03 July, 2014

Ashar 19, 1421 Ramadan 4, 1435 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 2, No 93

THURSDAY, JULY 3, 2014 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

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B4 | ISLAMIC BANKING REBRANDS

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION OR RIGHT TO REPUTATION?

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SEPARATISTS FRET AT GUN LAW

Wage earners’ fund wasted Tk145cr unfinished housing project left abandoned after a decade n Rabiul Islam

Officials at the ministry said all the money had virtually been wasted as the project was cancelled in 2013

Two unfinished apartment buildings for migrant workers stand abandoned on the 167-katha land in Gulshan never been implemented.

In February 2001, the board decided to build a specialised kidney hospital.

But in May the same year, the board decided to construct an IT training institute instead. Later both the decisions were dropped.

Draft broadcast policy ready for cabinet nod n Mohosinul Karim

The draft National Broadcast Policy, prepared with a view to ensure freedom as well as accountability of the electronic media, would be placed before the cabinet’s next meeting.

Under the proposed policy, an independent broadcast commission would be formed for monitoring the activities of the TV channels and radio stations.

After the cabinet approval, the Information Ministry will prepare the draft of “Independent Broadcast Commission Act,” Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday in his office at the Secretariat.

He said the draft policy had been prepared by an expert committee comprising both government and private stakeholders. Finally, the ministry published the draft policy on its website. The recommendations were accommodated in the draft.

“We hope that the policy will help the government bring discipline in this sector. After getting approval of the cabinet, the ministry will need two or three months to prepare the draft of ‘Independent Broadcast Commission Act.’ It may take some time more to get approval of the cabinet and its passage in parliament,” he said.

Inu said the ministry would start the

Foreign Minister: India to extradite Nur Hossain n Kamran Reza Chowdhury

The Wage Earners Housing Complex project in Gulshan taken by the government is a unique example of wastage of a huge amount of money from the wage earners’ welfare fund.

This project has also set precedence of how a valuable property worth over Tk500 crore can remain useless for about 13 years.

A total of 167.28 katha land of Bhatara mouza under Gulshan police station

was bought at a cost of Tk28.28 crore in 2001 to provide expatriate Bangladeshis with housing facility.

The property is located on the east side of Baridhara DOHS main gate.

The fund was mainly set up from welfare fees given by migrant workers before they go abroad, and some other sources. An executive board headed by Expatiates’ Welfare Ministry secretary looks after the fund.

After purchase of the land, different decisions at different times were taken at the board meetings but they had

11 | AGE OF THE SWEEPER-KEEPER

8 | KIEV,

process of appointing the Independent Broadcast Commission members after the passage of the Act in parliament.

Earlier, the cabinet sent the daft policy back with some observations.

The ministry finalised the draft accommodating the observations in the proposed policy.

“People file complaints but we cannot solve those issues due to the absence of a broadcast policy,” he said.

“The Independent Broadcast Commission will monitor activities of the TV channels and radio stations. It will also look after the licensing process of electronic media and protect the interest of owners, employees, and viewers,” Inu said.

Earlier, the Information Ministry sent the draft policy to the ministries of finance and public administration for their approval since it involves creating new posts for the commission and expenditure.

According to the draft policy, the commission would be formed by comprising of a chairman and necessary members.

The participation of stakeholders in the committee including public servants, media personnel, broadcasting experts, technology experts, women activists, journalists, teachers, jurists and civil society activists would be ensured.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

In March 2003, the board again changed its earlier decision and agreed to build a housing project for the expatriate Bangladeshis. Under the project, 500 apartments were planned to be built and distributed among 500 Bangladeshi expatriates.

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

The board accordingly came to an agreement with Borak Real State and Eastern Housing to implement the project at a cost of Tk145 crore.

Under the project, there will be six apartment buildings. Of them, five  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

The Indian government agreed to hand over Nur Hossain, the prime accused in the seven-murder case in Narayanganj, Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali told parliament yesterday.

Responding to a supplementary question from Jatiya Party MP Pir Fazlur Rahman during the scheduled question-answer hour for the ministers, Abul Hassan said in her talks, Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj had assured the extradition of Nur Hossain.

“During the Indian external affairs minister’s visit, we discussed the issue with her,” the foreign minister told the House.

“The best news is that the Indian government has agreed to extradite him. And we are sending a request letter to the Indian government,” he said.

Pir Fazlur Rahman asked whether the government would bring back Nur Hossain under the extradition treaty signed in January last year between Bangladesh and India.

Neither India nor Bangladesh has extradited any criminals since the signing of the deal that came into effect in October last year.

On June 15, Nur Hossain and his two accomplices were arrested in Kolkata

Footballer del Piero turns a journalist n Raihan Mahmood from Brazil With his superb looks and perfect physique, the first question that Alessandro del Piero is likely to encounter is why he did not enter the film industry.

Even at the age of 39, del Piero will fit the silver screen perfectly.

Having taken part in three World Cups, del Piero is the leading goalscorer for Juventus and the joint-fourth highest scorer for Italy. A World Cup winner

2nd Round

Details on page-15

in 2006, the former Juventus forward has been providing analytical presentations for a Brazilian channel in the ongoing World Cup. Consequently, when he visits a stadium’s media centre it is expected that he will draw considerable attention. I was also thrilled to find out that his English accent is quite good.

Wearing a fitting white blazer, a skintight trouser and a pair of sneakers, Del Piero looked dashing. Throughout his career he was admired for his looks and gestures and I realised why he had received so many awards as a footballer.

Always smiling, talking in a very low voice and stylish gestures to go with it, it is no wonder that del Piero is an instant success. He did not refuse anybody asking him something and

Alessandro del Piero talks to journalists

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 6

RAIHAN MAHMOOD

Investigators: Solving Narayanganj 7-murder needs more time n Julfikar Ali Manik

Judicial statements of former three Rab 11 officers confessing their involvements in the chilling seven murders in Narayanganj is being considered by investigators a major progress in the investigation.

They, however, think there is still a long way to go before the whole pro-

cess ends.

“Their statements revealed involvements of many other members of the elite crime-busting force Rapid Action Battalion [RAB] and names of civil people,” an official linked with the investigation said in return for anonymity.

“We will have to sift through all information and look into the involvements of the people named by the three

officers and it will take a long time.”

Those three officers divulged involvement of more than two dozen of the force’s men in RAB 11 in their statements, said the sources.

Besides, the name of Zia, a high official of the RAB, came to the fore in the statements in which they said the murders had happened at the behest of Zia. Apart from this, the investigators

need Nur Hossain, prime accused in the case who slipped into India soon after the murders. He, however, was arrested and is now under trial in a Kolkata court in West Bengal of India for his illegal intrusion there.

Mamunur Rashid Mondal, the investigation officer of the case, yesterday said: “It is a huge case; we have to bring out each and every nitty-gritty of

the incident and that is why it will take long time to complete the probe.”

He, however, declined to say anything about the investigation.

Seven people were killed after abduction at the end of April in the port city of Narayanganj. Of them, lawyer Chandan Sarker and his driver were not the target of the killers.

3 | News

Slain Fulgazi upazila chairman Ekram’s family has alleged that the prime suspects in the case have been seen freely moving around in the district.

Students and civil servants in China’s Muslim northwest have been ordered to avoid taking part in traditional fasting during the Islamic month of Ramadan.

4 | News

Wasfia Nazreen has made another history of being the first Bangladeshi to scale the Mount Denali, the highest mountain of North America.

11 | Op-Ed

Whenever I think goalkeepers, I think Rene Higuita who’s curly locks and prodigious moustache would have seen him pass off easily as a late 80s era Hollywood B-movie villain.

The three alleged members, now in police custody, have confessed that they carried out the murder in exchange for money.

Quoting the victims’ family members, the media reports say that Nur Hossain, a BNP-turned Awami League leader, was behind the murder and he went into hiding.

They also said the alleged criminals crossed into India with the assistance of an Awami League MP. On May 22, Bangladesh issued a warning to the Interpol to trace him. l

Most Bangladeshis concerned about Islamic extremism n Tribune Report Even though the majority of Bangladeshi population hold negative opinion about Islamic extremism and extremist groups, surprisingly, nearly half of Bangladeshis believe that suicide bombing can be justified in some cases.

The Pew Research Centre, a Washington DC-based think tank, carried out the survey in different countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa; and found that concern about Islamic extremism was high among countries with substantial Muslim populations.

In Bangladesh, 69% respondents said they were concerned about Islamic extremism. The number was 66% in Pakistan, 63% in Malaysia and only 39% in Indonesia.

The findings said concern about Islamic extremism was growing in the Middle East while Lebanese, Tunisians, Egyptians, Jordanians and Turks were all more worried about the extremist threat than they were a year ago.

Although only few in the countries surveyed said suicide bombing or other forms of violence against civilian targets was “often” or “sometimes” justified in order to defend Islam from its enemies, 47% Bangladeshi Muslims believed that suicide bombing can be justified, according to the survey.

In Indonesia and Pakistan, one-inten Muslims or less said targeting civilians was often or sometimes justified.

Most Bangladeshis, however, had unfavourable opinion against wellknown extremist groups. The survey claimed that 66% Bangladeshis had negative opinions of al-Qaeda, while opinion against Hamas and Hezbollah stood at around 56% each for the both groups. l

SEHRI & IFTAR TIME Day Ramadan 4/July 3 Ramadan 5/July 4

9 | World

The Commerce Ministry has expressed concern over the possibility of price hike of onion in local market as India has increased its minimum export price from $300 to $500 per tonne.

Media reports say Nur Hossain, a BNPturned Awami League leader, was behind the murders

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

INSIDE 2 | News

from an apartment near the Kolkata airport for trespassing and illegal possession of arms. They are now facing trial in India.

Narayanganj City Corporation panel mayor Nazrul Islam, lawyer Chandan Kumar Sarkar and five others were abducted on April 27, allegedly by some Rab members and their corpses were found three days later in the Shitalakhya River.

12 | Entertainment

Shahrukh Khan received France’s highest award, “Knight of the Legion” from Laurent Fabius, the French Foreign Minister.

Sehri – 3.43am

Iftar 6.54pm 6.54pm

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Now ministry worries onion price hike n Asif Showkat Kallol The Commerce Ministry has expressed concern over the possibility of price hike of onion in local market as India has increased its minimum export price from $300 to $500 per tonne, an official concerned said.

India yesterday raised the export price of onion to maintain price level in the country as fear for a shortage grows due to unfavourable weather conditions.

As a result, the price of onion imported from India will stand at Tk38.81 per kilogram.

The official said they had already estimated the price and supply of Indian onion. “But our estimation is now meaningless as the Indian government has hiked the minimum export price of onion again.” He added: “Our onion market plan for Ramadan is in jeopardy.”

Outgoing Commerce Secretary Mahbub Ahmed declined to comment on the issue. “I am yet to see the report,” he said.

Earlier, the secretary said: “We have enough stock of onion in the local market. So, there is no possibility of price hike of this essential item during Ramadan.”

Monthly consumption of onion in the country was 1.40 lakh tonnes which might double during Ramadan, he added.

Bangladesh produced about 13.58 lakh tonnes of onion 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 onion from India.

According to the commerce ministry report, onion sold at Rs26 and Rs30 in Kolkata and New Delhi respectively two days ago.

Golam Mawla, general secretary of Moulvibazar Traders Association, told the Dhaka Tribune that the onion price would definitely reach Tk80 per kg within two or three days during Ramadan due to fresh hike in India.

He also claimed that of total onion demand, 80% was met with import from India. “A few importers are now importing onion from China at cheap rate.”

Indian onion sold at Tk45 per kg at city kitchen markets yesterday while local onion for Tk42 per kg.

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

In Bangladesh, the onion price hit an all-time high of Tk110 per kg in October last year. l

PADMA BRIDGE

Mobilisation advance paid to Chinese company n Rabiul Islam The government has paid a mobilisation advance to China Major Bridge Engineering Company Ltd for the construction of Padma Bridge.

“We have paid 15% of the total contract value to China Major Bridge Engineering Company Ltd as a mobilisation advance,” Project Director Shafiqul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

The mobilisation payments will be adjusted later, he said, adding that as per the contract, the mobilisation advance was paid last month.

Sources said a cheque for Tk1,800 crore was handed over to the Chinese company, which gave a guarantee of the money from United Commercial Bank.

On June 17, 2013, the government signed a contract with China Major Bridge Company to build the Padma

Draft broadcast policy ready for cabinet nod  PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

The chairman and members of the commission would be selected by a search committee that would be formed by the Information Ministry. The president will appoint them according to the recommendation of the committee.

The commission would recommend the government about providing licences to the TV channels and private radio stations. It would formulate a code of guidance or programme code for the broadcasting institutions and regulatory authorities comprising four specific criteria in the code.

The media authorities must meet the criterions – authenticities of the broadcasted information, professional neutrality, upholding professional ethics and being accountable and responsible on broadcasting sensitive matters.

Allegations may be submitted to the commission if any programme is found to be offensive.

The draft says private TV channels would be compelled to broadcast government press notes, important announcements and national programmes.

The information minister said the commission would be considered as a regulatory body for the broadcasting stations.

The commission would monitor their activities and bring them under discipline, the minister said, adding that steps would be taken against those violating rules regarding anti-state activities. “The government will take steps as per the recommendation of the commission.”

The policy warns the authorities to be aware since “anti-state” and issues “conflicting with public interests” cannot be broadcasted. But, it has not been made clear what type of contents would be considered as “anti-state” and “conflicting with public interest” and who would decide this. l

Bridge at a cost of Tk12,133.39 crore.

The mega project has to be completed within 48 months since the date of the signing of the contract.

Bridge Division Secretary Khandaker Anwarul Islam said after signing the contract, the construction of the bridge had started. The mobilisation advance is usually paid as per a standard contract for bringing equipment to the bridge site, he added.

Sources said China Major Bridge Company requested the bridge authority to pay the mobilisation advance to purchase construction materials and bring those to the construction site.

The project director said the Chinese company had also started conducting a survey. It had already built houses for the accommodation of engineers. Once the 6.15km bridge is built, it will connect 21 southern districts with Dhaka. l

TIB clarifies position on private universities n Tribune Report

A BSTI mobile court confiscates days old stale food at the Nababi Bhoje restaurant in the capital's Baily Road yesterday and fine Tk30,000 MEHEDI HASAN

Offices of 3 secretaries reshuffled n Mohosinul Karim

Offices of three senior secretaries were reshuffled yesterday as they would go on post retirement leave (PRL) by this month.

The Public Administration Ministry yesterday issued separate gazette notifications of the three reshuffles.

Of the three, Senior Secretary of Energy and Mineral Resources Division Mojammel Haque Khan was transferred to the Home Ministry as Senior Secretary while member and Senior Secretary of Planning Commission Hedayetullah Al Mamun was made Senior Secretary of Commerce Ministry.

In addition to the two, Senior Secretary of Commerce Ministry Mahbub Ahmed was transferred to Finance Division as Senior Secretary.

Nobody, however, was appointed as the secretary of Energy and Mineral Resources Division.

According to the Public Administration Ministry, Finance Secretary Fazle Kabir will go on PRL today while Sen-

ior Secretary of Home Ministry CQK Mustak Ahmed will do so on July 8.

Member of the Privatisation Commission Rokeya Sultana went to PRL yesterday as she reached 59.

Member of the Planning Commission Uzzal Bikash Dutta will start his PRL from August 9 while that of Environment and Forest Secretary Shafiqur Rahman Patwary is scheduled for August 31.

PRL of Railway Secretary Abul Kalam Azad and Education Secretary Dr Muhammad Sadique will start from September 12 and September 18 respectively. Housing and Public Works Secretary Golam Rabbani will also reach 59 in September.

Liberation War Affairs Secretary KH Masud Siddiqui will go on PRL from October 31 while Asian Development Bank Alternate Executive Director Iqbal Mahmood and Health Secretary MM Neazuddin will do so on November 29 and December 30 respectively.

According to the ministry, it has already sent proposals for appointing

five additional secretaries as secretaries-in-charge while sources said more five names were sent.

They are AZM Shamsuddin Azad Chowdhury of the Health Ministry, Farid Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury of the Communication Ministry, Personal Secretary of the LGRD minister Ashok Madhab Roy, Prime Minister’s Personal Secretary Abdul Malek, Divisional Commissioner of Dhaka Jillar Rahman, Begum Dilruba of the Public Administration Ministry, Director General of the Department of Primary Education Shyamol Kanti Nag, Bangladesh Computer Council Executive Director SM Ashraful Alam, Anwar Faruque of the Agriculture Ministry and Jalal Uddin Ahmed.

Public Administration Ministry’s Joint Secretary (APD) Muhibul Haque said posts of three secretaries remain vacant, adding: “We are preparing to fill the posts by appointing senior officials. The list has already been made.

It will be done within a day or two,” he added. l

RAB resumes field duties after 1 month n Kailash Sarkar After a break of over one month, Rapid Action Battalion has started its additional field duties, including search drives and patrolling, again.

In May, the government decided to keep the elite force away from all the

additional duties except its seven assigned tasks after its reported involvement in sensational seven murders in Narayanganj.

Wing Commander ATM Habibur Rahman, director of the Legal and Media Wing of RAB, told the Dhaka Tribune that the force returned to the field

duties following a verbal directive from the Home Ministry yesterday.

State Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said: “The government has decided to engage RAB in its previous regular duties so that the law and order situation cannot deteriorate during Ramadan in the country.” l

The prime target of the killers was to kill Nazrul Islam, a ruling Awami League leader and a ward commissioner and panel mayor of Narayanganj City Corporation.

None of the six accused including much-talked-about Nur Hossain in the case has yet been arrested (Kolkata police arrested Nur Hossain for his illegal entry to India, nor for murders).

The three former RAB officers – Lt Col (retd) Tarek Sayeed Mohammad, former commanding officer of Rab 11, Major (retd) Arif Hossain and Lt Commander (retd) MM Rana were first removed from their jobs in the forces on suspicion and later arrested.

After their arrest and during interrogation while on police remand the for-

mer RAB trio gave confessional statements separately where they narrated the plot of killings.

They also talked about the rivalry and conflicts between Nur Hossain and Nazrul and other politicians either for political interest or financial interest.

The sources involved in the investigation said they needed Nur Hossain badly to unearth the other side of the plot.

“Nur Hossain’s involvement came up in the confessional statements of the RAB officers,” said a source who skimmed the copies of the statements.

“If we get back Nur Hossain definitely we will get names of his men who were involved either directly or indirectly in the killing mission. This is

Wage earners’ fund wasted  PAGE 1 COLUMN 4

will be 15-storey buildings with two basements in each and another nine-storey.

The apartments were supposed to be built in four categories – 1000 square feet, 1200, 1500 and 1800 square feet.

The work order was given in April 2004. The construction was supposed to begin within 30 days of the agreement and end within 36 months.

The contractors, however, could not start the work on time as the board could not provide the design timely.

On the basis of primary design provided by city development regulator Rajuk, the construction started in October 2004. The project was supposed to complete by June 2007.

According to a report of the Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry, the board had given Tk28.84 crore as mobilisation money against the bank guarantees of two contractors. Besides, the board also paid a bill of Tk8.96 crore.

Officials at the ministry, however, said all the money had virtually been

wasted as the project was cancelled in last year.

Following a recommendation of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Expatriates’ Welfare Ministry, the board decided to cancel the housing project while the applicants were requested to take back their deposited money.

Of the total 1,350 applicants, around 600 took back their money.

A senior official at the ministry said a large amount of money had been wasted since the decision was not made timely. The money wasted could be spent on the welfare of the migrants.

Due to increase in prices of construction materials, a dispute between the board and the contractors surfaced.

Between 2004 and 2005, both the contractors applied for increasing expenditure.

As the board did not agree, the construction work gradually came to a halt. Since 2006, the construction of the housing project has remained suspended, according to a report of the Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry.

Bangladesh mulls joining AIIB n Emran Hossain Shaikh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said Bangladesh will consider joining the Chinese initiative to form a financial institution like the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank if it seems beneficial for the socioeconomic development of the country.

“We want socioeconomic development. So we must accept anyone's initiative if it benefits our country,” the premier said.

Sheikh Hasina made the statement yesterday while responding to a question from independent lawmaker Rustum Ali Farazi during the prime minister’s question-and-answer session in the House.

“We have got a proposal from the Chinese government in this regard and we are examining it,” she said.

China has taken the initiative to establish the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) at the end of this year. l

Footballer del Piero turns a journalist  PAGE 1 COLUMN 5

why it is taking time,” explained a police officer involved in the investigation in return for anonymity.

The investigators are hopeful about getting Nur Hossain back from India soon. When asked If India does not extradite Nur soon the police officer said: “In that case we will think about it later.”

Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, meantime, in yesterday’s parliament session said, the Indian government agreed to send back Nur Hossain. He made the disclosure replying to a question of an opposition lawmaker.

The sources said the most challenging task for the investigators is to dig out the involvement of all other RAB personnel including a high official

along with the role of Nur Hossain.

“So it not a little case rather it is a very big case to deal with,” said a source.

A highly placed police officer who has knowledge about the content of confessional statements old the Dhaka Tribune about Arif’s statement: “This is a well compiled and a complete confessional statement...I can only tell you that many issues have come up in the statement...It is a good statement for the investigation and it will help to reveal truth.”

Arif was the first among the three former RAB officers who gave confessional statement and later Rana and Tarek gave their statements. Sources said there are similarities between their statements. l

tried to answer everyone’s queries although he showed some urgency in order to meet his deadline.

He said he was enjoying his new role as a journalist. “ I have seen many sides of this game. As a fan, as a spectator, after winning and having been defeated.

Now I will be following this World Cup with a new uniform, the one of a journalist. It will be curious to see it from the other side of the stadium and not in the middle of the field,” said Del Piero.

Del Piero also stated that previously he had remarked that the South American teams will dominate the World Cup. “Apart from Brazil and Argentina, all the other teams team have fared well here because of the mental and physical proximity. I will make no comment on Italy but Germany and Holland are also playing well,” he said.

With the crowd of journalists suddenly growing bigger, Del Piero had to leave.

As he started to walk a good number of television cameramen followed him.

He did not say anything rude to the cameramen who were following him and waved before he got out of the gate. It was all done in a manner befitting the true gentleman that he is. l

As per the contact, both the board and the contractors went to arbitration to settle the dispute.

A senior official at the ministry said the arbitration was underway to settle the dispute. “But it is yet to be settled.”

Talking to this correspondent, Borak Real State Director Gazi Md Sakhawat Hossain said: “If we can reach an agreement, the dispute can be settled.”

SM Solaiman, executive director of Eastern Housing, declined to comment on the present condition of the project.

During a visit on Tuesday, this correspondent found that only three storeys of one building – out of the five with two basements – have been completed

by Eastern Housing while one storey of another building with two basements was completed by Borak.

Security guard Mamun said: “I have been staying here for six months.

These two buildings have remained incomplete for quite a long time.”

Another guard Borhan was catching fish in the water in front of an under-construction building.

Md Kabir, an employee of Westin

Hotel who has been living in a tin-shed house at the project site, said: “My sir Noor Ali is a very good man, and if officials of the board request him he can finish the project.”

Noor Ali is the owner of Borak Real State.

Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Secretary Khondakar Showkat Hossain told the Dhaka Tribune on Sunday that the decision to build 500 apartments for 500 expatriates was not proper.

He, however, did not deny the wastage of money from the wage earners’ welfare fund.

“We are considering taking up income-generating projects for greater benefits of the migrant workers,” the secretary said.

He also said a sub-committee of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Expatriates’ Welfare Ministry headed by lawmaker Israfil Alam had been formed to make a recommendation for the proper use of the land.

Sources said a five-member committee headed by Additional Secretary of

the Expat Ministry Hazrat Ali had been formed to settle the dispute with the contractors.

“We have held a number of meetings and are trying to reach an agreement with the contractors,” Hazrat Ali told the Dhaka Tribune recently.

Just after taking up the project, the board sought applications from expatriate Bangladeshis for distribution of the proposed apartments.

Around 1,350 expatriates submitted applications. Initially, an applicant had to give $1800 for the 1800sq-ft flats, $1500 for 1500sq-ft, $1200 for 1200sq-ft and $1000 for 1000sq-ft flats.

Like other migrants, Sabirul Islam applied for an apartment of 1,500 square feet and deposited $1500 in 2006.

After eight years, Islam took back his money from the welfare fund last month. “I am disappointed; had I deposited the amount in a bank, the money would have doubled,” he said.

“Moreover, I had to communicate constantly for about eight years and I had to spend around Tk30,000,” Sabirul added. l

Investigators: Solving Narayanganj 7-murder needs more time  PAGE 1 COLUMN 5

In a media release yesterday, Transparency International Bangladesh “clarified” its position regarding reaction of various government bodies on its study on corruption in 22 private universities.

Soon after the release of the report on June 30, the Education Ministry and the University Grants Commission (UGC) termed the findings untrue.

The TIB yesterday claimed that the study data had been collected from stakeholders of the education sector. It contacted several officials-employees of the ministry and the UGC at various levels of the study and there had been direct and telephone conversations and discussions.

The UGC provided the TIB with information in written form on March 27.

The Berlin-based NGO, however, hailed the UGC for forming a three-member committee to look into the information came up in the report.

The report alleges that crores of taka changed hands for issues such as getting approvals, while a nexus of ministry and UGC officials paved the way for such irregularities. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

FULGAZI CHAIRMAN MURDER

Prime suspects allegedly moving around freely Jamil Khan with our n Mohammad Feni Correspondent Slain Fulgazi upazila chairman Ekram’s family has alleged that the prime suspects of the murder case have been seen freely moving around in the district.

Nearly a month and a half ago, Ekram was killed by a gang of criminals in the Feni district town in broad daylight. Assailants shot at Ekram and then set fire to his vehicle to burn him to death.

After the murder, police managed to arrest more than two dozen people.

However, prime suspects Jahangir Adel and Ziaul Islam Mister still remain at large.

Sources said they had secretly crossed the border over to India after police strengthened the raid against them.

Speaking to the Dhaka Tribune via mobile phone, Rezaul Haque Jashim, Ekram’s elder brother and plaintiff of the murder case, claimed that both the suspects had been staying in Feni but police had not shown any interest in

arresting them.

“This is nothing but sheer irresponsibility on the part of the present investigators. That is why we are urging the authorities concerned to transfer the case to the Criminal Investigation Department [CID]; but nobody is paying heed,” Jashim said.

“In fact, the investigators are trying to save the prime suspects by using their power. On one hand, they are trying to submit the charge sheet and on the other hand giving them [prime suspects] space to secure advance bail from the High Court and avoid arrest,” Jashim alleged.

Abul Kalam Azad, inspector of Feni model police station and the investigating officer of the case, told the Dhaka Tribune: “We have got the DNA report from the Chittagong Medical College Hospital on Tuesday.

We sent for it soon after the murder.

It confirmed that the burnt body was Ekram’s.”

About prime suspects Adel and Ziaul, he said: “Police are trying to arrest them and also conducting raids in their suspected dens. We are about to end

investigation and will be done with the charge sheet soon.”

Paritosh Ghosh, superintendent of Feni police, told the Dhaka Tribune: “We have told you earlier that we have no information about Adel and Ziaul crossing the border. Police has issued a red alert at the border to that they cannot flee the country. Investigation is underway to arrest them by tracing their hideouts.”

Finally Awami League moves Meanwhile, the Feni district unit of the ruling Awami League has finally moved against Adel and Ziaul for their alleged involvement in the murder.

Abdur Rahman, president of Feni district Awami Leauge, told the Dhaka Tribune: “We will suspend all the people whose names came up in investigation... We will suspend all of them from our committees.”

When asked about the delay in taking action, he said: “We were busy demonstrating against the Ekram killing. That is why we could not take any action before. But now we will, because no criminal has the right to hold party posts.” l

3

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Ministry cancels temporary passes to secretariat n Moniruzzaman Uzzal The Home Ministry has cancelled all temporary passes to the secretariat for security purposes. It has also cancelled entry passes for transport, aiming to issue new stickers.

Subrata Pal Chowdhury, a deputy secretary of security branch-2 under the ministry, issued a circular in this regard on June 19.

The Home Ministry has taken this decision with an aim to ensure the foolproof security of the secretariat. It will issue temporary new entry passes for people and stickers for their transports, shortly.

Officials concerned told the Dhaka Tribune that the ministry has taken the decision as the number of temporary passes had recently gone up.

It was alleged that due to the pressure from ministers, lawmakers and political leaders and their recommendations, a large number of passes had been issued with fake identities, especially in the name of private institutes.

Most of the officials come to the secretariat to lobby for transfers, postings, donations and work orders. The security guards cannot stop them as they have valid entry passes. The high officials cannot pay attention to the matter as the lobbyists have always had access

to their offices.

Sources said all the public and private institutes have been instructed to fill up forms and send them to the Home Ministry by July 15 along with the recommendations of the secretaries of the ministries/divisions (for public) and heads of institutes (private).

Md Hafizur Rahman Chowdhury, a senior assistant secretary of the Health Ministry, issued a circular on June 25 and asked all concerned to fulfill all the conditions in the documents and provide all required information to him before July 5.

To get entry passes, everyone has to provide information in the application forms such as the name of the applicant, workplace address (with designation) and home address. For the ministry people, the name of the cell/ branch, the reason for temporary entry pass and their contact number needs to be provided. The secretaries of the ministries/divisions concerned must recommend the applications.

Officials and employees of private organisations can apply on their organisations’ pads with all the necessary information.

To get the stickers to enter the secretariat, all concerned have to fill up specific forms along with the submission of letters of recommendation from the ministries/divisions concerned. l

IO’s deposition begins in Qaisar case n Udisa Islam The investigation officer in the trial of war crimes suspect Syed Mohammad Qaisar has started submitting deposition at the International Crimes Tribunal 2 as the last prosecution witness.

Appearing before the tribunal yesterday, ASP Monowara Begum placed her statement for few minutes and the prosecution sought adjournment on her behalf mentioning that she was ill. The tribunal adjourned the session until July 7.

Before that, Monowara described her job responsibilities and professional records. The government appointed her in the tribunal’s investigation office in 2011.

Later the prosecution took part in a hearing on one of its petitions, pleading for allowing them to submit some additional documents. The tribunal said most of the documents had already been submitted and mentioned the petition as “not placed.”

In the tribunal 1, the defence of Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azharul Islam failed to conclude the cross-examination of the IO. Defence counsel Abdus Sobhan Tarafder took much time to place his questions. From 11:45am to 12:30pm, he just asked the IO three questions. l

Education minister for no gap between exams n Mushfique Wadud Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid yesterday said the ministry was planning to reform public examination system and there would be no gap between examinations except public holidays.

At present, there is one, two or three days break before examinations which seem to be difficult for students, and for this gap, it requires 30 to 45 days for examination to be complete, he said.

“It is not possible to conduct examinations for one and a half month…The examination system must be reformed,” Nahid said while speaking at a press briefing at the secretariat yesterday.

The press briefing was arranged to inform journalists about the recommendations of the probe committee formed to investigate question paper leakage of English Second Paper examination of Higher Secondary Certificate.

Nahid said the probe committee recommended not putting any gap between examinations and suggested there should be no lingering, rather finishing them as early as possible.

The probe body also suggested conducting two examinations a day.

Nahid admitted that the probe committee found that the HSC English Second Paper and Mathematics question papers were leaked.

He said the English Second Paper examination was postponed and rescheduled while the set of Mathemat-

ics question was changed in the morning of the test day.

The Dhaka Education Board had postponed English Second Paper examination scheduled to be held on April 9.

The ministry formed a probe committee led by its Additional Secretary Sohrab Hossain to investigate the incident.

The committee after extending time twice submitted its report and recommendations last Sunday.

The committee, however, failed to find out the source of the question paper leakage and those responsible for it.

It suggested taking help from law enforcement agencies to find out the source and the culprits. The committee, however, gave some recommendations to avoid incident of question leakage in future.

The recommendations include digitising the question framing and distribution system and introducing a separate internet system for question distribution. The committee recommended using artificial intelligence to make different sets of questions and producing 20 such sets and selecting one by lottery.

It also advocated selection of not many multiple choice questions, dissuasion from taking help from coaching centres and guide books.

The report recommended reforming “The Public Examinations (Offences) Act, 1980” and awarding exemplary punishment for question leakage. l

Although commuters in Dhaka are not unknown to long tailbacks on a daily basis, the crisis seems to have grown exponentially during Ramadan. Rows of vehicles are seen waiting at the Bangla Motor intersection yesterday afternoon MEHEDI HASAN

Journalists worried about DCs’ proposal

Muhith withdraws bill moved without exhausting constitution n Mohosinul Karim n Kamran Reza Chowdhury Journalists have expressed concerns The finance minister AMA Muhith yesterday withdrew a draft law he was going to table in the legislature as it was brought without exhausting a constitutional provision.

The minister withdrew the Investment Corporation of Bangladesh Bill 2014 as Rustum Ali Faraji, an independent MP from Pirojpur, pointed out in the House that the bill had come to the legislature without following constitutional guidelines.

He quoted article 82 of the constitution which forced ministers to table a finance bill – a draft law having expenditure involvement of the government exchequer – with prior permission from the president, who is the guardian of government funds.

“The ministry should have sought permission from the president as this is a finance bill. But the president’s permission has not been taken. This bill cannot be tabled in this way,” Rustum Ali told the House. Speaker Shirin rejected his point-of-order, suggesting him to wait until the minister sought permission to table the move.

“I do not want to table the bill today [Wednesday] as it involves procedural problem,” Muhith told parliament.

In his written justification statement, Muhith said the government had moved the draft law as the Supreme Court had asked the executive to upgrade the ordinance and write it in Bangla. l

about the deputy commissioners’ move to get back their power to take action against newspapers involved in anti-state activities.

Shaikh Yusuf Harun, immediate last DC of Dhaka, has submitted a proposal to the Cabinet Division seeking amendment of existing laws to empower them to cancel declarations of newspapers on charges of being involved in anti-state, anti-religion and propaganda-spreading activities.

The recommendation has been included in the working paper of the annual DC conference beginning July 8.

However, Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu has rejected any probability of amending laws.

He told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday: “The ministry is unaware of the controversial proposal of the deputy commissioners because it has not been sent to the Information Ministry as yet.”

Shaikh Yusuf Harun told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that the proposal was placed considering practical experiences of deputy commissioners. “Everybody should be accountable. A DC usually gives declaration of a newspaper as the district magistrate.

“If a newspaper authority is involved in anti-state or anti-religion activities or propaganda, the district magistrates must have the authority to

cancel its declaration. We have placed our proposal. It is now up to the government. We do not make laws or policies,” he said.

Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, president of a faction of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists, told the Dhaka Tribune: “We believe there should not be any such law because media have been enjoying independence for two decades. Instead, the government should amend laws to strengthen the press council. We have already made suggestions to the government in this regard.”

He also said: “It may not be a matter of concern as yet because it is not a government initiative... We believe that the government will discuss with the stakeholders and media personnel before amending any law or policy regarding electronic or print media.

There are many laws and policies in the country that need amendment.

The government should keep an eye on those.”

Inu said: “The ministry may examine the proposal only after getting it in hand. The ministry does not move until it gets the proposal officially. The government is not thinking about the amendment.”

Other proposals formulated by the DCs include ensuring a supply of adequate vehicles and sound systems for the divisional and district information offices and giving the licensing authority of the cable TV networks to the DCs. l

One house one farm project beneficiaries to get a bank Palli Sanchay Bank Law passed in JS approval of the central bank. n Kamran Reza Chowdhury The management board will consist The Jatiya Sangsad yesterday enacted the Palli Sanchay Bank law which will authorise the government to set up a specialised bank for the beneficiaries of the Awami League government’s “one house one farm project.”

In addition to saving, the bank will provide loan to the members of the cooperatives formed to run the Tk1,342 crore “one house one farm project,” which the ruling party rates as one of the flagship projects for poverty alleviation.

The government share of the bank is 51% while the members of the cooperative societies of the project will own the rest 49% equity.

The assembly enacted the bill by voice vote as Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith in absence of Local Government Minister Syed Asharful Islam proposed its passage.

According to the law, the bank’s authorised capital stands at Tk1,000 crore with 10 crore shares at a value of Tk100 each. The bank’s proposed paid-up capital is Tk200 crore.

The government can raise the paidup and authorised capitals through gazette notification.

The Bank Companies Act will govern the Palli Sanchay Bank regulated by the central bank.

The bank with its head office in Dhaka can set up regional offices and branches across the country with the

of 16 members and of whom seven board of directors will be from the shareholders from the division-level association of the “one house one farm project”.

Nine directors will come from the finance division, rural development and cooperatives division, director general of rural board, the managing director of the Palli Sanchaya Bank and four experts on rural economy and macro-financing.

The board members will elect its chairman from the board members.

The tenure of the board will be three years. One can be appointed for maximum two consecutive terms.

The borrowers of microcredit system would not need to submit any security to get loan, but the borrowers in-

terested in getting loan more than the stipulated amount of money will have to provide collateral.

Borrowers using false information for getting loans from the bank will get one-year imprisonment or a fine of Tk50,000 or both.

Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board Law passed The House also enacted the Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board Bill to update the previous Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board Ordinance promulgated by military ruler Gen Ziaur Rahman in 1976.

The board is tasked to adopt different development projects aimed at ensuring the upliftment of the hill people, mainly the small ethnic groups in three hill districts – Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Banderban. l

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

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Thursday, July 3, 2014

Draft law for private hospitals nearly ready n Moniruzzman Uzzal The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has finalised the draft of the “private medical service act 2014.”

The Dhaka Tribune has learnt that the ministry will send the draft to the cabinet committee for approval very soon.

Records show that at present there are about 8,703 registered private hospitals, clinics and pathological laboratories in the country, of which 3,289 are hospitals and clinics, and 5,414 pathological laboratories.

All of them are running under the “Medical Practice of Private Clinics and Laboratories (Regulation) Ordinance 1982.”

Md Mosharraf Hossain, a joint secretary of the ministry, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that they had been “seriously working to enact the law.”

He also said: “We have taken opinions from the related ministries and sections of people regarding the law.

Now we are discussing the final draft with the high officials of different ministries.”

Mosharraf however could not give a definitive date for placing the draft in parliament.

There are allegations that the Health Ministry has no control over the thousands of private hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres in the country.

Most of them have been charging “illogical” high amounts as fees for investigation, hospital bed and cabin rent, operational costs, and so on. Because of the backdated ordinance, the ministry has not been able to take any action against them.

Professor ABM Abdul Hannan, a director of the health directorate, told the Dhaka Tribune: “A strong law is a must. Health Minister Mohammad Nasim has directed us to finalise the act.

32 years have passed but we are hopeful that we will get the ‘private health care service act 2014’ soon.”

Ministry sources said the final draft was made after reviewing two separate previous drafts – one from 2007 and the other from 2010.

According to the 1982 ordinance, the license fee for big, medium and small hospitals or clinics is only Tk5,000 and pathological laboratory only Tk1,000.

If any of these organisations break the ordinance, they face financial penalties of only Tk5,000, or six months of jail or another Tk5,000 as fines.

Health officials say nobody cares about the ordinance.

“There is no regulation or control over bed rents, doctors’ fees, laboratory tests and other operational charges.

The Directorate General of Health Services [DGHS] has no idea about how many of the licensed hospitals, clinics and pathological laboratories renew their licenses every year,” one of them said.

The directorate had been managing to keep an eye on the hospitals, clinics and laboratories within the limits of the capital city. The district civil surgeons are supposed to look after the district levels, they said.

Recent mobile court drives have found that many private hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres provide below standard services. They do not have trained doctors, nurses and technologists. The equipment in pathological laboratories is old and out-dated.

Sometimes, doctors sign in reports without actually doing any pathological test.

Prof Dr Rashid-e-Mahbub, president of the Health Rights Movement, said it is high time a new law is made to monitor and supervise the huge number of hospitals, clinics and pathological laboratories. l

As traditional silk production in Rajshahi is on the verge of extinction most of the factories related to this industry have been shut down. Women of high class and posh areas now prefer salwar-kameez to that of saree resulting in less demand for it in market. Despite that, women in the district are busy with stitching designs on sarees and kameez ahead of Eid. The photo was taken yesterday AZAHAR UDDIN

CTG GOLD TRADER ABDUCTION

Dipu rescued after five months n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong Fahad Chowdhury Dipu, a businessman who was abducted on January 15 this year, was rescued from the capital’s International Trade Fair field on June 27.

Speaking to the Dhaka Tribune at his residence in the port city’s Halishahar area yesterday afternoon, Dipu described the inhuman torture he had gone through over the last five months.

“It was a closed room. My hands and legs were tied and eyes were blindfolded. I even had to relieve myself in this condition. They sent electric shock through my head and beat me indiscriminately from wrist to toe. If I shouted from pain, they threatened to shoot me and I could not even scream to save my life,” Dipu described.

n Tribune Report

Wasfia holds the National Flag on the peak of Mount Denali

Sramik Dal leaders vandalise Nayapaltan party office n

Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

A BNP intra-party feud seems to have resurfaced as the two factions of Sramik Dal, labour wing of the party, locked in a clash that left some of its leaders and activists injured.

The clash took place centring an election held at the BNP Nayapaltan Headquarters yesterday for a new Dhaka city (south) unit Sramik Dal committee.

Sramik Dal leaders allege that the BNP leadership ignores the dedicated and tested leaders According to witnesses, while the vote count was going on, supporters and councilors of presidential candidate Sumon Bhuiyan launched an attack on those of his contender Kazi Amir Khosru.

Sumon’s supporters vandalised the party office furniture and at least 10 party men were injured, including Sramik Dal President Anwar Hossain.

his wrists and legs were broken.

Dipu is an accused of a case regarding the robbery of 80 tolas of gold. Gold trader Mridul Chowdhury, who was also abducted and later released this February, lodged the case against RAB 2 official Maj Md Rakibul Amin, Dipu and Babul Paul, the plaintiff ’s driver, on December 26, 2013.

Following the filing of the case, Dipu was forcibly picked up by three or four people from the capital’s Kamalapur Sarder Colony area. A general dairy was registered with Motijheel police station in connection with Dipu’s abduction.

Surprisingly, the description of the torture in both abduction cases are the same and both of them refused to disclose anything regarding the abductors, stating security reasons. l

Wasfia scales Mount Denali

Faruk laid to rest n Tribune Report Khandakar Mohammad Faruk, a freedom fighter, former Chhatra Union president and an organizer of anti–autocracy movement in 1990s, was laid to rest in Tangail yesterday.

He died on June 29 in a hotel in Bangkok where he had gone with his wife for treatment. His body was brought to Dhaka from Bangkok on July 1.

The first namaz-e-janaza was held in Dhanmondi on July 1 and the second namaz-e-janaza was held at BUET campus yesterday.

Later his body was taken to the Central Shaheed Minar at 11am.

He was laid to rest in his family graveyard in Aisora village after a third namaz-e-janaza. People from all walks of life thronged to the village to bid farewell to the former student leader.

Faruk was born on June 30, 1956.

He left his wife, two sons, relatives and well wishers to mourn his death. l

“I did not witness the barbarous torture of the Pakistani Army in 1971, but I feel I have gone through more than that. Being tortured on a routine basis, I sometimes wanted to commit suicide.

“I heard more five to six peoples’ screams while I was kept captive. I assumed that they had also been abducted like me,” Dipu said. Kamruzzaman Titu, Dipu’s elder brother, told the Dhaka Tribune that no one had communicated with them regarding ransom money.

“We are grateful to the media, law enforcing agencies and even to the abductors since they returned my brother alive,” he said.

After being rescued, Dipu was given treatment at a private hospital in the capital where doctors said Dipu had undergone a severe injury to his head and

The injured were admitted to different hospitals in the city. Later police came to the spot and brought the situation under control.

According to sources, when Sramik Dal General Secretary Nurul Islam Nasim was coming out of the party office, some aggrieved leaders and activists of the party cordoned off his vehicle and assaulted him. Later, the law enforcers came to his rescue.

The Sramik Dal president and the general secretary could not be reached over the phone for comments in connection with the incident.

However, Monjurul Islam, Sramik Dal publication and publicity secretary, described the incident as a misunderstanding. He said: “Amir Khosru was elected president and Mahbub Alam Badal general secretary.”

The Dhaka city unit Sramik Dal council was held in early April this year, but it failed to form the committee due to an intra-party feud.

Sramik Dal leaders have longstanding allegations that the BNP senior leaders nominate their personal candidates, ignoring the dedicated and tested leaders. l

COURTESY

Wasfia Nazreen has made another history of being the first Bangladeshi to scale the Mount Denali, the highest mountain of North America.

Wasfia, who conquered the highest peak of Mount Everest as the second Bangladeshi female mountaineer, reached the summit of Mount Denali, also known as Mount McKinley at 8:20am on June 24 [at 6:20pm on June 23 -Alaska time].

Later, she called her spokesperson Korvi Rakshand in Bangladesh from the summit, using a satellite phone and shared her latest thrilling achievement.

According to a press release, the Denali National Park Service has declared Wasfia as the first Bangladeshi to have had ascended the mountain.

“This season has been extremely treacherous, with the weather said to be the worst in 20 years. As attested in

attached photo, Wasfia was lucky to be amongst the 33% of the summit success rate.”

Denali has a summit elevation of 20,237 feet above sea level. At some 18,000 feet the base-to-peak rise is considered the largest of any mountain situated entirely above sea level.

It is also the longest landmass of mountain on the planet as well as the coldest one. According to the statistics, 13% of who attend Denali are Women and only 10% who reach the summit are women.

This is the 6th success of the Bangladeshi mountaineer on Seven Summits Campaign.

In 2011, Wasfia, who is also a social-worker and writer, had taken up the challenge of climbing the highest mountains of each of the seven continents in celebration of 40 years of independence of Bangladesh and women progress. She has successfully completed six continents. l

14 unidentified bodies found in the capital in a week n Abid Azad The Dhaka Medical College Hospital authorities handed over 14 unidentified and unclaimed dead bodies, recovered around the capital in the past eight days, to the burial service of Anjuman Mufidul Islam yesterday.

Faridul Islam, an official of Anjuman, received the bodies – seven female, aged between 30 and 70, six male, aged between 25 and 60, and a child, around eight years old – for buri-

al, the DMCH authorities said.

One of the female bodies was pregnant and had been slaughtered, they added.

Among the bodies, six were found

by Kamalapur Railway police, one by Savar Highway police, one by Khilkhet police, one by Badda police, one by Savar Model police, one by Khilgaon police, one by Bangshal police, and one

by Shahbagh police. The pregnant female, 30, was found by Mirpur police.

The Railway police said most of the

time the dead bodies that were recovered in the area remained unclaimed.

Sometimes, the bodies were unrecognisable.

Abdul Halim, another Anjuman official, said: “We actually provide the burial service to the morgue authority.

A body can be identified if only a DNA match is provided.”

The DMCH authority said they preserved dead bodies for a maximum of three days as they did not have sufficient space. l

High Court issues ruling on submitting Marriage Register reports n

Nazmus Sakib

The High Court yesterday issued a ruling seeking an explanation as to why a circular issued by the Inspector General of Registration (IGR) directing district nikah registrars to submit monthly reports to the IGR should not be declared illegal. The order came following a writ petition lodged by

fourteen nikah registrars of Dhaka.

Inspector General of Registration, Khan Md Abdul Manna issued a circular instructing district nikah registrars to scrutinise the nikah registry books in their area and to report to him by the fifth of each month, in line with the decision on child marriage.

Following the circular, the Dhaka nikah registrar directed nikah

registrars in his area to appear in person before him with the nikah register books.

The bench of Justice M Moazzam Husain and Justice Md Badruzzaman relieved the nikah registrars of Dhaka of having to make a personal appearance and issued the ruling, Deputy Attorney General Motaher Hossain Sazu told the Dhaka Tribune. l

Jamaat breaks low profile with Iftar party n Manik Miazee After a year of silence on the public stage, the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami yesterday hosted a well-attended Iftar party in honour of foreign diplomats at the Westin Hotel, where the press was also invited.

Interestingly, members of the BNP or the BNP-led alliance, where Jamaat is a key component, were not present at the event.

The Iftar party was attended by a number of foreign diplomats including Palestinian Ambassador and Dean of the Diplomatic Core Shaher Muhammad, US Ambassador Dan W Mozena, Saudi Ambassador D Abdullah Bin Nassar Al Bushairi, Deputy British High Commissioner Nick Low, and representatives of Pakistan, Indonesia, Iran, Oman, Libya, Brunei, Russia, Japan, India, Vietnam and South Korea. l

AL, JaPa skip Khaleda’s iftar party n Tribune Report BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday hosted an iftar party in the honour of politicians, but none from the ruling Awami League attended the programme.

Party leaders said they had invited Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, not opposition Jatiya Party led by HM Ershad.

The event was organised at Bashundhara Convention Centre in the capital where Nagorik Oikya leader Mahmudur Rahman Manna and JSD President ASM Abdur Rob were present.

It apparently turned into a gathering of BNP-led 19-party alliance members as all the leaders of the allies attended the programme. l

76 gold bars worth Tk3.8 crore seized n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong The customs authority at Shah Amanat International Airport seized about 76 gold bars weighing 8.86kg yesterday from the luggages of two passengers of an Air Arabia flight which arrived at the airport on June 27.

Moshiur Rahman Mandal, assistant commissioner of Chittagong Custom House, said they had recovered gold bars worth Tk3.80 crore from inside vacuum cleaner machines in the luggages.

Although the luggages of Md Faisal Shikder and Md Iskandar were confiscated earlier, the gold was only found after the men were quizzed yesterday. l

IHT, MATS admission test July 18

n Tribune Report The admission test of 16 public Institutes of Health Technology and Medical Assistant Training Schools for 2014-15 academic session will be held on July 18.

More than 17,000 aspiring candidates are expected to sit for the admission test to vie for only 2,226 seats in eight Institutes of Health Technology (IHT) and 716 in eight Medical Assistant Training Schools (MATS). The last date of application online and SMS ended on June 30. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

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Thursday, July 3, 2014

Rajuk study sets off alarm bells for capital, outskirts n Abu Hayat Mahmud Around 51% of the area within the capital city and its outskirts are highly vulnerable to multi-dimensional disasters – both natural and human-induced incidents including flood and waterlogging – thanks to unabated, unplanned urbanisation over the past years.

According to the “Regional Development Planning (RDP) Survey” of the capital, these areas are also at risk from earthquakes, depletion of ground water, loss of wetlands and water bodies, fire hazards, infrastructure collapses and other man-made hazards.

Besides these, the authorities lack knowledge about safe and risky zones because of the absence of micro-zoning and risk mapping for every aspect of disasters.

Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) conducted the survey last year while the final report was prepared this year for updating the RDP database.

It would help to develope a planning policy framework for the Detailed Area Plan (Dap) to promote sustainable development of the capital.

The RDP covers an area of 1,528 square kilometres, which includes two Dhaka city corporations, Narayanganj and Gazipur city corporations, four municipalities and 72 union parishads in the three districts. A 90 sq-km area of Gazipur City Corporation and Dhamsona union have been proposed as extensions to the RDP area.

Lowland areas and cultivated lands with scattered settlements in and around Dhaka are highly hazardous zones – exposed to flooding and waterlogging. Extreme lowlands and areas adjacent to rivers are designated as very high hazard zones – accounting for 50.80% of the survey area.

It also found that the highly-elevated lands of the RDP area represented the least hazardous zone, which is only 10.91% of the total land.

Moderately high land within the less hazardous zone group is only 38.30% of the total land. Most of the bordering areas of Dhaka metropolitan were characterised as moderate flood-hazard zone.

Rajuk conducted the survey with Korean companies Saman Corporation

and Han-A Urban Research Institute, and local DevConsultants Bangladesh Ltd and Sheltech (Pvt) Ltd. The initiative was funded by the Asian Development Bank.

Land use patterns in the capital and its outskirts have rapidly changed due to unplanned urbanisation coupled with the filling up of agricultural land by several thousand real estate companies The RDP is part of the City Region Development Project, which will be used to formulate a revised Structure Plan to construct a policy framework for the next 20 years (2016-2035).

The study shows that the impacts of flooding and waterlogging in and around the capital are the loss of water reservoirs, a decrease of ground

water recharge area and ground water level, destruction of natural drainage systems and drainage congestion, disturbance of local ecology and biodiversity, loss of vegetation, destruction of aesthetically pleasant recreational sites and an increase of impervious surfaces.

The groundwater depletion risk is the result of the lowering of the water table reduction of water flow in streams and lakes which may cause land subsidence, deterioration of surface water quality, groundwater pollution and urban disasters.

Earthquake and building collapse risks are also major threats for Dhaka city. The RDP study mentions the earthquake dimension in different times and represents the vulnerability for unplanned buildings.

Due to faulty design, a six storey building at Shankhari Bazar of Old Dhaka collapsed in 2004 killing 11 people.

It was built on a 200-year-old foundation designed for a three-storey structure; in 2005, the unstable structure of Spectrum Sweater Factory in Savar gave way, killing 64 people; in 2006, a

five-storey building that housed Phoenix Garments in Tejgaon collapsed killing 21 people; in 2010, a five-storey building toppled onto three makeshift houses in Begun Bari killing 23 people; and latest, on April 24, 2013, over 1,138 people were killed in the horrific Rana Plaza collapse.

Besides building collapses, fire incidents in the industrial sector, mostly in garments, is a common issue, and so fire hazards are a constant threat for the city.

The study also shows that land use patterns in the capital and its outskirts have rapidly changed due to unplanned urbanisation coupled with the filling up of agricultural land by several thousand real estate companies.

Over a span of seven years (2006-2013), agricultural land and water bodies in and around Dhaka have reduced by 21.81% while residential areas have increased by 32.67%, according to the study.

Urban planners and environmentalists allege that Rajuk only formulates plans and policies, but it can never implement them in reality.

President of Asiatic Society of Ban-

gladesh Prof Nazrul Islam, also chairman of Centre for Urban Studies, told the Dhaka Tribune: “Unplanned urbanisation in and around Dhaka and rapid fill-up of wetlands and water bodies and the building of faulty building without appropriate design, have been increasing the disaster risk for Dhaka.

“If such types of practices continue, the disaster risk for Dhaka will be rising day by day.”

Professor Jamilur Reza Choudhury, who headed the DAP experts team, said: “A large number of land developers continue to fill up flood-flow zones and grab agricultural land and river embankments and canals in and around Dhaka. This will lead to flooding, water logging and destruction of the ecology.”

He suggested that the government should concentrate on planned urbanisation and decentralisation to mitigate disaster risks for Dhaka.

Earlier, Sheikh Abdul Mannan, member (planning) of Rajuk, told the Dhaka Tribune that the RDP survey had been conducted to formulate the new DAP which may end by 2015. l

RMG worker left in isolated place after being raped n Tribune Report A local goon allegedly raped a garment worker yesterday morning and later left her at an isolated place in the capital.

The 19-year-old victim from Munshiganj, resides with her aunt in Paikpara area of Mirpur.

Victim’s aunt said: “My niece has lost her parents, so she resides with me and works in a garment factory. A local rogue Farid, 40, has been teasing her for a long time.”

The victim said: “I work in Creative Garments in Darus Salam area of Mirpur. When returning home from work, Farid forced me into a black microbus around 10am and then took me to an unknown place where he raped me.

“Later, Farid left me at that un-

known place but I managed to come back home. I told my aunt about the incident and she took me to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.”

She said she would file a case against Farid soon.

Dr Bilkis Begum, coordinator of One Stop Crisis Centre of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, confirmed the matter and told the Dhaka Tribune that the victim was taken to the hospital after 2:30pm.

“The condition of the patient is stable now. We have done some tests and more information can be provided after getting back the forensic report,” she said.

Sub-Inspector Mizanur Rahman, duty officer of Mirpur Model police station, told the Dhaka Tribune: “No case was filed in this regard yet.” l

Teenage girl found dead in a luggage in Chittagong n Tribune Report Police yesterday recovered the body of a teenage girl which was inside a luggage. The body was recovered from the side of Ice Factory Road in Chittagong city’s Sadarghat area.

On receiving information, Sadarghat police recovered the corpse from the roadside around 1:30am while police could not ascertain the identity of the victim, said Md Abul Kalam, offi-

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Cox’s Bazar

30

26

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

34.8ºC Sylhet

24.0ºC Chittagong

Source: Accuweather/UNB

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

3:48am 5:14am 12:03am 4:43pm 6:54pm 8:18pm SourceL IslamicFinder.org

cer-in-charge of Sadarghat police station.

He said the body of the girl bearing injury marks on its neck hinted that the victim might have been strangulated to death sometime on Tuesday night.

The body was sent to Chittagong Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy while a case was lodged with Sadarghat police station, he added.

The OC also said they were looking into the matter and trying to nab the killers. l

Murder suspect in courthouse suicide n Our Correspondent, Tangail A man accused of murdering his wife leapt to his death from the fifth floor of the Tangail court house around noon on Wednesday.

Md Harun Ur Rashid, son of Sultan Miah of Palima village, Kalihati upazila, jumped from the fifth floor of the newly constructed court building while on his way to the chief judicial magistrate court.

The photo taken yesterday shows that vehicles run on the dilapidated Malibagh-Mouchak road which is flooded with sewage wastage

ADMISSION BUSINESS OF BCL

Narayanganj Govt Women College principal confined n Our Correspondent, Narayanganj A good number of admission aspirants of Narayanganj Women College and their guardians confined the Principal of the college in his workplace for about two and half hours yesterday, protesting the reported admission business conducted there by Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student wing of the ruling AL. Sources at the college said several hundred students and their guardians starting protesting in front of the college in the morning, blocking the col-

lege entrance, and they confined Principal Gopal Chandra Shaha in his room from 11:30am till 2pm.

At one stage, they vandalised the furniture of Narayanganj Commerce College, the authorities of which have surprisingly been running the admission procedure there.

Upon receiving information, police rushed to the spot and quelled the ransacking. However, the principal later declared that 61 students would be given a chance of admission. On that promise, the agitators finally stopped the confinement.

The agitators alleged that a wait list of 600 students was supposed to be published after the normal admission process, but Principal Gopal Chandra Shaha gave the onus of making the list to local Tolaram College Chhatra Snagsad VP Riad Ahmed who, along with a gang of the women college employees, pocketed a total of Tk60 lakh from the admission seekers.

Jahid Sujan, president of the district unit Chhatra Federation, alleged that the principal had been conducting the admission business as there were only four students among the 61 there.

Denying the admission allegation, Narayanganj Government Women College Principal Gopal Chandra Shaha said he had kept many requests of the local political leaders as well as influential men.

When questioned regarding Narayanganj Commerce College admission activities, he could not make any satisfactory answer. When contacted, the Commerce College principal and president of Narayanganj Women Awami League, Shirin Begum, said she was unaware of the misdeed although she had directed the distribution of admission leaflets of her college. l

Man killed by younger brother in the capital n Tribune Report

The accused had strangled his wife to death and then dumped her body in the Poshna River He had been arrested on Tuesday night as the prime accused for strangling his wife of five months to death, said Kalihati police station Officer in Charge Monir Hossen. The victim Amena Begum was 18.

Amena had been subject to physical abuse by her husband and in-laws over dowry payments, said the police.

During a row on Monday night, the accused had strangled his wife to death and then dumped her body in the Poshna River, police added.

On Tuesday morning, police retrieved the body from the river. The victim’s father, Motaleb Hossen of Joshihati village, Basail upazila, filed a murder case against Harun Ur Rashid, his brother Abdul Hamid, his mother Fulbanu and his cousin Arif. l

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

People amid risk cross a road near New Market foot over bridge in the city yesterday

FOCUS BANGLA

A man was killed allegedly by his younger brother yesterday evening in South Paikpara area in the capital’s Mirpur area, according to Mirpur police.

Salahuddin Khan, officer-in-charge of Mirpur police station, said they had arrested Hazrat, 18, brother of the deceased.

No case had yet been filed in this connection when this report was filed.

Their father Abul Haque said Hazrat, who is a drug addict, hit Mahiuddin,24, on his shoulder around 3pm following an altercation that took place in the morning. The sharp blow severely injured Mahi.

The family rushed Mahi to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where he died around 6:30pm. l

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Anomaly over sale of PWD flats in Cox’s Bazar Defying government’s directive, PWD officials began allocating 459 flats should have been done under the Cox’s and will start working once we receive n Our Correspondent, Cox’s Bazar at Tk1,600,343,000.

The Ministry of Public Works on Oc- Bazar Public Works Department, they the order. Application forms were not The authorities of the Public Works Department in Cox’s Bazar are allegedly resorting to irregularity over sale of flats.

They have allocated 459 flats by publishing notice in papers that are not very popular which, government officials and civil society members say, has deprived the local people. The move has also been said to have defied government schedules and is an example of gross irregularity.

The issue sparked racket among Cox’s Bazar development authorities, who even passed a resolution, but the authorities concerned are paying no heed.

The government decided to build 459 flats of different types in 10 eightstorey buildings on 27 plots of the Public Works Department in Cox’s Bazar.

The cost of the project was estimated

tober 29 last year approved the project which was announced by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at a public meeting in Ukhia on Septmeber 3. She also ordered the authorities concerned not to resort to corruption or irregularity in implementing the project.

Public Works Department officials, however, defied the directive, engaged in anomaly and began allocating 459 flats under the project.

Cox’s Bazar Public Works Department officials say the project is being implemented by the National Housing Authorities Chittagong and Executive Director Shahjalal Majumder is the project director. Cox’s Bazar Public Works Department and National Housing Authorities Chittagong will equally bear the construction expenditure.

Although half the construction

are completely unaware of allocation of flats. They were not given any application form, prospectus or schedule and are themselves in the dark about eligibility and policy on how to get flats. No campaign was run in the media either.

Neither caretaker engineer of the National Housing Authorities Chittagong Abdur Rauf nor Shahjalal Majumder could be reached for comment over phone.

Executive engineer of Cox’s Bazar Public Works Department Taslim Uddin Majumder said they had nothing to do in this regard as it was the concern of the National Housing Authorities Chittagong.

“We are only expected to assist in 50 percent of the construction and the National Housing Authorities Chittagong will take care of the rest. We are completely prepared to do our part

sent and media campaign could not be arranged as the political situation in Cox’s Bazar was a bit unstable back then,” he said.

Exeuctive Director of Green Cox’s Bazar Fazlul Quader Chowdhury called for allocation of the flats based on eligibility through formulating a policy.

“The residents of Cox’s Bazar are completely unaware of this project, though the flats are being in their area.

There was no media coverage of sale of application forms. I demand cancellation of the existing schedule and sale of fresh forms after keeping a 50% quota for the locals,” he added.

Saimum Sarwar Komol, lawmaker of Cox’s Bazar-Ramu constituency, said a written complaint seeking cancellation of allocation of the flats was submitted to Housing and Public Works Minister

Mosharraf Hossain.

“Without selling any forms, the authorities concerned secretly announced allocation of flats ignoring priority of Cox’s Bazar residents when the country descended into chaos because of general strikes and blockades last year. The locals will not accept this,” he said.

The MP called for cancellation of the present schedule and allocation of flats by republishing notice.

Meanwhile, there has yet been no reply to the resolution sent on February 11 last year by Cox’s Bazar development authorities to National Housing Authorities Chittagong.

On June 22, after passing the resolution at a meeting of Cox’s Bazar Development Coordination Committee, a written complaint was sent to the authorities concerned through Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner. l

Ilish yet to arrive in Barisal markets n Our Correspondent, Barisal Although the eight-month long restrictions against “ilish-fishing” ended on June 30 and the fishermen had started hilsa fishing drives since early yesterday, Barisal markets have yet to see hilsa.

After returning from the rivers without ilish, the aggrieved fishermen demanded that the ilish season be extended till August, saying that due to climate change, the ilish season had started 2-3 months later.

After visiting the ilish fishing and selling spots at Chandramohon union of Barisal Sadar upazila yesterday, it was found that most of the 8,000 residents of the union depended on the ilish fishing.

However, at least 3,000 fishermen from the union went to fish last night but returned empty handed.

Masum Bepari, president of Mohipur Motsya Aratdar Samity of Kalapara coast, said hilsa netting from the deep sea has yet to gain momentum. The big trawlers, with a capacity of 200-500 maunds of ilish, have yet to reach the coast and inland trading ports, he added.

Barisal Fish Wholesellers Association President Ajit Das Monu said the local markets will get ilish after the new moon.

Dr Aminul Huq, deputy director of fisheries department and divisional fishery officer, acknowledged that hilsa netting season in rivers has shifted to October because of decreasing navigability and emerging shoals in most of the inland rivers.

Threats of pirates and adverse weather conditions at the estuary and deep sea areas are also decreasing ilish netting, he added. l

Bribe allegation against UNO, UP chairmen n Our Correspondent, Bogra Locals of Bogra’s Shahjahanpur upazila yesterday staged demonstrations protesting bribery in the recruitment of peons for different educational institutions in the upazila.

The agitated locals also sent written complaints against Shahjahanpur upazila Chairman Sorkar Badol, eight union parishad chairmen of the upazila and Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Abdur Rahman, alleging that they had taken bribes ranging from Tk3 lakh to Tk5 lakh for the recruitment.

The UNO denied the allegations and said the union parishad chairmen had proposed names for the post earlier, which he had refused. He said false information got spread when he asked his driver to call on the union parishad chairmen to meet him at his residence. l

Youth held for abducting schoolgirl n Our Correspondent, Barisal Police arrested a youth on Tuesday night in connection with the abduction of a schoolgirl in Mathbaria of Pirojpur district.

Nasiruddin Mallik, officer-in-charge of Mathbaria police station, said police arrested Md Russell, 17, a local hooligan from College Para area of the upazila town for cooperating in the abduction of a schoolgirl. Shah Alam, a former army man in the area filed a case accusing six persons in this regard.

The complainant alleged that on 29 June, while she was returning home from K M Latif Institution, the girl was abducted by a gang of six people. l

Jubo League activist dead n Our Correspondent, Rajbari A Jubo League activist, who sustained a bullet injury on 24 June in the district, died at Savar Enamul Haque Medical college Hospital on Tuesday.

According to sources, Abdur Razzak, 35, the son of Ibraheem Mollah of Surjanagar village under Mizanpur union in Sadar upazila was shot by unidentified criminals while he was going to Rajbari town from Surjanagar Bazar.

Locals rushed him to Faridpur Medical College Hospital and from there he was sent to Savar Enamul Haque Medical College.

He died at the hospital in the evening.Secchasebok League Bagmara union unit Secretary Anisur Rahman said Razzak was killed, allegedly by drug peddler Nazrul Islam. l

30 hurt in clash over football World Cup n Our Correspondent, Madaripur

Fishermen return from the rivers after failing to catch ilish. The photo was taken from Chandramohon of Barisal Sadar upazila yesterday

Clinic in Naogoan vandalised after death of patient Correspondent, n Our Naogoan The angry relatives of a patient vandalised a clinic in Naogon district town yesterday after alleged wrong treatment and subsequent death of the patient.

Police arrested the owner of the clinic Dr Mahtab-e-Alam and his wife, gynecologist Dr Sultana.

Relatives of the deceased said pregnant Seuly Begum, the wife of Tareq Rahman of Dangapara village under Atrai upazila in the district, had come to the clinic for a medical check-up. Dr Mahtab-eAlam then took a decision to deliver the baby without any medical tests. She was immediately taken to the operation theatre where the doctor couple performed the op-

treatment provided to her. They demanded that the clinic be closed.

The baby boy, however, is still alive and stable. Denying negligence on the doctor’s part, Dr Mahtabe-Alam, however, said they had tried their best to save the patient.

The patient was suffering from internal problems, he said, adding that she died due to the complexity of her condition. l

eration and delivered a boy.

As soon as the operation ended, Seuly died. When the news of her death spread, her relatives became angry and started vandalising the clinic. They also attempted to assault Dr Mahtabe-Alam, but could not as he had confined himself in a room.

Seuly’s relatives alleged that she had died because of the wrong

NEWS IN BRIEF Minor girl drowns in Jessore A four-year-old girl drowned in a pond yesterday afternoon at Hariadeyara under Jhikargachha upazila, Jessore. Jakir Hossain, the child’s father, said his daughter Suraiya Khatun drowned in the pond while she was taking bath. Later, local people recovered her body. – Our Correspondent

Four crude bombs recovered in Kushtia

Police have recovered four abandoned crude bombs yesterday morning from Mirerpara Badh Bazar area

under Doulatpur upazila, Khustia.

Doulatpur police station SubInspector Arif said, “Upon receiving information from the locals, police recovered the crude bombs from Jahangir Alam’s house around 10am,” he said. After being taken to the police station, the bombs were defused, he added. – Our Correspondent

Youth hacked to death in Gopalganj

A gang of miscreants hacked a youth to death in early hours of yesterday at Chhoto Banagram in Muksudpur upazila, Gopalganj. The victim, Shahin Talukdar, 28, was the son of Mannan Talukdar of Ghunchi village under Ma-

harajpur union of Muksudpur upazila.

His body, which was recovered from Renu Saha’s courtyard in the village, had its hands tied up, said police.

He had injuries on different parts of his body, including the head and the back, stated the inquest report by police. The officer-in-charge of Muksudpur police station said Shahin was allegedly involved in criminal activities including theft and dacoity. Police suspected that the killers might have dumped the body at Renu’s house after killing him. A case was filed in this regard. – Our Correspondent

Six suspected robbers held in Sunamganj

Members of Bangladesh Border Guards arrested six people with firearms in Sunamganj while they were allegedly preparing for a robbery in Tahirpur upazila early yesterday. The arrested are Saiful Alam, 25, Shahid Mia, 30, Billal Hossain, 22, Badhan Mia, 23, Islam Uddin, 27, Sohrab Ali, 22, all from different villages of Tahirpur upazila. BGB sources said acting on a tip-off, they had arrested the robbers from a house situated in the area adjacent to Sahidabad village under Badaghat union of Tahirpur upazila while they were holding a meeting.

BGB members recovered the weapons from them and they confessed to preparing for robbery during the primary interrogation. – Our Correspondent

Strengthening work on Sirajganj dam ends Correspondent, n Our Sirajganj

Labourers are involved in work of Sirajganj town protection embankment

DHAKA TRIBUNE

The work of felling stone to strengthen the Sirajganj town protection embankment finally ended on Monday, although it was supposed to finish in January this year.

Sources in the district said the Tk74 crore task was financed by the World Bank.

Construction company MA Munem Ltd implemented

the task but some of the stone felling work at some risky spots of the dyke remained unfinished due to high tidal waves, a problem which will be solved during the dry season.

Earlier, locals were apprehensive about the accomplishment of the work as the assigned-company was reluctant to import stone from India for the site and extended their deadline several times. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

At least 30 people were injured yesterday in a clash over watching the FIFA World Cup 2014 matches at Mostofapur union in Sadar upazila.

According to police sources, the football fans of Jhikarhati and Tatibari villages arranged a programme to watch the World Cup game between Argentina and Switzerland on a big screen. The people from all walks of life gathered to watch the game.

At one stage, they engaged in an altercation over the game.

Later, people from both sides attacked each other with local weapons, leaving 30 injured. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Juris

7

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Freedom of expression or right to reputation?

Ensuring consumer rights during the month of Ramadan Consumer Rights Protection Act, 2009 should be invoked more often

I

n Raisul Islam Sourav

BIG

D

n Mohammad Nayeem Firoz

efamation is defined both as a civil wrong and a criminal offence in the legal regime of various states. In legal words, a person can either be sued for compensation by the affected person, or be criminally prosecuted by the state. Arguably, the notion of criminal defamation is viewed as legally unfounded as it stipulates a disproportionate punishment and has a ruthless effect on freedom of expression.

Statutory definition of defamation provided in the Penal Code of 1860 under Section 499, says that whoever, by words, signs, or by visible representations, makes or publishes any imputation concerning any person intending to harm the reputation or such person, is said, barring exceptions, to defame that person.

Arguments in defamation cases In defamation prosecutions, the accuser usually argues that the contents of any report published in any given printed publication in relation to him/her is not only false, baseless and concocted but also scandalous, disgraceful and defamatory which lowered his/her social and professional status in the estimation of the people of his/her environs.

Hence, the persons publishing defamatory statement should be charged with the offence of defamation they have committed. It is alleged that along with the principal accused ie the writer, the publisher of the said printed publication is also responsible for defamatory matter published in such paper whether he knows the contents of such writing or not.

Moreover, in such a case, generally the editor of the printed publication is bound to take due care and caution before a libelous statement goes for final publication under his/her supervision.

Therefore, all the personnel concerned with the said publication are equally liable for publishing such imputation as contained in the alleged writing intending to harm the reputation of the person alleged to have been defamed.

The value underlying the right to reputation is human dignity, while the value that is most pertinent to freedom of expression in this context is the argument that free speech is integral to democracy The contrary argument in defamation cases includes mainly a legitimate standpoint upon which the accused persons solicits exemption from the criminal liabilities of the allegations brought against them. The argument stipulates that in pursuant to the first exception of Section 499 of the Penal Code, it is not a defamation to impute anything which is true concerning any person, if it be for the public good that the imputation should be made or published. Therefore, the alleged accused persons claim that they do not incur any criminal liability for publishing something in good faith which public good requires.

Question of fact and question of law It is to be noted that whether publication of something is for the public good or not is a question of fact. It is invariably argued by the plaintiffs of defamation cases that the provisions of CrPC regarding the framing of charge enumerates that at the initiation of a criminal trial (at the time of charge-framing) it is the question of law which is to be decided. The question of fact can be decided and entertained along with the question of law as the trial procedure advances to the evidence recording stage.

Free speech vs privilege of dignity Criminal defamation laws are somewhat complicated from the point of view of freedom of expression and allied rights. They can lead to the imposition of harsh sanctions, such as a prison sentence, suspension of the freedom of expression, or a heavy fine.

Even if they are applied with moderation, criminal defamation laws still cast a long shadow: the possibility of being arrested by the police, held in detention and subjected to a criminal trial will be in the back of the mind of a writer when he or she is deciding whether to expose, for example, a case of high-level corruption, moral turpitude and gross misappropriation, etc.

This is not to say that prosecution for defamation should be discouraged; but, the means used to discourage it should be carefully targeted to prevent the dampening of legitimate criticism. In some instances it is seen that affluent or politically powerful individuals and corporations have instituted defamation cases, even where they have no prospect of success, with a view to preventing media criticism of their questioned dealings.

STO

CK

It is widely recognised that the making of certain statements which the author is under duty to make, or has a specific interest in making has been protected unless it has been done maliciously. The contemporaneous international trend for defamation law discourse is to interpret the scope of this protection broadly, given the particular importance of freedom of expression on these occasions.

The law of defamation reflects the conflict of two fundamental rights: the right to freedom of expression, including freedom of the media, and the right to reputation. The rules of defamation law are intended to mediate between these two rights. The defamation law discourse flows from the analysis of the rights in issue; the value underlying the right to reputation is human dignity, while the value that is most pertinent to freedom of expression in this context is the argument that free speech is integral to democracy.

The argument from democracy emphasises that speech on matters of public interest should receive greater protection than private speech. In particular, the presumptions that defamatory allegations are false and have caused damage, the principle of strict liability to primary publishers and negligence liability to secondary publishers, and the availability of punitive damages, should not survive constitutional inspection.

The quantum of damages and costs rules, and the remedies available in defamation cases, should also be reformed to reflect the significance of dignity of the claimant, and the free speech interest of the public in receiving true information on matters of public interest and public policy. 

n Bangladesh, traders raise the prices of necessary commodities during the holy month of Ramadan. Every year the consumers experience the same thing, but they cannot do anything about it. Moreover, often the consumers become victims of various deceitful activities of the manufacturers and the sellers.

Contaminated and expired goods are regularly sold in the market which have damaging effect on human body. Even baby-foods and medicines are not free from adulteration.

Consumers have legal rights to get protection and can bring legal action against these unlawful conducts of the traders under the Consumer Rights Protection Act, 2009.

Anti-consumer rights practices Consumers can take legal protection under the Act in the following anticonsumer rights practices: • Selling any goods, medicine or service at a higher rate than the actual rate • Selling adulterated goods or medicines knowingly • Selling any goods contaminated with such ingredients which is injurious to human health • Deceiving consumers by untrue, misleading, false or fabricated advertisements • Not showing/keeping price lists • Tampering with the weight/length measuring instruments • Manufacturing counterfeit goods in the name of another • Selling expired goods/medicines, etc

It should be kept in mind that to get proper remedy, one will have to produce sufficient evidence against the alleged vendor/ manufacturer

Powers and functions of the DG

The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws.

Publius Cornelius Tacitus

(AD 56 – AD 117) Historian of the Roman Empire

Send us queries for

Consult you counsel

and also your articles on any legal issues at: law@dhakatribune.com

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Any consumer, registered consumer association, national consumer rights protection council, the government, any authorised officer of the government, or any authorised person can apply in writing mentioning his/her name, address, phone/fax number, email

If the allegation is proven after the inquiry, and fine is imposed and realised, 25% of such fine shall immediately be paid to the complainant concerned

address, reason to complain, incident in question, along with the name, address and identification of the vendor, details of the product/ service, etc to the DG or the concerned person of the directorate within 30 days from the date of occurrence. Even a wholesaler or a retailer can bring allegations against any manufacturer.

The authority upon receiving a complaint shall immediately investigate or inquire into it. If such a complaint is proven to be true

NASHIRUL ISLAM

Mohammad Nayeem Firoz is a Senior Assistant Judge in Bangladesh Judicial Service.

JURIS QUOTE

Protection against anti-consumer rights practices

The director general (DG) of the directorate of consumer rights protection can take necessary steps to inspect the standard of goods/services, to prevent any fraud or adulteration, and to prevent any act which may affect the rights of the consumers. The DG has the same power as the officerin-charge of a police station while conducting an inquiry. Furthermore, he/she has power to issue arrest and search warrant if he/she reasonably believes that a person has committed an offence under the Act or there is sufficient reason to believe that a person preserves materials contrary to this Act. The DG can enter into any place to inspect and can collect sample to examine. In addition, the DG can pass an order to arrest any person and to seize any goods. The DG can even order to prohibit the production or can shut down any shop, or factory, or business temporarily for performing any act contrary to the law.

after investigation, the DG or any authorised officer may impose a fine upon the guilty person as an administrative action.

Outside Dhaka, the district magistrate will exercise the power of the DG to deal with the matter where no office of the directorate is situated. Moreover, the government will establish a national consumer rights protection council at the centre and a district consumer rights protection committee in every district to monitor the issue closely.

It should be kept in mind that to get proper remedy, one will have to produce sufficient evidence against the alleged vendor/manufacturer.

Therefore, preservation of the receipt and sample of the product/ service in question is necessary to prove any such case.

The law provides concurrent forum for the complainant to get redress. Consumers can file a suit before the court of a joint district judge to get compensation if the damage is recoverable by money.

An appeal may lie to the High Court Division against the decision of the trial court within 90 days. If the allegation is proven after the inquiry, and fine is imposed and realised, 25% of such fine shall immediately be paid to the complainant concerned.

Apart from civil liability, a culpable vendor/manufacturer can also be punished for criminal liability. The punishment for any such offence may vary depending upon the gravity of the situation, which may extend to three years imprisonment, or Tk200,000 fine or with both.  Raisul Islam Sourav is a Senior Lecturer and Coordinator, Department of Law at Dhaka International University (DIU).

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Thursday, July 3, 2014

I TA L I A N M I G R A N T S A F T E R A FATA L B OAT C A P S I Z E

Disgraced Sarkozy faces corruption charges n Agencies Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been charged with corruption and illegally using his influence after a day in custody.

The disgraced politician was questioned by police for 15 hours, Le Monde reported, and was left without a lawyer when Thierry Herzog was also arrested along with two senior judges.

Sarkozy, 59, has become the first former French president taken into custody in a criminal investigation, making his widely anticipated political comeback look ever more unlikely.

The right-wing leader has been accused of multiple illegal dealings, mostly linked to the financing of his 2007 and 2012 election campaigns.

According to prosecutors, he has been charged with corruption, “influence peddling” and concealing breaches of confidentiality.

He had turned himself in at the police headquarters in Nanterre, outside Paris, on Tuesday morning

NEWS BITES

Iraq PM hopes for deal on new govt in next parliament session

and was placed under arrest.

Sarkozy and his lawyer are suspected of illegally cultivating a network of informants within France’s top court, the Cour de Cassation, and the police.

He is accused of promising one of the magistrates, Gilbert Azibert, a prestigious job in Monaco in return for information that could help his defence in a case in which he was accused of soliciting money from L’Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt.

The preliminary criminal charges against Sarkozy in that case were dropped by a Bordeaux court last October.

The latest charges came to light when police tapped his phone while investigating allegations he sought 50 million from toppled Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, for his 2007 election campaign.

Sarkozy, his lawyer and the magistrates deny all charges but the former President could face 10 years in prison if convicted. l

n Reuters, Jerusalem

Iraq’s Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said yesterday that he hoped to overcome the challenges blocking the formation of a new government, a day after the new parliament’s first session ended without agreement on top government posts. “A state of weakness occurred but God willing in the next session (planned for next Tuesday) we will overcome it with cooperation and agreement and openness ...in choosing the individuals and the mechanisms that will result in a political process based on... democratic mechanisms,” said Maliki in his weekly televised address.

Sunnis and Kurds abandoned the first meeting of the new parliament after Shi’ites failed to nominate a candidate for prime minister. The Shi’ite parties are deadlocked over Maliki’s ambitions for a third term, and who would replace him.

The new parliament adjourned Tuesday, with plans to meet one week later, if an agreement on posts was reached. l

The discovery of a body in a Jerusalem forest yesterday raised suspicions that a missing Palestinian youth had been killed by Israelis avenging the deaths of three abducted Jewish teens.

Rock-throwing Palestinians clashed with Israeli forces in Jerusalem after the news, but no serious injuries were reported. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a statement, urged police to “to swiftly investigate who was behind the loathsome murder and its motive.” He called on all sides “not to take the law into their own hands.”

Palestinian residents in Shuafat, an Arab suburb of Jerusalem, told Reuters they had seen a teenager forced into a vehicle outside a supermarket on Tuesday night. They identified him as Mohammed Abu Khudair, 16.

An Israeli security source said Israel suspected the youth had been kidnapped and murdered, possibly in retribution for the killings of the Israeli teens, whose bodies were found on Monday, nearly three weeks after

n Reuters, Washington Two years into President Barack Obama’s second term, more voters say they are dissatisfied with his administration’s handling of everything from the economy to foreign policy, giving him the worst marks of any modern US president, a poll yesterday said. In a survey of 1,446 registered voters, 33% said Obama was the worst president since World War Two, while 28% pointed to his predecessor, George W. Bush, as the worst, the poll by Quinnipiac University found.

Voters were split over which of the two most recent presidents has done a better job with 39% saying Obama has been a better president than Bush and, 40% saying Obama is worse. Most voters said Ronald Reagan, who served two terms in the 1980s, was the best president since 1945. “Over the span of 69 years of American history and 12 presidencies, Obama finds himself with Bush at the bottom of the popularity barrel,” said a pollster. l

Syria-Iraq ‘caliph’ incites Muslims to holy war n Reuters, Dubai

The leader of the al-Qaida offshoot now calling itself the Islamic State has called on Muslims worldwide to take up arms and flock to the “caliphate” it has declared on captured Syrian and Iraqi soil.

Proclaiming a “new era” in which Muslims will ultimately triumph, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi issued the call to jihad — holy war — in an audio message lasting nearly 20 minutes that was posted online on Tuesday.

It was his first purported message since the group — previously known as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) -proclaimed the caliphate on Sunday and declared him its leader, in an audacious bid to sweep away state

borders and redraw the map of the Middle East.

Baghdadi, who has assumed the medieval title of caliph, used the message to seek to assert authority over Muslims everywhere. He called on them to rise up and avenge the alleged wrongs committed against their religion, from Central African Republic to Myanmar (Burma).

“Terrify the enemies of Allah and seek death in the places where you expect to find it,” he said. “Your brothers, on every piece of this earth, are waiting for you to rescue them.” The audio message, titled “A Message to the Mujahideen and the Muslim Ummah in the Month of Ramzan,” was posted online through the group’s media arm.

Palestinian teen killed in possible revenge attack for Israeli teens

n Reuters, Baghdad

Obama: Worst president in modern times!

Migrant families wait to disembark from the Italian military ship ‘Grecale’ as they arrived in the port of Pozzallo, Sicily, on July 2, two days after a rescue operation of a fishing boat by the Italian navy (Marina Militare) off the coast. Rescuers recovering the bodies of migrants left to die in the suffocating hull of an overcrowded fishing boat said yesterday they had found 45 bodies, up from an expected toll of 30. The victims were discovered when the Italian coast guard came to the rescue of the blue boat AFP

they were abducted in the occupied West Bank.

Israel says Palestinian Hamas militants killed them. The Islamist group has neither confirmed nor denied the allegation. A senior official of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah movement told Reuters the missing teenager’s family had identified the corpse, found in the wooded outskirts of Jerusalem. The family was not immediately available for comment.

Israel says Palestinian Hamas militants killed them. The Islamist group has neither confirmed nor denied the allegation “The Israeli government bears responsibility for Jewish terrorism and for the kidnapping and murder in occupied Jerusalem,” the Fatah official, Dmitry Diliani, said.

Israeli Internal Security Minister

Yitzhak Aharonovitch said it was too early to draw conclusions as to the motive. “We know of a boy who apparently was abducted and we see a link to the discovery of a body. This is still under investigation by the forensic labs and detectives.” On Tuesday, the three Jewish seminary students were buried in a funeral attended by tens of thousands of mourners.

Revenge

While the teenagers were laid to rest in the city of Modi’in, several hundreds Israeli demonstrators, some chanting “Death to Arabs,” blocked the main entrance to Jerusalem. Cries for revenge have echoed throughout the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

They can be heard at the emotionally charged funerals of Palestinians killed by Israel, and the phrase “May God avenge his death” is often invoked at the burials of Israelis slain by Palestinians. But deadly Israeli vigilante attacks, in declared retribution for Palestinian assaults, have been rare in recent years. l

Another account affiliated to the group posted translations in English, Russian, French, German and Albanian.

“By Allah, we will take revenge, by Allah we will take revenge, even if after a while,” Baghdadi said.

While ISIS’s power grab may appeal to many militants, there have already been signs of dissent. Some Islamist groups fighting in Syria have rejected the announcement of the caliphate, saying its terms had not “been realized at present,” and urged Muslims to avoid siding with the Islamic State. Iraq’s Association of Muslim Scholars, which was formed to represent minority Sunnis, said in a statement: “Any group that announces a state or an Islamic emirate... under these conditions is not in

the interest of Iraq and its unity.”

The audio message’s authenticity could not be immediately verified, but it was carried by SITE, an authoritative US-based organization that monitors jihadist statements. Fighters should “embrace the chance and champion Allah’s religion through jihad,” Baghdadi said.

He called on Muslims to immigrate to the self-styled caliphate, saying it was their duty. In a direct, confident message, he urged them to “listen, realize and stand and free yourself from the shackles of weakness, and stand in the face of tyranny. Let the world know that we are living today in a new era. The Muslims today have a loud, thundering statement, and possess heavy boots.” l

Experimental Ebola drugs should be tried in Africa, disease expert says n Reuters, London People at high risk of dying in West Africa’s Ebola outbreak should be offered experimental medicines to see if they work, despite the drugs being not fully tested, the head of an influential global health charity said.

Jeremy Farrar, a professor of tropical medicine, said Ebola’s spread in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia is “out of control” and global health authorities should rethink the approach to potential treatments. “We have more than 450 deaths so far - and not a single individual has been offered anything beyond tepid sponging and ‘we’ll bury you nicely’,” Farrar told Reuters in an interview. “It’s just unacceptable.”

The normal drug development process - of years of testing new drugs in animals, then in healthy human volunteers before they are trialled in patients and approved by regulators - takes too long and should not apply in rapidly spreading outbreaks of diseases like Ebola, he said.

West Africa is battling its deadliest

outbreak of Ebola, with 467 people killed so far by a disease that causes fever, vomiting, bleeding and diarrhoea, and can kill between 50 and 90% of those it infects. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called on other states in the region to prepare for the disease heading their way, and is co-hosting a meeting of West African health ministers in Ghana this week to try to strengthen the region’s response.

Farrar pointed to several experimental drugs and vaccines in development as potential treatments or preventative measures against Ebola, and questioned why they were not being tested in a situation where people at high risk might benefit. “It’s ridiculous that we haven’t got these (experimental) products out of labs and animal trials and into human testing, and at least offered to people,” he said.

The pipeline of drugs being developed for Ebola is far from bulging - partly due to a lack of research money for a medicine which is likely to be needed mainly in poor countries. l

Kiev, separatists fret at gun law in Ukraine’s rebel regions n Reuters, Donetsk

Members of a separatist group pose for a picture outside an office in Donetsk

REUTERS

Firearms stores in the separatist-held city of Donetsk in east Ukraine stand empty, the guns that once lined the shelves now sold out or stolen at gunpoint.

“In a time of war, everyone wants a weapon. There are just none left to sell or even give away,” said manager Alexander Lutsevich in the wood-panelled office of his downtown store.

The ousting of local authorities in east Ukraine by pro-Russian rebels, and a flood of weapons into the region, have led to a breakdown in law and order that further complicates Kiev’s efforts to reassert control.

The rebels, who oppose the pro-Western authorities in Kiev, count on the local population for support but some residents and local businesses are angry that the power vacuum is allowing criminals to thrive.

German wholesaler Metro became the

biggest victim in May when rioters broke into the store and looted it after fighting around a nearby airport.

Pictures were posted on the Internet of people wheeling goods away on shopping carts and stories spread that looters had emptied the store’s liquor section in a matter of hours.

Metro spokeswoman Olesya Olenytska said security concerns had prevented the company assessing damage at the store, which has been closed since May 26.

The leadership of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR), which describes its armed uprising in terms of democracy and self-determination, is aware of the dangers of being associated with lawlessness in parts of the region.

The rebels’ regional prime minister, Aleksander Borodai, has threatened to punish people who brought stolen goods from Metro to DNR headquarters as well as those extorting money from people and businesses in the name of the self-

styled republic.

“In some residential areas of the Donetsk People’s Republic, there are various gangs that are using the symbol of the DNR and my name to extort a ‘tax’ from individuals and businesses,” he told reporters. “In fact, they haven’t even the slightest thing to do with the DNR.” Days after the Metro incident, a group of heavily armed fighters arrived at rebel headquarters in Donetsk to clear the building of looters and stolen goods.

Ukraine’s Interior Ministry has halted deliveries of commercial firearms to Donetsk, where the rebels have stripped police of their weapons. Deliveries have likewise been stopped to the neighbouring rebellious region of Luhansk.

Lutsevich’s Kiev-based company, IBIS, had sent its rifles and handguns back to company stockpiles. “We had to do it so the temptation didn’t arise to come in and take them by force,” he said. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

China bans fasting in Xinjiang The ban was aimed at preventing use of schools and government offices to promote religion The ruling party is wary of religious violent extremists that it says want inn AP, Beijing dependence, while members of the activities it worries might serve as a ralStudents and civil servants in China’s Muslim northwest, where Beijing is enforcing a security crackdown following deadly unrest, have been ordered to avoid taking part in traditional fasting during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

Statements posted yesterday on websites of schools, government agencies and local party organisations in the Xinjiang region said the ban was aimed at protecting students’ wellbeing and preventing use of schools and government offices to promote religion. Statements on the websites of local party organisations said members of the officially atheist ruling party also should avoid fasting.

“No teacher can participate in religious activities, instill religious thoughts in students or coerce students into religious activities,” said a statement on the website of the No. 3 Grade School in Ruoqiang County in Xinjiang.

Similar bans have been imposed in the past on fasting for Ramadan, which began at sundown Saturday. But this year is unusually sensitive because Xinjiang is under tight security following attacks that the government blames on Muslim extremists with foreign terrorist ties.

Violence has escalated in recent years in Xinjiang. The ruling party blames

region’s Uighur ethnic group complain that discrimination and restrictions on religion, such as a ban on taking children to mosques, are fueling anger at the ethnic Han Chinese majority.

The ruling party says religion and education should be kept separate and students should not be subject to religious influences An attack on May 22 in the regional capital of Urumqi by four people who threw bombs in a vegetable market killed 43 people. On June 22, police in Kashgar in the far west said they killed 13 assailants who drove into a police building and set off explosives, injuring three officers. Authorities have blamed two other attacks at train stations in Urumqi and in China’s southwest on Muslim extremists.

The government responded with a crackdown that resulted in more than 380 arrests in one month and public rallies to announce sentences.

lying point for opposition to one-party rule. Controls on worship are especially sensitive in Xinjiang and in neighboring Tibet, where religious faith plays a large role in local cultures.

On Tuesday, authorities in some communities in Xinjiang held celebrations of the anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party and served food to test whether Muslim guests were fasting, according to Dilxat Raxit, spokesman in Germany for the rights group World Uyghur Congress.

“This will lead to more conflicts if China uses coercive measures to rule and to challenge Uighur beliefs,” said Dilxat Raxit in an email.

The ruling party says religion and education should be kept separate and students should not be subject to religious influences. That rule is rarely enforced for children of Han Chinese, who, if they have a religion, are mostly Buddhist, Daoist or Christian.

“Students shall not participate in religious activities; they shall not study scripts or read poems at script and choir classes; they shall not wear any religious emblems; and no parent or others can force students to have religious beliefs or partake in religious activities,” said the statement on the website of the grade school in Ruoqiang County. l

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Tapas in fresh trouble, asks partymen to slit throats in new tape n Agencies Even as outrage continues over his alleged remarks threatening to have CPM workers killed and their women raped, Trinamool MP Tapas Pal landed in fresh trouble as another video tape emerged in which he asks his party supporters to slit the throats of opposition workers.

“I am saying this. Those who kill people can’t be humans. As long as I am with you, don’t spare any CPM worker.

I am telling my boys,” Pal said while addressing people at a village in Nadia district.

“I am also telling women that you must be aware of kitchen vegetable cutters (Boti). Just slit their throats with them,” Pal said.

The footage aired on a television channel showed that Pal made those remarks on the same day as he had threatened to kill CPM workers and get their women raped by his boys.

It was telecast just hours after Pal tendered an unconditional apology for his earlier comments after being asked by an embarrassed party leadership to do so following widespread outrage.

Tapas Pal has come a long way since he hit stardom with his debut ‘Dadar Kirti’. Arguably the first big star of the post-Uttam Kumar era, Pal delivered successive hits, some of which like ‘Gurudakshina’ and ‘Bhalobasha Bhaloba-

sha’ went on to attain cult status during a period when Bengali cinema had lost its urban audience and relied on the rural masses for business.

Through the eighties, he ruled Bengali mainstream cinema along with Prosenjit, who eventually surpassed him in popularity and star status. But Tapas Pal wasn’t quite dislodged from stardom.

He moved on to character roles, some of which had shades of grey, but he was very conscious of his image. Until June 14, 2014, that is. l

9 India a global military power by 2045, says study n Agencies A global scenario projected by Britain’s ministry of defence says that by 2045 India is likely to have the ability to project conventional military power globally with the third largest defence expenditure pegged at $654bn dollars. Titled ‘Global Strategic Trends – Out to 2045,’ the publication by the ministry’s development, concepts and doctrine centre sets out what the world might look like 30 years from now. It looks at a range of variables, including energy, mineral resources, conflict and migration.

“Although China’s military-industrial complex is unlikely to surpass the technological sophistication of the US by 2045, it may rival it in terms of size, as could India’s. Both India and China will probably seek to develop sizeable and technically advanced armed forces, including ocean-going navies, capable of delivering an enduring and capable maritime presence both regionally and further afield,” the paper says.

The analysis says: “The military capabilities of other countries in the region are also likely to increase but only China, India, Australia, Japan and South Korea are likely to have the ability to project conventional military power globally.”

However, it notes that although India is likely to spend more on defence than the UK, it will “almost certainly have to overcome domestic political issues to attain the capabilities needed to project conventional military power globally.” l

US spying row overshadows McCain’s trip to India

C O LO U R O F I F TA R

n Reuters, New Delhi

A man arranges strands of vermicelli, which are kept for drying at a factory in the northern Indian city of Allahabad. Vermicelli is a specialty that is eaten during Ramadan

REUTERS

A visit to India by US Senator John McCain yesterday was overshadowed by a row over reports that the National Security Agency (NSA) was authorised to spy on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party in 2010.

McCain canceled a news conference due to be held outside India’s foreign ministry after India summoned a senior US diplomat to the ministry over the spying report.

US and Indian officials gave differing explanations for the cancellation, but said it was not linked to the row. India sought an assurance that any such surveillance would not recur.

“We expect a response to be provided to us, and if these (reports) are true, an assurance that this will not happen in the future,” a senior Indian official told Reuters.

Indo-US relations have been delicate for months, following a major spat over the treatment of an Indian diplomat who was arrested in New York in December, an incident that was widely blamed for the resignation of the US ambassador to New Delhi.

The Obama government has sought to revive ties since Modi’s election in May, with an eye to ramping up bilateral trade and defense deals with India.

Modi was for years denied a visa for

travel to the United States following religious riots while he was a state chief minister. He has responded positively to the US advances and shown no resentment publicly.

McCain, whose Arizona constituency is host to some of Boeing and Raytheon’s most important defense businesses, told the Senate last week that Washington should seek to help India’s economic and military development.

US Secretary of State John Kerry is also expected to visit India soon. The United States does not currently have an ambassador in New Delhi and its most senior diplomat is the charge d’affaires.

Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was among a handful of political organisations a US court allowed the intelligence agency to spy on, according to a 2010 classified document leaked by former security contractor Edward Snowden and published by the Washington Post. Modi has not publicly commented on the snooping allegation.

India’s foreign ministry said that if the snooping reports were true, it was “extremely disconcerting” and “unacceptable” that Indian privacy laws were being undermined.

The ministry had voiced concerns a year ago about allegations that US agencies spied on the Indian embassy in Washington, but critics say the issue has largely been brushed under the carpet. l

Afghan election results Thai military government looks to delayed amid fraud neighbours for support n accusations

Police arrest 500 after huge Hong Kong democracy march n AFP, Hong Kong

n Reuters, Kabul

Hong Kong police arrested more than 500 protesters at a sit-in early yesterday following a huge march that organisers said mobilised half a million people demanding democratic reforms.

The arrests followed a largely peaceful march on Tuesday that protest leaders said brought the biggest crowds onto the streets since the city was handed over from Britain to China in 1997.

Police moved in at 3:00 am to break up the sit-in by about 2,000 protesters in the semi-autonomous city’s Central financial district with some being dragged away by officers.

They said 511 demonstrators were arrested for illegal assembly or obstructing police, but pro-democracy activists and Amnesty International criticised the move as excessive. Several pro-democracy lawmakers were among those arrested. Police lifted activists, many lying on the ground with their arms chained to each other, onto coaches that took them to a temporary detention centre at a police college in Wong Chuk Hang district.

“I have no regrets!” one of them shouted, while others flashed V-for-victory signs. A police spokeswoman said in a statement that 18 people had been released on bail while 364 people were released without charge. l

Reuters, Bangkok

Preliminary results from Afghanistan’s presidential election, due to be announced yesterday, have been delayed, an election official said, amid accusations of fraud that threaten to split the fragile country along ethnic lines.

Votes from around 2,000 polling stations in the June 14 run-off are to be reviewed and recounted, said Sharifa Zurmati Wardak of the Independent Election Commission (IEC).

The contest pitted former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah against former World Bank economist Ashraf Ghani. “This will take nearly a week and the final result won’t be announced on time,” Wardak told Reuters.

A senior UN official said the delay was intended to take account of allegations

by Abdullah that his rival engaged in mass vote rigging. Ghani’s aides, citing election observers, say he is in the lead in the run-off by one million votes. But official figures have not been released.

The election was intended to mark the first democratic transfer of power in Afghan history, a crucial step towards stability as NATO prepares to withdraw the bulk of its troops by the end of the year.

Ethnic tensions

Now the UN fears the standoff between Abdullah, who draws his support from the minority Tajik community, and Ghani, a member of the Pashtun majority, could inflame long simmering ethnic tensions. The Pashtun are Afghanistan’s largest ethnic group and the Tajiks the second largest.

Abdullah has accused President Hamid Karazai, an ethnic Pashtun, of collusion in the alleged rigging. Last week, thousands of Abdullah supporters marched on the presidential palace.

Abdullah’s campaign has also released audio recordings purporting to show senior officials discussing stuffing ballot boxes. His aides say that turnout for the run-off in some Pashtun areas was three times higher than in the first round.

On Tuesday, both candidates met UN officials and Western diplomats who are trying to help resolve the deadlock. “The meetings provided an opportunity to engage in discussions about election-related issues and the way forward,” a UN statement said.Diplomats hope the delay will help the two sides to agree on the appointment of new electoral officials, following the resignation of the head of the commission’s secretariat. l

Thailand’s military government is shoring up diplomatic ties with Asian neighbours to provide a counterweight to criticism from the West about its seizure of power in May and its reluctance to set an early date for a return to civilian rule.

In the latest move, acting Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow reassured Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Tuesday that Cambodian workers who had fled home after the coup, fearing a crackdown on immigrants, would be welcomed back.

He returned from Cambodia yesterday, bringing with him Thai activist Veera Somkwamkid, an ultra-nationalist jailed there on charges of espionage and illegal entry for pressing Thailand’s claim to a disputed ancient temple on the border.

The May 22 military takeover drew swift international condemnation and both the United States and European Union have downgraded diplomatic ties. The military’s National Council for Peace and Order has played down these moves, focusing instead on strengthening its relationship with China and others in Asia.

Last month, a Thai army delegation visited China and Malaysia’s defence minister came to Thailand, the first vis-

it by a foreign minister since the coup.

Myanmar’s army chief is due in Bangkok on Friday. The military authorities also claim support from Vietnam.

Veera received a hero’s welcome at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport on Wednesday from supporters shouting “Veera! Fight! Fight!” as he made his way through a media scrum.

The junta has cracked down hard on dissent, briefly detaining hundreds of activists, journalists and politicians critical of the regime

cape a graft conviction in 2008.

“This is a gentleman’s agreement between Cambodia and Thailand’s military government not to interfere in each other’s politics,” said Kan Yuenyong of the Siam Intelligence Unit think tank.

“Cambodia has no reason to interfere in Thailand right now but in the past Hun Sen used politics to manipulate the land dispute issue.”

Thailand and Cambodia have been locked for decades in a dispute over land surrounding the Preah Vihear temple. The International Court of Justice ruled in 2013 that Cambodia had sovereignty over the immediate area around the temple. “Regional neighbours in Asia know that it is of economic benefit to them to take a soft approach to the Thai military,” analyst Kan added.

Dissent stifled Cambodia’s pardon for the Thai activist suggests a thaw in relations between old foes and a 180-degree change in stance by veteran Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. Hun Sen rattled Thailand in 2009 when he appointed former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra as an economic adviser and refused to extradite him. Thaksin was ousted by the military in 2006 and fled Thailand to es-

Thaksin’s sister, Yingluck Shinwatra, won a landslide election victory in 2011 but after months of street demonstrations aimed at toppling her, she was forced to step down on May 7 when a court found her guilty of abuse of power.

The junta has cracked down hard on dissent, briefly detaining hundreds of activists, journalists and politicians critical of the regime, a disproportionate number of them members of the pro-Thaksin “red shirt” movement. l

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Thursday, July 3, 2014

CODE-CRACKER

Press freedom is a fundamental right

W

e strongly denounce the government’s plan that contemplates restoring a provision from 1973 which allows district magistrates to exercise power over the free press. Under this edict, district magistrates would have the authority to cancel declarations of newspapers for publishing material deemed “anti-state,” or stories that could hurt the religious sentiments of the people.

The law, which attempts to gag the freedom of the press, is fundamentally anti-democratic and is appropriately referred to as a “black law” in the media.

For good reason, this black law was scrapped in 1991, although not before a number of news outlets were shut down under the scope of the law.

The recommendation is scheduled be reviewed on July 8, and we hope our lawmakers would do the right thing and not resurrect this black law. Lawmakers and media professionals have already condemned the provision, and we applaud their decision to fight a law that would curb our fundamental democratic right to a free press.

If so much power over the press is handed over to politicians, the press could be bent for political purposes and used to further the agendas of various interest groups. Compromising with press freedom is a dangerous road, and one we have already gone down before. Let us not regress and repeat our mistakes. We implore the information minister to see to it that this tyrannical law is not revived. Our democracy is at stake.

The law, which attempts to gag the freedom of the press, is fundamentally anti-democratic

Time to pull the plug on Biman

E

mployees of Biman Bangladesh Airlines have been agitating for higher pay and benefits. Recently, hundreds of them laid siege to the office of the company’s CEO, effectively confining him to his office for two hours.

Biman is a loss-making state-owned enterprise. If the demands of their workers – which include increasing the pay or benefits and making temporary staff permanent – were to be met, the bill for this would ultimately have to be made by the taxpayer.

We are against increasing pay or benefits to Biman employees; they should be told that their demands for higher pay and benefits will only be considered after Biman has become profitable.

As we have editorialised before, we believe if Biman employees are not willing to continue to work at the current level of pay and benefits, Biman should be shut down. Band-aid solutions to keep the company afloat will only prolong the problem, draining public funds for even longer. All Biman employees should be terminated – with all contractually guaranteed benefits – and Biman’s considerable assets should be sold to private sector airlines.

Bangladesh is not a rich country. The government should spend its money on projects that are worthwhile, such as building power plants, bridges, hospitals, and schools, rather than continue to prop up eternally loss-making state-owned enterprises like Biman.

Biman’s considerable assets should be sold to private sector airlines

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

Secularism, thy name is Bangladesh June 27

Kmak What makes Bangladesh secular, considering that both Sheikh Mujib and his daughter have said that no law that contravenes Islam will be permitted? How secular is Bangladesh when there are numerous local TV programs promoting Islam and none promoting other religions? Is the claim that Bangladesh is secular something that can be validated empirically, especially in light of the recent PEW survey which shows strong support for Shariah among the populace?

As for the claim that the country was founded on secular principles, what do you make of the following analysis?

“The Independence War began unexpectedly following the military crackdown on March 25, 1971. Ordinary people fought against the Pakistani military for survival, not necessarily to establish a secular, socialist state.

Moreover, the 1970 parliamentary elections had been held under a Legal Framework Order that upheld Islamic principles. Nevertheless, secularism was enshrined as a principle in the 1972 constitution, largely as a reaction to the Islamic parties’ opposition to Bangladesh’s independence and collaboration with the Pakistani military.

To many critics, however, this constitution looked uncomfortably similar to the constitution of India. The perception remains that secularism was incorporated into that constitution at the behest of India.”

This was written by Akhand Akthar Hossain in his article, “Islamic resurgence in Bangladesh’s culture and politics: Origins, dynamics and implications,” published in 2012 in the Journal of Islamic Studies. riazo Kmak: The independence war did not begin unexpectedly. It was a culmination of a long struggle for Bengali dignity, autonomy and then finally independence.

Kmak riazo: Sure. Ordinary villagers and others like them, who also participated as freedom fighters, had the same grandiose vision of Bengali nationalism, secularism etc as the likes of Shariar Kabir and other pseudo intellectuals. I am not denying that some people did fight to preserve their Bengali identity, but for ordinary people it was simply a matter of kill or be killed, raped, and looted. Casting the liberation war in the language of today’s war on terrorism or in terms of a clash of civilisation is both idiotic and dishonest. riazo Kmak: I am not aware that the people of Bangladesh cast the liberation war in those terms you mentioned. I certainly don’t.

Kmak riazo: The people of Bangladesh in general don’t cast the liberation war in those terms, but the Gonojagoron Moncho appears to have. riazo Kmak: No they don’t. That’s a misinterpretation of

2-day-old found abandoned June 28 vihan Bangladesh, the country of the “disposable babies.”

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

what they do.

Gonojagoron Moncho stands for the successful trial of war criminals and the banning of Jamaat-e Islami and their student wing Chhatra Shibir. What does that have to do with “war on terrorism,” “clash of civilisation” etc? odd Kmak: Yet it didn’t occur in the Indian constitution until 1977? d Well said, kmak!

Anon How was Jinnah “denied his legitimate right to become prime minister of India in 1947 solely because of his religion”? Did he win a plurality of or the largest number of votes in a general election?

This article seems to full of much wishful thinking, bias, and selective historical recollection, not to mention, a great deal of inaccuracy. ohplease Anon: Nehru wasn’t elected with a popular mandate either. If you have read any history, then you will know that Jinnah was tipped to be the first PM of India but his religion was a major sticking point.

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.

riazo ohplease: Indeed it was. If Anon does not read history, he should at least watch the film, Gandhi.

KB Well-written, thoughtful article. I do believe that Bangladesh’s essential psyche is secular, or better stated, syncretic. There is of course a tug of war going on with various kinds of “Islamic thought” trying to re-invent Islam for us after a thousand years. Bengal will reject these elements for certain. And by the way, Eastern Bengalis converted to Islam in a seamless fashion, namely because the Sufis showed that all the major religions were intrinsically inter-connected; hence the power of syncretism. We adopt a religion when it works for us. Fundamentalism does not work.

Kmak KB: Whatever the Sufis of old did has no bearing to the present realities of this country. Bangladeshis are not Sufi Muslims. Just ask the average person which Tariqa he belongs to and he will reply none; that is, if he understands what a Tariqa is in the first place. Also please define what you understand by the term fundamentalism. tsktsk Kmak: If you have ever lived in Bangladesh, you will realise that what the Sufis of old did influences, in a very direct manner, the temperament and value system here. That it is being overrun by Salafists is also true, but it is ignorant and blinkered to believe it has no bearing.

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Sports enclosure (5) 5 Fish (4) 8 Hazarded (6) 9 Playful trick (5) 10 Blockhead (4) 11 Chemical compound (5) 12 Tree (3) 15 Impression left by blow (4) 18 Tarnishes (5) 21 Female pig (3) 22 Space (4) 24 Move to and fro (4) 25 Fertile spot (5) 28 In abundance (6) 29 Rind (4) 30 Requires (5)

DOWN 1 Fruit (6) 2 Period of time (3) 3 Numeral (4) 4 Enquires (4) 5 Yielded (5) 6 Worships (6) 7 Favourite (3) 13 Behold! (2) 14 Optical illusion (6) 16 Denial (2) 17 Intertwines (6) 19 Faithful (5) 20 Accordingly (2) 23 Satellite (4) 24 Plant juice (3) 26 Land measure (3) 27 Bishop’s territory (3)

Couple beheaded in Pakistan over love marriage June 29

Mahmudul Islam Such a shame.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

CROSSWORD

PEANUTS

ASP Bashir Uddin fears for his life June 28

LB All of it is nothing but drama.

Hafeejul Alam If the police fail to make any comments, and if the Election Commission also does the same, over the alleged report, who will do it? Under the circumstances, I believe there should be a judicial inquiry about the matter and till then Mr Bashir should be made OSD at the police headquarters, as he is reportedly under threat. If the government fails to take up the matter right away, the morale of the police force is bound to suffer and this does not augur well for the country.

SUDOKU

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

11

Thursday, July 3, 2014

The age of the sweeper-keeper As Manuel Neuer showed against Algeria, the role of the goalkeeper has changed completely

M

n Quazi Zulquarnain Islam

aybe this betrays my age, but whenever I think goalkeepers, I think Rene Higuita.

The Colombian goalkeeper’s curly locks and prodigious moustache would have seen him pass off easily as a late 80s era Hollywood B-movie villain. Somewhat unfortunately then, he is best remembered for his suicidal forays outside his box, one of which ended in utter disaster courtesy a 40-something Cameroonian with fancy dance moves.

In the early 90s era of World Cups, Higuita’s audacity to bring the ball outside his own area was seen as, to put it mildly, frankly bonkers. Sedate English commentators could be seen raising their voices some fair decibels as the Colombian desperado slowly but steadily emerged from the safety of his own area, knocking the ball in front of him with his feet as if daring the opposition striker to engage him in some metaphorical Western movie sunset shootout.

Goalkeepers, went conventional wisdom, stayed put on their line, rarely venturing beyond the scuffed terrain of their six yard box. Moving into the 18 yard box was brave enough, going beyond was pure blasphemy. To put it simply then, Higuita, with his adventurous tendencies, shaggy hair, and scorpion kicks, was painted as the ultimate footballing radical.

It was a view I conformed to for the best part of a decade, but lately, I have begun to view the Colombian goalkeeper as a kind of revolutionary – a man who came so ahead of his time that the masses struggled to

understand him. Because over the last half-decade, even as positions in football have grown and evolved, nothing really has changed as much as the role of the goalkeeper.

When you think great goalkeeper, you conjure up images of people like Gianluigi Buffon or Oliver Kahn or Peter Schmeichel. Or if you are older, you think Gordon Banks and Lev Yashin. There is a common thread that connects all these seemingly diverse characters. They are all great shot stoppers and they are all also great characters with just the right hint of crazy about them.

Neuer’s strategy is definitely higherrisk than that of goalkeepers in the past As Kahn once said: “How can you not be a little crazy if your day job consists of having footballs kicked at you at a ferocious pace?” But what really unites them is that none of these players are really footballers in the strictest sense of the word, ie these are guys who are good with their hands but not with their feet. Sounds strange in a game called football, no?

That was the thought that occurred to an assistant coach at Ajax during a card game with a local youth coach in 1990. Louis van Gaal was inspired by the Dutch 1974 goalkeeper Jan Jongbloed, who often exited his area to clear stray balls. But Van Gaal wanted to take it one step further. Teams, he felt, were

playing football only with ten men when you had eleven on the pitch. The goalkeeper, he premised, was criminally underused as a footballer. The youth coach on the other side of the card game then recommended a candidate – a tall, willowy, calm footballer from a small fishing town. His name was Edwin van der Sar. The future Manchester United goalkeeper would become the cornerstone of Van Gaal’s future Ajax side, which wowed Europe with their “circulation football,” the style which would a decade and some later define Barcelona. Van der Sar played like a sweeper hybrid, collecting balls from his center backs and playing passes with the nonchalance of a midfielder.

Like most good ideas, this too, took a while to catch on. Van der Sar fondly recalled how in Juventus he had once passed the ball to Paolo Montero who immediately cleared it into touched and screamed at him for playing such an “impossible” pass. The Italians, he learned, liked their keepers stylish and staying on the line.

But over the last five years, goalkeepers have evolved to become almost full scale outfield players. Post the Germany-Algeria game on Monday night, social media was awash with posts about Manuel Neuer’s apparent fearlessness in often coming out of the box. So amazed were people by Neuer’s outfield exploits that data site Squawka called his heatmap “the most talked about in history.” The world, it seemed, was finally waking up to what has always been Neuer’s major forte – the ability to play with his feet.

Neuer’s youth coach once said that “he could be an outfield player in the second division.” The goalkeeper

A crazy day job once had three assists in a season for Schalke and in 2012 in a game against Bayer Leverkusen, dribbled past two opponents in front of the opposition box in a late search for a goal. But here is the clincher – in last season’s Champions League, Neuer’s average position as goalkeeper was outside his box. Yes, outside.

Neuer is the prototype of the modern sweeper-keeper hybrid. A player of this ilk has become even more necessary as teams try to play a higher and higher line to dominate their opposition or aim for quick transitions

REUTERS

to catch opponents off guard. Consider his long punt that almost found Andre Schurrle running through on goal following an Algerian corner.

Neuer’s strategy is definitely higher-risk than that of goalkeepers in the past, which means that there is always the odd glaring error when some forward will dispossess him and score.

But this just comes with the territory of playing this way, and ultimately the rewards that a goalkeeper of his skill can offer the team is manifold. It might be hard for traditionalists to appreciate, but the metrics used to evaluate

goalkeepers have changed from shot stopping to passing. Reasonable too, when you realise that you probably make four to five times as many passes as you make saves.

What this means is that in modern football, how a goalkeeper does outside the area is more important than how he does inside. Somewhere out there, I imagine Higuita tipping a sunhat, sipping a drink, and cracking a smile. l Quazi Zulquarnain Islam is a freelance sports writer.

Secularism isn’t Godlessness The elite and the majority n Mir Mahboob Ali

I

slam is complete and unconditional surrender to Allah – a total submission of our will to Allah, admitting that Allah is the sovereign, and all powers belong to Him. Therefore, once Islam is incorporated into our constitution, all other things that are even distantly in conflict with Islam become automatically nullified and ineffective.

Take, for example, democracy. If democracy is in conflict with Islam, Islam prevails and we had better not practice democracy.

However, neither democracy nor secularism are in conflict with Islam, though secularism demands separation of religion from the state but the very purpose for which this separation is advocated is amply served by Islam.

Islam, properly enforced, is profoundly able to deal with all mundane and spiritual requirements of humanity. It is therefore unnecessary to mention democracy and secularism in the constitution of a country that practices the teachings of Islam. Nevertheless, having them in the constitution, though redundant, does not make any difference, and should not be made into an issue of contention as the insertion of “all power belongs to Allah” should not be made into an issue.

Nonetheless, we human beings, as the representatives of Allah, execute all things on His behalf, and therefore, manifestly, power belongs to the people. However, Article 7(1) of our constitution may be rephrased as “All powers belong to Allah manifestly to the people as His representatives (Khalifa)” to satisfy all sections of the population, though it is not needed as

surrendering to Allah’s will makes all our actions subservient to Him. Secularism is not Godlessness as some would perceive and love to depict. It simply advocates the separation of religion from the state to ensure, mainly, equal treatment of all, irrespective of faith. Now, if that can be done while keeping religion, why should religion be exiled? In Britain, India, and the USA, secularism lives side by side with religion. Why not in Bangladesh then?

All parties that think with secularism in the constitution, we cannot have Islam as the state religion and that secularism is in conflict with Islam should think twice before unnecessarily making it an issue to create political turmoil.

Self-proclaimed Islamic scholars who, without meticulously analysing the Hadith and the Qur’an, and simply depending on a preconceived general idea, oppose democracy and secularism, calling them anti-Islamic, are misleading the masses. Without closely examining modern ideas of conflict-resolution, they quickly discard those, labeling them as un-Islamic, exploiting the ignorance of common Muslims.

The first Caliph Abu Bakr (RA) was elected by the people that were present at the congregation trying to decide on a leader in Medina after Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) departure.

Omar (RA) proposed Abu Bakr’s (RA) name and took an oath of allegiance, people that were present abandoning the preceding debate as regards the credence of claim to Caliphate of Mediniite and Meccan candidates.

This was clearly an election extrap-

BIGSTOCK

olating that present day democratic elections are clearly valid. They simply had used an available and possible election process to register their consent, as we do now with ballot papers.

Therefore, democracy is very much an Islamic way, and with the expansion of land and population, we cannot go back to taking the oath of allegiance individually.

Both democracy and secularism may be practiced without any clash Since secularism, democracy, and for that matter socialism, are not antiIslamic intrinsically, but blemished with classlessness and the separation of state and religion, it is smeared with the taint of anti-Islamism. Islam is a champion of equality in all spheres of human relationship and activity. There is class distinction in Islam but no disparity in any way, and practically, there can be no classlessness in a human society as it is distinctly classified by caste, creed, tongue, profession, etc.

Nevertheless, no distinction of any kind as human beings, except by piety, is allowed in Islam. It means there would be classes and a subordinate is bound to listen and respect his superior but would be equal to him as a human being and would enjoy the same rights and privileges.

It causes major overhaul in our society as government accommodation need to be allotted based not on status but requirements, while right to private property remains intact provided all taxes are paid. Privately-owned accommodation and other facilities may not be alike or based on a standard criterion but on individual requirements and desires, while exercising caution not to trample on others’ rights like zakat, alms, and charity.

Therefore, it can easily be inferred that by remaining within Allah’s limit, both democracy and secularism may be practiced with a little deviation and without any clash as they are inbuilt in Islam. People manifestly can exercise all powers that belong to Allah without separating faith from the state. With Islam as our state religion, we can have both secular practices and democracy. l Mir Maboob Ali is a freelance contributor.

n Garga Chatterjee

T

he new union government of the Indian union seems hell bent on Hindifying the government and its activities. From directives to bureaucrats to polish their Hindi skills to prioritising Hindi as the social-media language of the Home Ministry, it has been quite an eventful start for the new government, as far as its Hindi policy is concerned.

The original party of the upper Gangetic plan bazaar class is back at doing what Hindiwallahs used to do regularly before Tamils showed them some serious spine. The Union government’s insistence of Hindi promotion by any means necessary and other unnecessary means suggests that it is at its mischievous game once again.

Anxious Englishwallahs are shedding crocodile’s tears, hiding behind the vernacular majority, who they detest otherwise.

At this juncture, one must again question the relationship between people, power, and language in a multi-national state like the Indian union. And if that state wants to be humane and representative, what should its language policy look like?

Can one be “fully Indian” without any knowledge of Hindi and/or English (It is sad that some brown people in the Indian union who are most comfortable in English are increasingly defining what it means to be brown in this part of the world, but that is a sadness I will explore some other time)?

How does one fight this “rajbhasha” language monster that haunts the majority? On the question of certain myths of “full Indianness” and how to go about dealing with it, we need to turn to Gujarat, the state that has produced the most recent prime-minister. Apart from Jinnahbhai, the other famous Gujarati was Mohandas Gandhi. His method of sticking to truth or satyagraha is part of anti-British struggle folklore. That method has present day relevance too. This first requires finding out the truth and then asserting one’s rights in the face of marginalisation.

In 2010, the Gujarat High Court let people know the obvious – Hindi is not the national language of the Indian union. Hindi is the mother-tongue of only a quarter of the population, while the staggering majority speak Sindhi, Bangla, Tamil, Kannada, Konkani, Santhali, etc, as well as languages like Maithili, Marwari, Mewari, etc which “census Hindi” enumerators cunningly classify as “Hindi” to give a false impression of Hindi’s numerical might.

Certain rootless urban classes of people born in non-Hindi/English homes earn cosmopolitan brownie points by their “inclusiveness,” which basically means shunning their mother-tongues and birth-culture.

The Indian union government is only too happy to promote this brand of “Indianness” where Hindi/English is the “mainstream” and the rest is pejoratively “regional” (that Tamil is not a “national” language is an artifact of the British-forged administrative unity of the subcontinent). This is why it increasingly has the gall to communicate to non-Hindi people in Hindi.

Fortunately, there are still many such people in the subcontinent who do not think that their primary goal in life is to make Hindi and English speakers feel “at home” everywhere by switching from their mother tongue. They also assert the right of being spoken to in their home state in the language of the state.

Again in 2010, villagers in the Junagadh area of Gujarat challenged the land acquisition made by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

The NHAI had issued a notification for acquisition in Hindi. The villagers did not understand Hindi and hence they were not notified. The Gujarat High Court termed the notification and the land acquisition as null and void.

While doing so, it also observed that for the villagers, the “Hindi language used in the notification is a foreign language.”

Bangladesh is a prime example of what a linguistically marginalised people can do Guess what, Junadagh is not Delhi, Coimbatore is not Gurgaon, and the subcontinent has many linguistic nations (Punjab, Tamil Nadu, etc.) as foreign to each other as Nepal is to Tamil Nadu, cohabiting within a common administrative framework called the Indian union.

This term “foreign” is particularly painful for the Hindiwallas who never tire asserting English’s foreignness visà-vis Hindi indigeneity. By creating a Hindi versus English divide, they seek to obfuscate the greater divide of power versus powerlessness, in which English and Hindi are languages of power.

The villagers of Junagadh have shown

the way to challenge the language of the powerful at every step – every notification, every advertisement, every tele-caller, every public signage, every central policy that accords special status to Hindi and English.

In the Indian union, there is no majority language, but many minority languages. This false majoritarianism of Hindi is fuelled by public money, Bollywood, and a Hindi-nationalism-inspired yard-stick of “broadness” and “parochialism” that has been brain-washed into the affluent classes who live or migrate to Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore.

For peoples and languages to be treated equally, the first step is to break the pedestal that the Indian union has accorded to Hindi and English. Only then can we talk and live as equals. The language question is not merely a question of ethno-linguistic pride and autonomy, but fundamentally a question of livelihood, democracy, justice, dignity, and equal stakeholdership in a federal republic.

The Indian union has no heart near Delhi, nor is its soul near Varanasi.

The sooner some people snap out of such self-important and self-serving delusions, the better. Otherwise, they must be prepared to listen to an old Hindi song from non-Hindi regions: “Mere angne mein tumhara kya kaam hai?” (What business do you have in my courtyard?).

All that the non-Hindi/English people want to say is: Speak to us in our languages, devolve power to states so that one doesn’t need to speak to a centre insistent of an exclusionary language policy. People with pasts much older than the Indian union or the lifetime of Hindi and English languages in the subcontinent, can manage their affairs perfectly.

In this republic, we must never forget which region’s revenue, minerals, and resources subsidise which regions and who needs whom. When these lessons are not heeded, they can take forms that people in the subcontinent know too well. The People’s Republic of Bangladesh is a prime example of what a linguistically marginalised people can do, when an imperial centre gives preferential treatment to certain languages and cultures. But if the assault is subtle, then the marginalised might actually see their oppression as liberation and the hold-outs are nut-cases. Any haughty central authority harbours such dreams. The people are left with nightmares. l Garga Chatterjee is a freelance contributor.

He can be followed on twitter @gargac .

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Nirob and Amrita once again

Sumaiya Shimu in different facets in Eid specials n Shadma Malik Sumaiya Shimu, who stands out as a woman of substance and dynamism has excelled in social awareness movements through TV plays. In a conversation with the Dhaka Tribune, Shimu shares her ventures:

Tell us about your Eid projects?

At this moment, I am busy with many projects which will be aired during Eid. I have worked in several TV plays and telefilms. I don’t want to comment on any specific work but, I would like to say, I am working with good directors such as Zahid Hasan, Rownak Hasan, Mir Sabbir, Redwan Rony and Ejaz Mahmud.

Which is the most significant character you have played?

It is hard to single one out from the lot.

I have enjoyed each and every character. But one that does come to mind is the ugly face I portrayed for Rownak Hasan’s drama. Every person has two faces, a good one and a bad one. It was an enthralling experience. Besides, I enjoyed experimenting with my look.

Audience will see me in different facets and will not get bored. They will get to see my journey from being a young girl to a married woman.

MAQSOODUL HAQUE

The Akhara institution and it’s importance in Baul music n Maqsoodul Haque The ancient word Akhara denotes “regimentation” or a place of practice with facilities for board, lodging and education used by religious renunciates. As an institution it dates back to the 8th century and its purported founder is Sage Adi Shankara or Shankarcharya (788–820). That period was significant in other aspects as well. It saw the commencement of the unorthodox “Bhakti Movement” in Tamil Nadu, India - a spiritual revolt against caste discrimination among Sanatana Hindus which challenged grounded and stern Brahmin doctrines. Bhakti insisted that salvation is achievable by all and does not require an advantage of birth as the concept of blood lineage was abusive and exploitative. Bhakti taught people that they could cast aside the heavy burdens of rituals, caste and complexities of philosophies, and simply express their overwhelming love for God in the spirit of humanity.

By late 14th Century the movement gained momentum and spread to Bengal with Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486–1534) the scion of the “Vashnavite Movement” as well as his disciple and close friend Nityananda (or Nitai) jointly spearheaded the spiritual revolt that laid foundation for aspirations against religious bigotry, dogma, caste, creed, exploitation and subjugation of any kind. The Nadiya district of

Film Projapoti starring Moushumi, Mosharraf Karim and Zahid hasan will be aired on NTV today at 8:45am.

undivided Bengal in India, of which modern day Kushtia, Meherpur, Jessore, Chaudanga and others in Bangladesh were then an integral part, was the epicenter of this cultural renaissance, historically referred to as the ‘’Golden Age’’ of Bengal.

Music was and still is the forte of Akharas and together with subjective discourses which were just not limited to “spiritual education” as is the popular misconception; profound subjects such as philosophy, history, social sciences, ethics, aesthetics, mathematics, logics were included. More complex disciplines such as cosmology, ecology, agriculture, pharmacology and in the case of “Deho Tattya” (discourses on the human body) physiology, psychology even embryology as well as the ancient art of Yoga were taught through music, in what was essentially an oral culture.

The overriding aspect of the Akhara institution is that it has traditionally survived on contributions of communities, and unlike Ashrams is informal with no fixed sets of seekers residing for years on end.

During those bleak times in our history when villages were the root of our existence and society, by and large rural and arguably “primitive,” Baul Akharas provided a very valuable spiritual and social service. We may therefore credit the Akharas institution as one of the prime and fundamental reason for Baul music’s survival into the new millennium. l Maqsoodul Haque is a jazz-rock fusion musician and cultural researcher who is writing a series on the transformation of Baul music.

n Entertainment Desk

Who is your favourite co-star?

It is a small world. We work with people over and again. I have been working with veterans and new comers. All I can say is that, it has been a great experience to work with all my co-stars. From my side, I would say, I try to understand their point of view and try to keep up with them. That is how it works.

What do you look for in your life partner?

I would prefer someone from a different background. It is my perception that when two people have different interests, they are more eager to know each other. I want him to be educated, loyal and honest. At one point my career will probably come to an end, and it is important to have him support me and understand my working style.

These qualities are very essential for a successful relationship.

Previously, Sumaiya received much applaud as a rebellious character who fights back against the oppressors in a male dominated society in drama serial “Nari.” Moreover, in an unconventional telefilm titled “Phire Esho Shundori Tomashe” she got the opportunity to act as a drug addict. On the other hand, Sumaiya is also seen in a humorous role in “Jogajog Goljog.” l

Nirob and Amrita paired up for the third time on silver screen for a movie titled “Target.” The shooting of the film is scheduled to start next month. Written by Ayon Chowdhury, this is the second directorial project of Saif Chandan who debuted with the movie “Chheleti Abol Tabol Meyeti Pagol Pagol.”

Nirob, who commenced his film journey with “Mon Jekhaney Hridoy Shekhaney” in 2008, said: “I liked the story and if we work hard, we can make it a sucess. Frankly, I never got the opportunity to act in such a diverse role.”

Ramp model turned actor Amrita said: “I started my film journey with Nirob. We will try our best to make the film enjoyable for the audience through our hard work.”

The first movie of the duo “Game,” directed by Royel Anik, is expected to hit the theatres after Eid. They also worked together in the remake of 1995 film “Antore Antore,” which is in its post-production phase. l

Shah Rukh Khan receives the highest French honour

FROM AKHARA TO FUSION: TRANSFORMATION OF BAUL MUSIC (PART-2)

A typical Baul Akahara at Sonagari, Chuadanaga

Thursday, July 3, 2014

n Entertainment Desk Shahrukh Khan received France’s highest award, “Knight of the Legion” from Laurent Fabius, the French Foreign Minister. SRK was conferred this award in recognition of his outstanding contribution not only to the society but also to the world cinema in general. “There are different moments in life that make you feel that you are on the right track and this is one such moment. I am truly humbled to receive this honour,” said Shahrukh Khan.

He also thanked the French President Francois

Hollande and Foreign Minister Fabius who found him fitting for this honour. “I am a part of the Indian film fraternity and it makes me proud to be recognised for the field I am most passionate about. This honour has further motivated to take Indian cinema to the next level of acceptance, love and glory. And thank you France for being so loving and appreciative of Indian films, it’s extremely encouraging,” he said. Shahrukh Khan took to Twitter to express his joy: “Moms b’day & Knight of the Legion of Honour. If she was alive apart from being extremely old she would be very happy. Thx all that is French.” l

Diaz: Nudity just part of the role n Entertainment Desk Cameron Diaz has said she had no problem getting completely naked for her new film role.

The Hollywood actress, 41, stars alongside Jason Segel as a married couple who lose a raunchy video they filmed of themselves in Sex Tape, a movie out later this month.

She told: “It’s a first for me. But Jason gets naked, too. It’s just a part of the role. So I did it.”

The actress, who’s dating Good Charlotte rocker Benji Madden, posed in a black leotard and heels and in another picture, a seethrough shirt for the mag.

She said that being in her forties felt like “the best age”.

“I like being 41. I love it. Fear, mostly... That’s when a woman knows how to work things, or she doesn’t care about that anymore,” she said.

“You just stop being afraid.

You don’t worry about what men think. You just don’t worry that time registers anything awful. l

Deadly 60 on Animal Planet today n Entertainment Desk

Animal Planet takes its viewers on a trip across six continents over six months to catch a glimpse of the lives of the “Deadly 60” – some of the most dangerous wildlife. Steve Backshall is the wildlife expert who will be leading everyone on this trip. Watch Steve prove that size is not the most important criterion when it comes to survival. The thrilling show will be aired on Animal Planet today at 10pm.

Produced by James Brickell and Pete Howell, the wildlife documentary released in the UK on May 28, 2009. l

Shia LaBeouf undergoing treatment for alcoholism

n Entertainment Desk Publicist says Transformers star voluntarily sought help after recent bizarre behaviour including an aggressive outburst at Studio 54 which drew charges of disorderly conduct and harassment.

Actor Shia LaBeouf, who was accused last week of disturbing a performance of musical “Cabaret” in New York, is undergoing treatment for alcoholism, his publicist said on Tuesday.

LaBeouf, 28, has voluntarily sought outpatient care for addiction, Melissa Kates, the former “Transformers” star’s spokeswoman, said in a statement.

The actor was arraigned last week on charges of disorderly conduct and harassment after police said he interrupted a performance of “Cabaret” inside New York’s Studio 54, used obscene language and became belligerent when asked to leave.

“He understands that these recent actions are a symptom of a larger health problem and he has taken the first of many necessary steps towards recovery,” Ms Kates said.

A dishevelled-looking LaBeouf did not enter a plea to the New York charges, which are all misdemeanors or violations so the former Disney child star would face minimal or no jail time if convicted.

LaBeouf’s promising career has been upended recently by bizarre behaviour that has included attending a red carpet premiere at February’s Berlin International Film Festival wearing a brown paper bag saying “I Am Not Famous Anymore.” l

TODAY IN DHAKA Exhibition

Second Sight Time: 12pm – 8pm The Daily Star Centre 64-65, Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue Artistic Musings of Great Collector Nasir Ali Mamun Time: 12pm – 8pm Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts, Dhanmondi Shadow of Concave Time: 12pm – 8pm Gallery Shilpangon, Dhanmondi

Film

X-Men: Days of Future Past 3D NonStop(2D) Walking with Dinosaurs Time: 10am – 10pm Star Cineplex, Bashundhara City

Sp rt DHAKA TRIBUNE Thursday, July 3, 2014

13

World Cup goalkeepers earn ‘respect’ Lionel Messi, Neymar and Robin van Persie make the headlines, but the World Cup’s real heroes have been goalkeepers like Tim Howard, Guillermo Ochoa and Julio Cesar who throw themselves into the line of fire.

“Two words .. TIM HOWARD #respect,” was the simple Twitter comment made by Belgium’s captain Vincent Kompany within minutes of his country finally beating the United States in the last 16 on Tuesday.

Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku, who hit the winning goal, and Dries Mertens, both hugged Howard at the end of their 120-minute onslaught on the 35-yearold Everton goalkeeper.

Howard’s 16 saves, some at point blank range, two spectacularly flicked over the crossbar, were a record for a goalkeeper in a World Cup match since 1966.

The US defence seemed unable to resist the Belgian attack of Mertens, Divock Origi and Eden Hazard. US coach Jurgen Klinsmann said Howard kept the team in the game right to the end. The Americans had chances to equalise right until the final seconds.

“How Tim played tonight was just phenomenal,” Klinsmann said. “As the game went on, on the back of Tim’s performance we got back in the game.”

Similar compliments have been paid to Ochoa for giving Mexico an unlikely 0-0 draw with Brazil in Group A, and Cesar for his heroics in keeping Chile at bay in a game Brazil won to reach the quarter finals.

Costa Rica’s ‘keeper Keylor Navas was the hero as his side, down to 10 men, beat Greece in their last 16 game.

Germany’s Manuel Neuer has been hailed for rushing out of his penalty

area to clear the ball as North African minnows Algeria poured forward on Monday.

“He reacted like a libero and protected us from many situations that smelled of danger,” said Germany coach Joachim Loew.

Neuer has a good job with Bayern Munich, but for some of the other goalkeepers, the brilliant performances could be a career saver.

Mexico’s Ochoa, who held Brazil at bay for 90 minutes, was without a club after his French side Ajaccio were relegated to the second division and his contract ran out last month.

One sprawling one-handed save from a powerful header by Brazil striker Neymar has been compared to the legendary stop by England’s Gordon Banks against Brazil’s Pele at the 1970 World Cup. “I feel really flattered,” Ochoa, 29, said of the comparison. “Of course I’d rather have less work,” he added.

His shift in Fortaleza has earned interest from English sides including Liverpool, according to media reports.

Costa Rica’s Navas was another goalkeeper to earn man-of-the-match honours as his side beat Greece to reach the quarter finals for the first time.

Navas has been hailed as his country’s new “Lucky Rabbit”, the nickname for Luis Gabelo Conejo, who kept goal for Costa Rica at the 1990 World Cup finals.

Having thwarted Italy and Uruguay in landmark group victories, Navas again performed spectacular gymnastics as he punched away a spot kick

by Greece’s Fanis Gekas in a penalty shootout.

Navas who plays in Spain for Levante said: “I have already faced great players and I am not scared. It’s

CESAR (BRA) a good challenge for me to play against the best.”

Brazil’s Julio Cesar hopes his two penalty shootout saves against Chile will turn him from a national villain to a respected figure alongside the country’s other football legends.

OCHOA (MEX)

HOWARD (USA)

The 34-year-old has faced national humiliation since his mistake was blamed for Brazil’s defeat to the Netherlands in the 2010 World Cup quarter final.

Cesar revealed that he took a religious cross, given to him by his reserve Victor, when he went into the goal for

NAVAS (C RICA)

the Chile shootout. He saved two penalties and Chilean Gonzalo Jara’s kick came off a post and just managed to stay out of the goal.

“Julio Cesar and the goalpost save Brazil from humiliation at home,” said Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper’s front page.

The one man show continues Argentina captain Lionel Messi reacts after being fouled by Switzerland’s Valon Behrami (R) during their World Cup Round of 16 match at Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo on Tuesday

Lionel Messi made a new record by winning four consecutive World Cup man of the matches marking his key role in the build-up of Argentina’s World Cup glory on Tuesday. He arrived late to receive his trophy but was in a jovial mood before admitting the sufferings.

“We suffered and suffered, all of us.

We started to think it wasn’t going to happen. But at the end we had luck on our side and now we have to take advantage and move on, like everybody I was very nervous because we couldn’t score, we knew if we made a single mistake we would have been going home. We didn’t want it to go to penalties and wanted to finish it off,” said the Argentine captain and the man who paved the way for Angel di Maria with a driving run forward in the 118th minute of the match.

AFP

Barcelona repeat Suarez praise amid transfer talk Barcelona heaped more praise on Luis Suarez on Wednesday for apologising for biting a rival World Cup player but refused to comment on rumours of a possible signing.

Despite the furore over the incident, Barcelona were reportedly still ready to sign the player from Liverpool on condition he apologise for biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini.

“Luis Suarez is a Liverpool player so I can’t speak about Suarez,” Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu told a news conference when asked about the player.

“I can talk about what he did. He made a mistake during a match and has apologised. That honours him because it is hard to admit mistakes,” he added.

“But once you do it, is the first step to change. He is a player who has to recover and keep playing.” l

Switzerland coach Ottmar Hetzfeld challenged the mercurial forward before the game and announced to stop Messi from making an effect. Hetzfeld succeeded for 117 minutes but, what is a normal feature of the magician, Messi broke the Swiss resistance to land the killer blow.

For 67 minutes, Messi didn’t have a single shot on goal - the longest he has gone in this World Cup without a shy at goal.

He eventually had two shots after 120 minutes - one off target and one saved by Diego Benaglio. However, it should also be mentioned that Messi took up a playmaker’s role and did not play as a striker.

The variation he brings in the game has been very clear as Messi played three different roles in the World Cup so far and single handedly drowned his opposition each time. Against Iran and Nigeria he played in a narrow system with two strikers in front while against Bosnia he featured as an out-an-out striker with Higuain and Aguero filling the wings.

Argentina lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against the Swiss on Tuesday with Higuain the only forward and Di Maria, Messi and Ezequiel Lavezzi in support.

Though they were held for 117 grueling minutes on the pitch, Messi was still the focal point of the major threats caused by them. He flew in eight crosses from the wings with three of them being successful while apart from the deciding assist he also made eight take-on’s.

Moreover, the 5’7’’ Messi had to absorb the pain of numerous tackles and still go on as Argentina is more than depended upon the stereotypical dribbling he brings in the side. It was first time in this Word Cup he did not find the back of the net, but he did make sure to pave the way for Argentina. The 27-year-old has been the major talking point of being over burdened. If that is the case, I am afraid Argentina might be paying a heavy price in their coming fixture against the high-flying Belgians. l

Champion Murray stunned by brilliant Dimitrov Andy Murray’s reign as Wimbledon champion came to a stunning end as Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov clinched a sensational 6-1, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 victory in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.

Murray had hoped to become the first British man to successfully defend the Wimbledon title since Fred Perry in 1936, but the Scot was completely outclassed in a two-hour masterclass from 11th seed Dimitrov on Centre Court.

The 27-year-old’s unexpected exit snapped his 17-match winning streak at the All England Club, a magical sequence which had brought him Olympic gold and a first Wimbledon title, and also ended his hopes of reaching a sixth consecutive semi-final at the grasscourt Grand Slam.

Dimitrov, 23, will play top seed Novak Djokovic or Croatia’s Marin Cilic on Friday for a place in the final.

“I am excited and happy to win through in straight sets. It’s never easy against Andy in front of his home crowd but today I was fortunate,” 11th-seeded Dimitrov said.

“I sensed in the warm up that his game was not at the highest level but I was already confident I could play at a high level and play good tennis.

Only once before had Murray lost a Wimbledon quarter-final – against Rafael Nadal in 2008 – and this was his first defeat against a player ranked outside the top 10 at a Grand Slam since 2010.

After years of struggling to live up to the vast potential that has earned him numerous comparisons with Roger Federer, this was a thrilling performance from 23-year-old Dimitrov, who finally secured his first win over a top-10 player at a Grand Slam at the fifth attempt. l

NEUER (GER)

“After the (2010) World Cup to be labelled as the villain, it was very bad for me,” Cesar said. “I got the support of my family who just supported me.

This allows me to have the necessary strength to go forward,” said the emotional keeper fighting back tears.l

US wonder boy Green puts the Bundesliga ahead Julian Green’s goal for the United States vs. Belgium was not enough to save the Americans from elimination, but the Bayern Munich teenager’s effort did give the Bundesliga the lead in goals scored by league at the end of the Round of 16.

Green is the sixth different Bayern Munich player to score at this World Cup, tying the German club with Manchester United. Bayern remain atop the list of goals by club with 14, four more than second-placed Barcelona. l

TOP FIVE Goals by league

English Premier League

30

German Bundesliga

29

Spanish La Liga

23

French Ligue 1

11

Italian Serie A

11

Goals by club

Bayern Munich

14

Barcelona

10

Manchester United

8

Real Madrid

6

AS Monaco

5

National Junior Chess second round completed

Grigor Dimitrov (R) and Andy Murray leave the court after their men’s singles quarterfinal on day nine of the 2014 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, yesterday AFP

A total of 25 players shared the lead in the Union Insurance 34th National Junior (Under-20) Chess Championship after the end of 2nd round held at the Bangladesh Chess Federation hallroom yesterday.

Among the leaders are reigning junior champion Ikramul Haque Siam, country’s youngest Fide Master Mohammad Fahad Rahman, former junior champion Abdullah al Saif, Avik Sarkar and Protiva Talukder.l

14

Sp rt DHAKA TRIBUNE Thursday, July 3, 2014

Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku celebrates with Kevin De Bruyne (R) after scoring a goal during extra time in their 2014 World Cup round of 16 game against USA at the Fonte Nova arena in Salvador on Tuesday

Subs make the difference A well-timed substitution can change the course of any soccer match but when the game runs to 120 minutes and is played in the energy-sapping heat of northeast Brazil, substitutes really come into their own.

So it proved in Belgium’s 2-1 victory over the United States on Tuesday.

For the first 90 minutes of their World Cup second-round clash, Belgium threw everything they had at the Americans but could not find the back of the net. It ended 0-0 and went to extra time. Enter striker Romelu Lukaku.

Within three minutes of coming on and with his team mates tiring in the humidity and heat of Salvador, Lukaku burst down the wing on a fresh pair of legs and crossed for Kevin De Bruyne to score.

Twelve minutes later, De Bruyne returned the compliment, setting up Lukaku to fire home Belgium’s second.

The United States pulled a goal back and again it was a substitute who made the difference.

Teenager Julian Green came on for Alejandro Bedoya in the 107th minute and scored what proved to be a consolation goal within seconds.

Coincidence? Surely not. Goals from substitutes have been a striking feature of this World Cup and prove that teams consist of far more than the 11 players in their starting line-up.

Of the 154 goals scored in Brazil, 29 have come from substitutes.

From Miroslav Klose’s historic strike for Germany against Ghana in the group stage to Klaas-Jan Huntelaar’s 94th minute penalty for the Nether-

lands that knocked out Mexico, goals from substitutes have been crucial.

They have been responsible for 18.83 percent of the goals at this World Cup compared with 10.34 percent at the 2010 World Cup. Why the increase?

One reason is that coaches tend to introduce substitutes much earlier in a match than previously.

In the past, it was quite common for coaches to wait until the final minutes of a game and then throw on three substitutes, either in a desperate bid to win it or to waste time and hold on to a lead.

These days, coaches increasingly accept that, given the physical demands of the modern game, if you can use 14 players rather than 11 you might as well do so.

Ironically, another substitute could easily have given the United States victory.

27 19

Brazil’s Luiz Gustavo has made the most interceptions at this World Cup

13

France forward Karim Benzema has fired in the most shots on target at this WC

4

Colombia’s Juan Guillermo Cuadrado has the most assists at this World Cup

8

All 8 group winners to play Last 16 games have progressed to the quarter-finals

67

USA made 67 clearances in their game against Belgium, one more than England made in their three games combined

1

Julian Green scored with his first ever touch of the ball in the World Cup

10

Kevin de Bruyne has created 10 chances against USA the most for a player in a World Cup match since 1982

4

Four of Belgium’s six goals at the 2014 World Cup have been scored by substitutes

14

Tim Howard has now made more saves in a single game than any other player in World Cup history

8

The last 8 goals in World Cup football scored by Belgium were all scored by different players

5

Belgium have gone five World Cup first-halves without a goal

5

5 of the seven L16 games so far have gone to extra time at this World Cup, something that hasn’t happened since 1990

Belgium Goals scored 2 Total shots 38 Shots on target 27 Corners 19 Offsides 2 Fouls committed 27 Yellow cards 1 Red cards 0 Ball possession 47%

USA 1 15 9 4 0 11 1 0 53%

In the dying minutes of normal time with the match goalless, second-half substitute Chris Wondolowski had a glorious chance to score but scooped his effort over the crossbar from five metres, allowing the Belgians back into the match.l

Lukaku changed the game: Howard United States goalkeeper Tim Howard said Everton team-mate Romelu Lukaku proved decisive as the Americans’ fairytale World Cup run came to an end against Belgium in the last 16 here Tuesday.

Lukaku, on loan at Goodison Park last season from Chelsea, scored one goal and set up another as Belgium sealed a 2-1 win after a thrilling extra-time battle with the United States.

“They brought big Rom on and he was a handful, he ran at us, scored a goal, created chances for other guys,” said Howard. “Big Rom changed the game.”

Howard had kept the Americans in the contest throughout the first 90 minutes, pulling off a series of superb saves

to prevent Belgium from converting their dominance into a comfortable victory.

And even after going 2-0 down in extra-time, the USA pulled a goal back through teenager Julian Green to set up a nervy finale which saw Clint Dempsey almost grab what would have been a sensational equaliser from a clever free-kick routine.

“It’s heartbreaking, I don’t think we could have given any more,” said Howard.

“We left it all out there. We got beaten by a really good team. They took their chances well. It’s heartache, it hurts.”

Asked about his goalkeeping heroics, Howard replied: “That’s my job, that’s what I’m signed up to do. It’s part of it in these big games.” l

Klinsmann upbeat about future

WORLD CUP IN NUMBERS USA goalkeeper Tim Howard has made the most saves at this World Cup

MATCH STATS

REUTERS

US goalkeeper Tim Howard makes a save during extra-time in the Round of 16 football match against Belgium at The Fonte Nova Arena in Salvador on Tuesday AFP

Beaten but unbowed, the United States exited the World Cup after losing to Belgium on Tuesday, their disappointment to be going home offset by optimism for the future.

The Americans went down 2-1 in an extra-time thriller that ended with both teams’ players running themselves to the point of exhaustion after one of the best matches of the tournament.

“Obviously it’s a bummer for us to end on the losing side (but) it was a game which gave everything to the fans, to the crowd,” U.S. coach Juergen Klinsmann told reporters.

“It was real drama, a thriller, we had enough possibilities to equalise the game or even put it away earlier. It was a game that just went to the extreme.”

Klinsmann said he could not have asked for any more from his unheralded players, who defied the odds just to make the round of 16 then held on bravely against a skilful, well-organised Belgian team.

The Europeans attacked the United States from the outset, firing a barrage of shots, but were unable to find the net until extra time when Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku scored.

“Every player was at his limits on the field. We knew sooner or later they would hit the wall,” Klinsmann said.

“All the players today went beyond their capabilities. I told them in locker room they can take a lot of positives back home after this World Cup. “We worked tremendously over the last few years and found ways to introduce new young players into our pro-

gramme and develop our game.”

Klinsmann, who also serves as technical director of U.S. Soccer overseeing the development of the next wave of young players, said the team’s performances in Brazil would provide another boost to the sport in North America.

“We must now swallow it and develop very quickly a young group. We have (2016 Rio) Olympics next and the special Copa America in the U.S. (in 2016),” he said, referring to an extra regional tournament to celebrate the centenary of South American football confederation CONMEBOL. “We take a tremendous lot away from this experience. We grew a lot.

We know we can play eye-to-eye with other nations. We know how important our young players are to us and now we can build to the next cycle.” l

US fans catch football fever American soccer fans decked out in red, white and blue flocked to stadiums and giant TV screens on Tuesday to see their team knocked out of the World Cup by Belgium in a heart-breaking game.

Strong performances by the U.S. team in Brazil had ignited passions in a country not known for its love of soccer, and free viewing parties were held from coast to coast while fans crammed into sports bars and restaurants.

The Belgians scored twice in extra time and looked to have the game put away when the underdog Americans scored a late goal. But time ran out and the U.S. squad lost 2-1.

“All in all, Belgium deserved the win, but I’m pissed as hell,” said Christina Psomopoulos, 17, a high school student who watched the match in New York’s Bryant Park with two American flags painted on her face.

Showing the spread of World Cup fever in areas more often obsessed with a different sort of football, some 2,000 fans had lined up an hour early at the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas - to watch on one of the biggest video screens in the world.

A massive crowd wearing the colors of the American flag chanted “U-S-A! U-S-A!” throughout the game, but to no avail.

More than 10,000 also attended at Soldier Field, home of the Chicago Bears, and many of them warmed up for the game at tailgate parties in the stadium’s parking lot.

Karl Epson, 25, and his girlfriend, Becky Oliver, 23, drove a couple of hours from the Bloomington, Illinois, area because they said they wanted to be part of history.

“I’ve waited my whole life for this moment. It’s so awesome to finally be

here,” said Epson, wearing a U.S. team jersey.

U.S. captain Clint Dempsey’s major league soccer team, the Seattle Sounders, had also called supporters to a viewing party at the city’s CenturyLink field.

Seattle Sounders midfielder Brad Evans said the game had been a test of wills and that the U.S. team showed great talent.

“People start to fall in love with soccer when they learn the nuances,” Evans said. “It’s all about getting the casual fan to come out here and hang out, to feel the vibe.”

Judi McRae, a Seattle area teacher, said Tuesday’s loss was grueling but that it had been an amazing experience to watch.

“I wish we won, but I think that the fact the U.S. got so far is going to be great for the soccer community,” she said. l

US President Barack Obama (C) watches the World Cup round of 16 match between USA and Belgium in an auditorium at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington on Tuesday REUTERS

Sp rt DHAKA TRIBUNE Thursday, July 3, 2014

15

Argentina deserved to win: Sabella Argentina needed an extra-time goal to overcome Switzerland in a nailbiting World Cup match on Tuesday but coach Alejandro Sabella congratulated his team on their tactical discipline and declared the win “well-deserved.”

Angel Di Maria scored in the 118th minute to send Argentina through to a quarter-final against Belgium or the United States.

“It was a game that we deserved to win in 90 minutes,” Sabella told reporters.

“It was even during a first half in which they had two clear chances to score, but in the second half we were clearly superior, we had five or six shots at goal and in extra time we also had more chances.”

It was a fraught match which neither side was able to dominate, with Switzerland defending intelligently and shackling Argentine talisman Lionel Messi.

When Messi finally got some space to run at the Swiss defence he laid a perfect pass into the path of Di Maria who neatly stroked the ball home from just inside the box.

“Just a few minutes before the end there was this pass from the midfield to Messi and he was in a very advantageous position and a player like him getting the ball in an advantageous position can cause a lot of harm,” Sabella said. “And there you go, he found Di Maria.

“It would seem he was running more

and more (and) the more time went by the more he was on the attack. So we brought two players together and that’s how we came up with the goal.”

Sabella said discipline was a crucial factor and singled out two unsung heroes for their individual performances.

“Marcos Rojo had a wonderful match once again, a player that was highly debated,” the coach said.

MATCH STATS Goals scored Total shots Shots on target Corners Offsides Fouls committed Yellow cards Red cards Ball possession

Arg 1 29 22 13 0 19 3 0 62%

Swiss 0 14 7 5 1 28 2 0 38%

Goalkeeper Sergio Romero played a wonderful match, people talked about him as well so I congratulate everyone who played in our team because of the effort they made.

“They never lost their balance and this is really important in these matches because that anxiety in wishing to win (can) lead you to open up spaces for the opponent.”

One downside though was that Rojo got his second yellow card of the tournament and will miss the quarter-final. l

Switzerland’s goalkeeper Diego Benaglio (on the ground) and teammates (in red) react after Argentina’s Angel Di Maria (unseen) scored a goal during extra time in their 2014 World Cup round of 16 game at the Corinthians arena in Sao Paulo on Tuesday REUTERS

Pinilla needled

by Brazil miss Chile striker Mauricio Pinilla was clearly needled by his late effort which hit the bar against Brazil prior to their penalty shootout loss to Brazil.

The 30-year-old who plays for Italian side Cagliari, was moved afterwards to add to an impressive array of tattoos and has had his miss immortalised on his back, social media sites showed Tuesday.

A tattoo artist worked off a photograph of Pinilla’s miss to create the image accompanied by the words “one centimeter from glory.”

Pinilla, who already had a range of other tattoos, has also had the words “Blessed” and “For Life” added on either side of his face.

Topping off a flurry of tweets to “Pinigol’s” Twitter account was a picture of a goal with a raised kink in the crossbar.l

Brazil 2014 best on field World Cup: Valcke

WORLD CUP IN BANGLADESH PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST

Send us your photographs to WorldCupBD@dhakatribune.com

Brazil 2014 may have had organisational glitches, but it is shaping up to be the best on-field World Cup thanks to the exciting soccer being played, FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke said on Tuesday.

“I think it is the best World Cup in terms of the soccer,” Valcke said in an interview with Globo television’s SporTV cable channel. “It’s the World Cup with the most number of goals since 1982.”

Even before the 32-nation tournament enters the quarter-final phase this week, more goals have been scored than at the previous World Cup in South Africa in 2010.

Valcke, who complained in 2012 that Brazil needed a “kick up the backside” to speed up preparations of the stadiums, said the World Cup in Brazil has exceeded FIFA’s expectations.

“We had some small problems off the soccer fields, nothing major. We saw some things that were unfinished, but in the final analysis expectations were surpassed,” he said.l

DAY’S WATCH Star Sports 1, 4 4:30PM & 6:00PM Wimbledon Championship

Creative Writer Headoffice Communication, Dhaka

For more info visit our FB event page ‘World Cup in Bangladesh’ Photography Contest

‘Dream, but the reality is Germany on Friday’ France coach Didier Deschamps on Tuesday sought to temper growing expectations generated by his team’s impressive run to the World Cup quarter-finals.

Les Bleus defeated Nigeria 2-0 in Monday’s last 16 game in Brasilia to set up a quarter-final meeting with Germany on Friday.

Under Deschamps’s steady guidance, France have risen majestically from the ashes of the chaotic 2010 campaign in South Africa.

But the skipper of the 1998 world title-winning side was keeping his feet firmly on the ground back at his squad’s Brazil headquarters in Ribeirao Preto on Tuesday.

“I’m a realist, my target, like my players, is Friday,” he aaid the day after goals from Paul Pogba and an own goal

Mueller admits botched free kick was trick that failed Germany’s Thomas Mueller admitted that his bizarre stumble while running towards the ball for a free kick late in the World Cup last 16 match against Algeria was a ploy.

“Is this interview going to be broadcast worldwide or only in Germany?”

Mueller asked a German television reporter who wanted to know if the Bayern Munich player had deliberately tripped.

When told that the interview would only be broadcast in Germany, Mueller smiled and said: “It almost worked.”

Asked if he planned to try the trick again, Mueller said: “We’ll see what happens in the next match.”

With the scores level at 0-0, Germany were awarded a free kick in the 88th minute in a promising position about 25 metres directly in front of Algeria’s goal.

Mueller huddled with team mates Toni Kroos, Mesut Ozil and Bastian Schweinsteiger who ran towards the ball but stepped over it. Mueller was next to fake a kick but fell to his knees two steps before the ball. He quickly got up and ran towards the wall as Kroos attempted to lob the ball to him but the pass was blocked by the defenders.

“We’d practised that,” Kroos told German media. “In training it always worked. But it looks like crap when it doesn’t work.” l

from Joseph Yobo downed Nigeria.

Deschamps, 45, added: “It doesn’t serve any purpose to look any further ahead.

“The reality now is Germany on Friday.

“Everyone can dream, including me, but I’m a pragmatist and a realist, Friday is the only thing that counts.”

Deschamps, who succeeded fellow World Cup and Euro 2000 winner Laurent Blanc as national coach after Euro 2012, rejected the notion that France were favourites against Germany, but at the same time made clear his team weren’t going to Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana “as tourists”.

“We’re going there to give it everything we’ve got.”

Reflecting on France’s progress through to the last eight after topping their first round group he stated: “We haven’t made a mess of our World Cup.

“I’m very proud and the players deserve it, it’s a huge pleasure for me and my staff to be involved on a daily basis with them and to manage them, to be with them.

“But we’re not going there (to Rio de Janeiro) as tourists on Friday.”

He downplayed any lingering significance of the memorable 1982 World Cup semi-final between the two teams.

The game in Seville attained notoriety when Germany keeper Harald Schumacher shoulder-charged Patrick Battiston, leaving the Frenchman unconscious on the ground.

“They (his players) weren’t even born then, what would I speak to them about?

“Joachim Loew (Germany coach) is completely right. Have respect for former players and what’s taken place but we’re not playing against old rivals.” l

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE Thursday, July 3, 2014 DHAKA TRIBUNE Monday, June 16, 2014

13 Murray stunned by brilliant Dimitrov

14 US fans catch football fever

Sport

15 Pinilla needled

by Brazil miss

Argentines arrive in droves

Brazil have been invaded by Argentina, sounds ridiculous? It is true however as the Brazilian authorities yesterday stated that more than 100,000 Argentine football fans have received the port entry visa. The war though will unfold in the battlefield of football and not with arsenals.

The Brazilian media highlighted a song, more like a chant, as the new official anthem of the Argentinian football fans. The chant reflects the extreme rivalry between the two nations and was crooned over and over again by the passionate Argentine fans during their crucial round of 16 match against Swit-

zerland in Sao Paulo on Tuesday. The song goes something like this “Brasil, Decime Qué Se Siente/Tener En Casa Tu Papá/Te Juro Que Aunque Pasen Los Años/Nunca Nos Vamos A Olvidar/Que El Diego Te Gambeteó/Que Cani Te Vacunó/Estás Llorando Desde Italia Hasta Hoy/A Messi Lo Vas A Ver/ La Copa Nos Va A Traer/Maradona Es Más Grande Que Pelé.”

Sung in Spanish, the English translation is “Brazil, Tell Me How It Feels/To Be Bossed Around In Your Own Home/I Swear That Even If Years Pass/We Will Never Forget/That Diego [Maradona] Out-skilled You/That Cani [Claudio Caniggia] Surprised You/You Are Crying Since Italy [World Cup 1990] Till Today/You Are Going To See Messi/The World Cup Will Be Ours/Maradona Is Greater Than Pelé.”

The Brazil fans on the contrary have also made up their own version to counter their eternal rivals but the Brazilians are not so aggressive like their Argentine counterparts. The Argentine fans were simply ecstatic following the last-gasp triumph over the Swiss and it was interesting to see that around 1,000 fans refused to leave the gallery even after an hour of the conclusion of the match.

They just kept on dancing. It was very humble of the stadium authority to keep on playing the music across

the stadium even after the game ended. A flock of security personnel with the highest level of patience were seen standing hapless around them as they continued to dance to different famous numbers with their beloved Argentina flags. Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” and AC/DC’s “Hell Ain’t A Bad Place To Live” were thoroughly enjoyed.

The party seemed to extend all over Sao Paulo as the metro and express trains were filled up by the Argentine fans who continued the celebrations of their round of 16 victory till the end of the day.

The fierce rivalry is deeply rooted in history as Argentina were once richer than Brazil since the beginning of the 20th century. However, Brazil gradually developed and strode ahead of their foes in terms of economic independence.

In football, Brazil also romped ahead of Argentina, especially after the arrival of Pele who clinched three World Cup titles in 1958, 1962 and 1970. Two more triumphs arrived for Brazil in 1994 and 2002 while Argentina have claimed the world crown twice in 1978 and 1986 led

by Mario Kempes and Diego Maradona respectively. Argentina’s last appearance in the final came in 1990 when they were denied by Germany.

Now the debate is surrounding around the talents of Lionel Messi and Neymar. Equally dependent on both, which of Brazil and Argentina have the last laugh will be decided on July 13. l

‘Der General’ marches into history

Ottmar Hitzfeld

Brazil 2014 best on field WC: Valcke Brazil 2014 may have had organisational glitches, but it is shaping up to be the best on-field World Cup thanks to the exciting soccer being played, FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke said on Tuesday.

“I think it is the best World Cup in terms of the soccer,” Valcke said in an interview with Globo television’s SporTV cable channel. “It’s the World Cup with the most number of goals since 1982.”

Even before the 32-nation tournament enters the quarter-final phase this week, more goals have been scored than at the previous World Cup in South Africa in 2010.

“We had some small problems off the soccer fields, nothing major. We saw some things that were unfinished, but in the final analysis expectations were surpassed,” he said.

Valcke said security has been reinforced, particularly with a view to a possible final between the two South American rivals.

One further pleasing aspect, Valcke said, was the record audiences the games have generated in the United States, even though Juergen Klinsmann’s team were knocked out in the second round by Belgium on Tuesday. l

Argentina on Tuesday ended Switzerland’s World Cup run and brought to a close the career of Ottmar Hitzfeld, one of Europe’s greatest managers.

Hitzfeld, 65, was unable to overcome Lionel Messi’s team in the World Cup last 16, a challenge complicated by news of the death of his 81-year-old brother.

The German had said he would retire after the World Cup. And unlike fellow coaches Cesare Prandelli, Alberto Zaccheroni, Sabri Lamouchi, Stephen Keshi and Luis Fernando Suarez, who all stepped down after defeats, he leaves with his reputation intact.

“It’s a World Cup and we were nearly at a penalty shoot-out. That of course creates a lot of tension. Unfortunately

we didn’t make it but I think we can walk tall and leave with our heads held high,” Hitzfeld said after the 1-0 defeat.

“Der General”, a trained mathematician and once a formidable centre forward, steps away after almost 30 years as a coach and more than 40 years in football.

One of only four coaches to win the Champions League with different clubs, Hitzfeld also has seven German league titles, two Swiss titles, three German cups and three Swiss cups from a remarkable coaching career.

Add to that two Swiss titles and a Swiss cup as a player and Hitzfeld’s trophy cabinet is perhaps surpassed only by the great Alex Ferguson. One feature of Hitzfeld’s career is that while Germany is his homeland, Switzerland has

always been close to his heart.

He played most of his career in Switzerland with Basel, Lugano and Luzern and it was in that country that he had his first break in management, taking over the reins at Zug and Aarau before making his name at Grasshoppers.

Such was his success there that he caught the eye of Borussia Dortmund and guided them to two league titles and the Champions League.

With a team based around Bayern Munich winger Xherdan Shaqiri and Napoli midfielders Gokhan Inler, Valon Behrami and Blerim Dzemaili, Switzerland were unbeaten in qualifying for Brazil.

Once there, wins against Ecuador and Honduras were enough to make it to the last 16, despite a 5-2 thumping at the hands of a rampant France. l

Neymar ‘recovering well’ from thigh, knee knocks Neymar is making good progress in his recovery from thigh and knee knocks ahead of Friday’s World Cup quarter-final against Colombia, Brazil’s team doctor said on Tuesday.

The Barcelona forward came out of last Saturday’s last-16 win against Chile battered and bruised but has undergone treatment at Brazil’s training base and will train normally on Wednesday.

“He took a blow to the left thigh and the right knee, but he has worked alongside the rest of the squad. He is recovering very well,” doctor Jose Luiz Runco told journalists.

For the second day running, those

players who started the epic clash against Chile were restricted to indoor work, and Runco hit back at suggestions in the Brazilian media that the team are not training hard enough, with the match against Colombia only three days away.

“I need my team to play, not to train,” he said.

“They need to rest. They played 120 minutes at one in the afternoon and it was a game that used up a huge amount of strength physically and emotionally.”

Neymar was one of those who watched on as a team of Brazilian reserves won 2-0 in a practice match against Fluminense on Tuesday, with Paulinho scoring both goals.l

10 PLAYERS BEING WATCHED BY PREMIER LEAGUE SCOUTS

TOP

MIRALEM PJANIC

YELTSIN TEJEDA

VINCENT ENYEAMA

RICARDO RODRIGUEZ

ENNER VALENCIA

(Bosnia-Herzegovina)

(Costa Rica)

(Nigeria)

(Switzerland)

(Ecuador)

The 24-year old midfielder, currently at Roma, completed a 92% pass rate against Argentina and was previously a target for Manchester United

The 22-year-old defensive midfielder from Deportivo Saprissa is already a key member of the national team and is already attracting interest from the UK and Belgium

The 31-year-old goalkeeper at Lille kept an impressive 21 clean sheets for Lille last season and managed a shut-out against Iran

The 21-year old left-back from Wolfsburg, seen here competing for the ball with Ecuador’s Felipe Caidedo, created both goals against Ecuador and has been linked with Liverpool

The 25-year-old forward has scored in each of his last 5 appearances for the national team

SERGE AURIER

ORIBE PERALTA

LUIS GUSTAVO

JOEL CAMPBELL

EDUARDO VARGAS

(Ivory Coast)

(Mexico)

(Brazil)

(Costa Rica)

(Chile)

The 21-year-old striker at Toulouse has already been touted as a potential replacement for Bacary Sagna by Arsenal

The 30-year-old forward has scored 9 goals in the last 7 competitive games for Mexico - here he is celebrating his latest against Cameroon

The 26-year-old midfielder Luis Gustavo Dias at Wolfsburg produced a passing masterclass in Brazil’s game against Croatia

The 21-year-old striker at Arsenal impressed at Olympiakos last season and will be given a chance by Arsene Wenger

The 24-year-old striker at Napoli is frequently overlooked due to Alexis Sanchez, but his strike rate at international level is excellent

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B4 Islamic banking rebrands in attempt to go mainstream

THURSDAY, JULY 3, 2014 www.dhakatribune.com/business

Bring down energy subsidy IMF urges Bangladesh to divert the fund for protecting poor, improve social indicators n Tribune Report International Monetary Fund yesterday urged Bangladesh to further bring down energy subsidies to increase spending on protecting poor and make impressive gains on social welfare indicators.

IMF Deputy Managing Director Naoyuki Shinohara made the call at a press briefing at Bangladesh Bank, concluding his two-day visit to Bangladesh.

“Further bringing down the cost of inefficient and regressive energy subsidies will also create room to boost spending on well-targeted social safety nets to protect the poor, allowing the country to build on its impressive gains on social welfare indicators over the past two decades,” he said.

The government has already brought down the budgetary allocation for fuel subsidy to Tk2,400 crore for the current fiscal year, which is more than 67% lower than around Tk7,350 crore spent during the just out fiscal year.

Replying to a question about the political consensus between major political parties, he said: “Off course, political consensus is important to economic growth. But I do not want to intervene into the internal political issue.”

He appreciated amendments to the Banking Companies Act, passed in July 2013. “This has strengthened banking system governance, enhancing the supervisory powers of Bangladesh Bank to safeguard financial stability.”

The authorities concurred with the importance of strengthening the fi-

IMF Deputy Managing Director Naoyuki Shinohara addresses a press conference at Bangladesh Bank headquarters in Dhaka yesterday NASHIRUL ISLAM

nancial position of the state-owned commercial banks through enhanced supervision and corporate governance, complemented with gradual recapitalisation as required, he pointed out.

Putting emphasis on tax collection, he said tax collections need to be stepped up to create more space for priority social and development spending.

Impressed by the authorities’ deter-

mination to transform Bangladesh into a middle-income country with sustainable and equitable opportunities for all, Shinohara said Bangladesh has had a remarkable economic and social performance over the past two decades, with significant poverty reduction and low, stable levels of inequality.

“It has a vibrant economy and strong potential to achieve higher and

sustained inclusive growth.”

Realising this potential would require safeguarding macroeconomic stability; further strengthening the financial sector, business climate and labor conditions; and building fiscal space to increase the level and quality of spending on health, education, and critical infrastructure, he said.

IMF high official also commend-

Fuel oil subsidy may go up in FY15 n Asif Showkat Kallol ed for making substantial progress in strengthening macroeconomic conditions supported by the IMF-supported Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement, approved in April 2012.

“The country now has a stronger external and domestic position, with international reserves more than twice the low levels of late 2011, a prudent overall fiscal stance, and lower underlying inflation.”

He said significant progress has also been made with structural reforms.

Following passage in November 2012 of the new value added tax (VAT) law, preparations are underway for launching the VAT in July 2015.

Replying to another question, Shinohara said economic growth is very important to achieve inclusive growth in order to reducing poverty rate and fighting poverty. “For that infrastructure like transportation, electricity is important for the inclusive growth. You need to have easier accesses to sanitation and education, if you have better infrastructure. If you neglect inequality, you will not able to achieve sustainable growth.”

In reply to ‘tampering growth data’ by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics the IMF deputy managing director said: “I have no knowledge about the issue.”

During his visit, Shinohara met with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Finance Minister AMA Muhith, members of the parliamentary standing committee on Ministry of Finance, senior officials of the Ministry of Finance and Bangladesh Bank, and business leaders. l

IFC may provide fund for RMG remediation works n Ibrahim Hossain Ovi

BGMEA takes Batexpo to Paris in September n Ibrahim Hossain Ovi

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) will organise a three-day fair in Paris, France in September this year to showcase Bangladeshi apparel products to the European buyers.

The Batexpo-2014, an annual show the association organises as part of its promotional activities to enlarge the

During the last fiscal year, Bangladesh had earned $1390m by exporting RMG products to France export destination, is scheduled to be kicked off on September 16 in Paris and will continue till September 18.

Bangladesh will have 100 participatory stalls – 37 already confirmed their participation, according to BGMEA. “This year, we have chosen France as a global hotspot for the expo because it is the gateway of Europe and also very easy to get connected with the buyers of rest of the countries,” BGMEA vice-president ShahidullahAzim told the Dhaka Tribune.

The other purpose for selecting Paris is to get well connected with the North American countries, especially Brazil and Argentina, as Bangladesh lacks easy connection with them, he said. The expo would help RMG manufacturers to establish ties with the North American buyers.

During the expo, there will have a seminar, where BGMEA will focus on the prospects of the country’s clothing industry.

“As Bangladesh’s RMG sector is now facing a negative image abroad following the Rana Plaza disaster, we will try to make it clear to the global buyers that Bangladesh has made a significant progress in factory safety standard,” said Azim.

According to statistics of Bangladesh Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Bangladesh exported apparel products to France worth US$1396m in July-May period of the last fiscal year. Of the total amount, $527m came from woven products and $869 from knitwear products.

Total export to France stood $1521m in the July-May period of just concluded financial year.

During the last fiscal year, Bangladesh had earned $1390m by exporting ready-made garment products to France. l

International Finance Corporation (IFC) is likely to provide funds to Bangladesh readymade garments factory owners to facilitate remediation works on fire, electrical and building safety.

The brands those are signatory to the Accord will guarantee the loan, with that guarantee the IFC would provide the loan to the factory owners, Rob Wayss, Executive Director of Accord Bangladesh Operation, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

The factory owners will get loans at low interest, approximately 6-7%, and the factory owners can be provided with the money only for remediation works, he said. The possible duration for repay-

ment of the loan would be three years.

The Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh is working on the issues, which are not yet finalised. The Accord has sent the IFC proposal to the interested buyers and brands so the interested parties could contact the IFC for more details.

According to article 24 of the Accord agreement, the signatory companies shall assume responsibility for funding the activities of the steering committee (SC), Safety Inspector and Training Coordinator as set forth in this Agreement, with each company contributing its equitable share of the funding in accordance with a formula to be established in the Implementation Plan.

The SC shall be empowered to seek

US Congressmen seeks Hasina’s assurance to probe violence on labour leaders n Tribune Report

Six members of the US Congress have sought Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina's assurance to facilitate proper investigation into the allegation of intimidation and violence on workers leader at Valuka, brought by the National Garment Workers Federation (NGWF).

In a recent letter, sent to the US Senators, NGWF claimed that labour leaders are brutally assaulted by musclemen for their attempt to organise union.

The Congress members, including George Miller, Eliot Engel, Sander M Levin, Joshep Crowley, Grace Meng and Janice D Schakosky, in the joint letter dated May 30 made the call as the Dhaka Tribune obtained a copy of the letter.

“We would welcome your personal assurance that all appropriate government authorities will properly investi-

gate and respond to the serious allegations,” reads the letter.

“We look forward to working with you to resolve issues that will ultimately allow the US to restore Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) benefits and to further Bangladesh's economic development.”

It adds: “Our shock when we saw several accounts in the press last week reporting that your Commerce Minister and the BGMEA President, rather than calling for the authorities to investigate intimidation, engaged in intimidation of labor activists themselves.”

They mentioned that as union registrations have increased, “we have also seen an increase in intimidation and harassment of labour activists and this is serious concern to the United States Government, including the US Congress.”

On May 23, BGMEA president Atiqul Is-

BB warns FIs of not complying with loan renewal rules n Tribune Report Bangladesh Bank has asked the financial institutions to realise their due interest and principle within the tenure of a loan or end of its maturity before renewal of the loan.

The instruction came in the wake of renewal of the loans by banks despite non-repayment or adjustment of the outstanding loans, said a circular issued yesterday.

Bangladesh Bank found some banks were providing one year term revolving loan having condition to pay interest in monthly instalments and the principal at the end of the maturity.

There is a condition that the loan will be renewable at the end of the maturity.

But the loans are being renewed showing regular, despite non-payment of the outstanding loans at the

contributions from governmental and other donors to contribute to the costs. Each signatory company shall contribute funding for these activities in proportion to the annual volume of each company’s garment production in Bangladesh relative to the respective annual volumes of garment production of the other signatory companies.

The Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh inspected 760 factories and identified less than 2% apparel factories vulnerable.

The Accord, a plat form of over 180 brands and retailers, had committed to improve safety standard, including fire, electrical and structural safety after the collapse of Rana Plaza, which killed 1,135 workers and injured over 2,500 last year. l

end of maturity. Moreover, some banks were renewing the loans for next term considering the accrued interest and principle as new loan limit as they failed to realise the loan from the clients.

Although such loan accounts should be considered as classified, the accounts are being showed as regular, making loans riskier for the institutions and affecting the transparency of the balance sheet.

The financial institutions, as a result, are increasingly facing greater risks due to opacity in the process of loan grant and renewal, said the circular.

In this circumstance, the central bank asked the financial institutions to ensure reflection of the classified loan information in the account statements and realise the owing interest and principle before renewing any loan account. l

lam demanded punishment of some leaders of the NGWF affiliated with IndustriAll Bangladesh Council as it allegedly was tarnishing the image of the country's apparel industry through providing baseless information to the office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed after his US visit at a press conference brought the allegation IndustriAll had provided misleading information to USTR. Later, he also showed the letter sent to the USTR. However, the congress members welcomed the increase in the registration of labor unions along with the other changes that have been made to improve working conditions in the garment export industry.

Acknowledging the work that has been done, they said there are a number of essential steps that must still be taken. l

The government would have to face a mounting pressure of fuel oil subsidy in the current fiscal year in the wake of looming fear for supply chain disruption, following the fresh tension in the war-torn Iraq.

Analysts apprehended the fuel oil price would increase that may even cross US$130 per barrel from around $114 to $115, if the situation in Iraq continues.

The concern emerged at a time when visiting IMF Deputy Managing Director Naoyuki Shinohara urged the government to reduce energy subsidy to divert the fund to protect the poor and improve social indicators.

If the escalating tension spills over the energy markets for long time, the government will definitely have to increase subsidy allocated for this fiscal year, said an official of finance division.

He also noted the price hike of fuel oil is unquestionably a political decision and the Prime Minister usually turns down any proposal by Bangladesh Energy Regularity Commission to increase the price of fuel oil in the domestic market.

For the current fiscal year, the government has allocated Tk2,400 crore in the budget to meet the fuel oil subsidy, which is more than 67% lower than around Tk7,350 crore spent during the just out fiscal year.

In the wake of the international tension, the finance division disbursed Tk1,224 crore in only last two weeks to facilitate importing fuel oil, which officials termed to be unprecedented.

In the budget, the government has increased the import duty on crude and refined petroleum products in FY2014-15, which might lead to a hike in petroleum prices and power tariff, according to finance division officials.

BPC is counting a loss of Tk8.12 per litre of diesel and Tk7.62 per liter of kerosene, according to BPC. BPC Chairman Eunusur Rahman said fuel oil price increase in the global market would not have any negative impact on the country's market as the import contracts were done earlier.

He, however, apprehended an adverse impact in cases of new contracts if the tension continues.

“We hope the Iraq crisis will come to an end before we are going for signing new agreements with the supplying companies.”

The BPC will require $2364.50m to import 27.20 lakh tonnes of petroleum fuels required for the next six months, said Eunus. l

Sugar output up by 20% in FY14 n Reuters, Dhaka The country’s sugar output in 2013/14 (July-June) rose 20% from a year ago at a time when the state procurement agency is struggling with huge stocks of unsold sweetener amid rising raw sugar imports by private refiners.

Bangladesh Sugar & Food Industries Corp typically imports white sugar for its reserves, but good output and high stocks allowed it to come up with a global tender in 2012 to export refined sugar from locally produced cane to the European Union under an EU preferential quota.

“Sugar production hit 128,300 tonnes this year, up from 107,000 tonnes last year,” Harun Mia, chief purchasing officer of the state agency said.

“But, we are in huge trouble with unsold sugar stocks. Even last year’s sugar is not yet sold,” he said.

Private refiners in Bangladesh imported around 2 million tonnes of raw sugar in the current fiscal year ending this month, up from 1.37 million tonnes in the year to June 2013.

Private refiners mostly import raw sugar from Brazil, India and Thailand. l

B2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Stock DSE GAINERS

Stocks start new financial year on back foot

DSE key features July 2, 2014

Traded Issues

291

n Tribune Report

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

74

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

209

2,478.53 70,440,982

Number of Contract

Non-banking financial institutions lost the most with a fall of almost 3%, followed by telecommunication 1.5%, pharmaceuticals 1% and fuel and power 0.2%.

“The first session of FY 201415 faced a hit from profit booking. Since, the tax rebate window closed in last trading session, flow of fund to the market squeezed,” said IDLC Investments in its daily market analysis.

However, positive news on banks’ H1 2014 operating earnings instigated some investors at the early part to take position in the sector, it said.

Lanka Bangla Securities said banking sector was up by 0.11% as operating profit figure of banks for HY 2014 came out. Operating profits for most banks rose in the first half of the year due to the return of normalcy on the political front after a turbulent year, it said.

Losers took a lead over the gainers as out of 290 issues traded, 168 declined, 91 advanced and 31 remained unchanged at the DSE. Beximco Limited was the most traded stocks with shares worth Tk31 crore changing hands, followed by Grameenphone, United Airways, Lafarge Surma Cement and Square Pharma. l

Stocks began the first day of the new financial year on back foot with the benchmark DSEX index edging down yesterday.

The market moved between positive and negative in the morning and selling pressure in the late hour sent the market into the negative territory.

The DSEX lost over 14 points or 0.3% to end at 4,466, extending its losing streak for the second consecutive session.

However, the Shariah index DSES was down 10 points or 1% to 1,009. The comprising blue chips DS30 closed at 1,637, shedding 7 points or 0.5%.

Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index, CSCX, fell 2 points to 8,504.

Investor participation dropped to Tk248 crore, registering a decline of 36% from the previous session’s value of Tk387 crore.

Despite the news that banks have made hefty operating profits in the first half of this year, share prices of banks did not move much as the heavyweight sector rose marginally 0.2%.

Food and allied gained highest 3%, led by BATBC that rallied 4%.

Company

Turnover (Million Taka) Turnover (Volume)

65,050

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

8

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,314.81

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

28.06

CSE key features July 2, 2014 Turnover (Million Taka)

203.80

Turnover (Volume)

Daily capital market highlights

7,751,223

Number of Contract

9,856

DSE Broad Index :

4466.61806

(-) 0.31%

▲

Traded Issues

207

DSE Shariah Index :

1009.07878

(-) 1.01%

▲

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

57

DSE - 30 Index :

1637.31132

(-) 0.45%

▲

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

145

CSE All Share Index:

13751.51020

(-) 0.11%

▲

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

4

CSE - 30 Index :

11413.21260

(+) 0.03%

▼

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,214.86

8504.84080

(-) 0.03%

▲

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

26.85

CSE Selected Index : DSE LOSERS Company Meghna Life Ins. -A National Life I -A BD Fixed Income MF-A Renata Ltd. -A ICB -A JMI Syringes MDL-A Sandhani Life -A Hakkani P& Paper -B

ICB Islamic Bank-Z Pioneer Insur -A

-15.44 -5.10 -4.94 -4.91 -4.57 -4.49 -4.24 -4.10

Average (% change) -12.42 -3.55 -1.84 -2.44 -2.83 -1.07 -3.43 -4.66

-3.77 -3.41

-3.35 -3.20

Closing (% change)

CSE LOSERS Company

Closing (% change)

Meghna Life Ins. -A AIBL 1st Is. M. F.-A Aramit -A Republic Insu.-A Northern G Insur-A National Life I -A In Tech Online -A Ambee Pharma -A

-13.73 -9.21 -5.26 -4.83 -4.29 -3.93 -3.70 -3.68

Average (% change) -13.18 -8.73 -5.26 -4.83 -4.83 -1.46 -5.14 -3.70

FAS Fin. & Inv. Ltd-B National Housing Fin.-B

-3.57 -3.41

-3.87 -2.66

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 279.79 57.29 41.82 171.79 84.58 267.90 0.97 232.71 279.70 0.35 37.51 14.81 11.20 151.63 13.51 13.16 57.85 256.88 141.84 363.14 0.13

Turnover in million

Daily low

Latest EPS

Latest PE

101.11 326.48 8.00 896.99 1818.31 177.59 85.21 25.78

99.10 320.20 7.70 883.00 1803.00 170.00 83.50 25.70

104.00 338.00 8.00 930.10 1855.00 198.00 88.00 26.30

98.10 314.50 7.40 870.00 1800.00 168.00 82.50 25.50

3.837 13.369 0.012 22.267 6.455 19.624 4.033 0.348

6.45 12.46 0.56 36.56 53.53 2.08 2.66 0.28

15.7 26.2 14.3 24.5 34.0 85.4 32.0 92.1

5.19 48.34

5.10 48.20

5.30 50.00

5.10 47.90

0.713 1.931

-1.12 5.16

-ve 9.4

Closing average

Closing

Daily high

Turnover in million

Daily low

Latest EPS

Al-Haj Textile -A Midas Financing-Z Shinepukur Cera-Z Premier Bank -A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A Desh Garments -B National Bank - A GBB Power Ltd-A BATBCL -A Fu-wang Ceramic-A

98.00 6.90 270.00 27.60 33.50 330.00 13.00 280.10

98.00 6.90 270.00 27.60 33.50 340.00 13.00 285.00

98.00 6.90 270.00 27.60 33.00 330.00 12.20 280.00

0.044 0.003 0.014 0.028 0.089 0.271 0.009 0.132

6.45 1.49 12.56 2.45 6.40 12.46 -0.80 3.20

15.2 4.6 21.5 11.3 5.2 27.2 -ve 87.6

16.15 28.49

16.20 28.30

16.20 29.40

16.10 28.30

0.016 0.214

0.48 2.32

33.6 12.3

Positive news on banks’ H1 2014 operating earnings instigated some investors at the early part to take position in the sector

Company Aziz PipesZ Pragati Gen. I -A Sonargaon Tex -Z Premier Bank -A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A Beximco Syn.-Z Fareast Finance-Z National Bank - A DESCO Ltd. -A GBB Power Ltd-A

% change 11.29 2.31 1.69 6.93 3.41 10.81 0.04 9.39 11.28 1.51 0.60 0.45 6.12 0.54 0.53 2.33 10.36 5.72 14.65 0.01

Million Taka 28.79 6.03 2.19 15.96 5.85 15.14 15.78 19.49 3.99 1.77 4.86 1.12 12.49 1.07 1.34 3.34 13.92 31.41 31.11 0.13

% change 13.34 2.79 1.02 7.40 2.71 7.02 0.00 7.31 9.03 1.85 0.82 2.25 0.52 5.79 0.50 0.62 1.55 6.45 14.56 14.42 0.06

Million Taka 308.58 63.32 44.01 187.75 90.43 283.04 0.97 248.49 299.19 4.34 39.27 19.67 12.32 164.12 14.58 14.50 61.19 270.79 173.25 394.26 0.26

Closing (% change) 10.00 9.77 7.69 7.22 6.48 4.67 4.65 4.55 4.42 3.70

Average (% change) 5.40 9.54 3.36 4.84 2.57 4.76 2.43 2.01 3.80 4.49 Average (% change) 10.00 9.60 7.14 5.07 2.09 1.98 3.49 2.79 1.97 2.06

Closing average 159.58 17.80 12.92 10.19 33.88 112.80 11.37 22.32 2,387.61 15.82

Closing average 15.40 43.73 9.75 10.16 33.73 11.33 8.90 11.42 57.52 22.31

Closing 164.00 17.80 13.00 10.40 34.50 113.30 11.50 22.50 2,411.30 16.00

Closing 15.40 43.80 9.80 10.40 34.50 11.20 9.00 11.50 59.00 22.40

Daily high 164.00 17.80 13.20 10.50 34.90 114.80 11.90 22.70 2,419.00 16.20

Daily high 15.40 43.80 10.00 9.90 34.90 11.50 9.00 11.80 59.00 22.60

Daily low 151.70 17.80 10.80 8.80 29.10 109.00 9.90 19.50 2,205.00 13.50

Daily low 15.40 43.70 9.40 10.00 32.00 10.70 8.70 9.90 53.00 21.50

Turnover in million 35.291 0.169 3.893 45.695 313.568 5.877 50.823 20.217 10.749 11.402

Turnover in million 0.001 0.188 0.083 5.854 27.872 0.476 0.659 8.025 0.038 2.170

Latest EPS 2.00 -6.91 0.64 1.48 1.12 0.96 0.92 1.44 82.80 0.49

Latest EPS 0.68 2.52 -0.92 1.48 1.12 0.76 0.12 0.92 0.95 1.44

Latest PE 79.8 -ve 20.2 6.9 30.3 117.5 12.4 15.5 28.8 32.3

Latest PE 22.6 17.4 -ve 6.9 30.1 14.9 74.2 12.4 60.5 15.5

News, analysis and recent disclosers PROGRESLIF: (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 an increase in life revenue account of Tk. 15.43 million with total life insurance fund of Tk. 3,935.53 million as against Tk. 109.78 million and Tk. 3,756.70 million respectively for the same period of the previous year.

NATLIFEINS: (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 an increase in life revenue account of Tk. 121.59 million with total life insurance fund of Tk. 27,805.58 million as against Tk. 315.19 million and Tk. 24,502.07 million respectively for the same period of the previous year.

SANDHANINS: (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 an increase in life revenue account of Tk. 62.91 million with total life insurance fund of Tk. 8,893.98 million as against Tk. 42.18 million and Tk. 8,207.29 million respectively for the same period of the previous year.

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company BEXIMCO Ltd. -A Grameenphone-A UNITED AIR-A LafargeS Cement-Z Square Pharma -A Padma Oil Co. -A

Total

9.99 9.88 8.33 7.22 6.81 5.69 5.50 4.17 4.02 6.67

CSE GAINERS

BD Submarine Cable-A

CSE

Closing (% change)

JMISMDL: The Company has informed that the Board of Directors of the Company has approved the following: to reduce the loan liability and meet the working capital requirements the board has decided to increase Company's paid up capital by issuing rights share @ 2R:1 i.e. two rights shares for every one existing share held on the record date at an issue price of Tk. 35.00 each (including a premium of Tk. 25.00 per share) on paid up capital subject to the approval of shareholders in the 15th AGM to be held on July 24, 2014 and the Regulatory Authority.

Another record date for entitlement of the proposed rights shares to be notified later after obtaining approval from BSEC. ABBANK: 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 AB Bank Limited amounting to Tk. 250,00,00,000.00 only through issuance of Non-Convertible Subordinated Bond. The consent has been accorded subject to the condition that the Company shall comply with the relevant laws and regulatory requirements, and also shall

adhere to the conditions imposed by BSEC under Section-2CC of the Securities and Exchange Ordinance, 1969.

MIDASFIN: Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) has approved the Rights offer of MIDAS Financing Limited for 6,01,34,338 ordinary shares of Tk. 10.00 each totaling Tk. 60,13,43,380.00 at a ratio of 1R:1, i.e. one rights share for one existing share. The approval has been accorded subject to the condition that the Company shall comply with the requirements embodied in the Securities and Exchange Commission (Rights Issue) Rules, 2006 and other relevant laws and Regulatory Requirements, and shall also adhere to the conditions imposed by BSEC under Section-2CC of the Securities and Exchange Ordinance, 1969.

The Company has further informed that the purpose of issuance of Rights Share is to meet the capital adequacy for regulatory requirement of Bangladesh Bank.

STANDARINS: 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 29, 2014.

Latest PE

98.00 6.90 270.00 27.60 33.47 338.44 12.74 280.16

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY Sector

Daily high

Thursday, July 3, 2014

% change 11.45 2.35 1.63 6.97 3.36 10.51 0.04 9.22 11.10 0.16 1.46 0.73 0.46 6.09 0.54 0.54 2.27 10.05 6.43 14.63 0.01

Prepared exclusively for Dhaka Tribune by Business Information Automation Service Line (BIASL), on the basis of information collected from daily stock quotations and audited reports of the listed companies. High level of caution has been taken to collect and present the above information and data. The publisher will not take any responsibility if any body uses this information and data for his/her investment decision. For any query please email to biasl@bol-online.com or call 01552153562 or go to www.biasl.net

National Bank - A Meghna Petroleum -A Premier Bank -A

BSRM Steels-A BSC-A Beximco Pharma -A Familytex (BD) Ltd.-A Al-Haj Textile -A CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company BEXIMCO Ltd. -A

UNITED AIR-A BD Submarine Cable-A National Bank - A LafargeS Cement-Z The Peninsula CTG.-N Square Pharma -A Appollo Ispat CL -N Premier Bank -A JMI Syringes MDL-A Grameenphone-A Familytex (BD) Ltd.-A Generation Next-A BSRM Steels-A Padma Oil Co. -A

Volume shares 9,254,063 626,423 7,916,490 1,238,000 301,975 223,077 375,759 4,470,271 177,688 4,482,661

479,250 77,240 904,376 1,581,500 221,152

Volume shares

826,416 1,824,773 47,600 702,609 88,000 205,200 24,061 213,600 575,928 29,000 16,800 177,000 231,866 42,605 10,644

Value in million 313.57 187.04 104.55 102.17 84.90 72.66 69.84 50.82 48.81 45.70

39.68 39.62 39.08 36.91 35.29

Value in million

27.87 24.15 8.88 8.03 7.25 6.93 6.77 5.98 5.85 5.17 5.04 4.16 4.08 3.53 3.47

% of total turnover 12.65 7.55 4.22 4.12 3.43 2.93 2.82 2.05 1.97 1.84

1.60 1.60 1.58 1.49 1.42

% of total turnover

13.81 11.97 4.40 3.98 3.59 3.44 3.35 2.96 2.90 2.56 2.50 2.06 2.02 1.75 1.72

Daily closing 34.50 296.10 13.50 81.10 280.10 324.60 184.60 11.50 272.70 10.40

82.10 510.50 43.20 23.10 164.00

Daily closing

34.50 13.50 185.50 11.50 81.40 33.60 280.60 27.80 10.40 170.20 296.80 23.30 17.50 82.10 324.60

Price change 6.81 -1.40 3.85 -2.64 -0.74 0.93 -1.70 5.50 -0.33 7.22

Daily opening 32.30 300.30 13.00 83.30 282.20 321.60 187.80 10.90 273.60 9.70

Price change

Daily opening

-2.03 -2.48 3.85 -2.12 9.99

6.48 3.85 -1.80 4.55 -1.93 -1.18 -0.39 0.36 7.22 -3.95 -1.20 -2.10 -0.57 -1.68 1.25

83.80 523.50 41.60 23.60 149.10

32.40 13.00 188.90 11.00 83.00 34.00 281.70 27.70 9.70 177.20 300.40 23.80 17.60 83.50 320.60

Daily high 34.90 303.70 13.80 84.00 283.40 329.40 189.50 11.90 277.90 10.50

84.60 525.00 45.00 23.90 164.00

Daily low 29.10 292.00 11.70 80.30 272.00 310.00 172.00 9.90 249.70 8.80

80.00 509.25 37.50 23.10 151.70

Daily average 33.88 298.58 13.21 82.53 281.15 325.69 185.86 11.37 274.67 10.19

Daily high

Daily low

Daily average

34.90 13.60 189.50 11.80 84.70 34.10 288.00 28.40 9.90 188.00 303.80 23.90 17.80 84.00 329.50

32.00 12.50 185.00 9.90 80.60 33.50 279.50 27.50 10.00 169.10 296.50 23.20 15.90 82.00 323.40

82.79 512.89 43.21 23.34 159.58

33.73 13.23 186.57 11.42 82.35 33.79 281.28 27.99 10.16 178.37 299.80 23.52 17.59 82.79 325.90

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

B3

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Modi draws Twitter, Facebook deeper into govt n Reuters, New Delhi Prime Minister Narendra Modi has permitted Twitter unprecedented access to his administration in a drive to put social media at the heart of government, the US Internet company said.

Modi deployed an army of supporters over Twitter and Facebook during his successful election campaign. He has put both the microblogging site and Facebook at the centre of his government's media and research strategies since taking office a month ago and has asked ministers and lawmakers to follow suit.

The 63-year-old's focus on social media presents opportunities for the companies, which see India as one of their top growth markets and are sending senior executives to forge relationships with the government.

With 5 million followers, Modi is the fourth most followed world leader on Twitter. He has 18.8 million Facebook likes.

Twitter has been given direct access to ministers and their staff, advising them on social media usage, as well as organising workshops to train ambassadors and other diplomats, said Raheel Khursheed, head of news, politics and government at Twitter India.

He said the level of interaction between the company and the new government was "unmatched" globally.

On Tuesday, President Pranab Mukherjee debuted on the site after

three months of behind-the-scenes negotiations.

Facebook's Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg is currently in India, promoting the potential of Facebook as a tool for small businesses and economic expansion.

Sandberg has requested a meeting with Modi, a source at his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said. She will meet India's minister for information and technology, Ravi Shankar Prasad, on Thursday, the source added.

Details were not available about Sandberg's discussion with government officials, but experts said India's low Internet penetration and legal cases often filed against Facebook for content posted by its users were likely on her agenda.

Though India has the world's thirdlargest Internet user base after the United States and China, just 13.7% of the population had access to the Internet in 2013, according to consulting firm eMarketer. By 2018 more than a quarter of population is forecast to be on the Web. Markets outside North America account for roughly 84% of Facebook's 1.28 billion monthly users but account for a fraction of revenue.

"In terms of revenues (India) is minimal. Mostly it is skewed towards US. But soon marketers will realise how Facebook can help increase engagement for their brands," said Neil Shah of Counterpoint Technology Market Research. l

A smartphone user shows the Facebook application on his phone in the central Bosnian town of Zenica, in this photo illustration

REUTERS

Facebook seeks India revenue boost with 'missed call' ads n Reuters, San Francisco Facebook Inc wants its users in India to hang up on advertisers.

The Internet social networking company is testing a new type of ad in the country that allows mobile phone users to click a button that calls a brand advertiser, immediately hangs up and then receives a return call.

The return call delivers pre-recorded audio messages about everything from sponsored cricket scores to information about shopping discounts, minimizing data charges for the user.

The so-called “missed call” ad was

specially created by Facebook to appeal to users in the world’s second-most populous country, and potentially in other emerging markets.

Facebook has more than 100 million users in India, with the majority accessing the service on so-called feature phones, which lack touchscreens and other capabilities of higher-end smartphones.

The ads are part of Facebook’s effort to bolster its business in countries such as Brazil, India and Indonesia, which could help Facebook boost its overall revenue.

Roughly 84% of Facebook’s 1.28 billion monthly users are outside the

United States and Canada, but the average revenue per user that Facebook generates in international markets is significantly lower than in the United States and Canada.

Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg is in India this week visiting the company’s offices and meeting with partners. Last week, Facebook rival Google Inc announced plans to bolster its business there by developing a sub-$100 smartphone that uses its Android software.

Facebook has optimized the ads on its service to work on slower wireless connections in emerging markets and

it is improving its tools in individual countries to help marketers better target different groups of users.

The company has also recently opened sales offices in Colombia and Indonesia and it is working with measurement firm Nielsen to measure how mobile phone users react to ads.

In early tests of the missed call ads

by L’Oreal-owned haircare product Garnier Men, the ads led to a 2.5 times year-on-year increase in online sales, according to Facebook. In the coming months, Facebook said it plans to make the missed call ads more widely available. l

Dollar gains in Asia on stocks rally Google buys Songza streaming n music service AFP, Tokyo

The dollar rose against the yen and euro in Asia yesterday, boosted by upbeat sentiment, but it is still sitting around more than five-and-a-half-year lows against the pound after a strong set of British manufacturing figures.

In afternoon Tokyo trading, the greenback strengthened to 101.60 yen from 101.53 yen in New York Tuesday afternoon as investor appetite for higher risk assets picked up.

The euro bought $1.3673 and 138.92 yen against $1.3677 and 138.88 yen ahead of a European Central Bank (ECB) meeting today.

The pound bought $1.7146 in Tokyo after hitting $1.7166 late Tuesday, the highest level since October 2008.

Currency dealers have been moving into the pound in recent weeks after the head of the Bank of England suggested interest rates could rise sooner than initially thought as the economy picks up pace.

“Markets started the third quarter in

strong fashion, as global manufacturing data provided more evidence supporting the story of improving Chinese momentum and healthy US growth,” Credit Agricole said.

Chinese manufacturing activity expanded at its fastest pace this year in June, indicating that Beijing’s attempts to tackle slowing growth in the world’s number two economy are gaining traction.

In the US, the Institute for Supply Management’s closely watched purchasing managers index of manufacturing activity dipped 0.1 point to 55.3 in June. However, it is still the secondhighest of 2014, after May’s 55.4 peak.

A reading above 50 indicates expansion.

Investors are now waiting for the release of US employment data and a speech by Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen, Credit Agricole said, although it added that she “will unlikely deviate from her recent dovish tone significantly”.

ECB officials hold their next policy

meeting Thursday and are expected to stand pat on any new measures after an unprecedented stimulus package last month introduced to fend off deflation.

“Europe continues to modestly struggle as a whole,” National Australia Bank said.

“This represents the pattern already known and seen by their respective monetary policy directions. It just adds to the evidence.”

The dollar was mostly lower against other Asia-Pacific currencies.

It weakened to 1,009.43 South Korean won from 1,012.17 won on Tuesday, to 32.39 Thai baht from 32.45 baht, to 11,940.00 Indonesian rupiah from 11,942.50 rupiah, and to Sg$1.2468 from Sg$1.2490.

The dollar edged up to Tw$29.88 from Tw$29.86 while it was unchanged at 43.62 Philippines pesos and 60.04 Indian rupees. The Australian dollar firmed to 94.57 US cents from 94.22 cents, while the Chinese yuan traded at 16.32 yen against 16.33 yen. l

n AFP, San Francisco Google on Tuesday said that it has bought Songza, a free online streaming music service that recommends tunes based on what people might be in the mood to hear.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but unconfirmed online reports valued the deal at around $15m.

“We’re thrilled to announce that we’re becoming part of Google,” Songza said on its website.

“We can’t think of a better company to join in our quest to provide the perfect soundtrack for everything you do.”

Songza added that no immediate changes were planned for the free service, other than making it faster, smarter, and “even more fun to use.”

Songza suggests playlists based on where people are and what they are doing, such as starting a day at home;

grinding away at an office, or out exercising.

It has applications tailored for mobile devices powered by Apple or Google-backed Android software.

Apple in May bought Beats Music and Beats Electronics in a deal worth $3bn to bolster its position in the hotly contested online music sector Songza features that have resonated with users will be woven into Google Play Music and YouTube where possible, the California-based technology

titan said in a post at its Google+ social network.

“They’ve built a great service which uses contextual expert-curated playlists to give you the right music at the right time,” Google said.

New York-based Songza has been likened to Pandora, which has a leading ad-supported streaming music model.

Google, Amazon and Apple have music services that compete in a market where Pandora and Spotify have found success.

Apple in May bought Beats Music and Beats Electronics in a deal worth $3bn to bolster its position in the hotly contested online music sector.

The move is expected to help the US tech giant - a pioneer in digital music with its wildly popular iTunes platform - ramp up its efforts to counter the successful models of streaming services like Pandora, Spotify and others. l

Oil prices up ahead of US supply report n AFP, Singapore

Mercantile Bank Limited has recently launched Western Union money transfer services at all the branch outlets of NRB Bank Limited. An agreement has been signed in this regard between NRB Bank Ltd and Mercantile Bank Limited. M Ehsanul Haque, managing director & CEO of Mercantile Bank Limited and Muklesur Rahman, managing director & CEO of NRB Bank Ltd signed the agreement

Pubali Bank Ltd has recently donated Tk43 lakh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) to purchase a Musculoskeletel Ultrasonogram machine, as part of the bank’s corporate social responsibility. The bank’s chair Hafiz Ahmed Mazumder handed over the cheque of donation to Professor Dr Pran Gopal Datta, vicechancellor of BSMMU

Oil prices edged higher in Asia yesterday as dealers await the release of a US stockpiles report for clues about demand in the world’s top crude consumer, while upbeat Chinese manufacturing data lent support.

US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for August delivery rose 10 cents to $105.44 while Brent crude gained nine cents to $112.38 in afternoon trade.

With few leads in Asian trading, focus is on the US Energy Information Administration’s weekly stockpiles report to be released later Wednesday, analysts said.

Reserves are expected to have fallen 1.7 million barrels in the week ended June 27, according to analysts polled by the Wall Street Journal.

Gasoline stockpiles likely rose by

200,000 barrels, and stocks of distillates, which include heating oil and diesel, are expected to have climbed 800,000 barrels.

Singapore’s United Overseas Bank (UOB) said oil prices retained support “on upbeat manufacturing data in China”.

Chinese manufacturing activity expanded at its fastest pace this year in June, an official survey showed Tuesday, in a sign that Beijing’s attempts to tackle slowing growth in the world’s number two economy and top energy consumer are gaining traction. UOB said concerns are easing over a possible supply disruption in major crude producer Iraq.

Islamist militants have overrun swathes of territory in Iraq in a lightning offensive since June 9, but have so far yet to directly threaten the key oil-producing region in the country’s south. l

MI Cement Factory Limited, the owner of Crown Cement brand has signed an agreement with Mediacom Limited recently to avail its services

Ishtiaque Ahmed Chowdhury, managing director & CEO of Trust Bank Limited recently attended the World Conference Series 2014 on NRB talent, investment and remittance for development in New York, USA, that was organized by Centre for Non Resident Bangladeshis

Duke Medicine Global Support Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Duke University recently signed an agreement with SUN Healthcare Foundation, Bangladesh in Durham, North Carolina, USA for providing advisory services to SUN Healthcare on the development of an academic health system in Bangladesh. Michael Merson, a member of the Board of Directors of Duke Medicine Global Support Corporation, and Major General (retd) Amjad Khan Chowdhury, CEO of the SUN Healthcare Foundation signed the agreement

Modhumoti Bank Limited has recently opened its second ATM booth at its Gulshan branch in Dhaka. The bank’s managing director and CEO Md Mizanur Rahman inaugurated the ATM booth

B4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Islamic banking rebrands in attempt to go mainstream n Reuters Islamic banking is based on core principles of the religion. So it is striking that some banks are removing the word "Islam" from their names - a sign of both the potential of Islamic finance to grow, and the obstacles to it becoming mainstream.

In January, Dubai-based Noor Islamic Bank changed its name to Noor Bank. Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB), the emirate's largest sharia-compliant lender, now plans to call itself Abu Dhabi International Bank when operating abroad.

In both cases, the changes are part of the banks' plans to expand. They aim to move well beyond a relatively small group of customers who stress religious permissibility, to a much larger customer base for whom pricing and service quality are key.

This approach could help Islamic banks establish themselves globally, not just in the Muslim-majority regions of the Gulf and southeast Asia, and appeal to larger numbers of non-Muslims as well as Muslims.

But the banks feel that to broaden their appeal and compete directly with conventional institutions for customers, they need to play down their Islamic nature among the general public.

"Rebranding is an essential part of widening the appeal of the industry, whether we call it ethical, alternative or sustainable finance," said Yerlan Baidaulet, a member of the board of executive directors at the Saudi Arabiabased Islamic Development Bank, a multilateral institution.

"Our mindset has to be global, we have to think wider in terms of customer appeal. Why monopolize the concept and keep calling it only Islamic?"

Islamic banks, which follow principles such as bans on interest payments and pure monetary speculation, have been growing rapidly in the Gulf and southeast Asia for a decade. In the sixcountry Gulf Cooperation Council they now account for about a quarter of total banking assets.

In the past couple of years growth has slowed in some countries, howev-

A woman walks past a branch of Noor Islamic Bank along Khalid Bin Al-Waleed Street in Dubai er, as the banks have largely run out of new customers who are willing to base their choices primarily on an institution's Islamic credentials.

In Qatar, for instance, asset growth rates of Islamic banks have dropped to just above those of their conventional peers, cutting a large lead which the industry previously held. Islamic banking assets in Qatar grew 12.2% in 2013, down from 35.1% in 2011, central bank data shows.

So to continue expanding, the banks have two options. One is to compete for the mass of consumers - by some estimates, 60 or 70% of the population even in a mainly Muslim country - who base their choice of bank on non-religious factors.

ADIB is in the process of acquiring

a large number of such customers; in April it said it had agreed to buy the United Arab Emirates retail banking operations of Barclays for an expected price of 650m dirhams ($177m).

The Abu Dhabi bank is now trying to persuade roughly 110,000 former Barclays customers to stay with ADIB rather than moving to conventional banks.

This involves competing directly on non-religious aspects of its service.

The other growth option for Islamic banks is to move into new markets in Asia, Europe or Africa, in countries which have Muslim minorities but where establishing a profitable presence will require attracting large numbers of non-Muslims.

The banks have no intention of changing the sharia-compliant nature

Chris Urmson, director of Google's Self-Driving Car Project, stands in front of a self-driving car at the Computer History Museum after a presentation in Mountain View, California Reuters

Intelligent cars draw investors to tech stocks n Reuters, Paris Technology and telecoms firms could be the big winners in a connected car market that may be worth $50bn over the next decade, luring investors away from traditional automakers.

Chip-makers or tech giants such as Infineon and Google are among a variety of companies involved in the rapid development and testing of intelligent cars from those that drive themselves to those allowing a driver to use mobile phone apps through the dashboard.

A number of carmakers are embracing the trend, with Nissan Motor Co, Volkswagen AG's Audi and Toyota Motor Corp working with outside tech firms to test self-driving car technology.

However, it is the tech and telecom firms - from US bellwethers to small European companies - that are seen benefiting the most, fund managers and analysts said.

"It's a whole new market emerging," said Christian Jimenez, fund manager and president of Diamant Bleu Gestion.

"The best way to play it for investors in the long term is to buy names such as Microsoft or chip makers such as Infineon, not (automakers) Peugeot and Renault".

If the new market grows to $50 bil-

lion as forecast by French bank Exane BNP Paribas that would be roughly half the size of German carmaker BMW's revenues last year.

Internet giant Google Inc is leading the charge among tech companies, trying to break into the century-old industry as it works on its own prototypes of fully autonomous vehicles.

It may be a few years before driverless cars hit the road but Google is already shaking things up in the sector, saying last week that the first cars running its Android Auto - a voice-enabled software allowing drivers to navigate maps and send messages while behind the wheel - will hit showrooms later this year.

Apple is also in the race, with its new CarPlay - which integrates iPhone functionality - allowing drivers to use applications directly via the dashboard to view maps, make calls, listen to music and send and receive text messages.

Only about 10 percent of vehicles have built-in connectivity today, but the number is expected to rise to more than 90 percent by 2020, according to the British consulting firm Machina Research.

"This is not a distant dream, but a five-year race where there is money to be made, or lost," Exane BNP analyst

Stuart Pearson said in a note to clients, predicting that the market for connected car services would grow by an estimated 30% a year through to 2020.

Investors are also keen to pick smaller, specialized companies at the heart of changes in the car driving.

AKKA technologies, a French engineering firm which has been developing a prototype of electrical driverless car, has seen its stock soared by nearly six-fold since 2009.

"The autonomous car is not science fiction, it's real and it's happening now.

The technology is ready, it's just a question of regulation at this point," said Philippe Obry, head of research and development at AKKA. "The idea is not to upgrade existing cars with new technologies, it's to rethink the whole sector and the way people will use cars in the future ...

We're not a car maker, so it's been easier for us to think outside the box."

Shares in French electric car battery maker Blue Solutions have jumped 130 percent since their initial public offering last October, which was more than 15 times oversubscribed.

Among big European tech stocks, Nokia and TomTom are seen facing their make-or-break moment with the connected car, Exane's Pearson said. l

REUTERS

much of the complex financial engineering used by conventional banks.

Returns on Islamic bank accounts are based on investment income rather than on interest payments.

"The real competitive advantage that Islamic banks have is that they are ethically constructed. We need to promote this. The denomination doesn't matter," Mahmoud said.

ADIB says a survey which it commissioned found 1,000 retail customers in the UAE, Egypt, Turkey, Indonesia and Britain believed a lack of ethical principles was the biggest problem in their banking relationships.

However, the survey also showed that while Islamic banks were perceived as treating customers more fairly than conventional institutions, they were seen as lacking best industry practices and failing to deliver a simple banking experience. Rebranding can help to change that.

Name changes can also help Islamic banks expand in markets where regulation limits their branding options: ADIB has plans to enter Turkey, Algeria and Saudi Arabia, all of which restrict the use of religious terms, Mahmoud said.

In Turkey, for example, Islamic banks describe themselves as "participation banks" to comply with staunchly secular legislation.

"In respect of awareness of participation banks, there has not been any problem. Everybody knows they are Islamic banks and operate according to Islamic banking principles," said Osman Nihat Yilmaz, deputy secretary general of the Participation Banks' Association of Turkey.

"Less religiously-linked branding could be useful for the industry if it wants to attract non-Muslim clients."

ADIB'S Mahmoud rejected the idea that removing the word "Islam" from banks' names was in any way compromising their Islamic nature. Instead, he said, it could put the focus where it should be: on the quality of banks' services.

"Some Islamic banks are unfairly using their Islamic label in Muslim communities. It is an emotional label that is very powerful in these communities, but are we leveraging on emotions?" l

of their products. But removing the word "Islam" from their names is a way of avoiding any perception that Islamic banks focus on religious issues while neglecting aspects such as quality of service.

Islamic Bank of Britain (IBB), which was acquired in January by Qatar's largest Islamic bank Masraf Al Rayan, is studying whether to rebrand itself to appeal to a wider customer base, said IBB chief executive Sultan Choudhury.

"We have to look at branding - sometimes the positioning as an Islamic bank can work against us,� he said. "After the takeover we want to look at how we present the bank to customers. We have to consider how to position the brand to be all-inclusive."

IBB, based in Birmingham, offered a savings account promotion last year for which it estimated 55 percent of applications were from non-Muslims. It had similar success in marketing products in Scotland by avoiding any of the Arabic terminology often used to describe Islamic financial products, Choudhury said.

"Ultimately the contracts are shariacompliant...but this helps in consumer understanding."

Tirad Mahmoud, ADIB's chief executive, said Islamic banks had an advantage over conventional banks in being able to stress the moral foundations of their business - a consideration which has become more important since banking abuses fueled the global financial crisis.

For example, Islamic banks reject

Monetary policy not best financial stability tool n Reuters

Sports Direct CEO slams 'anti-competitive' Adidas

Monetary policy faces major limitations as a tool to address risks to financial stability, and regulation needs to play the primary role, Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said on yesterday.

Yellen said an increased focus on financial stability in monetary policy deliberations is appropriate, but that policy should only shift to combat risks to stability in rare circumstances.

"The potential cost ... is likely to be too great to give financial stability risks a central role in monetary policy discussions," Yellen said in remarks prepared for delivery at an event sponsored by the International Monetary Fund. l

The head of UK's Sports Direct has slammed German sportswear maker Adidas as anti-competitive, The Telegraph reported on Tuesday, and the paper said the British sporting goods retailer "is understood to have reported" Adidas to the competition authorities.

Dave Forsey, chief executive of Britain's biggest sporting goods company, told the paper that the company was 'active with the authorities' in an escalating row with Adidas over the supply of replica football shirts and World Cup merchandise.

Forsey's comments came ahead of a Sports Direct meeting set for Wednesday where investors are due to vote on a proposal that could potentially award shares worth 200m pounds ($340m) to founder Mike Ashley as well as to an undisclosed number of employees. The Telegraph said investors "are expected

Indian govt raises onion export price to cool local prices n Reuters, New Delhi India has raised the minimum export price for onion by 67% to augment domestic supply and curb price rise, a government statement said on Wednesday.

Exports will now be possible only at or above $500 per tonne. The government on June 17 set the minimum price at $300 per tonne.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Wednesday that high inflation was one of the major challenges for the government ahead of the budget next week.

Indians consume about 15 million tonnes of onions a year, using them as the base for curries and traditional dishes such as biryani and bhaji. In the past, higher onion prices have contributed to the fall of state governments. l

DILBERT

n Reuters

to reject" the bonus payout.

Sports Direct and Adidas could not immediately be reached for comment outside of regular working hours.

Adidas had not supplied the UK retailer with replica shirts for the teams it sponsors at the World Cup, including Argentina, Germany, Spain and Columbia, the Telegraph said.

Adidas Chief Executive Herbert Hainer told the daily in a interview over the weekend that the company was keen to work with Sports Direct, but wanted the retailer to improve the presentation in stores.

In response Sports Direct's Forsey said Adidas was blocking the company from key products, the Telegraph reported. The daily quoted Forsey as claiming that Adidas' only concern was the discounts his company offered shoppers.

"We believe it is all about price. That is the only conclusion we can come to," he was quoted as saying. l

Global manufacturing activity accelerated in June n Reuters Global manufacturing activity accelerated in June, and with new orders coming in faster output is likely to pick up in the coming months, a business survey showed on Tuesday.

JPMorgan's Global Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rose to a four-month high of 52.7 in June from May's 52.1, holding above the 50 mark indicating growth for the 19th month in a row.

"The global PMI suggests the growth of manufacturing output strengthened

further into midyear," said David Hensley, a director at JPMorgan.

"With new order inflows strengthening and inventories of finished goods indicated to be declining, the stage is set for robust output gains in the coming months."

New orders came in at their fastest rate since February while firms ran down stocks for the third month, the survey showed.

The United States, Britain and much of Asia recorded solid increases in activity last month but factories in the euro zone lost momentum. l