09 june, 2014

Joishthya 26, 1421 Shaaban 10, 1435 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 2, No 70

MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2014 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

7 | CHINA-JAPAN TENSIONS

9 | 5 BIZARRE INDIAN ‘RAPE’ COMMENTS

BTRC favour lets Banglaphone dodge crores

20 pages | Price: Tk12

11 | TIANANMEN MATTERED

14 | MESSI SCORES IN ARGENTINA WIN

NO WAY OUT

With licence for land phone services, the operator runs optical fibre network on renewing Banglaphone’s permit n Muhammad Zahidul Islam by a year.

The country’s telecom regulator has been bestowing apparently abnormal favours to a private operator for a number of years, allowing the operator to dodge crores of taka in legal government fees.

In 2004, private telecom operator Banglaphone obtained a licence for providing land-phone services to the country’s northeast zone.

P2 BTRC FILES CASE Since 2011, the company has also been running an optical fibre networking business on temporary permits from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).

However, contradicting the telecom act, the watchdog has not informed the Telecommunications Ministry about awarding the permission and has not made any arrangement for getting a proper NTTN licence for the company.

Every year since 2011, the BTRC kept

According to the Nationwide Telecommunication Transmission Network (NTTN) guidelines, if Banglaphone was operating with a proper licence, it would have needed to pay the government an initial licensing fee of Tk3 crore, a one-time application fee of Tk50,000 and Tk25 lakh as annual fees over these four years.

The guidelines also suggest that the company would have needed to place a Tk10 crore bank performance guaranty and share 1%-3% of its gross annual revenues with the government.

However, the BTRC has reportedly allowed the company to operate its optical fibre network without paying any of these fees and meeting any of the other criteria.

Sources said some senior BTRC officials had been bypassing all the rules and regulations to favour Banglaphone.

Last year, Banglaphone filed a formal application for a proper NTTN licence. The plea, which is currently  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

The recent photo shows children play on a cart in a dumping ground of the Hazaribagh tannery in the capital as chemical fog envelops them. People are still forced to live in the hazardous environment as the government is yet to relocate the industry to Savar MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Ekram murder probe questioned

HC questions Nizam Hazari’s parliament Jamil Khan with n Mohammad membership our Feni Correspondent

n Nazmus Sakib

The High Court issued a ruling yesterday seeking an explanation in four weeks as to under what authority Nizam Uddin Hazari was holding office as the lawmaker of Feni 2 constituency. It also wanted to know why the seat would not be announced vacant.

The order was passed by the bench of Justice Mirza Hussain Haider and Justice Khurshid Alam Sarkar, following a writ petition filed by Shakhwat  PAGE 2 COLUMN 6

Police are allegedly manipulating the probe into the killing of Fulgazi upazila Chairman Ekramul Haque Ekram trying to hiding the real masterminds.

There are allegations against law enforcers that they are arresting local criminals rather than chasing the real ones under pressure from top political leaders of the district.

They are also forcing the arrestees to give depositions as per their order, alleged locals and family members of Ekram.

The family members said they would expect Prime Minister’s intervention in solving the murder case.

It has been many days since the killing but the administration is not taking any strong action against the killers, Tasmina Akther, wife of Ekram, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

“Everyone in the district knows who is responsible for the murder but the investigators are doing nothing about it,” she alleged.

Police yesterday arrested one more man in connection with the killing of Ekram. The arrestee was Arman Hossain Kawsar, 17, a student of Feni Gov-

INSIDE B1 | Business

Non-budgetary measures like ensuring personal security and removing political uncertainty are crucial to put sluggish private investment and growth on right track, economists and entrepreneurs.

3 | News

In the face of widespread use of toxic disinfectant formalin on fruits, DMP has announced the launch of a massive antiformalin drive from June 11.

4 | News

Hoping to deliver improved healthcare services to fistula patients, the National Fistula Centre (NFC) is going to be opened at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) today.

6 | Nation

A section of ruling party men are filling a canal near Boromachua Bazar at Mathbaria upazila in Pirojpur district after illegally grabbing it.

ernment College and son of police constable Abdul Qaiyum.

Abul Kalam Azad, inspector of Feni Model police station and investigating officer in the case, told the Dhaka Tribune that based on the information, police arrested Qaiyum who allegedly stopped Ekram’s vehicle on the day of the murder by pushing a van in front of it.

Police have so far made 24 arrests, all of whom are suspected to be involved in the murder. Most of the arrestees are supporters of the ruling Awami League while others are pro-BNP men.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Two RAB members held for trying to grab land n Kailash Sarkar Two members of the Rapid Action Battalion and three other persons were arrested last night for attempting to grab a piece of land in Uttarkhan area of the capital.

The arrested RAB members are Corporal Md Mizanur Rahman, 32, and Corporal Abdullah Al Mahmud, 33; the others are Zahir Uddin alias Polash, 35, Sheikh Md Nahid, 32, and Rifat Huq, 20.

Inspector Yunus Ali, officer-incharge of Uttarkhan police station, said they had arrested the RAB men and three others on the spot while they were trying to grab a piece of disputed land.

When contacted, RAB 1 Commanding Officer Lt Col Kismat Haiyat said: “We heard about the arrest of two RAB members by police on charges of helping a person named Humayun Kabir to recover a piece of disputed land in Uttara.”  PAGE 2 COLUMN 6

Chetia’s repatriation under consideration n Kamran Reza Chowdhury Indian separatist leader Anup Chetia’s application for willful repatriation to India is under the consideration of Bangladesh Home Ministry, State Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan has told the parliament.

Since his arrest for illegally entering Bangladesh and holding a fake pass-

port and foreign currency, Delhi had been placing repeated demands for the handover of the general secretary of the banned guerrilla organisation United Liberation Front of Assam (Ulfa).

But because there was no bilateral extradition treaty between the neighbours, Dhaka has always refused to give him back.

However, finally, the two govern-

ments have signed a deal that has paved the way for his handover to the Indian authorities.

Replying to a query from independent lawmaker Rustom Ali Farazi during the scheduled question-answer hour for ministers, Asaduzzaman said Anup Chetia alias Golap Baruahad recently applied to the Home Ministry for  PAGE 2 COLUMN 5

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

BTRC to file criminal case against an IGW today Bestec Telecom owes regulator Tk130 crore; no decision yet about Ratul Telecom crore from Kay Telecommunications had already recommended filing crimin Muhammad Zahidul Islam Ltd, previously owned by ruling Awami nal cases against the defaulting IGWs. The telecom regulator is going to lodge a criminal case today against three owners of International Gateway (IGW) operator Bestec Telecom over non-payment of more than Tk130 crore in revenue shares and annual licence fees.

“We have made preparations to file a criminal case against the directors and owners of Bestec Telecom Ltd,” Md Abdus Samad, commissioner (legal) of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

Toriqul Islam, chairman of Bestec Telecom, Enayet Kabir, managing director, and Md Mamunoor Rashid, director, will face the case to be filed with Gulshan police station, a BTRC source confirmed.

The BTRC yesterday also went to file a case under the Public Demands Recovery Act with Narayanganj district judge’s court to recover outstanding Tk91.5

League lawmaker Shamim Osman.

A number of sources at the commission however told the Dhaka Tribune that the BTRC lawyer had returned without filing the case “out of fear.”

Meanwhile, the government has once again extended time for Ratul Telecom Ltd to pay its dues of Tk96.5 crore.

Ratul Telecom, in which former LGRD state minister Jahangir Kabir Nanak’s daughter Syeda Amrin Rakhi has 50% shares and his wife Syeda Arzuman Banu has 20%, had so far been given five chances to pay its dues and the last time extension ended on May 31.

The BTRC decided to file a case against Ratul Telecom under the Public Demands Recovery Act this time but the government once again extended the time for the payment.

BTRC Commissioner Md Abdus Samad said their legal consultant firms

According to sources, Bestec Telecom owes the BTRC Tk115.41 crore in revenue sharing, Tk7.5 crore in annual licence fees, Tk1.13 crore in VAT on licence fees, and Tk6.71 crore in fines for delaying the payment of fees. The telecom watchdog had earlier sued Bestec under the Public Demands Recovery Act, and two other IGWs – Vision Tel Ltd and Telex Ltd – over non-payment of Tk181 crore and Tk92.5 crore.

BTRC officials said the act was not enough to collect the dues. Bestec Telecom also faces a case filed by mobile phone operator Grameenphone over an outstanding worth Tk13.49 crore.

Telecommunication Minister Abdul Latif Siddique, Secretary Md Abubakar Siddique, BTRC Chairman Sunil Kanti Bose and Vice-Chairman Md Giashuddin Ahmed are all out of country and were not available for comments. l

Monday, June 9, 2014

'Dr Kamal was a failure as minister' n Tribune report Finance Minster AMA Muhith yesterday said Dr Kamal Hossain was unsuccessful as the country’s first foreign minister and his word has no actual value.

The finance minster made the remarks at his secretariat office a day after, and in response to, a dire criticism by D Kamal regarding him (Muhith) and the budget.

“Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had given Dr Kamal a big opportunity by appointing him as Bangladesh’s first foreign minister, but he failed. He is a man of failure,” Muhith said.

The minister also said he was not the general secretary of Gonoforum and he joined the party in 1993 as presidium member at Dr Kamal’s request and the following year he left the party.

On Saturday, at Mirpur Moiyur Community Centre, Dr Kamal called Muhith a mentally sick patient as he proposed an unrealistic big budget for the 2014-15 FY. In response to a query on the removal of the Basic Bank chairman against whom a scam allegation was raised recently, the finance minister said although PM Sheikh Hasina appointed the chairman, full responsibility of the stateowned banks lay on him. “I will discuss the matter with the PM,” he said. l

Ashraf: None essential for AL n Emran Hossain Shaikh Referring to party leaders in a word of caution, Awami League General Secretary and LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam yesterday said none was essential for the party.

“All will face action if they break party discipline, no matter if they are influential or not. The party, the government and the country will fall into ruin if there is no discipline,” quoting Ashraf, an organising secteray of Awami League told the Dhaka Tribune following a joint meeting. The meeting was attended by the party’s joint secretaries and ogranising secretaries and was held at Sheikh Hasina’s political office in Dhanmondi.

At the meeting, schedules of seven organising district councils were announced, with the first on June 21 and the seventh on July 19.

Sources said Awami League Organising Secretary of Chittagong division Bir Bahadur and Publicity Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud talked about the

influence of Presidium Member Eng Mosharraf Hossain in local politics of Chittagong. They claimed that Mosharraf was not giving any room to the dedicated leaders Gias Uddin and Abul Quasem to play role in local politics.

After the meeting, Joint Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif told the Dhaka Tribune they had discussed recent political issues and had finalised schedules of district conferences.

“We want honest people having social acceptance to come in the leadership,” he said. Sources said the meeting had discussed holding divisional delegate meeting in September to October.

At the meeting, local lawmakers were urged to take initiative to make up for the gap with local leaders and activists.

According to the press release signed by Office Secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap, the probable schedules have been set for June 21 in Munsiganj, June 26 in Barguna, June 27 in Patuakhali, June 28 in Kishoreganj, July 12 in Thakurgaon, July 15 in Khulna city and July 19 in Rajshahi city. l

A train passenger takes a barn owl he rescued to the veterinary hospital after street children captured the endangered species and allegedly broke one of its wings. The photo was taken at the capital's Kamalapur Railway Station yesterday RAJIB DHAR

NARAYANGANJ 5 BY-POLL

Anwar, Habib withdraw nomination n Our Correspondent, Narayanganj Two candidates yesterday withdrew from the Narayanganj 5 by-poll.

The two are Anwar Hossain, president of the city unit Awami League, and Habib Siddique, organising secretary of Krishak Sramik Janata League.

At a press briefing in the city Awami League office yesterday, Anwar declared the withdrawal of his candidacy.

He said he did not want to contest the by-poll since his party was not taking part in it.

“I do not want to stand for the bypoll against the will of Awami League,” he said in his address.

“The ruling party activists will cast vote for the best candidate who will make an effort to fight terrorism,” he said.

Krishak Sramik Janata League Organising Secretary Habib Siddique lodged an application with the returning officer’s office for withdrawing his nomination "to support" his fellow party member, Shafiqul Islam Delwar.

Today is the last day for withdrawal of nomination.

Ekram murder probe questioned  PAGE 1 COLUMN 4

13 of them gave confessional statements and police are still looking for 29 more accused.

In his confession, Abid, who was one of the attackers, alleged involvement of Awami League lawmaker Nizam Uddin Hazari and Joint Secretary of district Awami League Jahangir Mohammad Adel in Ekram’s killing.

Another mastermind Jihad Chowdhury has also claimed Adel’s involvement in the killing.

Jihad said Jubo League leader Jiaul Mister had directed him to commit the crime and spent around Tk2 crore for

the murder, said an investigating officer.

“He mentioned the name of Awami League leader Harun-ur-Rashid Majumder of Anandapur union as a financier and said BNP leader Minar Chowdhury had paid him Tk one lakh after the murder,” he said.

Locals and district Awami League leaders, however, alleged that this was nothing but a drama staged by police as Jihad’s statement had been written by investigators themselves.

This is because Harun was one of the close associates of Ekram who made him upazila chairman. This allegedly led to

The Narayanganj 5 constituency fell vacant following the death of lawmaker and Jatiya Party presidium member Nasim Osman who died on April 30 at Dehradun in India.

The by-poll contest was mainly centred on four contestants.

The four were independent candidate and former lawmaker SM Akram, Jatiya Party-backed candidate AKM Selim Osman, independent candidate and city Awami League President Anwar Hossain and another independent candidate Rafiur Rabbi. l

under government consideration, was forwarded to the ministry by BTRC in December last year.

As the government did not make any decision about the plea by April 22 – the expiry date of the last BTRC “extension” – the company went to the High Court.

The court ordered the government to allow it to continue operations until the disposal of the application, on consideration that Banglaphone had many subscribers and had inked resource sharing deals with companies such as Robi and Teletalk.

Following the court order, in a letter on May 8, the ministry allowed the company until April 23, 2015 to continue its operations but on condition that it “cannot build any network and install any instrument within this period” and

directed the regulator to fix annual fees and revenue sharing rates.

However, a May 26 BTRC letter sent to Banglaphone which the Dhaka Tribune has obtained, does not include any of the conditions set out by the government.

Moreover, the BTRC letter does not say anything about the April 23, 2015 time limit that the government has set for the company. The Dhaka Tribune has compared copies of both the letters and has found the anomalies.

Interestingly, during one of its meetings on April 16, the telecom watchdog discussed the probable penalties including a Tk300 crore fine and cancellation of licence that Banglaphone might have to pay for flouting rules.

However, according to the minutes of that meeting, it ended up not making any decision in this regard. The

n Kamran Reza Chowdhury A lawmaker of the Jatiya Party yesterday heavily criticised the ruling Awami League for the government’s demand for additional grants of Tk8,066 crore which, he said, could not help the people and would rather make the corrupt richer.

This was the first time the government faced such harsh criticism in parliament from JaPa, whose existence in the House as both the ruling and opposition party has been questioned since the formation of the 10th parliament.

Fazlur Rahman, the JaPa MP elected from a Sunamganj constituency, steered the criticism in parliament yesterday that inspired independent MP Rustom Ali Farazi also to follow suit.

Fazlur also criticised a senior minister for undermining JaPa “in the tone of the BNP-Jamaat.”

Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, State Minister for Finance MA Mannan, and Noorjahan Begum took part in the discussion on the supplementary budget for 2013-14 fiscal year.

Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury presided over the sitting.

Fifty-five ministries and departments have sought additional allocations of Tk8,066 crore for FY2013-14.

The original allocation was more than Tk106,104 crore.

“Allocating this huge supplementary budget without ensuring good governance will make the corrupt people richer and not benefit the people,” Fazlur Rahman told the House.

He said the state was being deprived of thousands of crores of taka every year because of the corrupt administration that implemented the budget.

“The Health Ministry has sought Tk4,840 crore additional funds, but the post of a cardiac specialist in Sunamganj town – where I live – has been vacant for years. This is the state of health services there,” Fazlur said.

He said the Education Ministry had demanded additional Tk1,193 crore, but “question papers of the public exams are available everywhere. This is the state of education.”

The JaPa MP also opposed the additional allocation of over Tk440 crore

conflict between Ekram and Jihad.

Another source claimed police would not take any action against Adel and Mister because of their intimate relation with Nizam MP. Both of them moved freely in the area for a week after the murder but are now believed to have fled to India.

Borders were put on red alert two days after their suspected escape.

Ziaul Haque Jashim, elder brother of Ekram and plaintiff in the case, said: “We are still uncertain about whether we will get justice as the investigation might end without arresting all the criminals.”

Dhaka Tribune has also learnt that the BTRC has not officially disclosed any of this to the ministry.

Banglaphone Managing Director Amjad Khan admitted getting a permit from the BTRC which did not mention any time bar for continuing operations.

“Our company did not ask for any favour. We simply wanted the ministry, the BTRC and all other government agencies to create a level-playing field for all,” Amjad Khan told the Dhaka Tribune.

When asked about the anomalies between the letters from the government and the BTRC, Amjad suggested that the BTRC had merely simplified the language for him.

He also claimed that the government could not bar Banglaphone from expanding its network because it would contradict the court order.

for the Finance Division, saying 33,000 small investors had been pauperised and the Ibrahim Khaled report had identified them. “The share market manipulators swindling crores of taka of these small investors are still at large. So, such additional demand will only make people bleed.”

He said: “You have to ensure good governance. Unless you establish good governance, such additional grants will make the corrupt richer, not the people.”

Independent lawmaker Rustom Ali Farazi also criticised the government for poor performance.

Opposing the additional grant of over Tk76 crore for public administration, Farazi said all developed countries in the world made their bureaucracy efficient. “But here in Bangladesh, sycophant bureaucrats loiter [around the bosses] and they are promoted from assistant secretary to secretary,” he said.

Farazi said the Banking Division had sought an additional grant of Tk41 crore against the backdrop of scams in the state-owned Sonali Bank and BASIC Bank whereas small farmers were harassed for a loan of Tk5,000 and nobody would ask any question on defaulters of Tk 5,000 crore.

“These cannot happen without someone’s collaboration,” he said, suggesting that the government prepare a list of bank looters.

Pointing finger at Health Minister Mohammad Nasim, Farazi said: “The minister talks bold but cannot force doctors to stay in rural areas.”

He alleged that physicians and nurses skipped duties at government hospitals to practise privately.

People were forced to fake private diagnostic centres, he said.

“You take money, no problem; but ensure that people get health services,” Farazi told the health minister.

He praised Law Minister Anisul Huq for his honesty and said he could demand for additional grant of Tk30 crore.

He, however, said: “A sub-registrar earns Tk30,000 per month but has an income of Tk10 lakh. Is the minister aware of it? This sort of corruption must be stopped.” l

EC to probe low voter enrolment High Court n Mohammad Zakaria

The Election Commission has formed a central monitoring committee to find out the problems in the ongoing voter roll updating as it did not get the targeted number of people in the first phase of new voter enrolment.

The EC began the fresh enrolment from May 15 to 24, aiming to enrol 5% new voters in 181 upazilas, but they were only able to enrol 4%.

“The committee will find out the cause of the low number of new voter enrolment,” a senior assistant secretary yesterday told the Dhaka Tribune.

Committees were formed at every

division, district, upazila and city corporation to monitor the voter list updating activities, he said, adding that 10 sub-committees had been formed under the central committee. They all would submit area-based reports.

Some of the sub-committees would be led by the commission’s deputy secretary and the others by its senior assistant secretary, the official said, adding that the commission had meanwhile decided to launch a mass campaign for voter enrolment.

New voters will be enrolled at 218 upazilas in the second phase from June 15 to 24 and at 115 upazilas from September 1 to 10 in the third phase. l

Chetia's repatriation

BTRC favour lets Banglaphone dodge crores  PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

JaPa MP criticises government in parliament

“We hope the authorities would take necessary action in this regard and would not end investigation before arresting them all,” he added.

Feni Police Superintendent Paritosh Ghosh told the Dhaka Tribune they got many clues from the statements of Jihad and other accused.

“We are analysing all those and action would be taken upon verification,” he said.

Paritosh said many puzzles surrounding the mystery would be solved once Adel and Mister were arrested.

“Police are raiding different areas in search of them,” he added. l

 PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

“This clause is a violation of the court order. The ministry defied the court but BTRC, in its extension permit, did not violate the court order,” Amjad said.

A senior ministry official told the Dhaka Tribune: “Honouring the court order, we allowed one more year [to Banglaphone] against some conditions, which already apply to the other players. The government will decide on the application within a short time.”

When asked whether he knew that the BTRC had discussed penalties for the company, Amjad said: “Let us not talk hypothetically on what will happen in future. Banglaphone did not do anything wrong.”

BTRC Chairman Sunil Kanti Bose was not readily available for a comment on the matter because he was out

of the country.

Md Giasuddin Ahmed, vice-chairman of BTRC, told the Dhaka Tribune: “Actually I do not have any idea about the present situation of the Banglaphone issue. I heard that there were some problems but I do not know why we are not carrying out the government’s orders.”

A couple of months ago, the Dhaka Tribune reported on another anomaly in Banglaphone’s declaration, which included the names of Technohaven Co Limited and Nitol Motors as partners in a consortium, although these two companies had pulled out in 2005.

After the report was filed, the telecom regulator sent a correction letter to the ministry right away, saying it was an “unconscious mistake” but did not recommend any penalty. l

voluntary return to his homeland.

“His application is now being processed at the ministry,” he said.

Contrary to the Rules of Procedure, the answer was not discussed in the House, preventing questions from MPs. Anup Chetia finished his seven-year jail term in 2008.

Reluctant to face trial in India, Anup Chetia in December 2008 wrote to the chief of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees for a refugee status so that he could seek political asylum in Bangladesh.

But his appeal was not taken into consideration. l

 PAGE 1 COLUMN 3

Hossain, ex-joint convener of Feni district Jubo League.

The plea mentioned that a Chittagong court had sentenced Nizam Hazari to 10 years in jail in an arms case. He, however, was released on December 1, 2005, after serving only five years behind bars.

Although he appealed against the judgment with the High Court and the Appellate Division but the appeals were dismissed, said the petition.

Manzill Murshid, counsel for the petitioner, told the court Nizam resorted to fraud in his affidavit submitted to the Election Commission prior to the tenth parliamentary election, by concealing that his appeals were disposed of and he was freed. According to the constitution, Nizam could only contest the parliamentary elections if they were held in 2015, the lawyer said.

The constitutional provision says: “A person shall be disqualified for election as, or for being, a member of the parliament who has been, on conviction for a criminal offence involving moral turpitude, sentenced to imprisonment for a term of not less than two years, unless a period of five years has elapsed since his release.”

The court directed the inspector general (prison) and senior jail super of Chittagong Central Jail to submit a report on Nizam’s stay in jail along with relevant files within 30 days. Manzill said Nizam had been elected uncontested. l

Two RAB members  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

He said they were yet to learn the details about the charges as the police had not yet informed them formally of the arrest.

In reply to a question, the RAB 1 chief said the two RAB members had been deputed to the force from Bangladesh Army.

Officials at Uttarkhan police station said a person named Md Jamir Ali of Fauzir Batan in the area had filed a case against the RAB men and others for vandalising and trying to grab his land property, and also for demanding money.

They said alongside the five, a group of hired people had also gone to the spot to grab the land, but they fled being chased by the police and local people.

The crime-busting force, RAB, has been under fire recently following allegations of three RAB 11 officials’ involvement in the killing of seven people in Narayanganj. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Monday, June 9, 2014

3

DMP to check formalin on capital’s entry routes Food adulterators to be charged with attempt to mass murder traders that charges of attempted check-posts would be set up at n Kailash Sarkar Postogola Bridge, Sign Board in murder will be brought against them if In the face of widespread use of toxic disinfectant formalin on fruits, Dhaka Metropolitan Police has announced the launch of a massive anti-formalin drive and set up special check-posts at all eight entrances to the capital from June 11.

“Controlling the use of formalin has become a great challenge for the government. Time has come to nab traders using formalin on fruits as their actions are similar to attempting mass murder,” DMP Commissioner Benazir Ahmed said while addressing a press briefing at the DMP Media Centre yesterday.

He also issued a warning to illicit

they fail to refrain from such heinous activities.

Saying a social movement was required to stop the usage of formalin, Benazir also urged people from all walks of life to come forward for the cause.

Urging fruit farmers not to use formalin on their harvests and transport workers and retailers to create a resistance against such practices, he also added: “We hope that all concerned sectors will respond to our request so that we do not need to destroy formalin-administered fruits, which cause financial losses.”

According to the DMP, the

3,500 posts in government colleges remain vacant n Mushfique Wadud According to the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE), 3,500 out of a total of 15,165 posts are lying vacant in government colleges across the country.

DSHE officials said 60 of the 306 government colleges are running without principals and three colleges do not have any vice-principals.

Tala Government College in Satkhira has only one Bangla teacher and one English teacher for 1,500 students, and it is operating without a principal.

Shamim Hossain, an assistant professor of the college, told the Dhaka Tribune that more than one class is often held for Bangla and English due to the shortage of teachers. “It is difficult for a single teacher to teach 1,500 students,” he said.

With just 22 teachers against 42 posts, the college has no teacher for some major subjects.

Requesting anonymity, a teacher there said the absence of a principal was a major hindrance to the smooth academic and administrative operations.

Because of the shortages of teachers in government colleges, guardians have no option but to send their children to costly private colleges.

“My daughter’s monthly tuition fee is Tk2,000. It is hard for me to afford this but

I have no other way as the quality of education in government colleges is not up to the mark,” said Delwar Hossain, a grocery store owner at Mirpur 6 in the capital.

Teachers at government colleges also admit that students now prefer private colleges to public colleges.

Professor KM Rezaul Huq, principal of Gouripur Munsi Fazlur Rahman Government College, said local students were more eager to go to nearby private colleges than to get admission into his college.

“Facilities at state-run colleges must improve. Sometimes, students at these colleges cannot attend classes during the rainy season because of poor condition of buildings,” he said.

“We have 18 teachers in our college to fill 28 posts,” said Rezaul, adding, “We do not have any teacher to teach social welfare.”

DSHE Director General Fahima Khatun told the Dhaka Tribune that many posts at government colleges have become vacant because people occupying those posts have gone into retirement.

“Another reason is that many teachers are employed in the urban areas and posts in rural areas remain vacant. Some of the vacant posts are posts for lecturers and those will be filled after the BCS examination,” she said.

“We are trying our best to solve these problems,” she added. l

Jatrabari, Demra, Babubzar Bridge, Sadarghat, Gabtoli, Abdullahpur and Dhour in Uttara.

Officials from the Dhaka District Administration and Bangladesh Standard Testing Institute (BSTI) will be present at these check-posts.

At the press conference, DMP authorities informed that so far Tk 21 lakh has been collected as a fine from different traders at different markets of the capital.

Formalin is normally used for preservation of animal specimens and tissue samples, disinfectant and antibacterial wash and treating parasite infections in fish. l

Law enforcers destroy formalin-administered mangoes from a roadside sales centre outside Dhanmondi playground in the capital yesterday.

Surprisingly, the stall from where these mangoes were confiscated had been brandishing banners promising formalin-free fruits RAJIB DHAR

Witness describes Subhan’s brutality

Cattle trader recalls Qaisar’s atrocities n Udisa Islam in 1971 The 11th prosecution witness against n Udisa Islam Jamaat leader Moulana Abdus Subhan A new prosecution witness in the trial against former Jatiya Party lawmaker Syed Mohammad Qaisar yesterday said the accused had led all the atrocities that took place in Habiganj and Brahmanbaria during the 1971 Liberation War. Nayeb Ali, 73, from Islampur of Brahmanbaria, claimed that Pakistan Army personnel beat him brutally after Qaisar had identified him as a supporter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

In his deposition to the International Crimes Tribunal 2 as the 19th witness, Nayeb, a cattle trader in 1971, said he had known Qaisar from the very beginning.

He said their village had come under attack of the “Qaisar Bahini” on a Baishakh day and the attackers were chanting the slogan “Pakistan Zindabad.” When he came out of home he faced Qaisar and his accomplices.

“Even though I showed him respect by giving him Salam, he without answering me asked the troops to beat me up identifying me as a man of Mujib.”

He said Qaisar and his force had burnt at least 200 shops in the Madhabpur market in Brahmanbaria.

After his deposition, defence counsel SM Shajahan questioned him. The tribunal adjourned the trial until today leaving the cross-examination incomplete. l

gave a vivid description yesterday of how Subhan and his cohorts brutally killed a person in Iswardi in 1971.

“On April 17, a white car came in front of a ‘torture cell’ set up beside the central mosque in Iswardi. Moulana Subhan was in the car and four others, including Khoda Box, welcomed him.

All of them were armed. After finishing prayers at the mosque, Subhan and his cohorts dragged Moazzem Hossain out of the mosque and took him to a nearby coal depot. Subhan slashed Moazzem with a sword before his cohorts hacked at him,” said the witness.

The witness was Fazlur Rahman Fantu, 63, the editor of a local newspaper and businessman from Dorinaricha in Iswardi of Pabna. He said Moazzem was the father of Tohurul, who was with him when they saw Subhan and his men stage the brutal murder. Tohurul tried to protest but he stopped him by placing a hand over his mouth.

The witness told the tribunal that Subhan had killed Motleb Ahmed Khan and his son Nazmul Huq Khan on April 18 in the same manner. A group of Razakars took them to a nearby coal depot and Jamaat activist Hariz Uddin gave Subhan a sword and Subhan slashed Motleb and his son with

the sword before his cohorts stabbed them. The witness claimed that he had seen all these incidents from a hideout in a nearby bush.

After the deposition, defence counsel Mizanul Islam grilled him with a few questions and the second International Crimes Tribunal adjourned the hearing until today.

The witness said: “On April 11, 1971, Pakistani soldiers occupied Iswardi and set up camps at the local airport, Ishwardi government bungalow, the Sugar Research Centre and the Hardinge Bridge... Jamaat-Muslim League men and the Biharies started looting and arson attacks. Most villagers took shelter in our village [Dorinaricha]... They killed at least 200 people in the area. More than 200 others took

shelter inside the central mosque only to be killed later by Subhan.”

Fantu claimed that when they came back from near the central mosque on April 18, Sahiduzzaman, slain Motleb’s brother-in-law, told him that he had also seen the killing from another bush.

After that, they went to India to get trained in freedom fighting. On September 1971, they came back from there.

He confirmed that the coal depot, which was being used as a torture cell by the collaborators and the occupation army, is now a press club. There is also a monument there with the names of martyrs such as Moazzem Hossain, Motleb Ahmed Khan and Nazmul Huq Khan inscribed on it. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Monday, June 9, 2014

National Fistula Centre opens today n Moniruzzaman Uzzal Hoping to deliver improved healthcare services to fistula patients, the National Fistula Centre (NFC) is going to be opened at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) today.

The 20-bed facility has been set up on the fourth floor of the casualty building of the hospital with assistance from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Health Minister Mohammed Nasim will formally inaugurate the centre at 3pm.

Dr Musfiqur Rahman, deputy director of DMCH, told the Dhaka Tribune it is the first-ever centre of excellence in the country aimed at providing better healthcare facilities for obstetric fistula patients.

The centre will create opportunity for specialised training, research and academic learning for doctors, nurses and paramedics, he said.

A group of doctors of anesthesiology, surgery, orthopedics and urology fields were given specialised training to deliver better services to patients.

According to 2009 data from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), every year, an estimated 2,000 new women develop obstetric fistula and 71,000 women are living with it at present.

A top UNFPA official told the Dhaka Tribune the consequences of fistula condition are physical, social, economical and profoundly psychological,

with many sufferers being labelled as social outcasts.

During childbirth, as a result of prolonged labour, in most cases, the baby is stillborn or dies within the first week of birth, and the woman suffers from fistula that leaves her incontinent.

In Bangladesh, efforts to manage fistula were accelerated by the UNFPA-led “Campaign to End Fistula” was launched in 2003. At present, coordination of fistula activities is led by the National Task Force on obstetric fistula with the Ministry of Health, UNFPA, Engender Health, Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Bangladesh, and members of the civil society.

UNFPA is also supporting nine hospitals that treat fistula patients. To date, 2,904 complicated fistula cases have been operated on.

The government has taken initiative to eliminate classic obstructed labour by facilitating community acceptance of 100% labour and birth in proper facilities, to increase the number of midwives in the healthcare system, and to expand the availability and access to emergency obstetric care.

With support from UNFPA, there were also initiatives by the government to rehabilitate fistula survivors who were isolated or separated from families and communities.

Around 421 fistula survivors have been rehabilitated. Of them, 102 became fistula advocates to create awareness in the community. l

Argentinian footballs fans in Narayanganj bring out a procession yesterday to celebrate and show support for their favourite team ahead of the World Cup

UGC to introduce rankings for private universities n Mushfique Wadud

The University Grants Commission is considering a possibility to introduce a ranking system among the private universities to promote quality eduction there.

“A ranking system will help create competition among private universities and improve quality education

on a great scale,” UGC Chair AK Azad Chowdhury told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

He said it was discussed in a UGC meeting yesterday in presence of other commission members.

Asked when the ranking system would be introduced, Azad Chowdhury failed to set any time frame, but hinted that it would be done soon.

He said the criteria would be based on whether they were following the Private University Act 2010 and on other academic activities.

Azad added that a high-powered UGC team recently made a surprise visit to 35 private universities and found that most universities were running as per the Private University Act 2010.

“Some of them are not following the

NCTF for review children allocation in budget BNP leaders’ indictment n Abid Azad Claiming that the allocation proposed in the 2014-2015 fiscal year budget for children is insufficient, the National Children’s Task Force (NCTF) yesterday urged the authorities concerned to review it.

The children rights organisation also urged the creation of a separate budget for children.

“The government has lowered the number of projects and allocations for children in the 2014-2015 proposed budget compared to the last FY. Only 21 welfare projects for children have been proposed in this FY while there were 55 projects in the previous budget” said Fatema Siddika Rima, Dhaka unit president of NCTF. She made the remarks while ad-

dressing a 2014-2015 post-budget programme hosted by the NGO Save the Children at Dhaka Reporters Unity.

She also said: “We hope the government will review this year’s budget allocation for children as 45% of the country’s population are children.”

NCTF demanded children’s participation in the pre-budget discussion for them from the next fiscal year. l

Illegal structures to be removed in 10 days from Padma Bridge construction area n Rabiul Islam Communications Minister Obaidul Quader asked the authorities concerned yesterday to remove all illegal structures within 10 days from the Padma Bridge’s construction yards 1 and 2.

The minister said the structures erected in alignment with the main bridge will also be removed within the same period.

The construction of the much-awaited Padma Bridge will kick off in July with the help of the county’s own funds,

said Obaidul.

The minister made the announcement at a meeting on the removal of illegal structures from the bridge’s construction yards and the alignment.

The meeting was held at Setu Bhaban in the capital yesterday.

Members of parliament and officials concerned were present at the meeting.

Those who constructed structures illegally on both sides of the Padma Bridge had been asked to vacate the places in consideration of national interest, Obaidul said, adding that those

DHAKA TRIBUNE

who were not yet compensated, would be compensated soon.

“We have received an allegation that a gang of frauds were cheating the innocent people in the name of recruitment,” the communications minister said.

He clarified that the Ministry of Communications, Bridges Division and the Army had no authority to hire workers.

Only the assigned construction firm had the authority to do so, the minister said, adding that legal action would be taken to rein in the fraudulent activities. l

hearing deferred n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu A Dhaka Court deferred the indictment hearing yesterday against BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and other leaders of the party until August 10 in three separate cases.

Metropolitan Magistrate Tarek Mainul Islam Bhuiyan put off the hearing, acting on a petition for extension filed by the defence counsel for the cases.

At least 24 BNP leaders and activists, including Mirza Fakhrul, Barrister

Moudud Ahmed and Mirza Abbas attended the hearing.

On March 27 last year, DB police submitted charge sheets in the three cases.

The three cases were filed, two with Paltan police station and the other with Shahjahanpur police station under the Speedy Trial Act, for creating panic among people, torching vehicles and obstructing police in the course of their duty during a BNP rally in front of the party’s Naya Paltan office in the capital on March 2. l

Charge framed against 59 Chittagong BNP leaders n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong A Chittagong court framed charges yesterday against 59 BNP leaders including its Chittagong city unit General Secretary Dr Shahadat Hossain in a vandalism case lodged with the city’s Kotwali police station in 2012.

Metropolitan Magistrate, Syed

Mashfiqul Islam, indicted the BNP leaders at a charge framing hearing, said Additional Deputy Commissioner (prosecution) Md Rezaul Masud of Chittagong Metropolitan Police.

Defence Counsel Abdus Sattar said the court was adjourned till July 8, when it would start recording the depositions. l

guidelines. We have discussed with the Trustee Board members. If they do not go by the rule, we will take legal action against them,” he said.

At present, 79 private universities are running their higher education programmes in the country.

Some 3.15 lakh students are engaged in their academic pursuit in these universities. l

Another step towards improved mother-child health

n Tribune Report

An updated operation manual for the union health and family welfare centres was launched at a city hotel yesterday.

The event was jointly organised by the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) unit of the Directorate General of Family Planning, and Women and their Children’s Health (WATCH) project of Plan International Bangladesh, funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada.

Health MInister Mohammad Nasim unveiled the manual. He said: “We have already made strides in reducing child mortality, and I am confident that these centres will cut down the maternal death rate substantially.”

Citing Plan’s statistics, Dr Mary Rashid, WATCH project manager, said a modest investment of Tk20,000 every month could pay for the trained hands required to run a health centre and provide safe delivery services.

Senait Gebregziabher, country director of Plan, said she was grateful for the government’s support and hoped the close collaboration between Plan and the government. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

5

Monday, June 9, 2014

Mobile courts to free rivers from grabbers n Mohosinul Karim The government has taken a decision to launch mobile courts across the country to recover rivers from illegal occupants. The operation of mobile courts will start shortly.

The taskforce on protecting rivers took the decision at its regular meeting held at the shipping ministry conference room yesterday the chief Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan in the chair.

Committee members Law Minister Anisul Haque, Water Resources Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud, Housing Minister Mosharraf Hossain, Food Minister Kamrul Islam, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mojammel Haque and Land Minister Shamsur Rahman Sharif, and State Minister for Power Nasrul Hamid Bipu and Lalbag-Kamrangirchar’s MP Haji Muhammad Selim, among other, attended the meeting.

Shahjahan Khan said the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority led by a magistrate, would launch a mobile court which will take immediate action against encroachers.

Regarding the presence of Selim,

one of the primary accused in building structures after grabbing river, Shajahan Khan said, “He was invited to the meeting because of the allegations against him. We have requested the MP to remove the structures he built on river and sought his help to remove other structures as well.

“He has pledged to remove his structures from river and help us in removing the structures built by others.”

“No one will be spared if found guilty, whoever he may be,” the minister said.

“We have decided to operate mobile courts in eviction drives. This enables us to take immediate actions against illegal occupants,” he said.

Regarding recovery of the Buriganga’s main channel, the taskforce chief said, the committee formed recover it will meet tomorrow [today].The sub-committee formed to create public awareness led by reserved seat MP Sanzida Khanam will also start its activities shortly.

The taskforce also instructed the authorities concerned to complete the removal of the ‘Saiham Future Complex’ from the Sonai River of Habiganj. l

People look at various projects at science fair at the National Science and Technology auditorium in the capital yesterday. The fair is arranged marking the National Science and Technology Week every year SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Show cause notices issued against six SBMCH doctors

Ctg senior jail super, nine officials sued over suicide of inmate

AL activist bombed, hacked to death

n Tarek Mahmud

n Our Correspondent, Barisal

Chittagong: Nine personnel of Chittagong Central Jail including its Senior Jail Super were sued yesterday morning for killing a prisoner in the jail on June 3 night.

Md Yiakub Kaisar, younger brother of the inmate Md Zakir Hosssain, 30, lodged the case with the court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM), Moshiur Rahman Chowdhury, said court sources.

Taking the complaint into cognisance, the court ordered Kushum Dewan, deputy commissioner of Detective Branch of police in Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP), to investigate the matter, said Additional Deputy Commissioner (Prosecution) Md Rezaul Masud of CMP. Advocate Nasir Uddin, counsel for the plaintiff, said the case was lodged mentioning nine jail officials’ names, along with numerous unnamed jail officials and prisoners.

Correspondent, n Our Chapainawabganj

Health and Family Planning Ministry issued show cause notice against six teachers of Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College for absence in the workplace.

The show cause notices were issued for Dr A HM Shafiqur Rahman, associate professor and head of community medicine department and Dr Syed Md Baqi Billah, assistant professor of the same department.

The others were Prof Dr Saidur Rahman, head of medicine department, Dr Md Awal, associate professor of urology department, Dr MM Ehsan Ul Huq, associate professor, and Dr Md Nuruzzaman, assistant professor of neuro surgery department.

Prof Dr Ranjit Kha, principal of SBMC, said the show cause notices were faxed yesterday morning and was signed by Moin Uddin Ahmed, deputy secretary of Health and Family Planning Ministry.

He said as the doctors were absent in classes, students were academically falling behind.

The notices have been served to teachers concerned and they have been asked to submit a reply within seven working days, he added. l

WEATHER THUNDERSHOWER OR RAIN

MONDAY, JUNE 9 DHAKA TODAY TOMORROW SUN SETS 6:45PM SUN RISES 5:10AM FORECAST FOR TODAY Dhaka

37

29

Chittagong

34

28

Rajshahi

39

29

Rangpur

35

26

Khulna

37

28

Barisal

36

28

Sylhet

36

24

Cox’s Bazar

33

27

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

36.2ºC Khulna

24.3ºC Bogra

Source: Accuweather/UNB

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

3:43am 5:09am 11:58am 4:38pm 6:45pm 8:13pm Source: IslamicFinder.org

The nine are Chittagong Central Jail Senior Jail Super Md Sagir Mia, Jailer Nesar Ahmed, Jail Hospital Physician Dr Mostafizur Rahman, former Subedars Amju Mia and Humayun Kabir,

The family members of the prisoner, who was awarded 14 years of imprisonment in an abduction case, however, have been claiming that Zakir had been tortured to death by the jail personnel Chief Jail Guards Mohammad Hossain and Abdur Rashid, Jail Guards Mohammad Alam and Ziabul Islam.

Of them, Amju Mia and Humayun

Kabir were transferred from the jail, Ziabul Islam and Mohammad Alamgir were suspended and departmental case was filed against Mohammad Hossain and Abdur Rashid soon for their negligence in duty.

The body of Zakir, prisoner number 8385/A, was found hanging from the railing of the stairs of the second floor of a jail building on June 3 around 8:30pm. The jail authorities termed it as a suicide.

The family members of the prisoner, who was awarded 14 years of imprisonment in an abduction case, however, have been claiming that Zakir had been tortured to death by the jail personnel.

Asim Kanti Paul, deputy inspector general (DIG) of Prison in Chittagong, formed a three-member probe committee, led by himself, while the Senior Jail Super formed another three-member probe body, led by the Jail Hospital Physician, to look into the matter. l

A gang of miscreants threw bombs at a local activist of the ruling Awami League and then hacked him to death in Ramchandrapurhat area in Sadar upazila here yesterday.

The victim Azizur Rahman Azu, 38, was the ringleader of Azu Bahini which allegedly works for local AL, and the son of Lal Mohammad Lalu, of Dihirmat village of the upazila.

Witnesses said some miscreants attacked Azu by hurling crude bombs in the area around 12pm and then hacked at him indiscriminately with lethal weapons when he was having tea at roadside tea stall, leaving him dead on the spot.

On being informed, a team of policemen from Chapainawabganj sadar police station recovered the body and sent it to the district hospital morgue for an autopsy.

Infuriated by the killing, Azu Bahini

Unlicensed pharmaceutical factory sealed off n Our Correspondent, Barisal

Law enforcement authorities sealed off G Sons Laboratories, an unlicensed pharmaceutical factory which is located at a residential area in Barisal city, yesterday and put the owner in jail.

Shafiqur Rahman, superintendent at the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA), Barisal office, said Administrative Magistrate Qamruzzaman led the drive and was accompanied by Bhaskar Saha, assistant commissioner (detective branch) of Barisal Metropolitan Police.

The drive was conducted based on a complaint that the factory was producing fake and adulterated drugs, said the superintendent.

The complaint was filed by Sabbir Ahmed, director of Indo-Bangla Pharmaceuticals, he added.

The law enforcers also arrested ABM Manirul Islam, who was running the factory illegally in a residential house in the city’s Fakirbari area.

The factory was sealed off after Manir failed to present any valid licence for the production of drugs and medicines.

The products at the factory were also found to be contaminated with fungi and adulterated with chemicals which are harmful for health.

The work environment in the factory was also unhealthy, with substandard equipment, and an illegal power connection.

The photo shows some equipment of an unlicensed pharmaceutical factory which was sealed off by law enforcers yesterday. The factory is located in Fakirbari area of Barisal city DHAKA TRIBUNE The mobile court seized the adulterated products and packing materials worth Tk5 lakh and sentenced Manir to two years of imprisonment,

said the magistrate.

Confessing his crimes, Manir said he had started producing Ayuverdic drugs around eight years ago after acquiring

a licence from the authority concerned, but did not renew the licence since 2009, despite having a good market for his products. l

followers started sporadically vandalising and looting all shops of Ramchandrapur bazar around 2:30pm. At one stage, the unruly supporters set fire to the shops, said Nawabganj police station OC Md Jasim Uddin.

Upon receiving information, the local fire fighting unit rushed to the spot and doused the blaze.

Meanwhile, a good number of police, RAB and BGB members went to the spot and stopped the vandalism, the OC continued.

Chapainawabganj SP Basir Ahmed said AL-backed Azu Bahini and BNP-blessed Kalam gang have been at loggerheads for a long time over the establishment of their dominance in the area and this might have been the motive for the murder.

The situation was under control and necessary law enforcing members were deployed in the area to prevent any further untoward incident, said Chapainawabganj DC Sardar Sorafat Ali. The DC and the SP visited the spot. l

Eight sea robbers arrested in Ctg n Tribune Report Bangladesh Coast Guard (East Zone) nabbed eight alleged sea robbers with valuables worth Tk15 lakh in their possession at the outer anchorage area in the Bay of Bengal on Saturday morning.

The robbers and the seized items were handed over to Patenga police station and a case was filed in this regard, said a press release issued by the coast guard.

Captain Shahidul Islam, zonal commander of Bangladesh Coast Guard (East Zone), said a patrol team of CGS Porte Grande, a coast guard ship, conducted a drive at the outer anchorage area in the sea around 11:30am following a tip-off and nabbed the eight.

The team also seized two engine boats, two barrels of paint, eight barrels of diesel, 50 empty barrels, a 12V battery, a hosepipe, an electric switch board, a motor pump and 100kg of scrap rope from their possession, he said.

The zonal commander also said the gang targeted foreign merchant vessels and monitored them by posing as fishermen. Later they robbed the ships at night, keeping the crew at bay by pointing lethal arms at them.

“Recently, sea robbery in the area has increased, so the coast guard is conducting drives to detain those involved with the robberies,” Captain Shahid said. l

Battery-run rickshaw owners and workers stage rally for recognition n Our Correspondent, Barisal Owners and workers of battery-run rickshaws yesterday held an agitation rally and condemned the Barisal City Corporation, demanding legalisation of their vehicles.

The protesters also handed over a memorandum to the BCC and deputy commissioner’s office in this regard.

The programme was organised by several associations of owners and workers of battery-run rickshaws,

popularly known as metro-rickshaw, to press home their 4-point demands.

The demands included issuing licences for owners and drivers of battery-run rickshaws, providing registrations for their associations and

stopping the harassment and detention of such vehicles.

The rally was addressed by Advocate A K Azad, central vice president Trade Union Center, Arman Hossain Malek, Nazrul Islam, Azizul Alam Sayed, and leaders of the associations,

among others.

After the agitation rally, the protesters handed over memorandums to the Barisal City Corporation Chief Executive Officer Nihkil Chandra Das and Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Wahiduzzaman. l

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

AL men grab government canal Correspondent, n Our Pirojpur A section of ruling party men are filling a canal near Boromachua Bazar at Mathbaria upazila in Pirojpur district after illegally grabbing it.

According to sources, local AL men have been filling the canal for ten days using three dredgers, causing sufferings to the people.

The canal has connected many areas including Khejurbari and Tusharkhali with the bazar. The people in the areas go to the bazar by boat through the canal. The canal also plays a great role in trade and commerce in the area.

Local Mozammel said the canal was an artery among the people in the area. If it is filled up, the business will collapse in the areas.

He said: “As the ruling party men are involved with the activities, nobody dares to protests it.”

When visiting the area, it was found that local Sormik League president Mohammad Kayum and his associates were supervising the filling work. Locals said local AL president and its secretary were also involved with the activities.

Machua Union Land officer Ohiduzzaman said that the ruling party men were involved with grabbing the government canal .

Businessman Nurul Islam said:” The canal is vital in emergency situations like when a fire breaks out.”

He alleged that the ruling party men filled the canal, violating the law.

Hazrat Ali, an elderly in the area said: “We have used the water of the canal in our household chores since childhood. If it is filled, we will have to face difficulty.”

Mozammel said:” We have informed the matter to the higher authorities. But they have not taken steps yet.”

When contacted, Boromachua Jubo League president Mainul Islam said: “We have filled the canal to rehabilitate the businessmen.”

While answering a question they said that they would take permission from the government after completing the work.

When contacted, UNO Ahsan Habid said: “I have been informed of the incident and lodged a diary with Mathbaria police station in this connection.” l

Children play with mud and water on a canal which being allegedly filled by the ruling party men at Mathbaria upazila in Pirojpur DHAKA TRIBUNE

BGB destroys narcotics worth over Tk1.88cr Correspondent, n Our Kushtia Members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) yesterday destroyed narcotics worth over Tk1.88 crore at Mirpur upazila in Kushtia.

Among the narcotics were 7314 bottles of Phensidyl syrup, 16595 bottles of foreign wine, a litre of locally-made wine and 14 kilograms of hemps, said BGB officials.

These narcotics had been recovered at various times in Kushtia and Meherpur dis-

tricts, they said.

Captain Lieutenant Colonel Khandker Mahmud Hosain of 32nd BGB Battalion kicked off the destruction of the narcotics at the battalion’s office in the upazila.

Kushtia BGB Sector’s General Staff Officer Major Tareq Mahmud Sarkar, Additional Director of 32nd BGB Battalion Mehedi Hasan, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Azad Jahan and Executive Magistrate Shihab Raihan, among others, were present there. l

Man beaten for protesting harassment of wife Correspondent, n Our Pirojpur A man was severely beaten on Saturday night because he raised his voice against the harassment of his wife by some local hoodlums in Nanduhar village under Swarupkati upazila of Pirojpur.

Local sources said the injured, Khokon Mia, has been admitted to Swarupkati Upazila Health Complex in a critical condition.

Khokon said Liton used to harass his wife Khadija Akter when she was working as a cook at different messes in Mirpur of the capital.

“After being annoyed by him, we left Dhaka and have been living in Pirojpur for the last three months,” he said.

But Liton did not stop

stalking Khadija, said Khokon, adding, “As on previous days, he was harassing my wife on Saturday night, and I protested against him doing so.”

Liton and one of his friends beat Khokon indiscriminately, leaving him critically injured.

When contacted, local Union Parishad Member Kabir Hosain told the Dhaka Tribune that Khokon had been beaten over a family feud.

He said they would look into the matter.

Meanwhile, Mustafijur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Swarupkati upazila, said he had yet to receive any complaint in this regard.

“If we get any complaint, we can take measures,” he added. l

Nation

Monday, June 9, 2014

Security guard commits suicide over ‘poverty’ in Chandpur n Our Correspondent, Chandpur A night guard of Agrani Bank Ltd’s Habiganj upazila branch allegedly committed suicide in Chandpur early yesterday.

Borhan Uddina, an official of the bank, said a cleaner had informed him that Monirul Islam, 26, the son of Mojibur Rahman from Moddhosonna village under Patuakhali sadar upazila, was not opening the gate in the morning.

“I then entered the bank by breaking the lock and saw his hanging body,” he said.

Agrani Bank Manager Md Lokman Hajra said: “We found a letter in Monirul’s pocket which stated that he had committed sui-

cide because of poverty.” Officer-in-Charge of Habiganj Sadar police station Md Shah Alam said: “On receiving information from Borhan Uddin, police went to the spot and recovered his body in the morning.” l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Long Form

7

Monday, June 9, 2014

China-Japan tensions: A diplomatic conundrum China-Japan tensions over Chinese territorial claims over the South China Sea are unlikely to dissipate for the foreseeable future

T

n Ifty Islam he heated exchange of words between China, the US and Japan at the Annual Shangri-La Dialogue, the premiere regional defence forum that was held at the end of May, is likely to prove far more than rhetoric and reflects a growing anxiety and mistrust between the world’s second and third biggest economies.

The catalyst has been China’s increasingly aggressive assertion of its territorial claims on the South China Sea that has not only increased frictions with its largest regional rival but also with a growing number of it’s other regional neighbours including Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia and South Korea.

The flashpoints have been growing with reports on May 25 by Japan’s defence ministry that Chinese SU-27 fighters had come within 50m of a Japanese OP-3C surveillance plane close to the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands. Also last month, a Vietnamese fishing boat sank after it collided with a Chinese vessel near a controversial oil rig in the South China Sea and Vietnam has protested against China moving its oil rig to waters also claimed by Hanoi, at a spot near the disputed Paracel Islands.

A spokesman for China’s foreign ministry addressed a recent attempt by Vietnam to list its historical claims to the Paracel Islands, saying it was “absurd and laughable.” As a result of these tensions, there has been a number of attacks within Vietnam on Chinese factories as anti-China sentiment within the Vietnamese population ratchets up to the extent that the head of the Chinese police force formally asked his Vietnamese counterparty to ensure the safety of Chinese nationals there. It was also reported that more than 600 people thought to be Chinese nationals fled into Cambodia in fear of their safety. Meanwhile, the Philippines is in the process of taking China to a UN court over its territorial claims in the South China Sea. In surprisingly forthright language at the Forum, US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel stated that the US “would not look the other way when the fundamental principles of the international order are being threatened.” He went on to say that China was underlining its claims that the South China Sea was a “sea of peace, friendship and cooperation” by using coercive tactics.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also stated in keynote address at the forum that Japan would play “a more proactive role than it has until now in making peace in Asia and the world … Japan will offer its utmost support for the efforts of the countries of Asean [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] as they work to ensure

Maritime disputes in the South China Sea

the security of the seas and the skies.”

The Chinese response was also surprisingly direct with Deputy Chief of the Chinese General Staff General Wan Guanzhong, stating at the Shangri-La Forum that “The speeches

by Mr Abe and Mr Hagel gave me the impression that they coordinated with each other, they supported each other, they encouraged each other and they took the advantage of speaking first . . . and staged provocative actions and challenges against China.” Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Fu Ying, who was also at the summit, said Mr Abe was “trying to amend the security policy of Japan” in a move that was “worrying for the region.”

However, international pressure on China has not abated and at their June 3 meeting, G7 leaders stated in a joint communiqué: “We are deeply concerned by tensions in the East and South China Sea. We oppose any unilateral attempt by any party to assert its territorial or maritime claims through the use of intimidation, coercion or force.”

Another dimension that cannot be dismissed, is the sensitive issue of the potential nuclear re-arming of Japan. It has been reported that Japan is planning to start a $21bn nuclear reprocessing plant, triggering concern in China that the facility’s output could be diverted for use in an atomic bomb. The Chinese foreign ministry stated back in March that “Japan has stockpiled large volumes of sensitive nuclear materials, including not only plutonium but also uranium, and that’s far exceeding its normal needs.”

China’s increasingly aggressive assertion of its territorial claims on the South China Sea is fuelling Japan’s mistrust and anxiety tions? On the former question, even if there is a near-term calming in the war of words, the underlying forces that are fuelling disagreements in the region are unlikely to diminish in significance for the foreseeable future.

These range from the most obvious economic importance of territorial claims on the potentially oil/commodity rich South China Sea, to historical animosities arising from a China that has suffered oppression at the hands of the Japanese from more than century back.

Political miscalculation in Tokyo or Beijing, or unintended military interactions in and around the disputed islands, could escalate further, leading to an armed clash between Asia’s two largest powers

US Secretary of State John Kerry said at a March 13 senate subcommittee hearing: “We are working with Japan and the Republic of Korea in order to make sure they don’t feel so threatened that they move towards nuclearisation in self-help.” This was a topic that was addressed at last month’s Nuclear Security Summit in the Hague, Netherlands, that both PM Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping attended.

The key questions are whether this escalation in hostility is temporary and will abate, and what are the geo-political and economic implica-

Then there is the geopolitical re-alignment and reality of moving from the unipolar world dominated by the United States of the last 25 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall to one where by 2015, China will be the world’s largest economy in PPP albeit still lagging behind the US in military expenditure and power by a wide margin. There is also the emergence of Asia’s two other would-be regional superpowers, Japan and India, that the US has to contend with.

But one might argue that an additional factor driving tensions in the

UNCLOS/CIA

region, is a tacit reliance on renewed nationalist fervour in China and Japan to mitigate and support both political transition and domestic economic challenges. In the case of China, the balancing once again of the economy away from an investment/export driven model to one with higher consumption will likely necessitate an acceptance of much lower growth of around 6% than the country has been used to over the past three decades.

This economic slowdown may risk undermining the legitimacy of the communist regime, especially sensitive with the transition to the new decade long Politburo leadership under President Xi Jinping. Similarly in Japan, nationalism, in addition to furthering PM Abe’s goal of strengthening Japanese Defence Force, may also mitigate some of the difficult structural reforms that will be necessary if Abenomics is to work in moving Japan out of a two decade depression and back to more acceptable trend in growth levels.

Coming back to the global geopolitical re-alignment, one might also argue that the US ineffectiveness in preventing Russia’s annexation of Crimea has renewed the Obama Administration’s commitment to preempt similar Chinese moves in the South China Sea by more aggressively re-iterating it’s strategic commitment to Japan’s security umbrella. A move to a new and more comprehensive China-Russia strategic alliance is by no means certain, given historical suspicions and Russian President Putin’s wariness of an economy four times that of Russia.

Nonetheless in his recent visit to Beijing, President Putin signed a $400bn 30 year gas supply agreement with China. China and Russia conducted joint naval drills. Furthermore, China and Russia have announced that they will deepen cooperation under the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building in Asia (CICA), a new security organisation that excludes the US and Japan. Finally the two countries agreed to establish their own joint credit rating agency.

Another important question is potential implications of the landslide victory by newly elected Indian PM Narendra Modi. A thought provoking article, “Will economic empathy shared by Narendra Modi and Shinzo Abe enable Japan to play key role in India’s growth?” was published on June 1 in India’s influential “Economic Times.” The article noted: “It is the hottest cross-border bromance India has seen in a long time.

Newly elected Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe have been buddies for close to a decade now … The Modi-Abe equation is expected to have deeper and wider ramifications for India’s international relations. Japan is likely to be the centrepiece of Modi’s ‘look east’ policy. Defence and diplomatic ties between the two countries will get substantially scaled up.

And in sync with Modi’s thrust on economic diplomacy, bilateral economic and trade ties will get the biggest boost.” So a Japan-India

economic and security alliance could supplement the long-term strategic link with the US in attempting to neutralise Chinese expansionism in the South China Sea. The economic implications for China, Japan, India and other countries in the region are likely to be profound and challenging given the massive FDI into China seen by Japanese and Korean companies, as Chinese factories became the engine room for global manufacturing and supply chains.

As I suggested in a previous article (“Senkaku – Accelerating the China Relocation Trade,” FT, Dec 9, 2013) suggested geopolitical tensions would have an increasing influence on Japan’s economic diplomacy. I stated that “… it is becoming more apparent that political risk mitigation in the face of resurgent Chinese regional and territorial ambitions and aggressiveness will reinforce the macroeconomic justification for diversifying away from China.

Countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Cambodia and Sri Lanka are likely to see a more focused and aggressive push from corporate Japan to step up FDI in 2014. Indeed the intersection of geopolitics and China balancing once again, is likely to be the dominant macro catalyst and opportunity for such countries for the coming decade.”

WIKIMEDIA

Bangladesh’s support for Japan’s aspiration to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

More than a year ago, Sheila A Smith of the Center for Foreign Relations, wrote an insightful report, “A Sino-Japanese clash in the East China Sea” (Contingency Planning Memorandum No 18, CFR, April, 2013). She noted: “Political miscalculation in Tokyo or Beijing, or unintended military interactions in and around the disputed islands, could escalate further, leading to an armed clash between Asia’s two largest powers ...

Given current circumstances in the East China Sea, three contingencies are conceivable: first, an accidental or unintended incident in and around the disputed islands could trigger a military escalation of the crisis; second, either country could make a serious political miscalculation in an effort to demonstrate sovereign control; and third, either country could attempt to forcibly control the islands.”

She went on to note: “China’s dispute with the Philippines over the Scarborough Reef in the South China Sea has set a particularly dangerous precedent. Many leaders in the Asia-Pacific region are beginning to see China’s maritime behaviour as unpredictable and will be watching to see if Washington ultimately resists or accommodates Chinese military

A Japan-India economic and security alliance could supplement the long-term strategic link with the US in attempting to neutralise Chinese expansionism in the South China Sea

Japan’s greater activism in economic diplomacy as a result of China tensions, was amply illustrated by the recently concluded state visit by the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Japan in May. The agreement by Japan PM Shinzo Abe, to commit Y600bn ($5.9bn) in economic assistance to Bangladesh over the next four to five years has the potential to catalyse growth in both countries. The joint communiqué has emphasised that the funds, mainly in low cost loans, will be used to build infrastructure projects in Bangladesh. PM Abe stated: “Bangladesh has great economic potential.

In order to realise its potential and expedite further growth, Japan has come up with the concept of the Bay of Bengal industrial growth belt,” what PM Abe termed “The BIG-B.” The Japanese initiative sought to build on the recently announced BIMSTEC agreement for developing economic corridors via Bangladesh and Myanmar to link China, India and Japan. And in an important political sign of support, Bangladesh’s PM Hasina reaffirmed

pressure on its periphery. The Japanese case will be decisive not only for Japan’s future choices but for many other allies and friends in the region adjusting to the rise of China.”

In conclusion, China-Japan tensions over Chinese territorial claims over the South China Sea are unlikely to dissipate for the foreseeable future. This is already triggering a broader geo-political alignment in the region with the US attempting to bolster its long-term regional ally, Japan. The economic implications will be significant and offer new opportunities for a broader range of countries in Asia as well as accelerating the relocation of factories from China to lower cost nations.

But the risks of an escalation in the conflict is also very much there and both the Chinese and Japanese governments need to remain ever-vigilant that armed confrontation does not emerge with disastrous consequences. l Ifty Islam is the Managing Partner of Asian Tiger Capital, and can be reached at ifty. islam@at-capital.com.

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Monday, June 9, 2014

Egypt swears in new president Sisi won an election boycotted by Muslim Brotherhood and secular dissidents n AFP, Cairo Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was sworn in as president yesterday following a landslide election almost a year after he deposed Egypt’s first freely elected leader and crushed his Islamist supporters.

The retired field marshal took the oath of office at the heavily guarded Constitutional Court and then left to attend a reception with foreign dignitaries.

Western countries alarmed by the brutal crackdown on dissent following the overthrow of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi last year mostly sent low level representatives.

Sisi scored a lopsided victory last month in an election boycotted by Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood and secular dissidents, also targeted by the army-installed government in the wide-ranging crackdown.

Soldiers and police deployed in force in the capital in anticipation of protests by the battered Brotherhood movement and possible militant attacks.

“I swear by almighty God to preserve the republican system, and to respect the constitution and the law and to care for the interests of the people; and to preserve the independence of the nation and its territorial integrity,” Sisi declared in the ceremony broadcast live on television.

Elite policemen stood guard outside as helicopters dropped posters of Sisi on dozens of well-wishers who turned up to see the former army commander.

“I’m here to congratulate Sisi, the man who rescued us from terrorism and the Muslim Brotherhood,” said one flag-waving supporter, Amira Ahmed.

The presidency said he would later host a reception at Cairo’s Ittihadiya presidential palace, with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, Arab royals and African leaders in attendance.

Sisi will also sign a transfer of power agreement with Adly Mansour, a chief justice whom Sisi had installed as interim president when he ousted Morsi on July 3. Riding a wave of popularity since then, Sisi won the May 26-28 election with 96.9 percent of the vote against his only rival, leftist leader Hamdeen Sabbahi.

Egyptians receive portraits of Egypt’s now President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi as they take part in celebrations in front of the presidential palace in the capital Cairo on June 8, after Sisi was sworn in AFP

He will be the fifth Egyptian president to rise from the ranks of the military, and is expected to reassert the army’s grip on politics The nature of the victory showed he still enjoyed immense support for his overthrow of the divisive Morsi, after millions held protests demanding an end to the Islamist’s single year of turbulent rule.

But the lower than anticipated turnout of about 47 percent denied Sisi the overwhelming mandate he had called for ahead of the vote.

The now banned Brotherhood had called for a boycott of the election.

Sisi’s main challenges will be to re-

store stability and revive the economy after three years of turmoil, following a 2011 uprising that ousted strongman Hosni Mubarak.

Since Morsi’s ouster, the crackdown on his supporters has killed more than 1,400 people and left thousands behind bars, while militants have killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers.

‘Return security’

In a televised address after his victory was announced on Tuesday, Sisi called on Egyptians to “work to return security to this nation”.

Sisi’s opponents fear that under his rule, Egypt will return to an autocratic regime worse than under Mubarak.

In the run-up to the election, Sisi said that “national security” takes precedence over democratic freedoms.

He will be the fifth Egyptian president to rise from the ranks of the military, and is expected to reassert the

REFERENDUM ON CATALAN INDEPENDENCE

army’s grip on politics.

Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah, who opposed Morsi’s Brotherhood, called for a donor conference to help Egypt after the results were announced.

The oil kingpin was to be represented at the swearing-in ceremony by Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, alongside the rulers of Kuwait and Bahrain.

Western nations, which congratulated Sisi on his election win while stressing the importance of safeguarding human rights, sent low-level officials or were represented by ambassadors.

The United States has voiced concerns about “the restrictive political environment” during the vote, urging Sisi to show “commitment to the protection of the universal rights of all Egyptians”.

Senior State Department official Thomas Shannon was to represent Washington at the palace ceremony. l

Sisi: From army chief to civilian strongman n AFP, Cairo

Ex-army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who was sworn in yesterday as Egypt’s president, may have donned civilian clothes but his crackdown on opponents has raised fears he could herald a return to autocracy.

Sisi was chosen as president in a May 26-28 election with 96.91 percent of the vote, nearly a year after toppling the country’s first freely elected leader, Islamist Mohamed Morsi.

Taking the oath on Sunday, Sisi vowed “to respect the constitution and the law and to care for the interests of the people; and to preserve the independence of the nation”.

The 59-year-old became Egypt’s most popular political figure and de facto head of state after leading the July 3 ouster of Morsi following massive rallies demanding the Islamist’s resignation.

A subsequent crackdown on Morsi’s supporters left at least 1,400 dead and thousands more in jail.

Since he retired from the army to run for office, Sisi has preferred to address the people through television interviews, appearing in crisp suits and often smiling.

Sisi has said that for him, “national security” takes precedence over democratic freedoms.

It could take “20 to 25 years to achieve true democracy,” he told Egyptian newspaper editors in an interview, saying the Arab world’s most populous nation cannot be compared to Western democracies.

Such remarks have sparked concern of a return to autocracy worse than under Hosni Mubarak, who was ousted by a popular uprising in early 2011.

Sisi himself served as Mubarak’s military intelligence chief, the youngest officer to hold the post.

Mubarak’s successor Morsi promoted Sisi to defence minister in what was seen at the time as an assertion of civilian control over the military, which ruled between Mubarak’s overthrow and Morsi’s election in June 2012.

Since last July, more than 15,000 people have been jailed, with hundreds sentenced to death after cursory trials, triggering widespread international outrage.

The crackdown has also seen secular-leaning activists who revolted against

CIA debuts on Twitter n Agencies In the movie “Tomorrow Never Dies,” James Bond famously claims that he has “enjoyed learning a new tongue,” prompting a saucy Ms Moneypenny to riposte, “You were always a cunning linguist, James.” In keeping with the times, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the world’s premier spook outfit, threw its hat in the social media on Friday, essaying its first tweet and attracting a raft of followers — and repartees.

“We can neither confirm nor deny that this is our first tweet,” the @CIA account tweeted in its smart-alecky debut, with the kind of droll humour the British spymaster was known for. Within hours, the tweet was relayed 220,000 times and the Agency garnered more than 400,000 followers, prompting it to continue its tongue-incheek sortie.

“Thank you for the @Twitter welcome!

We look forward to sharing great #unclas-

sified content with you,” it said in a second tweet, even as it drew a raft of sassy responses, among them from @wikileaks, which greeted it with a digital dig. “@CIA we look forward to sharing great classified info about you,” it said, along with links to CIA-related revelations in the Wikileaks website.

The CIA has been slow to hit the social media front, with its spooky associates such as the National Security Agency (NSA) and Director of National Intelligence (DNI) way ahead of the curve.

In part, that was because the more famous Agency had to reclaim the @CIA handle, which had been first snagged by Cleveland Institute of Art, and after it gave it up, was acquired by some squatter who had to be evicted with help from Twitter parent company.

Meanwhile, Amnesty International was quickly off the mark, dourly noting that the CIA’s first Tweet “would be funny if it weren’t for the agency’s use of torture and extrajudicial executions. They should put as least as much effort into following the law as they do into social media.” l

Mubarak jailed for organising unlicensed protests.

Nationalist icon Sisi’s actions against the Brotherhood have seen him emerge as a nationalist icon in the mould of Egypt’s first modern military ruler, Gamal Abdel Nasser.

Sisi and Nasser, the charismatic colonel who deposed King Farouk in 1952 and ruled until his death in 1970, both rode to popularity overseeing crackdowns on the Islamist movement. But unlike Nasser, a champion of pan-Arabism whose speeches brought people onto the streets, Sisi has kept a lower profile.

His supporters see him as a tough leader able to restore stability and kick-start an economic recovery after years of unrest.

Speaking on television after the election results and a lower than anticipated turnout, Sisi had struck a positive note, saying: “The future is a blank page, and it is in our hands to fill with what we want ... bread, freedom, human dignity, social justice”.

Other Egyptians simply want him to end the turmoil that has dogged the country since 2011.

“I voted for Sisi for stability, but I fear a crackdown on freedoms,” one 29-year-old voter told AFP after the election.

But his opponents in the Brotherhood despise him, comparing him to a pharaoh and to villains of Islamic lore.

“CC (Sisi’s name in graffiti shorthand) is a killer” reads one slogan scrawled on Cairo walls by detractors.

However, these are dwarfed by the ubiquitous image of a uniformed Sisi plastered on walls, car windows and even on cakes in bakeries.

To his supporters, Sisi is a pious, humble man of the people, who addresses them in colloquial rather than classical Arabic. l

Israel backs law to block Palestinian prisoner releases n AFP, Jerusalem The Israeli cabinet yesterday approved changes in a law that could block amnesty for Palestinians imprisoned for murdering Israelis. The amendment, which needs to be approved by parliament before passing into law, would give the courts power to prevent Israel’s president from granting clemency or shortening the jail term of anyone imprisoned for murder.

Ayelet Shaked of the far-right Jewish Home party who initiated the change said it was aimed at preventing the release of Palestinian militants who killed Israelis as well as other murderers.

“The mass release of terrorists through diplomatic deals makes a mockery of the Israeli public as does shortening the prison terms of criminal murderers,” she said in a statement.

The latest round of US-led peace talks collapsed in April after Israel refused to release a fourth and last round of 26 long-term prisoners. l

Childhood changes for Spain’s eight-year-old queen-to-be n AFP, Madrid

Members of the ‘Minyons de Terrassa’ Human Tower team form a traditional ‘Castell’ or human tower on Placa de Sant Jaume in Barcelona on June 8 in a bid to draw international attention to a referendum on Catalan independence next November 9. Members of another Human Tower team form a traditional human tower in Barcelona. A group of acrobats create a Catalan Tower in front of Tower Bridge in central London as the person on top unfurls a banner reading ‘Catalans want to vote’ AFP

Like many eight-year-old girls, she eats in the school canteen and goes to ballet class. Her friends know her as Leonor – but soon they will have to call her “Highness”.

Her childhood will not be the same now that her grandfather Juan Carlos is stepping down as king of Spain. Once her father Felipe is crowned king, she will no longer be “Infanta”, but Princess – and one day Queen. She will be the youngest direct royal heir in Europe.

She will step out for the cameras to zoom in on her blue eyes, blonde hair and toothy smile. Royal-watchers say those may be just the charms the Spanish royal family needs to save its image.

“Until now, her parents have deliberately protected her so that she is not in the papers all the time. Those days are over,” said the prince’s biographer, Jose Apezarena.

“They will still try to minimise the impact on her personal life, but soon she is going to be the heir to the throne.

It will change her life,” he added.

“I feel a bit sorry for her because the change is going to take away some of her freedom.”

‘Normal’ childhood

Prince Felipe and his wife Letizia were already darlings of the celebrity press when Leonor was born on October 31, 2005. Letizia, an ex-newsreader, has

made countless front pages.

The births of Leonor and her sister Sofia, who is now seven, turned them into possibly the cutest royal family in the world: a tall prince, glamorous mother and two little girls with long blonde hair.

The couple have kept their daughters largely out of view so their childhoods can be as normal as possible.

The few glimpses of the girls allowed by the palace have shown them smiling as they hold hands with their mother and father or their grandmother, Queen Sofia.

“Leonor is a very intelligent child, very active but calm. She faces the cameras with great serenity,” said Apezarena.

“She does the same things as her classmates, eats in school, goes to ballet class, and studies English,” he said.

She is said to speak good English, learned from her grandmother and a British nanny as well as at Holy Mary of the Rose Bushes, her expensive private school in western Madrid. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

India and China hold first major talks since Modi win n AFP, New Delhi India hailed talks with China yesterday as a good step towards stronger ties in the first high-level meeting of the rival Asian giants since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took charge.

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi met his Indian counterpart in New Delhi during a two-day visit to build relations with the right-wing Modi government which came to power last month on a pledge to revive the economy.

Relations between the two countries took a hit last April when India accused Chinese troops of intruding deep into its territory Foreign ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said talks between Wang and India Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj on economic and other issues were “productive and substantive”.

“All issues of significance were raised and discussed in a frank and cordial manner,” Akbaruddin told reporters.

“In our view this is a productive beginning between the new government of India and the Chinese government,” he said without giving details.

The talks focused on trade ties but also touched on a border dispute between the nuclear-armed neighbours that has soured relations for decades.

Wang is expected today to meet Modi, who has extended olive branches

to traditional rivals China and Pakistan since coming to office despite his hardline nationalist reputation.

Modi has invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit later this year, an offer that Wang told India media had been accepted.

Wang told the Hindu newspaper he had travelled to the capital as a special envoy of Xi to “cement our existing friendship and explore further cooperation”.

“China is ready to work with our Indian friends for an even brighter future of our strategic and cooperative partnership,” Wang said in an interview.

Analysts say Modi’s landslide election win has given him a mandate for more assertive foreign policy than the previous government. He held talks with his Pakistani counterpart last month after inviting leaders of regional neighbours to his inauguration.

Trade and suspicion

China is India’s biggest trading partner with two-way commerce totalling close to $70 billion. But India’s trade deficit with China has soared to over $40 billion from just $1 billion in 2001-02, Indian figures show. Experts say Modi must bridge the deficit by seeking greater access to the Chinese market, with the two sides targeting annual bilateral trade of $100 billion by 2015.

Relations however are still dogged by mutual suspicion – a legacy of a brief, bloody border war in 1962 over the Indian northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh. Modi had warned China to shed its “expansionist mindset” at an election rally earlier this year.

China hit back, saying it “never waged a war of aggression to occupy any inch of land of other countries.” l

World

Indian minister: Rapes happen accidentally n AFP, New Delhi A minister from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling party has said rapes happen “accidentally” in the latest controversial remarks by a politician, amid renewed outrage over attacks against women.

Ramsevak Paikra, the home minister of central Chhattisgarh state who is responsible for law and order, said late on Saturday that rapes did not happen on purpose.

“Such incidents (rapes) do not happen deliberately. These kind of incidents happen accidentally,” Paikra, of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which also rules at the national level, told reporters.

Paikra, who was asked for his thoughts on the gang-rape and lynching of two girls in a neighbouring state, later said he had been misquoted. His original remarks were broadcast on television networks.

The remarks come just days after the home minister of the BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh state said rapes were “sometimes right, sometimes wrong”.

The minister, Babulal Gaur, gave the remarks on Thursday amid growing anger over the gang-rape and murder of the girls, aged 12 and 14, in northern Uttar Pradesh state late last month.

Modi, whose party came to power in a landslide election victory and has pledged increased women’s security, has so far stayed silent over the rapes.

Women’s groups have slammed the comments as evidence that politicians were unable to stem sexual violence because they lacked respect for India’s women and were ignorant of the issues.

India brought in tougher laws last year against sexual offenders after the fatal gang-rape of a student in New Delhi in December 2012, but they have failed to stem the tide of violence against women across the country. l

Indian activists shout slogans against the government during a protest against the alleged rape of a schoolgirl by three teenage boys in Kolkata on June 2. According to Indian government statistics, a rape occurs every 22 minutes but activists say the figure is conservative as many rapes go unreported in the nation of 1.2 billion where sexual crime victims are often publicly shamed AFP

5 bizarre ‘rape’ comments from India n Agencies

In India, it seems like there is no dearth in the number of political leaders and other public speakers who have made it their sole purpose to comment in a dastardly fashion about rape. Here is a list of leaders whose comments on rape and women raised quite a stir in the past months:

No one commits rape intentionally

Chhattisgarh’s home minister Ramsewak Paikra: On Saturday, the minister said: “No one commits rape intentionally. It happens by mistake.”

Police cannot deter rapes

Babulal Gaur: He sought to absolve the police of any responsibility when it comes to curbing the incidence of rapes.

SRI LANKA ON A PATH OF RECOVERY

“I said police cannot deter rapes, but can take action only after it has been reported. Rapes occur within closed doors or in isolated places. Without prior information, how can police prevent crime?”

Boys will be boys

Mulayam Singh Yadav: The SP supremo’s comment that “boys will be boys”and that they “make mistakes” should go down in history as the example of a leader who has little or no concern about the like-altering consequences of rape. Addressing a rally in Moradabad, Mulayam said that “rape accused should not be hanged. Men make mistakes.”

TV brings vulgarity into homes

SP MP Ram Gopal Yadav: Yadav, who is also Mulayam Singh Yadav’s son, said

Foreign tourists walk past artwork for sale at a roadside stall in Colombo on June 8. The number of foreign tourists visiting Sri Lanka has swelled since the island ended a 37-year separatist conflict with Tamil Tiger rebels in May 2009 AFP

Freed Taliban militants say committed to Qatar prisoner release deal n

Five leading Afghan militants freed from Guantanamo Bay in exchange for a US soldier have pledged to honour an agreement between the Taliban and Qatar, which is hosting them.

The men, officials in the Taliban regime driven from power by the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, were released on May 31 and flown to Qatar in exchange for US army sergeant Bowe Bergdahl.

Their release provoked criticism from some US politicians, who said

they could pose a threat to Americans abroad, and anger from Afghans opposed to the Taliban. But in a statement posted on their Pashto-language website on Friday, the men said they would remain faithful to an agreement with Qatar, which mediated their release.

“We want to reassure all sides that we are still holding to the agreement which was reached between the Islamic Emirate (the Taliban) and the government of Qatar on our release,” they said, urging the release of fellow Taliban militants held in Guantanamo.

The freed prisoners are Mohammad

Fazl, Norullah Noori, Mohammed Nabi, Khairullah Khairkhwa and Abdul Haq Wasiq.

Little has been revealed about the deal, but Qatar has said it will impose a one-year travel ban on the men.

US President Barack Obama is facing intense scrutiny over the deal to secure Bergdahl’s release after five years.

He said Qatar had set up a process to monitor the prisoners and the US would also be “keeping eyes on them”.

But Obama admitted it was possible some of them could return to activity “detrimental” to the United States. l

He said that Bergdahl received the first threat on Wednesday, the same day as a rally in Hailey celebrating Sgt Bergdahl’s release was cancelled amid controversy over the circumstances of his release.

Gunter said that the threatening emails were now being investigated by the FBI. The authorities are reported to be providing security to Bob Bergdahl and his wife, Jani.

Meanwhile, the details of Sgt Bergdahl’s capture in 2009 remain unclear.

Some of the soldier’s former com-

rades say that he fell into Taliban hands after deserting his post in Paktika Province.

Critics of the deal - in which five Taliban prisoners in Guantanamo Bay were released in exchange - have alleged that six US soldiers were killed in the initial efforts to locate the missing man. They say that 30 days’ notice needs to be given to Congress before Guantanamo prisoners can be transferred.

President Barack Obama has defended his decision to go ahead with the prisoner swap. l

Bergdahl family gets death threats n Agencies

US authorities are investigating emailed death threats to the father of Bowe Bergdahl, the soldier released by the Afghan Taliban last week after five years in captivity.

Four threatening emails were being investigated, police told Reuters.

The first of the four death threats was sent to Bob Bergdahl - Sgt Bergdahl’s father - at his home near Hailey, Idaho, the town’s police chief Jeff Gunter told Reuters.

that the media was tarnishing the image of India, and UP in particular, by blowing the Badaun gang rape and murder case out of proportion. He also blamed television for bringing vulgarity into homes and “polluting young minds.”

Even the woman is guilty

Abu Azmi: Another Samajwadi party leader and father-in-law of actor Ayesha Takia, Abu Azmi had gone to the extent of saying that those women who get raped should be hanged and also that just because by virtue of the fact that married women have extramarital sex (when they get raped!), they should be punished along with the rapist. “Rape is punishable by hanging in Islam. But here, nothing happens to women, only to men. Even the woman is guilty.” l

Earn $5 million if you have info about MH370 n AFP, Kuala Lumpur

AFP, Doha

9

Monday, June 9, 2014

Grieving families of those aboard Flight MH370 yesterday launched a drive to raise $5 million to reward any insider who comes forward and resolves the mystery of the plane’s disappearance exactly three months ago.

The “Reward MH370” campaign launches on fundraising website Indiegogo and aims to raise at least $5 million “to encourage a whistleblower to come forward with information”, the families said in a press release.

The Malaysia Airlines jet lost contact on March 8 en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people aboard -- about two-thirds of them Chinese.

The Boeing 777 is believed to have crashed in the southern Indian Ocean, but an extensive search has turned up no sign of wreckage so far, leaving frustrated and anguished families of those aboard suspecting a cover-up.

“We are convinced that somewhere, someone knows something, and we hope this reward will entice him or her to come

Soldiers, police deploy across Bangkok fearing protests n AFP, Bangkok

Thousands of soldiers and police were deployed across Bangkok yesterday, an official said, as anti-coup protesters vowed to stage flashmob rallies in several locations in defiance of an army edict banning political assemblies.

Small but vehement protests have been held since the military seized power from the civilian government on May 22, despite the junta’s move to ban all public protests.

The majority have taken place in the Thai capital where demonstrators have become increasingly creative to avoid detection and arrest, including adopting a three-finger salute from the “Hunger Games” films.

The salute has become the unofficial symbol of resistance against the military regime.

“We have deployed more than 6,500 soldiers and police at several key places believed to be the areas for protest this afternoon,” said deputy national police chief Somyot Poompanmoung.

“So far the situation is quiet,” he added. Political assemblies of more than five people were banned under martial law declared by Army Chief Prayut two days before he seized power in a coup three weeks ago.

His troops have so far taken a rela-

tively light touch to policing the near daily rallies, making more than a dozen arrests but not using force.

On Friday the junta said it had captured a prominent anti-coup figure Sombat Boonngamanong who had spearheaded an online campaign to stage illegal flashmob rallies against the military takeover. He had asked followers to flash three-finger salutes during peaceful demonstrations.

A ‘We are all Sombat’ Facebook page established since his detention urged demonstrators to meet on Sunday afternoon at five place across the city, including near the Grand Palace and the city’s main international airport.

The page told protesters to “move quickly, take a picture (with the salute) and then disappear into the crowd” to avoid arrest.

In a televised address to the nation on Friday, Prayut had warned Thais against using the salute. “I beg you not to raise the three fingers. Why do you have to imitate them (foreigners)?” he said.

“If you want to show it, you can, but can you show it inside your house? Don’t show it outside,” said the army chief.

Prayut said he was forced to seize power after nearly seven months of anti-government protests which saw 28 people killed and hundreds of others wounded. l

forward,” said Ethan Hunt, a technology company chief who is heading the “Reward MH370” project.

Sarah Bajc, partner of American passenger Philip Wood, said a handful of families were behind the campaign to look at the unprecedented aviation mystery with “a fresh set of eyes”.

“Governments and agencies have given it their best shot but have failed to turn up a single shred of evidence, either because of a faulty approach or due to intentional misdirection by one or more individuals,” she said in the release.

Malaysia and Australia, which is leading the search far off its western coast, have promised that the hunt for the plane will continue. An international team is now determining an expanded search zone of up to 60,000 square kilometres (24,000 square miles) based on where the aircraft last communicated with an Inmarsat satellite.

Australia has also released a request for tenders for a company to be engaged as a prime contractor and provide the expertise, equipment and vessels needed to carry out the deep-sea search from August. l

Norway peace envoy keen to testify on Sri Lanka war

n AFP, Colombo

A top Norwegian peace envoy said he is willing to testify to any international war crimes investigation over alleged rights abuses during Sri Lanka’s separatist conflict, a report said yesterday.

Norway’s former international development minister Erik Solheim said he was prepared to give evidence on the final months of the war in Sri Lanka, where he had tried but failed to broker peace.

“The war was won at a tremendous cost and I will (act as a) witness before any recognised international tribunal investigating Sri Lanka,” Solheim told the local Ceylon Today weekly.

Solheim’s mission was formally aborted by Colombo in April 2009, a month before the end of the decades-long war between the military and Tamil Tiger rebels.

Sri Lanka’s war ended after a bloody finale by the military against the rebels fighting for a separate homeland for the ethnic Tamil minority. The UN Human Rights Council in March voted in favour of setting up an international probe to look into allegations that up to 40,000 Tamil civilians were killed in the final stages, a charge Colombo vehemently denies.

A team of investigators is expected to be named shortly, but Colombo opposes any foreign inquiry. l

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Monday, June 9, 2014

CODE-CRACKER

Energy policy needs security and sustainability

T

he budget included a goal of ensuring electricity to every household within five years.

It increased the target for power generating capacity to 24,000MW of electricity by 2021.

These plans involve building 71 extra power plants by 2018.

Most of these power plants are intended to be gas-based as they are cheaper than those that run on diesel or furnace oil.

However, doubts exist about the availability of an adequate gas supply, because there have been growing shortages in recent years. Unless fresh gas reserves are developed quickly, the new plants may not be able to go into production or will be forced to rely on costlier imported oil.

The economy needs reliable and cost–efficient power. It also needs to ensure sustainability as well as energy security. It is imperative that the government reduce subsidies on power and gas, in order to discourage waste and stimulate investment in new power supplies, particularly from renewable sources.

Cutting subsidies will give more incentive to power companies to invest in generating capacity.

As well as seeking to increase domestic production, and to stimulate generation from sources such as solar and bio-gas, the government must act to build bilateral, and regional agreements.

These have the potential to enable power from sustainable sources, such as hydro-power plants in Nepal, to be imported from neighbouring countries.

There is no alternative but to think long term and prioritise increasing efficiency and reducing dependency on finite fossil fuels.

No alternative but to think long term

City plans need more vision

A

lack of vision and poor enforcement of planning rules are major reasons why the capital’s growth has come at huge costs to the environment and quality of life for residents.

The recent amendment to the current Detailed Area Plan for Dhaka by a cabinet committee, approving alterations to allow major housing schemes around Badda, on areas identified as flood flow control zones, has caused considerable debate.

In anticipation of objections, the committee laid down requirements for separate concrete drainage systems for storm water and waste management, and specified that water bodies should be protected and the developments will be required to install effluent treatment plants.

While it is to be hoped that these rules will be properly enforced so they achieve their aim, past precedents are poor. In a city where illegally built structures are not uncommon, there is little surprise if changes are made to core parts of the DAP itself.

Consistency in the enforcement of planning rules has to be a prerequisite to ensuring that the future growth of the city is sustainable and viable.

More vision and strategy is needed as well. Dhaka’s limited land space is shaped by water. It needs to ensure its rivers and canals are not blighted by encroachment and waste dumping, but instead are nurtured and valued as core features of the city .

Improving transportation is most vital. Not only can this reduce congestion within the city, but by encouraging relocation of some industries around the country, it can facilitate more productive and environmentally sensitive use of land.

Value rivers and improve transportation

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

The mighty pen June 3

ZA Great read! Kudos to the writer for calling out the pretenders!

Farhan Literature has become a commercial venture now.

Where it was once an outlet for creativity, often in the face of great adversity, it is now all about making the most money and winning the most accolades, while looking good on the cover of a magazine.

Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Maya Angelou were truly inspirational and I really wish others

How to solve: Each number in our CODE-CRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 15 represents C so fill C every time the figure 15 appears.

You have one letter in the control grid to start you off. Enter it in the appropriate squares in the main grid, then use your knowledge of words to work out which letters go in the missing squares.

Some letters of the alphabet may not be used.

As you get the letters, fill in 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

would take the right lessons from their lives, as Mr Ahmed here has done.

Srabonti Maya Angelou wrote I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Her work was about the perseverance of human nature, not about the celebrity that comes with its success. I am really glad to see that this piece pays tribute to what she, and Marquez, really stood for, because so few people even remember that amidst all the false praise. The writer clearly has respect for the legacy of these greats, and I can only hope that others follow suit.

SUDOKU Introduce big size onion cultivation June 4

Md Ashraf Hossain Though the growing of onions in Bangladesh has increased in recent years, even a huge quantity of scarce foreign exchange is drained out for importing onions every year. Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC), in collaboration with the Agriculture Extension Department (AED), needs to initiate a project to make the country self-sufficient in onion production. From satellite TV channel, one sees that large-size onions are grown in Europe. The colour and peels of those onions resemble that of our local ones, but their size is greater; one may weigh 250 to 300 grams, whereas the weight of a local onion varies from 10 to 25 grams.

BADC can import a certain amount of large-size onion seeds from European nations and sell them to farmers in traditional onion-growing districts here. AED can provide farmers with the technical knowhow to grow large onions. Then, one can expect that within a couple of years, Bangladesh would be able to stop the further import of onions.

I would like to urge the government to take on a project to provide large-size onion seeds from Europe and provide this knowhow to farmers to grow large onions here.

Are all languages created equal?

June 3

TJ This scenario in India is similar to the situation in our country. Even though it is necessary to have expertise in foreign languages, especially English, we should not give less importance to the Bangla language. Same goes for the different languages of all the indigenous communities of our country.

They should be encouraged not to forget their mother tongue because their language and culture are the components that make our Bangladeshi culture so diverse.

Gold crest scam comes under ACC scanner June 3

VK I’m without words!

From Japan, with love

June 2 Zero-Agenda It’s genuinely refreshing to hear a foreign voice speak so enthusiastically about our country. Here’s to a bright future for both Japan and Bangladesh!

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.

Disha Dhaka Japan is the rays of hope and light from the rising sun for BD. But we must handle China with the utmost sensitivity for being, not only the strongest economy, but also our most coveted strategic ally.

What the next budget promises June 3

Lisa_54 It is true that it doesn’t matter how big the budget is. If the government doesn’t fulfill its promises with integrity, then the hollow numbers on paper can do no good for our economy. author Lisa_54: Does the mere number attract people in any way? What matters more is delivery of services in keeping with promises and public expectations.

Do the masses have any expectations at all?

Kamal: Fire exchange a misunderstanding June 1

Guest Apart from appeasing a rogue state and it’s equally rogue border police, there’s another thing that will clear up any misunderstanding. That’s called proportionate retaliation.

Spanish PM: King Juan Carlos to abdicate in favour of son June 2

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Period of time (4) 4 Game of skill (5) 8 Evil intent (6) 9 Tart (4) 11 Mannequin (5) 12 Excuse (4) 14 Bishop’s territory (3) 15 Willfully disregard (6) 19 Whole (6) 21 Barrier (3) 22 Fitting (arch) (4) 24 Songs for two (5) 27 Votes in favour (4) 29 Rest (6) 30 Full of cheer (5) 31 Whirlpool (4)

DOWN 1 Word of acceptance (3) 2 Talisman (6) 3 Uncommon (4) 4 Obscure (3) 5 Fruit of the oak (5) 6 Colour (3) 7 Precious metal (6) 10 Frank (4) 13 Melody (3) 14 Rarely (6) 16 Precious stone (3) 17 Followed orders (6) 18 Scold (4) 20 Bury (5) 23 Comfort (4) 25 Do wrong (3) 26 Secret agent (3) 28 Arch (3)

Osmania Nobody expects the Spanish abdication.

Police bar Moncho procession June 2

Akhtar Shah Seems the Moncho is way past its “best before date!” In AL’s eyes, GRM had a use then; now, they don’t, so scoot off!

CALVIN AND HOBBES

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER Malfunctioning preventive road spikes June 4

PEANUTS

Engr SA Mansoor The back page photographs by Rajib Dhar, published on May 28, say it all! This initial problem needs to be tolerated, as it is the only way out of our lawless traffic created very often by VIPs and other so-called important people who ignore all traffic rules, including the most dangerous and potentially fatal tendency to drive on the wrong traffic lane, against the normal flow of traffic.

I congratulate the innovative technicians who devised this interesting traffic guard.

Hats off to them! Usually all such newly developed devices need field trials, and we should bear with the initial problems with some patience. Maybe in two or three months the problems will be eliminated.

Finally, it was of interest to know, that the vehicle involved in the first traffic violation, and trapped in this “retractable spike” on the road was a lawmaker’s vehicle!

CROSSWORD

SUDOKU

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

11

Monday, June 9, 2014

Owning up n A Baten

W

What would China be if the 1989 uprising had succeeded?

S

E

R

P

E

N

T

REUTERS

I

N

E

D

E

N

Tiananmen mattered

T

n Towheed Feroze hat image of a lone unarmed protestor standing defiantly before a column of tanks is firmly secure in the collection of iconic 20th century images. It speaks volumes – not just of the courage of the individual but of faith in something which triggers superhuman actions from seemingly average people. Supermen in real life never possess extraordinary powers – they just rise above the human level to aspire to something special.

In 1989, when the Tiananmen incident unfolded, China was still cloaked in mystery. It was an enigma which, at the fag-end of the cold war, was firmly tucked away behind a thick curtain of communism. The country was a far cry from modern day China where communism is the shiny red cover for a large box filled with the mouthwatering trappings of capitalism.

As we all know, the student-led democracy movement was crushed by the government, much to the dismay of the West and as the 25th year of the rising is being commemorated, there is once more a buzz around the event – obviously, used more as a propaganda machine to discredit the Chinese government.

The campaign to revive the Tiananmen is gearing more pace as China becomes assertive in territorial disputes, sending out feelings of chill among its neighbours. From a neutral perspective, suppression of any popular movement, especially if it involves killing, is condemnable but if we look at the evolution of the country post 1989 and assess its rise as an independent nation which has delicately created a balance between capitalism and communism, we find that the government that quelled the uprising learnt a tough lesson. In fact, they not only learnt a lesson but also decided

to carry out subtle changes which have turned China into an intriguing paradox of sorts – a glamorous hub of consumer luxuries with the hammer and sickle intact on top.

Maybe this rather perplexing blend was never envisaged by China’s detractors. In fact, if someone had floated the idea in the early 90s that China would soon undergo phenomenal changes while holding to the basics of her ideology, very few would have given credence to it. Surely, the comforts of the West cannot be introduced by keeping the communist core intact?

Amazingly, that is exactly what has happened.

episode 25 years ago and the government has erased most records of it.

Such moves to cleanse history has been criticised by the West as a move to crush any chance of free thought.

Interestingly, no one in the West ever talks about the highly dubious British-French intervention in Egypt in the 50s and nor does anyone refer to the selfish politics to topple democratic governments (Iran in ’53, Chile in ’73) during the cold war period. To recall declassified historical documents, some did not want to recognise or condemn the genocide being carried out in Bangladesh in 1971.

Also, when imperial powers talk

In a way, Tiananmen was not a failure. It was a wake-up call which the administration took seriously

If I understand the policy right, the government made concessions – gave the citizens everything they wanted, encouraged private-sector growth, and even turned a blind eye when items deemed for too long as signs of Western decadence flooded the country. Would anyone have believed in the early 90s that BMW, Aston Martin, and Ferrari would find the best markets in China?

There was one condition though – do whatever you want, pursue whatever your heart desires, but leave the ruling to the selected party members.

Twenty five years later, is seems, the plan has worked to the letter. Yes, rampant corruption is a concern but China has recently surpassed Japan as an economic giant.

Recent reports say that young Chinese are not too familiar with the

about their history, they carefully sideline events of the past where blatant gunboat diplomacy was used to subdue others. Going back in time, China was turned into a massive opium market with several European nations setting up fortifications. When the Chinese rose against dismemberment of the country by imperial powers in what is called the Boxer Rebellion, a joint military force was sent by almost all major Western powers under the banner “Eight-Nation Alliance” to subdue the uprising. This adventure was glorified in the 1963 movie – 55 days at Peking.

After victory, massive suppression followed. Officials who supported the rising were executed, plus a large indemnity of silver was imposed on China. If China is wary of the West and any movement that reeks of Western

ideologies, then they can’t be blamed, because the 100 years of humiliation – the period when she was controlled by outsiders – is etched deeply within the nation’s identity.

Of course, at the same time, one cannot condone the killings of protesters and the subsequent crackdown on dissidents simply on the grounds that in any country, citizens have the right to express their feelings openly. For argument’s sake, let’s look at a hypothetical scenario – China, faced with widespread protests, decides to carry reforms and the old administrative order is scrapped. If the 1989 episode had succeeded, would we have a China with a robust global voice or would we be facing a mollified country willing to kowtow to others?

If there is any lesson to learn from the so-called democratic movements in the Arab world which the West endorsed effusively – no revolution brings an abrupt end to old problems, they just compound already existing anomalies. Having said all that, the audacious rise of civilians in China won’t be forgotten because if that event didn’t take place, the authority in the country would not have triggered the process to change the once monolithic outlook.

So in a way, Tiananmen was not a failure. It was a wake-up call which the administration took seriously.

Hence, the modern-day economic miracle plus a formidable military might happen. After all, if all countries are pacified, there won’t be check and balance. The world cannot have onesided-superiority, it needs a counter balance.

As Newton said: Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. So for the 100 years of forced subjugation plus mindless injecting of opium for profit, there has to be some reaction. l Towheed Feroze is a journalist currently working in the development sector.

hen you are accountable for something, there are certain things you can and cannot do. Accountability is supposed to keep you out of trouble and create trust for you. Accountability creates obligations for an individual, an organisation, or a government to account for their activities, accept responsibility for those activities, and to disclose the results in a transparent manner. It also includes the responsibility for money or other entrusted property.

When you create trust through accountability, you are earning respect, transparency, and legitimacy.

You can utilise it forever for your own benefit and the benefit of the nation.

It creates a positive image which will go a long way in your favour. When we take responsibility for something, we cannot blame others for our faults. We cannot say we weren’t there or say that someone else was responsible. When we are responsible for something, we are obligated to fulfill that responsibility, no one else should fulfill our obligations.

Sometimes we pick or elect the wrong people to be accountable for a major task, like leading the country.

The one with the power to choose the individual who is to be held accountable, also plays a major role in this process. They cannot get away from their responsibility as long as they are independent. In the Bangladeshi context, it is very difficult to be independent and not be pressurised and biased, but it is not impossible.

We can find a good number of examples of accountable individuals who are above controversy, around us. They are rare but they are there.

They are not influenced by any kind of pressure. They are motivated to do the right thing for themselves and for others. You can distinguish them from far away, they are well-known and well-respected.

Accountability is a brand which helps get things done, like getting a job or being elected. Accountable individuals are assets, not liabilities.

Accountability increases productivity and the overall progress of a nation or an organisation. The government should create an environment where people can work with accountability.

The current situation is encouraging us to not be accountable; this is not how it should be.

The current situation is encouraging us to not be accountable. This is not how it should be

Accountable individuals should be promoted to higher positions and should be elected for longer terms, but in reality the situation is the exact opposite. If you are not taking accountability for your actions, you are deceiving others, including yourself.

In my opinion, it is very difficult to reach the top without accountability,

transparency, and legitimacy. When we are missing all these essential elements but still making some progress, we need to ask ourselves if the progress is sustainable. Lack of accountability can create trouble and thus ruin an organisation, or even a nation.

They might lose the trust of clients or citizens in the long-run, which could be very difficult to get back.

Everyone makes mistakes, but only heroes can admit to them and ask for forgiveness

We need to ask ourselves what our goal is. Do we want to stay longer to serve the clients, the citizens? Or are we in it to make some quick money and exit the scene, creating a bad name for ourselves in the process?

We need to ask ourselves what our intensions are, and make sure they are known to everyone.

Even if we are not successful in our attempts, our intensions and efforts will be counted for positively, and those who are witnessing will appreciate that. Good intensions are necessary for accountability, transparency, and legitimacy. No one can stop us if our intensions are honest and clear.

There is a saying: If we do the same thing over and over again, we will get the same results. So, if we want better results, we have to do things differently. Short-sightedness does not give us the true picture. Some people like to do things that they are not supposed to do for short-term gains. Most of the time, we do not stop ourselves from making the mistakes because they are socially accepted. If everyone is doing something, then why should I not do it as well and reap the benefits in the process, right?

There are always social and political pressures to take the wrong path.

Once someone takes the wrong path, it is very difficult to deviate. They get addicted to power, money, and other short-term benefits. In the current context, people around us encourage and advise us to do illegal and unethical things so that they can benefit from our wrongdoings. When the bad times come, these so-called friends or advisors disappear in no time, not caring at all about what happens to us.

Knowing we are not part of any wrongdoing and not causing any trouble in anyone’s lives will give us some peace of mind. We would be amazed to see how much we would be appreciated if we acknowledge our mistakes and try to correct them. The days when people would judge us for our mistakes are gone. Instead, they will respect us more if we acknowledge our mistakes and work to fix them. This should be the correct approach. It should make us better human beings and leaders.

Everyone makes mistakes, but only heroes can admit to them and ask for forgiveness. There shouldn’t be any shame in self-correction, for in return, we will get more respect. l A Baten is an Assistant Professor at ULAB.

Ending sexual violence in conflict n Robert W Gibson

T

he use of sexual violence in war is one of the great injustices of our lifetime. It is hard to document, let alone investigate. Perpetrators do not discriminate, because it’s not about sex, but violence, terror, power, and control.

Thursday, and discussed what we can all do to make it happen.

In London, between June 10-13, the UK Foreign Secretary, William Hague, and UN Special Envoy, Angelina Jolie, will co-host the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict. Representatives of governments, civil society, the military, and the judiciary will

Just as the world could agree that land mines have no place on the battlefield, the world must agree to end sexual violence in conflict

When rape is committed during conflict, it has often been seen as an inevitable part of war, and so it has been allowed to go unpunished.

But even war has rules. So just as the world could agree that land mines have no place on the battlefield, the world must agree to end sexual violence in conflict.

I took the opportunity to speak about this at the Dhaka Press Club on

all take part. So too will the public.

Events will also take place around the world. Representatives of Bangladesh will be asked to commit to concrete action that will help remove wartime rape and sexual violence from the world’s arsenal of cruelty. You can help to ensure they do so.

It will be a summit like no other, because sexual violence is a crime like no other. Women and men are made

to suffer its horrors in conflicts around the world, and shocking as it may seem, many victims are very young girls and boys. Sexual violence carries a corrosive after-effect that lasts a lifetime: An unjust and destructive shame for the victims and their families.

But we firmly believe that this can – and must – change.

The appalling truth is that only a tiny number of perpetrators of these crimes have ever been brought to trial, let alone convicted. That is why at the summit we will launch the first International Protocol on the Documentation and Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict. The protocol will help investigators preserve information and evidence in the aftermath of an attack, improve the chances of someone being successfully prosecuted later, and protect victims and survivors from further trauma.

At the summit this week, we want governments to announce their support for the protocol and to encourage local activists, lawyers, police personnel, and doctors to use it. We also want governments to make sure that their national laws on rape and sexual violence are in line with

international standards, so that there’s a greater chance of securing successful prosecutions for war crimes in their own courts. The summit will also look at the role that the military can play. When sexual violence occurs in conflict zones, soldiers are often the first people on the scene, but are not always properly equipped or trained to deal with this sensitive problem. This needs to change. And armies are often responsible for

carrying out these abhorrent acts.

This must stop. Finally, we hope the governments of the world’s wealthiest nations will announce new funding support, including to local grassroots organisations which often work at the heart of the most affected communities.

But government action alone is not enough. We need every family and community to change the culture that stigmatises survivors and to be united

in their abhorrence for these crimes, so that any man with a gun will think twice before ordering or committing rape. Will you add your voice to the global call for decisive action?

It is time to support survivors, shatter the culture of impunity, and ensure that justice is done, both now and in the future. It is #TimeToAct. l Robert W Gibson is the British High Commissioner to Dhaka.

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Monday, June 9, 2014

Iresh Zaker turns gangster n Shadma Malik

Jaya Ahsan and Mahfuz Ahmed worked in a TVC of a motorbike company and the shoot ended yesterday. The TVC is also directed by Mahfuz

AR Rahman brings Michael Jackson to India

n Entertainment Desk The official versions of two of Michael Jackson’s songs from his posthumous album “Xscape” will soon be released in India. The Indian versions of “Love Never Felt So Good” and “Slave To The Rhythm” have been created at composer AR Rahman’s music school, KM Music Conservatory, in Chennai.

"It is a wonderful opportunity for KM to be creating Indian influenced covers of these tracks from such a legendary musician. We hope to capture the spirit and essence of Michael Jackson’s music and infuse them with elements from different Indian traditions to make new musical masterpieces showing homage to his legacy," says Fathima Rafiq, executive director, KM. The tracks will be available for download and streaming by end of June. "Although KM primarily teaches Western and Indian Classical music, working on MJ’s music demonstrates how connected popular music is with its classical past tradition," says Adam Greig, academic coordinator, KM. l

Iresh Zaker is playing the antagonist in a film titled “Chhuye Dile Mon.” We caught up with the actor/entrepreneur to find out his take on the character: “I am playing the role of a passionate guy who loses the love of his life to Arefin Shuvo. My character's name is Danny, and he is a gangster and a politician and is a bad influence on society. But when it comes to love, Danny is quite sentimental and not at all like his usual resilient self.”

About establishing himself as an actor of negative roles only, Iresh said: “The role of Danny is a negative one. I don't believe that an actor has to play a positive or negative role all the time. I am interested in versitality and in this film, I have placed myself on a grey line.

“Since I do not have the 'look' that is a 'must have' for actors, I need to find my niche. I am very selective about the type of roles I usually go for. My selections depend on the director and more importantly the script. If I like what I see, I count myself in.”

About his co-stars in the film, he said: “I am well acquainted with Momo since we have worked together in a lot of TV plays. I also get along with Shuvo, therefore, working with them was a breeze.”

Talking about his preference between TV and films, the actor said: “The two are poles apart. Working in a TV play is much more relaxing than acting in a film. An actor has to

be in character all the time while shooting for a film.”

A cook by hobby, Iresh also enjoys pho-

Hridoy Khan’s album launch goes haywire n Hasan Mansoor Chatak On June 7, a huge crowd of Hridoy Khan fans gathered infront of Besty Music at Bashundhara City for the launch of his third solo album “Bhalo Lage Na.” Since the management of the event were not expecting such a huge turnover of fans, the situation soon got out of control and the singer was taken inside the shop and the shutters were closed in a hurry to the disappointment of the fans. The two-hour rendezvous among the singer and his fans was also cancelled.

The album consists of 10 tracks of various genres and Hridoy Khan worked on the musical arrangement and tune of the numbers. S A Haque Alik, Rabiul Islam Jibon and Gunjan Rahman are the song writers among others.

Hridoy Khan gained populari-

tography and has a knack for writing.

The film “Chuye Dile Mon” is the directorial début of Shihan Shaheen. l

Canadian Int’l School brings the house down n Entertainment Desk

ty in 2008 with the album “Hridoy Mix.” His first solo album “Bolna” was released in 2009 and “Chhowa” came out in 2011. In between, he released two more mixed albums under the “Hridoy Mix” series. A composer, he was also a playback for a

Shadhona staged a dance recital at cultural organisation Ghashphul's commemorative programme on Kazi Nazrul Islam on Saturday

number of films including “Chorabali,” “Most Welcome,” “Amar Praner Priya” and “Television.”

“Bhalo Lage Na” is being released under the banner of Laser Vision.

The album is sponsored by mobile phone operator Robi. l

Canadian International School’s annual concert titled “Five Elements” was held on Saturday at the ISD auditorium in the capital. With music, dance and a small theatre production, the programme took place amid huge enthusiasm.

As the title suggests, the theme of the concert was the five elements of the universe—air, fire, space, water and earth—alone they are instruments and united they create a symphony. Through the songs, dance recitals and the play, the students represented the elements.

The show began with the rendition of the National Anthem. Later, the students from elementary to high school level presented Tagore songs, Nazrul songs, a folk dance along with some popular English songs. They presented a theme based perfor-

mance on Michael Jackson’s legendary number “The Earth Song.”

From space aliens cruising through a “human” solar system to hunters stalking deer in an imaginary forest, there was no end to the surprises in the original production performed by the students.

The programme wrapped up with the chorus performance of the Tagore song “Aguner Poroshmoni Chhowao Praney,” with a wish to eliminate all the illness, poverty and discrimination prevailing in the world.

Dr M Enamul Haque, member of law commission and ex-IGP of Bangladesh Police, attended the show as the chief guest. Munshi Faiz Ahmad, chairman of Bangladesh Institute of International Strategic Studies was the guest of honor and Daniel Loutfi, head of political section of Canadian High Commission was the special guest. l

TODAY IN DHAKA Exhibition

Of Man and Earth II Time: 12pm – 8pm Bengal Art Lounge, Gulshan Avenue Rd-131, Circle -1 Unconsciously Conscious Time: 9am to 9pm Alliance Francaise de Dhaka Road-3, Dhanmondi Can You Handle the Truth?

Time: 9:30am – 8:00pm EMK Center, Road-16, Dhanmondi

Mick Jagger’s mystery woman Jacqueline n Fernandez to start a restaurant in Sri Lanka Entertainment Desk

n

Entertainment Desk

Jacqueline Fernandez is on a high, and is making the most of the name, fame and money that she has earned from all the hard work she has been doing.

This Sri Lankan beauty is all set to open a restaurant in her country as she has often expressed her desire to go back to her roots.

Excited about this new development, Jacqueline Fernandez stated that she always had this in mind but could not take time off to set it up.

We also hear, that the actress will personally look into the design and interiors of the hotel. Jacqueline will launch this restaurant very soon.

Apart form this, Jacqueline Fernandez has two plum projects in hand; one being “Kick” where she shares screen space with Salman Khan and Randeep Hooda and the second being “Roy” where she is working with Arjun Rampal and Ranbir Kapoor. If reports are to be believed, then Jacqueline has a double role in Roy. l

Mick Jagger sparked rumours that he is dating a mystery brunette after he was spotted flirting with her.

The 70-year-old rocker was photographed smiling and having fun with a mystery brunette on the balcony of a hotel room in Switzerland last weekend, reported Contactmusic.

The singer was left devastated when his partner L’Wren Scott, 49, killed herself in her Manhattan apartment on March 17, but the new pictures with an attractive woman several decades younger than him suggest that he’s starting to put the tragedy behind him.

The pair reportedly met at a nightclub in Zurich, where the Rolling Stones were on tour, and spent last Saturday and Sunday enjoying each other’s company, before emerging on the balcony on the final day looking dishevelled as the brunette beauty attempted to steal a kiss from the rocker.

The Rolling Stones, also consisting of Keith Richards, 70, Ronnie Wood, 67, and Charlie Watts, 73, cancelled

their gigs in Australia and New Zealand in March while Mick grieved for

L’Wren, whom he had been dating for 13 years. l

Did you know?

Germany have missed just one of 18 penalties taken in WC penalty shoot outs, winning all 4 in which they have participated

Sport

Monday, June 9, 2014

3 DAYS TO GO

14 Messi scores in Argentina win over Slovenia

DHAKA TRIBUNE

13

15 Russel pip MSC in crucial premier league tie

Maradona slams Fifa ‘bribes’ Argentina legend Diego Maradona lashed out at “bribes” within FIFA, demanding action against those involved in corruption claims linked to Qatar’s World Cup bid, in remarks published Sunday.

“There are huge bribes” in the world football governing body, UAE-based Maradona told Abu Dhabi daily, AlIttihad.

“Those behind them must be held accountable, especially in regards to the latest events related to awarding Qatar the 2022 World Cup. “Where has this money gone, who received it, and why,” must all be investigated, he said, adding that he had repeatedly denounced, “in vain, cases of bribery within FIFA.” Qatar is facing growing pressure over its hosting of the 2022 World Cup after fresh allegations over the role disgraced former top football official Mohammed bin Hammam played in its bid.

Last week, Britain’s Sunday Times newspaper said it had obtained mil-

Siddikur third in Queen’s Cup Premier Bangladesh golfer Siddikur Rahman ended his Queen’s Cup campaign in joint third position after the conclusion of the fourth and final round’s play yesterday at the Santiburi Samui Country Club in Koh Samui, Thailand.

Siddikur was harbouring hopes of a title win following a stellar showing in the third round but two bogeys on the third and 18th holes on the final day of the $300,000 event shattered his ambitions.

A solitary birdie on the fifth hole failed to brighten Siddikur’s prospects as he carded one-over-par 72 in the final round and concluded the tournament with an overall aggregate of 10-under-par 274.

The 28-year old golfing sensation’s joint third finish earned him $16,950.

“Everything was bad today. It was very disappointing, especially on hole 18. In the last moment, I had a chance but it didn’t happen,” Siddikur was quoted as saying in the Asian Tour website.

Another Bangladeshi golfer Zamal Hossain ended in joint 47th position. l

lions of emails, documents and bank transfers showing that bin Hammam paid over $5 million (3.67m euros) from slush funds to win support in the bidding process.

FIFA completes its probe Monday into the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids, won by Russia and Qatar, chaired by former US attorney Michael Garcia.

“I hope football would go back to being a fun game away from bribery and corruption,” said Maradona, who will be present at the World Cup in Brazil as a commentator for a Venezuelan television channel.

“It is unfortunate that there are footballers within FIFA such as (UEFA president Michel) Platini, who have surrendered” to such irregularities, he said.

Platini has attacked The Sunday Times for seeking to “tarnish” his reputation by drawing him into the corruption claims against the Qatar World Cup bid.

Meanwhile, World Cup sponsors Sony have reportedly called for an “appropriate” investigation into how Qatar won those hosting rights. l

A street vendor sells flags of the World Cup participating teams outside the National Parliament in Dhaka on Saturday

Hathurusingha arrives in Dhaka tonight The newly appointed head coach of Bangladesh national cricket team Chandika Hathurusingha is expected to arrive in the capital tonight 11pm. He was the coach of Sydney Thunders in the Big Bash League and an assistant coach for New South Wales Blues before being named as the Tigers coach on May 19.

The former Sri Lanka batsman was roped in for a two-year deal and he will be taking charge of the wounded national side ahead of the three-match ODI series against India starting from June 15. Hathurusingha replaces Australian Shane Jurgensen, who quit the position after the ICC World T20 in Bangladesh in March-April.

The 45-year old, who played 26 Tests and 35 ODIs for Sri Lanka, began his cricket coaching career in 2005.

He is a Cricket Australia and ECB Level-3 qualified coach with considerable international and first-

class coaching experience.

A consultant coach for Canada in the 2011 World Cup, Hathurusingha, between 2006-2010, was batting-cum-shadow coach to the Sri Lanka team for a period of 18 months and prior to that he was the head coach of the Sri Lanka A team for three years. This followed a two-year stint as the head coach for the UAE national team and several club-level coaching assignments in England, Sri Lanka and Australia.

Hathurusingha will be assisted by Sarwar Imran, who was the coach during Bangladesh’s inaugural Test match in 2000, for the upcoming home series. The Sri Lankan will pair up with the new fast bowling coach Zimbabwean Heath Streak who has already joined the Tigers training camp.

Meanwhile, new Sri Lankan trainer Mario Villavarayan arrived in the capital yesterday and he will begin his tenure with the upcoming series. l

AP

‘No Comment’ on punishment: BCB The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) tribunal informed the ICC, BCB and the accused individuals of its complete judgement on last year’s BPL match fixing allegations yesterday. The judgement was made through email maintaining secrecy in the whole process.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board acting CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury in a prompt reaction upon receiving the soft-copy of the judgement said, “The tribunal informed us the reason or reasons why they are convicted guilty or acquitted through their reasoning judgment papers.”

Nizamuddin further informed that those found guilty will be punished in the sanction judgement of the tribunal scheduled to beging on June 18.

“Guilty will be punished at this stage. Further hearings will be held for their punishment,” said the BCB acting CEO. On the other hand, the International Cricket Council (ICC) in a separate

statement confirmed that they have received the written reasons behind the decision of the Anti-Corruption Tribunal.

“While we remain disappointed at the outcome of the proceedings, we will now carefully review the written reasons before deciding on any further action, including whether to appeal any aspect(s) of the decision,” the ICC statement said.

“In the meantime, the ICC and the BCB will not make any further comment on this matter,” the statement added.

Barrister Nawroz M R Chowdhury, lawyer of Dhaka Gladiators owners and couple of cricketers accused of corruption in BPL 2 also confirmed of receiving the papers.

“However it will take some time for us to finish reading it [papers] as the file is lengthy, more than 100 pages,” said Nawroz to Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

“The papers elaborate the reasons behind the tribunal’s short judgement made in February. So basically we were

informed why the tribunal acquitted the six individuals and why others were found guilty,” he added.

Nawroz further informed of complaining the tribunal of comments made by the BCB president Nazmul Hasan last month. Nazmul while in conversation with the media expressed his tension over the delay of the judgement and also with judgement of Mohammad Ashraful.

“We have written to the tribunal on the issue. Those comments did not only offend us but also the tribunal’s decision. So lets see what the tribunal decides on this. Hopefully we will get to know something about it on 18th,” informed Nazroz.

The tribunal in its short judgement on February 26 found Dhaka Gladiators’ managing director Shihab Chowdhury guilty of making an attempt to fix the Gladiators’ match against the Chittagong Kings in February last year while their players Mohammad Ashraful and Kaushal Lokuarachchi from Sri Lanka pleaded guilty to the tribunal. l

FALLING PREY TO INJURY Fifa World Cup, the biggest footballing show on earth, is around the corner. This tournament has produced many legends over the decades. But injuries have thrown away some big stars in the build up of this year’s event. Fans witnessing the 2014 Fifa World Cup will definitely miss some of these mega stars of the football world during the biggest football extravaganza.

Marco Reus (Germany) Germany squad suffered a shock as an ankle injury ruled midfielder Marco Reus out of the tournament. The 25-year-old Borussia Dortmund star, known as ‘Rolls Reus’ and scorer of seven goals in 21 appearances for Germany, suffered a slight tear to ankle ligaments shortly before half-time in Friday’s 6-1 friendly win over Armenia. Reus, who enjoyed a superb season at Borussia Dortmund, was seen as a key player in Germany’s quest to claim their first international title in 18 years.

Ribery withdrew himself from the tournament because of a back injury that has virtually stopped him running. Ribery, 31, who has scored 16 goals in 80 appearances for France, had said before the tournament that this would be his last World Cup. Ribery’s form even before that had dipped after he suffered depression which he blamed on his failure to land the Ballon d’Or trophy for the world player of the year. He has been suffering from lower back pains for several weeks, playing only once for club or country since April 29. However, the three-time French player of the year was instrumental in France’s qualifying campaign, scoring five goals for the 1998 world champions.

on June 2 that the Monaco star will not be fit in time for the World Cup. The prolific striker, nicknamed as El Tigre (Spanish for The Tiger), was the main front-man of coach Jose Pekerman’s team. Falcao scored 20 goals in his 51 appearances for Columbia.

While palying for Monaco on January 23, it was confirmed that Falcao suffered a knee injury and might miss the World Cup. Pekerman waited until the last minute for Falcao’s fitness, but eventually Falcao failed to regain match fitness.

lise his technical ability, creativity, and range of passing. Montolivo made his debut for Italy senior team in 2007 against South Africa and since then has represented the country in two FIFA Confederations Cups (2009 and 2013) as well as in Uefa Euro 2012 and the 2010 Fifa World Cup, where he started every game. The influential midfielder has made 58 appearances so far for the Azzuri.

Roman Shirokov (Russia)

Van der Vaart (Netherlands) Riccardo Montolivo (Italy) Radamel Falcao (Columbia) Franck Ribéry (France) France’s World Cup hopes suffered a massive blow on Friday when star winger Franck

Colombia had been worried about the fitness of striker Radamel Falcao for months following his anterior cruciate ligament injury in January. After months of uncertainty, Jose Pekerman finally confirmed

Italy midfielder Riccardo Montolivo suffered a broken leg following a clash during his side’s 0-0 friendly draw with Republic of Ireland and could require surgery, meaning he will not make the finals in Brazil. He is described as a versatile player capable of playing anywhere in the midfield. Montolivo’s two main roles are as a deep-lying playmaker and an attacking midfielder, which best uti-

of the former Spurs and Real Madrid man.

Rafael van der Vaart was ruled out after injuring his calf in Holland training few days ago. The Hamburg captain helped his side narrowly avoid relegation from the Bundesliga this season after a play-off with Greuther Furth. Van der Vaart has won 109 caps for his country scoring 25 times. He was a key part of the Netherlands side that finished as runners-up to Spain in the last World Cup and his injury might not affect Van Gaal’s starting XI, but his squad lacks depth and will certainly be affected in a big way by the loss

Russia captain Roman Shirokov was ruled out after failing to recover from a knee problem. The Zenit St Petersburg midfielder picked up the injury in April. He was selected by caoch Fabio Capello in the 30-man preliminary World Cup squad. He sat out the recent friendlies against Slovakia and Norway, and was forced to miss Friday’s win over Morocco after suffering a relapse in training. The 32-year-old is now due to have surgery on the knee injury next week, prompting Russia coach Fabio Capello to replace him from the wold Cup Squad.

Shirokov, 32-year-old midfielder, scored 12 goals in 41 international appearances since making his debut in 2008.

Giuseppe Rossi (Italy) Fiorentina striker Giuseppe Rossi was the major absentee when Italy coach Cesare Prandelli named his 23-man World Cup squad recently. Prandelli wasn’t convinced

that Rossi would be fit and able to cope with the rigours of tournament football in Brazil.

The Fiorentina striker was enjoying the best season of his career in Florence and his recovery from injury to place himself into contention for a place on the Italian plane to Brazil, but he will once again miss out on a major tournament. Before Saturday’s friendly international against Ireland, the 27-year-old had played just 140 minutes at club level since returning to action.

–Ali Shahriyar Bappa

INJURED PLAYERS LIST

FRANCE Clement Grenier (CAM), Steve Mandanda (GK) MEXICO Luis Montes (MF) CROATIA Niko Kranjcar (CAM) NETHERLANDS Gregory van der Wiel (RB), Kevin Strootman (MF) SPAIN Victor Valdes (GK), Thiago Alcantara (CAM) ENGLAND Theo Walcott (LM), Kyle Walker (RB), Andros Townsend (LW) GERMANY Holger Badstuber (CB), Ilkay Gundogan (CM)

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Suarez kicking ball again Luis Suarez kicked a ball again during World Cup training Saturday just 16 days after undergoing knee surgery, Uruguayan media reported. The Liverpool striker has been “walking, running a little in a straight line and for the first time kicked the ‘Brazuca’ ball”, said the Uruguayan football website Tenfield. “He played short passes and did some headers”, Uruguayan newspaper Ovacion reported of the team training session, which was supposed to take place behind closed doors.

–AFP

Sport

Monday, June 9, 2014

Ox boost as England head to Brazil

Chile sweat on Vidal for WC opener

England winger Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain will be fit to take part in the World Cup after making good progress with his knee injury, manager Roy Hodgson said after Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Honduras. Oxlade-Chamberlain picked up the injury in Wednesday’s 2-2 draw with Ecuador and Hodgson had said he may have to wait until 24 hours before England’s Group D opener against Italy on June 14 before deciding whether the Arsenal wide-man could be part of his squad.

–AFP

Chile’s midfield star Arturo Vidal is a doubt to face Australia in Cuiaba as he battles a knee inflamation, La Roja’s medical staff revealed at their Belo Horizonte camp Saturday. Vidal only just made the squad to face the Australians, Spain and the Netherlands following knee surgery last month and he is still recuperating. “The tests showed up inflammation from the surgery, albeit within the expected parameters at this stage of recovery” from the surgery, said team doctor Giovanni Carcuro.

–AFP

Brazil races to finish World Cup opener arena Brazilian workers are racing to complete the stadium that will host the World Cup’s first game, wiping seats, checking beams and installing wiring just days before the opening whistle.

As night fell on Saturday, helmeted workers were still toiling away on two long-delayed stands of Sao Paulo’s new Corinthians Arena where Brazil will take on Croatia on Thursday.

A worker sat on a beam as he reviewed the structure under the southside stand, which is surrounded by a massive grey tarp.

In the back, two workers stood on a lift raised to the top of the stand, also appearing to review the structure.

Six others wiped sand from the white seats whose sturdiness was tested with sandbags.

The 61,600-capacity stadium has come to symbolize Brazil’s struggle to be ready on time for the World Cup as authorities scramble to finish five of the tournament’s 12 venues.

The original deadline was December 31, but preparations have been hit by chronic delays, cost overruns and construction accidents that killed eight

workers, including three in Sao Paulo.

The Corinthians Arena has never been tested at full capacity due to the delays in the two temporary stands, which together will welcome a total of 20,000 fans.

Despite the last-minute effort, construction workers told AFP they were confident they would wrap up their work before Brazilian star Neymar and crew hit the field.

The delays have contributed to the rising bill of hosting the World Cup, infuriating many Brazilians who have held protests demanding that President Dilma Rousseff spend the $11 billion on hospitals and education instead.

Corinthians officials say the venue will end up costing between $417 million and $431 million -- or 14 to 18 percent over its original budget.

The stadium’s last test took place on June 1 in a 1-1 draw between Corinthians football club and Botafogo before a crowd of 37,119.

One of the temporary stands was left empty and the other was only halffull as firefighters had yet to give a safety clearance.

A spokesman for the subcontractor building the stands, Fast Engenharia, said the firefighters finally gave the green light on Friday and that all that was left was some “cleaning” to do. l

Argentina’s forward Lionel Messi scores during a friendly match against Slovenia at La Plata stadium in La Plata, Buenos Aires on Saturday

Buffon, Pirlo still hungry for Italian job They may have a combined age of 71 but Gianluigi Buffon and Andrea Pirlo are as hungry as Italy’s young guns as they embark on a possible World Cup swansong this summer.

Buffon, a World Cup winner in 2006, is now 36 years old but the Juventus goalkeeper is quick to parry any suggestions his winning desire is on the wane.

“I’m still hungry,” said Buffon when asked his feelings ahead of Italy’s quest for a record-equalling fifth World Cup title.

Together, Buffon and Pirlo boast 247 Italy appearances, Buffon holding the current national record of 139 as he and Pirlo head into their fourth and third World Cup campaigns respectively.

That experience, and the pair’s un-

derstanding from playing together at Juventus, can only benefit a squad in which Cesare Prandelli has included several fresher faces.

Buffon has been untouchable as Italy’s number one since pushing Francesco Toldo aside four games into the qualifying campaign for the 2002 World Cup. He was in stunning form at Germany 2006, conceding a World Cup record of two goals throughout and finishing with five clean sheets as Italy set up a final against France.

Buffon captained Italy for Euro 2012, and the effect was instant. He conceded only three goals on Italy’s path to the final where the Azzurri were humbled 4-0 by Spain.

Having conceded just 23 league goals in yet another triumphant Serie A season, Buffon has no doubts about what he expects from Italy in Brazil. “I expect our squad to be solid, organised

and determined not to lose games by our own design,” said Buffon.

“It will be hard to beat everyone, but other teams will have to work hard if they want to beat us, we won’t be giving anything away for free.”

As Buffon barks from the back, Pirlo will go about his quieter but no less important role of conducting play from in front of the defence, moving the ball forward and seizing on deadball situations where he can exploit his stunning free-kick abilities.

Former Italy coach Marcello Lippi once said: “Pirlo is a silent leader. He speaks with his feet.”

Pirlo’s vision, technical skill, passing and goalscoring have been crucial to Italy at key stages in recent years.

A pair of Pirlo free kicks against Scotland secured Italy’s ticket for the 2006 World Cup and in Germany the then AC Milan midfielder was on fire.

Pirlo scored the opener against Gha-

na and then set up Vincenzo Iaquinta for a 2-0 win, while in the second game he set up Alberto Gilardino for a diving header which secured a crucial 1-1 draw against United States. l

Messi scores in Argentina win over Slovenia Substitute Lionel Messi scored his 38th goal for Argentina as they breezed past Slovenia 2-0 in their final World Cup warmup on

Saturday.

Messi, his country’s second highest scorer after Gabriel Batistuta, had not found the net in an international since a 5-2 qualifying win over Paraguay in Asuncion in September.

Argentina’s captain began the match on the bench along with other key players like Sergio Aguero and Angel Di Maria, with coach Alejandro Sabella fearful of his squad being caught up in the spate of injuries affecting other World Cup finalists.

Sabella used the friendly at the Estadio Unico to test an alternative tac-

Two-star Villa pushes for starting role David Villa scored twice as Spain defeated El Salvador 2-0 on Saturday in their final World Cup warm-up match before they launch the defence of their title in Brazil.

The Atletico Madrid striker netted a header in the 60th minute and added the clincher in the 87th minute, producing his 57th and 58th career goals for the Spanish national side.

The Spaniards kick-off their World Cup Group B campaign on Friday against the Netherlands in a rematch

USA beats Nigeria in Brazil tune-up

David Villa of Spain celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal during an international friendly against El Salvador at FedExField in Landover, Maryland on Saturday AFP

Jozy Altidore broke his goalscoring drought as the United States beat Nigeria 2-1 on Saturday in the Americans’ final World Cup warm-up on US soil before heading to Brazil.

Sunderland’s much-maligned striker -- without a goal in 2014 -- netted in the 32nd and 68th minutes as Jurgen Klinsmann’s men made it a hat-trick of wins after victories over Azerbaijan and Turkey in their “Send-Off Series.”

“It took us awhile to get into the game,” Altidore said. “But after 25 minutes we started playing better.l

of the stormy 2010 final they won in South Africa. Spain’s other first round opponents are Chile and Australia.

Villa opened the scoring after a pass to Sergio Ramos pulled Salvadoran goalkeeper Derby Carrillo to his left and away from the posts.

Villa, who is set to play in Australia later this year before joining a new Major League soccer team in New York next year, made sure of the win three minutes from time.

Spanish striker Diego Costa started and played until the 74th minute with no signs of trouble.l

RESULTS Belgium Mertens 88

Argentina Alvarez 11, Messi 75

Cameroon Edgar Salli 30

Spain Villa 60, 87

England USA Altidore 32, 68

1 0

Tunisia

2 0

Slovenia

1 0

Moldova

2 0

El Salvador

0 0 2 1

Honduras Nigeria Moses 86-P

Toothless England held by 10-man Honduras in Miami England came up against a resilient Honduras side reduced to 10 men for the last 20 minutes and found themselves short on ideas about how to break them down as they were held to a 0-0 draw in their last World Cup warmup match on Saturday.

The match was suspended for 43 minutes in the first half due to the threat of lightning although in the second period the sparks were on the pitch with Honduras reduced to 10 men when Brayan Beckeles caught Leighton

AFP

Baines in the head with his arm.

But England failed to capitalise on the one-man advantage in the closing stages leaving manager Roy Hodgson to put a brave face on their second draw in Miami after Wednesday’s exciting 2-2 result against Ecuador in front of half as many fans.

Honduras coach Luis Fernando Suarez, whose team lost their previous warmup game 4-2 to Israel, was delighted with the draw, telling reporters: “A result like that against England can make people in Honduras believe and give them optimism.” l

tical plan with three at the back and five across the middle before changing things in the second half.

Winger Ricky Alvarez opened the scoring in the 12th minute with a low left-foot shot from the edge of the box but two minutes later midfielder Lucas Biglia came off after receiving a knock and was replaced by Hugo Campagnaro.

In the 76th minute Di Maria lobbed the ball from the edge of the box to the left where Aguero headed it down to Messi, who had come on for Alvarez in the 57th, and he dinked it between two defenders and the goalkeeper.

“Now the hour of truth has come, the friendlies are over and we’re going to Brazil full of desire,” Messi told reporters after winning his 86th cap.

“We’ve managed to be a united and very strong squad and we did that as Alejandro wanted. We’re more together than ever because of the dream we all have.” l

Injured Lukaku to rest for several days Belgium forward Romelu Lukaku will need to rest for several days after injuring his ankle in Saturday’s World Cup warm-up against Tunisia, his coach Marc Wilmots said.

The Chelsea forward, who spent last season on loan at Everton, came on in the 61st minute of the 1-0 victory in Brussels but limped off just before fulltime.

“He’s in pain but the doctors don’t think it’s too serious, at least at first glance,” Wilmots was quoted as saying in Belgian press on Sunday.

“He will be checked over more closely on Sunday but it’s probably a bad sprain. Hopefully he just needs three or four days to recover.”

The news was worrying for Belgium who have already lost Christian Benteke due to a ruptured Achilles tendon.

It means their only remaining outand-out striker is teenager Divock Origi, who started on Saturday before being replaced by Lukaku.

Wilmots lashed out at the Tunisian players for what he perceived as roughhouse tactics in what was a friendly.

“I had hoped there wouldn’t be any injuries but in the changing rooms all I saw were bruises and ice-packs,” complained Wilmots.l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

QUICK BYTES

Mascherano extends Barca deal until 2018

Sport

Monday, June 9, 2014

15

THE ARRIVALS

Argentine midfielder Javier Mascherano has extended his contract with Barcelona by two years until June 2018, with the option of a further season, the club announced Saturday.

Barca stressed that there was a buyout clause of 100 million euros in the contract of the 29-year-old. Mascherano arrived at Barcelona from Liverpool in 2010 and he has played 184 matches for the Spanish giants. He has won the Champions League (2011), two La Liga titles (2011, 2013), a King’s Cup (2012), a European SuperCup (2011), two Spanish SuperCups (2012, 2014) and a World Club cup (2011) with Barcelona.

Mascherano is currently with Argentina preparing for the June 12-July 13 World Cup finals. The South Americans are in Group F with Bosnia, Iran and Nigeria.

–AFP

Ferdinand has offers from several clubs

Germany’s national team players arrive at the Santa Cruz Cabralia harbour aboard a ferry near their training camp in Santo Andre yesterday AFP

Rio Ferdinand, who left Manchester United at the end of the season, has no intention of retiring yet and has had offers from a number of clubs, he told the Mail on Sunday newspaper.

In his first column ahead of the World Cup, where he will be working as a television pundit, the former England defender wrote: “I see myself as going to Rio very much as an active footballer with playing time ahead of me. “It is feasible that in the coming weeks, perhaps even while I’m in South America, I’ll make a decision about the next stage in my career. “I have options on the table from several clubs in England and overseas for next season and I’m intending to play on if the right situation arises.” Ferdinand, 35, played for United for 12 years, having joined from Leeds United in 2002. He appeared 81 times for England, but missed the last World Cup after being named as captain, because of a knee injury.

–Reuters

Murray appoints Mauresmo as coach Wimbledon champion Andy Murray sprang a surprise as he appointed Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo as his new coach on Sunday. Murray’s management team announced in a statement that Mauresmo will initially work with the Scot for his grass-court campaign, which gets under way at Queen’s Club this week in the build-up to his defence of the Wimbledon crown. “I’m excited by the possibilities of the new partnership and Amelie is someone I have always looked up to and admired,” Murray wrote on his official website.

“She’s faced adversity plenty of times in her career, but was an amazing player and won major titles, including Wimbledon.” Murray had been searching for a coach since parting ways with Ivan Lendl in March and was linked with a host of big names including legendary American John McEnroe and leading coaches Larry Stefanki, Darren Cahill and Roger Rasheed.

–AFP

Halep shrugs off go-slow Sharapova Simona Halep refused to blame Maria Sharapova’s go-slow approach for her French Open heartbreak. The 22-yearold Romanian went down to a 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-4 defeat to the Russian superstar in the second longest final at Roland Garros on Saturday. It lasted 3hr 02min but it took umpire Kaider Nouni until the second set to hand Sharapova a warning for a time violation. “It’s her style, and I don’t want to say anything about this.

It’s normal. She does this always,” said Halep. “For me it wasn’t too bad, but sometimes, yeah, I felt a little bit nervous during those moments. I cannot say anything about her style, how she’s staying before the serve.” Sharapova, who now has two French Opens and five majors in total, defended the time she took with the lengthy interludes compounded by her occasionally checking and restarting her service motion.

–AFP

DAY’S WATCH Ten Sports Hockey World Cup 2014 5:00PM Australia v India 11:40PM Belgium v England Ten Cricket 8:15PM New Zealand Tour of West Indies 1st Test, Day 2 Sony Six 6:00AM NBA Playoffs 2014 Miami Heat v San Antonio Spurs

England’s national team players Frank Lampard, front, and Wayne Rooney arrive at the Galeao Air Base in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil yesterday AP

Algeria’s forward Nabil Ghilas (C) arrives with teammates at Campinas airport yesterday AFP

Fabio Capello, coach of Russia’s national team, arrives at the Sao Paulo International airport, Brazil yesterday AP

Switzerland midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri poses with Brasilian children at the La Torre Hotel in Porto Seguro on Saturday AFP

No fear for Spain in Dutch WC rematch Defending champions Spain leave for Brazil optimistic about their chances of a repeat triumph and undaunted by Friday’s opening game against the Netherlands in a rematch of the 2010 World Cup final.

“We don’t have any fear. But we do have respect,” Spain manager Vicente del Bosque said. “They are runner-up from the last World Cup so we have full respect for Holland.”

After the Spaniards kick-off their World Cup Group B campaign on Friday against the Dutch in the flashback to their stormy final four years ago, they face Chile and Australia in later firstround matches.

“We’re very optimistic after our training and two friendly matches,” del Bosque said. “We are meeting our ex-

pectations. We are confident heading into the World Cup.” Del Bosque also said injuries which have sidelined stars such as France’s Franck Ribery and Colombian Radamel Falcao would not detract from the World Cup. “A couple of world stars are not going to be at the World Cup but I don’t think because of that the World Cup is going to be less attractive,” he said.

“That’s not going to diminish the World Cup from being a great event.”

David Villa, Spain’s all-time goals leader, lifted his total to 58 with two goals to give his side a 2-0 win over El Salvador.

Coming into Brazil as defending champion brings only a sense of pride for Spain, now the target for 31 rivals trying to dethrone them.

“It’s important but it doesn’t give you any advantage or something like that,” Villa said. l

Japanese players Yuto Nagatomo (C) and Shinji Kagawa (R) walk on the tarmac upon their arrival in Campinas on Saturday AFP

Nadal wins ninth French Open Rafael Nadal clinched his ninth French Open and 14th career Grand Slam title on Sunday with a brutal 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-4 victory over a battling Novak Djokovic.

The world number one also became the first man to win five Roland Garros crowns in succession as the 28-year-old took his record at the tournament to 66 wins against just one defeat.

His tally of 14 majors equals the mark of Pete Sampras and puts him just three behind the all-time record of Roger Federer who is almost five years older.

Defeat was cruel for world number two Djokovic, the 2012 runner-up, who still needs a French Open title to become just the eighth man to complete the career Grand Slam.

The Serb dominated the early stages of Sunday’s final, the pair’s 42nd

meeting, seemingly immune to the sweltering 30-degree heat on Philippe Chatrier court.

But Nadal, playing in his 20th Grand Slam final to Djokovic’s 13th, grew stronger as the final wore on as he ended a four-match losing streak against his old rival. The 3hr 31min duel ended on a sour note when Djokovic double-faulted on match point, shaken by a shout from the crowd.

In a tense opening to their seventh Grand Slam final meeting, the steadier Djokovic, sporting a white cap against the fierce sun, pounced to break for 5-3, after Nadal put too much zip on a forehand.

He took the opening set when Nadal, off balance and stranded behind the baseline, went long with a slapped backhand.

It was only the second time the champion had dropped the opening set of a final in Paris – in 2005 against Mariano Puerta and in 2006 against Roger Federer. l

Russel pip Mohammedan in crucial premier league tie

Easy wins for Ansar, Abahani Shahanaz Parveen helped Ansar crush Kalabagan by 152 runs, Rayer Bazar defeated Indira Road KC by 51 runs while Abahani claimed a convincing 100-run win over Gulshan Youth Club at different venues in the Metropolitan Women’s Cricket League yesterday.

At the Dhanmondi cricket stadium, Ansar posted a huge 283/7 in 40 overs with Shahanaz making 89 off just 84 balls with 14 boundaries. Ansar skipper Panna Ghosh also played a crucial role scoring 88 off 95 balls.

In reply, Fatema Khatun Sriti wrecked through the Kalabagan lineup scalping six wickets at the expense of just 13 runs in 4.4 overs as Kalabagan’s innings stopped at 131.

At BKSP 3, Rayer Bazar managed a mediocre 148 with captain Nadesda Muntaha making the highest 26.

However, disciplined bowling saw Rayer Bazar defend their total with ease as they restricted Indira Road to just 97 runs with Habiba Akhter grabbing four wickets and Aleya Akter taking three.

Meanwhile at BKSP 4, an unbeaten 45 from Sharmin Akter helped Abahani Ltd register 185/4 in 40 overs. In pursuit of the target, the Gulshan side folded for a mere 85. Lata Mondol bagged three wickets for Abahani. l

Mexico forward Javier Hernandez gets down from the bus upon arrival at their hotel in Santos, Sao Paulo on Saturday AFP

Sheikh Russel players celebrate the all-important goal against Mohammedan during their premier football league match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday MUMIT M

Sheikh Russel wrapped up their second phase of the Nitol Tata Bangladesh Premier Football League on a positive note as a very late strike from Mithun Chowdhury earned them a crucial 1-0 victory over 10-man Mohammedan at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

With the game seemingly heading towards a goalless draw despite the Black and Whites’ dominance, national forward Mithun sealed the win with a sensational strike in the last minute of injury time to salvage all three points for the Blues.

Mohammedan missed the opportunity to leapfrog archrivals Abahani to second position as the Motijheel outfit concluded the second phase at third position with 32 points from 18 matches. Defending champions Russel remain at sixth with 24 points.

The first half was a dull affair as there was only one shot on target from both the sides. Mohammedan dominated the midfield but could rarely create chances for the strikers. They had the first shot on target in the 42nd minute when Wahed Ahmed’s strike from outside the box was decently saved by

Russel keeper Biplob at the near post.

Mohammedan piled up more pressure on their opponents in the second half but Russel veteran custodian Biplob put up another heroic display to upset the Black and Whites.

Towhidul Alam Sabuj squandered a glorious chance in the 79th minute when he failed to hit the target from the six-yard box after fine work by Mohammedan skipper Zahid Hasan Emily and Burkina Faso midfielder Zongo Ousseni.

Mohammedan were then reduced to 10 men when their Nigerian midfielder Damien Chigozi received a red card.

Biplob produced another brilliant save in the 88th minute with a diving effort to deny Emily’s header following a cross from Sabuj.

In the last minute of the five-minute stoppage time, Mithun stunned the Mohammedan fans by putting Russel ahead to score his fifth goal in the league. The national forward dribbled past a defender and chipped the ball from the edge of the box which flew over the Mohammedan goalie Mamun Khan and entered the near post.

It was the last game of the second phase of the league with Sheikh Jamal still at the summit of the points table with a massive eight-point lead. The third round of the league will kick off from June 14. l

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Monday, June 9, 2014

Dhaka invites Delhi to JRC meet Police beat woman for n Mohosinul Karim

After sending an official invitation to hold the next Joint River Commission meeting in Dhaka within the shortest possible time, Bangladesh is now awaiting response of the next-door neighbour.

It is expected that the meeting, postponed in last July by the Indian authorities, will be held shortly.

The pending issues regarding Teesta water-sharing,India’s initiative to construct a dam in Tipaimukh and its plans to develop a National River Linking Project (NRLP) might be discussed at the next meeting, Water Resources Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud told the newsmen at the Secretariat yesterday.

Earlier, Chinese Vice Minister of Water Resources Liu Ning met with the minister. Ning is now visiting Bangladesh to sign a renewal agreement between the two countries on data

and information exchange regarding Brahmaputra’s water resources. The Brahmaputra River flows through from China.

The agreement was signed yesterday morning at the state-guest house Meghna in the capital. It will remain effective for the next five years.

Anisul said the probable date of the next JRC meeting will be fixed upon consultation after getting a response from India. “We hope that the new government will consider the importance of the meeting,” he stated.

He said around 65% of the river water that enters Bangladesh from different countries comes through the Brahmaputra River. “So, it is the most important issue for the country.

“We are planning to protect the river and preserve its water. Several initiatives have been taken in this regard.

The government will start implementing the projects shortly,” he added.

When asked about the proposed alternative to the Ganges Barrage Project, the minister said: “It is under process.

We are working on this. It will be a fruitful project for the country.

“There is no need to acquire land or rehabilitate locals to implement the project. A dam will be built for constructing the barrage on the river bank.

As a result, the project will be implemented shortly after the work begins.”

About the rumours that India is planning to implement a national river linking project for the trans-boundary rivers, Anisul said: “There is no any such initiative. As far as I know, they are planning to connect their inter-state rivers. We are keeping an eye on the matter.”

Regarding the Tipaimukh Dam, he said:“If India executes such a project, they will have to face resistance [of the locals] as they will be affected first.

But, we are also concerned about it.” l

not paying bribe n

Our Correspondent, Habiganj

A woman in Habiganj was beaten up by a policewoman yesterday for allegedly refusing to pay a bribe to meet her husband in jail.

Taslima Akter, 25, was admitted to Habiganj Sadar Hospital in a critical condition and the incident resulted in a state of panic among people who were in Habiganj Sadar Model police station during the beating.

Taslima’s husband Dulal Mia, 30, was arrested with yaba pills from Bastibari in Shaestaganj on Saturday night and was taken to the police station at night, said police.

Sub-inspector Nazma Akter asked Taslima for bribes when she arrived at the police station yesterday morning to meet her husband. When Taslima

refused to pay said bribe, Nazma beat her up and left her injured which confounded people in the police station.

Officer-in-charge of the police station Md Nazim Uddin admitted to the beating of Taslima and said legal actions were being taken against the policewoman.

Nazma, also duty officer of the police station, denied the allegation of beating and said Taslima was ejected from the police station for giving Dulal cigarettes without permission.

“There was no beating. No relative of an accused can give the inmate anything without taking permission first.

This is why she was forced to leave,” claimed Nazma.

Taslima lodged a complaint to the police super against Nazma, a source said. l

Man jailed for raping Rana Plaza victim

n Md Sanaul Islam TIpu

A Dhaka court yesterday sent Shahabuddin, 56, son of Abdul Khalek of Choita village under Shibaloy of Manikganj to jail for allegedly violating a Rana Plaza collapse survivor in Bank Colony area of Savar.

The order was passed by Dhaka Senior Judicial Magistrate Tajul Islam after Savar police produced him before the court.

According to the case, Shahabuddin had phoned the female worker on June 5 and offered to provide financial assistance of Tk25,000 to the Rana Plaza victims.

Later, around 4pm, the victim went to Amiruddin Haji’s house in Bank Colony area where she was raped by Shahabuddin. She was rescued by locals who heard her cries for help. The statement says the culprit was arrested on Saturday.

The victim was sent to One Stop Crisis Centre of DMCH yesterday for medical examination. Her mother filed a case with Savar police. l

Letters for Kalpana n Rifat Islam Esha It has been 18 years since Kalpana Chakma, former organising secretary of Hill Women’s Federation, went missing.

She was allegedly abducted by military officials and two members of the village defence party from her house in New Lalyaghona of Baghaichhari, Rangamati on June 12, 1996. Kalindi Kumar Chakma, her older brother, is still vying to get the justice that had been denied to his sister and his family.

The federation yesterday hosted an event in Upajatio Thikadar Kalyan Shamiti Bhaban, where Kalindi was handed over some 5,000 letters from people around the world expressing solidarity for her loss.

These letters were gathered as a part of Write for Rights, a campaign by UKbased human rights organisation Amnesty International.

The letters were given to Kalinda by CHT Commission who acted as a mediator organisation. There were letters from France, England and many other countries.

Some of the letters were written within the folds of colourful handmade cards.

There were letters from adults and children who have been touched by the tragic fate of Kalpana.

In the event, several human rights activists, a few media personnel and locals were present. It was an emotional moment for Kalindi who gracefully thanked those who have been involved with Write for Rights and those who have been supporting him and his family throughout the years.

While addressing the event, he said the grief of losing his sister was still there, but he was grateful to find that many people empathised with his suffering.

Rangamati police and Chittagong Zone Criminal Investigation have yet to make progress in the investigation of Kalpana’s abduction. The report they presented was not accepted by the magistrate in Rangamati court since the investigation of the key accused was insufficient.

The reinvestigation report for the case is due to be submitted today. l

Editor: Zafar Sobhan, Published and Printed by Kazi Anis Ahmed on behalf of 2A Media Limited at Dainik Shakaler Khabar Publications Limited, 153/7, Tejgaon Industrial Area, Dhaka-1208. Editorial, News & Commercial Office: FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Shukrabad, Dhaka 1207.

Phone: 9132093-94, Advertising: 9132155, Circulation: 9132282, Fax: News-9132192, e-mail: news@dhakatribune.com, info@dhakatribune.com, Website: www.dhakatribune.com

B3 Thai coup raises fears for ‘sick’ economy

B4 China taps tech training to tackle labour market mismatch

MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2014 www.dhakatribune.com/business

Take non-budgetary measures Facebook commerce ‘gaining popularity’

Economists and entrepreneurs recommend as a strategy to promote private investment and achieve GDP growth target in FY2014-15 n Muhammad Zahidul Islam

Former Finance Adviser to Caretaker Government Dr AB Mirza Azizul Islam speaks at a post-budget discussion organised by Economic Reporters Forum at National Press Club in Dhaka yesterday NASHIRUL ISLAM

n Tribune Report Non-budgetary measures like ensuring personal security and removing political uncertainty are crucial to put sluggish private investment and growth on right track, economists and entrepreneurs said yesterday.

Fiscal sops proposed in the budget for next financial year beginning next month are not enough to exceed 7% of GDP growth, they viewed.

The observation came at a discussion on “Budget for 2014-15: Will It Boost Growth and Investment” organised by the Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) at

the national press club in Dhaka.

A panel of renowned economists and entrepreneurs took part in the discussion.

“Per-condition for accelerating economic growth is to pick up private investment,” said former finance adviser to the caretaker government AB Mirza Azizul Islam.

“But we are witnessing the government focused only to increase public investment, which has insignificant contribution to the economic growth.”

Usually, rising public investment is supposed to crowd in private investment but in our country, the story is

different, said the eminent economist.

Terming the proposed budget unrealistic, he said, it lacks specific plan to attract private investment – only mentioned some infrastructure development and fiscal incentives.

“With traditional problems like shortage of land, power and gas, absence of good governance, rule of law, administrative efficiency and political stability hold back private investment.”

Professor of economics at Dhaka University MA Taslim said since 201011 the private investment is falling. “It is not only for traditional problems but for some undesirable incidents that

took place during the period,” he said.

He said a number of factors – from share market debacle to fraudulence of multilevel marketing companies and scam in the banking sector – have affected the investment.

“Public investment is far less efficient than the private investment and output from public investment brings no meaningful result to the country's economic growth.”

Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) research director Zaid Bakht said Hallmark loan scam still hunts the private investment. “The situation is not yet conducive to investment,” he said.

Without setting investment-friendly political climate, it is not possible to attract private investment, he said. “The onus lies on government to put the derailed private investment back on track.”

Former Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Faruq Ahmed Siddiqui said: “We are discussing much about the budget because of emerging questions of its credibility.”

From the past experience, the budgetary targets and even revised ones never came true, which stimulates question of credibility, he said. “In the long run, it is not good for the country.”

About the proposed capital gain tax, he said, it is good but not right time as the market is on recovery path from debacle in late 2010.

Founder of Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Vice Chairperson of Nitol-Niloy Group Selima Ahmad blamed bureaucratic tangle, shortage of gas, power and land for restricting the private investment. “Failure in project implementation is another barrier for investment,” she said.

CPD Additional Director Khondoker Muazzem, Ifad Group Director Tashfeen Ahmed, ERF President Sulatn Mahmud and ERF General Secretary Sajjadur Rahman also spoke. l

As Facebook commerce is getting popular, speakers at a seminar urged the government formulate a guideline to help expand the business, shortened as F-commerce, in the country.

They said the business is growing faster and even gradually overtaking the e-commerce or online business in Bangladesh.

The seminar titled “Social Media: A Tool for Change” was held in the city on Saturday.

Market analysts and leading IT entrepreneurs spoke on the occasion.

‘Though it’s still largely at informal stage, it will become a leading service sector within a short time’

F-commerce is a new business platform in the country which is a little different from e-commerce and mainly operates through social networking site Facebook.

“The government or any other authority can formulate a guideline as it is the high time to help F-commerce flourish,” Abu Alam Shahid Khan, Chief Operating Officer of Jamuna Television and former LGRD secretary.

He said the business is still at its starting point and efforts should be taken to help it expand through making a “proper guideline.”

Around one thousand young entrepreneurs have already started using business channels on Facebook, according to Saiful Islam, an entrepreneur

of AmarGadget.com, an online store.

He said: “Out of them, about onefourth are actively running the service on regular basis.”

In reply to a question, Saiful Islam claimed 2-3 companies are making huge net profit which is not less than Tk1 lakh per month.

“Though it's still largely at informal stage, it will become a leading service sector within a short time,” he expected.

Razeeb Hasan Chowdhury, CEO of ogilvy, said Facebook is not a platform for abusive words, but some are trying to present F-commerce as a slang.

After the session, Saiful Islam told the Dhaka Tribune that the market size of e-commerce has reached nearly Tk100 crore in Bangladesh now and F-commerce has already captured a big portion of it.

Using the F-commerce facility, the traders are bringing seasonal fruits like mangoes to Dhaka from the countryside to supply to the customers, he said.

The traders use courier services to bring the products.

Saiful Islam said the FIFA World Cup 2014 can also be an opportunity to create business on Facebook.

Jana Syeda Gulshan Ferdous from somewhereinblog said the country now has at least 1.75 lakh active bloggers.

She said the bloggers try to mobilise public opinion in favour of some local and national issues.

In Bangladesh, Facebook use began in the second half of 2006.

According to the speakers, there are around 80 lakh Facebook users in the country.

Market insiders said it needs less than an amount of Tk5,000 to start F-commerce, just creating a Facebook page with the products' pictures along with prices.

On receiving orders, the traders will supply the products to the customers. l

Pubali Bank to Banking sector still suffering appoint two disabled every year from Hallmark scam He said the scenario in each bank, n Tribune Report n Tribune Business Desk especially the public ones, in terms of Pubali Bank is going to appoint two physically challenged job seekers every year under its newly introduced human banking programme.

The Board of Directors of Pubali Bank made the decision at a recent meeting held in Sylhet.

The decision will be implemented under a project styled “Employment for the Handicapped,” said Managing Director Helal Ahmed Chowdhury.

Under the human banking, the bank recently handed over two appointment letters to physically disabled Sanjida Rahman and visually disabled Dewan Salamat Raza Chowdhury a function.

Directors Fahim Ahmed Faruk Chowdhury, Moniruddin Ahmed and Azizur Rahman attended the function.

“We want to be a model to encourage multinational and other corporate companies to introduce human banking and give it an institutional shape,” said Helal Ahmed.

If 57 banks appoint two handicapped each year, a total of 114 physically challenged persons will get jobs, which will reduce the burden over the society, he said.

“The disabled can also make contribution to the society if they are given chance,” MD said.

Bangladesh Bank has taken efforts to encourage banks to launch human banking. As part of the efforts, the central bank has recently brought street children under the banking service. l

The crisis in the banking sector caused

by Hallmark-Sonali Bank loan scandal is yet to be addressed fully, creating an inter-bank mistrust, said Sonali Bank Limited director Dr Zaid Bakht.

“The overall crisis in the banking sector after the Hall-Mark incident scenario is not being well-attended,” he told a post-budget discussion at the Jatiya Press Club yesterday, reports UNB. Zaid Bakht, also Research Director of Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), sees budgetary measures and direct intervention by the finance ministry as a solution to that artificial crisis.

disbursement of credit to private sector is totally different in the post-Hallmark scandal period.

“We’re not even getting proposal (for investment). Banks are sitting on idle cash. We’re pushing managers for increasing disbursement, but the progress is very slow,” Zaid said.

Another director of the state-owned Bank Selima Ahmed was also present at the discussion titled “Budget for 2014-15: Will it boost growth and investment?” arranged by the Economic Reporters’ Forum (ERF) arranged with its president Sultan Mahmud in the chair. l

BCMCL exempted from VAT till June 2015 n Tribune Report Barapukuria Coal Mine Company Limited (BCMCL), a concern of stateowned Petrobangla, has been exempted from paying VAT (Value Added Tax) till June 2015.

National Board of Revenue (NBR) issued a Statutory Regulatory Order on Thursday last, saying the company will enjoy VAT exemption from the sales or delivery of the produced coal at all the stages.

NBR officials said the mine compa-

Investors closely observe stock prices after the announcement of proposed national budget for FY2014-15

Investors react adversely to gain tax n Tahmidur Rahman

ny, that produces around 5,000 tonnes of coal per day, has been enjoying VAT exemption facilities every year and the NBR has extended the facility for another year as the company has witnessed a setback in between October to December last year due to the political turmoil.

The company has been demanding renewal of the exemption due to the losses it faced in selling coal to Bangladesh Power Development Board at a cheaper rate than other customers. l

The benchmark index at Dhaka Stock Exchange fell by 1.14% as sellers have outnumbered buyers, clearly in reaction to the proposed tax on capital gains in the new national budget.

The bourse witnessed sharp fall despite having a trade value of Tk416 crore, which was above the monthly average.

Brokers believe the tax-free ceiling of dividend income has cast shadow over the market, which was 3% to 5% on realised capital gains that starts from a gain above Tk10 lakh.

They said investors are, however, not clear about the details of the new measures and when will these be im-

BTRC gets Tk1,708cr as 3G spectrum fees n Muhammad Zahidul Islam The country’s four private mobile phone operators have recently paid their second installment of the 3G spectrum charges worth Tk1,708 crore.

The four operators got their 3G spectrums in an open auction held in September, last.

Leading operator Grameenphone along with the three others Robi, Airtel and Banglalink deposited the charges

to Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) at the end of last week, said a source.

In an open auction process, Grameenphone secured 10 Megahertz spectrum on 2100 band with a value of US$21m per MHz. Grameenphone had earlier paid 60% of the total spectrum value (Tk936.5 crore including 5% VAT) immediately after the auction, and it has recently paid its second installment worth Tk649 crore as spec-

trum fees while Tk37 crore as VAT. The three other operators, who were able to get 5 MHz each, have paid Tk341 crore each as their second installment fees while each company paid Tk16.22 crore as their 5% VAT, according to a BTRC source. According to the 3G guideline, operators have to pay 60% of the spectrum charges within 30 days of the auction date and rest of the money have to be paid within next 180 days.

The government has so far earned

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Tk4,258 crore from the four private mobile phone operators as spectrum charges along with VAT, but only stateowned operator Teletalk, which was allocated 10 MHz spectrum, has so far only paid Tk50 crore while its outstanding rose to Tk1,600 crore as yet.

BTRC collected Tk6,728 crore till March of this fiscal, which might cross Tk10,000 crore land mark after the current fiscal, a BTRC official told the Dhaka Tribune. l

plemented, and this type of uncertainty is also looming around the trading floor amid selling spree.

The fear among small-scale investors is perhaps psychological than a real one because a capital gain of Tk10 lakh would require a large amount of investment, said Md Moniruzzaman, managing director of IDLC Investments.

Brokers, however, expressed concerns that the big players mainly drive the markets and upsetting them may directly affect the small-scale investors.

The bourses on Saturday have questioned the feasibility of the new rule, which would also require revamping the existing trading system due to insufficient infrastructure.

“The market at this particular time

needs a support and such negatively effective rules should be reconsidered for the sake of the investors,” said Syed Sajid Husain, managing director of Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE).

Analysts have backed the measures, but few of them argued for a better timing.

Such measure is no different from tax on interest or dividend income, said Shahidul Islam, CEO of VIPB Asset Management Co Ltd. He added: “It’s fair to impose some tax on capital gain but tax should be higher in case of short-term gains and lower in case of long-term one.”

Equity market experts hinted that a chance of tracking manipulators might become easier with more information of the equity market gamblers. l

B2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

each. Pharmaceuticals, telecommunication and, food and allied edged lower.

“At the first trading day after the national budget proposal of FY15, market ended in red zone. Probably investors took capital gain tax proposal at individual level somewhat negatively,” said Lanka Bangla Securities in its market analysis.

Moreover, withdrawal of the provision for 10% tax rebate for companies declaring more than 20% dividend has also affected the market negatively, it said.

“Overall, the day exhibited investors’ psychology towards national budget proposal.”

IDLC Investments said the bourse took a hit due to over-expectational mismatch on the proposed budget. “A few proposals, particularly capital gain tax, affected the market sentiment strongly.”

The total turnover at DSE stood at Tk416 crore, which was slightly lower over the previous session’s turnover value of Tk419 crore.

Share prices fell across the board as out of 289 issues traded, 86 advanced, 176 declined and 12 remained unchanged.

Lafarge Surma Cement was the most traded stock topped the liquidity chart with turnover of Tk50 crore, followed by BSRM Steel, Grameenphone, Generation Next, Meghna Petroleum and Square Pharmaceuticals. l

Stock markets yesterday reacted negatively as it opened sharply lower on the first day after proposing the new national budget for the next fiscal year.

The benchmark index DSEX slipped to five-month low and witnessed biggest single-day fall in a month.

At the end of the day, the DSEX closed at 4,346, declining more than 50 points or 1%, which is the largest single day fall since May 11 and lowest since January 8 this year. The index recovered to some extent from even worse situation as it went down by 90 points in the mid-session.

The comprising blue chips DS30 was down nearly 11 points or 1% to 1,000. The Shariah index DSES, however, closed at 1,600, shedding over 22 points or 1%.

Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index, CSCX, declined 71 points to 8,262.

The salient feature of the day was the traders’ scramble to buy the textile stocks, which resulted in almost all active textile scrips closing higher. Investors were buoyed by the incentives to boost textile export growth.

Non-banking financial institutions were the biggest losers with a loss of 1.6%, followed by banks and power which went down by over 1%

4,161.14 98,909,541

Number of Contract

83,827

Traded Issues

289

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

52

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

234

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

3

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,256.02

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

27.35

CSE key features June 8, 2014 Turnover (Million Taka)

245.29

Turnover (Volume)

Daily capital market highlights DSE Broad Index :

Company

Turnover (Million Taka) Turnover (Volume)

6,721,775

Number of Contract

4346.33671

(-) 1.14%

9,305

▼

Traded Issues

215 50 162

996.99906

(-) 1.07%

▲

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

1600.30196

(-) 1.40%

▼

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

CSE All Share Index:

13390.67210

(-) 1.08%

▲

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

2

CSE - 30 Index :

10828.43110

(-) 1.23%

▲

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,163.26

8262.55500

(-) 0.86%

▲

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

26.22

DSE Shariah Index : DSE - 30 Index :

CSE Selected Index : DSE LOSERS

Samata LeatheR -Z AIBL 1st Is. M. F.-A LafargeS Cement-Z GeminiSeaFood-Z Reckitt Benckiser -A Hakkani P& Paper -B SonarBangla Insu. -A Sinobangla Indu.-A

-7.17 -6.67 -5.88 -5.65 -5.24 -4.78 -4.71 -4.56

Average (% change) -7.14 -4.12 -8.26 -4.00 -5.18 -5.60 -5.29 -3.02

NCCBL Mutual Fund-1-A Bay Leasing.-A

-4.48 -4.42

-3.58 -3.42

Company

Closing (% change)

CSE LOSERS

Islami Ins.BD-A Prime Insur -A BDCOM Online-A Northern G Insur-A NCCBL Mutual Fund-1-A Samata LeatheR -Z LR Global BD MF1-A LafargeS Cement-Z

-9.68 -8.64 -8.51 -7.10 -7.04 -6.67 -6.15 -6.12

Average (% change) -9.75 -8.64 -8.20 -4.49 -7.30 -7.40 -7.07 -7.70

Anwar Galvanizing-B Fine Foods A

-5.81 -5.33

-5.63 -3.63

Company

Closing (% change)

ANALYST

Closing average

Closing

Bank NBFI Investment Engineering Food & Allied Fuel & Power Jute Textile Pharma & Chemical Paper & Packaging Service Leather Ceramic Cement Information Technology General Insurance Life Insurance Telecom Travel & Leisure Miscellaneous Debenture

DSE Million Taka 570.95 61.47 40.62 578.46 135.97 416.24 1.63 637.06 354.17 0.42 73.57 28.35 10.96 640.13 19.52 119.12 67.87 261.74 79.80 62.96 0.14

Turnover in million

Daily low

Latest EPS

Latest PE

26.00 5.82 83.57 128.00 1062.00 25.94 18.10 25.37

25.90 5.60 84.80 127.00 1061.40 25.90 18.20 25.10

26.10 5.90 89.30 130.00 1080.00 26.70 18.20 26.40

25.50 5.50 81.10 126.20 1050.10 25.50 18.00 25.00

0.065 1.086 502.432 0.032 0.531 0.415 0.887 7.650

0.09 1.49 2.16 -11.90 41.12 0.28 1.52 1.04

288.9 3.9 38.7 -ve 25.8 92.6 11.9 24.4

6.46 24.01

6.40 23.80

6.50 24.90

6.40 22.50

0.252 3.543

1.52 1.44

4.3 16.7

Closing average

Closing

Daily high

Turnover in million

Daily low

Latest EPS

Beacon Pharma Ltd.-Z Metro Spinning -A Generation Next-A Rahima Food -Z CMC Kamal Tex. -A Wata Chemicals -A Kohinoor Chem -A Al-Haj Textile -A Unique Hotel RL - A Familytex (BD) Ltd.-A

22.40 20.10 21.50 34.00 6.60 28.00 6.10 84.40

22.40 20.10 21.50 34.00 6.60 28.00 6.10 88.00

22.40 20.10 21.50 34.00 6.60 27.10 6.00 81.00

0.045 0.010 0.043 0.170 0.007 0.111 0.036 28.286

1.92 0.92 1.43 6.40 1.52 0.09 1.56 2.16

11.7 21.8 15.0 5.3 4.3 308.7 3.9 38.7

24.30 14.32

24.30 14.20

24.30 14.50

24.30 14.20

0.024 0.294

0.27 -1.01

90.0 -ve

Overall, the day exhibited investors’ psychology towards national budget proposal

% change 13.72 1.48 0.98 13.90 3.27 10.00 0.04 15.31 8.51 0.01 1.77 0.68 0.26 15.38 0.47 2.86 1.63 6.29 1.92 1.51 0.00

Million Taka 15.56 5.55 2.00 36.36 9.71 18.28 55.14 26.17 10.24 2.69 12.52 0.70 36.42 2.54 0.67 6.91 20.06 8.30 6.16 0.01

% change 5.64 2.01 0.72 13.18 3.52 6.62 0.00 19.98 9.48 3.71 0.98 4.54 0.25 13.20 0.92 0.24 2.50 7.27 3.01 2.23 0.00

Million Taka 586.51 67.02 42.62 614.83 145.68 434.52 1.63 692.20 380.34 10.65 76.26 40.87 11.66 676.55 22.06 119.79 74.78 281.80 88.10 69.12 0.15

Total

9.73 8.81 8.38 8.22 7.83 7.60 5.94 5.67 5.64 5.33

CSE GAINERS Company Standard Ceramic -A Generation Next-A H.R. Textile -A Sonargaon Tex -Z ISN Ltd. -Z Apex SpinningA Beacon Pharma Ltd.-Z Unique Hotel RL - A Familytex (BD) Ltd.-A NLI 1st M F-A

Closing (% change) 9.97 9.64 8.33 7.23 7.14 6.22 6.19 5.50 4.92 4.49

Average (% change) 8.11 4.08 7.43 5.57 5.23 4.54 4.85 (0.29) 2.44 2.24 Average (% change) 7.31 7.43 4.50 7.13 7.80 5.26 6.45 2.83 1.95 4.27

Closing average 12.27 16.82 17.64 55.71 22.73 400.54 395.82 157.44 69.36 25.14

Closing average 43.00 17.64 32.26 8.87 10.50 90.50 12.04 69.38 25.13 9.28

Closing 12.40 17.30 18.10 56.60 23.40 405.10 399.80 164.10 71.20 25.70

Closing 43.00 18.20 32.50 8.90 10.50 90.50 12.00 71.00 25.60 9.30

Daily high 12.40 17.40 18.30 57.20 23.70 409.40 399.80 167.90 71.60 25.90

Daily high 43.00 18.20 32.50 9.10 10.50 90.50 12.40 71.30 25.90 9.70

Daily low 11.40 14.40 15.20 54.10 21.00 350.00 379.90 145.00 60.70 24.00

Daily low 43.00 16.60 31.70 8.20 10.50 90.50 11.40 66.00 24.30 8.70

Turnover in million 3.184 15.047 161.819 2.702 50.458 30.966 0.247 51.925 60.158 78.164

Turnover in million 0.022 22.746 0.081 0.372 0.016 0.018 0.331 3.776 8.832 0.028

Latest EPS 0.04 0.92 2.28 -1.01 1.32 9.80 9.37 2.00 2.84 4.64

Latest EPS 1.32 2.28 1.62 -0.92 0.20 1.85 0.04 2.84 4.64 1.36

Latest PE 306.8 18.3 7.7 -ve 17.2 40.9 42.2 78.7 24.4 5.4

Latest PE 32.6 7.7 19.9 -ve 52.5 48.9 301.0 24.4 5.4 6.8

News, analysis and recent disclosers NCCBANK: The Company has informed that it has credited the bonus shares for the year ended on December 31, 2013 to the respective shareholders' BO Accounts on June 05, 2014. The Company has also started disbursing cash dividend for the year 2013 to the respective shareholders' Bank Accounts through Bangladesh Electronic Fund Transfer Network (BEFTN).

GENNEXT: The Company has further informed that due to unavoidable circumstances the 10th AGM of the Company will now be held on June 29, 2014 instead of June 19, 2014. Other information of the AGM will remain unchanged.

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 Mercantile Bank -A BSRM Steels-A Grameenphone-A Generation Next-A Meghna Petroleum -A Square Pharma -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.

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

22.40 20.10 21.50 34.00 6.60 27.78 6.05 83.69

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY Sector

Daily high

Monday, June 9, 2014

DSE GAINERS

DSE key features June 8, 2014

Stocks tumble as new budget fails to impress n Tribune Report

Stock

% change 13.22 1.51 0.96 13.86 3.28 9.79 0.04 15.60 8.57 0.24 1.72 0.92 0.26 15.25 0.50 2.70 1.69 6.35 1.99 1.56 0.00

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

MJL BD Ltd.-A Familytex (BD) Ltd.-A GreenDeltaInsu -A

HeidelbergCement -A Padma Oil Co. -A Eastern Housing -A GPH Ispat Ltd-A Unique Hotel RL - A CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company LafargeS Cement-Z

Generation Next-A BSRM Steels-A Grameenphone-A Square Pharma -A Familytex (BD) Ltd.-A BD Submarine Cable-A Aftab Auto.-A UNITED AIR-A Delta Life Insu. -A Appollo Ispat CL -N Unique Hotel RL - A Meghna Petroleum -A HeidelbergCement -A Padma Oil Co. -A

Volume shares 6,012,000 19,538,334 2,951,115 738,922 9,172,217 583,709 445,128 1,207,215 3,109,000 768,815

147,300 224,562 1,122,407 1,222,160 867,325

Volume shares

338,000 1,289,366 191,180 48,000 36,110 351,500 37,000 67,218 421,038 23,450 157,800 54,420 13,280 6,700 10,533

Value in million 502.43 353.36 260.47 207.43 161.82 156.30 120.51 107.33 78.16 75.58

75.49 70.98 68.25 63.93 60.16

Value in million

28.29 22.75 16.90 13.46 9.76 8.83 6.60 5.56 4.52 4.50 4.14 3.78 3.56 3.43 3.32

% of total turnover 12.07 8.49 6.26 4.99 3.89 3.76 2.90 2.58 1.88 1.82

1.81 1.71 1.64 1.54 1.45

% of total turnover

11.78 9.47 7.04 5.61 4.06 3.68 2.75 2.31 1.88 1.87 1.72 1.57 1.48 1.43 1.38

Daily closing 84.80 16.60 93.00 284.00 18.10 266.30 271.90 90.10 25.70 91.30

512.30 313.30 61.50 53.90 71.20

Daily closing

84.40 18.20 92.60 283.10 270.50 25.60 177.40 83.60 10.70 191.20 26.40 71.00 266.80 512.70 314.20

Price change -5.88 0.00 4.61 -0.66 8.38 -1.99 -1.06 -1.31 5.33 -3.08

Daily opening 90.10 16.60 88.90 285.90 16.70 271.70 274.80 91.30 24.40 94.20

Price change

Daily opening

-1.65 -2.79 -0.65 4.66 5.64

-6.12 9.64 3.81 -0.70 -1.31 4.92 -2.04 -0.24 -2.73 -3.14 -0.38 5.50 -1.95 -1.95 -2.15

520.90 322.30 61.90 51.50 67.40

89.90 16.60 89.20 285.10 274.10 24.40 181.10 83.80 11.00 197.40 26.50 67.30 272.10 522.90 321.10

Daily high 89.30 18.20 94.90 287.00 18.30 270.60 274.80 93.00 25.90 99.30

521.90 323.00 63.00 55.00 71.60

Daily low 81.10 15.50 82.00 275.00 15.20 248.00 265.00 82.20 24.00 84.80

505.00 310.00 58.00 47.00 60.70

Daily average 83.57 18.09 88.26 280.72 17.64 267.77 270.74 88.91 25.14 98.31

Daily high

Daily low

Daily average

88.00 18.20 94.00 286.20 272.00 25.90 180.80 84.00 10.90 194.20 26.70 71.30 270.10 518.00 318.00

81.00 16.60 85.00 275.50 268.10 24.30 176.20 81.00 10.60 190.00 26.00 66.00 264.10 506.00 309.00

512.51 316.10 60.81 52.30 69.36

83.69 17.64 88.40 280.48 270.18 25.13 178.29 82.65 10.74 191.94 26.25 69.38 267.70 512.61 315.45

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

B3

Monday, June 9, 2014

Thai coup raises fears for 'sick' economy n AFP, Bangkok The last time Thailand had a coup, the stock market crashed when the kingdom imposed draconian capital controls. This time around, investors hope the generals have learned their lesson.

Markets have largely taken May's military takeover in their stride, but there is still nervousness about a regime that has put the air force chief in charge of the economy and appointed the navy commander to oversee tourism.

Experts say the last putsch, in 2006, showed that soldiers lack the expertise to run Southeast Asia's second-largest economy.

"The military government struggled to manage the economy, reflecting the lack of technocratic skills in economic management and administration," recalled Rajiv Biswas, chief Asia economist at the IHS consultancy firm.

The regime was also unable to move ahead with significant reforms because of its caretaker status, he added.

After the 2006 coup, markets were particularly frightened by drastic foreign capital controls introduced several months later to try to curb the rise of the baht, noted Ryan Aherin, Asia analyst at risk advisory company Maplecroft. "The measure was very unpopular with investors, he said.

The Thai stock market suffered a plunge of 15% in just one day before authorities quickly backtracked. The regime also briefly considered limiting foreign investment in businesses.

By the time it abandoned the idea, "investor sentiment had already plummeted due to fears of nationalistic policies", said Aherin.

So far, the Thai stock market is up about four percent since the May 22 coup, helped by buoyant global investment sentiment.

But Japan, Thailand's largest foreign investor, is watching events with trepidation. Japanese auto giants Toyota, Honda and Nissan have invested heavily in Thailand, attracted by its skilled workforce and the ease of doing business.

'Economy needs oxygen'

Even before the coup, Thailand's economy was reeling from nearly seven months of deadly street protests, which dented consumer confidence and scared off foreign tourists.

The economy shrank 2.1% quarteron-quarter in the first three months of

OPEC seen sticking by oil output n AFP, Vienna OPEC is set to stick by its oil output ceiling when it meets this week, as supply tensions linked to global crises help to keep crude prices high, benefitting producers.

The Organization for Petroleum Exporting Countries, whose dozen member nations together supply about one third of the world's crude, is widely predicted by experts to keep its daily output ceiling at 30 million barrels of oil.

While OPEC is satisfied with current price levels at around 100 dollars a barrel, the cartel is in fact pumping below its collective target owing to abundant supplies in top crude consumer the United States.

Offsetting this are worries of potential supply strains as Ukraine risks sliding into all-out civil war.

Investors are concerned that a fullblown conflict in Ukraine would disrupt supplies and send energy prices soaring. Russia accounts for nearly 40 percent of EU gas imports, with half of that transiting through pipelines in Ukraine.

While higher oil prices boost the coffers of producers, they can weigh heavily on economic growth, dampening demand and resulting in price weakness further down the line.

Crude prices have meanwhile won support since OPEC's last meeting in December also on solid demand from Asian powerhouse China despite jitters over its economic slowdown.

OPEC 'happy' with prices

Tourists walk past discount promotion placards displayed at a shop in Bangkok on June 2014, according to an official estimate.

The fear is that it will contract again in the second quarter, sliding into recession. "The economy is like a dying person - it's sick so it needs oxygen," said Tanit Sorat, vice chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).

Thai consumers appear relieved that the military takeover has, for now at least, brought a halt to the bloody political unrest. Consumer confidence rose in May for the first time in 14 months, according to the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.

But the government expects economic growth of just 1.5-2.5% for 2014, against a previous forecast of 3-4%.

Thailand now faces structural issues

such as growing regional competition and delays in public infrastructure investments, said Steffen Dyck, analyst at Moody's Investors Service.

After the last coup a strong global economy helped Thailand to post robust economic growth of about five percent in both 2006 and 2007, he noted. Seemingly aware of the investor nervousness, the junta has quickly invited various economic actors to make proposals for a "roadmap" out of the latest crisis.

"Using absolute power to solve economic, financial and fiscal problems is dangerous in the long run," army commander-in-chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha acknowledged in his weekly address to the nation on Friday.

AFP

To get the economy moving again, the junta has pledged support for small and mid-sized firms, as well as tax reform and the creation of special economic zones on the country's borders.

It is also reviewing infrastructure projects begun by the ousted government of former premier Yingluck Shinawatra, which was accused by its critics of cronyism and corruption.

But so far the army's only concrete measure on the economy has been unblocking $2.8bn for farmers under Yingluck's loss-making rice price guarantee scheme.

Thailand's long-running crisis broadly pits Yingluck's elder brother Thaksin - a billionaire tycoon-turned

politician toppled in the 2006 coup against a royalist establishment backed by parts of the military and judiciary.

While the country has earned the nickname "Teflon Thailand" for its record of bouncing back from past episodes of political turmoil, experts say the current bout of uncertainty will inevitably have an impact.

"The biggest worry for investors is that long term-instability will result in inconsistent economic policies," said Aherin. "While investors are not likely to pull out of Thailand at this point, they may hold off on starting any new investment in the country until there are elections and signs of longer-term stability." l

"It should be a very quick meeting," Bill Farren-Price, head of energy consultancy Petroleum Policy Intelligence, said of OPEC's upcoming gathering in Vienna on Wednesday.

"Prices are very stable and in a comfortable place, the market is pretty balanced for the moment, China has been importing more crude than expected over the last few months and the Ukraine crisis has helped keep the price underpinned.

OPEC "will be very happy with the price and for that reason, there will be no need for change" to the output ceiling, he told AFP. Since December, oil prices have rallied by about ten percent and on Friday, New York's main contract, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for delivery in July, stood at $102.44 a barrel.

Brent North Sea crude for July, the European benchmark, was at $109.09, above OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia's target level. l

China's May exports gain steam but imports fall unexpectedly n Reuters, Beijing Professional Advancement Bangladesh Limited, a subsidiary of Green Delta Insurance Company Limited recently organised its first workshop with Chartered Insurance Institute (CII), UK. The company’s director Farzana Chowdhury was present at the worksho

The Western Union Company, a money transfer and global payment service provider and Bank Asia have introduced Western Union’s Direct-to-Bank money transfer service for the first time in Bangladesh

IDLC Finance has recently opened its 27th branch in Shibbari Moor, Khulna to provide a range of consumer finance and SME products to the people living in that area. Md Abdul Jalil, divisional commissioner in Khulna formally inaugurated the branch yesterday

A joint meeting of Rotary Clubs of Bangladesh and Rotary Club of Seoul Ye Jang (South Korea) was held on Saturday in Dhaka. Key note speaker was Engr KM Zainul Abedin

Tanjib made City Bank director n Business Desk

Jamuna Bank Foundation recently held a seminar on severity of narcotics and how to combat along with a rally at National Press Club in Dhaka. The chair of the foundation AlHaj Nur Mohammed was present as chief guest at the ceremony

Barrister Tanjib-ul Alam has recently been appointed an independent director to the City Bank’s board of directors.

Alam, the head of chamber at Tanjib Alam & Associates and he is currently acting as the lead consultant of IFC in Bangladesh in drafting new Companies Act for Bangladesh.

He was involved in drafting the Bangladesh Telecommunication Act, the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission Act and Information Technology Act. He also worked as consultant to the World Bank and UNDP on various law reform issues involving the separation of judiciary. l

China's exports gained steam in May thanks to firmer global demand, data showed yesterday, but an unexpected fall in imports signaled weaker domestic demand that could continue to weigh on the world's second-largest economy.

Exports rose 7% in May from a year earlier, quickening from April's 0.9% rise, while imports fell 1.6%, versus a rise of 0.8% in April, the General Administration of Customs said.

China's trade surplus widened sharply to $35.9bn in May from April's $18.5bn, the customs office said.

That compared with market expectations in a Reuters poll of a 6.6% rise in exports, a 6.1% rise in imports and a monthly trade surplus of $22.6bn.

"We do not think the May trade data will change the policy stance significantly," Louis Kuijs, an RBS economist in Hong Kong, said in a note.

"While the export data is reasonably positive, the weakness of domestic demand implied by the import data may keep the pressure up for initiatives to support growth," he said.

China's commerce ministry had predicted that the trade picture could brighten in May as base efforts fade and government support measures kick in.

Analysts have attributed the weak trade figures partly to an inflated comparison base with last year due to a rash of fake invoicing of exports to beat currency restrictions. Authorities have cracked down on such activities since May of last year. "The data shows that the country's exports growth has returned to a normal level and will continue to improve," customs office spokesman Zheng Yuesheng told state television.

Exports to the United States rose 6.3% in May, slowing from a rise of 12% in April, while shipments to the European Union rose 13.4% last month, compared with 15.1% in April. Exports to ASEAN countries rose 9.1%, quick-

ening from 3.8% in April, the data showed.

The pick-up in exports follows a batch of factory surveys for May that showed improvement in activity, as the government steps up targeted measures to support growth, including quickening construction of railways and public housing and loosening credit conditions for selected banks.

The government has also unveiled some policy support for the export sector, including giving more tax breaks, credit insurance and currency hedging options to its exporters.

'We do not think the May trade data will change the policy stance significantly' Last month, a senior commerce ministry official suggested China could miss its target for trade growth for a third consecutive year in 2014 as higher labor costs and weaker global demand hurt what had been one of the economy's main engines.

China's combined exports and imports edged up 0.2% in the first five months from a year earlier, trailing far behind the annual growth target of 7.5%.

Analysts believe that China's property market could put downward pressure on growth even as global demand improves, as evidence mounts of a rapid cooling in what had been one of the few strong spots in the economy.

The government is due to release inflation data on Tuesday, and industrial output, retail sales and fixed-asset investment on Friday. New loan and money supply data will be issued between June 10-15.

A Reuters poll found analysts expect annual economic growth to slow to 7.3% in the second quarter from 7.4% in the previous quarter, with full-year growth of 7.3% in 2014, the weakest in 24 years and below the government target of 7.5%. l

B4

Back Page

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Monday, June 9, 2014

China taps tech training to tackle labour market mismatch n Reuters, Beijing China is waking up to a potentially damaging mismatch in its labor market.

A record 7.27 million graduates equivalent to the entire population of Hong Kong - will enter the job market this year; a market that has a shortage of skilled workers.

Yet many of these university and college students are ill-equipped to fill those jobs, prompting the government to look at how it can overhaul the higher education system to bridge the gap. The problem is part structural, part attitude.

While most liberal arts students are still looking for work after graduating this summer, 22-year-old Li Xidong is preparing to start a job as an electrician that he landed well before finishing three years of training at a small vocational school.

Li's diploma may appear less impressive, but his coveted job in a tight labor market may hold the key to the employment conundrum in the world's second largest economy. The machinery sector alone projects a gap of 600,000 computer-automated machine tool operators this year, media have reported.

"We're trained as skilled workers, it's quite easy for us to find jobs while still in school," said Li, who is in the final stretch of a 3-year program at Hebei Energy College of Vocation and Technology in Tangshan, an industrial city 180 kms (112 miles) east of Beijing.

"Seventy percent of our class found work and some others are starting their own businesses," Li noted, as he waited for a friend at a recruitment fair in the capital, where fewer than a third of this year's university graduates had found work by end-April.

The government has said it plans to refocus more than 600 local academic colleges on vocational and technical education - replacing literature, history and philosophy with technology skills such as how to maintain lathes and build ventilation systems. Course curricula will be tailored to meet employers' specific needs.

Pilot programs will be launched this year, and 150 local universities have signed up for the education ministry's plan, the official Xinhua news agency

Job seekers attend a job fair at Tianjin University has reported.

After 13 years of aggressive policy to expand academic colleges, China had almost seven times as many freshmen last year than in 1998. That rapid growth compromised educational quality, especially in local colleges established after 1999, experts say.

"Understanding of oneself and the job market, and training and education to face the job market, these are all missing in our ivory-tower style education," said Chen Yu, director of the China Institute for Occupation Research at Peking University.

Part of the problem lies with the students, too, who harbor unrealistic expectations, especially as China's economic growth loses momentum.

Chinese graduates are less willing than their Western peers to take blue-collar jobs, work in smaller companies or start their own businesses, hoping to land steady jobs instead in the government or high-paying white-collar work, Chen said.

"College students should know they are not God's gift and it's difficult to find jobs, so they can adjust their attitude and don't necessarily have to join

REUTERS

the civil service or big state-owned firms," he added.

For instance, China's call-center sector needs 20 million workers to cater to its vast consumer population, but currently employs just 2 million due to a dearth of trained workers, says Yako Yan, chairman of the China Call Center and Business Process Outsourcing Association. "Call centers are technical labor ... graduates often don't have the technical ability. Some think it's relatively low-end and disapprove of it," says Yan. That attitude and the harsher reali-

ty of China's jobs market today has left many graduates feeling helpless. In a changing market, many graduates with big dreams and high scores find they have few marketable skills.

"What we studied has no use in finding jobs," said Xu Ke, 23, who was at the same Beijing job fair and is soon to finish her course majoring in general marketing planning at an agricultural institute in eastern Jiangsu province.

"In college, we thought companies would be queuing up to hire us. Now, I just hope I can find a job soon."

The government plans to reform the

Japanese TV makers bet on super-HD as World Cup looms n AFP, Tokyo

A cow is milked in a mobile electric milker at an experimental farm in the village of Trevarez near Saint-Goazec, western France. The farm is the first in France to have this type of treatment system in open fields AFP

Tech giants scramble for lead on 'Internet of Things' n AFP, Washington

It's not just smartphones and tablets anymore. The world's tech giants are now battling over a wider array of connected devices, from refrigerators to cars to wristwatches.

Announcements in recent days from Apple and Samsung made clear they are staking their claim to the "Internet of Things" following Google's announcement earlier this year that it was creating a new Android platform for wearable electronics.

"The Internet of Things is the next big platform," said Roger Kay, an analyst with Endpoint Technologies Associates. "These are potentially billions of devices. That's a big market, so every consortium is lining up for that."

A study released by research firm IDC said the market for the Internet of Things (IoT) will grow from $1.9 trillion in 2013 to $7.1 trillion in 2020 as businesses and consumers adopt smart technology for homes, cars and a variety of accessories.

Apple unveiled Monday its new mobile operating system iOS 8 along with

HealthKit software to manage personal healthcare and HomeKit for home appliances, while encouraging developers to create services for the iOS operating system used in iPhones and iPads.

They have been successful in building devices but they don't have a software platform or a consumer relationship Apple opens up

"Apple iOS 8 has the beginnings of a full-fledged platform supporting IoT, you can see it with their health and fitness hooks and their ability to entertain more third party devices," said Compass Intelligence chief mobile analyst Gerry Purdy. But Apple is following its own path, aiming for tighter control and with less interoperability by limiting connections with non-Apple devices.

"It may be that Apple will just colonize a few areas and do it well," said

Kay. Samsung, meanwhile, is jumping into the fray with Tizen, an open-source operating system that could take on iOS and Android for connected devices.

Frank Gillett at Forrester Research said Samsung - by far the most successful maker of Android phones and tablets - wants to distance itself from Google in the next phase of technology.

"I think Samsung is in a challenging and difficult place," Gillett told AFP. "They have been successful in building devices but they don't have a software platform or a consumer relationship." Gillett said that with Tizen, Samsung is aiming for "a multi-part software and services strategy to build sticky relationships with customers to keep them buying hardware."

Still, he said it was "an uphill battle" for Samsung, which is trying to establish a new platform to compete against Android, iOS and others -- including Microsoft's Windows and BlackBerry's QNX, which is widely used in automobile systems. Richard Windsor of Edison Investment Research says Google has shown it can make money from this strategy of offering Android for free. l

With a hopeful eye on the approaching World Cup, Japan's embattled TV makers are hoping the key to their rescue can be found on the second floor of Bic Camera's downtown Tokyo outlet.

Sales of big-screen televisions with super-high definition 4K technology are picking up at the nationwide electronics retailer, and their fatter profit margins are offering a lifeline to one-time industry giants Sony and Panasonic.

Retailers report that demand for the cutting-edge technology -- with four times the resolution of standard HD sets -- has surged sports fans shell out big bucks with the football World Cup kicking off in Brazil on Thursday.

"Many customers are coming to buy a new TV set because of the World Cup," said Daisuke Kogure, visual products floor manager at Bic Camera's Yurakucho outlet.

In a corner of the store devoted to 4K screens, crystal-clear images of footballers and flowers show off the new technology. "Even though commercial broadcasting is still to come, customers are still interested in seeing photo images and movies on 4K television screens," Kogure added.

On Monday, a consortium of major Japanese broadcasters, TV manufacturers and communications firms began test broadcasts of satellite television programmes in 4K across the country of 128 million, with some World Cup games set to be shown.

The move comes with Tokyo's backing as it looks to boost the competi-

DILBERT

tiveness of the world's number three economy - neighbouring South Korea is already testing 4K technology for cable programming.

Sony president Kazuo Hirai recently pointed to the ultra-high-definition technology as a possible saviour for the company's money-losing TV unit, which has bled about 790bn yen ($7.8bn) over the past decade.

Hirai's efforts to drag the TV business into the black have so far failed, but he has repeatedly shrugged off pleas to abandon a division that he insists remains central to Sony's core business.

'Great quality, limited programmes'

Sony's rivals Panasonic and Sharp have also suffered massive losses in their TV businesses, although their units are recovering as they look to go on the offensive with high-end televisions.

The Japanese giants have been hammered by razor-thin margins and ferocious competition from overseas rivals, particularly in South Korea and Taiwan.

Panasonic and Sharp have both said they will boost their lineup of 4K televisions and computer monitors, while Sony, a world leader in the technology, is also eyeing the booming health field.

It is hoping that a tie-up with Olympus - best known as a camera maker but which also makes medical equipment - will usher in endoscopic 4K images that can better diagnose diseases.

But persuading enough consumers to embrace the cutting-edge technology could still be a struggle. l

national college entrance exam system by setting up a technical training exam separate to the academic exam, Education Vice Minister Lu Xin was reported by Xinhua as saying. The ministry would also turn more than 600 local universities into higher-education vocational colleges, Lu said. China has 879 public universities and colleges, according to a 2013 ministry list.

"Vocational education has a bearing on China's economic transformation and upgrading ... and on the employment of hundreds of millions in the labor force," Yu Zhengsheng, the fourthranked member in the elite Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party, told a meeting of the national political advisory body earlier this month.

The ministry declined to comment for this article.

In recent years, graduates from higher vocational schools, which rank below universities in the Chinese system, have consistently done better in finding jobs than standard college graduates, Lu told the People's Daily, the official newspaper of the ruling Communist Party, in a separate interview.

Apart from the economic concern, the government is keen to move graduates into suitable jobs to prevent any formation of a restive young population - which played a major role in the 1989 pro-democracy movement. For years, Beijing has encouraged students to accept more lowly positions, such as village officials, especially in the less developed western regions, and to start their own businesses.

About 80% of higher vocational school graduates last year found jobs, while only around two-thirds of college graduates secured work, according to a report from the 21st Century Education Research Institute. Vocational college graduates also had a higher average starting salary - at 3,291 yuan ($530) a month versus an average 3,157 yuan among students from China's top-100 universities.

"We don’t necessarily need to sit in an office after graduating. I can start in the factories and work my way up, step by step," said Li, who hopes to pick up the practical skills that will allow him to move on to more advanced electrical work. l

Gates Foundation sells stake in Britain's G4S n Reuters, London Microsoft Corp co-founder Bill Gates has sold his entire stake in G4S Plc, the British security firm trying to bounce back from a series of scandals that have hurt its reputation and profits.

Cascade Investment, a firm owned

by Bill Gates that manages assets exclusively for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust, had last June disclosed a stake in G4S, when its holding crossed the 3 percent threshold for the first time.

A filing on May 28 showed the holding was reduced below 3 percent, and a spokesman for the Gates Foundation told Reuters on Saturday it no longer held any interest in G4S.

G4S declined comment.

G4S, which runs services such as cash transportation and prison management in more than 125 countries, is in the middle of overhauling its sprawling business, shaking up management, cutting costs, improving customer service and restructuring weak divisions to help revive its fortunes.

Having failed to provide enough security guards for the London 2012 Olympics, G4S suffered another scandal last July when, alongside rival Serco Group Plc, it was banned from new UK government work after being found to have charged for monitoring criminals who were dead, in prison or not tagged at all.

On Thursday G4S's own security guards ejected protesters from its annual shareholders' meeting, after they criticised the company's work in Israel, where it provides security at prisons and occupied Palestinian territories.

Gates's investments range from stakes in the Canadian National Railway Co to drinks group Diageo Plc. l