April 13, 2014

Chaitra 30, 1420 Jamadius Sani 12, 1435 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 2, No 15

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Mamata bashes central govt over Teesta Tribune Online Report West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is regarded responsible for not signing the Indo-Bangla Teesta water-sharing pact, has again started playing politics with the issue.

Also the Trinamool Congress chief, Mamata at an election rally yesterday urged the people to teach the central government a lesson “through ballots” as “the centre wanted to deprive the people of [India’s] north Bengal of drinking water by giving away Teesta water [to Bangladesh].”

‘We cannot impose decisions on people.

It is up to the public to decide the fate of enclaves’ She made the call while addressing election rallies in Dinhata of Cooch Behar district and Jalpaiguri of Jalpaiguri district in north Bengal of India.

“Mamata accused the central government of trying to deprive the state’s northern parts of drinking water and asked the people to teach it a lesson,” reports Zee News.

Referring to the yet-to-be-inked Teesta water sharing deal between the two neighbours, Mamata said: “Teesta

has dried up. There is acute drinking water problem. Yet, the central government was giving away Teesta water.”

She also hit out at the central government of trying to impose its decisions without public consent.

The Teesta water agreement has been put on hold after the Trinamool’s strong opposition, which has expressed fears that the treaty could spell disaster for north Bengal.

In September 2011, Mamata had embarrassed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by pulling herself out of a delegation visiting Bangladesh to settle the water sharing agreement. Her decision prompted India to drop the issue from the agenda.

At a meeting with Manmohan on the sidelines of Bimstec Summit on March 4, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina emphasised on early completion of Teesta water sharing agreement and hoped that the land boundary agreement would be ratified as soon as possible. The Indian premier assured Hasina of looking into the issue.

The Bangladesh government has flagged its concern over the drastic fall of Teesta water in the recent months.

Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque raised the issue while meeting his Indian counterpart Sujatha Singh and the Indian water resources secretary on March 20.

Sujatha on Teesta water said they were taking it very seriously and had PAGE 2 COLUMN 5

Clash at Nilkhet leaves 25 injured Kailash Sarkar and Arif Ahmed Clashes between the students of Dhaka University and traders from different markets in the capital’s Nilkhet area left over 25 people, including 15 students, injured yesterday.

Witnesses and police said the entire area turned into a battlefield during the skirmishes.

DU students set several shops on fire and vandalised many others. During the clash, all the markets in the area remained shut and vehicular movements suspended, triggering panic among other students and traders.

Police had to fire several rounds of blank shots and lob sound grenades to disperse the mob and bring the situation under control.

Dhaka University students set ablaze the merchandise of makeshift roadside shops during clashes with book traders in the capital’s Nilkhet area yesterday. The violence erupted following petty disputes over price. More photos on Page 3 MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Fish trader now turns surgeon Ashif Islam Shaon Just five years back, Ratan Krishna Majumder was a fish trader by profession.

The eighth-grade passed fish trader used to work nights during that period.

After switching to medical profession, his fate had been changed overnight.

The incredible thing was that Ratan, 43, used to conduct surgery in a private hospital at Mohammadpur in the capital. His brother-in-law Babul Chandra Paik, 42, also owner of the hospital, had abetted him carry out orthopae-

dic surgery. Babul had only passed the SSC exam.

Babul appointed Ratan as an operation theatre assistant. After a couple of years, they started doing minor operations when the lone doctor of the hospital was not on duty.

Law enforcers yesterday raided the hospital named National Care General Hospital on Babar Road and arrested seven people, including the two. A mobile court later sentenced the duo to one year imprisonment and fined them Tk1.05 lakh each.

DU proctor says book traders beating up students is nothing new

The magistrate, aided by a Rapid Action Battalion (RAB 2) team, also sealed off the hospital.

“Babul established the hospital renting a floor of the fix-storey building seven years ago. We conducted the raid on information that not doctors, but the owner and ward boys had been providing treatment there,” said Major Rakibul Islam of RAB 2.

He added: “Some middlemen used to poach uneducated patients going to Pangu Hospital, the country’s biggest

Sources said the clash had erupted when a group of book traders beat up some students following an altercation over purchasing books.

Following the altercation, some traders confined one of the students inside the market and allegedly lashed him belts. Learning the news, several hundred students got organised and launched an attack on the market around 5pm, witnesses said.

Among the injured, Abdul Alim, Shahadat Hossain, Khan Mohammad Shimul, Sabbir Ahmed, Mohammad Shahin, Sohan, Abu Sayeed, Nur Hossain, Babul, Sadi and Abul Hossain of Dhaka University were admitted to the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital

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2 Hefazat: Ban Kadianis, Ahle Hadith followers Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong The government should ban Kadianis and the followers of Ahle Hadith because they are not Muslims, Hefazat Secretary General Junaid Babunagari has said, claiming that those who believe in Allah cannot live in Bangladesh.

He made the comment yesterday evening in an Islamic conference at the Laldighi ground in Chittagong city.

He also asked the government to “withdraw Gonojagoron Moncho” labelling its activists as “Shahbagi atheists.”

Junaid also demanded immediate release and withdrawal of “false” cases against all Hefazat leaders and Islami scholars including Mufti Wakkas and Harun Izahar, who had been behind bars.

“Our battle is against the atheists, Kadianis and Ahle Hadith followers and their associates because they give derogatory speeches against Prophet Muhammad,” he said.

He also said Hindus, Buddhists, Christians and the followers of other religions could live in the country but the atheist could not.

The Hefazat leader alleged that the followers of Ahle Hadith had connections with the JMB and other militant groups and the Kadianis were not followers of Islam at all. “So, the government should ban them and they would have to live in the country like the minority communities,” he declared.

DHAKA TRIBUNE

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Sunday, April 13, 2014

Jamaat-Shibir active to make Hefazat conference a success in Chittagong Tushar Hayat, Chittagong The leaders and activists of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Chhatra Shibir were found active in making the two-day Islamic conference of radical Islamist group Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, which started in Chittagong city on Friday, a success for the past two days.

More than 100 trucks and buses laden with leaders and activists of Jamaat-Shibir reached the Resalat Conference of Hefazat at Laldhighi Maidan in the city from Satkania, Lohagara, Banskhali and Sitakund upazila known as the stronghold of Jamaat in the region.

While visiting the 3rd Karnaphuli

Bridge, the entry point of the city from southern part of the port city, trucks and buses carrying the leaders and activists of Jamaat were found entering the city although there was no party programme in the area.

Abdus Salam, an activist of Jamaat in Awchila area of Satkania upazila, said their party had arranged vehicles for the interested persons to attend the Resalat Conference of Hefazat.

He added that there was also an instruction to the party leaders and activists to attend the programme.

After getting down from a bus at Kotwali crossing at noon yesterday, Salam said their party men had also attended the programme on the first day.

Harunur Rashid, a bus driver who

parked his vehicle in CRB area, said he had carried Jamaat-Shibir men from Khagoria area.

He added that more than 50 buses and trucks carried people to the conference venue from Satkania.

“There was no banner in front of my bus, however, the passengers continued chanting slogans against the death penalty all the way,” he added.

Kutub Uddin, a truck driver who came from Sitakund municipality area, said a locally known Jamaat leader had hired his vehicle to carry people to the conference; however, there was a banner of Hefazat in front of the truck.

Several other drivers of buses and trucks, who parked their vehicles in CRB area, also admitted to carry Ja-

maat-Shibir men from Lohagara, Banskhali and Sitakund.

They said at least 50 such vehicles had reached the city from the upazilas.

Rabiul Hossain, assistant general secretary of district (north) unit Jamaat, said there was no question of instruction to the party leaders and activists to join the programme as they had no cooperation with Hefazat.

“As it was a religious programme, a few persons might have joined the conference on their own,” he added.

Azizul Hoque Islamabadi, organising secretary of Hefazat, reputed the allegation that Jamaat-Shibir men joined the programme.

It was a baseless propaganda, he said.

BSF ransacks Bangladeshi’s house in Lalmonirhat Our Correspondent, Lalmonirhat India’s Border Security Force (BSF) ransacked the house of a Bangladeshi on the Dhabolguri border in Lalmonirhat’s Patgram Upazila yesterday.

Witnesses said six members of the BSF at Lalongi Camp under Falkata-35 BSRF Battalion under Kuchbihar intruded into Bangladesh while chasing a smuggler.

“On suspicion, they stormed into my house (near Pillar No 886) and began ransacking it,” said Sirajul Islam Munshi, the homeowner. `“When my daughter protested, the BSF men assaulted her. Immediately, I went to call in the BGB (Border Guard Bangladesh).

But before they rushed in, the BSF had rushed back (into India),” he said.

The Indian border force also vandalised the fence around his house, Munshi added. Second-in-command of Rangpur 7 BGB Battalion major Ruhul Amin confirmed the incident and said they had lodged a protest and sought a flag meeting about this.

City roads to see special road dividers UNB Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) will introduce special road dividers at the end of this month to deter the prevalent tendency of driving in wrong directions on city roads.

Whenever a vehicle will be driven in the wrong direction on the road, sharp steel spikes, which are the hidden devised of these special road dividers, will automatically spring out and puncture the tyre, according to sources at the DMP. The first of such road dividers will be installed at a point on Hare Road adjacent to Ramna Park by the end of this month.

These special road dividers will gradually be introduced on all the roads where a high tendency of driving in the wrong direction is observed, added the sources.

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hospital for orthopaedics treatment and rehabilitation, promise them better treatment and take them to National Care General Hospital.

The RAB team also found a drill machine Ratan used to carry out operations.

He bought it from a hardware shop. This kind of machine is used to drill walls.

“We used high anaesthesia so patients did not feel pain for high RPM (revolutions per minute),” Babul was quoted as saying.

Executive magistrate Anwar Pasha said patients from remote areas fell victim to brokers at the gate of Pangu Hospital. “They tell the patients that renowned doctors give treatment at the hospital and they will not be admitted to Pangu Hospital until they visit the doctors personally.”

He said, “The brokers get Tk500 for each patient and a 30% of the hospital charge. Babul also admitted that they had 25 brokers who would prowl around Pangu Hospital.”

Babul used to work as manager and later became a business partner of another private clinic. Few months back, his hospital got licence as a 50-bed hospital from the Directorate of Health Services.

“Though the hospital must have at least 15 doctors and 30 nurses, it had only one doctor. For complicated operations, the owner used to hire surgeons. Babul and Ratan along with a number of ward boys would conduct minor operations,” he said.

The law enforcers revealed that for minor operations, the hospital issued excess bills. The authority also confined some patients in the hospital as they failed to pay the bills.

“For example, a patient named Farid from Jamalpur has been confined in the hospital since last one month for unpaid bill of Tk90,000 while Arup Miah from Sylhet for a week for Tk1.6 lakh. Babul admitted that they would hire a surgeon for doing major operations at Tk10,00015,000. Thus they made fortune from operations,” the magistrate said.

After sealing off the hospital, the RAB members shifted the patients to Pangu Hospital. Dr Ariful Islam, an official of the Directorate of Health Service, was also present during the raid.

Clash at Nilkhet leaves 25 injured PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

Victims of the Rana Plaza collapse and Tazreen Garment fire form a human chain in front of the National Press Club yesterday demanding fair compensation

Obama rating rising in Bangladesh, says Gallup poll Sheikh Shahariar Zaman A poll by Gallup World has found that the rating for US leadership – which, for most of the world, likely means its president, Barack Obama – jumped to 47% in Bangladesh last year.

It was 37% in 2012 and as low as 19% in 2007, the last year of George W. Bush’s presidency.

The US Global Leadership Report, a joint effort of Meridian International Centre and Gallup, was prepared to provide a comprehensive assessment of how the world residents view US leadership.

In Bangladesh, the survey was conducted from April to May last year and 47% of the respondents approved the US leadership while 24% disapproved and 30% said “don’t know” or “refused” to make comment.

The results are based on face-to-face interviews with 1,000 adults – aged 15 and older – conducted in the Bangla language. In contrast, 22% respondents

in India approved the US leadership while 59% disapproved last year. It was 26% in 2012.

According to the report, US leadership received 45% approval in Asia – the highest rating Gallup has ever mea-

In Bangladesh, 47% respondents approved US leadership, 24% disapproved and 30% said 'don’t know' or 'refused' to comment sured in the region during both the Obama and the Bush administrations.

The US rating also went up by double digits in Afghanistan, Myanmar and Pakistan last year.

The image of US leadership may be benefiting from the administration’s attempts to strengthen its alliances

and trade partnerships throughout the Asia-Pacific region, the report says.

“After hitting a low point at the end of President Barack Obama’s first term, US leadership ratings worldwide rallied in 2013 as he began his second. Median approval of US leadership across 130 countries stood at 46% last year, up from Obama’s first administration low of 41% in 2012,” it adds.

The report, however, cautions that although the image of the US leadership shows signs of rebounding last year, it will continue to face more challenges this year and beyond.

“Chief among them in the near term will be how the US and its NATO partners respond to Russia and the United States’ ongoing pursuit of a ‘rebalancing’ with Asia. These challenges make the strength of US alliances and partnerships – and the soft power of what the world thinks of the US – more important than ever,” Gallup says.

Six more gas projects on cards

RAJIB DHAR

Khaleda greets Hasina on Pahela Baishakh UNB Reciprocating the Prime Minister’s greetings, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Saturday sent a card to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina congratulating her on the occasion of Bengali New Year 1421.

BNP assistant office secretaries Abdul Latif Jony and Asadul Karim Shaheen handed over the greetings card to Awami League central leader Syed Abdul Awal Shamim at the AL President’s Dhanmondi office in the afternoon.

Jony told UNB that they on behalf of the BNP chief handed over the card to Sheikh Hasina’s political office.

The nation will celebrate Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the Bangla calendar, on Monday amid traditional fanfare and festivity.

Earlier on Wednesday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina greeted Leader of the Opposition Begum Raushon Ershad, PM’s Special Envoy and Jatiya Party Chairman Hussain Muhammad Ershad and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia on the occasion of Bangla Naba Barsha 1421.

and the Dhaka University Medical Centre. Nur Hossain, first-year student of the Public Administration Department and a resident of the Zahurul Huq Hall, said the keepers of the Sonia Book Centre beat him and one of his friends Shimul after the altercation over the price of a book. He said the shopkeeper was asking for too high a price for the book which they protested.

Nurul Islam from Janata Book Centre said although the incident took place between the students and the employees of Sonia Book Centre, the students vandalised and set fire to many other shops.

Professor Amzad Ali, acting Proctor of DU, said the incident of torture on the students by the traders was not a new one.

“We will not allow the market to open until and unless the matter is solved,” said the DU Proctor. “We will sit with the leaders of the book traders for a permanent solution,” he added.

Maruf Hasan Sarder, deputy commissioner of Ramna Division of Police, said police had no other option but to go into action.

The DC also said police had been looking into the matter and trying to talk with the traders and university authorities in this regard.

None had been arrested until the filing of this report around 8pm yesterday, although the DC said they had been trying to identify the attackers and would launch a drive to arrest them.

Mamata bashes central govt PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

UNB The Energy Ministry has worked out a plan to implement six more gas projects involving Tk1,237 crore under the Gas Development Fund (GDF), a special fund created by the government through consumers’ money derived from increased gas prices.

The energy watchdog asked the government to utilise the extra money received from the consumers by hiking the price for the development of gas sector. Official sources said a recent high-level meeting at the Energy Ministry recommended the projects.

Under the six projects, they said, three development and two appraisal wells will be drilled at different gas fields, while a compressor station will be set up and re-completion drilling work will be done in the Bakhrabad Gas Field.

Fish trader now turns surgeon

Members of Rapid Action Battalion nab a group of impostors, who had been running a fake orthopedic hospital, from the capital's Babar Road yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

already asked the technical people concerned to immediately look into it. She informed that they were in the process of building necessary domestic consensus for signing the Teesta agreement.

Demonstrations have been staged recently in Dhaka and at the Teesta Barrage in Lalmonirhat district following reports that the northern districts of Bangladesh are drying up because of low or no flow of Teesta water as the Indian side is withdrawing water from the common river unilaterally. Different political parties and organisations have also announced long march programmes this month demanding equitable share of the Teesta water.

On the land boundary agreement, under which 162 adversely held enclaves are to be exchanged between the two countries, Mamata said: “We cannot impose decisions on people. It is up to the public to decide the fate of

Chhitmahal [enclaves].”

The Mamata government has always opposed any move to hand over to the neighbouring nation 111 Indian enclaves in Bangladesh in exchange for 51 Bangladeshi enclaves in India. The regime has argued that West Bengal would lose more land than it would get from Bangladesh. She had expressed strong reservations over the introduction of the Land Boundary Agreement Bill in the Rajya Sabha last December.

The Land Boundary Agreement between the two nations was signed in 1974, while the neighbours concluded an enabling pact in 2011 during Manmohan’s trip to Dhaka. Attacking the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), she said it only talked of enclaves “and other divisive issues” during elections.

Mamata said the previous Left Front government had not done anything either, but her government was undertaking survey and census.

DHAKA TRIBUNE

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Sunday, April 13, 2014

Clockwise from top-right: Agitators hurl brickbats in front of burning roadside book shops in Nilkhet during clashes between Dhaka University students and local book traders A book shop owner tries to douse the flame and save his shop during the rampage An agitator smashes the windshield of a microbus belonging to Buet, which was parked at the Nilkhet fueling station when the clash erupted Dhaka University students carry an injured fellow student away from the violence Armed with sticks and makeshift weapons, agitators block the road in Nilkhet during the clash between DU students and local book traders MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

DHAKA CITY POLLS

EC yet to get LGRD go-ahead Mohammad Zakaria The Election Commission has yet to get a green signal from the local government ministry for holding elections of the bifurcated Dhaka city corporations.

The city corporation polls have been upheld for a year – even after the clearance of all legal complexities – as the ministry concerned has not completed demarcation of areas under the newly-split city corporations.

“We have asked the local government and rural development ministry (LGRD) to complete the delimitation complexity soon. But the ministry has yet to reply to the commission about the matter,” Election Commissioner Mohammad Abu Hafiz told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

Elections of Dhaka north and south city corporations were originally slated for May 24, 2012. But the polls were postponed after the High Court issued a three-month stay order fol-

600 grams of gold seized at Shahjalal

lowing a petition by a lawyer on demarcating the new city corporation areas, and preparing a voter list. On May 13, 2013, the HC withdrew the stay order, clearing the way for holding the elections.

Hafiz said the EC was prepared to conduct the much-awaited city elections, but could not do so without getting a green signal from the LGRD ministry.

The commission will discuss the matter after Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad returns home on Monday from a trip abroad, he added.

Senior assistant secretary Farhad Hossain also said there was no legal bar in holding the city polls, and the commission was only waiting for a request from the LGRD ministry.

About two months ago, the ministry sent a letter to the commission about adding Uttara sectors 1 to 14 under Dhaka North City Corporation, said Farhad,

No progress in Sagar-Runi murder investigation Kailash Sarkar

Kailash Sarkar An expatriate Bangladeshi was held along with 600 grams of smuggled gold at the Hajarat Shahjalal International Airport in the capital on Friday night.

Abul Hossain, 41, was detained by the Armed Police Battalion (APBn) immediately after he reached the airport from Singapore on a flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines around 10pm.

Originally a resident of Shariyatpur district, he had in his possession six bars of gold hidden inside his shoes, said Alamgir Hossain Shimul, senior assistant superintendent of APBn at the airport.

“The expatriate was challenged for his suspicious movement while he was crossing the green channel,” said the APBn official.

The cost of the seized gold was estimated at Tk24 lakh, said APBn sources.

Later, the detained man was handed over to airport police and a case was filed in this connection.

and “the commission then asked the ministry to demarcate the area, but there was no response from it on holding the city polls,” he added.

When asked about the letter, LGRD secretary Manjur Hossain said he did not know anything about it as he was a newcomer in the ministry.

“If any directive comes from the upper level, we will follow it,” he added.

The erstwhile Dhaka City Corporation was split in two on November 30, 2011 by the amendment of the 2009 Local Government Act. The amended bill showed the door to then mayor Sadek Hossain Khoka and 92 ward councillors. However, they were allowed to stay in office for four years beyond their expired tenures in 2007.

The last elections of the undivided Dhaka City Corporation were held in April 2002, and Khoka, then a minister of the BNP-led government, was elected mayor for five years.

The law enforcement agency investigating the sensational murder case of the journalist couple, Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi, yesterday said they had no new evidence, except the genetic profiles of two yet unidentified suspects.

Sagar Sarowar, who was a news editor of Maasranga Television, and his wife, Meherun Runi, who was a senior reporter of ATN Bangla, were found brutally murdered in their apartment at West Razabazar in the capital on February 11, 2012.

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) officials said they collected the DNA samples of two people from the apartment back in 2012. But since February this year, there has been no progress in the investigation.

“We have the DNA profiles of two persons, who are yet to be identified,” said ATM Habibur Rahman, director of RAB’s legal and media wing, “but we are not sure whether the DNA profiles belong to the killers or are of acquaintances of the couple.”

Meanwhile, a report by the UNB

news agency claimed that RAB investigators were sure that two killers were involved in the couple’s murder, but they are yet to be identified.

Habibur Rahman, however, rejected the UNB report, saying, “The news agency twisted information provided by the director general of RAB in February.”

“Actually, we have no idea about how many people took part in the killings or how many were present in the apartment at the time,” the RAB official said.

The Detective Branch of Police initially began investigating the murders.

But after DB investigators failed to make any headway in the case by April of last year, a court ordered RAB to take over the investigation.

Since taking charge of the case, RAB investigators have collected DNA samples of more than a dozen suspects.

The samples were sent to two laboratories in the USA for comparison with the samples found at the crime scene.

However, the samples did not match any of the eight suspects who were arrested by RAB and are now in jail, sources said.

Khaleda: Movement when time comes Mohammad Al-Masum Molla Apparently backtracking from her previous announcement of waging tough anti-government movement after the upazila polls, BNP chief Khaleda Zia yesterday said the movement would be lodged when “time would come.”

Addressing the council of the Dhaka city unit of Sramik Dal – labour front of the party – in the capital yesterday, Khaleda said programmes would be given after organisational restructuring was complete.

“Only clapping and chanting slogans will not work. You will have to work.

Those who can play courageous role and take risks and take to the streets, will feature in the new committee, otherwise the restructuring initiative will be meaningless. Leadership should not be selected on the basis of relationships,” she told the Sramik Dal leaders and activists.

“It is not true that the BNP is not staging any movement now. The council of Sramik Dal is going on and the new Dhaka committee will be announced.

New leadership will be brought to the forefront because even the old leaders want new leadership,” Khaleda said.

The last council of the Dhaka city unit Sramik Dal was held in 2005.

In her speech, the former premier asked the government to take immediate steps to hold political talks regarding the issue of who would oversee the next elections.

Criticising Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad, Khaleda said: “Ershad is a betrayer. People do not trust him. The government has made him special envoy [to the PM]. Foreigners also do not trust him. What advice will he give?”

There are many corruption allegations against Ershad and he killed many people. Those killings and corruption are yet to be tried. But one day those will see justice,” she said.

Regarding the recently concluded Upazila Parishad Elections, Khaleda said if free and fair elections were held, Awami League would have got only a few seats.

“The first phase was good. The second phase was also good apart from some stray incidents of violence. We were in the leading position. But from the third phase Awami League criminals, civil administration, law enforcement agencies and the Election Commission jointly started rigging votes. It proved that fair election was not possible under this government,” she said.

Sramik Dal’s sixth council ends without new committee Mohammad Al-Masum Molla A festive mood was prevailing yesterday at the Engineer’s Institute in the capital centering the sixth council of Sramik Dal – labour wing of the BNP. Councilors from various wards and thanas of the capital started thronging the council venue since early morning.

The entire area was decorated with banners and festoons; music was being played in loudspeakers. Leaders and activists were gossiping here and there with a traditional band party setting the festive tone.

Labour leaders Bajlul Alam Sabuj and Mohammad Sumon were thrown out of the venue because they gave statements demanding voting to elect leadership BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia arrived at the venue around 11am and hoisted the national and party flags. After finishing the 50-minute speech, she left the venue and the main attraction of the council started – the councilors of Sramik Dal were gearing up to elect their next leadership.

Up until that point, things were peaceful and the mood was nothing short of festive. But all of a sudden, chaos gripped the programme as two leaders of Sramik Dal raised a hue and cry.

Soon after, things took a turn towards the worse as the supporters of

those two leaders vandalised more than a hundred chairs. Some people could be heard chanting: “We do not accept this illegal council.”

Witnesses said at 5pm, labour leaders Bajlul Alam Sabuj and Mohammad Sumon were thrown out of the venue because they had been giving statements demanding voting to elect leadership.

Eventually, the council ended without finalising the new committee of the party.

A Sramik Dal leader told the Dhaka Tribune that: “We want voting to elect the leadership; but instead of election, the central leaders are selecting the leaders. That is why such a situation was created.”

A few days ago, pro-BNP professional Chowdhury Zafarullah criticised the party for not having democratic practices within.

The last council of Sramik Dal was held 10 years ago. In that council too, the leadership was selected.

Khaleda Zia in her speech said those who could play courageous role, the new committee would incorporate them, otherwise restructuring he party would be “meaningless.” She also said leadership should not be selected on the basis of relationships.

Jafrul Hasan, general secretary of Sramik Dal, said some people gave rise to violence during the council session.

“I do not know them. They do not belong to my party. The situation is calm now... We could not finalise the committee because all the councilors were not present. On April 16, the president and general secretary will be elected through voting,” he said.

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Sunday, April 13, 2014

ACC likely to scrutinise wealth of reserved women MPs Nine re-elected lawmakers’ assets rose by 224% in five years Syed Samiul Basher Anik The Anti-Corruption Commission is looking into the wealth information of newly-elected women lawmakers to reserved seats in parliament. However, it is in dilemma on dealing with the matter extensively since only nine out of 50 served as lawmakers in the previous parliament.

Officials say since most of the reserved seat lawmakers are first-timers, it is difficult to ascertain the growth of their wealth in the past years due to lack of data.

The special inquiry and investigation department of the state agency is working on the issue. ACC Secretary Faizur Rahman Chowdhury told the Dhaka Tribune that the commission would take action against the candidates if found guilty.

According to an analysis by citizens’ body for good governance Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (SHUJAN), total assets of the nine MPs increased on an average by 224% between 2008 and 2013 while income by 151%.

Among them, the assets of Awami League lawmaker Pinu Khan witnessed the highest rise – 25 times. Jatiya Party MP Mahjabin Morshed’s wealth rose by around 15 times while her party colleague Noor-e-Hasna Lily Chowdhury’s seven times.

ACC Chairman M Bodiuzzaman told the Dhaka Tribune that the commission was not ready yet to make a “formal move” in this regard as many of the lawmakers were first-timers.

“We have collected newspaper clip-

pings and forwarded those to our special inquiry and investigation department. They will analyse the documents and make a decision considering the findings,” he said.

“We are yet to receive any allegation against them. But if we get any, the ACC will surely conduct inquiry into their wealth.”

Currently, the ACC is inquiring into the wealth of at least three former ministers including AFM Ruhal Haq and Abdul Mannan Khan; six sitting MPs including Awami League’s Cox’s Bazar lawmaker Abdur Rahman Badi, Dhaka 14 MP Aslamul Haque Aslam, Rajshahi 4 lawmaker Enamul Haque and Jatiya Party MP Ruhul Amin Hawlader; and three former lawmakers.

Anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International Bangladesh’s Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman observes that if there is inconsistency between wealth and legitimate income of a publicly-exposed person, it should be brought under the law.

Increase in wealth is nothing unusual, but it should be considered whether it is accumulated through a legitimate way and whether the person has misused power.

“The Anti-Corruption Commission should come forward to work into the disproportionate wealth of lawmakers, if any,” he said.

“Since a faction of lawmakers have been elected unopposed, the authorities should disclose their wealth information prior to the poll. It will help the authorities later to look into the inconsistencies, if any,” Iftekharuzzaman added.

President Abdul Hamid visits the Bhabaniganj Bangabandhu Complex Museum at Rajshahi’s Bagmara yesterday

Price rate for surgery items to be revised Moniruzzaman Uzzal More than a year behind schedule, the health directorate has finally taken an initiative to update the standard price rate of over 2,200 medical surgery requisite items for the country’s medical colleges, and district and upazila hospitals.

In a bid to ensure competitive market prices, a 21-member committee of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), led by one of its directors, has been verifying the comparative prices of different requisite items.

Sources said the standard rate revise committee met on March 18 to scrutinise and compare past and present market prices of different items.

The committee proposed a 5%-10% increase of different essential items, as well as forming a six-member sub-committee for conducting a comparative study and verifying the justi-

fication of the proposed increase before submitting its report within three working days.

Professor ABM Abdul Hannan, DGHS director (hospital and clinic) and head of the standard rate revise committee, told the Dhaka Tribune that the body was waiting for the sub-committee’s report – which was supposed to be submitted within three working days from the meeting – before finalising new standard price rates.

The move comes amid allegations that most public hospitals ignored the existing standard rate set by the DGHS. There are six categories of medical surgery requisite items including 1485 items of equipment, 34 items of linen, 43 items of cotton-bandage-gauze, 564 items of chemical reagent and 82 items of furniture. Medicine – which is the other category of requisite items – has no standard rate as its rate is fixed on

retail price.

According to the annual report of the health ministry, a Tk300 crore budget for medical surgery requisites is provided annually to a total of 14 public medical college, 13 specialised, dental, homeopathic and Unani hospitals and 60 district hospitals.

Brigadier General Dr Mustafizur Rahman, director of the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), told the Dhaka Tribune that they were facing difficulties while buying medical surgery requisite items, as the prices of essential items had increased greatly since the DGHS last revised standard rates over three years ago.

The hospital had to buy several items based on decision by a committee on local market rates, as the DGHS failed to follow existing rules, which dictate that standard rules should be revised every two years.

ICDDRB stops using oral saline produced by its staff UNB

Jaago Foundation celebrates the graduation ceremony of its first batch of students at Dhaka National Museum Auditorium on Friday DHAKA TRIBUNE

Jaago Foundation’s first batch graduation ceremony held Tribune Report Jaago Foundation, a civil society organization, celebrated its first batch of students’ graduation ceremony at Dhaka National Museum Auditorium on Friday.

It was the celebration of excellent achievement of the students who gave the PEC (Primary School Certification) examination, says a press release of the foundation.

Primary and mass education minister advocate Mostafizur Rahman attended the function as the chief guest while British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert W Gibson was the special guest.

They handed over certificates to the children.

Speaking on the occasion, Mostafizur Rahman said, “I hope that Jaago Foundation’s graduates would encourage people to join Jaago’s mission to break the cycle of poverty through education”.

“Let us work together for ensuring

quality education for all children,” he added.

Robert W Gibson said, “Jaago Foundation is an inspiration for all.

Today’s convocation ceremony is a testament to the vision of providing free education to the underprivileged children”.

On the occasion the supporters of Jaago Foundation Anisul Haq and Rubana Haq from Mohammadi Group, Sonia Bashir Kabir from Dell, Akku Chowdhury from Transcom Foods, Sanjida Qasem from Qasem Group, Nazim Farhan Chowdhury from Adcomm, Rabbu Reza from Beximco Pharmaceuticals, Bitopi Das Chowdhury from Standard Chartered Bank, Mahfuz Anam from The Daily Star, Zafar Sobhan from Dhaka Tribune, Tahmid Azizul Hoque from Grameen Phone were also present.

Jaago Foundation is working towards eradicating poverty and illiteracy from Bangladesh. Founder of Jaago Foundation, Korvi Rakhshand was also present.

2 arrested over Sramik Dal leader killing Our Correspondent, Tangail Police have arrested two people, including the prime accused, in connection with Sramik Dal leader Golam Azam murder case from Gharinda area in Tangail Sadar upazila on early Friday. They also recovered a firearm.

The arrestees were identified as Shakil Kabir Sohel alias Don Sohel, 22, joint convener of Tangail City unit of Chhatra League, and his brother Shamim Kabir Rasel, 24, son of Md Azharul Islam of Sabali in Tangail municipality area.

Ghulam Mahfeejur Rehman, officer-in-charge of Detective Branch of Tangail police, said they arrested the two from Gharinda on Friday morning.

Police later recovered a foreign gun with four rounds of bullets from an under-construction building in Charjana area of Sabali.

The two were involved in the killing of Golam Azam and we are also trying to nab other accused, recover arms and motorcycle used in the murder, said the OC. Sramik Dal leader Golam Azam was shot and hacked to death in broad daylight in Beel Gharinda area of Tangail Sadar upazila on April 1.

International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b) has instructed its hospitals and treatment centres to stop using glucose and rice-based saline obtained from the icddr,b Employees’ Multipurpose Cooperative Society.

The decision has been taken by the icddr,b management, pending the cooperative’s registration with the Bangladesh Directorate-General of Drug Administration, which regulates oral saline under the Drug Act of 1982, said a media release yesterday.

Employees’ Multipurpose Cooperative Society, an independent registered entity, is separately managed by icddr,b employees. “We have no concern about

the quality of ORS produced by the co-operative,” said icddr,b’s Executive Director Professor John D. Clemens.

“But we have contracted an alternative supplier until this matter is resolved.”

Chairman of the staff co-operative Dr Anowar Hossain confirmed the decision saying, “The cooperative has stopped production and sale of all formulations of oral saline with immediate effect, and we are now in the process of obtaining registration.”

The icddr,b management has also confirmed that patient care will not be interrupted during this transition.

ORS was developed by icddr,b, formerly the Cholera Research Laboratory, in the late 1960’s, and since then, is estimated to have saved at least 50mn lives worldwide.

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Foreign media team to visit Dhaka Tribune Tribune Report A 10-member foreign media delegation arrived in the capital yesterday under the “Visit Bangladesh” programme.

They will be visiting two media houses – Dhaka Tribune and SA TV. They will also visit Savar Mausoleum, Dhaka Export Processing Zone and Beximco Industrial Park.

The journalists – two each from Egypt, Turkey, the United Kingdom and Qatar, and one each from the US and Myanmar – will stay in Bangladesh till April 19.

They will have an opportunity to see the colourful celebrations of Pahela Baishakh and Chaitra Sangkranti.

Minister: 1 lakh WiFi hot spots to be installed UNB State Minister for Post, Telecommunication and Information Technology Junaid Ahmed Palak yesterday said the government will soon install WiFi facilities in at least one lakh public places across the country.

“WiFi hotspots will be set up at market places, bus and launch terminals and educational institutions all over the country,” he added while addressing a workshop titled “Info Government-3 What we want”, at the Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) auditorium in the capital.

Saying that the project will be implemented under Development of National ICT Infra-Network for Bangladesh Government Phase-3” project, he further said the government wants to take Information and Technology services to the grassroots.

ICT Secretary Nazrul Islam Khan presided over the programme which was also attended by Post, Telecommunication and Information Technology Minister Abdul Latif Siddique.

Naeem Mohaiemen receives Guggenheim Fellowship for Young Man Was project Tribune Report Writer and visual artist Naeem Mohaiemen has received a 2014 Guggenheim Fellowship in the “Creative Arts-FilmVideo” category to work on the next chapter of his project The Young Man Was. Since 2006, Naeem has worked on this project as a fragmentary history of the left in 1970s Bangladesh. One of the chapters is United Red Army, a film about the 1977 hijack of Japan Airlines that was flown to Dhaka. The film was shown widely in Bangladesh, and is in the collection of the Tate Modern museum.

The next chapter, the film Afsan’s Long Day (inspired by the work of journalist and historian Afsan Chowdhury), premiered this spring at Museum of Modern Art, New York. Naeem will work on the next chapter of this project through his Guggenheim Fellowship.

Naeem studied at Dhaka University, and then completed his B.A. degree at Oberlin College, USA, in 1993. Since 1994, he has worked in New York, and

for extended periods in Dhaka, most recently from 2007-2011. He is also a Ph.D. student in Anthropology at Columbia University.

His visual work is a composite of film, photography, and mixed media, and is in the collection of the British Museum. Most recently, he created Shokol Choritro Kalponik, an imaginary newspaper from the year 2024, for the 2014 Dhaka Art Summit.

Naeem’s written research work includes a comprehensive critique of

Sarmila Bose’s revisionist history book on 1971. His response essay has been widely cited and reprinted. He is the editor of Between Ashes and Hope: Chittagong Hill Tracts in the Blind Spot of Bangladesh Nationalism (Drishtipat/ Manusher Jonno Foundation).

Established in 1925, the Guggenheim Fellowships are “mid-career” awards given for scholarship in academia, or creativity in the arts. The fellowship is open to residents of the United States and Canada. This year, the Guggenheim Memorial Foundation awarded 177 fellowships to scholars, artists, and scientists. Fifty-six disciplines, 83 academic institutions, 29 US states and 2 Canadian provinces are represented by this year’s fellows.

Past South Asian Guggenheim Fellows in the Creative Arts category include the authors Jhumpa Lahiri (The Namesake), Rohinton Mistry (Fine Balance), Kiran Desai (The Inheritance of Loss), Suketu Mehta (Maximum City) and Pico Iyer (Video Night in Kathmandu).

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

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Sunday, April 13, 2014

DSCC extends controversial Golap Shah Mazar Urban planners, historians oppose the move, terming it ‘unacceptable’ and ‘illegal’ Abu Hayat Mahmud The Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has allegedly occupied a portion of a road at Gulistan intersection in the capital to extend the Golap Shah Mazar (shrine) building.

Although DSCC authorities are monitoring the extension work, they are yet to make public the exact historical background of the two graves in the building. Construction is going on occupying a portion of Gulistan road.

Workers employed on the site told the Dhaka Tribune they were working according to the directive of the city corporation. A foundation stone was also laid on the north of the shrine building on December 19 last year.

“The foundation stone of construction and repair of Hazrat Golap Shah (R) Mazar was laid jointly by Md Ansar Ali Khan, DSCC chief executive officer, also president of the shrine and the mosque committee, and the DSCC administrator,” it read.

Speaking to the Dhaka Tribune, Ansar Ali Khan said extension to the shrine would not be built on the road.

“Besides, the shrine’s own fund is being used for the construction. The city corporation is not funding it,” he added.

He, however, refused to talk when asked about the historical information on the shrine.

Muntasir Mamun, a Professor of History at the University of Dhaka, told the Dhaka Tribune that erecting any structure to extend the shrine was unacceptable and illegal because its background was questionable.

“I’ve discussed about the shrine in my book Dhaka Samagra 3. Earlier, the city corporation relocated a mosque, which was part of the shrine, to Osmani Udyan from Gulistan road. But I don’t understand why they did not shift the shrine from its current location,” said the professor.

In a story titled “Shob mazar mazar noy (every shrine is not a shrine)” in Dhaka Samagra 3, Muntasir wrote: “Golap Shah Mazar is located at Gulistan intersection and it was once known as Neemtala Mazar because there was a

GSP RESTORATION

Dhaka to submit action plan report UNB

Construction workers are extending the construction of the Golap Shah Mazar at the capital’s Gulistan intersection yesterday big neem tree there.”

The history professor mentioned that people sometimes would call it Sikandar Shah Mazar because they were uncertain about its authentic background.

“An individual named Golap Shah would take care of the shrine. He was buried there following his death and from then on, it began being referred to as Golap Shah Mazar,” wrote Muntasir.

In a directive issued on February 26,

2012, the High Court asked the DSCC to take steps against encroachment on the footpaths from the capital’s Zero Point to Sadarghat within 48 hours. No directive, however, was issued concerning Golap Shah Mazar.

Commuters and pedestrians in the area told the Dhaka Tribune that it often creates a tailback at Gulistan intersection when murids (followers) gather near the shrine in large numbers.

“Vehicles often move at a snail’s

pace in the area because of traffic jam.

The main reason behind this is that the intersection is a very narrow one and the shrine has occupied a portion of that tiny space,” Alauddin Bhuiyan, a resident of Bangshal, said.

“Now that it is being extended further, there will be intolerable traffic jam in the area,” he added.

Professor Nazrul Islam, chairman of the Centre for Urban Studies, told the Dhaka Tribune it was unacceptable to

ABU HAYAT MAHMUD

extend the shrine occupying a busy road.

“Smooth traffic movement should be prioritised above all else. But as the shrine culture is commonplace in our country, a minimal space may be allocated for the Golap Shah Mazar.”

Poribesh Bachao Andolan (Poba) chairman Abu Naser Khan also opposed the extension of Golap Shah Mazar, saying the DSCC should relocate the shrine elsewhere like the mosque.

The government will submit a progress report on “Bangladesh Action Plan 2013” to the office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) by Tuesday though the review for reinstating Bangladesh’s Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) benefits still looks uncertain.

The legal authorisation for the GSP programme expired on July 31, 2013 and the US Congress is considering a legislation that would extend the authorisation of GSP beyond this date, according to the USTR. As long as the GSP programme remains with no authorisation, there will be no public hearing and no request for public comments for the ongoing GSP country and product reviews and no final disposition of these reviews.

“We will send the progress report by April 15,” Commerce Secretary Mahbub Ahmed said yesterday mentioning that he cannot tell about possible hearing or review on GSP restoration soon.

Asked whether the progress is satisfactory, the Commerce Secretary declined to make comment at this stage.

Another official at the Ministry said an inter-ministerial meeting might be called for Sunday to give the final shape to the progress report.

The Ministry may send the report to the Bangladesh Mission in Washington, if not sent directly to the USTR, and the mission will send it to the USTR. Voicing satisfaction over the progress on GSP Action Plan, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed reiterated that Bangladesh would get back GSP benefit in the US market if politics is not associated with the restoration process.

US Ambassador Dan Mozena, on his return from US tour recently, said there has been progress but much more needs to be done.

On June 27, 2013, US President Barack Obama announced his decision to suspend Bangladesh’s trade benefits under the GSP in view of insufficient progress by the Bangladesh government in affording Bangladeshi workers internationally-recognised worker rights.

Two bodies recovered Four-tier security system in city for Pahela Baishakh Tribune Report Police recovered the bodies of two persons, including a domestic help, in Dhaka city yesterday.

One was identified as that of Salma alias Sajeda, 24, wife of Mohammad Faruk from Faridpur village, Jessore, while the other could not be identified, police said.

“On information, we went to a house in Ramna’s Shantipur Residential Area where she (Salma) used to work as a domestic helper and recovered the body around 9:00am,” said Shah Mojahidul Islam, a sub-inspector at Ramna police station.

WEATHER

SUNNY

“This appeared to be a suicide. But it can only be confirmed after carrying out an autopsy on the body,” he added.

The body has been sent to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) for an autopsy.

Meanwhile, the police fished out a body, yet to be identified, from a lake in the north of the Airport Padma Oil Gate around 1:25pm.

The deceased seems to be aged around 45 years. He was wearing a check lungi. The body was sent to the DMCH for an autopsy according to Jahidul Islam, a sub-inspector at the Airport police station.

Two separate cases were filed.

DHAKA TODAY TOMORROW SUN SETS 6:19PM SUN RISES 5:39AM FORECAST FOR TODAY 37

27

Chittagong

35

24

Rajshahi

39

23

Rangpur

38

22

Khulna

37

23

Barisal

37

25

Sylhet

38

22

Cox’s Bazar

34

25

Dhaka

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

37.8ºC Rajshahi

17.7ºC Dinajpur

Source: Accuweather/UNB

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

4:21am 5:38am 11:59am 4:31pm 6:19pm 7:37pm Source: IslamicFinder.org

Dhaka Metropolitan Police is all set to enforce a four-tier security to celebrate Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the Bengali New Year – 1421 – in a peaceful manner.

“We have designed the security measures keeping all the visible and invisible risks in mind. The security measures have been taken using our maximum strength,” said DMP Commissioner Benazir Ahmed while addressing a press briefing at DMP Media Centre yesterday.

He sought cooperation from city dwellers so that the Pahela Baishakh celebrations can be held smoothly and

asked that all open space programmes end by 6:00pm on the day.

“We are asking this to ensure maximum security for a peaceful celebration,” he added.

The DMP chief also requested city dwellers not to carry any kinds of arms, explosives or handbags to Dhaka University’s Ramna Batamul, TSC and its adjoining areas. He further urged the city dwellers not to smoke in public and put contact information notes in the pockets of children.

Benazir also suggested that city dwellers should contact police watch towers, camps and sub-camps for any kind of assistance, including for searches for children who go missing

in the area.

The four-tier security system will put the entire Dhaka University and Ramna area under surveillance through close circuit camera. Besides, a number of watch towers have also been set up within the area and members from law enforcement agencies will be monitoring security in uniform and plain clothes.

“Traffic barricades will be enforced in 22 spots to ensure security at the festival. There will be six entry gates to the Ramna Batamul premises, the main venue for celebration of the festival, and four exit gates,” he added.

On militancy issues, Benazir said law enforcers will be monitoring

things closely to find out if anyone is attempting any unusual anti-cultural activities. Besides, activities regarding militancy will be also be monitored by two special units in coordination with intelligence officials, he said.

Other than Ramna, public security centres will be set up at Rabindra Sarabor and other public spots. The DMP chief also suggested that vehicle owners should park their vehicles at selected areas to ensure a hassle free program.

DMP additional commissioners Abdul Jalil Mondol, Mili Biswas, Ibrahim Fatemi, Maruf Hassan, and joint commissioners Shahabuddin Khan and Monirul Islam were also present at the occasion, among others.

BRTA: Drive against unfit vehicles starts May 31 UNB

SUNDAY, APRIL 13

Mohammad Jamil Khan

Bangladesh Road Transport Authority has set May 31 as the deadline for the transport owners to collect the fitness certificates afresh for their all kinds of unfit vehicles plying roads and highways across the country.

“If any motorised vehicle is found plying roads and highways without fitness certificate after the deadline, tougher legal actions will be taken,” said BRTA chairman Nazrul Islam at the secretariat yesterday referring to a government decision.

He said mobile courts are being operated against vehicles plying roads even after the expiry of their age-limit. Besides, those vehicles already declared unfit for movement are also seen plying the streets taking risk of accidents.

The BRTA chairman alleged that most owners are yet to repair their unfit vehicles although they were given adequate time in the past to do so.

About the vehicles in dilapidated condition, the BRTA boss said the fitness certificates of faded vehicles operating on the city streets will not be renewed further unless those get a facelift.

Sources at the Communications Ministry said two committees were formed at a meeting held on March 16 with Communications Minister Obaidul Quader in the chair to take effective measures against the vehicles in bad shape.

One of the committees comprising

eight members with the BRTA chairman as its head was asked to take probable steps against the discoloured and unfit vehicles.

Meanwhile, the committee has already submitted its recommendations to the Communications Secretary and the Minister.

The remaining seven-member committee, led by a senior secretary, was asked to find out ways for implementing traffic signal system.

According to sources at the ministry, the recommendations made by the first committee are: Carrying out mobile courts, drive against all motorised vehicles violating traffic rules by BRTA officials and police, continuing the ongoing drives, taking action against the covered-van owners who extended the bodies of their vehicles illegally and stringent action against unfit and wornout vehicles after the month of May. The sources mentioned that the covered-van owners had earlier given six months’ time to remove illegally-extended body parts of their vehicles.

BRTA secretary M Shawkat Ali said they are continuing drives through mobile courts against unfit vehicles following which the number of such vehicles will come down significantly.

The owners of unfit vehicles were given a specific time to collect fresh certificates from the BRTA, he said adding that unauthorised vehicles in no way will be allowed to ply roads.

Models showcase Pahela Baishakh traditional dresses and party attires, as they walk on the ramp during a fashion show organised in the city’s Gulsan area yesterday by Style Sell, a local fashion house DHAKA TRIBUNE

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Acute water crisis grips Rajshahi city Our Correspondent, Rajshahi Load shedding, low voltage and a decrease in ground water level, the water supply system of Rajshahi City Corporation has virtually collapsed and the city dwellers have been facing an acute water crisis over the last few days.

The worst affected areas are Dhorompur, Mirzapur, Dashmari, Bodhpara, Meherchandi, Satabongram, Binodpur, Kazla, Talaimari, Shiroil, Lakshmipur Bhatapara, Ponchaboti, Hazrapukur, Horogram and Rajshahi court area.

Around 2,000 tube wells in the city lay inoperative and 1,500 more were unable to lift water due to depletion of underground water Water supply and sewerage authorities are supplying water from 70 deep tube wells and one surface water treatment plant. These, however, are unable to meet the public demand.

As the Padma River dried up, things got worse, said officials of Rajshahi water supply and sewerage authority (RWASA).

Hydro-Geologist Choudhury Sarwar Jahan Sajol, pro-vice chairman of Rajshahi University, said the underground water level had gone down by 35 to 40 feet in the city areas and 85 to 110 feet in Barind tract including Godagari, Tanore, Bangmara, Puthia and Durgapur, creating a severe crisis in drinking water supplies.

Bahar Uddin Mridha, executive en-

gineer of Public Health Engineering Department reports that at least 50 percent of the tube wells and Tara pumps installed by PHED in different upazilas of the district are not functioning at present.

He also added that every year underground water level goes down by six to seven feet in the city and on its outskirts.

Monowara Begum, resident at Darikharbona in the city who is suffering through this water crisis feels that “the authorities concerned should take whatever steps necessary to resolve the problems.”

Tarikul Islam, a resident of Hetomkhan, pointed out that the tube wells and WASA could not supply sufficient water, which RWASA caretaker engineer Parvez Ahmed explained, saying, “A man needs at least 145 litres of water per day but the WASA hardly supplies 108 litres.”

He added that at present 67 percent people of the city are getting water from the WASA and rest of the people are reaming out coverage.

In addition, around 2,000 tube wells in the city lay inoperative and 1,500 more were unable to lift water due to depletion of underground water, said WASA sources.

Many of the city dwellers are compelled to purchase mineral water to meet their drinking water needs.

Dhirendranath Sarker, managing director of RWASA, said that they had a plan to operate four water treatment plants to avert the crisis of surface water treatment plant.

He added, “A delegation from Korea has recently visited the city. The delegation approved a project of TK4000crores to set up a surface water treatment plant. We can include more 20 percent people under their coverage if the project is implemented.”

Tribal girls in Bandarban district splash each other with water in celebration of Baisabi, the biggest social festival for the ethnic communities

Bandarban in festive mood as Sangrain begins today Our Correspondent, Bandarban A festive ambience has been prevailing over the hilly district, Bandarban, as the six-day New Year celebration programme Sangrain is going to be held today.

Sangrain, which is widely known as “Boisabi Utsab,” is a festival for all castes of the ethnic people. On the

other hand, the Tripuras and Chakmas term it Boisuk and Biju respectively.

The Marma community of Bandarban, as well as other castes, celebrates the festival to leave behind the passing year with all its sorrows and to welcome the New Year with a hope for a brighter future.

In this regard, Bandarban Sangrain Committee president Ong Cha Mang

Our Correspondent, Sherpur

Police recovered a hanging body of a school girl from Jadupur Bonikkandi village under Vodrason union of Shibchar upazila in Madaripur district yesterday morning. The deceased is Jhumur Banik, 14, a ninth-grade student of Vandarikandi AM High School. She hang herself by a scarf from the ceiling of her room.

Her family member found the body at the room. They said, she had an altercation with her mother and centering the issue he committed suicide by hanging herself. Officer-in-charge of Shibchar Thana AKM Masud said, “The body was sent to Madaripur Hospital morgue.”

– Our Correspondent

Gambler son killed father

85 mounds of hilsha fry seized Coast Guard men grabbed 85 mounds of Hilsha fry and 33,000 current nets in a drive on Meghna River in Chandpur on Friday late night. Coast Guard said, the drive was conducted in different areas of the river was a part of Hilsh fry protection programme. No one was arrested in this regard. The Hilsha fry was seized from a Dhakabound passenger launch MV Samrat On the other hand, current nets were seized from Horina Ferryghat area. Coast Guard Officer Md Habibur Rahman said, “The seized hilsha fries will be distributed to orphanages and poor people with the presence of fish officer, administrative officers and journalist on Saturday morning.”

– Our Correspondent

Marma said they had already taken all sorts of necessary preparation to celebrate the festival.

On the first day, the Marmas would bring out a colourful procession from Puratan Rajar Math of the district and the following day they would bath the Buddha statue in the Sanghu River.

On the third and fourth days, they will observe the festival’s most attrac-

tive programme, “Pani Barsan Utsab”, in different areas here.

And the last day (April 18), the community will end the festival through the “Dharmo Desona Sraban” function.

As part of the festival, the Tangcongaia community also arranged the traditional “Ghila Khela Utsab” in the field of Raichha High School in the district town.

Fearing and fleeing in Sherpur

NEWS IN BRIEF Police recovered hanging body of a school girl

A father was killed by his gambler son at Andarchar village under Sahebrampur Union of Kalkini upazila of Madaripur.

The deceased is Fazle Hawlader, 55. The incident occurred on yesterday around 10.30am. The body was sent to Madaripur morgue for autopsy. Police said, Fazle’s son Abul Hossain is a gambler.

He used to beat everyone in the house.

Abul’s son Miron, 12 informed the matter of his father to his grandfather Fazle.

After hearing the matter, Fazle went to Abul’s house but didn’t find the latter at home. When Abul came home and heard that his father verbally abused him, he hit at the head of his father with an iron rod. Fazle fell on the ground.

Later, local rescued him and brought to a village doctor while the doctor decalred him dead. On information, Kalkini Thana police recovered the body.

Officer-in-charge of the police station Nazmul Huda said, “The father was killed by his son. We are trying to arrest the murderer.” – Our Correspondent

DHAKA TRIBUNE

People of different professions and social organisations form a human chain at Birganj police station intersection demanding an end to unsocial activities going on in the name of Muktijoddha Welfare Club in Dinajpur DHAKA TRIBUNE

Janata Bank officials caught in Gopalganj credit scam Our Correspondent About half a crore of rural credit has reportedly been misappropriated by a section of Janata Bank Kotalipara Branch officials in association with middlemen.

It was alleged that loan officers Sudhonno Kumar Halder and Upanondo Bala were involved in the embezzlement. They were alleged to have pocketed the large amount of loans sanctioned in the name of debtors.

The embezzlement surfaced as Kotalipara Branch new manager Kazi Imdadul Huq took steps to collect unrealised debt. As the incident was made public, Sudhonno Kumar Halder went into hiding. After getting default notice, a large section of former debtors rushed to the bank to show their loan paid documents.

They also made allegations against three Janata Bank Kotalipara Branch officials – Sudhonno Kumar Halder, Upanondo Bala and Ashis kumar Biswas – who branded them as defaulters.

Digbijoy Biswas, a resident of Zohorerkandi village of Kotalipara upazila, said two separate notices regarding bank loan was served in the name of his father Khitish Biswas and uncle Kumod Biswas who died 10 and 12 years ago respectively.

Bijoy claimed that none of their family actually took any loan amounting to

Tk90,000 from the bank in 2011 in the name of his father and uncle as the notice said.

Majbari village resident Mujibor of the upazila said he paid back the loan of Tk60,000 that he took from the bank a year year ago, but the bank officials embezzled the amount of money without depositing it to the bank.

“I showed the loan paid document to the bank last March after a default notice was served to me,” he said.

Ramshil village resident Balai Chand Mondol made the same allegation as Mujibor. “I never took any loan from the bank, but I was served a notice from the bank. I was surprised to see the notice,” he said.

Satpar Branch Manager Ashis Kumar Biswas said the two debt collectors might have committed some petty corruptions in his absence.

“I personally am not involved in it, nor did I issue any such loan,” he said.

Kotalipara Branch Manager Kazi Imdadul Huq said a large amount of rural credit of the bank remained unrealised and the system of giving “bad loan” was responsible for this.

Janata Bank Faridpur Zone Deputy General Manager Md Jayen Uddin admitted the fact.

He said the bank would take steps against the accused and no one would be spared if proven guilty.

Robbers kill one, injure 5 in Bandarban Our Correspondent, Bandarban A man was gunned down and five others were injured during a robbery at a house in the Kagojikhola area of Naikhongchhari upazila here, early yesterday.

The robbers killed Ahmed Sofa Chowdhury, 48, a resident of the area.

The injured - Jobayer, Ruhul Amin, Ali Johar, Hossain Ahmed and Zihad – were whisked off to Chittagong Medical College Hospital in a critical condition.

Quoting locals, Baishari Investigation Centre SI Anis said a gang of armed robbers swooped into Ahmed Sofa’s house in dead of the night while his brother’s wedding programme was taking place, and shot him, leaving him dead on the spot.

During the robbery, the dacoits also looted about 40 tolas of gold ornaments from the guests and the groom.

Around 4000 people have been fleeing from their homes at five villages in Sherpur’s Nalitabari Upazila for 16 days, fearing arrest over two cases – one under narcotics act and another for obstructing police duty.

Earlier on March 25, locals snatched an alleged drugs dealer at the Upazila’s Nanni Bazar, beating up five police men. Police then filed the cases against 250-300 people, naming none of them.

People of Dekrapara, Bajupara, Nayapara, Bandhdharha and Baigarpara villages said they have been fleeing from their homes as police are detaining even those who were not involved in the attack on police. They said earlier on Sunday night, police detained innocent HSC examinee Abdul Kadir and so he could not sit for the exams on Monday.

The police released him in the end though, but that is only after the sched-

uled time for his Monday exams ended, said the villagers. Visually-impaired Abdul Awal, son of Abdul Majid of Nayapara village, was not even spared of police arrest though the police later freed him, they added.

Police so far detained 13 and released three of them.

Nanni Bazar Babsayee Samity President Mahmud said, “It is unfortunate that the police have been attacked. We want those who attacked the police to be punished. But the innocent must not be harassed.”

Detective Branch of Police’s Officer-in-Charge Nazrul Islam, however, brushed aside the allegation and said that they have not yet harassed any innocent person. Only the houses of those facing allegations are being raided.

Nalitabari police station’s Officerin-Charge Monirul Islam declined any comment on this, saying, “We are not handling this issue. It is being handled by the district police office.”

Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Career

7

Sunday, April 13, 2014

How to be a better you at work Get rid of negative habits that are holding you back at work to start a conversation with a colleague, but you do not want to be known as a complainer. Ask yourself if you are always complaining about something or the other, and how interested others are to hear about it. It doesn’t matter whether your complaints are legitimate or petty. This isn’t a difficult habit to eliminate.

Career Desk We employ a number of communication techniques in our day-to-day interactions to make a point, persuade, demand, suggest, etc. Many of these “techniques” such as examples, allegories, anecdotes, hypotheses, etc comes so naturally to us that we hardly ever think about it.

Similarly, like bad habits, there are a number of negative communication behaviours and styles that we are all guilty of to an extent without being aware of it. One can imagine how detrimental this might be at the workplace, where how effectively and well we communicate may determine how fast and far we succeed.

These negative behaviours get in the way of effective relationship building, networking and simple civility. At the work place, they are more noticeable, as one wouldn’t be as forgiving of a colleague as they would of a family member, and thus they seem more amplified and reproachable.

Getting rid of certain negative communication behaviours which we are not even aware of is not an easy task. It means having to be aware of what you are saying and how, when and where you are saying it at all times.

Following is a short list of common negative communication behaviours or styles that many of us are guilty of.

If you spot any that you think may apply to you, you definitely have room for improvement.

Constant disagreements

A number of people get used to routinely disagreeing with everybody, especially when their job involves constant public interface. Next time you find

Knowing-it-all

People with this character flaw are usually guilty of pushing others with words. No matter how much more experience and wisdom you have than the person you are communicating with, nobody likes to constantly hear “you should.” Stop telling people what they should or shouldn’t do.

Interruptions

Disrupting others’ train of thought is something we have always been told not to do. This is something all parents teach their children from an early age and yet a surprisingly large number of people never pay heed. Do not start talking while another person is still talking. If you have something to say wait till the other person is done, or interject politely. Do not hijack the conversation.

Seeking approval

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yourself disagreeing with something again, whether you are right or not, try some tact. Unless you are talking about something related to work, most

Touch base with idioms Corner the market - to dominate a particular market with your product

Career Desk Ball park figure - a rough estimate or figure

BIZ VOCAB

Bang for the buck - value for the money spent

Banker’s hours - short work hours (similar to a bank) Bankroll someone - to supply someone with money, to finance someone

Cut corners - to economise, to try to spend less money Cut one’s losses - to do something in order to stop losing additional money or time etc.

Defeat a motion - to defeat an idea or proposal in a meeting Draw up a contract - to make or draft a contract

Bean counter - an accountant

Face value (of something) - the official value or worth of something

Bottom line - the total, the final figure on a balance sheet, the results (of a business)

Fair play - equal and correct action toward someone, justice

Bottom out - to reach the lowest or worst point

Fill the bill - to be just what is needed

Bounce a check - to write a check in which you do not have enough money in your bank account Boys in the backroom - a group of men making decisions behind the scenes Buy a stake in (something) - to buy part ownership of a company or other enterprise Call a loan - to demand the immediate and complete payment of a debt/loan Captain of industry - a top corporation officer Carry a motion - to support or win acceptance for a motion or proposal or idea in a meeting Carry over figures/numbers/costs - to transfer a figure or number or cost from one column or time to another Circulate the agenda - to distribute a list or other information about what will be discussed in a meeting Close the books - to stop taking orders, to end a bookkeeping period Come in high - to charge too much for your services, to ask for a price that is too high Come in low - to offer a low amount of money for a product or service

Float (someone) a loan - to loan someone money Gain ground - to go forward, to make progress Give (someone) the green light - to give someone permission to go ahead or proceed with something Go belly up - to go out of business because of financial problems Go over the books - to check and analyze the accounting records of a company Go public - to become a public company and to sell the company stock to the public

chatter at work is usually exactly that – chatter and small talk. If someone says something you disagree with, your life does not depend upon turning your

cafeteria into the parliamentary floor.

Complaints

There are a number of levels to this

particular problem.

Continuous whining about the heat, traffic or your workload may all be legitimate complaints or even common grounds

Don’t persistently look for approval.

It comes off as insincere because most of the times when someone is seeking for approval, they hardly care for feedback or suggestions and just want everyone else to agree with them. If someone agrees with you, they’ll make it clear. Do not attempt to engineer situations where you try to get others to agree with you or compliment you.

What’s in your brown bag?

Ahsan Sajid The lunch hour at work is blessed. It is a moment of relief at work where you get to recharge before the usually busier half of the day begins. You can spend this time taking in some fresh air or having a walk to clear your mind, spending some time with friends and colleagues in and around the office, getting a leg up on a project, or simply eating.

One of the most fun things to do during the lunch hour is to go out to eat with you colleagues. Given the amount of new places to eat out at these days, this is a very popular option but the quality of food and level of nutrition you are getting is doubtful at best while going out more than even once a week will drill too big a hole in your wallet.

The obvious way to overcome these problems is of course to bring your own lunch. It may not be the “cool” option, but you’ll be happier for it in the long run. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when brown-bagging your own lunch.

have time to reheat or don’t want the trouble, bring foods that are best eaten cold like sandwiches, cold pasta, salads, etc.

Cook larger batches

Plan your lunches for the whole week and cook during the weekend, when there’s little or no work. If you put portions in the fridge separately, with each day of work indicated, you have to spend no time packing before work.

Make it reheat friendly

Opt for foods that reheat well. Most soup taste as good as when first cooked or even better if you reheat it. Other foods that reheat well are curries, pasta (leave it al dente, as reheating will cook it further), rice etc.

Make it count

Pack filling lunches. No one wants to be hungry an hour after lunch break and have to go out for more food despite bringing lunch from home.

Packing filling lunches like rice, lentils, beans and other fibre-rich foods ensures a full stomach and a good second half of the workday.

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Eat it cold

Have one’s finger in the pie - to be involved in something, to receive money for something

Skills development programme aims at budding economists

Have the floor - to have permission to speak in a meeting Heads will roll - someone will be punished In black and white - in writing In the black - to be successful, to be making money, to be profitable

Come on strong - to overwhelm others with very strong language or personality

In the loop - part of a group of people that is kept up-to-date with information about something

Company man - a person who always works hard for his company and supports the company policies

In the market for (something) - to be ready to buy something, to want to buy something

Company town - a town dominated by one industry or company

In the red - to be losing money, to be unprofitable

The easiest thing to do is to bring foods that can be eaten cold. If you don’t even

Career Desk The Young Economist’s Forum (YEF) of North South University is organising a workshop called the “Skills Development Program,” a two-day event to be held at the university’s campus on April 16 and 17.

The event consists of seminars and workshops which will provide a platform for the rising enthusiasts and budding economists to enrich their skills and academics.

The programme is tailored to educate young and enthusiastic minds about good public-speaking, research in economics, IELTS scopes of an economist, and how the Bangladeshi economy works. The reputed institutes attending the event are Bangladesh Bank, CPD, United Commercial Bank Ltd, Small Enterprise Assistance Funds

(SEAF) and British Council.

Among others, some of the notable speakers during the workshops are going to be Md Nazmul Karim of

Raid your fridge

from last night are probably ending up in the trash anyway. Bring them to work for the most hassle-free lunch.

Hang out one’s shingle - to open one’s own business (usually as a professional in some field)

If all of the above sounds like too much work for you, go for leftovers. Leftovers

SEAF and Dr Golam Sarker of Bangladesh Bank. The workshop on public speaking is going to be conducted by G Sumdany the manager of consumer

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engagement at Philip Morris International while the workshop on research in economics will be led by Dr Khondoker Muazzem, the additional director at CPD. British Council will conduct the workshop on IELTS and a number of prominent personalities will speak at the rest of the sessions. The event is being supported by radio partner Radio Today and sponsor United Commercial Bank.

The workshop calls for all the interested students and young economists to take advantage of the valuable seminars and workshops. The programme is open for students of all institutions; to pre-register for the event, please sign up at nsuyef@yefonline.net. Further information regarding the workshop may be found at: www.facebook. com/nsu.yef.

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Risk of ‘gas war’ grows as Ukraine halts payments to Russia Reuters, Kiev Ukraine said yesterday it was suspending payments to Russia for deliveries of gas, ratcheting up the tension in a standoff that has the potential to leave European Union states cut off from the Russian gas supplies on which they depend.

In eastern Ukraine, where groups of pro-Russian activists have been emboldened by the Kremlin’s annexation of the Crimean Peninsula, a band of armed men in mismatched camouflage outfits seized a police station in the town of Slaviansk.

Ukraine has de facto stopped payments already because it failed to make an installment of over $500m due earlier this month to Gazprom Russia and Ukraine have been locked in confrontation since protests in Kiev forced the Moscow-backed president from office, and the Kremlin sent troops into Crimea. Now, the gas dispute threatens to spread the impact across Europe.

A large proportion of the natural gas which EU states buy from Russia is pumped via Ukrainian territory, so if Russia makes good on a threat to cut off Ukraine for non-payment of its bills, customers further west will have supplies disrupted.

Andriy Kobolev, chief executive of Ukraine’s state-run energy company Naftogaz, said the increased price Russia was demanding for its gas was unjustified and unacceptable.

“Accordingly, we have suspended payments for the period of the price negotiations,” Kobolev was quoted as saying in an interview with Ukraine’s Zerkalo Nedely newspaper.

In fact, Ukraine has de facto stopped

French far-right leader backs Russia’s Ukraine stance AFP, Moscow The leader of France’s far-right National Front voiced her support for the federalisation of Ukraine during a visit to Moscow yesterday, Russian news agencies reported.

Marine Le Pen, who is also a European Parliament lawmaker, told the speaker of Russia’s lower house Sergei Naryshkin she backed Moscow’s call for Ukraine to devolve greater powers to its regions.

The National Front leader also criticised European Union sanctions against Russians including Naryshkin, a member of President Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party.

“We consider this decision on federalisation to be quite wise,” the RIA Novosti state news agency quoted her as saying in comments translated into Russian.

“I am very surprised that the European Union has now announced a kind of Cold War against Russia, which absolutely doesn’t fit with the traditionally friendly relations between our countries.

“I continue to say that sanctions, and even threats of sanctions, are a counterproductive measure.”

Russia said on Monday authorities in Kiev needed to heed the “legitimate demands” of people in the Russian-speaking eastern regions of Ukraine, where there have been calls for independence from the central authorities.

Le Pen, who also visited Moscow last summer, is not the first European far-right leader to have criticised the EU’s stance on Ukraine.

Last month Nigel Farage, leader of Britain’s eurosceptic UK Independence Party, accused the EU of having “blood on its hands” for backing protesters who toppled pro-Russian former president Viktor Yanukovych.

Le Pen’s National Front won control of 11 towns and more than 1,400 municipal seats nationwide in municipal elections last month.

She is the daughter of the former National Front leader Jean-Marie Le Pen and has worked to soften the party’s image since taking over as leader in 2011.

payments already because it failed to make an installment of over $500 million due earlier this month to Russian state gas giant Gazprom.

But the decision to formally suspend payments shows there is no sign of a compromise with Moscow, and may push the two sides closer to a repeat of past “gas wars,” when Ukraine’s gas was cut off, with a knock-on effect on supplies to EU states.

Kiev and Brussels have been scrambling to blunt the impact of any decision

by Moscow to cut off gas to Ukraine.

In particular, they are working out ways to keep supplies flowing to EU states, and for those countries to then pump the gas to Ukraine by reversing the flow in their pipelines.

Moscow says it does not want to turn off Ukraine’s gas if it can be avoided, and that it will honor all commitments to supply its EU customers. Gazprom could not immediately be reached for comment on Saturday.

Armed men

The dispute over Ukraine, precipitated by the overthrow of Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovich after he rejected closer ties to the EU, has brought Russia’s relations with the West to their most fraught state since the end of the Cold War in 1991.

In Slaviansk, masked men armed with pistols and rifles stood guard near the police station as hundreds of locals gathered around, some building barricades with car tires, according to a Reuters photographer on the scene.

They were wearing orange and black ribbons, a symbol of the Soviet victory in World War II that has been adopted by pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine.

Slaviansk is in the Donetsk region about 150 km (90 miles) from the Russia-Ukraine border. Pro-Russian groups have also occupied public buildings in the cities of Donetsk and Luhansk, and are demanding autonomy from Kiev.

Officials in Kiev’s Western-leaning interim government say Russian forces may be preparing to cross the frontier into Ukraine on the pretext of protecting the pro-Russian activists from persecution, though Moscow denies this.

Pro-Russian gunmen seize more buildings in east Ukraine AFP, Slavyansk

A pro-Russian activist squints as he warms himself near a fire outside the headquarters of Ukraine’s security agency building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Lugansk on April 12, 2014. Separatists demanding a referendum to join Russia seized the building a week ago as a wave of secessionist anger swept eastern Ukraine AFP

US faces reluctant partners in sanctioning Russia AP, Washington As it warns Russia to step back from Ukraine or suffer another financial hit, the US is simultaneously trying to coax along a reluctant Europe, which is trying to balance its desire to punish Moscow against its fear of economic turmoil from the effects of a new, harsher round of Western trade sanctions.

Economists say the US risks appearing weak without support from Europe, which is Russia’s largest trading partner and therefore has huge sway over Russia’s already shaky economy.

But Europe is far from ready to issue sanctions on Moscow that would undercut its own financial stability while risking its main source of energy.

The fate of new sanctions — and how tough they might be — depends on Moscow’s next moves, and whether Russia deepens or pulls back its meddling in Ukraine. President Barack Obama already has signed orders that would allow the US to sanction key Russian industries, and Europe-

an Union foreign ministers will meet Monday to decide what new penalties should be issued if Moscow continues to ignore the West’s warnings.

Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland told a Senate panel this week that current US and EU sanctions are “biting” and “pinching” the Russian economy, “and we’re now considering further measures.” Nuland said Moscow has spent an estimated $25 billion to bolster the value of the ruble over the last five to six weeks since sanctions were introduced. Russia suffered more capital outflow in the first three months of 2014 than the $62.7 billon it lost for all of last year, she said. The next round of sanctions will likely merely expand the list of high-ranking Russians whose Western assets have been frozen and are barred from traveling to the EU or US Last month, the EU sanctioned 33 individuals and the US sanctioned 31. The US also has barred American companies or individuals from doing business with Bank Rossiya, which has about $10 billion in assets and is owned

Iran not for alternative UN pick AFP, Tehran Iran signalled its defiance yesterday over America’s refusal to grant a visa to its chosen UN ambassador, saying it does not plan to pick an alternative envoy.

Tehran also said it was examining its legal options over the row, which has undermined a cautious thaw in relations after decades of enmity following the storming of the US embassy in 1979 and the hostage crisis that followed.

The United States has said it will not issue a visa to Hamid Aboutalebi because of his links to the students who seized the embassy just months after the Islamic revolution.

However, Iran’s deputy foreign min-

ister said the country was not considering any potential replacement for Aboutalebi, an experienced diplomat who has previously attended sessions at the UN headquarters in New York.

“We are not considering an alternative pick,” Abbas Araqchi told the Mehr news agency, noting that Iran would pursue the issue of visa denial “through legal mechanisms at the UN.” The visa row poses a challenge to US President Barack Obama’s drive for a diplomatic breakthrough and a global deal over Iran’s disputed nuclear programme. As the host government, the United States is obliged to issue visas to diplomats who serve at the United Nations. It is believed that Washington has

never previously denied a visa for a UN ambassador, although Tehran withdrew its nominee once in the early 1990s.

Fierce political pressure from Congress, which has overwhelmingly passed a bill barring Aboutalebi from US soil and where scepticism about Obama’s nuclear diplomacy runs high, has put the White House in a corner.

“We have informed the United Nations and Iran that we will not issue a visa for Mr Aboutalebi,” White House spokesman Jay Carney said on Friday.

White House lawyers are studying constitutional issues raised by the bill which landed on Obama’s desk on Thursday. Carney did not say whether Obama would eventually sign it.

UK defends Falklands exercises AFP, London

Veterans of the 1982 Falklands (Malvinas) War and relatives participate in a ceremony to honour the soldiers who died in the South Atlantic conflict between Great Britain and Argentina, in Buenos Aires on April 2, during the 32nd anniversary of the war AFP

The Foreign Office of UK yesterday brushed off condemnation by Argentina of British military exercises in the Falkland Islands, saying they were "routine.”

Buenos Aires condemned the manoeuvres, set for April 14 to 27, as a new "act of aggression" against Argentina and said it was summoning the British ambassador in protest.

The islands in the South Atlantic have been ruled by Britain since 1833 but Argentina claims them as their own and in 1982 attempted to seize control in a brief but bloody war. Tensions have resurfaced between the two countries in recent years after Britain opened the area to oil exploration.

In a statement, a Foreign Office spokesman said the military manoeuvres were "routine exercises in the Falkland Islands that have happened approximately twice a year for many years.”

He said advanced warning was always given to people working in the area, as well as to Argentina and to international hydrographic and maritime bodies.

Argentina President Cristina Kirchner claimed earlier this month that the Falklands served as a nuclear base for the Nato alliance, of which Britain is a member.

The Foreign Office spokesman said Saturday: "Argentine claims that we are 'militarising' the South Atlantic are wholly false.

UK forces numbers have declined to the minimum necessary to defend the islands.

by members of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle.

On Friday, the Treasury Department issued sanctions against seven Crimean separatists and a Crimea-based gas company for undermining the government in Kiev. Additional US sanctions targeting Russia’s energy, metals and mining sectors also have been prepared in what Treasury Undersecretary David Cohen has called “a very powerful yet flexible tool that will allow us to respond quickly and meaningfully as events develop in Ukraine.” The EU treads more carefully than the US in sanctioning Russia. The bloc’s leverage is greater because of its close commercial and financial links with Moscow, including energy pipelines that pass directly through Ukraine.

Putin has mocked the current sanctions and on Thursday warned 18 European leaders that their gas supplies were in danger. Yet apparently wary of antagonizing the EU too much, Russia has chosen to retaliate against the sanctions imposed by Washington but not by those issued in Brussels.

Kalashnikov-wielding gunmen yesterday seized a police station and a security building in Ukraine’s restive eastern industrial heartland amid spreading protests to press for the heavily Russified region to join Kremlin rule.

The coordinated attacks and a failed assault on the prosecutor’s office in the local capital Donetsk underscored the volatility of the crisis ahead of peace talks between EU and US diplomats and their Moscow and Kiev counterparts in Geneva on Thursday.

Ukraine’s interim leaders have been facing unceasing pressure from Russia since their February ouster of an unpopular Kremlin-backed president and decision to seek closer ties with the West.

The morning raid on the police station and a subsequent attack of the regional security service centre happened in Slavyansk – a riverside town of 100,000 about 60 kilometres (35 miles) north of the regional capital Donetsk.

Ukraine’s interior ministry said the first assault was led by 20 “armed men in camouflage fatigues” whose main purpose was to get a hold of 20 machineguns and 400 Makarov guns stored in the police headquarters “and to distribute them to protesters.”

“Our response will be very severe,” Interior Minister Arsen Avakov wrote on his Facebook page.

It was not immediately clear how the local police responded or whether the gunmen had taken any hostages.

But Avakov said that Ukrainian special forces had been dispatched to the scene. “There is zero tolerance for armed terrorists.”

An AFP reporter saw the Slavyansk police station being surrounded by armed men in masks and camouflage who had set up a barricade of old tyres and dumpsters in front of the police headquarters.

The gunmen aggressively shoved aside Western reporters and only allowed Russian-speaking media anywhere near the building.

“The entire city... will defend the guys who seized this building,” Slavyansk Mayor Neli Shlepa told Russia’s Life News television outside the police headquarters.

White House, spy agencies deny NSA exploited ‘Heartbleed’ bug Reuters, Washington The White House and US intelligence agencies said neither the National Security Agency nor any other part of the government were aware before this month of the “Heartbleed” bug, denying a report that the spy agency exploited the glitch in widely used Web encryption technology to gather intelligence.

The White House, the NSA and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence issued statements after Bloomberg reported that the NSA was aware of the bug for at least two years and exploited it in order to obtain passwords and other basic information used in hacking operations. The Bloomberg report cited two unnamed sources it said were familiar with the matter.

The Heartbleed bug is considered one of the most serious Internet security flaws to be uncovered in recent years.

“Reports that NSA or any other part of the government were aware of the so-called Heartbleed vulnerability before April 2014 are wrong,” White House National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said.

Bloomberg was not immediately

available to comment.

The discovery of Heartbleed by researchers with Google Inc and a small security firm, Codenomicon, prompted the US Homeland Security Department to advise businesses on Tuesday to review their servers to see if they were using vulnerable versions of widely used software known as OpenSSL. OpenSSL is used to encrypt email and other communications and to protect the websites of big Internet companies, including Facebook Inc, Google Inc and Yahoo Inc. The bug, disclosed Monday, allows hackers to steal data without a trace.

NSA spokeswoman Vanee Vines said: “NSA was not aware of the recently identified vulnerability in OpenSSL, the so-called Heartbleed vulnerability, until it was made public in a private-sector cybersecurity report.”

Hayden said the federal government relies on OpenSSL to protect the privacy of users of government websites and other online services. “If the federal government, including the intelligence community, had discovered this vulnerability prior to last week, it would have been disclosed to the community responsible for OpenSSL,” Hayden added.

Turkey PM threatens to 'go after' Twitter for tax evasion AFP, Ankara Turkey's prime minister said yesterday he will "go after" Twitter, accusing the site of tax-evasion, after it was used to spread damaging leaks implicating his inner circle in corruption scandals.

"Twitter, YouTube and Facebook are international companies established for profit," Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in televised remarks. "Twitter is at the same time a tax evader. We will go after it."

Erdogan's government on March 20 banned access to the social media site, sparking outrage among Turkey's Nato allies and international human rights groups who viewed it as a setback for

democracy in the EU-hopeful country.

Ankara had to lift the block on April 3 after its highest court ruled the ban breached the right to free speech.

Erdogan again criticised the court verdict on Saturday. "We abided by the (court) ruling on (Twitter), but I say it again, I don't respect it," he said.

The ban had been widely circumvented by many of Turkey's almost 12 million Twitter users, who have instead sent tweets via text message or by adjusting their Internet settings.

Last week, the government said it would keep its block on YouTube in place despite two separate courts ordering it be lifted.

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

9

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Modi stands by Hindu customs but wants progress for Muslims Reuters, New Delhi Hindu nationalist Narendra Modi, leading the race to be India’s next prime minister, yesterday sought to blunt criticism that he is hostile to Muslims, the country’s biggest minority group.

Modi, candidate of the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), was asked by a television interviewer to explain his refusal to wear a skullcap offered to him by a Muslim cleric in the state of Gujarat three years ago.

“I live by my tradition which is why I would not like to wear a skullcap and pose for a photograph just to deceive people,” Modi said, according to a transcript provided by the television station.

Hindus have no prescribed headgear, but the wearing of skullcaps is firmly within the Muslim tradition.

Hindu-Muslim relations have been a key issue in the Indian general election, with critics accusing Modi of not doing enough to protect Muslims in a spasm of religious violence in the western state of Gujarat in 2002 that left at least 1,000 dead.

About 13% of India’s 1.2 billion people are Muslim. Critics say the Hindu nationalists harbor a deep-seated bias

Amit Shah to seek review of Election Commission’s ban

against the Muslims and that Modi’s rise as the potential leader of a country as diverse as India is a threat to its secular foundations.

Modi, who is a three-time chief minister of Gujarat and a veteran member of the right-wing Hindu group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, denies that he or his party has any religious bias.

He talked about progress for Muslims, who are seen as lagging behind the Hindu majority in government jobs and in the broader economy.

“I believe that while those with skullcaps on their heads hold the Koran in one hand, they should also have a computer in the other hand,” Modi said in the interview due to be broadcast later on Saturday.

Modi’s BJP hopes to oust the ruling Congress Party of Rahul Gandhi, with its promises of jobs and new infrastructure.

On Friday Modi’s closest aide, Amit Shah, was banned from election rallies and meetings after a series of speeches deemed to have stoked tensions with Muslims.

Shah is also awaiting trial over extra-judicial killings during the 2002 Gujarat riots when he was serving under Modi in the state government.

Manmohan in office but ‘not in power,’ book claims

Agencies BJP leader Amit Shah said yesterday he would urge the election commission to review its order banning him from holding public meetings in Uttar Pradesh for allegedly making “hate speeches” during the election campaign.

The EC on Friday banned Shah and Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan from holding any public meetings or road shows in the state.

“The EC has asked me to reply by today (Saturday) evening. I will send a request to it to review its decision. I will also explain in what context that speech was given,” Shah said.

Meanwhile, the EC has also asked the Uttar Pradesh government to lodge an FIR against Shah and Khan for making hate speeches during the election campaigns. Shah is a close aide of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi (2nd L) are showered with flower petals by supporters as they ride on top of a car before Rahul filed his nomination for the upcoming Lok Sabha (lower house) elections at the district collector’s office in Sultanpur, Amethi AFP

AFP, New Delhi A tell-all book by an ex-aide to India’s Premier Manmohan Singh depicting him as a powerless political puppet hit bookstores this weekend, stirring new controversy in the midst of a bitterly fought election.

The book, giving ammunition to opposition critics during the marathon polling which winds up May 12, paints a damning portrait of a premier who was in office – but “not in power” – while ruling Congress party president Sonia Gandhi called the shots.

Entitled “The Accidental Prime Minister – The Making and Unmaking of Manmohan Singh,” the book is by academic and journalist Sanjaya Baru, a former media advisor to the current prime minister, who left his post in 2008.

Traditionally, the president of India’s ruling party is also premier. But

Gandhi, who led Congress to power in 2004 and 2009, turned down the job, fearing her Italian birth would become an explosive political issue as Hindu nationalists said her foreign origin made her unfit to rule India.

She handpicked Singh for the job but Baru said Gandhi’s much hailed “renunciation of power” was more a “political tactic than a response to a higher calling.”

Baru said Singh decided early on to “surrender” to Gandhi and quotes the premier as saying he had “to accept the party president (Gandhi) is the centre of power.”

Critics have long charged Gandhi held the reins of power in the Singh administration but Baru’s book is the first by a close advisor to the prime minister to make that claim.

In a strong criticism of the soft-spoken premier, he said Singh “averted his

eyes from corruption” to ensure his scandal-tainted government’s “longevity.”

While Singh, 81, who retires after this election, maintained the “highest standards of probity in public life,” he “turned a blind eye to the misdeeds of his ministers.”

Singh thought he could choose cabinet ministers but “he was defanged” as “Sonia nipped that hope in the bud.”

Baru said Singh had little authority over his cabinet and a senior bureaucrat would seek Gandhi’s “instructions on the important files to be cleared by the PM.” Singh’s spokesman Pankaj Pachauri told AFP the book “smacks of fiction” and alleged Baru misused a “privileged position” for “commercial gain.”

The book’s release comes as India’s multi-phase election is well under way, with the opposition Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party tipped to win.

Results are due May 16.

Rahul files nomination papers from Amethi Agencies Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi filed his nomination papers for the Lok Sabha elections of India yesterday, setting the stage for a high-profile, three-cornered contest in the family fortress Amethi in Uttar Pradesh.

Challenged by BJP’s crowd-puller, actor Smriti Irani, and Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) poet-turned-politician Kumar Vishwas, the two-time MP Gandhi arguably faces the toughest electoral battle of his political career.

Amethi goes to the polls on May 7.

Prior to filing his nominations, Rahul Gandhi undertook a 42-km-long roadshow from Amhart in Sultanpur to Gauriganj in Amethi and was accompanied by sister Priyanka Vadra and her husband Robert Vadra.

Rahul’s cousin Varun Gandhi is the BJP candidate from Sultanpur. He is pitted

Search for missing jet Pakistan court drops attempted resumes amid fears black murder case against baby box battery has died AFP, Lahore

Reuters, Perth The search for a missing Malaysia Airlines jetliner resumed yesterday, five weeks after the plane disappeared from radar screens, amid fears that batteries powering signals from the black box recorder on board may have died.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott warned on Friday that signals picked up during the search in the remote southern Indian Ocean, believed to be “pings” from the black box recorders, were fading.

Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 disappeared soon after taking off on March 8 from Kuala Lumpur bound for Beijing with 227 passengers and 12 crew on board, triggering a multinational search that is now focused on the Indian Ocean.

Search officials say they are confident they know the approximate position of the black box recorder, although they have determined that the latest “ping,” picked up by searchers on Thursday, was not from the missing aircraft.

Batteries in the black box recorder are already past their normal 30-day life, making the search to find it on the murky sea bed all the more urgent.

Once they are confident they have located it, searchers then plan to deploy a small unmanned “robot” known as Autonomous Underwater Vehicle.

“Work continues in an effort to narrow the underwater search area for when the Autonomous Underwater Vehicle is deployed,” the Australian agency coordinating the search said yesterday.

“There have been no confirmed acoustic detections over the past 24 hours.”

The black box records data from the cockpit and conversations among flight crew and may provide answers about what happened to the plane, which flew thousands of kilometres off

course after taking off.

The mystery has sparked the most expensive search and rescue operation in aviation history.

Narrowing search area

Analysis of satellite data has led investigators to conclude the Boeing 777 crashed into the ocean somewhere west of the Australia city of Perth. So far, four “ping” signals, which could be from the plane’s black box recorders, have been detected in the search area in recent days by a US navy “Towed Pinger Locator.”

“We are now getting to the stage where the signal from what we are very confident is the black box is starting to fade and we are hoping to get as much information as we can before the signal finally expires,” Abbott said on Friday.

The US supply ship USNS Cesar Chavez has joined the Australian-led task force to provide logistics support and replenish Australian navy ships, a Pentagon spokesman said.

Up to nine military aircraft, one civil aircraft and 14 ships were scouring a 41,393 sq km (25,720 sq mile) patch of desolate ocean some 2,330km (1,445 miles) northwest of Perth.

The extensive search and rescue operation has so far included assets from 26 countries.

Australia’s Ocean Shield, which has the towed pinger locator on board, is operating in a smaller zone, just 600 sqkm (232 sq miles) about 1,670km (1,040 miles) northwest of Perth. That is near where it picked up the acoustic signals and where dozens of sonobuoys capable of transmitting data to search aircraft via radio signals were dropped on Wednesday.

Experts say the process of teasing out the signals from the cacophony of background noise in the sea is slow and exhausting.

A Pakistani court yesterday threw out charges of attempted murder against a nine-month-old baby, in a case that highlighted endemic flaws in the country’s legal system and provoked widespread ridicule.

The court also launched a separate case to look into how police pressed charges against baby Mohammad Musa after his family clashed with gas company officials in a working class neighbourhood in the eastern city of Lahore. Police lodged a case against the whole family.

The case drew international attention and sparked ridicule against the Pakistani criminal justice system, after the toddler was photographed crying desperately while being fingerprinted in court. His grandfather was later seen trying to comfort him with a milk bottle.

Inspector Kashif Muhammad, who was at the crime scene and pressed attempted

murder charges against the baby, has since been suspended. The charges were in direct contradiction with Pakistan’s mini-

mum age of criminal responsibility, which was raised from seven to 12 years in 2013 except in terrorism cases.

Myanmar’s first census in three decades extended amid controversy Reuters, Yangon A group of women dressed in green sarong-like longyis and simple white blouses stand around a table piled with census forms, entering neat notations on spreadsheets by hand.

The women will have to go through 37,579 family census forms, according to officials, using calculators to tally the total numbers because they have no access to computers.

The scene underscores the challenges of carrying out a census in this poor and sprawling, predominantly Buddhist nation. It was supposed to

end last Thursday, but was extended yesterday until the end of May, due to “technical and logistical problems.”

The census - the first in three decades - has long been mired in controversy, much of it concerning the counting of Rohingya - Muslims who live in western Rakhine state and often described by the United Nations as one of the most persecuted minorities in the world.

Officials say some 100,000 school teachers have fanned out across Myanmar on foot collecting data for the census, expected to count between 48 million and 65 million citizens.

On April 10, on what was supposed to

be the final day of the census, volunteers went door-to-door in Yangon, Myanmar’s commercial capital, racing to gather data for a census estimated by rights groups and other groups to cost $74 million.

Meanwhile, rights organizations and ethnic groups in Myanmar have called for the census to be postponed until it can be carried out fairly and safely.

The government had promised international sponsors that ethnic groups could choose their classification. But a day before the census kicked off, presidential spokesman Ye Htut indicated that use of the term Rohingya would be prohibited.

against Congress nominee Amita Singh, wife of Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, who had won from the seat in 2009.

The event evoked curiosity as this is for the first time Rahul organised such a political campaign from a constituency where another Gandhi family member is fighting against a Congress candidate. When asked whether she expects Rahul to win by bigger margin, she replied “it will all be known later.”

Amethi was earlier represented by the country’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and later by Sanjay Gandhi once and four times by former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Sonia Gandhi also represented the seat but later shifted to Rae Bareily to vacate the seat for Rahul. Incidentally, the Congress has lost three of the five assembly seats falling under Amethi parliamentary seats during the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections in 2012.

N Korea blasts reunification offer as ‘psychopath’s daydream’ AFP, Seoul North Korea yesterday blasted South Korean President Park Geun-Hye’s proposal on laying the groundwork for reunification through economic exchanges and humanitarian aid as the “daydream of a psychopath.”

The blistering attack from the North’s powerful National Defence Commission (NDC) was the first official reaction from Pyongyang to a proposal Park made in a speech last month in Dresden in the former East Germany.

She urged the North to expand reunions of families separated by the division of Korea and increase cross-border economic and cultural exchanges, starting with the South bolstering humanitarian aid. “Germany’s unity is for us an example and model for a peaceful reunification.”

An NDC spokesman noted that German reunification came about with the West absorbing the East and accused Park of begging foreign countries to help a reunification in which South Korea absorbed the North.

“This is merely a daydream of psychopath,” he said, denouncing Park’s proposal, billed as the “Dresden Declaration” by Seoul, as “nonsense” full of “hypocrisy and deception.”

“The fact that in that particular place, Park Geun-Hye lashed her tongue about reunification gave away her sinister mind,” he said in a statement.

Reunification is however enshrined as a national priority in both the South and North Korean constitutions, but pro-merger sentiment in the prosperous South has waned considerably in recent years.

The North Korean spokesman urged Seoul to abide by earlier agreements including a landmark agreement signed in 2000, stressing all these previous accords gave priority to addressing the issue of easing military confrontation.

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Letters to

www.dhakatribune.com

BCL must end campus violence

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undreds of students have been protesting the murder of Saad Ibne Momtaz, a student and former BCL activist, at Bangladesh Agriculture University.

Two suspects, both fellow BCL activists, Sujoy and Rokon are now being held by police over his beating to death in an internal BCL feud on campus The government needs to crack down hard on the violent behaviour and culture of intimidation carried out by some BCL activists.

Occasional reprimands are insufficient.

The Saad killing is not an isolated example of this kind of unacceptable conduct. Eight students were hurt as a result of a BCL factional clash at Dhaka University on Friday.

Students should not have to live with a culture of intimidation and violence enforced by party activists in the name of politics. The BCL needs to listen to public concerns and seriously reform its methods.

Unfortunately, many teachers and senior political leaders indulge this culture of fear and intimidation, as many of them see it as the only way they can play politics. This futile and destructive culture of intimidation using muscle must be rooted out in our university campuses if we are to have an atmosphere that fosters education and the right type of political debate.

Our campus political culture is stuck in a vicious cycle of attacks and counterattacks, which must be brought to an end. The best way to honour the victims is for all the groups and parties concerned to mend their ways and break out of the cycle and culture of thuggery.

The culture of intimidation and violence must end

Urgent need to improve urban planning

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new study of urban growth shows that 44 million people, or around 30% of the population, now live in cities, compared to just 15% thirty years ago.

Much of this growth is implemented in violation of planning standards. It is essential to raise standards to improve the quality of life and reduce risks posed by unplanned development.

In the last seven years, at least a fifth of all agricultural land and water bodies in and around Dhaka have been filled in, mainly by residential development. This trend increases flood risks and must be remedied so that canals, designated wetlands, and flood flow zones are properly protected.

With more and more people migrating to urban areas for a better living, our cities must become better prepared to provide good quality housing and employment. Failure to do so will increase the risks of urban disaster from floods and poorly built developments, and jeopardise economic growth.

The formation of cabinet sub-committees to review the Detailed Area Plan (DAP) for areas around Dhaka can help, but must be followed up by comprehensive action to improve urban planning in all areas of the country.

City authorities and government must ensure better enforcement of rules to prevent illegal encroachments and take action against land grabbers.

The government must also strive to make better use of idle or unproductively occupied state land.

Most importantly, it must show vision in building better transport infrastructure and services to enable the private sector to disperse development around the country and reduce pressures on congested central land areas.

Sunday, April 13, 2014

the Editor

LETTER OF THE DAY

Reform ICT Act to stop jail for Facebook messages April 6 Dear Editor, Can you recall any time in the history of Bangladesh (save the three short periods of non-party caretaker rule) that a government did not crack down on dissent? Let us be honest about this: We Bangladeshi have many virtues, but it seems to me that a tolerance of dissent is not one of them, notwithstanding the fond recollections of non-existent history.

Sam

Reviving BNP April 5 Sam I think the best definition of the party’s base was provided by the editor of this paper some years ago in a blog entry he made, titled something like “Voter types.” But the author raises a very valid point, a point already raised by Amb Milam asking BNP to become an alternative on the basis of something more than “we are not AL and we are not Jamaat.” deep purple blue Interesting article – BNP activists and supporters should deal with the questions raised here.

Ronnie Interesting, challenging appeal to the BNP and its committed supporters. I had assumed that the author would readily state his/her own take on the issue.

In responding specifically to the author’s analytical premises, I believe that the party certainly (albeit mostly unfairly) suffers somewhat from an image (“brand”) problem. The lengthy, largely counter-productive electoral alliance with an extremist entity like Jamaat-e-Islami and other fringe Islamists only exacerbates BNP’s public perception woes.

It’s especially unfortunate because BNP is a decidedly democratic, progressive, pro-liberation, future-oriented political party. It is not, and had never embraced extremism (or extremists) within its own ranks. It has never had any truck with “terrorism,” despite the malicious, mendacity of BNP’s political opponents who allege otherwise. This image deficit can (and should) be remedied by a ruthlessly realistic recalibration by BNP heavy-hitters of the party’s highest political priorities today, and its unsavoury alliance with Jamaat, in terms and conditions that are deemed in the best interests of BNP’s own future.

The corruption problem – both real and imagined – stems from BNP’s notorious mis-steps in its last

term in office. That, too, needn’t be an insurmountable hurdle, if the embattled party commits itself to a merciless purging of elements that practice and perpetuate corruption, and so besmirch the party’s public image, at home and abroad. So yes, a revamp of the party leadership surrounding and subordinate to the chairperson is imperative. And it isn’t as difficult to pull off as it appears, notionally.

The final point about BNP’s “product” being indecipherable is the one that I find most provocative, because I had grappled with, and argued about the same point myself, even on this very site. Today, it’s more urgent than ever for BNP to robustly articulate and persuade more Bangladeshis of the fact that there’s always been much more to the party than its strident anti-Awami League politics. It’s vital to start emphasising everything that they are “for,” rather than everything that they are “against.”

I’ve been advocating for BNP to move beyond the seemingly one-point, be-all demand for arrangement of an election-time government, and the holding of a credible, free and fair national election, without delay. That demand is crucial and cannot be ceded.

But BNP is too big, too important, too popular to be defined today by only a single issue, ie its just crusade for a legitimate national election. BNP must begin to forcefully spell out their alternate vision and policies for Bangladesh’s future. BNP is not merely anti-AL for its own sake. It has always been a distinctly different political (ideological) party to the AL, in both clear and subtle ways. Many people fail to recognise that. People who cockily write and announce daily premature obituaries of BNP only flatter themselves, yet again. It will be a travesty for the country, though, if BNP itself, from lack of collective courage, foresight and initiative, squander precious time, self-destruct and hand an undeserved victory to their implacable ill-wishers. If that happens (I expect it won’t), more than just BNP supporters stand to lose.

A rickshaw puller who never gave up April 5 Jahangir Shah His life history should be the inspiration of many a frustrated person.

Mohammad Tanvir Khalid This news makes me rather angry. Against all odds, he keeps moving forward. I wonder what he could achieve with some support from society and from the state. I know there are millions like him who collectively could change the country. What are we doing for them??

Are we overly critical of Bangladesh?

April 5 Constructive criticism is good. In 43 years of independence, how much independence has the Bangladeshi people actually achieved!?

Xiao Xing

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CALVIN AND HOBBES

30% of the population now live in cities. It is essential to make better use of land

PEANUTS

CROSSWORD

SUDOKU ACROSS 1 Quick (4) 4 Identical (4) 8 Domestic animal (3) 9 Fruit (4) 10 Not imaginary (4) 11 Attacks (5) 12 Flower (4) 14 Inferior horse (3) 15 Pinch (3) 17 Faucet (3) 19 Joke (3) 21 Dash (4) 23 Out of order (5) 26 Fashion (4) 27 Lawsuit (4) 28 Marsh (3) 29 Woody plant (4) 30 Plies the needle (4)

DOWN 1 Fail to recall (6) 2 Cicatrix (4) 3 Hooked claw (5) 4 Mineral spring (3) 5 Foreign (5) 6 Wet, soft earth (3) 7 Printers’ measures (3) 11 Kingly (5) 13 Wise men (5) 16 6th order of angels (6) 18 Balance (5) 20 Sports (5) 22 Not any (4) 23 Perform (3) 24 Spoil (3) 25 Observe (3)

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS Crossword

How to solve Sudoku: Fill in the blank spaces with the numbers 1 – 9. Every row, column and 3 x 3 box must contain all nine digits with no number repeating.

Sudoku

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

11

Sunday, April 13, 2014

All creatures great and small

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Animals are subject to our whim, easy to exploit, and even easier to abuse.

If we do not abuse them and instead treat them with the respect they deserve, it is not because of their economic or political clout, but because of our good will and our compassion.

The true test of our humanity hence is not how we behave when dealing with the powerful and privileged, but how we behave when dealing with animals. Mahatma Gandhi must have been thinking along these lines when he famously said: “The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”

The animal market at Katabon in Dhaka is probably the biggest of its kind in Bangladesh. In more than 60 shops, businessmen offer mice, rats, guinea pigs, foreign and local dogs and cats, rabbits, turtles, and hundreds of species of birds and fish.

By Gandhi’s measure, Katabon is surely failing the basic test of humanity. Cats, many injured and sick, are kept in small cages, often without water or food for many hours, exposed to the merciless Bangladesh sun. There are animals with nasty, untreated skin diseases, and dogs frantically walking in circles in cages with floors made of bare iron rods. Fish are being injected with colour dye and have their fins cut to appeal to consumers, and dozens of mice are cramped in cages the size of a sheet of paper.

The horrific conditions in which animals are kept at the Katabon animal

market are unacceptable, and we are confident that every reader who has ever been there will agree with our assessment. Remember that animals have complex mental lives and are capable of experiencing many of the same emotions we experience, such as pain, joy, sadness, fear, and anger.

Next time you walk or drive by Katabon, look at the animals and imagine how you would feel if you were in their place.

Bangladesh’s 1920 Cruelty to Animals Act makes keeping “any animal in such a manner […] as to subject the animal to unnecessary pain or suffering” a punishable offence, but, like all too many laws in this country, this law too is not enforced. The government has so far failed to afford the animals at Katabon the protection to which they are entitled.

The University of Dhaka that owns the premises on which the Katabon animal shops are built does not seem to care much either, and one wonders whether this indifference is compatible with the spirit of a university where higher education is of paramount importance, and where we try to prepare students to be moral, just, and compassionate future leaders of our country.

But not everybody turns a blind eye. Obhoyaronno, Bangladesh’s largest animal welfare organisation, has been urging people for years not to buy animals at Katabon or elsewhere, and to adopt homeless animals instead. A few days ago, a petition was created, calling on the government of Bangladesh and the University of Dhaka to shut down the Katabon animal market.

Within less than 24 hours, more than 500 people had signed the petition which continues to spread like wildfire on social media. Bangladesh has a big heart and has always been sensitive to injustice. Katabon hence strikes a nerve.

The great power we have over animals comes with great responsibility. It is the most vulnerable who deserve our protection most. Closing Katabon is not only our duty, but also a great chance. What does it say about us if we allow animals to be mistreated in broad daylight at the heart of the country’s capital? We can turn Katabon from a symbol of the vanishing humanity in us into a symbol of moral strength and the civilisation we hope to build together.

The government of Bangladesh and

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Rainer Ebert and Matthew Islam

nimals are the weakest members of our society.

They cannot vote, they cannot call hartals, and they cannot hold rallies.

They have no legal rights, and – even if they had – they could not go to court and demand that their rights be enforced. They have no voice, and cannot speak for themselves.

We can turn Katabon from a symbol of the vanishing humanity in us into a symbol of moral strength

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Katabon is failing the basic test of humanity the lovers of animals of all kinds in our society must speak up for the necessity of animal conservation and of treating animals with respect, and be united in their stand on this issue.

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he recent interview by our star cricketer Shakib Al Hasan with a vernacular daily has given rise to many questions. To my mind, it seemed Shakib had tried to defend our team’s perennial failure in this particular sport. It was quite natural for him though. But here lies an element to worry about. It clearly displayed a lacuna of will that actually wins matches in the international arena.

Shakib had defended many things, but to my mind, playing as a team has been plaguing our cricketers since we achieved Test status. Then on, our squad hasn’t been showing any team spirit during matches. A few years back, they were taken to cantonment to be made psychologically strong, but nothing really happened.

This reminds me of a quote by the American basketball legend Michael Jordan: “Talent wins games, but teamwork wins championships.” This isn’t only true for basketball, but for all games and sports. And a lack of team spirit has been reflected in almost all games and sports in Bangladesh.

We talk about the cricketers as they are in the limelight and considerable money is spent on them. The need of the hour is to come out of this mentality and perform like real players. And Bangladesh badly needs a big players’ line up. The purpose of this piece is, once again, to humbly propose a simple suggestion to our cricket officials.

This writer has appealed to BCB high officials on several occasions to visit cadet colleges in order to handpick some cricketers if they find them worthy enough. But before that, the sports officials (not only cricket and football) need to visit these colleges.

Each cadet college has its own games and sports competitions among its

houses (halls of residence). And then, the governing bodies of the colleges organise inter-cadet college sports meets in which all colleges participate in order to become the champion.

To my mind, it’s possible to get top-class players from these colleges.

These boys and girls start their lives away from their families at the age of twelve. By the time they are fifteen, they become physically hardened and mentally strong enough to withstand any challenge – both on the field as well as in education. They are trained to win obstacles; they are taught to be ambitious and to be number-one in every arena.

Only the educational skills of these cadets are highlighted, but it’s time we tried to explore their others skills

The prime focus in these colleges is education, but their performance in games and sports is equally good.

This writer had the opportunity to witness their performances on many occasions. These boys and girls play to win, to be the champions. With a strong willpower to win, they don’t play only for fun but winning becomes a religion for them.

Education is also very important to perform well and win international matches. They enter these institutions through a tough test. A class-seven boy or girl learns to do research on games and sports and they learn to formulate winning strategies at a very tender age. And another aspect of

We must teach them that our companion animals and other animals are not toys but a lot like us, deserving of love, empathy, respect, and adoration, regardless of species, breed, or origin.

The government has so far failed to afford the animals at Katabon the protection to which they are entitled

We must, in each of our houses, teach our sons and daughters the value of a healthy ecology, the roles the animals around us play in our ecosystem.

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They need our attention and care. We need to make people understand that, if we fail to protect the silent beings amongst us, we will also become

irresolute with regard to our responses to the suffering of humans, those who, unlike animals, always have a means to voice their discomfort.

We must strive harder as a society to work towards building an empathetic public opinion about animal rights in general and showing how easy it is to make a positive difference, to chart a different path than the ignorance we now so easily engage in.

The future of our nation’s reputation hinges a lot on how we deal with these kinds of issues. Our developing civilisation cannot progress leaving our animals behind. Progress will be slow but in the end compassion will prevail, as it always has, provided we do not close our eyes to the truth that we witness at Katabon. We are beyond the point where contriteness is enough. We need to act.

If we end the animal trade at Katabon and provide an alternative subsistence to the shopkeepers, for example in the form of loans to enable them to start new businesses, we will have achieved something that does more to display the good that a united Bangladesh can achieve than any of the record-breaking attempts that we feel so proud about. Are those 250,000 honourable nationalistic patriots willing to sing for the rights of our animals? Are we up for this challenge?

Rainer Ebert is a graduate student of philosophy at Rice University, and an Associate Fellow at the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics. You can follow him on Twitter at @ rainer_ebert. Matthew Islam is a Barrister-atLaw, a textile businessman, and a columnist at the Dhaka Tribune. He can be contacted on Twitter via @matthewislam.

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Play to win Ekram Kabir

RAINER EBERT

Time to make room for merit their character is that they will never undermine a teammate. To them, teammates are everything.

When these cadets graduate from their institutions, their skills in games and sports are completely wasted.

It’s disquieting to see that their skills remain unutilised at the national level.

Yes, the majority of them may not want to become professional players.

Only a few would show interest. But first, they need to be assessed and approached. The officials need to understand the level of their skills. If we can find, say, ten interested people from these colleges, it should be more than enough.

For this to happen, the cadet college authorities also need to cooperate.

They would have to create an atmosphere for the cadets to join the sports arena at the national level. They need to imbue the realisation among the cadets that it’s possible to be a professional cricketer or footballer.

For a start, the governing body of cadet colleges can form a combined team in each game and invite the national teams to play against the cadets. This could be a great way to assess the ability of these boys and girls. If they are found not worthy, throw the idea in the bin. But we need to know what these cadets have learnt on their campuses and whether they can break the barriers. Only the educational skills of these cadets are highlighted by our media, but it’s time we tried to explore their others skills as well.

I’m not at all undermining the talent and skills of the non-cadet population, but if these young boys and girls were encouraged to become national players, these colleges would also have an opportunity to contribute more to our nation.

Ekram Kabir is Executive Editor of Natunbarta.com.

MH Bari

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he quota system is a hiring policy where a specified number or percentage of members in specific groups is to be hired. In Bangladesh every government job indulges the quota system.

The quota system was introduced in the recruitment of government services after independence, aiming to elevate the more disadvantaged sectors in our society. It was hoped that this system would be abolished after a certain period, but it exists still.

The quota system was introduced into the government service by an executive order in 1972, where 45% of the jobs are reserved on merit, while 30% are distributed among the children of freedom fighters, 10% among women, 10% among districts, and 5% among indigenous people.

Recruitment into various cadres of the Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) is in accordance with the provisions of this rule. No direct appointment can be given in BCS cadre service without the recommendation of the Public Service Commission.

But the present quota system has proven to be a serious obstacle in recruiting deserving candidates into civil services. It has weakened the standards of the civil service tremendously, causing an administrative snag.

Taking this matter into consideration, the Public Administration Reform Committee’s (PARC) recommendation of abolishing the quota system in government services is praiseworthy. The PARC report said: “The region-based or other quotas are contrary to the spirit of the constitution, and are also making the government employment system complicated.” The Public Service Commission’s annual report also advocated quite heavily for the abolition of the quota system in government services.

The quota system should be abolished on the following grounds According to Article 19 of the constitution describing the policy of Equality of Opportunity: “The State shall endeavour to ensure equality of opportunity to all citizens.”

If 55% of all candidates come from the quota, how will the state ensure equality of opportunity for all citizens? Is the quota system not violating this article and going against the spirit of the constitution?

The quota policy, as enshrined in the constitution, is an exception for the advancement of the backward sections of society. Hence the quota system can in no way supersede the universal principle of merit for ensuring equal employment opportunities for all citizens without discrimination.

Since our liberation in 1971, the majority of the posts in civil services have been reserved for people from preferred groups under the quota. Moreover, the quota has always been implemented without much transparency.

Quota may be necessary for the advancement of the backward sections of society, but it can never be continued for an indefinite period. The country has been advancing steadily and now there are no specific sectors that need a special quota.

Due to the quota policy, officers of relatively poor calibre get entry into the civil service. This has long-term bad impacts on the whole administration as it has lowered the quality of our civil servants.

The 30% quota reserved for the wards of freedom fighters, though sanctioned by a wave of sympathy and gratitude, has no legal leg to stand on unless the beneficiaries are proven to be disadvantaged.

The bottom line is that we should not compromise the selection of employees at the highest level of government service. We have obligations to the children of our freedom fighters, and we also want women, tribal people, and people from less developed districts to have a higher level of participation in the government service.

But how should we do that?

We should ensure better education for the children of our freedom fighters by giving support to their families, by lending stipends and scholarships to their children, by enrolling them in better schools and colleges. We have already extended a lot of support for the education of women which has yielded results with more female candidates qualifying based on merit, and we should extend support to the tribal children in the same way.

For less-developed districts, we should take measures towards improv-

ing the schools and colleges in those districts so that students come out with competitive results. As a conscious citizen, I am in favour of a long-term plan to support the needy without compromising the ultimate selection. The issue is delicate but we would not be prudent in trying to tend to the interests of all.

Almost all non-partisan segments of the academia and civil society concur that the quota system needs a total revision. None think that quota should be completely wiped off. None disagree with keeping quota for the family of the deceased or disabled freedom fighters or minorities, up to a rational level, to comply with constitutional provisions. But it is also necessary to make space for meritorious applicants so that they can take part in respectably building our nation.

MH Bari works in the global marketing of seafood from Bangladesh.

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Eliminating sorrows of bygone year Celebrating Choitro Shongkranti, the last day of Bangla calendar

Entertainment Desk On the eve of the New Year 1421, the capital city of Dhaka is gearing up with innumerable festivity organised by different cultural organisations.

Two back-to-back occasions, Choitro Shongkranti and Pahela Boishakh, will make the whole city a platform of carnival beginning from today and will continue till the midnight of tomorrow.

Major points of the city will be occupied by millions of people, willing to have a blast on the biggest secular event of the nation and the cultural organisations will demonstrate the best of their abilities in bringing out joy and colourfulness during the festival.

Punny Kabir Choitro Shongkranti, the last day of Bangla calendar, will be celebrated today through a host of rituals across the country. This is an occasion when vows are made to forget the pains, agonies and bitter memories of the bygone year and look ahead to a happy and meaningful future.

Choitro Shongkranti has a distinctive colour of its own, but people regardless of their creed, religion and social status generally participate in the rituals and festivals observing the day, giving it a transcultural perspective.

One of the main rituals of Choitro Shongkranti is Charak Puja, a traditional Hindu festival organised on the last day of the Bangla month Chaitra.

Hindu devotees believe that through this ritual they can eliminate their pains and sufferings of the departing year and be positive about the year they are about to enter.

The highlight of the ritual is the part where devotees portray God Shiva’s miracle by hurting their body parts but not expressing any pain. Usually 10-12 persons perform the ritual while one of them, the key performer, known as Deoboinshi, is tied to a hook on his back and moved around a sacred treetrunk.

On this occasion, village fairs are also organised where toys, fruits and sweets as well as goods made of bamboo, plastic and clay are sold. Bioscope shows, puppet shows, acrobatic feats, kite flying and other displays also take place at the fair premises.

On the other hand, people in cities also organise programmes under the banners of different cultural organisations. Cultural programmes featuring dance, music and drama are held, often at night so that revellers can stay up to see the first dawn of the Bangla year.

Indigenous people have their own

Diverse events in Dhaka welcome Boishakh

Chhayanaut’s Barshabaran

A performer of the Charak Puja- a traditional Bangla festival celebrated by the believers of the Hindu religion on Choitro Shongkranti

PRANABESH DAS

last day of Chaitra is celebrated as the main festival day.

On this day, a mixed curry called Pachan is cooked with five types of vegetables. In the afternoon, teenagers play tug-of-war and traditional games. The Marmas celebrate Shangrai for four days and the most in-

triguing part of the event is the water-throwing ritual attended by young boys and girls.

They believe that doing so washes away all their sorrows, pains and bitter feelings. The members of Tripura worship God Shiva and pray for his blessings.

ways of celebrating the year-end.

“Baisabi” is the main festival of people living in the hill districts of Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari. While most indigenous tribes call the festival “Baisabi,” it is known by the Chakma and Tanchyanga tribes as “Biju,” by Marma tribe as “Shangra,” and by Tri-

pura tribe as “Baisuk” or “Baisu.”

Members of Chakma and Tanchyanga tribes hold celebrations for three consecutive days – the last two days of Chaitra and the first day of Boishakh, the first month of Bangla calendar. They refrain from killing any living creature during these days. The

Kailash Kher makes Dhaka audience his Deewani

One of the major galas of Choitra Songkranti and Pohela Boishakh is the music school Surer Dhara’s two-day long programme featuring more than a thousand singers from across the country which will start today evening at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre. The show will continue till noon of the next day SADIA MARIUM

Orchestra at Bokultola Afrose Jahan Chaity

Telefilm Mon will be aired on ATN Bangla at 11pm today. The story revolves around Shayan and Meghla.

Shayan is highly engrossed in his office works and cannot spend ample amount of time with his wife Meghla, who is a housewife. After a while, Shayan notices that a mysterious call is coming in Meghla’s phone and that she does not take the call in his presence. One day, he follows Meghla to a restaurant and discovers that the situation was a ruse created by Meghla to attract his attention

Sporsho – a classical orchestra group – will perform today at Bokultola of Charukala, Dhaka University at 6:30pm. Mohammed Shoeb is the composer and music director of the music troupe.

Shoeb informed the Dhaka Tribune that the troupe will perform two music pieces. One of them is based on raga Bhairav which will enhance the beauty of early morning. The composition will open the programme. The other piece is based on raga Yaman which will express the beauty of sun set.

It is based on the relationship of

human life with the setting of the sun that announces the end of a day. The performances will be carried out by 21 performers, including four vocalists who will sing to the tune of violins, flutes, classical guitar, tabla, ghottom, jambay and chajon. About performing in the programme, Mohammed Shoeb said: “Nowadays use of acoustic instruments are becoming extinct. People are much more into electronic sounds. But music with acoustic instruments are classic and soothing. Therefore, it is Sporsho’s aim to popularise the soothing tune of acoustic instruments among the mass people of the country.”

Rendezvous at Charukala

The three-day programme organised by the Faculty of Fine Arts, popularly known as Charukala, will begin at 5pm today at the Bakultala premises. The students will present music and dance while the whole faculty will be tempted in the last minute preparation of the next day’s Mangal Shobhajatra, the traditional procession with colourful masks and paper made dummies of different animals which the Charukala students bring out every year on the occasion of Bangla New year.

Bengal Foundation’s three day programme begins today

Limana Solaiman Kailash Kher, internationally popular for his unique rendition of sufi songs such as Teri Deewani, made the audience of Dhaka astonished by his brilliant live performance on Friday at the “Tri Nation Music Fest” at the Army Stadium in the capital. The show also featured Ali Azmat from Pakistan and Bangladeshi prominent musician Ayub Bachchu.

The programme started with the performance of Ayub Bachchu. This time around, the celebrated musician got his due respect and response from the crowd. Previously, at the “BCB Celebration Concert,” the lack of enthusiasm of the crowd during the performance of Bangladeshi artistes led Bachchu to thank the audience for listening to Bangla songs and to save their claps for better artistes.

Ayub Bachchu rocked the show with his rendition of the popular tracks Rakhe Allah Maare Ke, Ural Debo Akashe, Bangladesh and others. The crowd sang along with Bachchu, who is a master entertainer. He urged the audience to participate with him and when he started presenting his song Shei Tumi, the crowd seemed to become one voice and repeated the lyrics of the song which has won the hearts of millions across the country.

A while later, Pakistani artiste Ali Azmat, former lead vocalist of internationally acclaimed band Junoon, took to the stage and opened his performance with the rendition of his popular track Dosti. However, it took time for the artiste to wake the crowd’s enthusiasm. When performing the upbeat song Yaar Bina, Ali Azmat got down from the stage and walked to the centre of the audience’s seating arrangement,

Artistes and students of Chhayanaut are all set to usher in this year’s Pahela Boishakh in a befitting manner with spontaneous participation from the masses. Chhayanaut’s Boishakh celebration at the Ramna Batamul carries a deep rooted legacy and is one of the oldest events of its kind. The melody of esraj, flute and violin, will present the untainted tune of morning ragas at 6:15am tomorrow. To shake away the old gloom and rejuvenate the spirit and passion, the artistes will recite poems and render traditional songs highlighting the non-communal spirit to welcome the Bangla New Year at the event.

SADIA MARIUM

where, a mini stage was setup for the artists to get closer to the audience. Ali performed one renowned track after another and praised the audience of Bangladesh as one of the best crowd he has performed for. Sadly, his overall performance failed to live up to the high expectation of the audience.

The main attraction of the evening, Kailash Kher appeared before the audience an hour later and started his show with the song Jogi. The sufi singer mesmerised the audience with his rendition of the songs Apni Khoyi Huyi Pehchaan, Main To Tere Pyar Mein Deewana Ho Gaya, Baare Baare and many more. Kailash has a great sense of humour and in between every song, he made the audience laugh and interacted with them.

He complimented the women-folk of the crowd and invited a handful of female audience to dance with him on-stage. His performance was enjoyed and well received by the crowd, specially his songs Teri Deewani and Tu Jaane Na. In a nutshell, the Tri-Nation concert was an enjoyable event for the music lovers of Bangladesh.

Bengal Foundation’s celebration at the Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts will begin from 10am today. Today’s event will start with the performance of Faizur Rahman on dotara, followed by Susmita Debnath Suchi, Farhana Rahman Kanta, Shahid Kabir Polash, Shimu Dey, Anindita Chowdhury performing Nazrul Geeti and raga. Besides, sarodist Rajrupa Chowdhury and folk singers Kiran Chandra Ray and Chandana Majumdar will also perform today.

On the day of Pohela Boishakh, Litoner Dol will perform along with folk songs

by Shafiul Alam Raja, Halima Parveen, Siddiqur Rahman and Bhajan Baul.

The concluding day will feature sitarist Firoz Khan, recitation artiste Hasan Arif, musical session by Aditi Mohsin, Mita Haque, Saadi Mohammad, Rezwana Choudhury Bannya and Iffat Ara Dewan. Songs of Lalon will be performed by Farida Parveen.

Cultural Programme at Shilpakala Academy

Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy will present a programme at the open field of the academy at 4:00pm. The show will feature presentations of songs in chorus and solo, dance recitals and poem recitations.

Others

Sammilito Sangskritik Jote is going to organise a cultural show at the Rabindrosarobar in Dhanmondi in the afternoon.

The students of the Bengali Department of the Dhaka University have organised a cultural programme in the afternoon at Mal Chattar of the university campus.

Did you know?

Fulham are the first team in Premier League history to use 38 different players in a single Premier League campaign

Sport

Sunday, April 13, 2014

14 Wolves climb

to fourth in Bundesliga

14 Bielsa sees

Marseille edge late win

DHAKA TRIBUNE

13

15 Everton clinch

top four spot, Spurs held

Practicing penalties pay dividends for Batista’s Mohammedan Dhaka Mohammedan’s Portuguese coach Jose Rui Capella Batista said practice made them perfect after his team clinched the title of the Modhumoti Bank Independence Cup Football by beating Feni Soccer in a penalty shootout at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

The tall Portuguese said that he was ready for the shootout and had conducted penalty practice for the last few days. “It’s a final and I knew the time will be hard. Feni Soccer was not an easy team as the others thought. The inclusion of the four foreigners have transformed them into a strong unit.

However, I was ready for the shoot-out and all the five players and the goalkeeper had gone through shoot-out practice for the last few days,” said Batista.

The coach was happy with his team’s performance although his forwards missed a lot of chances. “It’s my 4th career title and I am happy to win the title. Yes, it was more desired that the final should be wrapped up in the stipulated time but my forwards wasted a good number of chances. It can happen in football. I want to see the trophy as the token of success. It’s not the time to think about the negatives. We will try

to sort them out later.” said Capella.

Capella’s counterpart, the Gambian coach of Soccer Club, Feni tried to keep a cool composure. “We came close but did not win the title. At the end of the road, I can say that we have proved we are a changed team now. We will draw inspiration from the success. We were not the favourites and we were the underdogs. But we stretched the match to the limit and we will take the impetuses from this tournament in the upcoming challenges in the Bangladesh Premier League where we stay at the bottom.

All I want to say is that Feni Soccer want to stay in top flight football,” said Omar.

However, Omar seemed to have no clue regarding his forwards who misfired. “I don’t know what happened to them. I have no answer as they were supposed to score from all the chances they created. May be the pressure of the final took its toll,” said Omar.

Mohammedan goalie Mamun Khan thought he had to contribute for the team in the most crucial time. “I was ready and motivated myself to save at least two in the shoot-out. I have been through this kind of situation for a couple of times before and was fully confident to put my best. I saved the first one and at last it made all the difference. I am happy to serve my team,” said the tall goalie.

Mohammedan Sporting Club players and officials celebrate with the trophy after defeating Soccer Club, Feni in their Modhumoti Bank Independence Cup final match at the Bangabondhu National Stadium yesterday MUMIT M

Mamun Khan emerged as the hero for Mohammedan once again as his gallant display helped the traditional Black and Whites clinch the Modhumoti Bank Independence Cup title by beating a spirited Feni Soccer Club 5-4 in penalty shoot-out in the final yesterday evening at the Bangabondhu National Stadium. Mamun was also Mohammedan’s hero in their Super Cup final triumph against Sheikh Russell last season which also rolled into a tiebreaker.

Feni Soccer can still leave the field with their heads high as they produced a courageous display and kept

the score goalless after the end of 120 minutes with a never-say-die attitude on the pitch. The only missed penalty which ultimately proved to be the difference between the two sides, was taken by Kabba Jobe. Credit must be given to Mohammedan keeper Mamun Khan who denied the Gambian striker with a decent save.

The Black and Whites proved the significance of experience in big stage with a solid display but it was Feni Soccer, who actually won the hearts with their speedy, fearless and dominating performance backed up by a solid defense even though they were playing in a final of a professional football tournament for the first time in their history.

It seemed like Mohammedan had worked extra hard on taking penalties prior to the final as all of

their five players - Emily, Damian Chigozie, Sohag, Zongo Ousseni, Ubom Henry made no mistake in the penalty shootout by giving Feni keeper Nehal no chance. Nehal was outstanding for 120 minutes and could have been the best player if Feni had won the game. However, he was later adjudged the most valuable player of the tournament. After Kabba missed the opening penalty, Mathew Mendy, Abdullah Al Mamun, Chuka Charles and Landing successfully converted their spot kicks for Feni Soccer.

The scoreline, however, tells very little about what happened in the stipulated time which ended goalless. Both the side created abundance of opportunities since the beginning and it was a great surprise to see the match finish goalless even after extra time.

Mohammedan win Independence Cup title

Metropolis School TT starts

Education minister Nurul Islam Nahid inaugurates the Metropolis School Table Tennis yesterday COURTESY

Armanitola High School, Dhanmondi Tutorial, BPS Green, Summerfield International School, St. Joseph red, Ahmed Bawani School, St. Joseph Green, DPS Red, Australain International School and Scholastica Mirpur Red registered victories in the Walton Smart TV Metropolis School Table Tennis yesterday.

The three day meet started at the Shahid Tajuddin Ahmed Indoor Stadium with education minister Nurul Islam Nahid inaugurating it. A total of 155 boys and37 girls are participating in the tourney that has seen light again after a gap of 12 years.

BTTF president Abdul Karim, general secretary Zobera Rahman Linu, A.F.M. Iqbal bin Anwar Dawn, the additional director of Walton were also present on the occasion.

Pakistan may cut BFF to reinspect outer Dhaka venues and Gopalganj.

Ajmal’s county stint To deal with the crisis, an inspection Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal’s stint with English county Worcestershire may be set for a shorter duration to compensate for his country’s hastily-arranged Test and one-day series against Sri Lanka.

“We are still discussing how much time he (Ajmal) can be away as we now have a scheduled series in Sri Lanka,” Pakistan Cricket Board chief operating officer Subhan Ahmed told AFP.

The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) will re-inspect the out of the capital venues of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) to finally decide whether to hold matches outside Dhaka.

Currently Feni, Chittagong and Gopalganj are the three venues where the second phase matches are scheduled to take place.

BFF was thrown into the new complexity after Sheikh Jamal DC, Mohammedan SC, Brothers Union and Uttar Baridhara Club opposed to play their away matches in Feni, Chittagong

committee was formed by the BFF yesterday and the committee has been asked to submit its report immediately.

It has been learnt that the members of the committee may start the inspection of the venues from today.

“The second phase of the league will start on time from Tuesday and the matches outside Dhaka are likely to be suspended until the BFF comes to a final decision based on the report of the venue inspection committee,” said BFF general secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag after the meeting yesterday.

Tawhidul Alam Sabuj had the first opportunity to put Mohammedan ahead after just six minutes of the match. Feni defender Liton failed to clear a long ball which allowed Sabuj to sprint forward into the box. But his angular shot was saved brilliantly by Feni keeper Nehal.

Azmal Hossain Bidduit wasted his chance a minute later as he shot straight at the keeper after a nice buildup play. Captain Akbar Hossain Ridon could have scored the opener in the 15th minute when Kabba Jobe cut the ball back to him in the middle of the box but the captain wasted time and chance to see his effort eventually blocked by a defender.

Emily, who scored four goals in the tournament prior to the final, squandered a chance in the 28th minute

when the national striker failed to get to the end of a cross from Arup Kumar Baidya inside the six-yard box.

Opportunities came knocking again after the resumption. A cutback from Sabuj allowed Emily to dribble past a defender and then the striker fired the ball over the crossbar after three minutes into the second half. Feni responded quickly with a counter attack that ended with Chuka Charles’ shot blocked by a defender.

Mamun Khan produced a brilliant save to rescue Mohammedan’s day in the 55th minute. After a pass from Kabba, Landing Darboe unleashed a powerful strike from 25 yards out but Mamun Khan denied the Gambian with a flying fingertip save.

If Mamun’s save was Mohammedan’s best then Nehal perhaps made

the save of the tournament in the 72nd minute. With great technique and control, Emily took a powerful left-footed shot from the top of the box but Nehal reacted promptly and stretched fully to dive to his right to produce a stunning save.

The game rolled into the additional 30 minutes where both sides wasted incredible chances. Landing had a 25yard strike flying inches over the bar.

Mohammedan had the best chance. In the 25th minute of the extra time, Zongo, the unmarked Burkina Faso striker, failed to put the ball into the empty net after Emily’s grounder deflected off a defender.

As even 120 minutes couldn’t separate the two teams, the match had to be decided on a tie-breaker inevitably where Mohammedan came up on top.

Reza-Sanjamul record partnership marks first day BRIEF SCORE The Walton 15th National Cricket League resumed yesterday with the teams locking horns in the first day of round 6. The participation of the all the current national team cricketers added a charm to the four games taking place at four different venues around the country which produced four centuries, two half-centuries and a five-wicket haul.

Rajshahi v Chittagong

Riding on all-rounder Farhad Reza’s unbeaten 182 runs and Sanjamul Islam’s 172 runs, Rajshahi posted a mammoth 424 runs at stumps on day one against Chittagong at BKSP. Rajshahi’s skipper Mushfiqur Rahim opted to bat first after winning the toss. The decision, however, looked to have backfired with his side reeling at 77 for 6 in the 25th over before a record 347 runs partnership for the seventh wicket between Farhad and Sanjamul brought the innings back on track. Sanjamul scored 172 off 196 deliveries, hitting 22 fours and 2 sixes before he lost his wicket in the second last over of the day.

Farhad, however, courtesy of 26 boundaries and 5 over boundaries, remained unbeaten on 182 off 209 deliveries. Ali Akbar, Abdullah Al Mamun and Mehedi Hasan Rana picked two wickets apiece for Chittagong.

Chittagong v Rajshahi Rajshahi (1st innings): 424/8 in 89 overs (Farhad 182*, Sanjamul 172, Rana 2/52) Dhaka Div v Barisal Barisal (1st innings): 323/10 in 79.2 overs (Shahriar 129, Nuruzzaman 79, Hom 3/59) Dhaka Div (1st innings): 14/0 in 8 overs (Majid 6*, Rony 7*) Dhaka Div trail by 309 runs Sylhet v Rangpur Rangpur (1st innings): 256/7 in 90 over (Naeem 144, Tanvir 62*, Nasum 5/58) Khulna v Dhaka Metro Metro (1st innings): 172/10 in 70.5 overs (Shadman 40, Sharif 34, Razzak 4/78) Khulna (1st innings): 46/1 in 21 overs (Robiul 23*, kayes 13*, Mahmudullah 1/14) Khulna Division trail by 126 Runs Dhaka Div. v Barisal

At the end of day one, Dhaka Division were trailing by 309 runs in reply to Barisal’s 323 runs in the first innings at Chittagong’s Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.

Batting first, riding on skipper Shahriar Nafees’ 129 runs and 79 from Nuruzzaman, Barisal scored 309 losing all wickets in 79.2 overs. Nafees, in his 143 ball innings, slammed 21 boundaries and 2 sixes. Shuvagata Hom and Nazmul Apu bagged three wickets each for Dhaka Division.

Later, Dhaka batted eight overs in the day and scored 14 runs without any loss.

Rangpur v Sylhet

At Fatullah Outer Stadium, Rangpur scored 256 runs at the cost of 7 wickets after the end of day one against Sylhet division.

Rangpur, electing to bat first after winning the toss, got off to a horrible start as five wickets were down with only 57 runs on the board. But a 199 runs partnership for the sixth wicket between Naeem Islam and Tanvir haider saved the innings from further catastrophe. Naaem scored 144 off 289 deliveries. His innings included 17 fours and 2 sixes. Tanvir was unbeaten on 62 off 165 deliveries. Nasum Ahmed was the pick of the bowlers with five wickets for Sylhet.

Khulna v Dhaka Metro

At stumps on the first day, Khulna were 126 runs behind in their first innings against Dhaka Metro at Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium.

Batting first, Metro were all out for only 172 runs in 70.5 overs. Opener Shadman Islam scored 40 runs, the highest of Metro’s innings. Spinner Abdur Razzak bagged four wickets while Nazimuddin Ripon picked up three for Khulna.

In reply, Khulna were 46 for 1 after 21 overs. Robiul Islam Robi was unbeaten on 23 runs. Mahmudullah picked up the only wicket to fall for Metro.

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Rossi return gives Italy World Cup boost Italy international striker Giuseppe Rossi has given his country a pre-World Cup boost by returning to training with Fiorentina on Friday. Former Manchester United forward Rossi injured his knee on January 5 but just two months out from the beginning of the World Cup in Brazil. The 27-year-old was greeted by around 500 fans for his return. It was the second major knee problem he has suffered in his career having missed the majority of a two-year period from 2011-13, during which time he transferred from Villarreal to La Viola –AFP

Sport

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Spurs secure best record in NBA Danny Green drained seven three-pointers and scored 33 points on Friday as San Antonio assured themselves of the best record in the NBA with a 112-104 win over Phoenix. Green connected on 12 of 17 shots from the field and seven of 10 from three-point range for the Spurs, who rallied from a 21-point deficit for a win that clinched home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. San Antonio point guard Tony Parker, who sat out Thursday’s victory against the Dallas Mavericks, scored 18 points as the Spurs won their 15th straight home game.

–AFP

Pole vault champion Hooker retires Australia’s Olympic and world pole vault champion Steve Hooker said Saturday he was retiring from competition, citing mental fatigue. Hooker, 31, said it was not the way he expected his illustrious career to finish: in prime physical condition, but mentally burnt out. “I honestly thought the body would be the one that would give way, and that would be the end. But it has almost been the opposite,” he said. Hooker’s halcyon days were in 2008-2010, a period when he held every major pole vault title available: Olympic, world outdoor, world indoors, Commonwealth Games.

–AFP

Wolves climb to fourth in Bundesliga VfL Wolfsburg continued their push for a place in next season’s Champions League after a thumping 4-1 win over Nuremburg saw them go fourth in the Bundesliga on Saturday.

With champions Bayern Munich later hosting second-placed Borussia Dortmund at the Allianz Arena, there was plenty of movement lower down the table.

Wolfsburg coach Dieter Hecking saw his former club take the lead when Markus Feulner fired home for secondfrom-bottom Nuremberg on eight minutes. But Wolfsburg hit back with two goals in four minutes from Croatian pair Ivica Olic and Ivan Perisic.

The win saw Wolfsburg leapfrog Leverkusen, who play on Sunday, and Borussia Moenchengladbach, who were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Vfb Stuttgart. Stuttgart are now one point clear of third-from-bottom Hamburg, who lost 2-1 at Hanover.

Hamburg coach Mirko Slomka returned to Hanover 96 for the first time since his sacking in December but his new team fell behind on nine minutes when Lars Stindl headed home Edgar Prib’s cross.

Hamburg’s Rafael van der Vaart then cleared Didier Ya Konan’s header off the

line before Leonardo Bittencourt saw his deflected shot hit the post.

In the other meeting of two relegation candidates, Freiburg saw off bottom club Eintracht Braunschweig 2-0.

Damir Vrancic headed into his own net from a corner to hand the home side an early lead.

Three minutes into the second half Freiburg got another stroke of luck when Julian Schuster’s speculative effort deflected in off Braunschweig defender Ermin Bicakcic.

Meanwhile Europa League hopefuls Mainz swept aside mid-table Werder Bremen 3-0. An own goal from Nils Petersen set the home side on their way before Christoph Moritz doubled their advantage on 16 minutes. Yunus Malli completed the scoring before half-time.

RESULTS M'gladbach Arango 89

Freiburg

1 1

VfB Stuttgart

2 0

Braunschweig

Didavi 12

Vrancic-og 8, Schuster 48

Hanover 96 Stindl 9, Ya Konan 86

VfL Wolfsburg

2 1

Hamburg Calanoglou 48

4 1

Nuremberg

3 0

Werder Bremen

Olic 19, Perisic 22, 83, Malanda 69

Mainz 05 Petersen-og 5, Moritz 16, Malli 39

Feulner 8

Schalke's midfielders Max Meyer (C), Leon Goretzka (R) and defender Sead Kolasinac celebrate during their German Bundesliga match against Eintracht Frankfurt in Gelsenkirchen, western Germany on Friday AFP

Liverpool, City set for emotional tie Costa back in Atletico Carried by a wave of raw emotion, leaders Liverpool will look to land a potentially decisive blow in the Premier League title race when they host Manchester City on Sunday.

Tributes to mark the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster will frame the encounter and with Liverpool on course for a first title since 1990, Anfield is likely to be a cauldron of fervour and belief.

As with every other game in England this weekend, kick-off will occur seven minutes later than scheduled as a mark of respect for the 96 Liverpool fans who died after a fatal crush at Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough stadium during an FA Cup semi-final in 1989.

The timing reflects the moment at

which that game against Nottingham Forest was called to a halt.

Former players from the two sides will exchange wreaths prior to the match, which will also be preceded by a rendition of the Liverpool anthem, ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’, and a minute’s silence.

Fresh inquests into the deaths opened recently after the original coroner’s verdicts of accidental death were quashed following a campaign by victims’ families, whose wounds remain as fresh as ever.

While no amount of on-pitch success will ever provide adequate consolation, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says that his side’s title bid is inspired by memories of the Hillsborough dead.

“We can’t say too much about Hillsborough because the inquests are under way,” he said earlier this week.

“But as a manager coming into the

football club, I know there are 96 people in the sky who will always be supporting this football team.

“If we are to achieve anything this year, they will always be in our thoughts -- the 96 in the sky and the families that go with them.”

Pellegrini has also claimed that it is “not a game that will decide the title”, but a win for either side would alter the picture significantly, as both sides know that they will be champions if they win all of their remaining matches.

City, who trail Liverpool by four points with two games in hand, received a huge fillip prior to the game with the news that top scorer Sergio Aguero will be fit to play after five games out with a hamstring problem.

Apart from centre-back Matija Nastasic, who has an ongoing knee complaint, Pellegrini has a fully fit squad to select from, while left-back Jose

Kewell’s farewell game ends in loss Western Sydney Wanderers scored twice in the last nine minutes to defeat Melbourne Heart 3-2 and spoil Harry Kewell’s farewell A-League match in Melbourne on Saturday.

Late goals to Brendon Santalab and Dutchman Youssouf Hersi claimed all three points for the Wanderers to finish second on the final standings and avoid the opening round of the postseason finals next week.

Australian international Kewell, 35, the former Leeds United, Liverpool and Galatasaray star, had announced this would be his last match after 18 years in the game.

squad for Getafe game Atletico Madrid top scorer Diego Costa has been given the all clear by medical staff and included in the squad for Sunday’s game at Getafe after shaking off a thigh strain, the La Liga leaders said on Saturday.

Brazil-born forward Costa missed Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final, second leg win against Barcelona after picking up the injury in the first leg the previous week.

Costa’s was the final name on the 19man squad list for the game at Getafe’s Coliseum stadium that Atletico published on their official Twitter feed.

Atletico are a point clear of Barca with six games left and three clear of third-placed city neighbours Real Madrid.

Barca and Real play on Saturday, with the champions at Granada and Real at home to Almeria.

Atletico coach Diego Simeone, who has transformed his unfancied team into genuine contenders in Spain and Europe since taking over at the end of 2011, said 18th-placed Getafe would be a dangerous opponent as they are fighting to avoid relegation.

“Tomorrow’s game is difficult because of the need Getafe has,” Simeone, who was playing for Atletico the last time they won La Liga in 1996, told a news conference on Saturday.

FIXTURES Real Betis Valencia Getafe Espanyol

v Sevilla v Elche v Atletico Madrid v Rayo Vallecano

Bielsa sees Marseille edge late win

Hull City chase FA Cup history Hull City manager Steve Bruce insists he won’t let his players be distracted by the prospect of making history as they prepare to face League One minnows Sheffield United in the FA Cup semifinals on Sunday.

Bruce’s Premier League team head to Wembley for their first semi-final in 84 years as the clear favourites against third tier opponents who are the last remaining obstacle between Hull and the first major final in the club’s 110year history.

Former Manchester United defender Bruce, a three-time FA Cup winner as a player, said: “We won’t do anything different. We want it to be like a normal game.

Enrique (also knee) will be the only absentee for the home side.

With 29 goals to his name, Liverpool striker Luis Suarez needs just two more goals to equal the Premier League scoring record for a 38-game season, but he says that the team’s requirements come first.

“Of course it would be special,” said the Uruguayan. But for myself, it is more important that Liverpool finish in a good position. I try in every game to score because I am a striker.”

Back-to-back defeats at City and Chelsea left Liverpool six points below leaders Arsenal at the turn of the year, but a burst of nine consecutive wins (during which they have plundered 32 goals) has propelled them to the summit.

City have an impressive record against Liverpool in recent seasons, however, having avoided defeat in their last five league encounters.

Montpellier forward Mbaye Niang jumps past Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda during their French L1 match at the Mosson stadium in Montpellier on Friday AFP

Former Argentina coach Marcelo Bielsa, who is widely tipped to take charge at Marseille, watched the struggling French giants clinch an 89th-minute winner for a 3-2 triumph at Montpellier on Friday.

The 58-year-old Bielsa, who has also coached Chile and Althletic Bilbao in Spain and is favourite to succeed the besieged Jose Anigo, took his seat at Montpellier 45 minutes before kick-off.

He then looked on as Marseille twice gave up a one-goal lead before going on to record their sixth away win of the season.

The three points kept them in sixth

place in Ligue 1 on 51 points, the same as Lyon, who host leaders Paris SaintGermain on Sunday.

They are still nine points off the final Champions League qualifying place for next season. Marseille captain and goalkeeper Steve Mandanda said he was unaware that Bielsa was watching from the sidelines.

Andre Ayew, who scored a hat-trick in Marseille’s 3-1 home win over Ajaccio last weekend, was denied by the woodwork before Mathieu Valbuena, with a clever lob, put Marseille ahead three minutes from half-time.

Montpellier, the 2012 champions who had made sure of their Ligue 1 status for next season with a 2-1 win at Guingamp last week, were level after 48 minutes. M’Baye Niang was the man on

target after being set-up by Remy Cabella, who will leave the club at the end of the campaign.

Marseille were back in front on the hour mark when top-scorer AndrePierre Gignac scored with a half-volley for his 14th league strike of the season with Dja Djedje creating the chance down the right wing.

Back came Montpellier for 2-2 after 78 minutes when Mandanda could only parry Cabella’s drive into the path of Morgan Sanson, who had come on as a substitute just two minutes earlier.

But in the 89th minute Marseille substitute Dimitri Payet grabbed the winner with a shot which deflected off the foot of a defender and looped over the head of stranded goalkeeper Geoffrey Jourdren.

Mourinho wants cure for travel sickness Schuster slams 'dreary' Bayern Jose Mourinho has told Chelsea to be on their guard as they bid to end a three-match losing streak away from Stamford Bridge when they travel to Swansea on Sunday.

Mourinho’s men head to south Wales having lost on the road at Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and Paris SaintGermain in recent weeks.

Chelsea headed into this weekend in second place in the Premier League table and buoyed by their 2-0 midweek win at home to Paris Saint-Germain that saw them into a Champions League semi-final with Atletico Madrid.

But Mourinho said Chelsea could take nothing for granted against a

Swansea side just six points above the relegation zone.

“They are a good team, they play good football,” Mourinho said. “Especially at Swansea it is never easy and Chelsea knows that better than other teams.

“They still need the three points, they are not in big danger like other teams but they still need a couple of points to stay in the Premier League and of course they will try to get points out of this game.”

Eden Hazard is out with a calf injury, but Nemanja Matic and Mohamed Salah are available after being ineligible in Europe and Ramires is back from a threematch ban. Chelsea striker Demba Ba could be given a first Premier League start since October at Norwich after

starring in midweek against PSG. “People are working well and hard,” Portuguese manager Mourinho added.

“The ones that are not playing so regular, all of them are being good professionals to try to be ready. You could see Demba as an example as a player who doesn’t play a lot and was ready to try to respond.

“All of them, they were ready.

They are a good group, they are good friends, they have a good relationship.

“I think when one of them goes onto the pitch he goes to help the other players.”

Chelsea are currently second in the table, two points behind leaders Liverpool and two in front of third-placed Manchester City, who meet in Sunday’s early kick-off match at Anfield.

Former Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster has branded holders Bayern Munich “uninspired and dreary” ahead of their Champions League semi-final clash with the Spanish giants in a little over a fortnight.

“What Bayern have recently offered in the Bundesliga and against Manchester United was uninspired and so dreary,” Schuster, who coached Real from 1988-1990, told German daily Bild.

European champions Bayern won this season’s Bundesliga title with a record seven games to spare last month and beat United 3-1 on Wednesday in the Champions League quarter-final, second leg tie to progress 4-2 on ag-

gregate.

Bayern will face Real at Madrid’s Bernabeu stadium on April 23 with the second-leg at Munich’s Allianz Arena on April 29.

Schuster said the absence of Bayern’s play-maker Thiago Alcantara through injury has weakened their passing game and the 54-year-old rates Munich’s chases as “50-50” against Madrid.

Bayern are too reliant on their shortpassing game, according to Schuster.

The key battle when Bayern face Madrid will be in midfield, according to Schuster, with the likes of Germany’s Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mario Goetze and Thomas Mueller up against Real’s Cristiano Ronaldo, Xabi Alonso and Gareth Bale.

DHAKA TRIBUNE

QUICK BYTES

Marquez dominates MotoGP practice World Champion Marc Marquez dominated practice on Friday for the Grand Prix of the Americas, signalling his intent for Sunday in his return to the site of his first MotoGP win. The 21-yearold Spaniard - whose victory in Austin last year made him the youngest rider to win a MotoGP race and launched him on his precocious championship charge - ended the second free practice of the day with a 1.005sec margin over Andrea Dovizioso, with Dani Pedrosa third-fastest. After topping the first practice with a time of 2min 04.704sec, Marquez set the day’s best time in the afternoon of 2min 03.490sec.

–AFP

Ajax on brink of 33rd Dutch title Dutch giants Ajax can clinch their fourth successive Eredivisie title this weekend with three games of the season remaining if results fall in the Amsterdam side’s favour. Ajax are placed six points clear of Feyenoord and will be crowned champions if they manage a better result than their closest pursuers on Sunday.

This would be the 33rd title for the club managed since 2010 by Frank de Boer who also picked up five league titles as an Ajax player in the 1990s. If and when he secures his fourth title as a manager he will outdo a number of his illustrious predecessors including Dutch national coach Louis van Gaal and Rinus Michels.

–AFP

Rangers Cup dream ended by United A howler from Rangers stand-in ‘keeper Steve Simonsen sealed Dundee United’s place in the Scottish Cup final following a 3-1 win at Ibrox on Saturday. Rangers had chances through Bilel Mohsni and Dean Shiels before Stuart Armstrong fired United in front in the 23rd minute. Jon Daly should have had Rangers level before a deflected shot from Gary Mackay-Steven made it 2-0 in the 36th minute. Nicky Law hit the bar and then Steven Smith pulled one back for the fallen Glasgow giants with a 42nd-minute free-kick that Radoslaw Cierzniak fumbled in.

–AFP

Verdasco powers into Houston semi-finals

Sport

Everton move into top-4, Spurs held Everton leapfrogged Arsenal into fourth place in the Premier League with a 1-0 win at bottom of the table Sunderland on Saturday as English football marked the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.

Fresh from their 3-0 victory over the Gunners last weekend, Roberto Martinez’s side had to wait until the 75th minute to score at the Stadium of Light when former Manchester United defender Wes Brown put Gerard Deulofeu’s cross into his own net.

Victory moved Everton in the Champions League places, two points ahead of Arsenal, who were in FA Cup semifinal action against Wigan at Wembley, with both clubs having five league games remaining this season. All major matches in England kicked off seven minutes late as a tribute to the looming 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster that killed 96 Liverpool fans.

At the Hawthorns, West Brom squandered a 3-0 lead in a 3-3 draw with Tot-

tenham Hotspur. Matej Vydra gave West Brom a first-minute lead from close range when Spurs and France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris palmed a Morgan Amalfitano cross into his path.

Things got even better for the Baggies three minutes later when Chris Brunt volleyed home after Spurs failed to clear a Steven Reid cross.

Travelling Spurs fans must have feared the north London club’s luck was out when, after Amalfitano brought down Danny Rose, Emmanuel Adebayor’s weak penalty was saved by England goalkeeper Ben Foster. West Brom then made it 3-0 in the 31st minute when a poor backwards header by Spurs’ Younes Kaboul allowed Stephane Sessegnon to run through and score.

Spurs, however, did pull a goal back three minutes later when Jonas Olsson deflected Aaron Lennon’s ball across the box into his own net. The visitors made it 3-2 with 20 minutes left when Harry Kane headed in a Lennon cross and sixth-placed Spurs’ comeback was complete in stoppage time when Christian Eriksen smashed in an equaliser.

DAY’S WATCH

Star Sports 2 Italian Serie A 4:00PM Bologna v Parma 7:00PM Napoli v Lazio 10:00PM Red Bull GP of the Americas Main Race Star Sports 1 Italian Serie A 7:00PM Sampdoria v Inter Milan 12:45AM AC Milan v Catania 9:00PM FA Cup Hull City v Sheffield United

Roger Federer returns to the Monte Carlo Masters starting on Sunday with a mission to try and topple king of clay Rafael Nadal as the Spaniard seeks an unprecedented ninth title in the principality.

Federer, his season taking flight and his ranking back to a more-thanrespectable world number four, last competed at the optional Masters in 2011, when he was shuttled out in a quarter-final surprise by Austrian Jurgen Melzer.

The 32-year-old Swiss who lost three straight finals here to Nadal between 2006 and 2008, will hope for the kind of week which Novak Djokovic

produced a year ago.

The Serb defeated Nadal for the title 12 months ago, meting out to the Spaniard only his second loss at the tournament since first playing it as a 16-yearold in 2003.

Federer made the decision to play after helping Switzerland into the Davis Cup semi-finals last weekend, a boost to his rising confidence.

He opens after a bye in the second round against the winner from the veteran pair of Radek Stepanek and Ivo Karlovic. Nadal is starting his huge spring task of defending four 2013 titles on his surface of choice, with the Spaniard winning Barcelona, Madrid, Rome and an eighth trophy at Roland Garros.

After losing the Miami final a fort-

night ago to arch rival Djokovic, Spain’s world number one finds himself back in his tennis comfort zone at precisely the right moment, with the top seed opening against either a qualifier or Frenchman Gilles Simon.

And with all the pressure on his game for the next two months on the dirt, Nadal needs to keep his confidence sky-high.

“I’m now at the top of the (points) race arriving to the clay court season,” he said.

“That’s positive for me, but I need to be my 100 per cent. To make a difference I need to try to be aggressive, to try to move myself very well on clay, and to try to find the best feeling possible as soon as possible.”

Amir won’t play in World Cup even if ban reduced Banned Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir will not be eligible for next year’s World Cup even if he returns early to domestic cricket, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Friday.

PCB Chairman Najam Sethi told a news conference in Lahore that under the amended anti-corruption laws of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Aamir’s five-year ban could be reduced by 12 months.

Aamir, 21, was banned for a minimum five years in 2011 for spot-fixing during Pakistan’s fourth test against England at Lord’s in 2010. His captain Salman Butt and fellow fast bowler Mohammad Asif were also banned for the same offence and the three players served jail terms

in Britain in 2011-12. Sethi said Pakistan had pushed for a reduction in Aamir’s suspension because of his age.

“The message we got from the ICC committee at this week’s meeting in Dubai was that Amir could get a oneyear relaxation under the amended anti-corruption laws,” he added.

The amended ICC anti-corruption code should ensure quicker returns to international cricket for players serving long-term bans. PCB chief operating officer Subhan Ahmed said that although Amir could play first-class cricket he will not be eligible for next year’s World Cup. “They are no indications even if the ICC reduces the ban it will allow him back to international cricket before the five- year ban period ends,” Ahmad told Reuters.

SABA 3 on 3 Basketball starts Tuesday

Bangladesh Dragon and Lion Dance Association organised the prize giving ceremony of ‘China-Mridha Friendship Lion Dance Competition 2014’ at the National Sports Council gymnasium yesterday. An interesting piece of dance recital was presented by the Dragon and Lion Dance Association members, where they donned colourful Lion dance costumes and performed to the beats of drum-roll. State Minister for Youth and Sports Shri Biren Sikder and the Chinese Ambassador Li Jun was present as chief guests along with other special guests MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Walton Cycle Rally off to CTG The Walton Friendship Cycle Rally comprising cyclists of Bangladesh and West Bengal started their journey to Chittagong from the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

A total of 15 cyclists from Kolkata and 10 from Bangladesh started their rally from Kolakta on Wednesday and crossed the border through Benapole, stayed Narail before reached Dhaka, the rally stayed at Comilla yesterday and is scheduled to reach Chittagong

today. The Kolkata cyclists will return home from Chittagong.

State minister for youth and sports Biren Sikder initiated the rally at the Bangabandhu National Stadium. Mihir Das, the general secretary of Kolkata Football Lovers Association who are the organisers in Kolkata said the cyclists donated blood in each other’s country and set a unique instance.

AFM Iqbal bin Anwar Dawn, the additional secretary of Walton and Mazharul Haque were also present on the occasion.

Ten Action 10:00 PM French Ligue 1 2013/14 Stade Rennais v St Etienne Sony Six NBA 2013-14 6:30AM Dallas v Phoenix 11:00PM Indiana v Oklahoma 8:00PM Red Bull Air Race WC 2014, ROVINJ

Tottenham Hotspur forward Harry Kane (L) celebrates after scoring his team's second goal with teammate Christian Eriksen during the English Premier League football match against West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns in West Bromwich yesterday AFP

Federer back as Nadal seeks ninth Monte Carlo title

Fernando Verdasco booked his first ATP semi-final of 2014 on Friday, powering home to beat Donald Young 7-6 (7/1), 6-1 in the US Men’s Clay Court Championship. The fourth-seeded Spanish veteran admitted Young’s solid play had him feeling “uncomfortable” in the opening set, but once he’d pocketed the tiebreaker he was on his way. “He played great tennis in the first set,” Verdasco said. “I kept fighting and he didn’t serve well in the game I broke him. After that he started missing a little more, including in the tie-break.

After I won the tie-break I took extra confidence and started to be more stable on the court.”

–AFP

Star Sports 4 English Premier League 5:45PM Liverpool v Man City 9:00PM Swansea City v Chelsea 11:00PM La Liga Getafe v Atletico Madrid 1:00AM Espanyol v Rayo Vallecano

15

Sunday, April 13, 2014

State minister for youth and sports Biren Sikder initiates the Walton Friendship Cycle Rally at the BNS yesterday COURTESY

Bangladesh will eye the title of the Citycell South Asian Basketball Association 3 on 3 Basketball that starts under the auspices of the Bangladesh Basketball Federation at the Dhanmondi Basketball Gymnasium from Tuesday. Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, Sri Lanka and hosts Bangladesh will participate in the twoday meet.

With sub-continental powerhouse India yet to confirm their participation, the host team comprising their best cagers of the country look forward to grab the silverware. Rasheduzzaman, Mithun Biswas, Shoyeb and Akash are the four members of the Bangladesh team.

The 3 on 3 basketball is played in a half of the regulation court and the team that scores 21 point first win the match.

However AK Sarker, the general secretary of BBF did not rule out the arrival of the Indians. “The Indian team are going through some visa complicacies, if

AK Sarker, (L), the general secretary of Bangladesh Basketball Federation speaks at the press conference of the Citycell SABA 3 on 3 Basketball yesterday COURTESY they arrive before the meet then we will divide the six teams into two groups, if they don’t then it will be a league, we have won the South Asian Basketball last year, if India remain absent we are confident that Bangladesh will win title, but it does not mean that if India come we will not try to be the champions” said Sarker.

Taslim Ahmed. Head of Corporate Communications & PR of Citycell expressed satisfaction over the progress of basketball in the recent past. “The

national team in the recent past have performed well and we look forward to more successes, we also congratulate BBF for organising local and foreign tournaments successfully” said Taslim.

AK Sarker added that at the moment Pakistan Basketball Federation is temporarily suspended by International Basketball Federation so they were not invited.

The congress of the SABA will also be held on Monday.

Watson leads Masters at halfway Bubba Watson made five birdies in a row to snatch the halfway lead at the 78th Masters on Friday as Augusta National turned on some of its favourite sons.

The roars that normally echo through the Georgian pines were replaced by groans and sighs as some of golf’s biggest names, including Phil Mickelson, failed to make it past the second round.

While most of the world’s best golfers struggled to make par in the brutally tough conditions, the free-swinging Watson surged into contention for a second green jacket in three years.

The American produced a masterful display on the back nine to grab the outright lead at seven-under-par and hold a three-shot advantage over Australia’s John Senden.

Another four players, including defending champion Adam Scott, were tied for third at three-under on a congested leaderboard.

The Australian battled to a 72 to join Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn (68), Swede Jonas Blixt (71) and American Jordan Spieth (70), the last pair being among the record 24 rookies in the field.

“It wasn’t exactly what I was looking for,” Scott said. “But given everything, I’m absolutely satisfied with that.”

An action from the game between Bangladesh University of Textile (batting) and University of South Asia in the Clemon Indoor Uni Cricket at Shaheed Sohrowardi Indoor Stadium yesterday COURTESY

Clemon Indoor University Cricket Twelve matches ware played on the third day of the Clemon Indoor University Cricket, featuring forty universities all over the Bangladesh, at the Mirpur Sohrawardi Indoor Stadium yesterday.

There were some close matches where Asa beat BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology by only one run and Bangladesh University of Textiles won by three runs against South Asian University. On the other games

of the day Manarat Int’l University beat Atish Diponkar Bishawbiddalay by four wickets while Jagannath University won by 74 runs against IUBAT and North South University clinch a 37-run win over City University.

Asian University lose to prime University by seven wickets while defending champion AIUB won by 37 runs against Gono Bissobiddaloy and Brac University beat Southern University Bangladesh (CTG) by 29 runs. Also, Dhaka University thrashed UITS by 67 runs and European University bagged a huge 96 runs over RUET yesterday.

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

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Future 0f 2 RMG factory workers uncertain Tazlina Zamila Khan Workers of Softex Cotton Pvt Ltd and Fame Knitwear Ltd have been passing their days in uncertainty following temporary closure of both the factories a month ago.

Of a total of 6,000 workers, many are yet to manage jobs elsewhere following the decision of the authorities.

The factories were shut down as they had failed to meet standards set by Bangladesh Accord Foundation. This is a group of 150 global clothing brands and retailers who intend to improve RMG factory conditions and working environment.

A worker named Sufia said: “My daughter and I worked at Softex. We have already been paid for the next three months but we are concerned about what will happen next. I must find a new job to run my family.”

A worker at Fame Knitwear, Monwara Begum has four children, three of who are studying in school. Her husband is a rickshaw-puller.

“I could not find any job. It will be a burden for our family if I fail to manage another source of earning. I am worried,” she told the Dhaka Tribune.

On March 6, the officials concerned decided to close the two factories temporarily because they were dilapidated.

During a recent visit, this correspondent saw owners of the factories evacuating the establishments. Most of the equipment and machinery were being

transferred to other factories of the owners in Gazipur, Mirpur and other areas.

Md Milon, production manager at Softex Ltd, told the Dhaka Tribune that since the factory had been declared closed, they were shifting the equipment from the upper floors to the third floor.

“Each of the workers was given three months’ salary. We were in operation for many years and nothing happened.

Now this Accord came out of the blue and we had to suspend production for the time being,” he said.

Of a total of 6,000 workers, many are yet to manage jobs elsewhere following the decision of the authorities Established in 1994, Softex produces sweaters and exports those to France.

Their annual turnover in 2012-13 fiscal year reached around $25m.

Rezwan Selim, managing director of the factory, told the Dhaka Tribune: “There has not been any measure yet to revamp the factory. Once completed, we will be given a certificate. I may think of reopening the factory then.”

The authorities of Fame Knitwear Ltd are also transferring their equipment, though they were allowed to re-

sume production following evacuation of the Softex factory.

Md Moshiul Azam Shajal, a BGMEA director and owner of the factory, said: “I was thinking of relocating the factory in 2015. I recently asked the staff to transfer the equipment to the other factories in Gazipur and Mirpur. I do not want to take any risk.

“The factory was built in 1993 and I bought it in 1997. I may incur a loss of $4-$5m. But my biggest loss will be the loss of reputation.”

The factory exports to France, Switzerland, Germany and Italy. It recorded an annual turnover of $2.5-$3m in 2012-13.

BGMEA Vice-President Shahidullah Azim said workers were the worst sufferers following such closure of factories.

“Columns of the buildings became weak. So those were shut down because accident may occur any moment.”

The executive director of Bangladesh operations of the Accord, Rob Wayss, said: “This is an agreement among global clothing brands, retailers and trade unions. The agreement is the product of thorough negotiations between the industry and the labour signatories. All are equally committed to successful implementation of it.”

He hoped that the initiative would improve safety and sustainability of the RMG industry in Bangladesh. “This success will benefit workers, factory owners, the industry and the country as a whole.”

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Ilish prices soar ahead of Pahela Baishakh Asif Showkat Kallol Despite its adequate supply in the city markets and chain shops, the prices of Ilish shot up yesterday, two days before Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the Bangla calendar.

Stakeholders said the prices of Ilish increased by 10 % this year compared to the same period in last year.

They also expected that the prices of Ilish may drastically fall this evening because of a huge supply in city markets.

Ilish stored one and half months ago are selling at Tk1,000-Tk1,500 in city kitchen markets and a pair of Ilish are selling at Tk3,000 which was only Tk1,500 two weeks ago. At Karwan Bazar, two pieces of Ilish weighing six kilograms are selling at Tk26,000.

Fish traders said few fresh Ilish also come into the kitchen market. Small Ilish called Jatka are selling at Tk200 per piece.

In the chain shops, Ilish less than one kg are selling in between Tk580 and Tk700 yesterday while it was below Tk500 two weeks ago, according to market sources.

The local market of Ilish has squeezed over the year due to water pollution and import of Ilish-like foreign fish, official sources said.

In the name of Ilish, some traders are selling “Chokori” and “Chandria” imported from Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Oman and Yemen, posing a challenge to the local market.

Market sources said 12,000-13,000 tonnes of Chokori and Chandria were imported from Myanmar, Vietnam and Oman in last seven months which are selling in local markets in the name of Ilish.

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Director General of Fisheries Directorate Syed Arif Azad said that industrial waste being released from factories and tanneries had been polluting river water, posing threat not only to Ilish, but also to flora and fauna.

Catch of Ilish will sharply go down within a short time if the government does not take stern action against the polluters right now, he pointed out.

Fisheries directorate sources said in the first and second weeks of September, mother Ilish lay eggs in the rivers. Mother Ilish lay eggs in the areas of Shahari channel in Mirsarai upazila to Hikhandi point, North Tazumuddin in Tazumuddin upazila of Bhola to North Syed Asualia point, Latachaparti point of Kalapara upazila and North Kutupdia Godigram point.

Vice–President of Bangladesh Frozen Food Association Ashraf Hossain Mazud told the Dhaka Tribune that because of ban on the export of Ilish, they had already shifted their business from Ilish. Prices of the local ilish will go down if the prices of its export fall in West Bengal market, he pointed out.

Shortage of local Ilish is now acute as small Ilish from Myanmar directly goes to Indian market, he also said.

Fixed income groups of people in the country started consuming the fish in the recent times thanks to an export ban in July 31, 2012. A total of 32 crore people of Bangladesh and India is the main market of Ilish and total of 6-7 lakh tonnes Ilish catch in Bangladesh in a year.

Indian Maoists kill 12 in poll violence AFP, Raipur

Members of Chhayanat get prepared for the traditional Pahela Baishakh celebrations at the Ramna Batamul yesterday

Little known Kamal ‘removes’ Imran Ahmed Zayeef The latest drama surrounding the Gonojagoron Moncho intensified, when a group claiming to be a part of the Moncho allegedly backed by the Awami League and its student wing yesterday “removed” Imran H Sarker from the spokesperson role of the anti-war criminal platform.

The faction also announced that a five-member spokesperson panel would conduct the activities of Moncho from now on.

Kamal Pasha Chowdhury, claiming to be an organiser of the platform, made the announcement at a press conference held under the banner of “Gonojagoron Moncho Activists and Organisers” in Shahbagh.

At yesterday’s press conference, Kamal Pasha said: “We removed him [Imran] as the spokesperson of the organisation and from now on, none of his statement shall be counted as the statements of the Moncho... A five-member spokesperson panel will work as the mouthpiece of Gonojagoron Moncho.”

Earlier on April 6, the same group “expelled” Imran H Sarker, the spokesperson for the Moncho, declaring him “unwanted” in the platform.

Most of the people who attended

yesterday’s press conference were allegedly directly involved with the politics of Awami League and Chhatra League.

However, leaders of JSD Chhatra League, Chhatra Moitree, Chhatra Andolan and Chhatro Somity, whose mother organisations are all allied with the ruling party, did not attend yesterday’s programme.

Bappadyitto Basu, president of Chhatra Moitree, said: “We urged Imran to fix all these disputes by arranging meeting with all groups. We also do not support the group which made the announcement of removing Imran.

What they did is totally undemocratic.”

In his reaction to the latest developments, Imran said: “As the Moncho is not a political organisation, no one person is allowed to discharge me from my responsibilities.”

He claimed: “The announcement surprised me. I heard that it was made as per the directive of a central leader of Awami League... It is the platform of the people and only they have the right to discharge me anytime,” Imran added.

On the other hand, HM Bodiujjaman, president of Chhatra League, claimed that the BCL did not know anything about the activities of the group that made yesterday’s announcement and did not have any involvement with them.

RAJIB DHAR

Maoist rebels killed 12 people in two poll-related blasts yesterday in an insurgency-hit region of central India, police said, highlighting security worries in the nation’s marathon election.

The attacks came as Indians cast ballots in the southern resort state of Goa and in the far-flung northeast in another round of the multi-phase polls that wind up May 12 with results due May 16.

Six polling team officials were killed when Maoists blew up their bus in the state of Chhattisgarh, senior police officer Gurjinder Pal Singh told AFP. “The Maoists triggered the landmine blasts,” Singh, a key official in ensuring election security in the state, told AFP. Five security men engaged in an election safety operation and another victim were killed in a separate landmine blast that created a huge crater in the road.

The men were blown up near Darbha, where Maoists massacred the top leadership of the Congress party of Chhattisgarh last May. The blasts, just an hour apart, came just days after Maoist rebels killed

three soldiers guarding polling officials in Chhattisgarh in a gunbattle.

The deaths underscored the security challenges facing election organisers in India.

Separatist and Maoist insurgencies afflict large swathes of India’s northeast, northwest and central regions.

The elections, which the opposition Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party are tipped to win, ousting the ruling Congress party after a decade, kicked off earlier in the week.

The vote is held in stages to allow security forces to be moved around the country to protect voters. In part of Chhattisgarh, polls began on April 10.

Two more rounds of voting are scheduled in the state on April 17 and April 24.

Maoist rebels killed 16 people in a massive attack on security forces in central India in March in the deadliest attack so far this year, heightening fears of more unrest in their stronghold.

The Maoists, who have been described by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as the country’s most serious internal security threat, have been fighting since 1967 for a communist society by toppling what they call India’s “semi-colonial, semi-feudal” form of rule.

Boy, tortured by employer, fights for life at DMCH Mohammad Jamil Khan A minor boy has been fighting for his life in Dhaka Medical College Hospital after being allegedly beaten by his master in the house he worked as domestic help in the capital.

The victim was 10-year-old Masum who came to Dhaka from Kishoreganj in search of food and was placed in Mohammadia Housing area two and a half months ago.

In a feeble voice, Masum said he faced excruciating torture from the master and mistress of the house No 208 located on road No 1 in the housing estate area.

“They used to confine me to the bathroom at night and often kicked me in the abdomen. I hardly got food to eat,” Masum said, lying in a bed of 210 No Child Surgery Unit of the hospital.

The minor boy said “Khalamma” (mistress of the house) hit me in the hand with spoons and Iron road for a little mistake.

Only one of the three boys in the family showed me sympathy, Masum said, adding that when he was locked inside the bathroom, he was given food by that boy.

About his physical condition, Dr Shamima Sultana, indoor medical officer and assistant registrar of child surgery unit, told the Dhaka Tribune the boy had been suffering from mal-

nutrition.

Besides, there were some marks of injury to his hands and other parts of his body including head, she added.

Afroza Begum, acting coordinator of One-Stop Crisis Centre of DMCH, said the boy would be receiving treatment till he came round.

“We would go for legal action after the boy recovered from his injury,” she said.

Masum hails from South Rajkunti

village of Kishoreganj and is the fifth among eight children of Shohor Banu and Abdur Rahim.

Abdur Rahim – a farmer by profession – sent Masum to the capital with his cousin Yeasmin to earn livelihood.

Asked about how Masum was placed in the house, Yeasmin told the Dhaka Tribune she had contact with some Kishoreganj women who worked in the capital.

“I got my brother the employment

Masum, a 10-year-old domestic help, lies unconscious in a bed in DMCH yesterday after being inhumanely tortured by his employers for long MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

in the house through those women,” added Yeasmin.

The girl said she went to the house last Thursday to see her brother but failed, and later she came to know about the torture on her brother, whom she rescued with the help of landlord of the building.

About the identity of employer, Yeasmin said she only knew that “Khalu” (master of the house) used to work in a private firm and had three children.

To delve into the fact, the Dhaka Tribune correspondent approached Mohammadia Housing area and came across master of the house, Shahidul Islam, who was an employee of a buying house, and his wife was Sanjida Islam.

Both of them refused the allegation of torture against them.

They told this correspondent that this was nothing but a drama for realising money from them.

Asked about marks of injury to Masum’s body, the couple said the boy bore the injury marks long since and they did not know anything more about it.

Contacted, Azizul Haque, officerin-charge of Mohammadpur police station, told the Dhaka Tribune they learned about the incident and action would be taken about it shortly.

No one was arrested and no case was lodged till filing this report on Saturday evening.

Editor: Zafar Sobhan, Published and Printed by Kazi Anis Ahmed on behalf of 2A Media Limited at Dainik Shakaler Khabar Publications Limited, 153/7, Tejgaon Industrial Area, Dhaka-1208. Editorial, News & Commercial Office: FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Shukrabad, Dhaka 1207.

Phone: 9132093-94, Advertising: 9132155, Circulation: 9132282, Fax: News-9132192, e-mail: news@dhakatribune.com, info@dhakatribune.com, Website: www.dhakatribune.com

B3 Ad hoc reforms for IMF

B4 World finance chiefs fall

seen unlikely

short on growth plan

SUNDAY, APRIL 13, 2014 www.dhakatribune.com/business

Lending rate still high, deposit rate comes down Jebun Nesa Alo

LENDING RATE STILL REMAINED HIGH

The banks are still charging high interest on credit, although most of them have reduced the deposit rates, ending the rat race for accumulating funds.

Lending rate of all the commercial banks still remained high despite awash with excess liquidity, lack of credit demand and increase in foreign loan inflow since last one year ahead of national election, bankers said.

They said the central bank had earlier undertaken a move to encourage foreign loan inflow in order to make pressure on local banks to cut their lending rates, but went in vain.

The average lending rate of all commercial banks increased slightly to 13.4% in February from 13.39% in January while average interest rate on deposits decreased to 8.34% from 8.40% during the same period of last year, according to the Bangladesh Bank data.

The interest rate spread between the lending and deposit rates crossed again the desired level of 5% in February only after a month it stayed below the level.

The gap between average lending and deposit rates of 19 local commercial banks went up to 5% in February from 4.99% in previous month due to increase in the lending rates, said a senior executive of the central bank.

Foreign loan inflow increased significantly in the last two years as big entrepreneurs were keen to take foreign loans below 5% interest rate against the local lending rate of up to 13.50%.

Bangladesh Bank approved a total of US$1.18b in 2013 and $1.49b in 2012

Awash with excess liquidity: Jan 2014 Tk89,000 crore from Jan 2013 Tk60,000 Lack of credit demand: Due to the sluggish investment and lack of credit demand amid political unrest Increase in foreign loan inflow: BB approved foreign loans of

US$1.18bn in 2013 and $1.49bn in 2012 and $819m in 2011 CHANGE IN FEBRUARY AGAINST JANUARY: Lending rate rose from 13.39% to 13.4% Deposit rate dropped from 8.4% to 8.34% Spread crossing 5% again Average interest rate in the call money market 7.78% in 2013 while it was 12% in 2012 A H MAMUN/DT INFOGRAPHICS

where only $819m foreign loans were entered into Bangladesh in 2011.

The excess liquidity in the banking sector has increased by Tk29,000 crore or 48% to stand at Tk89,000 crore in January 2014 from Tk60,000 crore in the same month last year.

It resulted in an average interest rate in the call money market of around 7.78% during the last year as compared to an average of above 12% in the previous year.

Excess liquidity piled up in the banking sector during the last one year due to the sluggish investment and lack of credit demand amid political

unrest. As a result, all the commercial banks had lost their profits in 2013, said a senior executive of a private bank.

He said: “Banks were supposed to cut their lending rate in December, 2013, to reduce the spread. Though some banks have reduced their lending rates, most of the banks could not comply with the obligation due to their own increased maintenance expenses.”

All the banks could not take enough return from their deposit funds due to sluggish credit disbursement, but they had to pay interest rate against the deposit that they already committed. As a result, interest expense increased than

income. Under the circumstance, the banks are not able to cut their lending rates, he said.

“But to compete with the international banks, ultimately all the commercial banks have to reduce lending rates as already big borrowers have started taking loans from the foreign loan market at lower rates.”

The foreign companies engaged in manufacturing or services output activities for three years or longer in Bangladesh can have access to term loan in Taka term from the domestic market subject to all applicable credit norms.

Production suspended at 3 more apparel factories Ibrahim Hossain Ovi Another three readymade garment units have suspended production as Accord inspections found structural flaws in the buildings located at Mirpur, Dhaka.

The units belong to Four Wings Limited, Attune Garments and Natural Apparel. A review panel on Accord inspection reports made the suspension orders last week for 15 days.

Final decisions will be taken after further assessment of the buildings, a panel member told the Dhaka Tribune.

Around 3,000 workers were employed in the factories.

“We asked them to suspend production for 15 days. Further assessments will be carried out and then decisions will be made whether they (units) need to be retrofitted or relocated,” the panel member said asking not to be named.

After the start of first-phase inspec-

Garment workers walking towards their work places in Dhaka

Bangladesh to submit report on GSP action plan on April 15

BTMA for keeping 15% income tax

An employee works inside a cotton factory

Ibrahim Hossain Ovi Bangladesh Textiles Mills Association (BTMA) will urge the government for keeping the existing 15% income tax on profits in the upcoming budget for the fiscal 2014-15.

The apex trade body will also seek for withdrawing tax at source for spinning, weaving, dying, printing and finishing mills as it plans to place its proposal to the National Bureau of Revenue (NBR) during a pre-budget discussion with NBR, to be held shortly, according to a proposal prepared by BTMA. BTMA officials are also going to press its demand for tax cut at source in case of trading cottons through local letter of credits (LCs), as it has increasedthe yarn prices.

REUTERS

According to income tax ordinance of 1984, textile mills have to pay 1% tax at source for trading cotton through local LCs up to Tk5 lakh, while 2.5% for trading worth in between Tk5 lakh and 15 lakh, 3.5% for Tk15-25 lakh and 4% for Tk25 lakh to Tk3 crore while 5% for Tk3 crore and above.

BTMA proposal will also urged the government to increase the cash incentives to 15% from 5% with a request for not imposing tax at source on 5% cash incentives to encourage entrepreneurs for availing incentives.

The other demands include-withdrawal of import duty on Polyethylene Terephthalate Chips (Pet Chips) and removing import duty and tax on synthetic filament tow, modal lyocell,

sizing material and dyes and chemicals used in the textile industry, fire rated steel frame and steel door for spinning, weaving and dyeing-printing-finishing sector.

“We will appeal the government to fix all the taxes under a same umbrella as the existing taxes set under different heads create lot of trouble for us,” said BTMA president, Jahangir Alamin, told the Dhaka Tribune.

“We urge the government to maintain the same 15% income tax for us in the next budget as the production costs have been increased.”

As the filaments are not being used widely in the country, we are going to urge the government to reduce import duty on it to encourage usage of filaments, he added.

Tribune Desk The government will submit a progress report on “Bangladesh Action Plan 2013” to the office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on April 15 though the review for reinstating Bangladesh’s Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) benefits still looks uncertain.

The legal authorisation for the GSP programme expired on July 31, 2013 and the US Congress is considering a legislation that would extend the authorisation of GSP beyond this date, according to the USTR. As long as the GSP programme remains with no authorisation, there will be no public hearing and no request for public comments for the ongoing GSP country and product reviews and no final disposition of these reviews.

“We’ll send the progress report by April 15 (Tuesday),” Commerce Secretary Mahbub Ahmed told UNB on Saturday, mentioning that he cannot tell about possible hearing or review on GSP restoration soon.

Asked whether the progress is satisfactory, the Commerce Secretary declined to make comment at this stage.

Another official at the Commerce Ministry said an inter-ministerial meeting might be called for Sunday to give

Tea prices plunged again at a weekly auction on Tuesday, after a brief rise in the previous session, dragged down by inferior quality leaf near the end of the season, brokers said.

The country’s tax authority on Monday trebled regulator duties to 15% on imports of tea to discourage overseas buying amid a drop in local prices due to ample supplies.

Bangladeshi tea fetched an average of Tk97.16 ($1.25) per kg at the auction, sharply down from Tk118.81 at the previous week’s sale, an official from National Brokers Limited said.

Nearly 1.18 million kg was offered at the country’s sole auction centre in Chittagong, and 46% remained unsold. At the previous auction, more than 2 million kg was offered, of which nearly 60% went unsold.

Buyers sought huge discounts to buy end-of-season tea that tends to be of inferior quality, the official said.

Pakistani buyers took part in the auction to buy cheap tea, he added.

The auction season, typically to end-March, has been extended through April.

Bangladeshi buyers have imported tea in bulk from neighbouring India, contributing to a glut in

the final shape to the progress report.

The Commerce Ministry might send the report to the Bangladesh Mission in Washington, if not sent directly to the USTR, and Bangladesh mission will send it to the USTR. Voicing satisfaction over the progress on GSP Action Plan, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed reiterated that Bangladesh would get back GSP benefit in the US market if politics is not associated with the restoration process.

US Ambassador Dan Mozena, on his return from US tour recently, said there has been progress but much more needs to be done.

On March 25, US Senator Robert Menendez, in a letter to BGMEA President M Atiqul Islam, said, “As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and a member of the Senate Committee on Finance, I cannot support the renewal or expansion of Bangladesh’s GSP benefits as long as union organisers and members are subject to harassment, intimidation, and violence from BGMEA factory owners and managers.”

On June 27, 2013, US President Barack Obama announced his decision to suspend Bangladesh’s trade benefits under the GSP in view of insufficient progress by the Bangladesh government in affording Bangladeshi workers internationally-recognised worker rights.

NASHIRUL ISLAM

Bapex starts supplying gas from Semutang Aminur Rahman Rasel Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (Bapex) yesterday started supplying 7 million cubic feet (mmcf) of gas per day to the national grid from its six wells of Semutang gas field in Khagrachhari. “The drilling ended recently at 3032 metres, but we found commercially viable gas reserves at a depth of 1100 metres.

These are development wells.” Abdul Halim, director of the well-drilling project of Bapex told the Dhaka Tribune.

The company, a subsidiary of the stateowned Petrobangla, initiated the drilling of the well through Gazprom, a Russian state-run gas exploration company.

Petrobangla sources said more than 2,300 million cubic feet of gas is being supplied every day against a daily demand of 2,700 to 3,000 million cubic feet. The government in April, 2012 signed a deal with Gazprom on drilling 10 gas wells at a spending of $193.55 million across the country without any tender under the Power and Energy Quick Supply (special provision) Act. Bapex is currently producing and supplying 104 million cubic feet of gas to the national grid every day from its six gas fields in Saldanadi, Fenchuganj, Shahbazpur, Semutung, Sundalpur and Srikail.

BASIS to hand out outsourcing awards today Tribune Report A total of 100 including individuals and organisations will receive “BASIS Outsourcing Award 2014” today at the Institute of Diploma Engineers auditorium in Dhaka.

Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) has chosen them from 2,000 candidates

Bangladesh tea prices plunge on poor grade leaf Reuters, Dhaka

tions by Accord on February 20, a total of 26 factory units have so far suspended production as structural faults were unearthed.

Of them, eight units have resumed their production following necessary remediation. Inspection reports on more six factories are under the panel’s scrutiny now.

Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh is an initiative by 150 European retailers to improve workplace safety in the apparel sector.

The review panel is comprised of representatives from the government, the Accord, the Alliance, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA).

Alliance is another such initiative by the American retailers.

the domestic market and reducing demand at the auction, industry sources said.

Bangladesh’s tea production in 2013 rose 1.6% from a year earlier to a record 63.5 million kg due to favourable weather.

That still fell short of domestic consumption of about 65 million kg. Bangladesh has moved from becoming a net exporter to a net importer of tea as consumption has risen.

for the fourth edition of the award.

They have been selected in four categories which include organisations, freelancers, female freelancers and one freelancer from one district.

Fifteen organisations, 18 freelancers, three female freelancers and 64 freelancers from 64 districts will be awarded for outstanding performance

in outsourcing software and IT- enabled services.

Telecommunication and Information Technology Minister Abdul Latif Siddique is expected to attend the function as chief guest while State Minister for Telecommunication Zunaid Ahmed Palak will be present as special guest at the annual mega award ceremony of BASIS.

B2

Stocks stay flat last week

Heavyweights dominate trading weekly market analysis.

It said Lafarge’s probable merger with Holcim also boosted Lafarge price. Investors were also very upbeat about GP in the past week. “Probably they are expecting GP to show good financial figures this year, as last year’s adverse tax effect will not be there.”

Among the top gaining stocks of the past week, five of them were multinational companies.

The financial sector banks and non-banking financial institutions fell almost 2% and 4% respectively.

Among the major sectors, telecommunication was the week’s best performer with a rise of 11.8%, driven by GP that surged over 13.1% just ahead of its financial disclosure.

It was followed by cement, tannery and pharmaceuticals that closed higher.

A new textile company – Matin Spinning Mills Ltd. – saw dismal debut at the stock exchanges in the past week. The newcomer gained 13.3% from IPO price of Tk37 each.

IDLC Investments said since heavy-weight segments performed well for a couple of sessions, some cautious investors drove for booking profit or re-balancing portfolio.

“The resultant impact was a number of flat endings in the final session of the past week.”

Investors concentrated only on heavyweights GP, Square Pharmaceuticals (including block trade), Lafarge and Heidelberg, making up 10%, 8%, 7% and 6% respectively of the past week’s total turnover.

Tribune Report The stock market stayed flat in the past week after registering gains in the previous week.

Lafarge Surma Cement came to the spotlight in the week ended Thursday after the announcement of its merger with Holcim of Switzerland.

Investors snapped up its shares, making it week’s second most traded stocks after heavyweight Grameenphone (GP). But cautious investors booked quick profits on financials and some other stocks, pulling down the market.

The benchmark DSEX lost 28 points or 0.7% to close the week at 4,592. The blue chip index DS30, however, gained 5 points or 0.4% to 1,675.

The Shariah Index DSEX rose 12 points or 1% to 1,020. The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index, CSCX, shed 58 points or 0.7% to close the week at 8,900.

The average daily turnover of the past week stood at Tk510 crore, up by 34% over the previous week’s average of Tk380 crore.

Lanka Bangla Securities said market passed a mixed week. “Turnover activity was very high. But these activities were highly concentrated,” it said.

Over enthusiasm was seen in some stocks, especially GP, Heidelberg and Lafarge. Heidelberg declared last week a huge cash dividend of Tk38 for the year 2013. Investors took this positively and Heidelberg rose by over 20%, the brokerage firm said in its

Weekly capital market highlights DSE Broad Index : DSE - 30 Index : CSE All Share Index: CSE - 30 Index : CSE Selected Index : DSE LOSERS Company Northern Jute -Z Rahima Food -Z Mercantile Bank -A Islami Bank BD - A Eastland Insur -A One Bank -A Midas Financing-Z Northern G Insur-A Global Insurance -A Rupali InsurA

Closing (% change) -25.06 -18.57 -18.04 -17.70 -15.12 -14.29 -13.90 -13.46 -12.19 -11.08

CSE LOSERS Company Rahima Food -Z Mercantile Bank -A Standard Ceramic -A Islami Bank BD - A Eastland Insur -A One Bank -A Rupali Life Insur.-A Northern G Insur-A Prime Textile -A Bangladesh Lamps -A

Closing (% change) -19.57 -16.23 -15.97 -15.77 -15.22 -13.69 -11.50 -11.28 -11.15 -10.94

ANALYST

4592.73414

(-) 0.62%

1675.63449

(+) 0.33%

14185.6313

(-) 0.39%

11920.0626

(-) 0.36%

8900.7070

(-) 0.65%

Average (% change) -25.06 -18.14 -14.51 -17.52 -15.24 -13.07 -13.99 -13.38 -11.91 -11.61 Average (% change) -19.37 -14.21 -16.14 -15.49 -15.00 -11.28 -11.48 -8.87 -11.25 -9.19

Closing average 90.00 40.48 16.20 28.10 39.42 14.57 25.46 35.98 24.63 29.08

Closing average 40.80 16.18 39.95 28.64 39.10 14.86 110.00 34.63 23.19 126.23

Weekly closing

Bank NBFI Investment Engineering Food & Allied Fuel & Power Jute Textile Pharma & Chemical Paper & Packaging Service Leather Ceramic Cement Information Technology General Insurance Life Insurance Telecom Travel & Leisure Miscellaneous Debenture

Weekly high

90.00 39.90 15.90 27.90 39.30 14.40 25.40 36.00 24.50 28.90

Weekly closing

109.00 49.50 20.00 31.00 46.80 17.00 30.40 41.00 28.20 32.80

Weekly high

40.70 16.00 40.00 28.30 39.00 14.50 110.00 34.60 23.10 124.50

50.00 20.00 46.90 30.10 45.40 17.20 124.10 41.50 26.10 140.00

DSE GAINERS

DSE key features April 6-10, 2014

Company

Turnover (Million Taka)

25,517.20

Turnover (Volume)

387,800,980

Number of Contract

479,710

Traded Issues

301

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

65

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

232 4

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,342.39

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

28.39

CSE key features April 6-10, 2014 Turnover (Million Taka)

2,100.57

Turnover (Volume)

38,340,929

Number of Contract

68,091

Traded Issues

251

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

49

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

196

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

5

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,245.62

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

27.22

Turnover in million

90.00 39.50 14.30 26.00 38.20 12.70 25.40 33.00 21.80 28.50

Weekly low

0.060 15.513 332.459 80.201 22.751 96.417 0.944 6.003 2.928 13.768

Turnover in million

40.20 14.40 39.90 28.00 38.10 13.70 110.00 34.00 23.00 124.00

HeidelbergCement -A Reckitt Benckiser -A AB Bank - A Grameenphone-A Samata LeatheR -Z LafargeS Cement-Z Golden Son -A ICB AMCL IslamicMF-A Bata Shoe Ltd. -A Renata Ltd. -A

Closing (% change) 20.94 20.04 17.00 13.12 10.34 10.16 10.15 8.78 8.48 8.27

CSE GAINERS

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

Weekly low

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Latest EPS -10.24 -1.00 2.68 3.14 3.71 2.44 -5.96 2.00 1.09 1.98

Latest EPS

1.266 13.178 0.744 8.288 0.275 13.846 11.527 0.129 1.649 1.326

-1.00 2.68 1.06 3.14 3.71 2.44 5.33 2.00 1.12 -1.16

Latest PE -ve -ve 6.0 8.9 10.6 6.0 -ve 18.0 22.6 14.7

Latest PE -ve 6.0 37.7 9.1 10.5 6.1 20.6 17.3 20.7 -ve

Company Reckitt Benckiser -A HeidelbergCement -A AB Bank - A LafargeS Cement-Z Grameenphone-A Golden Son -A Bata Shoe Ltd. -A Marico BD Ltd-A Aziz PipesZ Singer BD -A

Closing (% change) 35.63 21.15 18.40 13.67 13.10 10.48 7.82 7.16 6.00 4.96

Average (% change) 18.04 21.78 16.22 13.08 10.19 13.21 9.39 9.82 8.15 6.61 Average (% change) 35.63 17.01 17.19 15.05 13.51 8.94 7.84 8.06 6.10 7.74

Closing average 571.00 1,266.46 29.30 253.44 35.26 57.26 60.23 22.58 996.40 1,070.82

Closing average 1302.00 565.95 29.24 58.18 254.48 60.35 999.67 1285.90 21.22 229.40

Weekly closing

Weekly high

589.00 1,249.40 29.60 256.00 35.20 56.40 59.70 22.30 1,008.80 1,079.20

590.00 2,000.00 30.00 260.00 35.90 63.00 65.00 23.50 1,070.00 1,100.00

Weekly closing

Weekly high

1302.00 589.90 29.60 58.20 255.50 60.10 999.50 1285.90 21.20 226.60

1388.00 590.60 29.90 63.10 257.00 62.00 1042.50 1317.00 21.50 238.70

Weekly low 490.00 1,010.00 22.50 224.00 30.60 51.50 51.00 19.50 915.20 970.00

Weekly low 1174.00 500.00 22.60 51.20 223.10 54.90 925.00 1183.00 19.50 214.50

Turnover in million

Latest EPS

1422.210 62.175 266.359 2708.341 1.245 1789.947 326.443 8.938 215.760 277.078

Turnover in million

26.09 41.12 2.06 10.23 -0.04 2.19 3.35 2.56 52.75 41.39

Latest EPS

0.193 125.830 19.857 157.459 219.685 22.753 2.068 1.774 0.015 20.647

41.12 26.09 2.06 2.19 10.23 3.35 52.75 46.53 0.59 6.23

Latest PE 21.9 30.8 14.2 24.8 -ve 26.1 18.0 8.8 18.9 25.9

Latest PE 31.7 21.7 14.2 26.6 24.9 18.0 19.0 27.6 36.0 36.8

Weekly news from trade server NORTHRNINS: The Board of Directors has recommended 10% stock dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2013. Date of AGM: 08.06.2014, Time: 11:00 AM, Venue: "Hotel Agrabad", Karnafully Hall, Agrabad, Chittagong. Record Date: 16.04.2014.

The Company has also reported EPS of Tk. 2.00, NAV per share of Tk. 13.15 and NOCFPS of Tk. 1.41 for the year ended on December 31, 2013.

BDLAMPS: The Board of Directors has recommended 20% cash dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2013. Date of AGM: 20.05.2014, Time: 11:00 AM, Venue: Emmanuelle's Banquet Hall, House # 4, Road # 134-135, Gulshan-1, Dhaka. Record Date: 17.04.2014. The Company has also reported NAV of Tk. 590.82 million, EPS of Tk. (1.16) and NOCFPS of Tk. 6.15 for the year ended on December 31, 2013.

PHOENIXFIN: The Board of Directors has recommended 20% cash dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2013. Date of AGM: 29.05.2014, Time: 11:30 AM, Venue: Muktijuddho Smrity Milonayaton (1st floor), Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh, 160/A, Kakrail, VIP Road, Dhaka-1000. Record Date: 17.04.2014.

The Company has also reported EPS of Tk. 2.58, NAV per share of Tk. 20.96 and NOCFPS of Tk. 0.61 for the year ended on December 31, 2013.

FASFIN: The Board of Directors has recommended 5.20% cash dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2013. Date of AGM: 22.05.2014, Time: 9:30 AM, Venue: Hotel Abakash, Mohakhali C/A, Dhaka-1212.

Record Date: 22.04.2014. The Company

has also reported consolidated EPS of Tk. 0.24, consolidated NAV per share of Tk. 13.84 and consolidated NOCFPS of Tk. (6.53) for the year ended on December 31, 2013.

RECKITTBEN: The Board of Directors has recommended final 400% cash dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2013.

Date of AGM: 06.05.2014, Time: 10:30 AM, Venue: Trust Milonayatan, Shaheed Jahangir Gate, 545 Old Airport Road, Dhaka Cantonment, Dhaka-1206. Record Date: 20.04.2014. The Company has also reported EPS of Tk. 27.42, NAV per share of Tk. 91.30 and NOCFPS of Tk. 32.98 for the year ended on December 31, 2013.

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.

Audited/unaudited Financial Reports: NCCBLMF1: (Q1): As per un-audited quarterly accounts for the 1st quarter ended on 31st March 2014 (Jan'14 to March'14), the fund has reported net profit/(loss) of Tk. 40.81 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 0.38 as against Tk. (7.27) million and Tk.

(0.07) respectively for the same period of the previous year.

GREENDELMF: (Q3): As per un-audited quarterly accounts for the 3rd quarter ended on 31st March 2014 (Jan'14 to March'14), the fund has reported net profit/(loss) of Tk. 59.06 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 0.39 as against Tk. (84.69) million and Tk. (0.56) respectively for the same period of the previous year. Whereas net profit/ (loss) was Tk. 92.81 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 0.62 for the period of nine months (July'13 to March'14) ended on 31.03.2014 as against Tk. (40.63) million and Tk. (0.27) respectively for the same period of the previous year.

DBH1STMF: (Q3): As per un-audited quarterly accounts for the 3rd quarter ended on 31st March 2014 (Jan'14 to March'14), the fund has reported net profit/(loss) of Tk. 33.92 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 0.28 as against Tk. (77.45) million and Tk. (0.65) respectively for the same period of the previous year. Whereas net profit/ (loss) was Tk. 72.93 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 0.61 for the period of nine months (July'13 to March'14) ended on 31.03.2014 as against Tk. (60.38) million and Tk. (0.50) respectively for the same period of the previous year.

RECKITTBEN: (Q1): As per un-audited quarterly accounts for the 1st quarter ended on 31st March 2014 (Jan'14 to March'14), the Company has reported profit after tax of Tk. 48.57 million with EPS of Tk. 10.28 as against Tk. 23.26 million and Tk. 4.92 respectively for the same period of the previous year.

Turnover activity was very high.

But these activities were highly concentrated

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY Sector

Stock

DHAKA TRIBUNE

DSE Million Taka 2095.24 676.29 294.39 1897.34 1986.97 3261.32 18.26 1910.75 3203.95 5.74 329.72 692.67 172.52 3534.99 123.32 253.71 608.61 3239.77 170.20 1009.39 32.05

% change 8.21 2.65 1.15 7.44 7.79 12.78 0.07 7.49 12.56 0.02 1.29 2.71 0.68 13.85 0.48 0.99 2.39 12.70 0.67 3.96 0.13

Million Taka 192.02 54.07 19.77 142.69 196.64 254.62 0.00 273.00 147.36 110.64 14.91 137.89 29.50 306.06 23.37 8.24 35.98 316.35 28.55 137.24 0.36

CSE

% change 7.90 2.23 0.81 5.87 8.09 10.48 0.00 11.24 6.07 4.55 0.61 5.68 1.21 12.60 0.96 0.34 1.48 13.02 1.18 5.65 0.01

Million Taka 2287.26 730.36 314.17 2040.03 2183.61 3515.94 18.26 2183.75 3351.31 116.38 344.63 830.57 202.02 3841.05 146.68 261.95 644.59 3556.12 198.75 1146.63 32.41

Total

% change 8.18 2.61 1.12 7.30 7.81 12.58 0.07 7.81 11.99 0.42 1.23 2.97 0.72 13.74 0.52 0.94 2.31 12.72 0.71 4.10 0.12

Prepared exclusively for Dhaka Tribune by Business Information Automation Service Line (BIASL), on the basis of information collected from daily stock quotations and audited reports of the listed companies. High level of caution has been taken to collect and present the above information and data. The publisher will not take any responsibility if any body uses this information and data for his/her investment decision. For any query please email to biasl@bol-online.com or call 01552153562 or go to www.biasl.net

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Grameenphone-A Square Pharma -A LafargeS Cement-Z HeidelbergCement -A Olympic Ind. -A Padma Oil Co. -A Meghna Petroleum -A BSC-A BD Submarine Cable-A Jamuna Oil -A CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Grameenphone-A LafargeS Cement-Z HeidelbergCement -A BSC-A BD Submarine Cable-A Padma Oil Co. -A Matin Spinning-N Square Pharma -A BATBCL -A Meghna Petroleum -A

Volume shares 11,103,579 6,810,427 30,937,020 2,591,580 5,918,857 3,376,336 3,095,108 975,240 2,480,856 1,627,052

Volume shares 903,400 2,674,000 232,850 155,640 450,915 242,770 1,976,200 275,146 24,450 154,248

Value in million 2708.34 1900.70 1789.95 1422.21 1330.06 1226.35 891.82 628.70 531.43 379.14

Value in million 219.68 157.46 125.83 100.72 96.67 88.12 86.32 77.58 59.80 44.71

% of total turnover 10.61 7.45 7.01 5.57 5.21 4.81 3.50 2.46 2.08 1.49

% of total turnover 10.74 7.70 6.15 4.92 4.73 4.31 4.22 3.79 2.92 2.19

Weekly closing 256.00 280.30 56.40 589.00 226.90 353.80 283.10 624.50 208.20 229.10

Weekly closing 255.50 58.20 589.90 626.80 209.30 353.60 41.80 279.70 2513.70 283.70

Price change 13.12 0.65 10.16 20.94 2.76 -1.91 -1.39 -5.95 -2.21 -1.63

Weekly opening 226.30 278.50 51.20 487.00 220.80 360.70 287.10 664.00 212.90 232.90

Weekly high 260.00 290.00 63.00 590.00 232.10 377.00 295.20 668.00 221.00 240.00

Weekly low 224.00 255.00 51.50 490.00 200.00 330.00 260.00 617.25 193.00 215.00

Weekly average 253.44 281.87 57.26 571.00 225.53 354.30 283.15 641.78 209.64 229.53

Price change 13.10 13.67 21.15 -5.46 -1.69 -2.00 0.00 0.54 1.81 -1.46

Weekly opening 225.90 51.20 486.90 663.00 212.90 360.80 0.00 278.20 2469.00 287.90

Weekly high 257.00 63.10 590.60 680.00 220.00 375.00 53.00 287.60 2638.00 295.80

Weekly low 223.10 51.20 500.00 620.30 208.50 352.10 41.50 275.20 2460.00 282.30

Weekly average 254.48 58.18 565.95 648.27 210.36 354.59 41.94 281.92 2522.75 284.02

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

Ad hoc reforms for IMF seen unlikely Global finance officials appear inclined to give the United States more time to endorse a series of long-delayed International Monetary Fund reforms aimed at giving more weight to emerging economy nations, rather than trying to implement alternative proposals to get around US intransigence.

Finance ministers gathering in Washington this weekend for the twiceyearly meetings of the IMF are set to debate a handful of ad hoc measures to achieve at least some of the 2010 governance overhaul for the global lender without a formal US approval.

Last month, Democrats in the US Senate dropped an effort to include the reforms as part of an aid package for Ukraine because the Republican-led House of Representatives refused to consider the matter.

Frustrated by the US foot-dragging, international finance officials are bandying about a clutch of alternatives.

These include proceeding with an ad hoc increase in the voting share of emerging economies, which like the formal reforms would reduce the US voting weight, and a more drastic pro-

posal to refuse to extend the IMF’s emergency borrowing authority, Australian Treasury Secretary Martin Parkinson said.

The options will be debated at a meeting of the IMF steering committee and the top 20 economies on Friday.

“They are all legitimate options,” Parkinson said ahead of the start of the meetings.

Still, Parkinson and others say that a likely outcome is to just give the United States more time.

“It would be a mistake not to give the United States the opportunity to get it done,” Mexican Finance Minister Luis Videgaray said in an interview.

Videgaray said there would be a window for the US Congress to pass reforms increasing funding and widening representation at the IMF following US midterm elections in November.

The United States has faced backlash from other countries over the refusal to approve the reforms, particularly from emerging economy countries whose voting share at the IMF would increase under the overhaul.

“I think failure to deliver the 2010 IMF reform is a serious damage to the G20 leadership,” People’s Bank of Chi-

Google Glass available in US as of April 15

Documents show GM’s early knowledge of switch defect

Reuters, Washington

AFP, San Francisco Google will makes it controversial Internet-linked Glass eyewear available for purchase for a limited time in the United States beginning on April 15.

Anyone in the United States with $1,500 to spend on Glass will be able to join the ranks of “explorers” who have gotten to test out the devices prior to them hitting the market, the Californiabased Internet titan said Thursday in a post at Google+ social network.

“Our Explorers are moms, artists, surgeons, rockers, and each new Explorer has brought a new perspective that is making Glass better,” Google said in the post.

“But every day we get requests from those of you who haven’t found a way into the program yet, and we want your feedback too.”

On April 15, Google will commence what it billed as the biggest expansion of the Explorer program to date by letting anyone in the US buy the eyewear online at google.com/glass/start/howto-get-one/ .

Google said online sales would take place “for a limited time,” but did not specify how long that might be.

Selling the image Google in March said it is joining forces with the frame giant behind Ray-Ban and other high-end brands to create and sell Glass Internet-linked eyewear in the United States.

The partnership with Luxottica was portrayed as Google’s “biggest step yet into the emerging smart eyewear market.”

Luxottica brands include Oakley, Alain Mikli, Ray-Ban, and VogueEyewear.

Reuters, Washington General Motors engineers were well aware of serious problems with ignition switches in GM small cars, but rejected several opportunities to make fixes, according to dozens of confidential documents released on Friday by a Congressional committee investigating the deadly defect.

Parts supplier Delphi Automotive also repeatedly tested switches and found they did not meet GM specifications, according to emails and other memos.

The internal documents from GM, Delphi and a US safety agency chart numerous examples of switch failure, of the sort that led GM earlier this year to

IMF’s Lagarde: ‘Bold action needed’ for global economy AFP, Washington

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Christine Lagarde (2nd right) takes a question during a news conference in Washington Reuters na Vice Governor Yi Gang said. “And I think failure to deliver this reform ... is a threat to IMF legitimacy.”

“It creates some uncertainty for the future resources of the IMF,” Yi said at a conference in Washington ahead of the spring meetings.

The governance reforms were adopted by the IMF in 2010, and initially a deadline of the end of 2012 had been

recall 2.6 million cars to replace defective switches now linked to at least 13 deaths.

The documents, the first tranche of some 250,000 pages, were released by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, which last week grilled GM Chief Executive Mary Barra on the automaker’s slow response to problems that GM first documented in 2001.

Committee Chairman Fred Upton, a Michigan Republican, said the documents illustrate “failures within the system.” Other lawmakers have questioned whether GM’s action are criminal.

Meanwhile, a top official with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration told General Motors in a July 2013 email that the automaker was

Consulting materials engineer Mark Hood shows the ignition assembly which has a faulty 2005 ignition switch (black piece at left), in the mechanical testing laboratory at McSwain Engineering, Inc. in Pensacola, Florida REUTERS

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Sunday, April 13, 2014

set for all member countries to endorse them. The administration of U.S. President Barack Obama has so far been unable to persuade Republicans in the House to act on the measure.

Many Republican lawmakers complain that the reforms would cost too much at a time the United States is facing high deficits and budget cuts, and would lessen US influence at the IMF.

“slow to communicate, slow to act” on defects and recalls.

Still to be answered is whether top GM executives were aware of the issues early on, as engineers struggled to pinpoint causes and solutions for ignition switches that could be turned off inadvertently with the vehicle in motion, causing the engine to stall and cutting power to steering, brakes and airbags.

GM says it is cooperating with Congress and conducting its own “unsparing” investigation of the circumstances that led to the recall.

Parts supplier Delphi Automotive also repeatedly tested switches and found they did not meet GM specifications, according to emails and other memos The documents show the automaker repeatedly elected not to fix or replace the faulty switches, because there was no acceptable “business case”, an indication the solution was deemed too expensive.

Federal regulators as early as 2007 were concerned that GM was dragging its heels on safety measures as consumer complaints mounted, but top officials at NHTSA never followed through on staffers’ recommendations to open a broad investigation, according to the documents.

The global economy has picked up but bold action is needed to surmount serious dangers and deliver the benefits more evenly, International Monetary Fund managing Director Christine Lagarde said Thursday.

Lagarde said the Ukraine crisis, slower growth in emerging economies, the threat of deflation in the eurozone, financial sector vulnerabilities in the two leading economies and market turbulence generally are serious hurdles to extending the global recovery.

Spelling out the policy challenges for the world’s economic policy-makers at the start of the annual IMF and World Bank spring meetings, Lagarde said determined efforts were needed to strengthen growth, after a “subdued” rebound from the economic crisis.

“The global economy is turning the corner, but the recovery is still too weak and too slow....Bold actions are needed,” she said.

“For some, despite the fact that growth is strengthening, they’re not feeling it. We still have 200 million people unemployed.”

The IMF laid out a detailed policy agenda for its meetings with finance ministers and central bank chiefs from around the world, which highlights the need for vigilance in countries at all points on the economic cycle.

Advanced economies need to be sure not to mishandle the shift from easymoney regimes set during the financial crisis, and the Fund warns that tightening too fast could derail their recovery and hurt growth in other countries.

China needs to deftly handle its non-banking credit bubble, and the United States needs to address new risks in corporate debt, margin lending and leveraged finance, the IMF warns.

Japan needs to push through on the “third arrow” of its turnaround - structural reforms - while emerging markets must themselves redo policies to adjust to a world of tighter capital.

Lagarde reiterated the IMF’s advice to the European Central Bank. urging it to quickly embark on operations to

fend off deflation which could reverse Europe’s recovery.

While saying the fund respects the ECB’s judgement, she urged it to act “sooner rather than later”.

Both the IMF and the World Bank stressed that the Ukraine crisis could also damage the world’s economic prospects, as both bodies marshall billions of dollars to prop up Kiev’s finances after the ouster or pro-Moscow president Viktor Yanukovich in February.

In the wake of its annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea region last month, Russia stepped up the tensions Thursday with President Vladimir Putin threatening to cut off its supply of natural gas to Ukraine.

Finance ministers of the G7 industrial powers will hold discussions mainly on Ukraine Thursday on the sidelines of the IMF and World Bank meetings, according to diplomats.

Their view is likely to be put to a meetings late Thursday and Friday in Washington of the G20 economic chiefs.

World Bank President Jim Yong Kim warned that the crisis will have farreaching effects on Russia, which could be forced into recession.

“This is a very serious issue for Russia - a very serious issue for its growth prospects,” Kim told reporters. “So we simply urge all of the parties to continue with negotiations and find a peaceful means of moving forward.”

The IMF has forecast global growth at 3.6% this year, and 3.9% next year.

But Lagarde noted that the G20 itself in February observed that with the right policies and the right cooperation between countries, growth could be higher by two percentage points over the next half-decade.

“That is the kind of growth trajectory that would help create jobs,” she said.

In response, Nicolas Mombrial, of the anti-poverty group Oxfam, said the IMF needs a plan that would address another part of the picture, inequality.

“There’s no trade-off between growth and inequality. There will be no inclusive growth if economic inequality remains out of control.”

Crude oil prices fall further in Asia AFP, Singapore Oil prices extended losses in Asian trade Friday as data showing a slowdown in China’s giant economy sparked concerns about weak demand.

Expectations that Libyan oil will return to the market after rebels lifted a blockade of crude terminals also helped push prices lower, analysts said.

New York’s main contract West Texas Intermediate for May delivery eased 16 cents to $103.24 a barrel in mid-morning trade while Brent North Sea crude tumbled 12 cents to $107.34 for its May contract.

“Global demand is waning due to the slowing growth in China,” said Des-

mond Chua, market analyst at CMC markets in Singapore.

Chinese imports slumped 11.3% in March from a year ago and exports fell 6.6% in the latest data pointing to a slowdown in the world’s second biggest economy.

For crude oil alone, China imported 5.54 million barrels per day in March, a decline of 8.0 percent from February and the weakest import volume in five months, according to German lender Commerzbank. In Libya, the National Oil Co lifted its force majeure notice from its Al-Hariga oil terminal in eastern Libya as of 1000 GMT Thursday, signalling a resumption of exports that could begin as soon as today.

US and China appeal WTO rulings Reuters, Geneva

Prime Bank Limited signed a memorandum of understanding with Bangkok Hospital and My Health, a representative of Bangkok Hospital in Bangladesh, on April 9 at a ceremony held at the bank’s head office. The bank’s MD and CEO, Md Ehsan Khasru and MD of My Health, Dr Nilanjon Sen signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations Associates of sales team at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka pose after a successful completion of Global Hotel Alliance Week held on April 7 to 11

Singer Sewing Instructress Meet 2014 was held at Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development in Comilla on April 7 and 8. The MD and CEO of Singer Bangladesh and vice-president of Singer Asia, AM Hamim Rahmatullah, inaugurated the event that was attended by 45 sewing instructresses from all over the country

Standard Bank Training Institute has recently organised a two day-long workshop on application of negotiable instruments in banking. DMD & group company secretary, AFM Nizamul Islam Chowdhury, head of HRD, M Ahsan Ullah Khan and principal of SBL Training Institute, Md Zakaria were present on the occasion

The United States and China have both appealed against recent rulings in disputes at the World Trade Organization (WTO), filings published by the WTO showed on Friday.

The United States said it wanted to correct some legal issues in a case that it brought jointly with the European Union and Japan, handing China a heavy defeat over its restrictions on exports of rare earth metals.

The filing said the US concerns would not need to be dealt with if there was no appeal from China. China has not ap-

pealed the ruling, but it still has time to do so, with a 60 day window from the time of the ruling on March 26.

In a separate filing, China lodged an appeal in a WTO case that it brought to challenge US punitive tariffs on exports including photovoltaic cells and modules, windtowers and certain steel and aluminum products.

Although Beijing scored a partial victory in that case, by successfully saying the United States had been wrong to punish some Chinese exports twice over, it lost the bulk of the argument against US laws targeting unfair trade subsidies.

Moin Uddin and Manna Shome recently joined Sheltech Brokerage Ltd as CEO and HOP respectively. Before joining Sheltech Brokerage, Moin worked at City Brokerage Ltd and IDLC Finance Ltd while Manna worked at UCB Bank Ltd, Grameenphone and Unilever (Bangladesh) Ltd

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Inequality: A budgeting challenge Sabbir Ahmed Growth was prone to be associated with rising equality – known as Kuznets hypothesis – is generally accepted as an inevitable feature of the development process.

National economic and fiscal policies are generally perceived from Kuznets dictum. In all western philosophy-dominated so-called open market economies, when economic and fiscal policies are formulated, it is assumed that the market is perfectly competitive (efficient), and thus would engage in ensuring equality.

However, Nobel laureate economist Joseph E Stiglitz, in his 2012 book The Price of Inequality, showed how markets are neither efficient nor stable and will tend to accumulate money in the hands of the few rather than engender competition.

He demonstrates how government policies and political institutions, far from countering these trends, often enhance them, and that politics frequently shapes markets in ways that advantage the richest over the rest.

This in turn weakens democracy and the rule of law by putting more and more political power in the hands of the wealthy. Though The Price of Inequality was written in the context of the United States, the observations are applicable in Bangladesh, as capitalism and capitalists behave in the same way irrespective of time and space.

A market is efficient when it is free from all sorts of private and public restrictions, except for property rights and free flow of information to market players. Efficiency of an open market cannot achieve without freedom of the individual and artificial individuals, companies are ensured.

In reality, market is heavily distorted by so many practices to please few wealthy and powerful, for example: Duties, tax holidays, licenses, permits, quota, unavailability of required market information, infringement of property rights, corruptions, mastanies, exercise of undue political power, dominance of big monies on policies, etc.

Thus, in no way can Bangladesh’s market be called an efficient market.

Absence of an efficient market is the main reason for which even pro-people policies cannot bring desired results.

Economic and fiscal policies in Bangladesh have been devising based on open-market philosophy since 1976, keeping an efficient market in the illusion. These illusionary policies have resulted more than a 5% GDP growth and ushered a high level of inequality in the distribution of income.

According to data from the World Bank, Gini Coefficient (a widely used measure of income inequality which assumes value between 0 and 1, with higher values indicating greater inequality) has risen from 0.26 in 1984 to 0.33 in 2005. It had reduced to 0.32 during the 2005-10 period.

financial products including microfinance loans, low price of agricultural produces, and such.

The rule of law is the means for ensuring social justice, including economic justice. It can safeguard resources in the hands of the middle and lower class from the unscrupulous wealthy and powerful people.

The government has initiated many safety net projects in order to redistribute social resources among vulnerable and poor people. Some of which are: Free primary education, kabikha, test relief, cash benefits for freedom fighters, elderly citizens, vulnerable women, and physically challenged people. These projects are theoretically sound and their effectiveness is visible.

However, according to social observers, about 40% of the expendi-

Illusionary economic and fiscal policies have resulted more than a 5% GDP growth and ushered a high level of inequality in the distribution of income On the other hand, income for the top 20% of the population has increased by 5.57% while income for the remaining 80% has decreased by the same amount between 1984 and 2010. Meaning, the wealthy and powerful 20% have taken away the income of the middle and lower class folk, making them poorer.

This social injustice had occurred because of inefficient national policies and their implementations. Inequality has a price. It hinders the implementation of poverty-reducing policies, thwarts economic growth, and throws the economy into a poverty spiral.

The government can reduce inequality through the redistribution of income and wealth. The poor and marginalised people have access to few resources, which is being grabbed by the wealthy and powerful by way of land-developing, inciting communal atrocities, lower wages in firms and factories, unreasonably high profitability of industrial and

tures are being eaten up by bureaucratic labyrinth. Payments directly made to vulnerable people through bank accounts are a comparatively better method of redistribution of social funds.

Nothing is perfect. In this case, because of widespread nepotism, a significant number of undeserving people are receiving public funds. In the past, the government has tried to distribute khash lands and houses among deserving people.

Many wealthy and powerful individuals exploited the opportunity in disguise. These initiatives were also unable to bring in desired results because of the chronic nepotism of the wealthy and powerful.

Safety net programmes, along with free education, allowances for education, and such, should continue defying nepotism and corruption in order to save the vulnerable and towards forging a skilled workforce.

Vocational and diploma engineer-

ing institutions and their education system should be made attractive.

These institutions can produce a skilled workforce for both the local and international market.

Though with improved and efficient safety net programmes, the vulnerable portion of society can be saved but it cannot address the 9% unemployed youth. For our country to eliminate poverty and be promoted to a middle-income nation by 2020, the solution is in the creation of enormous employment opportunities.

Bangladesh is ready to fly high with its 65% workforce, nearly US$ 300bn gross domestic product, US$ 19bn reserve, US$ 14bn annual remittance and US$ 25bn export market.

Now she needs infrastructure and investment climate. Remittances are generally being used for household consumptions and purchasing real estates. That pushes consumer price to higher level, creates real estate bubbles. Families that do not receive foreign remittances are becoming marginalised.

Government and private entrepreneurs can collect this huge amount and use for infrastructure development and in constructing manufacturing factories, IT labs, cottage industries, and farming. Software development and other IT related service providing could become another big sector like readymade garments and create enormous employment for educated people. Investment in agro based industries would create huge employment in rural Bangladesh. Factories are to be erected in coastal areas that would save transportation costs and ease pressure on metropolitan cities.

The government can bring all these dreams to the reality using upcoming national budget. The budget should not only be devised for higher economic growth it should also be formulated for bringing social justice fighting inequality.

The writer is a fellow chartered accountant and can be reached at sabbahme@yahoo. com

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Samsung Galaxy S5 makes global debut AFP, Seoul The latest version of Samsung’s flagship Galaxy smartphone went on sale worldwide Friday, days after the electronics giant announced it was facing a second consecutive quarter of profit decline.

The Galaxy S5 has a lot riding on it to steer the South Korean firm’s profit-making machine back on track as growth in smartphone sales slows, with mature markets like North America and Europe near saturation.

Apple is believed to be planning its own smartwatch launch soon, while Google is moving towards a wider consumer launch of its Internet-enabled eyewear Glass Reviews of the S5 have mostly concluded that it is one of the best highend smartphones on the market, but there is also a general consensus that it lacks the “wow” factor needed to differentiate it from its predecessors and competitors.

“It can swim, but it won’t make any waves,” was the verdict of the Wall Street Journal, referring to one innovation in the S5’s waterproof covering.

“The Galaxy S5 is a good phone. It earns an unreserved recommendation,” said the Washington Post.

“But the truth of the matter is that there’s really nothing here that’s worth breaking your contract to buy,” it added.

Samsung’s mobile unit has been the driving force behind the record profits of recent years, and it needs the S5 to perform well as a retort to doom-mongers who say the company lacks a clear strategy to flourish in an increasingly competitive, saturated market.

Samsung made more than 30% of

all smartphones sold in the world last year, nearly twice the share of its archrival Apple.

But on Tuesday, the company estimated its first quarter operating profit at 8.4tn won ($7.96bn), marking a second straight year-on-year decline.

As well as the constant challenge from Apple, Samsung has had to face the rapid expansion of smaller rivals like China’s Huawei, which has pressured it into rolling out cheaper handsets to woo consumers in emerging markets, especially China.

Falling smartphone prices

In a sign of the challenge the company faces, the S5 was priced lower at its commercial launch Friday than the previous S4 model.

Research firm IDC estimated the average selling price of smartphones will fall to $265 globally by 2017 from $337 in 2013 and $387 in 2012.

Samsung is believed to have reduced its marketing spend on the S5 and is also under pressure to set aside more cash for legal bills as years-long patent battles against Apple continue.

The two have locked horns in patent suits in several nations involving design and technologies on their smartphones and tablet computers.

A fresh patent trial opened in the United States last week, with Apple vowing to prove that Samsung flagrantly copied iPhone features and should pay more than $2bn in damages.

Major handset makers have recently stepped up efforts to develop wearable devices, seen as a new source for growth - though few have managed to garner large consumer excitement or sales.

Samsung’s first Internet-enabled smartwatch, introduced last September, was greeted coldly by consumers who viewed it unfashionable. Its second edition, the Gear 2, was launched in February.

Apple is believed to be planning its own smartwatch launch soon, while Google is moving towards a wider consumer launch of its Internet-enabled eyewear Glass.

Tax burden on wages in rich countries rose again in 2013 Reuters, London Taxes on wages rose across industrialised countries last year, as governments sought to reduce budget deficits blown out by efforts to tackle years of economic weakness following the financial crash.

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), whose members include the world’s richest nations, said the total burden of taxes on labour rose to 35.9% in 2013 from 35.7% in 2012.

The OECD said the growing “tax wedge”, which includes income taxes and the taxes employers pay on wages, was a disincentive to employment creation.

The Paris-based body believes lifting taxes on property and reducing tax breaks on pension saving for the better off, would be less damaging for em-

ployment and growth.

However, data across the OECD showed little correlation between employment and taxes on wages.

Belgium had the highest tax burden at 55.8%, last year but had an unemployment rate just fractionally above the OECD average.

Germany had the second highest tax burden at 49.3% but the fourth lowest unemployment rate, according to data on the OECD website.

OECD statistician Maurice Nettley said the absence of direct correlation was probably due to the fact economies in the group differed so much and many other factors were at play.

However, the tax burden has fallen on one group - since 2007 low paid workers with children have seen their burden drop relative to average and higher earners, the OECD said in its annual “Taxing Wages” survey.

Amazon to release smartphone later this year AFP, Washington Amazon is preparing to release a smartphone in the second half of 2014, thrusting itself into a market already crowded with Apple and Samsung models, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The company aims to announce its new product by the end of June and ship to customers by the end of September in time for the holidays, the Journal said in a Friday report, citing unnamed people briefed on the matter.

Amazon, it said, hopes to differentiate its phone from other models with a screen that displays hologram-like three-dimensional images, which can

DILBERT

be viewed without special glasses.

The company has been showing versions of the phone to developers in San Francisco and Seattle, the sources said.

Earlier this month the retailer unveiled a new media streaming device, Amazon Fire TV, which it touted as simplifying the experience of watching video online.

The new device is part of Amazon’s strategy to expand from retail to multimedia, leveraging its Kindle tablets and streaming video.

The smartphone market is currently dominated by rivals Samsung and Apple as well as low-cost Chinese rivals like Lenovo and Huawei.

Group of 20 nations finance ministers and central bankers pose for the International Monetary and Financial Committee family photo at the IMF/World Bank Spring meetings

AFP

World finance chiefs fall short on growth plan AFP, Washington Leading economic policymakers meeting in Washington voiced worry Friday that the Ukraine crisis could hurt the world economy, but fell short of taking concrete action to strengthen growth amid signs of discord.

Meeting on the sidelines of the IMF/World Bank spring meetings, G20 finance ministers and central bank chiefs pledged to follow up on reforms and support a $27 bn rescue program for Ukraine, even as Russia continues to menace its neighbour.

But there was little firm action on how to stimulate world growth further, prompting Australia’s Treasurer Joe Hockey, whose country leads the G20 this year, to label the sketchy plans “clearly inadequate.”

The G20 reiterated last year’s promise to boost collective growth by two percentage points, but there was disagreement on how to do so.

Hockey said individual members’ plans for contributing to that goal, offered after they met in Australia in February, fell short of what is needed.

“The comprehensive growth strategies that were submitted by countries following the meeting in Sydney were clearly inadequate,” he told reporters.

“Some countries put forward proposals that re-heated initiatives from previous occasions, or were already announced.”

When the G20 made the commitment to enhance growth, he added, “we really meant it. It wasn’t just a rhetorical figure put in the communique for publicity purposes.

“Instead of simply spending a lot of time reflecting on the lessons of the past, we need to be ambitious for the future. And that’s where the two-percent strategy is real.

“We’re not going to let it just remain in the too-hard-to-achieve basket.

That’s unacceptable.”

A statement identified key issues, including increasing and rebalancing demand and making exchange rates more flexible, the latter an issue regularly raised with China - the world number two economy - by the United States.

But with many countries at different stages of the economic cycle, there

were stark differences on what was important.

US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew attempted to sound a more upbeat tone.

“Over the last couple of days the international community has made it clear that boosting growth is our top priority,” he said.

Hockey said G20 members were pressed to deliver more concrete growth plans by the group’s next meeting, in September, in Cairns, Australia.

“Every country has to come with deliverables,” he warned.

Ukraine concerns

Despite rising tensions with Russia - a G20 member that looks increasingly isolated - the group was cautious in speaking about Ukraine.

“We are monitoring the economic situation in Ukraine, mindful of any risks to economic and financial stability,” they said in a statement.

Even so, it made it clear that they see Ukraine’s fragile economy, and the rising security threat after Moscow’s annexation of Crimea last month, as a serious problem for the global economy.

Much hangs on Ukraine being pulled back from the brink, including a $27bn rescue being mounted for the country by the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and Western powers.

That includes $14-$18bn from the IMF, in a package to be formally decided late this month or early May. Reza Moghadam, director of the IMF’s European Department, said it was hoping for more contributions from other countries and institutions “so we don’t have to put as much.”

The G20 meanwhile criticized the United States over its holding up of a four-year-old quota reform and funding increase for the IMF. Saying it was “deeply disappointed” with the delay, it pressed the United States to ratify the reforms, which cannot move ahead without the backing of Washington, the largest IMF shareholder. Increasingly there was talk of a complicated “Plan B” which could potentially diminish US influence at the Fund.

The G20 said it would give the US until the end of this year to ratify the reforms before it seriously mulls another path.