27 May 2014

Joishthya 13, 1421 Rajab 27, 1435 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 2, No 57

TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

TMAG | PRESENTS THE ARCHIES

7 | JINNAH MADE A MISTAKE

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11 | NO BED OF ROSES FOR MODI

13 | WE NEEDED THIS BREAK: TAMIM

New suspect identified in Ekram murder Bodyguard Belal allegedly provided information to killers Jamil Khan and Our n Mohammad Correspondent from Feni Investigators have reportedly found a new key suspect for the murder of Fulgazi upazila chairman Ekramul Haque, whereas officials concerned claim that they are nearing the end of investigation.

The gruesome killing was committed over establishing political dominance in the district, they hinted, adding that the name of Mostafizur Rahman Dulal, president of Dhaka-based Feni Association, emerged as the new lead in the case.

“We have almost sorted out the mystery behind the killing and kept some people under watch,” said Abul Kalam Azad, inspector of Feni model police station and investigation officer of the case.

Directives have been sent to the borders so that no one involved in the murder can escape Claiming that “sensational information” has been gathered from the arrestees during interrogation, he told the Dhaka Tribune that a court had placed Jihad Chowdhury – a “planner” of the murder – under eight-day remand. After collecting further information from Jihad and verifying them, raids would be carried out to arrest the others responsible, he added.

According to investigators, Dulal, who unsuccessfully attempted to secure Awami League nomination for the 2009 national poll from Feni 1 constituency, allegedly played a major role in planning the murder.

Dulal reportedly also tried to contest in January 5 national election, and organised a programme in Fulgazi

upazila last Ramadan for publicity. Associates of slain leader Ekram, however, reportedly foiled the programme by setting five vehicles on fire as well as harassing Dulal.

Following the incident, Dulal left the district after publicly declaring that Ekram must suffer for the act, our Feni correspondent reported.

According to information provided by the arrestees, Dulal later contacted and planned the murder with BNP leader Mahtab Uddin Chowdhury Minar, who lost twice to Ekram in upazila polls.

BNP’s Fulgazi unit Secretary Nurnabi Master told the Dhaka Tribune that Minar, the president of local Tanti Dal unit, was never active in district politics. Riding on the political strength of his brother – BNP’s upazila unit Secretary Didar Chowdhury, Minar stood as a candidate in the upazila polls, he added.

Acting president of BNP’s district unit advocate Abu Taher admitted that Minar was not actively engaged in politics. But it did not mean that he had any involvement with the murder.

A senior official of Feni police, who is involved in the murder probe, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that during remand plea, Ward Commissioner Shiblu, Abid and others arrestees mentioned Dulal’s name as Jihad Chowdhury was supposed to contact for getting the full Tk2 crore payment for the murder.

When contacted, Dulal said he had moved away from politics since 2009, adding that he considered Ekram as a younger brother and had already forgiven the slain leader’s attack on his programme. About the killers, he said almost all the arrestees belonged to the Awami League.

He suspected that the killing might have been committed over intra-party feud.

Investigators said Minar mainly communicated with his cousin Jihad – the joint general secretary of Fulgazi  PAGE 2 COLUMN 3

Members of Kadamtali unit Bangladesh Mohila Parishad form a human chain in front of RAB 11 office in Narayanganj yesterday, demanding exemplary punishment to the culprits behind the sensational seven murders DHAKA TRIBUNE

No more search, checkposts for RAB n Kailash Sarkar The Rapid Action Battalion authorities have decided not to engage its personnel in any additional duties including search, guard or patrol in addition to the duties the elite force has been tasked with.

“In future, RAB will not perform the duties additional to the seven specific duties we are tasked with, unless the government asks us or we feel so,” Wing Commander ATM Habibur Rahman, director of RAB’s legal and media wing, said.

The decision was made at a meeting held last week at the RAB headquarters, chaired by its chief.

“We feel that guarding tender boxes, controlling traffic, setting up check posts at entrances of the capitals, intervening in issues relating to land, money and family matters, and guarding cultural functions

are not part of our duties,” he said.

“Now RAB will concentrate on its own tasks,” Habib said.

Asked about the reasons behind making such a decision, the RAB official said: “Additional duties create extra problems. Sometimes a section of RAB officials get involved in illicit acts causing image crisis for the whole force.”

In response to another query, he admitted that the seven murders in Narayanganj prompted them to make such a decision.

The elite force was formed in 2004 during the BNP-led alliance government’s tenure to combat domestic crimes and terrorism, and given seven specific tasks. Those are – internal security duties; recovery of unauthorised arms, ammunitions, explosives and similar items; apprehending armed gangs of criminals; assisting other law enforcement agencies in maintaining

law and order; intelligence gathering regarding crimes and criminal activities; investigation of any offence upon the directives of the government; and similar duties following the government’s directives.

RAB, a special police unit, has widely been criticised for violating human rights and extrajudicial killings in the name of “crossfire, gunfights and encounter,” custodial deaths and torture.

The alleged involvement of its three officers in the abduction and killing of seven men in Narayanganj last month triggered calls for reforms within the force and even disbanding the outfit entirely.

So far, around 2,000 of its members penalised in the last 10 years.

RAB has members from six forces – the three armed forces, the police, the BGB and the Ansar – and some civil officials. l

More questions ‘leaked’ on Facebook Modi sworn in as Indian n prime minister Mushfique Wadud

While the government is continuously snuffing out the allegations, one “leaked” HSC question paper after another is popping up on Facebook.

The latest rumour on the social networking site is that the question for the Mathematics Second Paper, scheduled to be held tomorrow, is available for free.

A Facebook page titled “Porikkhar Ager Raate Prosno Nao” – meaning, take your question on the eve of the exam – had a post around 8:40pm yesterday that gave the solutions to the problems of what appeared to be a mathematics question paper.

The post, dated May 24, was titled “hsc -2014 Dhaka Board.” This page had a staggering total of 13,333 likes as of 8:55pm yesterday.

One of the posts on this page says: “I have real questions of Mathematics Second Paper examination. Please send me message and you will get the question.”

Another page titled “Swapno Chho-

n AFP

wa Pakhi” – meaning, dream touching bird – had posts on Friday, May 23 with photographs of what appeared to be handwritten copies of the next day’s Mathematics First Paper questions.

On the same day, the page put up another post telling its members that more “leaked” questions would be uploaded once it got “225+” likes. “##Poro Tomar Probhur Naame Jini Shrishti Korechen##” – meaning, study in the name of your lord the creator – is yet another page offering the question paper for the Mathematics Second Paper examination. This page has 1,394 likes.

One of the posts from Sunday reads:

“I gave you suggestions in three photographs before the math paper 1 exam of the Chittagong board and inshallah 95% came out common. Now I am once again giving free suggestions for the second paper of the Chittagong – four photographs in total.”

In all these pages, various Facebook users, who appeared to be HSC examinees, made posts requesting questions of all kinds of papers of the ongoing examinations.

When asked how and from where the Facebook groups were collecting the questions, Dhaka Education Board  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Narendra Modi promised to forge a “strong and inclusive” India after being sworn in yesterday as the 15th prime minister of the world’s largest democracy.

Ten days after his right-wing party won the first electoral majority in three decades, the 63-year-old former tea boy took the oath of office at a lavish ceremony conducted by President Pranab Mukherjee and attended by leaders of India’s neighbours, including Pakistan.

Modi, leader of the right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has a reputation as a hard-line Hindu nationalist. But in a statement released as he took the oath, he promised to govern for all of India’s 1.25 billion people.

“As we devote ourselves to take India’s development journey to newer heights, we seek your support, blessings and active participation,” Modi

News

Business

B1 The default loans of BASIC Bank growing abnormally fast in the recent months as loans the bank had disbursed through irregularities are getting matured.

4 The Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs has been given the authority of management and control of the secondary schools operating under three hill districts.

8 Stunning victories in European Parliament elections by nationalist, Eurosceptic parties from France and Britain left the European Union licking its wounds on Monday and facing a giant policy dilemma.

5 The construction of several footbridges at key points of the capital has remained suspended, or has been going on at snail’s pace, because of alleged negligence by the authorities concerned.

9 In October last year, the Prime Minister’s Office was in a tizzy. The Ministry of External Affairs as well as the security establishment was keen that PM Manmohan Singh attend the CHOGM in Colombo in November.

Administration officials in Narayanganj were infuriated when Sheikh Ali Ahmed, a resident of the city’s Masdair area, sought information on the wrongdoings that Nur Hossain was conducting in the name of jatra (theatre) at the Shimrail truck stop.

P2

NAZRUL’S BROTHER: HANG THE KILLERS

Ali asked Narayanganj former deputy commissioner Monoj Kanti Boral and former police super Syed Nurul Islam to disclose the information in accordance with to the Right to Information Act. He also petitioned to stop indecent acts, gambling and drugs trade from continuing at the Shimrail truck stop.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 3

Defence allocation to grow 12.71% n Asif Showkat Kallol The Defence Ministry is going to get a budgetary allocation of Tk16,400 crore this year, a raise of 12.71% from that of the outgoing fiscal year.

The allocation will be Tk16,400 core for the coming fiscal and Tk14,565.51 crore was allocated in the revised budget of the outgoing FY2013-14.

Officials said the additional Tk1,849 crore would be needed for forming a new brigade, setting up new cantonments and sending troops to the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali.

Ministry officials said accommodation and housing crisis in the three defence forces has reached an acute level and the additional allocation would be largely used to address that problem.

Besides, some extra cash would be needed for purchasing more aircrafts, arms and ammunitions from Russia with the residual $200m of the $1bn defence purchase deal, they said.

Officials also said a bulk of the

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World

3 Banned in 2009 for its controversial activities, Islamist outfit Hizb-ut Tahrir has now been integrating Myanmar’s Rohingya refugees, staying in the coastal district, under its umbrella to strengthen the group and keep its key players off the law enforcers’ radar.

Exercising the right to know made one an accused n Our Correspondent, Narayanganj

said in the statement on the prime minister’s website.

“Together we will script a glorious future for India,” he added.

“Let us together dream of a strong, developed and inclusive India that actively engages with the global community to strengthen the cause of world peace and development.”

After Modi took the oath of office, senior BJP figures who have been appointed to his cabinet were sworn in.

Although their exact portfolios were not announced, they included Sushma Swaraj who is expected to become foreign minister and Arun Jaitley, tipped to be finance minister.

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Afghan President Hamid Karzai were among the regional leaders who attended the ceremony outside the Indian president’s official residence in New Delhi.

INSIDE ,

N’GANJ SEVEN MURDERS

Sport

15 Maria Sharapova reached the French Open second round on Monday at a damp and chilly Roland Garros as Japanese hope Kei Nishikori became the tournament’s first major casualty.

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

No Buriganga land for RAB 10 n Mohosinul Karim The government has decided to cancel the allotment of land for setting up the headquarters of Rapid Action Battalion 10 in the Buriganga River at Kamrangirchar aiming to recover the main channel of the river.

The decision was taken in an inter-ministerial meeting held at the Housing and Public Works Ministry yesterday with Housing Minister Mosharraf Hossain in the chair. Five senior ministers were also present.

Terming the existing laws insufficient, the meeting decided to amend the laws to protect the environment and prevent river pollution.

The meeting was held as the prime

minister in the last cabinet meeting gave instructions to save the rivers and protect the environment.

Earlier on Sunday, the ministers visited Kamrangirchar area where land was allotted to RAB 10.

Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan said the meeting had decided to cancel the allotment of land for RAB to save the river and its main channel. “We have decided to demolish the buildings and infrastructures which were constructed grabbing the rivers.”

A 13-member subcommittee, headed by the BIWTA chairman, was formed at the meeting. Three representatives from leading environmental organisations Bapa, Poba and BELA, the deputy commissioner of Dhaka and offi-

cials from other ministries concerned will be its members. Shajahan said the committee would demarcate the main channel of the Buriganga, remove the infrastructures and dredge the river.

All infrastructures such as RAB office, housing company office and factories would be removed from the river by June. The committee would also seek directives from the higher court in this regard. Physical work would start within next seven days, he added.

The minister also said house owners living beside the river would be issued notice to close the canals which were used for dumping waste into the rivers.

“A RAB representative has informed the meeting that they have no objection if the government allots land to

them elsewhere for building the RAB 10 headquarters. The committee will find out new site to be allocated to the elite force. It can be in Kamrangirchar or any other area,” he added.

The RAB authorities wanted the district administration of Dhaka to allocate seven acres of land at Kamrangirchar to them. The administration later allocated the land. But it was not handed over to them as there was no sufficient land and it was inside the river. A technical committee proposed that a plot of 2.40 acres of land be allocated to RAB. Water Resources Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud, Land Minister Shamsur Rahman Sharif, Food Minister Quamrul Islam and local MP Haji Selim attended the meeting. l

HC: Why Safe Food Act should not be enforced n Nazmus Sakib The High Court yesterday asked the food secretary to explain in two weeks why he should not be directed to make the Safe Food Act 2013 effective through a gazette notification.

The bench of Justice Quazi RezaUl Hoque and Justice ABM Altaf Hossain gave the ruling upon hearing on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by lawyers Syed Mohidul Kabir and Azam Khan on Sunday.

It directed the food secretary to submit a compliance report over the matter within June 16.

The lawyers, however, told the me-

dia that the High Court had directed the food secretary to implement the law within two weeks by publishing a gazette notification.

On Sunday, Azam said their ulterior motive behind filing the PIL – on behalf of the Legal Action Bangladesh – was to advance their careers.

The lawyers yesterday told the Dhaka Tribune that the bench had issued a ruling also asking why a directive should not be passed on constituting an independent inquiry committee to find out reasons behind non-enforcement of the Safe Food Act. However, officials concerned said the court had not passed any such order. l

BNP: Undeclared emergency prevailing in the country

N’ganj councillor Nila remanded in murder case

BNP Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi yesterday claimed that an undeclared emergency situation was prevailing in the country.

Party Chairperson Khaleda Zia would address a rally at launch ghat in Munshiganj tomorrow and the preparations for holding the rally had been completed, he told a press briefing at the party’s Nayapaltan headquarters in the capital.

“The current ruling system has crossed all the records of the world’s repressive rulers. The country’s prime minister is saying and doing whatever she wants. She thinks the constitution and organs of the state as her toy kits.”

n Our Correspondent, Narayanganj

n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

The BNP leader alleged that the government had been snatchingh people’s fundamental rights one after another after evil plan for the January 5 elections.

“The government is using state mechanism to resist democratic and fundamental rights for holding rallies and processions. They have become anxious and frightened of allowing the BNP to hold rallies and meetings.

They are suffering from psychological insecurity,” Rizvi said.

The Awami League had already been branded as the party of killing, abduction and forced disappearance, he said, adding that the Awami League did not take lessons from the history, rather it betrayed the history. l

Nazrul’s brother: Hang the N’ganj 7-murder killers n Our Correspondent, Narayanganj Abdus Salam, the brother of murdered Narayanganj City Corporation panel mayor Nazrul Islam, demanded death penalty for those responsible for the sensational killings that drew countrywide criticism.

“The miscreants who are directly or indirectly at fault for the gruesome seven-murder case should be hanged. The financers of the killing also should be brought to book,” Salam said.

He made the remarks while addressing a human chain formed in Adamji area under Siddirganj police station here in the morning.

Speaking about the leaked conversation between Awami League lawmaker Shamim Osman and Nur Hossain, the prime accused in the case filed for the

sensational seven-murder case in the district, Salam questioned the Prime Minister, saying: “If Nur Hossain is not considered a criminal after killing seven people then how many murders is he required to commit in order for him to be considered so.”

In the programme arranged by the Narayanganj Mahila Parishad, leaders of the organisation opined that the industrial city has turned into a city of rampant abductions and killing.

“Since justice was ensured in the previous killings there, the seven-murder could have been evaded,” the leaders continued.

Narayanganj City Corporation panel mayor Nazrul and lawyer Chandan Sarkar along with five others were killed following their abduction on April 27. l

Police bring Jannatul Ferdous Nila out of a Narayanganj court yesterday after their remand prayer was granted

1 held over Sylhet gang rape Modi sworn in n

Our Correspondent, Sylhet

Law enforcers yesterday arrested a person in connection with the gang rape of two sisters in front of their parents at Beanibazar upazila of the district early Sunday.

Police arrested Nazrul Islam, 40, in the afternoon suspecting him to be involved in the incident, Abul Kalam Azad, OC of Beanibazar police, said. Nazrul hails from Jalalpur of the same upazila.

Father of the victims filed a case on Sunday accusing one and several other unknown people. He could only recognise Joynul, son of Makdam Ali from Pailgram among the eight to ten masked criminals.

The victims were admitted to Osmani Medical College Hospital. The doctors yesterday examined them. Deputy Director of the hospital Tonmoy Bhattacharya told the Dhaka Tribune that the report would be prepared in a day or two. l

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In an interview shortly before the inauguration, Sharif said Modi’s arrival in power represented “a great opportunity” for the nuclear-armed rivals to forge a new era in their troubled relationship.

“This is a chance to reach out to each other. Both governments have a strong mandate,” Sharif told India’s NDTV network, according to a transcript provided by the Pakistan High Commission.

“Both countries should rid the re-

More questions ‘leaked’

New suspect identified in Ekram murder

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 PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

Chairman Taslima Begum said on Sunday: “Only Allah knows where they are getting these questions from.”

This correspondent talked to some guardians and learned that the examinees under their care had been spending more time surfing the social networking sites, looking for leaked questions, instead of studying or doing last minute revisions.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid said at a programme yesterday: “There is no chance of question leak-

age. A quarter may be doing this to tarnish the ministry’s image.”

Earlier this month, the Dhaka Education Board postponed the English Second Paper examination after rumours of leaked questions spread.

Two committees were formed to probe into the rumour. One of the committees submitted their report without specifying the sources of the leakage.

The government has given 15 more days to the second committee, which was supposed to submit its report this week. l

Defence allocation to grow 12.71%  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

Tk16,400 crore allocation would go into the construction of a new cantonment in Sylhet. Besides, big amounts would be needed for sending army personnel, arms and motor vehicles to Mali under the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission (MINUSMA).

The UN, however, will pay the money spent back to the Bangladesh government. In April, a 112-member team of the Bangladesh Army went to Mali to join the MINUSMA for the first time.

A total of six contingents comprising 1,446 members, including a battalion and naval unit, will be deployed in the African country in phases.

Till date, the Bangladesh armed forces have made the biggest contribution to the UN peace missions. In FY2012-13, they earned $72m from these missions.

Traditionally, the prime minister holds the Defence Ministry in Bangladesh.

Citing resource constraint as a reason, the Finance Division has not allocated any fund in the outgoing fiscal for manufacturing and exporting lighter arms. However, according to sources

in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), in the coming fiscal, Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory is going to get Tk10 crore for the purpose.

Former finance adviser of a caretaker government AB Mirza Azizul Islam said: “Over 10 years, the defence budget has grown from less than Tk4,000 crore in 2003-04 to over Tk14,600 crore in 2013-14.

“The important question today is not how much should be spent for defence. Rather questions should be asked about the decision-making process. Transparency in procurement and resource distributions is vital. At a time when we have serious resource constraints, 6.5% of budget going to defence will surely raise some eyebrows,” he said.

The ratio of defence expenditure to total GDP will stand at 1.2% in the coming fiscal. The government has allocated 2.8% of the GDP outlay for agriculture and rural development, 2.3% for education and 1.8% for transport and communication.

In FY2006-07, the Defence Ministry got Tk4,904 crore from the budget. In FY2008-09, the amount was Tk6,306 crore. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

unit of Awami League – who later contacted arrestees Shiblu to lay out the plan.

Jihad also sought advice from district Awami League Joint Secretary Jahangir Mohammad Adel, who reportedly assured him of managing the side of local MP Nizam Uddin Hazari and gave a final shape to the plan.

Investigators also tracked the mobile phone records of the suspects to find that Adel had directed Shiblu, Jihad, arms trader Mamun and district AL leader Ziaul Alam Mister over the phone to carry out the crime.

The killers also allegedly managed to convince Ekram’s bodyguard Belal Hossain to not accompany the upazila chairman on the day of the incident.

He also provided the culprits with information on Ekram’s movement, which helped the killers to plan the murder on May 20.

Meanwhile, Ekram’s supporters vandalised and set fire to Belal’s house yesterday. Inspector Abul Kalam Azad confirmed the news and said the police were trying to trace Belal, who had gone into hiding soon after the incident.

During interrogation, the arres-

tees also reportedly told the investigators that former Feni MP Joynal Hazari knew about the killing as Minar and Dulal maintained links with him.

Only a day before the murder, a weekly newspaper owned by Joynal Hazari, Shaptahik Hazarika, published a report which predicted that Ekram might be abducted or killed anytime.

Paritosh Ghosh, superintendent of police in Feni, told the Dhaka Tribune that directives had been sent to the borders and key points in the country so that no one involved in the murder could escape.

Exercising the right to know made him an accused  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

For trying to exercise his right to information, Ali was made an accused in three cases filed against BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami activists with Narayanganj Sadar, Fatullah and Siddhirganj police stations. Former police super Nurul played a role in including Ali’s name in the cases.

Ali, an employee at a private organisation, is not associated with any political party. Yet, he realised he had enraged law enforcers by seeking information about Nur’s wrongdoings when his details appeared in the case statement.

Along with six former policemen, Ali too had to give a deposition at the hearing yesterday which was organised by the probe committee formed by the Public Administration Ministry following a higher court directive.

He said he had sent letters to Monoj and Nurul on September 11 last year asking for the information. In response to the query, the deputy commissioner, replied on September 17, saying the district administration had not permitted any such jatra.

On October 3, Ali received a letter

signed by District Administration Assistant Commissioner Tasnim Jebin Binte Sheikh which said proceedings of a higher court writ petition (no 3694/2013) in this regard were underway.

Another letter from the office of police super was sent to Ali on September 18, which carried the same response.

After receiving the letter, Ali, wrote anonymously to the police super on the same day, asking him to take actions to stop Nur’s illegal acts.

Nurul, however, did not take any step and kept mum.

When Ali saw his name in the three cases with the other accused, he informed Nurul of it over the phone.

Nurul told him he would look into the matter.

Ali said yesterday that the seven lives would not have been lost if the administration had taken action at the time.

Six policemen quizzed The probe committee interrogated six police officials, including two suspended officers-in-charge of Fatullah Model and Siddhirganj police stations, yesterday, regarding the gruesome

seven murders in Narayanganj.

The six were Akter Hossain, former officer-in-charge of Fatullah Model police station, Abdul Matin, former officer-in-charge of Siddhirganj police station, Saiful Islam, former inspector (investigation) of Fatullah Model police station, Abdul Awal, former inspector (investigation) of district detective branch of police, Fazlul Haque, former sub-inspector of Fatullah Model police station, and Jahirul Islam, former sub-inspector of Fatullah Model police station.

They were questioned by the seven-member probe committee, headed

by Additional Secretary of the Public Administration Ministry Shahjahan Ali, at the district circuit house around 3:15pm.

On Sunday, the committee interrogated Nurul and Monoj at the Secretariat.

On April 27, seven people, including Narayanganj City Corporation councillor Nazrul Islam, were abducted. The abductors impersonated RAB officials.

Nazrul’s family alleged Nur paid RAB Tk6 crore to kidnap the seven.

When they went to Fatullah Model

Police yesterday were allowed three days to interrogate Jannatul Ferdaus Nila, the councillor of wards 4, 5 and 6 in Narayanganj City Corporation, in a murder case filed last year.

Siddhirganj police OC Alauddin said they were given the permission upon a seven-day remand petition filed with the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Jabid Hossain.

He said they had arrested Nila on Sunday night related to a 2013 murder case, not in the seven-murder case.

Nila was picked up on May 18 and interrogated over the seven murder case for three hours.

Alauddin said they had arrested Nila based on confessions made by the accused arrested in the case filed over the murder of a youth named Jewel.

Police recovered the body of Jewel with a severed head on October 27 last year. His identity was confirmed around a month later.

A case was filed later and as such, criminals, who had alleged link in the murder, were also arrested. l

gion of instability and security that has plagued us for decades,” he added.

The invitation to Sharif was seen as a significant olive branch to India’s Muslim neighbour and it marks the first time that a leader from either country has attended his counterpart’s inauguration since independence in 1947.

India and Pakistan have fought three wars and bilateral ties broke down after the 2008 attacks by Pakistani gunmen in Mumbai in which 166 people were killed. l

According to sources in the district unit Awami League, lawmaker Nizam was also aware about the plan and had backed the killing. However, the investigators are yet to verify the allegation.

Both Joynal and Nizam Hazari, on the other hand, have denied claims about their involvement with the murder, but blamed each other for being responsible for the murder.

Meanwhile, the Feni district units of Chhatra League and Chhatra Dal organised separate press briefings yesterday and blamed each other for the killing. l

police station to file a case in this connection, police refused to take the case and did not take any instant action.

Akter Hossain and Saiful Islam are thought to have been quizzed by the probe committee because of police inaction.

Fazlul Haque was first tasked with investigating the case but was later replaced by Abdul Awal. When incumbent police super Khandakar Mahid Uddin took his post, Nazrul’s family alleged Awal was acting as Nur’s accomplice and a probe conducted by him would not be credible.

In response to this allegation, the investigation officer was changed once again and Mamunur Rashid Mondol, officer-in-charge of Narsingdi district DB police, was given the task.

Sources said Jahirul was in charge of patrol police when the incident occurred and many think he did not disclose any information despite having knowledge of RAB’s complicity in it.

Abdul Matin’s intimacy with Nur has also been alleged. Many said they were harassed by him following his suspension and that Nur directed him to do this. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

3

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Hizb-ut Tahrir now incorporating Rohingyas n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong Banned in 2009 for its controversial activities, Islamist outfit Hizb-ut Tahrir has now been integrating Myanmar’s Rohingya refugees, staying in the coastal district, under its umbrella to strengthen the group and keep its key players off the law enforcers’ radar.

Police have found that members of the banned organisation, divided in several groups, are contacting the Muslim refugees, who enter the country illegally on a regular basis, and engaging them in its activities by providing them with housing, job and educational assistance.

Latest, Kotwali police detained seven activists of the group from Andorkilla Shahi Jame Mosjid area on Friday

different benefits. “The group’s high command uses them to establish its controversial ideology amongst the people,” the official said.

AKM Mohiuddin, officer-in-charge of Kotwali police station, said the activists arrested previously were highly educated and fully brainwashed about the group’s activities. So they did not give any mentionable information during interrogation.

CMP Additional Commissioner (crime and operation) Banaz Kumar Majumder said they were looking into the matter seriously as the police had already found information that the Rohingyas were getting involved with the banned group directly and indirectly.

According to its website, an Islam-

ic scholar named Sheikh Muhammad Takiuddin al-Nabani of Jerusalem formed Hizb-ut Tahrir in 1953. It has branches in 87 countries including Bangladesh.

The government banned the organisation on September 24, 2009 as its objectives are contradictory with the country’s constitution.

According to sources in Hizb-ut Tahrir and the police, about 10,000 members of the organisation are working actively across the country.

Even though the group is not blamed for committing any subversive activities elsewhere in the country – like what the JMB and the Huji do, its members often publish anti-state, communal and militant statements through posters, leaflets and Jihadi books. l

Pedestrians jaywalk on the street at the capital’s Sonargaon intersection yesterday, ignoring a banner urging them to follow traffic rules

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

when they attempted to bring out a procession. One of them was Mobarak Hossain, 24, who stays at the Letha Refugee Camp in Teknaf of Cox’s Bazar.

Police say apart from Mobarak, many other Rohingyas are being trapped by Hizb-ut Tahrir these days.

During initial interrogation, Mobarak said he had entered the country about a year ago paying Tk500 to the border guards of both Bangladesh and Myanmar. One Moinuddin, student of a madrasa at Hathazari in Chittagong, took him to a students’ mess at the upazila’s Forer Bari area after a week of his arrival.

Moinuddin got him admitted to the madrasa where he is now studying. But Mobarak says he wanted to study science. Moinuddin later helped him to

take admission at Memory Computers in the port city’s Chawkbazar area eight months ago.

Moinuddin also engaged Mobarak with the activities of Hizb-ut Tahrir saying that its activities meant “fight for establishing Islam.”

“Like Mobarak, 10 other Rohingyas are being nurtured by Moinuddin,” Shah Mohammad Abdur Rouf, assistant commissioner of Kotwali circle, told the Dhaka Tribune. “Police are trying to arrest all the members of the banned group who are using the Myanmar refugees for its illegal activities,” he said.

A top-ranked police official, seeking anonymity, told the Dhaka Tribune that around 1,000 Rohingyas had already joined Hizb-ut Tahrir in exchange of

‘Bangladesh not ready for COP20’ n Rabiul Islam Speakers at a national dialogue expressed concern yesterday that Bangladesh might lose its earlier key position at the next UN climate conference in Lima, Peru this year because of lack of preparation.

The country played a leading role on behalf of the LDCs at last year’s negotiations of the Conference of Parties (COP19) in Warsaw, Poland, and achieved a better position.

BIDS Professorial Fellow M Asaduzzaman said the Environment Ministry must take initiatives to prepare the country’s position before the COP20, to be held in December, as per rules of business.

PKSF Chairman Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad said the developed countries were not implementing the commitments they had made with regard to providing assistance to the poor and developing nations vulnerable to climate change effects.

Executive Director of Coast Trust Rezaul Karim Chowdhury said Bangladesh is not on the right track. “We fear that we may lose what we have achieved,” he said mentioning that the Environment and Forest Ministry is not working properly.

The discussion was jointly organised by Bangladesh Unnayan Parishad and Dhaka School of Economics at the National Press Club. l

High Court stays REHAB election n Nazmus Sakib The High Court yesterday stayed further proceedings of the election of the Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh’s executive committee for three months.

The High Court bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice ABM Altaf Hossain passed the order in response to a writ petition filed by Prof Abu Yusuf Md Abdullah, chairman of Prashad Nirman Ltd, as his candidature was cancelled.

The election for the term 2014-16 was set to be held on May 31.

The bench asked why exclusion of Abdullah should not be declared arbitrary and illegal. The commerce secretary, the trade organisation director of the ministry, the FBCCI chairman, the chairman of REHAB’s election appeal board, the election board chairman and the REHAB president were asked to respond to the rule within four weeks. l

IFC may invest in deep Migrants going abroad sea port, power projects for jobs on student, n tourist visas Sheikh Shahariar Zaman

The International Finance Corporation is interested to invest in the proposed deep sea port and in power infrastructure projects in Bangladesh.

“We intend to provide investment and advisory services for deep sea port and gas- and energy-based projects,” IFC Country Manager Kyle F Kelhofer said at a launching ceremony, held at the Dutch Embassy in the capital yesterday.

The Textile Technology Business Centre was set up by the BGMEA with support from the IFC, the private sector lending wing of the World Bank, and the Netherlands Embassy in Bangladesh.

The centre, located at the BGMEA head office in Karwan Bazar, would assist textile factories to adopt the best practices and technologies for cleaner production and better business.

Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Lilianne Ploumen said the textile sector contributed to the country’s growth, but at the

same time, it posed risks to its workers and the surrounding communities.

“Inefficient use of water leads to groundwater depletion, and the discharge of inadequately treated waste contributes to waterborne diseases, depletes local fish stocks and decreases the productivity of local agriculture,” said the minister, who arrived in Dhaka on Sunday.

Ploumen said she came to Bangladesh to assess the progress made thus far in improving the working conditions in the RMG industry. “Together with the private sector, we want to help improve the working conditions and lower the environmental pollution caused by production processes,” she said.

According to a presentation made by IFC Programme Manager Mrinal Sircar, about 1,700 processing plants use 1,500 billion litres of underground water to process five million tonnes of cloth annually.

IFC provided Bangladesh with nearly $800m last year, and a major portion of the loan went to the textile sector as working capital, Kelhofer said. l

n Rabiul Islam Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain admitted yesterday that a good number of Bangladeshis were going abroad for jobs on student or tourist visas.

He also remarked that the immigration department should stop such fraudulent activities in the greater interest of sustaining the overseas labour market for genuine migrant workers.

“It does not fall under the purview of my ministry to check unethical migration. If the immigration officials at the airport watch properly, they can check it easily,” Mosharraf told reporters at his ministry.

Officials at the Immigration Department and the Expatriates’ Welfare Desk at Dhaka airport also confirmed that many people were using student or tourist visas to go abroad for work.

“As per the law, we cannot bar anybody from going abroad,” an immigration official said, seeking anonymity.

The minister briefed reporters about his recent trip to Sweden to attend the Global Forum on Migration and Development conference, held May 14-16. “We placed a proposal for migrant workers to go abroad free of cost, with employers bearing all the costs,” Mosharraf said.

He claimed that different international organisations had supported Bangladesh’s proposal.

“I also met the ILO director general [Guy Ryder] and he assured me of playing a role so that migration can happen with zero migration cost,” he added.

According to ILO Convention 181, migrant workers should not have to pay to go abroad for jobs.

Expatriates’ Welfare Secretary Shawkat Hossain and BMET DG Shamsun Nahar were also present. l

HC seeks report on youth’s death in police custody n Nazmus Sakib

The High Court yesterday directed the Dhaka superintendent of police and officer-in-charge of Ashulia police station to submit by June 18 reports on what actions have been taken against the policemen for the alleged torture and death of a youth in custody.

It also sought a report from the three-member committee, formed by the government to investigate the matter, by this time.

The bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice ABM Altaf Hossain passed the order following a writ petition filed by rights body Ain O Salish Kendra.

According to the petition, tea vendor Ripon Sikder, 30, was allegedly tortured to death in police custody at Nabinagar of Ashulia on May 21 as he could not meet their undue demand for Tk1,000.

“Torturing a person physically or mentally is a gross violation of fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution,” the petition said.

In a rule, the court asked the authorities concerned as to why they should not be directed to take departmental and punitive actions against the persons responsible for alleged torture and custodial deaths of citizens, including Ripon.

It also asked the authorities concerned as to why they should not be directed to pay adequate compensation to Ripon’s family. The court asked the respondents to explain why they shall not be directed to refrain from abusing power that results in custodial deaths.

Abantee Nurul, a lawyer for ASK, told the Dhaka Tribune that the home secretary, the IGP, the Dhaka SP and the Ashulia OC were asked to respond to the rule by one month.

Assisted by Abu Obaidur Rahman, Supreme Court lawyer ZI Khan Panna pleaded for the petitioner while Deputy Attorney General Biswojit Roy stood on behalf of the state. l

SC cancels acquittal of Aman, his wife from graft case n Nazmus Sakib The top court yesterday cancelled a High Court verdict that had acquitted senior BNP Aman Ullah Aman and his wife Sabera Aman from a corruption case filed by the ACC. A five-member Appellate Division bench headed by Chief Justice Md Muzammel Hossain cancelled the acquittal order and sent the case back to the High Court for further hearing, ACC counsels told the Dhaka Tribune.

The case was filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission in 2007 for acquiring wealth beyond the defendants’ known source of income and for concealing information.

On June 21, 2007, a lower court imposed 13 years of imprisonment for Aman – the BNP’s joint secretary general – and three years for Sabera. On August 16, 2010, the High Court acquitted the duo following a petition.

On September 15 last year, the ACC filed a petition seeking permission to lodge an appeal against the acquittal. l

Tribunal welcomes chief prosecutor

Moudud, brother charged in graft case

n Udisa Islam

n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu

Chief Prosecutor Golam Arif Tipoo appeared at the International Crimes Tribunal yesterday, nearly a month after his joining office. The tribunal 1 enquired about his health and greeted him warmly.

Tipoo was on leave since April 13 on health ground and went to Singapore for better treatment. The Law Ministry allowed him one month leave from that day and made senior prosecutor Syed Haider Ali the acting chief.

Tipoo returned to the prosecution office on April 30 and submitted a joining letter. However, he was not welcomed warmly by most of the prosecution members present in the room that day.

Confusion created within the team recently as the acting chief prosecutor continued to convene meetings despite Tipoo’s joining office. Several members of the team also questioned whether his joining was official since the ministry did not withdraw the gazette notification.

In Tipoo’s absence, the prosecution at a meeting on May 11 asked for the documents of Jamaat-e-Islami’s war crimes case. The seven-member team

dealing with the case to prepare formal charges in reply wrote to the chief prosecutor seeking his directives and mentioning that the documents had been kept there.

Yesterday, Tipoo entered the tribunal 1 courtroom around 10:45am and stayed there during the whole proceedings.

At the end of the proceedings, Justice M Enayetur Rahim, chairman of the three-member tribunal, enquired about his health. Tipoo said he was better but the progress was not fast. Later he exchanged greetings with reporters at the courtroom and said he would come to the tribunal whenever he felt better.

Before that, a member of investigation agency testified against Jamaat leader ATM Azharul Islam. Md Sajal Mahmud, a police constable who works as an assistant of Md Idris Ali, investigation officer of the case, submitted his deposition as the 14th prosecution witness.

Appearing as the first seizure list witness, Sajal said on May 3, 2012, he had attested photocopies of three documents including a police abstract report collected from the agency’s library.

After his short deposition, defence lawyer Abdus Subhan Tarafder cross examined him and the tribunal adjourned the hearing until tomorrow.

Meanwhile at the tribunal 2, defence counsel for war crimes accused Syed Mohammad Qaisar ended crossexamination of the prosecution’s 16th witness.

In his deposition on Sunday, Abdul Matin alias Jalal, 63, claimed that the accused and his cohorts, with the help of Pakistani occupation forces, had burnt at least 25 Hindu villages and killed around 100 people in a day during the 1971 Liberation War in Habiganj.

The same tribunal yesterday adjourned cross-examination of eighth prosecution witness Ashraf Uddin Mia, 57, in the case against Maulana Abdus Subhan following a defence petition.

He testified on Sunday saying that the accused had ordered the abduction and torture of his father and an uncle during the Liberation War. The defence pleaded for time mentioning that their senior counsel Mizanul Islam was facing some personal difficulties. The tribunal adjourned the trial until Thursday. l

The Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday pressed charges against former minister and BNP Standing Committee member Moudud Ahmed and his expatriate brother accusing them of grabbing a government land in 1978, worth around Tk300 crore now, by making fake documents.

ACC Deputy Director Md Harun-urRashid, also the investigation officer of the case, submitted the charge sheet to the office of General Recording Officer of the Dhaka’s Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court.

The charge sheet says Moudud and his brother Manjur Ahmed were found guilty during the ACC inquiry for grabbing a government property valued Tk300 crore on Gulshan Avenue by producing different fake documents and abusing power.

The IO also submitted a prayer for issuing warrant of arrest against Manzur, who is now staying in England.

Metropolitan Magistrate Md Nuru Miah saw and signed the charge sheet.

A total of 20 people have been made witnesses in the case.

On Wednesday, the ACC at a regular meeting approved a charge sheet

which was prepared after a five-monthlong investigation. The case was filed on December 17 last year.

The case says the house belonged to Mohammad Ehsan and his wife Inze Maria Flatz, two Pakistani nationals who left the country before the 1971 Liberation War. Following their departure, the house on 1.13bigha (0.374 acre) land was included in the list of government’s abandoned properties on January 21, 1972.

On August 2, 1973, Moudud prepared a fake power of attorney of Maria Flatz to grab the land and used it to

gain his own interest. Since then, he has been living in the house showing himself as a tenant of Maria Flatz, the case document says.

While holding different posts as minister during 1978-2006, Moudud tried to grab the house misusing his power, and made the fake documents in the name of his brother.

Terming the case motivated, Moudud on May 22 at a press conference claimed that before approving the charge sheet, the ACC should have recorded his statement as per the Anti-Corruption Commission Rules, 2007. l

4 GIST Demo Day held in Dhaka n Tribune Report The US Embassy in Dhaka, in association with Startup Dhaka, organised the Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) DEMO Day in Dhaka on Saturday, welcoming 365 members of the country’s entrepreneurship community.

Starting with lectures on key entrepreneurship topics in the morning, the event saw seven top Bangladeshi startups pitching their business ideas based on science and technology to the audience and showcasing their innovative ventures.

A two-day boot camp was also arranged ahead of the event, where GIST and Startup Dhaka worked with 30 Bangladeshi entrepreneurs, providing intensive training aimed at honing skills to advance their startups.

Mentors like Jim Bagnola, Jim Chung and Thor Ernstsson travelled to Dhaka from the US to share their expertise with the young innovators.

Bagnola, president of Leadership Group International, worked with the participants on building relationships and the startup teams. Chung, executive director of Entrepreneurship and Technological Transfer in George Washington University, discussed cost structure, revenue streams and negotiating with investors. Ernstsson, founder of Casual Corp, talked about raising capital for startups.

Each of the 30 participants also took part in one-on-one discussions with both the local and the visiting mentors.

A partnership led by the US Department of State and CRDF Global, GIST was launched in 2011 and focuses on empowering young science and technology innovators through capacity building, mentoring and networking. l

BIRTHDAY WISHES Jarin Tasnim Sara.

May your birthday and every day be filled with the warmth of sunshine, the happiness of smiles, the sounds of laughter. May you have a fantastic birthday and many more to come... HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

– Your Family Members

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

CHT Ministry gets authority over secondary schools n Mohosinul Karim The Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs has been given the authority of management and control of the secondary schools operating under three hill districts in line with the CHT Accord signed in 1997.

The Education Ministry handed over the responsibility to the hill district councils of Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban yesterday by signing separate agreements with the chairmen.

According to the agreements, the secondary education activities of the three districts will be operated under the district councils There are around 279 secondary schools in the three hill districts. Of those, 18 are government schools and 261 are non-government affiliated schools. As many as 154 non-government schools are under the government’s monthly payment order (MPO) scheme.

Education Secretary Mohammad Sadique and chairmen of Rangamati District Council Nikhil Kumar Chakma, Khagrachhari’s Chai Tow Aong Marma and Bandarban’s Kyaw Shai Hla Marma signed the agreements. CHT Affairs Secretary Naba Bikram Kishore Tripura signed the papers as an observer.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid, PM’s International Affairs Adviser Gowher Rizvi and CHT State Minister Bir Bahadur Ushoi Singh were present at the ceremony held at the CHT Ministry.

According to the agreements, the secondary education activities of the three districts will be operated under

the district councils. The Khagrachhari Technical School and College will also be handed over to the district council.

Bir Bahadur said the hand over process was conducted in line with the agreement signed between the government and the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samity in 1997.

After the agreements, the councils will now control the management, development, operation, supervision and coordination of the secondary institutes.

The agreement says the budget, including salaries and other benefits of the teachers and officials of the district education offices, and the public and government-affiliated schools will be given to the hill district councils for disbursement.

The councils will also have the authority of forming managing committees and holding up or cancelling the committees. Those will be able to recruit, transfer and promote the class III and class IV officials and employees of the district education offices and the schools.

The chairmen of the councils will approve the leave and write the annual confidential report of the officials and employees concerned.

Bir Bahadur said the government had already handed over several divisions and offices to the hill councils: 25 in Rangamati, 23 in Khagrachhari and 22 in Bandarban.

“It is a continuous process to complete the handover of the divisions and offices to the councils.

There are some legal obstacles to the handover and some other issues which require the amendment of laws.

The government is trying to resolve the issues within the shortest possible time,” he added.

Education Minister Nahid urged the authorities to run the institutes efficiently to ensure proper education for the people in the hill tracts. l

Protesters dismantle a CNG-run auto-rickshaw near Shiroil bus stand area in Rajshahi city during the second day of the transport strike yesterday AZHAR UDDIN

Five BCL activists expelled from CU n CU Correspondent

Chittagong University authorities have expelled five CU Chhatra League activists from the university yesterday for different periods on charges of physically assaulting an Awami League central committee leader on April 5.

The decision was made at an emergency meeting, around two months after the incident.

The expelled students were English department students Rubel Dey, Sohel Khan and Shahrid Shuvo, Asifuzzaman Asif of Islamic history and culture department, and ASM Meraj Hossen of computer science and engineering department. All the expelled students were activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League CU unit.

Confirming the decision, Professor Siraj Ud Dowla, CU proctor, said the decision was made on the basis of the three-member probe committee report. The university’s disciplinary committee had suspended Rubel and Shuvo for six months, while

Meraj, Asif and Shohel were expelled for three months, said Professor Siraj.

The committee also issued show-cause notices against the accused students asking why they would not be expelled permanently for their involvement.

Professor Khan Tawhid Osman, dean of Biological Science Faculty at CU, said their involvement with the assault incident was proven, and the committee had submitted its report ac-

cusing the students on Sunday.

A faction of Chhatra League activists had assaulted Nasir Haider Babul, assistant secretary of the Awami League, on the CU campus when he was attending a meeting commemorating late CU VC Abu Yusuf.

Following the incident, the central Chhatra League had expelled five of its activists from the organisation after visiting the CU campus on April 22. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

5

Half-built seven footbridges await completion n Abu Hayat Mahmud The construction of several footbridges at key points of the capital has remained suspended, or has been going on at snail’s pace, because of alleged negligence by the authorities concerned.

Under the World Bank-funded Clean Air and Sustainable Environment (CASE) project, seven footbridges have remained under-construction for more than a year. Since the project was launched in mid-2009, authorities concerned have, however, completed the construction of 13 footbridges, while the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has also installed an escalator as part of a footbridge in the capital’s Banani.

Md Shehab Ullah, director of the CASE project, told the Dhaka Tribune: “We have already completed 13 footbridges and the construction of seven other footbridges is going on at full swing and it would be hopefully completed by December this year.”

On the other hand, a World Bank report on the implementation status of the CASE project, published in April 2014, read that 40% construction of the footbridge project had been completed as of March 24 this year. Around 75% work of the project – the construction work for which began in November 2009 – is expected to be completed by December 2016, the report added.

However, recently visiting the construction sites, the Dhaka Tribune found that construction was halted for the footbridges at Satmasjid Road adjoining the Chhayanaut, at Panthopath Road adjoining Bashundhara City shopping mall, and at Mirpur road adjoining Sobhanbagh Mosque.

The construction of four other footbridges under the CASE project was going on, albeit at a snail’s pace.

Residents of the respective areas expressed their discontent at the slow progress in constructing the footbridges.

Sufia Begum, a resident of Shankar, said: “Women, children and elderly people face difficulties in crossing the Satmasjid Road as there is a large volume of traffic on the road… We cross the busy road with fear. Vehicles run on the road at high speed.”

Ashikur Rahman, a resident of Green Road, said: “The authority concerned started the construction of the nearby footbridge more than a year ago, but is yet to complete it.”

Ashikur added that the construction had halted since six months ago.

The Environment Ministry, with assistance of the World Bank, has undertaken the CASE project to address the issue of urban air pollution. The CASE project is run by a Project Implementing Unit (PIU) consisting of officials from both the city corporations of Dhaka. l

Pedestrians cross Sat Masjid Road near Chhayanaut at Dhanmondi 27 amid risks as a foot over bridge over the road is yet to be completed

ABU HAYAT MAHMUD

RHD staff demand more service benefits n Our Correspondent, Barisal

Reopening of Holling Port city residents lay siege to Wasa Bery Hospital demanded office for water supply

Employees of the Roads and Highways Department in Barisal, are on a strike.

They staged a demonstration and held a rally at Barisal Sarak Bhaban area yesterday noon demanding an increase in service benefits.

The programmes were organised by the Sarak Janapad Sramik Karmachari Union’s Barisal unit to bring attention to their four-point demand.

The demands included a payment of at least Tk 10 lakh in pension or death compensation, a rise in salaries of the staff paid according to their work, a pay rise for employees on master role and the regularisation of computer operators’ jobs.

Central unit President of the union Golam Kibria Dulal presided over yesterday’s programmes while Kamal Uddin Ahmed Faruk, secretary general, Akhter Faruk, joint secretary, Fariduddin Ahmed, assistant secretary, and other local leaders of the organisation were present.

Demonstrators said they would continue holding protests in different units of the organisation, they would also hand over memorandums to the ministries and offices concerned, and would observe a two-hour work abstention programmes across the country on working days from June 11 to 25 to bring further attention to their demands.

Sterner programmes would be announced if the demands were not met, they warned. l

Local people, stakeholders and staff of Holling Bery Syed Moazzem Red Crescent Hospital yesterday formed a human chain and held a rally in front of Ashwini Kumar Hall in the city demanding immediate resumption of medical services at the hospital by solving management problems.

WEATHER

n Our Correspondent, Barisal

At a meeting on July 7, 2012, Governing Committee of the hospital decided to raise service charges Dr ANM Enayet Karim, chief executive officer of the hospital, Dr Habibur Rahman, health rights activists, Ebaidul Haque Chan, president of district BNP addressed the programme among others.

The speakers said the hospital was built with contribution from businessman Syed Moazzem and was inaugurated on February 5 last year. The fifty-bed, four-storey hospital was a key healthcare service provider for people belonging to low-income group in the

TUESDAY, MAY 27 DHAKA TODAY TOMORROW SUN SETS 6:40PM SUN RISES 5:12AM FORECAST FOR TODAY Dhaka

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YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

36.7ºC Rajshahi

24.3ºC Rangamati

Source: Accuweather/UNB

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

3:47am 5:12am 11:56am 3:17pm 6:40pm 8:05pm Source: IslamicFinder.org

n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong Several hundred residents of Chittagong city’s Halishahar area under the banners of different social organisations yesterday besieged Chittagong Wasa office demanding regular supply of water in the area.

Residents of Halishahar’s A, B, I, J, New A, New-I and H blocks, Notun Bazar and Eidgaon area have been suffering from water crisis for the last couple of weeks as Wasa did not consistently supply water to these areas.

Demonstrations were carried out with placards, posters and pitchers, in front of the Wasa office from 11am to 12 noon.

During the demonstration, the residents also broke earthen pitchers and chanted slogans protesting the incon-

Workers of a ready-made garment factory in Chittagong took to the streets demanding their due pay in the city’s Sagarika Road yesterday afternoon.

While demonstrating, the agitated workers vandalised the insides of BO Monde Garments Ltd as well as two vehicles on the street. They also attempted to block the road, but were thwarted

by the Industrial and Pahartoli police who took control of the situation within an hour.

The workers, however, withdrew their demonstration around 4pm as the factory’s owner assured payment by Thursday.

Inspector Arifur Rahman of Industrial Police (Intelligence) in Chittagong said the workers started demonstrating yesterday in and out of the factory as the factory owner failed to pay their due wag-

n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong The Estate Department of Bangladesh Railway (East Zone) evicted around 100 illegally established shops on the Railway Station Road in Chittagong city yesterday.

es despite repeated requests, as they had been unpaid since April.

“The factory owner was scheduled to come to the factory yesterday and meet the workers, but he did not, which triggered the agitation,” he said, quoting the workers.

At one stage of the demonstration, the workers started to destroy the windows and doors of the factory, while some of them attempted to block the city road vandalising two vehicles, he added. l

Savar dental students threaten with tougher movement n Our Correspondent, Savar Students of the 11th batch of Savar Gonosastho Samaj Vittik Dental College (GSVMC) threatened yesterday that they will put forth a tougher movement if the college does not get the approval of Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC) immediately.

They made the threat at a human chain yesterday, which they had formed after stopping their seven-day boycott of classes and the sit-in programmes that they had also been holding.

The students alleged that they had been deceived when they got admitted into the college, because they were told the college had the

approval of the Council, but later, they found this claim to be false.

They said ever since they learnt that this college did not have the approval of BMDC, they had frequently requested the college authorities to arrange for the approval soon.

But the authorities seemingly did nothing except assure them that the approval for the college would be arranged and made them wait, they said.

Now, almost 18 months have gone by since they were admitted to this college and they are tired of waiting. “The authorities must manage do something that can ensure our future,” they said.

The agitating students further

sistent supply of water.

The demonstrators also warned that they would be compelled to take tougher measures if the situation does not improve before Ramadan. The residents complained that around six lakh people in Halishahar area have been facing acute water crisis for the last 10 years.

“We cannot cook food and clean our houses, let alone take a shower because of the acute water crisis”, said Omar Faruk, an inhabitant of the area, adding that they have repeatedly informed the authorities concerned to fix the problem, but to no avail.

“Though we pay our bills regularly, we do not get a consistent supply of water. The crisis has become so severe that the tenants are leaving their houses”, said another resident Nabil Hossain.

Later, they submitted a memorandum to Managing Director Engineer AKM Fazlullah of Wasa.

Because of the demonstration, the CWASA authorities formed a 14-member committee comprising of its chief engineer, the local ward councilors and the residents of Halishahar area to address the problem.

AKM Fazlullah, however, assured locals of mitigating the crisis within a week. Having had his assurance, the protesters withdrew the programme.

“The Chittagong Wasa can meet only 42% of the total demand. To mitigate the persistent water crisis, we have undertaken a number of big projects. But, we could not implement them within the deadline because of last year’s political unrest” he said. l

100 illegal shops evicted in Chittagong

RMG workers stage demo for due wages in Chittagong n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong

THUNDERSHOWER WITH RAIN

northern part of the city.

However, since October 2013, Moazzem has stopped providing funding because of disputes over the management and service charges.

Most of the doctors have left the hospital early this year while other employees have been without salaries since December 2013 and are in financial hardship, speakers said.

Participants of the human chain demanded immediate resumption of medical services by clearing overdue payment and ensuring regularisation of service facilities for the hospital staff.

At a meeting on July 7, 2012, Governing Committee of the hospital decided to raise service charges in order to bear the minimum management expenditure without making any profit.

Some locals, however, protested the move and funding was suspended in the wake of that, said Moazzem, also the executive chairman of the Governing Committee.

Iqbal Hossain Forkan, acting president of Red Crescent Barisal unit, said construction of the four-storey building, installation of modern medical equipment and some other tasks demand big funding which could not be borne by the Red Crescent alone. l

alleged that they had been threatened by Registrar Delwar Hossain and Deputy Registrar Golam Mortuza Babu that they would be killed by hired goons if the movement continued.

Delwar could not be reached on the phone and Mortuza said he had not made any such threat.

Principal Jahurul Maula of the College said, “We have told our students a few times to stop their movement and to attend classes because we applied for the approval and we will get it very soon.”

“I have no idea about the threat that the registrar and deputy registrar allegedly made toward the agitating students for launching the movement,” he added. l

Jamal Hossain, executive magistrate and assistant commissioner of Chittagong district administration, led the eviction drive.

Chittagong Metropolitan Police and Government Railway Police (East) assisted in the drive where Jashim Uddin,

divisional estate officer of the railway, was present along with other officials.

“We served notices to the owners of those illegal shops to remove them,” said Jashim, “but they did not comply.”

“That is why the eviction drive was conducted,” he said. l

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

Mango business faces setback for strike n Our Correspondent, Rajshahi The mango growers and traders in Rajshahi have become frustrated as business came to a standstill due to the indefinite strike enforced by bus-truck owners and workers since Sunday.

According to sources, the supply of the popular summer fruit from Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj districts has been badly hampered during the peak harvest season due to the strike.

Orchard owners and traders are suffering huge losses as the price of the perishable item has drastically fallen due to a lack of buyers.

Traders and transporters at a loss as to how to run the mango business during the current peak season in the two districts, which are famous for mango

production and marketing.

“Many people work hard and eagerly wait for a long nine or 10 months to harvest the cash crops and this is the prime time to gain profits from it,” said Abu Bakker Ali, president of Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

He said: “The strike is detrimental to business.”

At present, mango trading and transporting is in peak season, especially because varieties of mango such as Fazly and Ashwina are in markets everywhere in the region.

All the markets in the region are flooded with varieties of mango and the wholesale buyers as well as the retailers have been pouring into the wholesale mango markets and bargaining hard to settle the price.

Chuadanga petrol pump owners on strike

Around 30 tonnes of mangoes are being supplied and transported from the two districts to different parts of the country, including the capital, every day.

Passenger-coaches, trains, trucks and other private vehicles are being used to transport the mangoes.

“We alone transport around 2,000 baskets mangoes from here to different parts of the country, especially Dhaka, every day,” said Monzurul Kabir, assistant general manager of Sundarban Courier Service.

The strike has created a rift between the mango marketers and the transportation workers.

Rahmat Ali, a mango-trader from Shaheb Bazar said: “Buying and selling has been badly affected throughout the region due to the prolonged strike.” l

n Our Correspondent, Chuadanga Petrol pump owners of Chuadanga yesterday called for an indefinite strike, demanding security at the pumps.

A total of 18 petrol pumps of the district remained shut as the strike began at 6am, causing sufferings to the transport owners and labours of the district.

General Secretary Habil Hossain of Chuadanga district Fuel Transport Owners’ Association said recently there had been several incidents of robbery at the petrol pumps, adding that in the latest incident a gang of 10-12 robbers looted

Jubo League man found dead n

An art competition was held at Comila Shilpakala Academy yesterday, marking the birth anniversary of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam DHAKA TRIBUNE

Minor girl’s body exhumed 2 and half months after burial Correspondent, n Our Panchagarh Body of a minor girl was exhumed on Monday afternoon noon for a post-mortem two and half months after burial at Mareya Prodhanpara village in Boda upazila of Panchagarh.

Following a court order, police exhumed the body of Sharmin, 9, daughter of Sofiul Islam of Mareya Prodhanpara village in Boda upazila of the district from their family graveyard in presence of Executive Magistrate Sanwar Hossain at about 12:30pm.

Later, it was taken to Panchagarh Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy and buried back in the afternoon after examination, OC Mojnur Rahman of Boda police station said.

Police sources said Sharmin had been found dead in one Shahinur’s pond nearby their house on 8 March.

Victim’s father Sofiul filed a murder case with Panchagarh Senior Judicial Magistrate Court accusing seven persons, including victim’s neighbour Mazed Ali. After hearing of the case, Senior Judicial Magistrate SM Shafiqul Islam passed the order of exhuming the body for autopsy on 18 May. l

Shibir leader wounded in police firing in Rajshahi

n Tribune Desk

A local leader of Islami Chhatra Shibir sustained bullet wounds in a police firing during a clash in Chauddopai area near Rajshahi University in the city on Sunday night.

Alamgir Hossain, officerin-charge of Matihar Police Station, said on secret information that Shibir leader Afzal and activist Babu were staying in the area, a team of police conducted a drive there at about 11:15 pm.

Sensing the presence of police, the Shibir activists started hurling crude bombs at them, leaving three policemen injured, reports UNB. l

Our Correspondent, Lakshmipur

A Jubo League activist was slaughtered by assailants in Sadar upazila.

Locals found the body of Roman Hossain, 24, in Madanpur area around 6am and informed police.

Dattapara police outpost in-charge Sub-Inspector Wahiduzzaman said the body was on the spot till the filing of the report at 10am.

“Roman was an extortionist. He was accused in several cases,” said the SI. Mahbubul Haque Mahbub, joint convener of Lakshmipur sadar Jubo League, claimed Roman was a Jubo League activist.

Bashikpur union Awami League president Amir Hossain said the miscreants took Roman away at gunpoint from Abdul Mannan’s house early in the morning. l

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science & Technology University Office of the Director Planning, Development & Works.

Memo No: BSMRSTU/PD&W/344/2013-2014

Date: 25/05/2014

Invitation for Tender (IFT No-08) Sealed tenders are hereby invited from the bonafide Suppliers/Importers or their authorized Local Agents/Distributors/Representatives for Supplying, Installing & commissioning of Brand Computer & computer Accessories, Gopalganj: 1

Ministry/Division

2

Agency

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science & Technology University, Gopalgonj-8100.

3

Procuring Entity Name

Director, Planning, Developments & Works, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science & Technology University.

Ministry of Education (MOE)

Gopalganj.

4

Procuring Entity District

5

Invitation for

Supplying, Installing & commissioning of Brand Computer & Computer Accessories.

6

Invitation reference No

BSMRSTU/PD&W/343/2013-14 25/05/2014

7

Date

8

Procurement Method

Open Tendering Method (OTM)

9

Budget and Source of Funds

GoB

10

Tender package No

GD-24

11

Tender Publication Date

Within 28/05/2014

12

Tender Selling Date

28/05/2014 to 08/07/2014 During Office hour.

13

Name and Address of the office for Receiving Tender document

Office of the Director, Planning, Development & Works, BSMRSTU, Gopalganj-8100

14

Last date and time of receiving tender Date: 09/07/2014, Time: 12.00 Noon (Tender may be submitted on or before 09/07/2014 through physically/post/courier service during office hours. No Tender Document will be received after deadline for submission)

15

Tender Opening Date & Time

Date: 09/07/2014 Time: 12.30 PM

16

Selling Tender Document

Office of the Director, Planning Developments & Works, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science & Technology University, Gopalganj-8100

17

Eligibility of Tenderer

(i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi)

18

Brief Description of Goods or works

Supplying, Installing & Commissioning of Brand Computer & Computer Accessories.

19

Tender document price

Tender Document can be purchased by submitting either Pay Order or bank draft amounting Tk. 3000/- in favor of Registrar BSMRSTU, Gopalganj.

20

P. No GD-24

Up-to-date trade license Vat registration certificate Up-to-date income Tax clearance certificate Experience certificate in similar & general mentioned as TDS. Bank solvency certificate & Bank Statement as mentioned in TDS. Competency certificate after sale service as motioned in the TDS & must follow the other criteria mentioned in the TDS. (vii) Money receipt of purchasing tender document shall have to be submitted along with tender documents (viii) A Duplicate Copy shall be submitted along with Tender Document.

Identification of Package

Location

Tender Security

Completion Time

Supplying, Installing & Commissioning of Brand Computer & Computer Accessories.

BSMRSTU, Gopalganj

3.00 % of quoted Amount

Within 30 days from the date of Work Order

Tender Security shall be in favor of Registrar, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science & Technology University, Gopalganj.

21

Name of official inviting Tender

Engineer S.M. Eskendar Ali

22

Designation of official inviting Tender & Address

Director (in-Charge), Planning, Development & Works, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science & Technology University, Gopalganj.

23

Contact details of Official Inviting Tender

Tel. No: 02-6682258, Fax: 02-6682173, email: director.pdw@bsmrstu.edu.bd, Website: www.bsmrstu.edu.bd (Tender notice available in website)

24

Special Instruction: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Lowest rate will be evaluated package wise under packages.

If it is not possible to receive & open the tender on the Scheduled date for any unavoidable circumstances, the same will be received and opened on the following working date and same time and same place.

If the tenderer submits any false/incorrect/fake/fabricated/manipulated certificate with tender document, tender security shall be forfeited without assigning any reason.

The procuring entity reserves the right to accept or reject any or all tenders without assigning any reason whatsoever and also reserve the right to omit, increase and/or decrease the quantity of any item from the tender. The bidders must abide by the decision of authority. Tender form schedule of items of supply, tender notice and terms and conditions etc. are integral part of the tender. The bidders should write the name of the package and the name of their firm on the envelope clearly, VAT, Income Tax and other taxes, if any imposed by the govt. will be deducted form their bill as per govt rules.

All sorts of correspondence shall be remained suspended from 15.06.14 to 19.06.14 due to summer vacation of the university.

GC-66/14 (11× 4)

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Engineer S.M. Eskender Ali Director (In-Charge) Planning, Development & Works.

around Tk2.5 lakh from the Jibon Nagar Filling Station. The robbers exploded a bomb and tied up the security guard before looting the pump, he claimed.

He asserted that the strike was called as police and administration could not ensure security at the pumps.

Chuadanga Police Super Md Rashidul Hasan said three people were arrested in connection with the Jibon Nagar Filling Station incident. ASI Proshad Kumar and four constables were transferred to Chuadanga Police Line from the Jibon Nagar police station in this connection, he added. l

25 injured in clash n Our Correspondent, Gopalganj At least 25 people were injured in a clash over a triviality in Kazulia village of Sadar upazila yesterday.

According to sources, Siraj Haolader’s cow damaged Maola Sheikh’s paddy field at 7am. Later, supporters of both groups engaged in a clash, using local weapons, over the issue.

Upon receiving information, police went to the spot and opened fire to bring the situation under control. 25 people were injured during the clash.

They were admitted to Gopalganj Sadar Hospital and Kotalipara Upazila Health Complex. The police also arrested six people. Sadar police station Officer-in-Charge Zakir Hossain confirmed the incident. l

Youth to die for killing girl after rape n Our Correspondent, Gazipur A court here yesterday sentenced a young man to death in a case filed for killing a girl after rape about three years ago.

Fatema Nazib, district judge of Gazipur Women and Children Oppression Prevention Tribunal, convicted Jahangir, 22, son of Md Ali, a resident of Bandabari village in Kaliakair upazila of the district, in the case.

The court also fined him Tk1 lakh and directed the authorities concerned to give the money to the victim’s family members after collection.

According to the case statement, Jahangir in 2011 had developed a romantic relation with a girl promising to

marry her. However, at one stage, the girl became pregnant and she started pressing Jahangir to marry her.

On September 4 that year, the convict met her on the Amtali-Boali road in the upazila and later he murdered her by strangulating with her scarf in the nearby deep forest of the road.

On the following day, locals recovered the body and informed police who sent the body to Gazipur Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy.

In the incident, the girl’s father filed a case with Kaliakair police station, in which the court pronounced the verdict to him after examining all witness and evidence. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Long Form

7

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Jinnah made a mistake and I am ashamed of being Pakistani

Pakistan is always plagued with one form of chaos or another

REUTERS

Mahwash Badar is a clinical psychologist by profession and one of a handful of liberal Pakistanis who dare to speak the truth. On May 12 she wrote an opinion piece for Pakistan’s Express Tribune Blogs, titled ‘Jinnah made a mistake and I am ashamed of being Pakistani.’ However, due to the invisible hand of the ISI both this article and her Twitter profile @MahwashB have vanished.

Below is a reproduction of the original article

A

n Mahwash Badar nyone who has ever travelled abroad will tell you that no matter where you go, no matter how developed a country it is that you’re travelling to – if you’re a British national or a Caucasian American, the doors become friendlier. The security becomes less pressurising. Visa queues are shorter. Procedures are simpler.

If you’re a brown Pakistani man (or even woman) who is travelling to another country – that’s a whole other story. You’re working in the Middle

Jinnah didn’t think of the obscurantist mindset that he had propelled forward, the countless millions that died at the hand of this vague agenda that fails to unite us as a nation

East, chances are your salary is just a little bit above the basic working wage – or anything that will get you a bedspace with seven other human beings.

Respect is minimal.

You’re not supposed to ruffle any feathers. Or demand for rights. Your children are thousands of miles away studying (because you can’t afford education for them here), your wife probably has another job to help make ends meet and your job squeezes every drop of your blood into a tiny container that helps build the skyscrapers and that little container is thrown away quicker than you can say “burj” as soon as your company decides to say bye bye.

Pretty much the equivalent of … well, I don’t know. What is that the equivalent of? What analogy do I draw to represent the utter misery that is being a Pakistani in this super-power dominated world?

As if the current state of the country, what with its years of dictatorship and lack of infrastructure, hasn’t driven us insane enough, there is the added bonus of inviting religious extremists and letting them destroy everything we hold near and dear.

The media in Pakistan is under stringent scrutiny by the regulatory authority. Geo TV’s license being suspended is an example of the authority’s diminishing tolerance REUTERS

Sure, apologists will reason it saying “this is not true Islam” and whatnot.

But my question is when – seriously – when do we set aside the debate of what is true Islam and what isn’t?

Let the clerics and the religious scholars sit in their mosques. But once and for all, eliminate and annihilate

stan” on the news and everything that is reported is about death, destruction, squabbling politicians, ailing children, extremists blowing up things and a struggling economy.

I raise my eyes to our neighbouring country and see what could have happened if we were still a United India.

I Google ‘Pakistan’ on the news and everything that is reported is about death, destruction, squabbling politicians, ailing children, extremists blowing up things and a struggling economy

the savage, beastly, cowardly, immoral men who buy the bodies of fragile, poverty-stricken, desperate men, strap them with explosives and send them into markets filled with innocent women and children. Finish these abhorrent elements in the society that attempt to throw us back to the Stone Age. A recent article in the New York Times reported on the World Health Organisation (WHO) declaration of the polio emergency in Pakistan.

Last year, a polio worker was killed in Peshawar, as well as another who was shot dead in Khyber Agency. Several were kidnapped in Bara. In January this year, gunmen killed three health workers taking part in a polio vaccination drive in Karachi, not Kabul, not Sierra Leone, not Riyadh, Karachi.

My heart boils and burns as more devastating news and reports flood the channels. The New York Times article further stated that according to a report, the highest refusal rates for polio vaccination were recorded in wealthy neighbourhoods of Karachi because they had “little faith in public health care.” In North Waziristan, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have had vaccination forbidden for years.

Pakistan thus has 59 polio cases to report, the highest in the world.

Being a mother, it scares me. It keeps me awake at night. It reminds me that even if I run far away from the borders of my own land, its demons will continue to haunt me and my future generations. I Google “Paki-

Maybe we would have been polio free too. We would have been a unified part of a process of being the world’s next big force to reckon with, of being a part of the next blazing economy.

I find myself deeply wishing that Jinnah hadn’t made this mistake – that he had thought about the future of Pakistan. He didn’t think of the obscurantist mindset that he had propelled forward, the countless millions that

more like them than the Arabs we so badly want to mimic and ape. I stare at the green passport with the same self-loathing as the fat 16-year-old girl with pimples on her face who is told that she cannot get married because she will always be blind, diseased and fat and her elder, stronger, prettier, better-educated sister will snag all the good catches because she ended up with the better caretaker after the divorce of their parents.

I am ashamed of being a Pakistani today.

I am ashamed that I belong to a country that kills human rights lawyers and sitting governors, and issues death threats to university professors.

I am ashamed that we believe in spaghetti monster theories and pie in the sky conspiracies and risk the future of our children.

I am ashamed that we have rejected our scientists just because they believe in a different dogma.

I am ashamed that we cannot protect our women, we cannot protect our children and we cannot protect our men from the evil that is extremism, fundamentalism and the foolhardy idea that Pakistan is a great nation.

Pakistan is a fledgling, flailing state.

And those 59 children, whose legs can never work anymore, the family

I am ashamed that we cannot protect our women, children and men from the evil that is extremism, fundamentalism and the foolhardy idea that Pakistan is a great nation

died at the hand of this vague agenda that fails to unite us as a nation. I look at the years of struggles that Pakistan faces, the fall of Dhaka, the provincial wars, the stark separatist mindsets and I wonder what Mr Jinnah was thinking when he decided to leave the Indian National Congress (INC).

We share more with our Indian brothers than our ancestral DNA. Our food, language, clothes, lifestyles are

of Raza Rumi’s driver, those who shed tears for Salman Taseer, for Perveen Rehman, for Rashid Rehman, for Dr Murtaza Haider and his 12-year-old son – every single person who went out to have a normal day and never made it home alive – are all paying the price of the empathy, respect and awe YOU show cowards like Mumtaz Qadri. l Mahwash Badar is a clinical psychologist.

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Eurosceptic election surge gives EU a headache

The logo of the European currency is pictured in front of the European Central Bank AFP

n Reuters, Brussels Stunning victories in European Parliament elections by nationalist, Eurosceptic parties from France and Britain left the European Union licking its wounds on Monday and facing a giant policy dilemma.

Across the continent, anti-establishment parties of the far right and hard left more than doubled their representation amid voter apathy, harnessing a

Turkish court orders arrest of Israeli soldiers n AFP, Ankara A Turkish court on Monday ordered the arrest of four former Israeli military chiefs over a deadly 2010 maritime assault that plunged relations between the former allies into crisis, a lawyer working on the case said.

The court will ask Interpol to issue international arrest warrants for the four men, lawyer Cihat Gokdemir told AFP. No one at the Israeli embassy in Ankara was immediately available for comment.

Turkish prosecutors are seeking life sentences for the commanders, who went on trial in absentia in 2012.

They are former military chief of staff Gaby Ashkenazi, former navy chief Eliezer Marom, former military intelligence head Amos Yadlin and former air force intelligence chief Avishai Levy.

Israeli commandos boarded the Turkish-flagged Mavi Marmara, the largest ship in a flotilla dispatched by Turkish relief agency IHH to break Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip, on May 31, 2010, leaving nine Turkish activists dead. l

mood of anger with Brussels over austerity, mass unemployment and immigration.

While the centre-right and centre-left will continue to control more than half of the 751 seats in the EU legislature, they will face an unprecedented challenge from noisy insurgents determined to stop business as usual in the 28-nation bloc.

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls called the breakthrough by Marine Le

Pen's anti-immigration, anti-euro National Front, which topped a national vote for the first time and pushed his Socialists into third place, a political “earthquake.”

He rapidly countered by offering more tax cuts to spur an economy which is flatlining.

Another tremor on the other side of the Channel raised new doubts about Britain's long-term future in the EU. Nigel Farage's UK Independence Party, which advocates immediate withdrawal, defeated the opposition Labour party and Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservatives.

The anti-EU vote was amplified in many countries by a low turnout of just 43.1%, but the pro-European centre ground held firm in Germany, the EU's biggest member state with the largest number of seats, as well as Italy and Spain.

France is one of the EU's founder members and the weakness of President Francois Hollande may leave German Chancellor Angela Merkel without a strong partner for the next leg of European integration which economists say is vital to underpin a single currency but leaves voters, who want hope of better times to come, cold.

“The legitimacy of Europe is weakened, the legitimacy of France in Europe is weakened further,” said Dominique Moisi of the French Institute of International Relations.

“To function, Europe needs a strong balance between France and Germany. But France is moving the way of Italy or Greece in economic terms and moving the way of Britain in its

Egypt votes in poll seen sweeping Sisi to power n AFP, Cairo Egyptians voted for a new president Monday in an election expected to sweep to power the ex-army chief who overthrew the country’s first democratically-elected leader and crushed his Islamist movement.

The two-day election is the first since the frontrunner Abdel Fattah al-Sisi deposed Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July, a move that unleashed the bloodiest violence in Egypt’s recent history.

Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood is boycotting the vote, as are revolutionary youths who fear Sisi is an autocrat in the making.

But the 59-year-old retired field marshall is expected to trounce his sole rival, leftist Hamdeen Sabbahi, amid widespread calls for stability.

Polling stations opened at 0600 GMT for 53m registered voters, with Sisi arriving early at one in Cairo to cast his ballot amid a throng of jostling reporters and supporters.

“The entire world is watching us, how Egyptians are writing history and their future today and tomorrow,” Sisi said.

“Egyptians must be reassured that tomorrow will be very beautiful and

great,” he said, as supporters shook his hand and kissed his cheeks.

Many view the vote as a referendum on stability versus the freedoms promised by the Arab Spring-inspired popular uprising that ousted veteran strongman Hosni Mubarak in 2011.

Since the revolution, the country of 86m people has been rocked by sporadic unrest and a tanking economy.

Mubarak’s successor, the Islamist Morsi, lasted one year in office, winning Egypt’s first democratic presidential election only to quickly alienate many who held mass rallies demanding his resignation.

“We need someone who speaks in a determined and strong way. The Egyptian people are frightened by this and respect those who are like this,” said Milad Yusef, a 29-year-old lawyer waiting to vote in Cairo.

Yusef said he had voted for Sabbahi in the 2012 election that Morsi won, but that he would now back Sisi.

“We need someone strong, a military man,” he said.

Sisi has said “true democracy” would take a couple of decades, and suggested he would not tolerate protests disrupting the economy. l

relationship with Europe.”

Earlier, a jubilant Le Pen told cheering supporters the French people had made clear “they no longer want to be led by those outside our borders, by EU commissioners and technocrats who are unelected. They want to be protected from globalisation and take back the reins of their destiny.”

In Britain, Cameron rebuffed UKIP leader Nigel Farage's call for an early referendum on an EU exit, sticking to his plan to renegotiate membership terms if he is re-elected next year, and put the result to an in/out plebiscite in 2017.

However, some analysts said UKIP's surge may force the prime minister to toughen his stance on Europe and could scare more pro-European voters in Scotland into opting to leave Britain in a September referendum.

Renzi bucks trend

Centre-left Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi bucked the trend of anti-EU, anti-incumbent votes, scoring a stunning 41% to beat populist Beppe Grillo's anti-establishment 5-Star Movement by a wide margin, with disgraced ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right Forza Italia trailing a weak third.

Renzi vowed to use his mandate from voters to press for an easing of the EU's budgetary straitjacket to allow more public investment in growth and jobs, posing a policy challenge for Merkel, the guardian of fiscal orthodoxy.

“I consider this a vote of extraordinary hope for a country that has all the conditions to be able to change, and

that can invite Europe to change,” Renzi told reporters.

The Democratic Party leader said he would serve out his term until 2018 to press ahead with economic reforms rather than using his popularity to call an early general election.

A French official said Hollande would back Renzi's call for more progrowth policies and tell EU leaders who meet on Tuesday evening that Europe had reached “the alarm level.”

With France in a malaise, Renzi's hold on the rotating six-month EU presidency in the second half of the year gives him an opportunity to become a major player in the bloc if he can find common cause with Merkel.

The centre-right European People's Party, led by former Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, was set to win 214 seats, provisional results issued by the parliament showed.

Juncker claimed a mandate to lead the executive European Commission, swatting away questions about Cameron's reported opposition to his bid and saying he was sure of Merkel's “crystal clear” support.

“I don't care,” the 59-year-old veteran federalist told a news conference, mopping his brow under the television lights. “I'm not on my knees. I won the election.”

The centre-left Socialists, led by outgoing European Parliament President Martin Schulz of Germany, were in second place with 189 seats followed by the centrist liberals on 66 and the Greens on 52. Eurosceptic groups were expected to win about 142 seats, according to a Reuters estimate.

Pressure to tack right

The political fallout may be felt more strongly in national politics than at EU level, pulling mainstream conservative parties further to the right and raising pressure to crack down on immigration.

The anti-immigration far right People's Party topped the poll in Denmark and the extreme-right Jobbik, widely accused of racism and anti-Semitism, finished second in Hungary.

In the Netherlands, the anti-Islam, Eurosceptic Dutch Freedom Party of Geert Wilders - which plans an alliance with Le Pen - underperformed but still finished joint second in terms of seats behind a pro-European centrist opposition party.

Average turnout was only fractionally higher than the 2009 nadir of 43% despite efforts to personalise the election with the main political families putting forward a leading candidate, or “Spitzenkandidat.”

In Germany, Merkel's Christian Democrats secured 35.3% of the vote, down from a 23-year-high of 41.5% in last year's federal election but still a clear victory.

In Greece, epicentre of the euro zone's debt crisis, the radical left anti-austerity Syriza movement of Alexis Tsipras won the vote but failed to deliver a knockout blow to the government of Prime Minister Antonis Samaras.

The two parties in the coalition, New Democracy and PASOK, won a combined vote larger than that of Syriza, and political analyst Theodore Couloumbis said the government's survival was not at stake despite its narrow twoseat majority. l

POPE PROPAGATES PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Pope Francis (R) meets Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) at the Notre Dame Center in Jerusalem yesterday. Pope Francis navigated the minefield of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and humbly bowed to kiss the hands of Holocaust survivors on Monday, the last day of a Mideast trip laden with bold personal gestures REUTERS

Wives of jailed opposition mayors win Venezuela ballots

Moscow ‘ready’ to work with Poroshenko

Battle at donetsk airport n Reuters, Kiev/Donetsk

n Reuters, Caracas

n AFP, Moscow

The wives of two opposition mayors jailed over protests against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro won landslide victories in elections on Sunday for their spouses’ vacant posts.

Though the women’s victories were widely expected in cities that are hotbeds of opposition to Madura, they still brought some cheer to a movement divided over the strategy of protests and smarting from repeated defeats in national elections.

Patricia Ceballos, whose husband Daniel Ceballos was sacked in March and received a 12-month sentence for failing to remove protester’ barricades in the streets of San Cristobal, took the mayorship there with 74% of votes.

The western city near the border of Colombia was the birthplace of demonstrations that began in early February and quickly spread across Venezuela, causing the OPEC nation’s worst unrest in a decade and leading to 42 deaths.

Rosa Scarano, whose husband Vicencio Scarano also lost his job and received a 10-month jail sentence in March for the same offence in central San Diego city, won an even larger 88% of votes to take the vacant mayorship there.

Both women represented the opposition Democratic Unity (MUD) coalition against ruling Socialist Party candidates.

“The result of these elections has shown that power and abuse have received a big lesson,” the MUD said in a statement.

Russia said Monday it was ready to talk to Ukraine’s new president Petro Poroshenko, raising hopes that after months of tensions Moscow sees in the billionaire a leader it can work with.

“We are ready for dialogue with Kiev’s representatives, with Petro Poroshenko,” Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in Russia’s first reaction to his victory in Sunday’s vote.

Lavrov was cautious, saying Moscow was ready for “pragmatic dialogue, on an equal footing” and warned that for Kiev to continue its military operations against pro-Russia rebels in the east would be a “colossal mistake.”

But Poroshenko – a billionaire with strong Russian business interests and a history of working with both pro-Western and Moscow-backed Ukrainian governments – is the kind of figure analysts say the Kremlin can see as a partner.

“Poroshenko is an extremely attractive president for the Kremlin... This is a person who will be able to negotiate with Moscow and find compromise,” said Alexander Konovalov, president of the Institute of Strategic Assessments.

“There was a camp in the Kremlin that wanted to feed the fire in Ukraine.

Now I think they will move into the shadows,” he said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has not yet reacted himself to Poroshenko’s victory, but he did say he will “respect” the result of the vote and promised to

Ukraine launched air strikes and a paratrooper assault against pro-Russian rebels who seized an airport on Monday, as its newly elected leader rejected any talks with “terrorists” and said a robust military campaign in the east should be able to put down a separatist revolt in “a matter of hours.”

Ukrainians rallied overwhelmingly in an election on Sunday behind Petro Poroshenko, a political veteran and billionaire owner of chocolate factories, hoping the burly 48-year-old can rescue the nation from the brink of bankruptcy, civil war and dismemberment by its former Soviet masters in the Kremlin.

Monday's rapid military response to separatists who seized the airport in Donetsk was a defiant answer to Moscow, which said it was ready for dialogue with Poroshenko but demanded he first scale back the armed forces' campaign in the east.

Even as the fighting was getting under way, Poroshenko held a news conference in Kiev where he said the government's military offensive needed to be “quicker and more effective.”

“The anti-terrorist operation should not last two or three months. It should last for a matter of hours,” he said.

As for the rebel fighters: “They want to preserve a bandit state which is held in place by force of arms,” he said.

“These are simply bandits. Nobody in any civilised state will hold negotiations with terrorists.” l

Patricia de Ceballos, opposition candidate and wife of jailed former mayor Daniel Ceballos, casting her vote during mayoral election REUTERS The socialists still control about 70% of Venezuela’s 335 local mayorships, however.

Maduro, who seems to have weathered the worst of the protests, said he would recognise the new mayors, but warned he would not tolerate more unrest in their cities.

“If they go crazy and start burning the municipality again, the authorities will act ... and elections will be called every three months until there is peace,” he said.

Maduro, a 51-year-old former bus driver who replaced the late Hugo Chavez last

year, says this year’s wave of protests are a cover for a US-promoted coup attempt against him.

Opponents say that is nonsense, and protests are borne out of Venezuelans’ frustration with a repressive government and economic hardships including scarcities of basic products and the highest inflation in the Americas.

At the height of the protests, masked youths faced off daily with security forces.

But numbers have dwindled in recent weeks. l

work with Kiev’s new authorities.

Putin and Poroshenko have met several times, from the confectionery tycoon’s stints as foreign minister under former pro-Western leader Viktor Yushchenko and economy minister under ex-president Viktor Yanukovych.

Strong Russian business ties

It was Yanukovych’s ouster in February – after he refused to sign a partnership agreement with the European Union – that kicked off the crisis which eventually led to Moscow’s annexation of Crimea and pro-Moscow rebellions in eastern Ukraine.

Moscow, which still officially recognises Yanukovych as Ukraine’s leader, has been careful not to explicitly recognise the results of Sunday’s vote.

In a statement on Monday, Yanukovych said he had “respect” for the result but cast doubt on its legitimacy after voting was blocked in rebel-held parts of the east. Still, analysts said Moscow will have little choice in dealing with Poroshenko, who early results showed winning close to 54% of the vote. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Thai coup leader threatens crackdown if protests resume n Reuters, Bangkok Thai coup leader General Prayuth Chan-ocha said on Monday he had been formally endorsed by the king as head of a military council that will run the country, and warned he would use force if political protests flare up again.

Prayuth seized power on May 22, saying the army would restore order after nearly seven months of sometimes deadly street demonstrations. The military has taken into custody scores of politicians, activists and others.

“Will we go back to where we were before? If you want to do that, I will need to use force and impose the law strictly,” Prayuth said in a statement he read on television. “You will have to forgive any tough measures as they are necessary.”

He did not set a timeframe for how long the army would stay in power, although he said he hoped to hold elections soon.

The royal endorsement is a significant formality in Thailand, where the monarchy is the most important institution.

But Prayuth’s address would have provoked conflicting reaction in a country polarized by nearly a decade of rivalry between the royalist establishment, of which Prayuth is a member, and Thaksin Shinawatra, a populist tycoon who broke the political mould.

Prayuth, wearing a formal white dress uniform, said he would set up a council of advisers but gave no details on the form of a government that will run the country under his military junta, the National Council for Peace and Order.

“The country needs a prime minister,” he said.

The military ousted the remnants of a government that had been led by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Thaksin’s sister, until she was removed by a court on May 7 for abuse of power. Thaksin was ousted as premier in a 2006 coup.

The military has taken over with a heavy hand, throwing out the consti-

tution, dissolving the Senate and censoring the media. Anyone who insults the monarchy or violates the military’s orders will be tried in a military court.

Despite warnings, small crowds of people voicing opposition to the coup have been gathering daily in Bangkok since the takeover, as well as in the north and northeast, strongholds of the ousted government. There have been no serious clashes.

On Monday, several hundred people gathered at Bangkok’s Victory Monument where about 1,000 protesters massed on Sunday.

Some shouted “we want elections” and “coup get out,” others held up signs saying “we want democracy,” a Reuters reporter said.

Police and soldiers turned in force to block the protesters and there was jeering and some scuffles but no serious trouble. Soldiers in a van with a loudspeaker urged people not to join the protesters, saying they were being paid, and blamed foreign media for trying to damage the country.

While the protests are a nuisance for the army, a more serious threat would be armed resistance from Thaksin’s “red shirt” loyalists. They have always threatened to fight a coup but with so many of their leaders detained or in hiding, activists say they have no plan for opposition.

Authorities seized weapons and detained activists in the northeast last week. On Monday, an army ranger was killed in Trat province, near the Cambodian border, in a clash with suspected pro-Thaksin gunmen during a search, the army said.

Earlier on Monday, Suthep Thaugsuban, a former pro-establishment politician who led protests that undermined Yingluck’s government, was released on bail, his lawyer said. He had been held since the coup.

The army has also allowed Yingluck to go home, although she remains under military supervision with soldiers guarding her residence, a military official said on Sunday. l

World

President Barack Obama was back in Washington on Monday after a lightning 32-hour trip to Afghanistan to visit US troops.

Monday is Memorial Day in the United States, when military war dead are remembered and military personnel and veterans are honored. The president is scheduled to host a White House breakfast for veteran groups with top military brass in attendance, the White House said.

Obama landed at Andrews Air Force Base in nearby Maryland at 1040 GMT and soon after arrived in the White House via helicopter.

The president is also scheduled to deliver remarks and lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery, the US military’s principal cemetery.

Vice President Joe Biden will be at the event along with his wife Jill and Obama’s wife Michelle. The two women are known for their work helping military families.

Obama made a covert night-time trip from the White House to Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan aboard a darkened Air Force One on a Sunday visit meant to hail the sacrifices of US soldiers.

His four-hour visit provoked a new spat with outgoing Afghan President

9

THE CORONATION

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes his oath at the presidential palace in New Delhi

REUTERS

In control, Modi will not allow veto on foreign policy n Agencies In October last year, the Prime Minister’s Office was in a tizzy. The Ministry of External Affairs as well as the security establishment was keen that PM Manmohan Singh attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo in November.

A highly placed official had then said, “The PM is keen too. We believe leverage can only come through engagement with Mahinda Rajpaksa.

The problem are the parties from Tamil Nadu, as well as some senior ministers from the state, who fear for

Obama back home after surprise visit to Afghanistan n AFP, Washington

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Hamid Karzai, with whom Obama has a strained relationship.

US officials said Obama offered to see the Afghan leader at the sprawling US base but decided not to go to his palace in central Kabul. They did not say how much notice they had given the Afghan leader.

Karzai interpreted Obama’s invitation as a snub. “The government of Afghanistan is prepared to warmly welcome the US president in the presidential palace, but it does not intend to go to Bagram to meet Obama,” read an Afghan statement.

Obama later telephoned Karzai as he flew out and the pair talked for 15 to 20 minutes, a senior administration official said. l

JOY FOREVER

A white peacock opens its plumage at the Nogeyama zoo in Yokohama, suburban Tokyo on May 25

AFP

their electoral fortunes. Let us see if the Dr Singh succumbs or stays on course.” The PM succumbed to pressure, did not go for the meet, and instead sent External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid.

Contrast this with how Narendra Modi has acted, even before taking oath. He decided he wanted SAARC leaders to be a part of Monday’s ceremony, passed on instructions, and the MEA implemented it. Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa expressed her unhappiness at President Rajpaksa being invited.

While Modi is known to have good

Modi and I can easily work together, says Nawaz Sharif

personal ties with her and could do with AIADMK support in the Rajya Sabha, he paid no heed. Neither did complaints by NDA ally Vaiko make Modi budge. He established a clear line - no one would be allowed to exercise veto on foreign policy, and the PM would remain the centre of decision-making.

The decisiveness was also in play with the invitation to Pakistan PM, Nawaz Sharif. If it was southern parties who would have an issue with Sri Lanka’s presence, Modi’s own support base - including the RSS - could have frowned upon such a move, especially since it came after a campaign marked

by belligerence against Islamabad. But not only did Modi not let such calculations deter him, he also ensured that hard line elements of the Sangh even welcomed the move.

The last time PM Singh asserted his authority on matters relates to foreign policy was during the nuclear deal.

But the Modi era will be marked by the clear dominance of the PM on external relations. With his invitation, Modi has already sent a message to his party, his allies, states, Delhi’s bureaucracy, and the region at large that he is the man in charge, the man who would take the final call. l

SOUTH ASIA DRENCHED

n Agencies Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Monday he could easily work with India’s new government led by Narendra Modi, hoping that their personal focus on boosting business could help “turn a new page” in bilateral ties.

In an exclusive interview with HT hours before participating in Modi’s inauguration, Sharif said he was carrying a message of goodwill, love and friendship for the Indian people.

“I am here to turn a new page in India-Pakistan relations,” said the Pakistan prime minister who had fought off stiff opposition from hardliners in his country to make the trip to India. He will hold a bilateral meeting with Modi on Tuesday.

“We (India and Pakistan) have a historic moment to open a new chapter. The new government under Mr Modi has a strong mandate and I look forward to picking up the relationship from where I and (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee left it in 1999.”

In February 1999, then Prime Minister Vajpayee crossed the border at Wagah for summit-level talks with Sharif, raising hopes of lasting peace between the two countries, but relations nosedived soon after with the two sides fighting a short but brutal war on the heights of Kargil.

On his first official trip to India as prime minster (he last came for Rajiv Gandhi’s funeral), Sharif looked set to drive an agenda of “trade and economics” at his bilateral meeting with Modi on Tuesday.

“I am regarded as a friend of businessmen and we are regarded as a business-friendly government. Modi too is perceived as a business-friendly person. He has a model of development,” Sharif said.

“We can easily work with each other.”

From time to time, leaders from both sides have identified boosting business and trade as a way to reduce hostility. In particular, Pakistan’s crippling energy deficit has been viewed as a lucrative opportunity for Indian businesses. l

Top: People commute through a flooded road after heavy rain in Guwahati, Assam, yesterday. Bottom: This picture taken on May 25, shows a car being driven through a flooded street in Liling, Hunan, China. The province is on red alert

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

CODE-CRACKER

How to get BASIC Bank on track

B

angladesh Bank has rightly removed BASIC Bank’s managing director from his position after he admitted involvement in the disbursement of fraudulent loans totalling over Tk 4,500 crores.

The bank’s Gulshan branch has also had to be shut down after investigations showed BASIC Bank gave a large number of loans to non-existent companies and new clients without following proper procedures.

It is clear that such a pattern of large scale fraud must have involved a large number of bank officers.

The bank was originally set up as a joint venture to help the private sector finance small scale Industries and has been 100% state-owned since 1992.

In order to get it back on track, Bangladesh Bank needs to root out the systemic flaws which have allowed fraud to flourish within this organisation.

Getting rid of staff found to have been involved in fraud and negligence alone will not be sufficient to solve its problems.

The most effective way to prevent further fraud is to stop BASIC Bank from making any further loans to private industrial or trading companies.

BASIC Bank should only be allowed to lend money to private banks. Private banks have proven management systems in place which prevent their managers from making fraudulent loans.

Their management systems are zealously monitored on behalf of the owners of the banks, because private banks understand that foolproof systems are necessary to safeguard their equity capital.

Allowing BASIC Bank to lend to small industries via loans to private banks, will allow it to continue its mission while preventing fraud and safeguarding funds on behalf of the taxpayer.

Root out systemic flaws by only allowing it to lend to private banks

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 www.dhakatribune.com Join our Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/DhakaTribune

Watered-down May 20

SH We put our faith in the state so that things don’t seem like the Wild West, but then the tanks roll in and governments hose down their own people.

We’ve seen this again and again.

NS Where there is government discontent, this is bound to prevail. One is a sine qua non for the other.

Without some sort of coercion visible or invisible, physical or mental, there can’t be the existence of any government. The difference that exists between the governments is of degree, nothing substantive.

Shababa I did not know that this was happening in the UK – really goes to show how little the media wants to, or

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Tax fossil fuels at a market rate to stimulate private investment in renewables

is allowed to, cover it. Water cannons are terrifying and the unaccountable authoritarianism with which governments are rolling them out the world over is even more terrifying.

Shams What is particularly disturbing is global governments’ propensity to steer away from what they are actually supposed to do – serve the people.

The water cannon example here is an excellent one because it is happening across countries, across systems of government, and across political ideologies, and I applaud the writer for choosing it because it takes out the whole East vs West and democracy vs autocracy dimension. Make no mistake, this is happening everywhere in various forms and it must be noticed and countered.

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.

May 20

ccording to a recent report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Bangladesh is the world leader in small solar power home installations.

In the last ten years, the number of solar systems in Bangladesh has jumped from 25,000 to 2.8 million. Currently 114,000 people are employed in assembling, selling, installing and maintaining solar panels. The number of solar related jobs doubled between 2011 and 2013 and the associated green workforce in Bangladesh is now the sixth equal largest in the world alongside Spain’s.

While still small compared to the 3.5 million such jobs housed by the top two countries, China and Brazil, the rapid rate of growth proves renewable energy holds huge potential for Bangladesh, not only in terms of providing power to those off the grid but also as a job creator and perhaps even as an export power-house.

The government should boost investment in renewables - both in production and research and development – in order to meet our power needs, rather than spending more on expensive rental plants and risky nuclear power.

Strategic investment in renewable energy can help foster economic growth, and perhaps just as importantly, establish Bangladesh’s name as a leader in non-RMG related manufacturing.

As the country moves up the economic development ladder, that is certainly a worthy goal.

To achieve it, the government needs to make cut fossil fuel subsidies. Taxing fossil fuels at a market rate, rather than subsidising gas and diesel, would both help reduce waste and stimulate private sector investment in renewables.

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

SUDOKU

Waterway safety

Sustain solar installations growth

How to solve: Each number in our CODE-CRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 3 represents M so fill M every time the figure 3 appears.

You have two letters in the control grid to start you off. Enter them in 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 the 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.

TJ We read the news of people dying in launch and road accidents, feel bad for a couple of minutes, and then move on to read the more “important” news like the Indian election. Is this really the way we are supposed to react when our own people are dying in accidents which can be prevented very easily?

PM orders immediate arrest of Ekram’s killers May 20

KB Strange order – doesn’t the police have enough sense to go at criminals without a prime ministerial command?

Our greatest wealth

PM’s son urges boycott of Prothom Alo May 20

The Basher I thought he had some sense in his head. With time, he is proving himself and proving me wrong.

It is not a surprise to me to see such words from his mouth, for he is the next generation of politicians in BD.

nds The Basher: What he has said is absolutely correct. Prothom Alo and its editor are just doing a great disservice to this country.

Sammy What a surprise that the heir to the Baksal dynasty is wanting to shut down newspapers for going slightly out of the party-approved nomenclature. I am shocked, I tell you, I am shocked! Not!

May 21

vhs It is a shame that the whole concept of healthcare is treated so badly in our country. if we’re not a healthy people we are nothing.

DU students demand Prothom Alo editor’s apology May 21

Dr Ahsan Habib So many gross violations of the “spirit of the fight for freedom” happen in Bangladesh, including the heinous commercialisations of the term, and the DU students pay no attention. Now they are staging demonstrations over this minor issue, which happened in a foreign country. My advice to the DU students: “Pay attention to the treatment of the ‘fight for freedom’ issue inside Bangladesh.”

CALVIN AND HOBBES

KKB Yes, let’s ban everything. Hail self-righteousness and ignorance. Let’s throw the baby out with the bath-water.

Snr Citizen The gross mistake that the Prothom Alo has made needs to be reviewed, if it is a transliteration of news that appeared in an Indian newspaper.

Fact is, even India and Pakistan (both involved countries) say the same, that it was an Indo-Pak war that Pakistan lost (I am only trying to recollect what I had read years ago). While the surrender was being signed, there was no Bangladeshi representation! Where were the Muktis? Where was General MAG Osmani? So, I am afraid, the wrongs have never been corrected. I hope this is a chance to do the corrections.

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Untidy state (4) 5 Nothing (4) 10 Minute particle (4) 11 Tree (3) 12 Sea green (5) 13 First woman (3) 14 Thick (5) 16 Sampled (6) 18 Little wave (6) 21 Explosion (5) 23 Neckwear (3) 24 Golf clubs (5) 26 United (3) 27 Fowls’ enclosure (4) 28 Throw (4) 29 Nidus (4)

DOWN 2 Deserves (5) 3 Pigs’ enclosure (3) 4 Fusible alloys (7) 6 Facial features (4) 7 Make known (6) 8 Be indebted (3) 9 Encourage in crime (4) 15 Publication (7) 17 Lacking pigmentation (6) 19 Supports (5) 20 Direction (4) 22 Liquor dregs (4) 23 Small drink (3) 25 Fish eggs (3)

BJP or RSS May 20

PEANUTS

Ronnie Articles like these fit a recent pattern; an overkill of pseudo-analyses by our media and laymen of the election in India, and the imagined consequences of BJP’s landslide victory in India, on Bangladesh.

This article reads almost as if Bangladesh were really a state in India. Even people in West Bengal seem to be far less flustered about Modi’s victory than the self-styled pundits here in Bangladesh. The “communal” angle to BJP’s politics, predictably, has been foolishly overplayed by too many neophytes in this country.

Bottom line: BJP has been given an emphatic mandate to govern India, which sadly, isn’t remotely the case with the incumbent government in Bangladesh. This gross mismatch in political/electoral legitimacy between the governing regimes in India and Bangladesh presents an immediate impediment to achieving progress on the festering issues between the two countries.

At any rate, can we all just catch our breath and settle down?

VHS BJP and RSS are just labels. If you really want to understand his politics, just look at his day to day actions.

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

CROSSWORD

SUDOKU

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

11

No bed of roses for Modi

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n Uday Sankar Das

ittle did I realise when I wrote on the Indian elections a few months ago that the Indian voters would create history by giving the BJP an unprecedented mandate to make its leader Narendra Modi the 15th prime minister of India .

The former chief minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi, a staunch believer in Hindutva, will be sworn in as the prime minister of India in a grand ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, having won an astounding victory on the planks of change, development, and stability.

But despite having such a comfortable cushion of 336 seats in the 543-seat lower house of parliament, the Lok Sabha, will it all be a bed of roses for the Modi administration?

One of the biggest challenges to be faced internally is the threat posed by the Maoists. The outgoing prime minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, had described the Maoists as the biggest internal security threat to the country.

It is widely believed that Modi will handle the question of security in a tit for tat way. He is quite aware that the people of India would love to see tough measures being taken, be it against the Maoists or the “jihadis.”

It must be remembered that Narendra Modi has been given a huge mandate, and that carries huge expectations. The changes promised cannot come overnight and so “management of expectations” would be important. His decision-making capability is well-known and this could give him a head-start in kick-starting the economy and give India the status of a large “economic” power.

value. Modi is known to be industry-friendly and so there could well be more investment in this sector. He has to show visible progress in development, notably in industrial infrastructure throughout the country.

Inflation is a major issue. Price hike of essential commodities has to be tackled. Added to that is the price of fuels. The government has to cough up a huge amount in the form of subsidies for diesel. Change in the price of diesel has a spiral effect on the domestic economy. Bringing the economy back on track would be one of his biggest priorities.

One of the biggest criticisms of the UPA 2 government was that it was inactive and very slow in making decisions. It is thought that with the induction of the Modi government, the policy paralysis era in India will come to an end.

Another problem that would need attention is the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of parliament, where the NDA is poorly represented. Out of the 250 seats in Rajya Sabha, five seats are now vacant. The UPA presently holds 102 seats (Congress 68) while the NDA has only 65 seats (BJP 46). The NDA, therefore, would have to depend on the regional parties, mainly BSP, Trinamool Congress, and AIADMK, for attaining majority. All these parties are opposed to the NDA, though AIADMK has since softened its attitude. It is felt that this would not be a big hurdle, as the opposition with such paltry numbers in the other house, the Lok Sabha would not like to rock the boat.

Modi would have to, on the one hand, give some freebies to some states, and, on the other, riding on the present wave, reap the benefits in a number of upcoming state assembly

Inviting Saarc leaders to Modi’s swearing-in ceremony was a bold move. He is extending a hand of friendship to all the neighbouring states

On the economy, Dr Jagdish Bhagwati, a free-market advocate, has been brought in as an adviser, and this could help get more FDIs. It is a good omen that the stocks are rising and the rupee has also seen an increase in its

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elections. Victories in the state assembly elections would help the NDA get more Rajya Sabha seats. One-third of the seats of Rajya Sabha are up for elections in 2016 and only then could the NDA bring the situation in its favour.

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All eyes on Modi

REUTERS

Infiltration from Pakistan is a major issue that Modi needs to take care of and this is an ongoing issue. Modi also promised during his election campaign in the east and north-east of the country that he would firmly handle infiltration from Bangladesh. Whether this was election rhetoric or not is yet to be seen.

Relations with neighbours and foreign policy would be the two matters that need a closer look when the new administration takes office.

Inviting Saarc leaders to Modi’s swearing-in ceremony was a bold and smart move. He is trying to show that he is extending a hand of friendship to all the neighbouring states and also making it absolutely clear that India is an emerging power in this part of the world. While Modi’s move has been appreciated in India, it came under

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ore than 200 Nigerian schoolgirls have been missing for six weeks. Some of those abducted managed to escape, but the rest remain in captivity. Rescue efforts, including a vigourous social media campaign that has seen Michelle Obama and Malala Yousafzai involved to “Bring Back Our Girls,” have yielded a video released by the captors on May 12. Showing around 130 of the girls, it was a demand by Boko Haram to release imprisoned militants if the forcibly converted children were to be freed.

This was followed by two terrorist attacks by the Islamist group on May 20, that claimed 118 lives in the central city of Jos. Additionally, gunmen belonging to the same group killed 10 people in the village of Shawa and 17 in Alagarno. After taking over three weeks to acknowledge the disappearance of the girls, the presidency that aggressively guards information pertaining to its War on Terror by cracking down on citizen journalism and online activism pointed the finger at the named enemy as soon as the latest attacks took place.

The administration qualified the sharing of this information by vehemently asserting that it was not losing the battle against Boko Haram. President Goodluck Jonathan is intolerant of criticism about the government’s record on security and corruption, increasingly so with a general election approaching.

The belief in the country is that the current government is desperate to stay in power post-February 2015. The intimidation of journalists, activists, bloggers et al using a law passed last year that criminalised the incitation of terrorist violence online supports this claim. Silencing critical voices is the government’s main concern. Using the spectre of terrorism to enact draconian laws and cling on to the throne with

the tips of fingernails only to derive the iron hand benefits of power is a familiar political tale.

George W Bush was the trailblazer in the US. Bangladesh saw an unsuccessful attempt in 2006, and a successful one this year. The AL government, born from the ninth general election, had to be given another term to root out extremism and prevent Bangladesh from sliding closer towards becoming a terrorist state, so the argument went.

Each detestable murder and kidnapping done in the name of their God will be denounced as an act of terror

An audio clip, allegedly a battle cry from the al-Qaeda chief that supposedly echoed the sentiments of political organisations that had been painted as the enemy, surfaced a month after the tenth general election, and three detained operatives of the banned Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh escaped from police custody shortly after that.

The threat of terrorism continuing to loom large vindicated the earnest contentions in favour of re-electing the AL. Indeed, another banned Islamist group, Hizb ut-Tahrir, has started to stir again, further intensifying the very real fears. The incumbent government is the only one capable of fighting the epitome of evil that was aided by the poisonous socio-political environment cultivated by its elected predecessor, so goes the narrative.

Recent months have seen fractures

so Modi’s moves would be very closely watched.

On the question of relationship with Bangladesh, the problem relating to river water-sharing between the two countries would need the help of the state governments concerned. Finding a solution to this problem would be complex. On the Afghanistan-Pakistan situation, this could be a foreign policy thorn to look out for more because of the impending withdrawal of US and allied troops.

Finally, it must not be forgotten that Narendra Modi is a staunch supporter of Hindutva and came up from the ranks of Rashtriya Swayamasevak Sangha (RSS).

There is a fear that there could be a remote button to be pressed by RSS in the running of the government. As one RSS leader said, they would “inspire”

the Modi government but would not “interfere” with it. Modi may have toned down on this issue after the election, but hardcore Hindutva leaders around him may not cool off. One has to see what happens in reality.

Narendra Modi must also remember that he is to become the prime minister of the whole country, and he rightly said that the government is “of the country” and as such, he needs to govern keeping social inclusion in mind.

The whole world’s eyes are now closely focused on Narendra Modi, the next prime minister of India, and how he tackles the economy and shapes the country’s foreign policy. l Uday Sankar Das is a senior journalist who worked for BBC World Service radio. This article was written from Kolkata.

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The enemy within n Ikhtisad Ahmed

sharp criticism as well from some quarters. About inviting Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, cynics ask what Modi’s reaction would have been if Congress had sent a similar invitation. Others try to remind the BJP leader that in an election rally, he ridiculed the former government for serving “chicken biriyani” to a former Pakistani prime minister.

Inviting Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapakse did not go very well in Tamil Nadu. BJP’s ally MDMK’s leader Vaiko and also the state’s chief minister Jayalalitha, vehemently opposed the Sri Lankan president’s visit.

Regarding the Indian foreign policy outline and relations with its neighbours, there has always been a broad consensus, irrespective of which party comes to power. But things have changed in this election campaign and

Storm in a teacup appear on the pristine façade of this perfect and necessary government.

Divisions within its ranks – prevalent during the upazila elections – have become a recurring theme, marked by constant fracases amongst its various student wings largely devoid of students, but adversely affecting universities nonetheless.

There is also the small matter of a celebrated member of parliament being involved – if not central to the plot, then certainly in some capacity – in the abduction and murder of one of his generals by another of his generals using law enforcement officers (at least one of whom has links to another member of parliament), and its aftermath. These examples alone make it far from an absurd suggestion that a cancer is spreading through the party in power, which it seems oblivious to and unwilling to counter.

It intimates that the government and its people may have misjudged the real enemy.

Terrorism, however, steadfastly remains the face of evil. Further violent incidents are, unfortunately, going to continue to occur. Every single one of them will be perpetrated by fringe Islamist organisations that seem intent on turning all nations into what they perceive as being Islamic states. Each detestable murder and deplorable kidnapping done in the name and service of their God will be denounced as an act of terror by the rest of the world.

Elevating the status of these common, albeit barbaric, criminals is an effective political manoeuvre that distracts from the failures of governments. Their citizens submit to unconscionable, illegal, unjust laws and acts for the sake of their own safety. The worldwide misunderstanding of a faith marginalises its followers and deprives them of their religious rights. l Ikhtisad Ahmed is a writer and an erstwhile lawyer. He can be contacted on Twitter via @ Ikhtisad.

n FS Aijazuddin

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here is a storm in a teacup that, taken at a flood, leads on to the prime minister-ship of India. No one – not even his numerous detractors – should begrudge Narendra Modi the quality of his success.

Throughout the world, political pundits and social savants have made much of his almost perpendicular rise to power, from tea boy to teapot politics. It has been spectacular, perhaps unprecedented in the annals of democracy. The largest electorate in history has given its collective decision – quietly, and without the mayhem that Western observers cross continents to audit. It has voted for the party it wants and the policies it espouses; equally unequivocally, it has signified which parties it does not want.

In essence, the BJP stands today where the Congress Party once did, except that it has chosen to occupy Rama’s sandals just as the Congress once shuffled about in Mahatma Gandhi’s leather chappals.

The BJP has come a long way over the past 30 years. In 1984, it secured only two seats in the Lok Sabha; today, it has 280 more. This could not have been possible without the determination and perseverance of its leadership, especially former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He and other members of the old guard (notably LK Advani) have been relegated to icon-hood. Like Catholic saints, they should expect to receive their homage from afar.

For Congress, this election has been as traumatic as November 1963 was for the Kennedy dynasty. On November 22, someone in New York rushed into a bar and shouted: “The President’s been shot!” At which one of the persons replied: “Yes, but is he dead?”

The Congress Party has been effectively buried by the BJP. It has only 44 seats, a presence of less than 10% of

the Lok Sabha. Buried, but some might ask, is it dead?

The enduring truth is that the Indian National Congress has been in existence too long for it to become extinct after just one round of elections.

It may be a huge political pachyderm but it has not yet petrified into a fossil.

It will continue to survive, an opposition without conviction, a lumbering elephant without tusks.

Will the new BJP government have any time for Pakistan, for Bangladesh, or for Jammu and Kashmir?

The shape and identity the Congress Party adopts following this electoral defeat will depend upon how quickly it can disassociate itself from Rahul Gandhi and his fellow pall-bearers. Of the two sons of his grandmother Mrs Indira Gandhi, Rahul inherited his father’s physical DNA but the political genes of his uncle Sanjay. The condescension he demonstrated to those whom he led was at its worst when he neglected for whatever reason – and he must have had a good one – to attend the farewell dinner given for the outgoing prime minister of his own party.

Manmohan Singh endured that final slight with the same stoic silence as he had previous humiliations at the hands of his employers. Rahul’s haughtiness was reminiscent of that famous cartoon Dropping the Pilot by Sir John Tenniel (Punch, March 1890) that showed the ageing Chancellor von Bismarck being off-loaded

from the ship of state by the younger, arrogant, and impetuous Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany.

While Manmohan Singh has declared that his ten year prime minister is “an open book,” it is unlikely that he will do the Sanjaya Baru on himself.

His dignified reticence was once his greatest virtue; to his critics, it is now his unforgivable vice. He can take comfort from the fact that few technocrats have survived for so long on what Benjamin Disraeli once described as “the top of the greasy pole.”

On many occasions, Manmohan Singh had expressed a desire to revisit his birth-village of Gah (now in Pakistan). That may at last be possible, now that the gilded manacles of his official position have been removed.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would probably welcome such a trip, perhaps more than he might welcome a visit (his diplomatic invitation notwithstanding) from Mr Modi and BJP hardliners who have not forgotten Lahore, Kargil, or Agra.

Will the new BJP government have any time for Pakistan, for Bangladesh, or for Jammu and Kashmir? Only a determined optimist will see a silver lining in the swirling cloud of saffron.

When it comes to fence-mending, though, the United States is already ahead of Pakistan in the queue. President Barack Obama’s tele-call to Modi was more than a diplomatic courtesy; it was an act of political contrition.

Not far from the White House, in an exhibition at the Natural History Museum, a poster is on display showing Uncle Sam embracing a turbanned Sikh, in apology after the murder of a sardar mistaken for a Muslim after 9/11. That poster needs to be updated, now that Uncle Sam has embraced Modi. l FS Aijazuddin lives in Lahore and is a columnist for Dawn, Pakistan’s main Englishlanguage newspaper. This article was first published in Dawn.

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Azizul Hakim: I will start shooting for my film at the end of this year n Afrose Jahan Chaity Azizul Hakim began his acting career on television with a small role in the 80s. The acclaimed actor-turned-director is also an active performer in theatre troupe Aranyak. He has directed more than a dozen TV plays which bagged him critical reviews and positive response from the audience.

His first directorial debut on small screen was “Ja Hariye Jay” and on theatre, “Pathor.”

Dhaka Tribune caught up with the actor to learn about his experiences and future ventures.

What you are up to nowadays?

Recently, I have completed the shooting of an Eid special drama series which is the sequel of “Genduchora.” Along with that, I have also done some some single-episode plays and telefilms. At present, a few of my TV plays are airing on various channels including Anjan Aich’s “Jol Phoringer Gaan,” Amirul Islam’s “Songsar Simante,” Fahim Sarker’s “Prothom Prem,” and Shotirtho Rahman’s “Udor Pindi Budhor Ghare.”

What about television plays?

Banglavision recently completed airing one of my drama series “Nij Grihe Porobashi.” Right now I am on the lookout for an interesting story for my next directorial venture.

I want to find something unique for the audience and am looking forward to presenting them with a new plot.

Any film projects in the pipeline?

I have already selected a story and at the moment, I am working on the pre-production phase of the movie. Film is a big venture, therefore, I am taking my time to move ahead with the project. Hopefully, I will start shooting for my film at the end of this year.

Somay Natyodal to stage Bhager Manush today

So what is the current tally?

So far I have directed 6 drama series and approximately 5 telefilms and single episode plays.

Favourite roles?

All of my acting projects are in my favourites list. When I am working in a play, every role is dear to me and I try to deliver my best every time. But, I have really enjoyed my role as Nilmoni in a TV play titled “Sundori,” which is based on a story in Sundarban. Other roles I will always remember are from “Kon Kanoner Phul,” and “Somoy Oshomoy.” As a director, my favourite directorial work is “Pathor,” which is a theatre play.

How do you always manage to get into the character you play?

Acting is my passion and profession. I always try to blend in with the role and think of nothing else during that period. While acting, I give all my priority and attention to that particular role.

Based on your experience over the years, how do the new generation actors compare?

They are all doing a great job. Nowadays, the newcomers enter the entertainment industry after learning or studying about their specific interest in the field of work. Their dedication and effort is appreciable.

What are your observations regarding the state of television today?

Our TV industry has grown over the years. Small screen has a big market and that is why so many praiseworthy and creative productions are coming forward. Now, a director can work on experimental projects and newcomers are undertaking contemporary pieces which add something new every day. I think good works should be promoted by all and receive critics’ and audience recognition. l

n Entertainment Desk Drama series “Bhalobashar Chotushkon,” will air its 99th episode tonight on NTV at 9:45pm. Directed by Shihab Shahin, the drama series features popular actors including Moutushy Biswas, Moushumy Hamid, Naim, Ferdousy Lina and many others. Popular actors Apurbo and Momo lent voice in the title song of drama series.

The plot of the series revolves around three couples who are brought together by the hand of fate and become close to one another. But, slowly their friendship falls apart when complications arise. The 99th episode will feature Nila, a career conscious woman who gets a promotion. She is overjoyed by her success and becomes very estatic about her new cabin and career breakthrough. l

Insightful saga on man-woman BSA celebrates Nazrul’s birthday interrelationship n Entertainment Desk

Celebrating the National Poet’s 115th birth anniversary, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) organised a cultural programme on May 25 at the National Theatre Hall of the academy. The celebration was a lively affair of a colourful cultural programme featuring musical soirée, recitation and dance presentations. A discussion session was also held on the life and work of the rebel poet.

Leading Nazrul singers of the country took part in the event including Khil Khil Kazi, the grand daughter of Kazi Nazrul Islam who opened the event by presenting a popular Nazrul number. Then, Sujit Mustafa, Yakub Ali, Shahid Kabir Polash, Sumon Chowdhury, Nasima Shaheen Fancy, Onindita, Jannate-Ferdous Lucky, Pradip Kumar Nandi, Krishna Acharya, and Babu Rahman followed suit. Syed Hasan Imam, Ahkamul, Ashraful Alam and Mahmuda Akhtar recited poetry of Nazrul. Group performances were staged by Nobocheton and Bangladesh Academy of Fine Arts (BAFA) .

The function was graced by Zillur Rahman Siddiqui, Director General of Shilpakala Academy Liaquat Ali Lucky, author Rashid Haider and BSA’s secretary Jahangir Hossain Chowdhury. All the guests present at the event took part in the discussion session. l

n Entertainment Desk Somoy Natyodal will stage “Bhager Manush” today at the Experimental Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy at 6:30pm.

The play was premiered in 1997 and so far has been staged over 150 times. Mannan Heera adapted the play from a popular Urdu short story “Toba Tek Singh” by Saadat Hasan Manto.

A satire of the partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947 which brought immense suffering to the people living in the border areas of India and Pakistan, the play highlights the “exchange agreement of the lunatics” between the two governments soon after the partition (1947).

Directed by Aly Zaker, it shows many historical characters like Gandhi, Jinnah and others.

They are represented as a contrast to those who are labeled insane by society.

Legendary Sikh religious figure Tek Singh is featured as one of the central characters in the play. Singh strongly opposes the partition that has separated people of a nation in the name of religion. l

Bhalobashar Chotushkon to air its 99th episode

A scene from play Dog, Woman, Man

n Hasan Mansoor Chatak In Bangladesh, contemporary German plays are scarcely practiced on stage and when the theme tackles the psychology of relationships, then certainly it demands exceptional attention. Reetu Sattar, a theatre activist and Prachyanat member, adapted Sibyllie Berg’s work “Dog, Woman, Man” which is being staged consecutively at the Berlin Hall of Goethe Institut Dhaka till May 31.

Sibyllie Berg is a contemporary German playwright whose story “Dog, Woman, Man” centers around three characters, a dog, a woman and a man, and the evolution of the relationship from the dog’s perspective. A 38 year old man who once preferred had “no strings attached” flings meets a woman and slowly they become intertwined in a complex relationship. Stages of the affair including burning passion, trust, grief, denial, dependence, jealousy, rage, despair, and in the end, submission, are brought out as the play progresses. The dog plays the neutral observer, and also narrator for the drama.

The story is skillfully showcased, revealing what is happening beneath the surface in an adept manner. The final message of the play is quite refreshing as it portrays that an open and fair relationship is better than one which entails submission and confinement.

A psychological drama demands special treatment in

Deepika and Ranveer are just good friends? n Entertainment Desk The “Ram-Leela” hero himself clarified his equation with co-star Deepika Padukone. Recently, Ranveer Singh cleared the air by stating that he is not in a relationship with the statuesque actress and they are just good friends.

Ranveer pointed out that there is nothing between them and it is the gossip mongers' way of assuming things. Although he calls Deepika a very special person and considers her as a most wonderful person, the actor said that it is wrong to assume that they are romantically involved. He added that it is natural that co-actors spend time with each other a lot while working together.

"I have great admiration and respect for her as an artist and as a professional. That's it," remarked Ranveer, who is currently working on Zoya Akhtar's film “Dil Dhadakne Do.” l

TANVIR MURAD TOPU

sound, light, set and props department, to convey the playwright’s perception to the audience. The stage arrangement of the play was successful in achieving the perfect ambiance for the story. The use of transparent blinds in various effects, with the audience concentration focused on elements (like pillows on the wall, depicting “vertical” beds) and the use of stage was very refreshing.

The pre-arranged visuals to heighten the narration (like Facebook posts appearing on projector screens, pre-recorded sub-textual monologue, and use of video footage and ambient audio) are all signature elements of contemporary theatre. The background music, arranged by Rahul Anand was also immaculate, as were the light, set, props, and choreography.

The production truly relied on the performances of the characters as Shahadat Hossain (from Centre for Asian Theatre) and Samina Luthfa (from BotTala) brilliantly acted to keep the audience on their seats and supported well by Shahriar Ferdous Sazeeb (Prachyanat), who played the dog. The leading duo’s chemistry on stage, timing and body language deserve appreciation. Sazeeb’s act was more challenging than it seemed, and he also gave an impressive performance.

The ambitious project was set in such a manner that the audience got the flavour of contemporary European stage in a local one. l

TODAY IN DHAKA Exhibition

Bornil Pandulipi Time: 12pm – 8pm Gallery Shilpangon Second Sight Time: 12pm – 8pm The Daily Star Centre, 64-65 Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue Dhaka

Mukh O Mukhosh 5 Time: 11am – 8pm Galleri Kaya, House no. 20 Road no. 16, Sector no. 4, Uttara

Theatre

Dog, Woman, Man Time: 7pm – 9pm Goethe Institut Bangladesh Road 9(new), House 10 Dhanmondi

X-Men overpower Godzilla n Entertainment Desk

The “X-Men” mutant superheroes smashed into US and Canadian theaters and collected $90.7m in ticket sales through Sunday, keeping monster hit “Godzilla” at bay and heading toward a decisive win over a long holiday weekend.

“X-Men: Days of Future Past” was expected to bring in $110m by the end of the US Memorial Day holiday on Monday, distributor 20th Century Fox said. The movie has already earned a global total of $261.8m. It is running in 119 countries around the world.

“X-Men: Days of Future Past” is the seventh movie in the blockbuster Marvel Comics franchise about mutant superheroes.

In the latest installment, Hugh Jackman’s sharp-clawed Wolverine travels back in time to try and save the mutants from future destruction.

To alter history, he is drawn into battle with the blue, shape-shifting Mystique, portrayed by Jennifer Lawrence in the

$200m film.

The movie scored the fifth-biggest Memorial Day weekend opening in history. l

Did you know?

‘Victory’ was the original name of the first FIFA World Cup trophy. It was renamed the Jules Rimet Trophy in 1946.

Sport

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

14 Japan edge Australia to win Women’s Asian Cup

14 Snubbed Donovan becomes MLS all-time top scorer

DHAKA TRIBUNE

13

15 Sharapova shines, Nishikori crashed out at French Open

Streak appointed Bangladesh’s bowling coach n Former Zimbabwe skipper Heath Streak has been appointed as Bangladesh’s bowling coach until 2016. Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) media and communications committee chairman Jalal Younus announced the successful recruitment of Streak yesterday.

“Heath Streak’s experience and record speak for him. He has played 65 Test matches and 189 ODIs and as a coach he has worked with some top bowling coaches in the international arena. He told us that coaching was his passion and we really appreciate that kind of desire,” said Jalal while announcing Streak’s appointment.

Jalal further informed that Streak has agreed a two-year term with BCB during which his services will be avail-

able for 450 days based on the schedule of the Bangladesh team.

“He (Streak) will primarily work with the national side and is expected in Dhaka in the first week of June,” said Jalal.

The 40-year-old former Zimbabwean all-rounder will form a coaching partnership with head coach Chandika Hathurusingha. Chandika was appointed for the Bangladesh job earlier this month following the resignation of former Bangladesh coach Shane Jurgensen.

The contract with Streak will see him available three weeks before every series as well as an extended stay with the national team prior to the 2015 World Cup. “I look forward to the challenge of working with the Tigers and thank BCB for the opportunity,” said Streak, who is currently in Bulawayo, through a BCB statement. It was further said in the statement that the former Zimbabwe captain was relishing the prospect of working with the Bangladesh team.

“It is exciting for me to be back into the International coaching arena again.

It is my passion to coach at an elite level and I hope I can bring my experience as a former player and coach to the Bangladeshi bowlers. I look forward to teaming up with the new coaching staff and mapping the future for this exciting team,” he said.

Streak is one of Zimbabwe’s most acclaimed cricketers who had also worked as the bowling coach of Zimbabwe national team between 2009 and 2013. He is Zimbabwe’s all-time leading all-rounder with 4933 runs and 455 wickets in international cricket.

Besides a season of domestic cricket in the country in the 1990s, he played 6 of his 65 Tests and 10 ODIs against Bangladesh. l

Bangladesh national cricketers share a light moment during their training session at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday

We needed this break: Tamim n

Bangladesh opening batsman Tamim Iqbal believes the absence of India’s regular captain MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli in the upcoming three-match ODI series in June will be an added advantage for the home side.

It has been widely reported in the media that both the key players – Dhoni and Kohli – might be rest for the short series in Bangladesh keeping their long tour to England in mind.

“It will be of help to any side playing against an Indian side which

Sky Blues falter and flounder again n Abahani Ltd. failed to break the wicked jinx of settling for a point as they drew goalless for the third consecutive time in their Bangladesh Premier Football League encounter against Chittagong Abahani at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday. Abahani suffered from the same scoreline against Sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Russell in their previous two matches.

Yesterday’s match also marked the end of Abahani’s second phase in the league with 34 points from 18 matches as they lie 2nd in the points table. However, Mohammedan is sitting 3rd with 29 points having played two games less.

It was the same old tale of Abahani

dominating the proceedings without actually succeeding in scoring a goal as their attackers again appeared to be going through motions. Their misfiring performance has now gifted Abahani with the undesirable record of failing to find the back of the net in three consecutive matches in the league for the first time in the club’s illustrious history.

Abahani could have taken the lead in the very first minute if their Cameroonian forward Ekele Patrick,even though unchallenged, had not shot wide from the middle of the box.

Abahani mounted ceaseless pressure and opened up their opponent’s defense in the 20th minute when midfielder Pranotosh saw his cracking shot punched away to safety by Chittagong Abahani custodian Nahiduddin. Pranotosh was left cursing his luck again in the 61st minute when his goal-bound header from a curved in corner by Portuguese forward Suares was punched

away for another corner by the outstretched Nahiduddin who had a good match under the bar.

With frustration gripping Abahani gradually, Chittagong Abahani started to invade their opponent’s defense as Guinean forward Osmane Cherrif unleashed a fierce left-footed drive from the top of the box in the 72nd minute, only to see the ball slam the crosspiece after kissing the gloves of Abahani goalie Shahidul Alam Sohel on its way.

Abahani Ltd. survived a major scare in the 75th minute when skipper Md. Sujon cleared a goal-bound shot from Chittagong Abahani forward Sohel Mia. This proved to be Chittagong Abahani’s best and last opportunity of salvaging anything other than a point from an otherwise dull performance.

Chittagong Abahani now have 10 points from 18 matches and is languishing at the bottom of the point table. l

made in the World Twenty20,” said the 25-year-old.

“We have a very important series (against India) coming up. I will be happy if I am able to contribute for the team in that series,” added the cricketer from Chittagong.

The national side members returned to practice after a break of almost 45 days and Tamim said, “I think we needed this break. I hope we will come up as a team again, find and mend the mistakes we had made and try not to repeat those in the India series. We can expect a positive result from the series if we play up to our potential.” l

do not have key players like Dhoni and Kohli. But this doesn’t mean that we will be relaxed in the series,” said Tamim yesterday after the first day of national team’s practice session since the ICC World Twenty20 ended in April.

“They will have other players who also play the game very well. We (Bangladesh team) will have to play our best cricket to do well - let it be any opponent,” Tamim added.

Close defeats, irresponsible batting and poor catching skills covered a huge portion of the Tigers’ busy first quarter this year which started with the full

series against Sri Lanka before they moved on with the Asia Cup and the ICC World Twenty20.

The seniors of the team were blamed behind the dismal performance and they were highly criticised too. The southpaw Tamim also had a quiet time with the bat but he thinks “There are ups and downs in cricket.”

“One should also take the off form positively and think how to overcome the bad patch rather than only thinking that you are having a bad time. I am trying my best to over come it and working in the nets on my mistakes.

Hope I don’t repeat the mistake I

Araf SC move into Pioneer final n

MPCA U-19 in strong position

Araf Sporting Club progressed into the final of the Pioneer Football League defeating Tangail Football Academy 3-2 in the second semifinal held at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday. The win also ensured a promotion to the 3rd division football league for Araf next season.

Araf displayed true character as they absorbed the shock of falling behind twice and finished as the victors. Sumon Mia of Tangail scored in the 10th minute but Uzzal restored parity in the 13th minute. Ruhul put Tangail ahead again in the 16th minute but Uzzal again equalised in the 38th minute. Eight minutes before stipulated time, Shanto slammed in the winner. Araf will play the final against Narinda Junior Lions while Tangail are set to take on Kallol Sangha in the third-place decider. l

n Madhya Pradesh Cricket Academy (MPCA) U-19 side gained the upper hand in their three-day encounter against Bangladesh U-19 as the visitors trailed the hosts by 54 runs with seven wickets in hand after the second day’s play at BKSP yesterday.

Bangladesh, who ended the rain interrupted first day on 217 for nine, added just two runs to their tally in the morning before Gaurav Patel dismissed Rifat Pradhan to complete his fivewicket haul.

Rain once again halted the play for 2 hours and 15 minutes in the afternoon which saw MPCA face just 62 overs. The opening pair of Arpit Gaud and Krishna Soni looked solid in their 105-run stand which set the perfect platform for the visitors.

Aprit made 64 off 114 balls with

BRIEF SCORE, DAY 2 Bangladesh U19 1st inns 221 all out in 59.2 overs MPCA U19 1st inns 167/3 Arpit 64, Krishna 41; Saleh 1/26 MPCA U19 trailed by 54 runs the help of 10 boundaries and two sixes while Krishna added 41 to facing 126 deliveries. He struck five boundaries.

Mohammed Saifuddin, Saleh Ahmed and Sanjib Sahan of Bangladesh claimed a wicket each as MPCA gathered 167 runs losing three wickets at the end of second day.

Rain ruined any possibilities of a result in the match as Shahbaz Khan, on nine, and Nitish Lashkari, on five, will resume the third and final day for the visitors today. l

Confidence is the key believes Imran n

Abahani forward Awdu Ibrahim (R) takes a shot against Chittagong Abahani during their Bangladesh Premier Football League match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday MUMIT M

COURTESY

Bangladesh’s new assistant coach Sarwar Imran believes the main challenge ahead of the home series against India will be to bring back the confidence in the players. The national side began their training camp at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday.

“Our team had the believe of winning every match just six months back but the poor performance in the last two series changed the whole scenario and it’s important to bring back the confidence in them and if we can do that everything will be fine again,” said Imran who carried the role of the head coach in Bangladesh’s inaugural Test match against India in 2000.

“Tamim was not getting runs and our two finishers Nasir and Mahmudullah were also struggling at the end which was the reason of the

poor performance,” he added.

Two of India’s key players - skipper MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli - might not be with the touring party and though Imran said Bangladesh have beaten India previously, he also said they still have to give their hundred percent to put up a good show against their neighbours.

He added it will be possible only when the cricketers regain their self confidence and the team spirit will be key.

The national squad underwent a fitness test on the opening day of their camp. However, Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim was among the seven absentees in the camp as the skipper was granted a leave for his wedding shopping in India.

It was learnt, Mahmudullah will be joining the camp from the start of next month while five other cricketers are in West Indies with the Bangladesh “A” team. l

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Ronaldinho hoping to rent out home

‘Camp does not resemble a hospital’

Looking for somewhere to stay in Rio de Janeiro during the World Cup? Ronaldinho can help -- if you can afford $15,600 a night. The 34-year-old former Brazil and Barcelona star has joined the ranks of his countrymen who are hoping to cash in on next month’s footballing extravaganza by renting out their homes to foreign visitors. Former world footballer of the year Ronaldinho took to Twitter to post an Airbnb advert for his seven-bedroom, six-bathroom mansion in the upmarket district of Barra da Tijuca. – AFP

Germany coach Joachim Loew on Monday dismissed reports his pre-World Cup camp resembled a hospital due to the number of injured players, including captain Philipp Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger, and said all would be fit “within days”. Lahm and keeper Manuel Neuer are recovering from injuries and have yet to start training, while playmaker Schweinsteiger and defender Marcel Schmelzer train alone at their northern Italy training camp.

– Reuters

Australia struggle in draw Australia’s Socceroos failed to raise their World Cup hopes with a struggling 1-1 draw against South Africa in a warm-up match for Brazil in Sydney on Monday. Both goals were scored one minute apart early in the opening half and chances became fewer as the match petered out to a stalemate before 50,000 fans at the Olympic stadium. Tim Cahill, leading his country for the first time in his 69th international, equalised for the Socceroos in the 14th minute after Ayanda Patosi opened the scoring a minute earlier. – AFP

Germany eager to end World Cup third-place curse n AFP, Berlin Germany head to Brazil aiming to end their 24-year wait for a fourth World Cup title with captain Philipp Lahm insisting he is sick of finishing third.

Consecutive semi-final defeats have led to Germany taking bronze at both of the last two World Cups with Lahm in the side and it is 12 years since the Germans lost the 2002 final to Brazil in Yokohama, Japan.

“I do not want to go out in the semi-finals again or visit Brazil just to soak up the sun,” insisted Lahm after a decade in the Germany team.

“I have a clear goal, to achieve the biggest possible success and win the World Cup.” In order to break their duck, improved counter-attack and a tighter defence are the key areas coach Joachim Loew wants to improve. The squad is packed with attacking potential, but there have been rumours of discontent in the past with disgruntled stars disrupting the squad’s harmony from the bench at both the 2012 European Championships and in the World Cup qualifiers.

“We have the necessary punch to

win the title, but we must be sure that the talent and ego of every individual provides only for the team’s benefit,” said Lahm with team building also a priority in their south Tirol camp.

The 24-year wait for a fourth World Cup title is Germany’s longest since first winning the global crown in 1954.

Younger members of the squad, including midfield star Mario Goetze, were yet to be born when West Germany won Italia 1990 -- the last time they were world champions.

In the past, Loew’s strength has been to instill impressive cohesion into his side by hours of drilling. But injuries and a lack of fitness in his firstchoice stars could hamper the process.

“We need to work on our flexibility and variation,” said the 54-year-old.

“You always need a ‘what-if’ strategy during matches, but we also need to improve our counter-attacking when we have won the ball back.

“We haven’t done that as consistently well as we did at the South African World Cup and immediately after.”

Germany have made a habit of suffering from injuries going into World Cup campaigns. l

General view of the Santiago Bernabeu stadium during the celebration of Real Madrid’s 10th Champions League title in Madrid on Sunday, a day after Real Madrid CF beat Atletico Madrid 4-1 at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Portugal AFP

World champions Japan edge Australia Pique renews with Barca, sees return to top to win Women’s Asian Cup

Di Canio keen on Celtic job n AFP, Glasgow

n AFP, Ho Chi Minh City

Former Celtic forward Paolo Di Canio has declared an interest in taking over the manager’s job at Celtic following the departure of Neil Lennon, according to his Italian agent.

Di Canio has been out of work since he was sacked by Sunderland last September. The player’s UK representative Phil Spencer was quoted by several newspapers as saying that the 45-yearold would be keen to be considered for the job at Celtic Park.

“Paolo would be keen to speak to Celtic,” he claimed.

Di Canio joined Celtic from AC Milan in 1996 and went on to win the Scottish Professional Footballers’ Associations’ player of the year award in his first season. l

World champions Japan edged Australia 1-0 to win their first Women’s Asian Cup title in a hard-fought final in Ho Chi Minh City on Sunday.

Azusa Iwashimizu got the game’s only goal from a corner in the first half and despite waves of attack from the defending champions, Japan’s Nadeshiko held firm.

The win swelled Japan’s already impressive list of honours which includes the 2011 World Cup and Olympic silver at the 2012 London Games.

Defender Iwashimizu was also the heroine in the semi-finals, when she scored at the end of extra time to settle a thriller against eight-time winners China.

On Sunday, the 27-year-old was on target in the 28th minute for a goal which was ultimately enough to relieve Australia’s Matildas of the Asian title.

Mid-way through the second half, Yuika Sugasawa’s shot cannoned off the underside of the crossbar and onto the line, and shortly afterwards Yuri Kawamura cleared the ball off the Japanese line to deny Australia an equaliser.

But there was to be no more scoring and as the final whistle blew, the Nadeshiko hugged each other in delight while Australia’s players sat glumly on the pitch.

Earlier, China rallied from their heartbreaking semi-final loss to Japan to beat South Korea 2-1 and claim third place.

Yang Li headed the winner in the

dying seconds as the Steel Roses recovered from Thursday’s rollercoaster semi, settled by Iwashimizu’s extra-time winner.

“Especially after playing 125 minutes on Thursday it was very special to win this game,” said China’s coach Hao Wei, according to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) website.

“And we did so well in the mental and physical aspects of the game that it gives me hope that there’s a great foundation to improve upon in the future.”

The competition’s top five finishers – Japan, Australia, China, South Korea and Thailand – all won berths to next year’s Women’s World Cup in Canada, where the Nadeshiko will defend their title. l

n AFP, Madrid Gerard Pique extended his Barcelona contract by four years on Monday, praising new coach Luis Enrique and predicting their return to the top after a season with no silverware.

The 27-year-old centre-back signed with Barcelona up to the end of the 2018-19 season, the club said, without providing financial details. His previous contract ran until June 30, 2015.

“Feeling that I will live out my whole career here is really important to me. I hope for many successes, as many as we have had in these last years,” Pique, a key member of Spain’s World Cup squad, said in a statement released by Barcelona.

The departure of veteran Carlos Puyol has left Pique as Barcelona’s lynchpin central defender.

But he lauded Barcelona’s new 44-year-old coach Enrique, who vowed last week to strengthen the team “in every area” as he replaced Argentine Gerardo Martino after a trophyless season.

“I am really hopeful,” Pique said.

Enrique showed he had “very clear ideas”, he added. “He knows the club and I think he will give us a lot.”

Barcelona can regain its premier spot in world football, Pique said.

“Barcelona has to be at the top, win titles and feel important in the European and world elite,” he added. “We have got the team, the coach, we have got all the ingredients to do it again.” l

AFC ask associations to hire match-fixing watchdogs n Reuters

Japanese players celebrate with the trophy after they defeated the Australian team 1-0, winning the Women’s Asia 2014 Football Championship on Sunday in Ho Chi Minh City AFP

The Asian Football Confederation has asked its member associations to appoint integrity officials to report any issues of match-fixing as they battle to clear up corruption in the sport.

The AFC, which has 46 full members and one associate member in Northern Mariana Islands, has set a deadline of June 30 to make the appointments, with those hired reporting to the organisation’s integrity officer Hassan Haider Khan.

“Responsibilities of the integrity officer are to establish and maintain

integrity initiatives within the MA (member associations), receive information related to match-fixing matters within the MA and conduct inquiries or investigations as an administrative ‘fact finder’ in coordination with AFC and relevant national law enforcement agencies.” AFC Director of MAs and Development Sanjeevan Balasingam said in a statement.

AFC members have long battled match-fixing issues with China, South Korea, Lebanon, Australia, Malaysia and Singapore among countries to have been hit by the problem.

AFC President Sheikh Salman bin

France not at full strength Snubbed Donovan becomes for Norway friendly MLS all-time top scorer n AFP, Paris France’s World Cup squad will emerge from the isolation of their secluded training base to play Norway on Tuesday in the first of three friendlies before departing for Brazil.

Didier Deschamps’ squad have spent the last week working at Clairefontaine, the national football centre hidden away in the woods an hour’s drive south of the capital.

Such peaceful surroundings could hardly feel further removed from what awaits them in Brazil, but when they take to the field against the Norwegians at the Stade de France they will start to

feel like the World Cup is finally just around the corner.

Les Bleus begin their Group E campaign against Honduras in Porto Alegre on Sunday, June 15, before going on to face Switzerland and Ecuador.

To prepare, Deschamps’ side have three friendlies lined up on home soil, with the Norway clash followed by encounters with Paraguay in Nice next Sunday and Jamaica in Lille on June 8.

“It is the biggest competition that any player can imagine taking part in. It is a boyhood dream come true,” admitted the Newcastle United midfielder Moussa Sissoko when asked what it means to participate in a World Cup on Brazilian soil. l

n AFP, Los Angeles Landon Donovan offered a stylish response to his World Cup snub on Sunday, becoming Major League Soccer’s all-time leading scorer in the LA Galaxy’s 4-1 win over Philadelphia.

The 32-year-old scored twice, seizing the MLS scoring record with his 135th career goal with his first strike of the night, four minutes into the second half.

Donovan launched the move with a pass to Galaxy teammate Robbie Keane in the box. The Irishman squared across the face of goal for the onrushing Donovan, who was left with a tap-in for his first goal of the season.

It came days after US coach Jurgen Klinsmann left Donovan off his final 23-man squad for the World Cup finals in Brazil.

“It’s been an emotional three days,” Donovan told a television interviewer after the game. “A lot of down and a lot of up honestly.

“The love I’ve received from everybody here, including when I walked out for warm-ups with signs and people staying stuff, has been amazing.

And I’m really happy it ended this way for this week.”

Donovan, a veteran of three World Cups, is already the all-time USA scoring leader with 57 international goals. l

Ebrahim Al Khalifa, elected to the position last year, promised to tackle the issue upon taking office but problems have continued.

Last month, Vietnam Cup holders Vissai Ninh Binh were kicked out of the domestic league for the remainder of the campaign after 11 of their players admitted to taking money to fix a match in the regional AFC Cup tournament.

Despite the admission, Vissai have been allowed to continue in the AFC Cup and will find out their quarter-final opponents in the competition this week. The AFC said they were committed to clearing up the problems. l

Hertha sign Japan forward Haraguchi on four-year deal n Reuters, Berlin Hertha Berlin have signed Japan forward Genki Haraguchi from J.League leaders Urawa Red Diamonds on a fouryear contract, the Bundesliga club said on Monday.

The 23-year-old Haraguchi, who has won three caps but is not a member of his country’s squad for next month’s World Cup, scored 33 goals in 162 J.League games and will join former Urawa team mate Hajime Hosogai in Berlin.

“Genki Haraguchi is a versatile forward who can play both left and right or in the centre,” Hertha sporting director Michael Preetz said in a statement. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

15

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Morgan baffled by sorry show against Sri Lanka

QUICK BYTES

U-17s take on Madhya Pradesh today The Bangladesh Under-17 cricket team will play the first three-day match of their month-long tour of India against the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) U-17 side in Indore today.

The junior Tigers will be taking part in four three-dayers against MPCA in Indore before visiting Delhi to play three one-day matches against Coca Cola India XI. The Bangladesh U-17 side will be led by Mohammed Saif Hassan with Shafiul Hayet acting as his deputy. The junior Tigers will return to the country on June 18.

– MU

n

Menzis, Narinda post dominating win Menzis Krira Chakra outplayed Victoria Sporting Club by 38-19 goals in the Cute Premier Division Handball League at the handball stadium yesterday. The winners led the first half 19-8. Robiul of Menzis set the court on fire scoring 19 goals steering his team to the facile victory. Sohel of Victoria netted six goals.

In the other match of the day, Narinda Pragati Sangha prevailed over Bangla Club by 31-14 goals. Narinda led the first half by 17-8 goals. Shamser Singh of Narinda grabbed the highest 12 goals of the match while Bangla Club’s highest scorer was Titon who bagged six goals.

–RM

Open women’s volleyball begins today The first edition of the Cute Open Women’s Volleyball designed to boost women’s volleyball in the country begins at the Paltan Ground handball stadium today. Eight teams - BJMC Green, Viqarunnisa Noon School and College, Jagannath University, BJMC Red, Dhaka University, Bangladesh Police, Naba Jagoroni Sangha and Scholastica - will be participating in the meet. In a presser held at the Bangabandhu National Stadium conference room yesterday, additional police superintendent Ashikur Rahman Miku and chairman of the federation of women’s volleyball committee Syeda Jannat Ara disclosed the details of the tournament.

–RM

Croatia’s Kranjcar ruled out of World Cup Croatian midfielder Niko Kranjcar will miss the World Cup after picking up a leg injury in Queens Park Rangers’ Championship play-off win over Derby at Wembley, officials said on Monday.

Local media reported that Croatia coach Niko Kovac was “in shock” after learning the news, as the 29-year-old became the third player to be ruled out of the finals in Brazil in the past week.

“An MRI scan showed that Kranjcar has a rupture of leg upper muscle,” Croatia squad doctor Boris Nemec told AFP. A Croatian football federation spokesman said that the injury would sideline Kranjcar for “two to four weeks”, adding that it was “too long a period to wait for him”. “I’m extremely sorry for Niko ... he is one of the most experienced players in our squad and he deserved to be part of it in Brazil,” Kovac said. “I needed Niko with his experience and good shape ... (but) we have to go on,” the former Croatia captain stressed. Kranjcar was replaced in the 33rd minute of Saturday’s clash at Wembley with a left leg injury.

–AFP

Scott holds on to top spot Adam Scott’s win in the Colonial tournament in Texas on Sunday has bolstered his hold on the world top ranking. The Australian had been in danger of losing the position to Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, who was competing in the European PGA Championship at Wentworth. But after Stenson finished tied for seventh, Scott was left needing to place in the top 13 in Fort Worth to extend his stay at the top. That he did in some style, defeating Jason Dufner in a playoff for his first title of the year. Scott now has 8.94 points with Stenson in second on 7.79 points and Tiger Woods third on 7.65 points. Former world number one Rory McIlroy improved to sixth place on the back of his win at Wentworth, his first title of the tear.

–AFP

DAY’S WATCH Sony Six 8:30PM Indian Premier League, Qualifier 1 Kolkata v Punjab 6:30AM NBA Play Off 2013-14: Conf Final, Miami v Indiana

Workers sweep water off a tarp as rain interrupts the match between Novak Djokovic and Joao Sousa in the French Open at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris yesterday

Sharapova shines, Nishikori crashed out n Maria Sharapova reached the French Open second round on Monday at a damp and chilly Roland Garros as Japanese hope Kei Nishikori became the tournament’s first major casualty.

Sharapova, seeded seven and the 2012 champion, needed just over an hour to beat fellow Russian, Ksenia Pervak, the world’s 156th-ranked player, 6-1, 6-2.

The 27-year-old, who lost last year’s final to Serena Williams, looked comfortable under the cloudy conditions on the Philippe Chatrier court, breaking her opponent five times. Sharapova will next face Bulgaria’s 2010 Wimbledon semi-finalist Tsvetana Pironkova.

Japanese ninth seed Nishikori was left feeling as misrable as the Paris weather as he crashed out in the first round, clearly still suffering from his recent back injury.

Nishikori, 24, and coached by 1989 champion Michael Chang, was the first Japanese man in 75 years to make the fourth

round in Paris in 2013.

But on Monday, there was never any sign that he would repeat that feat as he went down 7-6 (7/4), 6-1, 6-2 to Slovakia’s Martin Klizan.

Nishikori won the Barcelona claycourt title last month but then had to quit the Madrid Masters final against Rafael Nadal with a back injury that also forced him out of the Rome Masters.

The world number 10 looked distinctly half-fit on Court 1 where he was broken 10 times, hit 10 double faults and committed 40 unforced errors Left-handed Klizan, 24, one of six former junior champions in the main draw, goes on to face Robin Haase of the Netherlands.

After rain delayed the start of Monday’s programme by more than an hour, play was halted again barely two hours later at 1230GMT when the heavens reopened.

But there was still time for Dominika Cibulkova, the Slovak ninth seed, Italian 12th seed Flavia Pennetta and German

Lauda moves to defuse Mercedes ‘star wars’ n Mercedes team chief Niki Lauda on Monday acted to defuse the ‘star wars’ rivalry between his drivers and reintroduce cordiality and good manners between them before next month’s Canadian Grand Prix.

In the wake of Nico Rosberg’s triumph ahead of Lewis Hamilton in Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix, Lauda said he and Mercedes were not prepared to tolerate the sullen behaviour that was seen on the podium and in the aftermath of the race.

Lauda, who acts as the team’s non-executive chairman, said the pair had over-

stepped the mark by refusing to behave in a sporting manner and by not speaking.

“I spoke to the drivers before the race and it is not finished,” said Lauda.

“I understand all the comments and I have to wait two or three days, but before it goes to Canada it will be solved.

“I will speak to them like I always do.

They always call me when they have problems, so I think it will sort itself out.

It is normal. I had the same with [Alain] Prost. I hated the guy, but at least I said hello in the morning. There are certain limits and these certain limits I can reintroduce because I speak the drivers’ language, and they do understand me. l

President of Bangladesh Table Tennis Federation Abdul Karim, general secretary Zobera Rahman Linu and vice president of South Bangla Bank Mannan Bapari attend a press conference at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday COURTESY

Nat’l Junior TT starts today n The South Bangla Bank 2nd National Junior Table Tennis comprising 110 boys and 50 girls starts at the Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Indoor Stadium today.

The paddlers will fight for the titles of the boys’ Under-18 team, girls’ U-18 team, boys’ and girls’ U-18 singles, boys’ and girls’ U-18 doubles in the five-day meet. The total number of teams taking part are 44.

State minister for youth and sports Biren Sikder will inaugurate the tournament as the chief guest.

In a presser held at the conference room of the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday, Bangladesh Table Tennis Federation (BTTF) president Abdul Karim presented the meet to the media. BTTF general secretary Zobera Rahman Linu and South Bangla Bank vice president Mannan Bapari were also present on the occasion. l

16th seed Sabine Lisicki to progress.

Meanwhile, defending champion Nadal remained at the centre of a French Open scheduling row on Monday.

Nadal, who has a phenomenal record of eight titles, 59 match wins and just one loss in Paris, had his opening match against US wildcard Robby Ginepri, the world number 279, shifted out to Suzanne Lenglen court.

However, Roland Garros’s showpiece Philippe Chatrier court will stage title rival Novak Djokovic’s match against Joao Sousa and Stan Wawrinka’s clash against Guillermo Garcia-Lopez. Nadal claimed at the weekend that he found conditions on Chatrier to be different this year.

Djokovic defeated 25-year-old Sousa, the world number 44, for the loss of just four games in the third round of the US Open in 2013.

Third seed and Australian Open champion Wawrinka, who achieved his best result in Paris in 2013 when he made the quarter-finals, has a 4-2 lead in career meetings with Garcia-Lopez.

REUTERS

Eoin Morgan, England’s captain in place of the injured Alastair Cook, was left bemused by the scale of their defeat in the second one-day international against Sri Lanka at the Riverside.

England were beaten by 157 runs after scoring only 99 - their fifth-lowest score in ODI cricket in reply to the tourists’ 256-8.

“It’s just about as bad as we can play - and certainly as bad as we can bat,” said Morgan. “It was one of the worst performances I’ve been a part of in an England shirt.

“I can’t really explain why we played that badly. The pitch was a little bit tacky and the ball nipped around a bit, but we’re good enough to negotiate those sort of skills. We would have been happy with the score they got, but we lacked partnerships throughout the whole innings and never seemed to get going. We just haven’t played well.”

“To be honest, I don’t think this is going to be a huge setback. I think it would have been a bigger setback if we had fallen 40 runs short and had substance through the whole innings, if we looked like we were going to win, but then not got there. l

Blake at the double as Kenya smash record n Yohan Blake made up for the absence of Usain Bolt by claiming a second gold at the IAAF World Relays, anchoring his Jamaican team to 4x100m victory in a second day of scintillating action Sunday.

Kenya earlier ensured another $50,000 came out of the bonus coffers as their middle-distance maestroes smashed another record, this time in the men’s 4x1500m.

But it was traditional powerhouses the United States who dominated the second and final day of the inaugural World Relays in the Bahamian capital, winning four of the six finals raced in a carnival atmosphere at a sell-out 15,000-seater Thomas A. Robinson stadium.

There was also heartbreak for Blake’s female teammate Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce as the reigning two-time Olympic sprint champion was left with too much to do on the final leg of the 4x200m.

After two ropey baton exchanges, the “Pocket Rocket” who also claimed world 100m gold in Moscow last year and world indoor 60m gold in Sopot in March, could

only look on as she ran her quartet home in third behind the winning US team and silver medallists Britain.

There was no such drama for Blake, the 2011 100m world champion steaming his team of Nesta Carter, Nickel Ashmeade and Julian Forte home in 37.77 seconds, the US missing out on the final after being disqualified in the heats.

Ashmeade will also depart the Bahamas with a brace of golds after running alongside Blake in the world record-setting 4x200m effort on Saturday.

“After our world and olympic golds, we wanted to confirm our number one position today,” said Blake, who missed last season with a troublesome hamstring but is now mulling a sprint double at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

The performances of the Jamaican men’s sprint team more than made up for the absence of sprint legend Bolt, who is nursing an injury and only due back in competition in mid-June.

The United States took some solace from their strong women’s 4x400m team, who won the event in convincing fashion in 3min 21.73sec. l

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

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Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Human rights state in Dhaka jail unmonitored Despite repeated requests, no inspection teams formed in six years Additional Inspector General of n Tazlina Zamila Khan Prisons Colonel Mohammad Iftikharul In violation of the jail code, the Dhaka Central Jail has not seen a single nonofficial visitor inspecting its premises in the past six years to monitor the condition of the prisoners.

Non-official visitors – whose duties include observing the human rights condition, food quality, and prisoner treatment inside the jail – are a team of 12 members of civil society, headed by two local lawmakers, who are appointed in the role for two year terms.

The team’s recommendations for the betterment of the jail and its prisoners are supposed to be discussed in a meeting, led by the district magistrate concerned, every three months, while the jail authorities are then required to act on the observations made by the non-official visitors.

Mahbub-ul-Islam, jailer of Dhaka Central Jail, the largest jail in the country, told the Dhaka Tribune: “There has been no visitor in this jail for many years. It is good to have a visiting committee. Prisoners can express their problems to them easily.”

He added that the authorities concerned including the Social Welfare Department, district magistrate and civil surgeons could also visit the jail – which currently houses 7,246 prisoners against the capacity of 2,682 detainees.

Dhaka Central Jail Superintendent Forman Ali said: “Earlier in March 20, 2009, we sent a letter to the divisional commissioner for appointing nonofficial visitors. A couple of months ago we again sent another letter to the authorities but no reply has been received so far.”

The last team of non-official visitors was formed for the Dhaka Central Jail in 2008.

Islam told the Dhaka Tribune: “There are non-official visitors in other jails, but only this jail lacks it. As there is a provision in the law, it should be implemented. Prisoners will be benefitted through this.”

When asked about the issue, National Human Rights Commission Chairman Dr Mizanur Rahman said: “There are non-official visitors in jails of India and Pakistan. But, the situations of the neighbouring countries are similar to ours. However, in Scandinavian countries and Nepal the system is operating perfectly without any flaw.

“If there is no visitor to the jail, then that is a serious violation of the provision and human rights.

Accountability has become weak in our country. But we have a plan to visit the jails. I demand an immediate action against the situation and will inform the matter to the authorities of Home Ministry,” the NHRC chief added.

“I think the Jail Code should be amended and the human rights commission will provide all support to the government to solve the issue.

Many new jails will be constructed. So, better toilet and food facility and other infrastructure for the prisoners should be ensured,” the chairman said.

According to the section 56 of the jail code, the team members are proposed by the deputy commissioner concerned, while it is finalised by the divisional commissioner who then sends the list to the Home Ministry, which publishes a gazette for appointing the visitors.

The team could visit the jail any time it wants, but only after notifying jail authorities over phone about their visit. l

Being accompanied by the her Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina receives guard of honour in Tokyo yesterday

DU teacher terminated for thesis fraud 102 students suspended for cheating in exams n DU Correspondent Authorities at the University of Dhaka have fired a teacher for resorting to fraud in his PhD thesis and suspended 102 students for different periods from the university and its affiliate institutions for breach of rules.

The syndicate body of the university sacked political science teacher Nur Uddin Alo for providing false information in his PhD thesis, Proctor Amzad Ali said yesterday.

“Apart from that, 102 students of the university and its affiliate institutions have been suspended for various terms for cheating and adopting unfair means in examinations. Some were fined, too,” he said.

The decision was made at a meeting of the university’s syndicate committee chaired by Vice-Chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique on Sunday night, he added.

“We have taken action against the

students to prevent recurrence of such incidents in examinations and also to warn others so that they do not dare to indulge in such activities,” the proctor said.

Nur Uddin was awarded a PhD in 2010 for his thesis styled “The practice of Marxism and its impact on modern world: The case of objectification.” Professor Shawkat Ara Hossain of the same department supervised the research and the thesis evaluation committee comprised Professor Abdul Mannan of government and politics of Jahangirnagar University, and Moqsudur Rahman, a teacher of political science at Rajshahi University.

Nur Uddin claimed that he had interviewed over a million people in 80 countries for his thesis.

However, in 2012, several teachers of political science, including Emran Hossain, Dil Rawshan Jinnar Ara Naznin, Farid Uddin Ahmed, Shariful

Islam and Sabbir Ahmed petitioned for re-evaluation of Nur’s thesis.

In the wake of the petition, the university authorities formed a probe committee headed by Professor Nasrin Ahmed, pro-VC of the university.

During the investigation, the committee found more evidence of erroneous information in the thesis and recommended cancellation of the PhD degree conferred upon Nur. On September 12 last year, Nur’s degree was finally invalidated at the syndicate meeting.

“It was proved that Nur had presented incorrect information in his thesis.

He said he had surveyed 12.74 lakh people as part of the research but he failed to substantiate his assertion with any reliable evidence,” said Farid Uddin Ahmed, a syndicate member and dean of the Social Science Faculty at Dhaka University.

“He had presented fabricated data and information,” he added. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Japan pledges $6 billion n UNB Japan has pledged an assistance of 600 billion yen (equivalent to US$6 billion) to Bangladesh over the next five years, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said yesterday.

Shinzo Abe’s announcement came at a joint press conference with his visiting Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina after the two leaders held formal talks at Japanese Premier’s office in Tokyo.

Hasina is on a four-day visit to Japan. The promised aid will be given through implementation of the concept of the Bay of Bengal industrial Growth Belt (BIG-B), proposed by the Japanese Premier. Earlier the two leaders signed a joint statement.

The Japanese Premier said his country has proposed the formation of Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth Belt to help Bangladesh realize its huge economic potentials and expedite its growth. He said Japan and Bangladesh will start a foreign secretary-level dialogue in enhancing cooperation in politics and security. l

MRP setback exposes migrant workers to risk n Rabiul Islam

Lack of fund impeding the maintenance of the Anhik temple in Putia of Rajshahi. The Department of Archaeology has announced the temple as a heritage site DHAKA TRIBUNE

Security lax at 150 northern archaeological sites n Our Correspondent, Bogra Out of a total of 164 protected archaeological sites in 16 northern districts, at least 150 have been devoid of required security measures for a long time.

Regional Director (RD) of the Department of Archaeology in Rajshahi Md Badrul Alam says a large number of posts meant for security guards at the sites, including Paharpur Bihar in Naogaon which is a Unesco World Heritage Site, have remained unoccupied for a long period of time.

“We are trying to ensure security in monuments in several districts using our limited resources,” Badrul said.

“Several letters were sent to officials concerned, requesting them to fill the vacant positions and also to create new ones to ensure better security,” he added.

Sources at RD office in Bogra said security at a number of sites is currently maintained by security personnel the department appointed on the master roll but some of the monuments, like “Potazia” in Sirajgang, are still unguarded.

Only 232 security officials have been protecting the 164 sites in the 16 districts, though the required figure is 820, sources said.

Md Sadekuzzaman, custodian of Mahasthangarh Archaeological Museum, said there are 44 protected sites in Mahasthangarh and the adjacent areas.

The department only has 18 people on the master roll to protect the sites but they need 264 people, sources said.

There is a need for at least 51 permanent security guards to ensure security in Mahasthangarh but a mere four are there

to guard one of the most prominent archaeological sites in South Asia, according to sources.

A similar situation prevails in Paharpur Bihar and the 11 other sites that surround it. There is a need for at least 72 security officials but only 24 have been deployed.

The department has installed lighting facilities in some parts of Paharpur Bihar a few years back in the wake of the theft of many terracotta objects.

Meanwhile, 14 monuments in Puthia, Rajshahi lie unsecured as there are only six guards there when there should be 84, said a senior official of the Archaeology Department.

A large number of terracotta items were stolen from the site a few years ago because there were no guards, according to the department. l

The issuing of machine readable passports (MRPs) to Bangladeshi nationals in Malaysia and some other regional passport offices within the country faced a setback at the very beginning of the project.

The project is getting delayed due to some technical glitches but the government is trying to get it fixed as soon as possible, officials said.

Unless the problem can be solved within a short period of time it will cause immense suffering for the people who wish to travel to and from the country since the existing passports will not be accepted for immigration clearance after November next year.

Non-resident Bangladeshis and migrant workers will suffer the most as they are unlikely to be able to replace their existing manual passports with the MRPs by then. It is feared that they may be stranded abroad.

Even the foreign diplomats in Dhaka have often raised concerns that the Bangladeshi citizens now working in their countries might have to face bad consequences when returning home if they are not provided with MRPs by now.

It will also create a roadblock for workers willing to go abroad.

The country lacks accurate data of migrants. However, the government claims there is around one crore people working in different countries including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Malaysia, Singapore and Kuwait.

“The aspirant migrants will not be able to go abroad for jobs and those working abroad cannot return home without MRPs,” Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain told the Dhaka Tribune over the phone on Sunday.

“On my part, I have done the job,” he said.

The government has taken the Malaysia project on a pilot basis. Upon its successful completion, it has a plan to

spread the project in other countries where there are Bangladeshi migrant workers.

The Malaysia project faced the set back at the beginning as it could not be started within the stipulated timeframe.

The Malaysia job was contracted out to a private company Dataedge-i-people Consortium on February 12 with the condition that they would start issuing the MRPs within one month of the contract date. The whole project would be implemented in 18 months.

The country lacks accurate data of migrants. However, the government claims there is around one crore people working in different countries including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Malaysia, Singapore and Kuwait It has now been more than four months, and still they could not start it, officials said. Dataedge has also been assigned to issue MRPs from 33 regional passport offices (RPOs) but it has so far failed. They said people are collecting MRPs from their neighbouring passport offices.

“It is true the company could not start the job in time,” Additional Secretary (security and passport wing) of the Home Ministry Md Shafiqul Islam said on Saturday.

“There is a problem of integration,” he said, adding Dataedge’s software and system needs to be integrated with the ones of IRIS Corporation, a Malaysian company that has long been providing Bangladesh with software solu-

tions for passports under the first MRP project in 2010. It had set up its central system at the Department of Immigration and Passport (DIP) at Agargaon in Dhaka.

According to the agreement, IRIS would provide technical support for future expansion of the MRP issuance centres at home and abroad.

Projector Director of MRP and MRV of DIP, Brig Gen Masud Rezwan said a problem had surfaced in issuing MRPs. “There are two parties. One party is claiming that they have given all the information, but another part is alleging that they are not getting sufficient information,” he said.

“It is not true that much time has already passed,” Dataedge Director Noor A Alam Chowdhury told this correspondent over the phone on Saturday.

Starting the job has been delayed as the government is taking time to make a decision in this regard, he said.

“We have to face problems in integrating with the existing system, and IRIS has not extended cooperation properly,” he alleged adding that documentation by IRIS was not as proper as it should have been.

“As part of contractual obligation, we provided all support to Dataedge.

And there is no question of non-cooperation,” Senior Manager of IRIS Corporation Bahjat Aman told the Dhaka Tribune over the phone from Malaysia on Sunday.

“Beyond the contract, we offered our software free of cost to Dataedge,” he said.

“As it is a technical matter, we are not sure who is responsible – it may be IRIS or Dataedge. We have engaged a Swedish audit company to identify who is responsible,” said Shafiqul Islam while his attention was drawn to the allegation and counter allegation of IRIS and Dataedge.

“We will get the report soon,” he said.

The project director, however, said that the report had already been submitted. l

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BASIC Bank default loans growing fast The loans disbursed through irregularities are taking the toll on the banks financial health

n Jebun Nesa Alo The default loans of BASIC Bank growing abnormally fast in the recent months as loans the bank had disbursed through irregularities are getting matured.

‘The increasing trend of the classified loan is the continuous effect of earlier loan forgery which has eroded the financial health of the bank gradually’ In March only, it rose by Tk1,140 crore or more than 80% to stand at Tk2,557 crore from Tk1,417 crore in February as the newly classified loan increased by Tk1,539 crore in March.

Maximum of the loan the bank disbursed violating the rules and without proper documents in the year 2009 to 20012. This resulted in the abnormal growth of the default loans every

month, said a senior executive of Bangladesh Bank.

The increasing trend of the classified loan is the continuous effect of earlier loan forgery which has eroded the financial health of the bank gradually, he said.

The amount of new classified loan was Tk217.5 crore in December last and it rose to Tk343.6 crore in January, Tk403.6 crore in February and Tk1,539 crore in March, according to the latest statement (unaudited) BASIC Bank

submitted to Bangladesh Bank.

The total classified loan of the bank increased by 99% to Tk2,557 crore in March from Tk1282 crore in December 2013.

The outstanding loan with the top 20 defaulters stood at Tk915 crore in March from Tk880 crore in December, against almost zero recovery from the defaulters.

Bangladesh Bank signed a MoU with the bank to recover its financial health in September last year but the bank

could not come out from the sorry state due to drastic increase of classified loans, said a senior executive of Bangladesh Bank.

Moreover, all the financial indicators of the bank became negative day by day due to further irregularities in loan disbursement after signing the MoU. As a result, the deposit growth fell sharply as the depositors lost confidence on the bank, he said.

The deposit growth of the bank was 58% in July 2013, but came down to 1.65% in December last year. The growth turned negative by 2.49% in January, 0.43% in February and 0.61% in March.

The bank also took the highest advantage of relaxed loan rescheduling rules to reduce the burden of classified loan in December last.

The bank rescheduled classified loan of Tk1,151 crore in December. As a result, the total classified loan of the bank reduced to 11.82% in December from 18.43% in September last year.

But the amount of classified loan further rose to 23% in March due to the increasing newly classified loans, according to the Bangladesh Bank data. l

BASIC BANK FOLLOW UP

DMD made MD in-charge, lending by 3 branches barred n Tribune Report Bangladesh Bank has imposed a restriction on three branches of BASIC Bank in Dhaka to sanction new loans considering the recent credit scam in the braches.

The central bank took the decision at a meeting yesterday, with Governor Atiur Rahman in the chair.

The decision emerged on the day after the removal of the state-owned bank’s Managing Director Kazi Faqurul Islam on Sunday due to irregularities and corruption in the banks.

Bangladesh Bank also asked the bank yesterday to appoint a new managing director (current charge) within a day through following the rules. Following the instruction, BASIC Bank board called an emergency meeting on the day and appointed its deputy managing director-1 Fazlus Sobhan as MD in-charge.

New loan disbursement activities by the bank’s Gulshan, Dilkhusha and Shantinagar branches have been suspended in the awake of massive irregularities, said Bangladesh Bank Executive Director Mahfuzur Rahman.

A letter has been served to the bank

yesterday, asking suspension of the lending.

It also asked the branches to take permission of the EC committee before disbursement of the loans already granted.

The central bank also warned the bank of similar consequence for its other branches if it finds any irregularities in lending.

Of the total 68 branches of the bank, the suspended three branches hold 61% loans of the total outstanding, according to Bangladesh Bank data.

The amount of total disbursed loan of BASIC Bank stood at Tk11,180 crore in March this year, of which Tk6,900 crore has been disbursed through the three branches.

BB inspections found last year that the bank approved loans of Tk4,500 crore, mostly without proper documentation and scrutiny.

Most of the irregularities took place in BASIC Bank’s four branches — Motijheel, Shantinagar, Dilkusha and Gulshan — that granted loans of about Tk4,425 crore between December 2009 and November 2012 on poor documents and inflated mortgages. l

Proposed SEZs to get Tk300cr for land acquisition n Asif Showkat Kallol

State Minister for Labour and Employment Mujibul Haque Chunnu speaking at a workshop on managing occupational safety at a city hotel yesterday. He vented anger over garment factory closures after safety inspections by Accord and Alliance MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Labour unrest feared if closures continue n Tribune Report

Labour and Employment Minister Mujibul Haque Chunnu has expressed concerns over the RMG factory closures and feared that it might spark labour unrest ahead of Ramadan.

He said workplace safety and job security are equally important and must be considered as basic rights of the workers.

“Safety is a basic right, but it cannot be done making workers jobless,” the sate minister said while addressing a workshop on managing occupational safety and health.

He even raised questions about experience and qualification of the engineers employed by the Accord to inspect factories.

The workshop was jointly organised

by Bangladesh government and International Labour Organisation (ILO), which was aimed at raising awareness about the issue in the garment factories to reduce risk of accidents.

“Thousands of RMG workers lost their jobs after safety shortfalls were unearthed,” Mujibul Haque mentioned hinting at the Accord and Alliance inspections.

Besides, factories are witnessing decline in orders from international buyers, leaving the owners at the risk of facing further shutdowns, he said.

Mujibul urged the buyers to increase orders and give better price so that the industry can ensure safety for workers.

Netherlands Minister for Foreign

Trade and Development Cooperation, Lilianne Ploumen stressed the need of well-functioning occupational safety and health committees in factories.

She hoped that the new committees were formed in a fair and transparent manner with appropriate representation of workers including women.

“It is important how to enable factory owners to implement the new occupational safety and health policy,” she said.

In November 2013, Bangladesh government adopted a National Occupational Safety and Health Policy as part of its response to the commitments made in the National Action Plan on Fire and Building Safety in July last year.

The government and ILO are implementing a three-and-a-half year project of $24.21m funded by Canada, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom to improve working conditions in the Bangladeshi RMG industry.

Srinivas B Reddy, ILO Country Director for Bangladesh, said, “The aim of the workshop is to protect workers from incident creating awareness among the representatives of employers, especially the mid-level management.”

Reddy said the workshop would directly contribute to having safe workplaces.

“Active functioning of the mandatory occupational safety and health committees and the trade unions, whatever exist, should contribute to greater participation of workers in workplace safety measures,” he emphasised. l

The government has decided to allocate Tk300 crore in the upcoming budget for acquisition of lands for the proposed special economic zones.

Against the backdrop of huge complaints lodged by the foreign investors on land crisis, the finance division has finally decided to allocate of the aforesaid amount in the next budget to acquire lands, said a finance division official.

The official also said the the acquisition works would begin soon to develop seven economic zones in the country.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith had earlier mentioned that both local and foreign investments would come to Bangladesh only if the government

could provide land to the investors.

“But we are not in a position to provide them with valuable lands right away. However, the government has a plan to allocate money in next fiscal budget for land acquisition for the projects.”

Board of Investment data shows Bangladesh had received foreign direct investment worth $1.78bn in 2013, registering 37.5% growth from the previous year.

According to several government agencies, the local businessmen have allegedly transferred their capital to countries like Malaysia, UAE, USA and Canada as the investors have been losing their confidence and private sector credit growth has dropped to a record low of 10.73% in February this year.

$169m foreign loan approved for private sector n Tribune Report Board of Investment Scrutiny Committee has approved foreign loans of $169.15m for the private sector. The decision came at a meeting of BoI scrutiny committee held at Bangladesh Bank yesterday, chaired by its convenor and Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman.

The committee approved $169.15m for 13 (thirteen) projects such as $100m for Airtel Bangladesh Limited, $25m for Summit Meghnaghat Power Co. Limited, $14m for Mawna Fashions Limited, $5m for International Trading Services Limited, $7m for Standard Stitches Ltd, $5m for Standard Group Ltd & rest of the amount for seven other companies.

The highest interest rate of the approved proposals is 3-month LIBOR plus 4.75% per annum. The committee approved foreign loan of $1,821m in FY2013, which was 43% higher than $1,040m in FY 2012. There was a continuous growth in inflow of foreign loans over the last five years, said a statement. The main purpose of the foreign loan is to import capital machinery and equipments of the project, said the committee officials.

The committee hoped the foreign financing will be helpful to keep the dollar price in stable, the deficit of the country’s “Balance of Payment” will decrease and it will create more job opportunity, it said. l

The economists and experts said the lack of government plans had already caused colossal damage to the industrialisation process in a land-hungry country like Bangladesh.

They said absence of facilities such as road connectivity and power and gas supplies in the countryside have forced the entrepreneurs to set up their industrial plants close to major cities, even at the heart of the capital city Dhaka and Chittagong.

In its recent report, Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) mentioned that one of the major constraints to attract foreign direct investment in Bangladesh is shortage of lands and infrastructural facilities.

Last year, the previous government set a priority to arrange over 10,000 acres of land for industrial plots across

the country over the next three years and launch five special economic zones (SEZs) by the end of its tenure.

The last government ended its tenure in early this year.

However, the new industry ministry later stopped the process of the acquisition of 10,000 acres of land.

“Insufficiency of land for setting up industries at appropriate locations has come up as a major obstacle to the country’s industrial expansion and finding out industrial lands with necessary facilities has appeared as another key problem,” Dr AB Mirza Azizul Islam, former finance adviser to last caretaker government, said.

“The government won’t be able to attract foreign and domestic investors until it provided proper land facilities to them,” he said. l

Tax on fisheries may go up n Tribune Report The government is likely to hike income tax on fisheries business to prevent the politicians and other businessmen from whitening their black or undisclosed money, abusing existing lower tax benefits.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has reportedly taken up an initiative to fix 5% income tax on fishery sector form existing 3% as it found many people have been investing their undisclosed money in this sector just to evade taxes, while many of them even don’t have any such business, said an NBR official.

“Many people are showing huge incomes from their fisheries business in their income tax return files whereas most of them do not have any such business,’’ he added.

As of existing tax structure, around 25% tax is set for the other businesses while only 3% taxes is imposed on the fisheries business.

“As the NBR inspector cannot inspect the rural areas due to lack of manpower, a section of people have been investing small amount of money in fisheries to show huge income

as a means to evade tax or to whitening their undisclosed or black money,” the official added.

“The NBR is bound to accept those figures they come up along with their return files due to lack of field inspection and thus a good amount of tax is evaded,” he said.

The NBR is expected to stop all the loopholes in the tax collection from the coming budget.

The government in FY2011-12 had imposed 5% taxes on fish farming, which was later reduced to 3% in the budget for FY2013-14 to enhance the revenue by promoting this sector.

The reduction was made for the next two years as tax incentives to en-

courage people to invest in this sector with good potentials.

The issue of evading taxes through fisheries came into light when the NBR finds many politicians showing their main source of income as fisheries in their affidavit placed before the Election Commission for vying at the January 5 poll.

Awami League leaders Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, Nur-e-Alam Chowdhury, Elias Uddin Mollah, Mannan Khan and Hanif, ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury, Didarul Alam, and Talukder Abdul Khaleque has made a huge amount of wealth from their fish farming, they have claimed in their respective affidavits. l

Banglalink sees revenue up in first quarter n Muhammad Zahidul Islam

Mobile phone operator Banglalink posted a revenue growth of 7.5% year-on-year, according a first quarter report.

Per user revenue and usage also marked rise in the January-March period this year, said the report published by the operator’s parent company Vimplecom.

The growth was the outcome of

rise in customers base, launch of 3G services and restoration political stability, the company mentioned.

After having passed a unrest-hit year of 2013, the increase in revenue is considered a respite for the operator, a senior executive told the Dhaka Tribune. Banglalink suffered 11% revenue drop in 2013 over the previous year due to political unrest which crippled the country for weeks.

The mobile operator’s total rev-

enue totalled Tk1,000 crore after three months of 2014, which was Tk930 crore one year ago.

Banglalink is the second largest mobile phone operator in Bangladesh in terms of the number of subscribers.

The report showed the number of subscribers of the operator also grew 13% year-on-year to 2.94 crore.

It added the number was driven by the launch of 3G services, reactivation of offers and handset offer on recharge.

“Mobile customers growth is supported by strong additions in Bangladesh,” Jo Lunder, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Vimpelcom, said while commenting on the report.

According to the report, the Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) of Banglalink declined 2% year-on-year to TK117 due to the impact of political turmoil in January, more competitive pricing and a change in the mix of onnet and off-net traffic. l

B2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Stock DSE GAINERS

Stocks continue to end flat ahead of budget

DSE key features May 26, 2014

Traded Issues

295

n Tribune Report

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

97

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

188

58,390,675 59,158

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

10

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,244.12

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

27.20

CSE key features May 26, 2014 Turnover (Million Taka)

173.33

Turnover (Volume)

Daily capital market highlights DSE Broad Index :

2,360.81

Number of Contract

third session, it said.

However, after hitting 7-month lowest in last session, the pace of trading activity picked up a bit.

Amid which, scrip specific centralisation was notable, the IDLC said.

Lanka Bangla Securuties said market moved up marginally, supported by buying interest in large cap. DSEX elevated a bit to its morning high of 4,393 along with the movement in large cap, it said.

Though trading activities moved up slightly, volume remained at an anemic level. A confirmed up or down move in index for near future is yet to be observed, so investors are mostly remained neutral and conservative, said Lanka Bangla.

Zenith Investments said traders are looking forward for some positive signs, as the market lingers in such a position that it is difficult to predict for how long the market decides to remain drab.

Out of 294 issues traded, 127 declined, 108 advanced and 59 closed unchanged on the DSE floor.

Among the major sectors, telecommunications gained the most with a rise of over 2%. Pharmaceuticals and banks closed flat.

Non-banking financial institutions, food and allied and fuel and power declined marginally. l

Stocks closed flat for the second consecutive session with volatility yesterday, as investors were cautious ahead of national budget to be placed in the parliament on June 5.

The market was in positive territory till mid-session and modest buying pressure mainly on telecommunications helped it close marginally higher.

The benchmark index DSEX witnessed fractional gains of 0.09 points to close at 4,378.

The comprising blue chips DS30 rose 2 points or 0.2% to 1,589. The Shariah index DSES gained 4 points or 0.5% to close at 978.

Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index, CSCX, dropped 21 points to close at 8,417.

Total DSE turnover stood at Tk236 crore, which was over 29% higher over the previous session’s 7-month low.

“Remaining largely unchanged, investors’ sentiment turned more cautious, this session,” said IDLC Investments in its market analysis.

Since perfect confirmation of trend reversal lagged, skepticism prolonged further. The overall situation kept bourse in flat region and DSEX beneath 4,400 points for

Company

Turnover (Million Taka) Turnover (Volume)

5,167,761

Number of Contract

7,885

4378.34167

(+) 0.002%

▲

Traded Issues

211

977.87136

(+) 0.44%

▲

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

72

1589.40822

(+) 0.13%

▲

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

134

CSE All Share Index:

13523.13150

(-) 0.25%

▼

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

4

CSE - 30 Index :

11103.92930

(-) 0.17%

▼

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,158.78

8417.43080

(-) 0.25%

▼

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

26.17

DSE Shariah Index : DSE - 30 Index :

CSE Selected Index : DSE LOSERS

Rupali Life Insur.-A BSC-A Progressive Life-A Kay & Que (BD) -Z 5th ICB M F-A BD. Thai Alum -B JMI Syringes MDL-A Kohinoor Chem -A

-9.68 -5.99 -5.82 -5.30 -5.01 -4.89 -4.59 -4.38

Average (% change) -8.46 -5.23 -5.76 -4.69 -5.21 -6.16 -4.45 -3.98

Monno Stafllers -A Midas Financing-Z

-4.23 -4.21

-3.14 -4.26

Company

Closing (% change)

CSE LOSERS

Islami Ins.BD-A Rupali Life Insur.-A BD. Thai Alum -B Marico BD Ltd-A BGIC -A BSC-A Reliance1 M.F.-A JMI Syringes MDL-A

-12.94 -9.78 -7.08 -6.21 -5.98 -5.76 -5.26 -5.19

Average (% change) -22.26 -9.76 -6.33 -6.21 -8.33 -4.63 -5.26 -3.54

Prime Islami Life -A NLI 1st M F-A

-4.42 -4.21

-4.21 -3.67

Company

Closing (% change)

ANALYST

Closing average

Closing

Bank NBFI Investment Engineering Food & Allied Fuel & Power Jute Textile Pharma & Chemical Paper & Packaging Service Leather Ceramic Cement Information Technology General Insurance Life Insurance Telecom Travel & Leisure Miscellaneous Debenture

DSE Million Taka 249.32 56.67 41.15 249.86 140.28 145.59 0.74 464.29 395.61 0.10 36.40 39.03 5.45 191.40 13.76 34.36 97.36 109.74 17.90 71.67 0.15

Turnover in million

Daily low

Latest EPS

Latest PE

82.22 508.68 113.28 12.61 180.10 21.32 162.20 349.00

81.20 502.00 113.20 12.50 180.10 21.40 160.20 349.00

95.00 527.00 116.80 12.90 180.10 22.20 169.80 349.00

81.00 500.00 113.00 12.50 180.10 19.40 159.80 349.00

42.672 46.023 2.209 0.273 0.036 2.302 14.517 0.349

5.33 23.48 2.30 -0.92 18.67 0.84 2.08 9.37

15.4 21.7 49.3 -ve 9.6 25.4 78.0 37.2

301.96 18.19

299.00 18.20

310.50 19.00

298.00 18.00

0.770 0.282

1.12 -6.91

269.6 -ve

Turnover in million

Latest EPS

Closing

22.56 83.92 21.16 1,088.00 22.00 511.01 9.00 161.73

24.90 83.90 21.00 1,088.00 22.00 503.50 9.00 159.00

24.90 87.00 21.60 1,088.00 22.00 528.00 9.00 165.00

24.90 83.70 21.00 1,088.00 22.00 502.00 9.00 159.00

0.003 3.105 0.127 0.054 0.011 5.355 0.288 0.243

1.92 5.33 0.84 43.99 1.36 23.48 1.86 2.08

11.8 15.7 25.2 24.7 16.2 21.8 4.8 77.8

97.22 9.18

97.20 9.10

97.30 9.20

97.20 9.00

0.049 0.106

4.95 1.36

19.6 6.8

Daily high

Daily low

Rahima Food -Z Salvo Chemicals-B ACI Limited- A CMC Kamal Tex. -A Rupali Bank - A Libra Infusions-A Stylecraft -A Bangas -A Grameenphone-A Square Pharma -A

Remaining largely unchanged, investors’ sentiment turned more cautious, this session

% change 10.56 2.40 1.74 10.58 5.94 6.17 0.03 19.67 16.76 0.00 1.54 1.65 0.23 8.11 0.58 1.46 4.12 4.65 0.76 3.04 0.01

Million Taka 23.89 5.07 1.42 25.12 6.41 11.59 36.90 24.67 5.46 1.27 8.57 0.82 9.08 0.92 0.95 5.19 8.49 3.93 9.76 0.03

% change 12.61 2.67 0.75 13.26 3.38 6.12 0.00 19.47 13.02 2.88 0.67 4.52 0.43 4.79 0.48 0.50 2.74 4.48 2.07 5.15 0.01

Million Taka 273.21 61.73 42.57 274.98 146.69 157.18 0.74 501.19 420.28 5.56 37.67 47.60 6.27 200.48 14.67 35.31 102.55 118.23 21.83 81.42 0.18

Total

8.68 5.33 4.46 4.29 4.03 3.51 3.14 2.84 2.60 2.46

CSE GAINERS Company Rahima Food -Z ICB -A Salvo Chemicals-B Bangas -A Asia Pasific Insu. -A ACI Limited- A Central Insur -A Delta Brac HFCL-A Dutch Ban. Bnk- A Sun Life Insurance-N

Closing (% change) 9.94 5.72 4.46 4.19 4.07 3.80 3.70 3.65 3.60 3.02

Average (% change) 5.52 4.77 2.43 2.81 1.78 3.59 3.14 2.84 2.41 1.91 Average (% change) 6.12 5.72 4.92 3.84 4.07 1.76 3.81 3.58 3.66 2.38

Closing average 56.56 23.52 209.40 23.76 61.23 442.00 985.00 497.90 261.71 263.82

Closing average 56.54 1829.00 23.46 498.46 23.00 208.61 28.04 62.50 86.30 58.00

Closing 57.60 23.70 213.10 24.30 61.90 442.10 985.00 500.20 264.10 266.20

Closing 57.50 1829.00 23.40 500.10 23.00 212.80 28.00 62.50 86.30 58.00

Daily high 58.00 24.10 214.00 24.70 62.50 454.50 985.00 504.70 264.90 267.00

Daily high 57.50 1829.00 24.00 504.00 23.00 214.00 28.80 62.50 86.30 58.00

Daily low 53.20 21.00 195.00 21.00 57.00 429.00 985.00 470.00 256.00 250.00

Daily low 54.00 1829.00 22.80 494.00 23.00 202.50 28.00 62.50 86.30 58.00

Turnover in million 8.824 52.380 44.608 101.897 1.234 0.884 0.197 18.989 88.583 126.220

Turnover in million 0.650 0.274 4.002 1.221 0.012 1.335 0.118 0.031 0.043 0.029

Latest EPS -1.01 1.16 5.28 1.32 3.96 4.20 47.83 5.87 15.28 11.36

Latest EPS -1.01 53.53 1.16 5.87 2.48 5.28 3.64 5.05 6.72 0.00

Latest PE -ve 20.3 39.7 18.0 15.5 105.2 20.6 84.8 17.1 23.2

Latest PE -ve 34.2 20.2 84.9 9.3 39.5 7.7 12.4 12.8 -

News from trade server BSC: (Qualified Opinion): The auditor of the company has given the following Qualified Opinion in the audit report of the company for the year ended on 30 June 2013: "Qualified Opinion" 1. Deferred taxes on temporary difference on PPE and gratuity provision have been considered for deferred tax calculation. However, these items were neither recognised in profit and loss as per para 58 and nor recognised outside profit or loss 61A of IAS 12 Income taxes and we are not in a position to calculate the amount to be charged in profit or loss and outside profit or loss i.e. directly in equity. 2. As disclosed in note # 15 to the financial statements, BSC operates a defined benefit plan for gratuity scheme and makes provision as per the corporation's policy. But no actuarial valuation as per BAS 19 has been done, and hence it is not possible to confirm whether the yearned provision agrees with, or approximates to, the provision that would have been required by actuarial valuation. 3. An amount of Tk. 24,445,441 receivable from 70 parties have been carried forward since the year 2007 under the head Sundry

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Familytex (BD) Ltd.-A Square Pharma -A LafargeS Cement-Z CMC Kamal Tex. -A Grameenphone-A BSRM Steels-A Mercantile Bank -A

CSE

Closing (% change)

Debtors C/A Tk. 759,197,256. It is very unlikely that these amounts will be recovered but no provision has been made against such doubtful debts as per BAS 8. 4. Loan of Sonali Bank A/C Banglar Shikha Tk. 39,827,709 has been carried forward from 2010-2011. We have sent balance confirmation letter to confirm the balance and duly received. As per confirmation letter of Sonali Bank Limited dated 01-12-2013 the balance stands at Tk. 665,332,431.23 which needs reconciliation for incorporation in the accounts. 5. Bangladesh Government loan Tk. 103,200,000 the balance has remained unpaid since 2002 and no interest also been charged upon the said loan. 6. Interest on term loan of Agrani Bank Limited is Tk. 23,973,202 has been shown in the books of Bangladesh Shipping Corporation which has been carried forward from 2008-2009. We have sent balance confirmation letter to confirm the balance and duly received. But as per balance confirmation letter, bankers claim in favour of the loan against Bangladesh Shipping Corporation is Tk. 378,841,233 as on 30/06/2013.

PHENIXINS: Shamima Rahman, one of the Sponsors of the Company, has further reported that she has completed her sale of 1,25,000 shares of the Company at prevailing market price through Stock Exchange as announced earlier.

POPULARLIF: The Company has informed that it is going to be the sponsor of UFS-Popular Life Unit fund. Size of the fund is 80 crore and Sponsor portion is 20 crore subject to the same being duly approved by the regulatory authority.

IPO Subscription: Tung Hai Knitting & Dyeing Limited subscription date 18-22 May 2014, NRB upto 31 May 2014. @ taka 10, face value taka 10 and market lot 500. Far East Knitting & Dyeing Industries Limited subscription date 15-19 June 2014, NRB upto 28 June 2014. @ taka 22, face value taka 10 and market lot 200. Shurwid Industries Limited subscription date 08-12 June 2014, NRB upto 21 June 2014. @ taka 10, face value taka 10 and market lot 500. Saif Powertec Limited subscription date 06-10 July 2014, NRB upto 19 July 2014. @ taka 10, face value taka 30 and market lot 200.

Latest PE

Closing average

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY Sector

Daily high

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

% change 10.71 2.42 1.67 10.78 5.75 6.16 0.03 19.65 16.48 0.22 1.48 1.87 0.25 7.86 0.58 1.38 4.02 4.64 0.86 3.19 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

Salvo Chemicals-B Appollo Ispat CL -N BSC-A

HeidelbergCement -A ACI Limited- A Meghna Petroleum -A Rupali Life Insur.-A Matin Spinning-N CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Familytex (BD) Ltd.-A

Appollo Ispat CL -N BSRM Steels-A Square Pharma -A Hwa Well Textiles-N Grameenphone-A BSC-A Mercantile Bank -A Salvo Chemicals-B Orion Pharma-N BEXIMCO Ltd. -A Rupali Life Insur.-A Matin Spinning-N UNITED AIR-A LafargeS Cement-Z

Volume shares 4,613,000 478,439 1,742,000 4,288,273 338,475 907,262 3,007,637 2,227,393 1,810,200 90,475

87,330 213,023 154,415 519,018 817,000

Volume shares

378,500 314,800 102,384 28,841 177,000 21,800 10,480 291,348 170,630 74,380 142,666 37,000 68,600 260,240 43,000

Value in million 130.33 126.22 119.80 101.90 88.58 67.81 53.77 52.38 50.27 46.02

45.37 44.61 43.10 42.67 36.33

Value in million

10.77 8.73 7.67 7.61 7.53 5.71 5.36 5.19 4.00 3.73 3.28 3.10 3.06 2.99 2.95

% of total turnover 5.52 5.35 5.07 4.32 3.75 2.87 2.28 2.22 2.13 1.95

1.92 1.89 1.83 1.81 1.54

% of total turnover

6.31 5.12 4.49 4.46 4.41 3.35 3.14 3.04 2.35 2.19 1.92 1.82 1.79 1.75 1.73

Daily closing 27.70 266.20 68.80 24.30 264.10 73.90 17.90 23.70 27.50 502.00

517.60 213.10 278.40 81.20 44.50

Daily closing

27.90 27.60 74.10 266.60 42.10 263.70 503.50 17.90 23.40 50.30 22.90 83.90 44.30 11.50 68.70

Price change 2.21 2.46 -0.43 4.29 2.60 -0.67 1.70 5.33 1.10 -5.99

Daily opening 27.10 259.80 69.10 23.30 257.40 74.40 17.60 22.50 27.20 534.00

Price change

Daily opening

0.78 4.46 -0.50 -9.68 -0.45

2.57 1.47 -0.40 2.03 -0.94 2.61 -5.76 2.29 4.46 -0.79 -2.14 -9.78 -0.67 -0.86 -0.43

513.60 204.00 279.80 89.90 44.70

27.20 27.20 74.40 261.30 42.50 257.00 534.30 17.50 22.40 50.70 23.40 93.00 44.60 11.60 69.00

Daily high 28.90 267.00 69.50 24.70 264.90 76.40 18.00 24.10 28.10 527.00

523.30 214.00 281.00 95.00 45.10 Daily high

29.10 28.10 76.90 267.40 43.20 264.70 528.00 18.00 24.00 50.80 23.70 87.00 45.10 11.60 69.20

Daily low 27.60 250.00 68.30 21.00 256.00 70.00 16.00 21.00 27.20 500.00

Daily average 28.25 263.82 68.77 23.76 261.71 74.74 17.88 23.52 27.77 508.68

Daily low

Daily average

500.00 195.00 256.00 81.00 43.90

27.70 27.20 73.60 260.00 42.00 257.00 502.00 17.50 22.80 49.80 22.80 83.70 43.70 10.50 68.20

519.49 209.40 279.09 82.22 44.46

28.46 27.74 74.91 263.72 42.53 261.90 511.01 17.81 23.46 50.21 22.99 83.92 44.57 11.48 68.66

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

B3

US businesses urge tough line over China antitrust policy

News Corp to publish newspapers for ‘decades and decades’

n Reuters, Beijing

n AFP, Sydney

US companies are crying foul over China’s oversight of monopoly and pricing issues, as antitrust enforcement threatens to further sour Sino-American business ties already damaged by a row over cyber espionage.

The US Chamber of Commerce, in a private letter sent last month to Secretary of State John Kerry and Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew, urged Washington to get tough with Beijing on its use of anti-competition rules, noting that “concerns among US companies are intensifying.”

Beijing’s increasing use of its 6-yearold anti-monopoly law (AML) and price competition rules to weigh-in on global mergers and take action against foreign companies is set to further stoke tensions after Washington this week indicted five Chinese military officers with hacking US companies to steal trade secrets.

The Chamber urged U.S. officials to use annual bilateral talks scheduled for July to “secure commitments from China” to address the issue, noting that efforts to compel China had been “insufficient.”

“There is significant risk to the US economy that US companies will increasingly be coerced into abandoning deals that would be good for markets and consumers because AML enforcement in China has no principled basis in competition law or economics and is informed by China’s industrial policy goals,” said the US Chamber letter, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters.

The US State Department and US Treasury Department declined to comment. The US Chamber of Commerce confirmed the letter.

The head of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp yesterday said the group will be publishing newspapers for “decades” and hit out at the “morbid mindset” of those who say print is dead.

Chief executive Robert Thomson, who oversees more than 100 newspapers including The Wall Street Journal and The Times of London, rejected fears the medium was finished as the industry battles a slump in advertising and circulation revenues.

“It’s a sign of a morbid mindset that afflicts not just in this country but, internationally, some media groups,” Thomson told The Australian broadsheet, a News Corp. newspaper. “Fatalism can be fatal.

I think people have failed to articulate enough the power of print as a platform.”

He added that News Corp’s newspapers would be in print for “decades and decades and decades ... print will continue to evolve in the same way that digital is evolving”.

His comments came just days after he extolled the value of newspapers in a media and advertising event in Sydney, saying they played an important role in his company’s multimedia future and that

'Promoting industrial policies'

In another sign of the deterioration in Sino-US ties, the official State Internet Information Office said on Thursday that China will investigate providers of important IT products and services to protect “national security” and “economic and social development”, the Xinhua news agency said. Products that don’t meet security requirements will be banned.

China has also prohibited central government offices from using Micro-

A combination photo shows the logo of Glencore (L) in front of the company's headquarters in the Swiss town of Baar and the logo of Swiss mining company Xstrata (R) at their headquarters in Zug REUTERS soft Corp’s latest Windows 8 operating system over concerns the software exposes computers to the risk of being controlled remotely, the Communist Party’s People’s Daily newspaper said on Thursday.

“It has become increasingly clear that the Chinese government has seized on using the AML to promote Chinese producer welfare and to advance industrial policies that nurture domestic enterprises, rather than the internationally accepted norm of using competition law to protect consumer welfare and competition,” the US Chamber’s letter said.

Last year, China imposed conditions on Glencore’s $29bn takeover of AngloSwiss miner Xstrata, citing concerns the merged company would have too much power over the copper market. A group led by China Minmetals Corp last month bought Glencore’s Las Bambas copper mine in Peru for $5.85bn.

Highly political game

Up to last year, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) reviewed 740 merger proposals, blocking one - Coca-

Cola’s bid to buy top juice maker Huiyuan - and imposing conditions on 22 others, Shang Ming, MOFCOM’s antimonopoly bureau director-general, told reporters in February.

“Antitrust can be a highly political game especially in sectors seen as of strategic significance,” said Mark Williams, a law professor and antitrust expert at University of Melbourne. “Beijing has come late to the game. Other countries have had various forms of ‘national interest’ protection for years.”

Separately, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the Chinese government’s main planning body, has used the anti-monopoly law to target technology companies for practices that could lead to what it calls “unreasonably” high prices.

Xu Kunlin, director general of NDRC’s price supervision and anti-monopoly bureau, told Reuters the AML was instituted “to protect market order and fair competition”, along with consumer welfare. “The NDRC gives equal treatment to all market participants,” Xu said. “Those who have been penalized include state-owned enterprises,

private companies, and foreign-owned enterprises, and industry associations.”

On Thursday, the NDRC suspended its investigation of InterDigital Inc after the U.S. wireless technology patent developer pledged to change its pricing structure. The Delaware-based firm agreed to change its licensing terms for Chinese manufacturers, in a move that may save Chinese companies as much as 500m yuan ($80.2m).

Qualcomm Inc, the world’s biggest cellphone chip maker, is facing penalties that may exceed $1bn in another Chinese antitrust probe.The NDRC, which raided Qualcomm’s Beijing and Shanghai offices last year, said in February it suspected the San Diego-based firm of overcharging and abusing its market position.

On Friday, MOFCOM’s Shang launched a spirited defence of his organization’s activities. “For a merger involving several jurisdictions, or multiple jurisdictions, everybody doesn’t see the problem the same way,” he told an antitrust conference in Beijing.

“You can’t say that if there’s not a problem in another jurisdiction, then there won’t be a problem in China.” l

advertisers were still attracted to print.

Thomson added on Monday that his support for print did not indicate a lack of understanding of digital media.

“It’s because we get digital that we fully appreciate the power of print,” he said.

“Sometimes it’s as if the executive doesn’t stick up for print because he’s almost personally embarrassed. It’s not about the image of the executive, it’s about the fundamentals of the sector.

“You need to have the platform permutations that suit the reader and advertisers.”

News Corp., which was founded in Australia, was broken up into two firms last year as the company sought to insulate its profitable entertainment assets from newspapers.

One firm retained the News Corp. name and focuses on news and publishing while the other company, 21st Century Fox, manages its television and film assets. Murdoch remains in control of both.

News Corp. reported a strongerthan-expected quarterly profit of US$48m earlier this year despite a fall in newspaper revenues. Its shares in New York have strengthened since the split to add about US$2.0 billion to its market capitalisation. l

Oil prices down in Asian trade n AFP, Singapore Oil prices edged lower in subdued Asian trade yesterday but retained support from concerns about a crisis in Libya as well as an upbeat demand outlook in the United States, analysts said.

The US benchmark, West Texas Intermediate for delivery in July, fell 32 cents to $104.03 per barrel in afternoon trade. Brent North Sea crude for July delivery dropped 64 cents to $109.90.

Singapore’s United Overseas Bank said “trading action may be limited” with financial markets in the United States and Britain closed for public holidays.

“European geopolitical concerns and signs of improving US crude demand” provided a lift to prices, it said in a note to investors.

Traders are closely watching the situation in Ukraine, where chocolate baron Petro Poroshenko on Sunday

claimed a resounding victory in the country’s key presidential election The polls were triggered after proRussian leader Viktor Yanukovych was ousted in February. Poroshenko immediately vowed to end a bloody uprising against Kiev that thwarted voting across swathes of the separatist east.

Washington and its European allies supporting Ukraine’s Western-friendly government have accused Russia of fomenting unrest in the country, allegations Moscow denies.

A full-blown armed conflict in the ex-Soviet state - a major conduit for Russia’s gas exports to Europe - could disrupt supplies and send energy prices rocketing, analysts say.

Prices have been propped up by fears of a supply disruption in OPEC member Libya, where escalating lawlessness has been aggravated by power struggles between politicians and militias. l

Rupee sees biggest singleday fall in a month

Euro down in Asia on weak German business confidence

n Reuters

The euro extended its losses against the dollar in Asia yesterday after hitting a three-month low last week in response to a soft reading in a German business confidence index.

In afternoon Tokyo trading, the euro fetched $1.3618 and 138.80 yen, down from $1.3632 and 138.91 in New York on Friday.

The dollar was flat at 101.93 yen from 101.92 in New York Friday but well up from the 101.72 yen seen also on Friday in Tokyo.

Germany’s Ifo business climate index for May dropped to 110.4 from 111.2,

The rupee saw its biggest decline in a month yesterday as investors covered short dollar positions ahead of the swearing in ceremony of Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi, with all eyes set on the allocation of key portfolios.

Investors are particularly keen on knowing who the country's new finance minister is - likely to be exCommerce Minister Arun Jaitley, who is seen as the only obvious candidate for that role, according to two sources

in the ruling party.

The BSE Sensex and Nifty ended flat in a volatile session, giving up earlier gains of nearly 2% due to profit-taking in blue-chips such as IDFC while caution ahead of Modi's ministerial appointments also weighed.

"We could see the pair target a high of 59.27-30 levels this week. We have the GDP data this week, but that is likely to be ignored. Market will be watching Modi and his team for cues," said Hari Chandramgethen, head of foreign exchange trading at South Indian Bank. l

n AFP, Tokyo

data showed Friday, after a gain the previous month, underscoring ongoing concerns about the European economy.

Markets are growing increasingly convinced that the European Central Bank will take steps to loosen monetary conditions at its June meeting, in turn putting downward pressure on the euro.

ECB chief Mario Draghi is scheduled to speak at a conference later in the day.

“Markets will be looking for more clues as to what may be on offer following next Thursday’s ECB council meeting,” National Australia Bank said.

A strong showing by nationalist and anti-European Union parties in EU

parliamentary elections may also be weighing on the euro, it added.

“The reality is that these results - in France especially - won’t mean a whole lot in practice but optically it’s an obvious pretext for some pressure on the euro and the pound,” NAB said.

It also said the dollar held firm against the yen after Bank of Japan governor Haruhiko Kuroda told the Wall Street Journal that the Japanese currency was “still quite strong”, and added that Tokyo needs to do more in its fight to boost growth and raise inflation. in other trading, the Thai baht rose to 32.59 from 32.53 on Friday after

Thailand’s king formally appointed the army chief as head of the nation’s new military junta following a coup in the crisis-hit nation.

The dollar rose to Sg$1.2537 from Sg$1.2522, and to 1,023.85 from 1,023.79 South Korean won, and to 43.69 Philippine pesos from 43.61 pesos.

The greenback also strengthened to 11,615.00 Indonesian rupiah from 11,555.80 rupiah but weakened to $30.09 from Tw$30.12 and to 58.46 Indian rupees from 58.48 rupees.

The Australian dollar slipped to 92.36 US cents from 92.41 cents while the Chinese yuan bought 16.34 yen against 16.28 yen. l

Modhumoti Bank Limited recently held a board meeting at its head office. The board’s chair Humayun Kabir along with the other directors were present at the meeting

The Bangladesh German Chamber of Commerce and Industries (BGCCI) yesterday held a farewell lunch for the German Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr Albrecht Conze who has been asked by the German Government to take up a new position at very short notice.

The President of BGCCI Shakhawat Abu Khair and its executive director Daniel Seidl were present at the lunch among many others

Green Delta Insurance Company Limited yesterday launched a training institute named ‘Professional Advancement Bangladesh Limited (PABL)’ in association with Chartered Insurance Association (CII), UK. Chair of Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority (IDRA), M Shefaque Ahmed was the chief guest while Sheikh Kabir Hossain, President of Bangladesh Insurance Association (BIA) was the special guest at the event

Bangladesh Commerce Bank Training Institute recently organised a training course on SME financing and strategy. The bank’s CEO and MD, Abu Sadek Md Sohel inaugurated the course as chief guest

Rancon Motors Limited, the authorised general distributor of Daimler AG in Bangladesh launched a weeklong free service campaign of the vehicles under the guidance of a MercedesBenz foreign expert at its Service Centre in Tejgaon, Dhaka yesterday. Nasser Shahrear Zahedee, chair of Radiant Pharmaceuticals Limited inaugurated the service campaign

Union Bank Ltd has inaugurated its branch at Badarkhali at Rashid Shopping Complex in Cox’s Bazar yesterday. The bank’s senior executive vice president SAM.Salimullah inaugurated the branch

First Security Islami Bank Limited’s Regional Training Institute, Chittagong recently organised a workshop on foreign exchange for the bank’s fifty officers working in various branches of its Chittagong division. Mohammad Masum Kamal Bhuiyan, executive director of Bangladesh Bank, Chittagong inaugurated the workshop

B4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

IMF calls for closer cooperation among central banks n Reuters, Sintra Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, called on Sunday for closer cooperation among the world's central banks to cope with the challenges of increasingly interlinked and complex financial systems.

Speaking at a dinner in Sintra, Portugal, to kick off the first annual ECB Forum conference, Lagarde said the potential gains from cooperation could be huge in times of distress as seen during the financial crisis.

"If policies are viewed only from a national perspective, we may end up in a world of ad hoc intervention, less rebalancing, and the potential to export financial instability," she said in the text of her speech.

"This would be a world of possibly large welfare losses in many countries, with not just spillover effects — from advanced to emerging market economies, but also 'spillbacks' — feedback effects from emerging market to large advanced economies."

The financial crisis has shown that coordinated international action helped prevent disruption spreading to

German consumer confidence steady n AFP, Frankfurt

economies around the globe, she said.

And these upsides should not be forgotten as the crisis subsides.

"We need a concerted effort to examine the effectiveness of cooperative

‘If policies are viewed only from a national perspective, we may end up in a world of ad hoc intervention, less rebalancing’ policy responses, their spillover effects, and their global welfare implications — also in light of the evolution of the financial system," Lagarde said.

She also said advanced economies could help reduce volatility by communicating clearly the course of their monetary policy.

Discussing the link between financial stability and inflation, Lagarde said the current environment in the euro zone was a sobering reminder of how balance sheet weakness could constrain the ability of banks to support credit and investment, ultimately contributing to low inflation. l

International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde addresses the Bretton Woods Committee annual meeting at World Bank headquarters in Washington REUTERS

Consumer confidence in Germany remains steady following recent gains, a new poll found yesterday.

"Consumer sentiment remains in good shape this month. But, as in previous months, no clear trend is discernible," market research company GfK said in a statement.

"The good piece of news this month is that consumers' economic expectations are gaining momentum, despite the crisis in Ukraine. That is helping make them more willing to spend, albeit only modestly," the statement said.

"By contrast, income expectations could not match the post-war high reached the previous month and gave up most of its gains from April."

Looking ahead to next month, GfK's headline household confidence index was forecast to stand at 8.5 points in June, unchanged from May. This reading is based on responses from about 2,000 households regarding their expectations about pay and the economy as a whole in the coming months, as well as their willingness to spend money.

Sentiment in Europe's top economy is currently positive, but appears to be stalling amid uncertainty about possible fallout from the crisis in Ukraine.

Last week, the Ifo business climate survey fell more than expected. l

BOJ's Iwata signals chance of tapering if economy overheats n Reuters, Tokyo

Bank of Japan Deputy Governor Kikuo Iwata signalled yesterday the possibility of withdrawing the central bank's massive monetary stimulus if the economy overheats and nudges up inflation well above its 2% price target.

Iwata voiced confidence that Japan was making steady progress in meeting the central bank's inflation goal with prices rising not just because of a weak yen, which inflates import costs, but

strength in domestic demand.

He also said heightening inflation expectations in Japan would help prevent excessive rises in the yen, which had weighed on the exportreliant economy during 15 years of deflation.

While he stressed the BOJ's resolve to maintain ultra-loose monetary conditions for as long as needed to beat deflation, Iwata said the central bank's current stimulus programme also aims to prevent excessive inflation.

"The BOJ's current policy intends to prevent not just deflation but inflation from well exceeding 2%, such as to 4% or 5%, for a medium- to long-term period," Iwata told a seminar.

"If the economy overheats and inflation exceeds 2% on a permanent basis, we will adjust policy," he said. "On the other hand, if our price goal is distant and prices don't seem to be approaching the target, we will adjust policy the other way" by expanding stimulus, he added.

Sony to sell PlayStation in newly opened China market n AFP, Shanghai Sony will bring its PlayStation consoles to China through two joint ventures, the Japanese gaming giant and its Chinese partner both said Monday, as they seek to tap a newly opened market.

China in January formally authorised the domestic sale of game consoles made in its first free trade zone (FTZ) in Shanghai, opening up a market with an estimated 500 million players to foreign companies including Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo.

The Japanese firm’s newest games console - PlayStation 4 - has seen record demand since its launch in late 2013 with sales topping seven million units globally last month.

The opening of the huge Chinese market could be a major boost for Sony’s videogame business, its chief executive said Monday, as the firm looks to cast off years of losses.

“The Chinese market, just given the size of it, is obviously potentially a very large market for videogame products,” Kazuo Hirai told reporters at Sony’s headquarters in Tokyo.

“I think that we will be able to rep-

licate the kind of success we have had with PS4 in other parts of the world in (China).”

Generating localised games would be key to success in the vast market, he added.

“Initially, we will start with nonChinese games, that’s fine because that’s all we have,” Hirai said.

“But (longer term) it’s about getting involved in the local content creation market, which I think is very important for real success in the Chinese market.”

Earlier Monday, Shanghai-listed tourism and culture firm Oriental Pearl said it would set up two joint ventures with Sony in the FTZ, one for hardware and one to handle software and services, according to a statement filed to the stock exchange.

Sony will take a 49% stake in one venture and a majority 70% in the other, the statement said, to make and market PlayStation consoles and related software in China.

Despite the news, Oriental Pearl stock closed down 0.54% yesterday.

Sony shares ended up 3.12% in Tokyo trading. The ventures will help introduce “quality and healthy” gaming

products to Chinese players, the Oriental Pearl statement said, one of the requirements of authorities for selling in China.

Some foreign industry officials fear that such regulatory approval - conceivably to censor game content which China deems too violent, obscene or politically sensitive - could be used as a potential trade barrier.

Competitor Microsoft said in late April that it will start offering its Xbox One game console in China from September through a joint venture in the FTZ. The relaxation of the decade-long sales ban does not apply to console imports, though the devices are already widely available through unofficial sales channels after being smuggled into China.

China’s game revenue jumped 38% year-on-year to 83.2bn yuan in 2013, according to one industry estimate, although the market was dominated by online computer games.

Analysts say Chinese consumers are unlikely to want to pay high prices for foreign consoles and authorised software, especially if it is slow coming to the market. l

Report: Pork DNA found in two chocolate products of Cadbury Malaysia n Reuters Chocolate maker Cadbury Malaysia, a part of Mondelez International Inc yesterday recalled two chocolate products after they tested positive for traces of pork DNA, the Nikkei Asian Review website reported.

The traces were found during a periodic check for non-halal ingredients in food products by the Ministry of Health, which on Saturday said two of three samples of the company’s products contained pork traces, the website said.

The two products, Cadbury Dairy Milk Hazelnut and Cadbury Dairy Milk Roast Almond, were readily available in stores throughout the country, Nikkei said.

Cadbury Malaysia, like most food makers in the country where Muslims make up more than 60 percent of the population, has all of its products certified halal to conform with Islam’s dietary restrictions, one of which is a

prohibition on pork.

The company said it was undertaking a full review of its supply chain to ensure halal standards, according to the report, and the Malaysian govern-

ment said it will conduct inspection of all Cadbury Malaysia’s products.

Cadbury Malaysia was not immediately available to comment on the Nikkei report. l

Since deploying its "quantitative and qualitative easing" (QQE) programme in April last year, the BOJ has remained silent on when it could consider withdrawing the stimulus for fear of diluting its message that it is determined to end nearly two decades of economic stagnation.

Iwata's comments, the first from a senior BOJ official directly mentioning the chance of withdrawing QQE, reflects the growing confidence within the central bank that Japan is winning

the battle against deflation.

The BOJ has repeatedly said the economy is recovering strongly enough for consumer inflation to hit its 2% target by around April next year, when its two-year time frame for meeting the goal expires.

While core consumer inflation has reached 1.3% in March, market players remain sceptical on whether price gains will accelerate from here as quickly as the BOJ predicts.

Still, the BOJ's optimistic view of the

economy and prices have led market players to scale back expectations of imminent monetary easing.

Iwata said that while the BOJ will support the economy by stimulating demand, it was the government's job to boost Japan's long-term growth potential by implementing structural reforms.

Economic growth will remain subdued even if the BOJ achieves its price target, unless the government proceeds with structural reforms, he warned. l

Draghi: ECB 'alert' to deflation risk n AFP, Sintra The European Central Bank remains "alert" to the dangers of eurozone inflation undershooting the central bank's medium-term targets, president Mario Draghi said on Monday amid widespres concern about deflation risks.

His comments come against a background of speculation over whether the central bank will take new steps to ease monetary conditions at its next meeting early in June.

"At present, our expectation is that low inflation will be prolonged but gradually return to close to 2%," Draghi told a central banking forum organised by the ECB in Sintra, Portugal.

"Our responsibility is nonetheless to be alert to the risks to this scenario that might emerge and prepared for action if they do," Draghi said.

"What we need to be particularly watchful for at the moment is, in my view, the potential for a negative spiral to take hold between between low inflation, falling inflation expectations and credit, in particular in stressed countries," he said.

Inflation in the 18 countries that share the euro is currently way below the ECB's 2% target, picking up only fractionally to 0.7% in April. According to the ECB's latest forecasts, area-wide inflation is projected to accelerate to 1.6% in 2016.

But the ECB's chief economist Peter Praet recently pointed out that since the beginning of the year inflation tended to come out lower than expected.

The persistently low level of inflation has raised the specture of deflation in the single currency area, a phenomenon where households and businesses put off expenditure in antipation of falling prices.

At its policy meeting in Brussels earlier this month, Draghi had said the ECB's governing council was "comfortable" with the idea of easing monetary conditions next month.

While council voted to hold its key interest rate steady at its current all-time low of 0.25% for the seventh month in a row this month, Draghi gave the strongest hint yet that further easing is on the cards. But a decision would depend on the central bank's latest inflation forecasts before taking concrete action.

One of the campaign arguments of anti-Eurpean Union or nationalist parties in the European parliament election on Sunday was that the ECB is too distant, too bureaucratic and too tight with its monetary policies. l

The headquarters of Italian defence and aerospace company Finmeccanica is seen in Rome REUTERS

India aims to recover 228m euros in Finmeccanica bank guarantees n Reuters, New Delhi India will move to recover bank guarantees from an aborted 560-millioneuro helicopter deal with Italy's Finmeccanica, the defense ministry said, after an Italian court lifted a freeze on 228m euros held with European banks.

New Delhi scrapped the deal with Finmeccanica's AgustaWestland unit in January, after graft allegations made against the company almost a year earlier. The delay highlights the slow headway the Congress party then in power was able to make on vital defense contracts.

Congress suffered its worst ever defeat in India's general election in April and May. Hindu nationalist Narendra Modi, leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is due to be sworn in as prime minister on Monday night.

The overall value of the guarantee scheme with Deutsche Bank SpA DBKGDE.UL, Deutsche Bank AG, Intesa Sanpaolo and the State Bank of India was around 300m euros, Reuters reported in January.

DILBERT

India said in February it had cashed in two small bank guarantees but an Italian judge later blocked its efforts to recover the remaining 278m euros.

On Friday, an Italian court revoked the freeze on 228m euros of that figure.

"The ministry is studying the order and will take immediate steps to recover the amounts fully," India's defense ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

Details will only emerge after the new defense minister takes office, a ministry spokesman told Reuters yesterday.

Finmeccanica has said it will seek to protect the guarantees through an arbitration process launched this year after the contract for a dozen high-end helicopters was cancelled.

Defense is one of four key portfolios, including finance, home affairs and foreign affairs, over which speculation is mounting ahead of the swearing-in of Modi's cabinet, set for Monday night.

Modi is an extremely private figure who has kept even senior party leaders in the dark about his choices. l