27 June 2014

Ashar 13, 1421 Shaaban 28, 1435 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 2, No 87

FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

Weekend | DHAKA’S DOMES

7 | LET’S BE BOLD, BANGLADESH

20 pages plus 24-page weekend supplement | Price: Tk12

11 | SECULARISM, THY NAME IS BANGLADESH

Delhi keen to boost ties 

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5-year multiple Indian visa for tourists under 13 and above 65

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Bangladesh visa office in Agartala to be made Deputy High Commission

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Nasim’s seat stays in Osman family

Guwahati-Dhaka bus service on pilot basis 100MW electricity import from Palatana plant Setting up of four new border haats at Meghalaya

Al-Masum Molla, n Mohammad Syed Samiul Basher Anik and Mohammad Zakaria back from Narayanganj

n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman The newly-formed government in New Delhi has committed to taking Bangladesh-India relationship to a new height and stepping up momentum of cooperation for the well-being of the people of two countries.

“Building a comprehensive and equitable partnership with Bangladesh is essential for the realization of our vision of a stable, secure and prosperous South Asia,” Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj said at a lecture yesterday.

She arrived in the city on her first stand-alone visit as foreign minister Wednesday and scheduled to leave tomorrow.

“We will walk the extra mile to create opportunities and to build virtuous cycles of prosperity in the region,” she said.

The Indian minister said there are issues of concern in Bangladesh which remain unresolved, such as sharing of Teesta waters, implementation of the Land Boundary Agreement and its Protocol, and better border management.

“My government is committed to addressing all these in a manner that improves the welfare and well-being of both our people,” she said.

Bangladesh and India should further intensify their dialogue and actions for the collective development of the South Asian region, Sushma said.

“My Government is ready to work with other South Asian leaders to revitalise SAARC as an effective instrument  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina greets Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj yesterday as the latter went to the PMO

B1 | RELOCATION OF RMG UNITS

BSS

Selim Osman, a member of Narayanganj’s mighty political Osman family, has won the Narayanganj 5 by-poll in a peaceful staging of the election where only a small voter turnout was visible.

The by-poll was also marred by allegations of fake voting, illegal casting of ballots, and obstructing voters from casting ballots at some centres. Out of the 141 stations of the constituency, voting in only Malibag Government Primary School polling station was postponed because of allegations of irregularities.

Voting began in the morning amid tight security and ended peacefully at 4pm without any any major incident of unrest. A total of four candidates contested in the by-election.

Visiting several polling stations throughout the day, the Dhaka Tribune found that voters were absent in many of the sites for large chunks of the day, while polling agents of candidates, especially for Selim’s main contender SM Akram, were not seen at many polling centres.

Although the Dhaka Tribune found only a limited presence of voters in the constituency, the Election Commission in its unofficial results claimed that around 44% of voters had shown up to practice their right to vote.

According to the results, JaPa candidate Selim bagged 82,856 votes, while independent candidate Akram got 66,114 ballots. A total of 151,109 legal votes were cast, and 1,713 votes were cancelled in the constituency which has 342,405 registered voters.

Polling officers at several polling centres in Bandar upazila showed doc-

Many smartphones for Germany, USA sail into knockout freedom fighters missing stages in Recife rain n Muhammad Zahidul Islam A large number of smartphones that BTRC was supposed to distribute among freedom fighters and relatives of Liberation War martyrs remains unaccounted for, with sources within the telecom regulator saying they were clueless about where the phones were.

Four private mobile phone operators – Grameenphone, Robi, Airtel and Banglalink – sponsored a total of 325 smartphones in this regard, with 3G-enabled SIMs, through the Associ-

Around 130 of 325 smartphones were distributed at a ceremony in December ation of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (Amtob), after securing 3G licences last September.

However, sources at the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) told the Dhaka Tribune that over half of those smartphones had not been distributed to the intended recipients.

On December 31 last year, many of the smartphones were distributed among freedom fighters and martyrs’ relatives at a ceremony attended by the then telecom minister Rashed Khan Menon, information minister Hasanul Haq Inu, liberation war affairs minister

Shahjahan Khan as well as the telecom secretary, BTRC chairman and AMTOB secretary general.

Under the plan to provide 325 phones to freedom fighters and family members of martyrs, three mobile phone operators sponsored 81 smartphones each, while Grameenphone gave 82 smartphones; the current market price for each phone is Tk8,790.

BTRC sources, however, said around 170 of the smartphones – that are valued at over Tk13 lakh – had not been distributed yet.

Seeking anonymity, a BTRC official who was involved with the distribution process, told the Dhaka Tribune that a maximum of 130 to 140 smartphones were distributed at the ceremony in December, while a few more might have also been distributed later.

“Surely most of the sets and SIMs were not distributed... If the handsets were in BTRC, we would know about it.

But we do not have a clue about where the rest of the phones are,” the official added.

The regulator issued a letter on June 1 to BTRC Director (legal and license) MA Taleb Hossen, who was in charge of the distribution process, directing him to submit a report by June 8 on how many phones had been distributed so far.

However, Taleb, who had been working as a deputy director of system and services division when the phones  PAGE 2 COLUMN 3

n Reuters, Recife, Brazil Thomas Mueller’s second-half goal saw Germany sail to a 1-0 victory over the United States in World Cup Group G yesterday, a result that saw both teams progress to the knockout stage of the tournament.

Germany top the group and will face the runner-up in Group H while the United States finish second and will face Group H winner. Portugal who

beat Ghana 2-1 are eliminated with the Africans.

The Germans dominated the game with Juergen Klinsmann’s team, with their backs against the wall, creating very few chances.

The breakthrough came after 55 minutes when Tim Howard parried out a Per Mertesacker header but Mueller collected the loose ball on the edge of the area and superbly side-footed into the bottom corner.

“For once I scored a beautiful goal. If I don’t watch out I’ll become a legend?

OK, I won’t watch out,” Mueller told ZDF Television after being told he had outscored Diego Maradona in World Cups.

“We are ready for the knockout stage. We keep working hard and we are full of team spirit.”

The game had been threatened by a torrential downpour in the north-eastern city of Recife on Thursday  PAGE 2 COLUMN 3

Germany’s Thomas Mueller, right, celebrates scoring the opening goal during the group G World Cup soccer match between the USA and Germany at the Arena Pernambuco in Recife, Brazil yesterday AP

3 | News

14 | Sport

The overall voter turnout in Narayanganj 5 by-polls was low and was very thin at some polling centres. Very few voters turned up in the morning because of rain.

The three probe committees formed after the recent incidents of unrest at Rajshahi, Salimullah and Birdem hospitals submitted reports with necessary recommendations to the Health Ministry yesterday.

A rampant Switzerland reached the World Cup knockout stage and will locks horns with Argentina in the last 16 after a superb Xherdan Shaqiri hat-trick gave them a 3-0 win over Honduras on Wednesday.

5 | News

At least three crude bombs have been exploded and a bus vandalised dung the strike enforced by Islami Chhatra Shibir unit of Rajshahi University yesterday.

P3 BITS AND BOBS

Selim Osman wins Narayanganj 5 by-poll amid visible low voter turnout Visiting at least 40 polling stations in both Narayanganj city and Bandar area, only a thin presence of voters could be found. Yesterday’s by-election also witnessed a poor turnout of women voters compared to previous elections.

Most polling centres saw an overwhelming presence of Selim Osman’s supporters, with followers of other candidate’s mostly absent at the sites.

To encourage the voters, loudspeakers of mosques were used to call upon the voters to come to the polling stations.

The Dhaka Tribune found that the centres in urban areas experienced lower voter turnouts compared to rural areas. The Kadam Rasul Degree College centre, a polling station in a rural area, reportedly saw a 90% turnout with 1,738 of its 1,983 votes being cast.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 5

Law Commission for making SC judges accountable to JS n Kamran Reza Chowdhury The Law Commission, the lone body tasked to suggest the government on legal reforms, has recommended that the original constitutional provision of making the Supreme Court judges accountable to parliament be restored.

Article 96 of the 1972 constitution authorised the legislature, with a twothird meeting, even to impeach the apex court judges for misconducts and violating the constitution. The judges then were accountable to Jatiya Sangsad.

But military ruler Gen Ziaur Rahman, the BNP’s de facto founder, dropped the provision from the charter through military orders and instituted a new mechanism – the Supreme Judicial Commission, headed by the chief justice and two other senior judges.

This provision curtailed the legislature’s authority to make the judiciary accountable to the people’s representatives.

The Law Commission made such recommendation as the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law Ministry earlier sought its opinion on the ways  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

INSIDE

4 | News

uments reading that around 60% votes had been cast at their stations, even though the Dhaka Tribune could not find any long voter queue at the respective centres.

The campaigners of the candidates tried to justify the low turnout by claiming that early morning rain had deterred people from coming out to vote, adding that turnout had increased as the day progressed.

Voters and election officials also blamed rain and late-night World Cup matches as major reasons behind the low turnout.

9 | World

The daughter of a crew member of a South Korean ferry which sank killing hundreds of school children committed suicide yesterday, police and prosecutors said.

12 | Entertainment

A special talk show on late Humayun Ahmed titled ‘Humayun Ahmed er Nil Podder Chhoya,’ anchored by his widow Shaon Ahmed, will be aired on Banglavision on Eid.

15 | Sport

Lionel Messi’s brilliant World Cup form is banishing memories of the goal drought the striker suffered in South Africa four years ago.

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Friday, June 27, 2014

Commerce secretary contradicts Tofail's onion statement n Asif Showkat Kallol Commerce Secretary Mahbub Ahmed has contradicted a recent statement by the commerce minister saying that the cost of imported onions might shoot up in the local market due to price increases in neighbouring India.

“We have enough stocks of onions in the local market, so there is no possibility of price hikes of the essential item during Ramadan,” Mahbub told reporters yesterday at his secretariat office.

“Onion is selling in the local currency equivalent of Tk26 per kg in Indian kitchen markets. As a result, the price of onions will not rise during the fasting month,” he added.

On Wednesday, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said the local onion market might heat up as Indian authorities have doubled the export price. The minister also said onions would be imported from Myanmar and Turkey to stabilise market prices.

The commerce secretary said the monthly consumption of onions in the country was 1.40 lakh tonnes, which was likely to double during Ramadan.

Bangladesh produced about 13.58

lakh tonnes of onions last year, against an annual requirement of 22 lakh tonnes. The shortfall of 8.50 lakh tonnes was imported from India, Mahbub said.

He also assured that a large number of letters of credit were opened with commercial banks in border areas for importing onions from India.

“But we were not able to collect the actual import figures,” he added.

Regarding imports from Myanmar and Turkey in a crisis, the secretary said he had recently visited Turkey to survey the onion market there.

Meanwhile, imported Indian onions sold at Tk40 per kg last week at kitchen markets in the capital, while local onions went for Tk36 per kg.

At Shyambazar wholesale market, a kilogram of Indian onions was priced at Tk25-30, while local onions cost Tk2830 per kg.

On June 17, the Indian government imposed a minimum export price of $300 per tonne for onions to regulate exports amid an inflation scare at home.

Onion prices in Bangladesh hit an all-time high of Tk110 per kg in October 2013, hitting consumers hard.

BBS: Three-fourths households do not invest any remittance n Tribune Report

Around 25% of remittance-receiving households invest a part of their remittance while 74.68% do not, a survey of Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics revealed yesterday.

“Remittance is mostly spent on essentials as the survey shows that remittance receivers spend 38.84% of remittance for food items and 38.86% for non-food items and 22.30% is used for durable and others,” said Md Dilder Hossain, BBS programme director, in his presentation. He said about 84% of the total remittance is spent on essentials while 16% are saved.

According to the survey titled Sur-

Law Commission  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

of reducing backlog of cases and expediting disposal of cases.

Headed by former chief justice ABM Khairul Haque, the commission in its report made at least 12 other recommendations that could change the country’s legal system.

Currently, over 32 lakh cases are pending with different courts.

The report was placed at the meeting of the parliamentary watchdog yesterday. The 10-member standing committee discussed the report and recommended that the Law Ministry should go for implementation of the commission’s suggestions in consultation with the chief justice.

“Everybody should understand that nobody is above law. Even if any of the honourable Supreme Court judges shows negligence in carrying out duties or commits gross misconduct or

vey on the Use of Remittance 2013, 97.4% migrants are male and only 2.6% female. Most migrants are relatively young – 64% being under 34.

The survey shows that 87.82% workers are not trained, 62% educated up to class IX and only 2.41% including engineers and doctors are highly educated.

Banking system is found as the most popular system in transferring remittance as 67.32% expatriates send money through banks, 10% use hundi and 6.87% Western Union.

According to the survey, 56.96% households are savers while 43% are non-savers.

Currently, about 8.6 million Bangladeshis are working abroad. l

violates the code of conduct, he/she should be made accountable to Jatiya Sangsad. This provision, which was present in the original constitution, can be restored,” says the commission.

Mentioning that there were allegations of “massive corruption” against the bench officers of the Supreme Court, the commission said: “They should be transferred regularly and put under tough monitoring.”

On Wednesday, the commission sent the set of recommendations to the Parliament Secretariat.

“We have recommended that the law minister talk to the chief justice for the implementation of the recommendations to the extent possible,” Suranjit Sengupta, the watchdog chairman, told the Dhaka Tribune after the meeting.

He said the government should consult the chief justice as he had “stake” in it. l

Delhi keen to boost ties  PAGE 1 COLUMN 1

for regional cooperation and as a united voice on these global issues,” she added.

Ministers and senior officials from a number of ministries including the Joint Rivers Commission will be taking discussions forward.

“We anticipate that all this will help us to break fresh ground in our relationship,” she said.

She expressed India’s gratefulness for the cooperation New Delhi has received from Dhaka in combating trans-boundary crime, insurgency and terrorism.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali at a press conference after holding official talks with her Indian counterpart yesterday said New Delhi proposed to have a special economic zone for Indian investors.

Bangladesh has declared to provide special economic zones in Chittagong for Japanese and Chinese investors.

About the Teesta water, the minister said Bangladesh side was told that Indians are trying to build internal consensus about the issue.

The minister said the Indian side did not provide any timeframe to deliver the deal to Bangladesh.

About extradition of Nur Hossain and Anup Chetia, the minister said the issue was discussed.

“We have discussed getting back Nur Hossain from India. What we have

been told is that we should make a request for his repatriation to Bangladesh to which the respond would be very positive and we should get him back at an early date,” the minister said.

About the recent arms haul in Habiganj, Mahmood said the issue was also being discussed.

“We discussed that also. If you want to discuss overall situation, you have to discuss everything.”

Mahmood said Sushma during her meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina handed over a letter of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi who invited his Bangladesh counterpart to visit New Delhi.

The minister said in the letter, the Indian premier wrote “I am delighted to accept your kind invitation to visit Bangladesh. I also take this opportunity to extend an invitation to you to visit India at your earliest convenience.”

About the issue of alleged illegal immigration from Bangladesh, he said nobody raised the issue.

“It was not raised by the Indian side and no discussion took place,” he said.

The Indian side said the leadership of both the countries should meet frequently so as to better understand each other’s priorities, perspective and concern.

At a separate press conference, Official Spokesperson of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs Syed Akbaruddin said: “The new government of India

Finance minister’s absence irks MPs n Kamran Reza Chowdhury

Polling officials of BM Union School and College centre wait for voters in the first half of yesterday's Naranganj 5 by-poll

MEHEDI HASAN

Quick execution of war crimes verdicts demanded n Abu Hayat Mahmud

Expressing dissatisfaction over the postponement of the verdict in a war crimes case against Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Motiur Rahman Nizami, speakers at a discussion meeting yesterday said the pronouncement of the verdict was delayed due to the prosecution’s failure.

Jamaat was hatching a conspiracy to foil the war crimes trials, they said and cast doubt over the government and prosecution’s role in delaying the verdict.

They also expressed hope that verdicts in all war crimes cases would be executed during the tenure of the present government.

Ekatturer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Com-

mittee organised the discussion meeting at the Women’s Voluntary Association Auditorium in the capital, marking the 20th death anniversary of Shaheed Janani Jahanara Imam.

Chaired by Justice Syed Amirul Islam, the programme was also addressed by Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, Professor Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, Air Vice-Marshal (retd) AK Khandaker, Professor Muntassir Mamun and Nirmul Committee acting secretary Shahriar Kabir.

Tofail Ahmed, the chief guest of the meeting, said the BNP had tried to foil the war crimes trial at different times and had even changed the constitution, but failed. “No one will be able to prevent the verdict. It will be implemented anyhow,” he added.

Muntassir Mamun criticised the left parties, saying: “Jamaat has got chance to carry out criminal activities due to protests by these parties as well as the BNP.” AK Khandaker said: “It is very sad that the Awami League during its sixyear rule had executed only one verdict against war criminals. I urge the government to quickly complete all the verdicts.”

Shahriar Kabir said: “The weakness of the prosecution has been delaying the procedures in the war crimes trials, which might be a part of conspiracy.”

He alleged that as the BNP, ISI and the USA tried to save war criminals, Jamaat organised a show of strength to protest against the trial of war criminals. l

Finance Minister AMA Muhith and his deputy drew criticism from a senior Awami League lawmaker and a senior minister yesterday for their absence in parliament.

Muhith and State Minister for Finance MA Mannan skipped the morning session of Jatiya Sangsad, which angered lawmaker Suranjit Sengupta.

“The budget session is on, but the finance minister is absent. I came to know that he is in Jeddah...Can any finance minister placing the budget in parliament go abroad?” he said.

“There is a state minister; he is also absent. The planning minister is absent. You will stage Hamlet, but there will be no prince of Denmark – this will not happen.”

Suranjit drew the attention of Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, suggesting that she could ask the prime minister to ensure the presence of the finance minister in parliament.

“You [Muhith] undermine the Jatiya Sangsad. Think carefully – you cannot spend a single farthing if Jatiya Sangsad does not pass the budget. Show respect to the sovereign parliament,” he said.

“I am not talking against anyone. You [the finance minister] must be present.

I spoke a lot. Has anyone taken note where the words went? Have all these words vanished in the air?” he said.

As the sitting resumed at 5:30pm after Asr prayers, Muhith turned up at the House after his return from Saudi Arabia.

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed in his speech said the finance minister had gone to Jeddah as finance ministers from all Islamic countries attended a meeting there.

“At least the state minister should be here,” he said. l

Many smartphones

Nasim’s seat stays in Osman family

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were distributed, failed to hand in a report by the deadline.

BTRC sources also said Taleb had been ignoring the regulator’s directive as well as confronting the official who had issued the letter, even though it was sent with the consent of the BTRC chairman.

When asked about the issue, BTRC spokesperson Zakir Hossain Khan said: “Most of the handsets that were kept for freedom fighters have already been distributed.”

When asked about an exact number of phones that had been distributed, Zakir, however, said he needed some time to find out the figure.

Hemayet Uddin Bir Bikrom, a decorated freedom fighter who had received a phone at the ceremony in December, said he had information that most of the listed people had not received any handsets or SIMs. He added: “I have a plan to inform the issue to the high-ups of the ruling party when I get a chance.”

Meanwhile, Amtob or any of the four mobile operators refused to comment on the issue.

However, an official from one of the operators, on condition of anonymity, told the Dhaka Tribune: “It is very easy to find out how many of the SIMs that we had given to the regulator are currently active; but we cannot do that as the regulator was involved.” l

Germany, USA sail into knockout  PAGE 1 COLUMN 5

morning but the heavy rain that hampered the preparations of fans and players alike eased to a drizzle as kickoff approached.

Despite the fact that both sides only needed a draw to qualify there was no shortage of attacking intent in the lively opening exchanges, with Mueller going close early on from Podolski’s low cross.

Both sides flew into challenges in the battle for supremacy in midfield, and US coach Juergen Klinsmann and his German counterpart Joachim Loew will be glad the referee didn’t wave the yellow card more often as they head for

the knockout stages.

Content to concede possession for long periods, the Americans put in a blue-collar defensive performance, breaking forward when the opportunity arose, but with their superior technique and ball movement, the Germans were always a threat.

The Americans had several chances of their own but lacked the pace and guile necessary to unduly worry German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

“Everyone said we had no chance, but we took the chance and we move on and now we really want to prove a point,” US coach Klinsmann said. l

stands ready to enhance the momentum of our relationship.”

“Bangladesh had indicated to our leadership that there are unequivocal and uncompromising in their opposition to terrorism in any form and manifestation and Bangladesh will never allow its territory to be used against India,” Akbar said.

India and Bangladesh are keen to engage at high level to maintain and step up the momentum of the bilateral relationship, he added.

New Delhi has decided to provide five-year multiple entry visas for tourists from Bangladesh under the age of 13 and above the age of 65, Akbar said.

Both the sides did not discuss about domestic politics, he said.

“We respect the people of Bangladesh and we would never ever try and look at it in terms of narrow party politics,” he added.

Meanwhile, Sushma Swaraj yesterday made a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office.

PM’s Press Secretary AKM Shameem Chowdhury briefed reporters after the meeting.

Hasina at the meeting with Sushma laid emphasis on speedily resolving the pending bilateral issues of Land Boundary Agreement (LBA), Teesta Water Sharing Treaty as well as addressing border killings by BSF. About the trans-border terrorism and militancy, Hasina reiterated her

stance of zero tolerance in this connection. “Bangladesh soil will never be allowed to use for any terrorism and militant act like her government followed in the last five years.”

About the 1320-MW coal-fired power plant in Rampal, the Prime Minister urged the Indian government to speed up the work alongside requesting the Indian government to train the Bangladeshi personnel of Nuclear Power Plant at its Bhaba Atomic Research Center in India.

The prime minister stressed the need for establishing Bangladesh China India Myanmar (BCIM) economic corridor for the betterment of this region.

She also put emphasis on trilateral relationship among India, Bhutan and Bangladesh for harnessing hydroelectric power generation scheme where Nepal can join latter.

Hasina also sought Indian support in importing refined oil from India through pipeline along Asam-Nagaland-Parbatipur border so that the northern region of the country is covered.

In reply Sushma about the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) with India said the bill is already in Indian parliament and under the active consideration of their government.

The Indian External Affairs Minister said before coming to Dhaka she had talks with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who has sent her good wishes to Hasina saying that things will move positively. l

“I am happy over the turnout and peaceful ending of the election,” Masudur Rahman, presiding officer of the centre said.

When asked about the thin turnout of the voting, returning officer Mihir Sarwar Morshed said: “People are less interested in by-elections as government does not change through by-poll.

Apart from this, candidates’ personal charisma is also a factor.”

Candidates’ reactions

In his reaction, JaPa candidate Selim Osman said the results were a reply to all the negative propaganda spread against Narayanganj.

Asked about the low voter turnout, Selim said weather was a factor that prompted voters to stay at home. He also alleged that the process of voting was very slow.

On the other hand, independent candidate SM Akram rejected the results of the by-poll.

Akram alleged that his rival Selim Osman’s cadres had rigged votes in many polling centres.

He said: “My polling agents were driven away [by Selim’s supporters] from several centres including Nolua Madrasa, Kumudini Welfare Trust and Shaheed Nagar Government Primary School centres.”

He also claimed that Munna, a councillor of Narayanganj City Corporation, confined one of his polling agents at Nolua Madrasa centre and rigged votes.

Akram said he would not accept the result if such rigging continued.

Meanwhile, Awami League lawmaker Shamim Osman, brother of Selim, allegedly threatened an assistant superintendent of police over phone after the law enforcer barred his follower from casting fake votes.

ASP Basiruddin told journalists that Shamim threatened him at noon after he barred Madanpur union parishad Chairman Abdus Salam to cast fake votes at Kewdala Government Primary School centre.

The ASP said Shamim phoned him and ordered him to let Salam enter the polling centre and do whatever he wished.

“I am now carrying out the order of Election Commission. So I cannot do anything illegal,” he told journalists following the incident, adding that he had filed a general diary in this regard.

Voters’ reactions

Many senior citizens came to the polling centres yesterday on rickshaws, wheelchairs, or with support of their relatives.

Many of them expressed their joy at being able to exercise their franchise.

Abdur Rahman Sarker, a 95-year-old voter from Bandar upazila’s Kazipara who came to the Kazipara Government High School centre on his wheelchair, said: “Usually, I do not miss casting vote as it is my right. As I see youths are casting votes festively, so I questioned myself why should not I join them?”

Hafaeza Khatun, 87, came on a rickshaw to the Hajipur Government Primary School centre, where her nephew Jalal carried her in his arms to help her cast the ballot.

“I have been voting for many years since I understood how to vote. I feel happy to have the stamina to cast the ballot as there might be no chance for me in the coming days to cast vote,” she said.

The presiding officer of the centre, Mohammad Golam Mostafa, told the Dhaka Tribune that he had seen a good number of senior citizens casting votes in his centre.

“Although my centre is in a very backward place and is difficult for voters to visit because of rain, people have been casting votes. Even the senior people are casting vote with help of their relatives, which has surprised me a lot,” said the official.

However, a large number of voters faced sufferings as they did not get voter slips from any candidate before the election.

“I came to cast my vote at the Narayanganj Government Primary College centre, but I could not cast my ballot as I did not get any voter slip from the candidates in the polls. I cannot tell my voter serial number to the polling officer,” Fatema Begum, a voter, told the Dhaka Tribune.

“My name was not found in the list.

The polling officer said my name may be listed at another polling station,” she added.

Another voter, Shariat, came to cast his vote at Bibi Mariyam Girls School centre without any voter slip. He could not cast his ballot as the polling officer could not find his name in the list.

“I did not get any voter slip from candidate even though I am a voter in the area,” Shariat said.

Some voters also brought their national ID cards to the polling centres in order to vote, but were unable to exercise their rights as the NID serial numbers were not needed to cast votes.

Earlier, the Narayanganj 5 constituency became vacant with the death of Nasim Osman, who was parliament member from Jatiya Party in the 10th parliament. Nasim’s brother Selim Osman, a businessman who had never showed interest in politics before, was later nominated as a JaPa candidate to contest in the by-poll.

Late lawmaker Nasim, who is also the brother of Shamim Osman, Awami League MP from another constituency of the port city, was one of the 153 MPs of the current parliament who were elected unopposed in the January 5 national election.

Yesterday’s by-poll drew the attention of a cross section of people, as it was held against the backdrop of Shamim Osman’s alleged patronisation of Nur Hossain, the prime accused of Narayanganj seven-murder case, and Nasim Osman’s fugitive son’s alleged involvement with the killing of college student Twoki last year. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

3

Friday, June 27, 2014

Bits and bobs of Narayanganj 5 by-poll Dhaka Tribune correspondents Mohammad Al-Masum Molla, Syed Samiul Basher Anik, Mohammad Zakaria, Mohammad Jamil Khan, Asif Islam Shaon, Ahmed Zayeef and Adil Shakhawat visited at least 40 polling centres in Narayanganj city and Bandar (port) area to observed polling stations till the end of counting in yesterday’s by-elections. A glimpse of the polls is presented below According to the election code of conduct, using of loudspeakers during voting particularly on voting purpose is illegal.

Later, the Dhaka Tribune team found that ex-chairman of the Kazipara union and also convener of the unit’s Awami League Abdur Rahman Sarker made the order to the muezzin.

When contacted, Rahman said he is an admirer of late Nasim Osman and he ordered that to draw more voters to the centre. “What’s wrong with this?,” he questioned.

Low Turnout

The overall voter turnout in Narayanganj 5 by-polls was low and was very thin at some polling centres. Very few voters turned up in the morning because of rain.

No queue of voters was seen in at least 40 polling centres as election officials and law enforcers passed idle moments. The number of voters, however, increased as the hours went by.

Ansar official at Ekrampur Government Primary School centre Mohammad Jinnah said lack of enthusiasm among voters was palpable.

According to Presiding Officer Pliton Kanti Bhowmik, there were 200 votes at 10am, 800 at 1pm and 1,499 at the fag end. “Of the total of 3,704 voters, less than half cast votes as 1499 ballots were found in the ballot boxes when voting ended,” he said.

Nasim Ali, a young voter, said people felt less interest in casting votes as it was a by-election.

Another voter Syed Mukarram said absence of good candidates and rainfall were the reasons for low voter turnout.

Turnout of female voters compared to that of males was also found to be low.

Turnout rises 11 times in 5 hours

Till 11am, only 160 votes were cast at Kadam Rasul Degree College centre but the figure leapt almost 11 times and stood at 1,738 when voting ended at 4pm.

No long queue was seen at the centre and only a few voters cast votes, Dhaka Tribune correspondents noticed during frequent visits.

Polling agents as well as law enforcers seemed very relaxed.

“Crowd is very low since the morning. Presumably, voters in this area do

Shamim Osman’s threat to ASP

Selim Osman, left, enquires polling officials about voter turnout at a centre while his rival SM Akram, right, expresses wonder as officials took time to find his name in the voters’ list during the Narayanganj 5 by-election yesterday RAJIB DHAR not care about voting,” Prashanta, a policeman deployed at the centre, told the Dhaka Tribune.

Selim Osman’s men everywhere Posters of Selim Osman were prevalent in the entire constituency while there were noticeably fewer of those of SM Akram.

Most of the centres saw gatherings comprised of supporters of Selim Osman and they were seen busy helping voters cast votes. They even brought voters to the polling stations by rickshaws in an effort to woo them.

Meanwhile, hardly anyone was found wearing the badge of Akram.

Even Akram’s voting slip counter was not seen in every centre while more than one counter of Selim Osman were seen in almost all the centres.

Unidentified polling agents

At many polling centres, it was difficult to identify polling agents of Akram as they did not wear any official identification on the neck.

Besides, no agent of Akram was found at Dashergaon Government Primary School centre. A youth named Monir Hossain showed up suddenly and claimed himself as the agent.

When Dhaka Tribune correspondents asked for identification, he failed to show any. Some agents of Selim Osman then became busy managing a card for the youth as one of them told others: “Give him a card of Akram”.

Around 11am, a news spread that Selim’s men had forced Akram’s agents out of the centre.

Presiding officer Kazi Kawsar Ahmed, however, told the Dhaka Tri-

Poll invokes ‘no’ vote demand n Adil Sakhawat

In line with the yesterday’s by poll in Narayanganj 5 constituency that fell vacant following the death of lawmaker Nasim Osman, many voters made a demand for introduction of “No” vote to the election to pour out their thoughts about the poll contenders.

A great many of them that cast their ballots in polling centres under this constituency shared their views with the Dhaka Tribune.

Aslam Khan, exercising his franchise in Narsayanganj Club polling centre said if the government arranged “No” vote for this constituency, people would express their grudge against the candidates.

Asked why he thought so, Aslam said: “Many do not support these two contestants –- Selim Osman, a member of Osman family, and SM Akram, an independent candidate.”

About Akram, he said though the contestant was an educated person he hardly frequented the constituency, rather always lived in Dhaka.

In tune with Aslam, another voter Kalu Mia, a trader in front of Shaheed Minar in Chasara area, said: “If we need help of our lawmaker should we go to Dhaka regularly with our problems?

“He was a lawmaker back in 1996, but we saw him make no efforts at development in Narayanganj during his tenure.”

A lot of voters ceased to exercise their franchise yesterday, with many saying they found no worthy candidate to vote for.

Requesting anonymity, a renowned schoolteacher in the area expressed deep concern about the poll result and the candidates vying for the by-poll.

The teacher who refrained from casting his ballot said: “Who dares to go against the Osman family? If I talk against the family, then tomorrow

my family will be at risk. This type of picture in Narayanganj needs to be changed.”

He suggested that there were many suitable candidates to carry out the job of a lawmaker and the political parties should pick up those potentials replacing the ineligible, old ones.

The Dhaka Tribune observation found a soaring demand for introduction of “No” vote to the election.

Mohammad Ali Hossain Jakaria, a multinational company employee, said if there had been such an option for voters to give vent to their feelings, the contestants could see how many votes they got in their favour.

Jakaria did not go to vote yesterday and so did Umme kawsara, a voter under Narayanganj Government Women’s College. “Who shall I vote for, tell me, who?” she posed a question. “All candidates are corrupt, and so better enjoy weekend than go to vote,” she added. l

bune that no untoward situation had taken place at the centre.

Ward 18 Commissioner Kamrul Hasan was alleged to have forcibly compelled agents of Akram to leave Nolua Government Primary School centre.

Mahbubur Rahman Masum, chief agent of Akram, told the Dhaka Tribune that Akram’s agents and supporters could not be seen as Selim Osman’s men coerced them into leaving the centres.

Osman’s men also attacked them, leaving them injured, he said.

Denying the allegation, chief agent of Selim Osman Khokon Saha said: “Those who know they are going to lose polls raise allegation against opponents. It is commonplace in the country.”

If any allegation is proved, we will take legal steps, he added.

Neck to neck battle

Some centres witnessed neck to neck fight between the two front runners Selim Osman and SM Akram.

“Akram got highest 1,030 votes in the Bandar Kolabag Government Primary School centre while Selim Osman bagged 1,005,” said the Presiding Officer Masud Parvez.

Vote casting at the polling station was 2,057.

Call for vote from mosque’s loudspeaker

Around 1:45pm, a muezzin named Abdul Malek of a mosque adjacent to Kazipara Government primary School polling centre started calling the voters by its loudspeakers saying: “The voting centre is ‘empty’. Those who did not cast their votes can cast their franchise easily.”

Awami League lawmaker Shamim Osman allegedly threatened an assistant superintendent of police who was on-duty during the by-polls.

ASP Bashir Uddin alleged that MP Shamim Osman threatened him over phone during discharging duty in the afternoon. However, he did not elaborate the threat.

Nasim Osman, elder brother of Shamim Osman, was contesting the by-polls with the ticket from Jatiya Party.

ASP Bashir said: “Madanpur Union Parishad Chairman Abdus Salam tried to rig vote at the Kewdala Government Primary School polling centre in the morning. As I informed the matter to the higher authorities, the SP ordered me to arrest the chairman. Later, when I raided the chairman’s residence, Shamim Osman told me by phone that the chairman is his follower.”

The ASP continued that the MP asked him to let the chairman what he wants.

“Then, Shamim Osman phoned the Personal Secretary of the prime minister keeping my call connected with him [Shamim],” the ASP stated. l

Selim Osman appears calm, composed n Adil Sakhawat Selim Osman, the Jatiya Party candidate for the Narayanganj 5 by-election, seemed to be laid-back about his election yesterday with no hustle and bustle unlike others.

His family members said Selim is basically a businessman, not a politician. He stood in the election only to hold on to the family tradition.

Selim Osman started his day with visiting his family graveyard after which he went to three poling centers – Biby Mariam Girls High School, Narayanganj Club and Morgan Girls High School by 8:45am.

After visiting those centers Selim went back to his house and talked to the Dhaka Tribune.

When asked about low voter turnout he attributed the reason to rainy weather. “Moreover, the rickshaw fare is also high today.”

Selim Osman could not vote in this by-election as he is not a voter. “I am not a voter in this constituency.”

After talking to this reporter he spent his time in his house until 12 noon. Selim came out of his house at the request of reporters of a number of television channels and went to visit Morgan Girls’ High School.

After a short stay there he returned to his home.

At 1:37pm he again went to Lakkhi Narayan Government Girls Primary School at the request of a TV channel and came back home just after 25 minutes at 2.05 pm.

As this reporter met him again he said: “As the weather is now OK I expect more voters will come to the centers by 3pm.”

When asked about the low turnout of female voters he said: “All of you know the district has acute gas crisis. so I think female voters will come after

3pm.”

While talking he expressed his firm belief that he would win the race. “If I fail I will accept it but if I am elected then I will turn our Narayanganj into the Dandy of East again.”

His main opponent SM Akram, an independent candidate, brought the allegation of rigging and take-over of many polling centers Selim Osman, however, denied the charges saying that the election this time was in progress in a peaceful manner.

“I think he said so as I have more supporters and activists than he has,” he said adding that members of law enforcement agencies were performing their duties sincerely.

The by-election to Narayanganj 4 constituency was announced as the seat fell vacant following the death of Nasim Osman, elder brother of Selim Osman. l

Govt to double compensation for land acquisition Tribunal receives Nizami’s n Mohosinul Karim

The government is drafting a new act amending the Land Acquisition Act 1992 for doubling the amount of compensation for land acquisition in the country.

Confirming the drafting of the new act to the Dhaka Tribune, State Minister for Land Mohammad Shaifuzzaman Chowdhury said, “The officials are working in this regard.”

He said the government had taken the initiative for increasing the amount of compensation for land acquisition after agreeing in principally to the deputy commissioners’ proposal given in

their conference held in 2003 to do it.

“We hope the law will be amended shortly which will create the way to increase the compensation.” Ministry officials said the draft of the act would be finalised shortly as it is in the final stage.

In 2003, DCs proposed increasing the amount of compensation 100 times the real price A land owner currently gets 50 per cent above their land’s real price as compensation for land acquisition after the

government amended the Land Acquisition Ordinance, 1982 as per which the damages was 20 times the land’s real price.

The amount of compensation however has not been increased much in the hill tracts as a land owner there gets only 15 per cent above their land’s real price.

This compensation disparity has created anger among hilly people.

Besides, people elsewhere also do not consider the current amount of compensation for land acquisition satisfactory. They even do not show their interest in having their land acquired by the government.

Considering this all, the deputy commissioners had in 2003 suggested that the government should increase the amount of compensation 100 times the real price.

The Land Ministry accepted the proposal of the field-level administrators and asked the officials concerned to amend the provision of the law.

According to the instruction, the new draft of the act is being prepared.

The state minister, according to the ministry officials, will present a working paper before the deputy commissioner’s conference in Dhaka, which starts on July 8 and runs until July 10. l

Survey: 60 % households lack hand washing facilities n Moniruzzaman Uzzal

Around 60% of the country’s households do not have proper hand washing facilities with soap and water, while there was only one toilet for every 187 students across the country’s educational institutions, a study on national hygiene has found.

The menstruation health management situation was also alarmingly poor, as around 80% of women used old pieces of clothes during their menstrual period. According to the study, around 40% girls do not go to school for an average of three days during their menstrual period and reuse old pieces of clothes without washing or drying them properly.

In a programme at the capital’s Ruposhi Bangla Hotel, LGD Secretary KM Mozammel Huq unveiled the preliminary report of the “Baseline Survey on National Hygiene” which was conducted by the Policy Support Unit (PSU) of the Local Government Division (LGD) in association with the ICDDRB. International development agency Water Aid provided the financial assistance, while Stanford University of USA gave its technical support for the study.

The hygiene survey, which they claimed was a first for any developing country, covered a total 100 rural and urban areas.

Residents in most of the 40% households that had hand wash facil-

ities, however, lacked the intention of washing their hands; while only 35% schools had hand washing facilities with soap and water, the study found.

Only one-third of the restaurants kept provisions for its workers to wash hand with soap, while half of the restaurants used the same water for repeated rounds of dish-washing.

Although nearly 90% hospitals had the provision of washing hands, researchers during their five-hour observation sessions in the hospitals witnessed hands being washed with soap in only 2%-29% cases. There was also no separate toilets for doctors and nurses in one-fourth of the cases.

The study also found that most toilets

at the hospitals were always kept locked.

Development activists speaking at yesterday’s programme demanded that washing hands with soap be included as an indicator of skilfulness in the health sector, and urged both the government donors to invest in campaigns for changing hygiene practices.

The programme was chaired by Kazi Abdul Noor, project director of the PSU, while it was also addressed by Additional Secretary of LGD Zuena Aziz, Director General of Family Planning Directorate Md Nur Hossain Talukdar, DGHS Additional Director (planning and development) Dr Abul Kalam Azad, and ICDDRB Deputy Executive Director Abbas Bhuiya. l

health report n Udisa Islam

The jail authorities yesterday submitted health report on top war crimes suspect Motiur Rahman Nizami to the International Crimes Tribunal mentioning that the accused was improving, but not fit yet.

The tribunal’s registrar office received the report around 3pm, Registrar AKM Nasiruddin Mahmud said.

Arunava Chakravarty, deputy registrar of the tribunal, told the Dhaka Tribune that the jail authorities would place another report when Nizami’s condition stabilised. No initiative might be taken before Sunday as the report reached the tribunal at the eleventh hour of the last working day, he said.

On Tuesday, only an hour before pronouncing the verdict, the jail au-

thorities in a letter told the tribunal that the Jamaat-e-Islami chief could not be brought before it due to his illness. Later the tribunal considered it not logical to pronounce the judgement in absence of the accused.

It also ordered the jail authorities to submit a full report on Nizami’s health condition as soon as possible.

The accused was fit on Monday after the verdict date was announced at noon and when he was taken to Dhaka from Kashimpur jail in the evening.

He fell sick in the midnight, and two jail doctors checked him. Upon their advice, the jail authorities did not place him before the tribunal.

The doctors said Nizami, a former minister during BNP-Jamaat’s 2001-06 tenure, was facing some physical complications including high blood pressure and diabetes. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Friday, June 27, 2014

HOSPITAL UNREST

3 probe bodies submit reports n Moniruzzaman Uzzal The three separate probe committees formed after the recent incidents of unrest at Rajshahi, Salimullah and Birdem hospitals submitted their reports to the Health Ministry yesterday.

The investigation committee looking into the incident of attack on the Daily Prothom Alo journalist also unveiled its report.

The report said Dr Shafiul Azam of ZH Sikder Medical College Hospital launched an attack on the newsman.

According to the report, the probe body would ask Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council to cancel the registration of Dr Shafiul.

Health Minister Mohammed Nasim unveiled the findings before the media and thanked the probe committee members including the journalists and doctor leaders and also the Health Ministry officials.

Nasim said he would take steps for implementation of the recommendations.

The probe teams came up with a series of recommendations for Birdem, Rajshahi Medical and Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospitals.

For Birdem Hospital, the probe body recommends that the hospital authorities install an alarm system to make sure that they can ward off any untoward incident beforehand.

Forming a crisis management unit, revised recruitment policy and an upto-date routine of work in participation of junior and senior doctors includes the recommendations.

The committee tasked with probing into the incident at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital suggests that the authorities provide for the injured journalists and bear their medical expenses.

It also recommends that the doctors show their dedication to medical ser-

Probe report on razakar Hasan likely Sunday n Udisa Islam The investigation agency has finalised its report on fugitive Syed Mohammad Hasan Ali alias Hacchen Ali alias Hassan, an alleged razakar commander of Tarail in Kishoreganj during the 1971 Liberation War. The agency is likely to disclose its findings on Sunday through a press briefing at its Dhanmondi office, according to sources at the International Crimes Tribunal. Later the case documents would be handed over to the prosecution who will press formal charges.

Hasan was living in Brahmanbaria but the local police said he was not there anymore. Investigation Officer Hari Devnath said they had found evidence of Hasan’s involvement in many crimes, including genocide, in Kishoreganj. His father and brother were also involved in atrocities. l

Hearing on case filed by Limon’s mother deferred n Our Correspondent, Barisal A Jhalakathi court yesterday deferred for the ninth time the hearing of a petition filed by Henoara Begum, mother of Limon Hossain, against six RAB personnel for maiming her son during a drive in 2011.

The hearing, on acceptance of a revision petition, will now be held on September 28 as the District and Sessions Judge’s Court has no judge, public prosecutor Golam Rasul Mannan said.

Henoara yesterday protested harassment by the prosecution by procrastinating hearing of the revision petition. She said she would continue her fight for justice. l

vices and the hospital authorities open an information cell.

The withdrawal of cases against the doctors is also included in the recommendation.

The investigation team for Sir Salimullah Medical college Hospital came up with the recommendation that stern actions be taken against the interns.

The probe body made the recommendation based on the proof of offence it found the interns committed.

The other committee suggested cancelling registration of Dr Shafiul Azam of Sikder Medical for assaulting a journalist It also suggested compensation for the damage of the journalists’ camera, mobile and other equipment.

The team also recommends that the journalists should produce their identities first before observing their professional duties.

On April 22, the Health Ministry formed three separate probe committees to investigate the incidents of unrest at Rajshahi, Salimullah and Birdem hospitals.

On April 20, a clash between doctors of RMCH and journalists left about 10 media personnel and three doctors injured on the hospital premises.

Later, the interns went on strike demanding an unconditional apology from the journalists.

Doctors at Birdem Hospital and Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital, popularly known as Mitford hospital, also went on strike after clashes with patients and their attendants. l

People queue as the Trading Corporatin of Bangladesh (TCB) sells daily neccessities in front of the National Press Club at fair price ahead of Ramadan

Deal on LNG terminal initialled n Aminur Rahman Rasel

Petrobangla and Singapore-based Astra Oil and Excelerate Energy consortium (AE) yesterday signed an initial agreement on setting up the country’s first floating storage and re-gasification unit (FSRU), popularly known as Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal, at Cox’s Bazar’s Moheshkhali island in the Bay of Bengal.

Secretary Imam Hossain of the state-owned oil and gas company and Director (project origination) of AE Sampo Suvisaari signed the agreement under the Speedy Supply of Power and Energy (Special Provision) Act at Petro Centre in the city following a three-day negotiation.

Prime minister’s Energy Adviser Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, State Minister for Power and Energy Nasrul Hamid, Energy and Mineral Resources Division Secretary Md Mozammel Haque Khan and Petrobangla Chairman Hossain Monsur were present during the signing ceremony.

According to the agreement, Petrobangla will pay 0.474 cents per mmbtu for FSRU under a build-own-operate-transfer basis for 15 years. The LNG storage capacity of FSRU has 1,38,000 cubic metre.

Besides this, Petrobangla would pay the port service charges and tax on behalf of AE during the period.

Petrobangla would receive LNG within the range between 500mmcfd

Labour inspectors inadequate n Tribune Report

Though increasing, the number of labour inspectors in Bangladesh is not enough, and the government should provide modern infrastructures and tools for better inspection, said Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Janet Durno yesterday.

Addressing a certificate awarding ceremony, she said: “Much more things have yet to be done.” The ceremony at Ruposhi Bangla Hotel in the capital was jointly organised by the Law Ministry and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to award certificates to around 39 labour inspectors.

Janet said: “Rana Plaza was a great tragedy. After the incident, we were committed to reform the sector.

Around 65 new inspectors have joined so far. Important amendment has been made in the Labour Act. Together, we

can transform the ready-made garment sector of Bangladesh.

“The UK, together with Canada and the Netherlands, is supporting the development of an efficient, credible and transparent cadre of labour inspectors.

Progress has been made in addressing many challenges facing the garment industry through concrete commitments by manufacturers, brands, development partners and the government.”

Tuomo Poutiainen, programme manager of ILO’s RMG Programme, said: “Training of the labour inspectors is instrumental in ensuring safety and rights of the workers. Legislative and policy changes should be made for further progress. ILO is committed to assist the government of Bangladesh.

“The government of Bangladesh and the ILO are implementing a threeand-a-half-year long initiative aimed at improving working conditions in

the RMG industry in Bangladesh. The programme is funded by Canada, Kingdom of the Netherlands and the UK.” The inspectors were trained by the ILO trainers from June 22 to 25. Around 125 labour inspectors, including 11 female inspectors, of the ministry were trained by the ILO from June 8 to 25.

“The priority is now to maintain the momentum and to push for further progress,” said Paul Whittingham, deputy country representative of UKAID. Bente Sorensen, manager of ILO’s International Training Centre, said: “We taught the inspectors about the status of the labour inspectors, and how to improve the inspection visit.”

Syed Ahmed, inspector general of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments, said: “So far, 1,590 factories have been inspected by Buet engineers, Accord and Alliance.” l

ULAB launches ‘Greening ULAB’ n Tribune Report University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) launched a comprehensive campus sustainability programme titled “Greening ULAB” on its campus in the capital yesterday.

It began with the official launch of paper recycling programme with Bashundhara Paper Mill. The university handed over the first consignment of around two tonnes of papers and paper materials to the mill for recycling.

The Center for Sustainable Development (CSD) of ULAB is implementing the programme with active participation of students, faculty members and administration. In April, the action plan of Greening ULAB was presented at the Regional Conference on Campus Sustainability held in Malaysia, where ULAB re-

NASHIRUL ISLAM

ceived international accolades, especially for its initiatives on energy conservation and waste recycling.

Among others, Vice-Chancellor Prof Imran Rahman, Pro-VC Prof HM Jahirul Haque, Registrar Lt Col Md Foyzul Islam, faculty members, officials, students and other guests

were present at the ceremony.

The project is part of ULAB’s commitment to instil socio-environmental values in its students, administration, faculty members and the broader community. It aims at making the university’s operation more sustainable and environment-friendly. l

and 600mmcfd.

“We will sign the final deal on setting up the terminal after getting approval from the cabinet committee on economic affairs,” Petrobangla Chairman Hossain Monsur told the Dhaka Tribune.

“After finally signing the deal, AE will conduct metocean study over climate to determine which measures have to be taken in different conditions in maintaining the terminal, geo technical study and detail engineering design,” he said.

“They would set up the terminal within 16 months from the date of signing the final agreement,” he said, adding: “AE would have to invest $500 million as infrastructure and other costs to set up the terminal.”

The Petrobangla chairman hoped that Bangladesh would be able to import LNG within June, 2016.

After setting up the LNG terminal, the government can import LNG from Qatar or other countries by paying $1618 per mmbtu unit.

The Awami league-led government during its last tenure after assuming office in 2009, decided to import LNG to feed the national grid by 500 mmcfd or million cubic feet per day from the year, 2013.

Separately, state-owned Gas Transmission Company Limited (GTCL) moved to lay a 91km Moheshkhali-Anowara gas transmission pipeline to carry re-gasified LNG from the terminal to shore. l

ACC: BASIC Bank scam probe output soon n Tribune Report The Anti-Corruption Commission said it had not dropped the embezzlement probe against Bangladesh Small Industries and Commerce Bank Ltd, also known as BASIC Bank, and the findings would be revealed soon.

“The commission is now analysing the inconsistencies in wealth statements submitted by the bank officials, against whom allegations were raised,” ACC Secretary Faizur Rahman Chowdhury said on Wednesday.

In 2012, the ACC launched an inquiry into alleged misappropriation of Tk3,500 crore from the state-owned bank by some of its officials. However, no visible progress has been made so far in the ongoing investigation.

The probe would require more time as the ACC was concentrating on probing the illegal wealth accumulated by some BASIC bank officials, Faiz told reporters at the ACC headquarters.

The embezzled money was allegedly taken from different branches of the bank by sanctioning loans to fake companies through letters of credit, inland bill purchases and counterfeit documents. Most of the irregularities occurred at Dilkusha, Shantinagar and Gulshan branches.

He also said an inquiry into inconsistencies in wealth statements by seven lawmakers and ministers of the previous Awami League-led government would be wrapped up soon. “They will be brought under legal procedure within a short time,” Faiz said. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

5

Friday, June 27, 2014

Traders: Formalin detection tool inaccurate Obaidul: Government to n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong Fruit traders in Chittagong claimed yesterday that the instruments used to measure the amount of formalin in fruits were inaccurate.

They also alleged that they were being harassed based on the results received using the faulty testing tools.

The issue was brought up at a press conference organised by Chittagong Fruit Traders Association in the Chittagong Press Club.

Protesting anti-formalin drive traders in the port city put their shops under lock and key from 6am to 1pm in protest.

The association’s General Secretary Mohammad Alamgir said the wholesalers received the imported fruits after they were fully tested by different bodies of the government.

“When contamination is found in any imported fruit, it is not delivered to the open market,” he said.

“But different mobile courts, in

the name of testing formalin, fine the fruit traders on the charge of selling formalin-laced fruits and has been destroying them on a regular basis,” he claimed.

He said: “The traders do not even get a chance to explain the findings.

They are incurring huge losses since they have to pay the import taxes as well as the imposed fines.”

Alamgir said the formalin testing tool used to determine the amount of formaldehyde in the food items mainly measures the formalin in air, not in the products, making it an inappropriate testing tool.

A six-point demand was placed at the conference, which included putting a stop to the harassment of fruit traders and damage of local or imported fruits without laboratory tests.

They also demanded that the mass people should be informed about the amount of formalin naturally present in fruits.

President Abdul Malek Chowdhury,

Vice-President Ali Hossain, Joint Secretary Fazal Karim and Assistant General Secretary Towhidul Alam of the association were also present at the conference, among others.

Anti-formalin drive called into question in Ashulia

Local administration of Ashulia in Savar yesterday conducted an anti-formalin drive in a wholesale market of fruits of the area although locals termed the drive 'eyewash' as the drive covered only a few shops in the market, reports our Savar correspondent.

Sources said a team of Savar police with Azim uddin, additional superintendent of Dhaka police, Russel Sheikh, assistant superintendent of Ashulia circle police, and Sheikh Badrul Alam, officer-in-charge of Savar police station, started the drive led

by Abdullah Al Masud, assistant commissioner (land) of Ashulia, around 1:30pm yesterday in the Bipile bus stand area.

The officials visited only two wholesale shops and fined Tk10,000 to Jamal Sheikh and Litan Mia, both owners to separate fruit shops, for selling formalin mixed mangoes.

The officials also destroyed 200kg of mangoes of the shops which housed around 3,000kg of the fruit, said locals.

Locals alleged that the drive was conducted only in two shops out of around 50 shops in that wholesale market.

The officials also refrained from destroying all the mangoes that had formalin, also alleged the locals.

When asked, Abdullah Al Masud told the Dhaka Tribune that they conducted the drive in all the fruit shopsin the area because of time constraints.

The drive was intended to warn the dishonest fruit businessmen to refrain them from mixing fruits with formalin ahead of the month of Ramadan, the AC (land) added.

"We will conduct anti-formalin drive soon,"he added. l

construct tunnel pathway under Karnaphuli n CU Correspondent Communications Minister Obaidul Kader yesterday said the government would soon build a tunnel pathway under the Karnaphuli River to develop an industrial zone on both banks of the river, just like Shanghai in China.

He made the announcement while addressing a seminar titled “Technology in 21st century’s journalism: Bangladesh Perspective,” jointly organised by Chittagong University Journalists Association (CUJA) and private telecom company Robi at the Theater Institution.

He also added that the Karnaphuli tunnel would be a great achievement for the country, just like the Padma Bridge.

The minister also informed that out of the 190 kilometre Dhaka-Chittagong

Two held with Phensidyl, hemp in Chittagong

Donation cancelled over NGO fund misappropriation n Our Correspondent, Jhenaidah

n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong The Detective Branch of Chittagong Metropolitan Police arrested two men with 10kg of hemp and 100 bottles of Phensedyl on a city road near the old railway station in the city yesterday morning.

Acting on a tip-off, a DB team conducted a drive at the area around 8:30am and nabbed Md Siraj, 40, of Comilla, and Md Idris, 35, of Satkania upazila in Chittagong, said Assistant Commissioner Anwar Hossain of DB (Port), who led the drive.

After searching the duo, the DB members found the drug items in plastic bags, in which the hemp was wrapped in plastic and scotch tape and the Phensedyl bottles were wrapped with papers, he said.

During the initial interrogation, Siraj confessed that he was waiting on the road to hand over the drugs to Idris, said the assistant commissioner.

Siraj brought the drugs from Comilla to Chittagong via inter-city train Turna Nishita, boarding the train from Shoshidol railway station in Comilla around 2:30am.

He also confessed that he had smuggled drugs into the port city several times before, and had been involved in drug smuggling for the past two and a half years, added the assistant commissioner.

Quoting the arrested, he said: “They collect a kg of hemp from India at the price of Tk1,200-1,300 and sell it at Tk3,700 in Chittagong.

Similarly, they collect a bottle of Phensedyl at the price of Tk200 and sell it at Tk450.”

The arrested were handed over to the Kotwali police, and a case was filed with the police station in this regard. l

WEATHER THUNDERSHOWER WITH RAIN

FRIDAY, JUNE 27 TODAY SUN SETS 6:50PM

TOMORROW SUN RISES 5:14AM

FORECAST FOR TODAY Dhaka

32

Chittagong

30

25

Rajshahi

33

26

Rangpur

32

26

Khulna

32

25

Barisal

31

26

Sylhet

31

24

Cox’s Bazar

29

26

27

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

35.6ºC Rajshahi

24.4ºC Bhola

Source: Accuweather/UNB

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Jumma Asr Magrib Esha

Foreign donation to AISEDUP, a non-government organisation active in Jhenaidah, was cancelled as its executive director allegedly withdrew money using fake vouchers.

Mizanur Rahman, the executive director, also defalcated the employees’ salaries, claimed a number of the NGO’s staff.

Nazmul Haque, project coordinator of AISEDUP, said the organisation had been running a programme for people

Executive director of the NGO also defalcated the employees’ salaries

A bulldozer of Dhaka South City Corporation demolishes a billboard with mixed languages at Shahbagh yesterday to comply with a recent High Court order that instructed to remove all foreign and mixed language billboards from the capital NASHIRUL ISLAM

Brac to focus more on urban poor n Mushfique Wadud

With rapid urbanisation and the urban poor struggling to get basic services, Brac, a reputed multi-faceted rural development organisation, will expand its services to the urban poor in the coming years, according to its annual report for 2013.

Unveiled yesterday at the Brac Center Inn in the capital, the report states that the organisation feels the need to expand its services to the poor households in the urban areas to carry on with its mission to empower the mar-

ginalised.

According to the report, Brac has already extended its non-formal education and micro-finance services to the slum dwellers.

The number of urban primary schools nearly doubled between 2012 and 2013 – from 2,104 to 4,106 – with most schools situated in and around slums.

Brac’s total revenue expenditure also increased last year. In 2012, the total revenue expenditure was $448.76mn, whereas last year it was $545.27mn.

As the report states, Brac is running 8,060 “kishori” clubs – with 30,000 members – where adolescent girls can read, socialise, play games, take part in cultural activities and have open discussions on personal and social issues with their peers.

Speaking at the report’s launching ceremony yesterday, Brac’s Vice-Chairman Mushtaque Chowdhury said the organisation would continue its support for the marginalised people in the country.

He said private sectors could play a role in helping the marginalised peo-

ple, adding that Grameenphone, Standard Chartered Bank, Avery Dennison Foundation and Chevron were helping Brac in implementing its different programmes.

Mahabub Hossain, adviser to the executive director of Brac, said annual reports were very important for NGOs as they ensured accountability.

“Some quarters raise question about the source of funds and expenditure of the NGOs. The annual reports of the NGOs can clear up their confusion about the NGOs’ accountability,” he said. l

Explosions mark strike at Rajshahi University

n RU Correspondent

DHAKA

3:47am 5:13am 12:02am 3:20pm 6:50pm 8:17pm SourceL IslamicFinder.org

highway, around 72 kilometers have already been transformed into four lanes and the rest of the transformation will be complete by December next.

“Government has also started feasibility study for a Dhaka-Chittagong elevated expressway,” he said.

He also said officials and staff of the Communications Ministry would not be allowed to take holidays during the Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr to ease the public suffering.

The seminar, inaugurated by Chittagong University Vice-Chancellor Professor Anwarul Azim Arif, was presided

by CUJA President Humayun Masud.

CU Assistant Professor for Communication and Journalism Shahabuddin Nipu presented the keynote paper. The programme was also attended by ATN News Output Editor Pranab Shaha. l

At least three crude bombs have been exploded and a bus vandalised dung the strike enforced by Islami Chhatra Shibir unit of Rajshahi University yesterday.

The the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami is observing the strike demanding the arrest of the culprits behind the attack on their leader Rasel Alam. Rasel is the secretary of Nawab Abdul Latif hall unit of the organisation.

Witnesses said Shibir activists vandalised two buses including one of the university at the city's Bornali intersection and university's main entrance exploding a crude bomb around 8:15pm.

Earlier in the morning, the activists exploded two cocktails in front of second administrative building while police found an unexploded cocktail at the spot.

Later, Shibir activists and police locked into a chase and counter chase at the entrance area of University's Fine Arts building when police barred their procession at around 8:30am.

Shibir activists claimed that five of their party men were injured when police fired rubber bullets at the crowd.

Proctor Prof Tariqul Hasan said they were unable to hold the classes and ex-

A labourer tries to break a lock put by activists of Islamic Chhatra Shibir during strike on Rajshahi University campus aminations as the teachers and official could not enter their offices because the Shibir activists splotched the keys of offices with super glue.

Motihar police station Officer-in-charge Alamgir Hossain told

Dhaka Tribune: “Additional police were deployed on the campus to avert further untoward situation. The situation is now under control.”

He said police arrested four students from Binodpur area adjacent to the uni-

DHAKA TRIBUNE

versity suspecting them of being Shibir activists but their identity is yet to be confirmed.

On June 16, unidentified miscreants cut off the leg of Chhatra Shibir leader Russel at the RU campus. l

with disabilities in Harinakundu upazila for the past few years with the financial support from ActionAid Bangladesh.

As Mizan engaged in corruption, the donor cancelled the fund, leaving the staff unemployed, said Nazmul.

The unpaid salaries and other allowances of the AISEDUP employees add up to a total of Tk310,325.

Mainuddin Ahmad, a senior staff at the NGO, said the executive director had already sold a piece of land at the headquarters in Harinakundu upazila, but had yet to pay the employees.

When the staff pressured him to pay the outstanding salaries and other bills, Mizan threatened to sue them, he added.

The cancellation of the fund threw the future of 50 enlisted disabled people into uncertainty, said a caretaker of the disabled people.

Aminur Rahman Tuku, chairman of the NGO’s executive committee, said he resigned when Mizan’s involvement in the misappropriation of fund was proven.

Mizan, however, could not be reached over phone for comment, despite several attempts. l

Mannan: Police reforms need to improve service delivery n Tribune Report State Minister for Finance MA Mannan yesterday said major police reforms and effective trainings were essential to strengthen capacities of upazila councils to ensure better service for the people.

He made the observation while addressing at a national conference, titled ‘Upazila Governance to Improve Service Delivery,’ at Cirdap auditorium in the capital.

The conference was organised by think tank Unnayan Shamannay (US) with support from the USAID funded SDLG project.

Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) Senior Research Fellow Dr Mahfuz Kabir presented the keynote paper of the conference, which identified sectors where upazila councils have been successful in improving services.

The sectors included health, agriculture, women’s rights and disaster relief, as per data provided by Upazila Parishads and their standing committees.

The conference was also attended by the representatives of ministries of Health, Agriculture, Women and Children’s Affairs, members of Bhairab upazila council and the representatives from the civil society. l

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

Friday, June 27, 2014

Auto rickshaw snatching spree n Our Correspondent, Narsinghdi CNG-run auto rickshaw snatching has been increasing alarmingly in Narsinghdi as police are not doing enough to prevent such crimes, alleged drivers and owners.

An estimate said at least 50 incidents of auto rickshaw snatching had taken place in six upazilas of the district over the last six months.

Drivers said they run the risk of having their vehicles snatched at any moment. They are also afraid of losing their lives since the snatchers have also killed the drivers in some cases.

They added that they could not wholeheartedly depend on the police to have their stolen vehicles returned because police did not take action even after they were informed of the cases immediately and so they prefer not go to the police to register their stolen vehicle reports.

Auto rickshaw driver Alamgir Hossain, who operates in Hatirdia upazila, said: “Snatchers hire auto rickshaws in the guise of passengers. In many cases, they keep women and sometimes even children with them and so it is not possible to guess easily whether they are snatchers or regular passengers.”

“After reaching a convenient place, they steal the vehicles and sometimes even kill the drivers if they try to resist,” he added.

Auto rickshaw driver Ruhul Amin of Belab Upazila said: “After stealing, the snatchers call up and demand ransoms for the return of the vehicles. I have gotten my vehicles back after paying the ransom. In many cases, they do not

Jubo League activist murdered, 21 accused n Our Correspondent, Comilla

give back the vehicles even after getting the ransom.”

“Such crimes could be rooted out from the district if the police were active in catching the organised gangs involved in such crimes here,” he added, indicating that police were not doing enough to prevent the increase in crime in the district.

Another auto rickshaw driver Jahir Mila said: “We feel insecure when driving on the road because there is no guarantee that we can get back home after going out with our vehicles. The snacthers steal auto rickshaws and even murder the drivers if needed. Vehicles cannot be recovered even after informing the police of it.”

Police however said the communication system in the district is good and so snatchers from other districts who usually steal auto rickshaws, can easily get away with stealing vehicles from here.

Assistant Superintendent of Police AKM Jahirul Islam said: “Police try to recover a vehicle once they are informed that it has been stolen. So far, half of all nine auto rickshaw snatching cases have been solved. Police have been successful in recovering most snatched vehicles in the district.”

CNG-run auto rickshaw has become a popular means of transportation in the district. According to the local office of the Bangladesh Road Transport Authotrity, the district accounts for 3000 CNG-run auto rickshaws. Besides this, according to drivers, there are many unregistered auto rickshaws regularly operating in six upazilas of the district. l

A case was filed with Meghna police station in Comilla early yesterday accusing 21 people in connection with the murder of Nur Mohammad, activist of Jubo League’s Meghna upazila unit.

Union Parishad Member Osman Goni, the victim’s father, filed the case mentioning Chandanpur union Jatiya Party President Fazar Ali as the prime accused.

Locals said there had long been a dispute between Nur Mohammad and Fazar Ali centring the lease of Tulatuli Bazar and launch jetty. As a consequence of the dispute, Fazar Ali’s followers shot Nur on Wednesday. Afterwards, they attacked an injured Nur with sharp weapons to confirm his death, they added.

Md Ismail Hossain, OC of Meghna police station, said Md Mizanur Rahman, 26, was also arrested for his alleged involvement in the murder. l

Students of Balram Non-Government Primary School in Sundarganj upazila, Gaibandha attend a class under the open sky yesterday

School destroyed by storm in Sundarganj n Our Correspondent, Gaibandha Around 185 students of Balram NonGovernment Primary School in Sundarganj upazila, Gaibandha have been attending classes under the open sky for 14 days as a storm completely destroyed the tin-shed school building.

Locals said the storm hit on June 13 and damaged the classrooms and the bamboo fences of the school, hampering its academic activities.

“The school is in a dilapidated state.

We have written to the higher authorities, urging them to construct a school building, but to no effect,” said Headmistress Morsheda Begum.

There are frequent rains in the area during the monsoon, compelling the students to take shelter in the nearby houses. Also, the students and the teachers have to go to the nearby houses to use the toilets, sources said.

The guardians are reluctant to send

Youth fell prey to wrong treatment n Our Correspondent, Gazipur

A youth became victim of wrong treatment at a so-called clinic and diagnostic centre in Gazipur which has left his family in shatters.

Although the clinic and diagnostic centre located at Maona intersection was sealed off by a mobile court on Wednesday night following a complaint that the youth had to suffer a lot because of “wrong treatment”, he did not get back his organs which doctors cut during a surgery.

Sources said Zaman Mia, a resident of Pelaid village of Gazipur, had been admitted to the Shapla Medical and Diagnostic Centre after feeling

stomach ache on June 17.

After admission, physicians of the clinic told relatives of Zaman that he had been suffering from appendix pain and he needed a surgery.

Doctors and nurses of that clinic also conducted a surgery and they took more than three hours to conduct the surgery. After the surgery, the condition of Zaman started deteriorating.

On May 18, his family members took him to the Mymensingh Medical College Hospital where the on duty doctors informed Zaman's family that he had become victim of wrong treatment as he had not been suffering from appendix pain.

Zaman also faced a surgery at the

MMCH where he had to stay for 16 days for treatment. He is now in stable condition.

Habibur Rahman, father of Zaman, filed a case with the Sripur Model police station on June 17 accusing Doctor Mofizur Rahman and Director of the clinic Rafiqul Islam.

Upon filing of the case, a probe committee led by Dr Kamruzzaman Sumon, medical officer of civil surgeon office, was formed on June 18.

The probe committee submitted its report on Wednesday.

After getting the report, a mobile court led by Sripur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Sadekur Rahman rushed to the clinic and sealed it off.

Denying wrong treatment, Dr

Mofizur Rahman Fahim told the Dhaka Tribune that he requested relatives of the patients to do an xray test, but they did not comply with it.

“During surgery, we noticed that the patient was not suffering from appendix pain and we immediately referred him to the MMCH.” Deputy Commissioner of Gazipur Nurul Islam said they had sent the probe report to Directorate General of Health Services requesting to cancel the licence of the clinic.

Habibur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune that he had to spent Tk2 lakh for his son’s treatment. He demanded compensation from the clinic. l

10 Jamaat activists held in Gaibandha n Our Correspondent, Gaibandha Police arrested 10 activists of Jamaate-Islami’s Gaibandha unit on different charges from several places in Rangpur and Gaibandha early yesterday .

The arrested are: Shahabul Alam Kajal, 37, general secretary of Jamaat’s Sadullapur upazila unit, Shafiqul Islam Shafiq, 42, leader of Jamaat’s Sundarganj upazila unit, Amir Ali, 38, Jamir Ali, 40, Rejaul Karim, 48, and Harunor-Rashid alias Babu, 42, from Dakkhin Shibrampur village, Abdul Goffar Mia, 45, Abdul Hannan Mia, 45, and Abdul Malek, 36, from Baidyanath village, and Litan Mia, 36, from Jamalpur village.

Police said Shahabul Alam was accused of murdering Shahriar Khan, former general secretary of Awami League in Sadullapur upazila. He was arrested in Shanerhut Ekbarpur village in Rangpur.

Among the others, Litan Mia is accused of terrorist activities at the poll centres during the 10th general elections in a case filed with Palashbari police station. l

The photo taken yesterday shows that a bulldozer destroys a huge quantity of phensidyl which have been seized in different drives by members of Border Guards Bangladesh in Sunamganj DHAKA TRIBUNE

Ilish eludes commoners in peak season

n Tribune Desk Dinajpur Despite it being the peak season of municipality Ilish, fishermen are yet to start getgood catches of the popular budget announced ting fish in the coastal rivers.

The price of the fish has gone n Our Correspondent, Dinajpur beyond purchasing capability of Dinajpur municipality authority announced a budget proposal of Tk426,461,390, without imposing new tax, for FY 2014-15 yesterday morning.

Mayor Sayed Jahangir Alam placed the proposal in the presence of all the councillors at Dulal auditorium in the municipality building.

In the proposal, allotment was ensured to provide all necessary facilities to 2.65 lakh people living in the area, promising to eradicate public suffering.

Earlier on Wednesday, Mayor Abdus Sabur of Setabganj municipality in the district proposed a Tk9.12 crore budget proposal for the fiscal year, where no new tax was imposed as well. l

the commoners because of its poor netting.

According to UNB report, a number of fishermen said ilish is not being netted in abundance in the coastal rivers as the fish is not available.

They are frustrated as only small catches of the popular fish are being netted in the peak season.

With the small amounts caught per trip in the deep sea, fishermen fail to realise even the cost that includes fuel, food and others. Consequently, families of fishermen are passing hard days.

Sources concerned said this time

last year, some 20 to 25 trawlers loaded with hilsa came to KB Fish Landing Station, main ilish selling centre of Bagerhat, every day.

But the situation is quite different early in the hilsa season due to poor catching of the fish.

Lulu Mollah, a trader at the fish landing station on the town protection embankment, said they were getting one to two maunds of ilish against the daily demand of 500 maunds.

He added that the netted hilsa is not good in size.

Sheikh Idris Ali, president of Upakulio Matsyajibi Samity, said fishermen were facing financial hardship due to poor ilish cacthes.

He said during this period in previous years, four to five truckloads of hisla were sent to Jessore, Magura, Faridpur, Khulna, Rajshahi, Kaliganj, Jhenaidah and Kushtia from the fish landing station, adding that

because of scantly supply, the fish can not be sent to the districts this year.

Besides, the fish export to India from the landing station has registered a fall this year compared to the last year for the same reason, said the fish trader.

While visiting the main fish markets in Khulna, Bagerhat and Satkhira, this correspondent found ilish traders were passing very idle time.

Another fish trader Arup Kumar said the market price of ilish was three times higher this year compared to the last year.

The biggest size ilish fish weighing more than one kg each sells at Tk45,000-50,000 per maund while those were sold at between Tk35,000 and 40,000 last year.

Small size Hilsa fish equivalent to 700 grames sells at Tk 35,000 per maund while it was between Tk15000-2000 last year, he said. l

their children to the school in such a circumstance. When contacted, Aktaruzzaman, upazila education officer, said steps would be taken soon to reconstruct the school building.

Local Union Parishad Chairman Anwar Mian said the school’s reconstruction should start soon.

With the assistance from the locals and the teachers, the school has been doing well every year in terms of the students’ results. l

Two workers die inhaling toxic gas n Tribune Desk Two workers died after inhaling toxic gas inside a septic tank at Tamai village in Belkuchi upazila yesterday.

The deceased were identified as Babu, 32, son of Nizamuddin, and Shahidul, 30, son of Fazar Ali of Shialkol village in Sadar upazila, reports UNB. Abdul Hye, officer in-charge of Belkuchi Police Station, said Babuand Shahidul became unconscious inhaling toxic gas while cleaning the septic tank at the house of Abdul Mannan around 11:45pm. They died on the spot. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Long Form

Friday, June 27, 2014

7

Let’s be bold, Bangladesh In the face of extreme poverty, we have the knowledge, we have the resources.

Now we need to see some rapid, high quality roll-out of services and transfers

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

B

n Shazia Omar

angladesh has shown remarkable success in poverty reduction and achievements against various social indicators. Still some 25 million people, or 6 million families, live in extreme poverty (HIES 2010).

These people are not integrated into the mainstream economy and have no means to earn their own living.

The Manifesto for the Extreme Poor, a civil society document launched last year, called for the complete eradication of extreme poverty from Bangladesh by the end of 2021.

200 organisations across the realms of NGOs, private sector companies and donors, have endorsed the Manifesto and expressed their solidarity with the cause: the economic empowerment of the extreme poor.

Let’s not forget that as the extreme poor climb onto the economic ladder, this will create multipliers of growth within their communities which will ripple out to a national scale

Our planning minister pledged his support and promised to make Bangladesh the first nation in South Asia to eradicate extreme poverty. He said he will commit his ministry’s resources and efforts to support those projects and partnerships necessary to achieve this objective. He said the eradication of extreme poverty would be a priority agenda in the 7th Five Year Plan. He also referred to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s previously stated goal of the eradication of poverty from Bangladesh by 2021. Others, such as Rashed Khan Menon and ICT State Minister Palak have also pledged their commitment. All their pledges are available on youtube.

In the national budget announcement last week, the finance minister committed to eradicate extreme poverty from Bangladesh by 2018! He allocated Tk1,500 crore to extreme poverty reduction programmes. These are very positive commitments and they are progressive, redistributive and exhilarating. We are talking about making some real, rapid changes to benefit the most excluded people of

our nation. What an exciting time to be in Bangladesh! So what are the next steps?

The Manifesto for the Extreme Poor, developed through an inclusive and consultative process, has suggested a strategy drafted by experts within its pages. It suggests three actions. The first action is to give extremely poor families a transfer of an income-generating asset or skills training to enable them to earn a living. This transfer should be targeted to reach the right people. To achieve the goal of eradication by the end of 2021, one million families need to be given this transfer every year for the next six years. So let’s do it!

Reaching the poorest This is doable but radical steps need to be taken. The poorest are “invisible and silent,” living in hard-to-reach areas and evidence shows that much of the safety nets allotted to the poorest do not reach them. Shiree, a livelihood programme that is lifting one million people out of extreme poverty, works with a mobile-based monitoring system called the CMS (Change Monitoring System) developed in partnership with a local firm, MPower. The shiree CMS baseline survey (2009) showed that out of one million extremely hardcore poor beneficiaries, only 20% received any support. (And of course, that support was not sufficient to make any transformational change).

I am curious to know more about the finance minister’s plan. Evidence does not suggest that extreme poverty will be eradicated by 2018 unless some radical steps are taken. Are these steps going to be taken? How will our finance minister ensure that the Tk1,500 crore allocated to the extreme poor will actually reach the poorest?

The plan should be made public and placed under the scrutiny of suitable experts. The social protection budget is high, 2.3%, which is great news, but let’s make sure it is used in the best way possible.

Databases We need a system in place to identify the 25 million people in Bangladesh who are extremely poor. We need to make sure they receive the transfers they are eligible for and we need to ensure that the transfers are creating the outcomes we want. We need technology to enable us to execute this plan with precision, accountability and speed. The technology is available to allow levels of extreme poverty at union level to be generally available and hence for union chairmen to be held accountable as having a pivotal role in the rapid reduction of extreme poverty.

Currently the World Bank is working with the government to create a database for people living below the

higher poverty threshold. DFID is planning to work with the ministry of finance to develop a database of people who are in the safety nets. WFP is working at the upazilla level to identify regions with high levels of poverty that need to be specifically targeted.

These are positive steps.

Change Monitoring System CMS allows shiree to track all its beneficiaries (census, not sample basis) to identify who is successfully climbing out of poverty and who need some more assistance. This makes it possible to target easily and adjust support as necessary. Perhaps this sort of monitoring system needs to be put in place nationally. With the drive of the recent Digital Bangladesh Fair and the global buzz around it, I believe this is something we could roll out easily to track the six million families who are extremely poor and in need of immediate help. Such innovative use of technology for development may be just the tool needed to win us another nobel prize, not to mention global recognition, greater economic growth, a more inclusive nation and national pride!

Giving the poorest assets or skills A handful of program mes working with the extreme poor in Bangladesh (including shiree, BRAC-CFPR, CLP, REOPA, FSUP, Nobo Jibon) have had great success. These “pilot” programmes can offer best practices and models that work and should be replicated and scaled up. The government can partner with them, and with donors, to implement the transfers through the already extensive network of NGOs in the country. Large government projects such as Ekti Bari Ekti Khamar should be brought into the extreme poverty targeting effort. Local government offices should partner with NGOs and private sector companies. Union Chairmen should have a database of the extreme poor in their union, and they should be rewarded monetarily for every 10% of extreme poverty reduced in their area.

CMS technology will allow the government or implementing agency to identify and track the economic empowerment of all the extremely poor people who are eligible for benefits.

This can be used across the Ministries of Disaster and Relief and for safety nets. If a family is failing to climb out of extreme poverty, the technology will identify them so extra support can be sent in.

Nothing here is rocket science.

Shiree estimated the cost of lifting one million families out of extreme poverty a year, for the next six years, at 3 billion dollars. This is not an exorbitant amount for such a goal. Let’s not forget that as the extreme poor climb onto the economic ladder, this will cre-

ate multipliers of growth within their communities which will ripple out to a national scale. We are already growing at a fantastic rate. We can make the growth fully inclusive. If we can do this efficiently, every other developing country will follow.

Access to services The second action necessary as outlined by the Manifesto for the Extreme Poor is to ensure access to public services and social protection transfers.

Ensuring access to health, education, agricultural services, livestock and fisheries services, etc, are essential to create sustainable change. Here again, digital monitoring technology can enable the government to keep an eye on which families, or more broadly, which unions or regional organisations, need more attention. For social protection, there is already a strong commitment to reform and this needs expediting.

Illnesses or health shocks are the biggest creators of extreme poverty.

The poorest are more susceptible to illnesses as they are chronically malnourished and often working under hazardous conditions. Illnesses wipe out their minimum ability to earn money from physical labour and loans

The finance minister must stimulate job-creating, eco-friendly investments in depressed regions. With over eight million extremely poor youths in Bangladesh, policies should encourage the private sector to tap into the talent of an expanding labour force. Gender dimensions are critical and need to be handled with special attention if we are truly to eradicate extreme poverty and maintain a balanced society.

We have the knowledge, we have the resources, we have the national and political will. Now we need to see some rapid, high quality roll-out of services and transfers. The time is right. As the legendary venture capitalist Morten Lund, co-founder of Skype, said when he visited our Digital Fair last month, “It is exciting to be in a country where the economy is growing at 7.5%. Bangladesh has the technology and knowhow to eradicate extreme poverty and ensure that growth is fully inclusive.

Youths here are passionate and hard working. I look forward to watching where this country goes next!” Morten Lund was in town to promote Coder’s Trust, a project which will link one million Bangladeshi youths to online jobs.

Shazia Omar is head of advocacy at shiree. shazia@shiree.org

Illnesses wipe out the minimum ability to earn money from physical labour and loans taken to pay for a single treatment can throw a poor family into debt for the rest of their lives

taken to pay for a single treatment can throw a poor family into debt for the rest of their lives. Thus, health services reaching the poorest, and education to break the intergenerational transfer of poverty, is critical to success. An audit of the role of health and education services in targeting the poorest is needed.

Policies The third action outlined in the Manifesto relates to pro-poor policies. This includes strategies to encourage fair wages and safe working conditions, mobilise CSR funds, provide widescale vocational training and enhance routes for the extreme poor to graduate into formal employment opportunities.

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Friday, June 27, 2014

Kerry issues warning after Syria bombs Iraq n AP, Baghdad

Syrian warplanes bombed Sunni militants’ positions inside Iraq, military officials confirmed Wednesday, deepening the concerns that the extremist insurgency that spans the two neighboring countries could morph into an even wider regional conflict. US Secretary of State John Kerry warned against the threat and said other nations should stay out.

The United States government and a senior Iraqi military official confirmed that Syrian warplanes bombed militants’ positions Tuesday in and near the border crossing in the town of Qaim.

Iraq’s other neighbors — Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Turkey — were all bolstering flights just inside their airspace to monitor the situation, said the Iraqi official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media.

American officials said the target was the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, the Sunni extremist group that has seized large swathes of Iraq and seeks to carve out a purist Islamic enclave across both sides of the Syria-Iraq border.

“We’ve made it clear to everyone in the region that we don’t need anything to take place that might exacerbate the sectarian divisions that are already at a heightened level of tension,” Kerry said, speaking in Brussels at a meeting of diplomats from Nato nations. “It’s already important that nothing take place that contributes to the extremism or could act as a flash point with respect to the sectarian divide.”

Meanwhile, two US officials said Iran has been flying surveillance drones in Iraq, controlling them from an airfield in Baghdad. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorised to discuss the

issue publicly, said they believe the drones are surveillance aircraft only, but they could not rule out that they may be armed.

A top Iraqi intelligence official said Iran was secretly supplying the Iraqi security forces with weapons, including rockets, heavy machine guns and multiple rocket launchers. “Iraq is in a grave crisis and the sword is on its neck, so is it even conceivable that we turn down the hand outstretched to us?” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject.

The intelligence-gathering and arms supplies come on the heels of a visit to Baghdad this month by one of Iran’s most powerful generals, Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Revolutionary Guard’s Quds Force, to help bolster the defenses of the Iraqi military and the Shiite militias that he has armed and trained.

None-Arab and mostly Shiite, Iran has been playing the role of guarantor of Shiites in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.

It has maintained close ties with successive Shiite-led governments since the 2003 ouster of Saddam Hussein, a Sunni who oppressed the Shiites, and is also the main backer of Syria’s Assad, a follower of Shiism’s Alawite sect.

In a reflection of how intertwined the Syria and Iraq conflicts have become, thousands of Shiite Iraqi militiamen helping President Bashar Assad crush the Sunni-led uprising against him are returning home, putting a strain on the overstretched Syrian military as it struggles to retain territory recaptured in recent months from rebels.

Anthony Cordesman, a prominent foreign policy analyst at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, said that with Syria’s apparent willingness to now take on the Islamic State directly, “the

President Barack Obama’s administration will push the US Congress to enact legislation to give European Union citizens the right to sue in the United States if they think their private data has been released or misused, the US attorney general said on Wednesday.

Allegations of vast US spying programs have complicated EU-US ties at a delicate moment in transatlantic relations as Brussels and Washington negotiate a free-trade pact that would encompass almost half the world›s economy.

US Attorney General Eric Holder, who was in Greece for a meeting with his EU counterparts, told reporters that the Obama administration is committed to making sure that “EU citizens would have the same right to seek judicial redress” on privacy issues that US citizens would have.

Holder said he would work with Congress on related legislation. No bill has yet been introduced.

The support for the legislation is part of a deal under which European countries are expected to share certain personal data with US authorities for law enforcement purposes, including investigations into foreign fighters in Syria.

Polls: Erdogan would win Turkish presidency in first round n Reuters, Ankara Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan would comfortably win the August presidential election if he decides to run, according to two local polls which give him a 20-point lead over his nearest challenger.

The vote will be the first time that Turkey has directly elected its head of state.

Erdogan, who has dominated political life for more than a decade, has made little secret of his desire to be president.

If he assumes the presidency he is expected to exercise existing presidential powers to a much greater extent than incumbent President Abdullah Gul, whose role over the past seven years has been largely ceremonial.

His ruling AK Party will not announce its candidate until next Tuesday but Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said on Wednesday it will almost certainly be Erdogan.

A survey conducted by Turkish pollster Genar predicts Erdogan would win 55.2% of the vote, with Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the joint candidate of the country’s two leading opposition parties, on 35.8%. l

The EU and the United States have been negotiating since 2011 over a deal that would protect personal data exchanged between the two as part of efforts to crack down on terrorism. Giving EU citizens who do not live in the United States the right to go to US courts has been a sticking point to closing the personal data protection agreement.

EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding said Holder›s announcement was “an important step in the right direction,” but called on Washington to follow through on its promise.

“Words only matter if put into law.

We are waiting for the legislative step,” Reding said in a statement.

Since former US National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden revealed US surveillance programs last year, the European Commission has been highly critical of the way the United States accesses data, and wants to impose strict rules on how data is shared or transferred to countries outside the bloc.

A separate arrangement being renegotiated is the so-called “Safe Harbour” agreement, which allows US companies to gather customer information in Europe and send it to the United States, beyond the EU’s legal jurisdiction, as long as certain criteria are met. l

Residents look at the site of a suicide bomber attack in Mahmoudiya, south of Baghdad June 26 real problem is how will Iran, the Iraqi Shiites and the Alawites in Syria coordinate their overall pressure on the Sunni forces?”

Qaim, where the Syrian airstrikes took place Tuesday, is located in vast and mostly Sunni Anbar province. Its provincial government spokesman, Dhari al-Rishawi, said 17 people were killed in an air raid there.

Reports that the Sunni militants have captured advanced weapons, tanks and Humvees from the Iraq

military that have made their way into Syria, and that fighters are crossing freely from one side to the other have alarmed the Syrian government, which fears the developments could shift the balance of power in the largely stalemated fight between Assad’s forces and the Sunni rebels fighting to topple him.

Bilal Saab, a senior fellow for Middle East Security at the Atlantic Council’s Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security, said Assad’s immediate pri-

REUTERS

ority is to fight the rebels inside his own country.

“His army is already overstretched and every bullet that doesn’t hit enemy targets at home can be a bullet wasted,” he said. “Going after ISIL along border areas could serve tactical goals but is more a luxury than anything else.”

In Brussels, Kerry said Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki appears to be standing by his commitment to start building a new government that fully represents its Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish populations. l

Visegrad/Sarajevo, n Reuters, Bosnia Two concerts in two Bosnian cities will mark the 100th anniversary on Saturday of the Sarajevo assassination that lit the fuse for World War One, in a divided country where the past still haunts the present.

The separate events speak volumes to Bosnia a century on, where perceptions of the Bosnian Serb who gunned down Archduke Franz Ferdinand have been warped by time and politics, and wounds are still raw from the bloody demise of Yugoslavia.

In the capital, where the heir to the Habsburg throne was shot from a Browning revolver on a summer’s morning in 1914, the Vienna Philharmonic will play Haydn, Schubert, Brahms and Ravel in remembrance of the murder that triggered the march to war and turned out the lights on an age of European peace and progress.

To the east, in the Drina river town of Visegrad, Serbia’s premiere orchestra will perform Vivaldi’s summer concerto in tribute to Gavrilo Princip, to Serbs a hero whose act brought down the curtain on centuries of occupation over the Balkans.

Leaders of Serbia and the Bosnian Serbs have refused to join the Sarajevo events, saying Bosnia’s Muslim Bosniaks and Catholic Croats want to paint Princip as a nationalist terrorist and the Orthodox Serbs as guilty for the wars that opened and closed the 20th century.

Instead, they will unveil a mosaic of Princip and his collaborators in Visegrad, where actors will re-enact Ferdinand’s murder and the trial of his 19-year-old assassin, who died in jail of tuberculosis months before World War One ended.

The assassination “began the liberation from serfdom and slavery,” filmmaker Emir Kusturica, organiser of the Visegrad events, told Reuters. “I don’t know why everyone would mark the day in the same place when they look on it so differently.”

The row threatens to drown out those hoping to send a message of unity; Saturday’s events in Sarajevo will close with an open-air musical bringing together 280 performers from across Europe, including Serbs, under the title “A Century of Peace after the Century of Wars.”

“We would like to symbolically start a new century with an artistic act about

peace and love,” said director Haris Pasovic.

“We represent a younger generation,” said Serbian drama student Uros Mladenovic. “These people are carried along by the same basic idea – the victory of peace and life over all the bad things that have happened.”

Austrian President Heinz Fischer is expected to head a list of dignitaries mainly from around the region. Much of the commemoration is sponsored by France.

With the unity and prosperity of Europe tested by economic and social strife, leaders of the 28-member European Union meet on Thursday in Ypres, a city synonymous with the death and suffering of World War One.

Statue of assassin

On Saturday, the Vienna Philharmonic will perform in Sarajevo’s City Hall, where Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie, attended a reception shortly before their murder.

The Austro-Hungarians attacked Serbia a month later and the Great Powers - already spoiling for a fight - piled in. More than 10 million soldiers died as empires crumbled and the map of Europe was redrawn. l

Britain bans Saudi cleric who supports jihad in Syria

Qatada acquited

n Reuters, Riyadh

A Jordanian court on Thursday acquitted radical Muslim cleric Abu Qatada, who was extradited from Britain last year, of charges of conspiring to commit acts of terrorism.

But authorities will continue to detain the preacher because of separate charges related to a plot to attack tourists during Jordan’s New Year celebrations in 2000.

“The court announces the acquittal of the defendant for lack of evidence,” said Ahmad Qatarneh, the judge presiding over the three-man military tribunal, which has drawn the criticism of human rights advocates.

Abu Qatada, sitting on a bench in an enclosed iron dock, smiled and looked relaxed during the half-hour court session.

Dressed in brown prison fatigues, he was flanked by black-clad security officers.

Members of his family cried out for joy when the verdict was read and his wife and her relatives burst into tears.

“Thanks and praise to God!” they shouted.

Abu Qatada had previously been sentenced in absentia by a Jordanian court to life imprisonment for conspiracy to carry out al Qaeda-style attacks against US and other targets inside US ally Jordan.

Thursday’s session was a retrial in

Britain has banned Mohammed al-Arifi, a conservative Sunni Muslim cleric from Saudi Arabia with over 9 million Twitter followers, as it tries to deter young Muslims from going to join Islamic militants in Syria.

Arifi, who has called for jihad against President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, has visited Britain several times. British newspapers said this week he had preached in a Cardiff mosque attended by three young Muslims who have travelled to Syria to fight.

“We can confirm Mohammed al-Arifi has been excluded from the United Kingdom,” said a Home Office spokesperson in an emailed statement.

“The Government makes no apologies for refusing people access to the UK if we believe they represent a threat to our society. Coming here is a privilege that we refuse to extend to those who seek to subvert our shared values,” the statement said, without elaborating.

While Arifi has frequently spoken and tweeted about the necessity of helping Syrians in their fight against Assad, he has been careful not to call explicitly for Muslims in Saudi Arabia and other countries

Britain’s Cameron isolated in EU leader search

n AP, Brussels

US will allow EU citizens On centenary of WWI assassination, to sue over data privacy the past still haunts Sarajevo n Reuters, Athens

NEWS BITES

to go there in order to fight.

After the ban was announced, Arifi tweeted a link to a statement posted in English on his website, www.arefe.com, saying he rejected “right-wing media allegations that he may have contributed to the radicalisation of three British-born Muslims.”

He added that he was “vehemently opposed to the brutal methods” of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), which has staged attacks in Syria and this month seized towns and cities in Iraq.

Although Saudi Arabia backs rebels fighting Assad, an ally of its main rival Shi’ite Iran, it also fears that citizens who take part in the civil war may become radicalised and eventually launch attacks inside the kingdom.

In February King Abdullah decreed long prison sentences for anybody who travelled overseas to fight or encouraged them to do so, and ordered jail terms for people who joined or glorified extremist groups.

Arifi has long been a controversial figure in Saudi Arabia, where he has used his media and social media platforms to attack liberals, women’s rights, Shi’ite Muslims and homosexuality. l

n Reuters, Amman

which the prosecution had argued Abu Qatada was a mentor to militant cells in Jordan while he was in Britain, providing spiritual and material support to a campaign of violence during the late 1990s.

But the court quashed the conspiracy charges and postponed another hearing on the New Year plot charges until Sept. 7.

Abu Qatata’s defence lawyer Ghazi Thunaibat said he hoped the second trial would bring a similar sentence.

“My client has spent too long in prison unfairly and we hope the next verdict will finally end his plight and allow him to resume a normal life with his family,” he told Reuters. l

Many political battles are ugly — but toss in 28 nations, high unemployment, angry voters and a skeptical Britain and the fight over who will be the European Union’s next chief executive may have profound consequences.

Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron has set himself up for a stinging defeat as his vocal campaign to block the front-runner for the top EU job, former Luxembourg prime minister and longtime Brussels insider Jean-Claude Juncker, fails to gain traction.

Many fear that an increasingly isolated Britain could even choose to leave the bloc embracing 500 million people — something that has never happened in the EU’s history.

At their summit Friday, the bloc’s leaders are set to nominate Juncker as the next president of the European Commission, the EU’s powerful executive arm, which is in charge of drafting legislation, overseeing countries’ budgets and policing the EU’s single market.

Cameron views the EU “too big, too bossy and too interfering” and sought to block Juncker, whom he sees as the embodiment of a pro-integration, consensus-favoring, empire-building Brussels clique that won’t return power to member nations. l

French court approves extradition for suspect in Jewish Museum attack

n Reuters, Versailles France A French court on Thursday approved the extradition to Belgium of the French suspect in a May 24 shooting at the Jewish Museum in Brussels that left four people dead.

Mehdi Nemmouche, 29, has been held in police custody on anti-terror laws on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and possession of weapons in relation to the attack since being arrested in the southern city of Marseille on May 30.

Nemmouche had originally refused extradition, then later agreed to it provided that Belgium would not send him to a third country for trial.

His lawyer, Apolin Pepiezep, has said that Nemmouche was concerned that he would be sent to Israel, given that two of the victims of the attack were Israeli.

Prosecutors say Nemmouche was a repeat offender in France, having been convicted on counts of armed robbery, assault and vandalism, among other crimes, and spent most of 2013 in Syria fighting with Islamist rebels.

European governments are increasingly worried that citizens going to fight in Syria will import Islamist militancy on their return. l

UN appeals to Iran not to execute woman for crime as a teenager

n Reuters, Geneva The UN human rights chief appealed to Iran on Thursday not to execute a woman convicted of murdering her husband at age 17.

Razieh Ebrahimi, imprisoned in Ahwaz, is among some 160 people thought to be on death row in Iran for crimes committed before they turned 18, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said in a statement. More than 250 people are believed to have been executed in Iran this year, Pillay said.

“The imminent execution of Razieh Ebrahimi has once again brought into stark focus the unacceptable use of the death penalty against juvenile offenders in Iran,” she said.

Ebrahimi was married at 14 and gave birth to a child a year later. She says that her husband subjected her to domestic violence, according to the statement. She was arrested in 2010.

“Regardless of the circumstances of the crime, the execution of juvenile offenders is clearly prohibited by international human rights law,” said Pillay, a former international judge.

Jannat Mir, a 17-year-old Afghan, was hanged in April in Isfahan prison in Iran for drug-related crimes, she said, raising concerns about whether he had a fair trial, because he was said not to have had access to a lawyer or consular services. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

9

Friday, June 27, 2014

THE MUD PEOPLE

Pictures showing Devotees covered in mud and wearing costumes made from banana leaves attend mass as they take part in a religious festival in honor of St John the Baptist, also known locally as the ‘mud people’ festival in Aliaga, Nueva Ecija province, north of Manila, on June 24. Farmers coated in mud paraded in Philippine villages to mark one of the Catholic nation’s most colourful religious festivals AFP

Australia: MH 370 on autopilot when crashed n Reuters Sydney Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 was most likely on autopilot when it crashed into the Indian Ocean further south than previously thought, Australian officials said yesterday, as they charted the next phase of a so far fruitless search.

The new analysis comes more than 100 days after the Boeing 777, carrying 239 passengers and crew, disappeared on March 8 shortly after taking off from Kuala Lumpur bound for Beijing.

Investigators say what little evidence they have to work with suggests the plane was deliberately diverted thousands of kilometres from its scheduled route before eventually plunging into the Indian Ocean.

The search was narrowed in April after a series of acoustic pings thought to be from the plane’s black box recorders were heard along a final arc where analysis of satellite data put its last location.

But a month later, officials conceded the wreckage was not in that concentrated area, some 1,600 km (1,000 miles) off the northwest coast of Australia, and the search area would have to be expanded.

“The new priority area is still focused on the seventh arc, where the aircraft last communicated with satel-

lite. We are now shifting our attention to an area further south along the arc,” Australian Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss told reporters in Canberra.

Truss said the area was determined after a review of satellite data, early radar information and aircraft performance limits after the plane diverted across the Malaysian peninsula and headed south into one of the remotest areas of the planet.

“It is highly, highly likely that the aircraft was on autopilot otherwise it could not have followed the orderly path that has been identified through the satellite sightings,” Truss said.

The next phase of the search is expected to start in August and take a year, covering some 60,000 sq km at a cost of A$60 million ($56 million) or more. The search is already the most expensive in aviation history.

The new priority search area is around 2,000 km west of Perth, a stretch of isolated ocean frequently lashed by storm force winds and massive swells.

In a 55-page report, the Australian Transport Safety Board outlined a how investigators had narrowed down the possible final resting place from thousands of possible routes, while noting the absence of communications and the steady flight path. l

Daughter of S Korea ferry crewman kills herself n Reuters, Seoul

The daughter of a crew member of a South Korean ferry which sank killing hundreds of school children committed suicide yesterday, police and prosecutors said, in a tragic twist to a disaster that prompted a nationwide outpouring of grief.

The crew member, facing a charge of

negligence in the April 16 sinking, was granted temporary release from detention so that he could help arrange the funeral, a prosecution official said.

The 15 surviving crew of the ferry are on trial on charges ranging from negligence to homicide amid a public furor after video footage showed some escaping the sinking vessel as the children followed instructions and stayed on board.

The daughter had been preparing for years for a government exam, said a police officer in the southern city of Busan, where she was found dead.

“To become a public servant was my last hope, but I don’t think that is my way. Thank you for supporting me and I am sorry,” she said in a note left for her husband, the police officer said.

The Sewol, overloaded and traveling

Students line up at the gates of Danwon high school in Ansan on June 25. More than 70 student survivors of South Korea’s ferry disaster made an emotional return to their high school, watched by the relatives of the hundreds who died AFP

Southeast Asia fears militant fallout Sonia, Rahul summoned in National Herald case as Mideast conflict widens n Reuters, Kuala Lumpur/Bangkok Four gun-wielding rebel fighters sit relaxing on a wall, their faces concealed by scarves and ski masks. All are Indonesians who came to Syria to join the Islamist insurgency, the cameraman says, speaking Indonesian peppered with Arabic phrases.

He pans around and introduces them as a former soldier, a businessman, and a college student, before settling on a boy in his early teens leaning on his AK-47 assault rifle.

“Brothers in Indonesia, don’t be afraid, because fear is a temptation from Satan,” says one of the fighters in the YouTube video, which has since been removed from the Islamist website.

As Sunni Islamist rebels surge from Syria into Iraq, security officials in Southeast Asia and Australia worry the conflict is radicalising a new generation of militants, who are being influenced to an unprecedented degree by social media.

In the 1990s, several hundred Indonesian, Malaysian and Philippine Muslims trained with al Qaeda in Afghanistan and brought their skills and ideology home, inspiring attacks such as the 2002 Bali nightclub bombing that killed 202 people.

At least 30 Malaysians and 56 Indonesians are estimated by security officials to have gone to fight in Syria, although security analysts say the true number is likely higher.

Australia’s government estimates around 150 Australians have gone to the Middle East to join the fighting in Syria and Iraq, with some taking leadership.

Many, including those in the video, are believed to have joined the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), also known as ISIS, whose hard-line Islamist rebels have led a Sunni Muslim charge across western and northern Iraq, including the capture of border crossings and the key city of Mosul.

“It’s a growing concern,” Malaysian Deputy Home Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar told Reuters.

“Some Malaysians who may have been in contact with some of these people get motivated to participate. We have been arresting a lot of militants within the country.”

Malaysian police have arrested at least 16 suspected militants since April who they said were believed to have ties to ISIL and some of whom trained in jungle areas in northern Malaysia.

Malaysian media, citing an ISIL website, reported that a Malaysian named Ahmad Tarmimi carried out a suicide bombing in Iraq in May, although Reuters was unable to verify the incident.

Malaysia is investigating a report

by Syria’s permanent representative to the United Nations that 15 Malaysians fighting for ISIL had been killed, its Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said this week she had cancelled a “substantial number” of passports on security grounds in recent months and was considering further measures.

“There is a real danger that these extremists will come back home as trained terrorists and pose a threat to our security,” Bishop told the Australian parliament on Monday.

too fast on a turn, sank off the southwest coast on April 16 on a routine journey from Incheon on the mainland to the southern holiday island of Jeju.

Of the 476 passengers and crew on board, 339 were children and teachers from the same school on the outskirts of Seoul. Only 172 people were rescued and the remainder are all presumed to have drowned. l

Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Morocco and Russia are by far the largest contributors of the estimated 11,000 foreign fighters in Syria, according to strategic security firm The Soufan Group.

Official estimates of 236 militants from Australia, Malaysia and Indonesia would account for nearly 9% of the foreign fighters from countries excluding those four.

‘The final battle’

Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim country, has long been the epicentre of Islamist militancy in east Asia, breeding groups such as Jemaah Islamiah (JI) that carried out the 2002 Bali bombing and other attacks on Western targets.

The Jakarta-based Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict (IPAC) said in a report in January the Syrian crisis had inspired Indonesian extremists to an unprecedented extent, partly due to teachings that “the final battle” would take place in the greater Syrian region.

“We can see that ISIS is getting better, it’s growing and it’s widening its reach and influence over cities in Iraq - Mosul, Tikrit and then Ramadi.

Soon, God willing, even Baghdad will fall,” said M. Fachry, the chief editor of al-mustaqbal.net, an Indonesian militant website.

Abu Bakar Bashir, the spiritual father of JI who has since split with the group, and Aman Abdurrahman, an influential extremist scholar, have urged their followers to support ISIL in recent months. Several pro-ISIL rallies have drawn large crowds in Indonesia. l

n Agencies A Delhi court on Thursday issued summons to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and her son and party vice president Rahul Gandhi for misappropriating the funds of the National Herald newspaper that was shut down some years ago.

Metropolitian magistrate Gomati Manocha, while issuing the summons, said: “I have found prima facie evidence against all the accused.”

The court has directed them to appear before it Aug 7.

Apart from Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, the court has also summoned senior Congress leaders Motilal Vora and Oscar Fernandes.

The court also issued summons to

Sam Pitroda, advisor to former prime minister Manmohan Singh on public information, infrastructure and innovation, who also headed the National Innovation Council, a think tank to analyse and help implement strategies for inclusive innovation during the UPA regime.

Former journalist Suman Dubey, who is close to the Gandhi family, was also summoned by the court.

The summons was issued on a private complaint filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy.

Speaking to reporters, Swamy said: “This is a fraud, criminal breach of trust as they have managed to misappropriate the fund of Rs. 2,000 crore rupees.” l

Indian websites down n Reuters, New Delhi

Several Indian government websites were down for at least two hours on Wednesday evening, with the new administration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying technical hiccups were to blame and no hacking had taken place.

Modi, a Hindu nationalist who took office last month, has promised to make e-governance one of the hallmarks of his tenure.

The websites of several ministries, including finance, home affairs, external affairs and health, went down at approximately 1430 GMT, according to reports on Twitter by people

trying to access the sites.

As of 1645 GMT, some of the websites, include the finance ministry’s, were up and running again.

“No cyber attack or hacking of Govt websites. Some sites were down due to malfunctioning of equipment. Services being restored soon,” Neelam Kapur, a government spokesperson, said in a tweet.

When links for the websites were clicked on, a message saying “ERROR. The requested URL could not be retrieved” appeared on screens.

India’s ministry of information technology was not immediately available for comment. l

Indian Muslims sign up to defend Iraq’s shrines n Reuters, New Delhi Thousands of Muslims in India have signed up to defend Iraq’s holy shrines and, if need be, fight Sunni Islamist militants in the country where the civilian death toll from the Sunni insurgents’ advance is estimated at least 1,300.

Denouncing the militants of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) as terrorists, these Indian Muslims have filled out forms, complete with passport-size photographs and photocopied identification documents, to travel to Iraq.

Leaders of Anjuman E. Haideri, the religious organisation spearheading the effort, said they might march to the Iraqi embassy in New Delhi on Friday to deliver the forms. A Shia cleric is leading the effort and the volunteers want to protect shrines venerated by the sect in Iraq, but the group’s leaders say their cause is not sectarian.

Already at the group’s headquarters located off Karbala Road in a leafy New Delhi neighbourhood, picket signs of “It’s not Shias vs Sunnis (it’s) Iraqis vs Terrorists” have been prepared.

“They aren’t Muslims. Jihad means to defend. Jihad doesn’t mean to kill,” said Syed Bilal Hussain Abidi, a senior member of the group as he showed graphic footage on his cellphone of beheadings and bombs exploding in Iraq.

“We could travel to Iraq to form a human chain to save people from being tortured. We could fetch water and donate blood and do anything to save our shrines,” he said, surrounded by brightly coloured files stacked with volunteers’ forms. l

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Friday, June 27, 2014

CODE-CRACKER

No one should have to live in fear

Y

et another attack on the Bihari community a mere two weeks after the murder of 10 Biharis in Mirpur brings to attention the continued brutality against them.

A house was set on fire in Purbo Kurmitola Camp when residents participated in a protest against the chairman of the area demanding a smooth supply of electricity and water. Not only do the inhabitants of the Bihari camp live in much struggle regarding essentials, nowadays some even have to fear for their lives.

The Biharis have been declared as rightful citizens of Bangladesh years ago.

They were issued national identity cards in a recent project as well. And yet, they are still considered by many to be “stranded Pakistanis” and refused their basic rights. This must change.

Any trip to the camp would enlighten one to the terrible living conditions there. Many are deprived of housing and education facilities, and live in hazardous conditions every day. On the top of that, they are discriminated against economically and socially, and often have to deal with the fear of hate crimes.

We have sacrificed much during our liberation war. However, holding misplaced grudges is not the mark of a civilised society. These Biharis are Bangladeshis, and have the right to be protected and enjoy freedom from constant fear.

Biharis are discriminated against economically and socially, and often have to deal with the fear of hate crimes

Safety first

L

ess than 2% of the 760 apparel factories inspected by The Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety were identified as being vulnerable. Among the inspected factories, 59 were found to be critical and in need of remediation, but could be made compliant through corrective development.

This is good news for a country that witnessed the disastrous collapse of Rana Plaza, which resulted in the lives of more than 1,000 of the factory’s workers being lost, little more than a year ago.

The 2013 Savar building collapse worked to fatally expose the inadequate safety regime in our country, where RMG factories often lack sufficient technical equipment and the expertise required.

This new statistic is a good indicator that RMG factory owners have at least been shaken from their complacency and indifference to actually taking measurable steps in avoiding further disasters of this magnitude.

It is also good to know that both Accord and The Alliance for Workers Safety Bangladesh are performing their duties of inspecting RMG factories around the country competently, and are publishing their reports clearly and without much confusion.

Although it is good news that less than 2% of all the inspected factories were found to have been vulnerable, ideally, that number should be zero.

Making sure of workers’ safety is a continuous process, we should not interpret this new finding, however positive, as a sign that our work is done. We need to hold our factories to a higher standard than we currently do, and really make our workers feel safer, not just on paper.

This new statistic is a good indicator that factory owners have at least been shaken from their complacency

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

Your 9/11 is not my 24/7 June 20

Sammy I appreciate the author’s heartfelt article, but she too tried to overlook very evident facts: Islam as a political system has never been about equality to non-Muslims or women. It behooves serious authors to be objective as they lay out the case for both the good (about social injustice) and the bad (religious and gender discrimination) that is inherent in Islamic public law.

Kmak Sammy: As usual you relish in attacking straw-men.

The author is not talking about Islam as a political system, which historically speaking is a modern idea as is the concept of an Islamic state. She is talking about a religion based primarily on the Qu’ran that invites its followers to justice. Can you prove that the Qu’ran encourages Muslims to be unfair to non-Muslims, so that the Islamic political system, whatever that means, is simply an expression of the injustice towards minorities embodied in scripture?

Sammy Kmak: Glad you could get into the mind of the author and tell me what she is talking about, lol. You Sharia apologists are something else altogether, totally oblivious to reality and assuming everyone else is blind to how “Islamic political systems” operate. Since you are a believer in the Sharia system

Five girls violated in the capital June 22

vihan During our Liberation War, thousands of Bangladeshi women and girls were savagely tortured and raped by West Pakistani troops and their collaborators. But how many Bangladeshi girls and women have been tortured and raped, since then, by Bangladeshi men? What’s the excuse for Bangladeshi men to treat their own women and girls (sisters, wives, daughters, grand-daughters, nieces etc) in such a barbaric and bestial way?

Inoperative 500 beds medical at Mugda, Dhaka June 22

MAH In October 2013, the PM inaugurated a 500-bed hospital at Mugda, in Dhaka, for serving patients, but it is regrettable that the hospital is still not serving the public’s medical care needs. The required number of physicians, nurses, technologists, management staff, and other staff members have yet to be appointed to run the hospital. It has been said that Tk10bn was spent to establish the hospital to serve the public. The public now wants to know how long they have to wait to get medical care from this hospital.

I would like to draw the attention of the minister of health, a veteran politician, and ask him to make the hospital operational soon to serve the patients in need.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

How to solve: Each number in our CODE-CRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 9 represents O so fill O every time the figure 9 appears.

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

Some letters of the alphabet may not be used.

As you get the letters, fill in 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

being the kindest, most just, most equitable of all, I have no desire to help you out of your delusion.

Religious fanaticism is rarely fixed by being shown reason and evidence, as history has proven time and again.

Kmak Sammy: Given that the author at no point advocates Shariah or the Caliphate as the means of realising the social justice she speaks of, your damning of the Islamic political system is irrelevant.

Kmak “In the long run, irrespective of the number of followers, people will be drawn to an ideology that serves to bring peace in the world. If the Muslim community does not alter its approach, Islam will fast deteriorate into a cornerstone of religion-based separatism, and consequently, be less appealing in the contemporary world.”

Given the rising acceptance of homosexuality, should Muslims reinterpret scripture to make it more in line with the idea, accepted as a fact a priori, that that there is nothing wrong with two adults of the same sex engaging in consensual intercourse?

The contemporary world thrives on secularism, consumerism and individualism. How do you propose Muslims alter their approach so that Islam can retain its relevance in the face of these factors?

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

Formalin detection method ‘wrong,’ drive ‘unethical’ June 22

Vikram Khan And I thought poisoning people with formalin was wrong and unethical!

F138 I just checked the price of the Formaldehyde Meter Z-300. It’s at least $1,000, as in Tk80,000.

We know the fruit traders lie about formalin.

They are also lying about the price of the Z-300, which they claimed was Tk10,000.

What else could they be lying about, hmmm?

Khaleda: Govt is plotting to ruin education system June 22

Hamid Oh, absolutely. The government is indeed plotting to ruin our education system.

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Customary (5) 4 Obtain (3) 6 Water pitcher (4) 8 Prized fur (5) 9 Climbing plant (4) 11 Dutch cheese (4) 12 Rotates (5) 15 Metal (5) 18 Part of speech (4) 20 Spoken (4) 21 Divine messenger (5) 22 Raw hide (4) 23 Small spot (3) 24 Slender supports (5)

DOWN 1 Capsize (5) 2 Brown pigment (5) 3 Vegetables (5) 4 Network (4) 5 Swarm (4) 7 Happening (5) 10 Part of a church (4) 13 Consumer (4) 14 Illustrious (5) 15 Short gaiters (5) 16 Bird of prey (5) 17 Soothes (5) 18 Without legal force (4) 19 Deeply engrossed (4)

Breadbitten Hamid: You just blew my mind, sir. For reals.

Narrowing narrow space June 22

Zero-Agenda What if Facebook is the reality in which we actually exist, and our lives are just a hollow reflection of that?

Popularise broccoli cultivation June 22

PEANUTS

Md Ashraf Hossain The cauliflower is a winter vegetable in Bangladesh. Huge quantities of it are grown throughout the nation. The vegetable is very popular among the rich, as well as the poor.

As it is cultivated in large quantities in the peak season, its price comes down to such a level as to frustrate the growers.

Broccoli is another winter vegetable, but not much of it is grown here. The broccoli is highly nutritious, full of vitamins, minerals, and anti-oxidants. The Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC) needs to import broccoli seeds and distribute them to all cauliflower farmers.

The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) should encourage farmers to allocate half of their land, usually engaged for cauliflower cultivation, to grow more broccoli. The DAE should also, of course, pass on to farmers the knowhow of growing this vegetable. Bangladeshis thus will have greater access to the taste and nutrition of both broccoli as well as cauliflower.

Farmers will also get reasonable prices from both vegetables, as both will be grown in appropriate quantities. I urge BADC and DAE to begin popularising broccoli cultivation throughout the country from next winter season onward.

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

11

Friday, June 27, 2014

Secularism, thy name is Bangladesh

M

n Zeeshan Khan

ake no mistake about it; South Asia is a deeply religious place.

There are holy sites all around the region and holy days all across our calendars. Our governments issue “spiritual visas,” organise pilgrimages, and declare public holidays for virtually every religious occasion, no matter how minor.

Mass congregations occur annually, ceremonial bathings happen almost daily, and a famous temple town recently played host, in spectacular fashion, to a prime minister. People are routinely murdered for giving religious offence and state-sponsored (or at best state-unchecked) terrorism against religious minorities occurs frequently enough to make it an established fact of life here.

its psychological hold can be overpowering enough to lead to things like say, Muhammed Ali Jinnah being denied his legitimate right to become prime minister of India in 1947 solely because of his religion.

But in spite of all this and against numerous odds, at least one country in the region still flies its secular colours high, and contrary to popular belief, it isn’t India, its Bangladesh.

For all its pretentions to secularism, India’s commitment to the principle is often just skin deep. As mentioned, Mohammed Ali Jinnah’s religion disqualified him from becoming prime minister of India way back in 1947 and the All-India Hindu Mahasabha presided over the disastrous vivisection of Bengal on religious lines in the same year.

In fact, so low was India’s original interest in secularism that it wasn’t un-

At least one country in the region still flies its secular colours high, and contrary to popular belief, it isn’t India, its Bangladesh

Political leaders cannot appear too divorced from their religious backgrounds and religious leaders are close enough to politics to influence debates that surround the passing of laws.

If there is any separation of the temporal and the spiritual in South Asia, it doesn’t manifest very much in our statecraft. Indeed, the very foundations of our respective statehoods are religiously motivated, and while this may be less obvious in Bangladesh after 1971, our existence as East Pakistan is a testament to the fact that religious nationalism is a potent force in sub-continental political organisation.

Even when it isn’t institutionalised,

til 1977, with the 42nd Amendment of the Indian constitution, that the word “secular” was added to its preamble, a full 30 years after the Republic of India was proclaimed.

For context, contrast that with the Bangladeshi constitution, which has included the word, and the value, since 1972 – since the very beginning of our statehood. Even before we became a state, our nationalism was consciously inclusive and slogans and posters from the war of liberation testify to this fact.

The recent election of Narendra Modi, who stands firmly on a Hindutva platform, further exemplifies India’s indifference to secularism, and though

he has claimed his government will not seek to appease any religious community, his party’s reluctance to antagonise the Hindu right, his core vote bank, is evidenced through comments made in Bengal about Bangladeshi Hindus.

Neither Modi’s nor the BJP’s track record in dealing with extreme Hindu elements, the likes of which murdered Mohsin Sadiq Sheikh in Pune for being Muslim just days after Modi took office in Delhi, is encouraging enough to suggest that he will take a serious stand against communalism.

Bangladesh’s commitment to secularism was tested early on, and when the Saudi King, in a non-aligned summit in 1975, insisted that Bangladesh declare itself an Islamic republic in order for Bangladeshis to gain access to Mecca and Medina, the Bangladeshi leadership at the time refused to bow to communal blackmail, and chose to forgo the Hajj even at the risk of antagonising the Muslims of Bangladesh, an overwhelming majority of the population. That’s what a refusal to appease any religious community, even the majority, really looks like.

But this isn’t just about Bangladesh versus India. A quick glance around the neighbourhood will confirm that Bangladesh is the true bastion of South Asian secularism, even if increasing communal tensions on the ground threaten to undermine its well-earned credentials. Pakistan and Afghanistan are officially Islamic republics; Nepal was, until 2006, officially a Hindu kingdom, Bhutan is virtually a Buddhist monastery; the constitution of the Maldives only allows Muslims to be citizens of the country, and Sri Lanka is a country where Tamil Hindus were officially persecuted and people can be deported for having tattoos that offend Buddhist sentiments.

Even our nationalistic symbols contain nothing overtly religious. Our flag, unlike the flags of some of our neighbours, has no religious connotation. Pakistan and Maldives have the

Many forms of worship are allowed Islamic crescent moon on their flags, the triangular Nepali flag is said to represent a Vedic banner of victory, the flag of Afghanistan contains the Muslim declaration of faith, and the colours on the Sri Lankan flag along with the Bo leaves are religiously symbolic.

The colours on the Indian flag were originally religious but this was later reinvented, still the Dharma Chakra and the Ashokan Lion on the Indian passport are unmistakably religious in nature.

Nor is Bangladeshi secularism an imported concept. Mother England didn’t teach us how to be secular, in fact she never really had the authority to do so, not while her head of state,

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SYED LATIF HOSSAIN

the Queen, is also the head of the Church of England, and her flag is a collection of Christian crosses.

No, Bangladeshi secularism is much older and stretches deep into our history where Buddhist Pala kings supported Hindu scriptural literature, and Medieval Muslim Sultans sent Buddhist preachers to China. It’s reflected in the syncretic nature of our mystic tradition and in the composite nature of our culture and vocabulary.

In fact these are not just Bengali phenomena, but things that occurred all across South Asia once before myopic religious nationalism pitted us against each other and unravelled our rich, diverse tapestry.

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As more countries in the neighbourhood succumb to the seductive charm of religious nationalism, it becomes all the more necessary for Bangladesh to stay its course and remains true to the principles upon which it was founded - principles that are natural to all of us in the region and provide us with an essential shield against an encroaching one-dimensionality. If in the end we are the only country here that still holds aloft the values of pluralism and secularity, then at least there will be one country that still does, and that counts for a lot. l Zeeshan Khan is a journalist at the Dhaka Tribune.

S

It’s evolution, baby

18 hours on the road

n Rubaiyat Kabir

n Nadeem Qadir

H

ow many of us can claim to have never felt anger? Aggression even? Maybe bordering on malice? Zilch. That’s how many. As a species, violence is hardwired in each and every one of our synapses; we relied on it in our earliest years for survival, to adapt to hostile surroundings, to mark territory, to claim possession, and now, eventually, to just enjoy.

It should come as a surprise to no one that there is in fact an evolutionary reasoning behind our aggressive propensities, but in light of recent events, one begs to question: Are those very propensities experiencing an evolution of their own? Yes, I’m quite aware that we have a history soaked in blood, the very fact that “drawing and quartering” was a thing for a while testifies to that, but we have undergone a significant magnitude of “civilising” between the 14th century and 2014, surely that must count for something?

I guess the seven murders that were committed in Narayanganj is as good an example as any. Let’s set aside all the political bullspit for a moment and concentrate on the murders themselves. According to the autopsy reports, the bodies “were strangled to death and hit behind their heads.”

Furthermore, “there were burn marks

on their bodies.” And last but not least, “they were killed and then their abdomens were gored.” Sakes alive!

Survival has always been the most fundamental of reasons behind a human being killing a fellow member of its own kind, and as we evolved and thrived, survival gave way to greed.

Survival and greed: Curiously fitting words in the context of our country’s equally curious economic divide. Gah! I’m rambling. Better get back on track.

money is finite, while power is just an illusion trip; the violent recoil of a gun, warm vibrations sent through the bones from a dull thwack to the back of an individual’s skull, the driving feel of a sharpened blade cutting through skin, flesh, and miscellaneous tissue, these remain.

I’m not equipped with the statistics and charts required to make a call on whether we’re growing increasingly violent the further we grow civilised

There can hardly be any doubt that the ways through which we vent our aggressive tendencies (subject to each individual, of course) are adapting

Yes, there are countless motives that can be guessed/established behind the killings, but there’s another (more worrying) question left lingering that almost no one seems to be asking: Is it possible that the perpetrators took pleasure in the act?

Forget about the conventional definition of “reward” for a moment,

as a species, but there can hardly be any doubt that the ways through which we vent our aggressive tendencies (subject to each individual, of course) are adapting and evolving to fit within the framework of our societies. l Rubaiyat Kabir works at the Dhaka Tribune.

BIGSTOCK

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was most delighted to have been invited to the opening of the country’s first Surf Club in Cox’s Bazar by my very good friend Tim Steel. It went perfectly with my plan to take a break from work and enjoy the rain as well as the winds on the shores of the Bay of Bengal.

Little did I realise that the start of the journey would be so torturous and painful. But as they say, all is well that ends well. The Cox’s Bazar Surf Club was inaugurated by the British high commissioner to Dhaka, Robert Gibson, on June 23 amid drizzles. The whole affair made me happy but I could not forget the 18-hour journey from Dhaka to the Cox’s Bazar Surf Club by road.

Travelling by road and railways is not only within budgetary limits but also gives one the chance to enjoy the natural beauty that Bangladesh offers.

After a long day at work, I was finally setting out for a holiday, and that too to a beautiful resort overlooking the sea. My host promised that I would not regret coming to Cox’s Bazar for the break. I quickly got a bus ticket to Chittagong and I was set to start off amid the rain, till I was informed that the bus was stuck in traffic and was still some distance from Dhaka.

Finally, after 90 minutes, the bus arrived, and to my distress, the same driver again started back for Chittagong. I asked the driver if he felt tired or sleepy, to which he replied he was just doing his job. With efforts to hide my worries, we headed for Chittagong. At the break in Chaddagram’s “Off Beat” restaurant, I watched the driver drinking raw tea for energy.

I was somehow off to a deep sleep and suddenly woke up to find that it was already 9am and we were standing still somewhere. We usually reach Chittagong by 7-8am. Okay so maybe there was a small delay. Then, for hours, we moved at a snail’s pace or stood still with children onboard screaming in discomfort.

The guide, a young university student, said this was his first day on the job and if this is what the situation is then he will have to quit. He said he needed money, but he also needed enough rest for his studies. His hopes of finding a financial solution started to rust.

Finally, at 3pm, we arrived at the heart of Chittagong, with many areas

in waist-deep waters. I thanked God that I survived the first part of my journey. A good hot shower and late lunch at the hotel forced me to take a quick nap before my friends arrived.

I called my office in Dhaka to tell them to do a story on traffic jams and warn travellers about it. Then came my friends with stories about their homes getting flooded and the horrid situation triggered by the rain. It was wonderful to watch the rain from the hotel window without realising that the next part of my journey would have more to follow.

After a good breakfast, as I again prepared for my final journey to Cox’s Bazar, the bus operators called to say that they were cancelling all services to Cox’s Bazar due to inundation of roads at many points. I pleaded in total despair for a solution to save my long-awaited holiday. I got a curt: “Sorry, we do not know. You have to find another way to go there yourself.”

How helpful these so-called tourism developers are.

I rushed out with a friend to find an alternative. Local buses were operating. If I could travel on a bus driven by a man who had not slept for hours, I could definitely ride on this. But my friend was not convinced and said he wanted to try a few more of the luxury operators and found one, to our great relief.

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Robert Gibson said there was a huge scope for employment and investment here. Millions of jobs could arise from our tourism sector ... can we afford to lose that? In a country where there is great lack of employment for all ages, we can surely look into the matter seriously.

I congratulate the local investors PBL for taking this decision to make resort which is not a concrete jungle.

The Surf Club accommodation is simple with English cuisine. Tim Steel, the British tourism expert, said he would have a special menu made only for us. The resort is a good example why Cox’s Bazar should be developed into an international tourism destination.

Now that I wait to return to Dhaka’s jam-packed streets, everyone is advising me to fly back instead of taking the road. Robert Gibson tried his luck and congrats ... he was lucky. But for me it has to be a flight back. With a few strings pulled, my colleague in Cox’s Bazar found a plane ticket at an inflated cost as this was done in two day’s notice. I guess the private airlines are cheating us by charging several thousand more just because it was not done a week early.

The authorities must look into this matter too.

We may have a strange theory that the international exchange rate for taka is so low that expatriates will

Let our policymakers wake up and make our Cox’s Bazar popular by taking pragmatic steps

The bus was almost empty and we started for Cox’s Bazar amid heavy rains. The bus moved slowly and reached Cox’s Bazar after five hours – safe and in one piece.

The beauty of the unique Cox’s Bazar Surf Club and the warmth and hospitality of my friend Tim Steel along with his welcoming staff made me forget my ordeal of 18 hours from Dhaka to the beach town.

If I, being a Bangladeshi, cannot take this experience and decide to stay away unless the situation is improved, how we can draw in expatriates?

not mind exorbitant charges. We are wrong. They count every penny in order to travel to more destinations within a budget.

Let our policymakers wake up and make our Cox’s Bazar, or for that matter any other place like the Sunderbans, Ramu buddhist temples, or river resorts, popular by taking pragmatic steps. As for me, I will return with good memories of the Surf Club only and try to forget the trauma of an 18-hour journey to a somewhat paradise. l Nadeem Qadir is a senior journalist.

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Friday, June 27, 2014

Kaun Banega Crorepati 8 begins in August

Humayun Ahmed’s peers remember the maestro

n Entertainment Desk The new installment of “Kaun Banega Crorepati” will go on air in August, according to Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan, the host of the popular game show. An Indian version of the globally popular “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire,” the show has a huge fan following.

The 71-year-old took to his Facebook page to make the announcement Monday night.

“Yeh hai KBC ka naya aakaar… the new face of KBC starting in August… now been on since 2000, with a break in between and one season done by Shah Rukh Khan,” he posted on his official Facebook page.

Amitabh Bachchan, despite his stardom, manages to establish a warm and strong connect with the myriad contestants who come from different nooks and corners of the country to try their luck to become a “crorepati.”

This becomes an attraction to viewers across all demographics.

“You not just win money here…you win hearts too…At least my heart is always won over by the contestants! love all of you,” added the actor, who changed the face of Indian television when he began hosting “Kaun Banega Crorepati” in 2000.

The show, which is shot at the Yash Raj Films studio, will be aired on Sony Entertainment Television. l

Zahid Hasan, Shaoan, Mahfuz Ahmed in ‘Humayun Ahmed er Nil Podder Chhoya’

n Entertainment Desk A special talk show on late Humayun Ahmed titled “Humayun Ahmed er Nil Podder Chhoya” with the presence of his fellows and colleagues will be aired on Banglavision during Eid. The programme is anchored by his widow Shaon Ahmed.

The three-episode special talk show features Zahid Hasan and Mahfuz Ahmed in the first episode, Riaz and Ferdous in the second episode and SI Tutul, Selim Chowdhury and Kuddus Boyati in the final episode.

“Any kind of conversation on Humayun Ahmed is very precious to me and when the conversation comes from the people close to him then it draws special attention of his devotees too,” said Shaon Ahmed.

“The guests who attended the talk show are also very close to me though we didn’t get the opportunity to see each other for quite a long time.

Through the show I got the chance to see them again and the conversations took me down the memory lane,” she added. The programme is produced by Tareque Akhond. l

TODAY IN DHAKA Exhibition

Urban Experiences Group art exhibition Time: 12pm-8pm Venue: Bengal Art Lounge 60 Gulshan Avenue Gulshan 1

Theatre

Irsha

By Prangonemor Time: 7pm Venue: Experimental Theatre Hall Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy

Concert

Milon mistakes every girl as Romana n Entertainment Desk Anisur Rahman Milon mistakes every girl he meets as Romana as soon he falls for her in the single-episode drama titled “Shobtuku Tumi.” The play will be aired today on Maasarnga TV at 8pm.

Written by Ahmed Imtiaz Khan and directed by Shahzada Mamun, the story follows Pial, a young man, who seems allergic to relationships.

But as soon he meets the girl-next-door Moumita,

his boundary of restraint breaks immediately. He starts to live in an illusionary world where every time he comes across a girl, he imagines her to be Moumita.

Subsequently, he meets a female psychiatrist through his younger sister to solve the problem.

But as fate would have it, even the psychiatrist appears to be Moumita to him.

His perplexity increases as he struggles to find the real Moumita. l

Aly Zaker, Tisha, Iresh in Sholpodoirgho Pachali n Entertainment Desk A single episode drama titled “Sholpodoirgo Pachali” will be aired today on NTV at 2:35pm. Written and directed by Golam Sohrab Dodul, the drama features Tisha, Aly Zaker and Iresh Zaker in lead roles.

The story of the drama revolves around Kafil, a widower, who lives with his only daughter Kumu in a suburb. After paying for his daughter’s education, the family is left with little money to run the rest of the expenses for the month. Kafil decides to rent out a room located at the ground floor of his house to raise some extra cash.

A local gang leader Manik answers the rental ad and proposes to open a gymnasium there. An emergency prompts Kafil and his daughter to go to their hometown and on their return, they discover that the so-called gymnasium has turned into a “Satyajit Cinema Forum.” Kafil falls ill due to the stress caused by the turn of events and as Kumu has no money, an apologetic Manik arranges a film festival to raise money for his landlord’s treatment.

Finally, the successful show produces enough cash for the treatment and Kafil feels grateful to Manik. l

Organised by Alliance Française de Dhaka Celebrating World Music Day Featuring Abaji and local bands and soloists Time: 4pm-9pm Venue: Alliance Française de Dhaka Dhanmondi

Beyonce And Jay Z reveal secret wedding video n Entertainment Desk Beyonce and her husband Jay Z have revealed footage from their 2008 wedding day for the first time during the opening show of their joint tour.

The couple kicked off their “On The Run” tour in Miami on Wednesday night.

Both singers performed their own hits separately before joining forces for tracks such as “Bonnie And Clyde” and “Drunk In Love.” During the show, home videos were projected onto a huge screen, including one of the intimate ceremony held in New York six years ago.

The video shows Beyonce in a traditional white dress with a veil and Jay Z looking smart in a suit.

The couple married in secret with only around 40 guests.

The singers are playing a number of dates in the United States and Canada and will also play two dates in Paris in September. l

Parthibo releases third album n Shadma Malik Band Parthibo, has launched its third album “Parthibo- Definitive Album” on June 25 at the Incursion HQ Banglamotor. With a meet and greet with fans, the official launching was enthralling for the band and followers alike.

Founded in 1998, the band Parthibo has a host of amazing tracks to show for their musical journey in the audio industry. To celebrate their golden decade, the band brings 10 new songs as well as 10 remastered hits from previous albums in a special double disc limited edition package.

About their latest album, band member Rumon said: “We have tried to bring our best work so far in our third album. The album explores various genre to suit the taste of a wider range of audience.

In this span of time, we grew both in terms of maturity and capability, which surely reflect in the songs.”

Besides love songs, the album includes patriotic songs, motherhood and many others.

“When we got detached from the music world, our fans also fell out of touch with our music that is why we remastered the tracks to revive our songs.”

At present, the line up of the band is as follows: Rumon (guitar-vocal), Rony( key-board), Shubho (drums), Suttol, as a guest member (bassist). In 2005, Band Parthibo’s debut album “Baunduley” was launched followed by the release of “Utshorgo Nijeke” in 2011.

The album will be available digitally on www.incursionmusic.com as well as etunes. com.bd, Qinetic Music, Dugdugi Music BD, iTunes and amazon. l

Film

Transformers 4 X-Men: Days of Future Past The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (3D) Pompeii 300 Rise of an Empire Tarkata Time: 10am – 10pm Star Cineplex, Level 8 Bashundhara City 13/3 Ka Panthapath Members of Parthibo

Adam Richman explores ‘big food’ of America

Vidya Balan in disguise shocks Bollywood stars

n Entertainment Desk

n Entertainment Desk

Follow Adam Richman on his journey across the United States facing off against a pre-existing eating challenge at a local restaurant in TLC’s “Man vs Food” today at 4pm. In some episodes, Richman takes on food challenges involving very hot and spicy foods and also large quantities of food, such as a 5-pound-sandwich challenge. He finds places in each city to indulge his appetite and visits local landmarks. Richman interacts with local restaurateurs as they demonstrate the making of a house specialty or element of local cuisine. He gives a brief insight to the local community by talking to patrons at the establishments and asking about the most-talked about orders.

Episodes sometimes include a brief fantasy sequence where Richman pretends to be a character to psych himself up for the episode’s big food challenge. The half-hour show culminates in Richman facing off against an established local food challenge. Each show wraps with a fake press conference where Richman fields questions about the challenge as if it were a just-concluded sporting event or as if he had just won, or in some cases lost, a big award.

Adam Richman came under fire recently when he got into a heated argument with several tweeters. The Travel Channel star went as far as dropping the C-word and telling another to “grab a razor blade & draw a bath,” but has since apologised for his actions.

Bollywood actor Vidya Balan, who is all set for the release of her upcoming film “Bobby Jasoos,” recently took her colleagues from Bollywood by surprise when she paid them a visit on the sets in the disguise of a beggar.

Producer Dia Mirza shared the video of the stumpped reactions of Hrithik, Sohail Khan and Arbaaz Khan.

In the video, Vidya Balan first visits Hrithik Roshan, who is busy shoot-

“I want to apologize for my inexcusable remarks. My behaviour was unbecoming and unacceptable. I’ve long struggled with my body image and have worked very hard to achieve a healthy weight,” he told Us Weekly in a statement.

“Instead of responding to comments with compassion, I lashed out in anger,” he continued. “I’m not asking for sympathy, but rather understanding and forgiveness. I can say with certainty that I’m taking a deep look at myself and I’m incredibly sorry to everyone I’ve hurt.” l

Vidya Balan opted for her famous beggar disguise to stump Hrithik Roshan

ing for a movie. The actor is shocked by the interruption and demands to know who the person is. While Vidya doesn’t relent, the laughter of the unit gives away “Bobby Jasoos” secret.

Hrithik Roshan is shocked and unable to believe that it was Vidya Balan in the disguise of a beggar. The actor later wittily says Vidya, the beggar, needs a deodorant.

After Hrithik, Vidya goes to meet Arbaaz Khan and Sohail Khan who also have a similar reaction. The film is slated to release on July 4. l

Sp rt DHAKA TRIBUNE Friday, June 27, 2014

13

A different experience altogether

from Brasilia, Brazil

Whether in the stadium or in the living room in front of a television set, football fans throughout the world usually enjoy the beautiful game by remaining sitting but in the Brasilia Shopping Center you can watch the game in an unique way- by lying down.

The posh shopping centre, about one kilometre away from the magnificent National Stadium Mane Garrincha, is a favourite address for all football fans for its unique design and superb commodities. However, all the items flashing in the well decorated shops are relatively costly.

The market building is a 10-storied infrastructure brandished in green fibre glasses and is shaped like a dome being erected from the ground.

However, all the floors are not used for the shopping mall - only four including the basement are used for the purpose of the market.

When I was passing through the ground floor, I heard loud cheering

from football fans after a goal had been scored. Driven by curiosity, I wanted to find out what was really happening. Enjoying football in the pubs and roadside cafes are common but inside a centrally air-conditioned posh market, it appeared a little unusual.

I took the stairways to get inside the middle of the basement and was stunned to see the arrangement. A 20 feet screen was hanging on the wall. The empty space in front of it was covered with four-feet high mattresses. On top of the mattresses, 32 pillows were laid down. Each pillow had the cover of a national flag. In total all the pillows had the cover of all the 32 participating teams in the World Cup. You lay down in the mattress, rest your head on the pillow and enjoy the football in the big screen. What a luxurious way to enjoy football!

The market authorities made the arrangement to add a different taste and the pillows were handed over to the people on a first-come-first-serve basis.

The Argentine fans were enjoying their 3-2 victory over Nigeria when I was last there. They screamed out of their lungs when Lionel Messi scored the goals and celebrated their success by dancing wildly. The atmosphere were really a pleasant one.

Emanuel enjoyed the proceedings with his girlfriend. “It was different and relaxing. We shared a lot of fun and it was a new experience. I can lay down in my living room but lying down in a market with a nice pillow under the head was an experience I have never enjoyed before. The World Cup is full of enjoyment,” added the Argentinian fan. l

Fans enjoy watching the Fifa World Cup live on a giant screen at a shopping mall in Brasilia yesterday

Bigots or spies?

Getting to the meat of the issue

The World Cup stirs many passions in our hearts, including, the baser ones. I have a fairly public facebook page. People can comment on most of my posts regardless of whether they are on my friends list or not. Needless to say, I have been fairly active on facebook during the World Cup, and have thus been visited by comments of many kinds. Most comments are fairly pleasant and made with the best competitive intentions if not language. Some are, however, bigoted and nasty. Out of the latter kind one particularly sticks in my mind, as much for its idiocy as for its latent genius.

I gave a status update during half-time of the game between Algeria and South Korea, praising the North African assault of the previous forty-five minutes. One person commented that, and I paraphrase, dog eating Koreans could never beat beef eating Muslims. I was obviously shocked by these words. The commenter could have at least tried to be geographically clever and written mutton or camel, not that that would have made him any less of a horse’s derriere. On the face of it, the words carried neither kindness nor keenness. It looked particularly idiotic given that said individual was an Argentinian fan, and the pork eating La Albiceleste had beaten the goat eating Muslims of Iran the night before. Small work of a tiny mind I thought, and devoted no more mental capacity to the issue. That is until this morning, when I opened the papers, and a cold shiver went down my spine.

As many of my very few readers will

know from today’s news, the Islamic State of Syria and Iraq, which now control significant portions of Northern and Western Iraq and oppose the existing regimes of both countries, has tried to recruit Lionel Messi for their jihad. Messi has apparently become a favorite of the Islamic hardliners after his stupendous efforts in bringing last minute despair to the Shiites from Persia. So the idiot that made the dog beef comment on my facebook was not so much a bigoted simpleton, as he was a PR agent for Sunni jihadists. Scary stuff but exciting too, as my facebook page hardly features espionage and propaganda with such international flavor. I could literally smell the baklava before my execution.

Most people, including the Tribune, have mistakenly assumed that Messi is an unwitting target in ISIS’ brand ambassador drive. Some research into Messi’s life, however, has led me to arrive at quite a

Kamal becomes first Bangladeshi ICC president Former Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president AHM Mostafa Kamal officially took charge as the president of the International Cricket Council (ICC). The declaration came at the ICC’s Memorandum and Articles of Association in the ongoing ICC Annual Conference in Melbourne yesterday.

Kamal is the first Bangladeshi to be chosen for the post and 11th person overall to take up this prestigious position.

“This is a memorable and historic day for Bangladesh cricket,” said Kamal in a statement released in the ICC website yesterday.

“On this day 14 years ago, Bangladesh became the 10th Test playing country. Today, a Bangladeshi becomes the 11th President of the International Cricket Council. Thank you for bestowing this honour on Bangladesh and me.

Kamal was the vice-president of the ICC from 2012 to 2014.

Meanwhile, the BCB has congratu-

Wahed rescues a point for Mohammedan

Nadal gets Rosol revenge Rafael Nadal avenged his shock 2012 Wimbledon defeat to Lukas Rosol on Thursday with a tense and hard-fought 4-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-4, 6-4 win over the big-hitting Czech.

World number one Nadal did it the hard way, however, dropping the first set and then trailing 2-4 in the second before then having to save a set point in the tiebreaker. But the 2008 and 2010 champion, who lost in the first round to Steve Darcis in 2013, wrapped up a place in the third round for the first time since 2011 on a third match point.

His mighty roar and extravagant fist pump at the moment of victory, which shook Centre Court to the core, spoke volumes as the hurt and humiliation of two years ago was finally vanquished.

“I tried to keep fighting and waited for my moment,” said Nadal, after dropping the first set for the second time in two matches at this year’s Wimbledon. l

different conclusion. It appears that the simple boy from Rosario, far from being suddenly targeted by Sunni jihadists, has prepared himself for this eventuality since childhood. A Google search of Messi’s favorite food will yield this chilling quote from his mother, Celia Maria Cuccittini: “Lionel has simple gastronomic tastes: schnitzel, but not made with ham or horsemeat; chicken with a sauce made of pepper, onions, tomatoes and oregano.

He doesn’t care much for elaborate dishes.”

I have bolded, underlined, and italicized “not ham” and “chicken” for the readers’ benefit. It seems that little Leo has been weaning himself off of the haram stuff and going for more Islamic options since he was a toddler. It is not so much a wink and a nudge to the ISIS as it is a full-fledged overture.

This stunning revelation about Messi, and the earlier facebook comment story, teach us a lesson that we should never tire of learning. Never judge a book by its cover. Google it many times, and the truth, or some absurd version of reality, will cogently and elegantly appear. l

Mohammedan’s Wahed (R) vies for the ball with a BJMC defender during their BPFL match at Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday MUMIT M

A brace from Wahed Ahmed helped Mohammedan SC to recover from a two-goal deficit and earn a last-gasp 2-2 draw against Team BJMC in the Nitol-Tata Bangladesh Premier Football League at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

In-form national striker Wahed rescued the Black and Whites from sure defeat after midfielder Md Shapon and young striker Nabib Nawaj Jibon scored one apiece to give BJMC a 2-0 lead.

Mohammedan started the game without star striker Zahid Hasan Emily who was suspended for receiving three yellow cards previously.

The popular Motijheel outfit lost their rhythm at the heart of midfield as

RAIHAN MAHMOOD

Shapon cashed in and put BJMC ahead in the 26th minute tapping home a cross from Ismael Bangoura.

Jibon doubled the lead in the 56th minute after a slip by the opposition defence. Nigerian midfielder Samson Illiasu snatched the ball from Mohammedan defender Henry Felix and passed it to an unmarked Jibon who slotted past Mamun Khan from the edge of the box.

Wahed pulled one back for the Black and Whites from a rebounder at the hour mark after Ariful’s cross from the right side hit the sidebar.

Wahed netted his second in the 93rd minute to take his goal tally to 11 in the season, heading home a corner from Manik.

Mohammedan remained at third position with 36 points from 21 matches while BJMC are seventh with 21 points from the same number of games. l

lated Kamal on becoming the new president of world cricket’s governing body.

BCB president Nazmul Hasan through a media release yesterday said it was a proud moment for everyone associated with Bangladesh cricket.

“Today (yesterday) is a momentous occasion because for the first time we have a Bangladeshi as ICC President.

This is an honour for the nation. On behalf of the BCB I extend our very best wishes to Kamal,” said Nazmul in the BCB press release.

“He is a man of cricket and his affection for the game is undying. I am sure the ICC, Bangladesh and the global cricket fraternity would benefit from Mr Kamal’s enterprise and dedication,” he added.

The BCB also congratulated N Srinivasan from India after he was confirmed as the first chairman of the ICC. In a congratulatory message BCB supremo Nazmul said Srinivasan’s dynamism and vision will significantly contribute to the betterment of international cricket. l

Srinivasan elected new ICC chairman Controversial Indian cricket chief N. Srinivasan said his conscience was clear after being elected Thursday as the new ICC chairman despite figuring in a corruption inquiry.

The powerful industrialist was appointed despite being suspended by India’s Supreme Court as the country’s top cricket official after being named in a damning report into corruption allegations in the Indian Premier League.

His ascension to the top job follows changes last February to the governance of the ICC, which handed the majority of power and revenues to the sport’s “big three” nations -- India, Australia and England.

Under the new structure, an ICC executive committee has been formed, chaired by Cricket Australia head Wally Edwards, with England’s Giles Clarke heading up the finance and commercial affairs committee. l

14

Sp rt DHAKA TRIBUNE Friday, June 27, 2014

Shaqiri treble sends Swiss into KO stage

Shaqiri takes his place on the world stage Switzerland have been expecting great things of Xherdan Shaqiri for some time and the impish player finally took his place on the world stage with a superb hat-trick in the 3-0 win over Honduras on Wednesday.

For many Swiss fans it has been a long time coming. The cheeky and instinctive Kosovo-born player, who looks as if he might have learned the game on the streets of South America, made his international debut as an 18-year-old and was still a teenager when he was voted Switzerland’s Player of the Year in 2011.

Since then, the 22-year-old has shown flashes of brilliance on the international stage, including a hat-trick in a Euro 2012 qualifier against Bulgaria, and for his club Bayern Munich, but has not shone on a consistent basis.

A lack of playing time for Bayern this season coupled with some frustrating muscular injuries had even begun to spark concern that he could become another player of unfulfilled potential.

His first two performances at the World Cup were disappointing and Shaqiri complained about the raised expectations on the eve of Wednesday’s game in Manaus. “It doesn’t all depend on me,” he said. “It gets on my nerves that more critical things are written about me than the others.”

But in Manaus, Shaqiri gave the performance that everyone had been waiting for, helping to send the Swiss into the knockout stages as Group E runners-up.

His opening goal after six minutes was not dissimilar to Lionel Messi’s effort against Iran as he collected the ball near the touchline, held off his marker, cut inside and fired a dipping left-foot shot into the net from 25 metres.

That was followed by two clinical finishes, both with his left foot, from passes supplied by Josip Drmic to make him the first Switzerland player to score a hat-trick at the World Cup since Josef Huegi against Austria in 1954.

There was much more to his performance than the goals, however.

Shaqiri twice set up clearcut chances for Drmic by cleverly threading the ball through the Honduran rearguard and did not shy away from defensive duties, at one point breaking up a Honduran attack by dispossessing Wilson Palacios near the edge of the Swiss area. l

Shaq claims 50th World Cup hat-trick Switzerland to face Argentina in last 16 A rampant Switzerland reached the World Cup knockout stage and will locks horns with Argentina in the last 16 after a superb Xherdan Shaqiri hattrick gave them a 3-0 win over Honduras on Wednesday.

The result in no way flattered the resilient Swiss, who bounced back from their 5-2 drubbing by France to finish behind them in Group E while thirdplaced Ecuador and Honduras were eliminated.

It was a memorable match for Kosovo-born forward Shaqiri, who scored the 50th hat-trick in World Cup history and the second of this tournament after Germany’s Thomas Mueller netted three against Portugal.

“Whenever you reach the second round it is a great motivation and we are highly motivated,” Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld told a news conference.

“We are going to write history and we have already written history with the three goals today.

“It is not easy to play here. So many European teams have had to go home. It is going to be a match where we have nothing to lose and a lot to gain.

“We have to draw the right conclusions and improve.

We do have a chance, even against Argentina.”

Shaqiri linked up brilliantly with striker Josip Drmic who set up two of the goals after he was preferred to Haris Seferovic in the starting line-up.

The opener, however, was entirely of the 22-year-old’s making as he shook of his marker and unleashed a thunder-

Boateng, Muntari suspended from Ghana team Midfielders Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sulley Muntari have been suspended from Ghana’s World Cup team with immediate effect after they clashed with coach Kwesi Appiah and a soccer federation (GFA) official.

The GFA confirmed the decisions on their website (www.ghanafa.org) ahead of the nation’s Group G game against Portugal in Brasilia later on Thursday.

Boateng was sanctioned following “vulgar verbal insults targeted at coach Kwesi Appiah during the team’s training session in Maceio this week,” the GFA said.

Muntari’s suspension was handed down “in the wake of his unprovoked

physical attack on an executive committee member of the GFA and a management member of the Black Stars, Mr. Moses Armah, on Tuesday 24th June, 2014 during a meeting,” they added.

Boateng had shown “no remorse for his actions” and both players had their World Cup accreditation withdrawn.

Ghana can still qualify for the knockout stage if they beat Portugal and the result in the other Group G match between Germany and the United States goes their way.

Muntari was set to miss the Portugal game as he was suspended after earning a second booking of the tournament in last week’s 2-2 draw with Germany. l

5

Brazil were at the centre of a notorious brawl in Switzerland in 1954, when their quarter-final against Hungary became immortalised as the “Battle of Berne.” The result, a 4-2 victory for Hungary, has become a footnote of a match which is a strong contender for the dirtiest game in World Cup history. The match was marred by three sendings off and several mass brawls, and was interrupted by several invasions from Brazilian officials and media.

MATCH STATS

Honduras Switzerland Goals scored 0 3 Total shots 13 16 Shots on target 6 13 Corners 8 1 Offsides 0 2 Fouls committed 17 18 Yellow cards 1 0 Red cards 0 0 Ball possession 60% 40% pulled one back when Swiss defender Ricardo Rodriguez cleared Jerry Bengtson’s shot off the line.

It was a wake-up call for the Swiss and Shaqiri went close to adding a third, forcing another good save from Valladares before Honduras had a penalty claim waved away after Jerry Palacios went down under a challenge from Johan Djourou.

Spurred by Mexican waves on the terraces, Honduras threw men forward and were caught cold in the 71st minute, when Drmic’s good work down the left flank presented Shaqiri with a simple finish from eight metres.

Benaglio kept out a close-range Bengtson header in the closing stages as the tempo dropped in searing heat, which did not stop pockets of Swiss supporters celebrating long after the final whistle. l

Controversial red card hurt Ecuador in draw: coach Ecuador coach Reinaldo Rueda on Wednesday blamed a questionable red card for weakening his team who drew 0-0 with France to become the only South American team not to advance beyond the group stage of the World Cup. Midfielder Antonio Valencia, Ecuador’s captain, was dismissed by Ivorian referee Noumandiez Doue shortly after the start of the second half of the Group E game after a clumsy but not malicious studs-up tackle on French defender Lucas Digne.

“We lost a very important man for our structure,” said Rueda, whose contract as coach is now up for renewal, at

his post-match press conference at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana stadium.

“It was difficult against France with all the virtues and abilities that team

MATCH STATS Goals scored Total shots Shots on target Corners Offsides Fouls committed Yellow cards Red cards Ball possession

Ecuador 0 11 7 1 1 17 1 1 40%

France 0 20 13 7 1 6 0 0 60%

has,” Rueda added.

He called for FIFA officials to evaluate the game and determine whether Doue should be allowed to officiate future matches.

Rueda also lamented the team’s defeat in its first match of the tournament, a come-from-behind 2-1 win for the Swiss. Had they held onto their lead, he said, Wednesday’s draw against France would not have meant elimination.

“That was our breaking point,” Rueda said. “It was Switzerland or us.”

Rueda, a Colombian who coached the Honduran team in the 2010 World Cup, introduced a host of talented young players who helped Ecuador qualify for the tournament. l

Antonio Valencia is shown the red card against France at Maracana yesterday

NOTORIOUS WORLD CUP EPISODES

SCHUMACHER’S NIGHT OF SHAME BATTLE OF BERNE

bolt into the top left corner which left Honduras keeper Noel Valladares rooted to the spot.

He made it 2-0 on the half-hour mark, steering the ball past Valladares after he was released by Drmic who missed two chances in the closing stages of the first half with Honduras constantly on the back foot.

The Hondurans, cheered by most neutral fans, were more purposeful early in the second half and nearly

To say that German goalkeeper Harald ‘Toni’ Schumacher left an indelible imprint on the 1982 tournament would be an understatement. The curly-haired netminder became a hate figure in the 58th minute of the semi-final with France with the match level at 1-1 substitute Patrick Battiston had just shot at goal only for Schumacher to charge and elbow him deliberately in the head. Battiston slumped unconscious to the ground and required minutes of treatment. Battiston was stretchered off the pitch accompanied by his close friend Michel Platini. He suffered three broken teeth and a damaged vertebra. “Tell him I’ll pay for the crowns,” was Schumacher’s unrepentant response after the match

‘HAND OF GOD’ STRIKES DOWN THE LAND OF ‘GOD SAVE THE QUEEN’ The 1986 World Cup was all about Diego Maradona, the very good and the very bad side of him. Both were seen in the quarter-final against England, the very good being his extraordinary individual goal that put them 2-0 up in a game they would win 2-1.

However, his first goal is equally as famous but for all the wrong reasons as somehow he managed to beat the far taller England goalkeeper Peter Shilton in the air and the ball went into the net.

RIJKAARD AND VOLLER SPIT SPAT Matches between Germany and the Netherlands were always high-octane affairs dating back to the brutal Nazi Occupation during World War II. This last 16 game in the 1990 finals was no exception as Dutch defender Frank Rijkaard and German striker Rudi Voller two of the most respected players at the time enjoyed their moment of notoriety. Tempers boiled over early on with Rijkaard being booked for a foul on Voller, the Dutchman reacting by spitting at the back of the perm-haired striker’s head.

ZIDANE LOSES HIS HEAD Zinedine Zidane was seen as a role model and an icon in France. The 2006 World Cup final appeared to be the ideal setting for perhaps their greatest ever player to bid farewell and perhaps add a second World Cup to the one he had won in 1998. All started well with him opening the scoring but Marco Materazzi levelled and an increasingly fractious game went into extra-time. Zidane unable to take any more of his remarks about his sister headbutted him in the chest 10 minutes from the end of extra-time.

Sp rt

15

DHAKA TRIBUNE Friday, June 27, 2014

Messi charms once lukewarm Argentines Lionel Messi’s brilliant World Cup form is banishing memories of the goal drought the mercurial striker suffered in South Africa four years ago and electrifying one-time wary Argentine hearts.

Over the years, the reticent striker has struggled to arouse passions in the homeland he departed at 13 to join the Barcelona academy in Spain, leaving larger-than-life Diego Maradona as the undisputed Argentine soccer idol.

Messi’s sparkling career at Barcelona had seemed faraway for many compatriots, given he was not a familiar figure who rose up through local teams like Maradona and most of the other South American greats did before heading to Europe.

A quiet World Cup debut in 2006 and chequered tournament in 2010, where he failed to score and Argentina were thrashed 4-0 by Germany in the quarter-finals, compounded that schism between his global glory and sometimes lukewarm local sentiment.

But with Messi banging the goals in during this World Cup qualifiers, and scoring four in Argentina’s three wins so far at the tournament in Brazil, the four-times World Player of the Year appears to be winning over the few remaining holdouts.

“He’s saved us!,” gushed grinning Paula Arganaras, a 24-year-old shopworker who has not missed an Argentine World Cup game so far. “He was born with something special,” she said hours after Messi netted two in the 3-2 win over Nigeria.

Evidence of a now ballooning love affair is everywhere.

The 27-year-old’s birthday on Tuesday was an all-day celebration for many TV channels. His face smiles down from billboards throughout the capital Buenos Aires.

Kids proudly prance around in their number 10 jerseys and fans carry lifesize cardboard cutouts of him.

The adulation, though, inevitably hits a historic roadblock.

“Of course, Maradona first,” Arganaras said. “For now, at the moment, it’s Messi, but Maradona is always in our hearts.” And therein lies the essence of Messi’s conundrum at home.

While Argentines marvel over the striker’s seemingly impossible goals and deft dribbling, he cannot whip up quite the same fervour as the man he is constantly compared with.

To start with, he would have to win a World Cup as Maradona did, almost single-handedly in an average team, in 1986.

And the Maradona story, born in a grimy slum and later struggling with addictions to drugs and alcohol, is a tale of human flamboyance and flaws that everyone knows and can quickly identify with - love him or hate him.

By contrast, clean-cut and quiet Messi, a devoted partner and father, keeps his cards close to his chest. Some say the country should just get used to Messi’s tamer style off the pitch.

“He’s not very demonstrative but in his way he’s proving he does have passion,” Fernando Hernandez, a 42-yearold lawyer, said as he watched a game on a giant screen set up in a central Buenos Aires plaza.

“In 2010... Messi seemed almost in-

Magical Messi set to surpass Maradona Argentine talisman Lionel Messi is destined to go past a quartet of his fellow legendary countrymen in Gabriel Batistuta, Diego Maradona, Guillermo Stabile and Mario Kempes, at least in terms of scoring World Cup goals.

Batistuta is the leading Argentine scorer in the World Cup with 10 goals followed

by Maradona and Stabile, who both have eight goals each. Kempes is a spot behind in third with six goals, all scored in the title-winning 1978 World Cup. Messi has scored four goals so far in this World Cup, netting twice against Nigeria and one each against Iran and Bosnia to go with his single strike against Serbia in the 2006 World Cup when he came on as a substitute in a convincing 6-0 win.

He was a dejected

different. His attitude has changed,” he added, as blue-and-white streamers fluttered around him.

Indeed, Messi’s primeval scream of joy when he scored his first goal at this tournament and seco n d ever in a World Cup, versus Bosnia, seemed it might be heard in Buenos Aires.

Whether a fired-up Messi can actually bring home a medal - on arch-rival Brazil soil to boot is the tantalising question on everyone’s lips. Argentina have not lifted the trophy again since Maradona brought it home almost three decades ago.

Clearly sensitive to his image at home, Messi has always gone out of his way to stress he pours his soul into playing for Argentina and is evidently hungry for the ultimate win. But he is yet to win all his compatriots over.

“He’s lacking... “ 48-year-old kiosk worker Claudia Salinas said, hesitating before adding: “Argentinism.”

Salinas confessed she flat out “doesn’t like” Messi. “As an Argentine, I think the shirt weighs very heavily on him,” she said. “Maradona is Argentine. He wore the shirt with the guts that Messi lacks. That can change, but let’s see if he wants to change.” l

Heavy protests from the Brazil civilians revolved hosting the Fifa World Cup in the last couple months.

The civilians of the seventh largest economy by nominal GDP in the world protested the heavy investment in hosting the multi-national event as

WORLD CUP IN BANGLADESH PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST

Send us your photographs to WorldCupBD@dhakatribune.com

LEADING SCORERS Players

CARTOON BY RIO SHUVO

Fan Fest), spending a total of R$4.05 billion, around US $ 2 billion, in Brazil during the month-long event. Filled with visitors, the host cities reported a happy business for the restaurants and retailers.

Vicente Neto, the president of Embratur (Brazilian Tourism Institute) said the survey results are very significant. In a press conference he said, “It is an extraordinary human legacy, in the tourism sector alone, more than 50,000 jobs were generated for the World Cup, The numbers are surpassing all the expectations.”

Carlos Caicedo, Senior Principal Analyst at IHS for Latin America, however, said the economic gain is not as relevant as it seems. “We estimate that the World Cup will provide a boost for the economy of about 0.2 percent of the GDP, but this is rather small in the context of Brazil’s US$2.5 trillion total GDP.”

WORLD CUP IN NUMBERS

1

France have topped their group of the first time since the 1998 World Cup.

50

Xherdan Shaqiri has scored the 50th hat-trick in the history of the World Cup.

5

In five of France’s last seven World Cup games there has been a Red Card

2

Antonio Valencia has been sent off in two of his last four games for Ecuador.

4

Honduras have failed to score in their last four games against European teams at the World Cup.

3

Lionel Messi is the second Argentine player to score in all three WC group games

32

All 32 competing teams at the 2014 World Cup have found the back of the net

1

Nigeria are the first African team to score more than once against Argentina in a WC match

5

Nigeria v Argentina is the first match in WC history to see both teams score in the opening five minutes

Star Sports 1, 4 For more info visit our FB event page ‘World Cup in Bangladesh’ Photography Contest

Players

WC Goals

Gabriel Batistuta

10

Diego Maradona

8

Guillermo Stábile

8

Mario Kempes

6

Lionel Messi

5

Daniel Bertoni

4

Claudio Caniggia

4

Hernán Crespo

4

Gonzalo Higuaín

4

René Houseman

4

Leopoldo Luque

4

Jorge Valdano

4

GROUP A

DAY’S WATCH

Student, North South University

TOP SCORERS FOR ARGENTINE

P W D L GF GA Pts Brazil 3 2 1 0 7 2 7 Mexico 3 2 1 0 4 1 7 Croatia 3 1 0 2 6 6 3 Cameroon 3 0 0 3 1 9 0

Goals

Lionel Messi (Arg)

4

Neymar (Bra)

4

Thomas Muller (Ger)

4

Robin van Persie (Ned)

3

Enner Valencia (Ecu)

3

Karim Benzema (Fra)

3

Arjen Robben (Ned)

3

James Rodriguez (Col)

3

Xherdan Shaqiri (Swiss)

3

World Cup boosts Brazil’s economy they thought it would just add up to their existing poverty.

However, a recent survey conducted

by FIPE (Economic Research Institute Foundation) for Brazil’s Ministry of Tourism showed the World Cup is set to boost the Brazil economy by generating nearly one million jobs in the country and is expected to inject approximately R$30 billion or near US$15 billion in the economy.

A report in the Rio Times said during the first week of the World Cup, hotel occupancy rates in the 12 cities hosting the games were 45% above that expected by analysts.

Data shows that 340,000 rooms were occupied during that period 100,000 more than estimated by FOHB (Hotel Operators Federation of Brazil).

The Ministry of Tourism estimates that 600,000 foreign tourists and 3.1 million Brazilians are participating in FIFA World Cup Events (games and

man in the previous World Cup in South Africa as he failed to register a single goal.

Trailing Messi with four goals are Jorge Valdano, Leopoldo Luque, Rene Houseman, Gonzalo Higuain, Hernan Crespo, Claudio Caniggia and Daniel Bertoni. l

4:300PM, 6:00PM Wimbledon Championship

The Brazilian government reports that in all R$17.6 billion or around US$8.5 billion were spent in infrastructure for the World Cup, for urban mobility, airports, security and in the telecommunication system.

Caicedo said that major sporting events are not likely to have immediate major impact on the economy, rather the benefits are more mid to long-term, particularly infrastructure “Both the World Cup and the Olympic games (in Rio de Janeiro in 2016) will have acted as major incentives to address the country’s infrastructure bottlenecks.

“It is expected that within the next five years Brazil will have a larger and more efficient public infrastructure (airports, sea ports and highways), which will help to make the Brazilian economy more competitive by reducing transportation costs,” Caicedo added. l

GROUP B

P W D L GF GA Pts Netherlands 3 3 0 0 10 3 9 Chile 3 2 0 1 5 3 6 Spain 3 1 0 2 4 7 3 Australia 3 0 0 3 3 9 0

GROUP C

P W D L GF GA Pts Colombia 3 3 0 0 9 2 9 Greece 3 1 1 1 2 4 4 Ivory Coast 3 1 0 2 4 5 3 Japan 3 0 1 2 2 6 1

GROUP D

P W D Costa Rica 3 2 1 Uruguay 3 2 0 Italy 3 1 0 England 3 0 1

L GF GA Pts 0 4 1 7 1 4 4 6 2 2 3 3 2 2 4 1

GROUP E

P W D France 3 2 1 Switzerland 3 2 0 Ecuador 3 1 1 Honduras 3 0 0

L GF GA Pts 0 8 2 7 1 7 6 6 1 3 3 4 3 1 8 0

GROUP F

P W D L GF GA Pts Argentina 3 3 0 0 6 3 9 Nigeria 3 1 1 1 3 3 4 Iran 3 1 0 2 4 4 3 Bosnia 3 0 1 2 1 4 1

GROUP G

P W D L GF GA Pts Germany 3 2 1 0 7 2 7 USA 3 1 1 1 4 4 4 Portugal 3 1 1 1 4 7 4 Ghana 3 0 1 2 4 6 1

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE Friday, June 27, 2014 DHAKA TRIBUNE Monday, June 16, 2014

13 Different experience altogether

14 Shaqiri treble sends Swiss into KO stage

Sport

15 Magical Messi set to surpass Maradona

Portugal’s win goes in vain from Brasilia, Brazil Fifa world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo’s late strike in the 2-1 win over Ghana was not enough for Portugal as USA progressed to the second round from Group G despite going down to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Germany on Thursday. The Portuguese paid heavy toll for its 4-0 thrashing to Germany in their first match.

Portugal beat Ghana 2-1 in Brasilia to take their points tally to four from the stipulated three group matches but USA, who had also garnered the same points, went through by virtue of their superior goal difference. USA’s goal

difference stood at zero while Portugal had -3 by the final round of games in Group G. Hence, Ronaldo and Co had to take the exit door as well as Ghana, who played well but lacked the cutting edge.

The enterprising affair saw Ronaldo cursing his luck in the sixth minute when his attempted cross swerved reversely and kissed the Ghanaian crosspiece. Ronaldo was visibly frustrated and shook his head in dismay.

The 29-year old Real Madrid superstar was denied again in the 20th minute by the Ghanaian goalkeeper Fatawu Dauda. The overlapping right-back Joao Pereira danced down his flank and whipped in a neat cross for Ronaldo whose powerful header from point-

blank range pulled out the best from Dauda, who managed to fist it away with a quick reflex save.

The Black Stars, missing Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng who were suspended by the Ghana Football Association due to disciplinary reasons after their second group game against Germany, waited for their chances before penetrating the Portugal defence marshaled by Bruno Alves - in the 21st minute. Asamoah Gyan made his way past Alves and tried to slice his effort between the legs of Portuguese goalie Beto. Beto somehow managed to kick it out.

The balance of the game hurled down in Portugal’s favour in the 30th minute with the own goal of Ghanaian

defender John Boye. Portuguese midfielder Miguel Veloso saw the left flank open and initiated a 20-yard run before curving in a cross for the waiting Ronaldo but Boye, who attempted a backward aerial clearance, sent the ball into the net courtesy the side post.

Charged up by the unexpected present, Portugal heaped more pressure on their opponents and in the 35th minute, Ronaldo side-footed a ball towards the path of midfielder Ruben Amorim who rifled a grounder past the outside netting.

Ghana gradually grew in confidence and in the 40th minute Christian Atsu, after playing a neat one-two with Gyan, came dangerously close but his curling effort missed the far post.

The confidence was clearly evident following the resumption as Ghana pressed forward in search of the equaliser and duly grabbed it. It was an all-Asamoah affair as midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah shrugged off the challenge in the right flank and cut a low cross to Gyan whose diving header left Beto helpless.

But at the end of the road, lady-luck finally smiled on Portugal when Ronaldo blasted the winner in the 80th minute. Nani charged down the left flank and whipped in a curling cross right at the top of the six-yard box. Ghana defender Jonathan Mensah headed the ball as it went straight up in the air but Dauda made the mistake of not grabbing it. Dauda punched the ball down to an unmarked Ronaldo and the talismanic forward made no mistake rifling the ball to the back of the net. l

MATCH STATS Goals scored Total shots Shots on target Corners Offsides Fouls committed Yellow cards Red cards Ball possession

Portugal Ghana 2 1 19 18 10 6 7 4 0 4 21 16 1 3 0 0 55% 45%

Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo (L) is greeted by Ghana players after their match at the Estadio Nacional in Brasilia, Brazil yesterday. Portugal won 2-1 but were eliminated AP

Suarez kicked out of WC, banned for four months n AFP, Rio de janeiro Uruguay star Luis Suarez was suspended for nine matches for biting an opponent on Thursday as World Cup chiefs struck back with the heaviest sanction against a player in the tournament’s history.

Suarez, who sank his teeth into Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini during his team’s Group D win on Tuesday, was also banned from all football activity for four months and fined 100,000 Swiss francs ($112,000).

“Such behaviour cannot be tolerated on any football pitch, and in particular not at a FIFA World Cup when the eyes of millions of people are on the stars on the field,” FIFA Disciplinary Committee chief Claudio Sulser said.

FIFA acted as a new scandal hit the tournament with Ghana indefinitely suspending top players Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng following a dispute over bonuses. Ghana play Portugal on Thursday.

The Suarez suspension takes effect immediately and he will not be able to play in Uruguay’s second round match against Colombia on Saturday in Rio de Janeiro, even if he appeals.

The four month ban from football activity means he will also be prevented from entering the stadium for Saturday’s game. It will also hit his club career with Liverpool in England’s Premier League.

The sanction was the toughest ever handed down for foul play at a World Cup, surpassing the eight-match ban against Italy’s Mauro Tassotti in 1994 for an elbowing incident which broke the nose of Spain’s Luis Enrique.

It is the third time Liverpool star Suarez has been banned for biting players following incidents in 2010 in the Dutch league and 2013 in England.

He also received a long ban in 2011 for racially abusing Manchester United’s French international Patrice Evra.

“The Disciplinary Committee took into account all the factors of the case and the degree of Mr Suarez’s guilt in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Code,” Sulser said in a statement.

Uruguay football officials had argued against a ban, insisting Suarez had not bitten anyone and claiming the player was the victim of a media witch-hunt.

Uruguayan President Jose Mujica had led the defence of the 27-year-old, telling reporters on Wednesday: “I did not see him bite anyone.” l

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FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014 www.dhakatribune.com/business

Relocation of RMG units may ease pressure on capital n Ibrahim Hossain Ovi Relocating over one thousand readymade garment factories from Dhaka to outlying areas may help ease some of the severe problems faced by residents of the capital city, including chronic traffic jams and environmental pollution.

If such a plan were to be implemented, at least 15 lakh people, mostly RMG workers and their dependents, would be forced to move out of the overcrowded city, reducing ever-increasing pressures on it, according to data of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments.

They estimated that around 1,027 RMG units, employing nearly five lakh workers, are located in the capital, while there are 533 factories with about 3.48 lakh workers in Savar and Ashulia.

The survey was conducted among 1,560 factories in Dhaka district.

Talking to several workers, this correspondent found that each one lived with at least three other family members _ meaning nearly 15 lakh of the capital’s 150 lakh inhabitants are here due to the presence of RMG factories.

Among city areas, the highest number of workers live at Mirpur, which has 274 RMG factories, employing over 1.26 lakh people. Kafrul comes in second with 43,241 workers, followed

by Tejgaon industrial area with 33,172 workers. Uttara, including Uttarkhan and Dakhhinkhan, has nearly 74,000 workers.

According to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), 34% of RMG factories need to be relocated from the capital.

The apex trade body of the export-oriented sector has already signed a memorandum of understanding with China to establish a garments “palli” (village) in Munshiganj district for relocating RMG units, officials said.

n Kayes Sohel

Garment workers walking by a congested road as they rush towards factories in Dhaka “Most owners of factories housed in shared buildings want to relocate from the capital, but they are worried about getting connections for utility services,” BGMEA vice president Shahidullah Azim, told the Dhaka Tribune recently.

Azim said they had taken the initiative to relocate factories, but the process requires time and money.

He also urged the government to provide easy terms loans for relocation, adding that vulnerable factories would be shifted first, followed by units located in rented commercial or residential buildings, and finally, those that share industrial buildings.

“Most of the factory owners are busy in making their factories compliant, that is why relocation is taking time,” Abdus Salam Murshedy, managing director of Envoy Group, told the Dhaka Tribune.

Lack of suitable space, access to workers and power connectivity were

‘Cry for help’ scandal hits Primark n Tribune Report A customer of Primark has claimed to have found a label stitched inside a dress that tries to draw attention to exploitative working conditions of readymade garments workers.

Denying the claims, the British-owned retail group said it would investigate the matters, reports Guardian.

Primark operates in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

A 25-year-old customer of the retail group, Rebecca Gallagher claimed that she found a label on a £10 dress which she purchased from a Primark store in Swansea. The label reads “forced to work exhausting hours.”

She said the message was written on one of a number of stitched labels which gave Primark addresses in Spain and Ireland along with washing instructions.

She said: “You hear all sorts of stories about people working in sweatshops abroad – it made me so guilty that I can never wear that dress again.”

The customer claimed that she attempted to call the retailing giant and was put on hold for 15 minutes before being cut off.

A spokesman for Primark said: “We would be grateful if the customer would give us the dress, so we can investigate how the additional label became attached and whether there are

issues which need to be looked into.”

“Primark’s Code of Conduct sets out the core principles that suppliers and factories must follow to ensure products are made in good working conditions, and that the people making them are treated decently and paid a fair wage,” the spokesman added.

On the other hand, another shopper of the retail brand has claimed that she found a “cry for help” note hidden inside a pair of trousers alleging slave labour conditions in a Chinese prison.

The note which was wrapped in a prison identity card claimed inmates were forced to work 15 hours a day to make clothes.

Karen Wisínska bought the trousers in Primark’s Belfast store in June 2011 but had never worn them. She discovered the note just last week.

The claims come just two months after the first anniversary of the Rana Plaza factory collapse that killed more than 1129 and injured scores in Bangladesh, Primark, unlike other retailers who have admitted to a presence in the factory, has contributed to the compensation fund.

But the hidden messages raise questions regarding to whether a garment worker could somewhere in the developing world really reach across the heads of people concerned with such messages and bring a change to the working situations which they claim is prevailing in the sector. l

Rental power plant owners have urged the government to waive taxes at source and on their income to bring equality within the power sector.

Bangladesh Energy Companies Association (BECA), an association of the rental power companies, demanded the exemption in a letter to Finance Minister AMA Muhith.

According to the proposed budget, the rental power plant companies would have to pay a source tax of 6%, which is currently 4%.

It also requested removing section 52N of the Income Tax Ordinance1984 for canceling income tax on rental power companies completely.

The association president Mozammel Hossain in the letter said the exemption would help bring uniformity

RAJIB DHAR

Bangladesh is the third poorest country in South Asia after war-torn Afghanistan and India, says a recent poverty estimation study by Oxford University, UK. It placed Afghanistan as the poorest country in South Asia, with 66% (based on 2010-11 data) of its people being poor MPI, followed by India with 54% (2005-06), Bangladesh (2011) with 51%, Pakistan (2012-13) and Nepal (2011) at 44%, Bhutan at 27%, and Sri Lanka and the Maldives at 5%, according to the Multi-Dimensional Poverty Index (MPI) 2014, a tool used by Oxford researchers to measure poverty.

Using the MPI tool, the researchers classified the “destitute” as those who experience extreme deprivation such as having lost two children or more, having someone severely malnourished in the households, or having no asset at all.

In South Asia, Afghanistan had the highest level of destitution at 38%, followed by India 28.5%, Pakistan 20.7% and Bangladesh 17.2%.

poverty reduction.

The study says overall, the situation has improved for the world’s poor due to poverty reduction programmes and economic growth; however, there is still a formidable core of extremely poor people. The largest numbers of destitutes, 420 million, were found in South Asia.

In 2014, the global MPI covered 108 countries which are home to 78% of the world’s population.

The MPI has been widely updated and expanded, including substantial new analyses of rural-urban poverty, inequality among the poor, destitution and changes to poverty over time, said an Oxford release.

According to UNDP’s MPI of five South Asian countries released in mid2010, Bangladesh scored better than India and Nepal. The Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) of Oxford University and the Human Development Report Office of UNDP jointly prepared the MPI. Among 104 countries, Bangladesh ranked 73. India ranked 74, Nepal 82, Pakistan 70, Sri Lanka 32 in the MPI.

major obstacles in relocating RMG units, he added.

“To avert problems in the future, the government should make a plan for the relocation of factories,” said Nazrul Islam, chairman of the Centre for Urban Studies.

The plan should include details of workers’ accommodation, educational facilities for their children and environmental aspects, the professor added.

“If the factory is located outside the capital, living costs would also be less, as house rent, transport fares and prices of essentials are cheaper outside than in Dhaka city,” Rubel Hossain, an operator at Brother Fashion in Karwan Bazar, told this correspondent.

“The lion share of my earnings is spent on house rent,” added Rubel, who lives with his five-member family at Nakhal Para.

Meanwhile, buyers have also been putting pressure on owners to relocate

factories from shared buildings, citing safety concerns. Some foreign buyers have stopped placing orders in such factories, industry insiders said.

“For some RMG units located in Dhaka, factory relocation is a must to make the sector fully compliant as a good number of factories in the capital are not suitable for renovation,” said an official of the Alliance for Worker Safety, seeking anonymity. The group is working on improving safety standards in factories.

In the latest national budget, the government has offered 20% tax rebate from the next fiscal for relocation of industrial units from Dhaka and other major cities to reduce overcrowding and congestion.

Entrepreneurs who venture to set up factories in least developed areas of the country between July 2014 and June 30, 2019 would enjoy tax rebate for 10 years. l

US terms BGMEA statement outrageous

Government takes initiatives to regain EU betel leaf market

n Tribune Report The US has termed the recent statement of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President “outrageous and unacceptable”.

Marie Harf, deputy spokesperson of the state department said this at a regular press briefing on Wednesday.

“We have grave concerns about these statements,” Harf said when sought his comment over the statement issued by BGMEA chief.

BGMEA President Atiqul Islam recently said individuals and labor rights activists who directly contact the US Government or Congress should be prosecuted for sedition.

“These statements, if true, are outrageous and unacceptable” Harf said.

Bangladesh enjoys a rich tradition of parliamentary democracy, free speech, free association, and any attempt to muzzle civil society, including through these kinds of means, would be to the determinant of all Bangladeshis, she said.

Atiqul Islam came up with the comment after Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed’s visit to the US on Jun 10.

During his visit, several US Congressmen showed him a letter sent from Bangladesh that alleged torture of workers. l

BECA urges Muhith to cancel source tax n Asif Showkat Kallol

Oxford University: Bangladesh 3rd poorest country in South Asia

between the IPPs (independent power producers) and rental power companies. The IPPs are not subject to any tax at source. The government purchases a significant portion of electricity from quick rental plants rather than independent rental plants.

PDB purchases annually 1,405MW of electricity from rental and quick rental plants, and 1,066MW from independent power plants. l

n Asif Showkat Kallol The government has initially decided to send samples of high-valued betel leaf to European Union countries through Bangladesh missions abroad in an attempt to regain the huge vegetable export market worth US$200m, which was hit hard by a fresh blow after the European Union detected insects in kakrol and brinjal consignments.

It also decided to arrange necessary training programmes for the local betel leaf cultivators on how to prevention their betel leaf production from Salmonella infection under the Bangladesh Agriculture University project.

These decisions were made immediately after a power-point presentation held yesterday at Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) in the capital.

Professor Dr Bahanur Rahman of Bangladesh Agriculture University (BAU) presented the power-point presentation for developing a model to prevent the betal leaf cultivation from the Salmonella bactaria. Among, others, vice-chairman of EPB Shubhashish Bose attended the power-point presentation ceremony.

During the presentation, professor said an owner of an acre land of betel leaf garden in incussing a loss worth Tk5 to 6 lakh for not being able to export betel leaf aboard.

However, the production cost of betel leaf may raise 20% if the cultivators take Salmonella bacteria prevention measures.

Though the production cost may raise for cultivating the betel leaf if the cultivators use the prevention measures, we will, however, definitely regain the export market in the European union countries, said a senior official of the commerce ministry.

Bangladesh Agriculture Unversity (BAU) has developed a model for the prevention of Salmonella bacteria under a newly introduced

The study says overall, the situation has improved for the world’s poor due to poverty reduction programmes and economic growth; however, there is still a formidable core of extremely poor people The report mentioned Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Khulna, Sylhet and Brisal as the poorest region in Bangladesh.

In a positive, among south Asian countries, Bangladesh performed well in reducing poverty rates after Nepal that had the fastest progress in

project titled “Short term project for the removal of Salmonella from exportable high-valued betel leaf in Bangladesh’’ with a cost of only Tk5 lakh.

The salmonella bacteria, which is a severe health hazardous bacteria, usually enters into the human body, causing diseases like gastric, ulcer, and damage the immunity system of a human body and the height of the human body, especially the woman, is getting lower just because of the infection by salmonella bacteria.

It is an alarming situation prevailing in the country as one fourth of the total population are at now great danger as they are habituated to eat betel leaf, according to a research paper conducted by BAU. Dr Bahanur Rahman, professor of the department of the Microbiology and Hygiene of BAU, in his power-point presentation said: We are not going to developed any expensive model as like as the European countries, so the country’s betel farmers won’t be discouraged to use the model to be developed by us.

“We should be as worried as like as the authorities of the European Union countries because Salmonella bacteria is not only hampering our betel leaf and vegetable export, but also directly affecting the largest population of the country.”

The proposed model will prevent of Salmonella bacteria in the production and marketing of the betel leaf in the country before exporting, said the presentation.

The 10 indicators in MPI are grouped into three equally weighted dimensions –health (child mortality and nutrition), education (years of schooling and child enrolment), and standard of living (electricity, drinking water, sanitation, flooring, cooking fuel, and assets). l

The percentage of Salmonella bacteria affected in betel leaf has increased during rainy season compared to other seasons.

Salmonella bacteria spreads in several ways, including bird’s drop at their residual production areas called “Paan Borag”.

According to the BAU research study, the cultivators collect the betel leaves and simply put them on the wet soil. The cultivators and betel leaf businessmen also sell the betel leaf at an open-field local markets, although the betel leaf should not be put on the wet soil, rather they should be covered up with the plastic to prevent them from Salmonella bacteria.

Commerce ministry undertook a move to prevent the high-valued betel leaf from salmonella infection by undertaking a project for the removal of the bacteria known to cause stomach disorders.

Having already been caught secretly shipping salmonella infected betel leaf, Bangladesh’s $200m vegetable export is hit hard by a fresh blow after the European Union detected insects in kakrol and brinjal consignments.

Only in January, the EU warned Bangladesh that if proper guidelines were not followed then it would discontinue the import.

EU had prohibited the export of the highly demanded betel leaf from Bangladesh during the last year after detecting the presence of salmonella bacteria. l

B2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

The recent gains in the market can be called volatile Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index, CSCX, saw fractional gain of 0.06 points to 8,401.

Trading activities remained slow as the total turnover at DSE stood at Tk300 crore, which was 10.3% lower over the previous session.

Among the major sectors, non-banking financial institutions posted the highest gain of 1.5%, followed by food that rose 0.6%. The other large cap sectors including

3,377.28 84,457,121

Number of Contract

telecommunication, power, banks and pharmaceuticals closed in red.

Gainers outpaced losers, as out of 294 issues traded, 152 closed positive, 104 negative and 38 remained unchanged.

IDLC Investments said FY201314 is close to its end and the bourse observed the June-impact, lately.

It said most of the individual investors started positioning on the hope of getting tax rebate on their income.

“But, this rebate seeking money flow was out-weighed by the inactivity of large investors, leading to lower turnover.”

Lanka Bangla Securities said the recent gains in the market can be called volatile. Only few fundamental stocks grasped the interest of investors, which reverted intra-day loss in index to a meager gain in the last trading hour, it said.

“Market resilience remained weak owing edginess hovering around the aftermath of post-budget economic condition on capital market.”

Beximco Ltd was the most traded stock of the session with turnover of Tk24 crore changing hands.

It was followed by Lafarge Surma Cement, Grameenphone, United Airways, Square Pharmaceuticals, Bangladesh Shipping Corporation and Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Ltd. l

Stocks finished flat amid volatility yesterday, as late profit-booking wiped off some of the early gains.

The market swung between positive and negative in the morning.

The benchmark DSEX ended at 4,409 with a marginal rise of almost 6 points or 0.2%, extending its modest rally for the fourth straight session. It hit highest 4,423 in the final session and lowest 4,382 in the morning session.

However, the Shariah index DSES dropped 1 points or 0.2% to 1,006. The comprising blue chips DS30 inched down nearly 2 points or 0.2% to close at 1,616.

Company

Turnover (Million Taka) Turnover (Volume)

86,084

Traded Issues

297

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

208

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

86

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

3

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,281.34

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

27.65

CSE key features June 26, 2014 Turnover (Million Taka)

259.14

Turnover (Volume)

Daily capital market highlights

8,217,380

Number of Contract

12,273

DSE Broad Index :

4403.64748

(+) 0.24%

▲

Traded Issues

211

DSE Shariah Index :

1007.23976

(+) 0.65%

▲

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

147

DSE - 30 Index :

1619.31810

(+) 0.31%

▲

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

57

CSE All Share Index:

13606.04160

(+) 0.27%

▲

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

6

CSE - 30 Index :

11190.84530

(+) 0.31%

▲

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,204.41

8401.30790

(+) 0.24%

▲

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

26.72

CSE Selected Index : DSE LOSERS Company

Closing (% change)

Samata LeatheR -Z GlaxoSK (BD) -A Al-Haj Textile -A Southeast Bank-A Prime Insur -A Dulamia CottonZ Monno Stafllers -A Shahjalal Islami -A

-4.18 -3.14 -3.02 -2.97 -2.83 -2.78 -2.68 -2.65

Average (% change) -4.08 -2.28 -0.09 -2.61 -0.81 -2.22 -3.99 -1.77

City Bank - A PragatiLife Insu. -A

-2.48 -2.15

-2.46 -1.49

CSE LOSERS

Aramit -A Sonargaon Tex -Z Southeast Bank-A Asia Insur. Ltd.-A ICB AMCL IslamicMF-A Beximco Syn.-Z I P D C -A Social Islami. B-A

-4.52 -4.44 -3.45 -3.38 -3.31 -2.78 -2.67 -2.65

Average (% change) -4.52 -2.89 -2.92 -3.19 -3.31 -1.60 -0.14 -1.86

Islamic Finance-A Rahima Food -Z

-2.44 -2.34

-1.64 -2.34

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 314.36 108.08 74.38 289.11 89.27 319.54 1.46 292.03 571.26 0.15 54.06 27.54 29.93 332.07 14.13 44.77 41.97 416.67 113.69 242.01 0.81

Turnover in million

Daily low

Latest EPS

Latest PE

27.50 1513.33 163.74 19.80 20.92 7.04 341.74 11.11

27.50 1500.70 160.40 19.60 20.60 7.00 340.70 11.00

27.50 1535.00 169.00 21.00 21.50 7.60 345.10 12.00

27.50 1491.00 159.20 18.20 20.50 7.00 336.50 10.20

0.041 4.313 25.831 14.776 0.573 0.054 0.786 6.012

0.09 76.20 2.00 3.04 0.92 -4.13 1.12 -0.88

305.6 19.9 81.9 6.5 22.7 -ve 305.1 -ve

15.87 140.98

15.70 140.90

16.50 142.00

14.50 140.00

9.627 0.574

1.00 2.38

15.9 59.2

Closing average

Closing

Daily high

Turnover in million

Daily low

Latest EPS

Jute SpinnersA Wata Chemicals -A BSC-A GeminiSeaFood-Z Standard Ceramic -A Federal Insu.-A Safko Spinning-A BD. Thai Alum -B G Next Fashions-A Midas Financing-Z

285.00 8.60 19.60 20.00 17.50 10.50 14.60 11.00

285.00 9.00 20.00 20.00 17.50 10.70 14.80 11.30

285.00 8.50 19.50 20.00 17.50 10.40 14.50 11.00

0.014 0.031 1.167 0.005 0.009 0.254 0.161 0.599

12.56 -0.92 3.04 1.56 2.33 0.76 0.64 2.08

22.7 -ve 6.5 12.8 7.5 13.8 22.9 5.3

12.01 46.00

12.00 46.00

12.20 46.00

11.10 46.00

0.311 0.092

0.96 -1.01

12.5 -ve

Market resilience remained weak owing edginess hovering around the aftermath of post-budget economic condition on capital market % change 9.31 3.20 2.20 8.56 2.64 9.46 0.04 8.65 16.91 1.60 0.82 0.89 9.83 0.42 1.33 1.24 12.34 3.37 7.17 0.02

Million Taka 24.26 10.33 4.19 26.74 8.26 20.88 29.44 27.08 8.57 6.93 10.04 2.38 27.75 2.02 0.72 0.77 27.49 19.03 27.93 0.01

% change 8.52 3.63 1.47 9.39 2.90 7.33 0.00 10.34 9.51 3.01 2.43 3.52 0.84 9.74 0.71 0.25 0.27 9.65 6.68 9.81 0.00

Million Taka 338.62 118.41 78.58 315.85 97.53 340.42 1.46 321.47 598.34 8.72 60.98 37.57 32.32 359.82 16.15 45.49 42.74 444.16 132.71 269.94 0.82

Total

9.29 8.72 8.10 8.08 7.36 7.29 6.81 6.42 5.33 5.03

CSE GAINERS Company BSC-A Apex SpinningA BD. Thai Alum -B Ambee Pharma -A Bangladesh Welding -Z Wata Chemicals -A Safko Spinning-A 1st Janata Bank MF-A Standard Ceramic -A Generation Next Fashions-A

Closing (% change) 8.15 8.02 6.82 6.76 6.19 5.37 5.18 5.00 4.76 4.71

Average (% change) 8.82 5.77 5.45 12.00 7.31 4.48 5.41 5.31 4.04 5.09 Average (% change) 6.04 8.02 6.84 3.66 3.90 6.56 5.07 3.65 4.52 4.04

Closing average 63.43 262.55 485.82 140.00 45.22 20.06 20.25 22.99 17.75 16.71

Closing average 487.69 87.50 23.44 301.96 11.72 263.36 20.31 6.24 43.90 17.75

Closing 63.50 268.10 497.25 135.10 45.20 20.60 20.40 23.20 17.80 16.70

Closing 497.50 87.50 23.50 311.00 12.00 255.00 20.30 6.30 44.00 17.80

Daily high 63.90 268.10 497.25 136.60 45.70 21.00 20.80 23.50 18.20 16.80

Daily high 497.50 87.50 24.20 311.00 12.00 268.70 20.50 6.30 45.50 18.10

Daily low 60.00 251.50 459.00 133.70 44.90 17.60 18.00 20.00 15.30 16.60

Daily low 460.00 87.50 22.50 297.10 11.40 255.00 19.50 6.10 43.00 17.20

Turnover in million 0.111 9.662 85.254 0.014 0.927 8.209 2.277 9.540 58.289 0.234

Turnover in million 10.758 0.018 0.643 0.036 0.129 0.263 0.092 0.056 0.110 7.780

Latest EPS -43.81 6.24 23.48 -11.90 1.32 1.36 1.08 0.84 2.28 -6.91

Latest EPS 23.48 1.85 0.84 3.20 0.48 6.24 1.08 0.55 1.32 2.28

Latest PE -ve 42.1 20.7 -ve 34.3 14.8 18.8 27.4 7.8 -ve

Latest PE 20.8 47.3 27.9 94.4 24.4 42.2 18.8 11.3 33.3 7.8

News from trade server MALEKSPIN: BSEC has given consent under the provisions of the Securities and Exchange Commission (Issue of Capital) Rules, 2001, for raising the paid up capital of Salek Textile Limited (transferee) from Tk. 40,00,00,000.00 to Tk. 48,26,08,700.00 through issuance of 8,26,087 ordinary shares of Tk. 100 each totaling Tk. 8,26,08,700 to the shareholders of Titas Spinning & Denim Co. Limited (transferor) in course of Amalgamation at a ratio of 1:4.6 (1 share of STL against 4.6 shares of TSDL). Salek Textile Limited and Titas Spinning & Denim Co. Limited, both are subsidiaries of Malek Spinning Mills Ltd. TRUSTBANK: BSEC has given consent under the provisions of the Securities and Exchange Commission (Private Placement of Debt Securities) Rules, 2012, for raising of capital by Trust Bank Limited through issuance of Fully Redeemable Non-Convertible Un-secured Subordinated Bond of Tk. 200.00 crore only through private placement to other than existing shareholders of the bank. The consent has been accorded subject to the condition that the Company shall comply with the relevant laws and Regulatory Requirements, and

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company LafargeS Cement-Z Grameenphone-A Square Pharma -A BD Submarine Cable-A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A BSC-A ACI Limited- A

CSE

Closing (% change)

also shall adhere to the conditions imposed

by BSEC under Section-2CC of the Securities and Exchange Ordinance, 1969.

TRUSTBANK: The Company has further informed that the purpose of issuance of the Trust Bank Limited Fully Redeemable Non Convertible Un-secured Subordinated Bond is to strengthen Tier II capital of the Bank.

ASIAINS: (Q1): As per un-audited quarterly accounts for the 1st quarter ended on 31st March 2014 (Jan'14 to March'14), the Company has reported net profit after tax of Tk. 18.56 million with basic EPS of Tk. 0.41 as against Tk. 17.60 million and Tk. 0.39 respectively for the same period of the previous year. However, considering proposed bonus share @ 5% for the year 2013, restated basic EPS will be Tk. 0.39 as on 31.03.2014 and Tk. 0.37 as on 31.03.2013.

SQUARETEXT: 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 22, 2014.

MEGHNACEM: The Company has informed that it has dispatched the dividend warrants for the year 2013 to the regis-

tered mailing addresses of the concerned shareholders of the Company through "Bengal Post & Parcel Express" courier service (Address: 139, Motijheel C/A, Sadharan Bima Bhaban-2, Gr. Floor, Dhaka-1000).

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 2014, NRB upto 26 July 2014. @ taka 40, face value taka 10 and market lot 200.

Dividend/AGM NATLIFEINS: 20% cash and 38% stock, AGM: 21.07.2014, Record Date: 03.07.2014.

MEGHNALIFE: 20% cash and 10% stock, AGM: 17.07.2014, Record Date: 30.06.2014.

DELTALIFE: 11% cash and 25% stock, AGM and EGM: 20.07.2014, Record date for AGM and EGM: 25.06.2014.

Latest PE

285.00 8.74 19.62 20.00 17.50 10.48 14.65 11.09

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY Sector

Daily high

Friday, June 27, 2014

DSE GAINERS

DSE key features June 26, 2014

Stocks close flat with volatility n Tribune Report

Stock

% change 9.25 3.23 2.15 8.62 2.66 9.30 0.04 8.78 16.34 0.24 1.67 1.03 0.88 9.83 0.44 1.24 1.17 12.13 3.62 7.37 0.02

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

Summit Power -A BSRM Steels-A Beximco Pharma -A

UNITED AIR-A Golden Son -A G Next Fashions-A Meghna Petroleum -A Eastern Housing -A CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company BD Submarine Cable-A

BEXIMCO Ltd. -A LafargeS Cement-Z UNITED AIR-A BSC-A AramitCementA Grameenphone-A BSRM Steels-A G Next Fashions-A Square Pharma -A The Peninsula CTG.-N Beacon Pharma Ltd.-Z Golden Son -A LankaBangla Fin. -A SummitAlliancePort.-A

Volume shares 3,079,500 818,252 682,577 888,975 4,799,960 175,485 275,159 2,105,206 791,843 1,442,215

5,141,934 1,350,422 3,283,401 188,247 716,375

Volume shares

93,508 573,475 182,500 916,105 22,060 208,000 31,800 99,214 438,352 27,774 217,600 427,010 110,842 111,500 151,244

Value in million 254.45 246.38 190.29 170.29 141.66 85.25 74.96 69.05 66.37 63.09

62.74 61.40 58.29 49.70 42.59

Value in million

17.89 16.92 15.05 11.16 10.76 9.71 9.60 8.30 7.78 7.75 7.48 6.80 5.03 4.66 3.58

% of total turnover 7.53 7.30 5.63 5.04 4.19 2.52 2.22 2.04 1.97 1.87

1.86 1.82 1.73 1.47 1.26

% of total turnover

7.02 6.64 5.91 4.38 4.22 3.81 3.77 3.26 3.05 3.04 2.94 2.67 1.97 1.83 1.40

Daily closing 82.80 301.40 278.30 192.20 29.10 497.25 268.00 32.90 83.00 43.40

12.20 45.00 17.80 264.40 59.10

Daily closing

192.30 29.10 82.50 12.30 497.50 46.80 302.50 83.00 17.80 278.80 34.30 15.50 45.10 41.60 23.70

Price change 0.98 0.17 0.54 3.11 -1.36 8.10 -1.29 4.78 -0.95 2.84

Daily opening 82.00 300.90 276.80 186.40 29.50 460.00 271.50 31.40 83.80 42.20

Price change

Daily opening

0.83 0.45 5.33 0.23 -1.66

3.39 -1.36 0.98 1.65 8.15 1.74 0.46 -0.60 4.71 0.65 0.29 0.00 0.67 0.00 3.49

12.10 44.80 16.90 263.80 60.10

186.00 29.50 81.70 12.10 460.00 46.00 301.10 83.50 17.00 277.00 34.20 15.50 44.80 41.60 22.90

Daily high 83.50 304.70 281.10 195.00 31.00 497.25 279.00 33.10 85.00 44.60

Daily low 81.70 285.00 253.00 168.90 26.60 459.00 249.00 28.30 80.00 38.00

Daily average 82.63 301.11 278.79 191.56 29.51 485.82 272.41 32.80 83.81 43.75

Daily high

Daily low

Daily average

13.00 46.00 18.20 265.00 60.60

194.90 30.20 83.20 12.40 497.50 47.40 304.90 84.90 18.10 281.00 34.80 16.90 45.80 42.50 23.90

10.90 43.00 15.30 241.00 55.00

187.30 28.80 81.50 11.90 460.00 45.80 298.60 82.50 17.20 277.00 34.00 14.90 44.70 41.30 23.00

12.20 45.46 17.75 264.01 59.45

191.31 29.51 82.47 12.18 487.69 46.68 302.04 83.64 17.75 279.08 34.39 15.92 45.36 41.77 23.64

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

B3

Friday, June 27, 2014

Google making low-cost smartphone China finds $15bn of loans tied to falsified for emerging markets gold deals n AFP, San Francisco

Google announced Wednesday it was working on a low-cost smartphone aimed at emerging markets as part of an initiative called Android One. The Android-powered handset will be built with a basic set of features including FM radio, have a screen slightly smaller than five inches (12.7 centimeters) and be priced at less than $100, Google senior vice president Sundar Pichai said at the start of the technology giant’s annual developers conference.

“We are going to be launching it around the world, but will launch in India first in the fall of this year,” Pichai said.

He added that Google was working with carriers in India to provide affordable telecom service packages to go with the smartphones, which could in many cases provide Internet access for the first time.

The Android One initiative sets out to work with smartphone makers and others in the “ecosystem” to pool resources and standardize hardware platforms to provide “turnkey solutions” for making handsets, according to Pichai.

“There are many people - billions of people, in fact - who still don’t have access to a smartphone,” he said.

“We want to change that.”

Low-cost phones powered by Android have proven popular in developing markets, but have been vexed by “fragmentation” because handset makers customize the software to suit different hardware or set themselves apart from rivals.

The variations result in popular third-party applications typically not working across the array of Android devices, frustrating users who want the latest fun, hip or helpful mobile mini-program.

Android One software for lowpriced smartphones in emerging countries could bring some consistency across devices, according to Gartner consumer technology research direc-

n Reuters. Shanghai Chinese gold processing firms have since 2012 used falsified gold transactions to borrow 94.4bn yuan ($15.2bn) from banks, the country’s chief auditor said.

Commodities such as copper, rubber, soybeans and bullion have commonly been used in China for financing, where traders or investors borrow against the commodity with the aim of investing the money in high-return areas such as real estate or shadow banking.

Most such deals are legitimate, but revelations of borrowing based on fake transactions in the gold market by the national auditor, which comes on the heels of alleged metals financing fraud at Qingdao Port, may prompt authorities to launch another crackdown on

An Android One phone is see on screen during the Google I/O Developers Conference at Moscone Center on June 25, 2014 in San Francisco, California. The seventh annual Google I/O Developers conference is expected to draw thousands through June 26 AFP tor Brian Blau.

“Google really needs to have a solution for emerging markets with lowcost devices,” Blau told AFP. “It is going to be a long, tough road to have an impact there; it is going to take years to bring the next two to three billion people onto the Internet.”

Internet everywhere

Google is collaborating with handset makers and others in the industry to field affordable smartphones that are high quality and come with reasonably priced data plans.

Handsets will be made by Google partners and launch with an initial range of “sub-$100” smartphones.

“We’ve long wondered what potential could be unleashed if people everywhere had access to the latest technology and the world’s information,”

Pichai said. “It’s time to find out.”

Google and Silicon Valley rival Facebook have made priorities out of connecting with people in parts of the world where Internet connectivity is scan, unreliable or just non-existent.

Having more people tune into websites or services mean expanded opportunities to make money from online advertising or providing tools that connect shops with customers.

Google does not make money from hardware, with its own branded gadgets meant to set standards and show off software capabilities with an eye toward inspiring electronics manufacturers to raise their games when it comes to Android or Chrome devices.

Developing countries have become prime targets for smartphone makers, and Android software made available free to handset makers has proven

Dollar edges down in Asia trade n AFP, Tokyo

The dollar edged down in Asia yesterday as Japanese exporters bought up the yen and following data showing the US economy shrunk at a faster rate than initially thought in the first quarter of the year.

The greenback was changing hands at 101.79 yen in Tokyo afternoon trade, marginally down from 101.86 yen in New York Wednesday afternoon.

“For technical reasons, the dollar fell because of yen-buying by exporters, but this is not strong enough to break the current range,” said Yosuke Hosokawa, head of FX sales team at Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank.

“Trading is still directionless as we have not seen clear trading factors for a long time,” Hosokawa said.

“We have seen geopolitical factors such as violence and issues in Iraq or Russia, but they matter more to the euro than the yen,” Hosokawa said.

The euro changed hands at $1.3631

and 138.78 yen, compared with $1.3628 and 138.82 yen in New York late Wednesday.

In New York the dollar slipped on news of a larger-than-expected first quarter contraction in the US economy, with investors taking the report as dovish for interest rates.

We have seen geopolitical factors such as violence and issues in Iraq or Russia, but they matter more to the euro than the yen US Treasury yields also sank on the news that the economy contracted 2.9% in January-March, far greater than the 1% previously estimated and the sharpest fall since the 2008-2009 recession.

That put a damper on recent specu-

Bangladesh General Insurance Co Ltd held its 29th annual general meeting yesterday in Dhaka. The company’s chair Towhid Samad presided over the meeting where the stakeholders approved a cash dividend of 12% for the last year

lation that growth is stronger than the Federal Reserve lets on and could drive it to an early increase in interest rates.

Investors are now awaiting fresh US data for May later in the day.

Atsushi Hirano, head of FX sales Japan at RBS, told Dow Jones Newswires that the dollar may strengthen if the Nikkei index gains, but the pair will likely hover around 101.85 “without much buying or selling”.

The dollar was mixed against other Asia-Pacific units.

It fell to Sg$1.2490 from Sg$1.2514 on Wednesday, to Tw$29.93 from Tw$29.97 and to 43.82 Philippines pesos from 43.95 pesos.

It also declined to 1,016.38 South Korean won from 1,021.11 won and to 32.46 Thai baht from 32.48 baht but rose to 12,089.00 Indonesian rupiah from 12,087.50 rupiah.

The Australian dollar rose to 94.02 US cents from 93.61 cents, while the Chinese yuan was trading at 16.33 yen against 16.32 yen. l

to be popular with budget-conscious buyers.

The news came a day after Microsoft said it would sell an Android-powered Nokia smartphone at a price of $135, a device also apparently aimed at emerging markets customers.

In April, Google acquired Titan Aerospace, a maker of solar-powered drones that could be used to boost Internet access to remote areas.

Google also is developing Project Loon, which uses large balloons for transmitting Internet signals to regions that are not currently connected.

“They are to some degree becoming an ISP (Internet service provider) because they have to,” Blau said of Google’s efforts to provide online connectivity through projects such as Loon and even Fiber high-speed broadband lines in the United States. l

commodity financing.

Spot checks on 25 companies that process bullion, such as jewellers, showed they made a combined profit of more than 900m yuan by using the bank loans to take advantage of the difference between onshore and offshore interest rates, as well the appreciation of the Chinese currency, according to a report published this week on the National Audit Office’s website.

Chinese firms could have locked up as much as 1,000 tonnes of gold in financing deals by the end of 2013, the World Gold Council said in April, indicating a big slice of imports has been used to raise funds due to tight credit conditions, rather than to meet consumer demand.

At current prices, that would be worth about $42bn. l

Oil prices mixed in Asian trade n AFP, Singapore Oil prices were mixed in Asia yesterday ahead of the release of fresh US economic data, while investors are optimistic following a report that Washington is to lift a decades-old crude export ban.

US benchmark West Texas Intermediate rose 18 cents to $106.68 while Brent eased eight cents to $113.92 in afternoon trade.

Analysts said prices were tracking gains in equity markets following a positive lead from Wall Street, despite data on Wednesday showing the US economy fell at a 2.9 percent annual pace in the quarter to March, worse than previous estimates.

French lender Credit Agricole said investors are looking beyond the report

as “recent healthy economic releases suggest a substantial rebound” in the second quarter.

Investors will next be scrutinising a slew of latest economic figures, including personal income, personal spending and initial jobless claims data out later Thursday for further clues about the US economy, it said.

Singapore’s United Overseas Bank said prices retained support from a Wall Street Journal article that said US is easing the longstanding ban on crude exports.

The report late Tuesday said the US Commerce Department approved the first exports of unrefined oil in nearly four decades, potentially clearing the way for a bigger policy change that could tighten the US crude market. l

Investors ready $1bn war chest for office assets in India n Reuters, New Delhi Foreign private equity funds and pension funds are among investors that over the last 12 months have committed to invest more than $1bn to buy or build commercial property in India as the government works to finalise rules governing real estate investment trusts (REITs).

In June, Brookfield paid about 33bn rupees ($552.76m) for a 60% stake in six parks from Unitech Corp Parks and a 40% stake in four of the six from Unitech Ltd. In May, The Xander Group, an emerging markets investor, partnered with a consortium of investors lead

by Dutch pension fund asset manager APG Asset Management NV to invest $300m, with an option to increase it to $500m, to buy leased office assets in big cities including Mumbai and Delhi.

In November, Singapore warehouse

and industrial park developer Ascendas Pte Ltd announced plans to invest in Indian real estate, focussing on office space, with a target asset size of S$600m ($479.88m). Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC will be a key investor.

In November, Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board said it would invest $200m in an 80% joint venture with Mumbai-based developer, Shapoorji Pallonji Group to buy leased office buildings. l

Green Delta Insurance Company Limited in association with International Finance Corporation (IFC) recently organised a workshop on corporate governance for its directors and members at management committee at the capital. The chief guest of the programme was Md Quddus Khan, member and acting chairperson of IDRA

Diamond World has inaugurated its showroom named Diamond World Life Style at New Baily Road in Dhaka yesterday. The company’s managing director Dilip Kumar Agarwal launched the showroom

Banani Club Limited President Shawkat Ali Bhuiyan and its advisor, Rubel Aziz along with landowners are seen at the 2nd land purchase agreement signing ceremony of the company in Gulshan recently

Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) recently organised in cooperation with Bangladesh Bank a two-day event titled DCCI Entrepreneurship & Innovation Expo in Dhaka. The event’s chief guest was Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh while Alhaz Anwar Hossain, chair of DCCI Foundation was the special guest. At the event, Modhumoti Bank Limited handed over a cheque of Tk20 lakh to Jhorna Baroi, Proprietress of Jhorna Enterprise under the bank’s woman entrepreneur product

Premier Leasing and Finance Limited held its 12th annual general meeting in Dhaka yesterday. The meeting was presided over by the company’s chair ASM Feroz Alam

B4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

IMF: Corporate tax schemes hurt developing countries n AFP, Washington Developing economies are increasingly hurt by the way global corporations exploit taxation differences and move profits to low-tax locations, according to an International Monetary Fund report Wednesday.

But few countries can protect themselves in a competition for direct investment that increasingly appears like a “race to the bottom” in setting corporate tax rates, the IMF said.

Moreover, companies are increasingly able to shift and relocate more intangible assets - like intellectual property - to avoid taxes.

The IMF said that the more countries give in to investors’ requirements on taxes, the more they are hurting the global community.

In addition, tax-cutting and legal tax avoidance by corporations are having an impact on countries’ fiscal strength, undermining their ability to fund government just at a time when many are fighting deficits.

Incentives are “significantly undermining revenue in developing countries,” the IMF said, noting that “overall fiscal performance is more vulnerable to pressures on these receipts.”

“The amounts at stake in a single tax-planning case now quite routinely run into tens or hundreds of millions of dollars. These sums may be small relative to total tax revenue in sizable advanced economies, but are large for the developing countries,” the report said.

That is especially the case in countries reliant on extractive industries like mining. Mining companies frequently load up on debt to reduce the tax they pay to the host country.

As important in denying countries

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) headquarters in Washington, DC tax receipts are corporate schemes like transfer pricing.

“Identifying the country that is the ‘source’ of income... is increasingly problematic,” the report said. “It has been made more difficult, conceptually and practically, by the increased importance of intra-firm transactions.”

It also said that companies increasingly exploit intangible assets like patents, trademarks, and other intellectual property “which can be much more easily relocated than can the bricks-

and-mortar facilities of the world.”

The report showed how foreign direct investment is handled through low-tax locations as a strategy.

Half of outgoing direct investment from Brazil goes to havens like Austria, the Cayman Islands, and the British Virgin Islands, before it goes to the final destination. Two-thirds of outgoing direct investment from Russia goes first to havens like Cyprus and the Netherlands.

The IMF spelled out the need for a “global architecture” for taxation in the

REUTERS

way that trade is increasingly governed by international treaties.

But it warned that fixes can bring their own difficulties in how taxable income might be apportioned.

The IMF report comes at a time when the issue of tax avoidance is strong even in the most advanced countries.

Some of the largest US companies, including Apple, Google, and IBM, have come under attack for stashing global profits in havens like Ireland to avoid higher taxes elsewhere. l

Friday, June 27, 2014

Google Android software spreading to cars, watches, TV n AFP, San Francisco

Google is expanding its empire to cars, watches, businesses and televisions.

The technology titan laid out a sweeping vision at the opening of a sold-out developers conference in a keynote presentation streamed online to millions of people across the world.

“We are beginning to evolve our platforms beyond mobile,” Android and Chrome teams chief Sundar Pichai said of how Google’s twin operating systems are being adapted to work with one another and with new types of computing hardware.

Google’s goal, according to Pichai, is to have its software be a foundation for applications, services or digital content delivered seamlessly across the increasingly diverse array of Internetlinked screens in people’s lives.

A new LG G smartwatch and a freshly-announced Gear Live smartwatch by Samsung that both work with the “Android Wear” platform debuted Wednesday at the online shop Google Play.

On-stage demonstrations included ordering a pizza in seconds, fielding reminders and messages, and using voice commands on smartwatches.

An eagerly awaited Moto 360 smartwatch is due to join the Android Wear lineup later this year. “These are the first three watches, but there are more on the way,” Pichai said.

Android on the road

Android Auto software for cars, synching smartphones with in-dashboard screens and controls, is being shared with automakers, and vehicles are set to be equipped by the end of this year.

Android Auto brings apps like Google Maps and Spotify music service to an “interface built for driving,” according

It’s Asian bonds, not equities, Samsung, LG launch smartwatches with new that are too rich n Reuters, Singapore An unusual parallel rally in Asian bonds and equities, powered for the last five years by cheap global funds, could give out soon with debt becoming a casualty of the increasing confidence in the outlook for global growth.

Bonds are now pricing in an extremely bleak economic outlook, making them susceptible to any spike in long-term rates. The rise in equities has been less pronounced, leaving room for further gains as a pick up in global demand boosts corporate earnings.

The tricky part for investors, however, is to precisely time their exit from bonds. Strictly speaking, bonds can continue to feed off the supply of

bond funds to equity. But the actual decision to sell bonds is complicated by powerful but divergent catalysts.

The Federal Reserve is reducing its bond purchases, but appears in no rush to raise interest rates. European authorities are easing policy. Britain has hinted at early rate rises. A handful of Asian central banks, including in New Zealand and the Philippines, are raising rates.

The growth picture is changing, with Japan, the United States and even parts of Europe showing improvements in demand, although analysts now expect 2014 to be less robust than they did before.

That means the long end of the US Treasuries yield curve may stay lower for longer and so preclude a rise in

The carry that we are getting in markets like Malaysia and Korea, which are relatively loweryielding markets, is not attractive and not offsetting the duration risk we are holding cheap money from central banks in developed markets. Plus, there is the nagging risk of a hard landing in China and escalating crises in Iraq and Ukraine, which could push investors back into the safety of fixed-income assets.

“It’s a bubble in caution,” said Markus Rosgen, Asian equity strategist at Citi.

“The bond market is too bearish on the outlook for growth, and people will say if growth is improving, then I have a claim on growth through equities which I don’t through bonds, then I ought to switch out of bonds into equities.”

“So it’s generally equity-friendlier than it is bond-friendlier,” said Rosgen.

Investment bank analysts warn bond levels are frothy and there are traces of a shift of retail money from

global yields.

That would leave fund managers at risk of underperforming global bond indexes if they sold bonds prematurely.

Carry trade bubble

as things stand, however, there is not much value in bonds, particularly not for carry traders who borrow cheap short-term funds and seek to exploit interest rate differentials.

Even in markets offering nominal yields above 8% on bonds, namely India and Indonesia, returns have shrunk. Foreigners raising money in the offshore rupee swap market and buying a 10-year Indian government bond would make just 150 basis points (bps) or so, less than a third of what they made in 2011.

In Indonesia, it is merely 220 bps,

and in other markets such as South Korea and the Philippines it is less than 70 bps.

It is trickier to spot a top in credit markets as the composition of benchmark bond indexes changes frequently, but even JPMorgan’s emerging market Asian credit index is trading at a spread of 241 bps over comparable US Treasuries, the narrowest in almost three years.

“The carry that we are getting in markets like Malaysia and Korea, which are relatively lower-yielding markets, is not attractive and not offsetting the duration risk we are holding,” said Prashant Singh, lead portfolio manager at Neuberger Berman in Singapore. The fund has $247bn under management globally, of which $101bn is in fixed income.

Equities, in comparison, have seen pockets of exuberance, such as in India and the Philippines. But the Asia MSCI index is up just 14% since October 2011.

Both the price-to-book ratio and price-to-earnings ratio for Asia, key measures of relative value, remain well below historic averages and are far from the peaks hit during the 1997 Asian financial crisis and the 2007 global crisis.

The region is cheap versus global equity markets, with the potential to outperform as company earnings improve, said Citi’s Rosgen.

Simon Derrick, head of the markets strategy team at BNY Mellon, worries about the bubble-like values in Asian bond markets. BNY Mellon has $1.6tn under management and is custodian to a further $27.9tn of assets.

“I am starting to think that this is looking like quite a mature rally and certain markets are starting to look a little tired,” said Derrick. “But it is impossible to say when it will peak out.”

“The carry trade worries me a lot because there are echoes of 1996-1998 and of 2005-2007,” he said. “But that does not mean it will be a repeat.” l

Google software n AFP, Seoul South Korea’s Samsung and LG yesterday launched rival smartwatches powered by Google’s new software as they jostle to lead an increasingly competitive market for wearable devices seen as the mobile industry’s next growth booster.

Samsung’s “Gear Live” and LG’s “G Watch” - both powered by Android Wear - are the first devices to adopt the new Google software specifically designed for wearables.

G Watch - LG’s first smartwatch - is also equipped with Google’s voice recognition service and can perform simple tasks including checking email, sending text messages and carrying out an online search at users’ voice command.

The two devices cannot make phone calls by themselves but can be connected to many of the latest Android-based smartphones, the South Korean companies said in separate statements.

Samsung and LG are the world’s top and fourth-largest smartphone maker, respectively.

A typical smartwatch allows users to make calls, receive texts and e-mails, take photos and access apps.

G Watch opened Thursday for online

pre-order in 12 countries including the United States, France and Japan before hitting stores in 27 more including Brazil and Russia in early July.

Gear Live was also available for online pre-order yesterday.

The launches come as global handset and software makers step up efforts to diversify from the saturated smartphone sector to wearable devices.

Samsung introduced its Androidbased Galaxy Gear smartwatch last year but it was given a lukewarm reception by consumers.

The second edition, Gear II, was unveiled in February and based on Samsung’s own Tizen softwear in a move to break free of its heavy reliance on Google’s Android platform.

Samsung’s arch rival Apple is believed to be set to launch its own smartwatch soon, while Google is moving towards a wide consumer launch of its eyewear Google Glass later this year.

Chinese smartphone maker Huawei also unveiled a connected watch called TalkBand.

Global smartwatch sales are expected to grow this year by more than 500% from 1.9 million units in 2013, according to the market researcher Strategic Analytics. l

to a freshly formed coalition of technology and car companies called the Open Automotive Alliance.

Google also announced another shot at smart televisions with Android TV software for what are typically the biggest screens in homes.

Google is giving televisions “the same level of attention that phones and tablets have enjoyed,” according to Android engineering director Dave Burke.

Android smartphones, complete with voice command features, could be used to direct searches and more on television screens, an on-stage demonstration showed.

Games from the Google Play shop could also be played on televisions.

Expanding Google empire

“The Google empire is trying to grow,” Gartner consumer technology research director Brian Blau told AFP on the sidelines of the San Francisco keynote presentation.

“Google is trying to be more like Apple; create more consistent experiences with devices that work together.”

Handset or tablet makers are free to customize free Android software to suit hardware and set themselves apart from rivals, but this has resulted in popular applications working on some gadgets and not others in a situation referred to as “fragmentation.”

Apple, on the other hand, so tightly controls software powering iPhones, iPads and iPod touch devices that developers can more easily target broad audiences.

Improving how well popular services or applications work across Android devices should also entice users to “lock in” to the platform the way Apple devotees remain loyal to the Cupertino, California company’s gear, according to Blau. l

India moves to set up industrial parks with China n Reuters, New Delhi India has moved a step closer to establishing industrial parks with China, the law minister said on Wednesday, as New Delhi looks to rebalance a $40bn trade deficit with its northern neighbour.

Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters that India’s cabinet had approved in principle a memorandum of understanding between the two countries for setting up the parks.

The details of the agreement would be available only after the memorandum was signed, Prasad said, but the expectation is that China will invest in low-tax special economic zones and manufacturing hubs in India, which would reduce the need for India to import Chinese goods.

While New Delhi has long pushed for greater market access to cut the deficit, pushing through a firm agreement to bring Chinese investment into India would signal the intent of new Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s push to expand manufacturing and revive the country’s flagging economy. Earlier this month China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi met his counterpart Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi and raised the possibility of China investing in industrial parks in India.

Previous efforts to set up the parks have stalled, partly because of Indian security concerns about Chinese companies setting up factories inside the country. l

DILBERT

Toyota Motor executive vice president Mitsuhisa Kato (C) poses with the company's sedan-style hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (FCV) during a press preview at a Toyota Motor showroom in Tokyo on June 25, 2014. Japanese auto giant Toyota will start selling its first fuel cell sedan this financial year, with a price tag of around 7 million yen (70,000 USD), the company announced on June 25 AFP