12 May 2014

Boishakh 29, 1421 Rajab 12, 1435 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 2, No 42

MONDAY, MAY 12, 2014 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

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HC orders arrest of ex-RAB trio

Over 1,000 DMCH honorary doctors go on 48-hr strike

Government asked to consider amending laws that regulate security forces including RAB n Nazmus Sakib and Rabiul Islam The three RAB officials, who were sent on forced retirement for their alleged involvement in seven murders in Narayanganj, have to face arrest as the High Court yesterday ordered the Home Ministry to take necessary steps immediately.

The bench of Justice Mirza Hussain Haider and Justice Khurshid Alam Sarkar said the trio could be apprehended under section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure as an indication of their involvement in the incident was apparent from their retirement.

The court said the arrest order could be executed if they were not accused under the Penal Code or any other special laws.

The three are former commanding officer of RAB 11 Tarek Sayeed Mohammad, also son-in-law of Disaster Man-

agement Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, Major Arif Hossain and Lt Commander SM Rana.

Upon their arrest, the court said the trio must be handed over to the Detective Branch of police, which was investigating the case, for interrogation.

It said further development on the incident would be dealt with at the bench of Justice Md Rezaul Haque and Justice Gobinda Chandra Tagore, who on May 5 had ordered a probe into whether any member of the administration or the law enforcement agencies had any involvement in the incident. A copy of yesterday’s order would also be sent to the other bench for consideration.

The court yesterday also issued a ruling, asking why the respondents should not be directed to actively consider amending, updating and  PAGE 2 COLUMN 3

15 | CITY STROLL TO PREMIER LEAGUE TITLE

n Moniruzzaman Uzzal

Having failed to collect a ticket, Netrakona’s Anguri Begum, right, along with a relative, sits on the corridor of the outdoor section at Dhaka Medical College Hospital yesterday as honorary doctors went on a 48-hour strike DHAKA TRIBUNE

Healthcare services at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) were disrupted yesterday as its honorary doctors went on a 48-hour strike protesting an assault on one of their fellows.

Hundreds of patients suffered immensely as more than 1,000 honorary and other doctors stopped working to protest against the attack on honorary physician Mominul Islam, who was beaten up in the capital’s Chankharpul area on Saturday night. Mominul was admitted to DMCH Intensive Care Unit in a critical condition.

DMCH authorities filed a case with Shahbagh police station in this connection without mentioning any specific name.

DMCH honorary doctors went on a 48-hour strike yesterday morning demanding arrest of the culprits who had physically assaulted their colleague.

Otherwise, they said, they would not join work.

Hundreds of patients were compelled to return home as the outdoor section was closed.

Seeking anonymity, a top DMCH official told the Dhaka Tribune that as bizarre as it might sound, many senior doctors, from medical officers to professors, did not carry out their duties perfectly.

“The healthcare service for the patients thus mostly depends on honorary and intern doctors. This is why

Negligence of duty against senior doctors, increased dependence on honorary and intern doctors alleged the overall healthcare service gets into trouble if those doctors refuse to work,” he said.

According to DMCH sources, there are around 1,000 to 1,500 honorary doctors working at the hospital. In addition, there are nearly 200 intern doctors who received one-year training and of them, 133 passed out on May 7.

Nearly 2,200-2,400 patients,  PAGE 2 COLUMN 3

Complaints of suspected Patients return failing to get treatment n abductions pile up Moniruzzaman Uzzal

Sarker and n Kailash Mohammad Jamil Khan In the wake of real abduction incidents, complaints of feared abductions have also been on the rise.

Most of these complaints prove groundless in course of time but the law enforcers have to address the issues with due regard.

Officials of different police stations said families overpowered by the fear of abduction of their relatives had been lodging such complaints.

In such an incident on May 5, family

members of cloth trader Mohammad Amanullah of Narayanganj filed a general diary with Bandar police station, mentioning that the businessman had gone missing with Tk400,000.

Police went ahead with the rescue mission and finally caught up with him in Magura.

Later, police came to know that the businessman had left home with the money following a family feud and taken shelter at a friend’s house in Magura.

The trader switched off his mobile phone while the family members  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

A ticket at the outdoor service of Dhaka Medical College Hospital proved elusive for 55-year-old Anguri Begum yesterday as she failed to collect one despite waiting there for four hours along with three of her relatives because of a 48-hour strike called by honorary doctors of the hospital.

Her uncle Jasimuddin was wandering around the corridor in search of a hospital staff but found all the rooms under lock and key.

Mistaking this correspondent for hospital employee, he said: “Sir, arrange a ticket for my niece, she is seriously ill and has been suffering

from uterus-related problems.”

“We have come here from Haripur village of Kendua in Netrokona by a taxicab for emergency treatment. We paid the driver Tk2,700 but are now unable to collect a Tk 10 ticket. Could you please give me one?”

Anguri, with a few bags, was sitting on the corridor of the hospital’s outdoor section. She said she had no relative in Dhaka.

“If I cannot be admitted today then only Allah knows where we will end up. I am now looking for a doctor who is from my village and works here. He is my last hope,” she said.

Anguri was one of the several hundred patients who strived for collecting

a ticket yesterday to meet doctors but to no avail. They were subjected to immense sufferings because of honorary doctors observing work abstention at the outdoor section protesting assault on one of their fellows.

Apart from honorary doctors, few interns and other doctors staged protest against the assault on Mominul Islam, who was beaten up in the capital’s Chankharpul area on Saturday night.

Nearly 1,600-1,700 new patients and another 700-800 old patients arrive at Dhaka Medical College Hospital for treatment every day. Because of the strike, however, only 820 tickets were sold in the first two hours, starting from 8am in the morning. Sale of tick-

ets was abruptly stopped afterwards.

Billal Hossain, 9, son of Alek Matobbor of Atipara village in Shariatpur, waited at the outdoor section with his aunt for a very long time for a ticket but could not get one. His aunt Amena Begum told the Dhaka Tribune that Billal was a thalassaemia patient and was diagnosed with the disease just a month ago.

“He underwent blood transfusion last week. Doctors told us to come today and admit him in the Hematology Department. We waited for 4-5 hours but could not buy a ticket,” she said, adding: “Could you please tell me who will be held responsible if my nephew dies?” l

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Monday, May 12, 2014

'Another Joj Miah drama in action!' n Ahmed Zayeef Law enforcers are projecting the arrest of two “accomplices” of Nur Hossain as their greatest achievement, terming it a major progress in netting the mastermind of the seven murders.

But family members of the arrestees and a number of locals yesterday told the Dhaka Tribune that one of the two were just a petty fish trader and the other a jobless youth.

Investigators, who have failed to arrest the main accused and five of his accomplices, said they would be able to glean important information from the arrestees – Mohibullah, 35, and his brother-in-law Ferdous Quraishi Samrat, 20.

The two were not accused in the case filed by Nazrul’s wife Selina Islam.

'It was around 2pm. My brother was in the toilet and my husband was taking rest. At that time 10-12 men stormed into the house and arrested my husband first and then my brother,' said Rupali. As she began to shout, one of them said: 'If you shout again we will shoot you.'

Since the bodies of ward councillor Nazrul Islam, lawyer Chandan Sarkar and five others were recovered from the Shitalakkhya River the law enforcing agency has been claiming that they had made substantial progress in the investigation.

Khandakar Muhid Uddin, superintendent of police of Narayanganj, said: “We think the arrest of the two is a big success in our investigation.”

Yesterday this reporter met the family members of the arrestees. Both of their houses are located at Hirajheel near the Chittagong Road in Narayanganj.

Ferdous Quraishi Samrat’s father Siraj Miah is the owner of Siraj Furniture, a renowned furniture shop in that area.

Yesterday morning when this reporter went to the shop the family members and locals gathered there.

Peyara Begum Ranu, elder sister of Samrat, said: “My brother left Narayanganj for Noakhali along with my mother and two cousins on the night of April 20 as my maternal uncle was severely ill. He died on April 21.”

Five days later after finishing all the formalities of funeral, Samrat went to their village home at Uttar Lautola of Begumganj upazila in the same district.

They stayed there for harvesting.

“He does not know anything about the murders [of the seven] as he was in Noakhali,” Ranu added.

Samrat’s father said his son used to look after his shop as he was getting older. “He is my youngest son. He passed most of his time with his sister’s family.

“I am quite sure he was not involved in the seven murders.”

Rupali Akter, wife of Mohibullah and elder sister of Samrat, arrived at the shop along with her two children in the midst of the conversation.

They were also in Noakhali along with Mohibullah and Samrat. They were back in Narayanganj soon after the arrests, said Siraj.

“It was around 2pm. My brother was in the toilet and my husband was taking rest. At that time 10-12 men stormed into the house and arrested my husband first and then my brother,” said Rupali.

As she began to shout at the intruders and protested, asking them why they were arresting her brother and husband, one of them said: “If you shout again we will shoot you.”

Mohammod Ali, father of Mohibullah, said his son was involved in a multipurpose business and one year back after it was closed he started working at the fish depot of ward Councillor Nur Hossain, he told this correspondent on the Narayanganj Judge Court premises.

Both Rupali and Mohammod Ali said Mohibullah had led a disciplined life always returning home by 10pm.

Surprisingly, no one at Nur Hossain's fish depot recognised Mohibullah. Billal, Shibu and many others said they did not know him. Arif Ahmed, younger brother of Mohibullah said: “Everyone is scared of police.”

A local preferring not to be named said he had known Samrat as a gentle youth. “I do not think he could be involved in any crime. I think people will see the repetition of a Joj Miah story.”

Shobuj Miah, a local businessman said: “I know Mohibullah personally.

I have never heard about his involvement with Nur Hossain.

However, Narayanganj SP Khandakar Muhid Uddin said Mohibullah was a truck driver and he was involved in Nur Hossain’s drug business. “What their family is saying is not true,” he said.

But Mohammod Ali, Arif Ahmed and Rupali Akter confirmed that Mohibullah had never been a driver. l

Complaints of suspected abductions pile up  PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

suspected that he might have been kidnapped.

A couple of days back, wife of Chittagong Veterinary University Registrar Mirza Faruk Imam went out on shopping in the morning. Her mobile phone broke after she dropped it.

Finding his wife’s phone switched off, Mirza Faruk suspected that she had been abducted and immediately contacted the local police station. The wife, however, returned home within three hours of making the complaint.

Khandker Mohid Uddin, police super of Narayanganj, told the Dhaka Tribune that such misinformation killed time and hampered investigation into the real incidents.

“No one should harass law enforcers in this way,” he said, suggesting that people should check the whereabouts of their near and dear ones themselves and contact the police only if there was no trace at all.

Masudur Rahman, deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said people thought that the incidents of abduction had risen, but it was not true.

He said law enforcers were getting some complaints of abduction which were clearly “staged” only to teach the supposed abductees’ family a lesson.

On May 7, Anwarul Islam Rana, a student of Durgapur High School of Ulipur upazila in Kurigram, staged an abduction drama with his parents.

The grade IX student went into hiding for two days, switching off his mobile phone.

Later, a call came to his parents and the caller demanded Tk40,000 as ransom.

The family lodged a complaint with

the police station and Rana was later rescued from Kurigram.

Rana confessed to police that he had acted thus only to extract some money from his parents.

Shamsher Ali, a businessman in South Surma area in Sylhet, disappeared on April 20. His brother Rezwan Ahmed filed a GD with the police station.

Police rescued Shamsher by tracking his mobile phone.

Later, it was learnt that Shamsher had not been abducted; he had rather gone into hiding to dodge his moneylenders.

In the capital, trader Kamal Hossain Sarder of Kataban market went missing on May 8. Kamal’s wife Shoma Begum filed a GD with Shahbagh police station, finding his cellphone switched off.

Police suspect that he might be hiding somewhere else.

Although the abduction complaints proved groundless, the GDs about the incidents would not be withdrawn.

The crime data of police headquarters show that over 25,029 cases were recorded in the last 24 years from 1990 to 2013, and 289 between January and April this year.

Additional Inspector General of Police (Administration) AKM Shahidul Haque told the Dhaka Tribune that usually police pressed charge sheets in around 75% of the total cases while around one-third of the charge-sheeted cases had convictions.

Asked about other 25% cases, he said in many cases, both parties agreed to settle their dispute through mutual understanding, and in some cases, police also failed to get proper evidence. l

DU suspends four students suspected of kidnapping businessman n DU Correspondent

Incoming patients wait outside the ticket counter, locked by agitated honorary doctors, of the DMCH outdoor yesterday SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Narayanganj SP: Considerable development in seven-murder n Our Correspondent, Narayanganj

Narayanganj Superintendent of Police Dr Khandaker Mahid Uddin yesterday said many developments have been made into the investigation of the sensational seven-murder in the district.

“There are many creditable developments made into the case, but all of those are not clear. The arrest of Noor Hossain’s driver and his brother-in-law is a great achievement for us,” Khandaker made the remarks while addressing a press conference in his office.

The SP also said they have so far arrested 21 people and seven of them were shown arrested in the case. “We are not running mass arrests so that general people are not harassed. We are just conducting drives based on who can help the culprits by giving them shelter.”

“Our officials were working 18-22 hours daily to unearth the mystery behind the murder and I do not think 12 days are enough for such type of a big murder case,” he continued.

In response to a query, the SP said they have no information whether the

alleged killers have left the country.

About questioning alleged three former high officials of RAB, he said: “We are not going against any specific organisation. We will interrogate all who we think are involved in the case.”

On finding video captured in Chandan Sarkar’s cell phone, the SP said many things there were not still clear and he was unable to make any immature remarks at the moment.

Later, the official declined to make any comment on yesterday’s arrest order of the HC against the alleged three RAB officials. l

Badruddoza Chowdhury: Ershad a compulsive, pathological liar n Tribune Report

Lashing out at Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh President AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury has termed Ershad “a compulsive and pathological liar”.

“He is a compulsive and pathological liar. On Saturday, he deliberately gave false information on BNP founder Ziaur Rahman,” Badruddoza said in a statement yesterday.

This came in the wake of Ershad

saying that he knew who was behind the murder of Ziaur Rahman. He said this while addressing a meeting of Jatiya Jubo Sanghati at Diploma Engineers Institute auditorium in the capital on Saturday.

Ershad said: “The people as well as I know who were behind the murder of Zia, and who were staying in the next room [at Chittagong Circuit House].

Khaleda Zia is now doing party activities with them. Why did not you bring the murderers to book?”

In yesterday’s statement, Badruddoza said: “Ershad is the direct beneficiary of Ziaur Rahman’s murder, not anyone else.”

“If Major General Manzoor was alive, Ershad’s involvement in Zia’s murder would have been revealed.”

Zia was killed in an army coup on May 30, 1981. Before that, Ershad had been the chief of army staff during Zia’s rule from 1977-81. He became president in 1983. l

The Dhaka University authorities have indefinitely suspended four studentsfor their alleged involvement in the abduction of a businessman.

“The decision came from a meeting chaired by Vice Chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique,” DU Proctor Amzad Ali told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday afternoon.

“If the allegations against them are proven in the court, the university will expel them permanently,” the proctor added.

The four students, who were all activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League, were expelled by the ruling party’s student wing on Saturday.

The suspended students are Srijon Kumar Ghosh, Sheikh Abdul Al Mamun, Anup Chandra and Himel.

On Friday, police arrested six people, including the DU students, for abducting a businessman from the capital and demanding ransom from his relatives. l

Now Khaleda wants dissolution of RAB n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla Although BNP-led four-party alliance formed the elite force Rapid Action Battalion in 2004, the then prime minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has now demanded the abolishment of the force.

“BNP formed RAB to maintain law and order. But the force is now being used in political purposes and it is involved in killing and abduction. That’s why, there is no necessity of this force and this is the demand of people,” Khaleda said.

Khaleda came up with the demand when she went to the house of missing BNP leader Sajedul Haque Sumon to express sympathy to his family members.

The family members of seven other missing BNP and its associate bodies’ leaders were also present there.

The former premier alleged that: “The objective behind the formation of RAB has been violated in every step. Instead of keeping people’s lives secured, it has taken position against general people.”

Khaleda demanded the investigation on the activities of RAB. ”The force can be dissolved if it is needed and another elite force could be formed anew from the police force.”

Khaleda demanded fair investigation into the killings and abductions and demanded the punishment for the culprits involved in it.

Earlier, the party’s acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir echoed Khaleda and state minister for Home Asaduzzaman Kamal ruled out the possibility of dissolution of RAB. l

Over 1,000 DMCH honorary doctors go on 48-hr strike  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

including old and new, come to the outdoor section for treatment every day.

Because of the strike, however, only 820 tickets were sold in the first two hours yesterday and most of the patients could not meet doctors. Even the number of doctors at emergency section and indoor section was very poor.

General Secretary of Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) Professor M Iqbal Arslan told the Dhaka Tribune they were trying to bring back the doctors at work.

“We have called an emergency meeting of the BMA central executive

committee to find a proper solution to the problem,” he said, adding that BMA leaders had requested law enforcement agencies to arrest miscreants who beat up Mominul. “We have also requested Dhaka University authorities to consider the issue seriously.”

Wishing anonymity, several senior DMCH nurses told the Dhaka Tribune the honorary and few intern doctors made trouble when senior doctors went to provide service for patients.

They asked senior doctors not to see patients until the miscreants were brought to book.

To restore normalcy, Health and Population Affairs Secretary of Awami League Dr Badiuzzaman Bhuiyan Dablu, Director-General of the Directorate General of Health Services Professor Dr Din Mohammed Nurul Hoque and other BMA leaders went to the hospital in the noon and held a meeting with the doctors, assuring them that the attackers would be arrested soon.

Dr Badiuzzaman Bhuiyan told the Dhaka Tribune it was very unfortunate that a doctor was beaten up on Saturday night. “Doctors are now feeling insecure. Someone is trying to make the

healthcare sector unstable. I request journalists to find out the real reason behind the attack,” he said.

Although it was said only the honorary doctors observed work abstention, few intern doctors and other mid-level and high-level officials also refused to discharge regular duties.

DMCH Director Md Mustafizur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune that the strike subjected outdoor patients to sufferings but there was no disruption in emergency and indoor service. “Although limited, doctors and nurses are trying to treat patients sincerely,” he added. l

that the institution could assist in improving the laws relating to the law enforcement agencies.

The constitutional expert said many had requested him to speak against RAB, but he was rather trying to find a way to bring the agency under the control of the law. “This writ petition is an honest attempt to that end,” he said.

Dr Kamal said the law enforcement agencies had exercised unfettered power in different cases although none could do so as per the constitution.He added that RAB had arrested many people without warrants and conducted the tasks of the police which was unexpected.

Before the abductions and killings in Narayanganj, many people were killed extra-judicially and many were forcefully made disappear. “The court can pass order for the sake of protecting people’s lives – a right which is not bogus but genuine,” Dr Kamal said.

The court asked the lawyer to correct the directives he had sought in his petition to avoid vagueness.

The petition originally also sought a judicial inquiry committee led by a former chief justice or a current judge of the Appellate Division. It was later removed by Dr Kamal following the

court’s suggestion.

The lawyer wrote down the directives in the petition as per the dictation of the bench, and those were issued by the court. It said the bench of Justice Md Rezaul Haque could have issued an order for the arrest of the three former RAB officials had the forced retirement taken place before May 5.

Lawyers Ramzan Ali Sikder and Subrata Roy Chowdhury assisted Dr Kamal during the hearing. Although acting attorney general MK Rahman attended the court’s session, he did not want to place any argument.

Meanwhile, a judicial magistrate’s court of Narayanganj put six suspects on a five-day police remand in the case of killing Chandan Sarkar. They are Tanvir Ahmed, Shipon, Imran, Shahin, Mizan and Alamgir.

Talking about Dr Kamal’s move, the junior home minister yesterday questioned the necessity of the writ petition.

“I do not know whether there is any reason behind filing the writ petition as a high-powered committee is investigating the matter,” Asaduzzaman said, adding that if the lawyer had any information, he could give it to the probe committee. l

HC orders arrest of ex-RAB trio  PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

improving the existing laws regulating the professional activities of police, RAB and other law enforcement agencies to update their duties and responsibilities towards guarantying citizens’ fundamental rights under articles 31, 32, 36, 42 and 44 of the constitution.

It also asked why a directive should not be issued to correct the deficiencies with regard to the power exercised by the law enforcement agencies to take prompt and appropriate actions to protect the rights of the citizens.

The home secretary, law secretary, public administration secretary and the National Human Rights Commission were asked to respond to the ruling within four weeks.

The bench passed the order, responding to a writ plea lodged by BSMMU physician Dr Bijoy Kumar Paul, sonin-law of slain lawyer Chandan Kumar Sarkar; Mahbubur Rahman Ismail, president of Amra Narayanganjbashi; and Shakhawat Hossain Khan, president of Narayanganj District Bar Association.

Meanwhile, State Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal yesterday told reporters that they would comply with the High Court directives

after getting a copy of the order.

He earlier said the trio had been under surveillance of the law enforcement agencies. On May 8, he told the Dhaka Tribune: “We have asked the airport and the BGB authorities to prevent them from leaving the country. We will not let them go abroad as the investigation is underway.”

During the hearing yesterday, Dr Kamal Hossain, lawyer for the petitioners, referred to two reports published in the Dhaka Tribune headlined “RAB ‘blamed’ for abductions, murders” and “Family: Chandan Sarkar quested peace his whole life” on the gruesome killings followed by abduction.

The reputed lawyer said although another bench having the power to try criminal matters passed an order, the bench led by Mirza Hussain was the constitutional court to deal with, as the incident was related to the violation of fundamental rights.

Dr Kamal said the NHRC chief had mentioned with frustration on different occasions that the commission had no effective legal power which should be taken into consideration by the court.

He added that the commission had been made a respondent to the ruling not for its guilt; rather it was done so

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

PM for involvement of India with Ganges Barrage Project n Mohosinul Karim Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has given the go-ahead to build the Ganges Barrage Project at Pangsha under Rajbari district involving India.

Hasina has ordered to examine the prospect of involving the neighbouring country with the project to retain water of the trans-boundary river Ganges, known as the Padma in Bangladesh, during the rainy season.

The prime minister yesterday gave the instructions at a meeting with the minister, state minister and high officials of the Water Resources Ministry and its subordinate offices held at the Secretariat.

According to the instructions of the premier, the proposed barrage’s name might be changed to Padma Barrage Project of Bangladesh in the final stage as the barrage of India is known as Ganges Barrage, several high officials of the Water Resources Ministry said.

State Minister for Water Resources Nazrul Islam said: “The premier is very much interested to start the project as

soon as possible to save the river water.

It will be a profitable project for Bangladesh as the country will get a benefit of around Tk7,000 crore annually.

“Farmers of the southwest region as well as one-third of the country will get the benefit of it as they can cultivate crops by preserving river waters during the rainy season. The fresh water flow will reduce salinity by leaching out salt from soil and thus improve agriculture and livelihoods in the region including the Sundarban. Around 2.5 lakhs metric tonnes of fishes will also be produced there in addition,” he added.

He also said: “Despite feasibility study and structural design of the barrage were already finalised, the government wants to involve India with the project taken under the trans-boundary river. It will help the government to implement the project and ensure sustainability of the project. So, we will try to incorporate the country.”

Nazrul also said the project will not only ensure the rebirth of the rivers, it will also bring profit for the country. The waterways of the country will

be navigable round the year for the project. Total expenditure of around Tk31,414 crore for implementing the project will be withdrawn within five years.

According to the water resources ministry, the Water Development Board conducted a pre-feasibility study for the barrage in 2002. Later, the BNP government shelved the board’s proposal to go for a feasibility study. The Fakhruddin-led caretaker administration also did nothing in this regard.

The board finally got the go-ahead in 2009. It had completed the study by December, 2012.

It would take seven years to build the 2,100-metre barrage expensing around Tk31,414 crore. It would also have two small hydropower plants of 76 megawatt and 36MW. Discussions on the barrage construction began in the 1960s when India moved with their Farakka barrage plan.

Tippetts-Abbett-McCarthy-Stratton, a consultancy firm from New York, proposed the Pakistan government in

3

Monday, May 12, 2014

1963 to construct a counter barrage to hold water in the monsoon and supply it to the Gorai and other rivers in the lean period.

As the operation of Farakka barrage started in 1975 and India started to hold back the Ganges water after the end of every monsoon, the flow of the river suddenly declined.

The average discharge, which was 64,340 cusec came down to around 23,000 cusecs at the Hardinge bridge point in Bangladesh.

This sudden fall in water caused massive siltation at the mouth of the Gorai, one of the distributaries of the Ganges, and the Padma near Kushtia.

Some distributaries of the Gorai including the Kumar, the Kalindi and the Dakua also took a terrible shape over the years. Salinity started to intrude into the south-western region.

After signing the Ganges treaty with India in 1996, Bangladesh started receiving water during the extreme dry season, from January to May, but the damage was already extensive. The Gorai could not be revived. l

NARAYANGANJ SEVEN-MURDER

BNP: Former CJ should lead probe into murders n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla Now BNP has demanded forming an investigation committee, headed by a former chief justice (CJ), to unearth the mystery of the sensational Narayanganj abductions and killings.

“The party will propose such a three-member committee,” said Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, acting secretary general of the party, after laying wreaths at the party founder Ziaur Rahman’s grave yesterday.

Two other members should be a former cabinet secretary and a human rights activist, said party’s Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi later at a press briefing at the party’s Nayapaltan headquarters.

Fakhrul also criticised the government for inviting families of the victims of Narayanganj killings to the Prime Minister’s office on May 14, when BNP chief Khaleda Zia is to visit them in Dhaka city’s outskirts district.

The government has been using the RAB in killing and abduction, said Fakhrul, adding: “Questions have been raised among people whether there is

any necessity to RAB.” “Now it has become clear who were involved in the Narayanganj killing.

Yet the government is trying to cover up it,” he said.

Narayanganj city panel mayor Nazrul Islam, senior lawyer Chandan Sarkar and five others were found murdered two days after being abducted from the city’s Link Road on April 27.

Khaleda Zia is scheduled to visit Narayanganj on May 14 to express her condolence to the bereaved family members of seven people who were abducted and murdered. The BNP will hold a rally in Demra on May 17 to protest the abductions and killings of seven people in Narayanganj.

The party also announced a series of street agitation programmes to protest the abductions and killings.

Rizvi also said the party would stage demonstrations across the country’s upazilas on May 18 and district headquarters on May 19 and in the divisional headquarters on May 20 protesting the shifting of Khaleda’s graft case from the court building to Alia Madrasa ground. l

Pankaj declines to talk about illegal immigrants’ issue n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman Indian High Commissioner Pankaj Saran has declined to make any comment on the issue of alleged illegal immigrant from Bangladesh.

“No, I think right now, tomorrow is the last day of election. So let us wait for the result and formation of the new government and then we can comment,” Saran said after an unscheduled meeting with Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haq yesterday evening.

The Indian High Commissioner said: “It is better to wait for the new government and then we can look at all the issues relating to the relationship.

Right now it is not possible to make any comment.”

He said they were in the middle of election in India and they just have to wait for election process to be completed and for the formation of the new government. “And then we will see.”

The BJP from the beginning of the election campaign is playing “infiltration card” to lure voters in their favour.

BJP Prime Minister candidate Narendra Modi in his election campaign several times said he would get rid of alleged Bangladeshi infiltrators if he comes to power.

The campaign has apparently created tension among the members of political leadership and civil society members in the country.

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, a very influential minister, said at least two TV channels in India and a daily in

Bangladesh said if New Delhi pursued the issue of alleged illegal immigrant from Bangladesh, it might have a negative impact on the bilateral relationship.

Water Resources Minister Anisul Islam Ahmed said the government would place the regional water issue at the international forum if it failed to realise an equitable share of water of trans-boundary rivers through negotiations with India.

Prime Minister’s Economic Adviser Mashiur Rahman said illegal immigrant issue would be a very risky policy for India.

The government has enjoyed the support of Congress-led government throughout its tenure and this is the first time after 1975 that both Awami League and Congress are in power in Dhaka and New Delhi.

Indian Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh came to Dhaka just before the election and discussed polls issue with political leadership in Bangladesh and had a one-on-one meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Sujatha before the January 5 election also discussed the Bangladesh polls issue with some ambassadors stationed in New Delhi.

The Indian High Commissioner said he and the foreign secretary discussed the bilateral issues.

“It’s just bilateral issues we discussed and reviewed some of the pending proposals currently between us, nothing very extraordinary,” he said. l

A police wrecker tows away a microbus from the capital’s Bijoy Sarani yesterday for having tinted glasses. As per an earlier order, the government had directed owners to remove tinted glasses from their vehicles SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Witness: Qaisar responsible for Shayestaganj killings Five war crimes charges n Udisa Islam A new prosecution witness in the trial of Syed Mohammad Qaisar yesterday said the Pakistani troops had shot and killed seven employees of a food warehouse at Shayestaganj in Habiganj following order of the accused.

Freedom fighter Goura Prasad Roy, the 12th witness in the case, said he had witnessed the incident which took place on May 29, 1971 hiding in a nearby sugarcane field.

The witness said Qaisar and he both owned rice mills and they were

acquaintances.

Goura, 68, then a contractor of Shayestaganj Food Storehouse, told the International Crimes Tribunal 2 how he had saved himself and watched the killings at the local rail bridge. He was the president of Chhatra League in Habiganj at that time.

The witness said after March 7, the anti-liberation forces had formed the Peace Committee with Qaisar, Doroj Mia and Aziz Mia. They gave Qaisar the responsibility to form the razakar force. Right after formation of the Peace Committee, the accused formed

his own force and named it “Qaisar Bahini.”

Goura said the seven employees of the food storage had been confined and asked not to leave the place without his permission. “On May 29, I saw Qaisar on the bridge. He made the men stand in a line and the Pakistani troops shot and killed them following his signal.”

He also said after witnessing the killings, he had been worried and went to Tripura, India for training as a freedom fighter. After his training, he fought in Koilashafar under Sector 4.

The witness also told the tribunal

about how Qaisar and his cohorts had confined Dr Saleh Ahmed and Hirendranath Roy and handed them over to the Pakistani Army. He described the atrocities that Qaisar Bahini had committed with the support of the Pakistani occupation forces at Madhabpur marketplace.

After his deposition, junior defence counsel Sazzad A Chowdhury cross examined the witness and the tribunal adjourned the hearing until today.

The former Jatiya Party lawmaker was indicted on February 2 on 16 charges of crimes against humanity. l

No opinion on subjudice matters, tribunal asks media n Udisa Islam During a hearing on the contempt proceeding against British journalist David Bergman yesterday, the International Crimes Tribunal asked media outlets not to publish any opinion on the subjudice issue.

In the morning session, the tribunal 2 said it would pass an order on the media’s role regarding this. After lunch break, the tribunal in its verbal order said every media including those who had already published opinions on the contempt proceedings should restrict themselves to talk on any subjudice matter.

The tribunal mentioned that three newspapers – two English dailies and one Bangla – published such articles. It said the proceedings against Bergman were ongoing and that the matter had

not been decided yet. “So the newspapers should take it in their minds.”

The tribunal adjourned the proceedings until June 15 accepting a defence petition.

Bergman made the comments in two blog posts on November 11, 2011 and January 28, 2013 following the indictment of Sayedee and verdict against Bachchu Razakar On April 17, the tribunal decided to start trial of Bergman, who works for an English newspaper, for his writeups in personal blog that questioned

the death figure of the 1971 Liberation War. Bergman was asked to explain his critics on March 6 in person or by engaging a lawyer. The order was passed two days after a Supreme Court lawyer, Abul Kalam Azad, filed a petition for judicial notice.

In his explanation, Bergman said the alleged “criticisms”were no more than an academic analysis expressed in restrained and sober language and based on review of research studies and articles, and not expressed in sensationalist terms, and may therefore be considered by the court to fall within the limits of fair comment on a judgement.

He also pleaded that the tribunal disposed of the matter upon an acceptance of the explanation.

But the tribunal was not satisfied

with his explanation and asked for a reply as to why he would not be held liable for committing contempt of court and punished for his contemptuous comments.

Bergman was present at the packed courtroom during yesterday’s hearing.

The defence submitted the time petition seeking eight-week adjournment as the conducting lawyer, Mustafizur Rahman Khan, had been abroad.

The tribunal gave the defence four weeks and set June 15 for submitting reply on the contempt proceeding.

According to the petitioner, the journalist made the comments in his two blog posts uploaded on November 11, 2011 and January 28, 2013 following the indictment of Jamaat-e-Islami leader Delawar Hossain Sayedee and verdict in the case against Abul Kalam Azad alias Bachchu Razakar. l

pressed against Jabbar n Udisa Islam The prosecution from the International Crimes Tribunal submitted formal charges against former Jatiya Party lawmaker engineer Mohammad Abdul Jabbar yesterday, for his alleged crimes against humanity committed during the 1971 Liberation War. The charges include murder, genocide, forced conversion and looting which took place at Naligram, Tushkhali and Angulkata villages.

According to the charges, Jabbar had been involved in the killing of 36 people in Angulkata and Mothbaria, setting fire and looting of around 560 houses. He also forcefully converted around 200 people in Phuljhuri in May, 1971.

Prosecutors Jahid Imam, Mukhlesur Rahman, Shahidur Rahman and Sabina Yeasmin submitted a 79-page long

formal charge mentioning five specific charges to AKM Nasiruddin Mahmud, registrar of the tribunal, around 11 am.

Jabbar, 82, was a chairman of Peace Committee in Mothbaria of Pirojpur. He has been a fugitive since 2009. The two-time lawmaker is the second accused from the Jatiya Party after Syed Mohammad Qaisar of Habiganj.

The investigation agency submitted its probe report to the prosecution on April 29 and reported to have found sufficient proof that Jabbar had been affiliated with war crimes.

Helal Uddin, who was the investigation officer in the cases against a war crimes convict Delawar Hossain Sayedee and AKM Yusuf, began the probe last year.

“His father-in-law was a local leader of Muslim league in Pirojpur,” the IO said. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Monday, May 12, 2014

NEW RUNWAY AT SHAHJALAL AIRPORT

Lengthy evaluation raises costs Showkat Kallol and n Asif Muhammad Zahidul Islam A delay of one and a half years has raised the cost by 14.75% of appointing consultant for building another runway and terminal at Shahjalal airport.

On December 5, 2012, the Civil Aviation Ministry approved the appointment of consultant at a cost of Tk33.8 crore.

However, the Bureau of Research,Testing and Consultation of Buet took nearly a year and a half to recently select the joint venture of three firms – Yooshin Engineering Corporation from South Korea, CPG Consultants Pte Ltd of Singapore andDevelopment Design Consultants Ltd of Bangladesh.

Because of the delay, the consultants would now have to paid Tk38.78 crore – nearly Tk5 crore extra.

An official of the Civil Aviation ministry said nearly 60% of the Shahjalal Airport’s 809 hectare area had remained utilised.

“Although it would be hard to ensure 100% utilisation, we could most definitely ensure double usage of the current capacity,” he said.

According to the ministry, the Dhaka airport currently handles around 40 lakh passengers every year up against a capacity to handle 80 lakh.

A busy international airport should

Case filed against Labaid Hospital n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu A case was filed against Managing Director of the Labaid Hospital AM Shamim and five doctors under section 304 of the Penal Code for deaths due to their negligence yesterday.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Emdadul Haque yesterday ordered to conduct an investigation into the matter and submit the report before the court on July 13 to the vice-chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).

The plaintiff Mahmuda Ahamad, wife of victim Nasir Uddin, yesterday filed a petition with the court against Shamim and five doctors of the Labaid Hospital.

The other accused are APM Shorab Uzzaman, Lokman Hossain and Emdad Hossain.

According to the case details, the victim Nasir Uddin from Daudkandi of Comilla was admitted into the Labaid Hospital. The doctor suggested him for an angiogram test and after the test the doctor told him he had some heart blockages.

Later they suggested him for a bypass surgery and on April 5 Nasir underwent a bypass surgery.

After the surgery the patient developed breathing problem and he died in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on April 25.

In this connection the wife of the victim Mahmuda Akter filed the case against the Labaid managing director and four doctors of the hospital alleging that her husband died due to doctors’ negligence. l

facilitate at least 60 takeoffs and landings per hour; but officials said Shahjalal could now host only 10 aircrafts every hour.

Aviation specialists said if the current capacity could be doubled through proper utilisation of land, then there would be no need to think about an alternative in the next 25 years.

A ministry proposal for finalising the consultants would be placed in today at the meeting of the cabinet committee on public purchase.

Earlier, the duration of the project for constructing the additional infrastructures was extended by nine months by the ministry.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that: “The appointment of consultant has been delayed by one and a half years because of the lengthy evaluation and tender processes. But now we hope that after the implementation of the project, Shahjalal airport’s capacity will be enhanced.”

The busiest Frankfurt and Heathrow airports, both with two runways, now each handle more than 3 crore passengers annually.

They suggested that the Chittagong airport, which has a capacity of handling 80 lakh passengers, should be used more. At present the airport in the port city utilises only 30% of its capacity. l

Family members of lawyer Chandan Sarkar, who was abducted and murdered along with six others in Narayanganj, meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday

DHANMONDI PLAYGROUND SCANDAL

Punishment demanded for demeaning Bangabandhu family and government n Abu Hayat Mahmud Environmental activists and protesters yesterday demanded immediate arrest and punishment for miscreants who carried out arson and vandalism inside the Dhanmondi playground and hung several banners on its main gate demeaning the Bangabandhu family and the government on Friday night.

They also demanded end to the harassment of activists and urged the authorities concerned to take immediate steps to preserve the mural of Sheikh Jamal inside the playground.

The protesters, consisting activists from 50 environmental and social organisations and locals of the area, made their demands while addressing a press conference at Chhayanat Cultural Building in the morning.

The press conference was moderated by Iqbal Habib, joint secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon, on behalf of all participating organisations.

At the briefing, Habib also demanded release of fellow activist Syed Ish-

tiaque Ahmed, who was detained by club officials and handed over to police yesterday when he went to the ground after hearing the incident.

Later in the afternoon, Ishtiaque was released after a Dhaka court granted him bail after a hearing.

On Friday night, a group of unidentified miscreants vandalised the nameplate of Sheikh Jamal and painted it black. They also put up three big banners which red: “We congratulate Engineer Mubasshar, Iqbal, Dana and Salma for protecting and opening Dhanmondi playground to public from the control of the illegal government and the Sheikh family. Courtesy: Environmentalists.”

Another eight small banners were also hung on the fences on the playground saying: “The false cases filed by the undemocratic government against architect Mubasshar, Iqbal Habib, Dana and Salma has to be withdrawn. Courtesy: Environmentalists.”

Earlier, a few posters demeaning movement of the green activists were

also witnessed on the same places when protesters began their movement to free the public playground from its occupants.

Rejecting allegations of involvement in the attack, Habib said their activities were transparent and they believe in a non-violent approach to environmental causes.

“We did not hang those banners.

The occupiers who had been trying to grab the public playground are plotting to put us in trouble,” he claimed.

“We just hung few red flags around the illegal structures and a cartoon poster on the fence bordering the ground, nothing else. The banners put up by miscreants show that they were very rich.” he added.

Claiming that the occupiers of the play ground were the real ones who reap benefits using Bangabandhu and his family’s name, Habib also added: “The Bangabandhu family sacrificed their lives in 1975 for the country. Any disrespect for this family will not be allowed. So, we urged the government

DoE fines 15 entities Tk1 crore n Abu Bakar Siddique The Department of Environment (DoE) yesterday fined 15 entities Tk1 crore for polluting the environment.

Md Alamgir, director (Enforcement) of DoE penalised them at an on-call hearing held at the department’s office in Dhaka’s Agargaon area.

Seven dyeing, textile and washing mills were fined Tk90 lakh for polluting the nearby Haridhoa River and biodiversity there by releasing untreated liquid waste into the river in Narsingdi.

Of them, Abed Textile and Processing Mills Ltd, Nodi Bangla Textiles Mills Ltd and A 3 Color Chem Ltd were fined Tk15 lakh each and IL Bangla Ltd Tk5 lakh.

Mahmuda Textile and Processing Mills, Angoshree Dyeing Printing and Textile Mills Ltd, Brothers Dyeing and Printing Mills, Sobhan Dyeing and Printing Mills and Eva Dyeing and Printing Mills ltd were fined Tk2 lakh each.

Dhaka Wash Ltd and M&M Washing Plan were fined Tk2 lakh and 1lakh respectively in Gazipur as both the factories did not have any ETP. The DoE also fined six brick fields Tk8 lakh in Tangail and Rupganj because they did not have any environment clearance nor did they renew their licenses. l

RU probing allegation of sexual harassment against teacher

Father, son held with explosives n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong Police arrested a man and his son, who are Jamaat-Shibir activists, with arms, ammunitions and explosives from Lakshmichari area of Fatikchhari upazila in Chittagong yesterday afternoon.

The arrestees are: Abdur Radshid, 58, activist of Jamaat-e-Islami, and his son, Hannan Uddin, 20, activist of Islami Chharta Shibir, hailed from Kanchannagar area of Fatikchhari, said police.

Tarikul Islam, assistant superintendent of police (Headquarters) of Chittagong district, told the Dhaka Tribune that they detained the duo from the area at 3pm yesterday after a tip-off and found 42 petrol bombs, two lighter guns, a pistol and 10 rounds of bullets from their possession.

The arrestees were now kept at Fatikchhari police station and being interrogated there till filing this report, he also said. A case was lodged with Fatikchhari police station in this connection, added the ASP. Apart from yesterday’s drives, the police arrested 85 Jamaat-e-Islami and Chhatra Shibir activists from Sitakunda, Satkania, Lohagara and Banshkhali upazilas on the same charges.

The arrested persons were planning sabotage at the areas ahead of the sentence of Delwar Hossain Sayedee by Internatinal Crimes Tribunal, said police sources. l

to take steps against the criminals,” he said.

Answering to questions, Habib said: “We are expressing deep concern over the incident and condemn such wrongdoings of the occupiers. We hope Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will see our concern through the media and take steps against the criminals.”

Mubasshar Hussain, former president of Institute of Architects (AIB), said: “Earlier, we repeatedly urged authorities concerned to name the playground on Sheikh Jamal. We never opposed the playground being named on Sheikh Jamal.”

He, however, urged the government to free the public playground from all the concrete structures.

The press conference was also addressed by Bangladesh Women’s Sports Association General Secretary Kamrunnahar Dana, architect Salma A Shafi and Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu, former national cricket team captain and convener of the playgrounds protest committee of Bapa. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

n Our Correspondent, Rajshahi

Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury hands over a special award to Delawara Hamid, wife of martyred Captain Abdul Hamid Khan, at the Ratnagrava Ma Award 2013 in the capital yesterday RAJIB DHAR

Cautionary signal 3 raised at Cox’s Bazar n Abu Bakar Siddique The met office yesterday warned the country’s three maritime ports – Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong and Mongla of a depression formed in the Bay of Bengal.

It also asked the authorities concerned to hoist cautionary signal three at maritime ports due to for-

mation of a deep convection over the North Bay. Under the influence, a moderate rainfall has been taking place in the port city of Chittagong since early morning which has forced the Chittagong port to suspend its regular loading and unloading of goods and cargoes.

Bangladesh Meteorological Depart-

ment also advised all fishing boats and trawlers in the North Bay to anchor close to the coast in its special weather bulletin released at noon yesterday.

According to the Met office bulletin, at least 49 millimeter rainfalls have occurred in the port city till noon yesterday since early morning which could prolong for the next 24 hours. l

Rajshahi University authorities are investing a compliant of sexual harassment against a teacher of zoology department submitted by 23 students.

According to the complaint, students from the 43rd batch recently went on a study tour to Cox’s Bazar and Bandarban. During the visit, Prof Abdus Salam allegedly sexually harassed several of the female students.

Victims informed the other teachers who also accompanied them during the trip about being sexually harassed. The accused teacher then threatened to give the students diminutive marks in their exams if they proceeded to speak to others about the incident.

The students submitted formal complaints to the department chairperson, university unit of Mahila Parishad when they returned from the trip; the committee to resist sexual harassment was formed by the administration.

Prof Salam, however, denied the allegations saying that no such incidents had occured during the tour. He said: “My wife was also with me at that time.”

Zoology department Chairperson ASM Shafikur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune that he had received a complaint. He said: “I think it was a misunderstanding between the teacher and the students. However, I am looking into the matter.”

Prof Mahbuba, head of the sexu-

al harassment resistance committee, said she would not disclose anything regarding the investigation until the allegation was proved. “It is the principle of the committee.”

Allegedly female students of the university often become victim of sexual harassment by male students, teachers and also the staff members.

Many female students have alleged that they had been harassed mostly by the male students, especially those involved in politics. But they are afraid to submit complaints fearing their own security.

Since 2012 the resistance committee has received five complaints of sexual harassment. After completing investigations, the committee dismissed one allegation and recommended punishment for the others, Prof Mahbuba said.

Last year, the university authorities dismissed a management department teacher Shawon Uddin and Trainer at the Teachers-Students Cultural Centre Sarwar Hossain. The organization also halted promotion and increment of two teachers from marketing and sociology departments as per recommendation of the committee.

Proctor Prof Tarikul Hasan told Dhaka Tribune that every victim has the right to submit allegation to the committee. “Besides this, the proctorial body members visit the campus often to check crimes, including sexual harassment.” l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

5

Monday, May 12, 2014

Heavy downpour causes townspeople’s woe Low-lying areas, including Chawkbazar and Agrabad in Chittagong city go under water side dwellers for going to safer places n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong like nearby school buildings and cyLow-lying areas of Chittagong city were submerged in knee-deep water yesterday because of heavy downpour, resulting in immense suffering for the city dwellers.

The showers that started from early in the morning yesterday turned into heavy rainfall and continued till afternoon at the time of dispatching the report, said Chittagong Divisional Met Office sources.

The met office recorded 227.6 millimetres of rainfall in the last 24 hours till 3pm yesterday, added the sources.

Iqbal Hossain, a meteorological assistant of Met Office in Chittagong city’s Ambagan area, said because of low pressure in the Bay of Bengal and merged with monsoon, the rainfall may continue for the next few days.

A special weather bulletin of Bangladesh Meteorological Department said deep convection was taking place over North Bay and adjoining West Bengal and Bangladesh coast. Under its influence, squally weather may affect North Bay, adjoining coastal area of Bangladesh and the maritime ports.

Maritime ports of Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar and Mongla have been advised to hoist local cautionary signal number three, the bulletin said.

All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay have been advised to remain near to the coast and proceed with caution till further notice, the bulletin added.

As there is a possibility of hillside in the port city for the heavy rainfall, the district administration started campaign over loud speakers asking hill-

clone centers.

Mezbah Uddin, deputy commissioner (DC) of Chittagong district, told the Dhaka Tribune that they were telling hill-side people to go away from hills to evade any untoward incident while his executive magistrate and law enforcing agencies are jointly conducting the campaign.

The low-lying areas of the port city, particularly Bakalia, Chawkbazar, Agrabad, Halishahar, Kapasgola, Chandgaon, Shulakbahar, Enayet Bazar, Boropol, Muradpur, Sholoshahar, Bahaddarhat and Probartak intersection, went under water for the heavy rain, causing misery to the people living in those areas.

Motor vehicles were hardly seen in those areas while rickshaws were seen running on the city roads. Commuters had to suffer through filthy water from overflowing roadside drains to reach their destinations.

People going to offices and different educational institutions mostly faced the problem.

Razia Sultana and her son and daughter were totally drenched while going from her children’s school to their home in Halishahar area of the city.

AKM Saiful Islam, an employee of Chittagong Export Processing Zone, said he could not get any vehicle for going to office in the morning so he was compelled to walk in the filthy water raised from roadside drains because of rainfall.

He blamed the poor sewerage and drainage system of the city for the wa-

Two electrocuted in Chittagong

ASSAULT ON AL LEADER AT CU

n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong

At least two persons, including a school student, were electrocuted in Chittagong city’s Firingi Bazar area yesterday afternoon.

The deceased were identified as Ishtiaq Hossain, 15, a grade IX student of JM Sen High School, and Gopi Nath Dutta, 35, a resident of the same area, said police sources.

JM Sen School sources said Ishtiaq came into contact with a fallen electric wire which was connected with an electric poll near the school around 1:30pm when he went to have lunch during class break.

Seeing the youth being electrocuted, Datta rushed to rescue him but was also electrocuted, sources said.

Initially both of them were rushed to Chittagong General Hospital but later they were shifted to Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) when the on-duty doctor of CMCH declared them dead, said Sub-Inspector Jahirul Islam, in-charge of CMCH police outpost.

The bodies were handed over to the victim’s families after due legal process, the SI added. l

WEATHER THUNDERSHOWER

MONDAY, MAY 12 DHAKA TODAY TOMORROW SUN SETS 6:33PM SUN RISES 5:17AM FORECAST FOR TODAY Dhaka

36

Chittagong

33

28 25

Rajshahi

41

28 25

Rangpur

39

Khulna

39

27

Barisal

36

28

Sylhet

34

23

Cox’s Bazar

33

27

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

38.4ºC Rajshahi

23.5ºC Sylhet

Source: Accuweather/UNB

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

3:56am 5:18am 11:55am 3:19pm 6:32pm 7:55pm Source: IslamicFinder.org

People wade through waist-deep water at Sholosahar as low-laying areas in the port city were submerged because of heavy downpour yesterday terlogging.

Md Saifuddin Saki, public relation officer of Chittagong City Corporation, said some area had gone under water,

Six BCL activists served showcause notice n CU Correspondent Authorities at Chittagong University (CU) yesterday served show cause notices to eight activists of Bangladesh Chattra League for allegedly assaulting an Awami League leader on campus about a month ago.

The eight accused students were Rubel Day and Sohel Khan, third year students of English department, Farhad Hossain, fourth year of Islamic history and culture, Asifuzzaman Asif, third year of Islamic history and culture, Rashed Hossain, forth year student of sociology and Kawsar Mia, third year student of Bangla.

CU Proctor Professor Siraj Ud Dowla said the show cause notices asked the eight students, to reply within five days, on why they should not be expelled for their involvement with the assault of AL leader Nasir Haider Babul on campus.

Earlier last month, the BCL central committee expelled five BCL men of CU unit following the attack.

Meanwhile, academic activities of

the university remained halted for the fourth consecutive day as a faction of BCL continued their indefinite strike on campus to press home their eightpoint demand. Sources said the shuttle train and bus service to and from the university remained and no classes or exams were held.

The protesting BCL men also staged demonstration and locked the main gate of the university’s and its administration office at around noon yesterday.

Later, police and proctor rushed to the spots and opened the gates after an hourlong negotiation with the BCL activists.

CU BCL Publicity Affairs Secretary Habibur Rahman Robin said the university’s authorities have been given a 72-hour ultimatum to resolve the deadlock and threatened to go for tougher movement if their demands were not met. CU BCL leader Sumon Mamun said their blockade would continue until further decision.

On April 5, a faction of BCL assaulted AL Central Sub-Committee Assistant Secretary Nasir Haider Babul while he was visiting the campus. l

but the city corporation authorities were working to ease the sufferings.

Meanwhile, loading and unloading of merchant vessels in the outer

anchorage of the Chittagong Port remained halted from 6am to 3pm for the heavy shower, said Mohibul Hoque, director (administration) of Chit-

n Our Correspondent, Barisal Barisal Divisional Nazrul Utsav ended at BFJ auditorium in the city on Saturday, with a call for collective initiatives to popularise the poet’s songs and expand the study on his life and works.

The day-long festival was divided into two parts – discussion on life and achievement of Nazrul and cultural function with rendering his songs and reciting his poems - with Nurul Amin Chowdhury, president of Bivagio Nazrul Sangeet Shilpi Parishad in the chair.

Bangladesh’s National Poet Nazrul Islam’s works speak not only of love and devotion, but also strongly protests against various forms of oppression — slavery, communalism, feudalism and colonialism, said audience at the discussion.

It would be easier to popularise his songs with the help of electronic media if the singers, performers and the media play a responsible role, they said.

The discussion styled as ‘Amarey Debona Bhulitey’ (Won’t let you forget me) was jointly organised by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy and Nazrul Sangeet Shilpi Parishad (NSSP).

Khalilur Rahman Faruk, a noted literary personality, presented the key note of the discussion.

The sessions were addressed among others by Sujit Mustafa , secretary general, Nazrul Sangeet Shilpi Parishad, Manabendra Batobayal, central committee member of

It would be easier to popularise his songs with the help of electronic media if the singers, performers and the media play a responsible role, speakers said Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy , Prof Shamsuddin Khan, advisor and Shahiduzzaman Mamun, divisional secretary of NSSP’s Barisal divisional unit, Syed Dulal, Kajal Ghosh, cultural and group theatre activists, Prof Md Hanif, a educationist.

The speakers said Nazrul has enriched the music industry by writing

over 4000 songs. He contributed to enriching almost every genre of Bangla music such as ghazal, kirtan (devotional songs), romantic songs, revolutionary songs and many others.

Popularity of Nazrul Sangeet was at its peak in 1920s to 1930s. But it became critical in 1940s as he fell ill then and his songs began to be practiced in a distorted way in the name of modern songs in India’s Kolkata, they observed.

Currently, the media is reaching every horizon every day while Dhaka has become the hub of practicing and rearing Bengali culture. Yet, Nazrul songs are not reaching the expected number of people, the speakers said.

They called for conveying the message of non-communal humanity and dignity, of which Nazrul spoke in his poetry and songs, across the world.

The dissemination of his poetry and songs is important in the present context of the world infested with violence, fundamentalism and bigotry.

Murad Ahmed, Azmal Hossain Labu, Sujit Mustafa, Murshida Jahan, recitation artists, Nazrul Sangeet singers, participated in the cultural part of the festival. l

5 inmates escape from juvenile development centre n Our Correspondent, Jessore

A construction worker was crushed to death under the wheels of train at Latifpur of Akbarshah area in Chittagong city yesterday. The deceased was identified to be Helal Mia, 40, son of late Abdul Khalek, from Sadar upazila in Barguna district, said Government Railway police (GRP) sources.

Sub-Inspector (SI) Kamal of GRP outpost at Chittagong railway station said Mia fell under the wheels of train at some point in the night when he went out for a stroll. Police recovered the body from the spot receiving information around 12:30pm. l

Two workers died after inhaling poisonous gas from a septic tank in Ashulia area of Savar in the outskirts of the capital yesterday.

The deceased were identified as Kismat, 30 son of Suruj Miah of Jamalpur district and Hanif Miah, 35, son of Saru Khan of Muktagaccha of Mymensingh.

Witnesses said the three workers went to clean the septic tank at a house near a factory of Hamim Group when they inhaled the poisonous gas. As it happened, one of them were able to return while the other two died on the spot. l

tagong Port Authority.

He, however, said other activities at the port jetties and yards continued normally during the rainfall. l

Calls to popularise Nazrul’s works

Worker crushed under train n CU Correspondent

Two workers die in septic tank n Our Correspondnet, Savar

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Ayesha Memorial Hospital arranges a reception for mothers yesterday, marking the World Mothers’ Day

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Ayesha Memorial Hospital marks mother’s day n Tribune Report Ayesha Memorial Hospital held a special honourary prize giving ceremony to observe “World Mother’s Day” yesterday in the capital.

Professor Dr Anisuzzaman was present at the function as the chief guest where five mothers were honoured for their extra ordinary contribution and another 15 parents of newborn babies were given special gifts.

The mothers are as follows: Litterateur Rabeya Khatun, Maleka

Khan, one of the organisers of liberation war and women entrepreneur, Asya Ashraf, mother of popular Film Actor Ferdous, Sharmili Ahmed, a popular media personality, and Sanoara Begum.

They were presented with crests, medals, and gift boxes.

Dr Anisuzzaman said: “A mother is someone who is an outstanding person to each of us. She is our first and last resort. I wish the authorities of Ayesha Memorial Hospital all the success for arranging this program to honour the mothers.”

With Preeti Chakrabarti, the chairman of the hospital, in the chair; the program was also attended by Abdul Kayum, associate editor of the daily Prothom Alo, Rezanur Rahman, editor of Ananda Alo, Ferdous, film actor, and others.

Entertainment Journalist Ovi Moinuddin was also given a complementary award for her contribution in the media.

Dr Ashish Kumar Chakrabarti, gave the welcome speech and the entire function was conducted by Dr Gulzar Hossain. l

Five inmates at the Jessore Juvenile Development Centre escaped from the facility on Saturday night. The incident was followed by the escape of two more from the same facility during a police-inmate clash on May 4.

Emdadul Haque Sheikh, OC of the Kotwali police station, confirmed the incident and said they had escaped around 8:30pm.

Md Shahabuddin, assistant director of the centre, said it was true that some inmates had gone missing from the centre. However, he did not disclose the number.

Anisur Rahman, superintendent of police, Jessore said the five inmates jumped over the back wall of the facility in order to escape. They had not been taken inside the building that evening.

Earlier on May 4, at least 10 people, including two police members, were hurt in a clash at the centre over poor allocation of food. A high-level delegation of National Human Rights Commission led by Kazi Reazul Hoque visited the centre to survey the situation on Friday morning.

At a press briefing after the visit, Reazul said a number of inmates at the centre were under nine years of age, while some were over 18 years, adding that the under-aged and the over-aged should not be kept at the centre. No case was filed at the time of this report, and none of the escaped inmates have been located. l

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

A view of Shilaidah Kuthibari, ancestral home of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, in Kushtia

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Rabindra university yet to see light n Our Correspondent, Kushtia Four years have passed since the PM Sheikh Hasina had declared the establishment of the much-awaited Rabindra Bharati University. However, no mentionable progress in the process of establishing the university has taken place so far in the Shelaidaha area of Kumarkhali upazila of the district.

Sources in the district said the announcement of the PM to establish the university in the model of Visva-Bharati University, which was made by the famous Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, whose vision became what is now a university town popularly called Santiniketan, situated in Birbhum of West Bengal of India. This had remained limited in just papers for years, leaving the locals and literature-loving people despaired. The

university attracts thousands of visitors each year.

Shelaidaha is historically popular for Kutibari that was used by landlord Tagore in 1891 to conduct his Zamindari and he created many literary works in which its natural beauty played a pivotal role.

It was also known that father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had a dream to develop a university there. To fulfil the dream, the Prime Minister had made the announcement in Osmani Auditorium in the district on May 8, 2010, and a signboard in this regard was also erected.

Later, former information minister Abul Kalam Azad echoed the voice of PM while visiting the district and wrote a recommendation letter to the then Education Minister, Nurul Islam Nahid, to build the university so that the place

could grow up as a hub for language practice and Bangla literature.

On the other hand, present information minister Hasanul Haque Inu also gave the assurance to place the issue before the PM anew during visiting the district.

Finally, there was no concrete result despite the promises.

Distinguished researcher Dr Abul Ahsan Chowdhury said the project of university has yet to see light due to negligence of the concerned authorities. “In this Shelaidaha, Rabindranath Tagore created his major literary works. Even, Nobel-winning book Gitanjali’s main compose was also produced by him here.”

He urged upon the government to start the works of the university forthwith to meet the dream of the father of the nation. l

Students study under open sky n Our Correspondent, Bandarban

lack of classrooms. Besides, those who are taught in the classrooms are not immune to the risks.

The Assistant Teacher of the school Daulat Zaman said they have to continue giving lessons till a new building is constructed.

Moreover, students have to suffer terribly as toilets and tube-wells are absent in this school although the results of primary school certificate exams show that pass rate is 100 percent.

Lama Upazila Council Chairman Thowain Aung Chowdhury said: “We are hopeful that the Ministry of Education will take necessary action soon in this regard.” l

Cracks appear on the walls of the building, and the rooftop might just collapse at any time. Still students of former Bilchhari Primary School in Lama upazila of Bandarban sit through their classes every day, risking their lives.

Local sources said the guardians are worried about their children’s safety due to lack of renovation of the old building and not erecting new structures.

In a recent visit to the spot, this correspondent found that most of the school students belong to indigenous community, and are living in the neighbouring five to six localities. As the

building was constructed a long ago, cracks have developed on each and every wall of the school.

The thatch is made by bamboo, leaving it vulnerable to disaster at any time.

Aung Sui Ching Marma, a grade 5 student of the school, told the Dhaka Tribune that they are afraid of rain as leaks on the roof mean that they are never sheltered from the rain water.

For the first time, three semi brickbuilt rooms were constructed in 1993 while a concrete building with two rooms was erected in 2001.

A total of 127 students are currently studying in this school but many of them are taught under open sky due to

Attempted rape of school girl n Our Correspondent, Kurigram

Opposition Chief Whip Tajul’s effigy burned

A school teacher allegedly attempted to rape a girl, a madrasa student after having harassed her for so long time at Rajibpur upazila in Kurigram on Friday noon.

Source said Lutfor Rahman, an assistant teacher of Charrajibpur Government Primary School, went to the victim’s house that day at noon, when he found her home alone and attempted to rape her. On hearing the girl’s loud outcries, locals rushed to the scene but were unable to apprehend him as he ran away.

Her father wanted to take it up with the police but was pressured by influential locals to refrain from doing so. They suggested that the matter be resolved through village arbitration, sources added.

The girl’s father, Alam Mia, said, “Rajibpur Pilot School teacher and local elders have promised to settle the matter fairly and thus no case has been filed. But I will go to police if their arbitration is not fair.”

Headmaster Azim Uddin, also a former Juba League leader, said, “I have been informed of the attempted rape by the girl’s father. We will resolve it through village arbitration.”

Rajibpur Union Parishad member Ruhul Amin said, “I have heard of this case of attempted rape. Resolving it is an ongoing process. Lutfor Master has also asked me to resolve it. Now, if the girl’s father wants, I will arbitrate.”

Dhaka Tribune tried to contact the alleged rapist Lutfor, who is on the run, but out correspondent was unable to contact him. His brother Abdus Sattar said, “We are supposed to sit over the issue on Sunday night (yesterday).”

Rajibpur police station Officer-inCharge Jahangir Alam said, “No complaint has been filed yet over this attempted rape. We will take legal actions once a complaint is filed with us.” l

n Our Correspondent, Kurigram Declaring Tajul Islam Chowdhury, opposition Chief Whip in the parliament and a marked war criminal in Kurigram, unwanted, Muktijoddha Janata yesterday brought out protest rally, and burned Tajul’s effigy.

The rally was held in front of Kurigram Press Club under the banner of local Muktijoddha Janata in the noon.

Organiser of the Liberation War Aminul Islam Manju Mondol, former sadar upazila Liberation War Commander Abdul Baten, freedom fighter Hossain Ali, Awami League leader Rasheduzzaman Babu, former municipal chairman Kaziul Islam and district Chhatra League President Minhajul Islam Ayub addressed the rally among others.

The rally ended having roamed key roads of the city and participants then burned an effigy of Tajul.

Speakers at the rally said there were allegations that Tajul, also Jatiya Party Office Secretary, was involved in genocide, oppression and torching of houses at the time of the Liberation War.

Referring to the book “Uttarer Rananggan” penned by freedom fighter Aktaruzzaman Mondol, they said page 196 of it contained the account of murder of 35 people in Kathalbari area and also deliberate destruction of houses by setting those on fire on June 9, 1971, and the operation was led by Tajul. On January 7, 2008, Bir Pratik Abdul Hai also lodged a complaint against the opposition Chief Whip on charges of killing freedom fighters Domas Chandra and Abdul Karim after picking them up from Mogolbasa on December 3, 1971.

District freedom fighter commander Sirajul Islam Tuku said Tajul was elected lawmaker uncontested as a Jatiya Party candidate from Kurigram 2 constituency and the pro-Liberation War people in the constituency were unable to accept such a marked war criminal as a parliamentarian.

In his address, Bir Pratik Abdul Hai spoke resentfully of the government, saying it made a marked war criminal a legislator through a predetermined election, despite the claim that it bore the spirit of Liberation War. l

Student beaten to death over cricket n Our Correspondent, Noakhali A student was killed at Hakimpur village under Dadpur union in Sadar upazila yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Jahid Hossain, 15, son of Mohiuddin. He was a student of Class 9 of Ramballavpur High School. Mosharof Hossain Tarafder, officer-in-charge of Sudharam model police station, quoting the locals and rela-

tives said Jahid had been playing cricket with Mamun, son of Sahabuddin of the village and other local friends.

At one stage, Mamun quarreled with Jahid over the game and beat him mercilessly with a cricket bat, leaving him unconscious.

He died while he was being rushed to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital.

Victim’s father filed a case with the police station in this connection. l

Monday, May 12, 2014

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Long Form

7

Monday, May 12, 2014

Post-mortem on the Arab Spring

D

n Sharif Hasan, Lam-ya Mostaque uring the course of 2011, a recurrent chant resonated across the Arab region: “The people want to topple the regime.” It skipped borders with ease, published widely in newspapers and magazines, on Twitter and Facebook, on the frequencies of Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya. Arab nationalism had been written off, but here, in full bloom, was what certainly looked like a pan-Arab awakening.

Young people in search of political freedom and economic opportunity, weary of waking up to the same tedium day after day, rose up against their sclerotic masters. The Arab Spring is a term that is coined by media for the revolutionary wave of demonstrations and protests (both non-violent and violent), riots, and civil wars in the Arab world that began on December 18, 2010 and has been continuing ever since. It came as a surprise. For almost two generations, waves of democracy had swept over other regions, from southern and eastern Europe to Latin America, from East Asia to Africa. But not the Middle East.

To date, rulers have been forced from power in Tunisia, Egypt (twice), Libya, and Yemen; civil uprisings have erupted in Bahrain and Syria; major protests have broken out in Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, and Sudan; and minor protests have occurred in Mauritania, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Djibouti and Western Sahara. Arab spring was anticipated to bring great change throughout the Arab world, but now some commentators are saying it was all an illusion - that the Arab Spring, which appeared to be the harbinger of democracy, has brought nothing but disorder.

Others go further and argue that Arabs, or Muslims, are so trapped in sectarianism and intolerance that they are incapable of democracy. But, neither claim stands up to scrutiny. It is obvious enough that the heady days of 2011 - when Arabs took to the streets and overthrew three dictators - are now a distant memory. Many of those who took part in the protests two years ago are deeply disillusioned. Their lives are no better, and in many cases they are in worse situation than before.

But it is necessary to ask what went wrong, and draw the right lessons. A true post-mortem on the Arab Spring brings forward some underlying truths behind this immense upsurge of mass-protest.

A true post-mortem on the Arab Spring brings forward some underlying truths behind the immense upsurge of mass-protest

Demonstrators in Bayda

Demonstrators marching through Avenue Habib in Tunis

Political dissidents in Sana’a Protesters in Tahrir’s Square in Cairo

Protesters gathering in Pearl Roundabout in Manama

It was never going to be quick or easy The first message is that the Arab Spring is a course, not an event. Arab rulers, and the elites who gave the course nourishment, were never likely to move over and die. The West’s role was always sure to be uncertain. It found itself on both wings - worried to encourage young democracies, but not to estrange old autocracies. In societies that have been long repressed by autocracies, democratic actions - tolerant, pluralistic, and dedicated to human rights - were never likely to emerge, fully shaped, overnight. This was always going to be, across the region, a protracted generational struggle.

There is no fixed pattern The second message - obvious in retrospect - is that dissimilar circumstances produce dissimilar outcomes. In Tunisia, the armed forces abandoned the dictator - and then pulled out from the political juncture. In Egypt, the antithesis took place. Twice, after huge widespread demonstration, the military have intervened and removed a ruler. But having held power, they have used it inefficiently.

In Libya - so far an extraordinary case - it was Western intervention which tilted the balance, fastening the dictator’s fate. In Syria the West is, with good reason, unwilling to intervene - leaving it to local and regional forces to sort it out, so far indeterminately. There is no fixed shape - hence no uniform result, let alone democracy.

The Islamists are at a crossroads The third message is that, across the region, Islamists have had a taste of power - but have used it in very diverse ways. In Tunisia, they assumed that they could not rule alone.

The Egyptian Islamists, in contrast, made the mistake of riding roughshod over their opponents. Unable to shake off a deep-seated paranoia, they tended to see all opposition as proof of conspiracy. And, fatally, they misjudged the power of the military.

But the belief that the Islamists are in retreat in the region, is mistaken.

PHOTOS: WIKIMEDIA

Mass Demonstration in Douma

They are on the defensive, but far from vanquished. The question is what lesson they choose to draw from recent events. Some Egyptian Islamists may realise they can’t blame everyone else for their fate: they had their chance to exercise power, and blew it.

Others, in Egypt or Syria or elsewhere, may decide that democracy leads nowhere, and that only through violence can the Islamist utopia be realised.

People power is not enough Finally, the Arab uprisings have exposed the power, and also the shortcomings, of mass protest. The idea of popular empowerment has taken origin, reared by satellite television and the social media.

No country is safe. It is an insurrection of the human mind. But the hard lesson is that, by itself, people power is not enough. The long-term challenge is to translate popular protest and popular anger into real and lasting change. If that fails to happen, the promise of the Arab Spring will be unfulfilled.

Social media fuels Arab Spring The importance of the role of social media on the Arab uprisings has been largely debated. Some say that social media was the main instigator of the uprisings, while others claim that it was merely a tool. Either way, the perception of social media has changed; its role in the uprisings has demonstrated to the world its power.

Such information allowed the world to stay updated with the protests and

facilitated organising protests. Nine out of ten Egyptians and Tunisians responded to a poll that they used Facebook to organise protests and spread awareness.

Furthermore, 28% of Egyptians and 29% of Tunisians from the same poll said that blocking Facebook greatly hindered and/or disrupted communication. As of April 5, 2011, the amount of Facebook users in the Arabian nations surpassed 27.7 million people, indicating that the constant growth of people connected via social media acted as an asset where communication was concerned.

Others have argued that television, in specific the constant live televisions coverage by Al Jazeera and the sporadic live coverage of BBC News and others, was highly important for the 2011 Egyptian Revolution, and is also important in today’s Egypt crisis as the cameras provided exposure through live and real-time coverage.

Minorities are on the move Many analysts, journalists, and involved parties have focused on the protests as being a uniquely Arab phenomenon, and indeed, protests and uprisings have been strongest and most wide-reaching in majority-Arabic-speaking countries, giving rise to the popular moniker of Arab Spring—a play on the so-called 1968 Prague Spring, a democratic awakening in what was then communist Czechoslovakia—to refer to protests, uprisings, and revolutions in those states. However, the international media has also noted

the role of minority groups in many of these majority-Arab countries in the revolts. In Tunisia, the country’s small Jewish minority was initially divided by protests against Ben Ali and the government, but eventually came to identify with the protesters in opposition to the regime, according to the group’s president, who described Jewish Tunisians as “part of the revolution.”

While many in the Coptic minority in Egypt had criticised the Mubarak

a reincarnated Berber Spring.

Overall it is safe to say that the Arab spring will not bring any immediate results nor that the results will be similar in every country, so the idea that a democratic “spring” has come after the long “winter” of autocratic rule is nothing but a mere dream. Even the most optimistic observer cannot predict stability in those countries anytime soon.

So is the whole Arab spring a hoax?

In societies that have been long repressed by autocracies, democratic actions - tolerant, pluralistic, and dedicated to human rights - were never likely to emerge, fully shaped, overnight government for its failure to suppress Islamic extremists who attack the Coptic community, the prospect of these extremist groups taking over after its fall caused most Copts to avoid the protests, with then-Pope Shenouda III of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria calling for them to end.

Because the uprisings and revolutions erupted first in North Africa before spreading to Asian Arab countries, and the Berbers of Libya participated massively in the protests and fought under Berber identity banners, some Berbers in Libya often see the revolutions of North Africa, west of Egypt, as

Has nothing changed? The answer is no, the Arab Spring may not have overturned the regional balance of power, but it has overturned popular expectations. The people of the Arab states have found their voices at last, yes their voices may look more like confused noise but it’s there. But these voices are so diverse and there are so many factors involved that it’s hard to predict where this roar of common people will finally lead. l Sharif Hasan is a working journalist. Lam-ya Mostaque is a research assistant at Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU).

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Monday, May 12, 2014

Pro-Russian rebels stage ‘farce’ vote in Ukraine’s east n AFP, Donetsk Pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine held a vote on independence yesterday, slammed by Kiev as a Kremlin-backed “criminal farce,” amid fears the poll could spark civil war and lead to the break-up of the ex-Soviet republic.

Western nations supporting Ukraine’s government in its showdown with pro-Moscow insurgents stressed the self-rule “referendums” for the provinces of Donetsk and Lugansk were illegal and would not be recognised.

Isolated fighting flared anew early yesterday, as heavily armed rebels tried to regain control of a TV tower on the outskirts of the flashpoint town of Slavyansk. Tensions were also running high elsewhere.

In the dozen or so rebel-controlled towns, voters lined up calmly to cast ballots. Most checked ‘yes’ to the question “Do you approve of independence for the People’s Republic of Donetsk?.”

It was the same story in the neighbouring province of Lugansk.

“I want to be independent from everyone,” said ex-factory worker Nikolai Cherepin as he voted yes in the town of

Lure of London makes Britain a billionaire haven n AP, London A new study of the super-rich finds that London has become the capital of the world’s wealthiest, with more billionaires than any other city.

The Sunday Times, which published the list, says London has 72 residents whose fortunes exceed 1bn pounds ($1.6bn). That’s well ahead of Moscow, at 48, New York, at 43, San Francisco at 42, Los Angeles at 38 or Hong Kong at 34.

The newspaper reports that Britain also has more billionaires per head than any other country, with one in billionaire for every 607,000 Britons versus one for every 1 million or so Americans.

The newspaper has long published an annual list of the Britain’s richest people, but this was the first time it took the additional step of seeing how the country’s overall standing compared to that of other countries.

Indian-born brothers Srichand and Gopichand Hinduja top the British list, with a 11.9-billion pound fortune. The two run the Hinduja Group, a global conglomerate.

The brothers replace last year’s richest man, Alisher Usmanov, who has seen his fortune drop by 2.65bn pounds to 10.65bn — largely because of the decline of the ruble. Other notables on the list are steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, in third place, and Chelsea football club owner Roman Abramovich, who dropped from fifth to ninth. l

Mariupol, in Donetsk province. “Yugoslavia broke up and they live well now.”

A spokesman for the “Republic of Donetsk,” Kiril Rudenko, said turnout by midday (0900 GMT) in the provincial capital of one million inhabitants was 30% – “well above our expectations.”

But some in east Ukraine voiced their opposition to the vote, which concerns the seven million people living in the two provinces, out of Ukraine’s total 46 million population.

“It’s an illegitimate action carried out by an unknown group of people who took over the administration buildings and run around with weapons in their hands,” growled one Donetsk resident, Anatoli Kozlovskiy.

‘No legal consequences’

The Kiev government was equally scathing. “The organisers of this criminal farce have violated the constitution and Ukrainian law,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.

It added that the vote was “inspired, organised and financed by the Kremlin” and declared it “will have no legal consequences for the territorial integrity of Ukraine.”

The chief of staff for Ukraine’s interim presidency, Sergiy Pashinskiy, told reporters in the capital: “This isn’t a referendum, this is a pitiful attempt of the terrorists and murderers to use people of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions to cover up their crimes.”

The United States and European nations underscored their stance that the referendum was invalid.

They are concerned a breakaway east could scupper plans for a nationwide May 25 presidential election seen as crucial for restoring stability.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has publicly distanced himself from Sunday’s vote, making an appeal for it to be postponed, but was ignored by the rebels.

But the United States and the European Union still see Putin’s hand in the unrest that has gripped eastern Ukraine since early April and believe he is seeking a repeat of the scenario that led to Russia’s annexation of Crimea in March.

If Ukraine’s presidential election in two weeks is stymied, the United States and Europe have warned of immediate sanctions to cripple broad sectors of Russia’s economy. l

A womans steps out of a polling booth prior to vote for the referendum called by pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine to split from the rest of the ex-Soviet republic, on May 11, in a polling station in the village of Khryashchuvate. The vote, carried out as two ‘referendums’ in provinces where the insurgents hold more than a dozen towns, marks a serious deepening of the political crisis in Ukraine, which has pushed East-West relations to lows not seen since the end of the Cold War AFP

Sceptics set to fight EU Rouhani: Iran won’t accept ‘nuclear from the inside after vote apartheid,’ offers more transparency n AFP, Brussels

Two weeks ahead of European Parliament elections, polls are predicting a eurosceptic surge, packing the assembly with members set to fight the EU from within for the next five years.

Current surveys show anti-EU parties picking up anywhere from 100 to 200 seats in the 751-member parliament when the continent’s 400 million voters go to the ballot box May 22-25.

Sceptics and far-right parties are set for major gains in the likes of heavyweight European Union nations Britain and France, as well as in the Netherlands.

In Germany, the AfD party aiming to abolish the euro, is rating well while Beppe Grillo’s populists and the radical left Syriza are front-runners respectively in Italy and Greece.

“The Eurosceptic surge could be more dangerous than the emergence of the Tea Party in the US,” said Mark Leonard of the European Council on Foreign Relations. “It could lead to the strange spectacle of a ‘self-hating parliament’ that ultimately wants to secure its own abolition.”

Latest forecasts tip Nigel Farage’s UK Independence Party (UKIP) to pick up a third of Britain’s 73 EU seats, and Marine Le Pen’s National Front to grab a sizeable portion of France’s 74.

Anti-EU parties are also likely to do well in the Czech Republic, Denmark,

Austria, Lithuania, Hungary and Finland. Seats are allocated according to population with the eight largest nations accounting for two-thirds of the MEPs. Abstention meanwhile is forecast to hit a fresh record even though turnout was already at a disappointing low of 43% in the last 2009 parliamentary vote.

Paradoxically, low interest in this eighth election in the history of the parliament – the world’s only democratically-elected international institution – comes as both the assembly and the executive European Commission that runs daily affairs in Brussels, win ever-increasing power over national governments.

But little over a year after enthusiastically picking up its Nobel Peace prize, and as Ukrainians defy mighty Russia with their bid to join the EU, the 28-nation bloc is caught in the worst economic and political crisis of its 60-year history. With unemployment on the rise, hitting more than half of young people in some countries, the divide has grown between wealthy northern nations and southern have-nots as populists point a finger of blame at immigration and the euro.

“There’s been no satisfactory response to globalisation,” said Jean-Dominique Giuliani, head of the Robert Schuman Foundation. “When there’s no political explanation of what’s happening in the world it becomes difficult to explain the relevance of Europe.” l

n AFP, Tehran Iran will not accept “nuclear apartheid” but is willing to offer more transparency over its atomic activities, President Hassan Rouhani said yesterday ahead of new talks with world powers.

Iran and the P5+1 group of nations will start hammering out a draft accord Tuesday aimed at ending a decade-long standoff over suspicions that the Islamic republic is concealing military objectives.

“We have nothing to put on the table and offer to them but transparency.

Some of the girls who managed to escape after being abducted last month from a school in northeastern Nigeria by the group Boko Haram have given harrowing accounts of their ordeal.

Standing alongside their parents, the students described how the gunmen commanded the hundreds of students at the Chibok Government Girls Secondary School to gather outside, before going into a storeroom and taking all the food.

“They then moved all of us to the main gate and brought their cars where they loaded the food they had taken and asked us to get in,” one of the girls recalled.

“The girls that had no shoes on and were not wearing veils were told to go and fetch them as they started to set the school on fire.”

More than 300 girls were abducted on April 15 from their school in Chibok in the country’s remote northeast. Fifty-three escaped and 276 remain captive.

The escaped girls spoke to visiting Borno state officials on May 5. In the video, which was handed out by the Borno State governor’s office, the women gathered at the school cried, as the students spoke of their ordeal.

Another girl recounted how she and her friend decided to run for their lives.

“I told my friend that it is better to be killed than to be taken to a place that we did not know,” she said.

Parents of the girls still in captivity, pleaded for their rescue.

“Now we don’t know if our children are eating, if they are sleeping on the floor, we do not know,” said one distraught mother.

International outrage

The government’s inability to rescue the girls nearly a month after they were abducted by Boko Haram has sparked worldwide outrage, protests and a social media campaign.

Rallies were held in several North American cities on Saturday to express outrage over the kidnappings.

Protesters held signs and chanted slogans in Atlanta, New York City and Toronto, all calling for the release of

the girls and an end to human trafficking worldwide.

As further condemnation of the Nigerian abductions spread, Saudi Arabia’s grand mufti Sheikh Abulaziz al-Sheikh said Boko Haram rebels who kidnapped the schoolgirls had “set up to smear the image of Islam.”

Sheikh said Boko Haram had been “misguided” and should be “shown their wrong path and be made to reject it.”

The US and other countries have

under his hardline predecessor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Other sceptics of the nuclear talks, including members of the US Congress, doubt if Rouhani is genuine in seeking a lasting agreement.

The world’s leading powers have long suspected that Iran is developing the capability to build an atom bomb, an allegation that Tehran has repeatedly denied.

“We want to tell the world they cannot belittle the Iranian nation; they have to respect it,” Rouhani added Sunday. l

Al-Azhar students jailed for 4 years over violent protests n AFP, Cairo An Egyptian court yesterday sentenced 36 students of the prestigious Al-Azhar university to four years in prison each over violent protests backing ousted president Mohamed Morsi, judicial sources said. Students supporting Morsi regularly hold demonstrations calling for his release at several Egyptian universities and in particular at Cairo’s

Kidnapped Nigerian girls recount escape n Agencies

That’s it. Our nuclear technology is not up for negotiation,” Rouhani, referring to the West, said in remarks broadcast on state television.

“Iran will not retreat one step in the field of nuclear technology... we will not accept nuclear apartheid,” he said.

The self-declared moderate president has faced a battle from domestic critics of his diplomatic outreach since taking power last August.

Hardliners accuse Rouhani of making concessions for little gain under talks that have started to reverse the political isolation Iran grappled with

sent teams of technical experts to assist the search effort.

Nigeria’s defence headquarters said on Saturday that two divisions of the military were now stationed in the border regions close to Chad, Cameroon and Niger to work with other security agencies.

At least 10 army search teams were trying to track down the girls in the remote far northeast, border guards were on high alert and the air force had so far flown at least 250 sorties. l

A young participant shows a placard during a demonstration in Geneva on May 10, in support of the abducted Nigerian school girls and their families AFP

Al-Azhar university, a prestigious seat of Sunni Islamic learning.

The 36 students were found guilty of holding a violent protest in December, rioting, blocking roads in front of the university and showing aggression against the security forces, the sources said.

Each of the accused was also fined 30,000 Egyptian pounds (about $4,300/3,300 euros).

Morsi was ousted by the army in

July last year after mass street protests against his divisive one-year rule.

Since his overthrow, a crackdown targeting his supporters has seen more than 1,400 people killed in street clashes, over 15,000 jailed and hundreds sentenced to death after speedy mass trials.

Morsi, Egypt’s first freely elected president, himself faces three trials on various charges, including of colluding with militant groups. l

Syria presidential campaign launched despite war n AFP, Damascus Campaigning began yesterday for Syria’s June 3 presidential election expected to return Bashar al-Assad to power, as the regime marked a symbolic victory with the exit of rebels from Homs.

In Damascus, campaign posters lauding Assad hung on shopping streets and in public gardens, in the run-up to the country’s first multi-candidate presidential vote.

The election is being staged despite a raging civil war, with dozens of people dying across the country every day.

Voting will only be held in territory under government control, excluding large areas held by rebels, and refugees who fled through unofficial crossings are barred from voting.

Assad, who is competing for his third seven-year term, came to office in 2000, after the death of his father and predecessor Hafez al-Assad, who had been in power since 1970.

He faces two competitors, both largely unknown, who qualified from a pool of 23 who sought to run against Assad.

Maher Abdel Hafiz Hajjar is an independent MP and former communist party member from the country’s second city Aleppo, and Hassan Abdullah al-Nuri is a Damascus businessman who was a member of the internal opposition tolerated by Assad’s government.

In the capital, a few posters for Nuri’s campaign could be seen, calling for a “battle against corruption” as well as a “free economy” and the

“return of the middle class.”

His campaign reels have also aired on state television.

But Assad’s campaign posters dominate the landscape, with dozens showing the Syrian flag overlaid with the word “together” and his signature.

In a public garden near the commercial centre of Salhieh, photos of the president hung alongside pictures of Lebanon’s Hezbollah chief and Assad ally Hassan Nasrallah, and Hafez al-Assad.

In the Sabaa Bahrat neighbourhood, one billboard hung “by citizens of Syria” proclaims: “We won’t close our eyes until we have said yes to the ophthalmologist,” a reference to Assad, an eye specialist by training.

“We vote for you, 2014,” it adds.

Elsewhere, posters read “Our Bashar, we will not accept a president other than you. We have chosen you, you have our loyalty.”

Outside the capital, posters declaring “with our blood, we elect Bashar al-Assad” are hung at the country’s border with Syria, and his campaign billboards line the highway leading to Damascus.

Assad’s campaign has also began online, under the slogan “Together,” with Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram accounts all set up to promote his run. The Facebook account had garnered 65,000 likes by Sunday morning, and the Twitter account nearly 1,000 followers.

The campaigning begins just days after Assad’s government claimed a symbolic victory in the central city of Homs, where it retook the Old City after a deal granting rebels there safe passage out. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Modi urges record turnout on final election day n AFP, New Delhi

ing speeches and taking to the hustings yesterday, one day before 66 million people were eligible to cast their ballots in 41 seats in the final stage of voting.

Campaigning ended on Saturday in the five-week election that is likely to see Congress, headed by Rahul Gandhi, ousted from power after 10 years in charge.

Opinion polls show voters have turned against Congress over massive graft scandals, spiralling inflation and a sharp economic slowdown during its two terms running a left-leaning coalition government since 2004.

Counting and results are due to be announced on Friday. Modi, who has pledged development, investment and jobs to revive the struggling economy, sought to strike a note of unity in his last-ditch message to voters before the campaign ended. l

BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi yesterday urged voters to turn out in record numbers to throw the scandal-plagued Congress party from power as a bitter, marathon election campaign drew to a close.

“People are tired of false promises, corruption and the same old tape-recorded messages ridden with dynastic references only to hide one’s own failure,” Modi said in a blog late Saturday.

“They want a better tomorrow and NDA is the only alliance that can provide this change,” Modi said, referring to a BJP-led National Democratic Alliance coalition.

“I urge all those voting in the final phase to vote in record numbers, especially the youth,” he said.

Politicians were barred from mak-

Indian general election 2014 Nine-stage vote from April 7 to May 12

S

Electorate 814.5 million (713 million in last election, in 2009)

23 million voters in the 18-19 age group

(about 3 percent of total compared to 0.75 percent in 2009)

Schedule

Jammu & Kashmir

By constituency

Himachal Pradesh

Chandigarh

Uttarakhand

Punjab Haryana Delhi

M

W

T

F

S

1 April

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

2

3

9

10

27

28

29

30

1 May

4

5

6

7

8

11

12

Arunachal Pradesh

Sikkim

Uttar Pradesh

Rajasthan

T

Assam

Bihar

Nagaland Manipur

Meghalaya Tripura Gujarat

Madhya Pradesh

Vote held Apr 11

West Bengal Jharkhand Odisha

Daman & Diu

Chhattisgarh

Dadra & Nagar Haveli

Voting day markers are placed approximately at the center of each constituency

Seats for grab 543-member

Maharashtra Andhra Pradesh

Goa Karnataka

Puducherry Lakshadweep

Mizoram

Kerala

Tamil Nadu

parliament

Polling stations 930,000 using electronic voting machines

Results

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Expected to be announced on

May 16 Source: India Election Commission

Abdullah endorsed by close Karzai ally n AFP, Kabul Afghan election front-runner Abdullah Abdullah received a major boost to his presidential campaign yesterday with the endorsement of third-placed Zalmai Rassoul, a close ally of the current leader.

Rassoul was seen as the favoured candidate of outgoing President Hamid Karzai, and his support for Abdullah could be influential in deal-making to choose Afghanistan’s next leader as USled troops withdraw from the country.

Rassoul’s own bid to become president gained little momentum and he took just 11.5% in the first round of voting.

“I ask the people for the sake of national unity and political stability to vote for Doctor Abdullah, so that we

win the election,” Rassoul, who resigned as foreign minister to run for president, told a press conference.

He said his support could be a “balance-maker” in the run-off vote due next month.

The second-round vote will pit Abdullah against former World Bank economist Ashraf Ghani, after the two came first and second in the eight-man election on April 5.

Neither candidate secured the 50% needed for outright victory, with Abdullah gaining 44.9% and Ghani on 31.5% according to preliminary results.

Another costly, and potentially violent, election could be avoided by negotiations in the coming weeks, and Rassoul’s support for Abdullah will increase pressure on Ghani to concede the race. l

Indonesian Islamists return to political centrestage n Reuters Indonesian presidential frontrunner Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has joined hands with the country’s most popular Islamic party, cementing the surprise resurgence of Muslim parties in this year’s election and possibly renewing their voice in the new government.

The National Awakening Party (PKB) on Saturday became the latest party to back Jokowi’s Indonesian Democratic-Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and his bid for president on July 9.

PKB’s endorsement is particularly important for Jokowi, as it will help him appeal to the Islamic vote in the world’s most populous Muslim nation, where most practice a moderate form of the religion.

“PDI-P and PKB have similar historical traces, ideology and chemistry since the beginning,” Hasto Kristiyanto, PDI-P’s deputy secretary general, told Reuters following the announcement of their coalition, which also includes the National Democrat (NasDem) party.

PKB is allied with the country’s biggest Muslim organisation, the moderate Nahdlatul Ulama, and has pledged to keep religion out of policy-making.

PKB won the most votes of the five Islamic-based parties in April’s parliamentary elections, which set the stage for the presidential poll.

Only candidates backed by parties or coalitions with at least 25% of the vote or 20% of parliamentary seats can contest. l

9

Monday, May 12, 2014

Rahul: Congress will get the numbers n Agencies

An Indian Sadhu or holy man wears a hat used by supporters of Bharatiya Janata Party’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi as he walks on a ghat in Varanasi on May 11. The final round of votting in the world’s biggest election starts this morning with 41 constituencies in three Indian states up for grabs. Over nine crore voters are expected to decide the fate of 606 candidates, including BJP’s Narendra Modi and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal (both from Varanasi) and SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav (Azamgarh) in this phase AFP

AAP to support third front to stop BJP n Agencies The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) yesterday did not rule out backing third front to stop BJP from coming to power, saying it may offer “issue-based support” to a non-Congress “secular” dispensation.

With the marathon Lok Sabha elections wrapping up today, senior AAP leader Gopal Rai said AAP will consider offering issue-based support to a third front government if such an initiative was launched based on election results which will be out on May 16.

“Yes, we may extend issue-based support if there is a situation that de-

mands our support to a third front government,” Rai told PTI. The talk of possible cobbling together of “secular forces” to stop BJP from coming to power has gained momentum in the last couple of weeks with Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and a number of other leaders exuding confidence of such a formation, expecting that Congress would not do well to form UPA-III. Rai, considered close to AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, however, said a decision on future role of the party will be taken after analyzing the outcome of the election.

“Our movement is for common people and support will be definitely issue-based. Final decision on future course of action will be taken after May 16 when results will be declared,” he said. AAP has fielded candidates in 422 Lok Sabha seats and Kejriwal had earlier claimed that his party will win at least 100 seats.

The AAP had in a stunning victory in its electoral debut bagged 28 seats in Delhi assembly elections in December last year and a number of senior party leaders said they will repeat the “surprise” in the Lok Sabha polls as well. l

BJP office in Varanasi raided n Agencies

A day before polling for the high-stake contest in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh police and election commission officials conducted search at BJP’s regional office in the city and seized campaign materials, prompting strong protest from the party.

A flying squad of the state police and EC swooped down on the party office amid a ban on all election campaign activities since Saturday evening for the polls, where BJP’s prime minis-

Jail, lawsuits cast shadow over Myanmar media freedom n Reuters, Myanmar Two years after Myanmar scrapped censorship in one of its boldest reforms, its journalists are again living in fear of jail and are convinced a state-sponsored crackdown is under way to limit press freedom.

Eight members of the media have been arrested since December and two jailed in what critics say is government backsliding on some of the wide-ranging reforms that led the West to lift sanctions after decades of military rule.

“The hardliners in the government think (media freedom) has now gone too far,” says Thiha Saw, chief editor of the English-language Myanmar Freedom.

Reporting on sensitive issues such as graft, land grabs and religious and ethnic tensions may have provoked the reaction, journalists say.

The arrests evoke memories of the country’s oppressive past, with detention of members of the media a hallmark of the previous military government, said London-based Amnesty International in a recent statement.

Toe Zaw Latt, bureau chief for the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), has felt the brunt of the crackdown.

One of his video journalists was jailed last month, with hard labor, while an Australian intern working with DVB without credentials was deported on Thursday after he took part in a protest calling for his colleague’s release.

“It’s a deliberate and consolidated effort by the government to restrict the media,” Toe Zaw Latt said.

DVB video journalist Zaw Pe was working on a story about Japanese-funded scholarships for Burmese students, but found himself behind bars for the second time having been imprisoned by the junta that ruled brutally for 49 years. l

terial candidate Narendra Modi is pitted against AAP’s Arvind Kejriwal and Congress’ Ajay Rai among others.

Officials said the action was taken to seize election campaign materials as it had got information about such items being sent in large quantity from the BJP office in the Sigra locality, despite a ban on poll campaign in place.

BJP leaders, however, claimed that these were unused campaign materials and the party was not indulging in any campaign activities.

The seized items included T-shirts,

pamphlets, badges, officials said, while adding that they found these products being transported from the BJP office.

The party leaders countered this with claims that the unused products were being returned to their respective manufacturers.

They alleged that the latest incident further proves the administration and election authorities’ “partisan” approach against BJP and linked the raid to the local administration’s denial of permission to Modi’s rally here on May 8. l

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi appeared confident that his party will form the next government at the Centre, and claimed the BJP’s “disrespect” of the election commission (EC) reflected the saffron party’s nervousness about the outcome of the polls, the Hindustan Times reported.

“It is sad to see the BJP’s disregard of national institutions such as the EC. This attitude does not bode well,” Gandhi said on Saturday during an interview with Hindustan, a sister publication of HT. The principal opposition party has been scathing in its criticism of the poll body this week with BJP prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi accusing it of doing “unlawful things” at the behest of the Congress, after the EC denied Modi permission to hold a rally in Varanasi on Thursday.

Gandhi claimed that while the BJP was better at “marketing itself,” the electorate trusts the Congress more than communal parties. “Let us not forget that the wisdom of the Indian voter can easily see through campaigns like India Shining,” Gandhi said.

Calling the BJP’s campaign “high on noise,” Gandhi admitted that the Congress’ marketing abilities weren’t as good as the “advertising blitz” of the saffron party.

He, however, stressed that the Congress was more capable of working on the ground and delivering programs.

“The Congress understands the needs of the people, particularly those who are poor and disadvantaged,” Gandhi said.

The Congress vice-president said that the UPA’s strength was its “transformative politics” that delivered the benefits of growth to every Indian.

“I am confident that the voters will give a mandate to an inclusive, fair and unifying government that the Congress party offers,” he said.

When asked if Congress’ prospects suffered due to UPA’S perceived failure to rein in prices, Gandhi stressed that “price rise was an issue in every election for the incumbent.”

“However, the UPA delivered the highest average 10-year growth in the history of India,” he said.

But the Congress vice-president avoided a direct response when asked if the Congress would have been better served if he had become PM a year ago.

“The UPA government had been led very ably by Manmohan Singh,” was his response. l

Thai government warns protesters as power struggle deepens n Reuters, Bangkok Thailand’s beleaguered government yesterday warned people to stay away from anti-government protests, saying it had to step up security as the two sides in a lengthy political crisis squared off over who is running the country.

The caretaker government loyal to ousted prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra is clinging to power and to the hope of an election in July to restore its authority. But the government’s enemies deride its legitimacy and are calling on the upper house of parliament,

the courts and the Election Commission to appoint a new prime minister.

The head of the government team overseeing security during months of demonstrations against Yingluck and her brother, ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, said protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban’s call for a new prime minister was illegal. “We would like to warn all Thais to stay away from the protest sites as we have to tighten our security forces in a bid to avert a crisis,” Tharit Pengdit, chief of the Department of Special Investigation, told reporters.

Protesters have used guns and gre-

nades to resist police efforts to clear them off the streets and the government has generally sought to avoid confrontation. But Tharit’s warning could be a sign that the government is feeling increasingly embattled, especially after Yingluck’s sacking by the Constitutional Court for nepotism on Wednesday, and is trying to assert its authority.

Thaksin or his loyalists have won every election since 2001. But his enemies say he is corrupt and buys votes and they want an appointed “people’s council” to oversee electoral rule changes to stop the Shinawatras from winning. l

Thai Buddhist monk and protest leader Luang Pu Buddha Issara (C) is surrounded by his supporters and reporters as anti-government protesters wait for police to apologise for firing teargas a day before at a police compound housing a government security group, north of Bangkok May 10 REUTERS

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Monday, May 12, 2014

CODE-CRACKER

Create better investment climate

Be heard Write to Dhaka Tribune FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Sukrabad, Dhaka-1207 Email letters.dt@dhakatribune.com Send us your Op-Ed articles: opinion.dt@dhakatribune.com

A

ccording to the Bangladesh Bank, more businesses are transferring capital abroad and private sector credit growth has dropped to around 10.73%.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith has remarked that he does not understand why local private financiers are currently reluctant to invest in the economy.

The minister’s comment shows a worrying lack of appreciation of the challenges that investors face and bodes poorly for the prospects for improvement of the investment climate.

Private investment has typically been concentrated in RMG. However, high interest rates and uncertainty following the Rana Plaza disaster have deterred many investors in this sector. This is not helped by news of factories closing and workers losing their jobs.

The balance sheet of the banks is proof enough that they enjoy too healthy a margin at the expense of investors. The government needs to find ways to make capital more affordable. The gradual easing of borrowing from foreign sources is a most welcome respite.

The government can and must urgently build special economic zones and EPZ, with gas and electric connections, where new factories can be built. Improvement of roads, along planned “export corridors” should be another high priority. It also needs to acknowledge that a climate of political uncertainty plays a big role in keeping investors on the fence.

The recent deterioration of law and order only serves to compound such anxieties about overall safety of one’s investments.

Given these obvious deterrents to new investment, the finance minister’s comments cannot but add to the worries of investors. Blaming the investors is a most disheartening sign. One hopes to hear words of assurance instead, soon, and to see concrete steps to address the genuine problems that have so long stymied our potential.

The government can and must act urgently to rekindle investor confidence

Tax policies need a sensible strategy

F

ar too many existing policies on taxation are developed incrementally or without a proper underlying aim.

The finance minister’s indication that the personal income tax limit will be increased by Tk5,000 is a case in point. Increasing the allowance from the current Tk2.2 lakh to Tk2.25 only amounts to a 2.2% increase. This falls far short of the current inflation rate of 7.5%.

As the minister has indicated the government aims to take living costs into account, but the proposed change does not meet its stated purpose and effectively amounts to a tax increase.

This lack of index linking in tax bands is only one small symptom of the lack of planning in national tax policies.

Over the years, for instance, corporate tax rates have been allowed to evolve in a way which seeks to maximise revenue from a handful of cash rich sectors while doing little to either increase revenues from or investment in other corporate sectors.

Most striking of all is that attempts to broaden the number of people paying income tax, which presently stands at 800,000 or less than half a percent of the population, appear to be stalling. The government keeps reverting to drives to increase the tax paid by existing taxpayers.

Public finances would be better served if it simplified procedures and reduced tax rates, in order to increase the total number of companies and individuals paying tax. This would grow revenues in the long run and make the system more accountable.

Public finances would be better served by simplified procedures and reduced tax rates

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Evolution in action, researchers claim May 5 Barry any more so than any other particles. And as zeolite Anyone not yet ready to evolve into some kind of just passes through the gastrointestinal system, it mutant should think long and hard about doing a can only interact with things that haven’t yet been radiation detox with the mineral called Zeolite, that absorbed by the body. Meaning, within less than a has been proven to safely remove both radiation day after ingesting radioactive particles, they will and heavy metals from the body. have either been absorbed (meaning zeolite can’t remove them as the zeolite won’t encounter them) or they will have passed through the GI track and Mike O’Brien already been eliminated (meaning zeolite can’t Barry: Individuals don’t evolve, species do. remove them as they have already been removed).

Zeolite does not safely remove radiation from the human body. In the first place, radiation is energy, like light or radio waves, and zeolite has Barry absolutely no effect on this energy. Second, zeolite Mike O’Brien: Then Mike, you better tell all the indiscriminately acts on atoms in the body. It scientists and medical experts that have been doesn’t know or care which are radioactive and successfully removing radiation, from people with which aren’t; it is clay and can’t tell the difference.

Clinoptilolite Zeolite, that they don’t know what Since some radioactive atoms are of the type they are doing, and that the significant drop in that zeolite attaches to, it may slightly speed radiation in their test results for safely removing their removal. But it will also remove other nonboth radiation and heavy metals from the body is a radioactive atoms, some of which your body needs. figment of their imaginations.

Use of zeolite without medical monitoring can cause more damage than the minute amounts of Mike O’Brien radioactive material it might remove.

Barry: Give me the names of these scientists and I will talk with them. But I notice you don’t give Barry any source for your claims. Typical troll behaviour.

Mike O’Brien: The zeolite type called Clinoptilolite, And tell me do these scientists really believe that which is a natural, has been proven to safely remove anything, much less zeolite, can remove radiation large amounts of radiation from the body quickly. (which is energy) from people? Because if they do, This type of zeolite was first used and documented then they are obviously just a clueless as you are. to remove large amounts of radiation from Zeolite travels through the GI system. That adults, children, and livestock in Chernobyl with is a plain fact. Thus it can only act on things it great success without any negative side effects. encounters in the GI track. Another plain fact. Once This zeolite was even baked into cookies and absorbed (which happens with 8-12 hours after brownies to get it into children without resistance. ingestion) any radioactive particles are no longer in Radioactive particles attach to heavy metals and the GI track. Another plain fact. then those radioactive heavy metals are attracted And not being in the GI track, said radioactive parto and held into the zeolites cage-like structure that ticles won’t come in contact with the zeolite and thus holds onto the radiated heavy metals all the way can’t be trapped by the zeolite. Another plain fact. out of the body without releasing any of it to absorb The only way to remove radioactive particles back into the body, as so many other plant and (other than just waiting for natural processes) is to clay-based detox products do, which cause people force them out of the tissues where they have been to feel sick while detoxing. Clinoptilolite zeolite is deposited. This is known as chelation therapy. It has without question the best way to safely remove been used for a very long time to treat heavy metal both radiation and heavy metals from the body. poisoning, and many radioactive particles are heavy metals. Now once chelation causes the particles to leave the cells, then something like zeolite could be Mike O’Brien used to minimise reabsorption, although reabsorption Barry: Radiation is energy and thus zeolite removes is not much of an issue, and there are other things that absolutely zero radiation, safely or otherwise. work as well or better than zeolite for that purpose.

Radioactive particles do not attach to heavy metals

Finally, Nur Hossain under spotlight

Hefazat yet to come up with a ‘casualty list’

imohammad Bravo! Three cheers for Nur Hossain, once a truck helper, by now a billionaire, who has already travelled through the Jatiya Party, BNP, and AL. Hip, hip, hurray! He is our national symbol. Who knows what his next political berth will be?

Fugstar I think many names have been revealed, whether by daily newspapers or by the Odhikar report.

Though you get some who parrot the government line, there are too many other accounts.

May 7

Akash This is the story of someone or a group of people running a parallel state right under the noses of the officialdom (some allegedly in cahoots enjoying a share of the loot and some others tightlipped due to fear of life and limb). We will need someone really brave to undo this den of iniquity!

CALVIN AND HOBBES

May 5

How to solve: Each number in our CODE-CRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 10 represents A so fill in A every time the figure 10 appears.

You them in the appropriate squares in the main grid, then use your knowledge of words to work out which letters go in the missing squares.

Some letters of the alphabet may not be used.

As you get the letters, fill in other squares with the same number in the main grid, and the control grid. Check off the list of alphabetical letters as you identify them.

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Desert plant (6) 4 Headwear (3) 7 Run away to marry (5) 8 Garb (6) 11 Serpent (3) 12 Servant (female) (4) 13 Wan (4) 15 Metal (5) 16 Employs (5) 20 Domestic animals (4) 23 Incline (4) 24 Cricket score (3) 25 Make possible 6) 26 Top room (5) 27 Word of acceptance (3) 28 Essay on a theme (6)

DOWN 1 Stuffs (5) 2 Fish spear (7) 3 Ooze (4) 4 Fuel (4) 5 Church recess (4) 6 Energy (3) 9 Make lace (3) 10 Neckwear (3) 14 Stir violently (7) 17 Curved bone (3) 18 Old cloth measure (3) 19 Slender supports (5) 20 Daintily pleasing (4) 21 Insects (4) 22 Cult (4) 24 Narrow beam (3)

SUDOKU How to solve: 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.

Seven murders and the worst fear May 7 nds “Even if only a fraction of this suspicion is correct, our worst fear will have come true. We are not safe anymore.”

Not will have, but already have come true.

Now BCSIR to analyse Bt brinjal effects May 6

PEANUTS

GM Freeze GM Freeze is not a vegetable importer.

We are a campaign calling for a moratorium on GM food and crops. Our letter of December 4 to a variety of authorities in Bangladesh and the EU alerted them to the potential for economic difficulties for farmers and other businesses that may arise from GM brinjal cultivation if it is not properly controlled and segregated.

We did not mention any potential health impacts, as quoted in the story above – indeed as there has been little or no peer-reviewed scientific study of the safety of eating GM brinjal, we could not make any statements about potential health impacts as they are not known. Any further confusion can be clarified by viewing the text of our letter online, or contacting us directly. Our concerns for Bangladeshi farmers and exporters stand, and we urge a halt to all GM brinjal cultivation until they have been fully addressed. Thank you.

The meteoric rise of a fanatic outfit May 5

starone One lady was unfortunately set upon by people in a mob. Hefazat-e-Islam apologised to her, if it was indeed them who attacked her.

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

CROSSWORD

SUDOKU

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

11

Monday, May 12, 2014

The enemy of all Muslims n Azeem Ibrahim

T

Has RAB’s original vision become diluted?

The evil that men do

I

n Towheed Feroze

n the wake of the recent abductions and murders in Narayanganj, allegations of complicity have been placed against the elite crime-fighting force. Since an investigation is underway, we should not make any definitive comments, though the common observation all around is rather straightforward – RAB was involved.

I was hanging out in the university area soon after the mutilated bodies were recovered from the water, where a student leader, without flinching, said: “This bears all the hallmarks of RAB.” His explanation: When the main person was being taken away, the others were witnesses, and as the plan was to leave no witnesses, the number of killings rose.

These are of course assumptions.

However, given the nasty and insidious politicisation of almost all public service departments, there is no reason to state that the elite crime-fighting unit is taint-free.

In fact, there possibly isn’t any department that can claim to own a closet with very few or no skeletons.

At the same time, evidence is needed first before assertive claims are made.

A few years ago, working for the British High Commission, I had the opportunity to be present at the RAB headquarters in order to oversee a training offered by the UK government. At that time, without the right information, many media outlets insinuated that RAB was being provided harmful anti-human rights related training by the British. In reality, the trainings were for rescue operations and dealing with emergencies (First Emergency Response), emanating from an insurgency or terrorist related incident.

It is of course true that with the introduction of RAB, the fear of deaths in crossfire has become a major concern. When the force first came to

the scene ten years ago, the idea was to implant apprehension among criminals, especially within the unassailable ward-based crime syndicates ruled by gangsters.

From a psychological angle, the whole usage of the “black” colour accompanied by the bandana and the dark glasses was to send a no-nonsense message across. To be just, area-based “mastaani, rongbaji” or gangster culture has seen significant decline in ten years.

In one incident, I was trying to mediate an extortion demand made by one of them from a local businessman who coincidentally went to university with a top political leader. The businessman, believing that he would be able to wriggle out of this unjust demand, called his university pal and asked him to talk to the local goon. Not surprisingly, the senior leader did not discourage the local “mastaan” from taking the money.

Instead he simply stopped answering the businessman’s calls.

Lest we forget, the root of the problem is not the force per se, but the ruthless political hand behind it

Just to corroborate that statement, here’s a contrasting picture of Elephant Road: About a decade ago, this area, falling in ward-52, was a hotbed of gun-violence perpetrated by politically linked goons. Extortion was openly done with SK Group and Sujan Group regularly engaging in open gun battles. In one such incident, innocent people ended up with bullet wounds. No case was lodged in fear of retaliation. Both SK and Sujan were later gunned down as a result of some factional feud, but the interesting thing is, contrary to the common culture where one kingpin falls to allow another to rise, no new terror emerged. Local people attribute this fortunate development to the emergence of RAB. This is not my own thought. An impartial survey of the residents will reveal their feelings. When SK and Sujan were constantly at each other’s throats, law enforcers were often left as spectators since both these guys openly flaunted their political connections.

Petty extortion still happens, though the direct demand for money has become rare. In the Elephant Road area, no group terrorises anymore.

RAB’s main technique is to use fear as a weapon – that much any psychologist will say – and this human emotion has reportedly been wrongfully exploited, creating a distance between the force and the common man. The errant act of shooting Limon Hossain and maiming him in 2011 detracts heavily form the image of the unit.

Not pointing any fingers, my understanding is that over the years, with morality as a whole eroding heavily and politics becoming aggressively crony-culture based, it’s possible that the vision with which RAB began has become somewhat diluted.

Today there is a firm belief among a large number of ordinary people that the law enforcers are colluding with vicious political forces to carry out heinous deeds. Again, lest we forget, the root of the problem is not the force

RAJIB DHAR

per se, but the ruthless political hand behind it.

As more days pass after the Narayanganj killings, several inner layers are being brought out in the open to pinpoint the actual motive.

Is it contention for political authority or is it, as several papers have alleged quoting local people, the fight to control a thriving illegal drug trade? The highly lucrative yaba trade has been mentioned from time to time as being the core issue.

I have a feeling that the investigation, currently underway, will open a can of worms. Of course, firstly, all details need to be revealed and the top masterminds should not be carefully edged out.

Even if members of the elite force are found to be involved, it’s common sense that unless they had political backing, they would not have turned into professional hitmen. The problem is, in emotional outbursts, most of our observations often become one-dimensional, leaving out the crucial aspects like the overall decay of society brought on by legitimisation of a putrid culture where political connections almost inevitably offer some sort of impunity. There is only one solution to this – taking an uncompromising stand against vice, irrespective of party allegiance.

We need to see punishment of top criminals, not just the middle ranking operatives. Disbanding RAB, dismissing officers, strict monitoring of the force – several suggestions have come up but maybe the main component of fear is not in the men wearing black clothes, sporting dark glasses, holding automatic weapons, and sometimes speaking roughly … the devil is perhaps in men wearing plain clothes, who keep hoodwinking society with their pseudo halos and fake solicitous expressions. l

he dreadful kidnapping of 257 schoolgirls from a secondary school in Nigeria has shocked and dismayed the world, rightly so.

More than 300 girls were kidnapped at gunpoint by terrorist group Boko Haram, whose name translates as “Western education is sinful;” some girls managed to escape by jumping off the backs of trucks, but the rest are still to be found. We can only imagine how terrified they must be.

Our priority must be to find the girls. We should also denounce Boko Haram as extremists peddling a false notion of religion. I’d go further than that and refuse to call them Muslims.

Muslim tradition does not forbid women from being educated. Indeed, scripture encourages both sexes to seek learning. Boko Haram doesn’t care about this; it uses the language of Islam just like the Lord’s Resistance Army in Uganda used Christianity.

Both use perverted religious dictum to control, terrorise, and kill, to prey on children, and to take advantage of weak governments. Neither group truly represents religion at all.

In a video obtained by Agence France-Presse, a man claiming to be Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau, threatens to sell the girls for as little as $12 into forced marriages or sex slavery.

CNN translates his comments in the video, in the local Hausa language, as: “I abducted your girls. I will sell them in the market, by Allah. There is a market for selling humans. Allah says I should sell. He commands me to sell. I will sell women. I sell women.”

Nowhere in the Quran does it say you should kidnap young girls and sell them into slavery. In fact, it emphatically condemns any such action.

Right-thinking Muslims should be furious at the attempt to invoke the name of Allah.

As Muslim human rights lawyer Arsalan Iftikhar says in his piece on CNN: “Hey Boko Haram, pick up a Quran and bring back our girls.” The leaders of Boko Haram have clearly never read the Holy Quran, which states quite clearly that “oppression is worse than murder” (2: 191) and that nobody “shall force girls to commit prostitution” (24: 33).

The only hope to arise out of this

Towheed Feroze is a journalist currently working in the development sector.

atrocity is that both the Muslim and Christian world has united behind the cause. At a time where the media would like to portray Muslims as alienated, they have finally come together to reject extremism.

The hashtag “#BringBackOurGirls” has been tweeted more than a million times, uniting Nigerian housewives and celebrities, including Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton. Protests have also taken place around the world, with Muslims and Christians standing side by side.

We should denounce Boko Haram as extremists peddling a false notion of religion The al-Azhar Seminary in Cairo, chief religious authority for Sunni Muslims, has joined the condemnation of Boko Haram. Likewise, the Saudi Arabia-based Islamic Fiqh Academy, committed to the study of Islam, stressed to the Associated Press: “This crime and other crimes committed by the likes of these extremist organisations contradicts all humanitarian principles and moral values, and violates the provisions of the Quran and Sunnah.”

Boko Haram is the enemy of all Muslims, and we should treat it as such. We must stand behind these young girls and others like them, who only want a chance to earn an education and improve their lives. They are the truly brave ones.

As Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani schoolgirl shot by Taliban insurgents, says: “These abducted schoolgirls are my sisters. It should be our duty to speak up for our brothers and sisters in Nigeria who are in a very difficult situation.”

Indeed it should. We owe it to those brave girls, and to Islam. l Dr Azeem Ibrahim is a Research Professor at the Strategic Studies Institute, US Army War College and an International Security Lecturer at the University of Chicago. This article was previously published in The Huffington Post.

REUTERS

Can the Indian youth shape the elections? n Uday Sankar Das

T

he voting marathon in India is now in its home stretch. The elections to the 16th Lok Sabha, staggered over nine phases in a period spanning five weeks, come to an end on May 12 with voting taking place in the remaining 41 seats of the 543-seat Lower House of Parliament.

Of the 41 seats where voters go to exercise their rights in the last and final phase, 35 are in strategically important states of Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, where the fate of some big-wigs would be decided. Again, some of them are pitted against each other in some of the constituencies.

The main focus would be on Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh where Narendra Modi, the BJP-alliance prime ministerial candidate, is being challenged by the leader of Aam Aadmi Party, Arvind Kejriwal. The other parties, including Congress, have not put any strong candidates in this seat. Modi, however, is also contesting from Vadodara in his home state Gujrat, where voting took place last month.

In West Bengal, world famous magician PC Sorcar Junior is contesting from Barasat as a BJP

candidate against the sitting MP, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar of Trinamool Congress, while Junior Railway Minister Adhir Chowdhury of Congress is facing noted singer Indranil Sen who has been nominated

by Trinamool Congress .

In the current election in India, there are a whopping 150 million voters between the ages of 18 and 23 who are eligible to vote for the first time. This number of young voters is almost equal to the population of Bangladesh and would equal, one might say, the voting population of many European countries taken together.

With the high turnout reported so far, many of them must have exercised their rights, and the question that is floating around the political arena is: Are the youth in India likely to shape the elections?

It has been seen in the past that the young voters in India have not been very keen or active about voting or bringing about significant changes in the electoral results. There have been few exceptions though. During the mid-70s when Indira Gandhi imposed emergency, the youth of the country played a pivotal role in the anti-emergency movement and

the subsequent electoral defeat of Congress in 1977. That brought to power the first ever non-Congress government in India.

Again, in 1989, there was a massive youth support in favour of VP Singh who became prime minister. But analysts say these were unusual circumstances and there is no evidence that in elections held for the last five Lok Sabhas of en bloc youth support for any particular party or alliance. It is, however, believed that in 1999, BJP won more youth votes, helping it to emerge as the largest party in the Lok Sabha. It is now being suggested that the huge proportion of youth voters could have an impact on the results of the current election.

Let us, first of all, look at these new 150 million new young voters of India. We must remember that this is a generation born in the post1990 era of economic liberalisation.

Political observers say they are not too bothered about ideologies, nor do they think that events such as the destruction of Babri Masjid in 1991 are of any significance today.

A recent survey shows that the Indian youth today give more credence to matters like corruption, inflation, unemployment, education,

and the safety of women. In the recent past, a large number of youths had protested corruption and the Delhi gang-rape case.

The way that the Congress-led alliance government has been embroiled in corruption scandals, like 2G and Coalgate to name a couple, and the youth’s preference regarding job opportunities and their craving for change have led analysts to believe that this time round, the BJP would benefit from the youth vote, as they did in 1999.

Analysts believe that this time round the BJP would benefit from the youth vote, as they did in 1999 BJP firmly believes that their commitment of economic reform and job opportunities would woo young voters, while Congress thinks that their leader Rahul Gandhi’s youth and their tradition of pluralism and

secularism will bring the youth to their side. On the other hand, Aam Aadmi Party, which was formed in 2012 with a pledge to fight corruption and bring about transparency and accountability, is also expecting to get significant support from young voters.

In another recent survey, it has been found that the fate of candidates in as many as 160 seats of the Lok Sabha, that is more than a quarter of the House, could be influenced by social media users. The young generation uses these social media tools the most, and, in a frantic effort to get these voters in their fold, all the major parties are heavily using these as their campaign tool. Even the Communist Party of India, CPI (M) has set up a special cell at their Alimuddin Street headquarters in Kolkata.

Use of social media is heavy and extreme, opined an analyst, adding that even friends are at war with each other. One section of the youth would go with the “Modi wave” as they think he can deliver the goods. The other section would be split between regional parties and Aam Aadmi Party. It is also said that the projection of Aam Aadmi Party bagging around 10 to 12 seats is based on their support from the youth.

The Congress Party is not likely to fare well with the young voters as they are thought to be disenchanted with the various corruption scandals during the present government’s tenure and it’s inability to handle the economy properly. Poll observers believe that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra should have been brought into the Congress campaign trail much earlier to spearhead their campaign as she is perceived to be more efficient and better positioned to attract young voters. She, in some form, is the “Indira.”

The youth of India certainly seems to have a very large impact on the current elections, but it must be borne in mind that they are not monolithic and so their voting patterns may differ depending on factors like their background, location, and priorities.

The Indian urban youth definitely want a change. Either they toe the Aam Aadmi Party anti-corruption line, or are moved by BJP’s propaganda of strong government. It certainly does not look good for Congress as far as youth voters are concerned. l The writer is a senior journalist who worked for BBC World Service Radio and presently lives in Chittagong.

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Monday, May 12, 2014

European Film Festival begins at Star Cineplex n Entertainment Desk

Joya Ahsan and Shakib Khan receive National Film Awards from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

BSS

National Film Award celebrates Bangladeshi film history n Afrose Jahan Chaity The National Film Award 2012 was a grand event that took place on May 10 through a host of colourful programmes, dance and music. Celebrated stars of the Bangladesh film industry showed up dressed in stunning attires for the biggest event of the year that honoured 23 noted artistes and technicians for their contribution to Bangla cinema.

The awards were distributed in 24 categories. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina attended the ceremony and handed out the awards at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre on Saturday afternoon.

Seasoned actor and film personality Khalil Ullah Khan bagged the Lifetime Acheivement Award. Eminent writ-

er-director, the late Humayun Ahmed was named as Best Director while Best Screenplay went to his last film Ghetu Putro Komola. The film also bagged the awards for Best Music Director, Best Child Artiste, Best Cinematographer, Best Editor, Best Art Director, Best Makeup and Best Costume Director. With eight awards in total, Ghetu Putro Komola is the film that won the highest number of awards in the National Film Award 2012.

Following suit is Redwan Roni’s Chorabali which scored five awards.

Protagonist of the film Joya Ahsan won Best Actress, while Shahiduzzaman Selim won Best Actor in a Negative Role. ATM Shamsuzzaman got the award of Best Supporting Actor for his role in the film Chorabali. The film also won the award for Best Dialogue.

Shakib Khan got the best actor award for his outstanding performance in the film Khodar Pore Maa. This is his second win at the National Film Award.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina enlightened the chair of chief guest till the celebration programme ended.

The cultural programme after the award distribution ceremony was anchored by Dhallywood superstars Ferdous and Moushumi.

Recalling the golden days of the film industry, a dance recitation Gourabh Gantha presented the history of Bangladeshi film through performances on evergreen songs including Karar Oi Loho Kopat, Aynate Oi MUkh Dekhbe Jokhon, Are O Praner Raja, Bimurto Ei Ratri Amar, Ki Jadu Korila, Bender Meye Jostna, Ekatturer Maa Jononi

and many others.

Prominent singer Sabina Yasmin rendered one of her popular song Koto Sadhonay Emon Bhagyo Mele and Subir Nandi presented another evergreen song Din Jay Kotha Thake.

Popular singers of this era including SI Tutul, Kona and Habib performed at the event.

The concluding performance of the evening was a group dance recitation

by Omar Sunny, Nipun, Shimla, Zayed Khan, Nirob, Amrita Khan and many other stars of the film industry. The programme was organised by the Information Ministry with Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu as the chair.

Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee of Information Ministry, AKM Rahmatullah was present as the special guest. l

To popularise European film among the audience of Bangladesh, a seven-day long film festival tilted European Film Festival 2014 begins at the Star Cineplex of Bashundhara City shopping mall from May 13. This is the second time the festival is taking place in Bangladesh and the European Union along with Star Cineplex organised the event.

A total of 12 movies from 12 different countries of the European Union will be showcased at the festival.

The event will open with the screening of Almanya, a German movie, at 7:15pm. It is a 2011 German comedy directed by Yasemin Şamdereli and premiered at the 61st Berlin International Film Festival in the section competition and won the “Deutscher

Filmpreis 2011” in the categories Best Script and Best Film.

Almanya tells the story of a Turkish family living in Germany for three generations who follow the wish of their grandfather and travel back to their homeland for the very first time. But their turbulent travels take an unexpected turn as the movie Ambassador of the European Union in Bangladesh, William Hanna will be among the special guests present at the inaugural ceremony along with Chairman of Star Cineplex Mahbub Rahman. Other organisers of the event include British High Comission, Embassy of Czech Republic, Denmark, Norway, Germany, France, Italy, Hungary, Sweden, Spain, Switzerland and Netherlands. The festival will conclude on May 20. l

Amrai Pari showcases collaboration of people n Entertainment Desk

Eksho Haat Dure Thakun airs tonight n Entertainment Desk Drama series Eksho Haat Dure Thakun will be aired on ATN Bangla at 8:40pm.

Written by Shafiqur Rahman Shanto and directed by SM Shaheen, the drama series features popular soap actors Mir Sabbir, Hasan, Nadia, Alvi, Jeny, Naznin Hasan Chumky, Dr Ezaz, Abul Hayat and many others.

Plot of the drama series revolves

around an aristocratic family residing in a village. Head of the family, Khan, is popular in the community for his honest and appealing nature. He decides to run for the post of chairman against a corrupt politician of the village, Chowdhury. Khan's wife and his mother protest against his decision to take part in the election. Meanwhile, both the candidates embark in a fierce competition which leads to a series of funny incidents. l

senters Tanzir Tuhin, Shahana Rahman Shumi and Kazi Tanveer have travelled to the chars of Kurigram to drought-afflicted Noagaon to Kuakata coastal areas, meeting communities who have adapted to changing weather conditions. On their travels, they learn firsthand about how people across the country are improving their chances against climate change in exciting and unusual ways.

The adaptations to cope with natural disasters include production of agricultural items at homesteads during flood, raising homestead as well as latrines to stay safe, developing new ways of earning money, moving fast to the shelter when cyclones hit, and repairing shelter or home in innovative ways. l

A new reality TV series - Amrai Pari – aiming to help communities work together to prepare for and respond to extreme weather conditions, begins airing today on BTV. The eight episode series has been made by BBC Media Action with funds from the UK Department for International Development and will be broadcast on BTV every Monday at 9:30pm. The episodes will be repeated on Wednesdays at 2:15 pm.

The deteriorating weather conditions of the country prompted the BBC Media Action to launch a programme to educate people who do not know how to respond to the challenges of extreme weather conditions. Pre-

TODAY IN DHAKA Film

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (3D & 2D) I, Frankenstein Divergent Time: 10am – 10pm Star Cineplex Bashundhara City

Theatre

Munir Chowdhury Theatre Fest 2014 Time: 7pm – 9pm Experimental Theatre Shilpakala Academy Shegun Bagicha Shahbagh

Kanjus Loko Natyadal Time: 7pm Experimental Theatre Hall, BSA

Exhibition

Photography Exhibition Innate Identities Time: 12pm – 8pm

Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts, Road No 16 (Old 27), Dhanmondi National Sculpture Exhibition Group art show Time: 11am - 7pm National Art Gallery Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Segunbagicha

Kanjus to be staged today n Entertainment Desk Kanjus, one of the most acclaimed plays in the history of Bangladesh, will be staged today at the Experimental Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.

The story of Kanjus is about a sixty-year-old miser, Haider Ali. He has a big amount of money hidden in a pot

in his garden. He shows no exception when it comes to spending, even for his own flesh and blood, his son Kazim and daughter Laili.

Kazim is in love with neighbour Marjina, while Laili is in a relationship with Badiuzzaman, son of Haider’s friend Aslam Beg. The plot of the play comes to a climax when Haider Ali himself plans to marry Marjina. Meanwhile,

another dramatic situation is created when Haider Ali’s hidden money gets stolen and Kala Mia, Haider’s cook and rickshaw-puller blames Badiuzzaman for the incident.

The course of event leads Haider Ali to yield to his children’s choices. However, he only surrenders when Aslam Beg agrees to pay all the expenditure of the marriages. l

Sonakshi pairs up with Rajinikanth

n Entertainment Desk

Bollywood heroine Sonakshi Sinha is making her debut in Tamil with Lingaa and tweeted that she has completed her part in the first schedule. It is to be remembered that the Dabbang actress joined the Lingaa shoot right from the day it was launched (May 2).

Sonakshi’s latest tweet says, “A beautiful day as I wrap up the first sched for my first Tamil film #Lingaa with an amazing crew that made me feel right at home.”

Anushka, who has been roped in as another heroine of the film is expected to join Lingaa shoot by the end of May. Rajini plays dual role in the flick whose story has been written by Pon Kumaran.

Meanwhile, the production faced a few hiccups due to protest from Kannadiga factions. However, the shoot of the film is progressing as planned in various locations in Karnataka. The film was launched in Mysore and shooting has so far taken place in Mysore, Mandya and Ramnagar under the stewardship of the film’s director KS Ravikumar.

Rockline Venkatesh, the producer of the film has assured that the first schedule of the film will last in the state for 40 days as it has been the initial plan and the protesters cannot force them to leave the state. l

Ranveer and Parineeti wrap up Kill Dil n Entertainment Desk

Bollywood actors Ranveer Singh Parineeti Chopra have wrapped up shooting for their upcoming film Kill Dil. Lead actors of the film Parineeti and Ranveer took to Twitter to announce the wrap up of the film. Parineeti also mentioned that she will miss the Kill Dil team.

The film is a romantic action directed by Shaad Ali and produced by Aditya Chopra. The film also features Govinda, Rani Mukerji and Ali Zafar in

the lead roles.

Ranveer is excited about sharing the screen-space with Govinda in an upcoming film titled Kill Dil. “I have a special bond with him. He treats me like his son.

I am huge fan of his. I love the way he dances, I used to copy him when I was in school. May be his contemporaries are still ruling the roost, but the fact is nobody ever had a talent like him,” Ranveer Singh said.

Ranveer and Parineeti were recently seen in Lavasa, close to Mumbai on the

sets of Yash Raj Films’ to shoot Kill Dil. Govinda will be seen playing a negative role in the film.

Director of the film Shaad Ali described Kill Dil as a film about the tricks the heart plays on an unsuspecting victim of love.

There were reports that Deepika Padukone would be playing the female lead.

However, it was later officially declared that Parineeti Chopra had been signed for the role. It is set to release on November 14. l

Did you know?

After scoring one run in his first four innings of IPL 7, Gautam Gambhir has hit 174 in his four subsequent knocks

Sport

Monday, May 12, 2014

14 Zanetti ends an

era with final San Siro appearance

14 Nadal to face

Nishikori in Madrid Masters final

‘Big innings warrants recognition’ National team opener Imrul Kayes scored his maiden double hundred against North Zone yesterday to propel Prime Bank South Zone to a commanding position in the ongoing final of BCL. Imrul’s heroic effort, complemented duly by Mithun Ali’s unbeaten 111 allowed South Zone to take a mammoth lead of 446 runs at stumps on day three.

Imrul scored 204 off 266 deliveries which included 20 boundaries and 9 sixes. The last time Imrul reached the triple figures in an innings was in the home series against Sri Lanka in January this year and he dedicated his milestone achievement to his parents.

However, the southpaw was also guarding against getting carried away with this Herculean feat.

“The feeling is really special. I have been trying to score a double for a long time because I was not getting the recognition as a top order batsman without a big innings. I needed an innings of this kind to be honest,” said Imrul to the media at the SBNS yesterday.

When queried what he meant by ‘recognition as a top order batsman’,

Kester relishes revenge act Kester Akion, the Nigerian marksman of Brothers Union relished the revenge act against Uttar Baridhara at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

The Nigerian forward was excited with the outcome of the match. “We worked hard for the last couple of days and was charged up to win this match.

The 3-2 loss in the first phase was painful to us and we were really focused to win it. Everything went our way and we are happy to finish on a high,” said Kester who slammed a hat-rick and was relishing the moment of glory.

It is worth mentioning here that four of the five hat-tricks in the league have come against Uttar Baridhara and the promoted club is languishing at the bottom of the points table.

Meanwhile, Augustine Walson, another Haitian forward has started to find his feet in Dhaka’s football arena with his decent football skills, following the footsteps of his compatriots Sony Norde and Wedson of Sheikh Jamal, and Pascal Millien of Sheikh Russell. Both of his strikes were super yesterday and the forward was looking forward to earn a call from a big team next season. “I want to score more goals and my target is to attract the big teams’ attention. Sony Norde is my friend and I have played for the Haitian national team in 2012,” said Walson. l

Imrul replied that ‘century or double century has become very usual in the domestic circuit now’.

Imrul’s double century is the third in the ongoing season of BCL. Earlier in the tournament, another opening batsman Shamsur Rahman and all-rounder Farhad Reza reached the milestone.

Imrul admitted of drawing inspiration from Shamsur’s and Farhad’s innings.

“You also feel the push of doing the same when you have others scoring big hundreds around you.

It creates competition and makes you feel that you also can do that,” said Imrul.

“It’s a challenge to score a double century and also a very big achievement,” he added.

Imrul caused his own downfall in the first innings as his poor shot selection saw him dismissed after scoring only 38 runs. This had urged him to score better in the second innings he said.

“I had plan to play well in the second innings so that I could recover from the poor showing in the first. Tried not to repeat the mistake and tried to keep the ball on the ground as much as possible. I believe this helped me to score big,” said the 27-year-old. l

13

15 City stroll

to Premier League title

Imrul double ton puts South Zone in prime position

BRIEF SCORE, DAY 3 South Zone 271 all out North Zone 235 all out South Zone 410/3 in 90 overs (Imrul Kayes 204, Mithun Ali 111*) Prime Bank South Zone opener Imrul Kayes raises his bat to celebrate his first ever first-class double hundred during the third day of the Bangladesh Cricket League final against BCB North Zone at Mirpur yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

Russel creates history in AFC President’s Cup Sheikh Russel KC marked its name in the history books as the first Bangladeshi club to earn a s e c o n d - ro u n d slot in the AFC President’s Cup with a 4-0 win over Ugyen Academy in their last group A match at Shughatdasa Stadium, Colombo yesterday.

Following the comprehensive victory, Russel finished at the top of group A with seven points. Having started the tourney with a goalless draw against KRL Club of Pakistan, Russel gradually found their rhythm which elevated them to the top of the group. Russel thrashed local outfit Sri Lanka Air Force 5-0 with Mithun Chowdhury notching a brace and Pascal Millien, Shakil Ahmed and Sobuj Kumar Biswas adding one each.

With a second-round ticket almost confirmed Russel, however, did not display any complacency against the weakest team of the group. With an

DHAKA TRIBUNE

attacking line-up and aggressive approach, Russel cornered their opponents from the very beginning and took the lead in the 14th minute through their Haitian forward Pascal. The wily forward capitalised a through pass from Mithun and placed the ball into the net.

The strike charged up Russel and the lead was doubled in the 21st min-

Russel are yet to concede a goal in the three matches they have played so far in addition to the nine goals they have scored in the previous two matches ute as roles were reversed with Mithun scoring and Pascal turning up as the provider.

Winger Shakil gave Russel a threegoal cushion in the 28th minute as Pascal curved a cross from the right flank and Shakil, who was unmarked, thumped a placing shot into the net.

The Bangladeshi top-flight club went into the break 3-0 up.

After resumption, Russel concentrated upon consolidating their au-

Brothers Union’s Nigerian striker Kester Akon (front) fights for the ball during their Bangladesh Premier League match against Uttar Baridhara at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday MUMIT M

thority but had to wait for the fourth goal till the 88th minute of the game.

Mithun grabbed his second, and his fourth of the tournament, after a combined move.

Russel are yet to concede a goal in the three matches they have played so far in addition to the nine goals they have scored in the previous two matches. Club president Nurul Alam Chowdhury awarded a bonus of $10,000 for the team for its history-making feat.

In the final match of the group, Sri Lanka Air Force defeated KRL Club of Pakistan 3-0 and had double cause for joy having finished as the runners-up side and claiming the second slot from the group. Dumina opened the scoring in the third minute, Hashan doubled the lead in the seventh minute and Kavidu added the third in the ninth minute. Sri Lanka Air Force completed their campaign with six points while KRL finished with four. Ugyen Academy failed to register a single point.

Earlier, Dhaka Abahani were unable to go past the first round of the AFC President’s Cup on five occasions although Dhaka Mohammedan did appear in the second round of the AFC Cup Winners’ Cup in 1996-97. l

Going into the fourth and penultimate day’s play today in the final of the second edition of the Bangladesh Cricket League at Mirpur, Prime Bank South Zone will fancy their chances of claiming the title after gathering a huge 446-run lead against BCB North Zone.

Following the conclusion of the third day, South Zone were batting on 410/3 in 90 overs at a surprisingly brisk run rate of 4.56 with opener Imrul Kayes blasting his maiden first-class double hundred and Mithun Ali striking an unbeaten 111.

South Zone had taken a 36-run lead after the first innings and continued to pile on the misery upon North Zone as Imrul and Mithun shared 254 runs for the third wicket. North Zone’s left-arm spinner Taijul Islam, who recorded career-best bowling figures of 8/86 in the first innings, lacked inspiration after conceding 109 runs for just the wicket of opener Anamul Haque (21).

Imrul was dismissed for 204 but not before bludgeoning 20 boundaries and as many as nine sixes. The lefthander though will count himself lucky as he received three reprieves on 58, 109 and 122. Mithun, on the other end, smote 13 boundaries and five sixes and will resume the fourth day’s proceedings alongside Shuvagata Hom (10 not out).l

Fahad wins National Sub-Junior Chess title The youngest Fide Master of the country Mohammad Fahad Rahman emerged as the unbeaten champion in the Azimuddin Bhuiyan Trust 33rd National Sub-Junior (Under-16 Years) Chess Championship yesterday.

Fahad drew with Tanzina Akter Tani in the last round held at the Chess Federation hall-room yesterday. Fahad earned 6.5 points to clinch the title.

This is the 2nd time Fahad has won subJunior title after his previous triumph in 2011. Subrata Biswas of Mymensing became runner-up with 5.5 points.

Tanzina Akter Tani became champion in girls’ section with 5.5 points while Jannatul Ferdous finished second with 5 points.

The event was held in seven round Swiss-League system. A total of 60 players from Dhaka city and 15 districts took part in the meet. l

Champion FM Fahad Rahman receives his prize from chief guest Professor Kamrun Nehar Taslim during the Azimuddin Bhuiya Trust 33rd National Sub-Junior Chess Championship-2014 yesterday COURTESY

Kester, Walson help Brothers crush Baridhara Nigerian striker Kester Akon slammed a sensational hat-trick as Brothers Union continued their fine form in the Bangladesh Premier League with a crushing 5-1 victory over Uttar Baridhara at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

Kester netted two goals in the opening-half before adding his third early in the second-half to complete his fourth hat-trick while his Haitian attacking partner Augustine Walson staged his brilliance to score a brace to enable the Orange post their biggest winning margin in the league.

Uttar Baridhara appeared totally different from their last outing where they

thrashed BJMC 3-0 as their defence crumbled and had very little clue of the attacking combination of Kester and Walson.

Brothers have lost only one out of their last eight matches in the league and remain at fourth place with 22 points while Baridhara remained at eighth place with 10 points from same number of outings.

Kestor took the Gopibag outfits off to a flier as he scored with just five minutes on the clock. He volleyed home a Rubel Mia rebounder inside the box off Faisal Mahmud’s corner. The Orange almost doubled the lead five minutes later but the woodwork saved Baridhara from Walson’s strike from the left.

Kester eventually doubled the lead in the 27th minute firing home past Baridhara goalkeeper Osman Goni from inside the box.

Baridhara, however, kept their chances in the game alive with Sujon Biswas pulling one back two minutes later with a left foot volley off Kenyan striker Collins Tiego’s headed pass.

Walson’s continuous effort from the left flank finally paid dividend as the Haitianextended Brothers’ lead to 3-1 in the 40th minute with a brilliant solo effort. Running through the left side, Walson fooled around a defender then drifted past another at the edge of the box before curling a shot into top right corner. The wrecked back line conceded another goal as Walson added his second at the stroke of half-time. Kester completed his hat-trick just six minutes after the breather after heading past onrushing Brothers goalkeeper from a corner of Faisal Mahmud. Kester’s first hat-trick in the season took his goal tally to six. l

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Celtic end season on winning note Celtic ended another successful Scottish Premiership season on a winning note on Sunday with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Dundee United at Parkhead. The Hoops, who were finally presented with the Scottish Premiership trophy at the end of the match, had already had a Leigh Griffiths effort ruled out for offside before Anthony Stokes broke the deadlock in the 64th minute with his side’s 100th goal of the season. Substitute Georgios Samaras then netted on his farewell appearance for the club as he converted a 76th minute penalty that the Greek striker had earned himself after being hauled down by keeper Radoslaw Cierzniak.

–AFP

Sport

Monday, May 12, 2014

Spurs push Trail Blazers to brink The San Antonio Spurs moved one win away from reaching the NBA Western Conference finals on Saturday with a dominant 118-103 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. The Spurs, who had won the first two games of the bestof-seven second-round series at home, showed no let up at the shift to Portland and can complete a four-game sweep on Monday in Oregon. San Antonio point guard Tony Parker scored a game-high 29 points. Tim Duncan added 19 for the Spurs, who needed seven games to subdue the tenacious Dallas Mavericks in the first round.

–AFP

Chardy could face Federer in Rome Jeremy Chardy beat Robin Haase 6-4, 6-4 on Sunday at the Italian Open to book a second round meeting with Roger Federer - should the new father of twins choose to play the event. France’s Chardy, ranked 49th to Federer’s fourth, has already been beaten by the Swiss this season as Federer won their January semi-final in Brisbane. Against Haase, Chardy rifled over nine aces without a double-fault, breaking four times in a win lasting just under 90 minutes. Federer will make a last-minute decision as to his participation at the Foro Italico after wife Mirka Vavrinec gave birth to the couple’s second set of twins last Tuesday. –AFP

Zanetti ends an era with final San Siro appearance Inter Milan defender Javier Zanetti was given a rousing farewell by the club’s appreciate supporters after the 40-year-old Argentine ended an era by playing his final match at the San Siro on Saturday.

Zanetti came on as a 52nd minute substitute during a 4-1 win over Lazio that booked Inter’s place in the Europa League for next season, a final high for a player who was a rock of consistency in a topsy-turvy two decades at the club.

It was his 857th appearance for Inter since signing for the club in 1995, when he became Massimo Moratti’s first purchase as Inter president, and he could make one more in their final Serie A match of the season at Chievo next week.

“From the moment he arrived at Inter he always honoured the shirt and always made us proud to be Inter fans,” former Inter owner Moratti said on Saturday.

“We have won a lot with him, everything. But I think that a person like him deserves all that and also deserves all of our affection and to be remembered for ever.”

The Argentine’s 614 Serie A appearances is bettered only by former AC Milan and Italy defender Paolo Maldini

PERSONAL INFORMATION : Buenos Aires, Argentina

Height

: 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)

Current club

: Internazionale

Number Years

:4 Team

1992–1993 1993–1995 1995–2014

Apps

Gls

Talleres RE 33 Banfield 66 Internazionale 614

1 4 12

National team 1996 1994–2011

Argentina U23 Argentina

12 145

0 5

IN NUMBERS Number of appearances for Inter

joining in 1995. Zanetti is 856 since the record holder for the club.

613

Number of Serie A games Zanetti has played, a record for an overseas player.

15

Number of trophies Zanetti has won as a player at Inter, including four on-field Scudetti

145

Caps won for Argentina, the record number for his country.

He played at two World Cups in 1998 and 2002.

45

Average number of games Zanetti played per season between his debut campaign in 1992 and before his injury in 2013.

Inter Milan’s captain Javier Zanetti (R) celebrates with his family at the end of their Italian Serie A match against Lazio at San Siro stadium in Milan on Saturday REUTERS

op home-grown talent when so few locals were breaking into first teams.

“What do they care about? A lot of them, because they’re spending a lot of money on academy programmes, are saying: ‘But hang on, what am I getting back for this?’” he said.

“When Chelsea have not had a player out of their academy and into their first team consistently since John Terry you wonder, well, hang on, this is probably the most expensive academy in Britain.

“I always love England because it’s so opposed to any change,” he added. “And yet you have to say: ‘Well, hang on, guys. We might have the best league in the world but we haven’t got the best development programme in the world by any means.’”

The FA commission’s plan includes the creation of a new ‘League Three’ to be initially made up of 10 Premier

PSG’s defender Marquinhos (L) is congratuled by his teammate Adrien Rabiot after scoring a goal during the French L1 football match against Lille (LOSC) at the Pierre Mauroy stadium in Lille on Saturday AFP

PSG crush Lille, break points record Champions Paris Saint Germain achieved a new Ligue 1 points record on Saturday with a 3-1 win over 10-man Lille to ensure the race for Europe in France goes down to the wire.

Laurent Blanc’s side now have 86 points to overtake Lyon’s all-time record of 84 in 2006, in a tie which was overshadowed by PSG’s France midfielder Yohan Cabaye suffering a right ankle injury.

European places will now be allocated on the final day of the season next Saturday with Champions League and Europa League berths still up for grabs.

Place of birth

Senior career

League B teams and 10 sides from the cream of minor league football, with clubs promoted and relegated between the tiers.

The plan is based on the structure of Spanish and German football, where younger players play competitively on a regular basis.

Dyke said as well as City, Manchester United, Stoke City, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, “four or five” other clubs were in favour of the plan.

The commission’s proposal will be discussed by the leagues in July. Premier League boss Richard Scudamore is a vocal opponent.

“It’s all right sitting there saying we won’t change anything,” Dyke said.

“And in 15 years’ time there are only 15 percent of the players in the Premier League who are English and we haven’t got an England team.” l

Mourinho says Suarez undeserving of awards Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has claimed that Liverpool striker Luis Suarez is an unworthy choice as this season’s Premier League player of the year.

“Luis Suarez is a very good player.

They’re not voting for a player who has no quality,” Mourinho said, in comments carried by several British newspapers on Sunday. “(But) the profile of player who wins the player of the year is not the profile of player who used to win in English football 10, eight, six years ago.”

Suarez was banned for 10 matches after biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic last season, but has returned to become the country’s outstanding

Nadal to face Nishikori in Madrid Masters final

PSG’s goals came through Brazilians Marquinhos (41) and Lucas (66) and Blaise Mathuidi (83) with the titleholders bidding to close out their season on a further high at home against Montpellier next weekend.

Cabaye picked up the injury late in the first half after a tackle for which Lille’s France international midfielder Marvin Martin was given his marching orders.

The 28-year-old was stretchered off and taken to hospital immediately for a scan, which Blanc later said had not revealed anything serious.

Minutes later, Brazilian defender Marquinhos broke the deadlock with a

: 10 August 1973 (age 40)

Club information

‘Few English players at City, Chelsea depressing’ The paucity of English players at champions-in-waiting Manchester City and Premier League rivals Chelsea is “pretty depressing”, according to Football Association (FA) chairman Greg Dyke.

Dyke is pushing an FA commission proposal to tighten visa requirements on foreign players while having Premier League clubs introduce B teams in lower divisions in a bid to improve the England national side.

While supported by the English players’ association, the proposal has drawn widespread criticism from the leagues, who say it would damage their competitions.

“It’s been a great league this year,” Dyke told British media on Saturday.

“I think the Premiership has been brilliant. But I think there are probably

: Javier Adelmar Zanetti

Date of birth

Playing position : Right wingback / Defensive midfielder

but is by far and away the most of any foreign player to play in Italy.

In that time Zanetti has won five league titles, scored in a 3-0 1998 UEFA Cup final win against Lazio and played a key role in the treble-winning 2010 side that claimed the club’s first European Cup in nearly half a century.

But he was also part of the team that handed the league title to arch-rivals Juventus in 2002 after a spectacular collapse in the final weeks of the season. A 4-2 defeat at Lazio saw them drop from being league leaders to third place in the space of 90 agonising minutes.

Zanetti will leave the game a symbol of better times for Italian football, when one-club legends like Maldini, Alessandro Del Piero and Francesco Totti helped make Serie A the toughest, and arguably the best league in the world.

Next season only Totti will be left, and his role at Roma is becoming increasingly marginal.

“It wasn’t easy to take this decision, I’ve given everything I had,” Zanetti said. “I’m glad to be able to quit when I’m physically and mentally fit.”

Moratti’s sold his controlling interest in the club to Indonesian Erick Thohir last year and is now at the club only in an honorary capacity. l

two England players playing at City and two or three at Chelsea - although there won’t be that many next year - that’s pretty depressing.

“I think the figures that we produced, that the top four clubs last year averaged 29 percent English players starting last year, down to 23 percent this year, I think we should be worried about that.”

Top of the table City have marched to the brink of their second Premier League title in three seasons with only two England players in Joe Hart and James Milner playing regularly.

Third-placed Chelsea can boast three capped England players making regular appearances in John Terry, Gary Cahill and Frank Lampard.

Dyke said Premier League club owners were wondering why they would throw money into academies to devel-

Full name

header, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, playing for the first time in a month, missing a chance to give the visitors a twogoal advantage just before the break.

Lucas got the second after 65 minutes as he picked up a cross from Argentine teammate Javier Pastore, with the Brazilian also setting up the third as Matuidi gave the Lille defence the slip behind Ibrahimovic.

Midfielder Jonathan Delaplace got one back for the hosts in extra time, but it was too little too late as third-placed Lille are just two points ahead of Saint Etienne, 3-1 winners at Nantes, thanks to a Mevlut Erding double. l

World number one Rafael Nadal will face Japan’s Kei Nishikori in Sunday’s Madrid Masters final after he romped past fellow Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 6-3 on Saturday.

Tenth seed Nishikori had a much sterner test as he needed 10 match points to finally overcome David Ferrer 7-6, (7/5), 5-7, 6-3 in nearly three hours to record his 14th straight win.

Nadal has now won 12 sets in a row in the Spanish capital as he looks for his first title of the European clay court season after suffering shock defeats in the quarter-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters and Barcelona Open.

“After a great match yesterday to have the confirmation today that the improvement is real is a very good news and important for me,” said the 13-time Grand Slam champion.

“I think for moments I played great tennis against an opponent that is playing really well and improving a lot.

“To be in a final here in a difficult tournament at home after losing two weeks in a row in the quarter-finals means a lot to me.”

Nadal has said consistently throughout the week that his game has been improving slowly on the clay from a poor start in Monte Carlo and underlined the importance of using his forehand to dictate the rallies more than he was in recent weeks.

“I’m playing my logical game again that I’ve always done on clay. I think I’m playing well with my forehand and defending very well. Especially when I have a short balls my forehand is dangerous again.”

After breaking the Bautista Agut serve in the opening game, Nadal was pegged back after a sloppy service game of his own to allow the world number 45 to level at 3-3.

However, the three-time champion in Madrid suddenly upped his intensity to take the next seven games to close out the first set and move a double break up in the second. l

Kei Nishikori celebrates winning a point against David Ferrer during their men’s singles semi-final match at Madrid on Saturday REUTER

player, scoring 31 league goals to inspire Liverpool’s title challenge.

He was subsequently elected player of the year by both the Professional Footballers’ Association and the Football Writers’ Association.

Mourinho has criticised Suarez this season, accusing him of pulling off an “acrobatic swimming pool” dive in a vain bid to win a penalty during Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat at Chelsea in December.

“He bit (Ivanovic) not this season, but the previous season. This is a different season,” Mourinho said.

“I’m not speaking about one mistake that a man can have. You don’t have to be punished for the rest of your life if you make a mistake on the football pitch. l

Zenit fans attack Dynamo captain in pitch invasion Zenit St Petersburg supporters invaded the pitch Sunday and attacked Dynamo Moscow’s captain as their side were headed for a shock home defeat in a crunch title game.

Andre Villas-Boas’s side were losing 4-2 in the 87th minute when St Petersburg fans launched their assault and forced the game to be abandoned.

One fan punched Dynamo skipper Vladimir Granat to the head twice.

Granat was helped from the field in a daze. Reports said he suffered concussion.

Dynamo officials said they would launch legal action.

“The attack on Granat is without doubts a criminal offence,” the Interfax news agency quoted one Dynamo chief as saying.

“I believe that the law-enforcement authorities should investigate this case.”

Zenit said the club was trying to identify the fan who attacked Granat.

“The fans unruly behavoir is serious blow for the club’s reputation,” Zenit press service chief Yevgeny Gusev said.

“The club and the police are trying to identify the person who attacked Granat. We’re also preparing evidence for launching legal action againt him.

“We believe that the persons guilty of this incident will suffer punishment for their actions.” l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

RESULTS Cardiff Bellamy 15

Fulham

1 2

15

Monday, May 12, 2014

Champs City pay tribute to classy Pellegrini

Chelsea Schurrle 72, Torres 75

2 2

Crystal Palace

0 2

Everton

Woodrow 61, David 90+4

Hull

Sport

Gayle 28, 84

McCarthy 9, Lukaku 46

Liverpool

2 1

Newcastle

Agger 63, Sturridge 65

Man City

Skrtel 20-og

2 0

West Ham

0 2

Arsenal

1 1

Man United

1 3

Swansea

Nasri 39, Kompany 49

Norwich

Ramsey 53, Jenkinson 62

Southampton Lambert 28

Sunderland Borini 50

Tottenham

Mata 54 Dyer 7, Emnes 14, Bony 54

3 0

Aston Villa

Paulinho 14, Baker 35-og, Adebayor 38-P

West Brom Sessegnon 56

1 2

Stoke McAuley 22-og, Adam 87

POINTS TABLE Team 1 Man City 2 Liverpool 3 Chelsea 4 Arsenal 5 Everton 6 Tottenham 7 Man United 8 Southampton 9 Stoke City 10 Newcastle 11 Crystal Palace 12 Swansea City 13 West Ham 14 Sunderland 15 Aston Villa 16 Hull City 17 West Brom 18 Norwich City 19 Fulham 20 Cardiff City

GP W D L GD PTS 38 27 5 6 65 86 38 26 6 6 51 84 38 25 7 6 44 82 38 24 7 7 27 79 38 21 9 8 22 72 38 21 6 11 4 69 38 19 7 12 21 64 38 15 11 12 8 56 38 13 11 14 -7 50 38 15 4 19 -16 49 38 13 6 19 -15 45 38 11 9 18 0 42 38 11 7 20 -11 40 38 10 8 20 -19 38 38 10 8 20 -22 38 38 10 7 21 -15 37 38 7 15 16 -16 36 38 8 9 21 -34 33 38 9 5 24 -45 32 38 7 9 22 -42 30

FACTS & STATS West Ham did not manage a single shot on target at Man City today Liverpool are the first team since Tottenham in 1962-63 to score 100+ goals and concede 50+ goals in the same season Two teams have scored 100+ goals in an English top-flight season for the first time since 1960-61.

Chelsea retain their PL record of 103 goals in a single PL season (Man City end on 102, Liverpool on 101) Juan Mata has scored as many goals in 15 PL apps for Utd as he did in 34 games for Chelsea in his debut PL season There have now been more own goals this season than in any previous PL campaign (beating 47 in 2012-13)

QUICK BYTES

Empty feeling as Shakhtar win 9th title Shakhtar Donetsk won a ninth Ukraine title following a 3-1 win over Zorya Lugansk at Cherkassy on Sunday but there were no spectators to share the celebrations. Shakhtar were forced to play their crucial game at Cherkassy’s neutral venue after the Ukraine football federation decided that all remaining championship matches be played behind closed doors after authorities feared they could trigger more deadly clashes in the country. The incidents that happened ahead and during league matches on April 27 at Kharkiv and on May 2 in Odessa where dozens were killed and injured in fighting around the two games forced the urgent measures.

–AFP

Hamilton wins again to take title race lead Lewis Hamilton took over the leadership of the Formula One drivers championship on Sunday when he made it four wins in a row by grabbing a heart-stopping victory in the Spanish Grand Prix.

He finished just 0.6 seconds ahead of his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg to move on to 100 points for the season and into the lead of the title race ahead of Rosberg, on 97. Australian Daniel Ricciardo came home third for Red Bull ahead of his team-mate, defending fourtime world champion Sebastian Vettel of Germany, who had started from 15th on the grid. The win was Hamilton’s fourth this year, his first in Spain and the 26th of his career while Mercedes one-two stamped their complete supremacy on the constructors’ championship which they now lead by more than 100 points.

–AFP

DAY’S WATCH Sony Six 8:30PM Indian Premier League Hyderabad v Mumbai 6:00AM Nba Play Off 2013-14, Conf Sf: Game 4 Indiana v Washington

Manchester City’s players celebrate after winning the English Premier League following their match against West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester yesterday

REUTERS

City stroll to Premier League title Liverpool win in vain, United out of Europe, Spurs sink Villa to seal Europa spot Manchester City secured a second Premier League title in three seasons by comfortably defeating West Ham United 2-0 at a jubilant Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

City effectively needed only a point to claim the championship ahead of Liverpool, but goals in each half from Samir Nasri and Vincent Kompany meant that they completed their mission with room to spare.

Victory took City’s goals tally to 102 -- one short of Chelsea’s Premier League record from 2009-10 -- and made Chilean Manuel Pellegrini the first non-European manager to win an

English top-flight title.

Liverpool, who led the table with three games to play, finished two points below City in second place after coming from behind to win 2-1 at home to Newcastle United, who had Shola Ameobi and Paul Dummett sent off.

The home fans celebrated with their customary ‘Poznan’ dance -- bouncing up and down with their backs to the game – and then flooded onto the pitch in delight at the final whistle.

Liverpool went into their last game of the campaign with a slim hope of winning a first league title since 1990, but they fell behind in the 20th minute when Martin Skrtel sliced Yoan Gouffran’s cross into his own net.

However, carbon-copy goals by Dan-

iel Agger and Daniel Sturridge, both of whom volleyed in Steven Gerrard freekicks, turned the game around in the space of two minutes in the second half.

LAST

10 EPL WINNERS

2013-14 2012-13 2011-12 2010-11 2009-10 2008-09 2007-08 2006-07 2005-06 2004-05

Manchester City Manchester United Manchester City Manchester United Chelsea Manchester United Manchester United Manchester United Chelsea Chelsea

Agger’s goal was Liverpool’s 100th in the league and made this the first English top-flight season in which two teams have reached that milestone since 1960-61.

Tottenham Hotspur secured the last available Europa League berth by crushing Aston Villa 3-0 through a Paulinho strike, a Nathan Baker own goal and an Emmanuel Adebayor penalty, all of which arrived before half-time.

Spurs’ victory means that Manchester United will not play in Europe next season for the first time since 1989-90.

United drew 1-1 at Southampton in Ryan Giggs’s final game as interim manager, which saw last season’s champions finish 22 points below cross-town rivals City in seventh place after a miserable campaign. l

Manchester City’s stars hailed ice-cool manager Manuel Pellegrini as the key to their Premier League title triumph.

French midfielder Samir Nasri, who scored the crucial 39th minute opener to ease any nerves against West Ham, insisted Pellegrini deserved to be acclaimed as the catalyst for City’s second title in three years.

“He remained calm all season for us to play attractive football and it was a pleasure to work with him,” Nasri said.

“There are no words to explain the feeling now. Maybe in an hour or two we will feel it. I’m so happy for the manager because it’s his first title in England.

“It’s an amazing feeling. My second title in three years. It was an amazing league the whole year. The Liverpool loss against Chelsea, I think that was the twist of the season.”

City’s players appeared as delighted for Pellegrini as themselves as they grouped together to throw him into the air in celebration after the presentation of the trophy on the Eastlands pitch.

And England goalkeeper Joe Hart agreed with Nasri that Pellegrini should be credited for the way he carefully managed a potentially volatile dressing room packed with vocal and highly-paid stars.

“He’s a winner, he wants us to win,” Hart said. “He is a measured man and he believes in what he does.

“We’re all winners with strong personalities and a great backroom staff and people who work at Manchester City. The boys that come in buy into it, so it’s great.”

Pablo Zabaleta added his voice to the chorus of praise for Pellegrini: “Credit to him, it’s his first season in the Premier League and he’s won it already, so there is nothing more to say.”

Hart also admitted it was a nice feeling to win the title with relative ease after the drama of City’s title triumph in 2012 when they scored twice in stoppage-time against QPR to pip Manchester United on goal difference on the last day.

“You can’t repeat what happened against QPR, that’s how it went that day. This year we’ve come strong at the end when we needed to,” he added.

“It was calmer today than the other season, but it was a very tough season.

Every team has played a part this season.” l

Gambhir guides KKR to Bananas thrown at Guinean defender nine-wicket win over Punjab Skipper Gautam Gambhir again led by example with a match-winning half-century as Kolkata Knight Riders remained in contention for play-off berth with a comprehensive nine-wicket win over table toppers Kings XI Punjab in an Indian Premier League encounter, at Barabati stadium Cutack on Sunday.

Chasing a modest target of 150 on a featherbed, Gambhir anchored the chase to perfection with a well-crafted unbeaten 65 after Robin Uthappa provided the momentum with a 28-ball46. Such was their domination that the match ended with two overs to spare.

Credit should also be given to leg-spinner Piyush Chawla (3/19) for his brilliant bowling in the middle overs after Virender Sehwag had set the tone for Punjab with a 50-ball-72.

KKR now have eight points and remain in the mix while KXIP got a timely wakeup call ahead of their bigger battles in the knock-out stages of the competition.

It’s been a roller coaster ride for Gambhir who started the tournament with a hat-trick of ducks and now has completed a hat-trick of half-centuries.

He now has 23 half-centuries across seven IPL editions - maximum by any player till date.

He changed his approach letting Uthappa dominate in the beginning

BRIEF SCORE

Punjab 149/8 (20 ov) Sehwag 72, Chawla 4/19 Kolkata 150/1 (18 ov) Gambhir 63, Uthappa 46 Kolkata won by 9 wickets and played himself in before going for the attack.

Gambhir faced 45 balls hitting seven fours and more importantly finished off the match staying at the crease right till the end. He added 82 runs for the unbroken second wicket with Manish Pandey (36 not out). l

Fans hurled bananas at AC Milan’s Guinean defender Kevin Constant on Sunday as his side’s Europa League bid suffered a huge knock in a 2-1 defeat

to Atalanta.

The racist insult was the latest to hit a top European football league after a banana was thrown at Barcelona’s Brazilian defender Dani Alves on April 27.

European football’s governing body UEFA this week blasted racist attacks in Spain and called for action after fans subjected foreign players to monkey taunts and banana-throwing.

Alves calmly picked up the banana hurled at him by a Villarreal fan and bit a chunk out of it. But there was many protests by black players after the game.

Sunday’s flashpoint came midway through the second half during a stoppage of play deep in Atalanta’s half.

Constant picked up a banana that had been thrown in his direction to give

to the referee, and as he did so another landed near Dutch teammate Nigel De Jong, who is of Surinamese-Indonesian descent.

De Jong and Milan’s French defender Phillipe Mexes reacted with sarcastic applause.

Coach Clarence Seedorf called for the banana-throwers to banned for life, but applauded his players’ reaction.

“I don’t there’s too much I can say,” Seedorf told Sky Sport.

“It’s an unfortunate incident that, thanks to the lads’ professionalism, did not affect them for the rest of the game.

“I hope that whoever was responsible will be banned from attending matches for life.”

Milan’s defeat, however, may have confirmed Seedorf’s anticipated departure from the club at the end of the season amid reports he has failed to win over owner and president Silvio Berlusconi despite dragging the Rossoneri away from the league doldrums.

Milan travelled to Bergamo looking to build on the 1-0 derby win over Inter last week that put them firmly in con-

Bawanian’s six-a-side cricket begins To celebrate the 50th anniversary as well as to host the 8th re-union of ‘The Bawanians’, a six-a-side cricket tournament comprising the former students of the time-honored educational institute Ahmed Bawani School and College started at the school premise on Saturday. Former national cricketers Javed Omar and Mehrab Hossain Opee inaugurated the meet. Mir Nizamuddin Ahmed, the vice president of the Bawanians, general secretary Lutfe Salim, senior photographer Abdul Mukit Rubel and former women cricketer Sajia Chowdhury were also present on the occasion. A total of 12 teams are participating in the meet which will conclude on May 16. l

tention for a place in the Europa League.

The visitors looked to be heading for a share of the spoils after home striker German Denis levelled for the hosts from the spot barely a quarter hour after Gianpaolo Bellini had put the ball past his own ‘keeper Andrea Consigli to give Milan a 1-0 lead.l

RESULTS Atalanta

2 1

Denis 68-P, Brienza 90+6

Bologna Morleo 79

Cagliari Livorno Sampdoria Eder 30, Wszolek 88

Sassuolo

1 2

Immobile 42

Catania

Monzon 22, Bergessio 84

0 1 0 1 2 5

Chievo Dainelli 72

Fiorentina Cuadrado 57

Napoli

Zapata 19, Insigne 27, Callejon 32, Hamsik 47, Mustafi 61-og

4 2

Floro Flores 16, 89, Biondini 66, Sansone 86

Torino

Milan Bellini 51-og

1 1

Genoa Calaio 40, Gilardino 76

Parma Biabiany 71

Sharapova rallies past Halep to win Madrid title

Former national cricketers Javed Omar and Mehrab Hossain Opee inaugurate the six-a-side cricket tournament comprising the former students of institute Ahmed Bawani School and College at the school premises on Saturday COURTESY

Maria Sharapova recovered from a woeful start to overwhelm rising talent Simona Halep 1-6 6-2 6-3 in the final of the Madrid Open and claim her 31st career title on Sunday.

Russian Sharapova, a former world number one now ranked ninth, needed to draw on all her experience on the clay in the Spanish capital to see off the 22-year-old Romanian fourth seed, who was appearing in the final of a premier event for the first time.

Sharapova missed the second half of last season with a shoulder injury and has not been at her dominant best in 2014 but her form in Madrid suggests she may be a contender at the French Open which starts later this month. l

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Monday, May 12, 2014

Solar not a renewable energy solution Builders and consumers install rented rooftop panels, officials overlook them for bribes and give connections

n Aminur Rahman Rasel A regulation, binding users to install solar power panels, has only ended up fattening the pockets of some dishonest businessmen and corrupt government officials, instead of easing pressure on conventional energy.

During May 2011 to April 2014, the five designated power distribution companies have installed around 25,000 rooftop solar panel systems with an aggregate capacity of 11MW. According to an estimation of government’s Power Cell, with these 150-200 watt panels costing up to Tk3 lakh on an average, the total cost of setting up those panels was around Tk750 crore.

The idea was to ensure that domestic and commercial consumers generated about 3-10% of their demand for power on their own by installing solar systems at their establishments.

Only those domestic users, who required more than 2 kilowatt of electricity, needed to install the panels. For industrial users, 50KW was the lower limit.

Initially, the power distribution companies could not force the consumers to set up the panels; they could only request them. But since the beginning of the process, consumers have been allegedly forced to set up the panels.

There are allegations that some officials of the power distribution companies turned the optional thing into something mandatory, only to serve the purpose of their own solar panel businesses.

Seeking anonymity, several con-

sumers alleged that a number of former and current directors of FBCCI, an advisor to the prime minister and an association of renewable energy traders created pressure on the government to introduce the solar panel regulation.

The businesses too had two different dimensions.

According to consumers, the cost of setting up 150-200 watt solar panels is around Tk4-5 lakh. Generally, builders would install such a system and collect the money from the apartment-owners.

After setting up a system, the builder or the consumer would inform the distribution companies, who would then send an inspector. On the basis of the report of the inspector the distribution company would decide on giving fresh connection.

There are allegations that some government officials, in exchange of bribes, often do not even properly check whether the solar panel systems are running or not and give the connections.

Taking advantage of this, many builders and users have temporarily rented solar panels just for show without actually installing the power generation and distribution system.

Investigations have revealed that around 70-80 companies import and distribute solar panel systems. Around 20-25 of these companies are involved with panel rental business. As soon as the clients get connections, the companies take back the panels and rent them out to other connection seekers.

They charge Tk1-2 lakh for 15 days to one month.

Good panels

Tk4-5 lakh Rented panels

Tk50,000-Tk2lakh Panels rented out for

15 days - 1 month Officials get

Tk30,000-40,000 as bribe for each istallation May 2011-April 2014 25,000 panels installed at Tk750 crore Average cost Tk3 lakh These traders have also built up a nexus with the officials of the power distribution companies and helped consumers get connections without actually setting up panels in exchange of money.

The distribution company officials get commissions for their “service.”

Disguised as a consumer, this reporter contacted the chief executive officer one of the companies that rented out solar panels.

“We take Tk1-2 lakh as rent for a panel. We will take it back after you get connection,” KamrulHasan, CEO of A to Z Services in the capital’s West Panthapath, told this reporter.

He said the real estate developers were the main clients and claimed that the officials of the power distribution companies were “aware” of this business.

“There will be no trouble. We pay the power distribution officials Tk30,000-Tk40,000 for each rented panel,” he said.

With the same disguise, this correspondent also talked to Faruq Hossain, the owner of Cico Power in the capital’s Motijheel area. He said his company charged Tk1.5 lakh for the “rental.”

He even guaranteed connection if someone rented a “window dressing” system from his company. This means that he would even give the “service” of “managing” the government officials besides renting out a panel.

Seeking anonymity, an official of the government’s Power Division said a section of their employees were involved in the malpractice.

“The officials of power distribution companies are bribed into overlooking the irregularities,” he said.

Visiting a number of houses in the city, the Dhaka Tribune reporter has found that the panels installed are either used only at the time of load-shedding or are never used at all.

In one of the houses constructed by Al-Hera Builders and Engineering Ltd in Block C of the Bashundhara Residential Area, the panel was found to be completely dysfunctional.

Kazi Kamal Uddin, proprietor of AlHera Builders, claimed that the panel was not completely inactive. “It does not work sometimes.”

Shah Alam, a consumer from the capital’s Mohammadpur area, told the Dhaka Tribune: “The authority did not specify which inverters, charge controllers and batteriesshould be used with the panels. As a result, distribution companies have made their own specifications, paving way for corruption.”

According to consumers, their investmentshave completely gone down the drain because most of the systems, because of low quality, are either out of order or are not in use.

“If a residential building requires 100KW power, according to the regulation, a solar solution of 3KW would cost more than Tk5 lakh. But the builders often come to the solar panel sellers and ask for 250-300 watt solutions. These smaller systems cost only around Tk50,000,” a solar panel seller told the Dhaka Tribune.

The leaders of Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB), an association of builders, has claimed that the regulation has complicated things for their businesses because none of the owners are interested in bearing the financial burden of setting up solar panels.

“This power generation solution is totally useless in the urban areas. Owners are now selling off their solar panels like scrap metal.” REHAB Organising Secretary Sydul Islam Badal told the Dhaka tribune.

He said although the cost of the solar panels are eventually borne by apartment-owners, in return the meagre power that these systems generate

are nowhere near sufficient for meeting their demands.

Brig Gen (retd) Nazrul Hasan, managing director of Dhaka Power Distribution Company, admitted that there had been some irregularities.

“Because the system was not launched in a proper way and there is no monitoring mechanism, both officials and consumers are facing problems with the solar panel systems,” he said.

On January 21, REHAB urged State Minister for Power Nasrul Hamid to cancel the solar panel stipulation for getting new connections in households.

However, the government’s Power Cell has recently recommended the ministry to not cancel the stipulation; instead it advised the ministry to collect the money that the consumers were supposed to spend on installing solar panels as a pre-condition of getting new connection.

The Power Division is scheduled to sit in a meeting in the capital today to discuss whether the stipulation could be cancelled.

“We have had several meetings in the past and received recommendations from the Power Cell. Tomorrow [Monday] we are going to sit with the stakeholders, including REHAB, and make a decision in this regard,” the minister told the Dhaka Tribune.

In May 2011, the government resumed giving new electricity connections to households on condition of installing solar panels after a recess of several months. l

All eyes on Varanasi in the last phase of India polls

Girl’s body found in a suitcase n Tribune Report

n Agencies

Law enforcers recovered a teenage girl’s body from inside a suitcase floating in a ditch in the capital’s Hazaribagh yesterday.

Police said local residents noticed that the blue suitcase was floating on a ditch and informed police.

They recovered it around 3pm and discovered the body inside.

Neither police nor local residents could immediately identify the body.

The girl could be aged between 10 and 13, sources from the police said.

“The body was distorted and decomposed. It was wrapped in a scarf,” said Kazi Moinul Islam, officer-in-charge of the Hazaribagh police station.

The body was sent to Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital morgue in the capital for post mortem examination. l

The marathon Lok Sabha elections of India, one of the most bitterly fought in recent memory, will come to a close today when polling will be held in 41 constituencies in three states with stakes high for BJP and regional parties Trinamool Congress, SP and BSP, the Press Trust of India said.

Over nine crore voters are expected to decide the fate of 606 candidates, including BJP’s prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal (both from Varanasi) and SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav (Azamgarh) in the ninth and final phase of polling.

Campaigning in the election that started on April 7 came to an end on Saturday with Rahul Gandhi taking the

An average of 66% voters exercised their franchise in the last eight phases battle to Modi’s turf in Varanasi while other top leaders like Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav addressing last minute meetings.

Counting of votes in all the 543 Lok Sabha constituencies will be taken up on May 16. An average of 66% voters exercised their franchise in the last eight phases. The whole elections were spread over 35 days.

Of the 41 seats, heartland Uttar Pradesh (UP) will witness polling in 18 seats. Of these, ruling Samajwadi Party has six seats, followed by BSP 5, BJP 4 and Congress 3.

West Bengal has 17 seats in which polling will be held. Of these, the ruling Trinamool Congress has 14 seats, while Congress, CPI and Independent have one each.

In neighbouring Bihar, six seats are

up for grabs. Of them, BJP and JD (U) have two each, while RJD and Independent have one each.

Prominent among those in the fray in today’s polling are Union minister Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary (BehrampurWest Bengal), BJP leader Jagdambika Pal (Domariyaganj), Union minister RPN Singh (Kushi Nagar- both UP) and former minister and RJD leader Raghuvanh Prasad Singh (Vaishali-Bihar).

The last phase of the campaign also saw BJP mounting an all-out war on the Election Commission over refusal of permission for Modi to address a public meeting at a spot of his choice in Varanasi.

The commission rejected all charges of bias levelled by BJP, and said its decisions in Varanasi and elsewhere were unanimous. There were no differences in the commission. Polling was by and large peaceful in the previous eight phases barring incidents of Maoist violence in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.

The country registered a record turnout of voters, surpassing the previous record in 1984, as 66.27% voting was reported in 502 Lok Sabha seats where polling has been conducted in eight phases beginning on April 7. The 2009 elections recorded a 57.94% turnout.

Modi spearheaded the BJP challenge and criss-crossed the country addressing nearly 6,000 meetings, mixing traditional methods of holding rallies with innovative use of technology, ‘chai par charcha’ meetings and 3D video campaign.

The Nehru-Gandhi family made a vigorous push for votes with Rahul, his mother and Congress president Sonia Gandhi, and his sister Priyanka Gandhi leading the party challenge.

Sonia and Rahul are contesting from the family pocket borough in Rae Bareli and Amethi in UP where the Congress vice-president is pitted against BJP’s actor-turned-politician Smriti Irani and AAP’s leader Kumar Vishwas. l

A boy with burn injuries leaves Dhaka Medical College Hospital with his mother yesterday on a CNG-run auto-rickshaw failing to receive treatment because the honorary doctors were on a strike SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

India prefers tele-transit to bandwidth import n Muhammad Zahidul Islam

India has expressed interests to avail “tele-transit” instead of importing bandwidth from Bangladesh at Shillong point and both bandwidth and connectivity through Akhaura in Bangladesh to Agortala point of Assam.

The proposals were announced after a four-member delegation from the Indian state-owned telecommunication company Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) attended two meetings with the Posts and Telecommunications Division and the state-owned Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Limited (BSCCL).

Sources said in these two meetings the Indian delegation were keen to avail connectivity rather than bandwidth import from Bangladesh.

“We are interested about connectivity with bandwidth [IP transit] and I hope it will be helpful for both the

countries,” BSNL Chief General Manager DP Singh, who is leading the Indian delegation, told the Dhaka Tribune after the first meeting.

He also noted that the region should come under a single network from Afghanistan to Myanmar.

Sources said India had requested connectivity from Bangladesh for the first time in 2009 through a mobile telecommunication company but this time they made an official proposal.

The other members of the Indian delegation were SK Bhardwaj and Anand Khare, general managers of the company from Delhi, and Deb Kumar Chakrabarti from Tripura.

However, when contacted Posts and Telecommunications Division Secretary Md Abu Bakar Siddique said the ministry had not received any such proposal.

“It was only a courtesy meeting from the Indian guests and they have

not placed any such proposal before me... We have decided only to export bandwidth – not give connectivity to anyone,” he told the Dhaka Tribune.

The secretary added that Bangladesh would add another 1,300Gbps bandwidth when the BSCCL connected with the SEA-ME-WE-5 cable by 2016, while the country’s demand might increase at best to 210Gbps by 2021.

Meanwhile, IT experts said Bangladesh can only sell its unused bandwidth but should not rent connectivity as it will be detrimental to national interests.

“The terms and conditions should be exactly the same as it has been put for previous connectivity agreements between Bangladesh and India,” LIRNEasia Senior Policy Fellow Abu Saeed Khan told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

Earlier, the new Bhutanese Ambassador in Dhaka Pema Choden expressed her country’s interest in im-

porting surplus internet bandwidth.

Currently, the BSCCL has 200Gbps (88MIU-km) bandwidth and Bangladesh can use only 32Gbps or 16% of it.

Last July, a delegation from India’s Tripura visited Dhaka and placed demand for 40Gbps bandwidth for the eight eastern Indian states.

According to, BSCCL, Bangladesh would be able to earn at least Tk4.83 crore per month by exporting 40Gbps bandwidth to the seven sisters.

However, this time the BSNL delegation has sought around 10Gbps as a starter, taking the estimated earnings down to Tk1.20 crore per month.

The BSCCL has prepared and shared a draft MoU with its Indian counterpart yesterday, expected to be inked today.

“We are trying to find out the best possible outcome from exporting bandwidth,” BSCCL Managing Director Monwar Hossain told the Dhaka Tribune. l

Editor: Zafar Sobhan, Published and Printed by Kazi Anis Ahmed on behalf of 2A Media Limited at Dainik Shakaler Khabar Publications Limited, 153/7, Tejgaon Industrial Area, Dhaka-1208. Editorial, News & Commercial Office: FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Shukrabad, Dhaka 1207.

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B3 How EU policy affects everyday lives of Europeans

B4 SE Asia palm oil prob-

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MONDAY, MAY 12, 2014 www.dhakatribune.com/business

State banks far from Muhith: Microcredit not enough to alleviate poverty n BB set finish line Tribune Report

Loan recovery from top 20 defaulters to some extent satisfactory Bank 69% or Tk5,934 crore against n Jebun Nesa Alo Tk8,630 crore, Agrani Bank 40% or Four state-owned banks have failed to comply with most of the conditions imposed under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) they signed with Bangladesh Bank (BB) as part of an effort to help recover the banks from their ailing conditions.

This was disclosed as the central bank unveiled an assessment report at a meeting with the managing directors of the banks held yesterday at the central bank headquarters in the city.

Bangladesh Bank had, earlier, prepared a report to assess the targets and achievements in line with the conditions asked to be implemented in the year 2013.

Expressing its satisfaction over the recovery rates from the top 20 defaulters, the central bank, however, asked the managing directors to be more efficient in meeting other conditions set in MoU, Bangladesh Bank senior executives said.

According to the report, Sonali and Agrani Bank has failed to achieve the target in cash recovery from top 20 defaulters while Janata and Agrani Bank, however, achieved the target to some extent satisfactory level.

Sonali Bank achieved about 37% or Tk1,109 crore of cash recovery target against classified loans of top 20 defaulters for the year 2013, followed

by Janata Bank 117% or Tk1,125 crore, Agrani Bank 42% or Tk488 crore and Rupali Bank 217% or Tk1,041 crore against the target of Tk3,010 crore, Tk960 crore, Tk1,170 crore and Tk480 crore respectively.

Sonali Bank achieved 50% or Tk13,535 crore against the target of Tk27,120 crore, followed by Janata

Tk4,224 crore against Tk10,480 crore, Rupali Bank 46% or Tk887 crore against the target of Tk1,940 crore.

The four banks also failed to maintain the maximum limit of operating expense that was set in the MoU for the year 2013, excepting Sonali Bank.

The operating expense of Janata Bank stood at Tk8,712 crore against the limit of Tk8,229 crore, followed

by Agrani Bank Tk7,823 crore against Tk7,725 crore, Rupali Bank Tk3,367 crore against Tk3,360 crore.

The operating expense of Sonali Bank stood at Tk11,780 crore, which is lower from the limit of Tk12,309 crore.

The banks provided more than 15% of their total capital to a single client or group, which is a gross violation of the MoU condition.

Sonali Bank provided loan to one company exceeding its single borrower exposure limit during the year 2013 while Janata Bank provided loan to the two groups and Rupali Bank to four companies, exceeding their limits, according to the assessment report.

Earlier in March 2014, International Monetary Fund (IMF) had expressed dissatisfaction over the performance of the four state-owned banks and their huge rescheduling through relaxed rules allowed by the central bank.

According to the assessment report, Sonali Bank rescheduled loans worth Tk1,746 crore in the year 2013 compared to Tk452.95 crore in 2012 followed by Janata Bank rescheduled Tk1,108 crore compared to Tk105.89 crore, Argani Bank Tk854.80 crore compared to Tk166.47 crore and Rupali Bank rescheduled Tk2059 crore compared to Tk600.57 crore. l

Finance Minister AMA Muhith yesterday appreciated the role of microcredit in alleviating poverty as the intervention strategy expanded to a great extent across the country.

The then government had conceived the idea of microcredit and established the Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) in 1990 to contribute to alleviate poverty in the country, he said.

Muhith said the concept was actually based on the success of Grameen Bank as it contributed most part of 4% of the country’s total credit outflow in 1986. But now, microcredit shares 33% of the total credit, he said.

The minister was speaking at a function marking the 24th founding anniversary of Palli Karma -Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) – inaugurating its year-long “Silver Jubilee Celebration” at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center in Dhaka.

He, however, said microcredit cannot be the only weapon to alleviate poverty and, education and health need to be ensured to rid poverty. “But undoubtedly, we can say, it has already kept enough contribution to alleviate poverty.”

About the emergence of microcredit in the country, the minister said Mohammed Yunus introduced it based on the perception that poor people repay the loan properly.

Later, many came forward with the concept, but a number of initiatives were not successful due to lack of capital and leadership.

The government then came up with the concept to set up the PKSF to provide capital for the poor mainly through the partner organisations, he said.

Now, PKSF is providing fund for 272 non-government organisations. The PKSF is providing financial and social services to some 81 lakh entrepreneurs through some 6,619 branches of 272 associated organisations in all upazilas of the country.

Muhith: Flaws in power supply still keeps 3000MW gap n

Tribune Report

Finance Minister AMA Muhith said despite achieving high power generation, the country still suffers a 3,000-megawatt gap between power supply and demand due to lack of efficiency in transmission and distribution lines.

“Electricity generation has increased, but supply is yet to reach its peak.”

Without solving the problems, no private investors would engage themselves in investments for setting up industries Muhith said problems are related with efficiency and flaws in transmission and distribution lines, which has eventually created a 3,000-megawtt shortage.

Finance Minister was speaking at a pre-budget discussion in Dhaka Saturday which was telecast live on ntv.

Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and ntv jointly organised the event.

He said primary sources of electricity have been diversified while the supply of imported coal is abundant.

“We can buy coal mines in Indonesia or other countries, if needed,” finance minister added.

Muhith criticised Bangladesh Tariff Commission (BTC) and said the body has becomes a “dead institution.”

“They (BTC) should be proactive in making decision and not for our decisions.”

At the programme, the speakers include experts, business leaders and politicians.

Former finance adviser to last

caretaker government AB Mirza Azizul Islam said the government should focus on primary fuel for electricity generation as the quick rental project costs much higher.

“As coal is a less expensive way for producing electricity, we should focus on it. But this would have to be local, not imported,” he said.

Business leaders said if infrastructures are not developed, no investors would come to make investment in the country.

“Chittagong could be a business hub. But the capacity of its roads has not been improved. Enlarging Dhaka-Chittagong highway to four lanes remained very slow,” said Mahbubul Alam, president of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI).

He also put stress on ensuring sufficient supply of gas and power to the port city.

Lands should also be made available for investments, said CCCI president.

“Without solving the problems, no private investors would engage themselves in investments for setting up industries.”

For attracting investments, he urged the government to allocate funds for setting up gas compressor in Chittagong and establishing Special Economic Zones at Anwara and Mirsarai of Chittagong.

GPH Group director Almas Shimul said the Dhaka-Chittagong four-lane has been an issue for last eight years, but the government is yet to make any significant headway to the project.

Former minister and adviser to the BNP chairperson M Osman Faruk said the cost of infrastructure is going up as the projects are not being implemented within the scheduled times.

He criticised the government’s policy to adopt quick rental power.

Osman Faruk also said the people are not getting electricity to the level as the government claims to generate.

The former minister urged the

MAJOR DEMANDS PLACED AT THE DISCUSSION Tax holiday while investing in untapped sectors and in backward areas Complete withdrawal of duty on import of materials of pre-fabricated buildings for readymade garments factories Good governance and combating corruption Withdrawal of VAT on internet and export incentives on software and IT infrastructures Implementation of coal policy Withdrawal of 5% tax on local letter of credit Bringing down lending rate from existing 16-18% to single digit Establishment of cold storage with incentives to keep market stable Increase of tax-free limit for female taxpayers from existing Tk2.2 lakh to Tk3.5 lakh Bringing down bank interest rate Establishment of economic zones and women bank, particularly for female entrepreneurs Import of materials, including capital machinery, for RMG sector under Economic Development Fund Introduction of an exit plan for business Increase of turnover tax limit for small and medium enterprises Establishment of an agricultural commission Attention on tourism sector government to import power from neighbouring countries like Myanmar, Nepal and Bhutan in addition to India.

Economist Shawkat Ali who joined the programme from New York emphasised the need to develop infrastructures in Benapole Land Port as “it is playing a key role in the trade of the country. l

Finance Minister AMA Muhith speaks at a function marking 25 years of Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) in Dhaka yesterday RAJIB DHAR

The contribution of microcredit now increased to 33% of the total credit outflow, as a result. Five percent is being disbursed among the women.

Muhith said Grameen Bank accounts for only one third of the country’s total microcredit market. “So, we’ll have to admit that microcredit has been expanded in the country to a large extent.”

Primary and Mass Education Minister Mostafizur Rahman Fizar, PKSF chairman and noted economist Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad and PKSF managing director M Abdul Karim also spoke at the programme where more 2,500 education, health, and social development activists and union coordinators attended.

PKSF was established as a ‘not-forprofit’ company with the objective to give funds to various organisations for their micro-credit programme to help the poor who have no land or any credible material possession.

PKSF, also act as a bank of the microcredit institutions, has expanded mi-

crofinance to a large extent as it usually provides around TK3,500 crore of credit through its various big and small micro lending institutions. The total capital of PKSF is TK3,321 crore as per the unaudited accounts as of March, 2014.

Addressing the function Kholiquzzaman said poverty is a multi-dimensional problem which requires multi-dimensional intervention including education, health, nutrition, training, infrastructure and financing.

A research shows that the rate of graduation from poverty with support of microcredit only was 9.4% and lately it has reached 10%, he said. In my research, the graduation rate from poverty level with microcredit only was 7%, he said.

“To remove ultra poverty, assets need to be increased. So, it is not enough to give a lump sum amount of money to alleviate poverty. Rather the poor have to be given technology, education, health support and welfare of the children has to be ensured to effectively alleviate poverty.”

Government continues efforts to get FDI in housing sector n Mohosinul Karim Despite there is no concrete progress in getting foreign investments in the real estate and housing sector of Bangladesh, the government is continuing its efforts to attract the investors.

It has, however, received three proposals from Malaysia, India and Singapore. But, decided to go ahead with two proposals, except the Indian one as Sahara Group that proposed to invest here was found fraud.

Housing and Public Works Minister Mosharraf Hossain told the Dhaka Tribune on Wednesday that several proposals are coming from different countries. “But, we are not considering all the companies.”

“We are taking proposals from different companies or governments, which are being examined physically.

Our technical committees are visiting the countries to examine the proposals. We will accept the ones that would be acceptable for us,” he said.

Regarding the proposal from Indian Sahara Group, the minister said, “We are not considering its proposal again as the company was found fraud. We are examining the proposals of Malaysia and Singapore. Our technical committee will visit Malaysia soon to examine its feasibility and financial ability of the company.”

Mosharraf said a Singaporean housing company recently expressed its interest to invest developing around 10,000 flats at Purbachal area under public private partnership (PPP) initiative. They will submit their concrete proposal soon.

“We will examine their financial proposal and visit the country to be confirmed about the financial condition. At the same time, we will consider the Public Procurement Regulation (PPR) of the country.We may accept the proposal, if it is found acceptable according to the PPR,” he added.

The company, which usually works with the government of the country, will build 10,000 apartments for Bangladesh out of 62,000

that the government planned to build at Purbachal area. They will produce construction materials for the project by setting up own factory in the project area.

“We will observe their efficiency and ability before giving permission. If we become satisfied with their performance, we will allow them to build more buildings in the area,” the minister said.

At the same time, the ministry will work with the Malaysian government for building 22,000 apartments at Uttara and Kamrangir Char and a 13km flyover in Dhaka city.

The minister said Malaysian government is expected to construct 22,000 apartments at Uttara and Kamrangir Char under Dhaka city and a 13km flyover between Shantinagar and Jheelmil project near Mawa road in Keraniganj.

The government has already signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Malaysian authorities.

They will submit their full financial proposal within shortest possible time.

A technical committee of the housing and public administration ministry will visit Malaysia within a week.

The minister said the government is planning to build Kamrangir Char as a well-planned residential area by building several high-rise buildings removing the existing housing system. The illegal occupants will be removed from the area to beautify unplanned developing area, he added.

The Malaysian government will construct the apartments with modern technologies and designs and complete the works within 30 months of the work order. l

He said development and poverty alleviation is a political process and if the political process does not support it then it is not possible to gain its goals.

He said alongside the government’s goal for turning the country into a mid-income one by 2021, there is also a need for turning the country into a mid-living standard one.

The PKSF chairman also viewed that the development plans and their implementation should have to be based on people, not on any industry or institution.

At the function, the PKSF also gave special honour to two renowned educationists — Prof Latifa Akand and Prof Jahanara Haque –for their outstanding contributions to education and women development.

The PKSF was established in 1990 by the government as a ‘not-for-profit’ company with an objective to provide funds to various organisations for their micro-credit programme with a view to helping the poor who have no land or any credible material possession. l

Realtors demand not to allow foreign investment turned down n Mohosinul Karim Housing and Public Works Minister Mosharraf Hossain yesterday turned down a request by local real estate developers to revise a government decision to build 22,000 flats in the capital under a joint venture initiative with Malaysia.

On the other hand, the minister proposed that the developers could participate in building 10,000 flats, out of a proposed 30,000, at the government’s Jheelmil project in Keraniganj on the outskirts of the city.

Mosharraf made the remarks while meeting with a delegation of the Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (Rehab) at the secretariat. Newly elected Rehab President Mukarram Husain Khan led the nine-member team.

The minister further said the government had a plan to build over 110,000 flats in the capital to ensure housing for the common people. Out of the proposed flats, 18,000 will be built at Uttara, 62,000 at Purbachal and 30,000 in Keraniganj.

“You may participate in building flats in the Jheelmil and Purbachal projects. We will welcome your participation,” the minister told the delegation.

He, however, rejected a demand by the real estate companies to revokean agreement with Malaysia, saying: “Not only Malaysia, Singapore has alsoshown interest for building flats here.

They will come with proven technology, and there would be a scope for technology transfer.You would benefit from the new technology.”  B3 COLUMN 5

B2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Stocks end lower for second day n

Stocks fell for the second consecutive session yesterday amid cautious trading.

The benchmark index DSEX lost almost 57 points or 1.3% to close at 4498 – its six week low. Shariah Index DSES was down 9 points or 0.9% to 1,004. The blue-chip comprising DS30 fell 21 points or 1.3% to 1,645.

Chittagong Stock Exchange Selective Category Index, CSCX, shed 93 points to 8,669.

Participants remained mostly passive, putting turnover below Tk400-crore level. The DSE turnover stood at Tk478 crore, an increase of more than 8% over the previous session.

Almost all the major sectors closed in red with market bellwether banks losing the most 1.68%.

It was followed by food and allied that shed 1.6%, power 1.4%, pharmaceuticals 1.4% and telecommunications 0.9%.

Pharma Aids that resumed share trading after three months gained highest 9.6%. IDLC Investments, in its daily market analysis, said mid caps extended the losing trend to the session.

Company

Turnover (Million Taka)

3,785.77

Turnover (Volume)

86,152,404

Number of Contract

88,735

Traded Issues

284

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

74

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

205

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

5

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,307.63

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

27.97

CSE key features May 11, 2014 Turnover (Million Taka)

276.50

Turnover (Volume)

Daily capital market highlights

6,764,333

Number of Contract

10,459

DSE Broad Index :

4498.34887

(-) 1.25%

▼

Traded Issues

214

DSE Shariah Index :

1004.09821

(-) 0.87%

▼

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

64

DSE - 30 Index :

1645.03084

(-) 1.26%

▼

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

143

CSE All Share Index:

13912.6385

(-) 0.98%

▼

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

6

CSE - 30 Index :

11456.0962

(-) 1.22%

▼

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,214.48

8669.8086

(-) 1.07%

▼

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

26.84

CSE Selected Index : DSE LOSERS

Shahjalal Islami -A National Bank - B GQ Ball PenA Rangpur Dairy-N Southeast Bank-A Continental Insur. -A Asia Pasific Insu. -A Linde (BD) Ltd. -A

-10.79 -10.61 -9.28 -7.84 -7.18 -6.64 -6.27 -5.98

Average (% change) -10.62 -10.36 -9.49 -8.24 -6.82 -4.18 -6.49 -6.73

BD Fixed Income MF-A Pragati Gen. I -A

-5.62 -5.33

-3.67 -4.04

Company

Closing (% change)

CSE LOSERS Company

Closing (% change)

Shahjalal Islami -A National Bank - B Southeast Bank-A Rangpur Dairy-N GQ Ball PenA Pragati Gen. I -A Berger Paints-A Marico BD Ltd-A

-10.71 -9.92 -7.18 -6.93 -6.33 -6.13 -6.00 -5.82

Average (% change) -10.42 -10.25 -6.25 -7.78 -5.77 -6.13 -6.87 -5.82

Premier Leasing-Z ISN Ltd. -Z

-5.00 -4.81

-1.26 -6.60

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 364.53 131.13 84.63 369.58 208.17 463.37 1.19 266.01 518.34 0.72 88.17 45.40 20.86 290.14 39.38 25.50 52.07 191.75 51.58 86.45 0.52

Turnover in million

Daily low

Latest EPS

Latest PE

12.45 11.86 133.53 18.71 19.68 24.30 23.62 988.48

12.40 11.80 134.90 18.80 19.40 23.90 23.90 990.60

12.80 12.10 137.00 19.10 21.00 25.30 25.20 1018.00

11.40 10.80 125.00 17.00 18.90 23.60 23.20 987.80

9.054 30.344 11.846 6.714 45.599 4.896 1.370 29.605

1.96 1.49 3.23 1.12 3.69 3.00 1.55 48.55

6.4 8.0 41.3 16.7 5.3 8.1 15.2 20.4

8.67 45.10

8.40 44.40

8.50 46.70

8.40 44.10

0.013 0.433

0.56 2.62

15.5 17.2

Closing average

Closing

Daily high

Turnover in million

Daily low

Latest EPS

Pharma Aids A CVO PetroChem RL-Z Orion Infusions -A Bengal Windsor-A Paramount Textile Ltd.-A 2nd ICB M F -A Mozaffar H.Spinning-N Purabi G Insu.A aamra technologies-A FAS Fin. & Inv. Ltd-B

12.50 11.80 19.40 18.80 136.20 42.90 1,081.00 1,115.10

12.80 12.00 20.70 19.00 137.00 42.90 1,081.00 1,115.10

12.50 10.90 19.20 17.90 134.00 42.90 1,081.00 1,115.10

1.120 4.746 2.664 0.414 0.211 0.004 0.108 0.112

1.96 1.49 3.69 1.12 3.23 2.62 57.68 43.99

6.4 7.9 5.4 16.6 42.1 16.4 18.7 25.3

7.83 9.90

7.60 9.90

8.00 9.90

7.60 9.90

0.082 0.010

0.04 -1.03

195.8 -ve

Low foreign trade with upcoming holiday this week, have somewhat taken the vibe off from the market, where stocks are experiencing low liquidity inflow

% change 11.05 3.97 2.57 11.20 6.31 14.04 0.04 8.06 15.71 0.02 2.67 1.38 0.63 8.79 1.19 0.77 1.58 5.81 1.56 2.62 0.02

Million Taka 28.21 8.29 2.88 32.24 11.92 23.24 31.90 25.48 8.22 5.97 10.34 1.89 17.28 3.29 2.07 2.21 19.80 10.72 11.59 0.01

% change 10.95 3.22 1.12 12.52 4.63 9.02 0.00 12.39 9.89 3.19 2.32 4.02 0.73 6.71 1.28 0.80 0.86 7.69 4.16 4.50 0.00

Million Taka 392.74 139.41 87.52 401.82 220.09 486.61 1.19 297.91 543.82 8.94 94.14 55.74 22.75 307.42 42.67 27.57 54.28 211.55 62.30 98.04 0.53

Total

9.60 7.49 6.82 6.53 6.51 6.15 5.72 5.29 4.44 4.07

CSE GAINERS Company Continental Insur. -A CVO PetroChem RL-Z Bengal Windsor-A Sinobangla Indu.-A Prime Islami Life -A Orion Infusions -A Mozaffar H.Spinning-N Paramount Textile Ltd.-A Eastern Cables-A Anlima Yarn -A

Closing (% change) 17.06 7.48 6.97 6.90 6.27 6.19 6.06 5.97 5.14 4.78

Average (% change) 7.75 6.11 5.68 4.39 5.28 6.15 4.96 5.42 2.84 0.41 Average (% change) 17.06 7.21 5.31 5.60 6.36 6.63 5.72 4.74 5.55 4.70

Closing average 198.20 817.15 54.47 51.41 40.05 290.00 31.09 21.99 30.39 17.09

Closing average 24.70 808.36 51.59 24.50 106.74 55.03 31.04 40.01 135.50 24.08

Closing 198.70 827.80 54.80 52.20 40.90 290.00 31.40 21.90 30.60 17.90

Closing 24.70 810.40 52.20 24.80 106.70 54.90 31.50 40.80 135.00 24.10

Daily high 198.70 827.80 56.30 52.80 41.20 290.00 31.70 23.00 31.70 18.20

Daily high 24.70 810.50 52.80 25.00 109.90 56.50 31.60 41.00 139.50 24.50

Daily low 180.00 785.00 50.80 45.00 34.90 290.00 30.00 21.40 26.40 16.00

Daily low 24.70 800.00 50.10 22.50 105.90 52.90 30.00 38.80 132.00 23.50

Turnover in million 28.898 21.246 80.091 76.608 65.049 0.015 24.611 6.663 21.415 44.698

Turnover in million 0.025 8.400 5.789 0.478 0.091 3.731 3.989 7.075 0.461 0.072

Latest EPS 4.63 -3.16 4.81 2.60 3.13 33.24 2.27 0.76 1.39 0.48

Latest EPS 3.00 -3.16 2.60 0.80 4.95 4.81 2.27 3.13 2.03 0.80

Latest PE 42.8 -ve 11.3 19.8 12.8 8.7 13.7 28.9 21.9 35.6

Latest PE 8.2 -ve 19.8 30.6 21.6 11.4 13.7 12.8 66.7 30.1

News from trade server ORIONPHARM: 15% cash, AGM: 22.06.2014, Record Date: 21.05.2014. EPS of Tk. 4.06, consolidated NAV per share of Tk. 65.23.

PURABIGEN: 15% stock, AGM: 29.06.2014, Record date: 21.05.2014. EPS of Tk. 1.55, NAV per share of Tk. 13.83.

Unaudited Financials: ULC: (Q1): NPAT= Tk. 60.02 million with basic EPS of Tk. 0.47 (restated 0.43) as against Tk. 54.98 million and Tk. 0.43 (0.39) respectively.

ONEBANKLTD: (Q1): NPAT=Tk. 51.40 million with consolidated basic EPS of Tk. 0.11 ( restated 0.10) as against Tk. 25.57 million and Tk. 0.05 respectively.

LINDEBD: (Q1): NPAT= Tk. 137.65 million with EPS of Tk. 9.05 as against Tk. 196.39 million and Tk. 12.90 respectively.

IBNSINA: (Q1): NPAT= Tk. 16.77 million with basic EPS of Tk. 0.86 ( restated 0.78) as against Tk. 12.80 million and Tk. 0.66 (0.60) respectively.

BDSERVICE (Q1): NPAT= Tk. 66.22 million with EPS of Tk. 0.90 as against Tk. 84.74 million and Tk. 1.15 respectively.

HEIDELBCEM: (Q1): NPAT= Tk. 404.53

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Grameenphone-A HeidelbergCement -A Matin Spinning-N Emerald Oil Ind. -N BD Submarine Cable-A Orion Pharma-N Meghna Petroleum -A

CSE

Closing (% change)

million with EPS of Tk. 7.16 as against Tk. 470.54 million and Tk. 8.33 respectively.

UNITEDINS: (Q1): NPAT= Tk. 24.51 million with basic EPS of Tk. 0.61 as against Tk. 22.45 million and Tk. 0.56 respectively.

PRAGATIINS: (Q1): NPAT= Tk. 34.99 million with basic EPS of Tk. 0.66 (restated 0.63) as against Tk. 66.57 million and Tk. 1.26 (1.20) respectively.

ASIAPACINS: The Company has further informed that the 14th AGM of the Company will now be held on June 29, 2014 at 11:00 AM instead of August 14, 2014.

Other information of the AGM will remain unchanged.

CVOPRL: The Board of Directors of DSE has approved the sector change of CVO Petrochemical Refinery Ltd. from "Food and Allied" to "Fuel and Power" sector with effect from May 12, 2014 as the Company has changed its business pattern from vegetable oil to petrochemical refinery plant and commenced its commercial operation thereof. The Company will be placed in "A" category from existing "Z" category with effect from May 12, 2014 as the Company has started its commercial operation.

ARAMITCEM: The Company has informed that it has credited the Rights shares to the respective shareholders' BO Accounts on May 08, 2014.

REPUBLIC: The Company has informed that it has credited the bonus shares for the year ended on December 31, 2013 to the respective shareholders' BO Accounts.

GOLDENSON: The Company has further informed that due to unavoidable circumstances the Venue of the 3rd EGM and 10th AGM of the Company will be at Chittagong Boat Club Ltd. Ghat No.-11, East Patenga, Chittagong instead of Hotel Agrabad Ltd, Agrabad, Chittagong. Other information of the EGM and AGM will remain unchanged.

BEACHHATCH: The Company has further informed that in order to comply with the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission Notification No. SEC/CMRRCD/2009-193/Part-II/35/Admin/03-43 dated May 04, 2014 the Board of Directors has decided to shift the EGM and 19th AGM date to June 22, 2014 from June 25, 2014. Other information of the EGM and AGM will remain unchanged.

Latest PE

12.55 11.82 19.79 18.61 135.94 42.90 1,081.00 1,115.10

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY Sector

Daily high

Monday, May 12, 2014

DSE GAINERS

DSE key features May 11, 2014

“Alongside, budgetary expectations seemed started playing its role in the market. As a result, prime index lost 77 points in last two sessions and went below psychological support level of 4,500 points, again after 26 sessions,” it said. Lanka Bangla Securities said market hit on more than one month’s low amid a cautious trading session.

“The wider concern revolves around the market with some concern that further sale off could trigger the down side in market,” it said adding that market has discounted a bunch of weaker than expected quarterly earnings.

Zenith Investments said like the first day of the previous week, market once again drifted to negativity with narrow turnover volume.

“Low foreign trade with upcoming holiday this week, have somewhat taken the vibe off from the market, where stocks are experiencing low liquidity inflow.”

Grameenphone was the most traded stocks with shares worth almost Tk18 crore changing hands, followed by Heidelberg Cement, Matin Spinning, Emerald Oil Industries, Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Ltd and Orion Pharma. l

Tribune Report

Stock

% change 11.04 3.92 2.46 11.30 6.19 13.68 0.03 8.38 15.29 0.25 2.65 1.57 0.64 8.64 1.20 0.78 1.53 5.95 1.75 2.76 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

Eastern Housing -A LafargeS Cement-Z Padma Oil Co. -A

Golden Son -A Orion Infusions -A AFC AgroBiotech-N Bengal Windsor-A Olympic Ind. -A CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company BD Submarine Cable-A

LafargeS Cement-Z Appollo Ispat CL -N Matin Spinning-N Grameenphone-A Orion Pharma-N CVO PetroChem RL-Z HeidelbergCement -A Paramount Textile Ltd.-A Bengal Windsor-A Golden Son -A LankaBangla Fin. -A National Bank - B Meghna Petroleum -A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A

Volume shares 683,600 324,730 3,102,800 2,509,000 606,405 2,245,440 366,061 1,454,975 1,347,500 258,621

1,449,069 1,470,400 1,357,500 1,490,246 295,005

Volume shares

105,600 246,000 548,400 243,600 36,200 180,900 10,391 14,150 176,840 112,200 96,725 104,500 401,550 15,600 159,155

Value in million 184.00 170.05 153.23 131.29 119.04 118.21 106.65 93.14 92.85 87.33

82.60 80.09 77.12 76.61 70.51

Value in million

20.69 16.45 15.63 11.98 9.79 9.55 8.40 7.42 7.07 5.79 5.52 5.29 4.75 4.55 4.27

% of total turnover 4.86 4.49 4.05 3.47 3.14 3.12 2.82 2.46 2.45 2.31

2.18 2.12 2.04 2.02 1.86

% of total turnover

8.09 6.43 6.11 4.68 3.83 3.73 3.28 2.90 2.77 2.26 2.16 2.07 1.86 1.78 1.67

Daily closing 269.50 521.80 49.60 52.40 197.60 53.20 289.60 64.30 68.40 336.20

57.20 54.80 56.50 52.20 238.50

Daily closing

197.30 68.50 28.60 49.40 269.10 53.00 810.40 522.20 40.80 52.20 57.30 51.10 11.80 289.70 26.70

Price change -1.14 -4.27 3.98 3.15 2.17 -3.10 -1.63 2.72 -1.16 -1.23

Daily opening 272.60 545.10 47.70 50.80 193.40 54.90 294.40 62.60 69.20 340.40

Daily high 283.00 533.00 50.00 53.20 199.20 54.30 295.00 65.00 70.00 344.50

Price change

Daily opening

1.24 6.82 -4.24 6.53 -0.75

2.87 -0.87 2.14 3.78 -1.25 -4.68 7.48 -4.01 5.97 6.97 1.42 -0.97 -9.92 -1.56 -1.11

56.50 51.30 59.00 49.00 240.30

191.80 69.10 28.00 47.60 272.50 55.60 754.00 544.00 38.50 48.80 56.50 51.60 13.10 294.30 27.00

57.80 56.30 58.70 52.80 241.00

Daily low 266.40 505.00 47.90 51.00 180.00 47.00 285.00 56.50 68.00 335.00

53.00 50.80 54.30 45.00 229.00

Daily average 269.17 523.65 49.39 52.33 196.30 52.64 291.35 64.01 68.91 337.67

Daily high

Daily low

Daily average

199.50 69.60 29.00 49.90 279.00 54.60 810.50 537.00 41.00 52.80 57.70 51.50 12.00 306.00 27.20

189.00 64.10 28.00 47.50 267.00 50.00 800.00 516.10 38.80 50.10 56.70 49.90 10.90 288.60 26.60

57.00 54.47 56.81 51.41 239.01

195.92 66.86 28.50 49.19 270.42 52.81 808.36 524.51 40.01 51.59 57.06 50.64 11.82 291.71 26.80

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

B3

Monday, May 12, 2014

How EU policy affects everyday lives of Europeans n AFP, Brussels Often criticised as a red-tape bureaucracy removed from the everyday concerns of people, the European Union in fact directly impacts on the lives of its 500 million people.

Recent key decisions by the parliament and the European Commission have affected every area of public policy, from the mundane to the critical, from mobile phone roaming fees to food security and the right to open a bank account.

Europe and mobile phones By the end of 2015, “roaming” fees on calls and SMS messages sent between EU countries should be a thing of the past.

Fearful of hefty charges when they return home, many Europeans avoid using their mobile phones and devices while abroad.

The European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, campaigned long and hard to get roaming fees scrapped and the European Parliament approved the measure in April. The European Council, representing the bloc’s 28 member states, still has to sign off on the deal.

“This is what the EU is all about getting rid of barriers to make life easier and less expensive,” said EU Commissioner for the digital agenda Neelie Kroes.

Under the deal, mobile phone companies will have to offer customers “roam like at home” packages covering the whole of the EU, or allow them to subscribe to separate service providers when crossing a national border, without having to change their original SIM card.

which nearly sank the euro, are limited to twice annual salary and must be cleared by shareholders.

Britain especially, as home to one of the world’s biggest financial markets in London, resents such EU interference and has been quick to take Brussels to court when it feels its interests are threatened.

Europe vs tobacco

The EU has been working for years to cut smoking rates, despite the best efforts of the tobacco industry, with a particular focus on stopping young Europeans taking up the habit.

By 2016, two-thirds of the surface of tobacco packets will carry graphic health warnings and horrific photos of smoke-damaged lungs. ‘Flavoured’ cigarettes, including menthols, will be banned from 2020.

A ‘plain-packaging’ model, which bans company logos from cigarette packets, was considered but ultimately rejected by the Commission. A number of EU countries, including Ireland, Finland and the UK, have indicated they will proceed with plain-packaging.

Europe and banking rights

One of the last pieces of legislation adopted by the outgoing European Parliament guarantees the right of all EU residents to open a bank account, no matter what their nationality or finan-

Europe and food safety

European flags flying in front of the European Parliament in Strasbourg cial situation.

These basic accounts, which can also be opened by those with no fixed address, will allow people to withdraw and transfer money, and make online purchases. Banks will not be able to turn down requests to open an account.

The law would affect an estimated 60 million people across the EU who are currently unable to open an account.

Europe takes on banker bonuses

The European Parliament in April last

AFP

year took the initiative and adopted a controversial proposal to cap bankers’ bonuses, going further than the Commission and many member states wanted to. Under current plans, banker bonuses, which many blame for encouraging the reckless risk-taking

China’s Xiaomi leads Asia’s low-cost smartphone drive n AFP, Singapore Xiaomi may be little known outside China, but the fast-growing smartphone maker is at the forefront of a new wave of Asian brands challenging the dominance of Apple and Samsung with high-spec, low-price phones.

In the three months to March, Xiaomi surpassed Apple and other established Asian players such as Huawei and Sony to become the third largest smartphone brand in China by market share, research firm Counterpoint Technology said.

Samsung holds the top spot at 18%, followed by homegrown Lenovo with 12%. The Beijing-based tech upstart sold 18.7 million phones in 2013, and is targeting sales of 60 million this year and 100 million in 2015.

Using a high-tech but low-cost sales model, Xiaomi aims to tap into a vast market of budget-conscious young Asians who want the newest in smartphone technology.

Technology research firm IDC said in a February report that cheap smartphones would be a key driver of sales in the low-cost segment of emerging markets outside China.

Handsets selling for less than US$100 accounted for nearly half of mobile sales worldwide, with twothirds of those priced under US$50, its research shows.

Cost-conscious youth

“Asian markets have burgeoning young populations who want the latest smart-

Singapore in February when it began its global roll-out under the watchful eye of Barra.

Xiaomi phones, boasting processors and sleek designs that rival top Samsung models and using the latest iteration of Google’s Android software, are sold at a fraction of the price of a Samsung Galaxy S5 or iPhone 5s.

Its low-end Redmi retails at Sg$169 ($135) compared with Sg$388 for the Samsung Galaxy S3, which has comparable specifications.

The higher-end Mi3 retails at Sg339, compared with Sg$1,068 for the Galaxy S5 and Sg$1,148 for an iPhone 5s with 32 gigabytes of storage.

Emerging players

Hugo Barra, Xiaomi's global vice-president seen speaking at the Startup Asia technology conference in Singapore. Xiaomi may be little known outside China, but the fast-growing smartphone maker is at the forefront of a new wave of Asian brands challenging the dominance of Apple and Samsung with high-spec, low-price phones AFP phone technology, but (they have) restrictive budgetary constraints,” Mykola Golovko, senior consumer electronics analyst at research firm Euromonitor International, told AFP. Euromonitor data in 2013 showed that this key market of 15-34-year-olds made up between 25% and 40% of the population in countries such as Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia and China.

Unlike its giant rivals, Xiaomi has minimal advertising and no retail out-

lets which help keep costs down.

Instead, it has gathered a cult-like following on social media, including China’s Weibo.

Most consumers - dubbed “Mi fans”

by Xiaomi - buy their phones directly via its website during regular “flash” sales.

Xiaomi, whose name means millet in Mandarin, is looking further afield and poached former Google high-flyer Hugo Barra to lead its international expansion.

The firm caused a mini-frenzy in

Xiaomi is not alone and industry experts say Asia is ripe for more such makers.

The Philippines’ Cherry Mobile, India’s Micromax and Q-Smart in Vietnam are already making the leading players nervous, with feature-packed and large-screen smartphones retailing from as low as $30 without any carrier subsidies.

Others include Smartfren and Cyrus in Indonesia, Ninetology in Malaysia, QMobile in Pakistan and I-Mobile in Thailand.

A report by IDC said such “homegrown vendors” hold 39% of the total market share in the Asia-Pacific region excluding Japan.

Nearly 530 million smartphones were shipped to consumers in Asia-Pacific countries in 2013, IDC said, making

up 52% of the global total.

Xiaomi may be doing well but internationally Samsung’s dominance is undoubted.

IDC said Samsung sold 313.9 million smartphones in 2013, compared with Apple’s 153.4 million.

But Xiaomi’s global vice president Barra sees big things ahead for the Beijing-based fledgling.

“The company is bound to change the world in many significant ways,” Barra said at the Startup Asia conference in Singapore on May 8, referring to chief executive Lei Jun and seven other co-founders as “insanely smart”.

Singapore-based Golovko said upstart Asian makers will have to continuously reinvent themselves.

“As smartphones become more commonplace ... consumers in emerging markets will become more demanding and willing and able to spend on them,” he said.

“Without a significant shift in branding and product portfolio low-cost manufacturers will see deteriorating prospects over the mid-to-long term.”

Nicole Peng, a mobile industry analyst with market research firm Canalys, said many Asian consumers of brands like Xiaomi are curious “early adopters” who want to have a first-hand experience of whether low-cost phones can actually match top models.

“This segment of the market are the geeks, if I can say that. They just want to experience the latest gadgets and are not so cost or brand-conscious,” she said. l

In 2011 the European Union adopted new rules providing consumers with better information on the origin and the contents of the food they buy.

The requirements, which come into effect in December 2014, include a detailed list of ingredients, while a full breakdown of calories, fat and sugar will be compulsory from 2016.

From 2015, labelling for meat products must also provide information on which country the animals came from and where they were slaughtered - a requirement which had previously only applied to beef.

However, the battle over food labelling is far from over, with no disclosure rules in place for food products linked to cloned animals.

Also, the UK’s ‘traffic light’ food labelling system alerting consumers to high fat content has been vigorously challenged by southern European food producers. l

Hwa Well to debut at bourses on Wednesday n Tribune Report Share trading of Hwa Well Textiles (BD) will begin from Wednesday at both the stock exchanges as the 34th textile company.

Trading code for Hwa Well is “HWAWELLTEX”, Dhaka Stock Exchange said in a statement yesterday.

Earlier, the DSE board approved the listing of the company that raised Tk20 crore from public through initial public offering.

The IPO (Initial public offering) of Hwa Well Ltd has been oversubscribed by more than 44 times on offer.

Investors had ordered shares worth over Tk881 crore against the offer of Tk20 crore, according to the Chittagong Stock Exchange.

Of the total subscribed amount, resident Bangladeshis deposited Tk870 crore and non-resident Bangladeshis Tk11 crore against offer.

The company offered two crore ordinary shares of Tk10 each.

In December last year, Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission approved the company’s IPO for purchasing and developing land, construction of factory building, changing existing machines and meeting the IPO expenses.

The company’s earnings per share stood at Tk3.66 each and net asset value of Tk28.25, according to its financial statement at the end of June 30 this year. l

China should straighten out its wealth managers n Reuters, Beijing

Banglalink, mobile telecom operator commercially launched its 3G services in Rangpur yesterday. Md Shorfuddin Ahmed, mayor of Rangpur City Corporation was present at the programme as chief guest and Md Humaun Kabir, additional DIG of Rangpur as special guest

Standard Chartered Bank in Bangladesh has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with DuSai Resort & Spa. The resort will provide a range of exclusive benefits to Standard Chartered Bank employees, VISA Signature and VISA/MasterCard Platinum credit or Priority Banking branded debit cardholders under the agreement. The bank’s head of retail clients, Aditya Mandloi and M Nasser Rahman, CEO and managing director of DuSai Hotel & Resorts Ltd were present at the signing ceremony among others

China should reorganize its wealth management industry as it is unduly raising funding costs and encouraging savers to behave like gamblers by chasing after lucrative short-term returns, a deputy governor of China’s central bank said on Saturday.

In an unusually sharp criticism of the rapidly growing wealth management business, Liu Shiyu said the sector has pushed up funding costs for Chinese companies, causing credit to be unpalatably expensive and distorting its economy.

“This type of practice where water is added at every layer and prices are raised in an exploitative way at every link directly increases costs in the real

economy,” Liu told a forum on Saturday at Beijing’s Tsinghua University.

“There is no contribution to labour productivity and it will lead a nation, it will lead a country’s financial system into a short-term behaviour that is extreme in its gambling mentality.”

He said wealth managers were lending money to companies at rates of around 14%, but often offering rates of only around 8% to individuals investing in their funds.

Fuelled by savers’ and companies’ thirst for higher returns, China’s wealth management sector has exploded in recent years.

Standard Chartered Bank estimated in January the industry now manages around 11tn yuan ($1.8tn) and is growing at an annual rate of 65%. l

Realtors demand  B1 COLUMN 6

IDLC Finance Limited secured a runner-up award of Best Presented Annual Report for the year 2012 in financial services category at The South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA). HM Ziaul Hoque Khan, the company’s deputy managing director recently received the award from SK Agrawal, president of SAFA in Islamabad, Pakistan

Uttara Bank Limited yesterday held its annual general meeting where the company declared 10% stock and 15% cash dividends for the year 2013. The company’s chair, Azharul Islam presided over the meeting

The government recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Malaysian government for building 12,000 flats at Uttara and 10,000 flats at Kamrangirchar.

The Rehab chief urged the government not to allow foreign investments in the country’s real estate sector, saying local developers were now capable of building flats with their own experts and provide those to the people at competitive prices. Mukarram Husain also told

the minister that the developers were facing financial problems as 22,000 readymade flats remained unsold in the city.

In reply, the minister said, “You (Rehab) better meet with the Prime Minister and the finance minister for incentive packages that would be helpful for the industry.”

Mosharraf Hossain also urged the real estate companies to make their prices more competitive so that people of lower and middle income groups could afford to buy flats. l

B4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Monday, May 12, 2014

SE Asia palm oil problems could hit consumers worldwide n AFP, Jakarta Southeast Asia’s booming palm oil industry is facing a double blow from a recent drought and a possible El Nino weather phenomenon later this year, with analysts warning a production shortfall could spark a jump in consumer goods prices.

From biscuits to shampoo and make-up, the oil has become a key ingredient in numerous products found on supermarket shelves across the globe, fuelling rapid growth of the industry in the world’s top two producers, Indonesia and Malaysia.

But a drought in January and February in the countries, which provide some 85% of the world’s palm oil and are home to vast plantations where swathes of rainforest used to stand, has raised the prospect of a drop in production later this year.

Dry weather does not have an immediate effect on the fruit, which needs to be deprived of water for some months before any impact is noticeable.

While palm oil prices have risen slightly in recent months in Indonesia, the country’s Palm Oil Association put it down to other factors, and industry observers predicted the drought’s impact would start to be felt later in 2014.

Consumer price rises likely

“We are likely to see the effects starting in September to October, and in terms of production, we are likely to see a double-digit percentage drop in Indonesia and Malaysia,” said Tan Chee Tat, a Singapore-based investment analyst at Philip Futures whose work has focused on palm oil.

“There is a high likelihood companies will pass on the price rise to consumers.”

Another threat could come hot on the heels of this year’s dry weather forecasters are predicting an El Nino weather phenomenon later this year, which could spark another drought that will hit production in 2015.

A freshly harvested fruit of palm oil trees at a plantation is seen before it is delivered to a processing plant, in the district of Langkat on Indonesia's Sumatra island. Southeast Asia's booming palm oil industry is facing a double blow from a recent drought and a possible El Nino weather phenomenon later this year, with analysts warning a production shortfall could spark a jump in consumer goods prices AFP The Australian Bureau of Meteorology issued an El Nino alert this week, warning the likelihood of the weather pattern developing was at least 70%, and it could appear as early as July.

This follows recent warnings from other weather agencies there is a good chance of an El Nino.

El Nino, which develops every two to seven years, occurs when water

warms around Indonesia, shifts eastwards and rises to the surface in the eastern Pacific.

The warming water changes wind patterns and draws rain and thunderstorms towards South America and away from countries in the western Pacific.

Billions of dollars in damage

It typically brings floods to usually arid

London tops super-rich city list, survey shows n AFP, London London has more billionaires than any other city in the world, and Britain has more billionaires per head of population than any other country, new data showed on Saturday.

The survey of Britain’s super-rich compiled for the Sunday Times newspaper is likely to prompt debate in a country where many still struggle financially and where food banks are a fact of life, despite economic growth recently returning to levels not seen since the 2008 financial crash.

London is home to 72 of Britain’s 104 sterling billionaires, well ahead of Moscow in second place with 48 people worth the equivalent of 1 billion pounds or more.

New York is in third place with 43 billionaires, San Francisco in fourth place with 42, Los Angeles next with 38 and Hong Kong in sixth place with 34.

Indian-born brothers Sri and Gopi Hinduja top the British list with a for-

tune of 11.9bn pounds (14.6bn euros, $20.1bn), amassed through the familyowned Hinduja Group, which has interests in oil, banking, the automotive industry, property and the media.

The pair nudged last year’s top of the billionaire list, Alisher Usmanov, to second place. The Uzbekistan-born Russian’s fortune has been hit by the fall in value of the rouble and Russian stock prices due to the Ukraine crisis.

Others in the top 25 include Ukrainian-born internet, chemicals and music industry investor Len Blavatnik in fourth place, property magnate the Duke of Westminster, Gerald Grosvenor, in tenth place, and Saudi-born Mohamed Bin Issa Al Jaber and his family, known for their hotel and resort investments, in thirteenth place.

This year is the first year the minimum wealth of Britain’s 50 richest people has topped 1.5 billion pounds. Only 700 million pounds was needed to join the exclusive club a decade ago.

Britain’s 104 billionaires have a total

wealth of 301.13bn pounds, compared to 88 a year ago with a combined worth of 245.66bn pounds.

The combined wealth of Britain’s super-rich is now well ahead of prerecession levels of 2008, which then totalled 201.99bn pounds.

On Friday independent thinktank the National Institute of Economic and Social Research said British per-capita gross domestic product - often used to indicate a population’s average wealth - was “well below” the pre-2008 peak, and unlikely to exceed it before 2017.

The Trussell Trust, Britain’s largest food bank network, said the number of people that had approached them for emergency food had risen 163% in the year to the end of March to just over 913,000 people.

The group labelled the figure “shocking”, particularly as it does not include those helped by other food providers or the large number of people too ashamed to seek help and who cope by eating less food. l

countries in western South America and drought to Indonesia and other countries in the region.

If this year’s El Nino is as strong as the 20th century’s worst in 1997-98, which was blamed for tens of thousands of deaths and billions of dollars in damage, it could wreak havoc on palm oil crops, analysts fear.

Fadhil Hasan, executive director of

‘US economic strength may not be clear for months’ n Reuters, Dubai The US economy should accelerate in the second quarter to an annual growth rate of 3% or more, but it may not be clear for some time if the pick-up is sustainable, a Federal Reserve official said on Sunday.

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta president Dennis Lockhart also said he expected the US central bank to have run down its bond-buying program by its October or December meeting and to start raising interest rates in the second half of next year.

The US economy hardly grew in the first quarter but has gathered pace since. Philadelphia Fed President Charles Plosser said on Thursday he expected full-year growth of 3%.

Speaking to a business gathering in Dubai, Lockhart was more circumspect. “It may not be clear for several months, or even quarters, whether the US economy is undeniably on a stronger and sustained growth path around a run rate of 3%,” he said.

Lockhart, who said he was speaking in his personal capacity, does not have a vote this year on the Fed’s policysetting board, but he participates in its discussions and is considered to be near the centre of its policy spectrum.

Turning to external growth risks, Lockhart said tensions between Russia and the West over Ukraine were of a concern as they have a potential to destabilize markets and economies.

“I think there is risk that heightened conflict could produce volatility in global financial and commodity markets that, if prolonged, could spill over to the US and global economies,” he said.

Fed Chair Janet Yellen said in her testimony to Congress earlier this week a slumping housing market and geopolitical tensions risked undermining the US economy. l

DILBERT

A prototype of the E-Stylus, an insulin injection pen for diabetics, is pictured on May 10, 2014, during the 2014 Concours Lepine (Lepine contest) as part of the Paris' Fair at the Porte de Versailles exhibition hall in Paris. The invention won the ''Prix de l'Assemblee Nationale" (National Assembly's prize), the third place of the Concours Lepine AFP

the Indonesian Palm Oil Association, said that production was hit in 2008 following an El Nino, and prices rose to $1,200 a tonne. They are currently at around $930 a tonne.

However he said that other factors, such as market speculation, may have also contributed to the rise.

Alan Lim, a palm oil plantation analyst from Kenanga Investment Bank in

Malaysia, said that “in the worst case scenario” an El Nino could cause a 30% dip in production in the top two producers.

He said production would be hit some six to 12 months after El Nino, meaning in 2015.

Observers also warn a steep rise in palm oil prices could boost alternative products, especially soybean oil, which is mainly grown in the United States and Brazil.

Despite the growing concerns, some industry players and analysts downplayed the dangers and were optimistic that palm oil would stay ahead of its competitors even during a sustained period of drought.

It is the highest-yielding vegetable oil crop and needs less than half the land required by other crops, such as soybean, according to the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, an organisation established to promote sustainable use and growth of the commodity.

This makes palm oil, extracted from a cherry-sized fruit that grows in bunches on trees, the cheapest vegetable oil in the world.

Indonesia’s climate agency also played down the possibility an El Nino would hit the country’s main plantation areas, on western Sumatra island and the country’s portion of Borneo island.

A greater source of pressure on the industry may remain sustained campaigns from green groups, who are calling for palm oil to be produced in a sustainable fashion that does not destroy any more rainforest.

“The question is not whether more or less palm oil is produced, but how it is produced,” said Bustar Maitar, head of the Indonesia Forest Campaign at Greenpeace International.

“Its production must not destroy forests, drain peatlands or contribute to the very forest fires that are pumping carbon into the atmosphere and across the region,” he added, referring to blazes that are regularly set to clear land for plantations. l

A fisherman prepares to cast his fishing net in the waters of the Vembanad lake as a container ship is seen docked in the background, at a port in Vallarpadam REUTERS

Indian April trade gap narrows as gold imports plummet n Reuters, New Delhi India's trade deficit narrowed in April due to a sharp fall in gold imports and an uptick in exports, easing pressure on the current account balance, government data showed on Friday.

The drop in gold imports could strengthen demand for easing of restrictions that the government imposed last year to rein in the current account deficit and ease pressure on the rupee.

Gold imports fell 74.1% in the first month of the fiscal year 2014/15 from a year earlier. Finance Minister P Chidambaram had raised the import tax on gold to 10% from an initial 2% and introduced administrative controls that helped bridge the current account gap.

India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, predicted to form the next government later this month, has promised to ease restrictions on gold imports, saying these curbs had led to smuggling. Its prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi, has said that any action on gold should take into account

the interests of the public and traders, not just economics and policy.

India's current account deficit is estimated to fall to around $35bn in the fiscal year 2013/14 from about $88bn the previous year.

Analysts, however, said early easing of restrictions on gold imports and a recovery in the economy could lead to a surge in the import bill - again widening the current account gap.

"Risks are that the current account deficit could re-widen back towards 3 percent if gold imports rebound sharply when trade restrictions are lifted, along with an improvementin the domestic investment cycle," said DBS in a research note on Friday.

The trade deficit stood at $10.09bn, down from $10.51bn in March, the data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry showed on Friday.

Merchandise exports rose 5.26% from a year earlier to $25.6bn, after falling 3.15% in March. Imports fell 15% year-on-year to $35.72bn last month, the data showed. l