06 June 2014

Joishthya 23, 1421 Shaaban 7, 1435 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 2, No 67

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Massive plans, few directives Muhith unveils Tk250,506 crore budget with the target to achieve 7.3% economic growth n Tribune Report A new national budget of Tk250,506 crore for the fiscal year 2014-15 starting in July was placed in the parliament yesterday, aiming to accelerate the country’s economic growth at a pace it would gradually reach 10% in 2021.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith in his budget speech said this budget is a continuation of the government’s plan taken earlier in the previous 5-year term with the vision to transform Bangladesh into a middle income country.

“All the development initiatives in our previous term will continue during the present tenure as well,” he asserted unequivocally, starting the speech at 3:40 pm with Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair.

“Our main aim will be to continue the ongoing programmes and launch new ones to implement the vision,” said the minister.

He dwelt on political unrest and disruptions in the democracy that hindered not much the expected growth in the past several years with particular reference from July last year to January this year, but expressed the hope that the progress would continue to take place in future despite all odds.

The spirit prompted the optimistic minister to give his speech titled “Progress Uninterrupted: A Promising Future Beckons Bangladesh.”

The proposed spending, being considered as ambitious, is due to increased allocation for priority sectors the government had identified earlier to facilitate investment in the country, which faced a serious setback in the last few years.

‘All the development initiatives in our previous term will continue during the present tenure’ The much-talked-about Padma Bridge is among few of the projects the government had intended to develop in the transportation sector – one of the main priority sectors what the government thinks hindering investment.

The finance minister said he had to increase the budget size to support the projects taken to achieve gradually the vision 2021, but barely explained how resources would come. About lo-

Digital services to get costlier n Muhammad Zahidul Islam

cal resource mobilisation, the budget documents suggest his dependence on automation of the tax system now under implementation and amendment to some tax laws.

However, the proposal made not to increase the tax-free exemption limit is being considered as a strategy to net more taxpayers while increasing the income tax rate on high income group is to earn more from them. The budget also offered some tax incentives to promote investment and some exemptions for industrial raw materials, limiting scope for tax collection.

The minister depended much on the bank borrowing, which runs counter to the aim of increasing private sector investment as economists and bankers consider it to crowd out the private sector borrowing from the banking system and raise interest rate on bank loans.

The estimate for external resources hardly increased.

Industrialists and trade leaders accordingly raised concern as to whether the budget could deliver as per its goal the finance minister tried to fix for the industrialisation – one of the government’s strategies to achieve the vision 2021.

The proposed budget is going to cost the cellphone users as the finance minister has proposed to hike 5% Value Added Tax from the previous 10% on mobile handset import and introduce Tk100 as tax on per SIM replacement.

On the other hand the budget failed to come up to mobile phone operators that had long been demanding reduction in corporate taxes.

The ICT industry also witnessed minimum initiatives in the budget for reducing internet price.

In his 2014-15 fiscal budget speech at the parliament yesterday, Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith said he had plan to protect local mobile phone set assembling companies.

However, the handset industry claimed that there was not a single local assembling company.

Muhith said: “In order to balance out VAT on the handset assembling stage and imports, I propose to impose 15% VAT on the import of mobile phone set.”

He said some companies were assembling quality mobile phones in the country and paying 15% VAT while there was only 10% VAT on the import of mobile phones.

This created an uneven pay of VAT, which needed to be eradicated, he added in his budget speech.

Uday Hakim, director (operation) of a local brand handset company Walton,

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 5

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 3

Budget spells out strategy for mid-income country

Gold, mobile set, LED bulb to get costlier n Tribune Report

n Tribune Report

Gold, LPG gas cylinders, mobile handsets, LED bulbs and tube lights will witness a hike as Finance Minister AMA Muhith yesterday proposed imposing more duty on them while placing the budget for the next fiscal year.

The finance minister had proposed raising duty on gold import from Tk150 to Tk3,000 per 11.664gm, a 20 times hike.

Popular mobile handsets would be costlier as the government had imposed a 15% VAT on its import. Earlier, local assemblers had to pay a 15% VAT at assembling stage and a 10% VAT on import of handsets.

Residents of the capital who often face gas crisis will now have to spend more money as VAT on LPG gas cylinders having the capacity below 5,000 litres was increased from the existing 5% to 25%.

The minister also proposed increasing the price of LED energy-saving bulbs from the existing 10% to 25 %.

The country’s GDP growth is estimated to reach 10% in 2021 as Finance Minister AMA Muhith yesterday spelt out a strategy to transform Bangladesh into a middle income country by this time.

In the continuation of the government’s past strategy, it would attach priority to the power, gas and port development, he said placing the budget for the next fiscal year in parliament.

“We will increase power generation from the present 10,000 MW to 24,000 MW and ensure that the real supply does not fall below 80% of actual generation,” he said.

The government has expected to increase the share of industrial sector in the overall national growth from 25% to 40% with attaching high priority to small and medium enterprises and taking necessary steps to improve the skills of workers to increase industrial productivity.

To attract private investment for infrastructure development, the govern-

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 5

ment would encourage implementation of projects through Public Private Partnership initiative as 34 projects involving Tk11,138 crore under six sectors had already been approved in principle and advisers/consultants had been engaged for 33 projects.

“In fact, this is the first step towards project implementation,” said the minister, hoping that the legislation on PPP would be laid before the parliament shortly.

P16 MORE STORIES The government would create investment-friendly environment and continue essential institutional reforms in an attempt to bring down the cost of doing business. Effective measures would be taken to reduce interest rates with a view to increasing private sector credit flows that would eventually boost investment.

The scarcity of land is a major impediment to the development of industrial sector. Special allocation had,

therefore, been proposed in the budget for the next fiscal year for land acquisition for big projects.

A number of measures, including stimulus packages, would be taken for readymade garment, pharmaceuticals, shipbuilding, leather and IT sectors to add further momentum to export sector. Besides, steps would be taken for product and market diversification in export sector.

“We will continue providing incentives for agricultural sector and take initiative to increase milk, meat and egg production,” said the minister.

The government would take measures to develop the skills of workers and continue with the process of generating employment and increasing remittances by exporting skilled manpower. A fund of Tk50 crore would be created to implement the commitment for skills development.

It would also take steps to make sectors like development of rural infrastructure, rural housing, sanitation,  PAGE 2 COLUMN 6

Zia’s identity now seems key to solving N’ganj 7-murder case kar Ali Manik and n Julfi Ahmed Zayeef Lt Commander (retd) MM Rana, a former RAB 11 official from the navy, who lost his job after the seven murders in Naryanganj, has revealed in his confessional statements that the crime had been committed as per direction from a high official of the force named Zia. Md Sakhawat Hossain Khan, chief of the local lawyers’ association, told this to journalists based on what he said was his primary knowledge that he gathered from different sources about the statement.

Rana confessed his involvement with the killings before the court of

Senior Judicial Magistrate KM Mohiuddin of Narayangan yesterday.

Sakhawat is also a lawyer of the complainants of the two cases filed in connection with the seven murders.

The families of slain Awami League leader and Naraynaganj city panel mayor Nazrul Islam and senior lawyer Chandan Sarker are the complainants.

Although Shakhawat shared his “brief” knowledge about Rana’s statement with journalists on the court premises yesterday afternoon, he did not specify the rank and post of Zia. Three former RAB 11 officials, including Rana, were arrested for their alleged involvement with the seven murders.

Among the three, only former RAB 11 chief Lt Col (retd) Tarek Sayeed Mohammad has not confessed.

Both Arif and Rana reportedly mentioned Zia, a high-ranked RAB official, in their confessional statements Major (retd) Arif Hossain, the other arrested ex-RAB official, gave two separate confessional statements in the two cases on Wednesday.

INSIDE B1-B3 | Budget

The summarised budget speech of Finance Minister AMA Muhith has been published in the Business section of the newspaper

4 | News

Hearing on the appeals lodged by war criminal Jamaat leader Mohammad Kamaruzzaman questioning the death sentence given to him by the International

Crimes Tribunal began yesterday at the Supreme Court Appellate Division.

5 | News

At least 48 gold bars weighing around 5.6kg have been seized at the Shahjalal International Airport in the capital early yesterday.

6 | Nation

A local leader of BNP was shot dead in

Pabna while an Awami League leader murdered in Mymensingh and a death row convict found dead in Faridpur districts yesterday.

12 | Entertainment

Raima Sen was on a sudden visit to Dhaka yesterday after five long years to attend a promotional event. The ‘Children of War’ actor is selected for a new Legion Mehedi commercial.

A source said Rana’s statements were of nearly 30 pages.

According to Sakhawat, they gave detailed descriptions of how the abduction and the murders were carried out; where the victims were taken and where they were killed; who were involved with the murders and who gave the orders; how and from where the bricks, sacks and ropes were collected and how the dead bodies were tied up; which vehicles were used; and how the bodies were dumped in the Shitalakkhya River.

“They also mentioned the name of a highly placed official of a certain force that they belonged to. They said his name was Zia and it was him who gave

the orders for the abduction and the murders,” the lawyer said.

Asked what “certain force” meant, Sakhawat Hossain said it should mean RAB because the three arrested former officials belonged to this force.

He also said they had repeatedly emphasised the fact that it was difficult for them to disobey an order that came from such a highly-placed official.

When told that a high-ranked official of the force named Zia has come up in the confessional statements given under section 164 of the penal code, Wing Commander ATM Habibur Rahman, director of RAB’s legal and media wing, said: “I do not know who told what in the 164 statements. The inves-

tigation authority will take care if any name comes up.”

Sakhawat said: “There is a similarity between what Arif said on Wednesday and what Rana confessed today [Thursday].”

In his confessional statement, Arif mentioned the names of 23 RAB members and some civilians including political godfathers.

Yesterday Rana also mentioned names of similar persons and described all the stages of the murders. He also mentioned who participated and gave a vivid description of everything, which the court recorded.

“You will be able to know about  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Friday, June 6, 2014

Power, energy get reduced subsidy n Aminur Rahman Rasel The government has reduced subsidy allocation for the power and energy sectors by 30% in the proposed budget for the FY2014-15.

The amount is Tk9,400 crore against Tk13,450 crore in the FY2013-14.

In his budget speech, Finance Minister AMA Muhith mentioned the subsidy as lending to Power Development Board (PDB) and Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC).

Muhith announced a total budgetary allocation of Tk11,540 crore for the power, energy and mineral resources sectors.

The allocation marked a 17% increase from the revised budget of the outgoing fiscal year.

Muhith renewed a previous announcement that every household will get electricity within next five years.

Finance minister said the target to achieve 100% power coverage by 2019 will be made a success through implementation of long and medium-term plans.

“You might be aware that we had set a target of generating 20,000 MW of electricity by 2021. We have re-fixed this target at 24,000MW,” Muhith stated in his budget speech.

The allocation including development and non-development sectors is 4.6% of the total budget outlay.

Of the amount, power division will get Tk9,284 crore while energy and mineral resources division will receive Tk2,256 crore.

In the outgoing fiscal, the budgetary allocation for the ministry totalled Tk11,351 crore, which was later revised down to Tk9,902 crore.

In his budget speech yesterday, Finance Minister AMA Muhith said the government has placed the power and energy sector on its top priority list and is therefore providing it with resources.

“However, the power production ca-

pacity could not be utilised fully due to inefficient transmission and distribution system.”

AMA Muhith stated that they would be taking special measures to get rid of “the adverse situation soon.”

He cited “remarkable strides” have also been made in the energy sector.

“We have added 895m cubic feet gas per day (mmcfd) to the national grid.”

The minister announced the ongoing development works in power sector will continue throughout their tenure.

“We will ensure reasonable extraction and utilisation of natural gas.

Steps are underway to enhance the capacity of BAPEX.” “Special emphasis will be laid on discovery of new gas and oil fields. In addition, scope of assistance and cooperation with international organisations to explore new gas and oil fields in the coastal and deep sea areas will be widened.”

Muhith added: “We will take necessary steps to dig 21 wells in order to enhance gas generation capacity by 2015-16.”

He also announced that the government will take initiatives to reduce the misuse of gas through enhancing managerial efficiency.

“Import of LNG from abroad will continue. We are, however, considering the establishment of an LNG terminal and necessary infrastructure in Maheshkhali Island.”

Finance minister proposed producing high quality LPG cylinders locally and raising import duty on the product to 25% from 5%.

He also proposed increasing tariff value on crude petroleum oil to $40 per barrel from $32.

Accordingly, tariff values on other refined petroleum products have been proposed increasing from 31% per liter to 40%.

Further, Muhith withdrew 15% supplementary duty on filament bulb. l

BNP: Budget illegal and immoral n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

In an ironical contrast, homeless people with only a little to live on rest on the pavement outside the parliament premises as Finance Minister AMA Muhith places the proposed Tk250,506 crore budget inside the House yesterday promising to alleviate poverty RAJIB DHAR

'Revenue assumptions unrealistic' n Kayes Sohel

Economists gave high marks on the budgetary commitments for socioeconomic development, but raised strong doubts about the tax revenue assumptions as Finance Minister AMA Muhith placed the budget proposal in parliament yesterday.

They were of the view that the proposed budget lacks specific time-bound future plan to implement the measures.

In his budget speech, the minister said the government’s policy is to enhance public expenditure in the next five years and to this end domestic resource mobilisation has to be scaled up.

“It lacks prioritization … it lacks time-bound specific commitment,” World Bank lead economist in Dhaka Zahid Hussain said.

The budget has a comprehensive discussion about socio-economic

agenda like infrastructure, education, governance, environment, rural development and empowerment of women.

“It is a positive side. But this comprehensive discussion we have seen in sixth five year plan and also in perspective plan. But people expects generally the specific development strategy for the economic development,” he said.

Revenue collection will also be very challenging as the proposed budget's indication to bring some reformation in tax administration is not enough to fill up the revenue target, he said.

Moreover, the NBR might loss revenue Tk500 crore due to wavering some supplementary duty and tax at source.

However, reducing supplementary duty and tax at source is good, he said.

Research Director of Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) Zaid Bokht said: “I think it is an expansionary budget that continued over the last three

years.” He found the government has mainly emphasised on public investment to help increase economic growth since the country has currently been facing sluggish investment from the private sector.

“In the light of past experience, it can be concluded that the public investment did not take us too far,” he said, adding that to achieve over 7% GDP growth, we must need to spur private investment.

Bokhat, however, praised some tax sops proposed in the budget to revive the dwindling private investment saying, “But this is not enough to encourage private investment. For this, investment climate needs to be ensured.”

He said a lot of saying in the proposed budget about improvement of energy and power crisis, and service plan, but it lacks strong guideline to solve the problems. He left many questions on how realistic are the targets. l

Branding the incumbent Awami League government illegitimate, the BNP yesterday said the government had no right to place budget in the parliament as there was no representation of people in parliament.

“It is not possible to brand this government legal. The parliament is also illegal. Placing the budget in parliament when they were not elected by people’s votes is completely illegal and immoral,” said Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, acting secretary-general of the party.

He gave the statement while addressing a discussion at National Press Club in the capital while Finance Minister AMA Muhit was placing the budget for FY 2014-15 in parliament.

When the BNP was in opposition in parliament, they used to place an alternative budget proposal or budget thoughts outside parliament as its lawmakers boycotted the parliamentary proceedings.

As the party boycotted the January 5 elections, they did not place any budget thoughts outside parliament this year.

Earlier, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia said the “illegal” government had no right to place any budget in the “illegal” parliament.

Amir Khosru Chowdhury, adviser to the BNP chairperson, echoed her statement.

“People have nothing to gain from this budget. Rather, the government politicians will be benefited. Private investors also have nothing to gain from the budget,” he told the Dhaka Tribune.

Chowdhury observed that a huge hole had been created as the government was involved in different sorts of corruption, plundering government money through the Padma Bridge, share market, state-run banks and MLM companies.

“This budget will just increase the size of this hole as the government has been trying to cover up the existing holes, borrowing money from the government funds. Private investment is not available either,” he said. l

Business leaders optimistic about the proposed budget

Massive plans, few directives

n

They said the measures are more or less targeted boosting investment, but the challenge is to implement them properly.

The first budget of the present term has also an outline for the next five years of the development activities.

Economists said the budget has lots of commitments in accordance with the 10-year perspective plan, but lacks specific programmes to implement the commitment. For example, there is no time-bound announcement when the PPP policy would be in place so the businessmen could prepare for investment.

Moreover, they said, whatever measures were proposed, there is lack of investment-friendly environment in the country as the businessmen apprehend political unrest.

Muhith, however, said the consecutive second term would enable the government to take forward the development initiatives taken during the last term to a higher trajectory. He expressed deep regret that a big political party by boycotting the election tried to disrupt the democratic process.

Ibrahim Hossain Ovi

Implementing measures to stimulate investment is the main challenge of the budget for FY 2014-14, said the country’s business leaders yesterday.

“The budget is investment and trade-friendly as a good number of demands by the business leaders has been accepted,” said Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed, president of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers and Commerce Industry (FBCCI), in an immediate reaction to the proposed budget.

“It does not reflect all our demands, but we have to take it as no one can give us everything we want,” said the FBCCI president.

He added that the proposed budget was enough to attract investment, but political stability was a must for the investment, both local and foreign.

“The government has tried its best to make the budget investment-friendly as well as people-oriented, but its effectiveness depends on the implementation of measures proposed in it,” Mir Nasir Hossain, former FBCCI president, told the Dhaka Tribune.

He said it would be difficult to attract investment unless the government ensured gas connection on priority basis.

For the proper execution of budgetary pledges, Nasir suggested removing administrative inefficiency and setting a target of how much gas should be

Zia’s identity now seems key to solving N’ganj 7-murder case  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

all these at one stage. But at this moment, I cannot disclose everything I know for the sake of the ongoing investigation,” Sakhawat said.

Meanwhile, Narayanganj court sources, who have had access to the statements, have confirmed that the narrations were almost identical.

One of the sources said both of them had said local Awami League leader Nur Hossain had made the plan in association with Zia. However, these sources did not want to say anything in detail about Zia fearing retaliation.

Another source said Rana’s statements mentioned the names 28-30 RAB 11 members, including Arif and Tarek, who were involved with the killing mission.

Starting from the abduction of seven people from the link road on April 27 afternoon until the dumping of their bodies in the Shitalakkhya River, Nur Hossain maintained regular contact with the executioners, the source said.

According to one of the court sources, several RAB cars intercepted the two cars that the seven victims were on. They were then transferred to two microbuses and made unconscious my pushing injections. Then their head were wrapped in polythene bags.

The abductors moved around different places in and around the Narayanganj city with the victims inside the microbuses.

At night, the victims were taken to the Shitalakkhya River through a spot somewhere near the Kanchpur Bridge and their bodies were dumped into the river on trawlers.

Before throwing their bodies into

the river, the killers attached sacks full of bricks with the bodies to make sure that they remained on the riverbed.

About the progress in investigation, Sakhawat told the Dhaka Tribune: “I am satisfied with the progress made in the investigation so far.” He said he was particularly satisfied with the confessional statements.

“But my concern is, the accused have not yet been arrested. More revealing information about the planning of the murder may come out once the accused are rounded up,” said Sakhawat.

When this story was being filed at 9:15pm yesterday, a private television channel reported that Sakhawat was feeling insecure because he was being followed by some unknown people.

According to the television news piece, the lawyer has informed local police about his apprehensions.

He later told the Dhaka Tribune: “Around 6:15pm, when I went to the parking lot on the court premises to pick my car and leave, four people blocked my way. They looked like defence people in civil dresses. They threatened me that I was being too enthusiastic.

“They told me that they would force me into disappearance and nobody would be able to find me,” he said.

Meanwhile, some local police officials involved with the investigation said on condition of anonymity that many sensational information and names of many influential persons were revealed in the confessional statements.

Investigators would have to proceed on the basis of those revelations which would be very challenging for them, said a police officer. l

used in which sector.

He said the finance minister announced a number of positive measures in the proposed budget, including reducing corporate tax, tax holiday, bringing house rent under tax net etc.

But the government should reconsider protecting domestic industries, such as the biscuit industry, which had seen a rise in tax payment, he added.

Nasir said: “It is a big challenge for the government to reach the revenue target and it has to concentrate on more tax net.”

BGMEA applauds the budget

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers

and Exporters Association (BGMEA) hailed the proposed budget, terming it people-oriented and investment and industry-friendly, especially for paying more attention to the RMG sector.

A statement issued by the BGMEA said: “Reduction of tax on cash incentive to 3% from 5% and rebate on source tax to 0.3% from 0.8% will help boost the sector.”

It also said duty-free import of fire safety equipment and prefabricated building materials would help make the sector safer. The statement also said increasing the corporate social responsibility (CSR) expense and lowering corporate tax to 35% from 37.5% would expedite the CSR activities. l

Digital services to get costlier  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

claimed that there was not a single company assembling handsets in the country.

“I am pretty sure that if the proposal is passed, it will not be cost effective for the users.” He suggested the government rethink its proposal.

If the government really wanted to crate entrepreneurship in the local handset industries it should reduce import duty on handset accessories, added Hakim.

Currently duties on handset accessories were at least 58%, he said, adding that despite modern setup, Walton also imported finished handset products from abroad because of cost effectiveness.

TIM Nurul Kabir, secretary general of Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh, expressed disappointment over the proposed budget.

He said it would create an uncongenial atmosphere for the service providers as well as the users.

“Cellphone is nowadays not a luxurious product, he said, calling upon the government to rethink the proposed SIM replacement tax, plus 5% hike in VAT on handset import.”

Nurul recommends that the government withdraw the SIM tax, which is now Tk300 for per SIM, to earn more money.

The finance minister has proposed deduction of 5% supplementary duty on SIM which is currently 20%.

But market sources say it will not do them any good as the mobile operators are buying most SIMs from the local markets and importing only a very little number of them.

Akhtaruzzaman Manju, president of Internet Service Provider’s Association of Bangladesh, also expressed dissatisfaction over the budget proposal though the finance minister proposed

5% custom duty on multiplexer.

“Multiplexer is a very minor product. If the government wants to reduce the internet price, VAT reduction is a must,” he told the Dhaka Tribune.

Muhith in his budget speech also emphasised digitisation.

He said: “In the present tenure of our government, we will accelerate the development of Hi-tech Park, Software Technology Park, ICT Incubator and Computer Village.”

He also informed the house that currently the programme to transform 8,000 rural post offices and 500 union post offices into E-centres was underway.

The minister claimed that Bangladesh held the highest position in South Asia in terms of using information technology in education, banking, medical, business and commerce and mass media sectors.

Because of an enabling environment and infrastructure for ICT, Bangladesh had already reached the threshold for becoming a technology-driven modern state, he said.

Muhith informed the House that every day on an average 40 lakh people were getting e-services from 4,526 Union Information Centres.

“Tele-density and internet-density had gone up to 77.8% and 23.7% respectively,” he said.

The minister claimed that the coverage of e-commerce, e-payment and e-governance expanded substantially and moreover, Bangladeshi software and ICT services were being exported to 30 countries including USA, Canada, Japan, Australia and several European countries.

The allocation for ICT development project was Tk3,229 crore in the proposed budget which was around Tk3,176 crore earlier. l

 PAGE 1 COLUMN 3

“We laid emphasis on building of infrastructure, development of power and energy sectors, improvement of information technology and creation of an investment-friendly environment,” he said.

The reform initiatives beginning from 2009 made the economy so resilient that even the violence unleashed by the opposition parties before the 10th parliamentary elections could not destabilise it.

“We have successfully mitigated the pre-election damages and the economy now is back to its robust best,” the minister told the House.

Hopefully, he said, the budget framework proposed in view of the domestic and global perspectives will support growth as well as contain inflation. “People will find their aspirations reflected in it.” l

Budget spells out  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

land and water, fisheries and livestock, rural electrification and rural non-agricultural small and medium enterprises (SMEs) more dynamic in future. l

Gold, mobile set, LED bulb to get costlier  PAGE 1 COLUMN 1

About cigarette and bidi, the finance minister said the government is committed to reduce the use of tobacco and discourage smoking.

Accordingly, the budget proposed increasing the prices of tobacco products. Even though premium grade cigarette saw no hike, taxes on lower grades increased by 2% and 4%.

The price of bidi will increase by about 4%.

Muhith said, “We determine tax incidence on the basis of these price slabs. I propose that the tax incidence of premium and high slabs will be the same or 76% and for medium slab it would be 75% and finally, for the lowest slab it is 58%. 1% health development surcharge will be imposed on these items.”

He said considering the importance of SIM cards for the expansion of telephone industry, its supplementary duty would be decreased to 15% from the existing 30%.

Tax on motor cars and other motor vehicles, including station wagons of a cylinder with the capacity of 1701cc to 2000cc would be reduced from existing 150% to 100% and 2001cc to 2750cc rate will be reduced from 250% to 200%.

Beverages will be costlier as the government has increased duty on beverage concentrate from the existing 10% to 25%.

Prices to go down

Mobile SIM cards, motor vehicles and hybrid cars, fruits and fishes and imitation jewellery will be cheaper as the government has reduced duty on them.

Meanwhile, milk food is likely to be cheaper as the customs duty on stabilisers for milk imported by VAT-registered milk foodstuff manufacturing industries will be reduced from 25% to 10%.

People can now get fresh juice in cheaper prices as the minister proposed reducing tax on fruit and vegetable juice from the existing 30% to 20%.

People suffering from cancer will now get relief as the prices of anti-cancer drugs will be lowered as customs duty on 14 items used as raw materials were proposed to be fully exempted.

To protect local diaper industry, the government has reduced duty on its raw materials from 25% to 10%.

VAT on edible oils will be reduced from existing 15% to 10% at import stage. l

News Bits and bobs of budget speech DHAKA TRIBUNE

Friday, June 6, 2014

GDP target set to 7.3% n Tribune Report

Padma bridge to get Tk81,00 cr n Tribune Report

The government has set a GDP target of 7.3% for the Fiscal Year 2014-15, assuming that the investment, export and remittance flows would increase.

The assumption was made based on expectation that the global economy would experience accelerated growth.

“During this period, food and energy prices in the international market are likely to decline slightly,” Finance Minister AMA Muhith told the parliament yesterday.

The minister said it would not be possible to achieve the 7.2% GDP target set for the outgoing FY because of political unrest that continued from the previous year, adversely affecting different economic sectors.

According to the preliminary estimate of Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), the GDP growth in FY2013-14 will be 6.12%.

Muhith said an investment-friendly monetary policy would be maintained ensuring uninterrupted credit flows to the productive sectors. Government initiatives for developing physical infrastructure in the power, energy and communication sectors would also be continued.

He said different initiatives would be taken for the development of skills and human resources. Fiscal, monetary and stock market reforms would go on. Foreign investment and assistance were expected to increase. Credit and input support would be continued in the broad agriculture sector.

“Above all, I am expecting favourable weather and political stability,” the finance minister said.

The minister said resurgent political stability following the national election combined with government’s complementary policy support had encouraged investment and export trade.

As a result, he said, the industry and service would be able to make up the losses caused in the first half of the current fiscal year.

Moreover, there had been a bumper production of aus and boro paddy this year because of favourable weather and continued policy and input support, he said, expecting substantial growth in agriculture sector. l

The much-talked-about Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project will receive Tk 81,00 crore allocation, the highest for any single project in the Tk250506 crore budget proposed for fiscal year 2014-15.

“The construction of the bridge is our topmost priority,” said Finance Minister while placing the budget in Parliament yesterday afternoon.

“It will create a direct road link between 19 districts of southwest region and Dhaka along with northern region of Bangladesh. Once completed, this will induce a growth to the tune of 1.2 percent of GDP per year,” he said.

He said the construction of the Padma bridge was underway despite myriads of difficulties. Meanwhile, the land acquisition and rehabilitation activities of the project were about to finish. The construction of approach roads from both directions was also progressing well.

The minister said he hoped that the construction of the main structure of the bridge would begin this month and the engagement of contractors for river training would take place in July-August.

He said the construction of the rail, sea, and land port infrastructure and roads and bridges, including the Padma bridge, were progressing fast. The deal for constructing the main structure of the bridge was sure to be signed this month.

The deal for building the bridge’s core structure will be signed between China Major Bridge Engineering Company Limited and Bangladesh’s Bridge Division as the Chinese company has got the work order.

The much-awaited Padma bridge, which will connect the impoverished south-western districts with the capital, is expected to add between 1 and 2 percentage points to the Gross Domestic Product. l

Smaller cut for health sector n Moniruzzaman Uzzal The allocation for health sector has increased by around Tk1,200 crore in the proposed budget for the next fiscal, but the sector’s share of the total budget dropped by 0.15 percentage point compared to the outgoing fiscal.

The latest budget, placed at the parliament by Finance Minister AMA Muhith yesterday, proposed an allocation of Tk11,176 crore for the health sector, an increase from the outgoing fiscal’s revised budget of Tk9,979 crore. However, the proposed allocation is only 4.45% of the total Tk250,506 crore budget, compared to last year’s share of 4.6%.

In the budget speech, the finance minister credited community clinic as a key success in health sector that has been recognised both at home and abroad.

A target was set for raising average life expectancy to 72 years by 2021, while minister said the government would try to provide easy access for reproductive health services to reduce population growth.

The government was working on expanding telemedicine service, Muhith said, adding that efforts would be made to introduce social health insurance programme soon, in order to make medical expenses affordable to the poor.

The minister said the skills of healthcare institutions and healthcare regulatory agencies would be improved to maintain the standard of medical education.

Claiming that the government would work to promote alternative medicines like homeopathic, unani and ayurvedic, he added that an initiative would be taken to build appropriate regulatory framework and enhance institutional and technical facilities for controlling the quality of herbal medicine.

Commenting on the proposed budget, Dr Rashid-e-Mahbub, president of Health Rights Movement Bangladesh and former president of Bangladesh Medical Association, told the Dhaka Tribune that the budget went against the health sector’s interest.

Compared to the outgoing fiscal, the reduction of the health sector’s share of the total budget meant that poor patients would not get quality service, he claimed. l

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Finance Minister AMA Muhith enter the parliament together to join the budget session yesterday PID

Duty-free import of fire safety equipments in RMG sector n Ibrahim Hossain Ovi Finance minister AMA Muhith has proposed duty-free import of the prefabricated building materials and fire safety equipments for the RMG sector for factory relocation and also for bringing improvement in fire safety standards.

The fire safety equipments, include fire resistant doors, emergency lights and sprinkler system, which will ensure internal security and compliance with the standards in the ready-made garment units.

To create an environment friendly production atmosphere for competing with the international standard, we’re proposing to allow the export-oriented ready-made garment sector (RMG) to import the raw materials necessary for manufacturing the prefabricated buildings, without any duty but under certain conditions, Muhith told the parliament yesterday while placing his budget proposals.

“The existing duties on fire resistant door, emergency light and sprinkler system are being proposed to be fully exempted for ensuring an internal security and compliances with standards in the RMG sector,’’ said the minister.

It would help us to expand the sector and improve the safety standard while the country’s apparel sector needs factory relocation and install safety equipment to ensure workers safety, BGMEA president M Atiqul Islam, told the Dhaka Tribune.

He has expressed his satisfaction over the government move to fully exempt the duty on fire safety equipments.

Muhith also proposed to duty cut on some RMG raw materials to 5% from existing 10% while 3% on artificial staple fiber from existing 5%.

“The reduction of duty on some raw materials used in the apparel sector would help boost RMG export and explore more destinations,” Abdus Salam Murshedy, president of Exporters Association of Bangladesh, told the Dhaka Tribune.

According to a rough estimate of BGMEA, around 1,200 RMG factories need to install sprinklers, while 3,000 other factories have to install fire doors to full fill the requirements of the Accord and Alliance, which would cost more than Tk2,500 crore.

Garments workers safety came on the spot light after the incident of Rana Plaza, an eight-story commercial building having housed five factories, collapsed in Savar on April 24, leaving at least 1,135 workers killed and over 2,500 injured. l

Defense to get 6.6% raise n Tribune Report AMA Muhith, who becomes the first finance minister to place six consecutive budgets, has proposed Tk16,462 corers for the Defence Services that includes the ministry and the Armed Forces Division.

The proposed allocation, which is Tk1,282 crore bigger than the outgoing fiscal’s allocation, is 6.6% of the total FY2014-15 budget.

The Ministry of Defence is to get Tk16,220 crore and its other services Tk220 crore. The Armed Forces Division will Tk22 crore.

While placing the budget, Muhith said: “We are committed to building a strong and efficient defence force capable of meeting the challenges of the 21st century.

“We have already added modern war equipment to the armoury of our army, navy and air force and expanded training facilities. This process of modernising the armed forces will continue,” he said.

For the first time in history, the government had added a home-grown battleship to the naval fleet. The armed forces, apart from serving the country, had also been serving as UN peace keeper with distinction, the minister said.

He also pointed out that Bangladesh makes the biggest contribution in terms of the number of soldiers to the UN Peacekeeping Missions.

In the previous fiscal, defence allocation was Tk15,180 crore. l

No change in agriculture subsidy n Tribune Report Agricultural subsidy, now Tk 9000 crore, will remain the same in the budget proposed for the 2014-15 fiscal year.

However, total budgetary allocation for the agriculture sector is being increased slightly in the next budget.

The total allocation for the farm sector has been shot up by Tk110 crore from Tk 12,279 crore in the budget.

While placing the budget yesterday, Finance Minister AMA Muhith expressed his confidence on the agriculture sector’s progress and said the country had achieved outstanding success in agriculture sector during ruling Awami League’s last term (2008-13.

He said the government was about to give highest priority on agricultural research to invent drought, salinity and water logging-resistant high yielding crop varieties.

The finance minister said special attention should be laid on agricultural research, innovation of technology and minimisation of the adverse effects of climate change. l

Tk100cr block allocation for promoting heritage internationally n Tribune Report The government has proposed a block allocation of Tk100 crore for preserving and promoting the country’s heritage internationally under the budget for 2014-15 fiscal year.

The government plans to establish cultural centres in some selected foreign cities to introduce Bangladeshi cultural heritage, art and craft, and literature, Muhith said in his budget speech.

He added that preservation and renovation work was going on at the Buddha Bihar in Paharpur, Shatgambuj Mosque in Bagerhat, Kantaji Temple in Dinajpur and Mahasthangar in Bogra.

The finance minister said adequate allocations have already been given for archaeological excavation, renovation and preservation of archaeological sites in different parts of the country to showcase the history and heritage of Bangladesh to the rest of the world.

The government would keep supporting all institutional endeavours meant to nourish Bangla language and literature, art and craft, music, jatra, drama, movie, folk art and creative pursuits, he added. l

Corporate companies encouraged to spend more in CSR n Tribune Report The government has offered a number of incentives for the corporate companies to encourage them spend more money in the Corporate Social Activities (CSR) for the welfare of the society.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith said the tax ceiling for CSR expenditure would be raised from Tk8 crore to Tk12 crore annually, keeping the existing condition of allowable limit unchanged at 20% of the total income of any company.

He said the contribution limit was extended and approved by the government for the welfare of victims of natural disasters and accidents. l

Corporate tax cut only for non-listed companies n Tribune Report The rate of corporate income tax was proposed to be reduced only for the non-listed companies, while the rest was proposed to be remained unchanged in the upcoming fiscal year.

In his budget speech for the fiscal year 2014-15, Finance Minister AMA Muhith proposed to reduce tax rate for the non-listed companies from the existing 37.5% to 35% and keep the rates for other companies unchanged.

The government also proposed reducing the minimum tax on any company’s gross receipts from existing 0.50% to 0.30%. Currently, any company having gross receipts of more than Tk50 lakh, irrespective of its profits or loss, has to pay minimum tax at the rate of 0.50%.

The National Board of Revenue is set to collect Tk149,720 crore revenue in the fiscal year, while the target for the total income tax was proposed at Tk57,500 crore, of which corporate tax will contribute Tk31,120 crore.

Currently, banks and financial institutions are paying 42.5% corporate tax, while it is 27.5% for publicly traded companies, 37.5% for non-publicly traded companies, and 37.5% for merchant banks. For the publicly traded mobile companies, the tax rate is 40% while it is 45% for the non-publicly traded operators.

For the publicly traded cigarette manufacturers, the tax rate is 40%, while it is 45% for the non-publicly traded manufacturers. l

Further tax imposed on tobacco n Tribune Report The government is going to impose one percent ‘Health Development Surcharge” on all imported and domestically produced tobacco products in the budget of 2014-15 fiscal.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith yesterday proposed the surcharge in his budget speech.

Regarding the newly imposed surcharge, he said tobacco and tobacco products are injurious to health. Nearly 60,000 people die and 400,000 people become crippled every year in Bangladesh due to smoking. Treatment of tobacco related diseases is also very expensive.

So, the received fund could be used for the treatment and rehabilitation of tobacco disease-stricken people, he added.

Currently, cigarette prices are based on four slabs and the tax incidence is determined on the basis of these price slabs.

The finance minister said the tax incidence of the premium and high slabs will be the same or 76 percent, and for the medium slab is 75 percent and finally, for the lowest slab is 58 percent, in the next fiscal.

However, considering the interest of local bidi industry, no reform or change in the tax structure of handmade bidi has been made for the last 5 years.

The present prices of 25 sticks non-filter and 20 sticks filter bidis are Tk5.354 and Tk6.052 respectively. Because of being less expensive and easily available, a large number of people smoke these products and get sick.

With a view to discouraging smoking, the finance minister proposed fixation of price of 25 sticks non-filter bidis at Tk6.14 and 20 sticks filter bidis at Tk6.94.

He also proposed to raise the existing supplementary duty rate on jarda and gul products from 30 percent to 60 percent. l

3

Tax holiday to be continued till 2019 n Tribune Report The government has proposed to extend tax holiday scheme until June 2019 with a view to creating an investment-friendly atmosphere.

The scheme was scheduled to end on June 2015.

Along with the facility, Muhith also proposed to reinstate the facilities for accelerated depreciation alternative to tax holiday for new industrial entrepreneurs. The government also proposed area-based tax rebate in the proposed budget.

According to the proposal, tax rebate for the industrial undertakings not eligible for tax holiday facilities in the least developed areas will enjoy 10% tax rebate till June 30, 2019.

Tax rebate for the industries not eligible for tax holiday facilities and to be set up between July 1, 2014 and June 30, 2019 in the least developed areas will be 20%. They will enjoy the facility for the next 10 years from the date of their commencement, the proposal added.

The minister also proposed 20% tax rebate for the industrial undertakings that will be shifted to least developed areas between July 1, 2014 and June 30, 2019. They will enjoy the facility for the next 10 years from the date of their commercial operation.

Earlier, such facility was in place for seven years. l

Tax-free income ceiling unchanged at Tk2.2lakh n Tribune Report The tax-free income ceiling for individual taxpayers will remain unchanged at Tk2.2 lakh in the fiscal year 2014-15, while a new slab was introduced for the high income earning taxpayers at 30%.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith also proposed that the ceiling for other categories like women, elderly people of more than 65 years of age, disabled and freedom fighters would be increased.

The limit for female and senior citizens was raised from Tk2.5 lakh to Tk2.75 lakh and for physically challenged from Tk3 lakh to Tk3.5 lakh. For war wounded gazette freedom fighters, the rate was proposed at Tk4 lakh.

Other than the tax-free income threshold, the income tax slabs would be like 10% tax on Tk3 lakh income, 15% for next Tk4 lakh, 20% for next Tk5 lakh, 25% for next Tk30 lakh and 30% for over Tk44.2 lakh.

Regarding the introduction of the highest 30% tax for income over Tk44.2 lakh, the finance minister said the changes were proposed considering the principle of equity and progressivity with a view to ensuring equitable distribution of resources and to reducing economic disparity. l

Donations for female education, research to enjoy tax exemption n Tribune Report The government has proposed exemption of all taxes on donations paid for the girls’ school or colleges and vocational and technical institutions if that is paid through banking channels.

In his budget speech, AMA Muhith also proposed tax exemption for all donations through banking channel to national-level research institutions established under any law that are engaged in research work in the fields of agriculture, industry, or science and technology.

The minister said the benefit was proposed for the research sector as there was no alternative to the use of acquired knowledge productively through research activities to put the country on stronger economic footing. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Friday, June 6, 2014

HASINA’S VISIT TO CHINA

Chinese envoy hopes for positive outcome to deep-sea port n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman Chinese Ambassador in Dhaka Li Jun said there would be a positive outcome to deep-sea port and exclusive economic zone for Chinese investors during the visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to China.

“There are important progress related to China EPZ and deep-sea port. ..I think there will be some outcomes – very positive outcome to the deepsea port and China EPZ,” he said while talking with a small group of reporters yesterday.

The prime minister is scheduled to leave Dhaka today on a five-day trip to China and come back on June 11.

Li Jun said China is open for a consortium of any countries. “China is open to cooperate with any other partners outside including Indian and Bangladesh companies.”

When asked about an estimated cost of the project, he said: “Perhaps that is the next steps.”

Sonadia is located in very important location and it will not only benefit Bangladesh, but also India’s seven sisters, Myanmar and Southwest China will be benefitted, he said.

The distance between Kunming and Chittagong is less than 1,000 kilometres whereas the distance from Kunming to its nearest sea port Guangzhou is 1,700 kilometres. China completed a feasibility study on the deep-sea port in 2012.

South China Sea

The ambassador said the South China Sea issue must be resolved through peaceful

dialogue among the countries concerned.

“For China, we hold the stance to resolve the dispute through dialogue. So, I think the Bangladesh side takes the same stance,” he said.

Bangladesh adopts the policy of resolving the disputes through peaceful dialogue and China is in the same line with Bangladesh, he added.

One Belt, One Corridor

The ambassador said the connectivity issue under One Belt, One Corridor will be discussed in the summit meeting.

“Bangladesh can play an important role here.”

China has suggested that Bangladesh sign a memorandum of understanding on the silk and maritime routes, he said.

Asian Infrastructure Bank

About the proposed infrastructure bank, he said: “China is negotiating with other countries and there have been some progress here. So far I know the institutions of China and Bangladesh are contacting each other,” Li Jun said.

EPZ location

The Chinese envoy said Bangladesh and China are negotiating to fix the location of China EPZ. “More and more Chinese companies find Bangladesh as a very good destination. They want to make investment here. EPZ for China will help attract more Chinese investment,” he said.

Li Jun said at least five or six agreements will be signed during the visit of the prime minister. l

Street vendors at Dhaka’s TSC intersection rush to move their products as the Dhaka Metropolitan Police carry out an eviction drive against makeshift stalls

Kamaruzzaman’s appeal hearing begins n Nazmus Sakib Hearing on the appeals lodged by war criminal Jamaat leader Mohammad Kamaruzzaman questioning the death sentence given to him by the International Crimes Tribunal began yesterday at the Supreme Court Appellate Division.

Defence lawyers Khandker Mahbub Hossain and Nazrul Islam read out the

depositions of two prosecution witnesses on charge number one before the four-member apex court bench headed by Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha.

The al-Badr leader was handed down capital punishment for his superior responsibility in indiscriminate killings at Sohagpur and killing freedom fighter Golam Mostafa.

On May 9 last year, the second Inter-

national Crimes Tribunal delivered the verdict against Kamaruzzaman.

On June 6, the assistant secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islami filed an appeal with the apex court challenging the tribunal verdict.

Kamaruzzaman was also sentenced life in prison on two other charges while he received 10 years’ jail on another charge for torturing a teacher. He got acquittal from two other charges. l

‘Constitution does not support January 5 polls’

BGB, BGP hold flag meeting n Nazmus Sakib n Our Correspondent, Cox’s Bazar Barrister Rafique-Ul A 23-member team of Border Guard Bangladesh attended a flag meeting with Border Guard Police in Myanmar yesterday.

The team went to Mongdu city in Myanmar through Teknaf port and attended the five-hour-long meeting with their Myanmar counterparts.

The BGB delegation, headed by BGB Sector Commander in Cox’s Bazar Col Khandakar Farid Hasan, strongly protested the army deployment at the BangladeshMyanmar border and the BGP’s shooting at a BGB patrol team on the Bangladeshi side, which killed BGB Naik Mizanur Rahman.

Col Khandakar Farid Hasan said Myanmar also returned the SMG and 120 rounds of bullet Mizan was carrying at the time of his death.

Other agendas covered in the meeting included drug smuggling, especially yaba, and ways to maintain a friendly relationship between the countries.

The shooting that killed Mizan took place in Bandarban’s Naikhonchhari on May 28, while a gunfight followed on May 30 when complications arose regarding the handover of Mizan’s body to Bangladesh.

Mizan’s body was handed over to Bangladesh on May 31. However, the situation deteriorated again when another shooting took place in Naikhonchhari on Tuesday.

That is when Myanmar called for the flag meeting with Bangladesh at the sector commander level.

Another meeting between BGB and BGP at the director-general level is scheduled to take place on June 10-13. l

Huq yesterday told the High Court the January 5 parliamentary election was not a lawful one as it violated the constitutional provision which says MPs should be elected and cannot be selected.

The former attorney general said: “The tenth parliamentary poll was a mockery of an election. It was more of a selection than an election. It was a football game without any goalkeeper.

Our constitution does not contemplate such an election for the MPs.” Article 19, the uncontested winner provision of the Representation of the People Order 1972, says there should be more than one candidate in an election, Rafique said in his written

statement submitted to the High Court bench of Justice Mirza Hussain Haider and Justice Khurshid Alam Sarkar.

‘The 10th national poll was a mockery of an election. It was more of a selection than an election’ “Our constitution does not support election where there is not more than one candidate. In modern democracy, such an idea cannot be thought of. Article 19 of RPO 1972 does not support any such situation either,” he said.

The senior lawyer said: “Considering such situation, the government has

given an indication that there could be a mid-term election. I also expect that such a meaningful, free and fair election would be held soon.”

“Given the situation in the country, we are yet to reach a stage where there could be free and fair elections under a political party. Even in upazila polls, there was influence and interference from the ruling party. Prime Minister sincerely wants a free and fair election but the situation is such that it is not possible. I think two more elections should be held under an interim government or a non-partisan caretaker administration.”

Earlier, Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain and Sushasoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan) Secretary Badiul Alam Majumder put forwarded their views on constitutionality of the RPO

provision to declare an uncontested candidate winner in the general elections. Other four amici curiae M AmirUl Islam, Mahmudul Islam, Moudud Ahmed and Rokanuddin Mahmud are yet to place their opinions.

On February 16, the bench issued a ruling seeking explanation as to why the provision for declaring an uncontested candidate winner in parliamentary polls should not be declared unconstitutional.

Later, it sought opinions from the seven on this following a writ petition filed on December 17 by Jatiya Party Vice-Chairman Khandker Abdus Salam.

A total of 153 lawmakers were elected unopposed in the 10th parliamentary elections early this year. l

Gibson: Human rights violations won’t be overlooked n Abid Azad The British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert W Gibson said Britain would not turn a blind eye to countries that claim to have established rule of law but lacked independent judiciary as well as accountability and transparency in order to prevent abuse of state power.

“We will never turn a blind eye to countries which display democratic establishment but violate basic human rights,” he said while addressing the event “DCAB’s Talk” organised by the Diplomatic Correspondents Association Bangladesh (DCAB) at the National Press Club in the capital.

“We will not overlook human rights abuses wherever those take place. Arbitrary imprisonment, political and religious persecution or the denial of the rights of women or any individual, including those of the minorities, are unacceptable to us at any time in any place,” he added. According to the British envoy, the UK government needs strong institutions, responsible and accountable government, a free press, the rule of law, and equal rights for men and women.

He also expressed earlier observations of the UK government on the January 5 election in Bangladesh, saying: “Elections alone do not create a free and democratic society.” l

The 10th prosecution witness against war crimes accused Jamaat leader Maolana Abdus Subhan yesterday said she had watched him, Khudu Kha and others abduct her cousin Osman during the Liberation War. In her deposition, Sanwara Khatun, 56, from Ishwardi of Pabna also told the court that her cousin used to give shelter to freedom fighters; he never backed down even when Subhan ordered his men to torture him to death.

According to the charge in favour of which she testified, under Subhan’s leadership, one Khoda Box went to Betbaria and carried out a planned attack, setting houses on fire including those of Safiuddin and Sadek Ali and abducting people, who were tortured for three days to death. Their dead bodies were never found.

and the Biharis killed Osman upon Subhan’s orders.

She also claimed that she knew Subhan before 1971 because he came to their village for electioneering on behalf of Khudu Kha. On December 31 last year, the first International Crimes Tribunal indicted Subhan on nine charges of crimes against humanity. On March 27 this year, the tribunal transferred the case to the second tribunal acting on a suo moto.

Meanwhile, the second tribunal fixed Thursday for the deposition of prosecution witnesses against Syed Mohammad Qaisar, another war crimes accused.

On February 2, the tribunal framed 16 war crimes charges against the former junior agriculture minister, who was accused for committing atrocious crimes in Habiganj during the Liberation War and also raising an auxiliary force by his name. l

A Dhaka court yesterday sentenced two officials of General Post Office (GPO) seven years rigorous imprisonment for embezzlement of over Tk3.5 lakh.

The convicts - Nurul Islam and Abdur Rahim - worked as postal operators.

Judge Abul Bashar Munshi of Dhaka Special Tribunal 6 pronounced the verdict after examining the records and 7 prosecution witnesses in the case.

The court also fined each of them Tk10,000, in default, to suffer six months more rigorous imprisonment. During pronouncement of the judgment, the officials were present before the court.

Khandakar Yusuf Ali, inspector (administration) of GPO filed the case against 8 people with Paltan police station on October 3, 2007.

On March 23, 2010, Anti Corruption commission (ACC) Assistant Director Md Abdur Rab submitted the charge sheet before the court against the two officials and dropped the names of the remaining accused.

The court framed charges against the accused on January 11, 2011.

According to the charge sheet, Nurul misappropriated Tk132,250 while Rahim misappropriated Tk218,500 from the saving unit of GPO. l

n Tribune Report

Victim’s sister testifies as the 10th witness During cross examination, defence counsel Mizanul Islam said none of the incidents described by the witness ever happened and claimed that she was told to do so by the prosecution.

On the 12th day of the Bangla month of Kartik, Subhan along with other razakars came to Ramnathpur and surrounded their house, she said.

“Subhan captured my first cousin Osman and told him angrily: ‘I will teach you a lesson for giving shelter to the freedom fighters.’ Then they beat him and took him on a van.

“On that day, my uncle Shabed Ali and cousin Abed Ali went to Razakar Ishak but he did not want to listen. They kept the abductees confined for three days and then took them to the government bungalow in Ishwardi,” she narrated.

The witness claimed that she had heard from her father that the Razakars

Post officials jailed for money embezzlement n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu

JAAGO volunteers observe World Environment Day

TRIAL AGAINST SUBHAN

n Udisa Islam

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Volunteers of JAAGO Foundation take preparations for planting trees in the capital’s Beri Bandh area yesterday as part of a programme marking World Environment Day COURTESY

VBD, the volunteer wing of JAAGO Foundation organised a tree plantation program to raise awareness on the importance of preserving the environment and observe the World Environment Day. All the participants took part in the program called ‘March for Green’ which was held in the capital’s Beri Bandh area. The campaign simultaneously took place in different districts.

More than 100 volunteers in Dhaka joined hands together to plant a total of 120 species of trees. The campaign was supported by Beximco Pharmaceuticals and Za & Zee Ice-cream.

Tanvir Haider Chaudhury, chief executive officer of Kazi Food Industries Ltd, was present in the campaign.

Tanvir said: “I congratulate JAAGO Foundation for being at the forefront of raising environmental awareness in Bangladesh. Let’s use the opportunity of this World Environment Day to educate ourselves on this complex issue and start gearing up for the battle ahead.”

Present at the programme, Korvi Rakshand, founder of JAAGO and president of VBD, he said: “We need to put a bit of love for nature in every young heart regardless of political and social boundaries. Plant a tree or do a small act of favour to thank the mother earth.”

Rabbu Reza, chief operating officer of Beximco Pharmaceuticals said: “We believe if we can do our small bits and encourage others to follow; we will certainly be able to create a positive impact on the environment. Thanks to JAAGO Foundation for their wonderful efforts and for the reminder that ‘we must act today to save our tomorrow’.” l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Friday, June 6, 2014

5

Over 5kg gold recovered from a Biman flight n Kailash Sarkar At least 48 gold bars weighing around 5.6kg have been seized at the Shahjalal International Airport in the capital early yesterday.

Personnel at the Customs Intelligence and Investigation (CIID) at the airport said they seized the gold worth Tk2.5 crore from a cargo whole of a Bangladesh Biman flight immediately after the flight from Dubai arrived at Dhaka around 3:30am.

“Acting on a tip-off, the smuggled gold bars, wrapped into black clothes, were seized,” said Moinul Khan, CIID director general.

He said no one was arrested yet in this connection as the gold was recovered at an abandoned state. They had information about the suspected carrier and owner of the gold bars, he added.

Declining to disclose their identities, the top CIID official said they had been trying to be sure of the suspects, and they would be arrested soon.

Sources at the airport said some of the staff of the Biman Bangladesh Airlines were involved in the smuggling, unless it was not possible to hide the gold bars there. Those people could not carry out the gold bars, as there was a check post by the intelligence personnel.

Husband tortures his wife to death in Chittagong n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong A bus driver allegedly tortured his wife to death at his residence in Chittagong city’s Shulokbohor area early yesterday over conjugal disputes.

Police detained the alleged killer husband Sirajul Islam and his so-called sister Jaheda in this connection, said police sources.

The body of the victim, Towhida Akhter Akhi, 19, a readymade garment worker, was sent to Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) morgue for autopsy, said the sources.

Quoting locals and the next-doors of the couple, Abu Jafor Mohammad Omar Faruk, officer-in-charge (OC) of Panchlaish police station, told the Dhaka Tribune that Sirajul allegedly tortured Akhi early yesterday as usual which resulted Akhi’s death sometime during the dawn.

Later, locals detained the duo suspecting their involvement in the alleged murder and handed over Sirajul and Jaheda to police, he said.

During initial interrogation, Sirajul, however, denied his involvement with the death of his wife, the OC added.

Akhi’s father lodged a case with Panchlaish police station in this regard. l

WEATHER THUNDERSHOWER OR RAIN

FRIDAY, JUNE 6 DHAKA TODAY TOMORROW SUN SETS 6:44PM SUN RISES 5:10AM FORECAST FOR TODAY 37

Dhaka

28

Chittagong

33

27

Rajshahi

40

28

Rangpur

36

27

Khulna

37

26

Barisal

35

27

Sylhet

36

25

Cox’s Bazar

33

27

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

37.6ºC Rajshahi

25.3ºC Chittagong

Source: Accuweather/UNB

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Jumma Asr Magrib Esha

3:43am 5:09am 11:57am 4:37pm 6:44pm 8:11pm Source: IslamicFinder.org

Earlier on June 3, the Detective Branch personnel arrested 10 alleged members of a ring, involved in gold smuggling, with over 8kg gold and different foreign currencies worth Tk35 lakh at the airport and Purana Paltan in the capital.

Usually the entire jewellery business in Bangladesh is based on the smuggled gold due to the lack of proper laws for gold import commercially.

Meanwhile the rampant gold smuggling has been intensified and the airports in Bangladesh have become the main routes for gold smuggling since the Indian government imposed some barriers on the import of gold there.

Sources at the airport said around 60 are active in the smuggling of gold and various precious metals and stones while a section of officials and employees working at the airports have been found to be linked to the smuggling processes.

Moinul Khan, Director General of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) earlier told the Dhaka Tribune that they had identified 18 officials of the Biman Bangladesh Airlines and the Civil Aviation Authorities of Bangladesh (CAAB) as the suspects for their links to the smuggling of the 124 kg of gold. l

Two motorbike riders and a rickshaw-puller watch a train pass by at the capital’s Kamalapur rail crossing yesterday, waiting to resume their journey on the wrong side of the road once the barrier is lifted SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Chittagong rail schedule disrupted, passengers suffer

World Cup furore at DU

n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong

As the Fifa World Cup 2014 knocks on the door, it seems Dhaka University has joined the tide that is the biggest celebration of world football.

The excitement is evident on the campus as the football-loving students were seen buying flags and jerseys of their favourite countries, painting the teams’ slogans, collecting posters and festoons, and so on.

Though the air of festivity has been around for a while, the craze truly started at the beginning of this month.

Gates of several residential halls were seen decorated with flags and banners, as well as paintings of several football teams, especially Brazil and Argentina.

When visited, dormitories like A F Rahman, Haji Muhammad Mohsin, Jahurul Haque, Surjo Sen, Jagannath halls were found to be fully decorated following the theme of World Cup. The female dormitories are not behind in the preparation either.

Residents of the hall collected money from all the students to fund the

A disruption to schedules of trains travelling from Chittagong subjected passengers to sufferings yesterday.

The disruption was the result of derailment of five compartments of a Dhaka-bound freight train in Fajilpur of Feni around 4:30am yesterday which cut rail communications between Chittagong and other districts.

No train left since morning while six rail schedules from Chittagong to Dhaka and Sylhet routes were postponed, said AA Shamul Alam, station manager of Chittagong Railway Station.

The commuters said they might return their tickets as rail services would not be restored till the rail tracks were fixed, he said.

According to Bangladesh Railway (East), Dhaka-bound Subarna Express, Mahanagar Provati, Karnaphuli Express and Chattala Express, Sylhet-bound Paharika Express and Chandpur-bound Sagarika Express were

scheduled to leave the port city for respective destinations but the railway authorities postponed all schedules around 2pm.

Farah Sarkar, a student who was supposed to catch Subarna Express to arrive in the capital, waited till 2pm but became upset when it was announced that the train schedule was postponed.

Her friend Imran Chowdhury said he, along with five others, had to go to Dhaka for the purpose of college admission but had run into trouble due to the disruption.

Feni Railway Station Master Mahbubul Alam said: “The freight train derailed as miscreants removed fishplates from the tracks.”

“Two rescue trains from Laksham and Akhaura went to the spot. Rescue operation has begun and communication will be restored by the evening,” he said.

Repair work was going on at the time of filing the report around 6:10pm. l

n DU Correspondent

Third Rooppur pact inked n Aminur Rahman Rasel The government yesterday signed a third deal worth $190 million with Russia’s state-owned Atomstroyexport for physical construction of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Project (RNPP).

Shahana Afroz, chairman of Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, signed the pact on behalf of Bangladesh and A O Lebedev, vice-president of Atomstroyexport, at Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission’s office in the capital.

State minister for the Ministry of Science and Technology Yeafesh Osman, Secretary of the ministry Khondaker M Asaduzzaman, Russian Ambassador in Dhaka Alexander Nikolaev were present at the signing ceremony among others.

On June 1, the third of the four agreements on construction of the Rooppur plant in Pabna’s Ishwardi was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase. l

decoration.

Flags of Barzil, Argentina and Bangladesh were seen flying at the gate of AF Rahman Hall. Supporters of Brazil and Argentina bring out processions on the campus at least once a day wearing the teams’ jerseys. They have even opened fan pages on Facebook to show their support for their favourite teams.

When asked about the preparation, Ferdous Rifat, a fourth-year student and resident of AF Rahman Hall, said: “I have never enjoyed it so much on the occasion of any other World Cups, cricket or football, as I have this year.

“We have already finished decorating our hall and are waiting for the tournament to start,” he added.

A few TSC-based organisations are making arrangements for large screening of the matches on the TSC premises.

Though the university will be closed in June for summer vacation, the residential students have yet to vacate the halls for the World Cup. Fuad Hossain Shahadat, a third-year student and resident of Salimullah Muslim Hall, said: “This is the first time

that I will enjoy the World Cup football on the campus. I do not know much about the celebration here, but judging by the preparation and enthusiasm of the students, I am really impressed and do not want to miss it. That is why I will stay here during the vacation, instead of going home.”

However, the teachers are also equally caught up in the World Cup fever. Conversations centring the tournament are happening in the Teachers’ lounge and Dhaka University Teachers’ Club.

Proctor Amzad Ali told the Dhaka Tribune: “We talk about the World Cup, and sometimes there are heated arguments over the teams among the teachers whenever we get together, especially at the club in the evening.”

He also said some teachers had already bought the jerseys of their favourite teams for their family members, especially for the children, but also for themselves.

“We have arranged for a large screen at the club to watch the World Cup together,” he added. l

Transport leaders call off strike n Mohosinul Karim

As World Cup mood grips the country, all employees of a restaurant in Rajshahi’s New Market area don jerseys of Argentina yesterday to express their support for the country ahead of the global sporting event AZAHAR UDDIN

Transport leaders have decided to finally withdraw the strike that was postponed earlier.

The decision came at a meeting held at the Communication Ministry yesterday with Communication Minister Obaidul Quader in the chair.

The meeting was called to resolve the crisis resulted from enforcement of the strike in northern part of the country and Mymensingh area.

Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan, State Minister for Cooperatives Mashiur Rahman Ranga, Dhaka Divisional Commissioner Zillar Rahman, Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner Helal Uddin Ahmed, Road Transport Association’s Secretary General Khandaker Enayet Ullah and Bangladesh Road Transport Workers Federation Secretary Osman Ali attended the meeting.

Following the meeting, Obaidul

Quader told reporters the transport leaders had decided to withdraw the strike taking into account the fruitful discussion with the government and had asked local leaders to restore normalcy in transport operations outside Dhaka.

“The government has already instructed the law enforcement agencies not to allow easy bikes and human hauliers, locally known as nosimon, korimon and votvoti, on highways across the country.

“The Communication Ministry will request the Commerce Ministry officially to stop importing machineries of these vehicles,” he said.

“The authorities concerned were instructed to remove makeshift stalls from local and national highways,” said the minister.

“It is really tough to completely eradicate extortion by the police but it is possible to control this by taking necessary measures,” he added. l

Three killed in two Chittagong Women Leadership Summit opens tomorrow road accidents n Tribune Report

n CU Correspondent At least three youngsters were killed in two road accidents in Chittagong on Wednesday night.

Of the deceased, two were identified as Md Afsar, 25, a rickshaw passenger, Md Rana, 22, a tempo driver by profession while the third could not be identified immediately.

Nayek Jahagir Alam of Chittagong Medical College Hospital Police Outpost said Afsar sustained critical injuries in a head-on collision between a battery-run rickshaw and truck at around 11:30 at Shantirhat area of Patiya upazila.

Rana was critically injured as a three-wheeler overturned after losing control over the steering at the city’s CEPZ at around 1:00am.

Both of them were taken to the hospital, but on-duty doctors declared them dead, he added.

Meanwhile, a 25-year old man died after he fell under the wheels of a train at Chittagong Railway Station.

Nayek Jahangir said the youth sustained fatal injuries after being crushed under the wheel of Chittagong bound “Suborno Express” train at around 11:00 pm. He was also taken to the hospital, the on-duty doctors declared him dead. l

An extensive discussion on empowering women for leadership roles is going to be held at Westin Hotel in the capital tomorrow.

The daylong event styled “Horlicks Women Leadership Summit 2014” is expected to be attended by representatives from large business organisations, higher educational institutes and various development agencies.

With the vision to empower and equip women to reach leadership positions in the various fields of professionalism, the summit is the first step in the ‘Inspiring Women in Leadership’ project.

The keynote sessions will be chaired

by four leading women from various professional sectors.

Dr Fahima Aziz, vice-chancellor of Asian University for Women in Chittagong, will be addressing the event as the first keynote speaker with a speech titled “High Participation, Low Presentation of Women; Dangerous Demographics”.

Chief Executive of BELA Syeda Rizwana Hasan will lead the summit as the second keynote speaker and will be followed by the third speaker Naazneen Karmali, editor of Forbes India and a veteran business journalist.

The summit will feature Kathy Tracey, founder & managing director of the Learning Company Ltd, as the fourth keynote speaker.

Apart from keynote speeches, there will be three panel discussions.

The first panel discussion titled “Women of Tomorrow: Health & Psyche - Are We Doing Enough?” will address nutrition and health concerns of women in the society and will be moderated by Dr Abdun Noor Tushar.

The second will be moderated by Syeda Yasmin Rahman, chief people officer of Accenture, and the third by Nazim Farhan Choudhury, managing director of Adcomm Limited.

The summit has been organised by Bangladesh Brand Forum with title sponsor Women’s Holicks, hospitality partner the Westin Dhaka and associate partner RFL. l

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

Friday, June 6, 2014

BNP,AL leaders among 3 murdered n Tribune Report A local leader of BNP was shot dead in Pabna while an Awami League leader murdered in Mymensingh and a death row convict found dead in Faridpur districts yesterday.

In Pabna, a local leader of BNP was gunned down by miscreants at Negri village in Chatmohor upazila in the morning.

The deceased was identified as Faruk Hossain, 30, general secretary of ward No. 2 of Foiljana union unit BNP, and also a member of the union parishad.

Police said a group of miscreants opened fire on Faruk in his sleep at his house around 1:30 am, leaving him critically injured.

Faruk was taken to Pabna Medical College Hospital where he was referred

to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital as his condition deteriorated. He died on the way to the Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.

Police recovered the body and sent it to the Pabna Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy.

Victim’s brother, Mahbub Hossain, filed a case accusing Shahjahan Ali, president of the Foiljana union unit BNP and also chairman of the same union parishad and Amirul Islam, of killing his brother.

Meanwhile, police arrested them for their suspected involvement in the killing as there had been a longstanding dispute between Faruk and Shahjahan.

Office secretary of the district unit BNP Zahurul Islam protested the arrest.

In Mymensingh, a local Awami League leader was killed at Shahidna-

gar in Gafargaon upazila.

The deceased was identified as Abdul Majid, 60, president of ward no. 4 of Shahidnagar union unit Awami League.

Zahidul Islam, sub-inspector of

The victim’s brother Shaheb Ali told reporters about six persons entered the house of one Rahamat Sheik around 1.15am identified them law enforcers Pagla Police Station in Gafargaon upazila, said Majid went out of the house at about 10 pm on Wednesday and had not returned since then.

Local people spotted Majid’s body in the paddy filed adjoining his house on Thursday morning and immediately informed police.

Later, police recovered the body and sent the same to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy.

Police suspected that miscreants might have killed Majid elsewhere and later dumped the body near his house.

In Faridpur, police recovered the body of a death row convict at Sadar upazila.

The dead was identified as Nayeb Ali of Boitakhali village. Nayeb Ali had appealed to the High Court earlier after a local court had handed down the death sentence for murdering a man.

He had come out of jail only five days ago after securing bail from the High Court.

Ali’s body was found on the embankment at Hothatbazar at the upazila’s Charmadhobdia union, police said.

Faridpur Kotwali police station SI Raziur Rahman said there was a wound on the left side of the man’s head. “We suspect he was shot to death.”

Nayeb was accused in a number of cases over murder, extortion and robbery.

The victim’s brother Shaheb Ali told reporters that about six persons entered the house of one Rahamat Sheik around 1.15am identified them law enforcers of whom two had black uniforms and took him away.

Nayeb Ali was staying at house of Rahamat as he was returning from Dhaka.

When contacted, Rab 8-camp commander Major Mozammel Hossen said that they did know about the incident. l

Train kills two schoolgirls

n Our Correspondent, Jessore Two schoolgirls were killed and four injured as commuter train hit the autorickshaw carrying them at Krittipur rail crossing in Jhikargachha upazila of the district yesterday.

The deceased were identified as Mahua, ClassVIII student, Habiba, ClassVII student of Burubagan Madimik Pilot High School.

Mosharraf Hossain, officer incharge, Jhikargachha police station confirmed the incident.

He said the commuter train had knocked the battery-run auto-rickshaw carrying Mahua and Habia around 1:30am while returning home from school, leaving them dead on the spot and injured four others.

The injured were rushed to local health complex. l

Couple die of electrocution n Our Correspondent, Naogaon

World environment day observed n Tribune Desk

A couple died of electrocution at Vandarpur village in Badalgachhi upazila of the district yesterday.

The deceased were identified as Abdul Hamid, 50, and his wife Ezida Begum, 40, of the village.

Alamgir Lenin, officer-in-charge of Badalgachhi police station, said the couple was repairing a vertical tube well at their house at around 10am.

At one stage, they were electrocuted after an iron rod came in contact with a live electric wire, leaving both of them critically injured.

Local people rushed them to Akkelpur Upazila Health Complex where doctor on duty declared them dead. l

Speakers at a seminar held yesterday in the conference room of Deputy Commissioner(DC) stressed the need for management of human wastes in more scientific way to conserve our degrading environment due to several global and local reasons.

The seminar organized jointly by Faridpur District Administration and Environment Directorate in connection with the observance of ‘World Environment Day’ was chaired by ADM Md Khalilur Rahman while DC Abu Hena Morshed Zaman attended as chief guest.

Khondoker M Fazlul Haque, Deputy Director of Environment Directorate presented the keynote paper on power point about this year’s theme “ Raise your voice, not the sea level”.

Pointing out the problems of country’s environment situation speakers said that population explosion, drying up of water bodies, rivers, canals, unplanned urbanization and poor waste management are contributing for the degradation.

Speakers said that indiscriminate cutting of trees for brick fields and fume emission by the kilns are also destroying the soothing environment. They called upon the authorities concerned to take stern actions against the violators. l

Dhaka-ChittagongSylhet rail link snapped n Our Correspondent, Feni The railway communication between Dhaka-Chittagong and ChittagongSylhet routes were halted as four bogies of a Dhaka-bound train derailed on Muhuri Bridge in Feni yesterday.

Feni Railway Station Master Mahbubul Alam said: “The Dhaka bound goods-laden derailment around 4:30am as some miscreants removed the fish plates of the railway track.”

He said: “A rescue train junction has rushed to the spot from Laksham. The rescue operation has been started to normalise the railway communication on the route.” l

Missing female student found dead n Our Correspondent, Thakurgaon A missing female student was found dead yesterday in a maze field under Pirganj upazila after she was three day missing.

The deceased was identified as Bristi,13, daughter of Abdul Kader in Ranshia Pathanagar village under the upazila.She was Class V student of Ranasha Madrasa.

According to family sources , Bristi went out on June 1 and did not return home.

The father of Bristi lodged a complaint with police in this connection.

Later, locals found the body in the area and informed the police.

The police recovered the body and sent it to hospital. l

With much work yet to be done, construction of Habiganj Modern Stadium is going on at a snail’s pace

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Habiganj stadium constuction Listed criminals in Lakshmipur still at large moves at slow pace n Our Correspondent, Lakshmipur

n Our Correspondent, Habiganj Construction of Habiganj Modern Stadium is moving at snail pace despite having missed the second deadline bercause of the assigned- company’s inaction and carelessness.

Consequently, there is a level of uncertainty that is prevalant among the local sports lovers whether the third deadline for completion will be met.

Sources at Habiganj Krira Sangstha, the district sports authority, said the estimated cost of the stadium is Tk17 crore and its construction was initially supposed to end in March, 2012. Later, the deadline was extended for the second time to December last year as the construction company could not end the task timely. Later, the company missed the deadline again and asked the government for another extention, which granted until June this year.

Witness said so far 80% of the construction for the stadium have been completed while comparatively fewer workers were working on the site.

The sources also stated that local players threatened to make public protests against the company unless the constuction is completed in due time.

Farhad Hossain Koli, General Secretary of Zila Krira Sangstha, blamed the assigned company for the delay, saying “In the way the construction is progressing, it can easily be assumed that the company will also miss the third deadline.”

Abdur Rauf, vice president of Zila Krira Sangstha and Habiganj Additional Deputy Commissioner, said a committee was formed to look after the stadium’s construction. Moreover, the local administration has kept the contractor under pressure to finish the constuction on time. “We have already informed the higher authorities about the callousness of the contractor,” Rauf stated.

Mostafizur Rahman, manager of Meghna Traders the company that is reponsible for the stadium’s constuction, said they missed the first deadline because of incessant nationwide hartal and blockade programmes enforced by the BNP-led 18-party alliance last year. l

In the wake of pressure from high-ups to contain criminal activities, police and Bangladesh Border Guards have recently started joint operations in Lakshmipur and have arrested a good number of listed criminals.

The joint forces have arrested 415 listed criminals during the drives, but could not seize their firearms, which has created tension among locals.

Moreover, drug peddlers are still running drug smuggling rackets under the nose of law enforcers.

Local people said the people who were known as godfathers of criminal activities in the district, were yet to be arrested by the law enforcers. Locals are now terming the joint drives as just useless.

According to Lakshmipur district police sources, the drives started on May 21. Since then, Lakshmipur police station has arrested 144 listed criminals, Raipur police station arrested 103, Ramganj police station 77, Ramgati police station 45 and Komolganj police station has arrested 46 people,

who are accused in several cases.

In the drives, the law enforcers only seized two LG guns, 22 rounds of bullets, one AK rifle and 198 rounds of bullets from Duttapara and Boshikpur area, respectively.

But police could not arrest the main accused in several murders, which took place in the district recently.

The accused in the Chhatra League leader Abu Noman and Jubadal activist Jahangir Hossain cases are yet to be arrested by the police, local people said.

Officer-in-Charge of Lakshmipur Sadar police station Iqbal Hossain said they could not take any actions regarding the Jahangir murder case as no case had been filed in this connection.

Advocate Habibur Rahman, general secretary of the district unit BNP, told the Dhaka Tribune that police were trying to harass BNP leaders and activists in connection with the cases filed during the past caretaker government.

“There is a godown of arms at Duttapara and Boshikpur under Sadar police station, but police recovered a

small quantity of firearms from there,” he said.

Gun fights take place frequently in the areas in broad daylight, but police always keep mum over the issue as leaders and activists of the ruling party are involved in the fights, he added.

M Alauddin, president of district Awami League, told the Dhaka Tribune that it was good that law enforcers were trying to keep the law and order situation in the district normal, but they have to be more aggressive in recovering the firearms and arresting the listed criminals.

It is important to arrest the main accused of recent sensational murder cases in the district to contain criminal activities, he felt.

Lakshmipur Police Super Shah Mizan Shafiur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune that he had joined office on May 16.

He also expressed hope that they would be able to recover firearms and drugs soon.

“One day the district will be freed from abuse of drugs and arms,” he said. l

Development work stalled as two Union Parishad members go on the run in Pirojpur n Our Correspondent, Pirojpur Development and social safety work have been stalled at two wards of Chirapara-Parsaturia Union Parishad in Pirojpur’s Kaukhai upazila as two of its members went on the run in fear of arrest over a murder case about nine months ago.

On August 20 last year, Kaukhali Upazila Juba League Vice-President Enamul Haq was killed in broad daylight while he was on his way to the upazila town.

The victim’s brother Emdadul Haq filed a case against 16 people, including Ward No 7 Member Zakir Hossain Talukder and Ward No 9 Member Mir Enamul Haq. The correspondent visited the wards and found no development activity or support programme there, unlike those of the other wards in the union parishad.

The development and support pro-

grammes are Kajer Binimoye Taka (Kabita), Kajer Binimoye Khadya (Kabikha), Test Relief (TR) programmes, Local Governance Support Programme LGSP) and 40-day job generation programme.

Two people named Mohammad Mohosin and Afzal Hossain, who lived respectively at Ward No 8 and Ward No 9, they said the communication system here is very poor. Again members of these two wards have been on the run.

People will have to suffer immensely if no development work is done here, they said.

Mohsin and Afzal added that new bridges and culverts need to be set up at some places immediately need to be saved from the effects of the rainy season. At a time when mud roads remain submerged, causing huge sufferings to inhabitants here.

Kaukhali police station Officer-inCharge Sultan Mahmud said, “The case

is now with the Detective Branch of police. They are running raids at various places to arrest Zakir and Enamul.”

The Union Parishad Act, 2009, 34 (4) ka stipulates that an Union Parishad member can be removed from his or her post without showing any reason if he or she remains absent from the Parishad’s three meetings consecutively.

The chairman is tasked with writing to the upazila nirbahi office about such absence. When he was asked about the stalled development and support programmes, Chairman Md Nazrul Islam Badsha said these activities were stopped there because two Union Parishad members concerned have been on the run.

When he was again asked about the two Union Parishad members’ absence from three meetings consecutively, he kept quite for a while and then said, “I will soon write to the upazila nirbahi officer to take steps against them.” l

Pirojpur District Administration brings out a procession in the city yesterday to mark the World Environment Day 2014 DHAKA TRIBUNE

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Special

7

Friday, June 6, 2014

China will build up closer comprehensive partnership with Bangladesh ‘China is poised to maintain momentum of its bilateral relations with support from all political forces, either in power or in opposition, in Bangladesh,’ the Chinese Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary, Li Jun, said in an exclusive interview with Dhaka Tribune on June 5.

He said China will expand zero-tariff facilitation to 95% Bangladeshi goods and try to achieve a more balanced bilateral trade.

Dhaka Tribune Special Affairs Editor Shahidul Islam Chowdhury conducted the interview

nationalisation, China has signed the currency swap agreement with more than 20 countries in six years, including the United Kingdom, Korea, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, etc.

With rapid development of scale, it is amounting to more than RMB2tn.

As we all know, such an important agreement not only needs time, but also needs feasibility research and close cooperation of the governments.

With the speed up pace of RMB internationalisation and growth of bilateral trade volume, we keep an optimistic attitude on the agreement of Taka and RMB Swap.

How do you assess the progress made so far on Bangladesh-China road connectivity through Myanmar?

Chinese ambassador Li Jun speaks at the press conference at his office in Dhaka

Are you satisfied with the current momentum of China’s bilateral relations with Bangladesh?

China-Bangladesh relationship is in the best period in history, with blessings of the two peoples, especially of all the political forces, either in power or in opposition.

China is the largest trade partner for Bangladesh and Bangladesh is the third largest trade partner for China in South Asia. The bilateral trade volume has been growing with an average annual rate of more than 10% in the past years and reached $10.3bn in 2013.

I believe China and Bangladesh should work to deepen the “Closer Comprehensive Partnership of Cooperation,” promote trade and economic cooperation, investment facilitation and people-to-people exchanges.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is set to visit China in June. She has also visited the country in the past. What is special about the visit this time?

Nowadays, China is pushing forward with a new round of comprehensively deep reform and opening-up, and undergoing industrial restructuring

NASHIRUL ISLAM

and upgrade, to move to the upper end of the international value chain. China is encouraging its companies to invest abroad and shift labour-intense sectors.

The new leadership also attaches the most importance to neighbouring diplomacy and highlights the concepts of friendship, sincerity, benefit and inclusiveness when handling relations with neighbouring countries. Bangladesh is turning into an attractive destination as its demographic dividend is unveiled gradually. Both countries are committed to close regional cooperation under the banner of BCIM Economic Corridor.

Under this background, this visit will promote the existing formidable bonds, tap the huge potentials of two countries, and strengthen cooperation in fields of infrastructure, power generation, telecommunication, disaster relief and so on, to instill fresh vitality to this time-tested tie.

abroad in the next five years.

There is no doubt that Bangladesh would be one of the best destinations for Chinese investors as Bangladesh has a huge and capable labour force and investment-friendly policies.

To ensure and attract more investment from China, the establishment of a Special Export Processing Zone for China in Bangladesh should be on top priority in the near future.

How can Bangladesh get China’s huge outbound investment?

How do you see the possibility of financial settlement in Bangladesh’s Taka and Chinese RMB by encouraging currency swap?

With its economic development, China will invest an additional $500bn overseas and import over $10tn from

To what extent has Bangladesh used China’s duty-free and quota-free scheme extended in 2010?

In July 2010, China exempted duty for 4,721 kinds of Bangladeshi products that promoted the export from Bangladesh.

In the last three years, the total value of the duty free products export from Bangladesh to China was $690mn. On an average this was 45% of the total export amount. And the duty saved value was $361.5mn.

As an important step of RMB inter-

In 2010, China and Bangladesh agreed to continue to discuss the possibility of building road and rail links between the two countries. Since then, the two sides have kept close cooperation in this regard.

Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar has been working on establishing an Economic Corridor for better connectivity and ultimately boost trade, economic and cultural exchanges within the region. I believe the road connectivity between China and Bangladesh would be one of the priority projects under the framework of BCIM-EC.

Will you use your good office to complete the expansion of the DhakaChittagong highway as a Chinese company has been undertaking the construction and there was little progress on the ground?

First of all, I have to say the background of delay is manifold and complex. However, the fact is that the Chinese company (HYDROCHINA) has been investing full resources to accelerate the construction of the Dhaka-Chittagong highway. The construction process has been resumed to normal level on March with the involvement of the embassy and the ministry of communication of the Bangladesh government.

The successful implementation of a project needs cooperation from both sides. I hope the concerned authority and consultants could also give them full support in efficiency, land acquisition as well as the reasonable claims by the Chinese company.

Is there any strategic specialty in Chinese defence cooperation? What are those?

I would like to emphasise on three points regarding China-Bangladesh defence cooperation. First, defence cooperation is an integral part of the “Comprehensive Partnership of Cooperation” between China and Bangladesh. Such a strategic partnership is in the fundamental interest of the two countries and the two peoples.

Second, with a view to helping Bangladesh modernise and strengthen its armed forces, China has provided necessary assistance within its capacity to Bangladesh without preconditions attached. Third, China-Bangladesh defence cooperation strictly adheres to relevant international law and norms on international relations, and is not directed against any third country or party.

Bangladesh, China and India have been sharing a common river, the Brahmaputra, which is the Yaluzangbu in China. Will China take initiative for joint management of the Brahmaputra basin by the three countries?

The Chinese Government adopts a very cautious attitude towards utilisation of water resources of trans-border rivers. China is committed to utilise the water resources of the Yaluzangbu/ Brahmaputra River with environmentally friendly practices and will take full consideration of the impact on the downstream countries.

Actually, China and Bangladesh have enjoyed sound cooperation on the Yaluzangbu/Brahmaputra River. In 2008, the two governments signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Provision of Hydrological Information of the Yaluzangbu/Brahmaputra River in Flood Season by China to Bangladesh. Ever since then, China provided Bangladesh with information on water level, discharge and rainfall of Yaluzangbu/Brahmaputra River twice a day from June 1 to October 15 each year.

The vice Minister of Water Resources of China will visit Bangladesh in early June. During the visit, the two sides will renew the above mentioned MOU which was expired in 2013. And I believe we could work even more closely on issues related to the Yaluzangbu/Brahmaputra River. l

Will Bangladesh-China relations reach new horizons? Linking dots for an economic n belt along the Silk Road Munshi Faiz Ahmad

Bangladesh and China are expected to usher in new dynamism with the official visit of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to the country from June 6 to 11 this year. It will be her second visit within four years.

As we look at the prospects of the forthcoming visit, some questions will come to the fore. One that covers everything is – what is the significance of the visit? To understand this better, we may try to break it down to a few simpler questions, eg, what are the circumstances and background of the visit? Why is China important to Bangladesh and vice versa? What is expected to be achieved from the visit?

Although China did not support us during our war of liberation in 1971, they responded well to the overtures made by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman soon after liberation by sending business delegations to China. Since establishment of formal diplomatic relations in October 1975, friendship and cooperation between the two countries has grown and flourished steadily.

China’s sustained support to our economic construction has established her as a time-tested, all-weather and dependable friend. We have also extended unwavering support to China on issues of her core interests namely, Taiwan, Tibet and human rights. We continue to subscribe to a “one China” policy. Our relations are now characterised as a “Closer Comprehensive Partnership of Cooperation”.

Frequent and regular exchange of visits at the highest level have helped in sustaining the momentum and dynamism in our ever expanding and deepening cooperation. The last top level visit was in March 2010 when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid an official visit to China. Within months of her visit, Vice President Xi Jinping visited Bangladesh. He is now the President, the Secretary General of the Communist Party of China and Chairman of the Central Military Commission. In Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina

continues to be Prime Minister for a consecutive second term as the Awami League retained power after the General Elections in January this year.

Therefore, this visit bears very special significance in terms of renewal of personal rapport as well as renewal of commitments by the leadership of the two countries to further expand and deepen cooperation.

Now let us try to understand why China is Important to us? In recent reforms the Chinese leadership has decided to change her growth model by shifting some emphasis from export to domestic consumption. The country

annual trade, with prospect of significant further growth in the near future.

Although Bangladesh’s exports to China are still very low (about $500mn) compared to her imports from China (almost $8.5bn) it has shown marked improvement in recent years following China’s decision to allow more than 4,700 Bangladeshi Product duty free access under APTA. China is already an important source of FDI into Bangladesh and her investments are rising steadily. Considering both private and public sectors, Chinese investments in Bangladesh now exceed $2bn.

Starting from infrastructure like

This visit bears very special significance in terms of renewal of personal rapport as well as renewal of commitments to further deepen cooperation is also planning to climb higher up the value chain in manufacturing and to put greater emphasis on science and technology, and innovation. All these are likely to open up China more as a market for imported consumables.

China is now a leading country in innovating and applying mitigation and adaptation technologies, including alternative energy technology. In recent years, our partnership with China in different forums, particularly in APTA, BCIM-EC and SAARC could also bring considerable benefit for all in these forums, including Bangladesh.

Under pressure from the US pivot to Asia policy and in view of difficulties with some neighbours regarding conflicting territorial claims over Islands in the East and South China Seas, she is keen to further strengthen her friendship with all countries in the region. All these present new and huge opportunities for Bangladesh to further enhance the mutually beneficial cooperation with China.

China is already Bangladesh’s largest trade partner with almost $9bn

bridges, roads, power plants, telecommunication to machineries equipment and complete plants, chemicals and industrial raw materials, mechanisation of agriculture, irrigation, hybrid seed technology, climate change-mitigation and adaptation and alternative energy, everywhere we see a preponderance of cooperation with China. She also provides invaluable support and cooperation in the areas of defence, education and culture. There is ample scope for further expanding and intensifying cooperation in all these areas.

During this visit, the two countries are expected to sign a few MOUs for new cooperation including a RMB150mn Chinese Grant. The MOUs could also cover agreements regarding construction of a road tunnel under the Karnaphuli river, a coal fired power plant at Patuakhali, a Chinese exclusive industrial zone, a second railway bridge at Kalurghat, a flood management feasibility study as well as a proposed deep sea port at Sonadia and maritime cooperation.

Similarly, China also benefits

significantly from her friendship and cooperation with Bangladesh. When she needs friends to support her on the issues of her core interests like Taiwan, Tibet and human rights, she can always count on Bangladesh.

With a population of over 160 million with ever growing purchasing power, Bangladesh is a significant and growing market for China’s exports and a friendly and profitable destination for investing some of her huge surpluses. Bangladesh’s strategic location, straddling the Bay of Bengal also fits into her long-term plan for diversifying and securing alternative supply routes for her strategic resource needs.

Possibility of profitable cooperation in exploring and exploiting the marine resources in the Bangladeshi EEZ in the Bay of Bengal could also be an important attraction.

Finally, let us consider what Bangladesh could hope to achieve from the visit? The most important outcome would be the renewal of personal rapport between the leaders of the two countries and the demonstration of their strong mutual confidence and willingness to work closely together.

The visit is going to send a signal down the line in the two countries to revitalise their efforts to speed up and tighten implementation efforts on existing cooperative programmes and projects.

New urgency is likely to be instilled in speeding up negotiations and procedural matters on programmes and projects already under consideration.

The leaders and officials in the two countries will undertake fresh efforts to explore and identify promising new areas and projects for mutually beneficial cooperation. Such visits always help ignite new enthusiasm and sensitise afresh all stakeholders in looking for expanding opportunities for win-win cooperation, including at the business to business and people to people levels. l Munshi Faiz Ahmad is Chairman of Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies and former Ambassador to China

n Shahidul Islam Chowdhury Bangladesh is likely to be a part of the Silk Road that are expected to link Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar and beyond.

“A proposal for revival of the Silk Road under the BCIM Economic Cooperation is on the table and we are working on that,” Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque said on June 5.

On the other hand, China has been actively engaged its efforts for revival of both the Silk Road on the land and maritime silk routes on the seas and ocean.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, in a statement in September last year, has expressed his countries intent for revival of the Silk Road for linking the east and the west, Asia and Europe.

“Throughout the millennia, the people of various countries along the ancient Silk Road have jointly written a chapter of friendship that has been passed on to this very day. The over 2,000-year history of exchanges demonstrates that on the basis of solidarity, mutual trust, equality, inclusiveness, mutual learning and win-win cooperation, countries of different races, beliefs and cultural backgrounds are fully capable of sharing peace and development. This is the valuable inspiration we have drawn from the ancient Silk Road,” he said.

“We need to expand regional cooperation with a more open mind and broader vision and achieve new glories together. The world is going through faster economic integration and regional cooperation is booming.”

“By intensifying cooperation between the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) and the EAEC (Eurasian Economic Community), we will create even larger space for development.”

Bangladesh is a member of the SCO. “To forge closer economic ties, deepen cooperation and expand development space in the Eurasian region, we should take an innovative approach and jointly build an ‘eco-

nomic belt along the Silk Road.’ This will be a great undertaking benefitting the people of all countries along the route. To turn this into a reality, we may start with work in individual areas and link them up over time to cover the whole region.”

For this, the countries need: First, a comprehensive discussions on development strategies and policy response, work out plans and measures for advancing regional cooperation through consultation in the spirit of seeking common ground.

Second, the countries need to improve road connectivity for increasing cross-border transportation and travel.

Third, the countries in the region need to promote unimpeded trade.

The proposed “economic belt along the Silk Road” is inhabited by close to three billion people and represents the biggest market in the world with unparalleled potential.

Fourth, the countries also need to enhance monetary circulation. China and Russia have already had sound cooperation on settling trade in local currencies, and have gained gratifying results and rich experience. There is no reason not to share this good practice with others in the region. If our region can realise local currency convertibility and settlement under current and capital accounts, it will significantly lower circulation cost, increase our ability to fend off financial risks and make our region more economically competitive in the world.

Fifth, the countries also need to increase understanding between our people. Amity between the people holds the key to good relations between states. To have productive cooperation in the above-mentioned areas, we need the support of our people. We should encourage more friendly exchanges between our people to enhance mutual understanding and traditional friendship and build strong public support and a solid social foundation for regional cooperation. l

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Friday, June 6, 2014

G7 willing to step up sanctions on Russia over Ukraine n

Assad wins vote branded illegitimate by opposition

n AFP, Damascus

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has won a new seven-year term with nearly 90% of a vote in a poll branded “illegitimate” by the opposition and a “non-election” by the United States.

Tens of thousands took to the streets in government-held areas of Syria even before the results were announced Wednesday evening, waving portraits of Assad and the official Syrian flag.

As celebratory gunfire erupted in the capital and loyalist areas across Syria, at least 10 people were killed as the bullets fell back to earth, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Tuesday’s election was held only in government-controlled areas.

In the roughly 60% of the country controlled by rebels, activists reacted with the Arab Spring slogan that has been the rallying cry of their uprising – “The people want the fall of the regime.”

Pro-government newspapers all carried front-page photographs of the re-elected president. Images of Assad in suit and tie, or military uniform, filled the programming of state television. l

Hundreds feared dead in Boko Haram village raids n AFP, Nigeria, Hundreds of people may have been killed in a suspected Boko Haram attack on four villages in northeast Nigeria, a local lawmaker and residents said yesterday.

Gunmen in military uniform struck Goshe, Attagara, Agapalwa and Aganjara in the Gwoza district of Borno state late on Tuesday, razing homes, churches and mosques and killing residents who tried to flee the violence.

Some community leaders put the death toll in the attacks as high as 400 to 500, although there was no independent verification of the claim because of poor communications and difficulties by the emergency services in accessing the area.

If confirmed, the attack would be one of the deadliest in the Islamists’ five-year insurgency and top the more than 300 who were killed on May 5 when militant fighters laid siege to the nearby town of Gamboru Ngala.

“The killings are massive but nobody can give a toll for now because nobody has been able to go to that place because the insurgents are still there. They have taken over the whole area,” lawmaker Peter Biye said. l

and whether they raised any concerns for PresidentBarack Obama, who has pointedly avoided any contact with Putin, a US official said it wasn’t important who Putin met but “what people say in those meetings.” Ahead of the G7 summit, Obama met Poroshenko for talks in Warsaw and declared him a “wise choice” to lead Ukraine, part of efforts by the EU and the United States to provide moral and financial support to the new leadership.

Poroshenko, a chocolate-industry billionaire, said he would be willing to meet Putin for peace talks on the sidelines of the D-Day commemorations in Normandy although no meeting has been set up.

“As things stand now, a meeting between me and Putin is not envisaged, but I do not rule out that it could take place in one format or another,” he told

Angered by Palestinian unity gov’t, Israel to build more settler homes n Reuters, Jerusalem Israel announced on Thursday it would build 1,500 more settler homes in response to the formation of a Palestinian unity government that includes Hamas Islamists opposed to Israel’s existence.

Housing Minister Uri Ariel told Israel Radio that tenders had been issued for constructing the housing units following the inauguration of what he termed a Palestinian “terrorist government.”

He did not cite locations. But Israeli media said homes would be erected in seven settlements in the occupied West Bank, some of them in areas Israel annexed to Jerusalem after the 1967 Middle East war.

“When Israel is spat upon, it has to do something about it,” Ariela, a farright member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, said.

Asked who had insulted Israel, he replied: “Our neighbours, and to a certain extent, the world.”

A spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, whose reconciliation deal with Hamas Islamists led to the government’s formation on Monday, said: “The Palestinian leadership will respond to this new settlement activity in an unprecedented manner.” He did not elaborate.

Most countries regard settlements that Israel has built in territory it captured in 1967 as illegal. Their fate is a key issue in talks on an eventual independent Palestinian state - the latest round of which collapsed in April.

The United States, Israel’s main ally, said on Monday it would work with the new Palestinian unity government as needed but would monitor its commitment to continued cooperation with the Jewish state. Israel said it was “deeply disappointed” by the US position. Ariel accused the United States of breaking an understanding with Israel that it would not talk with the new government.

Technocrats

Netanyahu on Sunday had urged the international community not to rush to engage with a Palestinian administration he said was a front for Hamas, a group classified as a terrorist organisation by the United States and the European Union.

But Abbas’s formation of a government of technocrats and his pledge to adhere to principles of non-violence and pursuit of peace paved the way for international acceptance that seemed to have left Netanyahu outmanoeuvred. l

Yemen claims of killing 500 al Qaeda militants n Reuters, Sanaa Five hundred al Qaeda militants and 40 soldiers have been killed since the military launched an offensive against the group in April, Yemeni army spokesman, Colonel Saeed al-Faquih, told a news conference on Thursday.

Yemen’s military mounted a campaign in the south of the country to try to crush the Islamist group that has killed hundreds of people, and in response the militants have stepped up attacks on government facilities after being driven out of strongholds in the southern Shabwa and Abyan provinces.

They have fled to the desert and the mountains from where they have been attacking army and government targets.

“I want to stress that the military operations will also include the areas where some militants have fled and where sabotage is taking place, which

is the other face of terrorism,” Faquih said, noting that there were preparations taking place in Maarib province for a major assault.

As well as those killed, 39 suspected militants were under arrest, he said.

Militants from al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and allies in its local Ansar al-Sharia affiliate fled to the mountains in the south in 2012 after Yemen’s army, backed by the United States, drove them out of cities they had seized in 2011.

The insurgents have posed a challenge to government efforts to restore stability to the country since long-ruling president Ali Abdullah Saleh was forced to step down in 2012 after months of pro-democracy protests.

As well as the al Qaeda threat, the country faces challenges from separatists in the south and an emboldened Shi’ite tribal militia trying to cement its control of the northern highlands. l

Referendum

EU leaders have traditionally named the Commission head on their own, but under new rules they now have to “take into account” the results of European parliamentary elections last month, though exactly what that means remains unclear.

Juncker, the former head of the Eurogroup of nations that use the single currency and prime minister of Luxembourg for 19 years, was the chosen candidate of the centre-right bloc that won most seats in the parliamentary elections.

Van Rompuy did not comment on reports that he had produced a document with possible options for a consensus at his meetings with Cameron, Merkel, Renzi and French President Francois Hollande, but said he was working towards a solution.

“The aim (of the meetings) was not to reach a consensus, the aim was to exchange views on the process, not only the process, but also on the substance,” Van Rompuy told a news conference at the end of the G7.

He said he would meet leaders of the main groups in the European Parliament and telephone all 28 EU leaders “so I can have a complete picture before I can take a positive decision.”

Cameron reportedly warned Merkel last week that picking Juncker could destabilise his government to the extent that it has to bring forward a planned referendum on EU membership to 2016 from 2017.

Cameron is deeply wary of Juncker, an EU federalist, particularly after his party suffered a humiliating defeat to the eurosceptic UKIP party in last month’s European elections.

Merkel slammed such arguments on Wednesday as “unacceptable.”

Britain is believed to favour a candidate such as French IMF chief Christine Lagarde. l

As well as foreign policy, the two-day G7 summit will cover economics, trade, climate and energy policy.

One of the most sensitive discussions will be over energy security, particularly in Europe, which relies on Russia for around a third of its oil and gas - a fact that gives Moscow leverage over the EU and its 500 million people.

European leaders have committed themselves to diversifying away from Russia but doing so will take time and be costly, and may in part depend on the willingness of the United States to supply liquified natural gas to Europe. l

Catalan leader says independence vote must go ahead n Reuters, Barcelona

Egypt prosecutors demand ‘maximum’ jail term for Jazeera reporters

Catalan President Artur Mas said on Wednesday his people have the right to decide on breaking away from Spain and he is forging ahead with plans for a Nov. 9 vote on independence that the central government vows to block on constitutional grounds.

Mas, leader of the northeastern Spanish region of 7 million people, told Reuters in an interview he is seeking a legal formula for a non-binding vote although Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has said any format is illegal.

The 58-year-old Catalan leader, president since 2010, said there is nothing that Rajoy is likely to offer him that will damp down the surging independence movement and persuade him to call off the vote, which he calls a “popular consultation.”

“In the end, the central government must abandon its political shortsightedness and leave Catalonia alone to hold the consultation,” Mas said in an interview in the Pedralbes Royal Palace in Barcelona.

Two years ago at the height of Spain’s financial crisis Mas, an economist who built his political career as conservative budget slasher, got fed up with trying to negotiate a new tax deal with Spain’s central government and made a dramatic switch. l

n AFP, Cairo

US President Barack Obama (R) and British Prime Minister David Cameron listen to a question at a joint news conference after their meeting at the G7 summit in Brussels yesterday REUTERS Russia was being more cooperative, reducing the threat of further sanctions.

But Wednesday’s statement suggests the West is not yet satisfied that President Vladimir Putin is doing enough to calm the situation.

Russia denies it is behind the revolt in eastern Ukraine, where militias allied to Moscow have seized buildings, attacked Ukrainian troops and declared independence. Putin has also defended his right to protect Russian-speaking people.

While Putin has been cut out of the G7 - this is the first meeting without Russia since it joined the club in 1997 he will hold face-to-face meetings with Merkel, French President Francois Hollande and Britain’s David Cameron at a D-Day anniversary gathering inFrance later this week.

Asked about those bilateral meetings

n AFP, Brussels A bitter row over the top EU job escalated Thursday after German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister David Cameron had what officials called “candid” talks on the hotly debated issue.

London objects to Merkel’s favoured candidate to become the next European Commission chief, former Luxembourg premier Jean-Claude Juncker, on the grounds that he supports further political union in the 28-member bloc.

A spokesman for Cameron said he met Merkel at Britain’s EU office in Brussels after a dinner for leaders of the Group of Seven industrialised nations.

“Their discussions focused on the next European Commission – the issues it should focus on and the appointment of the next president,” the spokesman said.

But a source in Cameron’s Downing Street office indicated that the meeting between Merkel and Cameron, normally fairly close allies in Europe, had not gone as smoothly as planned.

“They had friendly, candid and constructive discussions in keeping with how their bilaterals usually are and in the spirit of finding consensus,” the source said on condition of anonymity.

In diplomatic-speak, “candid” is often used to refer to an unusually frank exchange of views.

Cameron also spoke to Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, EU President Herman Van Rompuy and outgoing European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso on the issue, Cameron’s spokesman said.

The row over the next European Commission chief increasingly threatens to plunge the EU into chaos as it seeks a replacement for Barroso, who is due to leave the post in November.

Reuters, Brussels

The world’s leading industrialised nations threatened on Wednesday to impose harder-hitting sanctions on Russia if it does not help restore stability to eastern Ukraine, where pro-Russian militias continue to operate at will.

While Ukraine was able to hold a largely peaceful presidential election last month, the situation in the east near the Russian border remains volatile, with armed groups attacking Ukrainian government forces and occupying state buildings.

“We stand ready to intensify targeted sanctions and to consider significant additional restrictive measures to impose further costs on Russia should events so require,” the G7 said in a statement after evening talks in Brussels.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Western powers would check “again and again” to verify that Russia was doing what it could to stabilise the situation, which erupted in March after Russia seized Crimea from Ukraine and annexed it.

“We cannot afford a further destabilisation in Ukraine,” Merkel told reporters. “If we do not have progress in the questions we have to solve there is the possibility of sanctions, even heavy sanctions of phase 3 on the table,” she said, referring to restrictions on trade, finance and energy.

So far, the United States and European Union have imposed relatively minor travel bans and asset freezes on dozens of Russian officials in reaction to the seizure of Crimea.

Further steps were threatened if the May 25 elections were affected. However, they went smoothly and new President Petro Poroshenko will be sworn in on Saturday.

Some saw that as an indication that

Merkel, Cameron in tough talks over top EU job

reporters, adding that he was working on a peace plan for Ukraine that would involve the decentralisation of power, local elections and an amnesty.

Economics and trade

Egyptian prosecutors on Thursday demanded the “maximum” penalty, ranging from 15 to 25 years in jail, for all 20 defendants in the trial of Al-Jazeera journalists accused of aiding the blacklisted Muslim Brotherhood.

Australian journalist Peter Greste and two other detained reporters with Qatar-based Al-Jazeera English are among the accused, in a trial that has triggered international outrage amid growing fears of media restrictions in Egypt.

“We request that the court, without compassion or mercy, apply the maximum penalty for the abominable crimes they have committed ... mercy for such (people) will bring the entire society close to darkness,” prosecutor Mohamed Barakat told the court.

The prosecution has charged the 16 Egyptian defendants with joining the Muslim Brotherhood, designated as a “terrorist group.”

The four foreign defendants in the case, including Greste, are charged with “spreading false news,” collaborating and assisting the Egyptian defendants in their crimes by providing media material, editing it and publishing it on the Internet and Al-Jazeera.

Nine of the 20 defendants are in detention, while others are being tried in

absentia, including three foreign reporters who are abroad.

The 16 Egyptians could get prison terms of 25 years, while the four foreigners could be jailed for 15 years, according to defence lawyer Ibrahim Abdel Wahab.

The trial is part of a relentless crackdown by the authorities installed by former army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who won last week’s presidential election, against the Muslim Brotherhood since he ousted president Mohamed Morsi last July.

Retired field marshal Sisi has been the de facto ruler since Morsi, the country’s first freely elected president was overthrown.

Sisi was elected president in the May 26-28 election with 96.91% of the vote after crushing his sole rival, leftist leader Hamdeen Sabbahi.

Since the July 3 ouster of Morsi, more than 1,400 people have been killed in a police crackdown, mostly his Islamist supporters, while more than 15,000 have been jailed.

Hundreds of them have been sentenced to death sentences after speedy trials. Greste and Mohamed Fadel Fahmy, the Cairo bureau chief of Al-Jazeera English, were arrested in a hotel room in the capital on December 29 after the channel’s office was raided by police. l

HYBRID SUPERCAR

The new BMW i8 plug-in hybrid sports car is parked before the official delivery to the first customer in Munich June 5

REUTERS

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Friday, June 6, 2014

CODE-CRACKER

World Cup exports show RMG potential

B

angladeshi garment manufacturers have received over $500m in export orders to sew World Cup-related shirts and merchandise.

It is a testament to the competitiveness of the RMG sector that leading sportswear brands relied on Bangladeshi factories to supply clothing and replica jerseys for fans of almost all 32 teams in this year’s tournament.

The extra orders provide a much-needed boost for the industry, which is hoping to see Bangladesh’s shipments of garments reach $25bn for the fiscal year ending this month.

Some estimates suggest that if caps, flags, and other merchandise are taken into account, the total value of orders supplied may be up to twice as high as the figures announced by the BGMEA and BKMEA. It is vital for the job security of the millions of workers in the sector that it is able to keep attracting such major orders. With ever increasing competition from countries such as India, the RMG industry has to continue moving forward and growing exports, simply in order to maintain its market share.

As the country relies on the RMG industry for 80% of exports, it is of utmost priority for the government to keep working with stakeholders to secure its future.

The boost supplied by the World Cup provides a welcome vote of confidence.

We hope that this will help to generate and attract more of the investment which the industry needs to improve productivity and secure the safety standards it needs for future growth.

We hope that this will help generate much-needed investment

Fat is everybody’s problem

A

global study indicates that around one in five adults in Bangladesh are now overweight. In the last 30 years, the rate of overweight or obese people in the country has jumped from 7% to 17%.

This highlights a worrying trend in the general health of our population. Being overweight or obese increases serious health risks, particularly for diabetes and heart disease, as well as many other ailments.

If a healthy population is a productive population, this national health problem signals bad news for our nation and our economy.

The obesity problem, if allowed to rise unchecked, could trigger a fall in life expectancy as well as a variety of human development indicators.

Millions of deaths take place worldwide with obesity as the root cause. A large portion of those deaths could have been prevented with a little awareness about the constant need for good diet and exercise .

As Bangladesh is a developing nation, a large proportion of our population still lives in dire poverty, where they do not have enough to eat or lack adequately balanced nutrition.

So, in a country like ours, it remains the case that obesity is more likely to be a problem of the affluent.

The new study should ring alarm bells for parents whose children are restricted in their ability to play sports, or who are overindulged in unhealthy snacks.

We need to urgently raise common sense awareness of the diet and lifestyle factors which exacerbate weight problems before obesity turns into an epidemic.

Raise awareness before obesity turns into an epidemic

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

Trust no one (but yourself) May 29

Sammy Good points, all. However, I do note that the author herself was able to utilise extraordinary opportunities of education and, later, employment in a major US thinktank very much due to the influence and connections of her own father who used his cabinet position to do so during the last martial law regime. The author is a fine individual and writes reasonably well (I have one of her books in my personal library) but she is perhaps not the best spokesman for self-reliance.

Ronnie I’m a strident advocate of self-reliance, personal agency and responsibility, and authentic individualism. At least I have, for long, lived my own life that way. Our conventionally and predominantly collectivist society has always appeared to get

How to solve: Each number in our CODE-CRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 2 represents L so fill L every time the figure 2 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.

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

in the way of engendering and enabling greater self-reliance among us all. As long as people in our country continue to rely on the goodwill and charity of “superiors” (and the “government”) or plain old luck – or indeed have a false and unhealthy sense of entitlement to rewards not earned for efforts not made – we will be an underachieving, disgruntled lot, mired in a corrosive culture of dependency as we presently are. nds Having asked us not to trust anybody, why are you advocating for trusting the new or next generation?

You should have minimum consistency before presenting yourself as an extraordinary intellectual holding the authority to advise all and sundry whom to trust or not trust. However, following your advice, we are not going to trust you at all.

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

Who will build and operate Rooppur?

May 31

Dr S Kawser Fully biased, motivated, and delusional statement. Most of the contents of the articles are incorrect.

Anon Dr S Kawser: Would you care to point out which bits are incorrect?

Pompeii: Nature’s 3D photograph and Hollywood’s old wine May 31

Mosabber Rahman This paragraph dealing with historical background did not appear in the printed version of my review: “If you go to the Bay of Naples today and visit the ruins of Pompeii, the only ancient city to be preserved in its entirety by nature like a 3D picture, it will cost you €11 as the ticket price (free, if you are an European aged below 25 years or above 65 years; in case you are a school teacher in Europe, you get to pay half-price). First discovered in 1594 – that’s over 1,500 years since its destruction in the year 79 – a city perfectly preserved under 30 feet of soft ash, the actual archaeological excavation started in 1748 and went through various phases, ranging from royal organised robbery to outright destruction of “futile” artifacts. But everything changed from 1860, when Giuseppe Fiorelli stepped in. So far, it has been a 250-yearold excavation and still counting, one-third of the city is still untouched. Mount Vesuvius, that destroyed Pompeii (however, two-thirds of the population were able to escape), is the only active volcano in the continent and, strangely enough, geologists believe the Bay of Naples itself is one gigantic crater of a very old volcano.”

CALVIN AND HOBBES

RAB under scrutiny May 30

SD Yes, I totally agree with the author. RAB has given the most invaluable service in rescuing us to great extent, if not entirely, from the constant fear of “chanda baaz” and mastans of a peculiar variety, that took the common people’s life and property for granted. Without RAB, our life by this time would have been miserable. This society, being ruled by the mastans of various hues, can never be made safe by the so-called civil procedures of enforcing law and order. Bare necessity for survival demands a force even more brutal than RAB, in spite of what the so-called “vagabond shushils” say in their TV talk shows, seminars, and symposiums. If the common people are left to the foolishness of these armchair intellectuals, God knows what hell will be let loose.

If, for the crime or unlawful activities of a few RAB members, the entire force is asked to get banned, then I think the civil bureaucrats will need to be abolished lock stock and barrel, because more than 90% are involved in corruption no less injurious to society than the seven murder case. Instead of dismantling RAB, it needs to be strengthened further. BNP did one good thing in creating RAB and is doing the most disservice by demanding their abolition.

Mohammad Zaman If not disbanded, let RAB be an elite force without the authority of policing.

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Legumes (5) 4 Mild explosion (3) 6 Fuel (4) 8 Adult insect (5) 9 Submissive (4) 11 Foundation (4) 12 View (5) 15 Heehaws (5) 18 Explosive device (4) 20 Gem (4) 21 Once more (5) 22 Keen relish (4) 23 Stain (3) 24 Locations (5)

DOWN 1 Supreme happiness (5) 2 Astound (5) 3 Tally (5) 4 Excuse (4) 5 Fish (4) 7 Traffic light (5) 10 Catch sight of (4) 13 Fowls’ enclosure (4) 14 Illustrious (5) 15 Annoying children (5) 16 Make suitable (5) 17 Curving recess (5) 18 Forward (4) 19 Labyrinth (4)

Evil people politics An unpopular, yet fairly rational opinion. But expecting people to sing praises of law enforcers for doing their jobs? Preposterous.

Cornelius Slate Evil people politics: How dare you?! These are the men and women who are risking their lives to make sure you’re sleeping soundly at night! You’re nothing but a Tin Man.

Class four student raped in Shariatpur, police reluctant to register case May 30

Vikram Khan Disgusting! The officer-in-charge should not only be sacked but also be severely punished, and the rapist should be publicly castrated!

‘Childbirth services poor in upazilas’

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

CROSSWORD

May 30

PEANUTS

VK All this bad news albeit the “success Bangladesh is making in mother and child care,” according to Unicef?! Seems to me the ICDDRB and UN organisations are not speaking the same language. Proves again the tricky smog screen of international development and government participation.

Hopeful Mushfiq invites pressure onto himself May 31

A Bangla Fan With less than stellar recent track records, Indians did not want to repeat a one-sided game with the Tigers. So, the Tigers should take this with good grace and let their action do the talking. They sure have a lot of improvements to make.

SUDOKU

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

11

Friday, June 6, 2014

Learning early on n SA Chowdhury

A

Mujib’s place in history is safe

Nadeem Qadir is a senior journalist.

t the recently held Annual Conference of European Union funded SHARE education program in Dhaka, the minister of primary and mass education told the audience about the important but complementary role of NGO-operated non-formal primary schools in Bangladesh for contributing towards achieving the goals of Education For All (EFA).

Bangladesh has a long history of community supported basic and post-basic education sponsored by local philanthropists and managed by local authorities. However, the newly independent country had nationalised all existing non-government community supported primary schools (36,615) by an executive order in 1973, and 39 years later in 2012 another stock of 26,192 primary schools (mostly those that were established by the community during the interim period) were nationalised, creating one of the largest central government-managed primary education systems in the world (in most countries, primary education is fully decentralised both in funding and management).

With the assistance of the World Bank Group, Bangladesh launched successive drives for Universal Primary Education (UPE) programs since 1980s, and subsequently, three large sector-wide Primary Education Development Programs (PEDP) with multi-donor support.

Despite these initiatives, Bangladesh is still some distance away from achieving most of the the goals of EFA and education goals of MDG by 2015.

To make matters worse, it is estimated that currently there are about 5 million illiterate children in the age group 11-14, and another 28 million in the age group 15-45 (who are either already in the labour market, or will eventually attempt to enter the labour market at home and abroad).

An analysis of the current landscape of primary education will indicate the poor status of education.

Net enrolment rate of 6-10-year-old children (official age group for primary education grades I-V) increased from 87.2% in 2005 to 96.7% in 2012. Average repetition was 10.8% for all grades in 2005, but decreased to 7% in 2012; the rate is higher in grades III and IV (9.4% and 8.4% respectively).

Average dropout in 2005 was 10.2%, and it decreased to 5.4% in 2012; again the rate was higher in grades III (5.1%) and IV (10.0%). Survival to grade V was 52.9% in 2005, and increased to 75.3% in 2012. Completion rate was 52.8% in 2005, and increased to 73.8 % in 2012. Although there are some incremental improvements, a quarter of school-age children either do not enrol at all, or drop out from the primary cycle before completion.

With regard to students’ learning outcome ie what they learn in class, the 2011 National Students Assessment (NSA) carried out by the Department of Primary Education showed that at the end of grade V, only 25% of students mastered grade V Bangla language competency and 33% of students mastered class V mathematics.

The endemic problems of primary education in Bangladesh are: Low quality of education and low completion rate. These problems have seriously constrained the development of quality primary education in Bangladesh. On the other hand, a quick glance at Bangladesh’s Southeast Asian competitors viz Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam shows that these countries have already fasttracked nine years of basic education

ever. Even if the plants are put under operation again, it will cost approximately $700m to $1bn per unit for building tsunami defences and incorporating other modifications to satisfy regulatory requirements following the Fukushima incident. To make up for the loss of electricity generated by the nuclear plants, Japan’s import bill for fossil fuel jumped by $40bn per year and the average cost of generation of electricity increased by 56%.

If the nuclear power plants are not put into operation soon, most of the utilities, including Tepco which owns the Fukushima nuclear plant, will be under severe financial constraints failing to repay the bank loans they took for the construction of the nuclear plants which ceased to earn any revenue since being shut down. Tepco may even go bankrupt, if not rescued by the government.

Japan’s Hitachi, Toshiba, and Mitsubishi have associations with USA’s General Electric and Westinghouse,

and France’s Areba for building nuclear power plants abroad. In most cases, the Japanese companies supply the conventional parts of the plants (turbines, generators, etc) whereas their western partners provide the nuclear islands (steam generating systems).

Japan has not built any nuclear power plants abroad even though they have plans to do so in Turkey, UAE, and UK. According to a report by the World Nuclear Association: “Following the Fukushima accident, reactor manufacturers are reported to be finding it difficult to do business abroad because Tepco, the main operator partner, is preoccupied with remediation at Fukushima.” Japan’s nuclear industry being preoccupied with the decommissioning of damaged and retired nuclear power plants and implementing design modifications in the existing plants for the improvement of safety, it was most unlikely that they would venture to build a new nuclear power plant in Bangladesh. As a matter

NASHIRUL ISLAM

Is Tarique forgetting himself?

T

n Nadeem Qadir arique Rahman is widely known now for being the son of an ex-president and prime minister, besides being a senior leader of the opposition BNP. He has, in the meantime, picked up some negative points, which I don’t want to discuss.

I decided to write this piece after his repeated comments disrespecting our great leader Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. My father, a martyred army officer, was quite senior to late Ziaur Rahman, and we first met in Chittagong in 1970. We were staying at Panchlaish, and President Zia in Nasirabad.

My father, Lt Col Mohammad Abdul Qadir, joined the 1971 War of Independence on the call of Bangabandhu, and followed his orders thoroughly leading up to the war. One was his supply of explosives which helped blow up a bridge at the very start of the war. He met Bangabandhu secretly soon after he was released from jail in the Agartala conspiracy case.

Tarique Rahman is also younger than me, and had always showed that respect whenever we met. In fact, his friend Giasuddin Al-Mamun lived opposite to our house in Dhaka Cantonment. I joined my mother when she went to pay her condolences to Khaleda Zia as a member of the army family the day President Zia was killed.

I wrote in my first book the menu of the breakfast my mother and I had with President Zia at his residence. I thought a president would have pudding and roast for breakfast, but, to my great surprise, I found it was chapati, egg, potato bhaji, and tea.

Begum Khaleda Zia, whom I address as “aunty” in private, was also present. Whenever I meet her, I show her all my respect, and she acknowl-

edges that. The last time I met her was at her post-January 5 election press conference. The answer to my question that day became the next day’s headline.

As a journalist, I go to major events and press conferences, and that includes Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s, whom I very fondly and respectfully call “apa.”

The commonality between me and Tarique is that we are both children of army officers who were both brilliant soldiers in their own way.

andhu’s orders. Bangabandhu transferred his dream of an independent Bangladesh into people like my father.

At one point of my career, I worked with a blind supporter of BNP. Whenever I referenced Bangabandhu as “Bangladesh’s founder,” my colleague would change it to “Bangladesh’s founding president.” Was he wrong?

That was when I found out about partisan journalism.

Tarique has been lucky like his father to have enjoyed the fruits of an independent Bangladesh. Just

When you disrespect Bangabandhu, you disrespect my father and his like as well as the majority of the people of Bangladesh

The difference is, his parents became national leaders and mine only heroes in their own ways. The other is that I am a smalltime journalist, and he is a hotshot politician.

Tarique, at one point, sitting in the luxury of London, claimed his father was the first president of Bangladesh.

I thought he read all the wrong books and was also wrongly briefed. But this time, he shocked me.

Bangabandhu, the greatest Bengali of all time, never failed, and gave 70 million people and a country an identity. His leadership was such that it united all the Bengalis, including my martyred father and many more. President Ziaur Rahman too joined the war on the same grounds, because we had no other leader giving us directions and orders for a Bengali nation.

All the other army officers my father was meeting were following Bangab-

think, my father used to say that once Bangladesh was born, the Pakistanis would not be around to slow down his promotion.

My father became a colonel in 1965 and still waited for his next promotion in 1971.

Did I or my mother enjoy the fruits of an independent Bangladesh? No, we did not. We struggled, and she won the battle by giving me and my brother a place in the society. She not only gave us the best education possible, but also taught us to respect our elders, be they relatives or national leaders.

She imbued us with lessons of our great leaders. That included Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Why? It’s not that she had received anything from Bangabandhu other than his love. That love remains in our hearts, along with the teachings of great leaders. She never taught us to

disrespect anybody, even if were angry with anybody.

Tarique should not forget the basic upbringing of an army family just because he is in politics. Respecting great people makes you great, and when you disrespect Bangabandhu, you disrespect my father and his like, my mother the Shaheed Janani and most freedom fighters, as well as the majority of the people of Bangladesh.

Please don’t do that.

Many people are now calling you mad, insane, a fool, and a scoundrel. Is your late father enjoying this?

The red and green national flag that flies in times of joy, the flag that gives us a proud national identity, is a gift from Bangabandhu to us. Will you change the flag if you ever come to power?

As a new-generation politician, you should set examples of tolerance, good behaviour, and healthy politics. Your opponent in politics is Sajeeb Wajed Joy, an educated and amicable man.

Every time I spoke with him, I understood his words were measured. That is a leader-like character.

Joy talks about digital Bangladesh, IT, and many other things, but he has not insulted President Ziaur Rahman or any great leader. We the people praise that, but not cheap statements that insult our great leaders.

Why all this after so many years?

Have you lost all other options to fight back? I hope not.

I am sure, Tarique, as a younger brother, or his followers in the BNP will not take this personally, but take this as advice from a brother. I am sure no history or man can belittle Bangabandhu with any word or action.

He is above all, and he will live as long as Bangladesh lives. Long live Bangladesh. l

for their children, and are currently moving towards 12 years of education for the majority of their children.

In addition to the mainstream state primary education system, it is estimated that currently over 1.6 million children are enrolled in NGO-operated schools (over 10% of total primary enrolments). These schools mostly serve the underserved or unserved areas like chars, haors, hills, coastal areas, and urban slums and address the education needs of the poor, ethnic minorities, and children with special needs who dropped out of the primary education system or never enrolled.

The endemic problems of primary education are a low quality of education and the low completion rate According to some sources, there are over 1,000 education-related NGOs providing NFPE in Bangladesh.

Two major NFPE programs are: Brac primary schools with about 670,000 students, and the EU funded SHARE Education Program which currently serves about 380,000 students and will extend up to 655,000 hard-toreach children in 2017.

Although these schools/learning centres are called non-formal primary education schools/centres, in general they all comprise of classrooms, textbooks (national curricula), teachers, supervisors and education managers like the regular mainstream government schools but offer flexible routines, smaller class sizes, child-centred learning, intensive contact hours, locally recruited teachers, closer supervision, and the involvement of the local community.

There is a general perception that NGO-operated schools have been more successful in providing basic education to the poor children who otherwise would remain excluded from education in their lives. These NGOs are known to have proven track-records and field-tested innovative approaches to education and in general maintain good contact with government agencies at local levels.

According to National Education Policy (NEP) 2010, until all children receive a full cycle of basic education (currently 5 years but in future 8 years) the need for non-formal education as an alternate form of schooling will remain strong, perhaps for some decades. It’s clear this is a huge minefield.

However, the NEP 2010 doesn’t say anything specific about financing or sustainability of NFPE providers.

Historically almost all non-formal education projects have been funded by external donors. The government has had little input in the financing of the NFPE programs. The NFPE essentially begs two fundamental policy questions: How can we coordinate the education provided by the NGOs and ensure their complementarity, quality, and accountability – shouldn’t this be led by the government? And how can we sustain the continuity of education services provided by the NGOs in the likely event of drying up of donor funds (exit strategy for the NGOs)? l SA Chowdhury is former Principal Social Sector Specialist at the Asian Development Bank and currently working as Team Leader/ SHARE Education Program.

A request too soon n Abdul Matin

D

uring her recent visit to Japan, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sought assistance for six mega projects which includes a nuclear power plant.

Japan too needs time to recover from their nuclear accident. We cannot blame them for the cool response to our request

In response, Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said: “Tokyo and Dhaka would begin expert-level dialogue on the peaceful utilisation of nuclear power in Bangladesh to share the experience and lessons learned from

the Fukushima Daiichi power plant incident.”

Though highly satisfied with the outcome of Sheikh Hasina’s visit, particularly in getting assurances of loan and economic aid worth $5.9bn over the next four years, our delegation must have been disappointed on this polite but cool response from Prime Minister Abe. Honestly, I did not expect more than what he offered. It is probable that our prime minister was not correctly advised before seeking Japanese assistance for a nuclear plant. Her advisers simply did not do their homework properly.

Japan had a severe nuclear accident at its Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in 2011. The cost of damages for the nuclear accident is estimated to be $300bn. Because of the strong anti-nuclear sentiments of the Japanese people, the government had to shut down all the operating nuclear power plants in the country. It is uncertain when the plants will be restarted, if

of fact, the nuclear industry in Japan is in disarray at the moment, and the government is in a difficult situation coping with the aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear incident.

It may be recalled that the Chernobyl incident in the former Soviet Union, now in Ukraine, cost an estimated $100bn, and indirect costs for damages may accumulate to over $200bn for Ukraine. It took more than a decade for the Russian nuclear industry to recover from the shock of the nuclear disaster and regain full potential for the construction of new nuclear power plants at home and abroad.

Japan too needs time to recover from their nuclear accident. We cannot blame them for the cool response to our request. We were naïve to raise the issue at this stage and embarrass a trusted friend for no reason. l Abdul Matin is a former chief engineer of Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission and author of “Rooppur and the Power Crisis.”

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Raima Sen’s sudden visit to Dhaka n Hasan Mansoor Chatak Raima Sen was on a sudden visit to Dhaka yesterday after five long years to attend a promotional event. The “Children of War” actor is selected for a new Legion Mehedi commercial. A large number of fans gathered at the venue to take pictures with the actor.

In conversation with the press, Raima shared different aspects of her professional and personal life and revealed that she is only interested to act in co-productions of India-Bangladesh, rather than Bangladeshi films only.

Recently, Raima is seen in the film “Children of War” – a Hindi film based on the Bangladeshi Liberation War - which is being showcased in several cinemas of the country. The film as a whole got mixed reception especially in Bangladesh, but Raima got positive reviews for her role in the movie. She feels that the role was one of the toughest she has faced so far.

“For 21 days, we shot extensively during the night and didn’t see daylight. My role was pretty tough. The film shows how rape was used as a weapon during the war. I feel proud that I acted in such a film that portrays the grief and devastation which is a part of the history and is nearly forgotten,” said the actor.

Though her hectic and short visit to Dhaka was limited to the promotional event, to soothe the disappointment of the gathered crowd, the starlet confirms that her next visit to Bangladesh not take so long. She will be back next year to shoot for a film titled “Sadarghat” centered on screen goddess Suchitra Sen. Directed by Indian filmmaker Sankarlal Bhattacharjee, the film will be more like a docu-fiction which will end on a romantic note. Bangladeshi actors Nirab, Tariq Anam Khan along with Raima’s mother Moon Moon Sen will also act in the film. Raima hopes that she will soon get to visit her grandmother’s birth place in Pabna for the first time.

Raima Sen reveals that her grandmother called her “Dollu” (derived from the word “doll”) affectionately, while she and her sister Riya called her “Amma” as they were accustomed to hearing Moon Moon address Suchitra the same way.

Suchitra knew how much the audience of Bangladesh adored her and Raima said that she can still feel the love emanate from the people of the country towards her grandmother.

After the event, Raima flew back to Kolkata in a rush. l

Friday, June 6, 2014

‘Sharing screen after more than a decade’ n Punny Kabir

Abul Hayat and Suborna Mustafa’s telefilm “Manusher Mukh” will be aired today on Channel i at 2:40pm. The viewers will surely have a treat as the two seasoned actors who have been working in the TV industry from its early era and gave magical performances in a number of popular serials like “Ayomoy” and “Aj Robbar,” will be seen sharing the screen after a long break.

Abul Hayat told the Dhaka Tribune: “Our first work was a single-episode play ‘Idiot.’ The journey continued with some beautiful memories. I believe we are sharing screen after more than a decade. It is always a pleasure to work

Raima poses for her fans

Theatre explores milieu of ancient emporium n Entertainment Desk

As part of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy’s environmental theatre project, an experimental production on the backdrop of Wari-Bateshwar in Shibpur of Narsingdi will be premiered on June 6. The play titled “Wari-Bateshwar” will be staged by the Theatre and Film Affairs Department of BSA on the premises of the archeological site.

Wari-Bateshwar is the site of an ancient fort city dating back to 450 BCE. The 2500-year old ruins being unearthed near the old course of the Brahmaputra River are a major archaeological discovery in South Asia and challenges the earlier notions of early-urban civilisation in Bengal.

The plot of the play will portray two different milieu in time, which differs nearly 2500 years. As the story unfolds, diverse characters including an ancient foreign merchant, a Buddhist monk and a mystic poet come to stage. An ancient hunting group, carpenters and even Greek hero “Alexander the Great” will be shown in the play as it is required to portray the then milieu of Bengal and its historical legacy. The storyline of the play is comprised of several short stories knit together to give a clear scenario of the different time-frames. Historical facts and infornmation provided by Sufi Mostafizur Rahman, the head of the excavation team, helped to rebuild the ancient history more accurately.

The play is written by Tanvir Ahmed Sydney and directed by Somrat Pramanik while Komol Khalid directs the music and Enam Ara Saki is inchrage of the wardobe.

The playwright said: “We tried to create diverse situations to satisfy the curiosity of the audience about the archeological site.”

The play will be staged twice everyday till June 7. l

A moment from the rehearsal of the play ‘Wari-Bateshwar’

Naomi Watts joins Divergent sequels n Entertainment Desk The “Diana” star has joined the cast of the sequel “Insurgent” as Evelyn, leader of the Factionless, a role she will reprise in the other two films in Veronica Roth’s futuristic franchise, said The Hollywood Reporter.

She is expected to start shooting her scenes shortly for the second instalment, which began filming in Atlanta last week.

Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Kate Winslet and Ansel Elgort have reprised their roles from the first film, with Octavia Spencer a new addition to the cast. Robert Schwentke is directing “Insurgent” from a screenplay written by Brian Duffield and Akiva Goldsman.

Naomi, last seen as Diana in Oliver Hirschbiegel’s drama, will next star in Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s comedy “Birdman,” comedy “St Vincent” opposite Chris O’Dowd and Melissa McCarthy, and Noah Baumbach’s drama “While We’re Young.” l

with a gifted actor like Suborna.”

He added: “I think our last work was Humayun Ahmed’s ‘Aj Robbar.’” In the comedy serial, Suborna and Abul Hayat appeared as a couple whereas in “Manusher Mukh,” they play the roles of daughter and father.

In the telefilm, Abul Hayat is a successful writer who also fought in the Liberation War. An immigrant of Canada, the writer comes to Bangladesh to visit his son’s grave in his village home. There, he comes across Suborna and discovers that she is his daughter.

The telefilm is based on Faridur Reza Sagar’s novel “Manusher Mukh” and dramatised by Arun Chowdhury. l

SADIA MARIUM

Suborna Mustafa and Abul Hayat in Manusher Mukh

Rabindra Sangeet

by Azizur Rahman Tuhin at IGCC

TODAY IN DHAKA Exhibition

Road-3, Dhanmondi

Film

Of Man and Earth II Time: 12pm – 8pm Bengal Art Lounge, Gulshan Avenue, Rd-131, Circle -1

Lost in the Urban World Group art exhibition Dhaka Art Center Dhanmondi 7/A

Unconsciously Conscious Time: 9am to 9pm Alliance Francaise de Dhaka

Can You Handle the Truth?

Time: 9:30am – 8:00pm EMK Center, Road-16, Dhanmondi

300 Rise of an Empire The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Children of War Pompeii (3D) The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (3D) Level 8, Bashundhara City 13/3 Ka, Panthapath

n Entertainmnet Desk Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre is organising an evening of Rabindra Sangeet

by Azizur Rahman Tuhin this evening at its Gulshan auditorium at 6:30pm.

Tuhin is currently an Executive Body member of cultural organisation Shurer Dhara, and a teacher in the Department of Music of the University of Dhaka. He is also an “A” Grade artist of the Bangladesh Television and a Special Grade artist of Bangladesh Betar.

He has released several music albums on Rabindra Sangeet like “Gane Tomar Porosh Khani,” “Amar Priyar Chhaya Akashe” and “Akash Ami Bhorbo Gane,” to name a few.

The show is open for all and requires no ticket. l

On June 4, Ananta Jalil was the guest of honour at an event of Nitol Tata Ultimate World Cup, a sports related TV programme designed entirely on Fifa World Cup 2014, at Channel 24. Members of Ananta Jalil Ashekan Forum, a fan club honouring the actor, gathered at the event with a banner and posed for pictures with the celebrity

Disney to remake Beauty and the Beast

Gwyneth Paltrow believes water has feelings

n Entertainment Desk

n Entertainment Desk

Looks like Disney is giving all the fairy tales a new life.

On a report published in the Variety, it is said that the “mouse house” has tapped Bill Condon, most known for “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn” films, to direct a live action movie of “Beauty & The Beast.”

Evan Spiliotopoulos is on board to write the script while Mandeville Films will produce, Variety reports. As the project is in early days, it remains unknown who will be cast as the memorable characters.

Disney’s animated version of the classic tale by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve, grossed over $375m worldwide, spawned a Broadway play and became one of the few animated flicks to receive a best picture Oscar nomination.

Meanwhile, Jon Favreau is due to direct a live-action version of “The Jungle Book” starring Idris Elba as tiger villain Shere Khan, while Kenneth Branagh is helming a reboot of “Cinderella” for next March. l

On Wednesday, Gwyneth Paltrow took to her website to write some words about the feelings on water.

The Goop author said: “I am fascinated by the growing science behind the energy of consciousness and its effects on matter.

“I have long had Dr Emoto’s coffee table book on how negativity changes the structure of water, how the molecules behave differently depending on the words or music being expressed around it.”

Paltrow goes on to share the theories of Emoto through Dr Habib Sadeghi in her newsletter. In his column, Sadeghi claims he “proved that energy generated by positive or negative words can actually change the physical structure of an object.”

This is not the first time in recent weeks that Paltrow has raised eyebrows with controversial statements. At a tech conference last week, the actor compared reading online comments to going into battle.

“It’s almost like how, in war, you go through this bloody, dehumanizaing thing, and then something is defined out of it,” the actor said. l

Did you know?

Raheem Sterling is the first England player to be given a red card since Steven Gerrard in Sept 2012 (v Ukraine)

Sport

Friday, June 6, 2014

6

DAYS TO GO

14 Argentina beat T&T in warmup

DHAKA TRIBUNE

13

15 Sharapova reaches Paris final again

Uncapped Mithun, Taskin called up BCB announces 15-man squad for India series Uncapped youngsters Mithun Ali and Taskin Ahmed have been included for the three-match ODI series against India beginning from June 15 at Mirpur as the Bangladesh Cricket Board announced a 15-member squad yesterday.

Mithun, the 24-year old wicket-keeper-batsman, made his Twenty20 debut earlier this year in the bilateral series against Sri Lanka at home and alongside 19-year old paceman Taskin Ahmed, who had an impressive T20 debut against Australia in the ICC

SQUAD Mushfiqur Rahim (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Anamul Haque, Shamsur Rahman, Mominul Haque, Shakib al Hasan, Nasir Hossain, Mahmudullah, Mithun Ali, Abdur Razzak, Mashrafe Mortaza, Sohag Gazi, Ziaur Rahman, Al Amin Hossain, Taskin Ahmed World T20 in Bangladesh, were surprise inclusions in the squad.

The selectors made five changes from the last squad that took part in the Asia Cup in Dhaka this year with left-arm spinner Arafat Sunny missing out despite some decent performances of late while seamer Rubel Hossain was not included as the right-arm bowler has just recovered from injury. Pace bowler Shafiul Islam and batsmen Imrul Kayes and Naeem Islam, who are all currently playing for the Bangladesh A side in the West Indies, were excluded.

Chief selector Faruk Ahmed informed that they have selected a balanced squad for the upcoming home

Close to Tk1005m allocated for sports In a bid to develop the sports sector of the country, an allocation of nearly Tk1005m has been proposed

by Finance Minister AMA Muhith in the national budget for the fiscal year 2014-15.

“We will reserve special attention for our sportsmen so that they can upgrade their skills in order to make their mark in the international arena,” said Muhith in his budget speech in the parliament yesterday.

“Distribution of sporting materials in different districts together with establishment of stadiums will continue for the promotion of sports. We will put our all-out endeavours to maintain a congenial atmosphere in sports management,” said the Finance Minister whilst placing the national budget.

“The task of identifying playing grounds at the upazila level will be taken up. However, construction of stadiums involving high costs will be discouraged. I propose an allocation of TK500m for this purpose,” he added. l

series besides also keeping an eye on the 2015 ICC World Cup down under.

“We have more or less kept a settled squad but it is also important to get an idea about the kind of back-up we have in our hands as we start preparing for the ICC World Cup in Australia-New Zealand,” said Faruk.

While commenting on Mithun and Taskin, Faruk notified that the duo have been under their radar of observation for some time and the chief selector went on to praise the latter as an exciting prospect for the Tigers.

“Mithun has been in our thoughts for a while. He has performed consistently in the limited-over format and in the longer-version as well in the last couple of years and deserves a chance at the international level,” said Faruk.

“Taskin is an exciting prospect and has already played a T20 international.

We thought it was a good opportunity to see how he performs in the 50-over game in home conditions against some quality batsmen,” he added.

Bangladesh have three pacers in Mashrafe Mortaza, Al Amin Hossain and Taskin along with all rounder Ziaur Rahman who bowls military medium-pace while the squad contain a quartet of spinners – Shakib al Hasan, Abdur Razzak, Sohag Gazi and Mahmudullah - with Shakib once again expected to spearhead the spin department. Veteran spinner Razzak will be looking forward to a change of fortunes after a poor run of form recently while Gazi and Mahmudullah have received another opportunity to prove their worth in the side.

The second and third ODIs will also take place at Mirpur on June 17 and 19 respectively. l

Brazilian artist Jambeiro paints a graffiti in reference to the 2014 World Cup in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday

BD A in huge spot of bother Chasing 490 runs for victory, Bangladesh A team were trailing by 379 runs at lunch on the final day of the second four day game against Sagicor High Performance Center yesterday. Bangladesh A resumed their chase on 32 for 3 and added another 79 runs for two more wickets before lunch. Opener Imrul Kayes was unbeaten on 63 runs but could hardly find a partner to hold the innings together as wickets kept on falling at the other end.

First wicket to fall in the morning session was Mominul Haque who departed in the 35th over after scoring 19 runs. 3 overs later, it was skipper Nasir Hossain’s turn to perish who did not even trouble the scorers to register his second duck in the two-match series.

With only five wickets to spare and a mammoth target to chase, a dreadfully humiliating whitewash loomed large as the visitors went for lunch.

Earlier on day three, hosts Sagicor started the day on their overnight score of 24 for no loss and declared their innings after amassing 354 runs on the

board for the loss of five wickets. A 207 run partnership for the second wicket between Jermaine Blackwood and Assad Fudadin helped the home side to build a large lead.

Right-handed top order batsman Jermaine was sensational for the home side as his 147 runs came of just 157 deliveries.

The 22-year-old Jamaican hit 12 fours and five maximums before losing his wicket to the innocuous spin of Shuvagata Hom. Assad provided due support to Jermaine at the other end as he himself scored a steady 89 off 235 balls as Sagicor declared their second innings on 354 which coincidentally matched exactly with their first innings total to set the visitors a mountainous 490 runs for victory.

Nasir bowled 16 overs to pick up two wickets while Taijul, Muktar Ali and Shuvagata bagged a wicket each.

Later Bangladesh A was denied a smooth start to the chase as they lost three quick wickets with only 32 runs on the board when third day’s play ended. Opener Shamsur Rahman, Marshal Ayub and night watchman Elias Sunny lost their wickets scoring 9, 0 and 4 runs respectively. l

REUTERS

Neymar bids to enter Brazil’s pantheon of greats Every time Brazil have lifted the World Cup the star of the show has been a forward, and Neymar will seek to keep up that tradition in June and July.

It will not be easy to replicate the feats of Pele, Garrincha and Ronaldo, who all guided Brazil to glory at the finals, but the 22-year-old Barcelona player has what it takes to succeed on the biggest stage.

As a teenager he helped Santos to their most successful run of titles since Pele was at the club more than 40 years previously and he was voted the player of the tournament when Brazil won the Confederations Cup last year.

Neymar has faced some understandable difficulties adapting to life on and off the field in Barcelona after joining almost a year ago.

The financial machinations of the transfer caused the resignation of Barcelona’s president while Neymar

and his agent-father have become embroiled in a war of words with Santos.

But the forward tends to put his troubles to one side when he pulls on Brazil’s famous yellow shirt.

Neymar has more of a free role with the national side and his predatory instincts in front of goal will be vital if Brazil are to go all the way this time, especially with doubts over the reliability of centre forwards Fred and Jo. The Barcelona player has scored

STARS IN BRAZIL’S WORLD CUP WINS 1958 1962 1970 1994 2002

Pele

Garrincha

Jairzinho

Tribunal to announce verdict June 8

Bangladesh paceman Mashrafe Mortaza shares a light moment with journalists at Mirpur yesterday COURTESY

The Bangladesh Cricket Board tribunal will announce its complete judgment on 8th June on the BPL (2013) match fixing allegations charged by the ICC’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU).

Nizamuddin Chowdhury, the acting CEO of BCB informed the media yesterday that the tribunal would also place its reasons behind the charges made against the individuals or players in question.

“However, we will have to wait another few days to learn the punishments,” said Nizamuddin.

This will be then followed by the sanction judgment on June 18 for those individuals who pleaded guilty to the tribunal or were found guilty. However, those who are found guilty will have the opportunity to appeal against the tribunal’s decision.

On February 26 this year, the tri-

bunal in its short judgment acquitted six of the nine individuals, players and officials who were charged with match-fixing-related offenses during the second edition of BPL in 2013. Dhaka Gladiators chairman Salim Chowdhury, the team’s Indian CEO Gaurav Rawat, bowling coach Mohammad Rafique, and three players including Mosharraf Hossain, Mahbubul Alam and Darren Stevens were all acquitted of all charges after the Tribunal concluded its hearing.

On the other hand, Dhaka Gladiators’ managing director Shihab Chowdhury was found guilty of making an attempt to fix the Gladiators’ match against the Chittagong Kings in February last year while Dhaka Gladiators’ players Mohammed Ashraful and Kaushal Lokuarachchi from Sri Lanka later pleaded guilty to the tribunal.

The tribunal, while holding its hearings, came across another name - Lou

11 goals in 15 games for Brazil since leaving Santos, taking his overall total to 30 in 47 internationals.

Neymar was in inspired form at the Confederations Cup and, ominously for the sides who are out to prevent Brazil lifting the World Cup for a recordextending sixth time, he says the squad are improving all the time.

It would be easy to view Neymar as the consummate individual. He frequently changes hairstyles, he has an obsession for ‘selfies’ and has a host of endorsement deals. l

Vincent who was also found to be involved with fixing. The former New Zealand opener who played for Khulna Royal Bengals in the second season of BPL, was found involved not only with corruption in BPL but in few other domestic Twenty20 matches around the globe also. Lou also pleaded guilty to the tribunal.

“We (BCB) are expecting to receive the copy of the short and the complete judgment in three to four days,” informed the BCB acting CEO. The incident of alleged match and spot-fixing came to light in May 2013 when BCB president Nazmul Hassan confirmed that a Bangladesh player had been interrogated by the ICC. Former Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful was the first player to admit of being involved in corruption after which formal charges were laid against nine individuals, including six players from the Dhaka Gladiators franchise. l

Romário

Ronaldo

Zamal ends first day of Queen’s Cup at joint-fifth Bangladesh golfer Zamal Hossain finished the opening round of the Queen’s Cup, being held at Santiburi Samui Country Club, Koh Samui in Thailand, at fifth place along with seven other players after the first day’s play yesterday.

Ace Bangladesh golfer Siddikur Rahman was one among 27 players who were unable to finish the first round due to a weather suspension of one hour and 25 minutes and will return to complete the rest of his three holes today. Siddikur carded one-under-par after playing 15 holes.

Zamal hit three birdies and a bogey in the 12th hole to finish the day with a total of two-under-par 69. Thai newcomer Poom Saksansin snatched a surprise clubhouse lead in the rain-hit first day with a superb five-under-par 66. l

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Google maps World Cup venues Google Maps on Thursday began letting soccer fans dive into World Cup venues in Brazil without having to leave home. The free online mapping service added “Street View” imagery of all 12 World Cup stadiums along with scenes captured on roads painted in festive tribute to the major global sporting event. “Whether you’re watching the games from the comfort of your couch or packing your bags for Brazil, Google Maps is your ticket to the World Cup,” Street View program manager Deanna Yick said in a blog post. –AFP

Sport

Friday, June 6, 2014

Algeria match interrupted

Chamberlain to have knee scan England winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will have a scan on his knee on Thursday after picking up an injury in the 2-2 draw with Ecuador in a World Cup warm-up match on Wednesday. “We have our fears there might be some ligament damage and a scan is required,” England manager Roy Hodgson told a news conference at the Sun Life stadium. Chamberlain hobbled off just past the hour mark after Ecuador’s Carlos Gruezo rolled on to his knee having kicked the back of the Arsenal player’s right foot in a poor challenge.

–Reuters

Algeria and Romania took an early halftime break in their friendly match at the Stade de Geneva on Wednesday after a plastic bottle was thrown onto the field. The Swiss referee stopped the game in the 43rd minute with the score at 1-1 and, amid general confusion, led the teams off the field and spoke to Algeria officials on the touchline. Algeria coach Vahid Halilhodvic then walked to the centre circle and warned fans the match would be abandoned if there was further trouble.

–Reuters

Argentina beat T&T in warmup Messi kept scoreless in 3-0 win Lionel Messi, looking to score his first World Cup goals since 2006 in Brazil this month, went scoreless as Argentina cruised to a 3-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago in a World Cup warmup on Friday.

Messi missed several chances in the first half, was repeatedly fouled and hit the post with a free kick from which midfielder Javier Mascherano tapped in Argentina’s second goal.

Striker Rodrigo Palacio, replacing the injured Gonzalo Higuain, headed the opener in the last action of the first half and substitute Maxi Rodriguez completed the win in the 64th minute.

Prolific for Barcelona, Messi has only one goal to his name at two World Cups, scored in a 6-0 rout of Serbia & Montenegro on his tournament debut at the 2006 finals in Germany.

He went goalless in five matches at the 2010 finals in South Africa.

“We finished strongly, Trinidad and Tobago were opponents who closed up at the back like some teams in the group will do (at the World Cup),” Messi told reporters.

Argentina, looking to win their

third world title at the June 12-July 13 finals in Brazil, cruised to victory after squandering a string of first-half chances with Ezequiel Lavezzi, replacing Sergio Aguero who was unwell earlier this week, the biggest culprit.

Palacio finally made the breakthrough, heading in an Angel Di Maria corner at the near post in the second minute of first- half stoppage time after Trinidad gave away the corner preventing Messi from scoring. l

RESULTS Argentina

3 0

T&T

2 0

Wales

Palacio 45, Mascherano 51, Maxi 64

Netherlands Robben 32, Lens 76

Algeria

2 1

Bentaleb 22, Soudani 66

Italy Marchisio 9

Ecuador Valencia 8, Arroyo 70

Jamaica Dawkins 27, Grant 38

Ivory Coast

Romania Chipciu 28

1 1

Luxembourg

2 2

England

Chanot 85

Rooney 29, Lambert 51

2 2 2 1

Gervinho 9, Drogba 42

Egypt El-Nenny 5, Morsi 72

El Salvador Alvarez 75-P

Argentina’s Javier Mascherano is congratulated by teammates after he scored his team’s second goal against Trinidad and Tobago during their international friendly match in preparation for the World Cup in Buenos Aires on Wednesday REUTERS

Ecuador hold England in friendly

England’s Raheem Sterling (L) and Ecuador’s Luis Antonio Valencia walk off the field after both were expelled during their international friendly match in Miami on Wednesday REUTERS

Ronaldo racing against clock Cristiano Ronaldo on Wednesday continued his special training regimen aimed at getting over leg injuries that threaten his participation in Portugal’s World Cup opener.

As on Tuesday, the Portuguese superstar and injured teammate Raul Meireles, continued to work separately from the bulk of the squad training at the New York Jets’ facility in Florham Park near New York.

Ronaldo looked relaxed and smiled for the cameras at the state-of-the-at training center of the NFL’s Jets, where he jogged around a playing field.

Defender Pepe, Ronaldo’s Real Madrid teammate who is also injured, did not attend the training session but remained at the team hotel pursuing his rehabilitation program, officials said. l

Wayne Rooney and Rickie Lambert were on target for an experimental England side in a 2-2 friendly draw with Ecuador on Wednesday which turned sour with two late red cards.

Ecuador grabbed an eighth minute lead through a thundering header from Enner Valencia before England drew level in the 29th minute with Rooney poking home after a scramble in the area.

Midfielder Ross Barkley produced a moment of fine individual skill to set up Lambert for a sweet strike in the 51st minute, but Ecuador fought back with a thundering drive from Michael Arroyo.

The double red cards came after a wild challenge from England substitute Raheem Sterling on Antonio Valencia.

The Ecuadorian winger, who plays for Manchester United, retaliated by grabbing the neck of the Liverpool youngster and American referee Jair

Marrufo brandished two red cards.

Rooney was the only player named who started Friday’s 3-0 win over Peru at Wembley Stadium as Roy Hodgson experimented with his options.

The Manchester United forward started on the left flank, not considered his favourite role, with Lambert, recently signed by Liverpool, at centre-forward.

“It was a very young line-up but I thought we acquitted ourselves quite brilliantly and played some very good football at times,” Hodgson said.

“I was happy for (Wayne) that he scored his goal and both him and Frank Lampard, as the only two on the pitch with any significant number of caps, took their responsibility ever so well.

“They helped see us through what, in my opinion, is quite a well-merited and prestigious draw against a strong Ecuadorian team.”

Ecuador also made five changes

from the team which lost 3-1 to Mexico in Dallas on Saturday as they looked to improve on a recent run of form ahead of their tests in Group E against France, Honduras and Switzerland.

The South Americans started brightly, exposing the unfamiliarity of England’s back four, and they took the lead in just the eighth minute.

Walter Ayovi whipped in a fine cross from the left flank and Enner Valencia rose superbly, beating Chris Smalling to the ball and powering in a header to make it 1-0.

England responded positively though, Rooney looping a ball into the area to the over-lapping Luke Shaw’s whose shot was pushed out by Ecuador keeper Maximo Baguera.

But Ecuador continued to probe England’s shaky looking defence - Carlo Gruezo wriggling himself into some space and firing in a low shot in the 16th minute which England keeper Ben Foster did well to keep out. l

RVP injured as Dutch win Robin van Persie handed the Netherlands a fitness worry ahead of the World Cup after the Manchester United striker picked up a groin problem in Wednesday’s 2-0 friendly win over Wales in Amsterdam.

Van Persie appeared to be in pain and held his groin when he left the pitch at half-time and Dutch coach Louis van Gaal took no risks over the fitness of his star striker as the 30-yearold was immediately replaced by Jeremain Lens.

However, Van Gaal, whose 23-man squad fly out to Rio de Janiero on Thursday, is hopeful that the problem will be nothing serious.

“It looks a slight injury, but it is not for nothing that you go off,” said the coach.

“He has to wait until the doctor sees him. It was better that you don’t risk a

Italy held to draw by lowly Luxembourg Italy were stunned by a late goal from minnows Luxembourg on Wednesday as they were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw in Perugia in their final friendly before the World Cup. Illness and injury forced Italy coach Cesare Prandelli into an experimental 4-1-4-1 formation, with Andrea Pirlo and Marco Verratti playing together in midfield in front of Daniele De Rossi, leaving Claudio Marchisio and Antonio Candreva to support lone frontman Mario Balotelli.

Prandelli’s tactic soon reaped rewards as Marchisio, who initially played in Balotelli on the right, headed home the AC Milan man’s cross after just nine minutes.

However, a series of defensive lapses

and wasted opportunities allowed Maxime Chanot to seal an impressive result for the team who sit 120th in the FIFA rankings in the 85th minute of the game.

Despite the poor result, Prandelli was optimistic ahead of the World Cup but did see areas which need work.

“We tried a few different solutions,” he told Rai Sport. “But there are a few things that we need to improve on.

“At times we had too many players in the centre of midfield and were left exposed in the wide areas. But we’ll keep working and we know that we can have a great World Cup. “I have no doubt after this game about how we will play. We tried a system that worked for an hour. Verratti is ready, both mentally and physically, and can play together with Pirlo.l

Belgium team pose for photographers during a training session at the squad’s camp in Knokke-Heist yesterday

Brazil go up in last Fifa Lahm, Schweinsteiger set to return rankings before World Cup RANKINGS 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Spain Germany Brazil (+1) Portugal (-1) Argentina (+2) Switzerland (+2) Uruguay (-1) Colombia (-3) Italy England (+1)

11. Belgium (+1) 12. Greece (-2) 13. United States (+1) 14. Chile (-1) 15. Netherlands 16. Ukraine (+1) 17. France (-1) 18. Croatia (+2) 19. Russia (-1) 20. Mexico (-1)

bigger injury by playing him in the second half as it was not the most important match.

“I hope he is okay for (the opening World Cup game on June 13 against) Spain. His action for the assist for the first goal was fantastic.”

Before his half-time departure, Van Persie set up Arjen Robben for the opening goal of the friendly in the 32nd minute at the Amsterdam Arena.

Robben then turned provider to allow substitute Lens to double the Dutch side’s advantage by tapping home from close-range on 76 minutes.

Van Persie said: “I came off as a precaution. It built up during the game so I decided it was sensible to come off.”

Prior to kick-off, there was great colour and noise inside the national stadium to create a party atmosphere as the Dutch public waved farewell to their stars before the World Cup. l

Brazil move up to third in the last FIFA rankings released before the World Cup starts in one week.

Reigning world champions Spain remain top of the rankings, released Thursday, followed by Germany with Brazil moving ahead of Portugal, who drop to fourth. Argentina move up two spots to fifth with England up one place to join the top 10. Greece fell to 12th and France dropped one place to 17th. l

Germany host Armenia on Friday in their final World Cup warmup match before Brazil 2014 with stars Philipp Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger to return, while goalkeeper Manuel Neuer misses out.

Right-back Lahm (ankle) and Neuer (shoulder) have both been unable to play since picking up injuries playing for Bayern Munich in the German Cup final three weeks ago.

Both Germany captain Lahm and mid-

fielder Schweinsteiger, who has had tendinitis of the knee, are expected to take some part in the Mainz match, but Roman Weidenfeller will deputise for Neuer.

“Both Philipp and Bastian have trained without problems and I assume they will play, but I don’t know yet for how long,” Germany coach Joachim Loew said on Thursday.

“I have spoken with Manuel Neuer and he won’t play against Armenia, but there is no problem with him being ready for our first (World Cup) game against Portugal (on June 16).”

After Germany were held to a 2-2 draw by Cameroon last Sunday in Mo-

enchengladbach, Loew wants improvements in their passing game.

Having drawn their other recent friendly against Poland, Loew wants a confidence-boosting win before flying to their World Cup base in Porto Seguro, via Salvador, from Frankfurt on Saturday.

“We want to win with a good performance, so we can leave Germany with a smile and to get in a good rhythm for the World Cup,” said Loew.

Loew admitted his chief play-maker Mesut Ozil did not have “one of his best days” against Cameroon and pressure is on the Arsenal star to perform. l

REUTERS

Silva wary of Eto’o Brazil skipper Thiago Silva said Wednesday he was fit to marshall a stout backline after being rested for Tuesday’s rout of Panama -- but warned the World Cup hosts must beware Cameroon frontman Samuel Eto´o when the sides meet June 23.

The match in Brasilia will be the Selecao’s final match in Group A after their event opener against Croatia and a test with Olympic conquerors Mexico.

Brazil will hope to have sufficient points in the bag by then to have set a course for the last 16 but Silva said Eto’o must be kept quiet. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Murray targets Nadal Paris rule

QUICK BYTES MPCA U-17 V BD U-17

Rakib ton inspires Bangladesh U17s A century from Md. Rakib led the Bangladesh Under-17 cricket team to a strong position after the opening day’s play of the three-day match against Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association U-17 in Indore yesterday. Rakib struck 124 off 169 balls with the help of 15 boundaries and three sixes as Bangladesh U-17 posted 288 for the loss of five wickets. Jaker Ali Anik chipped in with 56 as the sixth-wicket pair of Rakib and Jaker added 188 runs for the visitors.

–Tribune Desk

Inter-school football semifinals today St Joseph, Rahmatullah Model High School, Lalbag Model School and BN College reached the semifinals of the ISPI Soft Drinks Powder Inter-School Football tournament yesterday. Rahmatullah Model High School defeated Uttara High School and College 2-0 in a penalty shoot-out after the match ended 1-1 after normal time. BN College edged past Residential Model School 1-0. St Joseph will take on Rahmatullah Model school while Lalbag Model School will face BN College in the semifinals today.

–Tribune Desk

Pakistan players to get pay rise Centrally contracted Pakistan players will receive a 25 per cent increase in their monthly retainers and higher match fees, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Thursday after awarding deals to 31 players. The PCB said it had enhanced the monthly fees by 25 per cent at all levels and had also increased test match fees by the same amount.

“We have also increased the fees for one-day internationals by 10 percent while the players’ share of the logo fee has also been revised upward by 15 per cent. Some of the individual performance incentives have also been made more competitive,” chief selector Moin Khan said. Moin, who is also manager of the national side, said the board had also increased incentives for the team including win bonuses.

–Reuters

Robson set for England debut against Sri Lanka Australia-born Sam Robson was in line to make his England debut after the Middlesex opener was named Thursday in the squad to play Sri Lanka in next week’s first Test at his Lord’s ‘home’ ground. Robson was one of three uncapped players named by national selector James Whitaker in a 12-man group along with Barbados-born all-rounder Chris Jordan, who impressed during the recent 3-2 one-day series defeat by Sri Lanka, and Moeen Ali, who provides England with their lone spin option. Meanwhile Yorkshire seamer Liam Plunkett, capable of hitting the 90mph mark, was recalled having last played Test cricket seven years ago. Matt Prior, who has been struggling with an Achilles injury, was passed fit to keep wicket. And that meant there was no place for Jos Buttler, who made a blistering century for England against Sri Lanka in the fourth one-day international at Lord’s on Saturday or Jonny Bairstow, the man who replaced Prior during England’s 5-0 Ashes series loss in Australia.

–AFP

DAY’S WATCH Sony Six 12:45AM Pre World Cup Frinedlies 2014 Germany v Armenia

Brazilian female football player Marta Vieira da Silva, known as ‘Marta’, poses during the opening ceremony of the exhibition ‘Football for Equality’, incuding a retrospective multimedia exhibition of the Brazilian national female football team at the Museu da Republica museum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Wednesday AFP

WC preparations hit by Sao Paulo subway strike Sao Paulo subway workers announced an open-ended strike amid fresh protests Wednesday, hitting World Cup preparations as Brazil defended itself against criticism over chronic delays and soaring costs.

The Sao Paulo metro is the main transport link to the economic capital’s World Cup host stadium, which will host the opening ceremony and kickoff match on June 12, and the strike could pose a massive logistical headache for organizers.

Workers decided to strike from midnight Thursday after negotiations on a salary increase fell through. They rejected an offer of 8.7 percent, insisting on at least 10 percent, said the president of their union, Altino Melo dos Prazeres.

“If there’s money for the Itaquerao (the nickname of host stadium Corinthians Arena) and the World Cup, how is it they don’t have any money for public transport?” said Prazeres, quoted by newspaper O Estado de Sao Paulo.

The strike will affect 4.5 million daily passengers and could unleash commuter chaos in the sprawling city of 20 million people, which was already hit by a paralyzing bus drivers’ strike last month.

Brazil has been gripped by a wave of strikes and protests ahead of the World Cup and elections in October.

About 12,000 protesters rallied by the Homeless Workers’ Movement (MTST), a mainstay of the anti-World Cup protests, marched on Corinthians Arena Wednesday, joining around 400 retired military police and their relatives who were calling for higher pensions.

Protesters say the more than $11

Chelsea must pay Costa’s buyout clause Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has made it clear Chelsea will have to pay Diego Costa’s buyout clause of just over 40 million euros ($54.5 million) if they are to secure the coveted forward’s services.

Commenting on reports in England that Brazil-born Costa, who has the same agent as Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, had passed a medical and the London club had paid the buyout fee, Cerezo suggested the deal was some way from being finalised.

“Diego has the attributes to become the world’s best forward but what we will not do is oblige someone to play where they do not want

to,” Cerezo was quoted as saying in Spanish media.

“If he (Costa) has an agreement with someone then let him come and tell us,” he added.

“If he wants to leave, let him come and deposit his buyout clause which I believe is around 42 or 43 million euros.”

An Atletico spokesman said later on Wednesday the Spanish champions had “no knowledge of anything that is being said” in the English media.

Costa netted 36 goals in all competitions for Atletico last season, helping them secure their first La Liga title in 18 years and propelling them to the Champions League final, where they lost to city rivals Real. l

billion being spent on the World Cup should have been used to help address urgent needs in education, health and transport.

A year ago, a million protesters flooded the streets during the Confederations Cup, a World Cup dress rehearsal.

The protests turned violent at times, overshadowing the tournament and raising fears of a repeat this year. The government has also faced criticism for chronic delays and cost overruns.

Workers are still scrambling to finish five of the 12 host stadiums, including Corinthians Arena, which has not had all its seats installed.

Organizers have shelved much of the other infrastructure they had originally promised, from roadworks to a high-speed train to subway and monorail lines. l

Hockey World Cup 2014 5:00PM New Zealand v Argentina 9:30PM Korea v South Africa 11:40PM Germany v Netherlands Star Sports 4 8:00PM F1: Canadian GP Practice Session Star Sports 2 11:30PM

Zahid Ahsan Russell, MP (2L) and Walton additional director Iqbal bin Anwar Don (L) inaugurate the Walton Volleyball League at the volleyball stadium yesterday COURTESY

Andy Murray will on Friday attempt to become the first British man in 77 years to reach the French Open final but eight-time champion Rafael Nadal is standing in his way.

Bunny Austin was the last Briton to get to the men’s championship match in 1937 while Fred Perry was the country’s last winner in Paris two years earlier.

But Murray is making a habit out of shredding the history books -- his Wimbledon triumph last year ended Britain’s 77-year wait for a men’s title winner.

The 27-year-old lost to Nadal at the same stage in Paris in 2011 without winning a set.

In fact, Murray, who has 5-14 career record against Nadal, has lost all of his five meetings on clay with the Spaniard.

Nadal, in turn, has eight titles in Paris, has won 64 matches against just one defeat and is attempting to become the first man to win five Roland Garros crowns in succession.

Despite the facts and figures stacking up against him, Murray believes he has the mental and physical weapons to shatter the Nadal legend.

Unlike his loss in 2011, Murray is now a two-time Grand Slam title winner himself and his confidence is buoyed by having taken a set off Nadal in Rome last month. l

Liverpool agree Can deal Liverpool have agreed a deal in principle to sign Bayer Leverkusen’s Germany Under-21 midfielder Emre Can, the Premier League runners-up confirmed on Thursday.

The 20-year-old, who made 39 appearances in all competitions since joining Leverkusen last season, has a £10m ($16m) release clause in his contract.

In a short statement Liverpool said: “Liverpool have today agreed a deal in principle with Bayer Leverkusen to sign 20-year-old Emre Can, subject to documentation being completed.”

Frankfurt-born Can, who is of Turkish descent and can also play in defence, joined Leverkusen from Bayern Munich last summer, helping them to fourth in the Bundesliga and secure Champions League qualification.

Can made seven appearances in Europe’s elite competition during 2013-14, and has previously played at the European Under-21 Championship and the Under-17 World Cup.

Leverkusen’s chief executive Michael Schade, confirming the deal, said the club were powerless to keep the player once his release clause was met.

“Emre Can has developed very quickly at Bayer 04 Leverkusen over the past 12 months,” he told the club’s website.

“We wanted to keep Emre at Leverkusen but the release clause is part of his contract.

“So we wish him all the best and lots of success in his time in the Premier League.”

England striker Rickie Lambert was confirmed on Monday as Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers’ first signing of the summer transfer window. l

Sharapova reaches Paris final again Maria Sharapova reached the final of the French Open for the third straight year at Roland Garros on Thursday, digging deep to see off the youthful challenge of Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard.

The 27-year-old, seventh seed once again did it the hard way, battling back from a set down to edge the 20-year-old from Montreal 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 in a match full of beefy baseline shot-making.

It was the 19th time in a row that the never-say-die Sharapova had won a three-set match on clay, dating back to a loss against Justine Henin at Roland Garros in 2010. On Saturday she will take on the winner of the other semi-final opposing fourth seed Simona Halep of Romania and Andrea Petkovic of Germany.

For the fast-rising Bouchard, it represents the second time she has reached

First Division Volleyball League begins

NBA Play-Off 2013-14 7:00AM Final: Miami v San Antonio Ten Sports

Natwest T20 Blast Lancashire v Yorkshire 4:30PM Roland Garros 2014 : Semi Finals: Women’s Doubles followed by Men’s Singles

15

Friday, June 6, 2014

The Walton Air Conditioner First Division Volleyball League began at the volleyball Stadium yesterday. A total of seven teams including Bangladesh Jail, Uttara Sporting Club, Bhai Bhai Sangha, Naba Jagoroni Sangha, Shabolombi Society, Madartek Mitali Sangha and East End Boys are participating in the league.

Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Youth and Sports Zahid Ahsan Russell, MP inaugurated the 10-day meet as the chief guest. Additional Director of Walton FM Iqbal Bin Anwar Don was also present as the special guest.

Bangladesh Jail beat East End Boys by 3-0 games in the opening match of the league. l

a Grand Slam semi-final, after this year’s Australian Open, and the second time she has failed to go a step further, having lost to eventual champion Li Na in Melbourne.

“She played an unbelievable match.

Her level was extremely high today and I am just fortunate to be the winner,” Sharapova said. l

BD U-19 V MPCA U-19

Quayyum’s spell bundles out visitors A six-wicket haul from Abdul Quayyum enabled the Bangladesh Under-19 cricket team to take a first-innings lead of 54 runs against the visiting Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) U-19 side after the second day’s play concluded in the four-day match at BKSP-3 yesterday.

The hosts had started the day on 289 for eight wickets and lost their remaining two wickets for the addition of nine runs to be all out for 298 with captain Mehedi Hasan Miraz topscoring with 81. Shreyansh Sharma scalped five wickets conceding 106 runs for the visitors.

Replying to Bangladesh U-19’s first innings total, MPCA U-19 were dis-

missed for 244 as Quayyum cast his spell to record figures of 6/80 while Rifat Pradhan and Saleh Ahmed Shawon provided valuable support picking up two wickets each.

Siddarth Patidar (108) struck a century for MPCA U-19 while Shahbaz Khan made 62 as the pair added 156 runs for the fourth-wicket partnership.

Bangladesh U-19 began their second innings and extended their lead to 67 runs as they were batting on 13 runs for the loss of opener Nazmul Hossain’s (nought) wicket before stumps were drawn signaling the end of the day’s play. Opener Munim Shahriar (three not out) and one-down batsman Joyraj Sheik Emon (six not out) will begin the third day’s proceedings today. l

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Friday, June 6, 2014

Muhith: Effective measures to be taken to reduce interest rate n Jebun Nesa Alo Finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith has assured the countrymen of undertaking an effective measure to reduce the bank’s interest rates for increasing private sector credit flows, which will eventually improve the overall investment climate.

The minister, however, did not elaborate how the bank’s interest rates would be reduced while placing the budget proposal for the next fiscal in parliament yesterday.

The budget proposal put special emphasis on the private sector investment for achieving the GDP growth.

As part of the government’s strategy to increase the private sector investment, Muhith proposed to reduce the interest rates and stressed the need for further expanding the small and medium enterprises across the country.

“We will attach high priority to the small and medium enterprises and take necessary steps to improve the skills of

the small and medium enterprises for further increasing their productivity,’’ he said in his budget speech.

It will be really difficult to bring down the interest rate as banks might face liquidity crisis in the new fiscal year due to higher borrowing target from the banking system set by the government, said a senior executive of a private bank. ‘’If the credit demand puts any extra pressure on the money market, the interest rate would, rather, climb up. It is contradictory to increase private sector credit flows amid higher borrowing target by the government,” he added.

The interest rates against credit remained higher in the current fiscal year despite lower credit demand and higher foreign loan inflow, said a senior executive of Bangladesh Bank.

The private sector credit growth was 11.6% in July of current fiscal year against the monetary policy target, which was set at 12.5% by Bangladesh Bank. The growth remained around

11% during the 11 months and it stood at 11.5% in May, which was far below from the monthly monetary target of 16%.

Despite the sluggish credit growth, the interest rate remained above 13% during the same period.

The ceiling of bank borrowing has been set at Tk31,221 crore in the proposed budget which 20% higher from Tk25,993 crore for the current fiscal year.

Of the total amount of borrowing, Tk19,824 crore has been set for long term credit and Tk11,397 crore for short term credit, which was Tk16,955 crore and Tk13,027 crore respectively in the revised budget of the current fiscal year.

“We are continuing our efforts to enhance efficiency in banking sector. As a result, the deposit and lending interest rate spread has come down to around 5% by February 2014. We are also seeking to ensure uninterrupted credit flows to the agriculture sector, and small and medium enterprises together with other important sectors,’’said Muhith.

In this regard, he said over the first

nine months of current fiscal, 78.4% of the total agricultural and rural credit target of Tk14,595 crore has been distributed. Credit flow to the small and medium enterprises up to December 2013 increased by 14.9%, year on year.

Term loan in the industrial sector has increased by 3.7% in the second quarter of the current fiscal year.

It would be possible to achieve the money and credit supply targets with the improvement in external sector. We hope that broad money and domestic credit will increase in consistence with the growth and inflation targets, said the minister.

In FY 2013-14, we had approved the establishment of 9 banks in private sector including 3 under the ownership of non-resident Bangladeshis all of which are now in operation. In the meantime, these banks have opened 71 branches across the country. These banks have been asked to channel 5% of their total credit to the agriculture sector to increase investment in this sector. l

‘New DAP to be completed by FY2014-15’ n Abu Hayat Mahmud As part of the country’s urban development plan, the government aims to complete the new Detailed Area Plan (DAP) of Dhaka by fiscal 2014-15.

Besides, it has allocated Tk2059.46 crore for the Ministry of Housing and Public Works in the proposed 2014-15 budget.

Presenting the budget in the parliament yesterday, Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith said: “Planned urbanisation has become a big challenge for us because of increased population growth.”

“Realising the importance of planned urbanization, the government formulated DAP for Dhaka, Khulna and Chittagong Metropolises, and Divisional Area Structural Plan for Sylhet, Chittagong and Barisal in its previous term,” the minister said.

“In this term, we will modify DAP of Dhaka to make it more realistic and modern,” he added.

Muhith said: “I propose allocating Tk985.95 crore in non-development and Tk1073.47 crore in development budgets for the ministry of Housing and Public Works for fiscal 2014-2015.”

Speaking of extension of housing facilities, Muhith said the government was committed to ensure “Housing for All”, and has started developing around 44,316 plots and is also constructing 32,258 flats in Dhaka as well as in different divisional and district towns.

Although the minster proposed allowing investment of undisclosed income in the real estate and housing sector budget for fiscal 2013-14, he said nothing about it in yesterday’s budget speech.

“For implementing planned urbanisation and ensuring civic amenities, the government will take 56 steps to

reduce traffic congestion and enhance urban beautification,” he said.

The government has already met the demand for water in the cities and improved sewerage system would hopefully be installed, he added.

Muhith said: “Dhaka Wasa is capable of supplying 242 crore litres of water against a demand for 225 crore litres”.

The minister announced allocation of a total of Tk15468 crore for the Local Government Division in the budget, with Tk2,001 crore for non-development and Tk13,467 for development sectors. l

Revenue target hinges on tax automation n Tribune Report Automation of the country’s tax system will be of high priority in the next fiscal year to meet revenue collection target, said Finance Minister AMA Muhith during his budget speech yesterday.

The automated system will facilitate sharing of information between three departments of the revenue authority, he added.

Muhith said emphasis will also be given on resource mobilisation which includes developing a tax-friendly atmosphere, enacting new laws and recruiting necessary workforce.

He believed the reform initiatives taken will strengthen and expand tax collection activities of the National Board of Revenue.

Value Added Tax (Vat) Act will come into force in FY2015-16 and the reform agenda to revise the income tax law while the customs act will be enacted during the tenure of the present Parliament, Muhith asserted.

“The government has taken up the reform initiatives to meet its revenue target for the fiscal year 2014-15.”

The proposed tax revenue target is Tk1,49,720 crore, which includes Tk57,500 crore from income tax and Tk55,580 crore from Vat and excise duties and Tk36,640 crore from customs duties.

“The government is working for better tax services so that taxpayers are motivated to pay more tax.”

About reform initiatives, the minister cited the introduction of Q-Cash network to help taxpayers pay duties online.

He expected the project of online submission of returns will be completed by the end of 2015.

The improved tax service centres have already been introduced in Dha-

ka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Khulna, Comilla and Rajshahi, Muhith said.

“Three more such centres will be opened in Rangpur, Bogra and Barisal very soon while other districts will see it in phases.”

Regarding different steps taken for revenue collection, he said a Transfer Pricing Cell will start working from July at the NBR. It will be aimed at preventing money laundering and tax evasion.

Vat and Supplementary Duty Act, 2012 will be implemented from July 2015, Muhith said.

About customs, he said the paperless customs procedure ASYCUDA World System of customs clearance is in operation at all major customs houses.

He said the coverage of the system will be extended soon to other land customs stations.

Works are underway to introduce tax administration retrieval system at the Central Survey Zone, he said adding it would enable collection of information from Bangladesh Road Transportation Authority (BRTA), land registration offices and other related offices.

“Such steps will also help expansion of tax network and prevent tax dodging.”

About NBR workforce, finance minister mentioned around 9,000 new posts have been created and recruitment is on progress to ensure smooth service.

Muhith added the government plans to organise training and awareness programmes for both taxpayers and NBR officials.

Such awareness campaigns and skills improvement training will help to mobilise domestic resources changing the revenue body into a business and tax-friendly organisation, finance minister hoped. l

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Budget Speech

Friday, June 6, 2014

Abridged version of finance minister’s budget speech of agricultural land. n Pure Water and Sanitation: We have established 1 lakh 37 thousand arsenic-free water sources and also introduced water supply through pipe line in 86 villages. Our success in increasing the sanitation facilities in the country is commendable as well. Thanks to our constant efforts, more than 95 percent of the families in Bangladesh use sanitary latrine which is the highest in the SAARC region. n Growth Centre: We have completed the process of developing as many as 1414 growth centres and rural bazaars to revamp the rural economy.

Ninety five percent growth centres are now connected with the district headquarters through upazila, rural and other roads. As many as 484 cooperative markets have been established so that necessary items reach the consumers at a fair price.

9 milk cooling centres have been established to increase the production of domestic milk through cooperatives.

Chapter III Budget for FY 2013-14: Adjustments and Revisions Introduction and Background

n This is the first time in the history of Bangladesh that an elected Government has stepped into its second term in office having successfully completed the first one. This bears testimony to the unflinching trust that the people have chosen to bestow on us. We believe that this continuity will enable the Government to take forward its development initiatives to a higher trajectory. The Honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took steps to hold the national election under an all-party government despite not being bound by any constitutional obligation. However, I have to say with deep regret that a large political party, by boycotting the election, vainly tried to disrupt our democratic process.

Madam Speaker

n Our Targets: Our policy is to enhance public expenditure in the next five years and to this end domestic resource mobilization has to be scaled up. Over the past 5 years, revenue collection has increased from 10.7 percent to 13.3 percent of GDP. At the same time, the size of public spending has increased from 15.7 percent to 18.3 percent of GDP. The target over the next 5-years would be to augment resource mobilization to 17 percent and increase the size of the budget to 22 percent of GDP. Side by side, it would be our core objective to transform Bangladesh into a middle-income country by 2021 through structural and other reforms, especially in the areas of strengthening local government, land management, institutional development and good governance. In the current tenure, human development will be high on our priority agenda. n We will take a holistic approach encompassing all relevant issues to make the local government institutions more powerful and equally responsible. Establishing good governance with transparency and accountability at all levels is our motto.

We want to shift the seats of power to the local levels, as far as possible, doing away with the heavily centralised administration. ZilaParishad, UpazilaParishad and Union Parishad will be vested with more power and authority.This will require us to revamp the present shape of local government which we will do gradually.

We will try to make an effective hierarchical division among local government bodies and will leave issues like education, health, law enforcement, social safety in their hands to take care of. We will also expand the scope of e-governance for enhanced accountability and transparency.

Administrative reform and strengthening local government

n With the decentralisation of power, we will have to take appropriate measures for administrative reforms. We have to keep it in mind that it will require massive administrative reforms to introduce decentralisation in its truest meaning in our country, because of the fact that here centralised administration is so deeply rooted that it is quite hard to dismantle. It is not enough to just to arm the local government bodies with more power and responsibility; it will also require an efficient bureaucracy to make proper policies so that the people can enjoy the fruits of decentralisation. On the whole, the following issues will have to be carefully looked into to make the local government more effective:

A careful scrutiny has to be made to decide what subjects of the central government can be transferred to the local authority and in what manner A clear division of work among Zila, Upazila and Union Parishads A specialised bureaucracy suited for the local government has to be created with provision for imparting appropriate training A fair system of revenue sharing between the central and local government institutions has to be established. n There should be wider deliberations on these issues both in the Parliament and beyond. The administrative system of a country gradually develops within the framework provided by its society, history and political system. Therefore, administrative reform process is not only slow, but also difficult. However, I am optimistic that we will be able to formulate and implement a strategy for decentralisation, administrative reforms and strengthening of local government system through national consensus.

Madam Speaker

n Authoritative Land Records: There is no alternative to proper land management system for attracting investment in agriculture and industry sectors. I must admit that we are trailing behind in this sector. I have always maintained that we want to ensure food security together with rapid industrialisation. To fulfill this goal, our main task would be to implement scientific land management and digitise the land records of our country. In the case of land management, our core targets would be to carry the land-related services to the doorstep of the common people and make the whole process business-friendly. Accordingly, we want to introduce Authoritative Land Records (ALR). Steps have already been taken to provide Authoritative Land Records in 3 upazilas by establishing networks in the Assistant Commissioner (Land) offices, Settlement Offices and Sub-register’s offices. Gradually, we will extend this programme countrywide. We are actively considering the use of PPP for rapid implementation of this initiative. n Land Survey and Record: You may know that we took the initiative in our last term to digitalise land settlement and record keeping. Land zoning process is underway in another 40 districts. Besides, the process of digital surveys and record updating has begun in 5 mouzas of Savar upazila in Dhaka district and 48 mouzas of Palash upazila in Narsingdi district. Implementation of Digital Land Management System (DLMS) in 45 upazilas of 7 districts and operationalisation of 20 land information service centres in 20 upazilas are underway. Computerisation of existing records of right in 55 districts will be completed by the next fiscal year.

Madam Speaker

n Rural Infrastructure: We laid emphasis in our last term on building rural infrastructure to improve the livelihood of the rural people. We built approximately 25 thousand km road and 1 lakh 51 thousand meter bridges and culverts during this period. We ensured the maintenance of existing 48 thousand km metal road. Besides, 1 thousand 137 km canals were re-excavated to efficiently manage the surface water and to expand the irrigation system. Consequently, irrigation can now be extended to 91 thousand hectares area

n Political Instability and Revision of Budget for FY 2013-2014: Now I would like to reflect on the adjustments and revisions in the budget for FY 2013-14. In the run up to the 10th national election there had been a serious political unrest in the first six months of the current financial year.

Various political parties and alliances observed a total of 45 days hartal and blockade during July 2013 to January 2014. These hartals and blockades were not limited to 12 or 24 hours, rather at times even continued for a week. Communication was disrupted, port activities came to a halt, retail and wholesale buying-selling came down to almost zero which had a debilitating effect on government revenue collection. Frenzied destruction of government properties was another salient feature of these hartals and blockades. According to the World Bank, this political vandalism caused loss of Tk. 11,000 crore in the national economy which is around 1 percent of GDP.

BUDGET AT A GLANCE Budget 2014-15

Description Revenue and Foreign Grants Revenues (Statement I)

Revised 2013-14

(Taka in Crore) Actual 2012-13

Budget 2013-14

1,82,954

1,56,671

1,67,459

1,28,128

1,55,292 1,49,720

1,30,178 1,25,000

1,41,219 1,36,090

1,07,452 1,03,332

5,572 27,662 6,206

5,178 26,493 5,956

5,129 26,240 6,670

4,120 20,676 6,879

Total :

1,89,160

1,62,627

1,74,129

1,35,007

Total - Financing Including BPCs Liability :

1,89,160

1,62,627

1,74,129

1,35,007

1,54,241

1,34,907

1,34,449

1,04,318

1,28,231

1,15,998

1,13,471

99,376

29,305

24,854

26,003

22,322

1,738

1,686

1,740

1,593

Non-Development Capital Expenditure/2 (Statement IV)

26,010

18,909

20,978

4,943

Net Outlay for Food Account Operation (Statement VIII) Loans & Advances (Net)/3 (Statement VIA)

309 9,611

188 15,982

263 15,504

- 437 16,959

86,345

65,145

72,275

53,172

1,068

893

1,934

597

3,469 80,315

3,058 60,000

3,014 65,870

1,802 49,474

Tax Revenue NBR Tax Revenue Non-NBR Tax Revenue Non-Tax Revenue Foreign Grants/1 (Statement V)

Expenditure Non-Development Expenditure Non-Development Revenue Expenditure (Statement III) of which Domestic Interest Foreign Interest

Development Expenditure Development Programmes Financed from Revenue Budget/4 (Statement IV) Non-ADP Project (Statement VIA) Annual Development Programm/5 (Statement IX) Non-ADP FFW and Transfer/6 (Statement X)

1,493

1,194

1,457

1,299

Total - Expenditure :

2,50,506

2,16,222

2,22,491

1,74,013

Overall Deficit (Including Grants) :

- 61,346

- 53,595

- 48,362

- 39,006

(In percent of GDP) :

- 4.5

- 4.5

- 4.0

- 3.8

Overall Deficit (Excluding Grants) : (In percent of GDP) : Total - Financing Including BPCs Liability :

- 67,552 - 59,551 - 5.0 2,50,506

- 5.0 2,16,222

- 55,032

- 4.6 2,22,491

- 45,885

- 4.4 1,74,013

Financing Foreign Borrowing-Net

18,069

12,613

14,398

5,812

Foreign Borrowing (Statement V)

26,519

21,058

23,729

13,301

- 8,450

- 8,445

- 9,331

43,277 31,221

40,982 29,982

33,964 25,993

Amortization (Statement IX) Domestic Borrowing (Statement VIB) Borrowing from Banking System (Net)

33,193 27,464

19,824 16,955 14,355 22,746 11,397 13,027 11,638 4,718 12,056 11,000 7,971 5,729 9,056 8,000 4,971 824 3,000 3,000 3,000 4,905 Total - Financing: 61,346 53,595 48,362 39,005 Total - Financing Including BPCs Liability: 61,346 53,595 48,362 39,005 Memorandum Item : GDP 13,39,500 11,81,000 * 11,88,800 10,37,987 in FY 2013-14 will be 6.12 percent. oping Asian economies. ing the adoption of accommodative Resurgent political stability followmonetary policy and fiscal consol- n Domestic Economic Scenario: We ing the national election combined have maintained satisfactory ecoidation, global economy, especialwith government’s complementary nomic growth amidst global ecoly, advanced economies have been policy support have encouraged innomic slowdown. Despite political (Taka in Crore) vestment and export trade. As a retension in the second half of the FY Actual Revised Budget sult the industry and service will be 2012-13, we could achieve 6.01 perSector 2013-14 2013-14 2013-14 able to make good the losses caused cent growth (base year 2005-06).

(March) in the first half of the current fisAttainment of 10 percent growth Total Revenue Income 1,56,671 1,67,459 98,531 cal year. Moreover, there has been in the industry sector contributed of which (13.3) (14.1) (8.3) a bumper production of Aus and significantly to this achievement.

Boro this year because of favourable On the other hand, due to adverse NBR Tax 1,25,000 1,36,090 77,254 Non-NBR Tax 5,178 5,129 3,132 weather condition and our continweather condition and lower crop Non-Tax Revenue 26,493 26,240 18,145 ued policy and input support. I foreprice, growth in broad agriculture Total Expenditure 2,16,222 2,22,491 1,15,180 sector was rather low. While there see a prospect of substantial growth

(18.3) (18.7) (9.8) was significant growth in forestin agriculture sector in this fiscal. (a) Non-development Expenditure 1,15,998 1,13,471 69,828 ry, fisheries and livestock sectors, n Growth Target and Assumptions:

(9.8) (9.6) (5.9) growth in the crop sector was relaWe hope that in the next fiscal, in(b) Development Expenditure 65,145 72,275 25,642 tively small. At the same time, due vestment, export and remittance of which (5.5) (6.1) (2.2) to interference in the transport secflows will increase as it is expected Annual Development Plan 60,000 65,870 24,735 tor because of strike, blockade and that the global economy will expe (5.1) (5.5) (2.1) political violence, service sector rience accelerated growth. During (c) Other Expenditure 35,079 36,745 19,710 growth stood below expectation. this period, food and energy prices

(3.0) (3.1) (1.7) Budget Deficit -59,551 -55,032 -16,649 From the demand side perspective, in the international market are like (-5.0) (-4.6) (-1.4) despite increase in personal conly to decline slightly. Besides, an inFinancing

sumption expenditure due to inflow vestment-friendly monetary policy (a) Foreign 18,569 21,068 1,426 of remittances, investment did not will be maintained ensuring uninter(1.6) (1.8) (0.1) show up any significant growth. In rupted credit flows to the productive (b) Domestic 40,982 33,964 15,231 comparison, public investment regsectors. Government initiatives for

(3.5) (2.9) (1.3) istered substantial growth. On the developing physical infrastructure Banking Source 29,982 25,993 13,233 other hand, while there was robust in the power, energy and commu (2.5) (2.2) (1.1) growth in export, it was not matched GDP 11,81,000 11,88,800 11,81,000 nication sectors will continue. Difby import growth. A table containferent initiatives will be undertaken Source: BBS, Bangladesh Bank and Finance Division ing macro-economic indicators on for the development of skills and economic situation of Bangladesh is n It is important at this stage to give human resources. Fiscal, monetary showing signs of progress since the given below. some reflections on how negatively and stock market reforms will go on. fourth quarter of the last year. As political instability affected revenue Foreign investment and assistance a result, not only unemployment Table 2: A Glance of Recent Performance of Bangladesh Economy* collection. The target of tax revenue are expected to increase. Credit and has gone down in these countries collection was set at Tk. 95 thousand input support will continue in the but consumer and investor confi- *Data from 2009-10 to 2012-13 (1995-96 base year) 785 crore in the budget of FY 2011-12 broad agriculture sector. Above all, I dence has been restored as well due and was increased by Tk. 500 crore in am expecting favorable weather and to higher aggregate demand. Over n You are aware that at the outset of FY 2013-14, our GDP growth target the revised budget. It was Tk. 1 lakh political stability. Based on these all, economies of USA, Japan and was set at 7.2 per cent. However, due 16 thousand 824 crore in the original assumptions and expectations, we Euro area have been experiencing to political unrest that continued budget of FY 2012-13, which remained have set the GDP target at 7.3 percent a solid recovery. This is reflected in from the previous year different secunchanged in the revised budget. On for FY 2014-15. the latest IMF forecast of the world tors of the economy were adversely n Inflation: We have been quite sucthe other hand, due to political uneconomic growth of 3.6 percent and affected. As a result, achieving 7.2 rest, the target of tax revenue had to cessful in containing inflation. At 3.9 per cent respectively in 2014 and percent growth will not be possible be revised downward at Tk. 1 lakh 30 the end of June in the last fiscal year, 2015. In 2014 and 2015, this growth in this year. According to the prethousand and 178 crore in FY 2013-14 point to point inflation was 8 perwould be 2.2 percent and 2.3 percent liminary estimate of Bangladesh Buby reducing Tk. 11 thousand crore. cent that came down to 7.4 percent in the advanced economies and 6.7 reau of Statistics (BBS) GDP growth Taking these factors into considerat the end of April in the current fispercent and 6.8 percent in the develation, I am presenting the revised budget separately in Table 1 below.

Non-Development & Development Budget: 2014-2015 Now, I am presenting an analysis of (Taka 2,505.06 Billion) USE OF RESOURCES the overall revenue, expenditure and deficit of the government along with the implementation of Annual Development Programmes (ADP): n I would like to inform the citizens that despite the destructive activities of the opposition, the revised estimate will be only 2.8 percent less than the original estimate determined at the beginning of the current fiscal. It means that even in adverse situation, we could sustain the momentum of ADP implementation and maintain effective cooperation with our development partners.

Chapter IV Our Economy in the Global Context

n Global Economic Trend: Follow-

Long-Term Debt (Net) Short-Term Debt (Net) Non-Bank Borrowing (Net) National Savings Schemes (Net) Others/7 (Statement VII)

- 7,489

Budget Speech

Total Revenue Income

Of which NBR Tax Non-NBR Tax Non-Tax Revenue Sector Total Expenditure

(a) Non-development Expenditure

(b) Development Expenditure

Of which Annual Development Plan

(c) Other Expenditure

Budget Deficit

Financing (a) Foreign (b) Domestic

Banking Source

GDP

Budget 2014-15

Revised 2013-14

Budget 2013-14

Actual 2012-13

Actual 2011-12

1,82,954 (13.7)

1,56,671 (13.3)

1,67,459 (14.1)

1,28,128 (12.3)

1,14,693 (12.5)

1,49,720 5,572 27,662

1,25,000 5,178 26,493

1,36,090 5,129 26,240

1,03,332 4,120 20,676

91,595 3,633 19,465

76,225 3,323 13,445

Budget 2014-15

Revised 2013-14

Budget 2013-14

Actual 2012-13

Actual 2011-12

Actual 2010-11

2,50,506 (18.7)

2,16,222 (18.3)

2,22,491 (18.7)

1,74,013 (16.8)

1,52,428 (16.7)

1,28,249 (16.3)

59,742 2,743 13,420 Actual 200910 1,02,977 14.9

1,28,231

1,15,998

1,13,471

99,376

89,299

77,488

67,013

(9.6)

(9.8)

(9.5)

(9.6)

(9.8)

(9.8)

(9.7)

86,345

65,145

72,275

53,172

40,672

35,734

28,115

(6.4)

(5.5)

(6.1)

(5.1)

(4.4)

(4.5)

(4.1)

80,315 (6.0)

60,000 (5.1)

65,870 (5.5)

49,474 (4.8)

37,508 (4.1)

33,284 (4.2)

25,553 (3.7)

35,930

35,079

36,745

21,465

22,457

15,027

7,849

(2.7) -67,552 (-5.0)

(3.0) -59,551 (-5.0)

(3.1) -55,032 (-4.6)

(2.1) -45,885 (-4.4)

(2.5) -37,735 (-4.1)

(1.9) -35,256 (-4.5)

(1.1) -27,072 (-3.9)

24,275 (1.8) 43,277 (3.2) 31,221 (2.3) 13,39,500

18,569 (1.6) 40,982 (3.5) 29,982 (2.5) 11,81,000

21,068 (1.8) 33,964 (2.9) 25,993 (2.2) 11,88,800

12,691 (1.2) 33,193 (3.2) 27,464 (2.6) 10,37,987

7,193 (0.8) 30,543 (3.3) 27,191 (3.0) 9,14,784

5,079 (0.6) 30,211 (3.8) 25,210 (3.2) 7,87,495

9,254 (1.3) 15,820 (2.3) -2,092 (-0.3) 6,90,571

cal year. During this time, non-food inflation declined to 5.2 percent.

But food inflation sneaked up as there was disruption in supply due to continued strikes and blockades at the beginning of this fiscal year.

However, I hope that the declining trend in food price in the neighboring as well as other countries will pull down the price of food grains in the coming days. Factoring in the declining trend in food and energy price in the international markets along with satisfactory domestic agricultural production and supportive monetary policy, I believe that the general inflation in Bangladesh will be hovering around 7.0 percent

by June 2014 and will reduce further at the end of the next fiscal year. n Money and Credit: We are continuing our efforts to enhance efficiency in banking sector. As a result, the deposit and lending interest rate spread has come down to around 5 percent by February 2014. We are also seeking to ensure uninterrupted credit flows to the agriculture sector, and small and medium enterprises together with other important sectors. Over the first nine months of current fiscal, 78.4 percent of the total agricultural and rural credit target of Tk. 14 thousand 595 crore has been distributed. Credit flow to the small and medium enterprises up to December

2013 increased by 14.9 percent, year on year. Term loan in the industrial sector has increased by 3.7 percent in the second quarter of the current fiscal year. n Import and export: Export has increased by 13.2 percent till April 2014, year on year. On the other hand, imports of goods and services though declined in the last fiscal year, it has posted a growth of 17.5 percent till March 2014, year on year. We expect that import and export growth will accelerate thanks to a positive trend in the global economy. We are assuming that export earnings and import expenditure may increase by approximately 15 percent. n Remittance and manpower export: Remittance has declined by 4.8 percent till April 2014 of the current fiscal against last fiscal year’s growth of 12.6 percent. In this context, I should add that it has declined not only in our country; rather there is a global downward trend of remittance flows. According to the World Bank, remittance growth in the South Asian countries was only 2.3 percent in 2013 while it was only 1.7 percent in India. Presently the significant spending by expatriate workers for legalization of their employment in Saudi Arabia brought this decline in remittance in Bangladesh. We are taking different measures to increase manpower export taking into

cognizance the current trend in this sector. n Foreign Exchange Reserve and Exchange Rate: Foreign exchange reserve stood at US$ 15.3 billion at the end of the last fiscal year. In the current fiscal year with the decline in trade deficit together with an inflow in the capital and financial account till February 2014, foreign exchange reserve has increased consistently and stood at US$ 20.2 billion on 27th May 2014 which is sufficient to foot the import bills of approximately 6 months. The value of Taka is stable against US Dollar as well. Remittance, aid flow and foreign investment will be at the satisfactory level as both domestic and external fronts are showing positive developments.

As a result, I hope, though trade deficit may widen, foreign reserve will remain at a comfortable level while the exchange rate will remain stable.

Chapter V FY 2014-15 Budget Structure Madam Speaker

n Medium Term Macroeconomic Framework: In the light of the global perspective and also what I reflected on our future agenda, we have prepared the budget for next fiscal year. The main objective of the proposed budget will be to maintain continuity of existing monetary and

Table 4: Sectoral Allocation in the Budget

63,036 (25.16)

54,329 (25.13)

51,555 (23.17)

42,974 (24.70)

38,677 (25.37)

(In Crore Tk.) Actual 200910 36,219 30,984 (28.24) (30.52)

15,540 (6.20) 13,673

14,363 (6.64) 11,964

13,163 (5.92) 11,930

11,334 (6.51) 9,413

10,579 (6.94) 8,157

10,079 (7.86) 8,304

8,712 (8.58) 6,838

(5.46) 11,146 (4.45) 13,706 (5.47) 54,065 (21.58)

(5.53) 9,955 (4.60) 10,462 (4.84) 46,744 (21.62)

(5.36) 9,470 (4.26) 9,052 (4.07) 43,615 (19.60)

(5.41) 8,549 (4.91) 7,626 (4.38) 36,922 (21.22)

(5.35) 7,667 (5.03) 6,869 (4.51) 33,272 (21.83)

(6.47) 7,287 (5.68) 6,118 (4.77) 31,788 (24.78)

(6.74) 6,271 (6.18) 4,987 (4.91) 26,808 (26.41)

1,685 (0.67) 7,286 (2.91) 8,971 (3.58) 75,533 (30.15)

1,225 (0.57) 6,360 (2.94) 7,585 (3.51) 61,768 (28.57)

1,417 (0.64) 6,523 (2.93) 7,940 (3.57) 67,147 (30.18)

814 (0.47) 5,238 (3.01) 6,052 (3.48) 58,974 (33.89)

1,122 (0.74) 4,283 (2.81) 5,405 (3.55) 44,447 (29.16)

1,194 (0.93) 3,237 (2.52) 4,431 (3.45) 38,814 (30.26)

353 (0.35) 3,823 (3.77) 4,176 (4.11) 31,014 (30.55)

12,390 (4.95) 3,619 (1.44) 15,464 (6.17) 5,337 (2.13) 36,810 (14.69) 11,540 (4.61)

12,279 (5.68) 2,771 (1.28) 13,322 (6.16) 4,722 (2.18) 33,094 (15.31) 9,902 (4.58)

12,270 (5.51) 2,593 (1.17) 12,961 (5.83) 4,448 (2.00) 32,272 (14.50) 11,351 (5.10)

14,822 (8.52) 2,481 (1.43) 12,314 (7.08) 4,217 (2.42) 33,834 (19.44) 10,280 (5.91)

9,760 (6.40) 2,134 (1.40) 9,442 (6.19) 4,385 (2.88) 25,721 (16.87) 7,969 (5.23)

8,438 (6.58) 2,040 (1.59) 9,037 (7.05) 3,648 (2.84) 23,163 (18.06) 7,233 (5.64)

7,350 (7.24) 1,838 (1.81) 7,653 (7.54) 2,766 (2.72) 19,607 (19.31) 3,469 (3.42)

6,858 (2.74) 6,359 (2.54) 8,737 (3.49) 1,182 (0.47) 23,136 (9.24) 4,047 (1.62) 59,058 (23.58) 12,557 (5.01) 46,510 (18.57) 197,627 (78.9) 31,043 (12.39) 8,447 (3.37) 13,389 (5.34) 250,506

5,741 (2.66) 5,258 (2.43) 2,090 (0.97) 1,137 (0.53) 14,226 (6.58) 4,546 (2.10) 49,489 (22.89) 12,027 (5.56) 37,462 (17.33) 165,586 (76.6) 26,540 (12.27) 4,868 (2.25) 19,228 (8.89) 216,222

5,550 (2.49) 5,589 (2.51) 7,000 (3.15) 1,121 (0.50) 19,260 (8.66) 4,264 (1.92) 49,947 (22.45) 10,537 (4.74) 39,410 (17.71) 168,649 (75.80) 27,743 (12.47) 7,318 (3.29) 18,781 (8.44) 222,491

5,369 (3.09) 4,557 (2.62) 784 (0.45) 797 (0.46) 11,507 (6.61) 3,353 (1.93) 27,409 (15.75) 9,655 (5.55) 17,717 (10.18) 129,357 (74.34) 23,915 (13.74) 2,417 (1.39) 18,324 (10.53) 174,013

7,278 (4.77) 1 (0.00) 418 (0.27) 558 (0.37) 8,255 (5.41) 2,502 (1.64) 26,995 (17.71) 8,737 (5.73) 18,258 (11.98) 110,119 (72.23) 20,351 (13.35) 5,211 (3.42) 16,759 (10.99) 152,448

5,584 (4.35) 0 (0.00) 385 (0.30) 503 (0.39) 6,472 (5.05) 1,946 (1.52) 25,160 (19.62) 7,819 (6.10) 17,341 (13.52) 100,193 (78.11) 15,622 (12.18) 1,899 (1.48) 10,554 (8.23) 128,268

4,828 (4.76) 0 (0.00) 331 (0.33) 890 (0.88) 6,049 (5.96) 1,889 (1.86) 20,590 (20.28) 6,582 (6.48) 14,008 (13.80) 82,588 (81.35) 14,904 (14.68) 3,199 (3.15) 825 (0.81) 101,521

Budget 2014-15

Ministry/Division (a) Social Infrastructure Human Development 1 Ministry of Education

2. Ministry of Primary and Mass Education

3.Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

4. Others

Sub-total: Food and Social Safety 5. Ministry of Food 6. Ministry of Disaster Management Sub-total: (b) Physical Infrastructure Agriculture and Rural Development 7. Ministry of Agriculture 8. Ministry of Water Resources 9. Local Government Division 10. Others Sub Total: Power and Energy Communication Infrastructure 11. Road Division 12. Railway 13. Bridge Division 14. Others Sub Total: 15. Others Sector (C) General Service Public Order and Safety 16. Others Total: (d) Interest Payments

(e) PPP Subsidy and Liability

(f) Net Lending and Other Expenditure

Total Budget:

Revised 2013-14

Budget 2013-14

Actual 2012-13

Actual 2011-12

Actual 2010-11

fiscal policy strategies being pursued and to ensure macroeconomic stability. As you all know, we have undertaken a range of legal, regulatory and structural reforms in the revenue sector. Moreover, additional manpower has been sanctioned to revamp the activities of this sector. Efforts to strengthen revenue collection in the next budget will continue through these ongoing reforms. Alongside,

Friday, June 6, 2014

financial institutions; 12.39 percent has been proposed for interest payments. Remaining 5.34 percent will be spent for net lending and other expenditures. Hopefully, the budget framework proposed in view of the domestic and global perspectives will support growth as well as contain inflation. People will find their aspirations reflected in it.

tants have been engaged for 33 projects.

In fact, this is the first step towards project implementation. A list of approved PPP projects has been given in table 6. I expect the legislation on PPP will be laid before the parliament shortly.

Reduction of Poverty and Inequality: Trends, Targets and Strategies

n Poverty and Inequality: We have already achieved the targets meant

Table 5: Annual Development Programme (sectoral allocation) Sector

Indicator

(In Crore Tk.)

Unit

Real GDP

2009-10 (Actual)

2010-11 (Actual)

2011-12 (Actual)

2012-13 (Actual)

Growth (%)

6.07

6.71

6.23

Agriculture

Growth (%)

5.24

5.13

3.11

2.17

Industry

Growth (%)

6.49

8.20

8.90

8.99

Services Real

Sector

(In Crore Tk.) Actual Actual 20092010-11 10 92,993 75,905 (11.8) (11.0)

6.03

Growth (%)

6.47

6.22

5.96

5.73

Private

As % of GDP As % of GDP

24.41 19.40

25.15 19.51

26.54 20.04

26.84 18.99

Public

As % of GDP

5.01

5.64

6.50

7.85

US$

751

816

840

923

Inflation

Growth (%)

7.3

8.8

10.6

7.7

Total Revenue

As % of GDP

10.9

11.7

12.4

12.4

Investment

Per capita Income

Fiscal

Table 3: Budget Structure

Monetary

DHAKA TRIBUNE

External

B2

As % of GDP

9.0

10.0

10.4

10.4

Total Expenditure

Tax Revenue

As % of GDP

14.6

16.1

16.3

16.8

ADP

As % of GDP

3.7

4.2

4.0

4.7

Growth (%)

22.4

21.4

17.4

16.7

Growth (%)

17.6

30.8

18.8

11.0

Growth (%)

24.2

25.8

19.7

10.8

Remittances

Billion US$

10.9

11.6

12.8

14.5

Export

Billion US$

16.2

22.9

24.3

27.0

Money Supply Domestic Credit Private Sector Credit

Import (C&F)

Billion US$

23.7

33.6

35.5

34.1

Exchange rate

Taka/US$ (average)

69.18

71.17

79.10

79.93

Billion US$

10.7

10.9

10.3

15.3

Foreign Exchange reserve

steps to widen fiscal space through public expenditure control will also continue. Its worth mentioning that all data used in setting the budget taking 1995-96 as base year although BBS has already rearranged their data using 2005-06 as the base year.

In fact budget setting process starts around the middle of the fiscal year.

There we could not present our data using new base year. Only in table 4 the provisional estimate has been

for a hunger and poverty-free society under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Our success in poverty reduction has been well-acclaimed by the international community. You all may know that when the grand alliance Government took office in 2009, around 5 crore people of the country were poor, of which 2 crore 88 lakh were in the clutch of extreme poverty. During our previous term, though population growth

Chapter VI Important Policy-Strategy of the Government Madam Speaker

n We do not measure the development with the yardstick of economic growth alone. That is why, along with higher growth, we have been working relentlessly to ensure equitable distribution of resources, to reduce poverty and to remove so-

Table 5: Annual Development Programme (sectoral allocation) Ministry/Division (a) Human Resource

1. Primary and Mass Education

2. Health and Family Planning Affairs

3. Ministry of Education

4. Others

Sub-Total:

(b) Agriculture and Rural Development 5. Local Government Division

6. Ministry of Water Resources

7. Ministry of Agriculture

8. Others

Sub-Total:

(C) Energy Infrastructure

9. Power Division

10. Energy and Mineral Resources

Sub-Total:

(d) Communication Infrastructure 11. Railway Ministry

12. Road Division

13. Bridge Division

14. Others

Sub-Total:

Total:

15. Others

*Total ADP: presented using 2005-2006 as base year because BBS could not provide them using previous base year. In Table 3 an outline on budget structure has been presented. n Overall Expenditure Structure: Now, I would like to present a brief outline of the overall expenditure (development and non-development) structure of the proposed budget. We have classified different ministries/ divisions into three groups based on their functions. These are social infrastructure, physical infrastructure and general service sectors. In the proposed budget, 25.16 percent has been allocated to social infrastructure sector, of which 21.58 percent has been proposed for human resource (education, health, and other related sectors). 30.15 percent of total allocation has been proposed for physical infrastructure sector, of which 14.69 percent has been proposed for overall agriculture and rural development, 9.24 percent for overall communication sector and 4.61 percent for power and energy sector. 23.58 percent of total allocation has been proposed for general services sector, 3.4 percent of total allocation has been proposed for Public-Private Partnership (PPP), financial assistance for different industries, subsidy, and equity investment in nationalized banks and

Budget 2014-15 5778 (7.2) 4349 (5.4) 3647 (4.5) 5745 (7.2) 19519 (24.3) 13467 (16.8) 2831 (3.5) 1524 (1.9) 2924 (3.6) 20746 (25.8) 9273 (11.5) 2223 (2.8) 11496 (14.3) 4485 (5.6) 4608 (5.7) 8735 (10.9) 884 (1.1) 18712 (23.3) 70473 (87.7) 9842 (12.25) 80315

Revised 2013-14 4529 (7.5) 3816 (6.4) 3148 (5.2) 3948 (6.6) 15441 (25.7) 11405 (19.0) 2025 (3.4) 1332 (2.2) 2405 (4.0) 17167 (28.6) 7951 (13.3) 1909 (3.2) 9860 (16.4) 3549 (5.9) 3646 (6.1) 2090 (3.5) 857 (1.4) 10142 (16.9) 52610 (87.7) 7390 (12.32) 60000

Budget 2013-14 5278 (8.0) 3602 (5.5) 3100 (4.7) 3160 (4.8) 15140 (23.0) 11195 (17.0) 1850 (2.8) 1364 (2.1) 2323 (3.5) 16732 (25.4) 9053 (13.7) 2255 (3.4) 11308 (17.2)

3878 (5.9) 3457 (5.2) 7000 (10.6) 881 (1.3) 15216 (23.1) 58396 (88.7) 7474 (11.35) 65870

Actual 2012-13 3683 (7.4) 3316 (6.7) 2206 (4.5) 2205 (4.5) 11410 (23.1) 10425 (21.1) 1756 (3.5) 1111 (2.2) 1968 (4.0) 15260 (30.8) 8840 (17.9) 1295 (2.6) 10135 (20.5) 2993 (6.0) 3605 (7.3) 785 (1.6) 532 (1.1) 7915 (16.0) 44720 (90.4) 4754 (9.61) 49474

cial, economic, regional and gender disparities. We think that our growth strategy should be inclusive and our real success lies in ensuring that the fruits of development reach all.

Overall Growth Target and Strategy

n In the light of the ‘Vision 2021’ we want to transform Bangladesh into a middle income country by 2021. A little while ago I have said that the target of growth for the next fiscal year would be 7.3 percent, and in 2021 it would be 10 percent.

In continuation of our past strategy, we will attach priority to the power, gas and port development. We will increase power generation from the present 10,000 MW to 24,000 MW and ensure that the real supply does not fall below 80 percent of actual generation.

We will increase the share of industrial sector in the overall national growth from 25 percent to 40 percent.

We will attach high priority to small and medium enterprises and take necessary steps to enhance the skills of the workers to increase industrial productivity In order to attract private investment for infrastructure development, we will encourage implementation of project through Public Private Partnership (PPP).

In the meantime as many as 34 projects under six sectors have been approved on principle and advisors/consul-

Actual 2011-12 2408 (6.4) 2612 (7.0) 1867 (5.0) 1683 (4.5) 8570 (22.8) 7989 (21.3) 1442 (3.8) 997 (2.7) 1882 (5.0) 12310 (32.8) 7248 (19.3) 679 (1.8) 7927 (21.1) 0 (0.0) 4475 (11.9) 418 (1.1) 286 (0.8) 5179 (13.8) 33986 (90.6) 3522 (9.39) 37508

3151 (9.5) 2551 (7.7) 1598 (4.8) 1236 (3.7) 8536 (25.6)

(In Crore Tk.) Actual 2009-10

2700 (10.6) 2468 (9.7) 1352 (5.3) 790 (3.1) 7310 (28.6)

7573 (22.8) 1349 (4.1) 1025 (3.1) 1246 (3.7) 11193 (33.6)

6444 (25.2) 1138 (4.5) 905 (3.5) 807 (3.2) 9294 (36.4)

Actual 2010-11

6028 (18.1) 987 (3.0) 7015 (21.1) 0 (0.0) 2952 (8.9) 384 (1.2 295 (0.9) 3631 (10.9) 30375 (91.3) 2909 (8.74) 33284

2098 (8.2) 1260 (4.9) 3358 (13.1) 0 (0.0) 2546 (10.0 331 (1.3) 176 (0.7) 3053 (11.9) 23015 (90.1) 2538 (9.93) 25553

rate was 1.16 percent on an average, the number of poor and ultra-poor came down to around 3 crore 85 lakh and 1 crore 57 lakh respectively.

Many of the ultra-poor crossed poverty line over the last 22 years. It is worth mentioning that 45 percent of those ultra-poor were pulled out of poverty within the last 5 years. n We had set the target to bring down poverty to 13.5 percent by 2021. The way we are progressing, InsAllah, poverty will be reduced to 10.2 percent by 2021. Not only that, extreme poverty will be totally eliminated from this country by 2018. Budget proposal contains various programmes worth Tk. 1,500 crore to eradicate extreme poverty. It could be observed that, as the rate of poverty has reduced, poverty gap has also significantly narrowed during our term. The share of income of poor people in the gross national income has increased while that of the rich people has decreased. As regional inequality has reduced, so has the gap between urban and rural areas. n Social protection: The Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) 2010 reveals that 24.57 percent families of the country have been brought under the coverage of social safety net programme. In this coverage, the share of beneficiary families in the rural area is 30.12

Budget Speech

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Table 6: List of PPP projects SL.No.

Sector

Name of the Project

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Transport Transport Health Health IT IT IT Health Transport

10

Transport

11 12

Transport Transport

13

Civil Accommodation Civil Accommodation Transport Transport

Dhaka-Elevated Expressway 2 Jetties at Mongla port through PPP 40 beds Hemodialysis Centre at Chittagong Medical College Hospital Hemodialysis Centre at National Institute of Kidney Diseases and Urology Hi-tech Park at Kaliakoir It Village at Mohakhali Hi-tech Park at Sylhet Obosor: Senior Citizen Health Care and Hospitality Complex Multi- Mode Surveillance System(Rader, etc) at Hazrat shahjalal International Airport Fly-over from shantinagar to Mawa Road via $th (new) Bridge over Buriganga River Dhaka Ashulia Elevated Expressway Upgrading of Dhaka By Pass to 4 lane ( joydevpur- Debogram-Bhulta-Madanpur NHA Housing Satellite Project at Mirpur

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

Transport Transport Transport Transport

22

Tourism

23

Education

24

Construction of BSS Bhaban under PPP

(million USD) Estimated Cost 1,200 50 2 1 20 20 6 25 300 1,500 100 60 6

Dual gauge Double line Bangabandhu Bridge Fulchhari bahadurabad MG Railway Bridge Fisheries and Livestocks ppp Projects Hemayetpur- Singair-Manikgank PPP Road Dhaka- Chittagong Access controlled Highway Jatrabari-Sultana Kamal Bridge- Tarabo PPP Road Construction of Laldia Bulk Terminal

1,000 1,500 2 85 1,500 50 60

Development of Tourism and Entertainment Village in Cox bazar

150 100

Tourism

Medical College & Nursing Institute and Modernization Railway Hospital of Kamlapur 5 Star Hotel at Zakir Hossen Road, Chittagong

25

Education

Medical College and Modernization Railway Hospital at CRB in Chittagong

26

Transport

27

29

Civil Accommodation Civil Accommodation Transport

Construction of a New Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Dhirasram Railway Station Shopping Mall with Hotel-cum-Guest House on the unused Railway land in Comilla Shopping Mall with Hotel-cum-Guest House on the unused Railway land in Chittagong Construction & Operation of inland Container Terminal (ICT) at Khanpur

30

Health

Medical College and Modernization Railway Hospital at Saidpur in Nilphamary

75

31

Health

Medical College Modernization Railway Hospital at paksey in Pabna

75

32

Health

33

Transport

New Modern Medical College & Hospital of 250 beds on the unused land in Khulna 2nd Padma Multipurpose Bridge at Paturia-Goalundo

1,500

34

Transport

3rd Sea port

1,200

28

Total: percent. Over the last 5 years, we implemented a number of safety net programmes, namely, stipend program, special stipend programme for physically challenged students, allowances for insolvent disabled persons, old age allowances, allowances for expecting and lactating mothers, allowances for widows and divorced women, one house one farm project, Ashrayan project, food for works program, test relief, gratuitous relief, food assistance for destitute mothers, char livelihood project etc. Moreover, we provided special allowance, employment generating training and stipend to socially and economically excluded hizra, dalit, horizon and bede communities with a view to mainstreaming them. We also arranged food assistance programmes for the poverty-stricken tea-garden labourers.

We will keep on maintaining a favourable macroeconomic environment to ensure pro-poor-growth. Steps will be taken for administrative decentralisation. We will continue to allocate resources on a priority basis for education, health and family welfare and science and technology.

Activities relating to employment generation in manufacturing and service sectors as well as encouraging women participation in the labour force will continue. At the same time we will encourage industrialisation in different regions of the country More initiatives will be undertaken to eliminate regional disparity through expansion of trade and commerce. To this end, construction of quality roads and telecommunication infrastructure will continue. Besides, we plan to transform all the unions into planned rural settlement and the upazila headquarters and growing industrial centres into modern towns and satellite towns

Chapter VII Human Resource Development Education Madam Speaker

n Implementing Education Policy: It is our fundamental commitment to continue with the policies we pursued in the education sector and sustain the achievements we made during our last tenure. InsAllah, we will succeed in implementing most of our plans set out in the Education Policy, 2010 in this tenure. To this end, we will lay highest emphasis on improving the quality of education; adopting modern technology based teaching methods and continuing adequate infrastructure building.

There will also be an initiative to .improve the teacher-student ratio to an acceptable level. Madrasa education will be modernised to make them amenable to the mainstream education. In these institutions, courses on IT will be introduced including Honours courses. n Creative Talent Hunt: We have already started promoting originality in thinking by exposing our students to creative questions. Difficult though it was, thanks to the sincere efforts of teachers, students and

100 75 200 35 12 30

100

11,138 guardians we could accomplish this task. We are aiming at setting creative questions for all the subjects.

Besides, last year for the first time, we launched a programme titled ‘Creative Talent Hunt’ to recognize and reward the young talents. This practice will continue in future. n Higher Education: To fulfill our election pledge, we will continue to establish public and private universities in all the districts of the country. At the same time, the pursuit of science research will be encouraged in those institutes.

Madam Speaker

n Eradication of Illiteracy: By now, we have ensured almost 100 percent enrolment at the primary level. Now our goal will be to eradicate illiteracy. We are planning to provide 45 lakh illiterate adolescent and people belonging to the age group of 15-45 years with basic literacy and livelihood training. n Primary Education up to Class VIII: As part of National Education Policy, we have taken up a number of programmes to upgrade the primary education level up to class VIII by 2018.

In the meantime, we have started class VI and class VII in 754 primary schools.

Gradually all other primary schools will be brought under this process. n Pre-primary and Inclusive Education: We have introduced pre-primary education programme at all primary schools. By this time, a curriculum has been developed and books have been printed. Side by side, we have formulated an inclusive education manual for the retarded children and people living in inaccessible areas.

The relevant teachers have also been trained on the manual.

Health and Family Welfare Madam Speaker

n Community Clinic: Our success in the health sector has already been recognized both at home and abroad. Our ultimate goal is to reduce maternal mortality rate down to 143 per lakh live births. Although our progress in reducing child mortality rate is satisfactory, we want to bring it down further. n Telemedicine and Health Insurance: We are aiming at raising average life expectancy to 72 years by 2021. At the same time, we will be trying to provide easy access to reproductive health service delivery system to reduce the birth rate. We are working on expanding tele-medicine service. Moreover, we are going to take special attempt to introduce social health insurance programme, as early as possible, in order to bring down the medical expenses within the affordability of the poor.

Power and Energy Madam Speaker

n Electricity: InsAllah, with the implementation of medium and long term plans electricity will reach every household within the next five years.

You might be aware that we had set a target of generating 20,000 MW of electricity by 2021. Considering the

growing demand and increasing generation capacity, we have re-fixed this target at 24,000 MW. Several milestones have been identified to achieve the changed target. I am providing you the estimates of the year 2017 because the centres for which contract has been made will go for generation by that time.

To take initiatives, apart from increasing domestic production, to generate and allocate power through bilateral, multilateral and regional agreements with neighboring India, Bhutan and Nepal to raise generation capacity to 18,162 MW of electricity by 2017 To establish coal based power plants with a generation capacity of 1426 MW by 2017 which will shift the burden from gas which contributes to 78 percent of power generation in the country.

To establish two nuclear power plants at Ruppur with a total generation capacity of 2000 MW of electricity To produce 800 MW of electricity by 2015 using renewable energy. A special fund has been established to finance renewable energy based power plants.

The size of the fund will stand at TK.400 crore with this year’s allocation To install more than 60,000 prepaid metres to ensure efficiency, transparency, and accountability in power management. n Energy: Steps are underway to enhance the capacity of BAPEX. Special emphasis will be laid on discovery of new gas and oil fields. In addition, scope of assistance and cooperation with international organisations to explore new gas and oil fields in the coastal and deep sea areas will be widened. Alongside, we will take necessary steps to dig 21 wells in order to enhance gas generation capacity by 2015-16.

Madam Speaker

n Food Security: We have been attaching priority to food security since assumption of office. Necessary allocations have been made to this sector to operationalise the National Food Policy and Bangladesh Country Investment Plan, CIP, 2009. There was adequate supply of food at fair price in the market throughout our last term because of our efficient management which we want to continue in future as well. In the present term, our aim will be to ensure food safety and its equitable distribution.

A piece of legislation titled The Pure Food Act, 2013 was enacted last October. Framing of rules under this new law and the establishment of Pure Food Authority are underway.

We expect your active support to our crusade against food adulteration.

In the meantime, a framework for water sharing of Teesta and Feni Rivers has been prepared. The joint water resources management activities along with generation of hydro-electricity by making reservoir at the Ganges and Brahmaputra basins are well on course. We have a plan to preserve and maintain nearly 52 km of river banks

by FY 2015-16 to protect our valuable lands, border outposts and important infrastructures from river erosion We will make 1.63 lakh hectares of land free from flood and expand irriga-

tion facilities to 54 thousand hectares of land in the next five fiscal years We will excavate 192 km and re-excavate 2,111 km of irrigation canals. In addition, 204 irrigation structures will be built along with the repair of an additional 279 structures. Furthermore, 6709 km of discharge canals will be excavated and, where necessary, re-excavated.

We will carry out capital dredging in the major rivers like the Ganga-Padma, the Brahmaputra- Jamuna and the Meghna. Side by side, regular dredging will continue in the Buriganga, the Turag, the Pungliand the Dhaleshshari rivers Steps will be taken to reclaim land from sea by constructing Swandip-Urirchar –Noakhali cross dam, infrastructure and circular dams around char Alexander, char Mainka –char Islam-char Montaj cross-dam to prevent intrusion of saline water. We will also build cross dam in the coastal areas to reclaim 20,000 hectares of land

Madam Speaker

n Rural development: We believe in equitable development in all parts of the country. We want to narrow the existing gap between rural and urban areas in terms of development which will stem the tide of urban migration. Each union parishad will be transformed into a vibrant habitat with all modern civic amenities. We will connect 2 thousand 51 growth centres with district headquarters. Modern education, electricity, health care, pure drinking water, sanitation, agro-based industry will be made available in rural areas that will facilitate establishment of small township and suburbs.

Climate Change and Environment

Madam Speaker

n Action Plan for Climate Change: Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries exposed to global climate change. We will take initiatives to evaluate and update Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan, 2009 on the basis of our need. To implement this Action Plan, we allocated Tk. 2,555 crore in the last five fiscal years. However, this allocation will be reduced in future and instead steps will be taken to increase Bangladesh Climate Change Resilience Fund (BCCRF) established with the assistance of our development partners. Our development partners have already provided a total amount of US Dollar186.9 Million in BCCRF fund. Besides, we have started working on the implementation of Road Map for National Adaptation Plan as well as Road Map for Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action, NAMA. n The Padma Bridge: The construction of Padma Multipurpose Bridge is our topmost priority. It will create a direct road link between 19 districts of south-west region and Dhaka along with northern region of Bangladesh.

Once completed, this will induce a growth to the tune of 1.2 percent of GDP per year. Let me inform the House that the construction of Padma Bridge is underway despite myriads of difficulties. In the meantime, the land acquisition and rehabilitation activities of the project is about to finish. The construction of approach roads from both directions is progressing well. I hope the construction of main bridge will kickstart this month and the engagement of contractors for river training will take place in July-August. n Prevention of Traffic Congestion: We have taken proper initiatives to implement the MRT Line-6 project from Uttara to Motijheel under the supervision of Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) as per plan. Meanwhile, the Metro Rail Act, 2014 has been sent to the cabinet for its approval. A contract has been signed with the investment partner to construct the 46.73 km. long Dhaka elevated express way from Hazrat Shah Jalal International Airport to Kutubkhali of Dhaka-Chittagong highway. Besides, pre-feasibility study for 42 km long Dhaka-Ashulia elevated express way from Hazrat Shah Jalal (Ra) International Airport to Chandra under PPP has been completed. We have a plan to construct an international convention centre on the other side of the Buriganga and a fly-over starting from Shantinagar, crossing over the Buriganga to ensure faster communication with the convention centre. n Construction and reconstruction of 441 km rail line is under way. In order to make railway communication between the two cities more punctual, we have taken initiatives to upgrade Dhaka-Chittagong corridor into double lines. Side by side, the construction of 2nd Bhairab and2nd Titas Rail Bridge is in progress. The Dhaka-Sylhet railway communication is extremely delicate and we have taken up a plan to revamp it. The feasibility of establishing a container terminal either at Shayestagonj or Srimangal will be assessed by conducting a

B3

Friday, June 6, 2014

survey. In this respect, the prospect of growing trading activities with Tripura and Karimgonj will be taken into consideration. We will construct in phases the Dhaka-Mongla and Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar rail lines.

Housing and Planned Urbanisation Madam Speaker

n Planned Urbanisation: Planned urbanisation has become a big challenge for us because of the acceleration of population growth. Realizing the importance of planned urbanisation our government formulated Dhaka, Khulna and Chittagong Metropolis Detailed Area Plan (DAP) and Sylhet, Chittagong and Barisal Divisional Area Structural Plan in the last tenure. In our current tenure, we will modify Dhaka Detailed Area Plan (DAP) to make it more realistic and modern. To this end, we have started drafting DAP (20162035). The principal means of solving the problem of urbanisation is to build rural habitats encompassing a number of developed or densely populated villages and to create townships by linking them with the national highways.

n

n

Industrialization and Commerce Madam Speaker

n We all know that there is no alternative to industrialization if we mean to earn the status of a middle income country by 2021. Here, I would like to enumerate the strategies that the Government will consider as priority for employment generation and investment in the next five years as it did in its last term: Expanding physical infrastructure facilities Simplifying the rules and regulations Making One-Stop Service operational Creating investment-friendly political and social environment Diversifying export products Providing reasonable financial incentives to the investors Providing tax benefits and financial assistances to the entrepreneurs of industries like food and agro-processing, ship building, light engineering, pharmaceuticals, plastic, toy industry, household appliances, IT, leather and chemicals. At the same time, special tax benefits will be provided to the entrepreneurs for establishing industries outside the jurisdictions of city corporations.

Providing a grant of Tk. 10 crore for establishing an Institute of Plastic Engineering and Technology considering the potential of plastic based industry. n Minimum Wages: Since the day of its inception, Bangladesh Awami League has been working for the greater welfare of the under-privileged farmers and workers in the society. Considering the contribution of garment workers to the national economy as well as the escalating costs of living, our government has re-fixed the minimum wages by raising it to Tk. 5,300. To award minimum wages in line with the costs of living, inflation and GDP growth as well as to ensure safety and security in garment industry, a tripartite work plan has been initiated with the participation of the representatives from the government, owners and workers association. In this regard, the Accord signed between the BUET and EU at the initiative of ILO and the Alliance established at the initiative of the importers from the western hemisphere are helping us in identifying the factories with deficient facilities. We have strengthened the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments and we should take this initiative forward.

Chapter VIII Reforms and Good Governance Madam Speaker

n Public Expenditure Management: Thanks to our prudent fiscal management, both revenue mobilization and government expenditure have more than doubled in the last tenure of our government. We are continuing the reform initiatives to gradually increase revenue mobilization and to ensure optimal use of public money.

In this part of my speech, I would like to reflect briefly on the progress of these reform initiatives and the future plans to carry those forward. n A committee has been formed to strengthen parliamentary oversight over budget setting process and to ensure transparency and accountability in public spending. Three different websites have been launched to inform the general public of the committee’s functions. We are working on developing Management Information System (MIS) to infuse dynamism in the activities of the parliamentary committees. Moreover, we are working out an IT strategy paper to provide an added touch of modernity to the activities of the parliament.

Madam Speaker

n Rule of Law: We are committed to uphold the dignity and independence of the judiciary. Various steps have

n

n

been taken for quick disposal of cases that include enhancing efficiency of the judges through training, forming new courts and tribunals, developing new infrastructure and renovating the old ones. Salaries and other benefits of the judges have been raised to elevate their living standards.

We have enacted Cyber Crime Act, 2013 to prevent cybercrime and constituted a Cybercrime Tribunal in Dhaka. A special tribunal for Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission, Dhaka has also been established in the current fiscal year.

Alternative Dispute Resolution has been made compulsory to avoid legal hassles. A set of rules to implement this has been finalised which is now awaiting circulation by the Rules Committee of Supreme Court.

On the other hand, Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) bill will be placed before the cabinet soon.

Combating Corruption: Combating corruption has always been our priority. We, however, believe that laws alone cannot eliminate corruption from the society. It will require strong political will, social commitment and institutional drive. Required amendments have been made in the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004 and the Commission is equipped with adequate manpower and logistics to be able to work more efficiently and independently. To raise mass awareness about the evils of corruption, Corruption Prevention Committees have been formed in towns, districts and upazilas comprising respected citizens. We are focusing on students and trying to imbue them with the spirit of honesty and morality and therefore have formed 20,886 Honesty Clubs drawing students from all levels of institutions. Campaigns are being organised throughout the country displaying posters and billboards to raise mass awareness about the stigma of corruption. Above all, we are gradually increasing the use of ICT in government offices to provide more transparency in government activities.

Public Order: We want to eliminate militancy, terrorism and communalism from our country and establish peace, discipline and stability at every sphere of the society. To this end, we have strengthened every branch of our law enforcing agencies which are now working more efficiently with the aid of modern training and equipment. These initiatives for development will continue in future as well. Not only their financial benefits package has been raised; training needs, healthcare and other relevant facilities are also well taken care of.

We want to make police and other law enforcing agencies more people centric and free them from political influence. As declared in the Election Manifesto, we will take steps towards the decentralisation of police. Steps have been taken to improve the capacity of Fire Service and Civil Defense through training and by putting in place modern equipment so that they can handle any eventuality on their own. The BDR has been completely overhauled and emerged with a new name Border Guard Bangladesh in a bid to efface the trauma of the BDR carnage and instill a sense of confidence in them.

They are also being provided with further training to improve their skills.

Besides, we are investing heavily to increase efficiency of the Department of Narcotics Control, Ansar, VDP, Prison guard and Coastguard.

Madam Speaker

n Right to Information: We believe that freedom of press and free flow of information are the basic elements of any democracy. We want to make the Information Commission more efficient and effective and raise public awareness about their right to know. We have included Right to Information Act in the secondary school curriculum. This Act has been published in braille too for the visually impaired people.

I propose to offer tax exemption facilities for 5 years in graduated rate for Demutualised Stock Exchange with a view to maintaining stability in capital market together with its continual expansion and strengthening. I also propose to extend the limit of tax exempted dividend income from Tk. 10 thousand to Tk. 15 thousand. n Various steps have been taken to give impetus to new industrial venture in accordance with the electoral commitment of the present government of enhancing investment and increasing employment opportunities.

It is, however, important to ensure sustainable industrialisation without disturbing the civic amenities.

Industrialisation in the areas other than City Corporations including Dhaka, Chittagong, Narayanganj, Gazipur would effectively create massive employment berths in the least developed areas. With this end in view, I propose the following tax holiday and tax rebate facilities for the industrial undertakings set up in places other than City Corporation. l

B2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Stock DSE GAINERS

Stocks end flat amid cautious trading

DSE key features June 5, 2014

Traded Issues

297

n Tribune Report

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

106

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

183

The financial sectors including banks and non-banking financial institutions ended in red After rising almost 40 points in the morning, the benchmark index DSEX inched down over 4 points or 0.2% to settle at 4,396, extending losing streak for the fourth straight session.

The comprising blue chips DS30 witnessed marginal losses with a fall of 2 points to 1,623. The Shariah index DSES, however, was down fractionally 0.7 points to 1,007.

Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index, CSCX, was down 29 points to 8,334.

Trading activities improved

4,193.92 84,421,536

Number of Contract

slightly at DSE as the turnover stood at Tk419 crore, an increase of 2.6% from previous session’s Tk408 crore.

On the day afternoon, Finance Minister AMA Muhith presented the proposed budget proposal for fiscal year 2014-15 in the parliament.

IDLC Investments said in behavior, bourse mimicked the previous session – started with positive vibe but gradually ended with losing tone. “Such pattern indicating that sell pressure was not permitting the market to continue initial buying sphere.”

All the major sectors closed negative besides power which gained 0.8%. The 4-day rally in the telecommunication came to a halt as the sector saw a correction of 3.12%.

It was followed by food and allied which lost 2.8%. The financial sectors including banks and non-banking financial institutions ended in red.

Pharmaceuticals also edged down by 0.75%. Lafarge Surma Cement topped the liquidity chart with Tk29 crore worth of turnover.

It was followed by BSRM Steel, Grameenphone, Mobil Jamuna Bangladesh, Heidelberg Cement, Meghna Petroleum and Square Pharmaceuticals. l

Stocks ended flat yesterday, a day when the national budget for new fiscal year was announced.

The market opened on higher note in the morning but late cautious selling wiped off early gains.

Company

Turnover (Million Taka) Turnover (Volume)

89,949

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

8

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,276.87

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

27.60

CSE key features June 5, 2014 Turnover (Million Taka)

301.21

Turnover (Volume)

Daily capital market highlights

8,776,912

Number of Contract

10,942

DSE Broad Index :

4396.54263

(-) 0.10%

▼

Traded Issues

214

DSE Shariah Index :

1007.82832

(-) 0.07%

▼

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

86

DSE - 30 Index :

1622.94733

(-) 0.13%

▼

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

123

CSE All Share Index:

13537.38750

(-) 0.34%

▼

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

4

CSE - 30 Index :

10962.87440

(-) 0.44%

▼

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,179.81

8334.07870

(-) 0.35%

▼

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

26.42

CSE Selected Index : DSE LOSERS

Wata Chemicals -A Savar Refractories-Z Desh Garments -B Mercantile Bank -A Rahima Food -Z Takaful Islami Insu-A Ambee Pharma -A Rupali Life Insur.-A

-8.66 -5.34 -5.22 -5.14 -4.74 -4.59 -4.05 -4.03

Average (% change) -7.05 -8.33 -3.69 -9.95 -4.52 -4.92 -2.01 -3.15

United Leasing - A Aramit -A

-3.83 -3.65

-2.51 0.25

Company

Closing (% change)

CSE LOSERS Company

Closing (% change)

Emerald Oil Ind. -N Imam Button -Z Rahima Food -Z GSP Finance-A ICB Emp. PMF-A Dutch Ban. Bnk- A Mercantile Bank -A BATBCL -A

-79.91 -9.20 -7.94 -5.62 -5.45 -5.23 -5.17 -5.00

Average (% change) -2.02 -8.85 -7.60 -2.74 -4.73 -5.28 -5.26 -4.44

Apex Foods -A Provati Insur.-A

-4.96 -4.88

-3.74 -4.41

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 299.22 77.74 72.58 629.70 227.64 599.22 3.26 544.20 427.10 0.58 122.23 35.68 9.63 547.63 15.44 69.79 94.99 285.85 48.89 82.21 0.35

Turnover in million

Daily low

Latest EPS

Latest PE

383.14 55.00 119.41 16.93 52.77 29.18 339.93 72.54

376.50 55.00 116.20 16.60 52.30 29.10 329.20 71.50

419.90 55.00 125.80 18.00 54.10 29.50 350.00 74.80

376.20 55.00 114.20 15.80 52.00 27.50 322.10 70.00

93.518 0.006 11.129 19.281 1.583 0.491 10.419 10.126

9.80 0.52 0.96 1.16 -1.01 1.76 3.20 5.33

39.1 105.8 124.4 14.6 -ve 16.6 106.2 13.6

22.92 311.84

22.60 306.00

24.00 321.10

21.50 305.00

3.454 2.292

1.72 12.56

13.3 24.8

Closing average

Closing

Daily high

Turnover in million

Daily low

Latest EPS

G Next Fashions-A MJL BD Ltd.-A GPH Ispat Ltd-A Eastern Housing -A BSRM Steels-A CMC Kamal Tex. -A Summit Power -A Aftab Auto.-A Orion Infusions -A UNITED AIR-A

45.80 7.90 53.30 16.80 5.20 83.40 16.50 2,232.60

49.00 8.00 54.00 17.30 5.40 83.40 17.30 2,232.60

45.40 7.90 53.00 16.70 5.20 83.30 16.50 2,232.60

0.787 0.016 0.107 0.140 0.108 0.083 1.519 0.112

2.92 -1.85 -1.01 1.56 0.68 6.72 1.16 82.80

77.0 -ve -ve 10.9 7.7 12.4 14.6 27.0

114.65 19.50

113.10 19.50

116.00 19.50

113.00 19.50

0.527 0.010

3.01 2.24

38.1 8.7

Bourse mimicked the previous session – started with positive vibe but gradually ended with losing tone

% change 7.13 1.85 1.73 15.01 5.43 14.29 0.08 12.98 10.18 0.01 2.91 0.85 0.23 13.06 0.37 1.66 2.26 6.82 1.17 1.96 0.01

Million Taka 26.54 7.55 2.46 50.80 12.61 38.63 58.27 19.91 17.22 5.77 25.50 0.91 30.04 1.27 0.78 6.04 25.66 12.90 9.71 0.08

% change 7.52 2.14 0.70 14.41 3.58 10.96 0.00 16.52 5.65 4.88 1.64 7.23 0.26 8.52 0.36 0.22 1.71 7.28 3.66 2.75 0.02

Million Taka 325.75 85.29 75.04 680.50 240.24 637.85 3.26 602.47 447.00 17.80 128.00 61.18 10.54 577.67 16.71 70.57 101.03 311.51 61.80 91.92 0.42

Total

9.87 8.69 6.40 6.36 5.71 5.34 5.34 5.13 4.00 3.81

CSE GAINERS Company Wata Chemicals -A G Next Fashions-A MJL BD Ltd.-A National Housing Fin.-B Asia Pasific Insu. -A GPH Ispat Ltd-A BSRM Steels-A Aftab Auto.-A Anlima Yarn -A Intl. Leasing-B

Closing (% change) 30.28 9.93 7.95 6.05 5.78 5.71 5.44 5.01 4.87 4.81

Average (% change) 7.46 6.28 3.66 4.49 5.26 1.89 2.46 3.74 2.59 1.40 Average (% change) 6.02 7.32 6.01 5.87 5.82 3.02 5.31 3.59 4.78 2.28

Closing average 16.42 88.83 50.74 61.23 87.84 21.60 29.10 83.11 46.72 10.85

Closing average 462.50 16.42 88.25 29.76 23.81 50.56 88.08 83.06 23.68 10.76

Closing 16.70 91.30 51.50 61.90 88.90 21.70 29.60 84.10 46.80 10.90

Closing 462.50 16.60 91.00 29.80 23.80 51.80 89.20 83.80 23.70 10.90

Daily high 16.70 92.40 52.00 62.40 90.00 22.10 29.90 85.00 47.40 11.50

Daily high 462.50 16.60 92.70 30.30 23.90 52.50 90.00 84.20 24.30 10.90

Daily low 14.00 76.00 44.00 52.40 78.00 19.00 25.30 74.00 45.00 9.50

Daily low 462.50 15.10 85.00 29.00 23.80 48.00 85.20 80.70 23.40 10.20

Turnover in million 119.688 235.801 59.416 116.090 275.715 22.777 27.160 62.522 13.876 23.525

Turnover in million 0.648 22.211 11.144 0.283 0.131 5.190 19.897 10.535 0.142 0.124

Latest EPS 2.28 4.72 2.42 3.19 4.72 1.32 3.00 3.14 4.81 0.77

Latest EPS 9.80 2.28 4.72 2.32 2.48 2.42 4.72 3.14 0.80 -1.28

Latest PE 7.2 18.8 21.0 19.2 18.6 16.4 9.7 26.5 9.7 14.1

Latest PE 47.2 7.2 18.7 12.8 9.6 20.9 18.7 26.5 29.6 -ve

News from trade server BRACBANK: The Company has informed that it has credited the rights shares to the respective shareholders' BO Accounts.

ASIAINS: As per Regulation 30 of DSE Listing Regulations, the Company has informed that a meeting of the Board of Directors will be held on June 08, 2014 at 3:00 PM to consider, among others, audited financial statements of the Company for the year ended on December 31, 2013.

PREMIERLEA: The Company has informed that the Registered Office and Head Office of the Company will be shifted to City Centre (17th Floor) 90/1 Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000 on June 8, 2014.

IPO Subscription: Far East Knitting & Dyeing Industries Limited subscription date 15-19 June 2014, NRB upto 28 June 2014. @ taka 27, 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 30, face value taka 10 and market lot 200. Ratanpur Steel Re-Rolling Mills Limited subscription date 13-17 July

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company LafargeS Cement-Z BSRM Steels-A Grameenphone-A MJL BD Ltd.-A HeidelbergCement -A Meghna Petroleum -A Olympic Ind. -A

CSE

Closing (% change)

2014, NRB upto 26 July 2014. @ taka 40, face value taka 10 and market lot 200.

Dividend/AGM WATACHEM: 30% stock, AGM: 27.06.2014, Record Date: 11.06.2014.

AMBEEPHA: 15% cash and 20% stock, AGM: 16.06.2014, Record Date: 28.05.2014.

MBL1STMF: 3% cash, Record date: 02.06.2014.

AIBL1STIMF: 5.5% cash, Record date: 02.06.2014.

ORIONPHARM: 15% cash, AGM: 22.06.2014, Record Date: 21.05.2014.

PURABIGEN: 15% stock, AGM: 29.06.2014, Record date: 21.05.2014.

SALVOCHEM: 10% stock, AGM: 27.08.2014, Record date: 25.06.2014.

ISNLTD: No dividend, AGM: 17.06.2014, RD May 20, 2014.

GOLDENSON: 25% stock, EGM and AGM: 21.06.2014, Record Date: 15.05.2014.

MERCINS: 10% cash, dividend for the Public Shareholders (B-Group) only, AGM: 16.06.2014, Record Date: 15.05.2014.

CMCKAMAL: 12.50% stock, AGM: 30.06.2014. Record Date: 29.05.2014.

RUPALIBANK: 15% stock, AGM:

31.05.2014, Record date: 14.05.2014.

LEGACYFOOT: 5% stock, AGM: 21.06.2014, Record Date: 12.05.2014.

BDTHAI: 5% stock, AGM: 21.06.2014, Record Date: 25.05.2014.

MEGHNACEM: 15% cash, AGM: 29.05.2014, Record Date: 14.05.2014.

MONNOSTAF: 10% cash, AGM: 26.06.2014, Record Date: 19.05.2014.

INTECH: 10% stock, AGM: 23.06.2014, Record Date: 15.05.2014.

ISLAMIINS: 15% stock, AGM: 09.07.2014, RD: 12.05.2014.

BXPHARMA: 10% cash & 5% stock, AGM: 21.06.2014, RD: 18.05.2014.

STANDARINS: 15% stock, AGM: 18.06.2014, RD: 15.05.2014.

SONARGAON: No dividend, AGM: 07.06.2014, RD: 15.05.2014.

BAYLEASING: 17% cash & 15% stock, AGM: 29.05.2014, RD: 12.05.2014.

JMISMDL: 15% cash, AGM: 24.07.2014, RD: 22.05.2014.

ACIFORMULA: 25% cash, AGM: 10.06.2014, RD: 12.05.2014.

ACI: 85% cash & 20% stock, AGM: 10.06.2014, RD: 12.05.2014.

Latest PE

224.86 7.93 53.50 17.06 5.24 83.35 16.94 2,232.60

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY Sector

Daily high

Friday, June 6, 2014

% change 7.16 1.88 1.65 14.97 5.28 14.03 0.07 13.25 9.83 0.39 2.82 1.35 0.23 12.71 0.37 1.55 2.22 6.85 1.36 2.02 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

G Next Fashions-A Eastern Housing -A Square Pharma -A

Wata Chemicals -A Aftab Auto.-A GPH Ispat Ltd-A Delta Life Insu. -A National Tubes -A CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company LafargeS Cement-Z

G Next Fashions-A BSRM Steels-A Grameenphone-A UNITED AIR-A MJL BD Ltd.-A Aftab Auto.-A BD Submarine Cable-A Meghna Petroleum -A Familytex (BD) Ltd.-A Apex Tannery -A Padma Oil Co. -A GPH Ispat Ltd-A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A Eastern Housing -A

Volume shares 3,186,000 3,138,912 818,500 2,654,422 372,360 667,340 575,454 7,287,597 1,895,820 410,049

244,080 752,314 1,171,070 284,400 331,628

Volume shares

250,000 1,353,000 225,895 58,200 1,099,318 126,286 126,836 48,600 29,900 323,000 48,300 16,376 102,660 231,239 81,152

Value in million 290.21 275.72 238.19 235.80 196.94 182.67 129.99 119.69 116.09 112.91

93.52 62.52 59.42 57.01 56.46

Value in million

22.67 22.21 19.90 16.86 11.98 11.14 10.53 8.80 8.22 7.96 7.64 5.28 5.19 4.99 4.97

% of total turnover 6.92 6.57 5.68 5.62 4.70 4.36 3.10 2.85 2.77 2.69

2.23 1.49 1.42 1.36 1.35

% of total turnover

7.75 7.59 6.80 5.76 4.09 3.81 3.60 3.01 2.81 2.72 2.61 1.80 1.77 1.71 1.70

Daily closing 90.10 88.90 285.90 91.30 520.90 271.70 226.30 16.70 61.90 274.80

376.50 84.10 51.50 198.50 166.30

Daily closing

89.90 16.60 89.20 285.10 11.00 91.00 83.80 181.10 272.10 24.40 154.90 321.10 51.80 21.60 61.70

Price change 0.67 5.71 -3.38 8.69 -1.74 -1.98 -1.01 9.87 6.36 -0.33

Daily opening 89.50 84.10 295.90 84.00 530.10 277.20 228.60 15.20 58.20 275.70

Price change

Daily opening

-8.66 5.13 6.40 -1.44 -1.95

-0.22 9.93 5.44 -3.55 3.77 7.95 5.01 0.33 -1.66 1.24 0.85 -1.14 5.71 -0.46 4.22

412.20 80.00 48.40 201.40 169.60

90.10 15.10 84.60 295.60 10.60 84.30 79.80 180.50 276.70 24.10 153.60 324.80 49.00 21.70 59.20

Daily high 93.20 90.00 296.90 92.40 538.80 278.80 229.00 16.70 62.40 280.00

Daily low 89.50 78.00 280.00 76.00 518.90 260.00 215.00 14.00 52.40 268.00

Daily average 91.09 87.84 291.01 88.83 528.90 273.73 225.89 16.42 61.23 275.35

Daily high

Daily low

Daily average

419.90 85.00 52.00 205.80 174.40

93.00 16.60 90.00 300.00 11.20 92.70 84.20 182.00 279.40 25.30 159.00 325.20 52.50 21.90 62.10

376.20 74.00 44.00 196.50 154.00

88.10 15.10 85.20 283.90 10.40 85.00 80.70 180.00 271.00 23.50 152.00 320.00 48.00 21.20 60.10

383.14 83.11 50.74 200.46 170.26

90.67 16.42 88.08 289.69 10.90 88.25 83.06 181.00 274.82 24.65 158.17 322.18 50.56 21.60 61.25