast, northwest and forested central areas.

Another three soldiers were injured elsewhere in Chhattisgarh when they stepped on a mine laid by rebels, who have been waging a decades-long campaign for greater land and other rights

China recruits ‘guardian angels’ to protect embattled doctors

India’s mission to Mars crosses half-way mark

n Reuters, Shanghai China’s capital Beijing is taking a novel approach to protecting doctors from growing levels of violence from angry patients: volunteer “guardian angels.”

The campaign will recruit students, medical workers and other patients to act as middlemen between doctors and those in their care to defuse disagreements and smooth over tensions, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Wednesday.

Doctors in China have come under increasing threat as the country’s healthcare system struggles to cope with low doctor numbers, poor levels of training and rampant corruption inflating the price of care. This has seen a number of fatal attacks by patients on doctors in the past year.

“Patients will understand doctors better after talking with our volun-

teers,” Feng Guosheng, head of the Beijing Municipal Administration of Hospitals told Xinhua, adding services would include “hospital guidance” and “psychological intervention.”

The campaign will recruit students, medical workers and other patients to act as middlemen between doctors and those in their care China’s government stepped up security at hospitals earlier this year, posting police at some centers and increasing surveillance after a rise in attacks. In February a doctor in northern Heilong-

jiang province was beaten to death by an angry patient, while another was stabbed in October last year.

The Beijing campaign will recruit over 1,500 volunteers to serve a oneyear term across 21 hospitals in the capital, Xinhua reported, citing another city official Wei Jiang.

In the latest attack on medical staff, a 45-year-old man unhappy with the results of his circumcision and its cost stabbed a doctor to death in the eastern province of Jiangsu, Xinhua said in a separate piece.

Providing affordable, accessible healthcare is one of the key platforms of president Xi Jinping’s new government, but China’s healthcare bill is set to hit $1 trillion by 2020, according to a report from McKinsey & Co. Authorities have previously said they will increase punishment of those who cause disruption in medical institutions. l

Kim Jong-Un ‘re-elected’ n AFP, Seoul Kim Jong-Un was yesterday “re-elected” as North Korea’s leader, state media said, as parliament met in a session closely watched for power shifts in the secretive regime following the shock execution of his once-powerful uncle.

The new parliament is expected to endorse personnel changes that observers say are likely to affect a number of officials linked to his “traitor” uncle Jang Song-Thaek. Kim was reaffirmed as First Chairman of the powerful National Defence Commission (NDC) by the new parliament, in a show of “absolute support and trust of all service personnel and people in him,” the Korean Central News Agency said.

The rubber-stamp assembly – the first under the leadership of Kim who took over from his father in December 2011 – gathered after North Koreans last month cast ballots in pre-determined elections where all candidates were unopposed. l

n AFP, Bangalore India’s first mission to Mars successfully crossed the half-way mark yesterday, four months after leaving on an voyage to the Red Planet scheduled to take 11 months, the space agency said.

“The spacecraft crossed the halfway mark Wednesday at 9:50am on its journey to Mars,” the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said in a statement from the southern city of Bangalore.

“The spacecraft and its five scientific instruments are in good health.”

The gold-coloured probe, the size of a small car, will aim to detect methane in the Martian atmosphere, which could provide evidence of some sort of life form on the fourth planet from the Sun. The country has never before attempted inter-planetary travel, and

more than half of all missions to Mars have ended in failure, including China’s in 2011 and Japan’s in 2003.

The low-cost Mars Orbiter Mission, known as “Mangalyaan” in India, was revealed in August 2012 by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, shortly after China’s attempt flopped.

The timing and place of the announcement – in an Independence Day speech – led to speculation that India was seeking to make a point to its militarily and economically superior neighbour, despite denials from ISRO. NASA has also launched a spacecraft to Mars, on a mission to study how the air on the planet has changed over time, and is also expected to reach its destination in September.

India’s mission cost 4.5 billion rupees ($75 million), a fraction of the cost of the US unmanned MAVEN spacecraft at $671 million. l

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Letters to

www.dhakatribune.com

Make effective use of PPP for infrastructure

W

e welcome this week’s agreement by the Asian Development Bank to lend US$110m to support infrastructure development under PPP schemes.

Building new and improved power capacity, roads, and water networks is essential to accelerate development, both by stimulating local productivity and by increasing the country’s attractiveness to overseas investors.

It is helpful that the World Bank and Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) will also be providing further contributions worth $195m to top up $50m coming from private sector investors for projects managed by the government’s Infrastructure Development Company Ltd (IDCOL).

The World Bank board has also approved $210m of further funding to build 8 new food silos to improve the country’s food security. The new silos, which are scheduled to be built by June 2020, will increase capacity by over a third and be designed to preserve food for longer periods of up to four to five years.

Having a sensible mixture of projects and objectives can help ensure that PPP schemes are implemented efficiently. It is encouraging to see the new finance targeting schemes to help communities across the country and in more remote areas, via for instance IDCOL’s successful programs to finance off-grid solar home systems for households and small businesses.

The government should build on successful PPP projects to leverage new funding for investment in infrastructure to secure long-term growth and productivity.

New power capacity, roads, and water networks are essential to secure long-term growth

CERN’s example of excellence

W

e welcome news that CERN is going to sign a memorandum of understanding with the government to cooperate in the field of science and technology.

As the biggest, most prestigious research institute for particle physics in the world, CERN (European Organisation for Nuclear Research), can provide tremendous inspiration as well as valuable practical support to Bangladeshi scientists and students.

The Geneva-based laboratory, which hosts over 10,000 visiting scientists and engineers from around the world, will run workshops for teachers and invite a student to Switzerland for two months training.

CERN’s giant particle accelerators attracted popular attention in 2012 when they proved the existence of the Higgs-Boson particle.

The so-called “god particle” was in part named after Satyendra Nath Bose, for his breakthrough work at Dhaka University in the 1920s, in collaboration with Albert Einstein, which underlies the concepts of the boson and Bose–Einstein statistics.

It is apt then that Bangladesh should look to future by seeking to work closer with CERN. This is not just about high-end research in fundamental scientific laws. Projects in Big Science have often led to spinoffs that benefit daily life in ways which are now taken for granted. CERN itself was home to the invention by Tim Berners Lee of the world wide web.

We hope that by improving teacher training, this agreement will help develop more world class scientists and research within Bangladesh and provide a step towards the country applying for associate membership of the organisation.

Thursday, April 10, 2014

the Editor

LETTER OF THE DAY

SM Morshed: A unique voice April 5

They just don’t make people like him anymore; rather what we have are hand-picked rubber-stampers who seem to disregard the blatant, open air, fully documented and photographed vote-rigging that has taken place in the UZ elections.

Sam

People in glass houses

Muhith: Ministers should maintain manners April 2

Mr Muhith is right when he says that ministers should practice manners. This interestingly applies to himself in that he too should refrain from calling others rubbish and nonsensical. deep purple blue

April 2

Humaira This is a very brave article. It is extremely important to remind ourselves that meaningful change can only happen if we are willing to fix our own problems as well as tackling those of, and created by, others. What the writer points out regarding the ACC could not be more accurate. Particularly interesting is the fact that the Army administration was so easily accepted due to the anti-corruption drive. The incumbent government does indeed have its flaws but if it – or any other party – can sincerely commit to an unbiased and objective anti-corruption movement, that would be a significant step in the right direction.

Ronnie This reads like a very convoluted mouthful of thoughts and prescriptions. The Anti-Corruption Commission, from its inception and laudable mission, has fast morphed into an opaque, intimidatory body with very inconsistent goals and policies. The military regime that had revived the ACC, after their takeover in early-2007, then went on to cynically exploit public enthusiasm for bringing the corrupt politicians to book, by resorting to a sometimes arbitrary and dubious drive against alleged wrong-doers.

Many people have reason to believe that, in the case of certain individuals, charges of malfeasance have been trumped-up or inflated. This is not to remotely say that we don’t have gratuitously sinning and corrupt people inhabiting the corridors of power, and outside it, for sundry years from the past. But the author glibly overstates the case in his concluding paragraph. I’d argue that it is just as inaccurate and unfair to say that there is not a single individual of any political party in Bangladesh who can be considered clean, not venal, as it is to pretend that our political parties are comprised largely by unimpeachable men. Sadly, the ACC has failed to attain the credibility it desperately needs to address issues of innocence and guilt in our political playground of mostly sinners, and few saints. The body has proved just as susceptible to pernicious political pressures and egregious expediency as many had predicted it would. nds Ronnie: Be it convoluted or straightened the essence of what he says is incontrovertible. At the

moment corruption-free politicians or administrators having the requisite authority or even the minimal semblance of authority are really very rare. To trace an honest person from among those having any scope to reap benefit through corrupt means would require a very, very powerful doubly magnified electronic microscope. We can write volumes of theses on how to wipe out corruption but it would hardly have any bearing on the ongoing corruption.

Ronnie nds: Oh, I have already said I have no quarrel with the author’s essential argument in this article. I just don’t subscribe to the overly cynical and dismissive generalisations of all our politicians that many of you make.

Honest, competent politicians of proven integrity aren’t as rare in this country as many people believe or claim. Alas, they simply aren’t strong or brave enough to confront and override the mightier party oligarchies and entrenched corruption/cronyism etc.

My issue with the article is the author’s continuing apparent prejudice against one party inside only a veneer of impartiality and balance, but more importantly, his glaring lack of a compelling critique of the ACC’s record, so far.

Masud Khan Excellent and well-thought out piece – as for the piece not taking a jackhammer in hitting the point, I expect that it is intentional. In times where criticism of the system is a likely invitation to, at the very least, an intimidating phone call or visit, an incisive piece such as this should be celebrated for its nuanced content – even if it requires some effort from the reader in working through it.

Reminds me of my late father’s pieces in the Holiday from the mid-60s to the mid-70s. Well done, Ikhti.

Ronnie Masud Khan: Still, I’d have liked a bit more precision, and a little less equivocation. That said, it’s an important article about an issue that concerns us all mightily. Also, I still read the Holiday. I remember regularly contributing to “Letter to the Editor” and even many full-length articles to that paper about a decade ago. I’m assuming that you’re the son of the late great Enayetullah Khan (RIP). He was a one-off. I miss him immensely.

Teesta Barrage road march start on April 8 April 2

Good idea but why two marches on two different dates? They should be able to unite for a common cause – after all, they are not dealing with the distribution of patronage. Please unite and march together – thanks!

DB

UK submarine joins search for missing plane

April 3 Waste of time, and waste of money.

Zebrul Hossain

Dhaka seeks WB budget assistance for next FY

April 2 Whatever happened to WB conspiring against the great and patriotic example that Abul is to the younger generation, as our PM had claimed?

Ahnaf Saber

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CALVIN AND HOBBES

CERN can provide tremendous inspiration to Bangladeshi scientists and students

PEANUTS

CROSSWORD

SUDOKU ACROSS 1 Emphasise (6) 5 Fish (3) 7 Tool (3) 8 Spoil (6) 11 Tear (3) 12 Greek letter (5) 14 Sibilate (4) 16 Postpone (5) 18 Lazy person (5) 20 Tidy (4) 21 To one side (5) 23 Morse element (3) 24 Seagoing soldier (6) 27 Sailor (3) 28 Slender stick (3) 29 Pick out (6)

DOWN 1 Drink slowly (3) 2 Male sheep (3) 3 Deprives of cover (7) 4 Appear to be (4) 5 Bottle for the table (6) 6 Leave (6) 9 Greedy (4) 10 Colour (3) 13 Army rank (7) 14 Obstruct (6) 15 Reviewed unsparingly (6) 17 Deserve (4) 19 Edge (3) 22 Fruit (4) 25 Wrath (3) 26 Newt (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

Thursday, April 10, 2014

11

Is Modi a false economic messiah? n Salil Tripathi

T

Our banking system needs to get its act together

T

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BIGSTOCK

D

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Y

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Banking on reform

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n Mamun Rashid

inance Minister AMA Muhith again captured media headlines by saying the central bank has lied to the IMF about its independence.

He said, other than the selection and firing of state-owned bank directors, the central bank calls the shots on everything in the country’s financial sector, especially banks. However, the central bank seniors and a few of their well-wishers still feel that the watchdog agency should be given full control of the state-owned banks just like private commercial banks.

I was lecturing at a training session on trade fraud. In the question and answer session, a bank executive asked me: “Sir, could an independent central bank have helped avoid the Hallmark scam?”

Considering the recent debates sparked over the central bank’s independence and few central bank seniors raising some objections, I wanted to avoid the answer. However I could not. Though I always felt that an independent, strong, and effective central bank could play a significant role in improving the overall banking environment in the country, at the same time, I don’t think that central bank’s autonomy had much to do with the Hallmark scam.

Unfortunately, we had to swallow a lot of “knowledge donations” regarding the possible causes of the Hallmark episode from people without adequate knowledge on international trade, risk analysis, risk management, bank limit, audit, governance, or information technology in banking or financial institutions.

Any humble student of banking could say Hallmark is a glaring example of the failures of our banking sector. It showed the control failure in state-owned commercial banks. The head office didn’t have enough control

over the branches, and didn’t have adequate knowledge about what was really happening in the branches.

It also demonstrates noncompliance with the procedures of “accommodation bill” and bill discounting under bank limit. Nobody was keeping track of the transactions happening within the same group entities under Hallmark in the same branch of a state-owned bank and the continuous diversion of funds to other banks.

Most importantly, banks are not in command of the required and relevant information due to absence of the right information technology platform, or because of a weak management information system or inappropriate record-keeping process.

While banks’ lending capabilities are constrained by a percentage of their capital and reserve, the large clients can enjoy a “loan festival” without any relevance to their capital and reserve.

Banks are increasingly becoming subservient or captive to big business groups

Local banks are happily taking exposures under bank limit on another bank without analysing the underlying fundamentals, strengths, or weaknesses of the respective banks.

Nobody in the bank branches, as well as the head office, were monitoring the outstanding amounts against the bank limits and some people even thought that they could take any risk on Sonali Bank because it is a government of Bangladesh undertaking.

The documentation, as well as validation process, in “local or domestic trade” is very weak in Bangladesh.

In many cases, letters of credit are established after the goods have been shipped in order to formalise the payment process. Banks are increasingly becoming subservient or captive to big business groups, in most occasions drawings by the large groups are heavily in excess of their overall sales numbers or turnover.

Added to these were of course the lack of accountability in the state-owned banks, politicisation of the board, and maybe the entire banking system including weak or no human resource development practices and performance management culture.

Strong control over the CEO and board appointment process of the state-owned banks might have helped the central bank to dictate timely submission of the returns, put up a proper audit plan on them, or even impose a better asset-liability management plan. But I don’t think it would have helped a bank like Sonali Bank to avoid a scam of this magnitude.

We need a better risk appraisal culture, data processing, mining, and analysing capability with well-trained human resources to detect or protect fraud or risk managers to identify and mitigate transaction risks in order to make sure we do not encounter further surprises like Hallmark.

Who does not want the central bank to enjoy autonomy to formulate an effective monetary policy, or even in a transition economy like Bangladesh to achieve respectable supervisory strength to protect the depositor’s interest? Having said that, I would rather put my money more on the banks to improve their human resources, rewrite their transaction or audit manuals or checklists, ensure establishment of a proper risk appraisal and approval process with an effective information technology delivery platform, and, more importantly, make sure that the internal control and compliance process is working.

We also want our central bank to improve their “offsite supervision,” increase the use of technology in bank supervision, and, more importantly, their senior officials to start learning and appreciating the “practical way” of handling international trade transactions and large loans or treasury management.

However, one important thing needs to be remembered by all concerned – no matter how much we improve our systems, process, or platform, nothing can stop fraud and forgery in banks unless we recruit better people, who are capable but non-controversial, in senior positions in regulatory, supervisory, business planning, and development affairs.

We have come a long way in the last four decades or so. Reforms have worked to some extent for our financial sector. Now we need to get our act together, look beyond our personal interest, and learn from our mistakes to build a respectable banking sector.

Central bank independence only on paper and closing the banking division at the Ministry of Finance may not be enough. l Mamun Rashid is a business professor and financial sector entrepreneur.

he Indian economy grew just 3.2% in 2012, a steep fall from the 6.3% expansion seen in 2011 and double-digit growth in 2010. Such a decline does not help a government in an election year. The business mood is dismal, and many blame the ruling coalition.

No government can maintain fast-paced growth in perpetuity if it is honest about its statistics, but India is a land of rising expectations.

Nearly a quarter of a century after India jettisoned socialistic policies, people increasingly feel the economy should only grow quickly and that everyone has the right to become prosperous.

That is not easy to deliver. India has creaky infrastructure, bureaucratic hurdles, an inflexible labour market, idiosyncratic rules about foreign ownership, and pervasive corruption.

These are all reasons why the country has continued to underachieve.

If opinion polls are accurate, this is all about to change. The Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, also known as the Indian People’s Party, is in the lead and could emerge as the single-largest force after elections in a few weeks. Its candidate for prime minister is Narendra Modi, chief minister of the state of Gujarat. Many hail him as a “messiah” who will deliver a market-driven economy.

Happy captains

The corporate community adores Modi. His periodic “Vibrant Gujarat” summits boast of the business-friendly regulatory environment of his state, which lies just north of Mumbai.

Captains of industry like Mukesh Ambani and Ratan Tata have praised Modi’s rule in Gujarat. Tata Motors in 2008 moved a factory project for its groundbreaking Nano car from West Bengal, where local farmers fiercely opposed the company’s use of land, to Gujarat, where Modi offered sweet terms including cheap property and easy access to loans.

Investors, meanwhile, praise the quality of Gujarat’s ports and roads and credit Modi with reducing corruption and red tape.

Economists like Columbia University’s Jagdish Bhagwati and Arvind Panagariya support the “Gujarat model” and say the state’s encouragement of private entrepreneurship, if extended nationwide, could transform India. A new study backed by the Cato Institute ranks Gujarat highest among all Indian states in terms of “economic freedom.”

Yet that should not be surprising – Gujarati people are traditionally entrepreneurial and the state has historically been business-oriented. It had superior roads and good ports well before Modi became chief minister in 2001. The Ambani family, for example, made major investments in the state in the 1980s, when Modi was nowhere in the scene.

Some investment projects in Gujarat have the scent of cronyism. A recent article in Forbes Asia revealed how the Adani group, which is close to Modi, has been allowed to lease graz-

ing land in Gujarat at well below market rates, then turn around and sublet it out at huge profits. Modi’s fans deny he did anything wrong. His critics say this is just one example of businesses prospering by cozying up to the state government. Does Modi favour capitalism, or certain capitalists?

Citizens have to decide whether a politician so tainted deserves to lead India

While Modi speaks with what supporters call Reaganesque verve, and offers pro-market mantras and bon mots, he has also sounded protectionist at times. He has lamented the decline of some industries – such as textile manufacturing in Gujarat – that have failed precisely because of market forces.

He has also criticised India’s “dependence” on electronics imports. And his party has many politicians who are suspicious of foreign investment.

“India is a country, not a market” was an early slogan of the BJP. In a damning paper, UK-based economists Maitreesh Ghatak and Sanchari Roy debunk Modi’s cheerleaders. They point out that other states have also shown high growth and that Gujarat’s rate was already well above the national average in the decades before Modi came to power. In fact, the gap between Gujarat’s growth rate and the rest of the country has narrowed during Modi’s time at the helm. A rising tide lifts all boats, after all.

The paper also notes that while Gujarat’s human development index – a measure that accounts for non-income-related factors such as education and health – exceeded the national average in the 1980s and 1990s, it slowed in the 2000s and fell behind the rest of the country. Similarly, the level of inequality in Gujarat has risen with Modi in charge.

Detractors such as Ghatak and Roy also blast Modi as a right-wing Hindu nationalist who failed to contain the 2002 Gujarat riots. About 1,000 people died, the majority of them Muslims.

The violence resulted in a 10-year diplomatic boycott of Gujarat by the UK government, as well as the imprisonment of one senior Modi aide on murder and other charges. A court-appointed investigation concluded there was not enough evidence to prosecute Modi himself, but a victim’s widow has appealed that decision.

Citizens have to decide whether a politician so tainted deserves to lead India. In doing so, they will also reveal what kind of nation they want India to be. l Salil Tripathi is contributing editor at Caravan Magazine and Mint, the newspaper, in India.

He lives in London. This article was first published in Nikkei Asian Review.

The land of lost content n William B Milam

“I

nto my heart an air that kills from far yon country blows …

That is the land of lost content, I see it shining plain …”

My friend, Ali Riaz, has published an excellent piece in the April edition of Current History on “The Crisis of Democracy in Bangladesh.” It reminded me of AE Houseman’s nostalgic poem of loss — possibly of happy memories, but more likely painful ones – contentment lost through missed opportunities or bad decisions.

Riaz makes the latter case linking the present political crisis to the continuation of the economic and social progress in Bangladesh.

This is the crux of the issue. The political box into which the country’s political leaders have dragged it will undoubtedly erode the enormous economic gains made by Bangladesh in the past two decades, in part by releasing political forces that have been bottled up or latent for many decades. The one-party government (the opposition is bought and paid for, and

Riaz describes this farce eloquently) has thrown aside what clearly the great majority of the populace saw as its mandate: To accomplish two tasks and call another election – 1) come to an agreement with the opposition that will produce a credible second election and end the egregious violence; 2) complete the trials of those members of the Jamaat-e-Islami who are accused of collaborating with West Pakistan during the war of separation.

Extremists within both major parties will drive their leaders to more extreme measures

The Awami League government appears to have chosen to ignore

popular will and to be planning to stay in office without an election until 2019.

Signs of this include the government doing its best to marginalise the main opposition by continuing to arrest its leaders, denying space for any political opponent to protest peacefully (media supporters of the opposition are being silenced or threatened).

Pro-regime intellectuals are calling for a “democratic dictatorship” (an oxymoron that we have heard before from authoritarian regimes around the world), human rights abuses are increasing (especially enforced disappearances and extrajudicial murder), and AL party leaders are thumping their chest over wins in the later rounds of local elections despite their overt ballot stuffing.

By 2019, at the rate these things are proceeding, there will not be much of the regular opposition left to run against a powerful AL-controlled government. Nor will a civil society third force, the much-talked about and hoped-for panacea of the liberal secular centre-right, develop in such an atmosphere. And if threatened, the

AL might proceed to the next logical step, ie a one-party state to eliminate any possibility of an opposition.

Interestingly enough, the AL came to power (and was supported

by India) on its platform of ridding the country of extremism. But Riaz (along many other observers) believe that the government’s clearly authoritarian mindset, and increasingly authoritarian actions, will “encourage the extremists.” He is right and I know he meant “extremists” in a broader sense. Yes there remain some extremist (militants) in Bangladesh, and the government’s actions will surely stir them up and add to their recruiting message. But there are extremists that are not militants, and they are not just more numerous, but also more dangerous. These are the extremists within political parties — both major parties — who will drive their leaders to more extreme measures in order to keep the government in power, or to bring the government down (extremists in the opposition party who may be driven underground) and may see no

other option but the use of increased violence to do so.

Ironically, it is the party that the AL has sworn to destroy that may be its biggest threat. Jamaat is waiting in

turn into the centre of the opposition.

I do not believe that its scriptural philosophy would appeal to the bulk of Bangladeshi voters, but if this renamed party ran on a platform of effi-

The political box into which the country’s political leaders have dragged it will undoubtedly erode the enormous economic gains

the wings. Its reputation for honest and efficient governance is drawing Bangladeshis who are fed up with the corruption and nepotism of the major parties, and it made surprising gains in the early rounds of the local elections before the ballot-box stuffing started.

One wonders whether a reborn, renamed, reformed Jamaat, if able to shed its collaboration image, might

cient and honest government, it might sweep the table. I hear that some of those Bangladeshis who oppose the AL government are asking already: “Where else could we go?” l William B Milam is a Senior Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Centre in Washington, DC, and former US Ambassador to Pakistan and Bangladesh. This article was first published in The Express Tribune.

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Ananta Jalil and Barsha win CJFB Performance Award

Tisha tries hard to win Iresh’s heart n Entertainment Desk Single-episode play Ei Chhobitar Mulyo Koto featuring Tisha and Iresh Zaker in the lead roles will be aired today at 7:50pm on Maasranga TV. Here Tisha plays the role of a lively girl named Sneha who tries hard to win the heart of a promising artist named Salam, played by Iresh.

Salam is a student of the Faculty of Fine Arts, Dhaka University, who

paints portraits. However, this is three times that he has made a portrait of someone who dies later. His friends forbid him to make portraits, but he cannot resist it. Meanwhile, an impressive girl Sneha falls for him and tries to intice him a lot. But, Salam avoids her and keeps himself busy with painting. Unconsciously he makes a beautiful portrait of Sneha.

The story here experiences a different twist. l

I don’t have an issue with marrying an actor: Deepika n Entertainment Desk Moments of 14th CJFB Performance Award

SADIA MARIUM

n Afrose Jahan Chaity Dashing ruler of Dhallywood, Ananta Jalil and his heroine Barsha won the Best Actor and Best Actress awards respectively in the 14th CJFB (Cultural Journalists’ Forum of Bangladesh) Performance Award 2012. Both the actors won the awards for their performances in the movie Most Welcome, which also acquired the Best Film Award. Redwan Rony won the award of Best Director for Chorabali.

The event was held on April 8 at the Hall of Fame of Bangabandhu International Conference Center.

The award for best singer of the year went to Habib (male) and Nancy (female). Best Music Director Award was bagged by Prince Mahmud and Best Lyricist went to Jahid Akbar.

Celebrated cultural personality and actor Suborna Mustafa was bestowed with the Lifetime Achievement Award. URO-CJFB Special Honour was presented to Nagar Baul James for his contri-

bution to the Bangladeshi music industry. Among the other special awards, Ferdous Wahid was honoured for his significant addition to the pop music arena of Bangladesh. Journalist Iqbal Karim Nishan and Hasan Ahmed Chowdhry Kiron got the award for their bestowal towards the cultural arena.

For small screen, the Best Actor Award went to none other than the popular and much loved Sajal, whereas Nowshin won in the category of Best Actress. Jakaria Shoukhin won the Best Director of Small Screen, while Chayanika Chowdhry won the award for directing best single episode plays and Masud Sezan for drama series. Newcomer model Faria won the award for Best Populer Artist of Television. Shokh and Mehajabien won the Best Model of The Year while Mahfuz Ahmed won the Best Advertisement Director.

The programme was hosted by popular small screen actor Sajal and Dhallywood actor Romana . The opening performance of the award ceremony was presented by the dynamic duo Ananta Jalil

Sonali Megher Bhela airs tonight

and Borsha. The charming performance came to a halt then Ananta Jalil got injured while performing a fire stunt. However, the action hero resumed his presentation and apologised for the mishap.

Multi-talented actor Tareen performed to a song titled Akash Debo Kake, which entertained a houseful audience. Habib, Nancy, Balam, Belal Khan, Suhana Dewan and Salma performed with style and pazazz. Bold beauties of Dhallywood, Peya and Airin presented two dance numbers which received audience applaud. Popular small and silver screen actresses including Shokh, Mehajabien, Eshana, Moushumy Hamid, Sporshia and many others performed several dance numbers.

Minister of Information Ministry Hasanul Haq Inu was present as chief guest while Chairman of Globe Soft Drinks Ltd Harunur Rashid, Managing director of Ittefaq Holdings Ltd Arshad Hossain and Chairman of Al-Hassan Diamond Gallery Ltd Khabir Uddin was present as special guests at the award programme.l

In a recent interview, Deepika Padukone revealed some interesting facts about what she thinks about marriage and relationship.

While asked about if she plans to get married, she replies: “Sure, definitely. The feeling is there but right now I need to sit down and decide whether the ambitious side of me is slightly more or whether the emotional side is greater. I do battle with that. I always saw myself doing what I am doing today, but there is also this side of me that wants to get married and start a family and I know I will be good at that. Right now, if I feel that my ambition is largely controlling me then I should not be getting into that right now because I will want to give my 100% to that too.”

The Bollywood diva further said: “I don’t have an issue with marrying an actor though it’s definitely tough.Loyalty is a very important factor for me and I need to be in a relationship where the person will complete me and fill me up.”

She believes stars do not acknowledge relationships because it leads to too much scrutiny on relationships. “Being in love is one of the most beautiful feelings, but I will talk about it when I am sure,” she said. l

Ponchok airs today

Mahiya Mahi, the sensational diva of Dhallywood became the brand ambassador of Fair & Lovely in Bangladesh. Based on the agreement, Mahi will be seen taking part in different campaigns of Fair & Lovely

n Entertainment Desk n Entertainment Deskn A drama series titled Sonali Megher Bhela will be aired at 10:30pm tonight on Desh TV. Directed by Touhid Khan Biplob and Moniruzzaman Lipon, the drama has been written by M Aslam Liton.

Sonali Megher Bhela, features Urmila, Armaan, Dipa Khandokaar, Wahida Mollick Jolly, Masood Ali Khan, Tania Hossain, Dihan, Shahadat Hossain, Tripti Chakroborty and Sara Zaker.

The story is about women’s struggle for emancipation. Ananya is from a middle class family and faces the typical restrictions imposed on the females of a Bangalee society. Her brother

Sabbir refuses to let her work or tie the knot with the man she loves. The spirit of a rebel rises inside Ananya and her motivation to break free leads her towards empowerment. Inspired

by Ananya, Sabbir’s wife also wants to work.

She knows that she will have to succumb to the limitations a female is imposed with in this society and therefore hopes to engage herself in productive ways.

With help from a friend, Ananya gets a job in a TV serial and her sister-in-law Sraboni gets a job in a buying house. Sabbir faces deep dilemma as he could not accept her sister working in the showbiz world. l

Beyonce poses with Marilyn Monroe look n Entertainment Desk Beyoncé has paid homage to one of the most iconic women of all time.

The singer channels Marilyn Monroe in a new cover shoot for Out magazine, which sees her going topless and covering her bare breasts with her hands.

The shoot is in black and white and shows Beyoncé posing in a platinum wig reminiscent of the 1950s movie star’s bright blonde curls. In some of the photos, the 32-year-old is topless in a black basque while wearing a pearl body necklace.

Another shot shows her in a leotard while grabbing her chest, and she is sporting an embellished white suit in a final picture.

Jamuna Television will broadcast the first episode of Ponchok today at 6:30pm, an infotainment show for all age group.

Each week, Ponchok will pick a theme or a topic and present five options on that for the viewers. The theme of the first episode is “eating out” and the host shows five different restaurants where one can dine with their loved ones.

The show is made under the guidance of Jamuna Television’s Head of Programme Supan Roy and presented by Sohan Salek, a Communications Studies graduate from University of Greenwich, United Kingdom.

Ponchok is executive produced by Ejaj Uddin Ahmed and Pradeep Bhattacherjee is the editor. l

Daniel Craig pulls out of thriller The Whole Truth n Entertainment Desk British actor Daniel Craig has quit courtroom drama The Whole Truth, days before he was due to begin shooting in Boston with co-star Renee Zellweger.

Craig was set to play a district attorney and had been spotted preparing for the role at Boston’s Suffolk County Superior Court last month. Producers have halted production of the film and the start date has been moved back by three weeks.

Directed by Frozen River’s Courtney Hunt, the film was scheduled to being filming on April 14.

Craig will soon reprise his role as 007 in the 24th James Bond film, due out next year. The 46-year-old and his wife Rachel Weisz - who recently co-starred on stage in a Broadway revival of Harold Pinter’s play Betrayal - were seen together on Monday at a charity gala in New York. l

TODAY IN DHAKA Film

Jibondhuli Shongram Frozen in 3D Boishomyo Avatar in 3D Star Cineplex Bashundhara City Panthapath, Dhaka

Exhibition

Serenading Suchitra Time: 12pm – 8pm Shilpangan Gallery, House-7, Road-13, Dhanmondi Crossing Through Time: 3pm – 8pm Dhaka Art Center (DAC) House-60, Road-7A Dhanmondi R/A

Did you know?

With Tuesday’s victory against PSG, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho remains unbeaten in Champion League quarter-final stage

Sport

Thursday, April 10, 2014

14 Spirited Blues

leave Mourinho aiming high

14 Dortmund bow

out despite beating Madrid

DHAKA TRIBUNE

13

15 SLC hits back at

Jayawardene, Sangakkara

MSC camp delighted

Mohammedan SC players celebrate their win against Abahani Ltd in the semifinal of the Modhumoti Bank Independence Cup at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday

Wind of change in BCB The Bangladesh Cricket Board operations department is looking for and taking job applications for the position of the head coach of the national team and related supporting staffs, it was learnt from a source.

BCB president Nazmul Hasan during his last media briefing on April 5 hinted of a major change in the national team support staffs as a result of the poor ICC World Twenty20 performance and before a week could pass it seems to be the start of the change. However the decision of the changes in the team staff is yet to get a nod in the board meeting.

The BCB media committee chairman Jalal Younus informed the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that the BCB president had discussed on changes in the last board meeting “We are supposed to have further discussions on these things once the president (Nazmul) returns. The president wanted some changes in the national team staffs but it is yet not materialistic,” said Jalal.

The BCB president Nazmul who is currently attending the ICC and IDI meeting in Dubai will return to Dhaka on April 13 and is scheduled to sit for a meeting with the directors.

Meanwhile Bangladesh is likely to acquire service from Pakistan legend Wasim Akram as a bowling consultant, informed BCB cricket operations chairman Akram Khan.

Akram further informed that he had a two hours discussion with the former Pakistan cricketer during the ICC World Twenty20 regarding the job.

“The discussion with Wasim was more of personal. I am yet to inform the board about it, hopefully in the next board meeting. We need him for how long or what are the teams he will look after will be discussed in the board meeting,” said Akram.

It is most likely that the BCB will sign Wasim under a contract similar to the one of another former Pakistan bowler Saqlain Mushtaq.

Saqlain was signed for 100 days by the BCB and his role was not limited only to the national side but also to the A team and the BCB Academy. l

MUMIT M

Black and Whites crawl to Independence Cup final Mohammedan Sporting Club edged past arch-rivals Abahani Limited by 1-0 in the semifinal yesterday to set up a final clash against Soccer Club Feni in the Modhumoti Bank Independence Cup at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

The lone goal was netted by Black and Whites’ in-form striker Zahid Hasan Emily which enabled Mohammedan end their six-game losing streak in all competitions against Abahani and taste victory since May 22, 2012.

The Sky Blues had a terrific semifinal against Sheikh Jamal, but they failed to carry the momentum. The misfiring forwards disappointed with the finishing touches needed to beat a strong Mohammedan defence led by Cameroonian defender Baybeck. Abahani’s new Portuguese signing Leonildo

Suares, who scored a brace against Jamal, received little support from the midfield as they failed to reach the final pass to the forward.

Abahani skipper Md Sujon appeared as the villain for his side as it was the veteran defender’s mistake that led to the only goal in the game in the 32nd minute.

Sujon failed to clear a long ball that allowed the fast winger Hemanta Vincent Biswas to sneak away with the ball and break into the right side of the box.

Abahani defence split up for the moment while Hemanta kept his calm and wisely cut the ball back to onrushing Burkina Faso midfielder Zongo Ousseni whose shot deflected off Emily before ending inside the post.

However, the Sky Blues could have gone up earlier in the 21st minute but an unmarked Pranotosh Kumar’s closerange header flew inches over the crossbar.

Ghanaian forward Osei Morrison squandered another opportunity at the

stroke of half-time. He collected Meshu’s through ball and instead of passing it on to Awudu, who was unmarked and free in front of the goal, Osei opted to shoot himself for glory which ended straight at the hands of the keeper.

Mohammedan had the lead, but lived dangerously as Abahani threatened to equalize on several attempts.

In the 50th minute, Osei slipped inside the six-yard box before taking the shot while just two minutes later, a powerful Suares header on a cross from Waly Faisal went over the crosspiece. Midfielder Awudu missed another opportunity in the 77th minute when Osei slid the ball from left flank onto the path of Awudu, but the Ghanaian was too slow to meet the cross as Nahid eventually cleared the ball to safety.

The missed chances and the defeat was not sportingly accepted by the Abahani crowd who reacted by blocking the team’s way out of the stadium for around one and a half hour. l

Mohammedan Sporting Club termed the win against arch-rivals Abahani equivalent to winning the final and eyed inspiration for the upcoming challenges in the Bangladesh Premier League at the post match conference yesterday.

Meanwhile, Abahani’s Iranian coach Ali Akbar Pormoslemi blasted Mohammedan for playing negative football.

Mohammedan manager Amirul Islam Babu was buoyant with the victory and he had every reason to as the win over Abahani came after six matches and two years. “We treated the match as the final, we were determined to win the match at any cost, the causes were, we wanted to prove that Mohammedan has improved day by day and now stands as a balanced side, secondly we have not beaten Abahani for a long time and lastly we want to use the victory as the resurgence point ahead of the Bangladesh Premier League where we stand fourth at the moment,” said Babu.

Jose Rui Capella Batista, the Portuguese coach of Mohammedan praised the teamwork and said, “All the credit goes to the players who performed to their best, it was a big win today, yes I admit that luck was in favour of us as Abahani wasted a couple of chances, but that’s football, we also missed a number of chances, my concentration was not to concede a goal and in the second half the team was a little defensive, I think moving to the final was important.”

Ossuseni Zongo, the Burkina Faso forward whose deflected shot turned as the match winner, thought it was the teamwork that made all the difference. “We were 11 warriors in the field, victory came through their overall team work and I am happy to see my team in the final,” he said.

Ali, on the other hand, said Mohammedan played negative. “It is not perfect sporting spirit, they inserted six to seven players in their defence,” he said. “It’s not positive football, moreover we created a number of chances but our forwards could not utilise those, moreover our defence made a mistake and Mohammedan scored the goal, I think my players did not produce the performance that makes then champions, Abahani did not play well,” said the Iranian.

Abahani defender Shujon thought he could have done better in the firsthalf when his mistake helped Mohammedan score the only goal. “ I would have held the position instead of making the final charge, I committed a mistake but that was not the whole story, our forward squandered a good number of chances and I can only call it as an unfortunate one, our forwards also I think lacked the required cohesion,” said the Abahani skipper. l

At least a win could have been satisfying: Tamim Bangladesh cricketer Tamim Iqbal believes the reason behind Bangladesh’s poor showing in the ICC World Twent20 was not the pressure or high expectations from the nation’s people. While talking to the Dhaka Tribune in a personal interview, the talented southpaw from Chittagong explained what went wrong with the team and more about his below par performance.

How is your post ICC World Twenty20 experience?

Of course the experience is not good.

We couldn’t perform as a team and I also couldn’t do much personally. Overall, the tournament was not a good one for us.

What we will have to do now is to overcome this bad patch and concentrate on the future games.

No one expected Bangladesh to perform befitting a champion. But a general feeling is Bangladesh could not even play up to their potential and nation’s expectations. What do you think went wrong?

I am sure no one expected us to lift the trophy but expected us to play 20 or 30 percent better than what we actually played because we are capable to perform at least that much. Expectations will be very much there as we have performed well in last two years and we were the ones to raise the expectation and nothing is wrong with

that. The main problem was four to five of us were out of form and this was the main issue. At least four to five players need to perform in Twenty20 for a team like us.

If you have six players failing at the same time, then winning a game is impossible.

I am sure every member of the team is disappointed for the way we performed in the tournament. At the moment, we will have to receive criticism and face many odd moments. But I am sure everyone will come to support us when we play next time.

What damage control measures were taken during the tournament?

The format of the tournament never gave a side much time to think. We had games almost every second day. So there wasn’t much time for damage control to be honest. The team management tried to keep the players mentally free and fresh ahead of a game. The players also tried to take a game at a time. Winning at least one game would have satisfied the efforts made by the general public who came to support us in the stadium. As I said, we failed because five to six of us failed to perform and when that happens, a team never gets success.

Do you think the pressure from the fans, board or

media should influence a professional cricketer?

Yes, there were pressure and expectation on the players because we played well in the recent past and we raised their expectations. The supporters expected from us because we had won against big opponents. No one wants to fail in an exam.

Likewise, our supporters will not expect us to lose. There will be expectations and to some extent, I think we are lucky that people expect from us because we were never a champion side and if the supporters had not expected, the world would not have known Bangladesh as a cricket crazy nation. So these pressures are very standard things. However, at the same time, I will also expect that our supporters should not expect anything which is impossible for us.

The effect of expectations on a professional cricketer actually varies from person to person. But to be honest, it does have an impact but one should not be too concerned I guess or else it will affect one’s game. I am sure all the fifteen members of the team want to develop and move a step forward with the pressure alongside.

You personally went through a bad patch and you must have heard people criticizing you, evento the extent of dropping you from the team. What are your thoughts on that?

I don’t think much about all these to be honest. There will be a lot of criticism when you are going through a bad patch. People will demand to have you dropped from the team and at times you will hear offensive stuffs. It does not feel good to be honest but you also have to consider that these things are norms of a bad patch. My personal view on this is if you have done things right and have worked hard with your preparations - the criticism should not have effect on you. But if you have not worked hard with your preparations and then fail - you should feel guilty.

When I look into the mirror, I tell myself that I did try to prepare myself in the best possible way but failed. I think my team mates, coaching staffs know what I did or what I didn’t. I failed and this is a very normal thing for a cricketer. Twenty20 is a format where it is difficult to recover. My job in this format is to give the side a quick start, which is to post quick runs on the board in first one or two overs and this involves risks. Except the match against India, I got out playing an attacking shot. I don’t think I played any game where I was too cautious

and thinking of surviving in the middle to save my skin. I always wanted to deliver for the team. I tried to provide a good start but I failed in the end. One grabs all the happiness in good times. But I think the bad times should also be taken positively in a sense that how to overcome the situation.

How do you plan to overcome the bad patch? Will no international cricket in next two months be of any help?

The vacation is not much to be honest. The NCL (National Cricket League) is starting next week. Personally it would have been better for me if I had got 10 to 12 days more without cricket. This would have helpedme to keep my mind fresh and not think much of cricket. I think this is the most important thing. Trying too much is not a good thing to do when things are not going well. What I have followed since my early days is to keep yourself away when things are not happening your way. The first-class cricket is starting in a week and doing well there will help me get my rhythm back.

No international game in next few months will surely help us regroup and make things right. We have played lots of cricket in last three months and the results were not positive. So a break is good.

This is not the end of the world. Yes, the tournament was big for us as we were the hosts. Failing here was disappointing but it was never the end. We have the 50 over World Cup next year and we should look forward to that. l

14

Sport

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Hazard sustains calf injury Eden Hazard could be sidelined for two weeks after injuring his calf during Chelsea’s 2-0 Champions League win over Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday, manager Jose Mourinho said. “With a muscular problem, even when it’s not serious, you cannot play normally for a couple of weeks minimum,” Mourinho told a press conference. “But I have no idea of the dimension.” Hazard came off after only 18 minutes of the quarter-final second leg at Stamford Bridge and headed straight down the tunnel.

–AFP

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Federer back in Monte Carlo Roger Federer, fresh from helping Switzerland into the Davis Cup semi-finals, has accepted a late invitation to play in the Monte Carlo Masters, organisers announced on Tuesday. The Swiss star had originally left Monte Carlo off his 2014 agenda but his return to form after a poor season last year has persuaded him to return to the Principality after a two-year absence. The 17-time Grand Slam winner put Switzerland into the Davis Cup semi-finals on Sunday when he beat Andrey Golubev 7-6 (7/6), 6-2, 6-3 to clinch the deciding point in his country’s 3-2 win over Kazakhstan. –AFP

Nowitzki, Nash make NBA history A pair of former Dallas Maverick teammates, Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash, made National Basketball Association history on the same night by achieving a couple of milestones. Current Maverick Nowitzki vaulted into 10th place on the league’s all-time scoring list on Tuesday night while former Dallas guard Nash moved into third place on the all-time assist list. Germany’s Nowitzki finished with 21 points in the Mavericks 95-83 win over Utah to move past Oscar Robertson and take over sole possession of tenth on the all time scoring list.

–AFP

Spirited Blues leave Mourinho aiming high Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho hailed his side’s “special spirit” after a dramatic late goal by Demba Ba propelled them into the Champions League semifinals at Paris Saint-Germain’s expense.

Despite trimming PSG’s 3-1 aggregate lead through Andre Schuerrle, Chelsea were heading out of the competition until Ba bundled home in the 87th minute of Tuesday’s quarter-final second leg at Stamford Bridge to send his team through on away goals.

The London club’s comeback carried echoes of their 2012 success over Napoli, when they overcame a 3-1 firstleg loss in the last 16 with a 4-1 win before going on to beat Bayern Munich on penalties in the final.

While Mourinho has often declared that his team are a work in progress – and described the victory over PSG as “nothing extraordinary” – he said the belief that his players had shown augured well for the last four.

“We’re in the semi-finals and if the quarter-finals had eight fantastic teams, imagine the four that are going to reach the semi-finals,” he said.

“Anything can happen. A big oppo-

nent is waiting for us in the semi-finals, but I think it doesn’t matter who. They know that we are the team with special spirit, even if we are not at the maximum of our potential.”

Asked if he would like to face former club Real Madrid in the last four, Mourinho replied: “No. It doesn’t matter. Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico (Madrid), Bayern Munich, Manchester (United), it doesn’t matter.”

“He’s a good guy, a good professional, a good group man. I’m very happy for him,” said the Portuguese.

“The fact I played him before Nando made him feel that he doesn’t have the number three striker on his back and his enthusiasm was fantastic.

“He started to give problems to Paris that normally they don’t have in their league because normally there’s a different style of approach.”

- ‘I was not celebrating’ Mourinho celebrated Ba’s goal by gambolling down the touchline towards his players, but he said that his dash was purely motivated by a desire to impart some tactical instructions.

“It was not to celebrate. It was to tell the players how we have to play the last minutes,” he said. l

Paris St Germain's goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu fails to catch the ball as Chelsea striker Demba Ba scores the second goal during their Champions League quarter-final second leg match at Stamford Bridge in London on Tuesday REUTERS

Chelsea battle back to reach semis Spirited Dortmund bow out despite beating Madrid Paris-born Demba Ba was the hero as Chelsea advanced to the Champions League semi-finals at Paris Saint-Germain’s expense, while Real Madrid also progressed on Tuesday despite a secondleg defeat to Borussia Dortmund.

Having lost 3-1 in last week’s first leg in France, Chelsea fought back to win 2-0 at Stamford Bridge and go through on away goals to their seventh semifinal in 11 years as substitute Ba netted the decisive goal late on.

Chelsea lost a key attacking threat of

their own inside 18 minutes when the injured Eden Hazard had to be replaced

by Schuerrle.

But Germany winger Schuerrle opened the scoring on the night in the 32nd minute, taking advantage of ball watching by Lucas to convert a long throw-in from the right that had been helped on by David Luiz.

It took PSG almost an hour just to touch the ball in the Chelsea box but they had chances late on, Edinson Cavani missing their best opening when he latched onto a Yohan Cabaye pass over the top but fired over.

And PSG were left to regret not grabbing an away goal as Ba - who was born in the Paris suburb of Sevres but has

spent his entire professional career outside France - stole in front of Maxwell to bundle home a Cesar Azpilicueta ball into the area in the 87th minute.

RESULTS

Chelsea (ENG)

2 0

PSG (FRA)

2 0

Real Madrid

Schuerrle 32, Ba 87 Tie ended 3-3 on aggregate - Chelsea qualify for semi-finals on away goals

Dortmund

Reus 24, 37 Real Madrid win 3-2 on aggregate

Real Madrid are also into the last four, a stage they always reached but never went beyond in each of the Portuguese’s three-year stint at the Bernabeu.

The Spanish giants did enough to win the tie thanks to their 3-0 success in last week’s first leg, although they were given a real scare at the Westfalenstadion.

Cristiano Ronaldo spent the whole game on the bench as he struggled with a knee problem and Angel Di Maria had a 17th-minute penalty saved by home ‘keeper Roman Weidenfeller, before Reus pounced on a poor header

by Pepe back to his ‘keeper Iker Casillas before slotting home.

Reus found the net again in the 37th minute when he intercepted another poor ball back the way, this time by Asier Illarramendi, and passed to Robert Lewandowski. The Pole’s shot came back off the post but Reus followed in to score. l

Zaccheroni wrestles with abundance of riches Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni has a problem many of his counterparts would be delighted to contend with as they ponder their squads for this year’s World Cup - too many players.

The Italian held a training camp for home-based players this week and said the performances of some of them looked like giving him a headache when he sits down to select the 23 players he takes to Brazil in June.

“The big problem I have when it comes to selecting the final squad is not that I don’t have enough players, but it is that I have them in abun-

dance,” Zaccheroni told local media on Wednesday.

“Some coaches have a lack of players but for me that is not the case. It will be a good thing if I am stressing out right until the last minute about who to select.”

While Zaccheroni was reluctant to single out players for special praise, he said he had stressed to them that there was still the opportunity for J.Leaguebased footballers to force themselves into the reckoning for a place in his squad.

“The objective of this camp was to get a close look at many players who I have only watched from the stands,” he added. l

Defeat a Real wake-up call: Casillas

Dortmund's players react after their Uefa Champions League quarter-final, second leg match against Real Madrid CF in Dortmund, western Germany on Tuesday AFP

Diarra denies joining Syria war French international Lassana Diarra on Tuesday denied rumours on social media websites that he had become a jihadist in the Syria war. The Lokomotiv Moscow midfielder “denies in the most formal, the most categoric, the most absolute fashion that he has gone to Syria,” said Diarra’s French lawyer.

“It’s absurd. He is not a jihadist, he is a footballer with Lokomotiv Moscow,” the lawyer added.

The British tabloid Daily Mirror this week reported social media rumours that Diarra had gone to Syria where the war is now into a fourth year and has cost the lives of over 150,000 people, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. l

Captain Iker Casillas said Real Madrid were given a Champions League wake-up call as they lost 2-0 to last season’s beaten finalists Borussia Dortmund in their quarter-final second leg match but still went through to the last four 3-2 on aggregate on Tuesday.

Germany winger Marco Reus scored both Borussia’s goals to spark hopes of the hosts reaching the semi-finals.

However, Real held on but patently missed their star performer Cristiano Ronaldo, who was on the bench because he had not recovered fully from the knock to the knee he took in the first leg.

“Maybe it’s good for us to receive a wake-up call like that from time to time,” said Casillas.

“We committed errors at the back that cost us and we cannot commit in the

Turin final gives Juve motivation Juventus will be looking to take another step towards a Europa League final in their own stadium when they entertain French club Lyon in the second leg of their quarter-final on Thursday.

The Serie A champions hold a 1-0 lead from the first leg at the Stade de Gerland last Thursday thanks to a late Leonardo Bonucci goal and home advantage means Antonio Conte’s side are in a very strong position to progress.

Indeed, the Bianconeri have not lost at their own Juventus Stadium in exactly a year since going down 2-0 to Bayern Munich in the Champions League last season.

Given that they are eight points clear at

the top of Serie A and determined to make it to a Europa League final which they will host, Juve should have enough to see off a Lyon side who are struggling with injuries at this crucial stage of the season.

Portuguese clubs have done well in Europe’s second-tier competition

FIXTURES Benfica (POR) Juventus (ITA) Valencia (ESP) Sevilla (ESP)

v v v v

AZ Alkmaar (NED) Lyon (FRA) Basel (SUI) FC Porto (POR)

in recent seasons and Porto remain in contention to win the trophy as well as they take a 1-0 lead to Spain for the second leg of their tie against Sevilla.

Porto, whose first-leg advantage was given to them by Eliaquim Man-

gala’s goal, won the 2003 UEFA Cup by beating Celtic in a final played in Seville’s La Cartuja stadium, while they also won the Europa League in 2011.

This season has been difficult for them as they languish a distant third in their domestic league, but coach Luis Castro remains hopeful that European success can rescue their campaign, even if influential duo Jackson Martinez and Fernando are suspended here.

The task for Spain’s other survivors promises to be even tougher though, as Valencia attempt to overcome a 3-0 first-leg deficit against Swiss side Basel, who are looking to reach the last four for the second season running.

The winners will go through to the semi-final draw, which will take place on Friday at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland at 10h00 GMT. l

semi-finals. It’s better that it came tonight and not in the upcoming games we have.

“After half-time we had to be mentally strong.

“When the scoreboard says 2-0 after half an hour, you know it will be diffi-

cult, especially after missing a penalty, but sometimes you have to grind it out.”

Real squandered the chance of an early lead after Angel Di Maria had his penalty saved by Dortmund captain Roman Weidenfeller. l

Dortmund sign Hertha’s Ramos Borussia Dortmund have signed striker Adrian Ramos from Hertha Berlin for next season on a four-year contract to replace Robert Lewandowski who is leaving to join Bayern Munich, the Bundesliga club said on Wednesday.

Dortmund announced the deal with the 28-year-old Colombian the day after they were eliminated from the UCL quarter-finals in a 3-2 aggregate defeat

by Real.

“Adrian Ramos is an outstanding player and one of the best scorers in Germany,” Dortmund sports director Michael Zorc said in a statement.

“He fully fits into the profile of Dortmund.”

There were no financial details available on the transfer but German media reported the deal to be worth about 10 million euros ($13.79 million).

Ramos has scored 32 goals in 89 Bundesliga appearances for Hertha, 16 of which have come this season. l

Adriano’s first goal for two years can’t save Paranaense Adriano’s first goal for two years could not keep Atletico Paranaense in the Libertadores Cup on Tuesday as the Brazilian side went down 2-1 to The

Strongest in the rarefied air of La Paz. The former Inter Milan and Brazil striker, trying to revive his career at the Curitiba club, equalised in first half stoppage time after team mate Manoel’s own goal had put the Bolivians ahead in the 38th minute.

A draw would have been enough to see Paranaense through to the last 16 but The Strongest settled the Group One match with midfielder Nelvin Soliz’s 55th-minute winner to go through in second place behind Argentina’s Velez Sarsfield.

A penalty save five minutes from time by goalkeeper Agustin Marchesin secured Argentina’s Lanus a 0-0 draw at O’Higgins in Chile in Group Three and a place in the last 16. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Thursday, April 10, 2014

SLC hits back at Jayawardene, Sangakkara

QUICK BYTES Walton Friendship Cycle Rally begins in Kolkata

The Walton Friendship Cycle Rally began at the number 5 sector of Salt Lake, Kolkata yesterday with a hope to extend the camaraderie between the two Bengals even further. A total of 25 cyclists including 15 from Kolkata and 10 from Bangladesh are participating in the rally. The rally entered Benapole through Jessore yesterday and will stay at Narail today. The rally was inaugurated by the additional director of Walton AFM Iqbal bin Anwar Dawn.

Arun Ghosh, the managing director of Techno India Group, senior project manager Arindam Mukherjee, the president of Kolkata Football Lovers Association Torun Bhowmik and Mihir Das were also present on the occasion.

–RM

Save the Sports urges corruption free sports arena

Save the Sports, an organisation of sports organisers, urged the countrymen to take the necessary steps to stop the corruption, anomaly and partiality currently existing in the sports arena. In a press conference held at the National Press Club yesterday, Zakaria Pintu, the captain of Swadhin Bangla Football Team and the convener of Save the Sports, was critical of the existing scenario. “What we see is all the sports federations are overall surrounded by corruption and nepotism, many proven and able organisers are not involved in the federation activities,” said Pintu. Member secretary Dildar Hossain Dilu said the recently concluded ICC World T20 was a festival of corruption. “A purse of Tk1.13bn was allotted for the beautification of the capital but I think10 percent of the fund was used, the tickets allocated for the journalists were sold in high prices by the BCB officials and employees,” said Dilu. Advisors Pratap Shankar Hazra and Khairul Kabir Khokon were also present on the occasion.

–RM

Aussie Ashes heroes Harris, Rogers honoured by Wisden

Australia paceman Ryan Harris and opening batsman Chris Rogers have been rewarded for their performances in the two recent Ashes series by being included as two of Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year. They were honoured by the annual publication, often referred to as the ‘bible of cricket’, along with England batsman Joe Root, India’s Shikhar Dhawan and Charlotte Edwards, the captain of the England women’s team. South Africa bowler Dale Steyn was named Wisden’s Leading Cricketer in the World for 2013. The five Cricketers of the Year have been selected since 1889 by Wisden’s editor primarily on their performances in the previous English season. That would in part explain the absence of Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson, who did not take part in the first Ashes series in England but played a decisive role in the second.

–Reuters

Stepanek upbeat on Berdych’s Davis Cup comeback Radek Stepanek said Tuesday he believed Tomas Berdych will return for the semi-final against France in September after missing holders the Czech Republic’s quarter-final win over Japan last weekend. “We know that if we want to succeed again, we have to play with the strongest team,” Stepanek told reporters. “I firmly believe and hope he will return to the team and fight for a place in the final again.” The 28-year-old Berdych and 35-year-old veteran Stepanek led the Czechs to two consecutive Davis Cup titles in 2012 and 2013. Without Berdych, the Czechs led by Stepanek and Lukas Rosol swept Japan 5-0 in Tokyo for their 11th straight Davis Cup win last weekend.

–AFP

15

Sri Lankan Twenty20 cricket captain Lasith Malinga (C) offers a piece of cake to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse during a welcoming ceremony after Sri Lanka won the ICC AFP World Twenty20 cricket tournament at the Presidential Residency in Colombo on Tuesday

Sri Lanka’s cricket board and two senior players were locked in a war of words Wednesday, a day after the World Cup-winning Twenty20 team returned home as national heroes.

Former skippers Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara sparked the row by criticising cricket officials during a red-carpet reception at the airport, but the board hit back with a strongly-worded statement. Sri Lanka Cricket denied allegations that they had made any disparaging remarks against the duo after they appeared to announce their retirement as the World Cup tournament got underway in Dhaka in mid-March.

Jayawardene was upset with reported comments from a SLC official, who was said to have accused them of announcing their retirement without prior notice to the board.

“SLC considers such statements as damaging to both the image of the institution and the officials concerned,” the board said in a one-page statement.

It said Jayawardene’s allegations were taken seriously because he suggested that the purported remarks by board secretary Nishantha Ranatunga and CEO Ashley de Silva could have demoralised the players. l

ICC happy with associates’ progress

Wisden slams 'colonial' ICC

The International Cricket Council’s faith in associate member teams was vindicated by their recent showing in the World Twenty20, development manager Tim Anderson has said, singling out the Netherlands’ upset win over England.

Six ICC associate member countries - Ireland, Afghanistan, Nepal, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates and the Netherlands - took part in the World T20 in Bangladesh, as part of the governing body’s efforts to expand cricket beyond the 10 Test-playing countries.

Anderson said the Netherlands’ victory over England, their second in two meetings after also beating them in the 2009 World Twenty20, was a good sign for next year’s 50-over World Cup which will feature four associate teams. l

tation by the country (India) powerful enough to exploit it and the two countries (Australia and England) prepared to lend their plans credibility.”

He added: “As India prepare to take their ‘central leadership responsibility’, international cricket holds its breath.”

Turning to events on the field, Booth said England’s 5-0 thrashing by Australia in the 2013/14 Ashes represented an all-time low.

“No sporting defeat is a disaster but 5-0 against a team that had won none of its previous nine Tests came close.

This, then, was the worst result in England’s history.”

Meanwhile, South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn was chosen as Wisden’s Leading Cricketer in the World for 2013, a year in which he took 51 Test wickets in only nine games at an average of 17.

“Fast, penetrative and parsimonious, it was some combination,” Wisden said.

The Five Cricketers of the Year, an honour dating back to 1889, were India’s Shikhar Dhawan, Australia duo Chris Rogers and Ryan Harris, England batsman Joe Root and England women’s captain Charlotte Edwards.

Opening batsman Dhawan was acknowledged for his role in India’s victorious Champions Trophy campaign in England while opener Rogers, fast bowler Harris and Root were chosen for their contributions to the 2013 Ashes.

The Cricketer of the Year, the personal choice of the Wisden editor and an award that generally reflects performances in the previous English season, can, by tradition, only be won once in a player’s career. l

BPL heading to new limbo?

Big field of contenders sparks Masters excitement

International cricket is set for a future of “colonial-style divide and rule,” and will be “holding its breath” over the extent of Indian influence, according to the 2014 edition of Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack published Wednesday.

In February, changes to the governance of the International Cricket Council (ICC), handed the majority of the powers and revenue to the sport’s ‘big three’ nations – India, Australia and England.

“Here was colonial-style divide and rule,” the English editor of cricket’s ‘bible’, Lawrence Booth, wrote in the 151st edition of British-based Wisden, published every year since 1864.

“Cricket is appallingly administered, and is vulnerable to economic exploi-

BCB bar Mosharraf, Mahbubul from NCL The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is likely to bar cricketers Mosharraf Rubel and Mahbubul Alam from participating in the National Cricket League starting from April 12.

The two are among the nine accused cricketers of match fixing in the second edition of the Bangladesh Premier League, though they are acquitted of all the chargers after the BCB Anti Corruption Tribunal concluded its hearing.

The tribunal removed the charges after it had failed to present proper evidence of corruption on Rubel and Mahbubul which had raised eye brows of the majority in the BCB. The BCB media committee chairman Jalal Younus informed that the board is likely to appeal to the tribunal on the decision over Rubel and Mahbubul.

“The board is planning to appeal and that might happen in a day or two.

They won’t be able to play the national

league for that,” informed Jalal.

But according to the lawyer of the two players, Barrister Nawroz MR Chowdhury, the BCB is on the back foot from making an appeal.

Nawroz informed the Dhaka Tribune that an appeal can only be made after the full judgment and what the tribunal declared was short judgment.

“So here they (BCB) don’t have the option to appeal. Even if the tribunal had made the full judgment, the appeal couldn’t have had stayed the order. According to the tribunal bylaws, an appeal can be made but it will have no affect on the judgment,” said Nawroz.

The lawyer also informed that the short judgment given by the tribunal on March 1 had mentioned of the players allowed to play cricket with immediate effect.

Both Rubel and Mahbubul play for the Dhaka Division in the NCL and the team is scheduled to take on Barisal Division at Chittagong’s Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium on April 12. l

Bangladesh Premier League is heading towards a new limbo as a number of clubs has expressed their desire of not playing away matches outside Dhaka.

The issue was discussed in an emergency meeting of the Professional League Committee of the Bangladesh Football Federation yesterday.

Sheikh Jamal, Brothers Union and Uttar Baridhara reportedly raised the issue citing various reasons including financial constraints. It would be mentionable that all the teams decided to play the lone professional football league of the country in three phases across Dhaka, Chittagong, Feni and Gopalganj.

However after the completion of phase one the clubs are now asking for changes. The league committee, unable to take decision regarding the issue, has referred the subject to the executive committee of BFF which will be discussed in their next meeting. l

Augusta National’s trademark backnine drama in the final round of the Masters could reach epic heights Sunday with a field that offers no clear favorite and several rising young stars.

Rory McIlroy and defending champion Adam Scott squandered late leads last month to lose, while reigning British Open champion Phil Mickelson and Australian star Jason Day are coming off injuries.

World number one Tiger Woods will miss the Masters for the first time after back surgery to fix a pinched nerve.

Mix in a record 24 first-time Masters starters, including recent threetime winners Jimmy Walker and Patrick Reed, and one of golf’s grandest stages is set for a showdown to decide the green jacket like few seen in recent times.

“To feel that energy and to hear the roars and be a part of what’s happening

Multi Olympic medallist Simpson banned for doping Jamaica’s 2008 Olympic women’s 100 metres silver medallist Sherone Simpson received an 18-month suspension for doping from the Jamaica Anti-Doping (JADCO) Disciplinary Panel on Tuesday.

The 29-year-old, who won 4x100m relay gold in the 2004 Olympics and silver in the same event at the 2012 Games, tested positive for a stimulant, oxilofrine, at the Jamaica National Championships in June 2013. Simpson, who was also a member of the Jamaican 4x100m relay teams that took silver in the 2005 and 2011 world championships, said the substance was found in a new supplement given to her by Canadian physical trainer Chris Xuereb. l

that final nine holes, it’s the greatest experience for a professional golfer,” said three-time Masters winner Mickelson.

While the absence of 14-time major champion Woods could dim the mystique for some, it’s unlikely to steal the spotlight come Sunday afternoon.

McIlroy led the first three rounds in 2011 before a last-nine collapse left him sharing 15th, still his best finish at the Masters.

“I’d just like to get into contention again and have a chance to win the tournament,” McIlroy said. “Any time you drive through the gates here, it sort of lights the fire up inside you.”

Leading contenders offered a wide range of choices for how many players they expect were true challengers for the title.

“If the course plays firm and fast conditions, I think you’re looking at less than a dozen,” Mickelson said.

“But if it doesn’t, I think you’re looking at almost half the field.” l

#ICCWT20 #TWITTERMIRROR

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Yuvraj Singh and Virat Kohli started the Mirrors, posting their message to fans ahead of the tournament

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Jayawardena and Sangakkara announced their retirements from T20Is at the end of the tournament

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Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja and Shikar Dhawan posed for a Twitter Mirror on Holi Day

After becoming the first Pakistan player to score a T20I century, Ahmed Shehzad celebrated alongside his captain Hafeez

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IMF: Bangladesh’s fiscal risks heightening

Auction for 700 MHz band by 2016

n Tribune Report

n Muhammad Zahidul Islam

Fiscal risks are rising in Bangladesh as also other low income countries as a new report released yesterday raised the concern.

This is due to declined fiscal space as revenue mobilisation has lagged fast spending growth, according to the International Monetary Fund report titled “April 2014 Fiscal Monitor.”

Officials in Bangladesh said the country’s fiscal deficit would increase to 5% of GDP in the current fiscal year ending in June 2014 from its annual budget estimate of 4.6% due to increased expenditure outlay in the revised annual development programme (ADP).

It would force the government to go for increased borrowing from the banking system as the revenue collection remains well below the target, a senior official told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday. “It would create a crowding out effect.”

According to the IMF’s fiscal report Bangladesh’s overall fiscal balance remains negative and it would deepen further to (–) 3.8% of GDP in the current fiscal year while government revenue would be 13% of GDP and expenditure 16.8% of GDP.

FISCAL RISK OF BANGLADESH (% OF GDP) Fiscal year

Revenue

2009

10.8

2010

11.5

2011

11.9

2012

Expenditure

Gross debt

Deficit

14.5

45.1

3.7

14.6

41.0

3.1

16.0

42.2

12.9

16.3

41.8

2013

12.9

16.9

39.7

2014

13.0

16.8

38.7

4.1 3.4 4.0 3.8 Source: IMF Fiscal Monitor

The report said, in about half of the low-income country sample, debt ratios are projected to keep increasing through 2019. In the Bangladesh case, the gross debt would stand at 38.7% of GDP. “The increase in debt is expected to be sizeable in some of the so-called Frontier LICs,” Sanjeev Gupta, IMF Fiscal Affairs Department’s acting director, said in an initial statement of a press conference in Washington yesterday.

Debt build up has had adverse consequences for LICs in the past because it was not used for growth-enhancing investments; so it seems warranted to wonder whether the story will be dif-

ferent this time.

“In other words, has the new borrowing been used to increase productive spending?” Gupta said. The evidence is mixed. In many countries, large increases in debt have not been associated with higher capital spending (e.g., Honduras, Sudan, and Zambia).

This raises concerns about the quality of spending in some low-income countries, and point out to the need to strengthen institutional capacity to raise the efficiency of spending.

The low-income countries should step up revenue mobilisation and higher expenditure efficiency to restore fiscal buffers and to create room for much

LAFARGE CONTINUES TO SHINE

needed public services, Gupta said.

In the emerging economies, the vulnerabilities are also on the rise while remaining elevated in the advanced economies.

In emerging economies and low-income countries, expenditure reform can help respond to growing demands for better delivery of public services.

The challenge for policymakers around the globe is to ensure the sustainability of expenditure programs, maximise the efficiency of public spending, and foster an equitable access to public services.

“Reaching these goals is not easy and will require mobilising political and social support,” said Gupta.

The report suggested that any spending reform must ensure the sustainability of the major budget items, particularly the government wage bill and social benefits. In emerging markets and low-income countries these two items constitute 60% of total spending.

The expenditure reforms should seek to achieve efficiency gains, while preserving equity. For instance, this could be achieved through better targeting of social programs and promoting greater competition in the health care and education sectors. l

SME FAIR ENDS

Buying euphoria irrational, analysts warn

Spot orders increase by 95%

Investors swooped on Lafarge Surma Cement at the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) after the company announced that it will merge with the Holcim.

Yesterday, Lafarge emerged as the top traded stocks with shares valued at Tk77.5 crore, making up 14.4% of the total trade of the premier bourse.

Its stocks prices surged by 3.8% to close at Tk59.50 before rising as high as Tk63 each. It rose around 10% a day before.

Analysts say such buying euphoria about the stocks might fade away, if investors take timing of merger, valuation of the company and rate of return at prices what they are paying now.

“Even if the merger brings unbelievable gains for Lafarge, it might not yield higher return for the investors, if they (investors) compare with the price currently they are paying,” said an analyst asking not to be named.

Moreover, he said, the value addition of the company will come after at least a couple of years and many inves-

A five-day SME fair came to an end yesterday, bagging Tk1.4 crore spot orders, which is 95% higher than the last year.

The Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Foundation arranged the fair at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre to promote small and medium enterprises in the country.

At the fair, the SME entrepreneurs sold products worth Tk1.20 crore, which is 149% higher compared to the sales of the previous year’s Tk48.11 lakh, says a SME foundation statement released yesterday.

A total of 150 stalls set up in the fair to exhibit products of SME entrepreneurs from different part of the country.

SMEs from agriculture, agro-processing products, clothing, home textile, handicraft, leather, light engineering, foods, beverage, electrical and electronics, herbal and furniture sectors from across the country participated in the exhibition. l

n Tahmidur Rahman

tors are perhaps ignoring the timing, which is unfortunate and irrational.

Holcim and Lafarge, the world’s cement giants, on April 8 announced outline for their proposed merger. In a joint statement, they said the companies are aiming to complete the deal by the first quarter of 2015.

According to the latest disclosure on financial statements as of last year, the company has a consolidated net asset value of Tk9.51 per share and an annual earning of Tk2.19 per share.

Considering the company’s financial

scenario, investors who are buying the stock are paying six times the price of assets held by the company and annual earning for each stock is slightly above Tk2 against the stock price Tk60.

Some brokers were seen warning retailers to be careful before buying the stock. “It is just irrational speculation from retailers who are buying stocks without analysing the merger issue,” said a broker.

Lafarge of France have stake of only 29.435% of the Lafarge Surma Cement listed with the DSE. l

n Tribune Report International Business Forum of Bangladesh (IBFB) has recommended the government for generating more revenues through effective utilisation of value added tax (VAT) by discouraging import of goods, rationalising high bank interest rates and establishing automation in all spheres to ensure “Digital Bangladesh”.

A 20-member IBFB delegation headed by its president Hafizur Rahman Khan came up with the suggestion during a pre-budget discussion with the state minister of finance and planning MA Mannan, held yesterday at his secretariat office in the capital.

The delegation also recommended for restructuring taxes (CD, VAT, IT etc.) in different fields, areas, and sectors such as power & energy, billets, travel, tourism & hospitality industry, agro-based industry etc.

The state minister assured the delegation of giving special attention to

the suggestions made by IBFB during the formulation of the forthcoming National Budget.

In response to a request for keeping politics out of business, MA Manna said: As far as sustainable development of the country is concerned, the politicians and the business persons have indifferent interests, originated from their own patriotism and wisdoms to ensure betterment of the people.

The government will consider the return of the incentives as well as the welfare of the businessmen, said the state minister while talking to the reporters after the meeting.

“As the incentives, subsidies, tax holiday facilities have become a reconginsed matter to the public as a whole, those facilities will be utilised cautiously.”

To boost up the economic growth, the IBFB delegation strongly suggested to declare the country’s health sector and travel, tourism & hospitality sector as “Industry”, and also

to change the rate of the utility bills from the commercial to industrial rate, which is now 60% higher than industrial rate.

To safeguard and stop recurrence of tragic accidents in the RMG sector that has already created image crisis for Bangladesh, IBFB delegation demanded strong monitoring and supervision, which they defined as a call of the time.

They recommended for the dispersal of RMG units throughout the country to avoid any such incidents in future.

Among others, the IBFB delegation includes Mahmudul Islam Chowdhury, founding president of IBFB, Dr. Md. Omar Shafayat Kausar, vice-president of IBFB, Lutfunnisa Saudia Khan, director IBFB, Md. Atiar Zaman, director IBFB, Syed Mustafizur Rahman, director IBFB and chartered accountant AK Chowdhury, chairman of IBFB industry leadership committee. l

The 700 megahertz spectrums, considered as most valuable now, will be made available for mobile phone operators by 2016, according to a roadmap drafted by the telecom regulator.

The band will make the operators able to offer a better, less costly and more expanded mobile broadband service than now.

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) initially set a three-year roadmap from 2013 to 2015.

But now it has been changed to 2014-2016 as the authorities already made one year late to finalise the draft.

It has not been done yet.

However, a high official concerned said they were close to finalise the roadmap.

“We did mistake by making it too late. But it’s nearly done,” said ATM Monirul Alam, commissioner of spectrum management division and convener of the roadmap committee, said however.

But before making it final, BTRC will sit with high officials of telecom ministry and with the stakeholders and industry experts.

About 700 MHz band, he said: “We call it ‘digital dividend band’ and its service will be powerful.”

Monirul Alam said the minimum amount of spectrums is likely to be 25 MHz and they would need to be careful in the allocation.

It is the BTRC’s second roadmap for telecom industry while the first roadmap was formulated in 2008 during

the last caretaker government with 20 action plans.

BTRC’s roadmap includes especially allocations of spectrum and issuance of licences.

This is to help the government implement its goal of building a digital Bangladesh.

The roadmap will also facilitate the industry investors to prepare their future business and investment plans, BTRC Chairman Sunil Kanti Bose said.

However, the telecom sector people wants more extended roadmaps like for at least a 10-year period.

“We need to have a very clear roadmap which should be for at least 10 years. It will help us forecast what’s going to happen in the industry,” said TIM Nurul Kabir, secretary general of the Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (Amtob).

In September last year, BTRC made an auction for 2100 band spectrums where per megahertz spectrum price was fixed at $21m.

In 2011, the regulator sold spectrums at Tk155 core per megahertz from 800 and 1800 bands, official sources said.

Meanwhile, BTRC sources said the regulator is determined to set up a centralised monitoring system to prevent illegal international call termination and thus increase state revenue income.

The regulator’s engineering division made a proposal in this regard while systems and services division placed a proposal of about the Internet safety.

Mobile operators praised the decision to prepare a modern roadmap for this developing industry. l

n Tribune Report

BIWTC to build 4 vessels worth Tk150 crore

IBFB for more revenues through VAT

It will make mobile broadband service better, less costly and more expanded

n Rabiul Islam Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) has initiated a move to build four container vessels at a cost of Tk 150 crore.

Two contacts were signed at the Shipping Ministry in this regard yesterday.

Engineer M A Gofur Sarkar, project director at BIWTS, Captain M S Karim, general manager at Khulna Shipyard, and Md Saeedur Rahman, additional chief engineer at Chittagong Dry Doc Limited, signed the contracts on behalf of their respective organisations.

According to the contracts, two of the vessels will be built at Khulna Shipyard and two at Chittagong Dry Dock Limited, tentatively within 22 months.

Among others, Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan, Secretary Syed Manjurul Islam and BIWTC Chairman Mojibur Rahman were present at the contract signing, according to a press release. l

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier Al Ruwais, constructed by Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Co., is seen during its trial voyage at sea near Geoje, southeast of Seoul REUTERS

Land-based LNG terminal on the cards n Aminur Rahman Rasel

The government is going to set up the country’s first-ever land based Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal at Chittagong’s Anwara or Moheskhali in Cox’s Bazar.

The power cell under Power Division has sought expressions of interest (EOI) from international firms for the project, with the last date of submission set on April 28.

The purpose of establishing the terminal is to import LNG, so the country does not have to face any sudden energy crisis because of supply shortfall in the near future.

“We have received a credit from the International Development Agency in the amount of $155m towards the cost of the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Development-2 Project. Part of the proceeds of this credit is intended as payment for consulting services for feasibility study on LNG terminal at Anwara in Chittagong or

Moheskhali in Cox’s Bazar,” power cell Director General Mohammad Hossain told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

He said the power cell was planning to set up a land-based LNG terminal to feed a proposed 1,000MW combined cycle power plant, as well as feeding the existing power plants at Raojan and Sikalbaha by one or more high pressure gas transmission pipelines to be connected from the LNG terminal.

On the other hand, the Energy and Mineral Resources Division has decided to set up the country’s first floating storage and re-gasification unit, also widely known as LNG terminal, at Moheskhali in Cox’s Bazar.

The government is looking for a contractor to install the unit under a build-own-operate-transfer basis for 15 years.

The country has been facing an acute gas crisis, as recent daily production of gas stood at around 2,300 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) against a demand of 3000mmcfd. l

B2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Stock

Stocks end flat amid volatility

DSE key features April 9, 2014

n Tribune Report

Number of Contract

The overall cement sector contributed more than one-fifth of the total turnover. Newly listed Matin Spinning in its second trading day rose by over 2% to Tk42.8 a share.

Lanka Bangla Securities said market acted largely volatile with a flat gain at closing as investors continued to take some cash off the table.

“Nascent concern over the market direction has made the index trembling.”

IDLC Investments said multinational companies’ dominance seemed to have a bit slowed down lately. It said volatility appeared to become stronger with 50 stocks posting above 3% change of their respective price.

“Consequently, these factors offered a base to prime index, DSEX, to end flat.”

After remaining unattractive for long, banks performed well with six emerging at top ten gainers’ list.

The sector gained 1.5%.

Other major sectors pharmaceuticals, NBFs, food and allied, and energy faced significant decline.

Zenith Investments said despite some profit takings from large cap scrips, market was able to retain its balance from falling over.

Much of the credit goes to the dormant banking sector that showed some strength during the last few hours of the trading day, it said. l

Stocks ended flat in volatile trade yesterday as investors switched off from one stocks to another.

Banks, mutual funds and financial Institutions have shined in the market after remaining under pressure for long.

The benchmark DSEX rose 7 points or 0.2% to close at 4,594, after hitting highest 4,611 in the morning and lowest 4,560 in the mid-session.

However, the blue chips index DS30 saw fractional gain of 0.1 points to 1,023. The Shariah index DSES lost 6 points or 0.4% to 1,676.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange Selective Category Index, CSCX, dropped also fractionally 0.7 points to 8,872. Trading activities declined as DSE turnover stood at Tk537 crore, down more than 14% over the previous session’s five and half week high value.

Trading remained concentrated to a few scrips, like Lafarge Surma Cement, Grameenphone and Square Pharmaceuticals. The three heavyweights made up 41% of the total turnover.

Lafarge continued to rally with a rise of 3.8% after the company announced that it will merge with the Holcim Cement. The company also topped turnover’s chart with a liquidity of Tk77.6 crore.

DSE GAINERS Company

Turnover (Million Taka)

5,374.58

Turnover (Volume)

82,242,900 87,120

Traded Issues

297

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

100

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

188

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

9

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,337.51

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

28.33

Turnover (Million Taka)

383.04

Turnover (Volume)

8,033,880

Number of Contract

12,552

DSE Broad Index :

4594.33403

(+) 0.16%

▲

Traded Issues

221

DSE Shariah Index :

1019.89275

(-) 0.19%

▼

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

93

DSE - 30 Index :

1674.79893

(-) 0.43%

▼

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

123

CSE All Share Index:

14164.7511

(+) 0.19%

▲

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

4

CSE - 30 Index :

11885.4781

(+) 0.02%

▲

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,236.63

8871.9862

(-) 0.01%

▼

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

27.11

CSE Selected Index : DSE LOSERS

Northern Jute -Z Trust Bank-A Reckitt Benckiser -A Eastern Cables-A Dulamia CottonZ Midas Financing-Z ICB AMCL IslamicMF-A Marico BD Ltd-A

-9.17 -6.55 -6.00 -5.22 -5.06 -4.27 -4.04 -3.91

Average (% change) -9.17 -9.95 -4.62 -7.24 -5.25 -4.41 -2.86 -1.75

BATBCL -A Shampur Sugar -Z

-3.68 -3.57

-3.52 8.00

Company

Closing (% change)

CSE LOSERS Company

Closing (% change)

Trust Bank-A Paramount Insur-A Northern G Insur-A Apex Footwear-A H.R. Textile -A Dutch Ban. Bnk- A Eastern Cables-A BATBCL -A

-11.24 -9.62 -7.49 -7.12 -5.57 -5.38 -4.84 -4.71

Average (% change) -13.81 -9.62 -7.41 -6.48 -5.40 -5.38 -8.39 -4.37

Bata Shoe Ltd. -A Usmania Glass -A

-3.30 -3.24

-2.30 -3.37

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 469.24 143.87 62.59 356.52 225.11 492.43 2.99 334.52 1260.53 0.57 46.74 100.67 21.16 1046.72 19.31 34.75 85.01 475.16 23.53 167.08 6.08

Turnover in million

Daily low

Latest EPS

Latest PE

99.00 15.20 1334.87 168.71 7.58 26.89 21.38 1285.39

99.00 15.70 1322.50 163.50 7.50 26.90 21.40 1259.50

99.00 16.00 1425.00 179.90 7.90 27.90 22.00 1335.00

99.00 14.00 1319.00 161.00 7.40 26.10 20.40 1250.00

0.020 12.845 2.603 17.765 0.050 0.121 0.727 14.075

-10.24 0.76 41.12 1.40 -4.02 -5.96 2.56 46.53

-ve 20.0 32.5 120.5 -ve -ve 8.4 27.6

2554.71 8.10

2550.20 8.10

2655.00 8.10

2545.00 8.10

8.686 0.006

81.14 -50.84

31.5 -ve

Closing average

Closing

Daily high

Turnover in million

Daily low

Latest EPS

15.00 21.60 34.60 476.00 32.20 88.00 165.00 2,513.70

15.50 21.60 35.00 482.50 32.40 88.00 177.70 2,550.00

14.10 21.60 34.00 476.00 31.50 88.00 165.00 2,513.00

0.640 0.011 0.069 0.192 0.193 0.264 0.961 0.505

0.76 1.51 2.00 23.61 1.56 10.00 1.40 81.14

19.1 14.3 17.3 20.3 20.7 8.8 120.4 31.1

1,007.55 204.94

1,007.60 199.90

1,010.10 211.00

1,005.00 197.10

0.202 0.879

52.75 5.10

19.1 40.2

Nascent concern over the market direction has made the index trembling

CSE GAINERS Company AB Bank - A Union Capital -A JMI Syringes MDL-A Delta Brac HFCL-A LafargeS Cement-Z Intl. Leasing-B Aziz PipesZ The Ibn SinaA Rahima Food -Z Golden Son -A

% change 8.73 2.68 1.16 6.63 4.19 9.16 0.06 6.22 23.45 0.01 0.87 1.87 0.39 19.48 0.36 0.65 1.58 8.84 0.44 3.11 0.11

Million Taka 38.20 14.82 5.12 29.39 18.48 29.24 43.50 24.59 14.28 1.94 16.41 2.43 100.66 4.25 1.20 3.64 52.08 4.54 20.86 0.22

% change 8.97 3.48 1.20 6.90 4.34 6.87 0.00 10.21 5.77 3.35 0.45 3.85 0.57 23.64 1.00 0.28 0.85 12.23 1.07 4.90 0.05

Million Taka 507.44 158.69 67.71 385.91 243.59 521.67 2.99 378.02 1285.12 14.86 48.68 117.08 23.59 1147.38 23.57 35.95 88.64 527.24 28.07 187.94 6.30

Total

Closing (% change) 9.64 7.26 6.84 6.71 6.27 6.06 6.00 5.39 5.39 5.32

Average (% change) 4.70 5.53 6.10 6.71 7.58 4.24 6.10 3.56 2.24 5.77

NITOLINS: The Board of Directors has recommended 5% cash dividend and 12% stock dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2013. The Board has also decided to revalue its own office space at Bijoy Nagar Office, Sky Lark Point (5th Floor), Bijoy Nagar, Dhaka and Chittagong Zonal Office, Yunusco City Centre (10th Floor), GEC More, Chittagong. Date of AGM: 09.06.2014, Time: 11:00 AM, Venue: "Trust Milonayaton", Dhaka Cantonment, Dhaka.

Record Date: 27.04.2014. The Company has also reported EPS of Tk. 3.57, NAV per share of Tk. 17.65 and NOCFPS of Tk. 3.85 for the year ended on December 31, 2013.

LAFSURCEML: With reference to their earlier letter dated April 05, 2014 (news disseminated by DSE on April 06, 2014), the Company has further informed that on April 7, 2014 the Board of Directors of Lafarge of France and Holcim of Switzerland have approved the merger of Lafarge and Holcim Groups.

IBNSINA: As per Regulation 30 of DSE Listing Regulations, the Company has informed that a meeting of the Board of Directors will be held on April 12, 2014 at 5:00 PM to consider, among others, audited financial

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company LafargeS Cement-Z Grameenphone-A HeidelbergCement -A Padma Oil Co. -A Olympic Ind. -A Meghna Petroleum -A

CSE

9.60 9.09 7.50 6.92 5.93 5.74 5.59 5.50 5.32 5.13

Average (% change) 7.78 9.09 5.70 2.62 2.51 6.06 1.36 5.35 4.00 3.41

Closing average 27.02 60.00 180.61 16.46 12.26 35.00 18.62 60.46 27.06 130.43

Closing average 26.50 26.34 181.71 62.00 61.62 13.76 21.22 129.90 42.45 60.51

Closing 27.40 60.00 182.00 17.00 12.50 35.00 18.90 61.40 27.70 131.10

Closing 27.30 26.60 181.30 62.00 61.00 14.00 21.20 131.00 43.00 61.40

Daily high 27.50 60.00 185.70 17.40 12.70 35.00 19.00 61.80 28.50 132.80

Daily high 27.30 27.20 186.60 62.00 63.10 14.00 21.50 132.00 43.00 62.00

statements of the Company for the year ended on December 31, 2013.

BSC: The Company has further informed that due to unavoidable circumstances, the meeting of the Board of Directors of the Company will now be held on April 16, 2014 at 6:30 PM instead of April 13, 2014 to consider, among others, audited financial statements of the Company for the year ended on June 30, 2013.

From BIASL Desk: Impact after declaration: NITOLINS price up 4.92%, close at taka 36.20 with PE 10.14.

Price Correction after Record Day: TRUSTBANK price correction was 6.54% (taka 1.10) against 12% stock Dividend (taka 2.02 per share approx.). After record day restated EPS is taka 0.76 and NAV per share is taka 16.89.

RIGHT SHARE: ARAMITCEM: Subscription 23.03.2014 to 17.04.2014. RD for 6entitlement of rights share: 09.01.2014.

RUPALILIFE- Subscription 06.04.2014 to 05.05.2014. RD for entitlement of rights share: 16.01.2014. BRACBANK: Subscription 20.04.2014 to 15.05.2014. RD for entitlement of rights share: 10.02.2014. GENNEXT: Subscription 18.03.2014 to 09.04.2014, RD:

Daily low 22.50 60.00 170.00 14.40 11.00 35.00 16.30 54.50 25.00 115.00

Daily low 24.80 24.60 177.00 62.00 57.60 13.30 20.70 124.20 42.00 59.50

Turnover in million 122.584 0.015 12.733 8.696 5.841 0.018 18.759 100.115 16.967 39.874

Turnover in million 5.666 0.446 2.816 0.124 89.374 0.172 0.011 2.728 0.127 7.758

Latest EPS 2.06 0.60 1.97 1.86 1.87 -0.04 1.31 3.35 3.30 3.12

Latest EPS 2.06 1.17 1.97 3.46 2.19 -0.21 0.59 3.12 -1.00 3.35

Latest PE 13.1 100.0 91.7 8.8 6.6 -ve 14.2 18.0 8.2 41.8

Latest PE 12.9 22.5 92.2 17.9 28.1 -ve 36.0 41.6 -ve 18.1

25.02.2014.

IPO Subscription: The Peninsula Chittagong Limited subscription date 30 March-03 April 2014, NRB upto 12 April 2014. @ taka 30, face value taka 10 and market lot 200. Shahjibazar Power Co. Limited subscription date 06-04 April 2014, NRB upto 19 April 2014. @ taka 25, face value taka 10 and market lot 200.

Dividend/AGM FASFIN: 5.20% cash, AGM: 22.05.2014, Record Date: 22.04.2014.

RECKITTBEN: 400%, AGM: 06.05.2014, Record Date: 20.04.2014.

PHOENIXFIN: 20% cash, AGM: 29.05.2014, Record Date: 17.04.2014.

NORTHRNINS: 10% stock, AGM: 08.06.2014, Record Date: 16.04.2014.

BDLAMPS: 20% cash, AGM: 20.05.2014, Record Date: 17.04.2014.

ARGONDENIM: 6% cash & 15% stock, AGM: 24.04.2014, Record date: 10.04.2014.

HEIDELBCEM: 380% cash, AGM: 22.05.2014, Record Date: 17.04.2014.

FAMILYTEX: 100% stock, AGM: 15.05.2014, Record Date: 22.04.2014.

SIBL: 12% cash, AGM: 31.05.2014, Record Date: 24.04.2014.

Latest PE

14.54 21.60 34.63 479.25 32.23 88.00 168.58 2,522.75

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY Sector

Daily high

AB Bank - A Savar Refractories-Z JMI Syringes MDL-A MutualTrust Bank-A First Security Bank-A Samata LeatheR -Z City Bank - A Golden Son -A Uttara Bank - A The Ibn SinaA

Closing (% change)

News from trade server

CSE key features April 9, 2014

Daily capital market highlights

Thursday, April 10, 2014

% change 8.75 2.74 1.17 6.65 4.20 8.99 0.05 6.52 22.16 0.26 0.84 2.02 0.41 19.78 0.41 0.62 1.53 9.09 0.48 3.24 0.11

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

AB Bank - A BSC-A Golden Son -A

BD Submarine Cable-A Matin Spinning-N Renata Ltd. -A Familytex (BD) Ltd.-N UCBL - A CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company LafargeS Cement-Z

Grameenphone-A Matin Spinning-N BSC-A BD Submarine Cable-A Padma Oil Co. -A Square Pharma -A LankaBangla Fin. -A HeidelbergCement -A UCBL - A Golden Son -A AB Bank - A Familytex (BD) Ltd.-N Emerald Oil Ind. -N BEXIMCO Ltd. -A

Volume shares 12,619,500 1,614,384 386,960 544,330 604,000 472,892 4,536,019 167,210 1,655,783

361,422 1,740,600 64,369 1,137,500 2,698,053

Volume shares

1,450,500 161,000 391,600 23,765 58,410 34,582 36,899 151,600 15,250 352,031 128,210 213,838 89,000 19,511 133,834

Value in million 775.31 398.01 216.17 194.93 135.64 135.09 122.58 109.03 100.12

77.15 75.26 68.86 65.28 63.01

Value in million

89.37 39.58 16.91 15.52 12.50 12.33 10.27 9.52 8.49 8.27 7.76 5.67 5.17 4.37 3.91

% of total turnover 14.43 7.41 4.02 3.63 2.52 2.51 2.28 2.03 1.86

1.44 1.40 1.28 1.21 1.17

% of total turnover

23.78 10.53 4.50 4.13 3.32 3.28 2.73 2.53 2.26 2.20 2.06 1.51 1.38 1.16 1.04

Daily closing 59.50 247.90 548.90 354.30 224.30 284.20 27.40 651.50 61.40

212.00 42.80 1062.90 57.00 23.70

Daily closing

61.00 247.60 42.90 651.00 212.10 354.70 279.40 62.30 549.40 23.70 61.40 27.30 57.20 45.50 29.10

Price change 3.84 0.36 -2.71 -2.02 -1.41 -1.52 9.60 2.44 5.50

Daily opening 57.30 247.00 564.20 361.60 227.50 288.60 25.00 636.00 58.20

Daily high 63.00 250.10 570.00 363.70 228.30 289.00 27.50 662.00 61.80

Price change

Daily opening

-1.99 2.15 1.06 -2.73 3.49

6.27 0.00 2.39 2.36 -2.17 -1.91 0.00 1.30 -2.47 3.95 5.32 9.64 -2.56 -0.66 -0.68

216.30 41.90 1051.70 58.60 22.90

57.40 247.60 41.90 636.00 216.80 361.60 279.40 61.50 563.30 22.80 58.30 24.90 58.70 45.80 29.30

218.00 44.90 1094.0 59.90 24.00

Daily low 57.50 240.00 545.00 340.00 208.00 264.00 22.50 632.00 54.50

197.40 41.90 1020.00 56.50 21.00

Daily average 61.44 246.54 558.65 358.11 224.56 285.67 27.02 652.07 60.46

Daily high

Daily low

Daily average

63.10 249.90 44.70 667.00 217.70 362.50 280.20 63.70 570.00 23.90 62.00 27.30 61.00 47.00 29.60

57.60 238.10 41.90 631.00 211.80 352.60 275.20 61.50 542.00 20.70 59.50 24.80 56.90 45.30 29.00

213.47 43.24 1069.69 57.39 23.35

61.62 245.85 43.19 653.27 213.98 356.49 278.46 62.78 556.95 23.49 60.51 26.50 58.09 224.19 29.20

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

B3

Thursday, April 10, 2014

IMF cuts Japan growth forecast, warns over ‘Abenomics’

Dollar claws back some losses against yen in Asia

Twitter profiles get Facebookstyle revamp

n AFP, Tokyo

n AFP, San Francisco

n AFP, Tokyo

The dollar yesterday bounced back above 102 yen, clawing back losses suffered in New York after the head of the Bank of Japan poured cold water on hopes it will add to its stimulus programme in the near future.

In Tokyo afternoon trade, the greenback bought 102.04 yen, up from 101.75 yen late in New York but still well down from 102.90 yen in Tokyo earlier Tuesday.

The euro was at 140.64 yen and $1.3789, compared with 140.44 yen and $1.3797 in New York.

Analysts said appetite for risk was picking up, supporting the dollar, as investors look to the US and European central banks for hints about future policy moves.

Mediocre US jobs data last week has capped expectations that the US Federal Reserve will speed up the taper of its asset-purchasing stimulus.

“Today’s (yesterday) focus will be on minutes from March FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) and speeches by officials from both Fed and ECB as they are likely to provide the market with more hints on the monetary policy of the major central banks going forward,” Credit Agricole said.

The yen jumped Tuesday after Japanese central bank chief Haruhiko Kuroda told a news conference that the economy was getting back on track

The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday cut its 2014 growth forecast for Japan and warned that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe must follow through on promised reforms to cement a turnaround in the world’s number-three economy.

In its World Economic Outlook, the IMF said it expected Japan’s economy to grow 1.4% this year, down from an earlier 1.7% forecast, before slowing to 1% in 2015.

The Washington-based Fund has previously been upbeat on Abe’s growth policy blitz - a mixture of big government spending and central bank monetary easing dubbed Abenomics, which is designed to drag the economy out of years of deflation and laggard growth.

The plan’s so-called “third arrow” - reforms that include more flexible labour markets and free-trade deals have been more talk than action so far, although Tokyo on Monday agreed on a long-awaited trade deal with Australia.

The agreement was the first time Japan had negotiated a comprehensive economic partnership agreement or free trade deal with a major economy.

But separate negotiations involving the United States, Japan and 10 other nations, known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership, have stalled.

Japan has long been accused of protecting its domestic industries -- including the politically powerful agricultural sector -- with high trade and other non-tariff barriers, while many of its own exports, including vehicles and electronics, enjoy big sales overseas.

Abe has pledged to make changes and grow the long-laggard economy, while battling to contain one of the rich world’s heaviest debt burdens.

But “Abenomics still needs to translate into stronger domestic private demand”, the IMF said.

“Implementation of the remaining two arrows of Abenomics - structural reform and plans for fiscal consolidation beyond 2015 - is essential to achieve the inflation target and higher sustained growth.”

‘Longer-term stagnation risks’ Earlier Tuesday, the Bank of Japan painted an upbeat picture of the economy and stood pat on its monetary easing programme as it assesses the impact of a controversial sales tax rise.

Markets had broadly expected the decision after the April 1 sales tax increase to 8% from 5%. There are also tentative plans to bump the rate again to 10% next year.

But while it is seen as crucial to shrinking Japan’s mountainous debt burden, the recent rise has increased speculation that the BoJ will be forced

at some stage to add to its stimulus to counter an expected slowdown in consumer spending.

Japan’s economic growth in the latter part of last year slowed after a sizzling start to 2013 when it led G7 nations. Full-year growth was 1.5%.

The IMF noted that Tokyo’s special budget to counter an expected taxlinked slowdown may not be enough.

“The positive effect of the recently approved stimulus measures is expected to be more than offset by the negative impact of the consumption tax hike and the waning of reconstruction spending and past stimulus measures,” the report said.

It noted that “underlying growth drivers” including private investment and exports would likely strengthen after the yen weakened sharply since Abe took office in late 2012. The weaker currency boosts profitability among Japanese exporters such as Toyota and Sony.

“Nevertheless, activity overall is projected to slow moderately in response to a tightening fiscal policy stance,” the IMF added, referring to the tax hike.

“Longer-term stagnation risks are present primarily because of the sizable fiscal consolidation that will be needed during the next decade or so to ensure the transition to a sustainable long-term fiscal position in a rapidly ageing society.” l

and a sales tax that kicked in on April 1 would not hurt a nascent recovery, despite warnings to the contrary.

Kuroda said he was “not considering taking additional easing measures at this point, because the economy is steadfastly moving towards reaching the stable 2% inflation goal and that I don’t think there is a need for additional easing measures”.

The euro faced downward pressure after International Monetary Fund chief economist Olivier Blanchard said European Cental Bank action was needed “soon” to avert deflation in the eurozone.

He added at the launch of the IMF’s World Economic Outlook report that the bank was “considering a number of measures (including) negative interest rates, quantitative easing, securitisation programmes of various sources”.

The dollar was mostly lower against other Asia-Pacific currencies.

It fell to Sg$1.2505 from Sg$1.2583 on Tuesday, to 1,043.10 South Korean won from 1,052.93 won, to 32.23 Thai baht from 32.41 baht, to 11,289 Indonesian rupiah from 11,305 rupiah, and to 60.04 Indian rupees from 60.12 rupees.

It was unchanged at 44.87 Philippine pesos.

The Australian dollar rose to 93.69 US cents from 92.89 cents and the Chinese yuan slipped to 16.43 yen from 16.58 yen. l

Twitter on Tuesday began revamping profile pages to let users display more of their online personalities, giving the popular service a Facebook-like feel.

“The new web profile lets you use a larger profile photo, customize your header, show off your best Tweets and more,” Twitter designer David Bellona said in a blog post.

Twitter showed off the redesign at the accounts of high-profile accounts such as that of US First Lady Michelle Obama at @flotus and music stars @ JohnLegend and @Weezer.

On redesigned Twitter pages, messages that prompt people to respond or “re-tweet” appear in larger type to reveal which comments resonated with followers.

A favorite ‘tweet” can be pinned atop pages to make it easy for “followers to see what you’re all about,” according to Bellona.

Filters are being added to allow more selective views of timelines on pages.

San Francisco-based Twitter said the changes are “coming soon to everyone.”

As of the end of last year, one in every six people online in the United States used Twitter and approximately a quarter of those on the Internet in Britain tuned into the service, according to industry-tracker eMarketer. l

In smartphone mass-market, Samsung, Apple have margins on their minds n Reuters, Seoul

As the smartphone action shifts to the mass market, leaders Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and Apple Inc are under pressure to make their high-end phones more affordable to revive sales.

And that may spell trouble for alreadysoftening margins.

Samsung, which said on Tuesday it would likely post a second straight quarterly profit decline, has knocked around a tenth off the price of its Galaxy S5 in South Korea, in the first such move for a marquee smartphone launch - the S5 rolls out globally on Friday. And it’s throwing in a free gift pack of media subscriptions and web apps worth 600,000 won ($570).

The mass market - where a smartphone can be had for as little as $25 - is the new mobile device battleground, as high-end growth eases off with sales slowing in mature markets. Japan, for example, may see smartphone shipments shrink this year, according to researcher IDC. Samsung’s flagship S5 price cut suggests the South Korean firm wants to encourage users to trade up to a fancier phone - at a potential cost to its margins.

Samsung’s mobile business operating margin dipped to 16% in October-December from 18% over the whole of 2013.

“It reflects how much Samsung is agonizing to secure margins. They’re now offering premium models at lower prices as the demand outlook for highend phones remains uncertain,” said Lee Seung-woo, an analyst at IBK Securities.

Premium smartphones tend to be priced at above $300 and pack in more

features, such as more powerful processing power, high resolution display, better cameras and fingerprint reading.

With the S5, which has few hardware improvements from its S4 predecessor, industry watchers reckon Samsung is aiming more at a broad mass market than tech savvy users.

To be sure, Samsung has a far broader product line-up than rival Apple, and it has some leeway to trim prices given that manufacturing costs have fallen. Lee Min-hee, an analyst at IM Investment, reckons the total cost of production materials for the S5 - from the battery and screen to the processor and sensors - will be 10-15% lower than for the S4.

While this allows vendors to make quality phones for less, it makes it tougher for them to maintain a premium brand image.

“Samsung needs to be very clear about the market segment it’s pursuing,” said Clement Teo, analyst at Forrester Research in Singapore. “Take Apple - it didn’t drop prices on its iPhones, even with the new models. This helps it maintain a margin premium and attracts a certain loyal user base.”

But Cupertino, California-based Apple is also taking note of the growing potential of the mass market. Internal documents revealed during an ongoing US patent trial against Samsung indicates some at Apple felt the company priced itself too high.

Less pricing change at apple

According to an April 2013 presentation filed to a US court, executives had debated plans for Apple’s 2014 fiscal year and concluded that consumers wanted what it wasn’t offering: cheaper phones

- for less than $300 - and bigger screens.

It’s unclear how representative that presentation is of Apple’s mindset.

Nor are there signs that Apple, which thrives on its premium positioning and plays down suggestions that it go mass-market, intends to deviate from its path.

Apple did not respond to requests for comment.

An ‘economy’ model may wedge Apple more firmly in emerging markets - a segment still seeing strong growth.

Apple now relies on discounted older generation phones to reach cost-conscious buyers, but buyers in markets

like Brazil and China increasingly want the latest gadget.

IPhone shipments grew just 8% in Apple’s 2013 fiscal third quarter, a far cry from five years ago when shipments more than doubled.

“They are foregoing incremental revenue opportunities by not having a product that addresses that market,” said BTIG analyst Walter Piecyk, adding that the main hope of investors now is that Apple produce a new product - a wearable device, say - to galvanize revenue growth.

The iPhone 5C, a colorful plastic model priced just $100 cheaper than its

Grameenphone Ltd held its 17th annual general meeting at the Basundhara Convention Center yesterday. GP has paid 90% interim cash dividend and recommended 50% final cash dividend per share on its Tk10 face value. The company’s chair on the board, Sigve Brekke and CEO Vivek Sood were present on the occasion along with the other board members NCC Bank Ltd recently organised a conference for its executives and officers of Greater Noakhali and Comilla based branches in Comilla. Golam Hafiz Ahmed, acting managing director attended the conference as chief guest

premium cousin, was aimed at emerging markets and marked a departure from Apple’s focus on premium phones last year. But it’s not been a spectacular success. Some analysts theorize that an unwillingness to sacrifice profitability meant the device wasn’t priced cheaply enough.

A thinner slice

Apple’s iPhone margins have crept south as the company packs more features into its gadgets, trying to stand out in an increasingly crowded field.

As its market share dwindles, the company enjoys less leverage to squeeze

suppliers. And margins may fall further if Apple introduces bigger screens as expected.

Bernstein Research analyst Toni Sacconaghi estimates that making the screen just 30% larger could wipe 4-5 percentage points off gross margins.

IPhone margins are now in the mid40% range, down from 50-60% a few years ago, analysts estimate.

“With the iPhone 6, Apple is likely to stick to premium pricing as it’s widely expected to come with a bigger screen and some innovative design tweaks,” said Doh Hyun-woo, an analyst at Mirae Asset Securities. “They are unlikely to make as much change in pricing policy as Samsung does.”

The average selling price of a smartphone globally is seen dropping by more than a fifth by 2018, to $260, according to IDC, as more buyers, especially in emerging markets, opt for price over brand, and as manufacturing costs continue to drop.

The iPhone remains the most expensive smartphone, with an estimated average selling price this year of $649, more than double the average price of $247 for Android phones, Samsung’s mainstay products, according to IDC. Average selling prices of iPhones will drop only 6% to $610 by 2018, while Android prices will decline 18% to $202, according to those IDC forecasts.

“Apple has a clear strategy - to be the best in the market segment it competes in, and it has performed well,” said Forrester’s Teo. “Regardless of 5C sales, the bigger picture is that Apple is relevant to users in their moment of need - through an iPhone, iPad, iPod or its App store.” l

First Security Islami Bank Limited recently sponsored 1st phase of beautification and renovation work at I & SC, Bangladesh Air Force and F-6 Fighter Plane at Bijoy Shoroni in Dhaka. Air Vice Marshal M Naim Hassan inaugurated the work

Bank Asia’s board audit committee gets new chair

Ninth batch of probationary officers at Social Islami Bank Limited seen presenting a bouquet to the bank’s chair, Major (retd) Dr Md Rezaul Haque in a programme titled “Chairman’s Free Time with Future Leaders”

Banglalink, mobile telecom operator on Tuesday launched its 3G services in Sylhet at a press conference held in Roseview Hotel. Mayor, Ariful Haque Chowdhury of Sylhet City Corporation was present at the programme as chief guest

Mohammed Lakiotullah has been elected chairperson at the board audit committee of Bank Asia at a board meeting held on March 31.

He has 44 years of experience in banking during which he was the founder MD of EXIM Limited and also a former MD of Jamuna Bank Limited.

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Thursday, April 10, 2014

Japan, United The 98% entrepreneurship reality States face off in crucial trade negotiations n Sean Griffin

US Trade Representative Michael Froman

n Reuters, Tokyo Japan and the United States on Wednesday began a round of crucial talks aimed at concluding a trade pact seen as critical to the success of regional negotiations, although officials warned that bridging differences would be difficult.

Tokyo and Washington are seeking a two-way trade deal, regarded as a key part of the US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) that is the centrepiece of Washington’s push to increase its Asian presence, before US President Barack Obama travels to Japan for an April 2425 state visit.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has touted the multilateral framework as a key part of his growth strategy but the outlook for a Japan-US deal is cloudy as both sides accuse each other of inflexibility.

“I think if there is good will on both sides we can make progress on bridging our differences,” US Trade Representative Michael Froman told reporters before talks with officials including Economy Minister Akira Amari.

Working level discussions on Monday and Tuesday made little substantial progress in narrowing gaps, a Japanese government source said, and

Froman’s talks with Amari were likely to continue on Thursday.

“The president’s visit is one important juncture, but it is not a deadline,” Japanese Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroshige Seko told a news conference.

“What is important is to achieve our country’s national interests.”

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Abe confirmed a basic trade agreement on Monday, overcoming sticking points on beef and autos that had threatened to stymie a deal, and agreed to work towards signing it as soon as possible.

“Clearly we are looking for a level of ambition in TPP that is significantly higher than that,” Froman told reporters on Tuesday upon arriving in Japan.

Froman told US lawmakers last week that Japan’s reluctance to lower trade barriers was holding up agreement on the TPP, a 12-nation grouping that would stretch from Asia to Latin America.

Japanese officials say Washington needs to be more flexible on its side.

The United States wants Japan to open its rice, beef and pork, dairy and sugar sectors - politically powerful sectors that Abe has vowed to defend. Japan wants a timetable on US promises to drop tariffs of 2.5% on imports of passenger cars and 25% on light trucks.

Abe called for flexibility and said he hoped that both parties would end up feeling that they were in a mutually beneficial situation, as with the JapanAustralia agreement.

“I think we can say Japan and the United States are dominant among parties participating in TPP talks in terms of economy,” he told Japanese television on Tuesday.

“If Japan and the United States fail to reach an agreement, TPP could collapse ... The important thing is that it would be pointless if Japan and the United States remained unyielding and that happened.” l

There is no question about it. It’s an exciting time to be an entrepreneur, wherever you live in the world. There is more attention being given to entrepreneurialism as a viable career path and way to innovate than at any other time in history. We are at the beginning of a full-blown entrepreneurial renaissance.

Organisations and programs that support new technology companies to launch and gain access to the tools, resources, and capital, that accelerate building scalable, high growth businesses, are being introduced on a daily basis.

Startup programs like Startup Weekend, Lean Startup Machine, TechStars, and YCombinator, are highly successful at filtering large numbers of technology companies with mentoring and funding designed to test their business models in an effort to grow big, fast.

Let’s face it; you are hard-pressed to go a full day without being fed a news story about a technology company that has raised their first and second multimillion-dollar investment or the latest IPO making the founders into millionaires and billionaires.

Very exciting times indeed. At least for those that are able to turn their startup into piles of cash.

Over promoting unrealistic behavior There is a little-known fact behind every startup story that puts a newly funded company on a pedestal, and very few people are talking about it. What is this little-known bit of information?Less than 2% of all startups are funded by angels, accelerators, or venture capitalists.

Let’s state this in a different way so that it can fully sink in. Only 2% of all startups have a business model, an experienced team, connections, and scalability, usually technology based, to raise money from investors. Funding is for the elite.

More and more the funding is going to Ivy League college graduates and teams that have a proven track record of generating huge returns for investors. This means that 98% of all entrepreneurs and startups are not gaining access to the tools, resources, and financing opportunities that will give their new company the opportunity to grow.

It’s not always a technology world It is time to think differently about what it means to be an entrepreneur. The myth is that you have to be a rockstar and grow a technology company to be the next Facebook or Google. This does not reflect the reality of what it means to be an entrepreneur.

Entrepreneurialism is a lifestyle, a mindset, a way to live life with greater purpose and meaning. If we are to overcome the economic challenges we face as a world, we need to

focus more energy on supporting the 98% of entrepreneurs who are starting new companies.

The challenge is that the 98% do not meet the capitalistic nature of our economy today. That is to say, that they do not have a company that fast can grow big and generate handsome returns for investors.

No wonder so many have so much anger towards Wall Street.

The world needs small businesses The entrepreneurial reality of the 98% is that they are low-tech or no-tech companies, have done little or no planning, are made up of unproven teams, have little to no experience in starting a company, and are not graduates of Ivy League universities.

In addition, these companies only require a few thousand dollars to start generating revenue and will only grow 2 – 20 jobs.

Startups do not need to be a technology company. They do not need to change the world. They just need someone with an idea

OECD says rich countries give record aid in 2013 n AFP, Paris

Aid given by rich countries to poor nations rose last year to a record $134.8bn (97bn euros) despite budget constraints, the OECD said on Tuesday.

“Development aid rose by 6.1% in real terms in 2013 to reach the highest

level ever recorded, despite continued pressure on budgets in OECD countries since the global economic crisis,” a statement said. This figure came after two years of falling volumes, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development said.

“It is heartening to see governments

increasing their development aid budgets again, despite the financial constraints they are currently facing,” said OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria.

“However, assistance to some of the neediest countries continues to fall, which is a serious concern,” he said. One such region was identified as sun-Saha-

ran Africa. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, a policy forum for 34 advanced democracies, said that 17 member countries had increased their aid levels.

The United States remained the biggest donor at $31.5bn, an increase of 1.3% over the figure the previous year. l

and the passion to take that idea into the marketplace. Just think about how different the American economy would be if we were giving small business startups a similar level of access to networks, coaching, and team development, as the 2%.

We are over-promoting unrealistic behavior. Instead of focusing on raising lots of money, let’s focus on the development of viable business models that connect with customers willing to pay for the value created by the startup. By focusing on the generation of revenue that drives profitability there is less and less need to raise money.

Small business is the cornerstone of entrepreneurship. Some will become the next Apple but most will become the next corner drugstore owning their business for 20 years. Both deserve the same level of support and regard for making a difference in our lives.

StartUp Cup is borne out of this frustration, to see entrepreneurs armed with any type of idea gain access to the coaching,

Sean Griffin, the CEO and Founder of StartUp Cup, is an internationally renowned visual thinker, Silicon Valley serial entrepreneur turned entrepreneurial educator, and community builder

‘Heartbleed’ bug puts encrypted data in danger n AFP, San Francisco Trust in the Internet took a major blow on Tuesday as alarm spread that software commonly used to encrypt and secure online transactions could wind up giving away the store.

Computer security specialists, website masters, and fans of online privacy were worriedly abuzz with word of a freshly-discovered flaw in online datascrambling software that hackers can turn to their advantage.

A bug dubbed “Heartbleed” in OpenSSL encryption software lets attackers illicitly retrieve passwords and other bits of information from working memory on computer servers, according to cyberdefense specialists at Fox-IT. “Expect everybody who runs an https web server to be scrambling today,” the Tor Project said in a warning posted at its website.

“If you need strong anonymity or privacy on the Internet, you might want to stay away from the Internet entirely for the next few days while things settle,” it said. OpenSSL is used to protect passwords, credit card numbers and other data coursing through the Internet.

Crown jewels at risk

Information considered at risk includes source codes, passwords, and “keys” that could be used to impersonate websites or unlock encrypted data.

“These are the crown jewels, the

DILBERT

A digital wallet used to store bitcoins is displayed at a Bitcoin conference on at the Javits Center April 7 in New York. Topics included market places to trade bitcoin, mining hardware to harvest bitcoins and digital wallets to store bitcoins. Bitcoin is one of the most popular of over one hundred digital currencies that have recently come into popularity AFP

resources, and tools that the 2% have access to.

It’s time to start celebrating the real heroes of our economy, the 98% who work to make our lives better each and every day.

Our bootstrapping approach to growing entrepreneurs and sustainable companies is proving to be one of the most high-impact entrepreneur programs in the world. There are a number of StartUp Cups around the world accepting business model applications right now, including Bangladesh StartUp Cup. What’s your big idea? The time is NOW to make your dreams come true and turn your business idea, no matter what kind, into a sustainable business. What are you waiting for? l

encryption keys themselves,” said a heartbleed.com website devoted to details of the vulnerability.

“Leaked secret keys allows the attacker to decrypt any past and future traffic to the protected services and to impersonate the service at will.”

The flaw in OpenSSL essentially allows a hacker to read the memory of a machine working the software, but no more than 64 kilobytes of data at a time, according to security specialists.

Nor can hackers control which bits of memory are tapped, leaving to chance what they get their hands on.

However, hackers could repeatedly grab packets of memory to ramp up the odds of stealing valuable data.

“There is no limit on the number of attacks that can be performed,” FoxIT said in a blog post that listed steps business IT handlers can take to thwart incursions.

Security researchers reported being able to dig out Yahoo password information by taking advantage of the bug.

Yahoo released a statement Tuesday saying it had fixed the problem at its main online properties.

Fox-IT estimated that the vulnerability has existed for about two years, since the version of OpenSSL at issue was released.

OpenSSL is used by more than half of websites, but not all versions have the vulnerability, according to heartbleed.com. l