25 April 2014

Boishakh 12, 1421 Jamadius Sani 24, 1435 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 2, No 26

FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

WT | FIVE QUESTIONS ON RANA PLAZA

7 | THE FRENCH CONNECTION

20 pages plus 32-page weekend supplement | Price: Tk10

9 | FRUSTRATION OVER RESCUE EFFORTS

14 | BENZEMA GIVES REAL ADVANTAGE

A saga of heartrending stories Hundreds gather at Rana Plaza site to pay respect to the lost ones n Ashif Islam Shaon Yesterday was different from just any other day at the Rana Plaza collapse site not because people came to pay visits as relatives of dead victims rummaging through the rubbles is a pretty much normal scene.

What made yesterday unique was the number of people that gathered at the site in Savar – some 20km off Dhaka. Hundreds of people gathered on the first anniversary of the deadly collapse that ranks top among the deadliest of industrial disasters in human history.

Among those hundreds were those who lost their dear ones in the ruins;

A group of relatives chanted slogans, demanding death penalty for Rana Plaza owner Sohel Rana there were others who once worked with those who were killed in the collapse; and there were those who were lucky to survive the tragedy that claimed a staggering 1,136 lives.

Some injured victims came on wheelchairs; some with crutches. Some relatives, who still have not traced their loved ones, came with the lost ones’ photographs, roaming around and asking people about their whereabouts.

Many people, both from the locality and outside, who volunteered and risked their own lives to rescue the trapped ones, could not keep away either; just like the way they could not

hold themselves back when the disaster actually took place exactly a year ago.

Although it has been a year, one thing has remained unchanged. When they crawled inside the debris with floors piling up like pancakes one year ago, none of them thought of any reward. Yesterday too, there was no reward on offer, but still they had to be there.

Maksuda Begum comes to the site on the 24th of every month. One year ago, she lost her daughter in the collapse. Yesterday, she was surprised to see to so many people at the place. The bereaved mother was talking to the debris as if they were her lost child.

Middle-aged Meherina lost her son Babu when the Rana Plaza came down. “[On that day] he called me up and told me that there was something wrong. Some of his fellow workers gathered in front of the gate [of Rana Plaza]. They were reluctant to enter the building because a crack had developed on the building. I asked him not to enter, but he did not listen to me.

18 days later, they gave me his lifeless body,” the mother said.

“Please tell me where can I get my son back from... tell me please... whom will I scold over phone now... whom will I tell not to go inside the factory,” she kept sobbing.

Babu’s sisters Irin and Afia were by their mother’s side, splashing water over their mother’s face because she was losing consciousness every now and then.

The place where the building came down has been bordered by a steel fence. Yesterday, the relatives cross the fence, lit incense sticks, offered prayers  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

Survivors of the Rana Plaza tragedy take part in a play at the CRP in Savar, marking the first anniversary of the biggest disaster in the history of the RMG sector

Foreign envoys hail RMG reforms n Tazlina Zamila Khan Ambassadors and high commissioners of different countries at a programme yesterday praised the Bangladesh government for its efforts to reform the readymade garment sector and stressed the need for implementation of the pledges which still remain unfulfilled.

The Labour and Employment Ministry and the International Labour Organisation jointly arranged the programme titled “One year after Rana Plaza: Progress and the Way Forward” at Ruposhi Bangla Hotel in the capital marking one year of the Rana Plaza collapse.

Ambassador of Netherlands Gerben Sjoerd de Jong said: “Many challenges still remain to be tackled. More labour inspectors need to be recruited; the

Capital experiences highest temperature in 54 years

P4 REMEMBERING VICTIMS And besides all that, the issue of compensation to the victims has to be addressed with utmost priority.”

He added: “The rapid and unfettered growth of the readymade garment industry has led to a lack of compliance with both social and labour standards in too many of the factories.

Consequently, this has resulted in unsafe working conditions, sexual harassment in the workplaces, poor wages

Climate change experts consider this extreme weather to be a result of changing patterns in world climate.

“Such kind of abnormal attitude of  PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

The Bridges Division of the government has not got expected response from the pre-qualified international construction companies for the tender floated for building the proposed Padma bridge, with two companies seeking more time to submit proposal.

Only the China Major Bridge Engineering Company Ltd responded to the tender for the work order for building the main structure of the bridge.

Communications Minister Obaidul Quader made the disclosure yesterday afternoon as the deadline for submitting official proposals expired.

Quader said: “We waited for official proposals and tender documents from the pre-qualified companies. Out of the three companies, only the China Major Bridge Engineering placed a proposal.

“Samsung C&T Corporation andDaelim-Bam-VCI did not respond be-

cause the government did not extend the submission deadline,” he said.

The minister also said:“We have extended the deadline several times considering the political situation. We also positively considered the requests of the pre-qualified companies. But it is not possible to extend the time again as it may delay the start of construction.

“We have to move forward with the proposal that we received today.

Everything will be done according to the suggestion of the international consultant of the project and the technical evaluation committee. After proper evaluation, they will advise the government about further steps.”

When asked whether the government was going to give work order to the only company that had responded, Khandaker Anwarul Islam, secretary of the Bridges Davison, told the Dhaka Tribune: “There is no problem in  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Immediate rescue of eight missing persons demanded n Mohammad Jamil Khan Family members of eight people allegedly picked up by the members of Rapid Action Battalion from the capital’s Bashundhara area several months ago demanded that the government let them know the whereabouts of their missing relatives.

They said they just wanted to know if their missing relatives were still alive or dead. They were picked up allegedly by the RAB members on December 4 last year.

They made the demand from a press briefing at the National Press Club yesterday.

The missing people are ward 38 BNP Secretary Sajedul Islam Sumon, 36; Sumon’s cousin Jahedul Touhid Tanvir, 30; Kawsar of Shahinbagh; West Nakhalpara’s Abdul Kader Bhuiyan Masum, 24; East Nakhalpara’s Mazaharul Islam Rasel, 24; Mugda’s Asaduzzaman, 27; North Badda’s Al-Amin, 26; and AM Adnan Chowdhury, 28.

During the briefing, Hazera Begum, mother of Sumon, said he along with

Skin deep wounds are easy to heal – a simple amputation can ensure survival. But remedying invisible injuries that are rooted deep inside the psyche of human beings, especially those who have witnessed terrible disasters, are never so simple.

Things get particularly difficult for people belonging to low income groups such as the readymade garment workers, who used to make apparels for the factories housed by the fateful Rana Plaza. The fact that there is very little awareness and few treatment facilities in Bangladesh for mental disorders make things even more difficult.

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

Only one pre-qualified company responds n Mohosinul Karim

Shah Alam said the average April rainfall in Dhaka division was 127mm but it had experienced only 39mm rainfall as of yesterday – with no rainfall at all in Dhaka city since April 8.

and intimidation and violence against labour activities.”

Canadian High Commissioner Heather Cruden said: “Many of the commitments of the tripartite plan have partially been implemented. For example, only a small number of the promised 200 additional labour inspectors have been hired so far. The database does not yet contain information on the inspections of factories. There continue to be cases of harassment and persecution of labour union leaders.

Workers are at the heart of the industry and must have a more active role through workers’ committees.”

US Ambassador Dan W Mozena said: “I believe Bangladesh is making impressive progress toward that end, toward ensuring that the workers of

Survivors’ trauma largely unaddressed n Ashif Islam Shaon

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

PADMA BRIDGE TENDER

n Abu Bakar Siddique Dhaka city yesterday experienced the highest temperature in 54 years as mercury reached 40.2 degrees Celsius.

The country’s highest temperature was recorded 42.4 degrees Celsius in Jessore.

The previous highest temperature in the capital was recorded 42.3 degrees on April 30, 1960, according to Bangladesh Meteorological Department. The highest temperature on April 24 last year in Dhaka was 34.2 degrees.

Met Office Director Shah Alam told the Dhaka Tribune that the current heat wave was likely to continue for a few more days, with the temperature reaching up to 43 degrees since there was little possibility of rainfall. “But that should not go beyond April 27,” he said.

On the causes for no rainfall, the official said the Westerly wind which causes rainfall at this time of year was yet to be active.

public database needs more details on status of factory and labour inspections; harassment of labour activists needs to be addressed; new minimum wage needs full implementation; and remedial safety measures in the inspected factories must be undertaken.

seven others were gossiping and eating peanuts in Bashundhara area on the day of the incident. A couple of microbuses with sticker of RAB 1 pulled over in front of them and took them away at gunpoint.

Since then they have been missing, she said. “We contacted the RAB office and police stations a number of times but no one has been able to give any positive answer until date.”

Kismat Hayath, director of RAB 1, told the media that they were quite sure that no one from the RAB 1 was in-

volved in it. He, however, said the elite force was investigating the matter.

Following the incident, the family members filed general diaries with Gulshan, Tejgaon Industrial, Mugda and Badda police stations. Besides these, a case was filed with Bhatara police station accusing unidentified people.

Sultana Kamal, former adviser to a caretaker government and executive director of rights group Ain O Salish Kendra, who was present at the briefing demanded immediate rescue of the missing persons.

“Law enforcers do not belong to a group or party and they should trace all missing persons without giving priority to their political ideologies.”

Sultana Kamal said the law enforcers should be held accountable if they failed to maintain law and order.

Prominent lawyer Dr Shahdeen Malik and founder of Gonoshasthaya Kendra Zafrullah Chowdhury were also present at the briefing, among others.

In reply to a question, Dr Shahdeen Malik said, as per the constitution and  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

INSIDE Business

B1 The government has decided not to take the World Bank’s proposed fund for the state-owned commercial banks as conditions are ‘not possible to be met,’ official sources said.

News

5 Despite a government plan to crack down on unfit vehicles in the capital from next month, public transport owners will get six more months to replace their rundown vehicles.

Nation

6 A prolonged drought in Kurigram is taking a heavy toll on farmers as they are unable to cultivate jute along with other crops.

International

8 Ukrainian forces killed up to five pro-Moscow separatists in the east of the country as Russian President Vladimir Putin warned of ‘consequences’ if Kiev used the army against its own people.

Op-Ed

11 Let me say that I am a firm believer in Intelligent Design, and that a Supreme Force created all of mankind whether Muslim, Hindu, Christian, Jew, or Buddhist. Question is, did God separate us, or did we separate ourselves?

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

RANA PLAZA COLLAPSE

Eleven Labour Court cases stuck in tangles n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu The trials in 11 cases filed with the Labour Court following the Rana Plaza collapse have yet to begin even though one year has passed since the deadly incident took place.

The Labour Ministry lodged the cases against its owner Sohel Rana, his father Abdul Khaleque, and the owners and top officials of the five garment factories housed in the building.

The eight-storeyed building situated beside the Savar-Dhaka highway collapsed on the morning of April 24, last year, leaving at least 1,135 people, mostly workers of the five garment factories housed in that faulty building, dead and over 2,500 injured.

The accused were charged with keeping the authorities in the dark over the appearance of cracks on the building before the collapse and with negligence in ensuring safety in the workplace.

As the trials have been delayed since the police have not submitted their re-

ports, the affected workers and labour rights leaders have expressed their doubt about whether justice will be achieved in time.

Of the 11 cases, Sakib Mubarrat, an inspector of the Labour Court, filed five cases on April 25, 2013 under the applicable sections of the Bangladesh Labour Law 2006. Md Shahidul Islam, another inspector, filed six separate cases on April 28.

The accused include Chairman Bazlus Samad Adnan and Executive Director Delwar Ahmed of New Wave Bottoms and New Wave Style; Managing Director of New Wave Style Md Monir Hossain; Director of New Wave Bottoms AR Ayub Hossain; Chairman Aminul Islam and Managing Director David Mayor Rako of Phantom Tac and Phantom Apparels; Chairman of Ethertex Md Anisur Rahman and its Director Md Nazrul Islam; Ethertex and Phantom Tac Director Jannatul Ferdous; Phantom Apparels directors ABM Siddique and Suraya Begum; and Director of Phantom Apparels Zafar Ahmed.

Of the accused, Delwar, Aminul, Suraya and Siddique are now out on bail while the court issued arrest warrants for the other accused. But the warrants have not been executed as the accused are already in jail for other cases filed against them for homicide and flouting the building code.

Shah Alam, the bench assistant of the Labour Court, told the Dhaka Tribune that the maximum punishment in such cases is four years’ imprisonment and a fine of Tk1 lakh.

He also said: “Arrest warrants were issued against the accused including Sohel Rana and his father Abdul Khaleque. But the Savar police did not submit the execution reports before the court as warrants are not executed against someone already in jail.”

Shahidul Islam, the inspector of the Factory and Establishment Directorate under the Labour Ministry who is dealing with the cases, claimed that the trials have been delayed as all the factory owners have been in jail for other cases. l

Friday, April 25, 2014

Minister: Charge sheets in Rana Plaza cases soon

RMG workers stage protest at Badda n Manik Miazee

n Rabiul Islam

Hundreds of readymade garment workers yesterday held a demonstration at capital’s Badda demanding toughest punishment to Rana Plaza owner Sohel Rana and ensuring compensation for all affected families of the catastrophic disaster.

The demonstration, which was called to observe the first anniversary of Rana Plaza tragedy, also demanded the closure of the area’s Tuba Fashion which was housed in a building that recently developed cracks and higher salaries.

Not only Tuba Fashion, they also demanded the closure of all garments factories buildings where cracks had been witnesses.

Garments Workers’ Union President Alia Akhtar told the Dhaka Tribune: “We urge the government to award the toughest punishment to Rana Plaza owner Sohel Rana. If he (Sohel) is not punished accordingly, then the country’s garment sector will turn to ashtray.”

Over the last one year, cracks had been found in many RMG factory building, including Frame Sweater and SS Sweater Factory in Gazipur.

Just after the Rana Plaza collapse on April 24 last year, crack was reportedly found at Tuba Fashion Limited, which is housed at a 12 stories commercial building named Hossain Market at the capital’s North Badda. Tuba Fashion is part of a group that owned Tazreen Fashion, where a blaze killed around 117 workers on November 24, 2012.

“Actually, a pillar of the building had developed a minor crack a year ago. It had been repaired. A group of engineers had visited the building some 15 days ago,” said the building’s Shop Owners’ Association President Yusuf Khan. He, however, mentioned that he was yet to get the report from the engineering team.

BGMEA chief engineering Liakat Hossain told Dhaka Tribune that a team from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) had been conducting the inspection at respective building and has finalised a report on the basis of their findings.

He further added a team of experts from the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishment of the Ministry of Labour and Employment had visited the site some 15 days back.

“The BGMEA was yet to receive the outcome of the ministry’s inspection.

However, if any problems are found with the inspection, we will take the matter seriously,” he added.

While contacted, Buet's Mehedi Ahmed Ansari said he cannot comment on the issue without having the report which is not possible before Sunday (April 27).

Meanwhile, BGMEA President Atiqur Islam said there may not be any life-threatening issue regarding the Tuba Fashion building.

“If there is any risk, we will close down the factory. Earlier, we had shut down around 21 factories and will do so for the same for this building if needed.”l

State Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan yesterday said charge sheets in the cases filed over last year’s deadly Rana Plaza collapse would be submitted soon.

The Home Ministry yesterday organised a press conference to inform the newsmen about the government steps since the collapse until now. Before it commenced, the attendants observed one-minute silence to show respect to the victims.

Senior Secretary of the Home Ministry CQK Mustaq Ahmed, IGP Hassan Mahmood Khandker and RAB DG Mokhlesur Rahman were also present.

About identifying vulnerable buildings and demolishing them, Asaduzzaman said preparation of making a list was underway and that 1,050 buildings had already been identified.

At least 1,136 people, mainly female workers of five garment factories housed in the faulty Rana Plaza at Savar, died after it had collapsed on April 24 morning last year. As many as 2,458 persons were rescued alive from under the rubbles.

The state minister said so far 21 persons who are accused in two cases – one filed by police for homicide and another by Rajuk for violating building code – had been arrested, and eight of

them secured bail from the High Court.

“We have been working so that the charge sheets are prepared properly,” the state minister said. “We hope to submit the charge sheets soon to the court.”

Explaining the reason behind delay in submission of the charge sheets, Hassan Mahmood said: “Sometimes it takes time for investigation. However, we assure you that it will be possible to submit the charge sheets very soon and the guilty persons will be brought to book.”

Rajuk filed a case on April 25 for breaching building construction act and building code while the murder case was filed the same day with Savar police station by Sub-Inspector Wali Ashraf.

Primarily, CID found 39 accused as per evidence. Investigators later put the total number of accused at 21 in the murder case and 12 in the other.

The prime accused in the police case and Rana’s father, Abdul Khalek, got bail in October. Eighteen other accused are now absconding.

Another murder case was filed with the Dhaka Judge’s Court by deceased garment worker Jahangir Alam’s wife Sheuli Akter. Two other cases were filed with Dhamrai police station under Arms Act by DB Inspector Shahin Shah Parvez.

The CID started investigating the three cases soon after the incident. l

Two criminals held with arms in Chittagong n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong Members of the Rapid Action Battalion arrested two wanted criminals with weapons and ammunitions from Chittagong’s Raozan upazila early yesterday.

The arrested men, identified as Abbas and Belal, were allegedly involved in kidnapping returning Bangladeshi expatriates to extract huge ransoms, Additional Superintendent of Police Mofizul Islam, a spokesman for RAB 7, said.

Mofizul told the Dhaka Tribune that acting on a tip-off, the two suspects were picked up around 4:30am from a residence at Boro Thakur Para in the area.

The elite anti-crime unit seizedan AK-47 submachine gun with a magazine and 58 rounds of bullets, a light gun and three rounds of cartridges from their possession.

The RAB spokesman saidAbbas, who heads a criminal gang, is an accused in at least 10 cases, including murder, lodged with different police stations of the district.

“The duo used the name of the ruling party as their safeguard, but they are not activists of any political party,” he added. l

An RMG Workers' Union leader stands on a barricade and addresses a rally near National Eidgah yesterday, demanding compensation for the victims, full trade union facilities and implementation of the increased wages. The rally was marching towards the BGMEA building when it was intercepted by the police RAJIB DHAR

One pre-qualified

A saga of heartrending stories

Capital experiences highest temperature in 54 years

 PAGE 1 COLUMN 5

 PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

 PAGE 1 COLUMN 3

giving them the work order because they are pre-qualified.”

The secretary also said the international consultant of the project and the technical evaluation committee had already started evaluating the proposal. “We will take the final decision after getting their recommendation and approval from government high-ups.”

The international tender for building the main infrastructure of the bridge was floated on Jun 30, 2013. Initially, September 9 last year was set as the deadline for submission of tender.

Later the timeline was extended twice – first until October 27 last year and then to March 24. l

Immediate rescue  PAGE 1 COLUMN 5

the laws of the land, the law enforcers must place arrestees before a court within 24 hours of his/her arrest.

Zafrullah said people should raise their voice against disappearance. The lawyers needed to take courageous role in such cases.

At the same briefing, Mohammad Abdul Latif, father of another missing person, urged the government to bring his son back.

He said some people identifying them as Detective Branch of Police officials had taken away his son Mohammad Ashiqur Rahman, 25, on March 27.

A general diary was filed with Ramna police station in this regard and an application was also submitted to the state minister of home affairs.

Following the media briefing, the families formed a human chain in front of the National Press Club demanding that their missing near and dear ones be rescued immediately. l

seeking peace for the departed souls.

Khodeja Begum, who was injured in the accident, came on a wheelchair. She got financial help from various organisations and was on her way to full recovery.

“I have come here to pay tribute to my colleagues, who died here. They were smashed under the pillars right in front of my eyes,” she described the ordeal.

Soon after, the agony of losing the loved ones turned into exasperation. A group of relatives started chanting slogans, demanding death sentence for Sohel Rana, the owner of the building who convinced the factory owners to force their workers into the factory on that day.

At one point, the Dhaka-Aricha Highway got clogged with the visitors.

They also chanted slogans demanding compensation for the victims and the families.

The Center for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP) has been giving treatment to many victims of the collapse.

One such was Yunus Ali Sarder Yousuf, who suffered some major injuries while volunteering in the rescue operation. He has been taking treatment at the CRP for 11 months. He sang a song for this reporter.

“I used to be a theater artist. But the injuries have not only robbed me of my ability to sing, but also to move. I was released from the hospital only two days ago. My new life has begun on a wheelchair.

Everyone, who came to the place yesterday, had stories of their own to tell – all of those stories equally worthy. l

Foreign envoys hail RMG reforms  PAGE 1 COLUMN 5

Bangladesh will never again find their lives forfeited at the altar of callous greed as workers’ lives are put at risk for undue profit.”

He also said that all of the powerful forces that came together to transform the country’s RMG sector will create a new way to do business in the sector to create a regimen that closes the door forever to another Rana Plaza disaster.

EU Ambassador William Hanna said: “Bangladesh’s ability to ensure safety and health at work, and freedom of association must continue to improve. Bangladeshi authorities need to make sure that new legislation is effectively implemented in practice, and that Bangladeshi industry keeps to its commitments in this respect.”

Speakers at the programme stressed the need for dealing with the issues of freedom of association and collective

bargaining agent in garment sector.

Roy Ramesh Chandra, secretary general of IndustriAll Bangladesh, said: “Rana Plaza was the result of combined failure of all stakeholders.

US guidelines made it mandatory for brands to protect the safety of the garments from where they are sourcing, but they didn’t follow it. Brands should pay compensation which is the rights of workers. Consumers have to play their role by contributing to the donor fund for compensation.”

He suggested creating welfare trust fund for RMG workers where brands, employers and government would contribute for retired garment workers.

Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Engr Khandker Mosharraf Hossain said: “Implementation of legal changes and policies and coordination of all stakeholders is a must.” l

weather is a clear indication of changing patterns of climate,” said Ahsan Uddin Ahmed, executive director of the Centre for Global Changes, adding that usually normal rainfall was expected at this time.

In addition to irregular rainfall and rise in temperature, the frequency of depression in the Bay of Bengal also rose in the last decade, he told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

Referring to the flood in Germany and Pakistan, Ahsan said the whole world had been experiencing this abnormal attitude of weather.

The searing subtropical heat started last month and has affected the whole

country, causing heat-related illness and prompting people to get admitted to hospitals.

A record number of 786 patients had been admitted to the ICDDRB in the last 24 hours and about 60% of them were infants suffering from water-borne diarrhoeal diseases, said ICDDRB’s Chief Physician Sunil Kumar Bardhan yesterday evening.

Physicians suggest that people should drink plenty of fluids and remain cautious while taking food to prevent heat-related illness. They also suggest avoiding being in the sun and using protection such as sunglasses, umbrella and cap while going out in daytime.

The highest temperature in the

country in the past 10 years was recorded 43.2 degrees Celsius in Jessore in 2009; however, the highest temperature recorded in the country’s history was 45.1 degrees on May 18, 1972.

Despite Dhaka’s comparatively lower temperature, it feels much hotter than in other areas of the country, which the meteorologists attribute to the capital’s high population density, fewer plantation and a large number of concrete structures that contain the heat.

Many people are seen buying seasonal fruits – green coconut and watermelon – although affording them goes beyond the ability of poor people as the prices go soaring along with the temperature. l

Survivors’ trauma largely unaddressed  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

The results are even more disastrous for these people, who struggle relentlessly to get rid of the poverty jinx. The government’s indifference towards such predicaments often results in triggering suicidal tendencies, leaving entire families in rags and many of them losing their livelihoods altogether.

Razibul Rahman Kari, 20, was a sewing machine operator in one of the factories inside the Rana Plaza. He was pinned by a heavy slab after the building came down.

A volunteer might have pulled him from under the rubble, but in his mind, he has never quite been out.

After he went home, he tried to break one of the walls in his room.

When his mother would ask him to eat food, he would say he could not because he was trying to break the wall to rescue himself.

The young man also tried to kill himself twice.

A recent study by ActionAid Bangla-

desh has found that 24% of the survivors and the rescue workers have been suffering from traumas of different scales.

They either have difficulty sleeping or get uncontrollable fits. Their phobia of multi-storeyed buildings, concrete roofs and darkness has been hurting them.

Many of them see dead bodies in their dreams. The haunting memories severely encumber the performance of those who have new jobs.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), with support from the World Health Organisation, provided psychological first-aid, counselling and medicine to around 4,000 survivors after the collapse. But a good number of the affected remain unattended.

“The activities ended on November 30 last year due to an absence of funds,” said NIMH Director Waziul Alam Chowdhury.

Many of the traumatised survivors have turned to local doctors and their

conditions have gotten even worse.

There are still over 100 deeply traumatised workers who need to be admitted for psychological treatment, the study says.

“But they are not coming to the hospitals,” Waziul regretted.

“Providing psychological support to the disaster victims is new in our country. Family members do not bother about these problems. Apart from the survivors, a total of 78 rescuers have received treatment from us,” he said.

According to doctors, seven of them suffered from acute stress disorder, 23 from post-traumatic stress disorder, five from bipolar mood disorder, four from conversion disorder, two from general anxiety disorder, one from panic attacks, one from drug addiction and one suffered from manic disorder. Six of them were admitted to the NIMH. Waziul said many of the workers who had mental illness were yet to be addressed. They should be treated as soon as possible. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

3

Friday, April 25, 2014

WORLD MALARIA DAY TODAY

Malaria still a burden n Tazlina Zamila Khan As many as 13.1 million people are currently at high risk of contracting malaria in the country. Last year, the number of affected people was 25,891, while 15 died from the disease.

The statistics was revealed in the recently released annual report of Brac’s Malaria Control Programme.

According to the report, malaria contraction is largely concentrated in 13 districts in Bangladesh. Among them, Bandarban, Khagrachhari, Rangamati and Cox’s Bazar see 80% of the reported deaths caused by malaria every year during two peak times: Before monsoon (March-May) and after monsoon (September-November).

The other endemic districts are: Chittagong, Sylhet, Sunamganj, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Mymensingh, Netrokona, Sherpur and Kurigram.

Dr M Moktadir Kabir, programme manager of Malaria Health at Brac, said: “In order to eradicate malaria, we have to find all the malaria patients in Bangladesh.”

Compared to the capital, the number of patients is high in the endemic districts, according to Dr Kabir.

However, the number was a lot less

By-polls to 97 unions on May 27 n Mohammad Zakaria

By-elections will be held at 97 Union Parishads in 46 districts on May 27.

The Election Commission yesterday issued a circular on this, said its Senior Assistant Secretary Farhad Hossain.

In the circular, all the relevant district election officials have been asked to appoint returning officers informing the Commission, he said.

This by-election procedure will not be different from that of the Local Government (Union Parishad) Election, 2010, said Farhad quoting from the circular.

A Union Parishad has a chairman, nine members (per ward) and three women members (per three wards) directly elected by voters of the Union. l

Hili port remains closed for Lok Sabha polls n Our Correspondent, Dinajpur The land port of Hili under Dinajpur district was kept closed yesterday because of the Lok Sabha polls in India’s West Bengal and North Dinajpur districts.

However, people with passports were allowed to pass through the immigration check post.

General Secretary of the port’s C&F Agents’ Association Abdur Rahman Liton quoted Indian C&F Agents’ Association General Secretary Ashok Kumar Mal as saying the authorities had decided to keep the port activities suspended on Thursday to assist the Lok Sabha polling. Port activities will resume tomorrow as Friday is weekly holiday, sources said.

Assistant Manager of Panama Hili Port Link Limited SM Hayder said loading and unloading in Bangladeshi side of the port would continue these two days. l

Malaria situation in 13 endemic districts of Bangladesh Years

2007

Number of malaria cases 59857 Number of deaths

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012 2013

84690 63873 55873 51795 29518 8719

228

than before, he said.

“Malaria is not only our problem, but also a problem in India. Some of the people who illegally cross borders carry malaria into our country. We need to diagnose and treat them as well,” Dr Kabir added.

As the Brac report states, despite global effort, malaria is still at large around the world and a significant threat to world population. The disease disproportionately affects poor nations, especially the rural and the socio-economically disadvantaged population. About 219 million malaria cases were diagnosed in 2010 globally, of which 6,60,000 died. Most of the children who died were under five years of age.

Dr Md Kamar Rezwan, national professional officer of Vector Borne Disease at World Health Organisation Bangladesh, told the Dhaka Tribune that malaria patients needed early diagnosis and prompt treatment.

154

47

37

36

11

15

“We have to provide treatment to the people who live in the remote areas, and children and pregnant women should be given special care. The population of anopheles mosquitoes that spread malaria is bigger in those districts. To eradicate the disease, we have to remove the mosquitoes,” he said.

Dr Mohammad Zahirul Karim, deputy programme manager of National Malaria Control Programme, said: “The government is in talks with the army about providing medical help to the remote areas in the country as voluntary work is difficult to provide in those areas. It is tough to eradicate the disease fully, but it has reduced a lot than before.”

He added: “As we share borders with Myanmar and India, the government needs to take joint initiatives with our neighbours to eradicate malaria. Otherwise, it is going to be very difficult as mosquitoes travel across the borders.” l

A platform of woven garment owners BGMEA brings out a condolence rally in the capital yesterday, marking the one year of the collapse of Rana Plaza that housed five factories MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Amu: BNP’s Teesta long march No new Grameen Bank branch in 2 years new strategy ROW OVER OWNERSHIP

n Asif Showkat Kallol The authority of Grameen Bank could not open any new branch in last two years because of a row with the government over its management and ownership.

Grameen Bank data showed that the micro-credit organisation failed to set up new branch offices in last two years since March 2012 despite good credit recovery rate.

Official sources said the GB authority sent the latest data on the bank to Bank and Financial Institutions Division last week.

Grameen Bank had a total of 2,567 branches till March in 2012 while 2,565 branches in 2010. Only two branches opened during this period.

The loan recovery rate of GB was 97.37% in March 2014 while it was 97.11% in March 2013, according to GB data.

The number of total members of GB

had also increased from 84 lakh to 86 lakh in last one year, the data show.

Tahsina Khatun, one of the nine borrower members of the existing board, told the Dhaka Tribune that no new branch offices had opened in last two years due to the dispute between the government and the Grameen Bank authority. “So, it puts negative impact on operation of the bank.”

Ordinary members of Grameen Bank have also expressed their concern over the row between the GB and the government, she said, adding that manpower will be required for setting up a new branch office, but the process has now been stalled on the instructions of the board of directors.

Khondaker Muzammel Huq, chairman of Grameen Bank appointed by the government, told the Dhaka Tribune that he resigned his chairmanship of the bank in last August.

“I cannot talk about the mac-

ro-credit institution. Even I do not know whether the institution was doing good or bad in last couple of years,” he added.

The finance minister did not accept his resignation, he said. “The government knows better about the matter.”

Tahsina Khatun, however, claimed that Khondaker Muzammel Huq did not resign his post as he chaired the board meeting of GB on January 29.

The board of directors of GB last week protested the government’s move to elect a new board of the micro-lender by October 5, terming it “a conspiracy to destroy” the bank.

“We, the elected directors, strongly protest the government’s conspiracy to destroy Grameen Bank and demand that the existing system through which the bank members have been electing their directors for more than three decades, be retained,” said a bank statement recently. l

n Emran Hossain Shaikh Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu yesterday said the long march of the BNP towards Teesta was its fresh political strategy.

“After failing to distort the country’s history, BNP announced the long march as part of its new strategy.

However, the party failed again and achieved no success this time either,” Amu, also a member of the ruling Awami League’s advisory body, said while addressing a discussion at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University in the capital.

The BNP had done nothing about Teesta water sharing when it was in power, he said.

Referring to the Ganges Water Pact and settlement of maritime boundary, the minister claimed: “All the achievements of Bangladesh, both at national and international level, were

made during the rule of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. No development was done under other governments.”

He also said BNP Senior Vice-chairman Tarique Zia’s controversial claim on the first president of Bangladesh should not be taken seriously.

Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif criticised BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir for his assertion that water flow in Teesta increased as a result of the party’s long march.

“You [Fakhrul] should continue the long march if water flow really increased in Teesta because of it,” he said.

Water problems would be solved once the new government in India took office following the ongoing general elections there.

The discussion was arranged by Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad marking the Mujibnagar Day. l

Gas cylinder blast injures Ershad’s radar graft case at last stage n 25 at Chankharpul Md Sanaul Islam Tipu

n Kailash Sarkar At least 25 people have been injured as a gas cylinder burst at Chankharpul next to Dhaka Medical College Hospital yesterday.

Three of them have been critically injured. Several business houses were also damaged due to the explosion at Kazi Gas Co around 12:30pm, said police, firemen and witnesses.

The shop, situated on an open space beside the road, sells compressed ammonium gas, which is used in storing gold.

At least 19 of the injured were admitted to the Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit of the hospital, said its Registrar Dr Iqbal Ahmed, talking to the Dhaka Tribune.

The victims include employees

of different shops in the area, rickshaw-pullers and pedestrians.

They were Shyamal Kumer Mondol, 30, Md Ripon, 25, Sabbir Ahmmed, 23, Parul Begum, 25, Shamsur Rahman, 35, Md Shahed, 25, Zahirul Islam, 30, Khokan MIah, 45, Azizur Rahman, 39, Shushil Kumer, 25, six-year-old child Meem, her mother Moni Begum, 40, Swapan, 30, Shahidul Huq, 42, Rahim Mollah, 34, Moklesur Rahman, 28, Abdur Rahman, 32, and Safura Begum, 32.

All the injured, admitted to the hospital, have been put on oxygen as they were injured due to smoke/gas inhalation, said Registrar Iqbal.

Chawkbazar police station’s officer-in-charge Abdur Rashid said, “After talking to relevant people, we have learnt that this cylinder exploded due to heavy heat inside.” l

A Dhaka court yesterday set May 15 for examination of the five accused – former military dictator HM Ershad and four others – in connection with the radar purchase corruption case filed in 1992.

On that day, the court will examine the accused whether they are guilty or not, after taking different points from the statements of 12 prosecution witnesses.

Divisional Special Court Judge Md Abdur Rashid set the date after recording cross-examination of the last prosecution witness in the case, Abdus Sattar Sarker. Ershad’s counsel Sheikh Sirajul Islam questioned him.

An Anti-Corruption Commission deputy director, Sattar is the investigation officer of the case.

A special envoy to the prime minister and Jatiya Party chief Ershad was

not present during the proceedings.

His lawyer represented him at the court. Two other accused – former Air Force chiefs Air Vice-Marshal (retd) Sultan Ahmed and Air Vice-Marshal (retd) Mamtaz Uddin Ahmed were in the dock.

Ershad while serving as president purchased radar for the Air Force in collusion with the four other accused causing the state a loss of around Tk64 crore Deposition of prosecution witnesses began on August 19, 2010 with plaintiff Md Ali Haider, assistant superintendent of now-defunct Anti-Corruption Bureau. His testimony ended on March 1, 2012.

Haider filed the case with Cantonment police station of the capital on April 4, 1992. Investigation Officer Manzur Ahmed, an official of the Bureau, pressed the charges against the five on October 27, 1994, and named 38 people as prosecution witnesses.

On August 12, 1995, the charges were framed against the accused. But, the trial proceedings at the lower court had been stalled for a long time upon an order of the High Court.

The case details say Ershad while serving as president had purchased radar for the Air Force by abusing power and in collusion with the four others causing the state a loss of around Tk64.04 crore.

Another accused – Director of United Traders AKM Musa – has been absconding since the beginning of the trial. The name of Shazed Ali, proprietor of the firm, was dropped from the charge sheet. l

Next witness in Qaisar case April 28

University student dies; father accuses roommates

n Udisa Islam

Mystery shrouded centring the death of a private university student who succumbed to burn injuries early yesterday in the capital.

His roommates at a mess in Dakkhinkhan area said the victim, Shohag Mia, 26, was burnt when he had come into close contact of an electric wire on the rooftop on April 18 morning.

Police believed the roommates’ version but were analysing other possible reasons.

It is learnt that the wire was at least nine feet far from the edges of the rooftop.

The father of the victim, however, said Shohag was burnt while sleeping in his room and accused the roommates of setting him on fire.

Mohammad Saiful, sub-inspector of Dakkhinkhan police station, told the Dhaka Tribune: “We sent the body for a post mortem examination as the victim’s father filed a complaint with

The defence of Syed Mohammad Qaisar yesterday ended cross-examination of the eighth prosecution witness who said the accused was responsible for the abduction and murder of his father.

The International Crimes Tribunal 2 adjourned the hearing until April 28.

Wounded freedom fighter Shah Hussain Ali alias Sabu Mia, 63, testified against the former Jatiya Party state minister on April 22. He said his leg had been crippled following the torture of Qaisar and his cohorts at a camp.

During the cross-examination, the witness apologised several times for taking much time to narrate the incidents. He was overwhelmed to get the opportunity to elaborate the crimes committed by Qaisar Bahini led by the accused in Habiganj during the war.

The defence counsels asked him about time and place of the incidents

that he had mentioned in his deposition.

They tried to create controversy about his identity as freedom fighter since he does not get any allowance. But the witness claimed that his name had been included through gazette during HM Ershad’s regime. In response to another query, Sabu Mia said he had filed a case against Qaisar in Habiganj in 1972, but it had no further development. “After 1975, there was no scope to continue any case filed against the war criminals.”

The witness identified Qaisar in the dock. During the proceedings, Sabu Mia expressed satisfaction at least three times to Almighty Allah for making him able to tell the tribunal about the days of torture in 1971.

The tribunal indicted Qaisar on February 2 on 16 charges of crimes against humanity he had allegedly committed in and around Habiganj to help the Pakistani occupation forces on the pro-liberation people. l

n Mohammad Jamil Khan

us. We are looking for the roommates as they went into hiding soon after the incident.”

Shohagh was a BBA final year student at Queens University in the capital. He hails from Herondopara of Delghor of Tangail. He is the son of Abdus Salam, a tea stall owner.

“Shohagh Mia died with 80% burn injury. His respiratory system was also damaged from the burns,” Dr Iqbal Ahmed, registrar of the burn and plastic surgery unit at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, told the Dhaka Tribune.

Salam told the Dhaka Tribune that he used to send hard-earned money to his son for studies. Shohagh was the eldest among six children.

While undergoing treatment, Shohagh told him in low voice that his two roommates Sarowar and Mehedi along with house owner Khorshed Alam had gone for a walk at a nearby rail track in the night of April 17 and stayed there until 3am.

Later he came back home and slept

until 10am when he felt that his body was burning. Hearing him screaming, Sarowar and Mehedi came and took him to a clinic in Uttara area, Salam said.

The father came to Dhaka hearing the incident and paid Tk59,000 as hospital bill. “I admitted my son to Dhaka Medical College Hospital at 9pm on April 19. But he died while undergoing

treatment.”

Although Shohag’s body was caught fire while sleeping, his roommates claimed that he had been burnt on the rooftop as he came into close contact of an electric wire. “I filed a case with Dakkhinkhan police soon after the incident but the police also said same version as they took huge money from them.” l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Fateful April 24 The catastrophic collapse of the Rana Plaza on April 24 a year back took lives of 1,136. Over 2,000 were injured – of them some have been rehabilitated in one way or another, and yet some are left with no choice but to suffer what fate brought to them.

In the last two days, the air at the site became heavy with wails of the relatives of the victims, their demands for justice and compensation. Commemorative programmes took place throughout the capital, especially at the Rana Plaza site and Jurain graveyard.

People held candle-light prayer, brought flowers to pay their love and respect to the victims. Mothers brought their infants who will have no memory of their fathers – except for the photographs portraying their faces. Relatives still fumbled through the remaining debris, looking for any belongings of their loved ones. In spite of all the agonies, survivors look forward to a normal life.

PHOTOS: SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Spotlight

Friday, April 25, 2014

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

5

Friday, April 25, 2014

Drive against unfit vehicles from May Owners to get six more months to replace old vehicles replacements. So, we will give six n Mohosinul Karim months’ time to replace them,” the Despite a government plan to crack down on unfit vehicles in the capital from next month, owners of public transports will get six more months to replace their rundown vehicles to avert transport shortages.

The decision was taken by the road transport advisory council yesterday at a meeting, held at the communication ministry’s conference room.

After the meeting, Communication Minister Obaidul Quader, who heads the council, said, “Although we have taken a decision to withdraw all unfit public transports, it would not be possible to remove all at one time. That would affect the transport sector.”

Admitting that Dhaka faced shortages of public transport, the minister said the number of buses in the city had fallen to 4,000 from 7,000.

The capital is home to more than 15 million people, according to official statistics.

“We should remove unfit vehicles from the city after arranging adequate

minister said, adding, “We will ensure that unfit transports do not run in the city after that time.”

The council also decided to form a taskforce to implement its decisions.

The taskforce, to be led by the chairman of the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, will monitor and take necessary steps to remove unfit vehicles and evict illegal occupiers from city roads to ease traffic problems.

Quader said the authorities would start a drive in the city from next month to prevent accidents, remove unfit transports, eliminate traffic congestions and evict illegal occupiers.

At present, the system is dually controlled by the police and the two city corporations.

The operation of traffic signals would get easier under DMP’s control, Quader said.

Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan, State Minister for Cooperatives Mashiur Rahman Ranga, transport leaders and members of law enforcement agencies attended the meeting. l

Road crashes kill three in Chittagong

Nasim invites foreign investors to health sector

n CU Correspondent

Health minister Mohammed Nasim has invited potential foreign investors to invest in Bangladesh’s health sector, offering them a bureaucratic hassle-free experience as well as free-of-cost lands and necessary support from the government in the shortest possible time.

He made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration of Omron Health Care Bangladesh Ltd, a Japan-based manufacturer of health equipments and health management software, at the city’s Hotel Sonargaon on Wednesday.

Also present there, State Minister for Health Zahid Malek urged Omron to make arrangements for starting production in Bangladesh so that people would be able to afford the products at affordable prices.

Minoru Yoshimura, chairman of Omron Health Care Bangladesh, said the company’s mission was to contribute to the Bangladeshi people’s health and

At least three persons were killed and another was injured in separate road mishaps in AK Khan area in the city and Patiya upazila in Chittagong early yesterday.

The deceased were identified as MdRubel, 26, and Imam Hossen,24, of Sitakunda upazila and Hazi Ahmed, 65, of Satkania upazila, said police sources.

Sub-Inspector of Pahartalipolice station MdSahjahansaid the helper of a mini-truck was killed on the spot and the driver injured critically as the vehicle hit a covered van from behind on the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway in New Mansurabad area around 3am.

On receiving information, police recovered the body and sent it to the Chittagong Medical College Hospital for autopsy, added the SI. Meanwhile, the driver and a passenger were killed as a pick-up van hit a cement laden truck on Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar Highway at Patiya upazila.

Sub-inspector (SI) Fakrul Islam of Highway police outpost at Patiya crossing said the pick-up van was twisted after being hit with a truck of Diamond Cement Ltd that was parked on the highway in ChakrashalaBhayerDigirpar area, leaving the duo dead on the spot.

A case was lodged with Patiya police station in this connection, added the SI. l

n Moniruzzaman Uzzal

Roswitha Amels, first secretary from German Embassy, left, inaugurates a centre for CRP trainers to serve Rana Plaza victims in Savar yesterday

to prevent lifestyle diseases. He said Omron’s products include automatic blood pressure monitor, ultrasonic and compressor nebulisers, digital pencil and ear thermometers, digital weight scales and body composition monitors, and electronic nerves stimulators.

Omron representatives at the programme also claimed that the company controlled over 51% of the worldwide market share of high-tech blood pressure monitors.

Among others, the programme was attended Bangladesh Medical Association President Dr Mahmudul Hasan, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Pran Gopal Datta, and Hiroyuki Minami, minister at Embassy of Japan, were present at the programme.

Meanwhile, a delegation of Omron also met with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday and donated 2,000 blood pressure monitors and 1,000 sugar calculators for use at different community clinics. l

Six injured in BCL factional clash at CU n CU Correspondent At least six BCL activists were injured in a factional clash on Chittagong University campus around 12:30pm yesterday when police detained 11 of them for interrogation.

Witnesses said the clash erupted following an altercation between the senior and the junior activists of “Ekakar”, a shuttle train compartment-based faction of BCL in “Jupri” area of Social Science Faculty.

At one point of altercation, a group equipped with wooden sticks and iron rods attacked another, leaving six individuals injured.

The injured were Proshenjit of Anthropology Department, Imran Hossain of Economics Department, Nazmul of Journalism Department and Tanvir and Jahangir of Law Department – all were in their sophomore year. The injured received first aid at CU medical centre.

On information, proctor and police came in and nabbed 11 BCL men from the spot. l

FRIDAY, APRIL 25 DHAKA TODAY TOMORROW SUN SETS 6:24PM SUN RISES 5:28AM 35

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Rajshahi

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Rangpur

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Khulna

40

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Barisal

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YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

42.4ºC Jessore

19.7ºC Srimangal

Source: Accuweather/UNB

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Jumma Asr Magrib Esha

4:14am 5:32am 11:58am 4:25pm 6:23pm 7:42pm Source: IslamicFinder.org

n Tribune Report Orthotics and Prosthetics School for the Centre for Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP) trainers started its maiden journey in the country yesterday in a bid to give local training facilities to especially help the permanent disabled in Rana Plaza disaster along with others.

Roswitha Amels, first Secretary from the German Embassy, inaugurated the training centre at the Centre for Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP) situated in Savar, which will run with the finance of CRP, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the German Development Cooperation.

The task of CRP professional trainers is to teach the use of artificial limbs

n Our Correspondent, Gopalganj

SUNNY

FORECAST FOR TODAY

Local centre for CRP trainers to serve Rana Plaza victims to the permanent disabled so that they effectively get accustomed to the instruments.

At present, the professionals have to go abroad to get training in this regard.

During the inauguration, Amels said the German government was committed to give 2.5 mn Euro to the Rana Plaza Building collapse victims and their family members, and her government would also give support to the CRPs. Through the school, the disabled would get professional training so that they can establish small businesses outside the garment industry.

Moreover, German Development Cooperation is going to support 500 Rana Plaza victims as well as 1,500 RMG workers by providing them sewing operator and floor supervisory training. l

Thousands relish horse racing in Gopalganj

WEATHER

Dhaka

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Locals enjoy horse racing at Latenga field in Kotaliparha of Gopalganj yesterday

CTG EIGHT MURDER

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Thousands of people have enjoyed a two-day horse racing at Latenga field in Gopalganj’s Kotaliparha, marking New Bengali Year, 1421.

Former Upazila Chairman Bimal Krishna Biswas inaugurated the event organised by people from Latenga village on Tuesday.

Thirteen horses from Gopalganj, Narail, Madaripur, Bagerhat, Satkhira and Khulna took part in the racing event that ended on Wednesday.

The horse of Mohammad Sheikh hailing from Tekerhat in Madaripur became champions in the horse racing.

“I take care of my horse all the year round and also feed it special food ev-

ery day. I also train it to run a race,” said Mohammad Sheikh.

Retired teacher Tarani Kanti Adhikari, who was the chief guest on the prize-giving ceremony, gave away the prize to the owner of the champion horse.

A sixty-year-old man, Chhaya Biswas came to enjoy the event along with his grand children on Wednesday.

Hailing from Naiyarbarhi, a nearby village, he said, “I come to enjoy this event along with my grand children everyyear. It increases harmony among people.”

Over 100 shops were put up at the venue over the two days, when locals did a brisk business selling sweets, puffed rice and things made up of bamboos, canes, clay and wood. l

POBA’S SURVEY IN CHITTAGONG

Appellate Division upholds Water bodies contaminated to acquittal of Shibir cadres alarming level n Tribune Report The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court yesterday did not put stay order on a High Court verdict that acquitted four death row convicts, sentenced for the killing of eight activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League in Bahaddarhat of Chittagong in 2000.

Justice Hasan Foez Siddique, chamber judge of the top court, passed the order following a petition of the state. So the acquitted persons can be released from jail, Deputy Attorney General Moniruzzaman Rubel told the Dhaka Tribune.

He, however, said after the release of full text of the High Court verdict of April 17, the state would move the Appellate

Division by lodging a regular appeal.

The case says activists of Jamaat-e-Islami’s student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir opened fire on the members of ruling party’s student front who were on a microbus on July 12, 2000 centring establishment of supremacy on Government Commercial Institute of Chittagong campus.

The shooting killed the eight Chhatra League men including vice-president of the unit Hasibur Rahman Helal.

Sazzad Hossain Khan, Alamgir Kabir, Azam and Md Solaiman were handed down death penalty on March 27, 2008.

Sazzad reportedly fled to India in 2004 but was nabbed in 2012. Procedures are underway to bring him back. l

n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong Water bodies in Chittagong, including Karnaphuli and Halda rivers, are being polluted at an alarming level and will pose a threat to biodiversity if it continues, said Poribesh Bachao Andolan (Poba) leaders yesterday.

Foods contaminated with formalin, which are being sold in the markets of the port city in violation of laws, are causing many diseases, they said.

Poba leaders were addressing a press briefing at Chittagong Press Club around 11am. It was arranged to reveal the findings of a two-day rapid survey conducted by Poba on the port city’s

water bodies and markets on April 22 and 23.

Poba Joint Secretary and keynote speaker Engineer Md Abdus Sobhan said the amount of Dissolved Oxygen (DO) should be six milligrams per litre or more in river water if it was to be used as drinking water.

“But the DO is between 3.37 and 6.37 milligrams per litre in Karnaphuli and it is less than five milligrams where industrial waste is being discharged,” he said, adding that the standard value of DO was not found in Halda which might be the reason for many water-borne diseases.

Poba survey team visited nine big markets in Chittagong and found that

most of the food items, especially carrost, grapes, bananas, mangos, pineapples, apples and lychee, contained large quantities of formalin.

“Vegetables and fruits that are ripened artificially have very detrimental effects on our body,” said President of Sachetan Nagarik Committee Dr Provat Chandra Barua.

Food sellers and producers use chemical colours in vast quantities instead of food colour sin many food products as the latter is costlier and is also harmful for humans, he said.

Speakers suggested proper implementation of existing environment and food laws and raising awareness among people to get rid of the problems. l

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

Friday, April 25, 2014

DROUGHT IN KURIGRAM

Uncertainty looms over jute production target n

Our Correspondent, Kurigram

A prolonged drought in Kurigram is taking a heavy toll on farmers as they are unable to cultivate jute along with other crops. This is not only raising jute cultivation cost for farmers but has also put production target at risk.

Although the period of sowing jute seeds is almost over, a vast amount of land is still left uncultivated. It is two weeks into Baishakh but rainfall is still awaited. Soil in the lands has dried up and has turned into dust because of the sizzling heat wave.

Farmers have sown jute seeds but those are not sprouting despite irrigation. Besides, seeds that are sprouting are dying fast because of lack of water in the soil. Many farmers have sown

seeds multiple times in the same field but to no avail. Meanwhile, Boro, corn and vegetables fields are required to be irrigated every day.

Department of Agricultural Extension sources say as per the target of this year, jute will be cultivated in 24,421 hectares of land. However, cultivation has so far been done on only 11,000 hectares. Of the 1,62,288 hectares of land in the district, the amount of land dependent on irrigation stands at 1,40,772 hectares.

Although it is mid-Baishakh, farmers are forced to cultivate a large area of land through irrigation. Yet, there are many jute fields that have been left uncultivated.

According to government statistics, 45,094 pumps, including low-lift

pumps and deep as well as shallow tube wells, are required for irrigation purposes in the district, though only 36,581 are available. A severe irrigation

Although it is midBaishakh, farmers are forced to cultivate a large area of land through irrigation crisis now exists as irrigation pumps are increasingly going out of order because the water table has gone deep down. Weeds and different diseases of

jute seeds have developed in the fields.

Farmers are paying Tk120-150 for an hour of irrigation which is raising the cultivation cost.

“I have sown jute seeds in four bighas of land and have irrigated. But the lack of moisture in the soil because of the drought has prevented seeds from sprouting despite irrigation,” said Abdul Khaleq, a farmer from Kathalbari.

“We usually have rainfall at this point in the year. The rain keeps the soil wet which reduces the need for irrigation. This year, however, the soil has not got a single drop of water which is why we are largely dependent on irrigation now,” Badiar Rahman from Sukhyati village in Nageshwari told the Dhaka Tribune.

Only 47mm rainfall has been recorded in this season in the district, with some areas where there was no rain at all.

Department of Agricultural Extension, however, has suggested that farmers irrigate lands to grow crops.

Pratib Kumar Mondol, Deputy Director of the district unit of the department, said despite pitfalls, we would suggest farmers to irrigate lands for cultivating jute.

“If there is no rain, jute cultivators will face losses. Besides, cultivation targets in the district will be hampered because lands will remain uncultivated.

Yet, farmers should irrigate to cultivate jute even it raises production cost. The same should be followed for rice, corn and vegetables fields,” he added. l

Minor found dead in Chuandanga n Our Correspondent, Chuadanga Police recovered the body of a four-yearold girl from a pond at Joyrampur village in Damurhuda upazila here yesterday.

The dead is Helena, daughter of Helal Uddin, of Manirampur village of the upazila.

Damurhuda police station OC Sikder Mashiur Rahman said Helena’s mother Hajera Khatun and her second husband Jahangir Alam have been loggerheads for long over sending the minor girl elsewhere as she was from her first marriage.

Following the incident, Jahangir went out of house taking Helena around 11pm on Tuesday night and since then they had been missing.

Later, local fishermen spotted the body in a pond around 6am on the following day and informed police who recovered the body and sent it to Chuadanga sadar hospital morgue. l

Yaba trader arrested after Groundwater level falls in Rajbari gunfight with police n Our Correspondent, Rajbari

n Our Correspondent, Cox’s Bazar Police have arrested a yaba trader who received bullet wounds during gunfight with law enforcers in Teknaf of Cox’s Bazar.

Syed Nur, 26, belongs to the Rohingya community and is the son of late Md Sultan, who lived at an unauthorised Rohingya refugee camp at Leda in Nila union of Teknaf. He was arrested on Wednesday night.

Police and yaba traders fired at least 20 rounds at each other during the gun battle at Alikhali in Teknaf around 11:30pm on Wednesday. Police have claimed to recover a home gun, two rounds of fresh cartridges and 2,000

pieces of yaba pills from the scene.

The gunfight left Assistant Sub-inspector Joynal Abedin, police constable Jasim Uddin and Mahmudul Haque wounded. “Yaba traders began firing at us when a team of police led by me arrived on the scene after being informed about yaba trafficking,” said officer-incharge of Teknaf Model police station Ranjit Kumar Barua.

“We responded by firing at the traders to protect us and the gunfight lasted for nearly half an hour,” he said.

Bullet-hit Syed Nur, who has a criminal record against him, was found at the scene when yaba traders finally backed off, Ranjit said, adding that he was sent to hospital for treatment. l

Indian national held with gold n Our Correspondent, Jessore Border Guard Bangladesh personnel detained Putul Rani Mondol, 35, an Indian national of Charuigazi village of Bangaon, along with gold bars weighing 60 tola in Benapole land port area.

She was detained at Ghiba frontier under Benapole port police station, said the BGB.

Lieutenant Colonel Matiur Rahman, commanding officer of 26 Border Guard Battalion, told the Dhaka Tribune that gold smuggler Putul Rani was picked up from Ghiba frontier as she was trying to trespass the frontier with five pieces of gold bars.

“She is a listed gold smuggler,” the BGB official added.

A case was filed with Benapole port police station in this regard. l

The people of the district have to face an acute crisis of drinking water in the current summer season because of drastic fall in groundwater level.

River, ponds, canals, open wetlands and the other water reservoirs have virtually gone waterless.

District Fisheries Officer (DFO) Rattan Dutta said:”Scanty rainfall and scorching heat are causing habitat degradation affecting productivity of the water bodies.”

The scorching heat has drastically reduced the attendance in the school and college and most of the town people now stay indoors, making the streets deserted at the noon.

Deputy Director of Department of Agriculture Extension office sources said they had recorded the temperature of 42-43 degree Celsius on Wednesday.

He also said the open water bodies were important not only for the fish production but also for human beings.

Bangladesh Power Development Board(BPDB) Executive Engineer Md Serajul Islam said:”The demand for power in the district is about 16-18MW but we are getting only 10-11MW during peak hours.”

He also said the demand of power supply had increased due to heat wave but the supply had decreased.

As a result, the people were facing

Sramik Dal leader murdered in Pabna n Our Correspondent, Pabna A local leader of Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal, an associate body of BNP, was hacked to death by unknown miscreants at Hyderpur village of Atghoria upazila here yesterday.

The deceased, identified as Md Ripon Hossain, 32, was secretary of Pabna district unit Shramik Dal. Atghoria police station OC Seikh Lelin Alamgir said a gang of unidentified miscreants hacked Ripon, a resident of Poida village in sadar upazila, indiscriminately at Hyderpur village in the morning as he was visiting a piece of his land there, leaving him critically injured.

He was whisked off to Atghoria Upazila Health Complex where dutydoctors declared him dead. Being informed, police recovered the body and sent it to the morgue of Pabna Medical College Hospital for an autopsy.

“Political opponents of Ripan might have killed him,” the OC suspected, saying no case was filed in the incident as of filing this report yesterday evening. l

A human chain was formed in Kurigram town yesterday, protesting attack on an assistant teacher of Nageswary Beparir Haat College DHAKA TRIBUNE

Barguna SP, OC among 5 cops sued for false cases, bribery

Mobile court destroys formalin n Our Correspondent, Barguna A case was launched here yesterday laced fruits against the Barguna Superintendent of and the Sadar police station OC, as n Our Correspondent, Chuadanga Police well as three other police officials, on a A mobile court in Chuadanga destroyed around 5,000 pieces of watermelons and 10kg grapes because of excessive use of formalin in the district’s Boro Bazar on Wednesday.

In the drive, the court also fined 12 fruit sellers in the market for using excessive formalin in the fruits.

Chuadanga Executive Magistrate Mohammad Mokhlesur Rahman said excessive amount of formalin in the fruits were confirmed following formalin tests in the market.

The drive began in the evening, adding that executive magistrates Mohammad Reza Hasan and Sarker Ashim Kumar were present during the drive, he added. l

charge of filing false cases to harass people and demanding bribes from them.

Retired BGB member Mukhlesur Rahman, a resident of the Lotabaria village in Sadar upazila, filed the case with the Barguna Senior Judicial Magistrate Court in the morning, whose judge Mainuddin Noman took on the case.

The accused are the Barguna SP Shaymal Kumar Nath, the sadar po-

lice station OC (investigation) Pulak Chandra Rai and two Sis from the same police station, Jahidul Islam and Zafar Hossain, and ASI Badal Mridha.

According to the statement, the accused, being biased toward certain locals, filed a total of ten false cases against Mukhlesur’s kith and kin. They had been harassing them in such a way for a very long time.

Later, they demanded Tk50,000 as a bribe for closing those cases.

When contacted, the SP said the incident occurred due to a misunderstanding with the plaintiff, stating, “We are trying to solve it.” l

The tube well at Gonopotta Government Primary School has been inoperative for the last couple of months as underground water in the locality has fallen drastically DHAKA TRIBUNE huge load shedding which was causing sufferings to Boro farmers and HSC examinees, he added.

Villagers sometimes are not getting drinking water from tube wells. A little

amount water is coming out through irrigation equipment at boro field.

Serajul said the ground water level in some parts of the district went down by 20-25 ft more than its usual level.

River Padma, Goari,Hori , Chandana, Kumerits are now nearly dead.

Due to severe hit and lack of drinking water, children and old people are suffering from many diseases. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Long Form

Friday, April 25, 2014

7

The French connection

Inspired by André Malraux’s call for assistance in the fight to defend democracy, Bernard-Henri Lévy was the only one who actually made it to East Pakistan, forming a oneman international brigade

T

n Arif Jamal he year 1971 was an important milestone in the current context of history, the importance of which has yet to be grasped by the historians. This is the year when the hitherto secular Pakistan Army and Islamists came together and established a bond that remains intact even after the passage of four decades.

When the people of the former East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) rose up to demand their democratic rights, the ruling Pakistan Army generals made no secret of their belief that they cared only for the land that is the subject of so many romantic stories.

The then Pakistani General Tikka Khan, who later earned the nickname “The Butcher,” publicly announced that the Pakistan Army was interested only in the land and was ready to fight with the last remaining Bangali.

Tikka Khan and succeeding generals honoured those words and killed as many Bangalis and raped as many Bangali women as they could before India, which had been inundated by the waves of fleeing refugees, intervened to save the situation.

WIKIMEDIA

Prime Minister Indira Gandhi did not know what to do with such a brigade, and for all practical purposes, vetoed the proposal, although she did use the name and fame of André Malraux to the fullest.

But, Malraux had inspired young Bernard-Henri Lévy, who was already burning with passion to do something practical, and Malraux’s call showed him the light. Bernard-Henri Lévy was the only one who actually made it to East Pakistan, forming a one-man international brigade. He knew that an even bigger war than the Spanish Civil War was being fought in Bengal.

Bernard-Henri Lévy had grown up under the influence of the revolutionary 1960s. At the age of 18, Lévy had been admitted in the prestigious Ecole Normale Superieure (ENS) of the Rue d’Ulm in Paris, which had produced intellectuals such as Jean-Paul Sartre, Louis Althusser, Jacques Derrida and Raymond Aron; names that shaped and defined modern Western thought as Lévy is shaping our age.

People influenced by the atmosphere of the ’60s burned with passion to do something, to change the world, to create a New Man. They were ready to burn their bourgeois and reaction-

During his stint in Bangladesh, according to some accounts, Bernard-Henri Lévy also tried to convince Home Minister AHM Qamaruzzaman to bring the collaborators of the Pakistani military in al-Shams and al-Badr to justice

All that butchery awoke one soul in France, André Malraux. Malraux was one of Europe’s leading intellectuals who, during the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s, had called for, helped form, and actually commanded an international brigade of Western intellectuals and ordinary people to fight in defence of democracy.

In 1971, Malraux saw the danger and made a similar call. A little over a hundred French youths and former officers answered that call. One of them was a very young man named Bernard-Henri Lévy, who later emerged as a leading European philosopher.

However, the proposed International Brigade never came into existence.

Malraux was too old to put his ideas into practice and constitute the brigade. Furthermore, the then Indian

ary books, at least symbolically. At the ENS, Bernard-Henri Lévy came under all these influences more directly; yet he was different from his generation.

Bernard-Henri Lévy was already into his third year at the ENS, when he responded to Andre Malraux’s call on September 17, 1971, to join the International Brigade on the pattern that one of the European intellectuals had created in the 1930s. According to contemporary witnesses, Bernard-Henri Lévy was different from his colleagues at the ENS - he wanted to change the world rather than reinterpret it one more time.

Although Malraux’s idea collapsed, Lévy went ahead. Several decades later, reminiscing about those days, he said, “A true revolutionary has to get close, very close, to the things

themselves; he has to move into the places where History, with a capital H, really happens; and he has, therefore, to leave Europe.”

Lévy was only 22 at the time and had not made a name for himself. No one could at that time have guessed how much Lévy would influence modern discourse. But the Lévy era was beginning.

One thing that drew the young Bernard-Henri Lévy to Bengal was the local Maoist movement, “Naxalites.”

He soon discovered that there was not much in common between the Maoist students in Paris and Maoist guerrillas in the jungles of Bengal despite some similarities. Fascinated with the idea of sharing his brotherhood with the Naxalites, he ignored their criminal side, at least for a time.

Accompanied by his first wife Isabelle Doutreluigne, Bernard-Henri Lévy left Paris for the first real flight of his life on October 2, 1971. He was representing the French daily Combat.

His first stopover was Islamabad, where he interviewed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who, like Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in East Pakistan, was also a contender for power but was opposed by the military regime. After a brief stopover, he headed to New Delhi, whenceforth he immediately went to East Bengal, leaving Isabelle Doutreluigne behind in Kolkata. In the ensuing months, he moved in and out of East Bengal.

In East Bengal, Lévy followed a Mukti Bahini unit led by Akim Mukherjee, who still practises medicine today. He took part in the fall of Satkhira in the Khulna District in the southwest of the emerging nation. In December, he was in Jessore just before Indian troops entered the war, leading to East Pakistan’s final victory. On December 4, according to military archives I had access to, he found himself in the middle of the battle of Besantar, where the Mukti Bahini, with the help of the Indian troops, pushed the Pakistani troops back.

The Maoist and the journalist coexisted in Bernard-Henri during the war. He continuously searched for the Naxalite leader Mohammad Toha.

After an eight-day search around Chittagong, he succeeded in interviewing him during the height of the war.

It was here that he caught malaria, which left everlasting effects on him.

Politically, interviewing Toha was a cardinal mistake and ultimately led to his expulsion from the country.

On December 5, the journalist in Bernard-Henri Lévy stirred again, and he convinced officers of General Aurora’s army to embed him within the advancing troops. He travelled with the Indian Army from west to east, and entered Dhaka with one of the first units of the Indian Army. In Dhaka, he rejoined Akim Mukherjee’s

Mukti Bahini unit and participated (according to papers in Mukherjee’s private archives) in liberating RA Bazaar, where the Pakistan Army had set up the most despicable torture cells.

After playing a part in the liberation of East Bengal, which emerged as Bangladesh that same month, Bernard-Henri Lévy settled in Dhaka, and began the second phase of his new career as a philosopher-revolutionary.

In Dhaka, he met Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who was quite impressed with the fact that the young Bernard-Henri Lévy, in spite of being at the Ecole Normale Superieure, had participated in his country’s war of independence and wanted to contribute to building the new nation.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman understood that Bernard-Henri Lévy had forgone advancement in his own country. He offered Lévy a position in the Ministry of Economy and Planning, which Lévy accepted immediately. He worked there till mid-June 1972.

In Dhaka, Bernard-Henri Lévy shared the small house of a Muslim family which had two girls and three boys, he became the sixth child.

The neighbourhood of Gulshan, like most neighbourhoods in those days in Dhaka, was often flooded, either from rain or from overflowing rivers.

However, he spent most of his time in the office, working as a Bangladeshi bureaucrat rather than as an imported consultant.

During frequent meetings with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, he suggested that the tens of thousands of women who had been raped and abandoned by the soldiers of the Pakistan army and their Islamist collaborators in alShams and al-Badr (the armed wings of the Jamat-e-Islami) should be honoured as Birangona, or national heroines. In many traditional societies, including Bangladesh, raped women live terrible lives, stigmatised by the rape they suffered and often demonised by their own families, becoming no more than living dead women.

During his stint in Bangladesh, according to some accounts, Bernard-Henri Lévy also tried to convince Home Minister AHM Qamaruzzaman to bring the collaborators of the Pakistani military in al-Shams and al-Badr to justice. Unfortunately, the new government ignored it, as politics overshadowed justice.

Lévy tried to convince Mujibur Rahman to account for the death and destruction of the war and build a war memorial to honour the sons of the young nation. This, too, never came to fruition. In the early years of independence, the search for international recognition and the task of safeguarding the young nation’s independence took all of Sheikh Mujib’s time. Ultimately, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated by his own army.

In June 1972, Bernard-Henri Lévy ran out of luck. On the very first day of that month, Home Minister Qamaruzzaman received an anonymous denunciation condemning Lévy as pro-Chinese, which in South Asia, meant pro-Pakistan. Bernard-Henri Lévy had committed two cardinal sins since he came to South Asia – he visited Kashmir with Isabelle

Bernard-Henri Lévy took part in the fall of Satkhira in the Khulna District in the southwest of the emerging nation. In December, he was in Jessore just before Indian troops entered the war, leading to East Pakistan’s final victory

Doutreluigne and he interviewed Naxalite Mohammad Toha, who had opposed the independence of Bangladesh. This was enough for Home Minister Qamaruzzaman, who gave him 48 hours to leave Bangladesh. All his contributions to the independence of Bangladesh was ignored.

Thus ended Bernard-Henri Lévy’s struggle for freedom for the Bangalis — the first of many such struggles the philosopher would wage in the decades to come. Much of what Lévy did in Bengal in 1971–72 lives on, as Bangladesh is one of the few Muslim countries where the forces of democracy are successfully opposing the forces of darkness. Bangladesh gives hope to me and many others like me in the Muslim world.

While fighting the first war of his life, Bernard-Henri Lévy filed dispatches with Combat and worked on this thesis under the supervision of economist Charles Bettelheim.

Although the thesis was never completed, Lévy did write his first book, Les Indes Rouges, a witness to the struggle of the people of Bangladesh.

Among the very few accounts of the heroic struggle of the Bangali Muslims against oppression, Les Indes Rouges is the best account of those days that I have come across. Lévy’s work lives on in those pages. l Arif Jamal is a Pakistani journalist living in the United States. He is the author of ‘Shadow War: The Untold Story of Jihad in Kashmir (2009),’ ‘A History of Islamist Militancy in Pakistani Punjab (2011),’ and the forthcoming ‘Call for Transnational Jihad: Lashkar-e-Taiba, 1985–2013.’ He is presently a fellow at New York University and Harvard University.

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Ukraine forces kill five rebels, Putin warns of consequences n Reuters, Slaviansk Ukrainian forces killed up to five pro-Moscow separatists in the east of the country, the Interior Ministry said on Thursday, as Russian President Vladimir Putin warned of “consequences” if Kiev used the army against its own people.

Interior Ministry forces backed by the army removed three checkpoints manned by armed groups in the separatist-controlled town of Slaviansk, the ministry said in a statement.

“During the armed clash up to five terrorists were eliminated,” it said, adding that one person had been wounded on the side of government forces.

Under an international accord signed in Geneva last week, illegal armed groups, including the rebels occupying about a dozen public buildings in the largely Russian-speaking east, are supposed to disarm and go home.

Putin calls the Internet a ‘CIA project’ n AP, Russia President Vladimir Putin has mocked the Internet as a CIA project and pledged to protect Russia’s interests online.

The Kremlin has been anxious to exert greater control over the Internet, which opposition activists — barred from national television — have used to promote their ideas and organise protests.

Russia’s parliament this week passed a law requiring social media websites to keep their servers in Russia and save all information about their users for at least half a year. Also, businessmen close to Putin now control Russia’s leading social media network, VKontakte.

Speaking yesterday at a media forum in St. Petersburg, Putin said that the Internet originally was a “CIA project” and “is still developing as such.” l

However, the Kremlin, which has deployed tens of thousands of troops on Ukraine’s border, maintains it has the right to protect Russian-speakers if they come under threat, a reason it gave for annexing the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine last month.

In St Petersburg, Putin said that if the authorities in Kiev had used the army in eastern Ukraine, this would be a very serious crime against its own people.

“It is just a punitive operation and it will of course incur consequences for the people making these decisions, including (an effect) on our interstate relations,” Putin said in a televised meeting with regional media.

The Geneva agreement, signed by Russia, the United States, Ukraine and the European Union, is already in trouble as Kiev launches its offensive to regain control of the east.

East and West have put the onus on each other to ensure the accord is

implemented on the ground. US President Barack Obama said earlier he was poised to impose new sanctions on Moscow if it did not act fast to end the armed stand-off.

Moscow also flexed its economic muscles in its worst stand-off with the West since the Cold War, with the government suggesting foreign firms which pull out of the country may not be able to get back in, and a source at Gazprom saying the gas exporter had slapped an additional $11.4 billion bill on Kiev.

Washington accuses Moscow of fomenting unrest in the east. Russia denies this and counters that Europe and the United States are supporting an illegitimate government in Kiev.

Obama said the Russian leadership was not abiding by the spirit or the letter of the Geneva agreement so far.

“We have prepared for the possibility of applying additional sanctions,” he told a news conference on a visit to Japan. l

New military exercises on Ukraine border n AFP, Moscow Russia yesterday ordered new military exercises in Russian regions bordering Ukraine in response to Kiev’s operation against militants in the east.

“We are compelled to react to such a situation,” Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies at a meeting of the defence ministry.

“From today, military exercises have started in regions bordering Ukraine involving battalions of tactical forces of the southern and western military districts,” he said.

He said that the exercises were a forced measure in response to fatalities during Ukraine’s military operation against separatists who have occupied

eastern cities close to the Russian border.

“The situation in Ukraine provokes serious concern. From April 22 the new Ukrainian leadership has begun the socalled active phase of an operation in the southeastern borders of Ukraine.

There are already people killed,” Shoigu said.

“A start has already been made in using weapons against peaceful citizens of their own country. If this war machine is not stopped today, then it will lead to a large number of dead and wounded.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned earlier that the deployment of military forces in east Ukraine by the Kiev authorities was a crime against its own people that will “have consequences.” l

Friday, April 25, 2014

Monitor: Air raid kills 25 at Syria market n AFP, Beirut An air strike on a market yesterday killed at least 25 people, including three children, in a village of the north Syrian province of Aleppo, a monitoring group said.

The deadly raid comes amid a massive aerial offensive targeting opposition-held areas across Aleppo city and province that began in mid-December.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the bombing campaign has killed hundreds, mostly civilians, and forced thousands of families to flee their homes.

“The number of people killed in an air strike this morning on the market area of Atareb village has risen to 25, including two women and three children,” said the Observatory, updating its toll from 21 dead.

Activists distributed video showing scenes of chaos, with bodies lying amid mounds of grey rubble in what was clearly a market.

The amateur footage shows a woman in a white headscarf screaming as she leaned over the body of a loved one. Another image showed a man attending to a boy whose leg had been ripped off. It was unclear whether the child was alive or dead.

“The area that was struck today is a market area, that’s why there were so many civilians killed,” said Aleppo-based activist Abu Omar.

“The regime is hitting back against the civilians who support the revolt” against President Bashar al-Assad, he added.

Swathes of Aleppo city and province have been out of army control since 2012.

Human Rights Watch has accused Syria’s regime of “wreaking disaster” with its air strikes on the area.

Elsewhere, the army pounded Mleiha east of Damascus amid fierce clashes pitting rebels and their jihadist Al-Nusra Front allies against troops backed by Lebanon’s Shiite Hezbollah and other paramilitary groups, said the Observatory. l

n AFP, London British police reached out to Muslim women yesterday in an attempt to prevent young people going to fight in Syria, after a sharp rise in arrests related to the conflict.

Counter-terrorism officials launched a national campaign to raise awareness of the risks of travelling to Syria, especially for those who just want to offer humanitarian aid.

The campaign was prompted by an increase in the number of Britons caught travelling or returning from Syria, from 25 arrests last year to 40 in the first three months of 2014.

Several of those arrested were subsequently charged with terrorism-related offences. Only last week, a father from Brighton, Abubaker Deghayes, revealed that three of his sons had gone to fight in Syria, one of whom was killed in a battle.

Abdullah Deghayes, 18, died earlier this month after leaving Britain in January, while his 20-year-old brother Amer suffered a bullet wound to the stomach in the same fighting.

“We are increasingly concerned about the numbers of young people who have or are intending to travel to Syria to join the conflict,” said Helen Ball, senior national coordinator for counter-terrorism.

“We want to ensure that people, particularly women, who are concerned

about their loved ones are given enough information about what they can do to prevent this from happening.

“We want to increase their confidence in the police and partners to encourage them to come forward so that we can intervene and help.”

She added: “This is not about criminalising people, it is about preventing tragedies.”

The International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation at King’s College London estimates that between 200 and 366 British nationals have gone to Syria to participate in the conflict.

Police will hold meetings across Britain on Thursday with women from different community groups, charity workers and government officials involved in preventing extremism.

A leaflet has been prepared outlining the risks of travelling to Syria, which will be handed out at airports and ports.

The Charities Commission is also involved in the campaign, to advise people on how they can help send humanitarian aid to Syria without the money falling into the hands of extremists.

The commission’s chairman, William Shawcross, warned at the weekend that charities should be particularly vigilant about how their aid is used in countries such as Syria and Somalia. l

Israel mulls reprisals for Palestinian unity deal

US: Hamas-PLO govt would prompt aid reassessment n Reuters, Washington The United States would have to reconsider its assistance to the Palestinians if Islamist group Hamas and the Palestinian Liberation Organization form a government together, a senior US administration official said yesterday.

Gaza-based Hamas - which is listed by the United States as a terrorist organization - and President Mahmoud Abbas’s West Bank-based PLO announced a unity pact on Wednesday, complicating US-brokered peace talks with Israel that Washington is already struggling to extend past an April 29 deadline.

Both the United States and Israel greeted the announcement of the unity pact with dismay.

“Any Palestinian government must unambiguously and explicitly commit to non-violence, recognition of the state of Israel, and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations between the parties,” the US official said, listing terms Hamas has long rejected. l

UK enlists Muslim women to help stop Syria jihadists

n AFP, Jerusalem

Palestinian doctors treat a wounded child at a hospital following an air strike by Israeli warplanes in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip, on April 23, 2014. The raid came as thousands took to the streets of Gaza City to celebrate the announcement by Hamas and the PLO of an agreement to form a unity government to end seven years of divided administration AFP

Israel’s security cabinet met yesterday to weigh its retaliation to a unity deal struck between the Palestinian leadership and the Hamas rulers of Gaza.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reacted angrily to Wednesday’s agreement between the rival factions accusing Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas of choosing “Hamas, not peace.”

Public radio said ministers were likely to announce fresh retaliatory measures on top of a raft of financial sanctions unveiled this month when the Palestinians applied to join 15 international treaties.

They were not expected to order a complete halt to US-brokered peace talks with the Palestinians, however, despite the announcement by a Netanyahu aide of the cancellation of a scheduled meeting on Wednesday evening, the broadcaster said.

Netanyahu’s office described the deal between Abbas and Hamas, which

opposes all peace talks with Israel, as “very serious.” But it said it was for ministers to decide whether to announce any new measures after Thursday’s meeting.

The deal between the Palestinian leadership and Hamas came as the USled peace talks teetered on the brink of collapse just days before their scheduled April 29 conclusion.

US envoy Martin Indyk has held repeated meetings with the two sides in a last-ditch bid to salvage the negotiations. Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erakat denied any three-way meeting has been planned for Wednesday but acknowledged he would meet Indyk on Thursday without the Israelis.

Meanwhile, Abbas said he will not extend the negotiations unless Israel agrees to a freeze on all settlement construction in the occupied West Bank, including annexed east Jerusalem, and frees a group of Arab prisoners who had been earmarked for release this month. l

Anti-graft group accuses EU American middle class no longer world’s richest of complacency on corruption

Businessman second hopeful for Syria presidential vote

n Agencies

A businessman who studied in the United States yesterday became the second hopeful to register for Syria’s controversial June presidential election which is expected to return incumbent Bashar al-Assad to office.

Like the first would-be candidate to declare, Hassan Abdullah al-Nuri is a member of the regime-tolerated opposition. The authorities have not spelt out how they plan to hold a credible election amid a raging civil war in which they have lost control of large swathes of the country to rebel groups and militias.

The Syrian opposition has slammed the planned vote as a “farce,” while the United Nations and the Arab League have warned it will deal a heavy blow to efforts to broker a negotiated peace.

“We announce the candidacy of Hassan Abdullah al-Nuri for the presidency of the Syrian Arab Republic,” said parliament speaker Mohammad al-Lahham.

His candidacy was announced a day after that of independent member of parliament and former communist Maher al-Hajjar. l

The American middle class, long the most affluent in the world, has lost that distinction. While the wealthiest Americans are outpacing many of their global peers, a New York Times analysis shows that across the lower- and middle-income tiers, citizens of other advanced countries have received considerably larger raises over the last three decades.

After-tax middle-class incomes in Canada — substantially behind in 2000 — now appear to be higher than in the United States. The poor in much of Europe earn more than poor Americans.

The numbers, based on surveys conducted over the past 35 years, offer some of the most detailed publicly available comparisons for different income groups in different countries over time. They suggest that most American families are paying a steep price for high and rising income inequality.

Although economic growth in the United States continues to be as strong as in many other countries, or stronger, a small percent-

age of American households is fully benefiting from it. Median income in Canada pulled into a tie with median United States income in 2010 and has most likely surpassed it since then. Median incomes in Western European countries still trail those in the United States, but the gap in several — including Britain, the Netherlands and Sweden — is much smaller than it was a decade ago.

In European countries hit hardest by recent financial crises, such as Greece and Portugal, incomes have of course fallen sharply in recent years.

The struggles of the poor in the United States are even starker than those of the middle class. A family at the 20th percentile of the income distribution in this country makes significantly less money than a similar family in Canada, Sweden, Norway, Finland or the Netherlands. Thirty-five years ago, the reverse was true.

LIS, which complied the income data, counted after-tax cash income from salaries, interest and stock dividends, among other sources, as well as direct government benefits such as tax credits. l

n Reuters, Brussels European lobbyists carry out much of their work in secrecy and there is widespread complacency in Brussels about tackling corruption or conflicts of interest, Transparency International said yesterday.

In the first report of its kind, the anti-graft campaign group shone an unflattering light on the bodies that draft and police law for the European Union’s 28 member states, concluding their lack of interest could prompt more corruption scandals.

The criticism of institutions such as the European Parliament, which researchers said had refused to cooperate with the study, may provide further ammunition to eurosceptics, who are already on track to widen support in EU elections in May. “The rule book is there to prevent corruption or conflicts of interest but the rules are not enforced,” said Carl Dolan, one of the experts involved in the study.

The criticism of institutions such as the European Parliament, which researchers said had refused to cooperate with the study, may provide further ammunition to eurosceptics “There is an atmosphere of complacency in Brussels in the way, for example, that conflicts of interest are checked or sanctioned. It’s often reduced to box ticking, where the declarations are not verified,” he said, referring to the practice of putting “old boys” in charge of enforcement. “There are no independent committees that oversee the rules.”

Transparency International said this lax approach at the European Commission and other institutions was especial-

ly risky given that there are no proper records in Brussels of lobbyists or of those with whom they have contact.

‘Secret meetings’

Much lawmaking in Europe, including a sweeping overhaul of banking, is wrapped up in talks between diplomats and lawmakers with no public record of who attended or what was said, it said.

“Important legislation is being agreed in secret meetings, where there is no public record of what happened,” said Dolan.

In its 240-page report, the anti-graft group recommended a mandatory register for the more than 15,000 lobbyists in Brussels, a record of how they influence legislation and independent checks to prevent conflicts of interest.

The recommendations came after John Dalli was forced to quit as health commissioner last year when his associate was accused of asking for 60 million euros from Swedish Match in return for Dalli’s help in influencing EU tobacco law. l

n AFP, Damascus

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Anger, frustation over rescue efforts Confirmed death toll from the South Korean ferry disaster now stands at 171

Classes resume at school scarred by ferry disaster n AFP, Ansan Senior classes resumed yesterday at the South Korean high school devastated by the loss of around 250 students in a ferry disaster that has made the school a focus of profound national grief.

The final-year students from Danwon High School in Ansan city just south of Seoul returned to their classrooms which have remained empty since the ferry carrying 325 students on a school trip to the southern resort island of Jeju capsized and sank on April 16.

Junior classes will start next Monday, a provincial education official said, adding that he was “unsure” when the surviving members of the 11th grade class – which was taken on the Jeju trip – would resume their studies.

Across the road from the school, thousands of people paid their respects for a second day at a special memorial to the student victims in an indoor sports stadium.

More than 12,000 mourners visited the memorial when it opened on Wednesday.

Danwon High students made up the vast majority of the 476 people on board the Sewol ferry and an even larger portion of the victims.

Of the 174 people who were rescued only 75 were students. l

Abdullah in lead as Afghan election set for run-off n AFP, Kabul

n AFP, Seoul Furious relatives of missing victims from South Korea’s ferry disaster attacked a top coastguard official yesterday, accusing him of lying about efforts to retrieve bodies still trapped in the submerged vessel.

Around 20 relatives forced their way into the office of Choi Sang-Hwan, the Deputy Director of the Korea Coastguard, and pulled him outside, ripping his shirt and punching and slapping him around the face and neck.

The relatives accused Choi of exaggerating the scale of the recovery effort, saying the scene they witnessed during a boat trip to the disaster site earlier yesterday did not match with his briefings.

The bereaved families have continually criticised what they see as delays in the rescue and recovery operation and a lack of committed resources. The crowd held Choi until other officials arrived and then subjected them to a lengthy grilling on the recovery operation.

The confirmed death toll on Thursday stood at 171, but 131 were still missing as dive teams searched in near pitch-black conditions for bodies trapped in the ferry’s interior.

More than a week after the 6,825 tonne Sewol capsized and sank with 476 people on board, most of them high school students, there is still widespread anger over the pace of the initial rescue effort.

It took divers working in difficult and dangerous conditions more than two days to get into the sunken ferry and two more days to retrieve the first bodies.

People attend a memorial for the victims of the sunken South Korean ferry ‘Sewol’ at the Ansan Olympic memorial hall

Autopsy queries

“We have received a number of enquiries about autopsies,” said a member of the forensic team on Jindo island working on identifying the bodies recovered from the disaster site.

An official responsible for legal and medical issues at the emergency situation desk on Jindo said there was nothing to prevent families having an autopsy carried out.

The belief that some passengers might have survived the initial capsize was very strong in the days immediately after the Sewol sank on April 16, fuelled in part by fake postings on social network sites that claimed to be text messages from passengers begging to be rescued.

Yellow ribbons at the harbour

Hundreds of yellow ribbons were tied

Thai opposition leader seeks compromise to avert bloodshed n

Reuters, Bangkok

Alarmed by the prospect of bloodshed in Thailand as a six-month political crisis nears a critical juncture, former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has called for talks between the government and its foes, urging compromise to restore stability.

The 49-year-old leader of Thailand’s main opposition Democrat Party has joined street demonstrations in Bangkok aiming to force out Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, and his party boycotted a February 2 election, which was nullified by a court in March after widespread disruption.

But now Abhisit appears to be putting some distance between himself and the protesters.

Violence is threatening to increase, he told foreign media in an interview late on Wednesday. “Given the accumulated frustration and loss of opportunity for the country, it’s really time that people begin to speak up for the middle ground.”

“I think there are many people who want to see common ground emerging. My intention, this week, is to say that: isn’t it time we all accept the reality that neither side can get its way,

and even if it did, it couldn’t bring long-lasting stability.”

The protests, which attracted more than 200,000 people at their height, have dwindled but hard-core demonstrators say they will continue to harass the government and disrupt any new election until Yingluck’s government is toppled.

Abhisit’s comments were met with skepticism by the government.

“What the Democrat Party says it will do and what it does are not the same thing,” said Sunisa Lertpakawat, a deputy government spokeswoman.

“If he’s sincere, why didn’t he join Tuesday’s talks aimed at discussing a date for the next election?” she added, referring to a meeting arranged by the Election Commission that was attended by nearly 60 parties.

Abhisit stayed away, citing security concerns.

Yingluck’s opponents have taken to the courts to remove her, alleging abuse of power and other infractions, and in response her “red shirt” supporters say they, too, will take to the streets if she is removed by what they say are politicized judges. Verdicts in some of these cases could come in May. l

AFP

yesterday to the guard rail on the quayside of Jindo harbour, some with simple handwritten messages like “I miss you” and “Farewell.” A coastguard official said divers were concentrating on accessing cabins on the third and fourth decks in their grim search for more bodies.

According to the Yonhap news agency, one of the bodies recovered was of a high school student who made the first distress call from the ferry. l

Former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah retained a clear lead in the latest Afghan presidential election results released Thursday, but he remained below the threshold needed for a decisive first-round victory.

Abdullah has secured 43.8 percent of the vote, with his main rival Ashraf Ghani on 32.9 percent, election officials said, after about 80 percent of ballots were counted.

If no candidate gains more than 50 percent, a second-round run-off between the two leading names is scheduled for May 28.

“With the percentage of votes (still to be counted), I suspect there will not be a winner in the first round, but I cannot say decisively,” Ahmad Yusuf Nuristani, head of the Independent Election Commission, told reporters.

Both Abdullah and Ghani, a former World Bank economist, have vowed to fight on. But a run-off election could be avoided by negotiations between the candidates in the coming weeks.

Eight men ran in the April 5 election, with polling day hailed a success

by Afghan officials and foreign allies as the Taliban failed to launch a major attack despite threats to disrupt the vote.

Full preliminary results are due on Saturday before the final official result is announced on May 14 after a period for adjudication of complaints.

Hundreds of serious fraud allegations are being investigated after the vote for a successor to Hamid Karzai, who has ruled Afghanistan since the

Indian election frontrunner Narendra Modi said he was “overwhelmed” yesterday by a huge show of support in Varanasi as the Hindu nationalist leader entered the contest to become the holy city’s member of parliament.

The streets of the ancient city on the banks of the river Ganges were flooded by people keen to greet or at least glimpse the right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader as he came to file his nomination papers.

“I feel overwhelmed by the love the people of Kashi (the ancient name of Varanasi) have shown me and I bow to this land and its traditions,” said the 63-year-old at the nomination centre.

“It feels like Mother Ganga has called me here. The way a son goes back to his mother’s lap, that’s how I feel today.”

India’s multi-phase general election began on April 7 but does not wrap up until May 12 when Varanasi and a host of other constituencies in the state of

Uttar Pradesh go to the polls.

The contest in Varanasi is the most keenly watched of the election as Arvind Kejriwal, leader of the fledgling anti-corruption Aam Aadmi (Common Man) Party, is also standing.

Modi has largely steered clear of advancing his party’s Hindu nationalist agenda on the campaign trail, presenting himself as an economic reformer and sound administrator.

But analysts say his decision to run from the sacred city of Varanasi is an effective way of burnishing the Hindu credentials of the chief minister of western Gujarat state.

Dressed all in white, he was flanked by his top aide Amit Shah, who was briefly banned from campaigning for inflammatory comments he made this month in an area hit by anti-Muslim riots last year.

The streets were a sea of saffron, the BJP’s colour which is associated with Hinduism, with the mainly male crowd decked out in BJP caps or carrying party flags. l

Islamist Taliban regime was ousted in 2001.

The 2009 election, when Karzai retained power, was marred by fraud in a chaotic process that shook confidence in the multinational effort to develop Afghanistan and also started a sharp decline in relations with the US.

Full preliminary results are due on Saturday before the final official result is announced on May 14 after a period for adjudication of complaints

Turnout from this month’s poll is set to be nearly seven million voters from an estimated electorate of 13.5 million – well above the 2009 figure.

The eventual winner will have to oversee the fight against a resilient Taliban insurgency as 51,000 US-led combat troops leave Afghanistan this year.

Karzai, who is constitutionally barred from serving a third term, pledged to stay neutral in the election.

But he was widely thought to have backed former foreign minister Zalmai Rassoul, who took just 11 percent of the vote on Thursday’s results. l

Policeman guns down three Americans at Kabul hospital n AFP, Kabul An Afghan policeman opened fire at a Kabul hospital run by a US charity yesterday, killing three Americans, including a doctor in the latest deadly attack targeting foreign civilians in the city.

The gunman was injured in the incident outside the CURE International hospital and detained by police, officials said, adding that the motive for the shooting was not immediately known.

“He opened fire as the foreign nationals were entering the hospital, tragically killing three and injuring one

more,” Seddiq Sediqqi, spokesman for the interior ministry, told AFP. “Another policeman in the area shot the attacker, injuring him.”

Health minister Soraya Dalil told reporters the victims were a US doctor who had worked for CURE for seven years and an American father and son visiting the hospital.

She added that the attacker, who had been on duty guarding the hospital, was now being treated inside for his injuries.

“With great sadness we confirm that three Americans were killed in the

attack on CURE Hospital,” the US embassy said on its Twitter account. “No other information will be released at this time.”

Kabul has been hit by a spate of attacks targeting foreign civilians this year, including a Lebanese restaurant where 21 people died, an attack on a luxury hotel and the daylight shooting of a Swedish radio journalist.

Last month Taliban militants attacked a Kabul guesthouse used by Roots of Peace, a US anti-landmine charity, killing two people including a girl. l

Rights group: Violence against Pakistan minorities rising alarmingly n AFP, Islamabad Sectarian killings rose by more than a fifth in Pakistan last year, a leading rights group said yesterday, warning of an alarming increase in violence against religious minorities.

The independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said 687 people were killed in more than 200 sectarian attacks last year, a rise of

22 percent on 2012.

The group warned that ongoing peace talks between the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the hardline militant Islamists of the Pakistani Taliban could make minorities even more vulnerable.

Around 97 percent of Pakistan’s 180 million population is Muslim, the vast majority Sunnis. Violence against Shiite Muslims, who make up around

Modi files nomination from Varanasi, ‘overwhelmed’ by mass support n AFP, Varanasi

9

Friday, April 25, 2014

20 percent, has been growing in recent years, much of it led by extremist sectarian groups such as Lashkar-eJhangvi. The country’s small Christian, Hindu and Ahmadi communities also suffer discrimination and occasional outbursts of violence.

The Taliban, whose seven-year insurgency has claimed thousands of lives, want to impose strict sharia Islamic law across Pakistan. l

Clashes in Kashmir as India heads back to the poll n AFP, Anantnag

India’s main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate and Chief Minister of the western Indian state of Gujarat Narendra Modi (C) waves to supporters as he arrives to file his election nomination papers in Varanasi. Modi said he was ‘overwhelmed’ by a huge show of support on streets of Varanasi as the Hindu nationalist leader entered the contest to become the holy city’s member of parliament AFP

Tens of millions voted yesterday in different regions of India in the latest stage of its election, but militant threats kept many Kashmiris away from polling stations while others clashed with police.

The Muslim-majority and volatile Kashmir valley, where a separatist movement against Indian rule is centred, posed a heightened challenge for security forces on the first of three days of polling there. Police faced stone-throwing protesters in 20 different locations in Anantnag constituency, forcing them to use tear gas and batons to disperse the crowds, one senior officer told AFP. Several journalists received minor injuries.

Voting was light at the heavily guarded polling stations after a campaign of intimidation by local militant groups, who killed three people this week and warned locals not to take part. “I voted because if we send the right person to the Indian parliament he will raise our voice for azadi (freedom),” said defiant resident Umair, reflecting widespread separatist sentiment in the area.

Turnout was a mere 23.5% at 5:00pm, the Election Commission said. l

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Letters to

www.dhakatribune.com

RMG and improving our international image

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e welcome remarks by foreign envoys at the opening of a photo exhibition on the lives of garment workers at the Drik gallery this week, on the need to build a new image of the country internationally.

The High Commissioners of Canada and the UK and the Netherlands’ Ambassador called on stakeholders to work together to improve the country’s image through improved conditions for factory workers.

While acknowledging that major challenges remain in achieving this, they noted the sector has been responsible for significant increases in women’s employment and economic empowerment in the country.

They expressed hope that if the various initiatives to improve safety continue to develop and build confidence, it may be possible to transform the image of the RMG sector from one that is marred by images of Rana Plaza to a picture of a large and internationally valued industry which employs and empowers women on a large scale.

Moves to urge buyers to take more responsibility for their supply chain and for the industry to improve conditions need to be supported and extended further.

The support given by trade partners to programmes to develop the industry by improving worker training and sharing good practice, is valuable and should be emulated by more brands and producers.

Implemented properly with investment in better buildings, such projects can not only deliver safer conditions but boost productivity, thereby helping to secure the future growth of this vital industry.

Such projects can not only deliver safer conditions but boost productivity, thereby helping to secure future growth

Diversification and initiative needed to access Indian market

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ith the exception of 25 products, goods from Bangladesh have had duty free access to India since 2011.

However, a large number of factors including regulatory bottlenecks, poor infrastructure and non-tariff barriers are preventing Bangladeshi businesses from exploiting their potential to export to the Indian market.

Even though Bangladeshi exports to India have jumped fivefold to $563 million in the past decade, there is still an over $4bn trade gap between Bangladesh and India.

Proportionally, the barriers limiting trade, affect Bangladesh far more adversely as it relies on India for a much larger proportion of its global trade.

The government should be more assertive in calling for a simplification of export procedures and a reduction in red tape between our two countries.

It should also take a more strategic view in its use of credit arrangements with India. According to the Centre for Policy Dialogue which held a seminar on the subject this week, much of this finance is being used to buy trucks instead of developing better transport infrastructure.

Non-tariff barriers and physical infrastructure may take time to improve, but there are also other ways in which businesses can benefit from the existing duty free facilities.

Diversification of exports and developing more competitive products for the Indian market are needed to help grow trade and to boost calls to bring down trade barriers. We should also build on the historical linkages between Bangladesh and neighboring parts of North East India to encourage a more mutually beneficial trading relationship.

Friday, April 25, 2014

the Editor

LETTER OF THE DAY

A melancholy note

A young girl seemed to be sharing something with her sister near the Malibag intersection one evening while I passed by. Suddenly the sister started crying, but the girl remained silent. Being curious, I saw an elderly woman torturing the sister and demanding money. After the woman left, I asked the girls what was the matter.

What 10-year-old Laily told me was heartbreaking. “I work at a home, where I have to wash clothes, clean dishes, wipe the floor, take care of the children, among other tasks, but I am paid only Tk1,000.

When I requested a raise, my employers told me that because they have to take into account expenses for my food and clothing, it was not possible. Moina is my younger sister, and has worked as a domestic helper the past eight months. But she has not received her salary. For this reason, that elderly woman was torturing her, as she is our owner. We are required to pay her Tk300 per month. She owns many children in this city, most of whom have to do hazardous work to be able to pay her.”

There are some laws to improve conditions for domestic helpers in our country, but they are rarely imposed. As these youngsters are the future of our nation, the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs and authorities concerned must take apposite action to ensure a decent life.

Bipul K Debnath Dhaka College

Swamy: ‘Bangladesh should compensate with land for influx’ April 20

WaliulHaqueKhondker We want water, they want land. Time for our politicians to put their heads together across the party lines and work out a strategy to raise global awareness against such an existential threat to Bangladesh KKB I agree, we need to stop wasting time with petty internal bickering – there are larger issues that require our urgent attention.

Well-wisher KKB: Being spineless is when you cannot save the people of your country, and you force them to leave their homes and run to other countries searching for a place to live in peace. It is intelligence if the problem in a home is solved by family members, and not by involving the whole neighbourhood in it.

Ronnie Upon hearing some of these politicians talk, one could be forgiven for wondering aloud if India seriously even belongs in this current era.

They need to hit the books, get properly informed and not make these ludicrously populist comments during the election.

Well-wisher Ronnie: If you are well informed, speak on facts.

The infiltration has created a demographic inver-

sion in many places like Tripura. This has created problems for India. There are internal security problems being faced in West Bengal, Assam etc. I am not saying this because of government reports; I have known people (Muslims) who have been harassed by “Hindu” infiltrators as they were agitated against Muslims in general (because of bad experiences in Bangladesh).

My cook has come from Bangladesh and has described all the problems her family has faced, and how and in what circumstances she had to run away. Her nephew, who sometimes visits her, says “Allah Hafiz,” “Insha’allah” etc, and the reason he provided was the Muslims in the area (who are a majority) do not like it if they don’t speak that way!

I was completely shocked to hear this!

The solution lies in creating a bond between different people in the nation. First of all, the slayings of “Hindu” Bangladeshis on your own soil must be stopped! You should demand a better life for all citizens so they do not feel the need to leave their homes and go to other countries. When it is illegal infiltration, it is extremely difficult for a country of 1.2 billion (and counting), with scarce resources (such as police personnel), to ensure accountability.

We all are good people (unlike some of our politicians). So let us bear in mind how we can harness the benefits from our cultural affinity, our proximity to each other, and help each other out in solving such a serious problem.

Abduction of AB Siddique April 18

Thè Kíñg Øf Hèàrt’s I think that if a kidnapping group, linked to a major political party member, was involved, then their course of action would have been to hide him for as long as possible. The people who kidnapped him didn’t really know who he was. If the kidnappers end up dead, or don’t get caught, then I am 100% right and someone important is involved in it.

Zebrul Hossain The police can do anything if only they put their minds to it. This case is proof of that.

Waziuddin Chowdhury Glad to see the family reunited. And that’s all that matters these days!

Mobile courts ‘estimate’ fine for violating speed limit

April 19 Alhamdulillah! At last Bangladesh is up to something good.

Shaheen Akhter

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

CALVIN AND HOBBES

The government should be more assertive in calling for a simplification of export procedures

PEANUTS

CROSSWORD

SUDOKU ACROSS 1 Employer (4) 4 Wounds with a knife (5) 9 Insect (3) 11 Spoken (4) 12 Farm birds (5) 13 Deep mud (4) 14 Accept (4) 15 Slow (mus) (5) 19 Slender supports (5) 21 Sword handle (4) 25 Region (4) 26 Company of lions (5) 28 Talk wildly (4) 29 Fastener (3) 30 Finished (5) 31 Marshes (4)

DOWN 1 Containers (4) 2 United (3) 3 Metal (5) 5 Native drum (6) 6 Operatic air (4) 7 Tree’s outer covering (4) 8 Glossy (5) 10 Intended (5) 16 Landed property (6) 17 Speed and rhythm (5) 18 Portion allotted (5) 20 Glisten (5) 22 Country (4) 23 Give for temporary use (4) 24 Obtains (4)

27 Mouse-coloured (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

Friday, April 25, 2014

Keeping an eye on the banks n Syed Ishtiaque Reza

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Can Muslims reconcile with the true spirit of secularism?

BIGSTOCK

The open society and religion

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n Yusuf A Choudhry

et me say that I am a firm believer in Intelligent Design, and that a Supreme Force created all of mankind whether Muslim, Hindu, Christian, Jew, or Buddhist. Question is, did God separate us, or did we separate ourselves?

The annals of history point to the latter. Imagine Noah today if he had to make a choice about who to take aboard the ark. The point is, we humans, in our thirst for control, have shaped divinity to our liking. Anyone who does not agree with us is the other side. That would still be okay if we could at least co-exist just like every other thing in nature does. The worst thing that God ever gave man is the power to think, which has been used forever to raid and destroy others who may not think alike.

When there was no organised religion, they did it with force, but then they developed an easier way.

Convince the masses with facts or fictions about God, and lead them into doing the things. Check out history and you will see this happening in every religion there has been.

The question is, how does one reconcile it with the modern society’s needs? Again, history would show that as humans advanced economically, there arose the necessity of reconciliation and religion as perpetuated by the upper echelons of the feudal class started taking a backseat. People developed liberalism and tolerance.

The Western world lead this evolution of thoughts because it went through religious persecution of the worst sort in the wake of the Roman Catholic Church.

The rest of the world also saw its benefits and started emulating. In the Islamic world, the renaissance started with Turkey, Egypt, and Algeria from

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the mid 1940s to the 1970s, where visionary leaders like Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Habib Bourguiba, and Gamal Abdel Nasser led the revolution of thoughts towards a secular society shedding the dominance of religion as preached under the earlier Islamic orthodoxy.

This was not an easy process, because many Muslims believed in the inseparability of religion and statecraft. To bring the semblance of a secular society, separate rules had to be enacted for different religious sects governing physical life according to their religious beliefs particularly in such areas as marriage, divorce, laws of inheritance, freedom of worship, etc. Many Muslim majority countries that followed them embraced secularism with the same multiplicity of laws and rules.

ruling class, and brought miseries and injustice to the rest exemplified by the monarchy in Iran.

Religion is like opium, it tends to ease the pain, but at the same time, the more you have of it the more you want. Radicalisation of Islam perhaps can be traced to this more than any other cause. The other factor was a growth of unconstrained Islamism promoted by the followers of Abdul Wahab in Saudi Arabia. The Iranian revolution of 1978-79 provided the initial push that radicalised a whole nation in a very short time. The force of Wahhabism permeated more subtly through religious schools and the infusion of money into the rural society. The great economic liberator of many poor Muslim countries, and employment in the more orthodox Islamic countries of the Middle East also

Where do the people of Bangladesh want to head in the future? The liberal Islam of the past, or the more conservative theology of the Middle East?

This worked well for a while and everybody was happy – all except the deeply entrenched Islamists who considered all that to be quite sacrilegious. Their opposition, however, was muted and confined to the conservative layers of the rural society and not really impacting the core of politics and statecraft emanating from the more educated urbanites.

Then resurgence took place of the old thinking that religion should be at the centre of public life, not the fringe. Two essential forces brought this about. One was the arrogance of power and corruption that infected the

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worked as a catalyst very much under the radar of secularists.

Bangladesh has been a victim on both side of the religious divide.

The people, by and large, have been conservative but not conservative extremes. This played into the hands of the Pakistanis who painted the secular people as anti-Islamist. When the country emerged from the civil war, it retained its character and made space for secularism to grow.

But somehow, the suspicion towards India drew people more towards Islam candidly abated by Saudi influence. Money poured in to

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support Islamic ideology of the more extreme variety through the madrasas and charities plus offers of jobs in the Middle East. The ignominious end of the Awami League regime in 1975 gave its opponents the opportunity of using Islam as a political weapon.

Starting with Khondokar Mushtaq Ahmed who declared the country to be an Islamic Republic, followed by Ziaur Rahman to some extent, and then Ershad, the country went through a quiet insurgence of Islam. The later tenure of Khaleda Zia further reinforced the Islamists’ rise. The current AL government, although it resorted back to constitutional secularism of the early 1970s, did it with a wary eye towards the growing force of the Islamists in the country.

The question now is: Where do the people of Bangladesh want to head in the future? Do they want to stay with the liberal Islam of the past, or adopt the more conservative theology of the Middle East? A tough question, which I do not believe has been candidly asked yet. It is time for the people to make a choice which will at least settle the fight between the extreme right and the extreme left.

Of course, the people also have a third choice. Could a Muslim democracy be conceived in the true spirit of secularism where individuals, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, could choose between Sharia law and the civil code for their rights and privileges?

Could the Islamists live with that?

Before one answers that question, consider a quote from Sandra Day O’Connor: “Those who would renegotiate the boundaries between church and state must therefore answer a difficult question: Why would we trade a system that has served us so well for one that has served others so poorly?” l Yusuf A Choudhry is a former civil servant in Bangladesh and is currently a professor at American University, Washington DC.

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ix top officials of the state-owned Bangladesh Small Industries and Commerce Bank (BASIC) Limited have been suspended for alleged malpractices, the bank’s Deputy Managing Director Monaiem Khan being one of them. The decision was made recently by the board of directors of the stateowned bank, following prolonged communication with the central bank.

BASIC bank has been suffering from an acute shortage of capital because of its aggressive loaning policy and many other irregularities that often contravened to banking norms.

Despite a series of reports in the media, and suggestions from economists and bankers, the central bank, for reasons unknown, remained silent on the irregularities of BASIC bank.

An incumbent high-up and a former top ranking official of Bangladesh Bank recently had a long discussion with this scribe regarding the Hallmark scam of Sonali Bank, and the BASIC Bank irregularities. The former official was of the opinion that the central bank can now only control the private banks as the state-owned banks are directly taken care of by the ministry of finance. The incumbent official said the central bank lacks the autonomy to control activities such as the BASIC Bank irregularities.

But many bankers, including some former central bank officials, believe that the central bank has failed in controlling state-owned banks, including BASIC Bank, which in turn is hampering investment.

When the media, both print and electronic, were doing reports on the gross irregularities of BASIC Bank, no effort was seen on the part of the central bank to exercise the authority it has. In fact, Bangladesh Bank refrained from exercising its regulatory power fully as per the amended Banking Company Act, to contain irregularities. As the central bank remained silent, BASIC bank continued to flout rules even after the media ran several reports on its massive irregularities.

The banking sector, especially the state-owned banks, turned into a haven for wrongdoings because of dual control. The banking division in the ministry of finance and the Bangladesh Bank are playing the roles of guardians in the sector. The stateowned banks particularly are facing the dual guardianship where the ministry is certainly getting an edge over the central bank.

The central bank’s freedom from the finance ministry is needed at this time. The government comes with different agendas. These agendas may be good and sound, but the job of keeping the financial sector on track is the sole responsibility of the central bank. The central bank is the country’s monetary watchdog and its key policy issues keep the banks operating smoothly. While the central bank has control over private banks, the finance ministry’s interference with many banking matters, particularly those relating to the state-owned ones, is reportedly causing many unexpected complications. Recently, members of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) also talked about the complexities

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which have arisen out of dual supervision of the central bank and the banking division of state-owned banks.

Many financial sector specialists believe that, despite the presence of the banking division, the central bank itself can think of exerting its authority effectively. To perform its functions efficiently, the central bank requires bolstering manpower and enabling conditions that will facilitate it to select the right individuals for the right positions, from within and outside.

Many bankers believe that the central bank has failed in controlling state-owned banks

On the other hand, if the government wants genuine discipline in the banking sector, the first step will be dissolving the banking division from the Ministry of Finance, so that the state-owned commercial banks can be brought under the central bank’s direct supervision. The Hallmark scam and the BASIC Bank irregularities proved that there was weakness on the part of Bangladesh Bank to apply its strong supervisory powers and authority. Whatever autonomy it has, Bangladesh Bank needs to apply it to the fullest.

The central bank’s robust supervisory role can help avoid any loan scams (like Hallmark), improve the recovery of non-performing loans, and ensure proper use of bank credits. The banking sector has been demanding a separate pay scale for Bangladesh Bank and other state-owned financial institutions. The government can think of it to stop the exodus of efficient and skilled bankers to private banks, where payment is much higher under given market-driven circumstances.

However, many things depend on the psychology of the central bank people. It is up to them, how they would contribute in eliminating the weaknesses of state-owned banks.

Bangladesh Bank has ample powers under the Bangladesh Bank Order, 1972, the Bank Companies Act, 1991, and the Financial Institutions Act, 1993. The central bank holds the authority of inspection and investigation of the banks. It can actively think of high-powered or special investigation committees to investigate serious fraud-forgery cases and irregularities in the banking sector.

It’s possible that these lapses require some amendments to the existing laws, but many things depend on the capacity of doing pragmatic analysis and taking actions by the central bank.

The willpower of the Bangladesh Bank high-ups can ensure its own effectiveness. We all must understand that mismanagement in the banking sector hurts the economy. l Syed Ishtiaque Reza is Director of News, Ekattor Television.

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Spending on education n Mamun Rashid

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udging by every sign and symptom, Bangladesh is a transition economy. Unlike many developing and transitioning economies, it enjoys a very good demographic divide, with a young and energetic population to boot. However, many things depend on how we could make the best use of this young and vibrant population. The future thus lies in how we transform this large population into human capital. There’s no doubt that an optimum investment in educational development is the key here.

The best international practices tell us that a country has to spend 6% of its GDP, or 20% of its annual budget, on education. The Dakar declaration signed in 2000, where Bangladesh was also a signatory, endorsed this.

Bangladesh has allocated little more than 2% of its GDP, or around 11% of its budget for education in the outgoing fiscal year.

Our best was 16% of the annual budget. Surprisingly, many poor countries in Africa allocate more for education than us. Reports tell us, countries

like Tanzania have allocated 26% of its annual budget on education. The numbers are 24% for Lesotho, 22% for Burundi, 17% in Togo, and 16% in Uganda.

On the contrary, Bangladesh is much larger than these countries, as far as GDP is concerned. In fiscal year 2013, Bangladesh had a GDP size of $137bn, whereas Tanzania had a GDP size of $28.25bn, Uganda $21.2bn, Togo $3.68bn, Burundi $2.47bn, and Lesotho $2.61bn.

Despite a lower allocation, a large chunk of the education budget goes towards the non-developmental sector, or mainly for teachers’ salaries and wages. Budgetary allocation for education in the outgoing fiscal is Tk25,930 crore. Out of this, only Tk8,380 crore is spent for education development. The rest is spent on salaries and wages.

In fiscal 2013, the total allocation was Tk20,996 crore. The development sector only received Tk6,169 crore. Fiscal year 2012 saw an education budget of Tk18,736 crore. Only Tk4,275 crore was spent towards development. Thus the government budget for education was split between revenue and development.

A large portion of the revenue budget

(about 98% for primary, and 99% for secondary) is allocated to personnel costs, with the development budget primarily funding non-salary recurrent spending, including free textbooks for all children every year, and stipends to encourage children to attend school. These two alone account for more than 75% of expenditure at the primary level.

Though education has always been one of the highest priorities, these days the budget experiences a higher allocation in public administration, with an increasing number of public servants and the creation of senior posts. The defence budget is also growing year on year. Like many other transitioning economies in the world, or even South Asia, our government may think of reducing the allocation for these two sectors and increase the allocation for education.

Analysts say, reaching a target of 20% of the annual budget may be too ambitious as of now, but we could easily start with 14% from the next fiscal year and increase the number by 1% each year. Intervention from the private sector, or NGO support, can augment this effort manifold in

areas where public sector allocation is meagre or not possible to reach the targeted segment. Public-private partnership to establish quality secondary and higher secondary schools and colleges, at least in the 64 districts and gradually 470 sub-districts, could generate fantastic results, and may very well be treated as impact investment.

for education mainly for education development. In India it is 3.7%, in Nepal 3.8%, and in Pakistan 2.9%. The populist approach of covering more educational institutions or teachers under MPO, to utilise their “vote bank,” should be de-emphasised.

We should look for qualitative intervention for educational development.

The future lies in how we transform this large population into human capital. Educational development is the key here

The ongoing sixth five-year plan emphasised much on human resource development, and recommended 4% of the GDP allocation for education.

However, never in the past years were we able to allocate more than 2.4% of the GDP towards education. For the past five years it was 2.2% of the GDP. We need to increase the allocation

More allocation for MPhil or PhD programs could see a shift in quality for higher education like in many other competing countries. Efforts to reduce drop-out numbers for female students could also create miracles.

What we are teaching at the primary and tertiary levels should be revaluated. Curriculum development,

teachers’ training, increasing the skill levels of science and mathematics teachers, developing an education administration or management cadre, and education research warrant much attention. We should look at teachers not as polling centre managers or presiding officers, but as the catalysts for developing our future generations.

While mainstreaming madrasa education or launching an all-inclusive or one-for-all education policy is of paramount importance, our budget should see serious efforts taken for reducing corruption in education. While it is easier said than done, we should find a way for the reduction in the politicisation of the rural education infrastructure and facilities.

While the government alone can’t take care of all investment in this sector, increased savings and lowered corruption can easily divert further investment in the hungry streams of the education sector, and thereby focus more on the enhancement of national capital. l Mamun Rashid is a business professor and financial sector entrepreneur.

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

I always prefer variety in roles: Zahid Hasan n Mahbub Hassan Joti A new TV series Nojir Bihin Nojor Ali is airing at 9:50pm on RTV from Wednesday to Saturday. Written and directed by Himu Akram, the drama features popular small screen star Zahid Hasan as the protagonist. The adept actor has skilfully rendered the role of Nojor Ali, who is a BA graduate from Avirampur village. After a struggle for finding lodging in town, the helpless Nojor Ali returns home only to be exploited by his loved ones including his girlfriend Nupur, Alauddin who has returned from Dubai, his sister Shefali and brother-in-law Harun – all takes advantage of his naivety. Annoyed by their lack of understanding and daunting behaviour, Nojor eventually leaves home and moves to Dhaka.

The capital presents him with new challenges and all sort of obstacles which he must learn to overcome.

Time and again, Zahid Hasan has entertained his fans through a range of characters. Dhaka Tribune caught up with the versatile actor to talk about his role in Nojir Bihin Nojor Ali. “After several years, the viewers will see me in a different character. I always prefer variety in roles. This drama is one of the best piece of work by director Himu Akram,” said Zahid.

The character of Nojor Ali is quite versatile and has his flaws. About the protagonist not being an exemplary person, Zahid said: “A character is created in a writer’s imagination.

Sometimes, the protagonist doesn’t have to be a perfect person. However, I have tried my level best to portray the role of Nojor Ali and have coped quite well with the script.

“If a protagonist is enough to convince an audience, I would say, the actor is successful in his role.”

Talking about the decreasing number of viewers, the actor said: “ We are loosing our audience for too many TVCs. The viewers get distracted and loose concentration while watching a drama series.”

About directing TV serials, Zahid said: “I am always interested in directing TV plays. Now a days, many actor are also involved in directorial projects. But their main focus remains in acting. I have the same notion. I want to create my image as an actor and directing will always be my side interest.” l Zahid Hasan in Nojir Bihin Nojor Ali

Friday, April 25, 2014

Upcoming movie Honeymoon to premiere on Eid n Entertainment Desk Contemporary popular duo of the silver screen, Mahi and Bappy will be seen in Honeymoon, an upcoming romantic action movie which is scheduled to premiere during Eid. The producing company Jazz Multimedia confirmed the news. For the fifth time, the duo has paired up for the silver screen.

The movie is directed by Safi Uddin and has received uncut censorship. Jaaz Multimedia is managing the theatre booking and preparing other prerequisites to release the movie on schedule.

Honeymoon is a big budget cinema which is set to release on a special occasion like the previous superhit production Agnee which was released on Valentine’s Day 2014.

The director of the movie Safi Uddin said: “It’s a hearwarming film with the combination of romance and action. I have applied all the tricks of the trade to make the film vivid and attractive. The shooting is being conducted at eye-catching locations and a change will be seen in the attires of the characters and the images of the songs. I hope the movie will be a pleasant surprise to the audience.”

Mahi, one of the lead actors of the

Mahi and Bappi in a scene of Honeymoon movie said: “I don’t want to reveal the story or my character in the movie and spoil the surprise, but I hope my fans will see in a new light.”

Bappy, Mahi’s male counterpart in the movie, said: “I think my chemistry with Mahi is unbeatable as all the movie we have worked for so far

were hits, except for Dabir Saheber Sangsar and I hope the box office failure will be washed away by the vast success of our upcoming movie Honeymoon.”

Syed Hasan Imam and Ahmed Sharif are playing other vital characters in the film. l

Shemonty Monjari’s debut album hits the market

Karma Coffee to be staged for charitable cause

n Limana Solaiman Based on the Liberation War of 1971, a single episode drama titled Onuchchhed 71 will be aired on ATN Bangla tonight at 8:50pm. Directed

by Shanta Rahman, popular TV actor Tareen will be seen as the protagonist of the play

Apur Panchali to hit the cinemas today n Entertainment Desk Apur Panchali will hit the cinemas of West Bengal, India today. The film is inspired by the real-life story of Subir Banerjee, the child actor who played Apu in Satyajit Ray’s epic film Pather Panchali (Song of the Little Road, 1955). Kaushik Ganguly, who directed acclaimed movies like Arekti Premer Golpo and Laptop, is the director of the film.

Popular actor Parambrata Chatterjee portrays a younger Subir Banerjee, while Ardhendu Bannerjee plays the role of the aged Banerjee.

Director Kaushik Ganguly won the award of best director for Apur Panchali in the 44th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in November 2013.

The director mentioned in an interview that he found similarities between certain parts of the life of Subir Banerjee and the iconic character

Apu. The film uses several minutes of footage from Pather Panchali in its narrative.

In an interview given to the Press Trust of India about Apur Panchali, Kaushik said: “Despite being one of the most celebrated child actors in the industry once, nobody cares to find out what he is doing now, no one remembers him. My film is a take on that. The USP of the film is the subject which has never been explored in Bengali cinema before. Interestingly, Subir’s life has an uncanny resemblance to what Ray had depicted in The Apu Trilogy. And that’s what inspired me to make this film.

Though Pather Panchali was Subir’s first and last film, but if you study the man’s life, you’d sit and ponder if Satyajit Ray had written The Apu Trilogy keeping Subirda in mind. I would like to make it clear that my film is a work of fiction and not Subir Banerjee’s biography.” l

Promising singer Shemonty Monjari’s debut album titled Rangiye Diye Jao hits the market today. The audio album consisting of ten tracks from the Boshonto segment of Gitabitan is launched by the Bengal Foundation.

In conversation with the Dhaka Tribune, the aspiring singer said: “My father did not want me to record my first album at this moment. To his understanding, I am still too young to have a solo album of my own. As my niche is Rabindra Sangeet, he wanted me to be more mature before I went for recording. But fortunately, there are many people around me who admires my work and they persuaded my father to give his consent.

“I contacted Prattyush Banerjee, my music director and he also showed interest to work with me. Then, I went to India and finished my recording in January. After my return, I gave my CD to Bengal Foundation. They have a committee who decides on which CD’s to release and within a few weeks, I was informed that they liked my record and would like to launch it. My album contain 10 songs and my theme is on spring.”

Shemonty started her musical journey at

n Enteratinment Desk A play Karma Coffee will be staged today at 7pm at the International School Dhaka auditorium. Written by Shazia Omar and directed by Amit Ashraf, the proceeds of the show is going towards the building of a clinic (Amirabad Clinic) in the rural Faridpur area.

The story is about a young man’s search for a soulmate.

The play is a tingly comedic study of human nature, celebrating relationships and emotions, and the search for oneself by understanding others.

Tickets are priced at Tk1000 and is available at ISD school, Panini, Red Shift Cafe, Crepe Au Lait, Beans and Bagels and Hakasa. l

an early age. She trained in Rabindra Sangeet at the prestigious Chhayanaut Sangeet Vidyayatan in Dhaka, where she completed her 8 years long course and achieved first class first position in the final certificate examination.

She also achieved first class first position in the national competition on Rabindra Sangeet arranged by the Jatiyo Rabindra Sangeet Sammilon Parishad in 2011. l

TODAY IN DHAKA Exhibition

Exile in Calcutta by Thomas Meyer Time: 3pm – 8pm Drik Gallery House 58, Road 15/A (New) Dhanmondi

Quentin Tarantino’s case against Gawker dismissed n Entertainment Desk A judge in the US has dismissed Quentin Tarantino’s case against gossip website Gawker, who he claimed helped leak his screenplay The Hateful Eight.

The writer and director filed legal papers seeking $1m in compensation from the site, after scrapping plans to film the movie.

US district judge John F Walter said Tarantino had failed to demonstrate “direct infringement” of his copyright.

Gawker posted a link to the leaked 146-page script in January.

Tarantino accused Gawker Media of “predatory journalism,” but the publisher argued it had only provided a link to Anonfiles.com, an anonymous online location where the screenplay could be viewed.

Gawker said it was not a “scoop” as the document was already available and did not violate Tarantino’s “right to first publication” as the script was already online.

It added “Tarantino himself set in motion the circumstances by which the script circulated” by giving it to several people.

The judge ruled Tarantino’s lawyers had failed to demonstrate whether anyone had actually seen the script as a direct result of the link on Gawker. l

Serenading Suchitra Time: 12pm – 8pm Shilpangan Gallery House-7 Road-13 Dhanmondi

Last Summer

by Iffat Ara Dewan Time: 12pm – 8pm Bengal Art Lounge Gulshan Avenue

Film

Captain America: Jonakir Alo, Boishommo The Legend of Hercules 3D Avatar in 3D , Frozen in 3D Time: 10am – 10pm Star Cineplex, Level 8, Bashundhara City

Alia Bhatt overwhelmed with the success of 2 States n Entertainment Desk 2 States starring Alia Bhatt and Arjun Kapoor has managed to collect approximately Rs 500 million net in just five days and is on its way to become the biggest hit of 2014.

The film has touched the right chord with the youth and has maintained great business at the Box Office during the weekdays. One can also not negate the fact that 2 States has a huge advantage of two extra holidays besides the weekend; one being Easter and the other being an election holiday in several states.

Alia Bhatt thanked her fans via twitter for the success of the film and wrote: “Thank You all for all the love. So overwhelmed with the response to 2 States. We do this for you and just you. Thank You and I love you.”

Aali Bhatt is on a high post the success of 2 States and is planning to take a holiday.

“Yes, I am going on a holiday to Paris and London.

My mother and sister would accompany me. I want to get back to my normal life for a few days at the least.

Once I return, I would resume shooting of Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhaniya with Varun Dhawan,” said Alia in an interview.

2 States, a Karan Johar and Sajid Nadiadwala co-produced romantic comedy film, has made fabulous collection at the Overseas Box Office in the first weekend as well. Directed by Abhishek Verman, the film was released in about four hundred screens at the Overseas Box Office in the first weekend. l

Did you know?

KKR captain Gautam Gambhir has the most IPL ducks (10) and joint-most 50+ scores (20, with Chris Gayle and Suresh Raina)

Sport

Friday, April 25, 2014

14 Benzema strike

gives Real advantage

14 Arab-Israeli women

break ground on pro soccer team

DHAKA TRIBUNE

13

15 No promises, no

pressure as Phelps plunges back in

Wahed secures late win for Mohammedan

Muktijoddha’s three Nigerian attackers(from left) Sunday Chizoba, Eleta Kingsley and Nkowcha Kingsley and Bangladeshi midfielder Md. Ibrahim celebrate one of their four strikes against Team BJMC at the BNS yesterday MUMIT M

Muktijoddha ride high on Nigerian trio Nigerian forward Nkwocha Kingsley scored a brace to help Muktijoddha KC earn a comfortable 4-2 victory over Team BJMC in the Nitol Tata Bangladesh Premier League at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday. Nkwocha netted either side of the half while his compatriots - Eleta Kingsley and Sunday Chizuba scored one apiece for the All Reds. The Nigerian trio’s indomitable supremacy was just too much for BJMC to negotiate as Samson Iliasu and Ismael Bangoura could only manage to reduce the margin for them in the second half.

Muktis initiated the attack as early as four minutes into the game when Sunday ran free towards BJMC goal following a headed-pass from Nkwocha Kingsley. He took a shot on target but BJMC keeper Ariful Islam dived to his right to make a decent save. The Nigerian then put Muktis ahead in the 23rd minute

from a free-kick by Sunday. BJMC goalkeeper Arif failed to grip Sunday’s freekick which was taken from just outside the box. The loose ball fell to Nkwocha who took the chance gleefully and buried the ball into the back of the net.

The other Kingsley, Eleta, doubled the lead in the 42nd minute with a brilliant solo effort. The BJMC defense seemed lethargic and glued to their position as Eleta skipped past a defender to break into the penalty area. The Nigerian then dribbled past two more defenders inside the box before slotting home past a helpless Arif to end the first half with a 2-0 lead.

Ariful Islam was called into action once again as he produced a lovely save to deny Eleta’s effort after just four minutes into the second half. However, Arif couldn’t deny Nkwocha from netting his second of the evening two minutes later. Sunday was involved again as his pass from the top of the box found Nkwocha, whose angular shot blasted into the far post to extend Mukti’s lead to an unassailable 3-0.

National Women’s Football begins next week The 43 team KFC National Women’s Football Championship starts at Rajshahi and Feni simultaneously from April 30 this year.

Global fast-food franchise KFC is the title sponsor of the meet and will provide a purse of tk. 1.5 million. Part of Fifa’s $30000 donation for the women’s wing will also be used for the meet.

The champions of the will be awarded Tk. 500000.00 while the runner-up will receive Tk. 30000.00. Besides the prize money, all the participating teams will receive Tk. 10000.00 each as participation money while each winning team in the qualifying round will

get Tk. 5000.00 as the winner’s purse.

Sirajul Islam Bachchu, the chairman of BFF’s women’s wing said that after the completion of the qualifying round in the six zones, defending champions Ansar and the hosts of the final round would play in the final round and it would be played in league basis. Last year the number of participating teams was 37 and this time it has been increased to 43.

“We are moving ahead and the increase in numbers clearly shows it. The standards are also on a rise,” said Bachchu.

BFF women’s wing deputy chairman Mahfuza Akhter Kiron, KFC regional manager Mizanur Rahman and BFF general secretary Abu Naeem Shohag were also present on the occasion. l

Narail team celebrate their Walton Inter District Volleyball title at the volleyball stadium yesterday COURTESY

BJMC, however, managed to put one back in the 58th minute when Nigerian midfielder Samson Iliasu tapped in to score from a Mahadi Hasan Tapu cross.

But only three minutes later, Sunday restored the 3 goal cushion for Muktijoddha and it was a stunner. The Nigerian striker made an audacious attempt as he curled a chip from the top left corner of the box which sneaked into the far post to make it 4-1.

Sunday almost added another in the 67th minute when the Nigerian’s powerful strike from the middle of the box hit the woodwork. For BJMC, Masud Rana hit the bar also in the 76th minute.

However, Ismael Bangoura scored a consolation in the 79th minute from the spot after Shamol Ahmed Rony’s handball and the Guinean striker made no mistake to send the keeper wrong way to only reduce the margin of a defeat which was never in doubt.

The win saw Muktijoddha move to third place with 18 points from 11 matches while BJMC remain at seven with 12 points. l

A goal by substitute striker Wahed Ahmed at the eleventh hour of the match helped Mohammedan Sporting Club salvage all three points with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Uttar Baridhara in the Bangladesh Premier League match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

It was a game full of wasted chances and just when it seemed the match would finish in a goalless stalemate - Wahed Ahmed, who replaced Zahid Hassan Emily at the beginning of second half, scored the all-important winning goal in the 90th minute to seal the victory for the men in Black and White.

Arup Kumar Baidya set up the goal with a low cross from the right flank that found Wahed who was inexplicably unmarked at the second bar and the national striker tapped home into an empty net.

The victory helped Mohammedan reduce the gap with their arch-rival

BCB to invite bidders for media rights The Bangladesh Cricket Board has issued a tender to sell worldwide media rights for six years until 2020. Two India tours to Bangladesh and a slightly enlarged international schedule during this period are what the BCB are hoping would attract bidders, who have to submit their proposals by May 8.

Interested parties can start buying tenders from April 27 till May 8.

There will be an open auction on May 12, which Kazi Inam Ahmed, the BCB’s marketing and commercial committee chairman, believes will ensure the best valuation for the board. He has laid the groundwork to devise the best way to find a suitable broadcaster, which now includes an eligibility clause that will enable Bangladeshi TV channels to apply.

“We are going to hold an open auction on May 12 which we believe will allow us to find the best possible offer,” Inam said.

“This time the tender will be slightly different as broadcasters with a year’s experience in the business can also apply.

Over the last two years, we have found out that local TV channels are capable of handling this type of work.”

This is BCB’s second attempt to find a new broadcaster, having been frustrated by the lack of considerable offers two years ago.

Their last such long-term deal was with Nimbus, which lasted till early 2012. It was a botched-up six-year deal, from which the BCB has not received the full contracted amount till date. Therefore, BCB had to opt for local single-series broadcasters like Channel 9 and Maasranga TV for the last three home bilateral series (West Indies in 2012, New Zealand in 2013 and Sri Lanka in 2014).

BCB president Nazmul Hassan confirmed in February that India had signed the Members’ Participation Agreement to tour in 2014, 2015 and 2020. This year a tri-series involving Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka plus a Test series against Zimbabwe are planned, while Pakistan, South Africa and Australia are also scheduled to tour next year. l

Abahani to only two points as they now sit third in the points table with 20 points from 11 matches.

After a dull first half, the men in Black and White were unlucky not to take the lead within 10 minutes into the second half where they created two great chances. In the 52nd minute, Portuguese forward Hardy Pinto’s diving header hit the woodwork and a minute later, Yousuf Sifat’s powerful goal bound shot was blocked by a Uttar Baridhara defender.

Uttar Baridhara midfielder Ahsanul Kabir Masud tried his luck with an audacious attempt from 25 yards which was saved brilliantly by Mohammedan keeper Mamun Khan. Nigerian striker Lucky Divine saw his shot sail over the bar from inside the middle of the box in the 64th minute.

Zongo’s close-range effort in the 70th minute was saved by Baridhara goalie Osman Goni, two minutes before Pinto’s header from an Arup Kumar cross flew inches over the bar.

In the end, Wahed stole the show with his late winner to win the match for his club. l

Asian Games Fun Run today The Fun Run will be held at the capital today to create the hype for the next edition of the Asian Games scheduled to be held in Incheon, Korea.

Fun Run, a concept emulating the Queens Baton Relay of Commonwealth Games, will comprise of children, the athletes of the country, the sports organizers of all sectors and the sports lovers of the country. The run will start from the Bangladesh Shishu Academy at 8:30 am and will finish at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

The Fun Run has already taken place in 22 countries of Asia and its next destination is Philippines.

In a press conference held at the Bangladesh Olympic Association auditorium yesterday, its secretary general Syed Shahed Reza revealed the details to the press. He said, “a high profile delegation of the Asian Olympic Council is in the city to be a part of the run and that’s a great honor for the country.” Su Jun GhiSu, the deputy secretary general of the Asian Games Organizing Committee was also present on the occasion. l

Mental remedy begins for Tigers The three day-long mental grooming session of the Bangladesh national cricket camp began at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) was very keen to muscle up the players’ mental strength and therefore, appointed life success coach Ali Khan, a Canadian of Bangladeshi origin, to help the current senior cricketers of the country to overcome their mental trauma.

Bangladesh’s performance at home so far in the World Twenty20, the Asia Cup and the series against Sri Lanka, was way below par and the players openly admitted their failure in handling pressure. Bangladesh has been the busiest team in the first quarter of the year and but yet could win only two T20s and managed a draw in a Test against Sri Lanka. The burden of expectation from all quarters saw the team crumble to its lowest ebb against Afghanistan in the Asia Cup and against Hong Kong in the ICC World Twenty20.

Those two embarrassing defeats along with their overall poor show on the pitch have shoved the players’ as well as the team’s morale further back as they now struggle to find their way up from this nadir of misery.

“We are working on the mental state,” said Ali. “One gets mental toughness from positive mental state.

You cannot buy this from the market and install it. One needs to have control over it through focus, body language and language pattern. These three ele-

Life success coach Ali Khan (L) conducts a mental grooming session with the Bangladesh cricketers at Sahara-BCB Academy yesterday ments make the mental state right. We are doing some exercise with the cricketers with music and other things to take their confidence level to a higher state,” Ali explained.

Ali informed that the job on the first day wasn’t tough for him as his analysis of the players were based on following the players and their performance regularly.

“The one common issue I found was trouble with their mental strength. I had one-on-one session with Tamim Iqbal, Nasir Hossain and Mushfiqur Ra-

him and all of them had the same issue.

They are not being able to hold onto the positive enforcement,” said Ali. Ali also found insecurity as an issue among the cricketers but stated it to be a very normal and a positive thing.

“One will never work hard if there is no insecurity but its harmful if that insecurity is hampering your work,” he added.

National spinner Abdur Razzak was among the 32 cricketers who attended yesterday’s session. The veteran spinner thinks it will be better for the

cricketers to have such sessions on regular basis.

“One might get relaxed or demotivated playing too much of cricket. So this kind of sessions do help to get into tone mentally. I don’t know if this will have effect on the performance but will surely help mentally,” said Razzak.

The cricketers will have one more common session today before they head into one-on-one session which will continue till tomorrow. The women cricketers will also have a common session with Ali on April 27. l

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Diaby closing on return: Wenger

Sport

Friday, April 25, 2014

Mavericks beat mistake-prone Spurs

Arsenal midfielder Abou Diaby is close to a return from a 13-month injury lay-off after playing for the club’s under-21 side, manager Arsene Wenger revealed on Wednesday. “He hasn’t played for a year, but physically he is ready to play, completely,” Wenger told the club website. “It is now just decision-making, getting used to challenges again. Everybody (counted him out), but he is fit and ready.” Diaby, whose Arsenal career has been blighted by injuries, has not played for the first team since suffering a cruciate ligament injury in a Premier League game against Swansea City in March last year.

–AFP

Monta Ellis tallied 21 points and Shawn Marion scored 20 as the Dallas Mavericks routed the error-prone San Antonio Spurs 113-92 to level their opening round NBA playoff series at 1-1 on Wednesday. Dallas took advantage of some sloppy play by the Spurs and could easily be ahead two games to none in the Western Conference series. They led by double digits in the fourth quarter of the first game but ended up losing 90-85. San Antonio turned the ball over 24 times Wednesday, leading to 33 Dallas points. “That’s the been the weak link for us throughout the year and it showed up tonight,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.

–AFP

Benzema strike gives Real advantage Real Madrid took a huge step towards their first Champions League final in 12 years as Karim Benzema’s first-half goal gave them a 1-0 first-leg lead over holders Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Frenchman was on hand to turn home Fabio Coentrao’s cross on 19 minutes and Madrid’s advantage could have been even greater had Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel di Maria not missed fine chances before the break.

Bayern had the overwhelming majority of possession but failed to convert it into many sights of goal as Iker Casillas’ save from Mario Goetze five minutes from time was the only significant stop the Spanish captain was forced into all evening.

Defeat leaves the Germans with it all to do next Tuesday, if they are to continue their quest to become the first side to retain the trophy in the Champions League era.

“We played with a lot of personality, we had a lot of possession we will have to improve in Munich, but I am very proud,”

‘Be optimistic about Brazil’ FIFA president Sepp Blatter has encouraged fans to be optimistic that the World Cup in Brazil will be a success, amid growing concerns over security and public unrest as workers scramble to finish stadiums on time.

The Swiss said similar public scepticism had accompanied preparations for previous World Cups and yet the tournaments had proved to be successes, despite not all the work being finished.

“It is my 10th World Cup... and I can

tell you I have never seen a World Cup that everything is ready, completely ready before the kick-off,” Blatter told reporters in Hong Kong on Thursday.

“Football, with more than 300 million active participants, more than one billion fans, they are now waiting for this World Cup. It is in Brazil, it is a country where football has been, let’s say the best footballers of the world are from.

“It will be a great tournament. Be optimistic as we are optimistic, football is optimistic. Football is giving emotions to the world today in this perturbed world we are living in.” l

In this Tuesday’s photo, Francisco Forastiere points out trading cards of players, from his collection of World Cup memorabilia, in Mexico City.

The former sports announcer has collected more than 1,500 Word Cup figurines and says he continues to expand on his collection 44 years after he started it. Forastiere estimates he has spent more than $75,000 on his collection AP

Pacquiao lost his ‘pop’: Mayweather

said Bayern boss Pep Guardiola.

“I have experience of how difficult it is to come here and play at the Bernabeu but I congratulate them because they won and if they own it is because they played better.”

Real coach Carlo Ancelotti, meanwhile, hailed the effort of his players to keep out Bayern for 90 minutes despite their lack of possession.

“In terms of individual qualities it is true that we played with a lot of forward players, but the important thing is the sacrifice they all make.

“When you have the combination of quality players and sacrifice that is all you can ask for.”

Ronaldo was returning after four games out with a hamstring injury as he replaced Gareth Bale, who had been suffering from flu in the days before the game, in the only change from the Real side that beat Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final last week.

And after a bright early spell

by Bayern, it was Madrid who created the clearer openings in the first-half.

Real stung the Germans with

a stunning counter-attack to open the scoring as Ronaldo’s ball down the left for Coentrao was timed to perfection and the Portuguese full-back’s low cross was tapped home at the back post by Benzema.

Ronaldo missed a gilt-edged chance to make it 2-0 when another quick break caught Bayern hopping and the World Player of the Year blasted over Benzema’s low cross from close range.

Di Maria was next to go close as he latched onto a deep cross at the back post but wastefully volleyed over with just Neuer to beat.

Real defender Sergio Ramos admitted Madrid knew they could catch Bayern on the break.

“It is a good result to go to Munich with,” he told Canal Plus.

“It was a very hard game, we had to work so hard. They are a team with players of an incredible level and they like to dominate the ball, but we knew we could create danger on the counter-attack.”

The second-half produced more of the same as Neuer was forced into an early save by Ronaldo. l

Floyd Mayweather says Manny Pacquiao has lost a step and that the Filipino’s superstar slide has coincided with his decision to split from former strength trainer Alex Ariza. The 37-year-old undefeated welterweight champ Mayweather weighed in Wednesday on the latest performance by Pacquiao who beat Timothy Bradley on April 12 in Las Vegas in a rematch of their first bout in June 2012.

“Actually, I did watch the fight,” said Mayweather. “You know, I haven’t seen Pacquiao fight in years. I’ve seen highlights, but I haven’t seen Pacquiao fight since he fought Miguel Cotto.”

–AFP

Madrid ‘athletes’ too much for Bayern: Guardiola Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola said his side had struggled to contain Real Madrid’s pace on the counter-attack as Los Blancos secured a 1-0 advantage from the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday.

Karim Benzema scored the only goal of the game on 19 minutes from one of a series of Madrid counter-attacks in the first-half that caught the European champions wanting at the back.

“Madrid have athletes. They are footballers, but they are real athletes,” said the former Barcelona boss after suffering his first defeat in eight games as a coach at the Santiago Bernabeu.

“It is easy to say we need to play more vertically, but the quicker we move the ball forward, the quicker it comes back and that can be very dangerous for us.”

Bayern enjoyed 63 percent of the possession, but failed to create many clear-cut opportunities as Madrid defended in numbers.

And Guardiola expects more of the same when his side try to turn the tie around on home soil at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday.

“I think the next game will be exactly the same. We need to control their counter-attacks, but it is a question of finding the right balance.

“Madrid are a complete team and it is true that not scoring away from home makes the tie very difficult.

“However, we will be at home, with our fans behind us, and we will give everything to reach the final.”

Real boss Carlo Ancelotti admitted he didn’t like having to relinquish control of the ball for large spells to the Germans. However, just as in Madrid’s Copa del Rey victory over Barcelona last week, the Italian believed his side had played to their strengths.

“I don’t like to give up the ball. It is clear that you cannot control the ball for the whole game, but especially against Barca and Bayern it is very difficult to control it.

Benzema 19

1

0

36

POSSESSION(%)

64

9

TOTAL ATTEMPTS

16

7

ON TARGET

11

3

CORNERS

15

4

OFFSIDES

3

10

FOULS COMMITTED

10

410

PASSES

840

“Football, though, is not just about possession, but defending, counter-attacks and many other things. What we had tonight was the sacrifice of the players, but I don’t like not having the ball because you have less chance to score.”

Ancelotti had recalled World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo to his starting line-up after four games out through injury.

The Portuguese was involved in the build up to the goal and had another glaring opportunity to make it 2-0 when he blasted over soon after before being replaced by Gareth Bale with 20 minutes remaining. l

Moyes will survive: Martinez Everton manager Roberto Martinez believes that sacked Manchester United boss David Moyes will bounce back quickly and find himself a new job.

The Scot lasted just 10 months at Old Trafford before paying the price for what had become a disastrous season

by United’s standards.

Defeat last weekend to Everton, where Moyes spent 11 years as manager, was the final straw for the United board who are now looking for a new chief.

But despite the damage to his reputation, Martinez is confident that Moyes will rebound.

“It is not a nice situation when a manager loses his job, especially someone who has such strong links with our club,” said the Spaniard.

“It has been a difficult experience, but any experience is a good experience in this game unfortunately.

“We know David Moyes will look forward to the next footballing chapter.

“We all know he is a very successful man and has a real strong winning mentality and he will get ready to

bounce back straight away.

“It is very difficult to get that experience, the amount of years he has been working at the highest level, and the know-how he has is a real strength.

“I am sure he will be ready to get into another job as quick as he can and I

I wouldn’t advise him to come back into the game sooner. I would come back later if I were him. He has done 15 years continuously - maybe even longer am sure he won’t have a lack of offers or opportunities when you have someone who is so hard-working, focused and dedicated in his job.

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has advised Moyes to take some time out from the game before deciding his

next step.

“I wouldn’t advise him to come back into the game sooner. I would come back later if I were him. He has done 15 years continuously - maybe even longer,” he said.

“To take some time with the family and reflect and enjoy life a little bit more without the pressures of particularly Premier League football will do him the world of good and then when he emerges again, he will come back a better manager than he already has been, and he has been one hell of a manager.”

Allardyce feels the process of Moyes’ departure could have been handled better.

“For Manchester United as an institution and a football as large as they are, the process looked like it was floored which was a great shame for Manchester United as a brand, and of course David Moyes knowing his fate before he was even told.

“That is how it looks from the outside. If that is the case, it is a great shame for David and a great shame that Manchester United chose to use that process.” l

Cruz Azul’s captain midfielder Gerardo Torrado (L) and Gerardo Flores celebrate with the trophy after defeating Toluca in their Concachampions tournament football final at Nemesio Diez stadium in Toluca, Mexico on Wednesday AFP

Arab-Israeli women break ground on pro soccer team Late Matuidi goal gives laboured PSG victory When the Israeli women’s football team Hapoel Petah Tikva lost a number of its players to Israel’s national team ahead of World Cup qualifiers, founder Rafi Subra made a decision that sets the team apart from many of its rivals — he recruited from the Arab villages of northern Israel.

Arab Israelis, who complain of decades of discrimination in day-to-day life, are rare in the Israeli Women’s Premier League. Though one other team has a full Arab-Israeli roster, other men and women’s teams hardly field Arab-Israelis onto their squads.

For Hapoel Petah Tikva, the addition of five Arab-Israeli women has made waves in the league despite not being in the top rankings.

“The fact is, they integrated well,” Subra said. “They’re happy. We’re happy. The mix has been very successful.”

The Arab minority make up about 20 percent of Israel’s 8 million citizens.

Many have relatives among the Pales-

tinians in Gaza and the West Bank, empathizing with Palestinians as they negotiate with Israel over making a future state. The strains especially become hard during times of violence between

the two sides.

Though having full rights under Israeli law, Arab Israelis experience discrimination in the country. The soccer field is no exception.

(L-R) Israeli Arab players Hanin Gamal Nasser, Walaa Hussien and Noura Abu-Shanab pose with their coach during a practice session in Petah Tikva, Israel on Tuesday AP

Noura Abu-Shanab, one of the Arab-Israeli players on Hapoel Petah Tikva, said she faced taunts like “dirty Arab” and “go back to where you came from” during games. However, she and other Arab-Israelis continued to play.

“The atmosphere of the team is positive,” she said.

Abu-Shanab said her Muslim family was supportive of her playing in a mostly-Jewish women’s league after she turned pro at 16.

Shiran Schlechter, an Israeli player on the team and its team manager, said both the Jewish and Arab players got along well during the season, which saw Hapoel Petah Tikva have a 5-2-7 record.

“It’s funny because within the team we don’t have” that hate, Schlechter said. “I think to our credit we all fought together against that. None of us liked it. It bothered us all.”

Abu-Shanab, who is now a team captain, agreed that despite the racism she had faced from other teams, there was no conflict within the team itself. l

Blaise Matuidi struck in the 89th minute to give Paris Saint-Germain a 1-0 win against struggling Evian at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday and take the capital club to the brink of the title.

RESULTS PSG Matuidi 89

Toulouse

1 0

Evian

0 0

Lyon

It looked like PSG would have to settle for a point against their 10-man opponents until Lucas played in fellow substitute Matuidi and the France midfielder slotted the ball through the legs of goalkeeper Jesper Hansen at the near post.

The result leaves the reigning champions 10 points clear of nearest challengers Monaco with only four games

remaining and means they can clinch a second consecutive title with a win away to Sochaux on Sunday, or 24 hours earlier if Monaco lose at relegated Ajaccio.

However, the nature of the performance left coach Laurent Blanc far from satisfied at full time.

“The first half was very bad. We appeared to be lacking in motivation and were very slow moving the ball,” said Blanc.

“There wasn’t enough movement and Evian could even have been in front. We had a word with the players at half-time and the second period was better.

“Of course it wasn’t our best performance but we did the job in the end.”

Fresh from winning the League Cup by beating Lyon 2-1 in the final last Saturday, Blanc’s side were looking for revenge on Evian, who beat them 2-0 in the reverse fixture back in December.l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Farbrace appointed England assistant coach

QUICK BYTES Poor start for Siddikur Bangladesh golfer Siddikur Rahman posted a 4-over 76 in the first round to share the 109th spot at the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters yesterday. Siddikur who started the tournament with two straight bogeys, carded more four later along with two birdies on the opening day at the US$750,000 showpiece event. Meanwhile, Malaysia’s Nicholas Fung continued his dazzling form by taking a share of the first round lead with Korean-American Anthony Kang who surprised even himself with an opening five-under-par 67 at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club. Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat, a three-time Asian Tour winner, signed for a 68 to take a share of third place with defending champion Bernd Wiesberger, Jazz Janewattananond, Sujjan Singh, Jake Higginbottom and Cameron Smith.

–Tribune Desk

Zia loses in 7th round Bangladesh Grandmaster Ziaur Rahman lost to GM Jumabayev Rinat of Kazakhstan in the 7th round of the Open Section of the Asian Continental Chess Championships on Wednesday which is now being held in Sharjah in United Arab Emirates. Zia played with white pieces used London Colle systems and lost after 64 moves. Zia earned 4 points after the end of 7th round. Meanwhile in the women’s section, WFM Nazrana Khan Eva drew with Faqeeh Aseel of Palestine.

–Tribune desk

Djokovic to become father World number two tennis star Novak Djokovic announced on Thursday that he and girlfriend Jelena Ristic are expecting their first child. The Serbian six-time Grand Slam winner is currently sidelined with a right wrist injury picked up at last week’s Monte Carlo Masters but announced the good news on his twitter account. “Jelena is pregnant !!! We will soon be parents,” the 26-year-old winner of 43 ATP titles tweeted on his account @DjokerNole.

The expectant couple have been dating since 2005 and recently got engaged in September 2013. Djokovic, who is unsure when he will be fit enough to return, is recovering from his injury by spending a few days in Athens.

–AFP

Liverpool reveal Anfield renovation plans Premier League leaders Liverpool on Wednesday published plans for the redevelopment of their Anfield home that would raise the stadium’s capacity from 45,276 to around 54,000. The club plan to add 8,500 seats to the arena’s Main Stand, which would also become the new home of the memorial to the 96 Liverpool fans killed in the 1989 Hillsborough stadium disaster.

Liverpool have also presented separate “outline proposals” to expand the Anfield Road stand by adding around 4,800 extra seats.

–AFP

F1 boss denies bribery at German trial Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone went on trial in Germany on Thursday, denying charges of bribery that threaten to land the British billionaire in jail. Ecclestone, 83, is accused of paying a German banker tens of millions of dollars to ensure his continued grip on the motor sporting empire he built up virtually single-handedly over four decades. The mop-topped said only: “I’m confident, the sun is shining”.

–AFP

DAY’S WATCH Sony Six Indian Premier League 4:30PM Hyderabad v Delhi 8:30PM Chennai v Mumbai NBA Play-off 2013-14 6:00AM Oklahoma City v Memphis 8:32AM La Clippers v Golden State Ten Golf 12:00AM Cimb Niaga Indonesian Masters Day 2 Star Sports HD2 11:30AM Golf: China Open Star Sports 4 4:30PM Tennis: Barcelona Open 1:00AM La Liga Elche v Levante Star Sports 2, HD1 12:45AM Italian Serie A AS Roma v AC Milan

15

Friday, April 25, 2014

British tennis player Andy Murray, left, receives the Freedom of Stirling presented to him by Stirling Council Provost Mike Robbins during a special council meeting at his old school Dunblane High, in Dunblane, Scotland on Wednesday. Murray said he feels honored to receive the freedom of Stirling and an honorary degree from the university where he trained as a boy AP

No promises, no pressure as Phelps plunges back in Michael Phelps plunges back into competitive swimming on Thursday, unsure if his comeback will yield more Olympic glory but confident it won’t diminish his past achievements.

“I just missed being back in the water,” said the 28-year-old American, who walked away from the sport without a backward glance after wrapping up his stellar Olympic career at the 2012 London Games.

Phelps isn’t saying yet that this comeback is aimed at a fifth Olympic appearance at the 2016 Rio Games – nor is he ruling that out.

“I am looking forward to wherever this road takes me, and I guess the jour-

ney will start tomorrow,” a relaxed Phelps said Wednesday as he looked ahead to racing in the 100m butterfly at the Mesa Grand Prix swim meet on Thursday.

Phelps, originally entered in the 100m butterfly and 100m freestyle on Thursday, said he’ll swim only the 100m fly – one of three individual events in which he still holds the world record. He is also entered in the 50m freestyle on Friday.

Both he and coach Bob Bowman say the meeting in suburban Phoenix will serve a chance for Phelps to gauge his conditioning with the US championships – a selection meet for the 2015 World Championships – looming in August.

“I know if I really want to compete at a high level, I have to be ready by this

Nadal wins but Ferrer crashes out in Barcelona Rafael Nadal began his bid for a record ninth title at the Barcelona Open on Wednesday with a 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 defeat of journeyman Albert Ramos with his chances also boosted as four-time finalist David Ferrer crashed out.

Nadal, the top seed, put his loss last week in the Monte Carlo quarter-finals to Ferrer out of his mind in a match lasting just over two hours against compatriot Ramos in a battle of left-handers.

Nadal’s second-round win lifted his record at the event to 41-1.

Nadal spent 64 minutes in claiming the opening set against Ramos, ranked 103, who also lost to Nadal here in a 2013 quarter-final.

Nadal found his comfort zone in

the second set to secure the win and a Thursday match against Croatian Ivan Dodig, who hammered Spanish 13th seed Feliciano Lopez 6-1, 6-4.

Ferrer, 32, lost 6-4, 6-2 to Russian Teimuraz Gabashvili. Last season Ferrer was defeated at the same stage, going out to Dmitry Tursunov after losing a quartet of finals to Nadal over the years in the Catalan capital.

Gabashvili won the opening set in 44 minutes with a break in the final game, when Ferrer hit the net trying to return a forehand drive.

In the second, the challenger did not let up, breaking the unsteady Ferrer for 2-0 and finishing off the upset as he broke Ferrer to win it on a second match point, with the Spaniard putting a forehand long into the corner. l

summer,” said Phelps, who still must meet the qualifying standard for the US championships.

Phelps was last seen on a competition deck receiving the plaudits of his peers at the conclusion of swimming events in London.

In a record four straight Olympics he won 22 medals. Eighteen of those were gold, and eight of those came in his unparallelled performance at the 2008 Beijing Games.

When he departed London, Phelps said he had “achieved everything I ever wanted to do,” and he chuckled as those words were quoted back to him.

“I always have goals and have things I want to achieve, and I have things that I want to achieve now,” Phelps said. l

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) continued the restructuring of the England coaching set-up on Wednesday by announcing the appointment of Paul Farbrace as assistant coach.

The 46-year-old will leave his role as coach of Sri Lanka to work alongside Peter Moores, who returned for a second stint as England head coach last Saturday.

Farbrace only joined Sri Lanka in December and achieved instant success by winning both the Asia Trophy and the ICC World Twenty20.

His departure was secured after negotiations between ECB chief executive David Collier and managing director Paul Downton and the Sri Lankan Cricket Board (SLC).

“We are grateful to SLC for their understanding and co-operation in releasing Paul from his contract in order to achieve his desire to return to England and to allow him to work with Peter Moores,” Collier said.

Farbrace, who previously worked at English county sides Kent and Yorkshire, said he was grateful to have been asked to join the England coaching team.

“It’s fantastic to be given the opportunity to work with your own country’s national team and this was an offer that I could not turn down, much as I have

We are grateful to SLC for their understanding and co-operation in releasing Paul from his contract in order to achieve his desire to return to England and to allow him to work with Peter Moores “It will also be great to renew acquaintances with (England captain) Alastair Cook and other senior players whom I worked with earlier in my coaching career with England’s agegroup teams.”

Moores said: “I am looking forward to getting down to work with Paul in the next few days. We have a lot of work to do in a short time as we prepare for the fast-approaching international season.

“There is no doubt Paul will bring a lot of recent international experience to the England set-up.” l

MICHAEL PHELPS Born: June 30, 1985 Residence: Baltimore, Maryland, US Height: 1.93 m Weight: 83.9 kg

Olympic Games: 22 medals Athens Beijing London 2004 2008 2012

World Championships: 33 medals

4 6 8

2

26

6 1

2 Career highlights Qualified for Olympics at 15, the youngest male Olympian since 1932

Youngest male to break a world record (200 m butterfly in 2001, aged 15 and 9 months)

Set 7 world records at 2008 Games, 4 in 2007 World Championships

Only man to win 5 US national titles at a single championship (2003)

Inzamam backs Waqar as Pakistan cricket coach Pakistan batting legend Inzamamul Haq on Thursday backed Waqar Younis to be given another chance as the country’s national cricket coach, saying he had proved his credentials in the past.

Pakistan is looking for a permanent coach after former Australian batsman Dav Whatmore’s two-year tenure ended in February.

Fomer Test wicketkeeper and captain Moin Khan was appointed interim coach, but his two-month contract was not extended by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after a poor showing at the World Twenty20 last month.

Waqar, who served as coach in 2010

and 2011, is favourite to take over and Inzamam said he was the right man for the job.

“Pakistan team benefited during Waqar’s last tenure so I think he is the best choice as he knows the players and is familiar with our culture,” Inzamam told reporters.

Inzamam, who played 120 Tests and 378 one-day international during an illustrious career, demanded a change in Pakistan’s attitude.

“I think it’s about time we change the culture of changing captains and coaches after one defeat because we need to correct the wrongs and change is not the solution,” said Inzamam.

Inzamam backed Misbah-ul Haq as one-day captain for next year’s World

Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

“Misbah should lead the team because we have less than a year for the World Cup and it would not be possible to groom a new captain.”

Twenty20 captain Mohammad Hafeez stepped down after the team’s failure to reach the World Twenty20 semi-final in Dhaka earlier this month.

Allrounder Shahid Afridi was tipped to take over but young opener Ahmed Shahzad’s name was also mentioned in Pakistani media as a potential replacement.

Inzamam said that with no T20 matches until August and no tournament in the format until 2016, now was the right time to bring in new blood. l

Narail lift inter-district V’ball title

Muscle Mania Bodybuilding starts The Walton Muscle Mania Bodybuilding Championship comprising the top bodybuilders of the country started at the auditorium of the National Sports Council yesterday.

After the pre-judging, the top five bodybuilders were selected for the final round of the six weight categories of 60, 65, 70, 75, 80 and 80+ KGs. The top three of all the weight categories will receive monetary award, later the best of the best competition will be held with the top six of the six weight categories and he will be declared as the Mr Muscle Mania.

AFM Iqbal bin Anwar Dawn, the additional director of Walton inaugurated the meet as the chief guest. Nazrul Islam, the general secretary of Bangladesh Bodybuilding Federation, Muscle Mania Gymnasium managing partner Abdur Rahman Razib and official Debashish Ghosh were also present on the occasion. l

enjoyed working with the Sri Lankan players and sharing in their recent success,” he said.

“I am particularly relishing the chance to work more closely with Peter as we undertook the Level Four Coaching programme together and have known each other since we were both young wicketkeepers on the county circuit together.

Bodybuilders of different weight categories flex their muscles in the opening ceremony of the Walton Muscle Mania Bodybuilding at the NSC auditorium yesterday COURTESY

Narail lifted the title of the Walton Inter District Volleyball beating Pabna by 3-1 games in the final held at the volleyball stadium yesterday.

Narail stamped their authority by winning the first two games 25-18, 2523. However, Pabna fought back hard by winning the third game 25-18 but Narail regained their form of the first two games to emerge as the champions as they won the fourth game 25-15.

Khulna beat Satkhira by 3-1 games in the third place decider.

Harshit of Narail was adjudged the best attacker while Al-Amin of Satkhira was chosen as the best setter and the honor of the most valuable player went to Sohel of Narail.

Syed Shahed Reza, the secretary general of Bangladesh Olympic Association distributed prizes among the players as the chief guest. l

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Friday, April 25, 2014

Dhanmondi playground reopened to public Green activists not satisfied, demand removal of illegal establishments n Abu Hayat Mahmud Authorities of Dhaka South City Corporation yesterday placed two signboards on the main gate of the capital’s Dhanmondi playground, saying the ground had been made open to all.

A DSCC mobile team, led by the Executive Magistrate Mohammad Atul Mandal and Kabir Mahmud, in cooperation of police installed the signboards at 1:30pm to announce the declaration.

Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club security chief Sergeant Marafat Ali was also present during the installation.

The signboards read: “Dhanmondi playground is open to all.”

The DSCC decision came days after continuous protests by activists of 50 environmental and social organisations and Dhanmondi residents demanding the playground be opened to the all and all illegal structures by the club be demolished.

When contacted, Atul Mandal, told the Dhaka Tribune: “As it is a public playground, everyone has the right to use it.”

He further added that no one was allowed to interfere over the playground position without prior permission of the city corporation.”

However, authorities of Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club declined to comment over the DSCC action.

Chittagong University teacher sacked over fake publication n CU Correspondent Chittagong University authorities yesterday sacked an associate professor of the Arabic Department on charges of resorting to forgery during submitting articles for promotion.

The decision was made at the 492th Syndicate meeting with Professor Anwarul Azim Arif, vice-chancellor of the university, in the chair.

Imran Hossain, dean of Arts and Humanities Faculty and also a Syndicate member, said Dr SM Rafiqul Alam had presented a forged publication to the university authorities during his promotion.

The Syndicate made the decision as it had found the teacher guilty of committing the forgery, Imran Hossain said.

Rafiqul had also been involved with some other irregularities at the departmental planning committee. l

Visiting the playground after the declaration, this correspondent found that a large numbers of children and youths had been playing football and cricket at the playground. Later, the Sheikh Jamal Club Football team also came in field to practice football.

The private club’s football coach Joseph told the Dhaka Tribune: “Our football team and locals played in the playground separately.

“We were practicing in one part of the field while and the local youths played on the other side. Thus, we faced no difficulties during our practice.”

Moreover, many local, who found the opportunity to enter the playground freely in the evening, also expressed their satisfaction over the city corporation’s declaration.

Meanwhile, the green activists have expressed their dissatisfaction and noted that signboards declaring the playground as open to all was not enough.

Institute of Architects Bangladesh former president Architect Mubasshar Hussain, told the Dhaka Tribune: “The city corporation only installed signboards on gates of the public playground and that was all.

The city corporation did not take any step to remove establishments from the playground.”

Picture shows the DSCC signboard installed on the Dhanmondi playground main gate yesterday He further added that movements would continue until illegal establishments were removed from the public playground.

In 2004, following a petition filed

by Bangladesh Poribesh Andalan (Bapa) and IAB, the High Court directed the then city corporation

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

(now Dhaka South City Corporation) to free Dhanmondi playground from the illegal occupation of Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club. l

‘2 joint secretaries' enmity leaks scam over golden crests for foreigners’ n Kamran Reza Chowdhury The scandal involving distribution of sub-standard gold-coated crests given to foreign friends for supporting the liberation war would not have come to light if the two joint secretaries of the Liberation War Affairs Ministry had been on good terms, an ex-minister told a parliamentary watchdog.

Captain AB Tajul Islam, a former state minister for Liberation War Affairs Ministry and chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the ministry, said the two joint secretaries had had hostile relation over promotion to the rank of additional secretary.

At its first meeting in the parliament building the standing committee formed a three-member sub-committee headed by former primary and mass education minister Afsarul Amin.

Two Awami League MPs Iqbalur Rahim and Golam Dastagir Gazi are the

other members of the sub-committee that would submit report to the panel detecting persons involved in the corruption in making 300 crests.

AB Tajul Islam was the minister incharge of the ministry when the crests were made and handed over to the foreigners who helped Bangladesh's ninemonth war of independence against Pakistan.

According to the government decision, each of the foreign friends was supposed to get a 30 bhori silver crest coated with one bhori gold. The Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institution (BSTI) under the Industries Ministry examined the crests and found at best 25% gold and 351 grams of iron alloy instead of silver.

"The BSTI examined the crests on March 18 and sent them to the ministry but the report was shelved in the section.

It was not brought to the notice of the secretary. On March 20, we handed over

the crests to the recipients," Tajul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune after the meeting.

He said the two joint secretaries, one of whom was in charge of making the crests without floating any tender had bitter personal relation.

"One of them was freedom fighter and promoted to the rank of additional secretary while the other felt deprived.

They were always busy in speaking ill of each other. So, one of them leaked it to the media," said Tajul Islam.

"If they had maintained good relation people would never have known about it," said the former minister who came under the attack of an MP. A committee member, Iqbalur Rahim, first raised the issue of scam over making the crests. Other members supported him and demanded an inquiry into it.

AKM Mozammel Huq, liberation war affairs minister, also supported the proposal.

The government recently relieved a

joint secretary Abul Kashem of his responsibilities while another Joint Secretary Golam Mostofa was promoted to the rank of additional secretary.

In line with the proposal of Iqbalur Rahim, the 10-member standing committee recommended that the education ministry should force all schools, colleges, madrasas and kindergarten school to sing national anthem.

Meanwhile, the watchdog also decided that the information ministry should convince the private TV channels to show a short video on the liberation war before start of every news hours. The cinema halls should screen such video too.

The committee members Afsarul Amin, AKM Shahjahan Kamal, Nurunnabi Chowdhury, Golam Dastagir Gazi, Asheq Ullah Rafiq, Swapan Bhattacharjee and Kamrul Laila Jolly attended the meeting with AB Tajul Islam in the chair. l

208 hajj agencies penalised for irregularities n Mohosinul Karim

Mother of Al Amin, who went missing after being allegedly picked up by RAB members, breaks down in tears during a press conference at the National Press Club yesterday. Story on Front Page RAJIB DHAR

The government has taken punitive measures against 208 agencies for their involvement in irregularities and mismanagement including human trafficking and providing substandard service to the pilgrims during the hajj season last year.

Of the total, licenses of eight agencies were cancelled while 43 others suspended, Religious Affairs Secretary Chowdhury Babul Hassan told reporters at a press conference at the Secretariat yesterday. Two other agencies were also sued for not sending pilgrims to hajj despite taking money from them.

Nine hajj agencies were relieved from the charges or enlisted.

As many as 87,854 persons performed hajj held in October last year.

Of them, 262 persons have not returned from Saudi Arabia.

The measures were taken following investigation into the allegations of human trafficking in the name of hajj, violating commitment of providing comfortable accommodation, inadequate arrangement of transports, supplying sub-standard food and inadequate arrangement of tour guides.

The eight agencies are Janus Travels and Tours, United International Travels, Cascade Travels and Tours, Salam Trading International, Jiarat-e-Kaba Tours and Travels, Al-Zia Air International, Minra Travels and Tours, and Homayera Hajj Travels. They were also fiend TK1.82 lakh to Tk8 lakh.

According to the decision, licenses of 38 agencies have been suspended until further instructions from the Government of Saudi Arabia. Among those, 20 firms have been fined Tk4 lakh each.

Licenses of five other agencies have been suspended for various terms. They also face fines of various amounts ranging from Tk3 lakh to Tk5 lakh. Of the other accused firms, 121 hajj agencies have been fined Tk1.5 lakh each, nine Tk2.5 lakh and 17 others Tk3 lakh each.

Five agencies have been fined Tk4 lakh each and five more Tk5 lakh each.

Babul added that the government had already filed criminal cases against two agencies – Saudi Air Service and Rafique Travels – for not sending pilgrims despite taking money. The licenses of these two firms were cancelled while the government confiscated their deposits and slapped fines. l

Proposal made to increase ICT scholarship tenfold n Muhammad Zahidul Islam The government is planning to increase funds for scholarship and fellowship for ICT-related research to make it ten times the existing amount.

The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division under the Posts, Telecommunication and Information Technology Ministry has proposed to amend the existing innovation scholarship policy on ICT development, which was formulated last year.

According to the proposal, the ICT Division sought approval of Tk20 lakh as the highest scholarship for any outstanding research proposal in the field of ICT; which is currently Tk2 lakh only.

However, after receiving the proposal, the Finance Ministry placed its own recommendation and said up to Tk25 lakh might be granted in this regard.

“If the research proposal is found to be reasonable, up to Tk25 lakh can be allotted in two instalments,” the ministry’s recommendation added.

The ICT Division also proposed an amendment to the policy for increasing the lowest amount of scholarship to Tk5 lakh from existing Tk10,000.

It also proposed creating two more scholarship categories of Tk5-10 lakh and Tk10-20 lakh ranges.

“We have placed our proposal according to our plan, as ICT is a very dynamic and innovative sector,” ICT Division Secretary Nazrul Islam Khan told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

He said they recommended to increase funding, while allocation would depend on effective proposals. l

Five generic drugs banned for side effects n Moniruzzaman Uzzal The Directorate General of Drug Administration has banned manufacturing and importing of raw materials of five generic drugs of local pharmaceutical companies, terming the drugs threats to public health.

The five drugs – Pioglitazon, Rosiglitazone, Gatifloxacin, Tegaserod and Sibutramine – were banned as they had excessive adverse reaction; while decision on Flupenthixol-Melitracen – another drug which was previously recommended for a ban – would later be made following another review by the ADRAC. The decision was made on April 21 by the National Adverse Drug Reaction Advisory Committee, led by Health Secretary MM Niazuddin.

A previous meeting by the DGDA’s Adverse Drug Reaction Advisory Committee (ADRAC) had recommended a ban on six generic drugs.

Selim Barami, director of the DGDA, confirmed the bans and said no company would be allowed to further manufacture or import raw materials of the drugs.

When asked why Flupenthixol-Melitracen was not banned, Barami told the Dhaka Tribune that leaders of the Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceuticals Industries (BAPI) recently met with DGDA officials and submitted a letter saying there was no definite proof of any adverse effect of Flupenthixol-Melitracen. BAPI leaders also claimed that the drug has been used by several developed country including Switzerland.

Following their request, authorities decided to send the issue of the drug for review at the ADRAC again, Barami added.

The DGDA could not provide the exact number of companies currently manufacturing the banned drugs.

However, an official, seeking anonymity, said the number would be around 20-25, adding that most of the banned drugs were still in the market.

Out of the banned generic drugs, Pioglitazone and Rosiglitazone are used for the treatment of diabetes, while Gatifloxacin (except eye drops), Tegaserod and Sibutramine are used for treating patients with bacterial infections, irritable bowel syndrome and obesity respectively. l

Four Bangladeshi visa frauds arrested in Qatar n Rabiul Islam Four Bangladeshi visa frauds that used to cheat their compatriot migrant workers out of their fortune have been arrested in Qatar recently.

The frauds were all Bangladeshi taxi drivers in Qatar. They were identified as Makbul, Enamul, Babul and Darul Islam.

First Secretary (labour) Shafiul Azim

told the Dhaka Tribune over phone on Wednesday, “We have received a number of allegations against a section of unscrupulous middlemen cheating the migrant workers.”

He said four such Bangladeshis were arrested on April 16 while another named Kalam hailing from Comilla managed to escape.

Though they were mere taxi drivers

by profession, they could manage tourist visas and cheat scores of innocent migrant workers out of their fortune.

The first secretary said they had no office, nor were they recruiting agents, but they could bring people to Qatar on visit visas. They sold a visa for Tk3,00,000, he said, adding that when a Bangladeshi migrant came to Qatar, after one month the middlemen sug-

gested the worker for a checkup.

“Then the middlemen claimed that you were medically unfit and you got to return home. Thus the migrants had been cheated,” Shafiul Azim mentioned.

Tourist visas were issued for a period of three months.

The official said: “Unless such illegal activities are stopped, our prospective labour market might be affected.” l

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B3

India may cede top rice exporter spot under Southeast Asian price onslaught

B4 Globalisation: A bloom

or a gloom for developing countries?

FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 www.dhakatribune.com/business

WB fund for state banks to be refused due to ‘tough’ conditions n Asif Showkat Kallol The government has decided not to take the World Bank’s proposed fund for the state-owned commercial banks as conditions are “not possible to be met,” official sources said.

The assistance proposal came last year on the government’s request after the state banks had faced staggering capital shortfalls.

“The WB’s lending proposal has been rejected due to the government’s inability to follow the tough conditions,” said Banking Division Secretary Dr M Aslam Alam.

Besides, the loan interest would cause a rise in the government’s cost, the secretary added.

Economic Relations Division advised the government not to agree with the World Bank’s proposal after an assessment of the conditions.

The secretary, however, said the government will take the World Bank’s project worth Tk60 crore for strengthening of Bangladesh Bank. The previous such project was, however, of Tk150 crore.

In August last year, a World Bank team held a series of meetings with the finance ministry and Bangladesh Bank officials.

Then the global lender sent a draft “aide-memoire” to the government.

It said: “The mission was informed that the government appreciated the past involvement of the WB in the restructuring of the state banks through the Enterprise Growth and Bank Modernisation Project, and would like the WB to remain engaged.”

The banks’ financial health im-

proved due to the World Bank project taken during the last BNP regime, the aide-memoire said.

But the lender put some conditions for the government to regain financial support.

One of the conditions to divest part of the government shares in state banks to ease its control over them.

Besides, the WB said the Bangladesh Bank would have to appoint directors for the state banks from a list of 150-200 professionals.

The list will be prepared by the central bank.

An expert panel would have be formed by the central bank in consultation with the BB for determining capital needs of the banks.

World Bank said the government will not provide the capital in a chunk, but in phases.

Before providing the capital, the panel will conduct an assessment about the banks’ performance indicators every three months.

After assuming office in 2009, the Awami League-led government appointed political directors for the state banks, followed by large-scale loan scams.

The scams were damaging for the banking sector and prompted the government to bring changes in top management.

The World Bank has promised Bangladesh authorities to provide a record amount of about $2.8m this fiscal year.

In 2010-11, the commitment was $2.1m, although $1.2m promised for Padma Bridge projectwas cancelled later. l

USTR officials due today for TICFA meet n Asif Showkat Kallol

Finance Minister AMA Muhith speaks at Annual General Meeting (AGM) of International Business Forum of Bangladesh (IBFB) in Dhaka yesterday MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Muhith slams RMG factory closures n Tribune Report

Finance Minister AMA Muhith criticised the closure of garment factories which were found structurally flawed during inspections.

He said the closing of factories was not a good idea and the owners should have been given time to correct the faults.

According to the finance minister, “Noting can be changed overnight.”

AMA Muhith said the government has adopted various plans to overcome the garment sector crisis which followed the deadliest Rana Plaza collapse.

Accord suspended 26 factory units after its first-phase inspections.

Muhith was responding to the issue while addressing at the annual general meeting (AGM) of International Business Forum of Bangladesh (IBFB) yesterday.

The function was also addressed

by State Minister for Finance and Planning MA Mannan, US Ambassador Dan W Mozena, FBCCI President Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed, SBAC Bank

Mobile operators for SIM tax withdrawal n

Syed Samiul Basher Anik

Country’s mobile phone operators have urged the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to withdraw Tk300 tax from Subscribers Identification Number (SIM) cards for ensuring the growth of the telecom sector.

The leaders argued that the existing SIM tax is not only against the growth of mobile sector, but also contradictory to the government’s vision for establishing a Digital Bangladesh.

Mobile operators have already reached with their services even in the rural remote areas by subsidising the SIM tax from their own funds, said leaders of the Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB) yesterday at a pre-budget meeting held at NBR headquarters in the capital.

“The removal of SIM tax will put a positive impact on GDP by enhancing purchasing power of people and thus mobile operators can also contribute further in government exchequer,”

they said.

Currently, telecom operators are to pay Tk300 taxes on SIM cards, including Tk109.96 as value added tax (VAT) and Tk190.05 as supplementary duty.

Chief Operating Officer at Robi Axiata Limited Mahtab Uddin Ahmed placed the demand before NBR chairman Md. Ghulam Hussain.

“Bangladesh market has huge potential as voice services is yet to reach to 100% people as the penetration rate is still 68% in the country comparing to 141% in Malaysia and 120% in Thailand,” said Mahtab.

He also requested the NBR to fix a uniform corporate tax rate for the mobile operators, which is now being enjoyed by other corporate companies in various sectors by and large.

As the existing corporate tax rate on mobile operators is the highest in Bangladesh among all the South Asian countries, the investors are staying away for further investment in technology sector, they added.

Currently, listed mobile operators are paying 40% corporate tax while it

is 45% for the non-listed companies.

The general listed companies are now paying 27.5% tax while non-listed companies are paying 37.5% corporate tax.

The association leaders also demanded withdrawal of the imposed minimum 0.5% tax on gross receipts saying, “It is against the spirit of the related law.”

The other demands include providing SRO benefit for custom duty on import of telecom equipments, authorisation of license fees for telecom operators, VAT exemption on modem at all stages, and exemption of VAT on mobile financial services etc.

In reply NBR chairman Md. Ghulam Hussain said: All these proposals will be thoroughly examined considering their both positive and negative sides.

The meeting was attended, among others, by NBR members Syed Aminul Karim, Barrister Jahangir Hossain, Airtel Bangladesh Chief Finance Officer S K Mukhopadhyay and Robi Axiata Limited managing director and CEO Supun Weerasinghe. l

NBR urges business to help seal tax loopholes n Tribune Report National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Md. Ghulam Hussain has urged the businessmen to help the government through giving suggestions on how to plug loopholes to check the substantial amount of tax gap of the country.

“To materialise the vision to become a middle income country by 2021, the revenue collection target will have reach to Tk300,000 crore after five years, the last year of the present government’s tenure,” he told a pre-budget meeting with the Foreign Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

FICCI President Rupali Chowdhury proposed NBR to set tax mea-

sures through dialogue to make those friendly to the foreign investors.

“There should be a win-win situation and level-playing field for both the local and foreign investors,” she said.

She also said the government should sit with FICCI members to find out the measures that could help attract foreign direct investment.

“Currently, foreign investors are being discouraged by long procedures of investment registration proposals, obtaining environmental certificates,” she said. The chamber can play an effective role to help investors resolve the problems, she added.

Representatives of Nestlé, Singer, Berger, British American tobacco, Glaxo SmithKline, Reckitt Benckiser, G4S placed their respective propos-

als on issues related to income tax, value added tax and customs duty.

FICCI budget coordinator Abdul Khalek proposed the NBR to include the outsourcing activities in the Income Tax Ordinance 1984.

“Government can collect a good amount of revenue from the sector if it is brought under the tax net,” he said, adding that Bangladesh has earned US$20 million from the sector in 2013.

Khalek said foreign investors are investing in the sectors through offshore banking, but the investment is being hindered due to 42.5% corporate tax, which should be made uniform for the both offshore and onshore banking. The rate is below 20% in other Asian countries.  B 3 COLUMN 1

Chairman Amzad Hossain and IBFB President Hafizur Rahman Khan.

About the power situation, AMA Muhith said: “In last five years the government has taken many projects, some expensive though, to increase electricity production capacity, but demand remains high.”

He said the power generation capacity has, however, increased to 11,000 megawatt from 3,500 megawatt when Awami League assumes office in 2009.

Referring to Bangladeshi workers in abroad, he said 80 lakh Bangladeshi workers are employed around the globe and the number will increase to 1.2 crore soon.

“The expatriate workers, who are effectively participating in their home country’s development, must be counted in the value of national asset.”

Besides, the minister appreciated the private sector’s role in increasing the revenue income of the government.

US Ambassador in Bangladesh Dan W Mozena said April 24 was a day of “unspeakable, unimaginable horrors as tonnes of fallen concrete crushed

the lives of so many.”

The stakeholders of Bangladesh’s readymade garment industry have taken important steps down the path towards ensuring international standards in factory structures and workers’ rights, said Ambassador Mozena.

“Nonetheless, the road ahead is long and the obstacles will be many as some endeavor to thwart this transformation of Bangladesh’s RMG sector, but I am confident that Bangladesh will succeed in this historic undertaking.”

On Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum Agreement (TICFA), Dan Mozena said the next week will witness the inaugural session of the Ticfa meeting in Dhaka.

“TICFA will also include a discussion of efforts underway in Bangladesh to restore generalised system of preferences (GSP) in the United States.”

He said the efforts are largely synonymous with Bangladesh’s campaign to transform the apparel sector to bring worker safety and labour rights to international standards in the wake of the Rana Plaza building collapse and the Tazreen Fashions fire. l

A two–member US delegation is due in Dhaka today to attend the first-ever meeting on Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum Agreement (TICFA).

The meeting will be held on April 28.

The US delegation includes Mara Burr, deputy assistance of United States Trade Representative (USTR) for South and Central Asia, and Michael O’ Donovan, international labour economist of the International Labour Affairs Bureau Department.

Two international trade specialists in office of South Asia, Department of Commerce of US, Jonathan Goldberg and Toby Glucksman will also join the delegation.

Commerce Secretary Mahbub Ahmed said the meeting would be held as per the schedule at Pan Pacific Sonargoan Hotel.

As per agenda, the TICFA meeting will review bilateral trades and investment between the two countries, Bangladesh Action Plan for GSP and the US investment in Bangladesh, he said.

Discussions will be held on the market access of goods and services.

The US will raise issues like tariff cut on the import of fire safety, electrical and structural safety equipment, public tender specification, diabetic drugs, insurance, currency issues and delay payment.

The other US government’s issues are intellectual property rights and regional development.

Both the US and Bangladesh will deliver a joint press statement after the meeting.

TICFA delegation will visit Square Fashion in Mymensingh on April 29 and will meet local businessmen at Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry on April 27.

The US delegation visit Chittagong Export Processing Zone on April 26 and leave Dhaka on April 30. l

Bundesbank for more scrutiny of BB proposed law against fake notes n Asif Showkat Kallol The Deutsche Bundesbank has advised the central bank of Bangladesh to further scrutinise the proposed law against fake note circulation before enacting it.

The central bank of Germany came up with the suggestion as Bangladesh Bank had earlier sought their recommendations.

Bank and Financial Institutions Division of the finance ministry recently received the recommendations through Bangladesh Bank, said an official.

The Bundesbank said there has been no separate law against fake note circulation in the countries of this subcontinent such as India, Pakistan, Sri-Lanka and Nepal.

“Bangladesh Bank should have sec-

ond thought before enacting such an act against circulation of fake notes, keeping the provision of special punishment and mobile courts,” said the bank.

Earlier, Bangladesh Bank had decided to enact an act against fake note circulation before the beginning of holy month of Ramadan with a provision of keeping mobile courts to stop the circulation of fake notes in the market.

However, there has been a strong law against circulation of fake notes in other developed countries like USA, Canada and Australia, said a Bangladesh Bank source.

According to the proposed law, a person, who would be found guilty in involving with the fake note business, will be awarded 10 years of imprisonment.

Meanwhile, a total of 5000 such cases have been remained pending in the courts. At least 21 fake notes syndicates become active in the market ahead of the Eid festivals.

The fake notes syndicates became active when Tk1000 new notes were release from Bangladesh Bank. Usually, the syndicates turn Tk100 notes into Tk500 fake notes using unfair means, sources said.

The executive director of BB Dasgupta Asim Kumar noted that the central bank of Germany mainly opposed a certain provision of the proposed law against the fake note circulation and we are now examining the matter.

Nine wings of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) under the ministry of home are now keeping strong vigilance on the syndicates of the fake notes makers. l

BGMEA chief: Families of missing workers will get help n Tribune Report Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Atiqul Islam said the body will rehabilitate and compensate families of missing workers of Rana Plaza factories.

He said BGMEA has not closed its doors for Rana Plaza workers and would continue supporting them in future.

“If any affected family comes to us, we will take the responsibility of them,” announced Atiqul Islam while addressing a rally organised remembering Rana Plaza victims yesterday The worst industrial accident killed 1,135 workers and injured over 2,500 on April 24, last year.

BGMEA, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers

and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) organised the rally. A doa mahfil was also held in the BGMEA premises.

BGMEA and the RMG factories across the country hoisted black flags and prayed for the eternal peace of the souls of the deceased workers.

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, Industry Minister Amir Hossain Amu, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam, former BGMEA presidents Abdus Salam Murshedy, Shafiul Islam, Anwar-Ul Alam Chowudhury Parvez and BKMEA first vice president Mohammad Hatem, among others, participated in the rally. l

B2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Stock DSE GAINERS

Stocks finish flat with higher turnover

DSE key features April 24, 2014

Traded Issues

296

n Tribune Report

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

140

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

151

6,736.09 124,542,762

Number of Contract

this session and was on top of the turnover chart, taking telecommunications sector in leadership paddle, again. Grameenphone continued to become top traded stock with shares worth Tk88 crore changing hands. “Since investors’ preference was changing day by day, they started swapping across sector and scrips,” said IDLC Investments.

Pharmaceuticals and banks advanced by 1.6% and 1.2% respectively. Non-banking financial institution, food and allied, and power closed lower on price correction.

Lanka Bangla Securities said earnings season continued throughout the week and sent mixed signals to investors, where mostly multinational companies and manufacturing stocks attracted the investors’ eyes.

It said corporate declaration of some banking stocks grabbed the buyers’ interest to the sector. The market took some breath in last hour closing the index flat as investors prompted to cash in some stocks at high price, it said.

After GP, other top turnover leaders included Olympic Industries, Meghna Petroleum, Heidelberg Cement, Lafarge Surma Cement, Padma Oil, Southeast Bank and Square Pharmaceuticals. l

Stocks finished flat yesterday with higher volume of trade as investors opted for short-term profit booking, taking advantage of reducing share trading settlement period.

The benchmark index DSEX closed at 4,702 with a slight rise of 8 points or 0.2%, extending its gaining streak for the sixth straight session and hitting its seven-week high.

Shariah Index DSES witnessed marginal gain of 1 point to 1,040.

The blue-chip comprising DS30 edged 5 points lower to 1,720. Chittagong Stock Exchange Selective Category Index, CSCX, closed at 9,081 with a gain of 33 points.

With increased focus on some large and small cap scrips, the trading activity increased. As a result, turnover increased by 23% to Tk673 crore, which is highest since February 10 this year. The large cap stock accounted for more than 13% of total market turnover.

Small cap scrips revamped alongside extending rhythm in some large cap scrips. The heavyweight Grameenphones’s entrance in wimax services stimulated investors for the second consecutive day.

The stock gained by almost 2%

Company

Turnover (Million Taka) Turnover (Volume)

118,072

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

5

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,399.23

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

29.08

Turnover (Million Taka)

409.23

Turnover (Volume)

10,901,330

Number of Contract

14,664

DSE Broad Index :

4702.45020

(+) 0.18%

▲

Traded Issues

221

DSE Shariah Index :

1040.24160

(+) 0.12%

▲

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

115

DSE - 30 Index :

1720.19632

(-) 0.29%

▼

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

102

CSE All Share Index:

14506.3535

(+) 0.23%

▲

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

3

CSE - 30 Index :

12095.2398

(-) 0.36%

▼

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,293.64

9084.5595

(+) 0.41%

▲

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

27.80

CSE Selected Index : DSE LOSERS

Usmania Glass -A Eastern Cables-A Kay & Que (BD) -Z Renwick Jajneswar-A Kohinoor Chem -A Atlas BD-A Samorita Hospital -A Eastern Lubricants -A

-8.56 -8.44 -8.43 -6.97 -6.69 -6.45 -5.61 -5.59

Average (% change) -7.99 -6.10 -8.26 -7.62 -5.91 -6.00 -4.88 -5.45

Central Insur -A Standard Bank -A

-5.15 -5.00

-4.37 -5.03

Company

Closing (% change)

CSE LOSERS Company

Closing (% change)

Samata LeatheR -Z Usmania Glass -A Eastern Cables-A Federal Insu.-A Dhaka Ins. Ltd.-A LafargeS Cement-Z Safko Spinning-A The Ibn SinaA

-9.51 -9.11 -8.16 -7.02 -5.35 -4.85 -4.70 -4.58

Average (% change) -9.51 -7.51 -5.85 -5.25 -5.35 -3.70 -3.25 -3.92

Intl. Leasing-B Standard Bank -A

-3.62 -3.60

-4.02 -3.30

ANALYST

Closing average

Closing

Bank NBFI Investment Engineering Food & Allied Fuel & Power Jute Textile Pharma & Chemical Paper & Packaging Service Leather Ceramic Cement Information Technology General Insurance Life Insurance Telecom Travel & Leisure Miscellaneous Debenture

DSE Million Taka 988.21 187.20 114.14 450.29 718.72 882.89 3.61 433.64 721.79 1.47 59.56 100.98 17.00 650.76 74.40 53.61 106.17 972.01 41.54 157.41 0.72

Turnover in million

Daily low

Latest EPS

Latest PE

175.78 134.29 16.33 372.32 346.00 169.94 93.99 546.61

173.10 129.10 16.30 364.20 346.00 168.30 92.60 534.90

195.00 142.50 17.40 400.00 346.00 175.00 95.90 570.00

171.90 127.50 16.10 358.00 346.00 166.60 92.00 531.00

47.847 12.261 0.098 19.435 0.173 32.196 7.002 5.958

4.07 1.40 -3.55 3.92 7.88 2.99 2.20 6.02

43.2 95.9 -ve 95.0 43.9 56.8 42.7 90.8

26.02 13.41

25.80 13.30

26.50 14.00

25.60 13.00

1.020 26.076

1.98 1.77

13.1 7.6

Closing average

Closing

Daily high

Turnover in million

Daily low

Latest EPS

29.50 172.60 129.50 26.50 33.60 62.80 22.30 116.60

29.50 188.50 140.00 27.60 34.20 65.00 23.50 121.00

29.50 172.40 128.10 26.40 33.00 62.50 22.30 113.10

0.030 2.137 0.895 0.468 0.168 18.699 0.125 0.282

-0.04 4.07 1.40 1.79 2.43 2.19 1.04 4.48

-ve 43.4 95.4 15.1 13.8 28.9 21.8 26.2

13.36 13.49

13.30 13.40

13.50 13.70

13.30 13.40

0.140 2.108

0.68 1.77

19.6 7.6

As the investors’ preference was changing day by day, they started swapping across sector and scrips

CSE GAINERS Company Prime Bank-A ACI Limited- A Standard Insurance-A Northern G Insur-A National Bank - B GPH Ispat Ltd-A Imam Button -Z AFC AgroBiotech-N Argon Denims Limited-A Reckitt Benckiser -A

% change 14.67 2.78 1.69 6.68 10.67 13.11 0.05 6.44 10.72 0.02 0.88 1.50 0.25 9.66 1.10 0.80 1.58 14.43 0.62 2.34 0.01

Million Taka 93.74 15.73 4.36 27.24 22.85 53.60 37.47 32.27 16.15 2.38 20.59 1.79 40.93 7.22 2.88 5.55 48.46 7.12 16.94 0.00

% change 20.50 3.44 0.95 5.96 5.00 11.72 0.00 8.20 7.06 3.53 0.52 4.50 0.39 8.95 1.58 0.63 1.21 10.60 1.56 3.71 0.00

Million Taka 1081.95 202.93 118.50 477.54 741.57 936.49 3.61 471.11 754.06 17.62 61.95 121.56 18.79 691.69 81.62 56.49 111.72 1020.47 48.65 174.35 0.72

Total

Closing (% change) 9.17 7.95 7.89 7.49 7.09 6.71 6.67 6.57 6.55 5.65

Average (% change) 10.50 4.60 7.89 7.60 5.87 6.59 6.52 6.85 5.86 5.02

NCCBANK: The Board of Directors has recommended 6% cash dividend and 5% stock dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2013. Date of AGM: 02.06.2014, Time: 11:30 AM, Venue: Police Convention Hall, Eskaton Garden Road, Ramna, Dhaka. Record Date: 06.05.2014. The Company has also reported consolidated EPS of Tk. 1.49, consolidated NAV per share of Tk. 17.36 and consolidated NOCFPS of Tk. 4.07 for the year ended on December 31, 2013.

KAY&QUE: The Board of Directors did not recommend any dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2013. Date of AGM: 08.06.2014, Time: 10:00 AM, Venue: Sundarban Hotel, 112, Bir Uttam C R Dutta Road, Dhaka-1205. Record Date: 15.05.2014.

The Company has also reported EPS of Tk. (3.55), NAV per share of Tk. 2.49 and NOCFPS of Tk. 3.92 for the year ended on December 31, 2013.

IFIC: The Board of Directors of the Company has decided to place the following decision as special agenda in the 37th AGM: In order to meet the future capital requirement of the Company, the Board has recommended for raising the Paid-up Capital of the Company by issuing Rights shares at the ratio of 1R:1 (i.e.

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Grameenphone-A Olympic Ind. -A Meghna Petroleum -A HeidelbergCement -A LafargeS Cement-Z Padma Oil Co. -A Southeast Bank-A

CSE

9.00 8.35 7.62 7.09 6.67 6.62 6.24 6.24 5.98 5.89

Average (% change) 8.86 5.59 6.12 5.17 5.26 6.54 7.06 4.89 4.93 5.84

Closing average 122.14 203.68 51.86 13.43 6.40 58.00 1,085.77 1,297.59 1,155.99 1,797.13

Closing average 24.31 203.01 36.90 40.23 13.35 49.19 8.00 52.54 61.28 1290.00

Closing 122.30 209.00 53.70 13.60 6.40 58.00 1,090.10 1,300.20 1,175.60 1,798.10

Closing 25.00 209.20 36.90 40.20 13.60 49.30 8.00 53.50 61.80 1290.00

Daily high 123.40 210.00 54.70 13.80 6.40 58.00 1,090.20 1,300.20 1,178.00 1,798.10

Daily high 25.00 210.00 36.90 40.40 13.70 49.40 8.00 54.20 63.00 1290.00

1 Rights share for every existing 1 share) of Tk. 10.00 each at an issue price of Tk. 20.00 per share (including a premium of Tk. 10.00 each) on paid-up capital after considering Bonus shares for Stock dividend subject to the approval of the shareholders in the 37th AGM of the Company to be held on June 01, 2014, BSEC and other Regulatory authorities.

Another record date for entitlement of the proposed rights shares to be notified later after obtaining approval from BSEC. ABBANK: The Company has informed that the shareholders of the Company in its EGM held on April 21, 2014 have approved the following: "Resolved that approval is hereby given by the Shareholders to increase Tire II capital of the Bank through Issuance of fully redeemable Non-Convertible 7 years variable rated (11%-13%) Subordinated Bonds up to BDT 250 Crore where the interest will be payable semiannually in arrears through Private Placement wherein the Lead Arranger and Trustee would be two different Institutions as approved by the Board of Directors of the Bank and subject to obtaining approval from the concerned Regulatory Authorities."

SIBL: Emerging Credit Rating Limited (ECRL)

Daily low 120.00 177.00 49.60 11.50 6.40 58.00 1,045.00 1,286.20 1,109.30 1,770.00

Daily low 23.60 185.00 36.90 40.00 12.90 48.00 8.00 49.10 59.30 1290.00

Turnover in million 0.171 47.917 25.310 82.773 0.003 0.015 56.243 26.341 147.325 28.754

Turnover in million 0.346 5.372 0.018 0.080 17.708 0.820 0.004 2.601 0.181 0.129

Latest EPS -10.24 1.57 1.54 -3.63 -1.30 0.60 57.68 46.53 41.39 45.35

Latest EPS 0.56 1.57 2.96 1.82 -3.63 2.42 -2.58 1.54 2.74 41.12

Latest PE -ve 129.7 33.7 -ve -ve 96.7 18.8 27.9 27.9 39.6

Latest PE 43.4 129.3 12.5 22.1 -ve 20.3 -ve 34.1 22.4 31.4

has assigned the surveillance rating of the Company as "AA-" in the long term and ECRL2 in the short term along with a stable outlook to the Company based on financials of the Company up to December 31, 2013 and other relevant qualitative information up to the date of rating.

FIRSTSBANK: Emerging Credit Rating Limited (ECRL) has assigned the surveillance rating of the Company as "A+" in the long term and ECRL-2 in the short term along with a stable outlook to the Company based on financials of the Company up to December 31, 2013 and other relevant quantitative and qualitative information up to the date of rating.

ATLASBANG: (Q3): As per un-audited quarterly accounts for the 3rd quarter ended on 31st March 2014 (Jan'14 to March'14), the Company has reported net profit after tax of Tk. 9.08 million with EPS of Tk. 0.38 as against Tk. 14.59 million and Tk. 0.62 respectively for the same period of the previous year. Whereas net profit after tax was Tk. 53.15 million with EPS of Tk. 2.24 for the period of nine months (July'13 to March'14) ended on 31.03.2014 as against Tk. 70.88 million and Tk. 2.99 respectively for the same period of the previous year.

Latest PE

29.50 176.58 133.54 27.08 33.60 63.28 22.64 117.41

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY Sector

Daily high

Northern Jute -Z ACI Limited- A AFC AgroBiotech-N National Bank - B Meghna PET Ind. -Z Savar Refractories-Z Berger Paints-A Marico BD Ltd-A Renata Ltd. -A GlaxoSK (BD) -A

Closing (% change)

News from trade server

CSE key features April 24, 2014

Daily capital market highlights

Friday, April 25, 2014

% change 15.04 2.82 1.65 6.64 10.31 13.02 0.05 6.55 10.48 0.24 0.86 1.69 0.26 9.62 1.13 0.79 1.55 14.19 0.68 2.42 0.01

Prepared exclusively for Dhaka Tribune by Business Information Automation Service Line (BIASL), on the basis of information collected from daily stock quotations and audited reports of the listed companies. High level of caution has been taken to collect and present the above information and data. The publisher will not take any responsibility if any body uses this information and data for his/her investment decision. For any query please email to biasl@bol-online.com or call 01552153562 or go to www.biasl.net

Square Pharma -A Renata Ltd. -A Prime Bank-A

UCBL - A Jamuna Oil -A Bengal Windsor-A ConfidenceCement A BD Submarine Cable-A CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Grameenphone-A

UCBL - A LafargeS Cement-Z National Bank - B Meghna Petroleum -A BD Submarine Cable-A Southeast Bank-A HeidelbergCement -A Jamuna Oil -A Matin Spinning-N Padma Oil Co. -A LankaBangla Fin. -A Square Pharma -A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A BSC-A

Volume shares 3,263,400 2,360,552 953,359 477,640 3,169,500 573,868 7,005,237 545,614 127,445 6,168,089

4,430,256 516,689 1,886,464 600,281 437,014

Volume shares

126,200 689,112 295,500 1,325,976 50,000 70,700 630,501 19,250 45,160 238,200 28,891 155,250 27,757 250,818 12,165

Value in million 883.70 576.04 294.99 291.67 199.86 198.31 153.78 152.44 147.33 146.58

124.03 118.12 90.21 88.70 88.30

Value in million

34.15 19.24 18.70 17.71 15.46 14.31 13.82 11.79 10.30 10.01 9.99 8.52 7.76 7.11 7.06

% of total turnover 13.12 8.55 4.38 4.33 2.97 2.94 2.28 2.26 2.19 2.18

1.84 1.75 1.34 1.32 1.31

% of total turnover

8.51 4.80 4.66 4.41 3.85 3.57 3.45 2.94 2.57 2.49 2.49 2.12 1.93 1.77 1.76

Daily closing 270.30 244.70 308.50 612.70 62.90 344.90 22.10 278.70 1175.60 24.00

28.20 227.90 47.70 146.70 200.20

Daily closing

269.90 28.00 62.80 13.60 309.10 200.50 22.00 612.60 228.40 42.00 344.80 54.30 279.10 28.20 576.50

Price change 1.92 0.00 -1.53 2.96 -3.08 -1.46 2.79 -1.14 5.98 4.80

Daily opening 265.20 244.70 313.30 595.10 64.90 350.00 21.50 281.90 1109.30 22.90

Price change

Daily opening

2.17 -1.38 5.30 1.10 -2.10

1.85 1.82 -4.85 7.09 -1.47 -2.29 2.33 3.06 -1.30 2.44 -1.43 -3.21 -0.89 0.00 -3.00

27.60 231.10 45.30 145.10 204.50

265.00 27.50 66.00 12.70 313.70 205.20 21.50 594.40 231.40 41.00 349.80 56.10 281.60 28.20 594.30

Daily high 276.20 245.90 314.80 624.80 64.80 355.00 22.50 295.00 1178.00 24.70

Daily low 266.00 230.00 286.00 595.00 62.70 333.00 19.50 271.00 1109.30 21.20

Daily average 270.79 244.03 309.42 610.65 63.06 345.56 21.95 279.39 1155.99 23.76

Daily high

Daily low

Daily average

28.50 231.10 49.80 149.20 206.60

275.40 28.20 65.00 13.70 312.90 206.00 22.10 622.00 231.00 42.50 349.50 56.40 282.50 28.80 595.00

25.00 211.00 42.00 131.00 199.70

267.00 27.60 62.50 12.90 307.50 200.00 21.50 596.00 226.70 41.20 344.00 54.00 278.20 28.10 573.00

28.00 228.61 47.82 147.77 202.06

270.63 27.93 63.28 13.35 309.11 202.36 21.92 612.46 228.16 42.01 345.71 54.90 279.52 28.33 580.00

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

B3

Friday, April 25, 2014

India may cede top rice exporter spot under Southeast Asian price onslaught

Japan business lobby plans corporate governance rules

n Reuters, Mumbai

n Reuters, Tokyo

India’s rice exports could slide by nearly a quarter this year and knock the country off its perch as top exporter of the grain due to stiff competition from Southeast Asian rivals that have recently slashed prices, Indian industry executives said.

A drop in Indian exports could help Thailand trim a record inventory chalked up under a controversial ricebuying scheme. Thailand may also be able to reclaim its status as the world’s biggest rice exporter, which it lost to India two years ago.

It will also leave more rice in Indian hands at a time when the country’s stocks are bulging and it faces the prospect of a record harvest, creating problems of storage.

“We are almost out of the market now. Thailand and Vietnam are selling aggressively and it is difficult for Indian exporters to match those prices,” BV Krishna Rao, managing director at Pattabhi Agro Foods Pvt Ltd, India’s biggest non-basmati rice exporter, told Reuters.

“Thailand will again become the world’s biggest rice exporter. Our nonbasmati rice exports could drop to 4 million tonnes,” Rao said.

India toppled Thailand in 2012 to become the world’s biggest rice exporter after the government lifted a four-yearold ban on non-basmati rice shipments in 2011 to trim a growing mountain of the grain following bountiful harvests.

In the 2013/14 financial year that ended on March 31, India’s total rice exports stood at a record 10.5 million tonnes, comprising 4 million tonnes aromatic basmati rice and 6.5 million tonnes of the non-basmati variety.

While India’s shipments of the basmati variety are likely to remain steady in 2014/15 at around 4 million tonnes, total rice exports could drop to 8 million tonnes due to the slide in exports of non-basmati rice, industry officials said.Desperate for revenues, Thailand has this year been selling larger quantities of the grain from state warehouses at low prices to private traders.

Thailand-origin rice was offered at the lowest price in an international tender from Iraq’s state grains buyer to pur-

Japan’s most powerful business lobby, Keidanren, plans to introduce corporate governance rules that will require better disclosure, a person familiar with the matter said, but they will stop short of bolder reforms sought by many investors.

The lobby, whose member firms include most of Japan Inc’s biggest names such as Canon Inc and Nippon Steel, will launch a study group later this year with an eye to announcing the new guidelines in 2016, the person said.

The Keidanren’s rules will not require independent directors or any particular governance structure, reflecting its belief that such decisions should be left up to individual companies, the person familiar with the matter said.

But they will demand companies give a detailed explanation on a set of important matters, such as why it has or has not employed independent directors or adopted a company with a committee governance structure, the person said.

A Kashmiri man works in his paddy field chase at least 30,000 tonnes, European traders said on Tuesday.

The push could boost Thailand’s rice exports to 9 million tonnes in the 2014 calendar year from 6.7 million a year ago, according to a March report issued by a US Department of Agriculture attache in Thailand. India’s exports in the 2014 calendar year are expected to be lower than that, industry executives said.

Thailand is now offering 5% broken rice at $390 to $395 per tonne free-onboard basis, compared to India’s offer price of $400.

The Southeast Asian nation usually charges a premium over Indian rice due to its longer grains “India and Thailand are quoting nearly the same price for 5% broken rice. Thailand’s prices need to go up by $40 per tonne to make Indian exports viable,” said M Adishankar, executive director at Sri Lalitha, a leading rice exporter based in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

NBR urges business to help seal  PAGE 1 COLUMN 3

He requested the NBR to set a rational corporate tax on offshore banking by comparing the rate with other countries to attract more foreign investments.

The association also proposed reducing the corporate tax for non-publicly traded companies from the existing 37.5% to 32.5%, raising inadmissible expenses from existing Tk2.50 lakh

to Tk4 lakh, tax benefit on transfer of technical knowhow, royalty, import of services, household goods etc.

The association also alleged that field level taxmen are harassing the business by misusing price declaration rules of VAT. In response, the NBR chairman assured the chamber leaders to resolve the problem by issuing instruction to the field offices. l

ICMAB names Rupali Bank as the best corporate award winner for 2013 n Tribune Business Desk Institute of cost and management accounts of Bangladesh (ICMAB) has declared Rupali Bank Limited as the winner of the best corporate award of 2013 for transparency, accountability

and establishing the good governance.

A letter signed by chair of ICMAB Mahmmed Salim, and chair of the best corporate awards committee, Mujaffior Ahmed on this regard was sent to the bank’s managing director M Farid Uddin. l

Omron Healthcare Bangladesh Ltd was recently inaugurated at a local hotel in Dhaka.

Health Minister Mohammed Nasim was present on the occasion as chief guest

Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited and Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh recently signed a memorandum of understanding at Islami Bank Tower. The agreement was signed

by Mohd Shamsul Haque, the bank’s deputy managing director and Md Ebrahim Bahar, president of the association

REUTERS

Problem of plenty

Since the first week of February, Thailand has cut export prices of 5% broken rice by nearly 12%, compared with a 2% drop in export prices from Vietnam, the world’s second-biggest exporter.

Indian prices rose 2% during the same period as the rupee strengthened.

“For some grades Thailand has been offering discounts compared to Indian prices. Indian exporters can’t lower prices substantially due to the appreciating rupee,” said MP Jindal, president of the All India Rice Exporters Association.

A strong rupee cuts the returns of exporters. The Indian currency has risen nearly 3% since the start of February.

The imposition of a 110% import duty on rice last year by Nigeria, a major importer of the grain from India, could further hamper exports from the South Asian country.

India mainly exports non-basmati rice to African countries such as Nige-

ria, Senegal and Benin, while Iran, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates are key buyers of its basmati rice.

“Shipments to Nigeria are hit due to the new duty structure,” said Adishankar of Sri Lalitha.

Other African buyers are switching to Thailand as the government has been aggressively selling stocks from its warehouses, the exporters said.

Slowing exports will add to India’s problem of plenty in foodgrains.

Rice inventories with India’s staterun agencies have already jumped above 30 million tonnes as on April 1, government data shows, against a target of 14.2 million tonnes. Moreover, the country is estimated to produce a record 106.19 million tonnes rice in the year to July 2014.

“Slowing exports mean more and more farmers will sell their crop to the government, but it doesn’t have enough storage space,” said a rice miller based in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh. l

As such, the guidelines will effectively incorporate only the “explain” portion of the “comply or explain” regulatory approach common in Britain and other parts of Europe, the person said.

The move is an attempt by the conservative lobby to influence a growing debate in Japan over how to bolster corporate governance. Keidanren has traditionally opposed rules mandating independent directors and other reforms seen by some investors as vital to lifting Japan’s corporate performance and protecting the interests of shareholders.

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party is working on a governance code that will be part of an economic growth strategy to be announced by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in June. The government also recently introduced a stewardship code aimed holding institutional investors more accountable and encouraging better communication with corporate boards.

The rules will be applied to all of Keidanren’s roughly 1,300 members. l

Oil prices rebound in Asian trade n AFP, Singapore Oil prices rebounded in Asian trade yesterday as heightened tensions in Ukraine overshadowed data showing US commercial crude inventories reaching an all-time high.

New York’s West Texas Intermediate for June delivery, was up 30 cents at $101.74 a barrel in afternoon trade, and Brent North Sea crude for June rose 24 cents to $109.35.

Both contracts tumbled Wednesday on the US stockpiles data, which indicate softer demand at a time of robust production in the world’s biggest oil consuming nation.

Stocks rose 3.5 million barrels to 397.7 million for the week ended April 18, official figures showed, larger than the 2.4 million expected by analysts.

“While key economic data from US and Europe will be released this week, oil markets will continue to be influenced by geopolitical events,” said

Sanjeev Gupta, who heads the Asia-Pacific Oil & Gas practice at professional services firm EY. In Eastern Europe an agreement between Ukraine, Russia and Western powers in Geneva last week to pull the country from the brink of civil war appeared shaky after a gunfight on Sunday killed at least two pro-Moscow rebels.

On Wednesday, Russia hinted it will strike back if its “legitimate interests” in the former Soviet state are attacked after Kiev sent in forces to dislodge militants who have occupied government buildings there.

Moscow wants Ukraine’s proWestern government to withdraw its forces.

Ukraine, a major conduit for Russian natural gas to Western Europe, is monitored closely by investors who are concerned that a full-scale armed conflict will disrupt supplies and send prices rocketing. l

Dollar weaker in Asia as US, Japan fail to seal trade deal n AFP, Tokyo The dollar weakened in Asia yesterday as the United States and Japan failed to break a deadlock holding up a Pacificwide trade deal, with US President Barack Obama urging Tokyo to take “bold steps” to reach agreement.

The greenback changed hands at 102.30 in Tokyo, down from 102.50 yen in New York Wednesday.

The euro was at $1.3822 and 141.40 yen, against $1.3816 and 141.61 yen in US trade, where the single currency won support from an upbeat report on eurozone business activity.

Obama, who arrived in Tokyo Wednesday on the first leg of a fournation tour, held talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Thursday morning. Among the top items on his agenda was moving ahead on the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement.

Talks over the proposed pact - which

encompasses 12 nations including the US and Japan and about 40% of the global economy - have been held up as Tokyo and Washington locked horns over key details, including Japanese tariffs on agricultural products.

He added: “I think it’s fair to say that there are a certain sectors of the Japanese economy, the agriculture sector, the auto sector, in which market access has been restricted historically.”

He added that those stumbling

The euro was at $1.3822 and 141.40 yen, against $1.3816 and 141.61 yen in US trade, where the single currency won support from an upbeat report on eurozone business activity Top negotiators from both sides have spent days seeking a breakthrough over the dispute, which will entail painful political choices that could inflame anti-free trade advocates on both sides of the Pacific.

After a summit with Abe, Obama told a joint press conference that “now is the time for bold steps”.

blocks “at some point have to be resolved ... (and) I believe that point is now”.

Japanese economy minister Akira Amari is scheduled to talk to reporters later Thursday after holding the latest round of meetings with US Trade Representative Michael Froman in Tokyo.

The dollar also faced pressure af-

ter US new-home sales dived 14.5% in March from a year earlier, the second successive month of slower sales.

The euro was steady against the dollar after Markit Economics said its Eurozone Composite Purchasing Managers Index for April, a leading indicator of manufacturing and services activity, jumped to its highest reading since May 2011.

Against other Asia-Pacific currencies the dollar was at Tw$30.30, unchanged from Wednesday, while it edged up to 44.66 Philippine pesos from 44.63 pesos.

The greenback eased to Sg$1.2569 from Sg$1.2577, to 11,625.00 Indonesian rupiah from 11,655.00 rupiah, to 1,039.25 South Korean won from 1,039.45 won, and to 32.34 Thai baht from 32.38 baht.

The Australian dollar fell to 92.91 US cents from 93.21 cents, while the Chinese yuan fetched 16.40 yen against 16.42 yen. l

United Commercial Bank Limited yesterday made an agreement with Green Life Hospital Ltd at the bank’s corporate head office. The bank’s managing director Muhammed Ali is seen at the signing ceremony along with Green Life Hospital Ltd officials

Prime Bank’s anti money laundering department of its head office recently organised a workshop on prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing at the Jessore branch. The bank’s SEVP and head of internal control and compliance division, Md Anwarul Islam inaugurated the workshop as the chief guest

Al-Arafah Islami Bank Ltd recently held its 256th board meeting at its board room. The board’s chair, Badiur Rahman presided over the meeting that reviewed overall business performance of the bank

British American Tobacco Bangladesh Company Limited held its 41st annual general meeting at a hotel in the capital on Wednesday in the presence of Golam Mainuddin, the company’s chair

B4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Globalisation: A bloom or a gloom for developing countries? n M Jalal Hussain The proponents and opponents of globalisation do have unanimous view that globalisation always brings mammoth gains for some countries while in contrast, brings gargantuan pains for some others. Globalisation is a doctrinaire and much-talked about issue for the present century. The impacts of globalisation, whether gainful or painful, are felt by businesspersons, business leaders, politicians, political leaders, social scientists, economists, analysts, and the common folk around the globe.

Globalisation induces reorganisation of businesses and industries at the subnational, national, and international levels.

It brings forth restructuring of production, services, domestic and international trade, integration of capital markets, and diversification of investment strategies worldwide to get the maximum economic benefits.

The advent of modern science and technology brings the world under one umbrella known as the “globalised world.”

The process of globalisation started a while ago, back in 15th century, and gathered momentum in 1990s. In 2000, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) identified four basic aspects of globalisation: Trade and transaction, capital and investment, migration and movement of people, and the dissemination of knowledge. To cope with and meet the corresponding processes, the concept of “globalisation” evolved.

Globalisation affects economic and social relations through multilaterism, multinationalism, and microeconomic phenomena, as production, services, and business competiveness at both national and international levels. Industrially developed countries were hyped from globalisation as they were well advanced in education, science, and technology. On the other hand, the underdeveloped and developing countries have benefited in some areas, but in most areas they lose because of tough competition in the global market, a lack of education, technology, capital structure, and leadership qualities.

Various researchers, analysts, economists, and academics around the globe have expressed highly favorable views on globalisation and its economic effects on developed countries. But the ill-effects of globalisation on developing and underdeveloped countries remain unabated and unresolved.

An online debate on “Globalisation and Poverty,” organized by the World Bank Development Forum, echoed the loud and aggressive protests against globalisation and expressed its negative impact on the

distribution of income and wealth between and within the countries. “Globalisation may improve growth rates, increase productivity and enhance technological capability, but it cannot redistribute created wealth and income in favor of the poor. In fact, it does the opposite, it redistributes wealth and income in favor of the not-sopoor,” expressed the Forum.

The IMF, the World Bank, WHO, and the industrially developed countries are held responsible for influencing and largely determining the course of globalisation.

They are considered to be the driving forces behind the policy reforms that the developing and underdeveloped countries have to implement as part of the structural programs under the stewardship of the IMF, World Bank, and WHO. East Asian countries made “miracle” changes in their economies through the transfer of technology, by increasing exports under the globalisation process. Globalisation caused a boom in the economies of East Asian countries. In contrast, most of the Sub-Saharan countries, some SouthAsian countries, a few countries in Africa,

Latin America, and the Caribbean, didn’t get benedictions from globalisation. These countries are burdened with problems that plagued their economies and globalisation caused a gloom for these countries.

Various schools of thought argue that globalisation has led to an increase in child labor and slavery in the developed and underdeveloped economies. Globalisation is responsible for unplanned industrialisation that causes cities and towns to be used as garbage-dumps, with pollution at sky-high levels.

Climate change and global warming are called the byproducts of globalisation. The globalisation of industries has changed the outlook of the economy of a country at the cost of the environment. Natural resources are depleting, deforestation is taking place in many countries like Bangladesh for the establishment of environment-unfriendly industries. These cause climate change, global warming, CO2 emission, lower levels of rainfall, and so on.

According to social scientists, geologists, and environmentalists, Bangladesh will be the country worst affected due to

climate change and global warming.

Globalisation opens the door to international trade, which gives birth to arthritic and intense competition. Due to cut-throat competition, the products of developed economies occupy the local market, leading the underdeveloped economies far abaft.

Uneven distribution of wealth is let to take place, and the rich keep getting richer while the poor are getting poorer. The gap between the elite and the underprivileged would be a never-ending road.

Globalisation creates disparities between developed and developing economies by exploiting cheap-labor countries around the world. The developing countries can reap the benefits of globalisation only by adopting intransigent and hardheaded planning such as swift-transfer of technologies, education to all policies, improving leadership qualities, and following the economic and transition plans of the “Eastern Asian” economies that achieved the loftiest benefits of globalisation. l M Jala Hussain is Group Financial Controller of a Private Group of Industries.

Friday, April 25, 2014

Ifo: German business confidence rises in April n AFP, Frankfurt German business confidence rebounded this month after a slight fall in March in Europe’s biggest economy when companies worried about the Crimea crisis.

The Ifo economic institute’s closely watched business climate index rose to 111.2 points in April against 110.7 the month before, beating market expectations.

Analysts polled by Dow Jones Newswires had predicted a slight decline to 110.5 points.

Christian Schulz of Berenberg Bank said the data showed German businesses had shrugged off their worst fears over a military escalation in the Ukraine-Russia crisis.

“The situation in eastern Ukraine remains volatile and dangerous and poses the most serious risk to the eurozone recover at the moment,” he wrote in a note.

“But German businesses seem to estimate that the worst-case scenario of a war between Russia and Ukraine and escalating sanctions all the way to disruptions of Russian energy supplies to Europe remains unlikely.

“The Ukraine crisis is clearly far from over, but unless it escalates dramatically, it seems unlikely to leave more than a temporary dent in confidence, if at all.”

He said the more upbeat mood came as “Germany is increasingly enjoying the benefits of its strengthening domestic demand as well as the broaden-

ing recovery in its most important export markets, the eurozone and other developed economies”.

Ifo calculates its headline index on the basis of companies’ assessments of their current business and the outlook for the next six months.

The sub-index measuring current business increased slightly to 115.3, from 115.2 in March.

The outlook sub-index, which had fallen for two months in a row, rebounded to 107.3 in April from 106.4.

Carsten Brzeski, chief economist at ING-DiBa, said the figures indicate that “currently German businesses stick to the facts and do not get concerned by eventualities”.

“And the facts up to now speak a clear language. Order books, both domestic and foreign, are still growing, inventories are low and activity in both manufacturing and services is picking up.”

He also pointed out an unusually mild winter had boosted construction in the first months of the year, making it “an important growth driver for the entire economy”.

However, Brzeski warned that “despite today’s surprisingly strong Ifo and the expected growth acceleration of the German economy in the first quarter, it would be foolish to turn a blind eye to possible downside risks”.

“With the Ukraine crisis, Chinese uncertainties and emerging markets slowing down, more and more gusts of wind, particularly from the East, could easily disturb the current spring fever on the eurozone’s island of happiness.” l

Nokia says India plant unlikely to be part of Microsoft deal n Reuters, New Delhi Nokia said that due to an ongoing tax dispute its Indian mobile phone handset plant was unlikely to be included in a deal due to be concluded by today for the sale of its global handset business to Microsoft.

Nokia will instead operate the factory as a contract manufacturing unit for Microsoft after the deal, a spokeswoman for the Finnish company’s Indian unit said yesterday.

“It’s highly unlikely that the plant will transfer, given that the (deal) closing with Microsoft is tomorrow,” the spokeswoman said. “If the asset doesn’t get transferred, we are entering into a service agreement with Microsoft.”

Nokia has yet to agree to conditions set by an Indian court, including payment of a guarantee for potential tax dues in a dispute with Indian authorities, before it transfers the plant to Microsoft.

The plant, which Nokia says employs about 6,600 employees, is one of its biggest factories globally.

Nokia this month offered a voluntary retirement scheme to factory employees.

Nokia lawyers have previously told the Delhi High Court that the company can run the plant as a contract manufacturer in case it is not allowed to be transferred to Microsoft, but not beyond 12 months after closing their 5.4bn euros ($7.5bn) global deal. l

Pakistan raises $1.1bn with 3G, 4G licence auction n AFP, Islamabad Pakistan on Wednesday raised more than $1.1bn in its long-delayed auction of next-generation telecommunications licences, snapped up by the country´s four existing mobile network providers.

The government sold off four licences to provide 3G services, which allow broadband-speed internet on mobile phones, and one for superfast 4G connections.

The total is close to the $1.2bn estimated for the sale in the federal budget for 2013-14 but below a bullish prediction of $2bn made by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in January.

The government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was elected last year on a platform of boosting Pakistan´s floundering economy and ministers hope the licence sale will bring a boost by improving communications.

Pakistan has more than 132 million mobile phone subscribers but has lagged behind its neighbours in setting up 3G, which is now the norm in many countries.

Even Afghanistan, Pakistan´s far less developed western neighbour with a weaker economy and more fragile state, has had the technology since 2012.

The successful bidders for 3G services were Norway´s Telenor, Russianowned Mobilink, Ufone, owned by the Pakistani government, and Zong - part of China Mobile.

All four operators are already established players in the Pakistani mobile market.Zong also won one of two

DILBERT

licences available for 4G services. The second will be auctioned later.

Sikanadar Naqi, a Zong advisor, told AFP the company would begin 3G services in the cities of Lahore and Karachi immediately.

The final bids for the 3G licences totalled $902.82m, while the 4G licence went to Zong for the reserve price of $210m. Dar said the government would receive half of the money up front and the rest in five annual installments.

The chief executive of Mobilink congratulated fellow bidders and the Pakistan Telecommuncations Authority (PTA) on what he said had been a “transparent” process.

“After this auction, not only 132bn subscribers but the whole Pakistani nation has taken the road of progress,” Rashid Khan said. A study by the UKbased Plum consultancy in August last year said 3G could boost Pakistan´s GDP by between 380bn and 1,180bn rupees ($3.8bn to $11.8bn) by 2020.Up to 900,000 extra jobs could be created and between 23bn and 70bn rupees in additional tax revenue generated by 3G, the Plum report said.

Cheap mobile phone telephony took Pakistan by storm in the early 2000s, but only 3.3 million people are signed up to broadband internet, according to PTA figures, offering a huge, untapped market for faster web speeds.

Information Technology Minister Anusha Rehman hailed the auction as a boon for Pakistanis unable to afford computers and fixed-lined internet connections. l

US President Barack Obama speaks with Emperess of Japan Michiko while next to Emperor Akihito at the Japan State Dinner at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo yesterday

REUTERS

Obama urges Japan to take ‘bold steps’ in huge trade deal n AFP, Tokyo US President Barack Obama yesterday urged Japan to take “bold steps” to seal a Pacific-wide trade deal after Washington failed to wrestle key tariff concessions from Tokyo.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a vast trade agreement that would cover about 40 percent of the global economy, is a key plank in Obama’s bid for a renewed focus on Asia.

It is also seen as crucial for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s pledge to shake up his country’s long-lumbering economy.

But the ambitious 12-nation deal has stalled as Tokyo and Washington lock horns over key details, including Japanese tariffs on agricultural products and US access to its ally’s major auto market.

Speculation that a deal would be announced during Obama’s Asia tour, which officially kicked off on Thursday in Tokyo, were dashed at a joint press briefing following talks between the leaders of the world’s number one and three economies.

“Now is the time for bold steps,” Obama told reporters.

“I think it’s fair to say that there are a certain sectors of the Japanese economy - the agriculture sector, the auto sector - in which market access has been restricted historically.”

He added that those stumbling blocks “at some point have to be resolved ... (and) I believe that point is now”.

The deal is a crucial part of Abe’s promises to reform Japan’s economy and stoke long-tepid growth, the US leader said.

“TPP is consistent with those reforms and, as Prime Minister Abe said, there is a strategic importance to this as what’s happening now is shaping the economic environment for the fastest growing region in the world - not just for this year or next year, but potentially for this decade and the next decade,” Obama said.

The two leaders told their trade delegations to press on with talks to “settle the remaining issues and work for an early conclusion” of the agreement, Abe said.

Japanese economy minister Akira Amari is scheduled to talk to reporters later Thursday after holding the latest round of meetings with US Trade Representative Michael Froman in Tokyo.

Japan was hoping that a free trade agreement with Canberra this month,

which will see tariffs on Australian beef slashed, would help bounce Washington into compromises, but US diplomats appear to have stood firm.

Washington and many of the other parties to the talks - including Chile, Mexico, Canada and several Asian countries - say Japan’s unwillingness to open its lucrative agricultural market is a deal-breaker.

Critics have long complained that sky-high Japanese tariffs - on rice they are nearly 800% - and non-tariff barriers, like overly-strict safety requirements, are naked protectionism.

Negotiators missed the end-of-2013 deadline they had set themselves - a target that always looked ambitious, but became much more so when Japan got involved in the talks during the year. No new end-date has been set. l